North Idaho Briefs September 18, 2010

Church assembly is this weekend

COEUR d’ALENE — Jehovah’s Witnesses from North Idaho will be gathering for their annual special assembly day in the North Idaho College Auditorium this weekend.

The theme of the special assembly day is “Take Refuge in Jehovah,” drawn from Psalm 118:8-9. Two Identical programs will be presented today and Sunday. About 1,600 are expected to attend.

Guest peaker Sam Roberson from the Patterson Educational Center, Patterson, N.Y., will give a talk, “Our Spiritual Paradise- Jehovah’s Provision for Refuge.”

At 11:30 a.m. each day, there will be a baptism talk, after which those qualified will symbolize their dedication to Jehovah God by water immersion.

The program starts at 9:50 a.m. each day and the public is welcome.

MS 150 starts today

The fifth annual Multiple Sclerosis 150 Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes bike ride is today and Sunday starting at the Mullan Trailhead.

The event, which has grown continually since its inception in 2006, is slated to have 235 participants take on the two-day bike ride, which will take them to Plummer today and back to Mullan on Sunday.

The Bike MS tour has rest stops provided along the course, including Osburn and Cataldo today and the Snakepit and Osburn again on Sunday, with catered meals provided.

The reason behind riding is to raise money to put up toward MS research and helping individuals and families who are facing the central nervous system disease.

Last year, more than 200 riders raised $120,000. Of that money, 60 percent goes back into the local chapter in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, while the other 40 percent is used for MS research.

Information: (509) 482-2022

Waste facilities to be closed Sunday

Working with garbage deserves a pat on the back.

For the second year in a row, all Kootenai County solid waste facilities will close at noon on Sunday for an employee appreciation day.

Employees can either take the afternoon off or can attend a barbecue the Solid Waste Department will hold at the park across from the Ramsey Transfer Station, said Roger Saterfiel,

They will be paid on their time off, he said.

“It’s very difficult for us, being a seven-day-a-week operation, to try to do it (an event) and include their families in the evenings after work,” Saterfiel said. “This is just a sign of appreciation of all the hard work they do all year.”

The Solid Waste Department has 62 employees including seasonal workers, Saterfiel said, who are all invited to the Sunday event.

This is the second consecutive year the county couldn’t afford to give raises to any department employees, he said.

“We certainly understand the reasons behind that with the economic situation,” he said. “It’s important to show the employees they’re appreciate for all the hard work they do, and the conditions they work under. When you work in people’s waste, you need every upper you can get.”

Facilities will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday and operate as usual.

Nutrition class starts Tuesday

Helbling Employee Benefits is sponsoring an eight-week course that will include studies on food, behavior and exercise.

Organizers said the program, which starts Tuesday, will help people reduce their weight, cholesterol numbers, cancer risk and improve their health, vitality and “passion.”

Classes will be 5:15-6:15 p.m. at the Pilgrims Market education classroom, 1316 N. Fourth Street. Sessions will run until Nov. 9.

Cost is $20, which includes materials.

To sign up: lkinson@helblingbenefits.com or call Lynne, 765-2620