In brief: Deaconess emergency department renovated
Deaconess Hospital recently finished a $6.8 million renovation of its emergency department, hospital officials said.
The yearlong project expanded the department by about 2,500 square feet and included $1.35 million in new equipment.
The renovation expanded the waiting area and provided two triage areas, two nursing stations and 22 private treatment rooms, including a secure room and an isolation room.
Deaconess’ emergency department is a nationally accredited chest pain center and a Level III trauma center.
Becky Kramer
Hamilton Street work will bring traffic delays
Traffic restrictions on North Hamilton Street are expected to continue this week as city crews repair damage from a burst water main.
Hamilton will be reduced to one lane in each direction just north of Trent Avenue at the Centennial Trail overpass.
Street repairs are expected to start today after the broken water main damaged the pavement. The two northbound lanes are being paved today, with work to follow on the southbound lanes later in the week.
Delays are likely during hours of heavy traffic.
Mike Prager
Blackwell Island launch set to open Tuesday
The Blackwell Island boat launch and recreation area on Lake Coeur d’Alene will open for the season on Thursday.
The site is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Daily rates at Blackwell Island are $6 per day, with fee envelopes available on-site. Season passes are $40 and include the use of both the Blackwell Island site and the Mineral Ridge Boat Launch.
Season passes will be available for sale at Blackwell Island from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Checks or cash will be accepted for passes purchased on-site; no credit card sales are available. Season passes also are available at the Bureau of Land Management’s Coeur d’Alene District office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene. The office is open from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Passes can also be purchased by calling (208) 769-5000.
Proceeds from the sales go directly into maintaining the Blackwell Island recreation site.
Becky Kramer
Traffic ticket hike will buy court computers
SEATTLE – The Washington Supreme Court is boosting the base cost of traffic tickets in the state by $12 to help pay for a badly needed new computer system for district courts – a decision that four justices blasted as unfair to low-income residents who can least afford the fines.
Effective July 1, most traffic infractions, as well as some boating, camping and public park violations, will increase. It’s the first boost since 2007, and the money will go partly to the new computer system and partly to provide legal services for poor people.
Most of the money collected from infractions comes not from the initial tickets but from penalties added when a payment is missed.
Justices Susan Owens, Charles Wiggins, Mary Fairhurst, Debra Stephens and Barbara Madsen approved the increase, which was proposed by the state Office of Public Defense and the Judicial Information System Committee.
Associated Press