Briefs November 9, 2010

Forest resource panel to meet

The first business meeting for the federally appointed Resource Advisory Committee is set for 9 a.m. Friday at the Forest Supervisor's office, 3815 Schreiber Way. A public forum will be held at 11 a.m.

RAC is composed of 15 members tasked with reviewing and recommending funding for projects that benefit or improve national forest system lands.

"The committee has been successful in funding projects that provide economic gain and employ local citizens in the five northern Idaho counties," according to a press release.

The committee will be reviewing projects against an $800,000 budget at the November meeting.

For more information, call Suzanne Endsley, IPNF RAC coordinator, 765-7235.

Life Care Center

to collect gift boxes for kids

COEUR d'ALENE - Life Care Center of Coeur d'Alene will serve as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child.

Organizers hope to collect more than 4,450 gift-filled shoe boxes from families, kids, churches, schools and civic organizations in the area.

The gifts will go to more than 8 million children in 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.

"From Coeur d'Alene, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary - sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels, even dog sleds - to reach suffering children around the world," according to a press release.

The collection site is at Life Care Center of Coeur d'Alene, 500 W Aqua Ave., Coeur d Alene, ID, 762-1122

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (800) 353-5949 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week is Nov. 15-22.