NEW THIS MORNING: Friday, Nov. 8

1. Kootenai County home sales up

Home prices in Kootenai County held steady in October but declined in Shoshone County, according to the latest report from the Coeur d'Alene Regional Realtors.

The median price of a single-family home in Kootenai County was $526,292 last month, up slightly from a year ago. 

The number of homes sold through October, 2,046, was up 10% compared to the same timeframe one year ago. 

The CRR reported there were 1,015 active residential listings in Kootenai County as of Nov. 5, a 7% increase from one year ago.

Homes were taking longer to sell, with the average number of days on the market at 94, compared to 87 for the same time last year.

In Shoshone County, the median single-family home price was $284,000, down 6.9% from one year ago when the median home price was $305,000.

The number of homes sold in Shoshone County, 139 through October, was almost identical to the same time last year at 138.

Current active residential listings as of Nov. 5 in Shoshone County totaled 93, up from 86 a year ago.

And just like Kootenai County, homes took longer to sell, with an average of 89 days on the market, up from 83 the previous year.

2. Crews pull double duty in Pinehurst house fire

A Pinehurst home was severely damaged in a fire Monday.

According to Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 Chief Scott Dietrich, the initial call came in about 2 p.m. He said the blaze was fought on the backside of the home and inside the attic.  

There were no reported injuries. It was unknown if anyone was home at the time of the fire.

The fire was believed to be extinguished that evening, with firefighters doing routine checks at the home. According to Dietrich, the home was rechecked at 10 p.m. and showed no signs of activity. However, at 2 a.m. Tuesday, crews were again dispatched to the home because the fire had restarted and spread quickly.  

“This time when crews arrived, the entire second story was on fire with fire dropping into the first story,” Dietrich said. “It was determined it was not safe to have firefighters inside the house, so all firefighting efforts were conducted from the outside and the ladder truck.” 

Dietrich said the fire originated from the home’s pellet stove chimney. 

3. Post Falls students unlock their future at career planning event

About 1,100 eighth graders from area middle schools cruised through the Jacklin Building and engaged with professionals from a variety of sectors, picking up swag and playing carnival games as they learned about careers in health care, law enforcement, insurance, banking, manufacturing, education and more.

Lakeland Middle Schoolers Clara Stoffer and Lasalette Thompson stopped to snap a photo with Smokey Bear.

Lasalette, who wants to be a lawyer, said she was captivated by the first responders conducting CPR demonstrations at the event.

"I think it's cool and you learn a lot," she said. "I didn't know that firefighters had to give CPR."

4. CLN announces reopening of Athol Library after water damage

The Community Library Network announced the reopening of the Athol Library on Thursday after significant renovations due to water damage caused by a broken pipe in January. 

Since then, the CLN has been navigating insurance claims, disposing of damaged items and packing and storing the library’s remaining contents.

On Oct. 21, the library that was temporarily housed in the bookmobile closed, allowing staff to begin moving the library’s contents back in.  

Extensive remediation, repair and construction efforts have transformed the library spaces. 

The CLN invites members of the public to attend the grand reopening ribbon cutting and celebration from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Athol Library, 30399 Third St.