LAVENDER FESTIVAL GUIDE INSIDE
The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 111, Number 23 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages 75¢
Sidewalk will connect downtown with schools Project along Highway 2 designed to increase pedestrian safety BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – A project community leaders have envisioned for years to improve pedestrian safety along Highway 2 in Newport began Monday, July 7. The sidewalk along one side of the busy highway will connect the business district with the schools. The sidewalk will run from Owen’s Grocery on Fourth Street to Golden China Restaurant on Seventh Street along the north side of the highway. This is a section of highway where children and parents pushing baby strollers are a common sight along the shoulder. City Administrator Ray King said construction on the sidewalk project should last about 40-45 days, have minimal
‘You have a nice, safe place to walk away from the highway.’ Ray King
Newport City Administrator
impact on traffic and no lane restrictions will be in place. The project includes adding sidewalks to enter the Newport School District campus near Stratton Elementary. It will include curbs and gutters, storm drainage, LED lighting and SEE SIDEWALK, 2A
COURTESY PHOTO|MISTY PAINTON
The West Pend Oreille Fire District was called out for a boat fire Monday, July 7 at the Merritt Brothers Bridge in Priest River. The three people aboard when the fire broke out jumped in the water and swam to shore, apparently uninjured.
Fire crews busy over Fourth Woman hit in face by fireworks during Priest Lake show BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
PRIEST RIVER – Les Kokanos, fire chief of the West Pend Oreille Fire District, said the holiday weekend was busy before they got the call Monday
about a boat on fire. “It was one of the busiest weekends we’ve had,” Kokanos said. “We had 15 call outs between Friday and Sunday.” They responded to four more calls Monday, including the boat fire. The boat fire happened about 5 p.m. Kokanos said when they arrived, the boat was fully engulfed in flames and the three people in the boat had jumped in the water to swim to shore.
He put fire crews on Merritt Bridge and they sprayed some water on the boat. That knocked the fire down somewhat and a civilian offered to take firefighters out in his boat. Firefighters finished extinguishing the fire from the boat. They borrowed another boat to tow the burned out vessel to shore, Kokanos said. SEE FIRE, 2A
Cannabis shops licensed in Spokane No licenses yet for Pend Oreille County BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – As retail stores begin to open in the state including one in Spo-
Parade, fireworks and sunshine light up Diamond Lake
kane, Jacob J. Sattleen is the sole retail license applicant still eligible for one of the Pend Oreille County’s three marijuana retail licenses. The other two were apparently disqualified in the SEE POT, 7A
Art, drinks, music abound at 11th annual Lavender Festival
Friday Friday afternoon afternoon the the sun sun was was out out as as dozens dozens of of decorated decorated boats boats and and other other floating floating objects objects paraded paraded around around Diamond Diamond Lake Lake for for the the hundreds hundreds of of spectators spectators on on shore. shore. Water Water balloons balloons and and spray spray guns guns kept kept the the parade parade participants participants moving moving and and laughing. laughing. That That night night the the Fourth Fourth of of July July celebration celebration came came to to aa spectacular spectacular end end with with fireworks fireworks provided provided by by the the Diamond Diamond Lake Lake Improvement Improvement Association, Association, launched launched from from aa barge barge in in the the middle middle of of the the lake. lake.
BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER
MINER PHOTO/FRED WILLENBROCK
NEWPORT – The 11th annual Pend Oreille Valley Lavender Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13, in the Newport City Park, corner of First Street and Calispel Avenue.
SEE LAVENDER, 2A
B R I E F LY Highway 2 work begins near Spokane SPOKANE-Motorists traveling to and from Spokane should watch for roadwork between Westwood Road and the Pend Oreille County line, in Spokane County. Crews are asphalt pavement resurfacing. In general, work will be done in the evenings, from about 7 p.m. until as late as 6 a.m. the following morning, possibly until 8 a.m. Saturday mornings. Drivers should be alert for singlelane traffic directed by flaggers and pilot cars with delays up to 20 minutes. Drivers should be very alert for grooved pavement and abrupt lane edges, according to WSDOT,
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CLASSIFIEDS
Newport chamber meets at Owen’s
and motorcyclists should use extreme caution.
High water, swift current postpone dock installation OLDTOWN – The docks at the Rotary Park boat launch in Oldtown will most likely be installed later this week, according to the Pend Oreille Public Utility District. The PUD is in charge of installing the docks seasonally. This year, high water and a swift current prevented the docks from being installed before the Fourth of July holiday. They are expected to be installed Thursday afternoon, July 10. 5B-8B
NEWPORT – The Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a general membership meeting Tuesday, July 15, at 6 p.m. at Owen’s Grocery and Deli. Officials from Pend Oreille County Counseling Services will present information about funding cuts by the state Medicaid Program for the Chemical Dependency Program and a proposed county tax increase. County commissioner Mike Manus will also give an update on the South End ATV SEE BRIEFLY, 2A
OPINION
4A
RECORD
4B
SPORTS
2B
LIFE
1B
POLICE REPORTS
4B
OBITUARIES
4B
PUBLIC NOTICES
6B-8B
DOWN RIVER DAYS ARE COMING SOON
CHECK OUT JULY 23RD ISSUE