North Idaho counties report increase of sexual assault

As reports of sexual assault increase throughout North Idaho, advocates, law enforcement and prosecutors are working to keep up.

Murder, arson case advances to district court

A second-degree murder and arson case is advancing to district court following a two-day preliminary hearing that concluded Tuesday.

Moyie Springs, IFG working on easement

Will help city access water system after leak, mudslide

Moyie Springs is working with Idaho Forestry Group on a new easement to access the city’s wells by a different route following a failure to the city’s main water line.

Moyie mudslide caused by water line break

When the city's main water line broke early Sunday morning, it caused a several hundred foot mudslide and led the city to declare a local state of emergency.

Community rallies to help snowmobiler's family

A GoFundMe campaign has been created for the family of a Sandpoint man killed in a Friday avalanche. Lance J. Gidley, 54, of Sandpoint, was killed when he was caught in an avalanche Friday afternoon in the remote area of Boundary County. Searchers recovered the body Saturday after the snowmobiler was caught in an avalanche in the upper mountainous area of Pack River near Hunt Lake.

Local presidential caucus set for March 2

Idaho Republicans will hold a presidential caucus on March 2, rather than a regular presidential primary due to a faux pas during the 2023 legislative session. Last year, legislation was passed that removed the May primary election with the intent of having it moved to March. However, the language to move the primary was not added to the bill, removing the presidential primary election.

ITD: 300 killed on state's roads in 2023

Almost 300 people were killed in fatal crashes on the state’s roads in 2023, according to preliminary data from the Idaho Transportation Department.

Man stranded in freezing temperatures

A Boundary County man suffered frostbite after he became stranded in his disabled vehicle.

Family, friends remember long-time attorney

Boundary County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tevis Hull, 63, died unexpectedly on the evening of January 3, leaving a void for the county’s legal department.

VanGesen: Lawsuit settlement a matter of expediency

Settlement of a 2015 lawsuit alleging racial profiling was a matter of expediency and practicality, not an admission of guilt, according to a Boundary County sheriff candidate involved in the Washington state case.

Remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice

When thinking of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, images of rows upon rows of white headstones from Arlington Cemetary may come to mind. This image often comes to my mind, but not because I’ve seen a headstone on the TV screen of one lone name as the camera pulls back to reveal the multitude of stones memorializing the dead.

American Legion mural project to honor veterans

The American Legion Post 55 is working to add a mural honoring veterans on the outside of the Veterans of Foreign War and Veterans Alliance building in Bonners Ferry.

Tribes: Watershed pollution must be addressed

The Ktunaxa Nation and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho are calling on the U.S. and Canada to immediately address pollution in the Kootenai Watershed.

BF to start over search for golf manager

At the last Bonners Ferry City Council meeting, the board voted to start over in its search for a new golf course manager. Tuesday at a special meeting, they discussed how to make that happen.

Moyie Springs questions additional engineering fees

Moyie city councilors had heated words with Keller Associates, an engineering company tasked with working on a city sewer project, regarding additional costs for services and payment already rendered. The exchange took place at a special meeting Oct. 4 prior to the council’s regular meeting.

NICA completes charter application

Commission will review application in December

North Idaho Classical Academy has submitted its charter application to the state commission and finalized purchase of the former Boulder Creek Academy.

BF mayor resigns due to conflict of interest, nepotism

James “Dick” R. Staples resigned as Bonners Ferry mayor Friday, Sept. 22, due to the possibility a family member may receive a job at the city, creating a conflict of interest and violating Idaho nepotism law. However, Staples said he still plans to run for the position in the upcoming election, for which he is unopposed and will be sworn in as mayor in January 2024.

IFG's Bear Fair coming out of hibernation

Features information, resources, and safety tips

The first-ever Boundary County Bear Fair is coming out of hibernation on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Moore alleges defamation over murder case

A man formerly accused of killing a Bonners Ferry chiropractor is now counter suing the widow of the deceased for defamation. The venue of the case was moved to Bonner County in March 2021 where the proceedings will remain

The heat is on in North Idaho

The heat is on with temperatures predicted to reach over 100 degrees this week.

OCR investigating Title IX complaint

The Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, is investigating Boundary County School District on allegations of a Title IX complaint filed by a Sandpoint resident.

Local man faces kidnapping, assault charges

A Ponderay man is being held on felony and misdemeanor charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and battery.

Local man receives additional sex charges

A Boundary County man charged with enticing youths over the internet has had those charges amended to lewd conduct with minors under 16.

Tribes call for Canada to address mining's impacts

Kootenai Tribe: Selenium levels affecting sturgeon

The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho has joined a group of First Nations and Tribes in calling on Canadian officials to address the impact of industrial mining on waterways in historic tribal lands.

Bonners Ferry to vote on local option tax

At the Tuesday May 16, election Bonners Ferry residents will hit the polls to vote for a local option tax of 1% on taxable goods to fund the Bonners Ferry police department, fire department, street crews and snow removal.

County seal still set to be trademarked

Despite Boundary County Watchman officials saying the group was changing its emblem to a custom logo, Boundary County commissioners moved forward with trademarking the county’s seal.

BCRCC prohibits recording at meetings

The Boundary County Republican Central Committee voted to prohibit any form of recording at meetings until after the next elections.

Vehicle strikes BCSD district office

Jan Bayer, Boundary County School District Superintendent was working late on Tuesday night when the district office was struck by a vehicle—right against her office.

Boundary County moves ahead to trademark seal

Boundary County commissioners said they will proceed with trademarking the county seal, providing it is allowed by the Idaho Secretary of State office.

Porthill crossing hours see temporary increase

Hours at the Porthill border crossing will be a little bit longer for the next few months.

Moon visit helps ease BCRCC tension

Tensions at the Boundary County Republican Central Committee appear to have eased after a visit by Idaho Republican Party chairwoman, Dorothy Moon.

Assault alleged at Boundary GOP meeting

Local law enforcement are investigating claims of an alleged assault following a March 6 executive session by the Boundary County Republican Central Committee.

Family offers reward in 3-year-old murder case

Sunday will mark the third year to the day since chiropractor Dr. Brian Drake was murdered after an assailant shot him through his office window.

AG: Corruption claims are unfounded

The Idaho Attorney General’s Office has found a corruption complaint by the Boundary County Watch man against a Boundary County commissioner is unfounded.

False report leads to school lockdowns

A number of schools in the region, including those in Bonner, Kootenai and Boundary counties, received anonymous phone calls alleging active shootings at the buildings. All of the reports are determined to be false. Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said Bonner County 911 was among those receiving the hoax phone calls. Area law enforcement quickly determined there was no active shooter or threat to students and staff at local school districts.

House bill targets fentanyl trafficking

Proposed legislation — House Bill 67 — would amend current Idaho law relating to penalties for heroin and would add a minimum mandatory sentencing statute for those convicted of trafficking fentanyl.

BCSD responds to Title IX complaint

The Boundary County School District is collecting data on Badger female athletics in response to a Title IX complaint.

BCSD receives Title IX complaint

Rossmiller previously filed a Title IX complaint against LPOSD in 2021

Boundary County School District has received a Title IX complaint allegedly the district is not providing equal opportunities for female high schoolers to play sports.

Wampus Cats come close, but fall to Badgers

The Wampus Cats girl varsity basketball team came within five of the Bonners Ferry Badgers junior varsity team in the last minute of the game, on Jan. 14, but then the Badgers sank a three-pointer and took the win over Clark Fork 48-40.

The year of the grizzly

2022 saw an increase in grizzly bear and livestock interactions across the county.

Charter gauging community interest

North Idaho Classical Academy is gauging community interest in a new charter school to serve both Bonner and Boundary counties.

Petition seeks change to border crossing hours

Area residents recently launched a petition drive calling on the federal government to return Porthill border crossing to pre-COVID-19 hours citing the economic and social impacts of the reduced hours.

Rape case moves to district court

A Sandpoint man has been charged with forcible rape of a minor under the age of 16.

Skinner sentenced in lewd conduct case

A Boundary County man was found guilty during a bench trial on two counts of lewd conduct and was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Westside Road pre-evacuation status lifted

Kootenai River Fire managers have lifted the pre-evacuation status for the Westside Road area, Boundary County officials said Monday Fire activity in the area has decreased significantly and fire managers do not anticipate a need for residents to evacuate due to area fires, Andrew O’Neel, Boundary County Emergency Management director and county public information officer, said in a press release.

Kootenai Tribe notes war’s anniversary

Almost 50 years ago, the Kootenai Tribe declared war on the United States A on Sept. 20, 1974, in order to be federally recognized as a tribe.

One arrested after allegedly setting two fires

Suspect reportedly sets firefighters' yurt, Bonners Ferry building ablaze

BONNERS FERRY —- Michael F. Mock, 30, is being charged with counts of arson in connection to a fire Monday night at Boundary County Fairgrounds and in connection to a structure fire last week. Mock was arrested Monday after allegedly set fire to one of the Incident Command Team yurts at the Boundary County Fairgrounds, while two people were sleeping inside. It has not been reported if anyone was harmed in the fire. In an affidavit by Deputy Jason Trujillo with the Boundary County Sheriff's Department, law enforcement arrived on the scene at approximately 3:44 a.m. on Monday. He wrote that on arrival several United States Forest Service fire fighting personnel were in a 10 to 20-foot vicinity of the yurt, which was used to house fire personnel supporting efforts to squash the ongoing Kootenai River Complex fires...

Second grizzly euthanized after repeated livestock attacks

A large adult male grizzly bear was euthanized Monday after repeated livestock attacks. It is the second grizzly bear to be euthanized in Boundary County in 2022.

Favorable weather moderates fire behavior

Fires in the Kootenai River Complex continued to grow Thursday, but their behavior has been tempered by the lighter winds and higher humidity.

Wampus Cats lose to Bonners Ferry

he Wampus Cats lost their first volleyball game of the season against the Bonners Ferry Badgers, but lessons were learned.