Back to Archives Home News Bonners Ferry is dedicated to providing news and information of importance to the people of Boundary County, Idaho, when it happens, sometimes as it happens. Our archives will stay on line as long as News Bonners Ferry does ... accessible to everyone and providing a look back at the news and information that was presented on these pages. Obituaries Michelle Donnell Owens, August 23, 1973 ~ September 26, 2017 Cornelia Grace (Regehr) Mininger, January 20, 1930 ~ September 26, 2017 Tim Cromwell, October 1, 1967 ~ September 22, 2017 Jeffrey L. Rice, August 28, 1962 ~ September 21, 2017 Mark Truesdell, July 20, 1955 ~ September 24, 2017 Loretta Kay Smith, July 27, 1935 ~ September 23, 2017 Julie A. Steiger, March 25, 1986 ~ September 19, 2017 James Grant Malmquist, Sr., May 23, 1942 ~ September 8, 2017 Don Alexander, July 21, 1942 ~ August 27, 2017 Social ECF gang looking for some polka! Staff at the Boundary Community Hospital Extended Care Facility would really like to find an accordion player and some polka dancers to entertain residents at their upcoming Oktoberfest celebration! Seven Bonners Ferry students earn U of I degrees: The University of Idaho recently announced its Spring Semester 2017 graduates. Graduating from Boundary County were Brianna M. Carlson, Allison F. Worley, Janette M. Cartwright, Cody J. Witko, Kody M. Rice, William I. Ryckeghem and Zachary J. Williamson. Mr. Bonnell BCSD Employee of the Month: Paul Bonnell is a fantastic teacher and human being. When people hear his name, they inevitably bring up positive memories and get a smile on their face! I am not surprised then that Mr. Bonnell is September’s Employee of the Month for Boundary County School District 101. Spaghetti fundraiser to help local cancer patients: The Bonners Ferry Women’s Cancer Support Group will be holding their annual spaghetti dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, October 5, at the Chic-n-Chop Restaurant. Tickets are $5 at the door. Sims preparing for state DYW in Idaho Falls: High school senior girls from across Idaho, including Hannah Sims of Bonners Ferry High School, will join together in Idaho Falls for the Distinguished Young Women of Idaho program to be held Friday and Saturday, October 6-7 at the Civic Auditorium. Sports ~ Badgers fall to St. Maries on homecoming ~ It's a homecoming heart breaker for the Bonners Ferry Badgers, who fell to St. Maries September 29, 44-8. The loss puts the Badgers at 1-5 on the season, St. Maries is 4-2. The Badgers play their first league game against the 1-3 Priest River Spartans in Priest River next Friday at 7 p.m. Expect delays to Beetop-Roundtop Trailhead: Travelers to the Beetop-Roundtop Trailhead #120 on the Idaho Panhandle Nationals Forests in Bonner County should expect delays due to the county doing road improvements on the West Spring Creek Road. Decoys to be used to nab poachers: The Idaho Department of Fish and Game reminds hunters that in areas where the department receives complaints or reports of suspicious activity, officers may use "artificial simulated animals" during hunting season to detect wildlife law-breakers. Badgers fall 50-14 at Pullman: Connor Kinkaid ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more to lead the Pullman, Washington, Greyhounds to a 50-14 win over the visiting Bonners Ferry Badgers in non-league play tonight. Volleyball Association offering open gym: The Boundary County Volleyball Association is gearing up to offer a fun, active and competitive way to help you through the long dark that lies just ahead; adult co-ed volleyball on Wednesday nights from November through February, with an open gym starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 4, for everyone interested in trying out. Make the call to catch poachers: With many hunting seasons in progress or about to begin, the Idaho Fish and Game is asking the public to call the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline if they witness a violation of fish and game laws. Correction: Badgers win in overtime: Thompson Falls had a great defensive game Friday night,but Bonners Ferry rallied to a 28-26 win in overtime. Updates on fires that may affect early season hunts: Here's an overview of wildfires that may affect hunters. This post will be periodically updated, but wildfires are dynamic and situations can constantly change. We will do our best to keep hunters informed about what fires are affecting early season hunts. Bonners Ferry wrestlers shine in big competitions: The Bonners Ferry Wrestling Club took flight this past season as Eli Richards, Kyle Smith, Evan Barajas, Jake Summerfield, Jackson Rickter, Austin Madden, Dalton Regehr, Jessie Sandelin, Maddox Mertwieller, Chance madden, Marcus Regerhr and Andrew Sandelin brought home over 27 medals from the Idaho Kids State folkstyle, freestyle and Greco wrestling tournament. Letters Editor Mike Weland: For those who've noticed an inordinate number of typos in NewsBF articles over the last couple of days, my apologies. I've gone back through and tried to do a bit of clean up, and while I'm remiss, I'm pretty excited, too. Five-plus years post-stroke, I now have a doctor who believes I can regain at least some use on my left side, and I just set off down that path. Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter: As wildfire season winds down in Idaho and other parts of the West, one initiative ramping up in Idaho has the potential to tamp down fears about the future of federal lands that make up so much of our state. Brian Leach: I am the "horse murderer's" son (see "Warrant served on horse rescue facility," September 20), and I just would like to clear something up. U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador: This year will go down as one of the worst fire seasons in U.S. history. With fires still burning across the West, federal wildfire spending has reached $2.4 billion – topping the previous record of $2.1 billion in 2015. Rosanne Smith: The City Council of Moyie Springs is moving forward to make our fire department a corporation. The reason for this is then the RR will give/donate funds to build a new fire station. Patricia Christo: What a wonderful article (Locals taking part in Walk to End Alzheimer's, September 11)! Thank you for publishing! Thank you for walking! U.S. Senator Mike Crapo: Fourteen years ago, congressional colleagues and I crafted the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to help provide the U.S. Forest Service with the tools needed to do the necessary work on the ground to restore our forests to health and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to our communities and ecosystems. U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador: This week, the House took strong action to deal with the ever-growing threat of transnational criminal gangs such as MS-13. The House passed my bill, H.R. 3697, which bars alien gang members from coming to the U.S. and detains and removes them if they are criminal gang members or participate in gang activity.

Home   News   Sports   Social   Obituaries   Events   Letters Boundary County Archives ~ September, 2017 News September 29 Quick blast of winter expected to bring in October: It appears that October is apt to come in with a wintry roar, as a sudden cool down and rain are expected for the final day of September, the first day of October brings even cooler temps and a good chance of thunderstorms and the first work week of the tenth month bring temperatures near freezing and a possibility of snow. Happy homecoming 2017! Today is the big day at Bonners Ferry High School, especially for those in the Badger Class of 2018, who took part today in their final homecoming celebration. While the homecoming game doesn't take the field until 7 p.m., the spirit of the event was made manifest as the parade wound through downtown Bonners Ferry this afternoon! To see more of today's Homecoming Parade, click here!   More on officer-involved Coolin shooting released: Idaho State Police public information officer Tim Marsano today released additional information on the fatal officer-involved shooting that took place Tuesday morning, September 26, in Coolin. Every star you see is in our Milky Way, the time to look is nigh: What could be better than a beautiful night under the Milky Way? But did you know that every night of your life is a night under the Milky Way? By that we mean … every individual star you can see with the unaided eye, in all parts of the sky, lies within the confines of our Milky Way galaxy. And the best night of the year to see it is approaching. September 28 IDL has advisory committee openings: The Idaho Department of Lands is seeking nominations for two open positions on the Idaho Forest Practices Act Advisory Committee. Local forestry and fire grants available: Non-profit groups, local and state agencies, tribes and educational institutions can apply for grants of up to $240,000 each to help protect, enhance and conserve forests in Idaho. September 27 Bonners Ferry man facing 10 years for arson: A 32-year-old Bonners Ferry man told a deputy he was homeless as he confessed to lighting a shed he said he'd been staying in in Moyie Springs on fire Saturday morning. He is now facing up to 10 years in prison after being charged with third degree arson. Welcome back ... it's Homecoming already! BFHS is off to the races this school year, and we are in the full swing of Homecoming already! It is awesome to have the staff and growing student population back in our building for the school year. The first four weeks have flown by, and the all-around vibe in our building is positive. By Principal Kevin Dinning Coats for Kids drive underway at Valley View: Valley View Elementary is now conducting its annual  Coats for Kids drive, and anyone may drop off their gently used, clean coats with buttons or working zippers. Hats, gloves, boots and scarves are also needed. Planned burns to take place in area forests: Fire managers on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests plan to conduct prescribed burning across multiple Ranger Districts in the coming weeks. Diabetic Education Support Group helping for 20 years: If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, it’s important to have support from other people with the disease. The Boundary County Diabetic Education Support Group has been helping this community through networking and education for 20 years. So shine on, shine on harvest moon: The moon reaches its first quarter phase on September 28, 2017, at 7:54 p.m. A first quarter moon shows half of its lighted hemisphere – half of its day side – to Earth. The moon is now waxing toward full moon – and the Harvest Moon, or closest full moon to the September equinox – on October 5. Idaho schools gearing up for Poetry Out Loud: High schools across Idaho are invited to participate in Poetry Out Loud, an amazing opportunity for both students and teachers. Students can master public speaking skills, learn about their literary heritage and come to appreciate poetry in a new way, and over $100,000 in scholarships and awards are awarded to students and schools across the nation! September 26 Bonner County deputies involved in fatal shooting: Today at approximately 9 a.m., Bonner County Sheriff's Office deputies attempted to serve a felony arrest warrant on a male subject near the community of Coolin, at the southern shore of Priest Lake. UPDATE: On Wednesday morning, Idaho State Police investigators identified the deceased as Craig A. Johnson, 50, of Bonner County. The investigation is ongoing, no additional updates are currently available. BNSF, UP expanding, upgrading in northern Idaho: Track projects this summer in North Idaho are expanding capacity on a busy segment of Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s Northern Corridor, and upgrading conditions on Union Pacific’s route to the Canadian border. By Bruce E. Kelly, Railway Age Court dispositions and sheriff's log September 25 Women in Agriculture conference coming to town: The sixth annual Women in Agriculture Conference, sponsored by Washington State University Extension, is returning to the Northwest on November 18, and Bonners Ferry is one of its stops. The one-day event will be held simultaneously at 39 locations throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska. Valley View needs book fair volunteers: Valley View PTO is looking for volunteers to help with their Scholastic Book Fair October 16-19. For parents who have never volunteered with this, the event is a lot of fun and your children will love having you there! NOAA predicting a cold, wet winter: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is reporting the summer of 2017 was the third warmest on record globally, with the Pacific Northwest feeling the same heat, but the region may be in for another cold, wet fall and winter. Funding bill would treat wildfire as natural disaster: In the wake of historic wildfires in Oregon, Idaho, California, Washington and across the West, several U.S. Senators introduced an updated version of their bipartisan wildfire funding solution that would protect desperately needed funding for fire prevention and treat wildfires as the natural disasters they are. Laws to make you proud, if you happen to be a nitwit: People throughout history have relied on their political leaders to create and implement laws to protect them. Many of these laws are sensible, and you do not have to be a genius to figure out why it became a law and how it was deemed necessary to enforce it. Musings from Moyieboy, by Ken Carpenter September 22 Sanders County Sheriff seeking tips on stolen truck: The Sanders County, Montana, Sheriff's Office needs your help in locating the person(s) responsible for the theft of a pick up truck in Trout Creek on Monday. The theft was captured on a game camera at 6:58 p.m. MST. Not guilty pleas entered in Yaak murder case: Boundary County residents Ezra Levi Skinner, 28, and his wife Sarah Louise Carpenter Skinner, 27, both pled not guilty Monday to the charge of deliberate homicide in the January death of Travis Jay "T.J." Gillett, 31, during their arraignment hearing in Lincoln County 19th Judicial District Court in Libby. Local slate for November 7 election set: Barring last-minute write-ins, two people are running for a two-year seat on the Bonners Ferry City Council and two incumbents in four-year positions are unopposed, and in Moyie Springs, five people are running for two city council seats and the mayor is running unopposed. Fire danger moderate, burn permits being issued: Fire Warden Ken Homik of the Kootenai Valley Fire Protection District announced today that with the continued cool and moist weather we’ve had this week, they are lowering fire danger to moderate and will begin issuing burn permits for residential yard waste and other forms of burning on a case-by-case basis. Davis sworn in as U.S. Attorney: Bart M. Davis took the oath of office Thursday to become the United States Attorney for the District of Idaho. Davis was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on July 20. Idaho nominations open for Presidential Scholars: Idaho high school seniors interested in being nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program are urged to submit applications to the State Department of Education by October 25. September 21 Idaho Panhandle/St. Joe Hotshots celebrating 50 years history: The Idaho Panhandle/St. Joe Hotshots are celebrating 50 years of fire suppression history this October. They are looking for former Idaho Panhandle and/or St. Joe Hotshots to attend this reunion with their spouses/significant others from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, October 7, at Red Lion Templin's Hotel on the River in Post Falls. County Commission minutes, September 4 September 20 Naples Elementary locked down for emergency landing: Naples ​Elementary School ​went into lock down ​at approximately 12:10 p.m. today to accommodate the emergency landing of a medical helicopter for a non-school related incident. Warrant served on horse rescue facility: The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at a horse boarding/horse rescue facility in the Naples area today. The warrant was obtained in conjunction with an investigation into reports that animals were being abused or neglected at the facility. St. Ann's says thanks! The congregation at St. Ann's Catholic church sends out heartfelt thanks to Idaho Forest Group for donating $35,000 worth of lumber for the new church! Parishioners are grateful for all the help and donations they have received so far! 4H Friday Friends need those who will share: 4-H Friday Friends needs community volunteers; someone to come share with the kids some form of valuable information or teach them an activity. Court dispositions and sheriff's log September 18 ~ Fire restrictions lifted ~ Agencies responsible for managing lands and providing wildland fire protection in the Coeur d’Alene Dispatch area, which includes Boundary County, have lifted fire restrictions for the entire area. With the cooler temperatures and recent rainfall, conditions no longer warrant extreme fire danger; however, Forest Service personnel are still reminding the public to be careful with their fires. Fire managers would like to thank everyone for their patience during fire restrictions and for their help preventing wildfires. Early morning drill to test abilities: Boundary County will activate its Emergency Operations Center at 4:30 a.m. tomorrow in a training exercise with several other agencies. Residents with police scanners will hear radio traffic involving emergency services throughout the county. Year off to a great start at Valley View: The school year is off to a great start and the students and staff at Valley View are excited to be back into our hallways. The school looks great and we are very appreciative of all the hard work of the custodial staff and many others over the summer. Dye job to aid fishery understanding: From September 24 through 29, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey will conduct dye tracer and aerial mapping studies on the Kootenai River. Data from the studies will support Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Kootenai Tribe of Idaho fisheries and river restoration projects. College application week coming to BFHS: Idaho College Application Week is November 6 through 9, and at Bonners Ferry High School, teachers and counselors encourage eligible students to apply to at least one college during the week. And that's not all that lies ahead for BFHS students who have their eyes on higher education. September 17 Third-annual Community Quilt Show coming: The third-annual Bonners Ferry Non-Judged Community Quilt Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 14, at the Boundary County Fairgrounds. There'll be door prizes, quilt sales, vendors, demos and to add icing to the cake, the winner of the beautiful community quilt will be drawn! September 16 Search underway for missing Libby man: Searchers in Lincoln County are looking for Robert Joseph Dombroski, who was last seen Thursday night in Libby at around 10 p.m. wearing a black long sleeved Rob Zombie T-shirt, black slacks and black tennis shoes. He is 6'4" and 172 pounds. He has sandy blonde hair and a scorpion tattoo. ~ Firefighter needs parts for skidder ~ ‎Nichole Anthony‎ is in search of a planetary ring gear and an axle gear for a 518 skidder #5051788 as Joe is up on a fire broke down. If anyone can help please call (406) 291-7014. September 15 Freeze warning issued for Saturday morning: What happened to fall?! The National Weather Service has issued the first freeze warning of the season for North Idaho and northeastern Washington, predicting that thermometers at lower elevations will be dipping into the upper 20s Saturday morning. Lock rigs, don't leave good stuff in plain sight: The Bonners Ferry Police Department would like to remind you to be sure to lock your vehicles when unattended. Do not leave valuables such as iPods, phones, money or guns in unsecured vehicles. Davis gets Senate confirmation as Idaho's U.S. Attorney: The nomination of Idaho State Senator Bart Davis to serve as Idaho’s next United States Attorney was confirmed Thursday evening by the United States Senate. Davis’ nomination cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee by voice vote on Thursday, September 7. Rathdrum woman killed in three-car crash: A Rathdrum woman lost her life Thursday afternoon after her vehicle was rear-ended on SH53 near Rathdrum. September 14 Idaho Panhandle National Forests weekend wildfire update: There were two new wildfires detected across the Coeur d’Alene Dispatch zone since last week. They were quickly contained and are being monitored. Even with the cooler temperatures and possible precipitation, fuel moistures are still very dry and fire danger remains extreme. Fit & Fall Proof class starts Monday: The Bonners Ferry Senior Hospitality Center will begin the fall session of the “Fit and Fall Proof Class” at 10:45 a.m. Monday, September 18. The class is specifically targeted for older adults or anyone who would like to improve their fitness or has a history of falling or a fear of falling. Boundary County Commission minutes, August 28 September 13 Kootenai National Forest fire update: This is the September 13 fire update on the fires that are burning on the Kootenai National Forest. The Gibralter, Weasel, Caribou, West Fork Moose Peak, and Highway 200 Complex fires are detailed below ... Idaho AG warns consumers in wake of Equifax hack: Hackers recently accessed the personal information of 143 million Americans at Equifax, one of the nation’s largest credit reporting agencies. The exposed data includes consumers’ names, Social Security Numbers, birth dates, addresses, and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. Idaho's attorney general has tips to protect yourself. Eller bringing Bad Asses and Disasters to museum: The Idaho Humanities Council Speakers Bureau and the Boundary County Historical Society and Museum are pleased to present “Bad Asses and Disasters of Early Idaho” a performance by Idaho songwriter Gary Eller, at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 5, at the Boundary County Museum, 7229 Main Street, Bonners Ferry. His performance will be followed by a jam session, so bring along your instruments! This Old Trunk celebrates a year: An eclectic shop quietly celebrated its first anniversary last month in the old South Hill Furniture building on Main Street, and if you haven't visited yet, you owe it to yourself to stop in and visit "This Old Trunk Antiques and Collectibles, 7219 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, and owner/retail baby sitter Heather Bailey. September 12 Library Journal honors library district as Best in America: Boundary County Library District is the Best Small Library in America, 2017, honored today by Library Journal with the support of sustaining sponsor the Junior Library Guild. Professional angler victim of theft: A professional trophy fisherman at Perkins Lake was robbed of a large and expensive quantity of gear from his boat while he was parked for a few minutes on Monday. Hiring event slated in Sandpoint: The Idaho Department of Labor office at 613 Ridley Village Road, Suite C, Sandpoint, is hosting a hiring event with multiple employers all under one roof from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 20. The versatile beard: baby toy, jowl hider and more: Beards can be many things to many people. Some may be driven wild by the itch of them while others can become mad from the itch of a sweaty bald face. They can be dignified or repulsive, possibly depending on if any pets are living in them. Musings from Moyieboy, by Ken Carpenter Equinox for Equality coming to Sandpoint: In a move to showcase how Sandpoint embraces diversity and equality, several groups in Sandpoint are co-sponsoring "Equinox for Equality," an event to be held at Farmin Park in Sandpoint from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, September 22. Court dispositions and sheriff's log September 11 Locals taking part in Walk to End Alzheimer's: A team of walkers from Bonners Ferry will be participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's on September 30 in Coeur d'Alene, and they need your help, either by walking with them or donating to the cause. Deadline near for SCD tree sale: It's nearly your last chance to order trees during this year's Boundary Soil Conservation District Annual Tree Sale. All their trees are container grown and handed to you in an eight-inch or 15-inch plug. Over 2,000 homeless in Idaho: Results from Idaho’s annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count show the state’s homeless population continues to hover at 2,000 on average. The count remains consistent with the numbers reported the last six years. September 10 Check your Weekly Grand tickets: Idaho Lottery jackpot's newest winning ticket was bought in Boundary County! Players who purchased tickets for the Idaho-only game Weekly Grand for Wednesday night’s draw are encouraged to check their tickets carefully to see if you are the one. September 8 Air quality alert extended again: The air quality alert that had been set to expire at noon today has instead been extended through 10 a.m. Monday as breezes anticipated haven't arrived and sparse scattered showers in the county today have done little or nothing to settle the thick blanket of dense smoke covering much of the northwest. ~ Air quality hazardous ~ 11:51 a.m.: North Idaho's air quality is at the bottom of the scale, with the air in Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint rated as unhealthy and the air further north rated as hazardous. Those with breathing problems, especially the very young and very old, should remain indoors and be ready for a trip to the hospital if breathing becomes difficult. Work scheduled on two UP railroad crossings: Union Pacific Railroad crews will tentatively be working on the crossing on Wilderness Road from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, September 10. Traveling art exhibit coming to Boundary County: The ArtsGrowLearning Traveling Art Exhibit is going to be making a stop in Boundary County for two weeks! The Idaho Commission on the Arts partnered with venues across the state to present ArtsGrowLearning, a touring presentation showcasing student visual art, dance, creative writing/storytelling and media arts created through Idaho’s ArtsPowered Schools program. Forest Service road closing for repair: The Bonners Ferry Ranger District is issuing a road closure on Forest Service Road #2509 in Boundary County while a culvert is removed. The culvert will be replaced with a bottomless arch over Spruce Creek to restore fish passage upstream of the road. Medicare workshop offered in Sandpoint: Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors, a unit of the Idaho Department of Insurance, is offering a Medicare Workshop from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 13, at the Bonner General Hospital, N520 3rd Avenue, Sandpoint. Moyie Springs City Council Minutes, August 9 Boundary County Commission Minutes, August 7 Boundary County Commission Minutes, July 3 September 7 IPNF weekend fire update: Eight new wildfires were detected across the Coeur d’Alene Dispatch Area in the last week. Firefighters have worked hard to contain new starts quickly. With all the smoke throughout Boundary County, the sheriff's office is receiving countless calls from people with concerns of local fires. As of 4 p.m. today, there are no wildfires burning within Boundary County! Lincoln County fires update: This is the September 7 fire update on the fires that are burning on the Kootenai National Forest. The Gibralter, Caribou, West Fork, Moose Peak, and Highway 200 Complex fires are detailed below. Mutt Strut canceled due to smoky haze: Due to the smoky, unhealthy haze enveloping the region, organizers of this year's Mutt Strut dog/human walk run have made the hard decision to cancel the popular Pawsitive Works fundraiser. Senator Crapo joins KVRI Board for lunch: Idaho Senator Mike Crapo took time from his busy schedule to meet with the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative Board for lunch on August 29. Left to right are County Commissioner Walt Kirby, commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Ron Abraham, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Senator Mike Crapo, Commissioner Dan Dinning, Bonners Ferry Mayor David Sims and Gary Aitken Jr., Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. September 5 Kootenai National Forest fire update: This is the September 5 fire update of the fires that are burning on the Kootenai National Forest. The Gibralter, Caribou, West Fork/Mount Tom, Moose Peak and Highway 200 Complex fires are detailed below. West Fork Fire prompts more evacuations near Libby: The West Fork Fire just seven miles northwest of Libby is growing quickly. The fire started last week and is now burning about 1,600 acres. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on Monday afternoon updated the areas listed under a mandatory evacuation order. Court dispositions and sheriff's log September 4 ~ Fireball seen over the region ~ 10:18 p.m.: Police are responding to a report of a fireball falling from the sky and landing in the north part of Marx Subdivision or in the area of the landfill. Fire crews have been notified. As of 11:43 p.m., firefighters are still out, but they are winding down as nothing has been found and the area of reported sightings has grown to cover much of the region from Spokane to Tacoma to Calgary. If it was an asteroid that hit, it could take hours to days for a resulting fire to grow large enough to be spotted. It is most likely, if it was an asteroid, that it came apart well before hitting earth, making the chance of finding an impact site even more difficult. The most credible footage of the fireball seen across the northwest comes from Jacquie McKay, Bridge Lake, B.C., north of Kamloops, though the security camera capture does not show where or if the meteorite impacted. The original footage can be seen at on Jacquie's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jacquie.mckay/videos/10154654679511193. ~ Woman rescued from fall into Kootenai River ~ 7:14 p.m.: Emergency personnel have been paged to respond to a report of a person falling from the railroad bridge into the Kootenai River. Water rescue personnel are assembling. 7:21 p.m.: The person reporting this says a woman went into the water on the north side and was shouting for help; police have spotted the victim in the water about 100 feet from shore and in distress. A boat is being launched and the officer is calling for a throw rope.  7:31 p.m.: The woman has been brought to shore; she is alert and walking. Additional personnel are standing down. Smoke expected to get worse before clearing: An air quality alert remains in effect through noon Wednesday, with air quality only expected to get worse as wind shifts bring in more smoke from British Columbia and Montana fires, in addition to smoke from the Washington and Oregon Cascades. Welcoming the Memorial Wall Despite a heavy blanket of smoke choking the region, many turned out in pockets along Highways 95 and 2 this morning to wave flags and salute the convoy carrying the Vietnam Memorial Wall through Boundary County on its way to Kalispell, Montana. September 3 Open house set at The Little White Church: After three years of fixing up The Little White Church in Paradise Valley, built in 1903, most of the work is pretty much finished, and Larry Hall is organizing a potluck picnic and open church for the community! September 1 Fire weather watch issued for Sunday: The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch in effect on Sunday afternoon and evening for high Haines Index for North Idaho, the east slopes of the Cascades and the Okanogan highlands. Building great habitat for our unique Kootenai River fish: The Kootenai Tribe is building a project to increase and improve habitat for Kootenai River white sturgeon, burbot and other native fish. Construction of the project, which is upstream from Bonners Ferry between river miles 153.5 and 155, began in late August. Bats in your house? Stay calm: News of recent cases of rabid bats in various parts of Idaho have left residents nervous about encountering bats inside or outside their homes. It is important that people understand how to best handle a bat that is found in their home, including what precautions to take to prevent exposure to rabies. Vietnam Vets Memorial convoy to roll through town: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be passing through Bonners Ferry on Monday, September 4, at approximately 11:45 a.m. to noon, as it travels from Goldendale, Washington, to Kalispell, Montana, where it will set up at 2000 US 93 S and be on display, sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America NW Montana Chapter 1087, from September 7-10. Old bachelors die hard: As time goes by, or to be more specific, as the past nine years of married life go by, I am beginning to notice a few things about myself. The most important is, I am more like an old dog than I would have guessed. Musings from Moyieboy, by Ken Carpenter Time to thin the herd and flock: Marchita Johnson, who is retired from a career in retail management and now describes herself as a grandmother, gardener, farmer and daughter of the King, is working to divest her Moyie Springs farm of a few goats and chickens, but she wants to make sure the homes they go to are as loving and caring as hers is. North Idaho WIC recognized for breastfeeding program: The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded Panhandle Health District’s Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Program with the Loving Support Gold Elite Award of Excellence. Back to archives