NEW THIS MORNING: Saturday, September 21
A crowd gathers around with steins to catch beer flowing from a keg on the opening day of Oktoberfest on Friday in Coeur d'Alene.
BILL BULEY/Press
The ceremonial tapping of the keg, along with song, dance and German phrases, opened the annual celebration that includes contests for best traditional dress and stein holding.
The annual event in Munich, Germany, a bigger affair, also kicked off Friday and runs through Oct. 6.
Oktoberfest is organized by the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association. It offers 18 host sites, 30 beer options, two beer gardens, seven live bands and German food from local restaurants.
2. Coeur d'Alene BLM office announces more prescribed burn projects
The Bureau of Land Management Coeur d’Alene District Office plans to finish “multiple fuels treatments and prescription burning projects” during the upcoming fall and winter months, according to a press release.
The Lynch Gulch Fuel Break pile burning project will take place on about 120 acres located south of Pinehurst in Shoshone County, on Bobby Anderson Ridge. Pile burning in the area is intended to clean up forest debris left from the creation of a fuel break earlier this year.
The North Cougar pile burning project will take place on about 11 acres of BLM-managed land near U.S. 95 and Cougar Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The Chilco pile burning project will take place on about 30 acres on the west side of U.S. 95, between the Highway 53 junction and Brunner Road.
3. Hayden man sentenced to prison for lewd conduct with minor
A 73-year-old Hayden man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison after being convicted of lewd conduct with a minor under 16.
David Allen Ihle will be eligible for parole after three years, according to a press release from the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office.
The release said that between May 2013 and August 2014, Ihle engaged in inappropriate contact with a then 9–10-year-old child.
4. Five hurt in four-vehicle crash near Post Falls
Five people were hurt in a four-vehicle crash in Post Falls on Thursday.
According to the Idaho State Police, a 22-year-old female from Stafford, Texas, was westbound in a 2023 Tesla Model 3 about 8 a.m. on 14th Avenue when she failed to stop at a stop sign.
As the Tesla crossed Spokane Street, a southbound 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by a 29-year-old female of Spirit Lake, struck the Tesla.
The Tesla then struck two other vehicles, a Chevrolet Silverado and Chevrolet Tahoe, in a residential driveway on West 14th Avenue, the release said.
The Tesla came to rest partially on top of the Tahoe. There was also damage to the residential property.