Idaho Briefs November 27, 2011
Cursive writing becoming a font memory in Idaho
REXBURG - Eastern Idaho educators said cursive writing among students is becoming increasingly rare as new technologies take over and schools reduce how long they expect cursive fluency.
Third-grade teacher Wayne Davis said he teaches cursive to his students at Lincoln Elementary School in Rexburg but notes about 90 percent of them, when they write in other situations, end up using manuscript printing.
Educators said that Idaho formerly tested students for cursive writing skills until about seventh grade, but now only through about fourth grade.
Officials said cursive writing is likely to see further declines as Idaho and 43 other states have started adopting national standards beginning in 2013-2014 that eliminate cursive writing as a required skill but mandate keyboarding.
Fish-friendly bridge almost finished near Lowman
BOISE - Workers are close to replacing a 300-foot-long culvert with a bridge on State Highway 21 near Lowman that Idaho transportation officials said will improve passage for bull trout and other aquatic species in Five Mile Creek.
"It particularly benefits bull trout, a threatened and protected species that has lost habitat and the elements that contribute to its health due to past land use, management and natural disasters." said Greg Vitley, of the Idaho Transportation Department.
The $1.2 million project 11 miles east of Lowman is being financed by the U.S. Forest Service and is scheduled to be finished in December. Officials said it will also allow wildlife to cross under the popular highway and avoid collisions with motorists.
"The bridge completely spans the Five Mile Creek channel and allows unrestricted water flow, thereby permitting the passage of fish, aquatic resources, and the transfer of river-bed material, sediment, and debris through an open-bottomed, free-flowing stream that did not exist before," said Scott Rudel, ITD southwest Idaho environmental planner.
Officials said getting rid of the culvert and replacing it with a free-flowing stream is a more natural way to connect Five Mile Creek with the South Fork of the Payette River.
When winter ends crews plan to return to finish seeding, paving and other minor work.
New Kimberly City Hall should be ready by March
KIMBERLY - Officials said the new Kimberly City Hall in south-central Idaho will be ready by March 1.
A construction official said the city council that the $542,000 remodel of the former Rock Creek Rural Fire Protection District is going well.
Michael Arrington of Starr Corp. told council members Tuesday that workers have been busy laying brickwork outside and installing plumbing inside.
When finished the building will house all local government offices, including council chambers, planning and zoning, public works and police.
- The Associated Press