Voices

Four-term Idaho state Rep. George Eskridge has focused on energy, veterans issues, property tax relief and the state budget since he began making the annual trip to Boise to represent Bonner and Boundary counties. “I think my tenure in the Legislature and my committee assignments, especially Appropriations, has me in a good position to serve my district well,” said Eskridge, R-Dover. “I just want to go back and continue serving as long as I can be effective.”

The Idaho Women in Film Festival will be at the Song Bird Theater, 315 Fourth St., in Coeur d’Alene, today. The event will begin with a film workshop and shorts at 11 a.m. “Valley of the Dolls” will play at 2:30 p.m., followed by wine, appetizers and a silent auction at 5:30. Dinner with Patty Duke will be at 6:45, and the evening with will end with “Miracle Worker” at 8.

Monday Fire District 2 (Fairfield) – 7 p.m. at 17815 E. Truax Road.

Lori Frank, a teacher at Coeur d’Alene High School, was recently honored by the Idaho Science Teachers Association as a Region 1 Outstanding Secondary Science Teacher. She received a plaque for her recognition, as well as a $100 stipend to use for professional development or classroom supplies. Frank began teaching with District 271 as a physical science teacher 25 years ago. In her career, she has developed a forestry program that is integrated with the University of Idaho. She is currently teaching two classes in forestry/wildlife and three sections of advanced biology. She also is an adviser to the high school’s forestry team.

Millwood residents can expect their property taxes to increase by 1 percent next year. The Millwood City Council approved the annual levy increase at Monday’s regular meeting, following a special public hearing on the matter. Mayor Dan Mork said if the city chose not to accept the increase, Spokane County could levy the 1 percent increase against Millwood residents.

Featuring high-end deli sandwiches and daily specials, Morgio’s Sandwiches opened last week at 206 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. The redecorated site formerly housed Scott-Ja-Mama’s BBQ and is across the street from the federal courthouse. Owner Paul Grier’s sandwiches are constructed with in-house-cooked meats, fresh-daily baked breads and high-quality cheeses. A daily lunch special includes the sandwich of the day, soup, pickle and chips for $8.99. Simple breakfasts are available starting at 7 a.m.

My wife and I were biking leisurely along the CdA waterfront recently when she said: “It’s amazing on a day like this that there’s so much ugliness in the world around us.” Her words became prophetic way too soon for us. We checked out the new section of Centennial Trail between North Idaho College and Riverstone – and then headed home. As usual, we rode side by side until we heard cars coming up behind us. Then, I pedaled in front to get us both out of the way of traffic. That practice saved me from serious injury or worse. At Harrison Avenue, we opted to bike north toward home on Seventh Street rather than Ninth Street. As we approached the 1400 block, we heard an engine roaring and a vehicle speeding behind us. I pulled in front of my wife, moments before a gray van zoomed by, swerving toward me as if intentionally, missing me by a foot or so. The driver had to pull back to miss the parked car ahead. Mebbe that saved my life. Moments later, a little brown car chased the offending motorist into an apartment complex. As we passed, two women were screaming at each other. One was dropping the B-word and many other expletives on the other. Utter nastiness. Sorta takes the thrill from a beautiful day. Making up?

For the most part, owls are strictly nocturnal and hunt their prey only under the cover of darkness. A very few owls do exist who are active at dawn or during the day; examples are the burrowing owl, the short-eared owl and the dust-gathering owl. The latter have been sighted at the Owl Cafe in Hayden, roosting daily on display shelves and peering out sagely over hungry breakfast and lunch patrons. There are dozens of them looking down from fusty heights with wide eyes or hanging sternly on ancient wood-paneled walls.

When fire destroyed 11 homes in this summer’s Valley View fire, Spokane Valley firefighters had little time to console the victims. That might have been a job for the Rev. Craig Goodwin, pastor of Millwood Presbyterian, who will soon join the Spokane Valley Fire Department as a volunteer chaplain.

Spokane Valley firefighters caught an arson suspect Wednesday in a series of grass fires along the Centennial Trail. Firefighters were on the lookout for a bicycle-riding man who’d been seen watching some of three previous fires.

For the week of Oct. 13-17 Monday – Salmon fillet with lemon sauce, confetti rice, parslied cauliflower, wheat bread, peaches.

BOISE – The nation’s passenger rail service now serves only one city in Idaho – Sandpoint. The entire southern portion of the state has been without Amtrak service ever since the elimination of the Pioneer Route in 1997. But under new legislation approved by Congress, at the urging of Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, Amtrak will start looking into the possibility of restoring service to Southern Idaho.