LIVING WELL SECTION FLU IS BIGGEST THREAT IN COMMUNITY SEE PAGES 1B-9B
The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 111, Number 39 | 2 Sections, 28 Pages
75¢
Parks board has big plans County predicts increased recreational demand BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – The number one item people want improved at Pend Oreille County parks are restrooms. That’s according to a survey conducted in 2013, the results of which are found in “Parks and Recreation in Pend Oreille County, a comprehensive plan.” But the county park board has bigger plans for the more than 1,000 acres they manage. “The plan was developed by the Parks Board,” said Mike Lithgow, Pend Oreille County Community Development director. Dixie Chichester was hired as a consultant to write the plan, which was adopted by the county in January after more than a year of work. Some changes were made in October upon suggestion of the state Rec-
reation and Conservation Office. It lays out a detailed plan for the next six years.
‘We want to make people in the county aware of what we have so they can use it.’ Sam Nicholas
Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
“In the past we really didn’t have a well written plan,” said Sam Nicholas, county Parks and Recreation Advisory Board chairman. Now they do. The 231-page document has an inventory of county
MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING
Fire claims mobile home, marijuana
South Pend Orielle Fire and Rescue personnel arrived on scene to a fully involved structure fire at Broken J Lane, just off Scotia Road Tuesday, Oct. 21. Here fire investigators look for the cause of the fire, which turned out to be an overheated extension cord. In addition to the structure, marijuana and marijuana growing equipment was destroyed in the fire, according to the landowner, Detra Johnson. Johnson and others have applied for marijuana processor and producer licenses, using the Broken J location. Nobody was home when the fire broke out.
SEE PARKS, 14A
Kalispels show public plans for forest land A forest teaching experience is big part of site
Indian Creek
BY DON GRONNING
State can’t trap wolf; pulls traps
OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – About a dozen people attended a meeting to hear about the Kalispel Tribe’s proposed Community Forest plan Tuesday, Oct. 21. The site is northwest of Newport near the Pend Oreille River. “It was a good meeting,” said Bob Gilraine, tribal forest manager. About a dozen people attended. It was the public’s first look at what will be a teaching forest. “This will be a training ground for future biologists, foresters and anyone interested in a career in the natural resources field,” Gilraine said. There will be another meeting Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Kalispel Tribes’ community center, across from the tribal administration building, at 5 p.m. He said it is the tribe’s hope some tribal members will take it up as a career. The community forest is located on 133 acres of land northwest of Newport, on
Ione wolf remains at large
Indian Creek RD
Legend
LeClerc RD South
Original CF Boundary Roads Streams Indian Creek Community Forest Boundary
Pend Oreille River
COURTESY MAP|PEND OREILLE COUNTY
The community forest will be located within the yellow outlined portion of the map. The area itself is 133 acres, but management practices learned there will be applied to the 350 acres the tribe owns.
the east side of the river. The 133 acres are part of 550 acres the tribe acquired as part of a Bonneville Power
Administration mitigation purchase. It is the site of the once proposed Saddle Mountain RV Park.
The project is part of the Bonneville Power Administration’s mitigation for wetland and riparian habi-
tat loss due to the construction of Albeni Falls Dam at SEE FOREST, 2A
SPOKANE – The lone wolf known to roam residential neighborhoods in northern Pend Oreille County is successfully alluding Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff. “To date, we have not been able to capture the Ruby Creek female for placement at Wolf Haven International,” Wildlife Program Assistant Director Nate Pamplin wrote to WDFW’s Wolf Advisory Group. So far, WDFW efforts have mostly been trapping with leg-hold sets. They’ve had 24 traps in the ground for 18 nights. They’ve used traps with scent lure and blind sets, where no scent is used. They used scat and hair as bait from the dogs the Ruby female has been mingling with, as well as walking the dogs around the area to lay scent. SEE WOLF, 2A
B R I E F LY Fall Bazaar Saturday in Usk USK –The Usk Community Center annual Fall Bazaar takes place Saturday, Nov. 1, at the old schoolhouse/community center at 2442 Black Rd. There will be homemade soups and chili. They are among the dishes sold to raise money for the community center. There will also be various vendors with crafts and other items for sale. One thing not for sale is a handmade quilt from the 1930s made by women from several local families. The quilt, donated to display by the Pease-Davis family, is a highlight of
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CLASSIFIEDS LIFE OBITUARIES
this year’s bazaar. There will be raffles held throughout the day, which starts at 9 a.m. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free to the public.
Trick-or-Treat in downtown Newport NEWPORT – Kids are invited to Trick-or-Treat at downtown businesses in Newport on Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m. Businesses with signs in their window will have candy available for children in costumes. The event is organized by Newport City Hall staff, who will 11B-12B
OPINION
be offering hotdogs and beverages paid for with donations.
County Democrats host meeting in Cusick NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille County Democrats meeting Saturday, November 8, at 10 a.m. at the Cusick Community Center, will host guest speakers from the River Arts Alliance and a potluck meal. The Community Center is located at 107 First Ave. in Cusick. Meat will be provided for the potluck, and attendees are asked to bring salads or desserts to share. For more information, call Gayle at 509-710-6493.
4A
RECORD
10B
SPORTS
10A-12A
9A
POLICE REPORTS
10B
10B
PUBLIC NOTICES
12B-13B
FALL HEALTH SECTION
1B-9B
HALLOWEEN CONTEST WINNERS SEE PAGE 14A