Rep. Eskridge headed home

DOVER — State Rep. George Eskridge is homeward bound, according to a family friend.

"George is on the way home from the hospital as we speak," Susan Kiebert said late Thursday afternoon.

Eskridge, 64, underwent open-heart surgery last Thursday at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene. Kiebert said Eskridge had a quintuple bypass. Doctors also inserted a stent to improve blood flow to his heart and replaced an aortic valve.

Doctors are still insisting Eskridge limit visits and phone calls to immediate family for the time being, Kiebert said. Well-wishers are asked to send letters and cards to Eskridge at P.O. Box 112, Dover, ID. 83825.

Eskridge, a Republican from Dover, is in his fourth term as the seat B representative for the 1st legislative district in Bonner and Boundary counties.