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The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 113, Number 36 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages

75¢

Fire District 4 running EMS levy

By Don Gronning Of The Miner

DALKENA – Nick Knaack, fire chief for Pend Oreille Fire District No. 4, points to a table of medical equipment. “See this?” he says pointing to a $36,000 cardiac monitor. “It’s at the end of its life and we need two.” He continued through the equipment – the numbers start adding up. The deliberators are nearing the end of their life and replacements See Fire District 4, 2A

Courtesy photo|Kevin Moore

Potential new site for smelter By Don Gronning Of The Miner

USK – Officials for HiTest Sand, Inc., the firm that would like to build a $300 million silicone smelter in Usk, met with county commission chairman Mike Manus, EDC director Jamie Wyrobek and consultant Gregg Dohrn Sept. 20 at the site of Ponderay News-

print Co., according to Dohrn. “We had a good conversation and good follow up,” Dohrn said, who was hired as a consultant by the county to help with the project. He said after the meeting with the county, HiTest officials met with the Kalispel Tribe and See Smelter, 2A

Two-state moose This moose decided to swim from Old American Campground in Washington to Oldtown, Idaho about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. The moose came out on the bank near LeClerc Road, climbed onto the road, stood for a few moments, and wandered off toward Freeman Lake. See more pictures page 7A.

Hospital takes back ER billing By Michelle Nedved Of The Miner

NEWPORT – Newport Hospital took back billing services from the agency it contracts with for emergency room doctors, effective last month. According to district CEO Tom Wilbur, discrepancies in the way EmCare

billed for services that appeared to be out of network gave patients sticker shock when they received bills that they weren’t necessarily required to pay. When Newport Hospital started contracting with EmCare at the beginning of the year, part of the agreement was that EmCare would do

their own billing for services received in Newport Hospital. The manner in which insurance and Medicare and Medicaid was billed showed a large discrepancy between what was covered and what patients might be liable for. See EmCare, 9A

Van to Spokane may cease operations without support, council told By Don Gronning Of The Miner

NEWPORT – Rusty Koontz of Special Mobility Services, the 501 (c) 3 non profit that operates the shuttle between Newport and Spokane appeared before the Newport City Council asking for a letter of support and financial assistance in meeting the matching portion of the grant that funds the run. Koontz told the council that the shuttle had been in operation 20 years, making two runs between Newport and Spokane four days a week. That shuttle doesn’t operate on Tuesdays, but runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The fare is $5 each direction, Koontz said and the run could deviate up to a mile from the route to pick up people, sometimes at their home,

Courtesy photo|Tiffany Hansen

This photograph shows a white streak, said to be a meteor, falling to earth near Post Falls Wednesday night, Sept. 28.

Reports of meteor heard in Pend Oreille County

By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner

POST FALLS – No, it wasn’t aliens.

Allegedly, a meteor fell to earth near Post Falls the night of Wednesday, Sept. 28. Residents in Pend Oreille, Bonner,

Kootenai , and Spokane counties reported hearing a loud boom around See Meteor, 2A

with 24-hour notice. Some 80 percent of the people who ride the van identify themselves as low-income, Koontz said. About 40 percent are disabled. The shuttle is funded biennially. Koontz said they are in the process of applying for a competitive grant from the state that requires some matching money. Koontz said the match has increased and will continue to increase. In the past SMS has paid the match but this is the last time they will be able to do it, Kootz said. The application for the 2017-19 funding is due Oct. 10, he said. Newport Mayor Shirley Sands said the city was happy to provide a letter of support but said financial assistance would be “gifting of pubSee Council, 2A

B r i e f ly Candidates forum set for Oct. 17

Women’s health seminar Oct. 22

Ione marijuana retailer gets license

NEWPORT – A candidates forum for the upcoming general election in Pend Oreille County is set for Monday, Oct. 17, at 5:30 p.m. at Newport High School. Candidates running for county commissioner, Pend Oreille PUD, state legislature and superior court judge are invited, as well as candidates for U.S. Congress. The event is put on by The Miner Newspapers, Newport School District and League of Women’s Voters. If you have questions you would like asked of any of these candidates, contact The Miner at 509-447-2433. Ask for Michelle.

NEWPORT – A Women’s Health Seminar is set for Saturday, Oct. 22, in the Priest River Event Center. Preregistration is required by Oct. 12. The event is for adults only, and features women’s health speakers, entertainment and a special closing presentation. Blood pressure checks, information tables and door prizes and giveways round out the event. To register, contact the Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation at 509-447-7928, NHHSFoundation@nhhsqualitycare.org, visit www.NewportHospitalAndHealth.org.

IONE – The Pend Oreille Cannabis Co. has received a retail marijuana license and is planning to open a store in Ione soon, at 124 Riverside Ave. “We are getting product this week and next and hope to be open by next Saturday, October 8th,” according to a post on the Facebook page. Pend Oreille County commissioners have enacted a moratorium on marijuana retailers in the unincorporated parts of the county and are putting the final touches on an outright ban. The ban won’t affect cities, however.

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classifieds

7B

Opinion

4a

Record

6B

Life

4B

Police Reports

6B

sports

1B-3B

Births

6B

Public Notices

7B-9B

Senior Calendar

8A

Hunting season is here Look For your guide Next week’s Issue


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