North Idaho Briefs November 26, 2011

Chlorine taste in Post Falls water

POST FALLS - Post Falls residents should expect a chlorine taste in their water through early December.

"This is being done for the month of November and then it takes about another week for it to flush out of the system," said Terry Werner, the city's public works director.

The water system is being chlorinated as part of routine fall maintenance to ensure safe water for residents. The chlorine concentration is 0.1 to 0.4 parts per million.

The odor or taste may be more noticeable in certain parts of the city.

"This is normal as water use in the city moves the chlorine around," Werner said.

Some longtime residents have asked why the process has had to be done in recent years and wasn't needed years ago.

Drinking water can be put into a pitcher and left to sit out several hours or overnight to help dissipate the chlorine odor and taste.

For more information, call 777-9857 or email [email protected].

I-15 reopened after dust storm

IDAHO FALLS (AP) - A dust-plagued section of eastern Idaho highway has been reopened after strong winds whipped up dirt from the surrounding fields and reduced visibility to near zero.

The Idaho Transportation Department said Friday afternoon that Interstate 15 between Idaho Falls and Roberts was no longer too risky to drive due to blowing dust.

Before Friday's closure, it had been just days since the last closure on this 15-mile-long stretch, on Nov. 17.

Idaho troopers make meth arrest

CHUBBUCK (AP) - A routine traffic stop on the Idaho interstate netted a pair of alleged drug dealers from California on Thanksgiving morning.

It was just before 10 a.m. on Thursday when Idaho State Police troopers pulled over a pair of men heading down Interstate 84 near Chubbuck.

Officers found about 2.2 pounds of cocaine, 2.7 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly $1,000 in cash. The drugs had a street value of $145,000.