Veterans home efforts continue

POST FALLS - The effort to have a state veterans home built in Post Falls marches on.

Insight Architects of Boise, hired by the Veterans Administration to perform a feasibility study for a home here, will give a presentation on the project on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 143, 1138 E. Poleline Ave.

"This is really refreshing to finally hear where we are and what's going on," said former Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin, who continues to spearhead the local effort for a veterans home.

Proponents of the 88-bed facility hope the local community packs the Legion for the presentation to show how much interest there is in having a home here. City, county and state officials have been invited. Currently, the closest Idaho vet home is in Lewiston.

"This project is more than three years old now and has the full support of the veterans community, the city administration and the citizens of Post Falls and North Idaho," said Len Crosby, chairman of the Post Falls Legion's legislative committee. "After a lot of delay, we now appear to be moving slowly forward. This project is vitally important to all veterans and their families."

Larkin said the architect's work is expected to be completed by the end of the year and submitted to the V.A. in Washington, D.C., before the April 1 deadline.

No site for the facility has been proposed, but the west side of Highway 41 has been bantered.

"We'll need to see what surfaces with donations," Larkin said.

The Legislature earlier allocated $250,000 to the feasibility study.

Other vet homes are in Boise and Pocatello.

"We believe that we meet the criteria for a fourth Idaho veterans home," Larkin said.