SALVATION: We are all freewill creatures

God didn’t make robots in His image. We all have the God-given ability to choose to do good or to do evil. How can we know the difference? Like any wise and reputable manufacturer, God gave an instruction manual for the guidance and benefit of His creation.

OUR GEM: Harmful algal blooms pose risk

Freshwater algae are a natural and important part of lake, river and stream ecosystems. They produce oxygen by photosynthesis, take up nutrients such as phosphorus from water and are the foundation of aquatic food webs. As with many things in life, there can be too much of a good thing.

Keep your estate plan simple(ish)

It may seem obvious that when planning for what should happen after your death, more detail is better. Indeed, the problems I see with many estate plans have to do with ignoring some aspect of planning that should be addressed. However, the opposite problem is also possible. Let’s take a look...

The key to confidence

A group was hiking through the mountains when they found themselves engulfed by smoke from a forest fire. The smoke obscured all landmarks. They were starting to panic when one of them said confidently, "Follow me."

Moon reelected Idaho GOP Chair, party now opposes funding higher education

Republican party platform opposes higher ed funding

Bingham County delegates rejected at Idaho GOP convention

One of Idaho’s 44 counties won’t be represented in the Idaho GOP Convention after Bingham County’s delegates were excluded Friday, ostensibly because the Bingham County Republican Central Committee has not paid dues to the state party.

Coeur d'Alene High grad wins new car at Knudtsen Chevrolet giveaway

Ferra: 'I'm a Chevy girl through and through'

Her name might be Mercedes, but now she's cruising in a brand new Chevy. Coeur d'Alene High School 2024 graduate Mercedes Ferra, 18, won a 2025 Chevy Trax SUV at Knudtsen Chevrolet's 85th Anniversary Party, held Thursday evening at the Post Falls dealership. "I just cried," Ferra said Friday. "I was so very excited."

THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: A chance to make another splash — Rising Coeur d'Alene High senior Rohlinger competes at Nike Nationals before taking missionary trip to Guatemala with mom

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” Linda Rohlinger said. “Kyle worked so hard to get to a national stage. Then we’ll fly out for another experience that could be life altering. It’s just been fun to experience it all with him. It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

MY TURN: Political 'clickbait'

In a genuine effort to maintain a balanced political understanding and to keep my vision from becoming myopic, I made some time to peruse the most recent and unsolicited volume 2, Issue 14 of The People's Pen that I found in my mailbox.

Fast Five Kevin Croffoot: A father's heart of fire and faith

Meet Kevin Croffoot, a battalion chief with 32 years in the fire service, which began in the beginning with Hayden Fire and continued after consolidation becoming Northern Lakes Fire Protection District.

Melda Hayes, 93

In May 2024, at the age of 93, Melda Hayes left this earth to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior.

Redemption, movie stars and ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’

When movie theaters needed a box office hit, one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars came to the rescue.

Foal health: Managing neonatal maladjustment syndrome

Although rare, neonatal maladjustment syndrome can be a challenging and potentially serious condition for foals as they struggle to adapt to life outside the womb due to neurological abnormalities present during or shortly after birth.

Jacqulyn Korn, 82

Jacqulyn Mae Korn (Jackie), passed away peacefully, May 23rd, 2024, at the University of Kentucky, Chandler Medical Center, at the age of 82.

William H. Boekel, 87

William Howard Boekel of Rathdrum, Idaho, passed away peacefully at home on June 7, 2024, due to heart complications.

Jay Leo Wilhelm, 61

Jay Leo Wilhelm, lovingly known as Papa, went home to his Lord and Savior on June 12, 2024, at the age of 61 in Post Falls, Idaho.

Stephen Glent Petersen, 92

Stephen Glent Petersen, a dedicated and patriotic professional engineer with a passion for photography, peacefully passed away in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.

Helena R. Chandler-Howell, 83

Helena was born November 25, 1940, in French Camp, California, and grew up in the Sacramento and San Francisco area. She went home on June 8, 2024, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Legals for June, 15 2024

Illinois is hit with cicada chaos. This is what it's like to see, hear and feel billions of bugs

It's an only in the United States spectacle, the last of the triple crown of rare forecasted natural wonders.