NEW THIS MORNING: Wednesday, September 25

1. New Wildfire Defense Systems location brings resources to Post Falls

Post Falls has a new wildland fire resource with Wildfire Defense Systems opening its doors recently. 

“It’s about reducing the impact a wildfire has. We basically help insurance policyholders adapt to a wildfire until we can solve the problem,” David Torgerson said Tuesday during the company’s open house at its new Lochsa Street building. 

Founders Torgerson and Nicole Barlow began the company in 2001 to provide supplemental assistance to the U.S. Forest Service during wildfires.

The Post Falls location will serve as a fleet management location and service fire vehicles and employ more than 50 staff members. Adding a North Idaho facility also means added space to build out enhancements for fire vehicles.

2. Secret Service: Sandpoint man made repeated threats against former President Trump

 A Bonner County man was arrested by the Secret Service in August for making repeated threats against Former President Donald Trump, according to court documents.  

Sixty-four-year-old Warren Jones Crazybull, of Sandpoint, was arrested in Missoula, Mont., on Aug. 1 after Secret Service was able to trace him using phone data.  

Crazybull was indicted Aug. 20 and has pleaded not guilty to one count of making threats against a former president, which is punishable by fines and/or up to five years in prison. He is currently on a U.S. Marshal hold at the Kootenai County Jail.  

According to the criminal complaint, Crazybull made at least nine phone calls to Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago resort July 31, in which he made threats against the former president’s life.  

3.  Orchard Ridge breaks ground on new senior living apartments

Orchard Ridge, a senior living community in Coeur d’Alene, broke ground on new independent living apartments during a ceremony Tuesday.  

Dozens of people gathered on the Orchard Ridge campus for the groundbreaking ceremony, including building designers, former and current Orchard Ridge board members, and representatives from Ginno Construction and BankCDA, both of which are involved in the project.  

The new building, called The Arbor, will include 31 new apartments, including two-bedroom floorplan options. 

“The Arbor will be an extension of the work we already do for the over 230 seniors currently living at Orchard Ridge,” said Ann Johnson, executive director at Orchard Ridge. “The new project will create more jobs, more housing for seniors and more options for our community as the demand for housing continues.” 

4. Prost! in the Park returns with family-friendly fun

Prost! in the Park returns as the Rotary Club of Post Falls brings back its family-friendly Oktoberfest event Saturday.  

There will be live bands playing music throughout the day, activities for children, featured local beers to sample, German sausage, beer stein-holding contests and more.  

The Rotary Club’s Oktoberfest event takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Q'emiln Park at 12201 W. Parkway Drive in Post Falls.