NEW THIS MORNING: Wednesday, Nov. 13

1. Leaf Fest begins in Coeur d'Alene

Mother Nature cooperated on opening day of Leaf Fest: a slight breeze, damp leaves and rows of mostly barren trees. 

“Pretty ideal conditions right now,” said Todd Feusier, director of the city’s Streets and Engineering Department. “I’d love it if more leaves had fallen, but you’re never going to get them all down. This will work just fine."

The annual collection of leaves is a massive undertaking in Coeur d’Alene, which is a Tree City USA. That means it has trees. Lots of trees. Oak. Maple. Elm. Cherry. Linden. And more. 

Residents citywide have spent hours the past few weeks using trash cans, wheelbarrows, tarps and carts to haul leaves from yards to streets. 

Now it’s the city’s turn. 

Pretty much every employee in the Streets and Engineering Department, plus some from the Water Department, was involved on day one Tuesday.

Crews started early in the Fort Grounds neighborhood, and then swept south of Sherman Avenue, moving west to east. They’ll gradually make their way north, with a goal of wrapping up by early December. If the weather is good, it could be sooner. 

2. Coeur d'Alene man charged with lewd conduct

Coeur d’Alene police are seeking information about a man charged with sexually abusing children.

Josiah E. Bryan, 31, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with three counts of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16, a felony punishable by up to life in prison. 

Bryan is accused of sexually abusing minor children between 2007 and 2008, according to a news release issued by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. 

Police said the alleged abuse was reported to the agency Oct. 1 and investigators conducted interviews with involved parties before prosecutors filed charges and a $150,000 warrant was issued for Bryan’s arrest. 

3. Spokane man sentenced for grand theft in Post Falls

A Spokane man was sentenced to prison for a grand theft conviction Tuesday in First District Court.

According to a press release from the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office, James Bruce Dillon, 56, stole two "very expensive bicycles" in Post Falls last summer. 

After one of the victims found their bicycle for sale on Craigslist, detectives responded to the advertisement where they met and arrested Dillon, the release said.

4. Library board debates age limits for unsupervised children

At a Nov. 6 special meeting in Post Falls, the board discussed the Children's School and Library Protection Act and policies regarding unaccompanied minors in libraries.

Board Chair Rachelle Ottosen questioned whether age 12 was appropriate for unsupervised library visits. 

"I hate to infantilize kids, but on the other hand I'm not the librarian that has to deal with sugared-up kids running around the library loose," she said.

Trustee Tim Plass advocated for a lower age limit, noting that children often use libraries as after-school waiting areas. 

"I used to do the same thing at our little town, when grade school basketball practice was over," he said.

The network's current policy requires children under 9 to be supervised by a parent, caregiver aged 14 or older or a certified babysitter.

The board discussed special collections and adults-only areas, how to allow access to collections for families that wish their children to have full access while keeping objectionable materials away from children and how it's up to parents to opt out of normal library cards if they wish to restrict their children's access.