Current news from local sources, including the Bonner County Daily Bee, The River Journal and the Sandpoint Online Newsroom
February 3
Finman aggravated assault trial nears
Accused of tearing down occupied house
Pawn shop burglary arraignments set
BATF investigating trio in gun heist
Registration opens for ski relay
24 Hours of Schweitzer benefits cystinosis
February 2
SPOT weekly ridership tops 1,000
Schweitzer stop, new routes credited
GOP primary actually pretty open
Anyone can declare affiliation
Puailoa takes back reigns at SHS
Led Bulldogs to championship in '97
February 1
Legislative map draws criticism
District 7 includes part of county
Family feud lands on national TV
Jarzabek brothers appear on 'Mobbed'
Jury convicts man in road rage case
Found guilty of second-degree murder
January 31
Priority Planning Project launched
Area leaders to identify problems
Appeals Court orders estate review
Inmate challenges inheritance deal
Kinderhaven establishes ICF fund
Provides long-term income for shelter
January 29
Input sought on Ponderay traffic
Widening project on tap for April
Nate Holland wins sixth Winter gold
Watch Sandpoint native's big run>>
Angels over Sandpoint keep giving
Starts new fund, gears up for Follies
Otter opposes legalized marijuana
Moscow legislator introduced bill
January 28
Another mistrial for attorney Jacquot
Accused of molesting underage girl Lake
Panel picks Puailoa as football coach
Now awaits school board's approval
Clark Fork may hike water rates
Average bill would go up $8/month
January 27
Wildlife corridor project gets funding
Will improve safety around McArthur Lake
Suspect's preliminary hearing set
Will decide if Gilley is tried for murder
Grant sought for Coolin boat launch
County wants to improve public access
Senate to vote on lake level
Measure would protect Cocolalla Lake
January 26
Appeals Court rejects killer's petition
Kuehl murdered retired teacher in '94
Justices nix GOP redistricting lawsuit
Party leaders wanted commissioners fired
Youths' lack of exercise raises concern
PE not required for Idaho high schoolers
January 25
POB Trail group has raised $40k
Aims to pay for fourth parcel
Residents blast caribou habitat plan
Forum over F&W proposal draws 200
Consultants chosen for street plan
SERA to develop downtown concepts
January 24
ISP probing deadly highway crash
Chain-reaction collision killed driver
IMCB inks deal to raise $47 million
Reaches agreement with investors
Oldtown mayor's wife avoids jail
Beverly Orr pleads guilty to DUI
January 22
One killed in Highway 95 crash
Two other drivers are hospitalized
IMCB inks deal to raise $47 million
Reaches agreement with investors
County's economy slowly improving
Unemployment drops to 11.6 percent
January 21
Sandpoint named top ski town
Wins another Rand McNally vote
Bail reduction denied in shooting case
Flanigan faces five-day trial in March
Nate Holland wins World Cup event
Sandpoint native leads snowboardcross
January 20
Solution sought for city access road
County finds options limited around jail
Artist urges removal of sculpture
Kraisler asks county to retain plaques
Task force seeks accused molester
Offering reward for tips about Howell
January 19
Mother, daughter killed in house fire
Husband escaped Blanchard blaze
Life Flight to open Sandpoint base
Payroll to exceed $1 million annually
Council members, mayor welcomed
New reign takes over at City Hall
January 18
Kelly resigns from Marine Patrol job
Candidacy could conflict with law
County hosts forum on right of way
Seek waiver on fairgrounds road
Health expert: Prevention is key
Annual wellness exams recommended
January 17
Family escapes from apartment fire
Blaze broke out in outdoor stairwell
Coin, jewelry sale legislation debated
Local businesses mixed on its effect
Food stamp growth reveals struggle
Indigent fund shows Idaho under stress
January 15
Ahrens, Stout declare candidacies
Plan to challenge Eskridge, Keough
Pot grower faces sentencing
Starks pled guilty to trafficking
Will this be a year without winter?
Not all La Ninas are created equal
January 14
Meeting set on caribou habitat
County seeks coordination authority
Teen faces felony trial in March
Flanigan pled not guilty in shooting
Health care experts predict changes
But mandate still remains uncertain
January 13
Ponderay forms parks committee
Seeking volunteers to do master plan
Sandpiper petition dismissal sought
Group asserts project would harm fen
Becker retires from Dover council
Spent 33 years in public service
January 12
Officials seek $24,000 for legal advice
Funds denied for Scott, Piehl, Clemons
Bird's company names new CEO
Percussionaire leader from Belgium
FEMA: No funding available for home
County may bring litigation on issue
January 11
County mulls sculpture's future
Base of wooden structure is rotting
Arrests made in pawn shop burglary
Three are also subject of ATF probe
Notable author pays visit to LPOHS
Crutcher: Everyone has story to tell
January 10
Otter delivers State of the State
Wants tax cuts and pay raises
Local legislators commend speech
May be good news for Bonner County
EPA criticized in Idaho land case
Supreme Court justices speak out
January 8
Former county leader passes away
Friends recall Spickelmire's influence
Guitar builder aims to echo past
Shoemaker works out of granary
Prison ordered in local meth case
Blood says he's happy to be off drugs
January 7
Community mourns beloved educator
Hamilton left big impression at SHS
Winter lake operations under way
Corps: LPO on the rise next week
Idaho snowpack levels below average
Panhandle region at 75-90 percent
January 6
P&Z approves Super 1 area replat
Opens way for affordable housing
Teen pleads guilty in battery
Faces seven to 20 years in prison
Hope-Sagle land trade finalized
RMEF secures 921 acres of habitat
January 5
Ex-resident sentenced in scheme
Lowell will spend 3 years in prison
Feds investigate pawn shop heist
Guns stolen in Ponderay break-in
Forest Service draft plan released
Documents set standards for forests
January 4
BCSO lieutenant lobs GOP challenge
Kelly to run against Lewie Rich
Man faces sentencing for Ponzi scheme
Lowell fleeced investors out of $2.2m
Idaho treasurer's expenses scrutinized
Audit looks into Crane's gas card use
January 3
Council passes zoning guidelines
Action affects residential areas
Priest Lake trail grooming on hold
Rainy weather hinders accessibility
Idaho population growth slows in 2011
Bonner County bucks statewide trend
January 1
Sandpoint OKs watershed purchase
240 acres was owned by Schweitzer
Meesh & Mia making national waves
Turley's company now employs 16
2011 was wild ride for local news
Byway, bears, trail top the list
December 31
City adopts new impact fee system
Larger projects will pay more
Mediation may resolves teens' cases
Two accused of battering Hope woman
Pleas entered in man's DUI case
Ponderay resident faces sentencing
December 30
FEMA alleges floodway incursion
Could jeopardize insurance rates
PLSAR rescues seven at Priest Lake
Found stray motorists, snowmobilers
City protects restoration funding
Secures remainder for Memorial Field
December 29
City impact fee options revised
New category supports multi-use trails
Shooting details remain scarce
Incident ended in apparent suicide
Courthouse renovation lingering
Latest projection: reopening in July
December 28
City council ponders annexations
Sandpoint could add a few areas
Accused killer enters not guilty plea
California man arraigned in Carlson case
Howell flees to evade capture
Wanted on multiple lewd charges
December 27
Hickory Park going to the dogs
Council votes to allow leashed dogs
Manslaughter convict cited again
Drove with a suspended license
Council revisits animal complaint
East Hope resident requests ordinance
December 25
County challenges habitat designation
Insists USFWS coordinates on caribou
Students share Christmas stories
Waldorf School preserves memories
A Sandpoint Christmas Carol
Writer creates cautionary tale
December 24
City debates snow removal options
Issue centers on clearing sidewalks
Tourist home plan delayed
Council sends it back to committee
U.S. 95 crash kills two girls
Collided head-on with logging truck
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Link up to local bloggers:
• Thudbits. Sandpoint's John Corn moderates political news and commentary from a conservative perspective.
• Alternative Horsemanship. Philosophies, training theories and humor with Samantha Harvey.
• Brian's Bike Buzz. He rides bikes, dreams about bikes, and blogs about biking in Sandpoint and afield.
• Eye on Boise. Betsy Z. Russell covers Idaho news from The Spokesman-Review's bureau in Boise.
• North Idaho Realty. Ralph's interactive blog offers photography, commentary, maps and more.
• Get Out North Idaho. Check out reviews of the Panhandle's restaurants and bars.
• Writing North Idaho. A web retreat for writers in the North Idaho Panhandle.
• Seasons at Sandpoint. A snapshot of life in and around Sandpoint.
• Skookum Photography. Ralph Bartholdt's award-winning writing and snapshots of eclectic personalities.
• Curly Haired Vision. Photographer Matt Mills McKnight captures Sandpoint, and the world, in a whole new light.
• Nelson Boren Art Blog. The artist for Sandpoint's downtown arch project blogs about art, fishing, life.
• Hyperbole and a Half. With 83,000+ Twitter followers and 257,000+ Facebook fans, Sandpoint homegirl and humorist Allie Brosh has gone viral.
• Mountain Architect. John Hendricks blogs about projects, trends and more.
• North Idaho Dog Fun. Your resource for "all things dog" in North Idaho.
• Sandpoint Wellness Council. Alternative practitioners blog on natural health care.
• Corporate Whoracle. "Single in Sandpoint" columnist riffs on company life.
• The Word on Schweitzer. Wanna talk skiing, riding, snow? This blog's for you.
• From a Simple Mind. Local great-grandma tosses loose thoughts.
• Huckleberries. Spokesman-Review's David Oliveria puts his finger on pulse of current regional news and happenings.
• Slight Detour. Sandpoint native and former SHS English teacher Marianne Love writes daily about life around here.
• Chamber Chatter. Sandpoint chamber keeps readers in the know on Chamber and business happenings.
• As The Lake Churns. All about Priest Lake, the land and the people and happenings.
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 Get an eyeful of Sandpoint at this photo diary, updated a few times weekly. If you're a shutterbug, enter your own shots for fame and prizes. Click to see the digital album.
If you like Sandpoint, you’ll love Sandpoint Magazine. This color glossy magazine has been published twice a year since 1990. Read the current issue and check the Sandpoint Magazine archive – more than 100 stories online.
'No. 1 Ski Town in USA'
That's what Rand McNally called Sandpoint when it named the country's "Top Seven Ski Towns" in a January 17, 2012 roundup of the best mountain towns. Sandpoint won the top rating over the likes of Lake Tahoe, Park City, Mammoth and Jackson. Go read the Rand McNally story. 'Most Beautiful Town in USA'
So say USA Today and Rand McNally, who sent traveling teams to towns around the nation to determine the five best small towns in America. Sandpoint grabbed "Most Beautiful Town" honors from among an initial 600+ nominees. Read the July 21, 2011 USA Today story or check the Best of the Road page. A memorable travel destination
Canadian lifestyle website SweetMama.com ranks Sandpoint as one of their 15 Destinations for Memorable Family Travel in their June 13, 2011 posting. Under the radar ski town
Sandpoint's small-town charm and great skiing win it accolades as "most under the radar ski town" in Sunset Magazine's "Top 10 Best Ski Destinations in the West." A subtle beauty all its own
Sandpoint's autumn color defies the idea that fall foliage is something you only find in the eastern United States, written up in the Detroit Free Press on Oct. 10, 2010, "Colors of the West - Subtle Idaho mountain foliage has a beauty all its own." We're a railroading attraction
Sandpoint's famous as "The Funnel" for railroads in the northern tier states, as USA Today writes in its Aug. 4, 2010 story "Idaho town draws railfans from around world." Seven reasons to visit Sandpoint
County Living Magazine says Sandpoint is a "small town we love," and counts out seven reasons why in the June 2010 issue. Click to view a pdf (1.32 MB). Who says you can't have it all?
Sandpoint's a good destination for second home buyers, says USA Today in its April 16, 2010 story, "Having it all in Sandpoint." Sandpoint's got some sparkle
"A true gem in this Gem State," declares American Cowboy Magazine in a March 2010 ranking of "The greatest places to live in the West.". Add to your winter bucket list
"Sandpoint, Idaho, may not be on your winter bucket list - but it should be," says Big Sky Journal in their December 2009 article "Sandpoint Winter Carnival provides perfect haven". Leading the transition movement
N.Y. Times writes in-depth article on the Sandpoint Transition Initiative in their story "The End is Near! (Yay!)" (registration required) published in April 2009. An abundance of trout
Fly Rod + Reel named Sandpoint a Top 10 Trout Town in March 2009. A 'Top 10 Dream Town'
Sunset Magazine calls Sandpoint a "four-season outdoorsy resort that's also a real town with a strong community spirit." Click to see the September 2008 Top 10 Dream Towns list. We're a 'market to watch'
Mountain Living Magazine says Sandpoint is one of 5 "mountain markets to watch." Click to see its September 2008 market appraisal, What Market Slump? (pdf format) An 'idyllic adventure haven'
National Geographic Adventure Magazine touts the local character of "quiet Sandpoint," while newcomers rave about the town's strong sense of community. Click to read the August 2008 story Idaho's Last Stand. Now we're top 10 for retirement
U.S. News & World Report names Sandpoint one of the nation's top 10 retirement spots "that offer delightful surroundings and amenities but still are easy on the wallet." Click to read the June 3, 2007 cover story, or check the Sandpoint profile titled "Lakeside living that's far from the crowds." A top-15 travel destination
"I was smitten with this lakefront town from the moment I saw it," says USA Today travel writer Laura Bly in naming Sandpoint a top U.S. destination. Read the entire May 25, 2007 story: Summer Vacations: 15 unforgettable trips.
We've got the goods in fall
The New York Times features Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille in a guide for "leaf lovers" published Oct. 6, 2006. Click to read the full story: Fall Foliage; Bright Leaves, Big Country. Click for more National Press
 Be an informed voter. The Election Central page provides a voter’s handbook for upcoming elections, with links to information about the candidates and issues voters will see on the ballot come election day.
Sand Creek Bypass
Construction is nearly finished for the Sand Creek Bypass.
Resource links:
• ITD Sand Creek Bypass – Weekly updates
• Aerial Photos – Photographer Jerry Luther captures monthly snapshots of progress on the Sand Creek Bypass; photos are posted on CallJerry.biz/SandCreek
• NICAN – Opponents of Sand Creek Bypass
News links:
- Daily Bee: NICAN ends challenge to bypass (June 27, 2009)
- Daily Bee: Judge denies motion filed by NICAN (April 22, 2009)
- Daily Bee: Sletager seeks damages from ITD, others (Jan. 16, 2009)
- Daily Bee: Marina owner files new court papers against ITD (Nov. 21, 2008)
- Daily Bee: First shovelfuls of dirt moved at groundbreaking (Oct. 30, 2008)
- Daily Bee: ITD to celebrate bypass groundbreaking with ceremony (Oct. 22, 2008)
- Daily Bee: ITD outlines complexities involved with project (Sept. 19, 2008)
- Daily Bee: ITD confirms total bypass cost tops $144 million (Sept. 18, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Appeals court lifts bypass injunction; ITD moving forward (August 28, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Marina owner plans to take fight to state supreme court (August 16, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Injunction sets stage for August court hearing (July 11, 2008)
- Daily Bee: 9th Circuit issues stay against Sand Creek Bypass (July 10, 2008)
- Daily Bee: ITD board rapped bypass proposal during June meeting (July 9, 2008)
- Daily Bee: NICAN seeks delay in injunction from appeals court (July 9, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Judge rejects Sletager's attempt to halt bypass permit (July 5, 2008)
- Daily Bee: ITD board approves bid for bypass (June 20, 2008)
- Daily Bee: ITD ponders $98.5 million bid for bypass (June 4, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Bypass lawsuit venue moved to Idaho (Apr. 24, 2008)
- Daily Bee: ITD will put out request for bypass bids on April 22 (Apr. 9, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Bypass permit rekindles litigation by developer (Apr. 8, 2008)
- Daily Bee: State seeks change of venue in bypass lawsuit (Apr. 5, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Bypass right-of-way deal pending with railroad (Feb. 28, 2008)
- Daily Bee: NICAN suing Corps for insufficient bypass review (Jan. 16, 2008)
- Daily Bee: ITD accepts BNSF Railway's right-of-way offer (Dec. 13, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Council approves ITD bypass agreement (Oct. 18, 2007)
Milfoil herbicides
Bonner County has used herbicides to fight Eurasian milfoil infestations in some 3,000 acres of Lake Pend Oreille. The herbicides, Sonar PR, Renovate and Navigate (and a similar chemical DMA 4), contain Fluridone, Triclopyr and 2,4-D, respectively. Although the county contends all the herbicides are safe, opponents contend nonchemical methods would be safer. Bonner County subsequently formed the Bonner County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force; members continue to consider how to fight the noxious weed without herbicides. Links:
- Daily Bee: Commissioners accept $652,000 to fight milfoil (March 21, 2009)
- Daily Bee: County sets schedule for area milfoil treatments (June 17, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Herbicide applications anchor 2008 milfoil plan (Mar. 23, 2008)
- Daily Bee: More herbicides planned for 2008 lake treatment (Jan. 16, 2008)
- Daily Bee: Off-season herbicide testing nears approval (Oct. 31, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Winter herbicide testing proposed on lake (Oct. 28, 2007)
- Daily Bee: State proposes 2,4-D reprise to treat milfoil (Oct. 24, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Final application of restricted herbicide Renovate to begin (Aug. 3, 2007)
- Daily Bee: More than 200 PEL protesters march on herbicides (July 24, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Clean Lakes to start next round of herbicides with Renovate (July 20, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Clean Lakes finishes first round of Sonar and moves to Renovate (July 11, 2007)
- Daily Bee: County announces lake herbicide treatment schedule (July 7, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Herbicide applications set to begin in several areas around lake (July 4, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Fabric barriers installed at Windbag Marina to to suffocate milfoil (July 1, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Cocolalla Lake readied for application of 2,4-D herbicides (July 1, 2007)
- Daily Bee: County to seek more funding after survey finds more milfoil (June 27, 2007)
- Daily Bee: County announces lake herbicide application schedule (June 21, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Lake herbicide contract awarded to Clean Lakes Inc. of CDA (June 13, 2007)
- Daily Bee: Lake milfoil surveying to happen before and after treatment (June 3, 2007)
- Daily Bee: County to use majority of state funding for herbicides (May 10, 2007)
- See all Task Force e-mail archive
- Join the List Serve for Task Force e-mail
- See info on Sonar, Renovate or 2,4-D
- See AquaTechnex project page
- Learn about Eurasian milfoil in Idaho
- Join the Fray: Check the Community Issues Forum to read or post opinions
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