Briefs May 11, 2010
Election challenge suit resumes
COEUR d'ALENE - The election challenge suit resumes this week.
First District Judge Benjamin Simpson will weigh a pair of motions at 3 p.m. Friday: Jim Brannon's motion to reconsider the city as a proper party to the suit, and a motion filed by Mike Kennedy to dismiss the complaint entirely.
Brannon has also filed a motion for an interlocutory appeal tied to the motion to reconsider the city as part of the suit. That appeal opposes a ruling by a court to the Idaho Supreme Court before the trial itself has concluded.
Pesticide disposal program is Friday
COEUR d'ALENE - North Idaho agricultural producers, dealers, applicators and homeowners who are storing unusable pesticides will have a safe, legal and free opportunity to dispose of them on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the transfer station, 3650 Ramsey Road.
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture will conduct the collection.
Participation is free for the first 1,000 pounds of unusable pesticides per participant. Anyone with unusable herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides can bring them. Fertilizer, micronutrients, paint, solvents and motor oil will not be accepted.
Participants will need to register the total number of pounds of pesticides that they are disposing by calling Chuck Hawley at 762-9586 or Tim Stein at 762-9598.
'Raising Lucy' at library May 12
COEUR d'ALENE - Local children's author and illustrator Carol Muzik will be at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave., on Wednesday, May 12, to share her story, "Raising Lucy" with the preschool and after-school programs.
The Preschool Storytimes are at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. During the hourlong after-school program, "The Lonely Books Club," at 4 p.m. Muzik will read her new book to the children and show a short film.
Participating children will receive pages from the coloring storybook, along with an informational handout, and a bookmark.
Inspired by the orphaned goose they raised and successfully returned to the wild, Muzik has been sharing Lucy's story through her photography, video, coloring book and now a full-color picture book she illustrated.
For more information contact the Seagraves Children's Library, 769-2315.
Planning committee members sought
The Coeur d'Alene School District has openings for community members on its Long Range Planning Review Committee.
The committee, comprised of community members and district employees, acts in an advisory capacity to the school board and makes recommendations about current and future facility needs and the funding mechanisms to finance construction. Terms are for four years. Meetings are generally held monthly.
The committee is chaired by Christa Hazel. In addition to its members, the committee welcomes volunteers for supporting capacities such as alternates, observers, or on subcommittees.
If interested, please print off the form from the district website at www.cdaschools.org and fax to 664-1748 or mail to Glenda Pope, Coeur d'Alene School District, 311 N. 10th Street, Coeur d'Alene, 83814.
Groundbreaking ceremony May 12
COEUR d'ALENE - A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 12 for 37 new units of supportive housing for very low-income seniors.
This project will be adjacent to the Lynn Peterson House at 550 W. Neider Ave. The new 37-unit senior housing apartment complex was funded with a $3.8 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and a $1.4 million grant from Idaho Housing and Finance.
The contract was awarded to Contractors Northwest of Coeur d'Alene.
St. Vincent de Paul Society of North Idaho sponsored the project that has community spaces, sidewalks, landscaping, open spaces and parking lots. Work is expected to take about a year.
Coeur d'Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem, St. Vincent de Paul board and staff, and officials from Contractors Northwest will participate in the ceremony. The community is welcome.
Lynn Peterson House, the adjacent 15-unit property, opened in December 2009. It was funded with a similar HUD grant and IHFA assistance.
Tribal tradition
set to be shared
POST FALLS - Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene Tribe history will be shared during the ninth annual Q'emiln Quest on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Q'emiln Park.
The event is free and the public is invited. Attendees may wish to bring a sack lunch.
The event will feature the oral tradition of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe concerning one of their villages along the Spokane River called Q'emiln.
The Post Falls Historical Society will also share local oral tradition with area fourth-graders about Post Falls history.
Information: 659-0294, 773-4681
Vidalia onions now available for sale
COEUR d'ALENE - The annual Calam Shrine Vidalia onion sale is on.
A shipment of "oh so sweet" Vidalia onions was scheduled to arrive in Coeur d'Alene late last week. The onions are grown in the eastern U.S.
Ten pound boxes of the onions will be sold for $12, and all the proceeds will go to support activities of the Calam Shriners.
Shipments of the onions also are scheduled to arrive in Kellogg, Moscow, and Lewiston.
For Coeur d'Alene area sales, contact Rob Turnipseed at (208) 661-1560, or Bill Hamilton at (208) 661-8493.
For Moyie Springs, contact Richard Hollenbeck, (208) 267-2485.
Information: Dale Brown, (208) 682-3321
Free food to be available Thursday
The Lakes Magnet Middle School parking lot will be turned into a food distribution center at 10 a.m. Thursday to provide fresh produce to low-income families and senior citizens in the Coeur d'Alene area.
The school's PTSA has partnered with Second Harvest to bring the 24-foot Thrivent Homegrown Help Truck to the school for a farmers-market style distribution of fruits, vegetables, bread and dairy products. Lakes students will assist with setting up tables, bagging produce and carrying boxes.
The distribution will run from 10 a.m. to noon or until supplies are exhausted. No application or need assessment is required to receive the free food.
This is the fourth year that the school, located at 930 N. 15th Street, has hosted a food distribution.
Absentee voting available Saturday
Practice your rights this Saturday.
The Kootenai County Elections Office will be open this Saturday, May 15, for residents to register and vote absentee for the primary elections.
Doors will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and handicapped voting devices will be available.
To register, folks need to present a current photo ID and proof of residency.
The elections office is at 1808 N. Third St. in Coeur d'Alene.
On election day, May 25, polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Information: 446-1030
Burn restrictions now being enforced
Burning restrictions are now being enforced in Kootenai County.
Anyone planning to burn any debris will need a permit.
Permits are free and may be obtained from your local fire department when burning inside cities or organized fire districts.
For burning outside cities or organized fire districts, contact the Idaho Department of Lands office or the U.S. Forest Service-Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District office in Coeur d'Alene.
If you are burning logging slash on private ground, even within the city or fire district, you will need to obtain a permit from the Idaho Department of Lands.
All burns must be attended at all times and it is recommended a garden hose be available to keep the fire in check.
Dog walk stepping out this weekend
COEUR d'ALENE - It's going to be a doggone fun weekend.
Dog d'Alene will be held on the grass north of Parkside at Sixth and Sherman from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
There will be a pet parade, demonstrations, vendors, pet adoptions, rescue groups and contests.
Entrance into all contests and the pet parade will be free.
The fourth annual AJ's Tails and Trails 5K Fun Run and Dog Walk is Sunday. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:30.
The walk will begin at the Time Warner property at 2305 Kathleen Ave.
Participants will walk on the Prairie Trail and return to the facility for food, music raffle items and vendor booths.
Both events will benefit the Kootenai Humane Society.
'Lessons from the Labyrinth' Sunday
COEUR d'ALENE -
The North Idaho Unitarian-Universal Fellowship of Coeur d'Alene will presents "Lessons from the Labyrinth" with Diana Serquina at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Harding Family Center, 15th and Wallace.
"Many cultures and faith traditions, dating back thousands of years, use labyrinths as a tool for meditation and spiritual growth," according to a press release. "Whether or not we make this a regular part of our practice, there is much we can learn from walking the labyrinth."
The public is welcome.
Animals to be blessed on Sunday
Community United Methodist Church will hold a Blessing of the Animals from 2-3 p.m. Sunday.
Anyone is welcome to bring a pet - on a leash, in a carrier, fish tank or trailer - to join Pastor Heather Seman in a celebration of how special animals are.
"They often give us unconditional love, friendship and support that deserves unique blessings," a release said.
You are welcome to bring a picture of a beloved animal, or come with just the special memory of your pet, too
There will be treats for all, pictures and certificates of blessing for the pets.
Information: 765-8800 or www.cumccda.org.
The church is at the corner of Ramsey and Hanley.
Kootenai Health event is Saturday
Kootenai Health is sponsoring a health fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15 in Kootenai Medical Center's first-floor classrooms.
Register now for a full lipid profile - which includes total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride and glucose levels - as well as blood pressure measurements and body mass index totals. You'll need to fast - taking water only - at least 8 hours ahead of time. Call (208) 666-2083.
Kootenai Health staff will review patients' test results and refer them to resources based on their individual needs.
Also available will be information on smoking cessation, sleep disorders, cancer resources and behavioral health programs. DeVries recycling will offer free shredding of up to two grocery bags full of sensitive documents per person. Hospice of North Idaho, Kootenai Outpatient Imaging and Kootenai Family Care staff will be on hand to answer questions, too.