The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 116, Number 38 | 2 Sections, 24 Pages $1.00
Forest plan for POC By Caneel Johnson Of The Miner
NEWPORT – The Colville National Forest Land Management Plan will bring changes for Pend Oreille County. “The final revised plan is the result of nearly 15 years of public engagement. Since 2004, an interdisciplinary team of Forest Service resource specialists have worked to develop the revised Land Management Plan with valuable input and assistance from tribal governments, federal, state, and local governments, industry groups, permittees, non-governmental, organizations, and individual citizens,” Franklin Pemberton the Public Affairs officer for the Colville National Forest said. “In total, the Forest Service organized more than 190 formal opportunities for input during the plan revision process, in addition to many informal opportunities for information sharing,” Pemberton said. The plan proposes to extend the SalmoPriest Wilderness by approximately 14,900 acres. It is approximately 43,348 acres. The Salmo-Priest Wilderness area crosses the Idaho Border. The Idaho Panhandle National Forest manages approximately 9,900 acres of the Salmo-Priest wilderness area, said Shoshana Cooper the Public Affairs Officer for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Wilderness areas are lands designated by congress to remain underdeveloped and pristine. Since 2016 there have been over 900 comments letters and over 2,000 comments in the formal comment period, Pemberton said. Congress has not designated the area wilderness as of yet. According to the plan the proposed addition to the wilderness areas should remain in pristine condition until congress designates them as such or the area is released from consideration. “The recommended wilderness areas in the plan are simply land management allocations. Existing uses, such as grazing, mountain biking and chainsaw use would continue in these areas until Congress chooses to designate,” Pemberton said. See Forest Plan, 10A
Miner photo|Caneel Johnson
Twice the viewing pleasure Just past the Tiger Store to the left of Highway 31 the Ione Mill Pond was still as glass Wednesday morning Oct. 10. The mirror quality refection allowed for twice the viewing pleasure of the fall colors.
Spirit Lake fire results in fatality By Caneel Johnson Of The Miner
SPIRIT LAKE – The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a structure fire on Mud Gulch Road in Spirit Lake at 5:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8. “When the officers arrived at the end of Mud Gulch Road they could see the house fully engulfed on the opposite side of the river,” said Capt. Tim Hemphill of the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office said. When officers arrived at 1290 Tanglewood Drive the neighbors
who had gathered informed the officers that the female resident was inside. The structure was too engulfed to allow entry. The West Pend Oreille Fire District was called to assist. “The house was not in a fire district, but the West Pend Oreille Fire District is good at trying to help out. They are wonderful,” said Hemphill. West Pend Oreille Fire Department sent six fire fighters, a 1,700-gallon tender and a brush truck to the scene, which was 11 miles out of their district, Fire
Chief Les Kokanos said. “It had already burned to the ground when we arrived,” said Kokanos. The scene was held over until the next day when the Idaho Fire Marshalls could investigate the scene. “They found what is believed to be the remains of the female resident, Penny Dufek,” Hemphill said. Dufeck was 59 and worked at the Newport Hospital. Her family has been notified. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is believed to be accidental, Hemphill said.
Pend Oreille County Commissioner, District 2 Sheryl Miller Age: 54 Town of residence: Newport Occupation: retired from Broadway Flying J Education: Four years Miller of veterinary science at Washington State University during high school and two years of computer aided drafting at ITT. Family: Single, four adult children, seven grandchildren Party: No party affiliation
ing Pend Oreille County? “The smelter, definitely,” Miller said. “It was pretty much snuck in and when the public did finally did find out about it, the majority of the public is all saying this is the wrong placement for a smelter. It was not a well planned out thought. It is something that does not belong over the town of Newport. It is affecting Idaho and Washington. Poor placement.”
Mike Manus Age: 66 Town of residence: Newport Occupation: Pend Oreille County Commissioner Education: One year of Manus college, University of Idaho Family: wife, Kim; three adult children; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren Party: Republican
Does the county need a mental health tax? Why or why not?
What is the biggest issue facing Pend Oreille County? The economy and the prospect of losing two big employers – Pend Oreille
What is the biggest issue fac-
See Miller, 2A
Mine and Ponderay Newsprint. Manus says attracting new businesses is his priority. “A lot of people think it’s all about HiTest or PacWest, but it’s about attracting any business,” he said. “I would be right out there, any business that wanted to come in, I would be working with them as best I can.” All businesses except marijuana businesses, that is. Manus says he stands by the county’s ban on marijuana sales. “I am all in favor, I will say this, of the medical marijuana,” he said. “However the state messed that up See Manus, 2A
B r i e f ly Manus to undergo heart surgery Friday NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County Commissioner Mike Manus is scheduled to have heart surgery Oct. 19 to repair an aneurysm and two blocked arteries. After experiencing chest pain several weeks ago, Manus has been resting at home and waiting for the results of medical tests and a treatment plan. He said he has been able to work from home via cell phone and email. It will take several weeks after the surgery to fully recover and return to his commissioner duties full time,
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he said. He said he appreciates the hard work and support of his fellow commissioners and county staff who are doing an outstanding job filling in for him. “I’m feeling fine and ready to get this over with and get back to work,” Manus said in a press release. He said he wanted to thank all those that have reached out to him to express their concern and encouragement. Manus, a Republican, is running for re-election in the Nov. 6 general election, against Sheryl Miller, who has no party affiliation.
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Free food giveaway this Thursday NEWPORT – The American Lutheran Church is hosting a free food distribution to those in need Thursday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon. The American Lutheran Church is located at 332801 Hwy. 2 in Newport. There will be free produce and perishable products. No appointment or documentation is necessary. Bring your own bag or box. The event will be held outside regardless of weather, so dress appropriately. For more information, contact Nicole Smoot at 509671-1432 or visit their website at www.2-harvest.org
Opinion
4a
Record
7B
sports
1B-2B
Life
4b
Police Reports
7B
Obituaries
7B
Public Notices
10B-12B
Booster
6B
Living well
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