NEW TODAY: Thursday, October 3

1. Construction tightens belts for some Spokane Street business owners

Construction has been in full swing around the 300 block of Spokane Street since early September, but as the roadwork projects continue, foot traffic to local businesses has suffered.

Public Works director John Beacham said they have been trying to encourage patronage of businesses in the construction area, but the $1.3 million roadwork project has expanded beyond the city's initial plans. The Idaho Transportation Department incorporated an additional paving project, and the work now includes replacing asphalt, repairing sewer manholes at the intersection of Spokane Street/Seltice Way and the Interstate 90 eastbound ramps, and replacing the rail crossing utility casing. 

“Our overall goal is to get in and get out,” Beacham said. 

2. Talks continue for Kootenai County fairgrounds agreement

 Fair administrators and Kootenai County commissioners are still working out an agreement to keep the fairgrounds at the current site for the foreseeable future. 

The matter was first floated in June, amid persistent but nonspecific rumors that the fairgrounds might relocate. In July, fair leadership unveiled a $280 million master plan to rejuvenate and expand the fairgrounds over the next 30 years, while cautioning that rumors of a move have created uncertainty among the community and potential donors looking to invest in the fair’s infrastructure. 

Commissioners Leslie Duncan and Bruce Mattare have said they favor a memorandum of agreement with fair administrators over a long-term lease, so as not to stymie the decision-making power of future boards. 

3. Idaho game guides indicted for illegal mountain lion hunts

A federal grand jury in Pocatello indicted three big game guides who allegedly guided illegal hunts, resulting in the kills of at least 11 mountain lions in Idaho, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.

Chad Michael Kulow, 44, of Kuna, is charged with one count of conspiracy and 11 counts of Lacey Act violations, all felonies. Andrea May Major, 44, also of Kuna, is charged with one count of conspiracy and six Lacey Act violations, all felonies. LaVoy Linton Eborn, 47, of Paris, Idaho, faces one count of conspiracy and seven Lacey Act violations, all felonies. 

The three defendants entered not guilty pleas Sept. 30 in federal court. 

4. Four-time American Olympic gold medalist runs swim clinic for Coeur d'Alene Area Swim Team

 The 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which concluded this summer, left the swimmers of Coeur d'Alene Area Swim Team (CAST) inspired to start a new season of training in the water. Alicia Thornton, head coach of CAST, presented the idea to the team's board of directors of having an accomplished Olympic swimmer run a swim clinic to start the season with positive motivation. 

On Sept. 22 at the KROC Center Competition Pool in Coeur d'Alene, 74 attending swimmers from CAST welcomed Jason Lezak, a two-time bronze, two-time silver, and four-time gold U.S. Olympic medalist. Lezak was the anchor for the U.S Men's 4x100 Meter Freestyle Relay in the 2008 Olympics. In the final 25 meters of the relay, Lezak overtook world record holder French anchor Alain Bernard to win the gold for the U.S. team. It is often considered the greatest Olympic swimming relay race of all time.

The swim clinic started at 7 a.m. with Lezak personally greeting each swimmer and signing autographs with messages such as "Dream Big." 

5. Two Shoshone County area closures lifted after prescribed burns

The U.S. Forest Service announced Monday that two closures in the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District near Kellogg and Prichard ended Monday night. 

The closures were a result of prescribed fire operations on the Beaver Creek and Graham Creek.

Additional hazards may be present in any burned area, whether wildfire or prescribed fire. These hazards include unstable soil, fire-weakened trees and stump holes. 

The Forest Service also noted the closure during timber harvest for Huckleberry Trail No. 802 has been lifted.