MY TURN: Kootenai County Public Service Announcement special attention: Washington criminals

Reservation Confirmation: Kootenai Sheriff Bed and Breakfast

Fourth of July is upon us and it is no surprise that many of our arrestees will come from the state of Washington. I have a responsibility to advise Washington criminals that Idaho laws are much different than those in Washington. Here are the top 10 things a criminal should know before bringing unlawful behavior into Kootenai County.

Post Falls Chamber: New leader focuses on connections

It’s with great pleasure that I write my first president’s message for the Business Journal of North Idaho.

FILLIOS: Keep leader in office

Although I live in a municipality in Kootenai County, I understand how important the county government is and how it impacts my life. Many of the usual municipal services are provided by the city where I live. However, all our lives are affected by the actions of our county government. As a community we are all connected.

CENSUS: Expenses way beyond rational

On Tuesday, I went to the mailbox and received what I thought was my 2010 census. Upon opening this letter from the United States Department of Commerce, I found that it was just a notification to expect my 2010 census sometime next week.  Imagine my shock, with our national debt rising so fast our children’s children won’t be able to pay it off, our government is sending out a letter to every address in America telling us to expect another letter.  This has to be running up a huge bill that we can’t afford! Then, to add to my dismay, I read in the CDA Press that there is a “Census Portrait of America Road Tour” coming… a van traveling to more than 800 locations nationwide to increase awareness and participation in the Census.

EVENTS: Complex good for community

As a senior from Lake City High

ROADS: Keeping up with the costs

In the last 16 years, cities, counties and highway districts have experienced increased costs necessary to maintain our roads. Unfortunately for the property owner there has been no action at the state level to properly adjust transportation user based fees since 1996. This has caused the costs to be incrementally shifted to property owners. For instance, property taxes within Lakes Highway District now account for more than 70 percent of our revenue versus 46 percent in 1996. I would expect to see similar results from other organizations.

BALUKOFF: Ads don't tell the truth

I am writing this letter in response to all of the misleading information that is being put out there for our voters to use in making a decision on who to vote for in the gubernatorial race in November. We should all go to the polls armed with the correct information. Let me tell you about education and how much control the present governor, Butch Otter, controls how our tax money is spent.

STRANSKY: Check the scoreboard

We are all familiar with scoreboards, rooting for our team to score at basketball tournaments, football playoffs, and such. Let us also root for the political team striving to make Idaho a better state for you, me and for our children. Pull out that patriotic card deep in your mind, activate it, register to vote, then vote in the upcoming election.

VETERANS: Let us sin no more

Over the Fourth I was watching a commercial about a charity called “Wounded Warriors.” I remember thinking this is a charity I will send money to, but the more I thought about it the madder I got.

MILLER: Service to the community

I was delighted to learn that Kiki Miller was running for Coeur d’Alene City Council, because I know her to be passionate, fair and totally committed to our community. And we need her there now! She has the ability to listen with an open mind to all sides and not just run the agenda of any particular interest group. She has spent decades in service to our community by promoting our region, civic leadership and community activism.

VOTE: Stransky, Nesse for Idaho

Looks as if Lagonda McDonald and Sharon Culbreth were pleased as punch with what the Bush Administration did for/to our country, according to their letters to the editor on Oct. 5. The Republican administration led by George W. Bush for eight years cast our country into a recession.

SHADOWS: Cast pall over N. Idaho

Sunday’s headline article, “Stepping out of the Shadows,” should leave all of us holding our noses at the stench of political correctness. The narrative describes a recently aired PBS show, “Our Private Idaho,” which essentially claims that Idaho is “too white” and that our state is a “haven for white conservatives.” As if there’s something wrong with being white and conservative?

Many thanks

With the final season of the year approaching, it creates a time of reflection. We had a wonderful year in our new Coeur d'Alene location and want to thank all our beautiful patients, past and present, for another successful year. We have amazing patients and it makes coming to work at Owsley Plastic Surgery a great joy.

LEGISLATURE: A monument to waste

A very interesting article in Tuesday’s paper about millions of dollars spent by Idaho taxpayers on outside counsel. This report is actually one of many report cards on the effectiveness of our Idaho Legislature. These folks consistently waste our dollars on politics and at the same time ignore the real needs of our citizens.

THANKS: Super stores surface

The LCSC Students of Social Work Club (SOSW) would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the Super 1 Foods of Hayden Store for their continued support and amazing generosity in helping us raise funds for charitable events for children and young adults in our area. Last spring they donated over six dozen (!) cakes, pies and cookies for our Family Fun Night event to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club. Honorable mention and a huge Thank You to Safeway on Neider Avenue, Albertson’s on Ironwood Drive, and the CdA Super 1 Store for also contributing bakery goods for this event.

REFLECT: And improve nation

The day after Labor Day is almost like another New Year’s Day, full of many new beginnings. It is also a good time for us to reflect on our personal lives.

LEVY: Support the kids

As community members, and citizens of our local district, we have the distinct privilege to support students in ongoing and expanded efforts as outlined in the 2019 M & O Levy. Take time to review and VOTE FOR the upcoming School District Levy on March 12.

THREATS: Stand up to hatred

Hate is rearing an ugly head in our region and our town and making national news. On May 26, the AP posted an article “Hate makes a comeback in the Pacific Northwest,” which mentioned Kootenai County specifically in reference to the Post Falls extremist Brittany Pettibone, who seeks to bring her far right Austrian boyfriend to Idaho to live. The article also described nine far right hate groups operating in our area now.

AMERICA: Beware one cannon

Like so many others, you may have fears about the direction of our beloved country.

UKRAINE: Most helpless feeling

Being an American, a citizen of the most powerful nation on Earth, while 40 million freedom-loving Ukrainians’ lives, fortunes and prospects of future freedom are being crushed right before our eyes — that’s an utterly helpless feeling! Makes me ashamed.