Local Briefs March 12, 2011
Woman injured in U.S. 95 crash
COEUR d'ALENE - A Post Falls woman was hospitalized Friday afternoon after her SUV drifted across U.S. 95 and crashed near the Ameritel hotel.
Idaho State Police reported that Tracy W. Pulley, 50, was taken to nearby Kootenai Medical Center with injuries from the 3:29 p.m. crash.
Pulley's GMC Sierra exited eastbound Interstate 90 at exit 12 and turned right onto U.S. 95, police reported. Pulley blacked out for an unknown reason and her vehicle crossed all southbound and northbound lanes of the highway before falling down an embankment near the hotel.
The Sierra struck two parked vehicles, with an F-150 towed away due to the damage, police reported.
Details of Pulley's injuries were not available Friday night. The accident remains under investigation.
EPA to host public webinar
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host a public webinar for citizens to learn more about and provide input on EPA's retrospective review of regulations on March 16 in Seattle.
It will be 2-3 p.m.
Space on the webinar is limited. Please register online in advance.
You can listen via your computer speakers, or you can dial in on the phone. To join by phone, dial: Toll: +1 (773) 945-1011
Then enter access code: 304-852-943
Post Fallshonored by arbor foundation
POST FALLS - Post Falls has been named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation.
A Tree City must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
It is the 14th time Post Falls has received the honor.
Lakes watchdog losing funding
SANDPOINT - Future funding has been cut off for one of the most vigilant water quality and quantity watchdogs for Pend Oreille and Priest lakes.
Lawmakers voted on Thursday to cease funding the Pend Oreille Basin Commission's budget, Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, said on Friday.
Eskridge and Sen. Shawn Keough, both of whom hold seats on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, voted against the move.
"We were the only 'no' votes," said Eskridge.
Eskridge said the state had been budgeting approximately $74,000 for the commission, which interfaces with state and federal agencies and advises Idaho on water quality and management issues in the basin. It was formed in 2003.
by former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne.
Legislators moved to halt the funding as the state grapples with sharp declines in revenue, Eskridge said.
"We've got to cut the budget and that's part of the process," he said.
The Lakes Commission is comprised of volunteers. The funding paid for office space, wages for the commission's project coordinator and various operating expenses.