Post Falls decommissioning 'social' trails at Kiwanis Park
Staff working to redirect traffic to established paths
City staff are working to decommission "social" trails and redirect traffic to established paths.
Lewis-Clark State honors Trent Derrick as alumnus of the year
An assistant superintendent in the Coeur d'Alene School District has been honored by his alma mater.
Open for season: Athol Farmers Market
Farmstand goods, fresh produce, and more available Fridays in city park
After a light sprinkle and slight threat of rain, the clouds dissipated and the sun shined on opening day of the Athol Farmers Market.
Coeur d'Alene School District superintendent seeking job in Yakima
Hocker a finalist for position with Educational Service District 105
Superintendent is again in the running for a in another out-of-state school district.
Post Falls man shares collection of creations
Name any animal or any classic car and Tim Scarola has most likely brought it to life through his art. Name an artistic medium — acrylic, watercolor, oil, glass, or wood, perhaps? Yep, he's dabbled in those, too.
North Idaho STEM Charter sweeps Idaho Envirothon competition
Students heading for nationals in New York this summer
Today's students are already finding solutions to tomorrow's problems, and the awards are piling up along the way.
FAST FIVE: Mark Woodworth brings people together
Meet Mark Woodworth, a local benefits consultant at Murray Group/Acrisure with a passion for family and community.
Little touts support for education during legislative session
Governor holds press conference at KTEC
It wasn't without some pain and teeth gnashing, but Gov. Brad Little is feeling good about how the 2024 legislative session adjourned sine die April 10. “I’m proud to say that this year, what I proposed to the Idaho Legislature, literally we got about 99% of what we wanted done,” Little said Wednesday afternoon.
'We're so sorry:' Borah Elementary to close
Coeur d'Alene trustees vote to repurpose school
Borah Elementary School's days are numbered. Tears were wiped from faces and sniffles could be heard Monday evening as trustees of the Coeur d'Alene School District unanimously voted to accept a recommendation to repurpose the school as a way to save the district money as it addresses an expected $6 million shortfall for fiscal year 2025. "We're heartbroken, obviously," fifth grade teacher Teresa Armstrong, who is in her 16th year at Borah, said after the meeting.
Coeur d'Alene Superintendent Hocker will not go to Pueblo
Coeur d'Alene School District Superintendent Shon Hocker will not be taking a superintendent position with the Pueblo School District in Pueblo, Colo. Trustees of the Pueblo School Board voted 3-2 to offer the job to another candidate. Hocker was one of two finalists being considered. "It became very clear to me that Pueblo, Colo. was not a good fit for me and my family," Hocker said in a letter to district staff, sent Monday afternoon to The Press.
Celebrating 25 years of fashion
Silverwood donates $10K to 3Cs for silver anniversary fashion show
Hollywood is coming to Coeur d'Alene. The ladies of the Cancer and Community Charities nonprofit will roll out the red carpet May 16 for their 25th anniversary Silver Screen Dinner and Fashion Show at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
Local American Legions sending 11 young men to Boys State
In true and humble statesmanly fashion, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. refused to take the glory for creating the American Legion. “No one man can claim to be the founder of The American Legion," he once said, according to legion.org, the American Legion's website.
FAST FIVE: Branigan Carhart: She'd plant that
Meet Branigan Carhart, a true North Idaho local. Branigan was born in Coeur d’Alene in 1987 and grew up in Sandpoint with her family. Just over 10 years ago she moved back to the Coeur d'Alene area with her daughter and purchased her first home in Post Falls. Branigan is the true definition of a go-getter. As she is raising her 17-year-old daughter solo, she has maintained her full-time position with a large local flooring company, works part time for her family’s business and she still seems to find time to run a small pop-up plant stand called ID Plant That and she continues to be a part of as many local events as possible.
Post Falls High School students open time capsule
Greensferry Elementary's first fifth graders enjoy blast from the past
If you could read a letter from your past self, what do you think it would say? “My past self wants to be a vet, or a millionaire. I spelled both wrong," Post Falls High School senior Hailey Lindsey said, smiling after reading a letter she wrote to her future self when she was in fifth grade.
Community Water Dance at 10 a.m. Saturday in Post Falls
A free Community Water Dance performance will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the grand pavilion in Q'emiln Park, 12201 W. Parkway Drive, Post Falls.
State to award Cd'A, Lakeland funds for vape detectors
Cd'A School District to receive $90K; Lakeland to receive $36K
Vaping has become a common problem in schools, especially at the secondary level. "It’s substantial," Lakeland Joint School District Superintendent Lisa Arnold said Wednesday. "Definitely on a daily basis they are dealing with vape issues."
Cd'A superintendent seeking job in Colorado
Hocker a superintendent finalist for Pueblo School District
Coeur d'Alene School District Superintendent Shon Hocker is seeking a superintendent job in another state. Hocker, who has led the Coeur d'Alene School District since July 1, 2021, is one of two finalists vying for the position of superintendent in the Pueblo School District in Pueblo, Colo. He was in Boise attending the Idaho Law Conference with three school board trustees earlier this week, but will travel to Pueblo for the final interview today. In a Monday letter to families, Hocker said he expects the Pueblo trustees to select the superintendent shortly after the final interviews.
Gift baskets of gratitude
PF Chamber delivers goodies to area schools
A little kindness goes a long way. Tokens of appreciation were spread Tuesday morning throughout schools in Post Falls as members of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce delivered baskets of goodies to say "thank you" to teachers and staff members for their dedication to their students and school communities.
Cd'A superintendent seeking job in Colorado
Hocker a superintendent finalist for Pueblo School District
Coeur d'Alene School District Superintendent Shon Hocker is seeking a superintendent job in another state.
From garbage to glamor
Hayden Canyon Charter hosts Trashin' Fashion Show for Earth Day
The students of Hayden Canyon Charter School are thinking twice about litter they find on the side of the road. Where some may see old newspapers, pieces of trampoline, cardboard boxes or plastic bags, Hayden Canyon's students see endless possibilities for upcycled styles and innovative designs. "I learned that trash can be recycled into something new," fifth grader Levi Hawkins said Monday. The school hosted its inaugural Trashin' Fashion Show in honor of Earth Day, a global celebration held annually in support of the environment.
School districts to provide free summer meals
The Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland Joint school districts will offer free meals on site this summer. Meal service will be Monday through Friday from June 17–Aug. 16. Meals will not be served July 4-5 for the Fourth of July holiday.
Haven of history
Century-old grain silo undergoes restoration on homesteader property
A 29-foot-tall cement grain silo towers over a Greensferry Road property just south of the Spokane River on the Coeur d'Alene side of the Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls border. A curious hawk circles above, keeping a watchful eye on Patrick Record as he finalizes a restoration project to replace the cedar shakes on the nearly 100-year-old silo. Barn swallows playfully soar from birdhouse to pole top while a sweet-tempered Great Pyrenees rolls about in the grass. A nearby rooster crows. Leaves and branches cast shadows on the lawn in the peaceful Friday morning sunshine.
CLN votes for sparse notes
Note taking, prep for budget season discussed at Thursday meeting
Staff will be expected to present the board with a balanced budget and pare down notes taken at Community Library Network meetings following actions taken at Thursday’s three-and-a-half-hour meeting at the Hayden Library.
Women at Work
NIC debuts female-focused career technical education event
The dais was filled with womanly wisdom Wednesday evening as five leading ladies of varying industries discussed pros, cons, advice, tips and tricks of their trades.
Cd'A trustees to host community forum Saturday
Budget shortfall to be main topic
Trustees of the Coeur d'Alene School District will hold a "Fresh-Air Forum" from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday at McIntire Family Park, 8930 N. Government Way, Hayden.
Parkinson's symposium April 26 at Cd'A Public Library
It's Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month, named in honor of James Parkinson, who was the first to medically describe the symptoms of the "shaking palsy" in 1817. Those living with the disease, as well as their families and caregivers, are invited to the Coeur d'Alene Parkinson's Support Group's Living Well with Parkinson's Symposium from 2-5 p.m. April 26 at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave.
Feeling the love
$63K raised at Care Affair
A nonprofit that helps hospitality workers in need is feeling the love. CDAIDE's Care Affair, attended by nearly 250 people and held Thursday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort, brought in $63,295.
PF, Athol libraries resume limited services
Facilities update on Thursday meeting agenda
The Post Falls and Athol libraries will begin offering limited services today following three months of closures brought on by building damage from severe winter weather and flooding in January.
Borah Elementary on chopping block
Cd'A School District considering closure to balance financial shortfall
A neighborhood school that has been open since 1950 is in jeopardy of closing and being repurposed as the Coeur d'Alene School District considers ways to balance its $6 million shortfall.
Working up industry appetites
KTEC hosts 'Hard Hats, Hammers and Hot Dogs'
The bucket on the miniature excavator inched forward, swung out and dropped onto a stack of tires as Xanaia Dahlstrom diligently moved the levers to accomplish her task.
FAST FIVE: Jason Nye, CDAIDE guy
Meet Jason Nye, the executive director of CDAIDE. A Pacific Northwest native, Jason grew up north of Seattle at the tip of Lake Washington in Bothell. He spent his childhood playing in what was then forests and fields, but is now housing developments and pavement. After driving through on the way to Yellowstone with his family in 2017, he and his wife fell in love with Coeur d'Alene. It felt like his childhood, city set amongst the natural forests and lakes where there is a focus on family, community and greenspace.
Library leaders react to 'Protection Act'
Entities in violation could incur fines, other penalties
Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 710 into law Wednesday morning. Also called the "Children's School and Library Protection Act," the law prohibits those who work in schools and public libraries to make available to minors books, pictures and other materials depicting nudity, sexual conduct or sado-masochistic abuse.
Workers in demand in Kootenai County
Hiring event Wednesday at Real Life in Post Falls
The "help wanted" signs fill business windows throughout Kootenai County as the region and the state continue to experience low unemployment numbers. Low unemployment means hiring challenges for some industries. "We're pretty much always looking for our field laborers," All Wall Contracting, Inc. operations assistant Georgia Dettelbach said Wednesday.
LCHS' Kelly named Idaho Vice Principal of the Year
Administrator honored for empathy, innovation, leadership, more
Whatever he can do to make a positive impact on the lives of students, Lake City High School Assistant Principal Bryan Kelly is happy to do it.
Aquifer protection on symposium agenda
Open space meeting set for April 20
Representatives from the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, American Farmland Trust, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and more will speak April 20 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds during the Working Lands and Open Space Symposium.
Growing pains
Elevate Academy North addresses special education violations
A new career technical public charter school that was dinged for special education violations is correcting those errors and working to strengthen relationships with all of its families. “We’ve realized, the population that we serve, we’re going to get more special education students,” Elevate Academy Special Education Director Stephanie Linder said Thursday. “We’ve learned. Those are growing pains. Like any other school would tell you, there’s things that we can do better. Learning from mistakes and growing, that’s what it’s about.”
Historic moment for new PF Historical Society president
McClintick attended USS Idaho christening ceremony
The new president of the Post Falls Historical Society, who has a long history of loving history, began her journey at the helm of the history-promoting nonprofit with her own historic adventure.
FAST FIVE: Dana Parsons welcomes you to higher education
Meet Dana Parsons, the Coeur d’Alene enrollment specialist for Lewis-Clark State College.
Artistic dreams can come true
Jack Bannon Fund for the Arts applications due April 15
A beloved actor with a prolific body of work may be gone, but his legacy lives on in the creative dreams of others. Applications are now being accepted for funding through the Jack Bannon Fund for the Arts, which was created by the late Bannon's wife, Ellen Travolta, to honor his memory by providing support to those seeking to further their artistic passions.
Awash in kindness
Former LCHS students donate service to clean school sign
Two former Lake City High School students have put a little sparkle on their old school's outside sign.
Critchfield: 'We're hopeful'
Public school budget should be ready soon, says state superintendent
Reverting to average daily attendance-based funding from the enrollment-based funding formula used during COVID-19 years has left many Idaho school districts feeling a financial pinch. “Money was left on the table, and we knew that last year,” Idaho State Superintendent of Public Education Debbie Critchfield said Friday during a visit to The Press office.
FAST FIVE: Animals are LaRain Saige's people
Meet LaRain Saige, an animal care specialist helping pets and their people stay healthy and happy at home.
Special meeting goes nowhere
CLN board at odds over presence of attorney, open meeting law
A special Thursday meeting with a focus on Idaho's open meeting law didn't go as planned when the Community Library Network's legal counsel was absent from the meeting.
Work set on $56M PF Dam rehabilitation
Avista expects project to be complete by spring 2027
It's been nearly 50 years since any major work has been done on Avista's Hydroelectric Development North Channel Dam, originally constructed 118 years ago.
Wired2Learn Academy pursues federal nonprofit status
Therapeutic school hosting dyslexia simulation, open house Thursday
An independent therapeutic school in Post Falls is in the final phases of earning its federal 501(c)3 status.
CLN drops Juneteenth holiday
Action criticized as racist
The Community Library Network will no longer observe Juneteenth, the state and federally recognized holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States.
Blessings for Bangladesh
NI Christian School packs meals with love during Feed the Need event
In hairnets and gloves, North Idaho Christian School's 220 students prepared meals with blessings and love. The students worked in rotations throughout the day March 14 to pack 10,000 vitamin-rich meals of rice and lentils that will feed people in Bangladesh, a historically high-poverty, highly populated South Asian country.
FAST FIVE: Keaton Lee paints up a storm
Meet Keaton Lee, an 18-year-old custom painter with a shop located in Post Falls. Follow her instagram @crazy.k.kustomz to see her works.
Hauser Fire to float levy for first time in 21 years
Reset of $481K to help keep pace with increasing costs; open house tonight
The Hauser Lake Fire Protection District and Volunteer Fire Department will float a $480,675 maintenance and operations levy reset in May.
A celebration of exceptional service
PF American Legion honors first responders, volunteers
It was an evening of surprise and celebration as the Post Falls American Legion Steven H. Nipp Post 143 honored the community's finest. Volunteers, firefighters, paramedics, deputies and more were lifted up for their dedicated service and selfless sacrifice during a Saturday evening banquet at the Post Falls Legion. The event was attended by nearly 100 guests.