Absentee voting starts Tuesday

Kootenai County residents have plenty of opportunities to vote for the upcoming election.

Folks can start voting absentee on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at the county Election Office on 1808 N. Third St.

It will be possible to both register and vote at the same time, said Elections Supervisor Carrie Phillips.

If folks register before open registration closes today, no ID is necessary to register. After today, an ID and proof of residency is required.

An ID is necessary to vote. Those without IDs can sign an affidavit.

The county elections office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Folks will also be able to vote absentee at satellite locations from Oct. 18-29. Those locations include the city halls in Coeur d'Alene, Rathdrum, Hayden and Post Falls.

Absentee voting will end the last Friday before election day this year.

For more information, go to: www.kcgov.us/elections/.

Cd'A firefighters receive recognition

COEUR d'ALENE - The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's Capt. Bill Deruyter and Inspector Bobby Gonder were recognized for their service by the American Legion on Tuesday.

Firefighter of the Year went to Gonder, who was nominated because of his work in enhancing the Department's Public Education Program. He has worked on the Juvenile Firestarter program and is the lead planner for department special events.

Gonder works with the local high schools with their life sports classes and has started a new fire safety program with Headstart. He is also the lead instructor for the North Idaho College Emergency Medical Technician Program.

Capt. Bill Deruyter was named EMT/Paramedic of the Year.

He also uses his skills as a paramedic and teaches throughout the area. He is a lead instructor for the upcoming Firefighter One academy at North Idaho College.

Zoo Boise gets young giraffe

BOISE (AP) - It cost Zoo Boise more than $18,000 for a new giraffe. Whether that includes overhead isn't clear.

The 10-month-old, 10-foot-tall giraffe named Jabari arrived in Boise Tuesday night.