The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNTY SINCE 1901
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Still no word on silicon smelter County expects announcement in a month
BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – A crowd of more than 50 people turned out to hear the latest update on Monday, Sept. 11, on the HiTest
Volume 115, Number 33 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages $1.00
Sands silicon smelter project that may be built in the Newport area. Gregg Dohrn is a consultant working with the county on the HiTest and other planning projects. He said the county is in sort of a holding pattern until HiTest formally announces the projects SEE SMELTER, 2A MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING
The county commissioners’ chambers in Newport had a full house for the update on the HiTest Sands silicon smelter project. County consultant Gregg Dohrn, center, expects to hear in 30 days whether HTest will pursue the $300 million project.
Sheriff budget key for county finances Budget process starting BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County commissioners got their first look at the 2018 budget last week, when department heads and elected officials turned in their budget requests.
“If the stars align right, the budget is not looking too bad,” county auditor Marianne Nichols said. “I’m not sure how realistic it is, though.” She said the county starts with $800,000 ending fund balance from last year. If the revenue and expense forecasts are accurate, the current expense budget would be about $135,000 short of balancing on a budget of $11.10 million. Pend Oreille County commissioner chairwoman Karen Skoog says there are a lot of unknowns in the
budget process that is just starting and must be concluded by the end of the year. One of the big budget considerations is whether the city of Newport contracts with the county for law enforcement services. Sheriff Alan Botzheim included $635,000 in his budget for law enforcement contracts. The big question is whether Newport will renew its contract. The contract SEE BUDGET, 2A
Ybarra begins selling a ‘stay-the-course’ budget plan BY KEVIN RICHERT IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS
BOISE – State superintendent Sherri Ybarra says her 2018-19 budget request stays the course for Idaho schools — and enjoys buy-in from education leaders and fellow elected officials. “I feel like this budget is very reflective of everybody’s feedback,” Ybarra told Idaho Education News in a Wednesday afternoon interview. Initial reactions to the budget are mixed. One powerful legislative budget-writer said Ybarra’s request is sound; another is withholding judgment. One key education
stakeholder commended Ybarra for making “a good healthy ask” on behalf of the state’s students. A second stakeholder says Ybarra’s request comes up short, while a third says it’s too early to tell.
— Idaho’s five-year plan to boost teacher salaries by $250 million — Ybarra is seeking an additional $46.6 million. Minimum salaries would increase from $34,600 to $35,800. It will be “several years” before the state has statistical evidence showing whether the pay increases are helping Idaho recruit and retain teachers, Ybarra said. But there is anecdotal evidence that the pay raises are helping teacher morale. Schools would receive an additional $19 million in “operational” funding, which they can use to cover salaries, supplies or any other
Key line items At nearly $1.8 billion, the Ybarra budget request represents a $113.6 increase for public schools. While this all adds up to a 6.8 percent increase, the added money would cover rising student enrollment and pay for some ongoing efforts. Here are a few highlights, and Ybarra’s thinking behind the requests. For year four of the career ladder
Supportive, not punitive: How to deal with truancy
BY SOPHIA ALDOUS OF THE MINER
NEWPPORT – With a new school year underway and a new state law to implement, Newport School District (NSD) is creating a truancy board to help keep students with unexcused absences out of district court. In spring of 2016 state lawmakers passed House bill 2449 that requires all school districts and juvenile courts to work together to create commu-
‘The system has tried punishing kids for not showing up to school, and it’s not working. This is a different approach.’ Peg Waterman
NSD Truancy Coordinator
nity truancy boards by the 2017-18 school year. “It’s a supportive, rather than punitive step,” said Peg Waterman, NSD Pend Oreille River School teacher and truancy coordinator at the Newport School Board meeting on Monday, Sept. 11. “The system has tried punishing kids for not showing up to school, and it’s not working. This is a different approach.” According to the Office of Superintendent of Public instruction (OSPI), about 17 percent of
SEE YBARRA, 2A
SEE STUDENTS, 10A
B R I E F LY Friends of the Library book sale this week NEWPORT – Friends of the Pend Oreille Library District will hold their fall used book sale, Sept. 14, 15, 16 at the United Church of Christ, 430 Third St., in Newport. Times are Thursday, Sept. 14, 5-8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 15, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday Sept. 16, 8 a.m. to noon. Most books cost 50 cents. They will be displayed by category, and include children and young adult books, spirituality/religion, crafts, gardening, and “unusual” books. A select group of more valuable books will be individually priced. In addition to the books, videos, DVDs, cassettes and records will also be in stock for this sale. All proceeds go to programs and projects in the district such as the recent raptor program in Newport and Cusick and book bags for those entering kindergarten in Newport. CLASSIFIEDS Follow
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For more information, call Becky Anderson at 307-2728922, or 509-770-3830.
For more information, including registration, call 509-447-7928, ext. 4373.
Fun Run fundraiser this Saturday
Priest River suspends impact fees through 2018
NEWPORT – The annual Newport Autumn Bloom 5K/10K Fun Run is Saturday, Sept. 16, at 9 a.m. at Newport City Park. The event is a fundraiser for the Newport Hospital Foundation’s Healthy Kids Snack Bag program. The 10K is a second seed qualifier for Bloomsday 2018. On-site registration is 7:30-8:30 a.m. Entry fees are $30 for pre-registered adults with a shirt and $20 for youth under 16 with pre-registration and a shirt. There is also a $20 registration no-shirt option.
PRIEST RIVER – Parks and police facilities fees have been suspended by the Priest River City Council through 2018. At the Sept. 5 council meeting, council approved Resolution No. 17-043, which removes the fees imposed on land developers for the purpose of providing the public facilities and system improvements within the city. Mayor Jim Martin noted that the suspension was only for a year and that if building continues to develop in Priest River, requiring more park acreage, the fees could always be reinstituted.
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OPINION
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RECORD
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POLICE REPORTS
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SPORTS
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PUBLIC NOTICES
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FIREFIGHTER SALUTE
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WE SALUTE OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS SEE PAGES 2B-4B
VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED!