The Post Falls volleyball team is playing its best at the right time. Now the Trojans want to see what their best can do at state.

The Sandpoint girls soccer team took the dramatic route in its State 4A tournament opener Thursday afternoon. It’s a path first-year coach Julie Pitre is all too familiar with, but she is thankful her team eventually found its way.

A Post Falls woman died early this morning at Kootenai Medical Center following a two-car crash that occurred Saturday afternoon. Two other people remain hospitalized at Kootenai Medical Center.

A 25-year-old baby sitter is suspected of critically injuring a 3-year-old boy at his Post Falls home on Monday.

The Post Falls volleyball team graduated six seniors, five of whom were starters, off last year’s 5A Inland Empire League champions. PF coach Willow Hanna had a bit of a rebuilding project this fall. She thought she had the pieces; it was a matter of finding the right combinations.

Post Falls topped visiting Lake City 21-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-21 on Thursday to secure a repeat league title.

It was a little disconcerting, yet also somehow comforting when our lunch order was ready for pickup and we heard our hostess’ voice cry out loudly, “Patrick! Are you hungry? Come and get it!” It was a little like being back in the old country (that is, if I were actually Italian), and hearing your beloved mama’s voice summon you to the dinner table from out the back door of the family casa. It certainly got my attention, and was just one of many charming personal touches that made our visit to Rosa’s Italian Market and Deli an utterly memorable and impressive experience.

A series of meetings began Aug. 23 to discuss how to put into action the water quality improvement plan for the Spokane River and Lake Spokane. Many interests are at the table; community leaders, environmental agency leaders, representatives of municipalities and industries that discharge wastewater into the Spokane River, and environmental advocacy groups.

A playoff-caliber football team will not qualify for the state playoffs in the 5A Inland Empire League this season. The conference shapes up as the most balanced in years.

Voters in three North Idaho school districts Tuesday said yes to a levy that will raise property taxes for two years to build a $9.5 million professional-technical high school on the Rathdrum Prairie. Voters in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls overwhelmingly supported the measure with 65 percent and 66 percent approval, respectively. In the Lakeland School District, the measure squeaked by, earning 55.27 percent, just above the 55 percent approval rating required.