DEVIN WEEKS

High school transition program celebrates 15 years

High school transition program celebrates 15 years

If rising tides lift all ships, then Project SEARCH is how young adults with disabilities become captains of their own fates. The high school transition program has been conducted in partnership with Kootenai Health and the Coeur d'Alene School District for 15 years. Interns, graduates, business partners, school district leaders and hospital officials gathered Wednesday at Kootenai Health to celebrate just how much of an impact this program has made on countless lives and the community as a whole.

Post Falls Rotary dedicates crosswalks to honor Mark Jones, others

Post Falls Rotary honors Mark Jones, founding members through crosswalks, signs

For a guy with a fairly common name, Mark Jones was an uncommon guy. He believed in the kids who fall through the cracks of society, the ones with difficult home lives who often find their way to juvenile detention. In his role managing the Post Falls School District's Alternative to Suspension Program, Jones led students to give back to their community through work at the Post Falls Community Garden and local seniors through the Meals on Wheels program. He led the charge for students to Stuff the Bus each year to support the food bank. Jones died June 15, 2024, but the work he did for the students and his community won't be forgotten. “He was a special guy,” said Mel Larson, a program coordinator with Third Avenue Marketplace.

Send us your fourth grade Arbor Day program stories and photos

Send us your fourth grade Arbor Day program stories and photos

Retired forest pathologist John Schwandt grew up in Illinois where he and his siblings received free trees for Arbor Day programs. "One of them is still there 70 years later," Schwandt said Monday. "I got interested in forestry partly as a result of that and made that my career. I’ve been very fortunate to have been out in the forest for 40-something years." chwandt, chair of the city of Coeur d'Alene's Urban Forestry Committee, served as Idaho's first forestry pathologist after he obtained a doctorate in forest diseases from the University of Idaho. "I've been in Coeur d'Alene since 1976," he said. "It was about then, because of the insect infestation problem around town, they started the forest pathology program." Having served on the Urban Forestry Committee since the 1980s, Schwandt is also a part of the nonprofit Arbor Day Organization of North Idaho. In conjunction with the city, the group has annually given away free seedlings to fourth graders since the program's inception 40 years ago.

Post Falls superintendent gives levy talk at American Legion

The Post Falls School District runs an average daily attendance rate of 92.6%. "Which means that each year, we lose 7.4% of our operational funding — funding that should be coming to us from the state of Idaho," Post Falls Superintendent Dena Naccarato said Monday evening. “The only way for us to actualize 100% of our funding is for 100% of our students to be present 100% of the time," she said.

Women's Gift Alliance visits grant recipient Lake City Playhouse

Women's Gift Alliance visits grant recipient Lake City Playhouse

The old lights in the Lake City Playhouse theater were installed in the 1960s, and even then, they were secondhand.

Milken Award-winning educator shares teaching style, tips during lab sessions in Coeur d'Alene

Milken Award-winning educator shares teaching style, tips during lab sessions

He walked around his colorful and ambiently lit classroom, stopping at different desks to check in with small student groups as his pupils worked their way to cylinder volume answers using the V=πr^2h formula.

Mom Prom will be April 12 at Coeur d'Alene Eagles

Mom Prom will be April 12 at Coeur d'Alene Eagles

Sometimes, she might only be known as "Mother," "Mama," "Mommy" or "Mom." She wakes her kids up for school, makes meals for the family, does the dishes, folds the laundry and tucks everyone in at night. She gives the best hugs and kisses away the pain from bumped heads and scraped knees. Her advice is wisdom. Her support is unwavering. Her love is unconditional. Yes, she is Mom, but she's also a daughter, a sister, a wife, a girlfriend and a woman who sometimes needs to kick up her heels and be reminded of her awesomeness. Two words: Mom Prom.

Mystery Gourd, it was nice growing you

Before I dip my fingers into the soil and start mapping out my gardening ambitions this spring, I would be remiss if I didn't share a rather fun story of a curious Cucurbita that was a pleasant surprise last growing season.

Coeur d'Alene support group hosting upcoming events for patients, families, caregivers

Coeur d'Alene support group hosting upcoming events for patients, families, caregivers

On and off. In the world of Parkinson's disease, "on" is often used to communicate that medication is working and symptoms are under control. "'Off' is when your symptoms are not necessarily controlled, and every Parkinson's patient's 'off' is somewhat unique to them," Jennifer Martin, a drug representative from Abbvie Pharmaceuticals, said March 6 during a Coeur d'Alene Parkinson's Support Group meeting at the Coeur d'Alene Elks Lodge.

Post Falls American Legion celebrates service, excellence at awards banquet

Post Falls American Legion celebrates service, excellence at awards banquet

It was a surprise to Stephen Godfrey — but not much of a surprise to those who know him — that he was named Post Falls American Legion Post 143's Legionnaire of the Year. "I'm kind of lost for words, which is unusual, because I wasn't expecting this at all," he said after the announcement was made Saturday night. "I do what I do freely, wasn't expecting any kind of accolades for doing it, but I appreciate it."