Hero of Art: Local rescues iconic downtown mural
More than a third of Dianna Schuppel and Eric Odin’s 1998 hand-painted mural had crumbled into bits and pieces of paint and cement by the time Douglas Jones was recruited.
SHS ready for reentry
SANDPOINT — A back-to-school guide for students and staff attending Sandpoint High School this fall was released Friday, which indicated changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ruehle’s rule: Ordinance proposed to mandate masks in Sandpoint
SANDPOINT — The chambers are quiet, but controversy on mandating masks in the city has reached an all-time high.
Fun at the fair? They’re getting ready for you
SANDPOINT — For decades, Bonner County has celebrated its summer season with a community-wide fair and Bonner County Fairgrounds Director Darcey Smith said this year should be no different.
Sandpoint reexamines city fees
SANDPOINT — Numbers and spreadsheets stole the show at Wednesday night’s city council workshop, where City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton and Public Works Director Amanda Wilson gave detailed presentations on proposed fee changes.
LPOSD secures fall reentry plan
SANDPOINT — After many weeks of drafting guidelines for Lake Pend Oreille School District, the board of trustees unanimously approved its COVID-19 protocol and reentry plan Tuesday evening.
Baked by bots, automated bread bakery returns to Sandpoint
SANDPOINT — After 50 years of fine-tuning robot hands and bread recipes, Breadbot, the world’s first fully-automated bread bakery, will be serving fresh products in Sandpoint and Walla Walla’s Super 1 Foods grocery store.
Horse rescue receives generous donation
SANDPOINT — Eight years ago, Dawn Dempsey quit her retail job to rescue neglected and abused horses in North Idaho.
Summer camp builds student morale, robot arms
SANDPOINT — For 24 Southside Elementary School students, the idea of spending their summers building robot arms and constellation lanterns was way cooler than staying at home.
LPOSD addresses building plans for fall
SANDPOINT — Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Tom Albertson announced Wednesday the district’s reopening and activities plans will both be discussed at the Aug. 11 meeting.
School supply give away to help over 1,000 students in Bonner County
SANDPOINT — COVID-19 may have altered lesson plans for teachers, but Angels Over Sandpoint is determined to provide school supplies for all Bonner County students.
Priest River celebrates staff, reevaluates ordinances at meeting
PRIEST RIVER — Congratulations are in order for city clerk Laurel Thomas, who is celebrating 15 years with city staff this month. Thomas was sufficiently surprised by Mayor Jim Martin’s grand gesture at Monday’s council meeting.
Arts commission talks priorities for master plan
SANDPOINT — Two weeks ago, Decision Support Partners, Inc. President Surale Phillips asked members of the Arts Commission to identify the community’s top five priorities to be included in the Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Master Plan.
Bonner County rallies behind law enforcement, discourages political division
SANDPOINT — Red, white and blue flags, bandanas and street signs decorated both ends of North First Avenue sidewalks on Saturday afternoon.
Budget workshop talks capital improvements, debt
SANDPOINT — A second budget workshop took place Wednesday evening, which detailed capital improvement projects for Fiscal Year 2021.
Out with the old, in with new pipes: Sandpoint plans for a new wastewater system
SANDPOINT — City council approved a roughly $1.7 million Basin Improvement Project at its July 15 meeting, a project designed to aggressively reduce inflow and infiltration moving into Sandpoint’s sanitation sewer collection systems.
Public responds to LPOSD COVID-19 reentry plan
SANDPOINT — A draft of Lake Pend Oreille School District’s COVID-19 reentry plan was tabled for approval Tuesday evening. The board of trustees and Superintendent Tom Albertson reached consensus on the framework proposal, but wanted to be clear to the public the document is just a work in progress.
WBCSD approves reopening plan
PRIEST RIVER — While the West Bonner County School District approved its reopening plan at the July 29 special meeting, Superintendent Paul Anselmo emphasized the plan is a living document and can undergo changes anytime before and during school opening on Sept. 8.
Teachers walk away from offer, seek mediation for negotiation
PRIEST RIVER — A request for mediation was made by West Bonner County School District’s teachers union after receiving the school board’s final offer at the July 22 negotiations meeting.
LPOSD presents draft of reentry plan, promotes cohorting in classroom
Plan adds ‘orange’ level mixing in-person, remote learning in district
Finding comedy during crisis: Panida Theater provides hope through pandemic
The Panida Theater smelt like fresh buttered popcorn with a hint of booze and a dash of sweat. It was a hot summer day and 61 audience members shuffled into the theater late July 18.
City builds interactive budget platform
SANDPOINT — Unlike recent years, Sandpoint’s 2021 budget has been designed by city staff to provide a fully immersive and interactive online platform for community members. The virtual document went live on June 17 and takes website visitors through past and present city initiatives and expenditures.
Priest River OKs tentative city budget
PRIEST RIVER — The city returned to online council meetings this week due to COVID-19 health and safety protocol. Monday’s agenda was light, largely focused on the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.
Man dies in accident
OLDTOWN — Tyler Vance Watson, 29-year-old male and Priest River resident, died Tuesday night after jumping into Pend Oreille River from Oldtown bridge.
City puts playground improvement plan on-pause
PRIEST RIVER — A $30,000 request to improve the safety and aesthetics of the playground at City Park was made by Daisy Schmeider, a Priest River resident and advocate for child social and emotional development. Schmieder presented options for financing the project at the July 6 meeting.
Council explores legality of prioritizing seating in chambers
SANDPOINT — An unusual problem has taken shape in Sandpoint’s city council chambers — people are attending city council meetings.
TCC hosts 8th annual backpack giveaway
SANDPOINT — If you haven’t done your school supplies shopping yet, look no further.
LPOSD sets timer, drafts fall plan in 10 days
SANDPOINT — Lake Pend Oreille School District board of trustees met Monday night to break ground on the latest COVID-19 conundrum — Will the school district be prepared to provide in-person education while protecting students and staff from the contagious novel coronavirus?
Mask Mania: Sandpoint gives away all 3,000 masks
SANDPOINT — The city held their first drive-thru giveaway of masks at Travers Park Friday morning and all 3,000 masks were distributed in less than two hours.
Sandpoint dodges mask mandate
SANDPOINT — The city of Sandpoint rejected a motion to mandate masks locally at Wednesday’s meeting.
Navigating the unknown: Graduates plan for a world full of surprises
PRIEST RIVER — The tassels were turned, the caps were thrown and 53 Priest River Lamanna High School seniors passed the ultimate test of patience last Saturday.
City backs state’s tax relief efforts
SANDPOINT — Friday’s deadline for local governments to opt-in to Gov. Brad Little’s $200 million property tax relief program is quickly approaching. While Sandpoint City Council is one of many communities who have agreed to abide by the state’s conditions, others have argued that Little’s plan would be a detriment to rural communities and questioned its legality altogether.
Priest River considers cyber expenses, move to cloud
PRIEST RIVER — In preparation for the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, the city of Priest River hired Exbabylon Information Technology Consultant, Alex Stanton, to perform an audit for cyber expenses within the next three years.
One step forward, two days back: COVID-19 calls for compromise in classrooms
COVID-19 calls for compromise in classrooms
Framework sets plans in motion
LPOSD explores options for reopening school this fall
Timber Days postponed until 2021
PRIEST RIVER — The biggest celebration of the summer season for logging-enthusiasts, huckleberry pancake lovers and lawn mower racers has been rescheduled. And yes, COVID-19 is to blame.
Reptile racer proves to be natural-born engine
CLARK FORK — At first glance, it was a traditional Fourth of July celebration. The strong smell of fresh hotdogs and fireworks smoke swirled around a crowd of revelers in Veterans Memorial Park.
Virus kicks up controversy in city
SANDPOINT — After weeks of stagnant reports in Bonner County, COVID-19 once again took center stage in the council chambers Wednesday night.
It’s official, America gets a birthday party
SANDPOINT — It’s the final hour for the city’s Fourth of July celebration and organizers Ron Korn and Steve Wasylko have managed to jump through every COVID-19-infected hoop.
City determines help from ICAP unnecessary
SANDPOINT — For the second meeting in a row, Sandpoint’s city council chamber reached maximum capacity. An overflow of residents waited in the hallway adjacent to the room, some standing more than three hours, for a chance to speak during the public forum on issues regarding their First and Second Amendment freedoms outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
WBCSD approves $10.9M budget
PRIEST RIVER — A budget of roughly $10.9 million was approved by West Bonner County School District at the June 17 board meeting.
Teachers, board hold negotiations
PRIEST RIVER— There was a clear rise in atmospheric tension when the word “Zoom” was uttered by a member of the West Bonner County School District teachers union at the June 24 negotiations meeting. Arms were crossed, hands were tightened and voices were raised.
Sandpoint voices not yet united
SANDPOINT — Citizens from all parts of North Idaho attended Sandpoint’s last council meeting, where Mayor Shelby Rognstad’s proclamation on love created tension in the chamber.
Goose roundup ruffles feathers
SANDPOINT — More than 100 of Sandpoint’s most notorious wildlife friends — the Canada Geese — were relocated to a piece of property owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services outside of Coeur d’Alene. City officials are hoping the absence of 127 geese will eliminate the smattering of goose droppings along the shoreline of City Beach.
Bonner County Fair remains on
SANDPOINT — Vendors? Check. Livestock? Check. Carnival? Check.
LPOSD budget bites COVID-19 costs
SANDPOINT — In preparation for Lake Pend Oreille School District’s new 11-month fiscal cycle on July 1, Chief Financial Officer Lisa Hall created a comprehensive, nontraditional presentation of the school budget for 2021. Board members, excluding trustee Lonnie Williams who was absent at the meeting earlier this month, unanimously voted to adopt a budget of $41.2 million.
WBCSD fights for facility funding
PRIEST RIVER — West Bonner School County District board members at the June 17 meeting collectively agreed the pursuit of facility funding is a priority that will require a new approach from previous years.
NIC makes room for virtual learning
SANDPOINT — North Idaho College’s Silver Valley and Bonners Ferry centers will cease operation at the end of the year, leaving Sandpoint as the only satellite center for NIC.
A change of pace, reporting on race
SANDPOINT —This is my first time writing an article about racism. Most reporters would be advised not to admit that, to cling to their credibility and focus on the subject being interviewed, but I am not ashamed about my lack of experience.
Post urged to combat excessive force
SANDPOINT — Eight tenets of law enforcement policy laid out by the Eight Can’t Wait campaign were reviewed by Police Chief Corey Coon at Wednesday night’s council meeting.