Th e
Gem
State
Miner
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 41, Number 26 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages $1.00
Priest River grad named president of Idaho State University
B R I E F LY Town hall meeting in Priest River Wednesday PRIEST RIVER – Bonner County Commissioners are hosting a Town Hall Meeting regarding Eastriver Spur Road and Bridge, Wednesday, April 11, 6:30 p.m. at the Priest River Events Center, located at 5399 Highway 2. There will be a brief informational segment followed by a question and answer session.
By Don Gronning Of The Miner
CALWELL – Kevin Satterlee, a 1986 graduate of Priest River Lamanna High School, was named the next president of Idaho State University last week.
North county smelter forum April 19 METALINE FALLS – A forum to discuss the proposed HiTest Silicon Smelter will be held at the Cutter Theatre, 302 Park St., Thursday, April 19, 6-8 p.m. Deane Osterman with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Responsible Growth NE Washington will host the event, which is open to all members of the public.
Library Community Meetings Scheduled for Newport, Cusick NEWPORT – As a part of the Pend Oreille County Library District’s strategic planning process, community meetings will be held throughout the county in order to solicit public input. Discussion topics will include trends in libraries and what services, spaces, resources, and programs residents would like to see locally. Newport’s community meeting will be held at the Newport Library on Thursday, April 12, at 6 p.m. Cusick’s is scheduled at the Calispel Valley Library on May 1 at 6 p.m. Meetings in Metaline Falls, Ione, and the Diamond Lake area will be held in mid-to-late May with dates and locations announced later this month. Additional locations may be added if requested. Questions can be directed to Library Director Mandy Walters at 800-366-3654 x 55 or director@pocld.org.
Satterlee, 49, was chosen from a field of 72 candidates following a nationwide search that began in October 2017 after ISU’s current president announced he was retiring. Satterlee’s mother, Karen Cook, said he was
BOISE – Hunters can get a chance to hunt big game in the spring with the opener of black bear hunting season on Sunday, April 15 (some hunting units opened April 1). Many parts of the state offer general hunting seasons for black bears, but hunters cannot take any female bear with young. Hunters typically spot-and-stalk, bait, or use hounds for black bears. For hunters using bait, a baiting permit is required, and other rules apply. Hunters who get a bear must present the skull and hide to an Idaho Fish and Game regional office, official checkpoint, or a Fish and Game conservation officer. Closing dates for black bear seasons vary by unit.
Cook said her son loved sports when he was at Priest River Lamanna High School. “He still does,” she says. He played on Priest River’s football team. The Idaho State Board of Education named Satterlee as the 13th
president of Idaho State University during a special meeting on Thursday, April 5. He will take over in June. Satterlee was Valedictorian of his class at Priest River. See Saterlee, 2A
‘A vote for Tommy is a vote for Trump’ Governor candidate makes Priest River stop
PRIEST RIVER – One of the three leading Republican candidates for Idaho governor, Tommy Ahlquist, made a campaign meet-andgreet stop at The Ranch Club in Priest River last Friday. He spoke briefly about health care, vocational training and opposition to expanding Medicaid. Ahlquist, a former emergency room doctor, said health care should be delivered at cost and people should pay for it without government help. On his campaign website www.tommyforidaho.com, he discusses his positions on a variety of issues, including healthcare. Ahlquist, 50, supports personal responsibility and wants to reform Medicare to include personal responsibility and eliminate fraud and waste. Instead of expanding Medicaid, he mentioned Medi-Share, a program allowed by the Affordable Care Act in which
Miner Photo|Don Gronning
Idaho Republican gubernatorial candidate Tommy Ahlquist, right, made a stop at the Ranch Club in Priest River Friday, April 6. There he met with some supporters and answered questions.
Christians can pool their money to pay for qualifying medical expenses. It’s not insurance, but he said he met a man
with four children whose medical obligations were about $240 a month. Ahlquist spoke of his desire for limited govern-
ment. He signaled out the Local Highway Assistance Council (LTAC) as an agency that takes far too much money for
IDFG eyes making Priest River colder
By Michelle Nedved Of The Miner
Spring black bear season opens April 15
born and raised in Priest River and has deep roots here. “My mom graduated from Newport and I was a Priest River graduate,” she said. Satterlee is the son of Robert Satterlee. He has two older brothers, Jeff and Scott.
PRIEST RIVER – Thanks to $70,000 in funding, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game is conducting pre-engineering work and a feasibility study to figure out how to make Priest River colder, as told to the Lakes Commission Friday morning in Priest River.
See Ahlquist, 2A
Ben Franklin demo delayed by asbestos
The lowering of water temperatures would protect native fish, improve water quality and enhance the fishery, according to Kiira Siitari, a biologist with IDFG who spoke Friday to a packed room in the Beardmore Building. “Keeping those temperatures low are one of the first steps, in my opin-
By Michelle Nedved Of The Miner
community of Newport, Oldtown, Usk, Cusick and Diamond Lake, and helping out with those community events we’ve all grown to love. “We’re just trying to get back out there,” said chamber president Nicole Cardin of Newport Alarm. “We’re just doing our very best.”
Newport Alarm is owned by Alex and Tina Stanton, who also own ExBabylon and built the four-bay commercial building on the north end of Newport a couple years ago. The chamber’s new vice president is Brandi Fowler, who works at
OLDTOWN – The demolition of the former Ben Franklin store in Oldtown to make way for a new Burger King is delayed due to extensive asbestos found in the structure, city planner Brian Quayle told Oldtown City Council Monday night. The process of removal and demolition has been handed over to the state of Idaho, which is common, “when it’s that extensive,” Quayle said. The building permit for Burger King, which includes permitting for the demolition of the current structure, is expected to arrive at the city in the next couple of weeks. Once received, city staff can approve the permit. Quayle contracts with the city of Oldtown and can approve the permit without it having to go before city council. Much of the asbestos is in the heating and cooling system, confined in the duct work under the floor. “It’s somewhat contained already,” Quayle said. The structure was built in 1973. The asbestos cannot all be removed at the same time. Some demolition will have to be done to access some of it. The owners of the Ben Franklin/Burger
See Newport, 2A
See Oldtown, 2A
classifieds
6B
Opinion
4a
Record
5B
Life
3B
Police Reports
5B
sports
1B-2B
Obituaries
5B
Public Notices
7B-8B
See Lakes, 2A
‘Big rebuilding year’ for Newport area chamber By Michelle Nedved Of The Miner
NEWPORT – The Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce is moving full steam ahead after being on the brink of disbanding just last year. There’s a new board in place, a group dedicated to serving the business
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administrative costs. Ahlquist outlined his stances on a variety of
Booster
4B
Fishing season
Starts this month Guides on stands soon