Hours extended for Christmas tree permit sales

The Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District will offer extended hours to sell Christmas tree permits on Saturday and Dec. 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fernan Office, 2502 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene.

The district’s Silver Valley office, 173 Commerce Drive, Smelterville, Idaho, will also be open on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon to sell tree permits.

“We recognize that not everyone can make it into our offices during the business week,” acting Deputy District Ranger Brock Martin said in a news release. “We hope that by providing additional times for people to buy a tree permit that there will be more opportunities for families to harvest this year’s tree off of the national forest.”

Christmas tree permits cost $5 each, and up to three permits may be purchased per family.

In Washington, permits can be purchased at all Colville National Forest offices and are available at the following locations.

• Harding’s Hardware – Republic

• North 40 – Mead

• North 40 – Spokane Valley

• North Ridge Outfitters – Oldtown, Idaho

• Porter’s Plaza – Ione

The Idaho Panhandle and the Colville National Forests participate in the Every Kid Outdoors program, which provides on free tree permit to every fourth-grader.

To obtain the free permit, fourth-graders need to complete an online activity at www.everykidoutdoors.gov and present their valid Every Kid Outdoors pass or paper voucher at a local Forest Service office.