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Boundary County Archives ~ November, 2012 |
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News |
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November 30 |
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BFHS robotics
team gearing up: One only has to step into the robotics
headquarters behind the middle school in Bonners
Ferry to see that the team is already hard at
work preparing for a new season. Even though
details of this season's First Robotics
Competition (FRC) won't be released until
January, Bonners Ferry Robotics Team 2130 is
already gearing up to ensure a well-prepared
season.
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STEM Jobs Act passes
House: The House of Representatives today approved H.R.
6429, the STEM Jobs Act of 2012, introduced by
Idaho First District Congressman Raúl Labrador
in conjunction with House Judiciary Committee
Chairman Lamar Smith (TX-21) and Representative
Bob Goodlatte (VA-06). |
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November 29 |
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505 Steak &
Sushi ready for grand opening: There’s a new, upscale eatery in town, and while
505 Steak & Sushi began serving their first
guests Tuesday, which was the day of the “soft”
opening … the actual grand opening begins when
they open their doors at 4 p.m. Friday, November
30. |
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November 27 |
 Final
decision made on caribou habitat: The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service announced today its final critical
habitat designation for the southern Selkirk Mountains
population of woodland caribou, an area much reduced from
the range originally proposed.
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Help needed on
All-Hazard plan: The Boundary County Local Emergency Planning
Committee earlier this month began the process
of the updating of the Boundary County All
Hazard Mitigation Plan, and your help is needed
in a community survey to identify those risks
you consider most important, either natural
hazards or man-made.
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 Festival
of Trees tickets now on sale: In
its seventeenth year, the Festival of Trees is
as vibrant as ever. This year the decision by
the Fry Healthcare Foundation and the Board of
Trustees of the Boundary Community Hospital is
to run the Festival of Trees on an all-volunteer
basis, preserving more of the monies generated
through donated pledges and auction items for
use in purchasing needed items for the local
hospital.
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Grace Villelli
elected president: In hindsight, the month of November was a busy
one at Valley View! Parent-teacher Conferences were successful,
with many teachers enjoying 100% participation;
overall we met with 95% of our parents and we
are still looking to make up the missed 5%! A
reality of any successful school program is that
no one can do it alone; we are clearly in this
together.
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Personal income
higher state-wide: A significant surge in business profits,
especially in rural Idaho, pushed 2011 total
personal income higher in 42 of the state’s 44
counties. In resource-dependent Lewis and Idaho
counties, business-profit declines were offset
by higher than average wage increases to boost
total personal income there as well.
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Court records and
sheriff's log |
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November 25 |
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Junior
Class Parents offer Christmas trees: The
Bonners Ferry High School Junior Class Parents
are offering fresh Christmas trees at reasonable
prices starting Monday at Sugar Plum Floral,
6368 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, with proceeds
going toward this years' Senior All-Night Class
party. |
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November 22 |
| Happy
Thanksgiving! |
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The fourth annual Bonners
Ferry Turkey Trot was a big success, with 98 runners
turning out to get a good start on Thanksgiving day.
They filled two 33-gallon cans with food, destined
for the Bonners Ferry Food Bank. |
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November 19 |
Elves
needed for Christmas events: Every
year, Boundary County kids look forward to two
events that herald the Christmas season in
Bonners Ferry; the annual Bonners Ferry tree
lighting ceremony and the free annual Christmas
movie at the Pearl Theater. Both are going on this
year as always, but much help is needed.
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Screenings way up
during awareness month: The seven-week average for mammogram screenings
at Boundary Community Hospital is 97. During the
seven-week period of the hospital's Breast
Cancer Awareness, Early Detection campaign, 211
women had mammogram screenings. Our goal was 147
mammogram screenings.
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Court records and
sheriff's log
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County commission
minutes, November 12
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County commission
minutes, November 5
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County commission
minutes, October 22 |
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November 18 |
 Tiffany Murray;
keeping the flame alive: Bonners Ferry Police Officer Tiffany Murray
participated in a 5k law enforcement Torch Run
while attending the International Law
Enforcement Torch Run in Indianapolis, Indiana,
last week.
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Kramer photos earn
international accolades: Andrea Kramer was recently
awarded the top awards in the International
Professional Photography category in a contest
sponsored by the International Association of
Chiefs of Police. She received her awards at the
International Law Enforcement Torch Run
Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana last week.
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Local man pleads
guilty to groping: A Bonners Ferry man pled guilty Thursday to
voyeurism and three counts of fourth-degree
assault in the Benton County Courthouse,
Prosser, Washington, admitting a long-standing
"sexual problem" that led him to drive from here
to Benton County to live it out.
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Flood watch through
Tuesday night: The Nation Weather Service, Spokane, has issued
a flood watch on small creeks and streams
throughout the region, including all of North
Idaho, effective late tonight through late
Tuesday night. |
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November 17 |
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High country storm
watch issued: The National Weather Service, Spokane, this
afternoon issued a winter storm watch in effect
above 4,000 feet from Sunday evening to late
Monday night, calling for significant snow and
high winds. |
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November 16 |
Moderate to heavy
rain expected: The National Weather Service has issued an
advisory for several days of heavy to moderate
rain throughout North Idaho.
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Suit filed over
Selkirk caribou listing: Bonner County and the state’s
snowmobile association this week launched a
lawsuit in U.S. District Court aimed at forcing
a response from the federal government regarding
Endangered Species Act listing of the “Southern
Selkirk” population of woodland caribou.
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BPA seeks to raise
wholesale power rate: The Bonneville Power Administration has proposed
a 9.6 percent average wholesale power rate
increase to compensate for reduced revenue
expectations from surplus power sales and to
continue funding needed investments in the
Federal Columbia River Power System.
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Throwing my
hat in the ring ... unless: I know this is unfair;
as I own "ink," albeit
digital. Therefore I have to give background and
disclaimers. I will run for the privilege of
serving on the Boundary County School District 101 Board of
Trustees, unless someone else steps up. Our county's kids
deserve the best we have ... I hate to think that's me. |
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November 15 |
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Moyie
Spring City Council minutes, October 3 |
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November 14 |
School
district to seek $1.4 million levy: At the last school board meeting last week, the
School District 101 Board of Trustees voted
unanimously to pass a resolution to put a
two-year, $1.4 million supplemental maintenance
and operations levy to voters on March 12, 2013.
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Bad week for
trucks in Moyie Springs: Boundary County Sheriff's detectives are
currently investigating two incidents involving
pickups that happened in Moyie Springs this
week, one a theft, one a fire.
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Resolution
honoring Native Americans passes: The U.S. Senate passed a
resolution I co-sponsored that recognizes this
November as National Native American Heritage
Month and celebrates the heritages and cultures
of Native Americans and their contribution to
the United States.
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Farmers Holiday
Market Saturday: After wrapping up a successful outdoor season
October 6, the
Bonners Ferry Farmers Market is
going indoors this Saturday, November 17, for
their Holiday Market.
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Know a hero? Give 'em
gas! If
you know someone in the community whose giving
spirit deserves thanks, and there are many in
Boundary County, Cenex and the Bonners Ferry Zip
Trip, 6723 Main Street, would like to give them
a "Tank of Thanks."
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Court records and
sheriff's log |
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November 13 |
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Superintendent's
letter to the community: Boundary County School District #101 has had
four bomb threats in the past several weeks. As
a district and a community we take these threats
very seriously. |
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November 12 |
Bomb threats not
credible, Conley says: The number of bomb threats in Boundary County
public schools climbed another notch today as
another scrawled message was found in a restroom
at the middle school, forcing the fourth school
evacuation in as many weeks.
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On the
eleventh hour: A windy, cool morning could not
damper the spirits of the many Boundary County citizens who
came together Sunday, November 11, at Veterans Memorial Park
in Bonners Ferry to honor local veterans and commemorate
Veterans Day.
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School district
seeks trustee: The Boundary County School District #101 Board
of Trustees declared a vacancy on the board for
Trustee Zone 2 at its November 8 board meeting.
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Gearing up for
the Turkey Trot: The fourth annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, a
free and fine way to burn off some calories as
well as get a head start on pumpkin pie, is
shaping up to be better than ever, and for the
first time, runners can opt to buy a cute and
witty T-shirt, complete with typo.
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Making
sure all have something for the holidays: For 30 years now, Linda Lederhos is spending
much of her time and boundless energy through
the holiday season working to make sure that no
child in Boundary County goes without a present
for Christmas, and the Boundary County
Ministerial Association is once again hard at
work to make sure all have a holiday feast. This
year, the need is once again great.
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Nature
Conservancy buys Hall Creek Forest: The Nature
Conservancy last week acquired the 317-acre Hall Creek
Forest at the base of Hall Mountain in northern Boundary
County. |
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November 11 |
Winter weather
advisory begins tonight: The National Weather Service, Spokane, has
issued a winter weather advisory for an area
including Boundary County, beginning at 10 p.m.
today and lasting through 4 p.m. Monday.
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Though the turnout this
morning at Veteran's Memorial Park was light, a
hardy few braved the cool temperatures to be on hand
as the Bonners Ferry American Legion observed
Veterans Day. |
| Glory Rossbacher photo |
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November 10 |
South Boundary Fire
hopes RV owner returns: After spending much of the day Friday working a
major accident on U.S. 95, firefighters were
called out a second time last night to both
fight a fire and to control traffic when a
recreational vehicle was reported on fire on
U.S. 95 shortly after 11 p.m. ... not too far
from where they'd been earlier.
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 Spencer
family asks for prayers: A Naples family involved in a serious vehicle
collision yesterday on U.S. 95 in which three
members were involved and two injured, mother
Cassie Spencer, 27, and five-year-old Cason, say they're
grateful for the community's prayers.
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November 9 |
 Woman arrested
in bomb scare has long history: In an odd coincidence, while local officials
were responding to a bomb scare at the Bonners
Ferry Middle School Monday, officers in
Sandpoint were responding to one there at the
federal building, and the person taking credit,
now sitting in the Bonner County Jail on $50,000
bond, is from Bonners Ferry.
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Four locals injured
in three vehicle crash: Four people, three from Naples, two of them
children, and one from Bonners Ferry, were
injured in a collision involving three vehicles
at 9:30 a.m. today near milepost 497 on U.S. 95.
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Local kids to play
'Gathering of the Bands:' North Idaho College is hosting “The Gathering of
the Bands” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 14, in
the Schuler Performing Arts Center. Eighth-grade
students from 12 different area middle schools
will perform along with special conductors Dave
Weatherred and Lee Spock.
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 Katz
honored with ISBA award: Bonners Ferry High School science teacher
Ed Katz was
called away from a parent/teacher conference
last night in the high school gym by school
board trustee David Brinkman, who presented him
with the Idaho School Board Association's
Citizenship Award, an honor bestowed on only one
Idaho public school teacher each year for
promoting education both in and out of the
classroom.
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BCSD says goodbye,
hello: The Boundary County School Board took a break
between meetings Thursday evening to recognize
two employees who gave the district years of
outstanding service and commitment, as both move
on into retirement. High School principal Kirk
Hoff used the occasion to welcome two older
teachers, one of them a long-time BFHS favorite. |
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November 8 |
 Helping
Ryan Win: Ryan
Stippich, the son of Jason and Rachel Stippich,
Bonners Ferry, is a cheerful two-year-old who is
facing a terrible illness. But he's not doing it
alone, as the people of the community are
stepping up to help Ryan and his family through the ordeal.
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Winter weather
advisory issued: At 4:08 a.m. today, the National Weather
Service, Spokane, issued a winter weather
advisory for North Idaho, including Boundary
County, and much of western Montana, calling for
snow, wind and falling temperatures.
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Looks like
Christmas at Huckleberry's: Behind the white paper covering the door and
windows of what was once South Hill Furniture in
downtown Bonners Ferry, Dolly Boling and the
crew of Huckleberry Variety, the store right
across the street, are creating a Christmas
wonderland.
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Church hosting
election season challenge: In the tradition of early American political and
religious life, Providence Bible Presbyterian
Church in Bonners Ferry will host an Election
Season Challenge from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday,
November 9, that will feature messages from the
Bible addressed to elected officials and
citizens regarding their mutual duties and
obligations.
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Super Fall Fest
a success: On October 25, the Chamber of Commerce, along
with Boundary Community Hospital, Paradise
Valley Fire Department, Jo Jo Baker, Super 1
employees, local Boy Scout troops, ET Wireless,
Bonners Ferry High School Jr. class parents, and D.A.R.E. officer Tiffany Murray came together to
provide a fun evening for the community; the
community Super Fall Fest. |
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November 7 |
BFPD seeks info on
bomb threats: In the past week the Boundary County High School
and Middle School have experienced three bomb
threats. The Bonners Ferry Police Department
along with the Boundary County Sheriffs
Department, Bonners Ferry Fire Department, US
Border Patrol, US Forest Service, Boundary
County School District and the Boundary County
Volunteer Ambulance Service have worked
diligently in making sure the staff and students
remain safe.
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Actions by the few
affect the many: In the wake of a series of several serious
hoaxes, many in the community are fed up. None
more so than Boundary County School District 101
Superintendent Dick Conley. He sincerely detests
that a lot of great students are being daubed
with the rough brush of what appears to be a
single classmate, at most a few, and he
sincerely regrets that so many will pay the
price.
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Commissioner
Smith thanks community: I take this opportunity to thank all those in this community who’ve
supported me during all the elections in which
I’ve been a Boundary County candidate, both as
sheriff and, for 16 years, as county commission.
I have been gratified to serve the great people
of the best county in the world.
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Men sentenced in
Naples pot grow: Four men – three from Oregon,
one from Alaska – were sentenced this week for conspiracy to
manufacture and possess with intent to distribute marijuana
for a grow operation taken down last year in Naples.
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Where to turn for
school snow closure info: It may seem strange to some that here it is
November, and folks can still go out in
shirtsleeves, even barefoot if so inclined. But
that's going to change and the snow will
eventually start flying. Here's where you can
turn to find out if the weather will have an
impact on students in Boundary County's public
schools.
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Local man guilty of
bank fraud, identity theft: Christopher M. Doyle, 25, Bonners Ferry, pleaded
guilty Tuesday in United States District Court
to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft,
U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
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Bonners
Ferry City Council minutes, October 16 |
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November 6 |
Sprungl wins
another term: In the only contested local race on the Boundary
County 2012 general election ballot, incumbent
sheriff Greg Sprungl (R) easily held off two
challengers today to win another term. It wasn't the first
piece of good news for him this month, either.
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Reward offered for
bomb hoaxer: Just one day after law enforcement and emergency
responders scrambled to respond to a bomb
threat, this one at the Bonners Ferry Middle
School just after 1 p.m., another note
threatening a bomb in a local school was found.
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Rotary names
Students of the Month: Four Bonners Ferry High School seniors were
recognized as Bonners Ferry Rotary Students of
the Month, two for September and two for
October.
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Valley View votes ...
and other important news: This is an important week—both locally and
nationally! To start with and what I feel is
most important: Parent-Teacher Conferences begin
today!
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Court records and
sheriff's log
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County commission
minutes, October 29-30 |
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November 5 |
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Another fake bomb
threat disrupts school: There was an old tomcat once who got his biggest
thrill by strutting back and forth outside a
wooden fence that held back a mean and ugly dog. |
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November 3 |
Idiot hunters put
good ground off limits: It seems that an article I wrote last month,
Deer season not welcome by all,
didn't reach its intended readers, and, as
usual, it's the responsible hunters who pay and
the gracious people who open their land to
hunters who lose their trust. One local property
owner, a responsible outdoorsman himself, has
gone so far as to offer a $300 reward for
information that will convict the idiot(s) who
abused the privilege of hunting on his land.
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Local crews
assisting Sandy victims: Drawing on their expertise in emergency response
and management, FEMA has requested assistance
from the USDA Forest Service in Hurricane Sandy
relief efforts. Locally, a 20 person crew of
Forest Service firefighters from communities
throughout north Idaho will be sent back east to
assist with relief efforts. |
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November 2 |
Leonard pledges
to preserve the peace: My name is Gary Leonard and I am running for
Boundary County Sheriff. I am a man of strong
conservative values. I pledge to exercise all
powers of the Sheriff’s office to ensure I
fulfill the Sheriff’s primary responsibility of
preserving the peace.
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Seminar on
building relationships offered: A two day free seminar, "How to Build Successful
Relationships, Especially in Marriage, the Most
Important Relationship of All," will take place
Friday and Saturday, November 9-10, at Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Church, 1957 Pleasant
Valley Loop, Bonners Ferry.
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Making
middles school a little easier: The following are a couple of thoughtful and
some what humorous ideas presented by Cindi
Rigsbee, the 2009 North Carolina Teacher of the
Year and a parent of adolescents, on how to help
children be successful in middle school.
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Mountain meadows
may be disappearing: Some high mountain meadows in the Pacific
Northwest are declining rapidly due to climate
change, a study suggests, as reduced snowpacks,
longer growing seasons and other factors allow
trees to invade these unique ecosystems that
once were carpeted with grasses, shrubs and
wildflowers. |
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November 1 |
 A
Boundary County Hallowe'en: Hallowe'en eve set
dank and drear over Bonners Ferry, mists of fog and patters
of rain, light winds whispering through the eaves. Not a
good night for people to be astir, not at all. For it was
the perfect night to bring out souls from the netherworld
... goblins and ghosts, zombies and ghouls.
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Dancers invited to
Cranbrook workshop: This November, Stages School of Dance is
bringing world-class dance experience to Cranbrook, B.C., with a European contemporary
dance workshop. The workshop will be taught from
Friday, November 16, to Sunday, November 18, at
Stages School of Dance, #42-6th Avenue South,
Cranbrook, BC, by dance professionals from
international dance company SQx Danza. |
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Obituaries |
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John Timothy "Tim" Day,
December 16, 1946 ~ November 9, 2012 |
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Dorothy
Ann 'Dee' Parr,
December 31, 1951 ~ November 13, 2012 |
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Lilly M.
Figgins,
January 7, 1928 ~ November 16, 2012 |
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Jack Eugene
Spence,
January 21, 1931 ~ November 7, 2012 |
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Janice
Spangard, April 3, 1953 ~ October 31, 2012 |
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Thomas Ervin "Tom" Copeland,
July 11, 1927 ~ November 8, 2012 |
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Tyler Keith Mastre,
November 8, 1985 ~ October 16, 2012 |
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Mary Ann Giesbrecht Unruh,
February 14, 1925 ~ November 4, 2012
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Social |
 New
neighbor looking for work, friends: Todd
Liljedahl and his wife, Rae Ann, spent the first
37 years of their life together in blustery
Minnesota, and moved to Bonners Ferry September
1, liking the idea of a milder climate where
they could still enjoy all four seasons as well
as beautiful scenery and friendly neighbors. |
 Savannah
Shepherd a 'Citizen of the Month:' Savannah
Shepherd, the daughter of Dave and Jessyca Shepherd and
a first-grader in Mrs. Hart's class at Mt. Hall
Elementary, was named one of the school's Citizens of
the Month for November. Congratulations, Savannah! |
 Jarred
Huseby releases first album: Jarred
Huseby, the son of Thad and Rebecca Huseby,
Bonners Ferry, earlier this month released his
first solo album, "Ride of Your Life," a
collection of 13 original contemporary Christian
songs. |
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Mulvey, Solt to wed: Brenda Mulvey and Jeremiah Solt, both of Bonners
Ferry, have announced their engagement and
forthcoming wedding at 5:30 p.m. August 10,
2013, at Snyder Creek Guard Station north of
Bonners Ferry on Meadow Creek Road. |
 Callister a U.S. Marine: Jacob Callister, the son of Ryan and Valerie
Callister, Eastport, and a 2012 graduate of
Bonners Ferry High School, recently spent some
time at home on leave after graduating 13-weeks
of boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot,
San Diego, to become a private first class in
the United States Marine Corps. |
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Sports |
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Lady Badgers
take down CdA Charter, boys fall: The Bonners Ferry Lady Badgers chalked up a road
win Tuesday night, defeating Coeur d'Alene
Charter handily, 55-26. The Badger boys
struggled through the first half, and though
they caught up in the second and forced
overtime, they couldn't overcome the scrappy
Panthers, and fell 41-38. |
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Badger boys edge
Lake City JV: The Bonners Ferry boys varsity basketball team
opened their season with an overtime win at home
Monday, downing the Lake City JV squad 49-45.
The girls opened their season on the road in
Coeur d'Alene to take on Lake City JV, but fell,
46-56. |
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Letters |
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Jaye
Gross: Its really frustrating that the secretary of the
City of Moyie Springs can order water meters be
removed without any authorization from the city
council. |
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Rosanne Smith: Enough is Enough! Mayor, City Council, City
Employees of Moyie Springs ...
Having just received my property tax bill I say
enough is enough. |
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Carolynne Anne Reed: Thank you so much for your
kindness after the terrible fire to our camper
(see
South Boundary Fire hopes RV owner returns).
Yes, we did get our items returned. The kindness
that the Red Cross and Brother Leach, from the
LDS Church, and the paramedic who took us to the
hospital was extremely kind. |
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Gaylene Keyes: We are writing to you in hopes this letter will
be published to honor some very remarkable
people whose lives crossed on Friday, November
9, 2012. My husband Derek and I were traveling
from Creston B.C. to Sandpoint. At approximately
9:15 a.m. just south of Bonner’s Ferry, we were
one of the first vehicles on the scene of a
horrific crash that involved a pickup truck, an
SUV and a semi with a low bed trailer hauling a
CAT. |
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Jaye Gross: Re Ordinance 109 in Moyie Springs, (Moyie
Springs City Council minutes, September 5).
I believe that the single wide trailer being
spoke of sits well out of sight and behind the
property owned by Terry Johnson. |
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Lee
Pinkerton: Please allow me to extend my genuine praise and
gratitude to Commissioner Ron Smith for his
years of exemplary service to the citizens of
Boundary County. |
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