The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 115, Number 40 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages
$1.00
HiTest smelter opposition grows Group organizing, fundraising to keep smelter out By Don Gronning Of The Miner
NEWPORT – Citizens Against Newport Silicon Smelter (CANSS), a group actively opposing a silicon smelter that is proposed for an area bordering Idaho, about a mile south of Newport, held an informational meeting at the Roxy Theater in Newport Sunday, Oct. 29. “We had more than 200 people attend,” said Phyllis Kardos, one of the event’s organizers. “I’m extremely happy.” The meeting lasted three and a half hours, with several speakers, including Bill Ellis, Patrick Molvick, Theresa Hiesener, Michael Naylor, Axel Hiesener, Nancy Hendershott, Betty Berkhousen, Gretchen Koenig, Debbie Barker and Kardos on the agenda. She said in addition to a HiTest official, 17-20 elected officials from Washington and Idaho were invited to intend. The HiTest official declined to come. Only one Pend Oreille County commissioner responded, letting her know he wouldn’t come. “I didn’t hear back from the rest,” Kardos said. Rep. Heather Scott, R-Idaho, was one of the elected officials who did speak. Scott wasn’t personally invited, but the District 1 Idaho state representative from Blanchard came and addressed the crowd.
Miner photo|Sophia Aldous
A standing room only crowd turned out to the Roxy Theater in Newport for a meeting Sunday, Oct. 29 to organize opposition to the proposed HiTest Silicon smelter meeting. More than 200 people attended.
See Hitest, 2A
Controversy mires ambulance services in Pend Oreille County
Private ambulance company opens in Pend Oreille County Pend Oreille Ambulance opened doors Oct. 23 By Michelle Nedved Of The Miner
NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County is home to a new private ambulance service, with the opening of Pend Oreille Ambulance, which started responding to emergency calls Monday, Oct. 23. The company, Pend Oreille EMS (POEMS) is operating as Pend Oreille Ambulance, and is available to cover all of Pend Oreille County, with the possibility of covering Bonner County in the future. As for now, however, they are only responding in southern Pend Oreille County, as the fire districts in the north end of Pend Oreille want to cover their own emergencies.
Owners John Jackson and Nicole Dice decided to start the business because they saw the need. “John and I aren’t in it to make a million dollars,” Dice said. Jackson owns Newport Towing, and Dice works at the Pend Oreille County Treasurer’s Office. “We’re vested in this county,” Jackson said. Pend Oreille Ambulance will have up to 20 people on staff, five paramedics and 15 EMTs, who will be on shift 24 hours a day, working in 12-hour shifts. There will be one EMT and one paramedic, along with two ambulances – one advanced life support and one basic life support – at See PO Ambulance, 2A
All parties claim to have public’s safety in mind
By Michelle Nedved Of The Miner
NEWPORT – It’s a kind of Catch-22 that’s life and death. Who should respond to Basic Life Support ambulance calls in Pend Oreille County, specifically within the South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue District? John Jackson and Nicole Dice, owners of the recently-opened Pend Oreille Ambulance, a private company, attended Thursday’s Pend Oreille County EMS council
meeting to ask just that. Jackson said he received notice from SPOFR Chief Mike Nokes that he was not to respond to BLS calls within his district. Nokes and his Captain Scott Doughty say they have to put their constituents first, and therefore devised a plan where they can cover BLS calls, so Pend Oreille Ambulance is available for Advanced Life Support calls. Here’s the problem: Jackson and Dice say they won’t be able to keep their doors open if they aren’t al-
lowed to respond to all ambulance calls in at least the southern part of Pend Oreille County, and if they can’t keep their doors open, no one in the county will have ALS services. While Doughty maintained that the meeting Thursday was not the place to hash out the logistics of who responds to what, the meeting lasted more than an hour with that discussion ongoing. “My goal is to run just like AMR See EMS, 10A
Veterans Day ceremonies happening By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
NEWPORT – With Veterans Day set for Saturday, Nov. 11, there are quite a few upcoming ceremonies and celebrations in honor of the holiday.
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the holiday was originally known as Armistice Day to honor veterans that had served in World War I and to be dedicated to peace. After World War II the holiday was changed to honor
American veterans of all wars. In anticipation of the holiday, here is a compilation of upcoming Veterans Day events in the Pend Oreille Valley. The public is welcome to attend. See veterans, 10A
B r i e f ly Harvest Dinner at Edgemere Grange VAY – The Edgemere Grange will hold its annual Harvest Dinner Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. Bring a favorite dish to share. A pie auction will follow dinner to raise money for building repairs and updates. Call Chelsea at 208-610-6512.
Daylight savings time ends Sunday
to an end on Sunday, Nov. 5. This is the impetus for everyone in the United States to set their clocks back by one hour. This fall back will take place at 2 a.m. Pacific time. Daylight savings time started this year on March 12, causing people to move their clocks forward one hour. This occurs next year on March 11, 2018. Then we will fall back again to get that extra hour back on Nov. 4, 2018.
NEWPORT – Spring ahead, fall back. That’s the reminder for daylight savings time, which comes
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8B-9b
Schools come together for STEAM Carnival PRIEST RIVER – The public is invited to join Newport and Priest River schools for a night of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) Thursday, Nov. 2, 6-8 p.m. at Priest River Lamanna High School. There will be hands-on experiments, art projects and door prizes. Vote for the best booth in the People’s Choice Awards and help a team of students win a scholarship.
Opinion
4a
Record
7B
sports
4B-5B
Turkeys
2B-3B
Life
1B
Police Reports
7B
Obituaries
7B
Public Notices
9B-10B
Win a turkey!
Visit local storefronts See pages 2B-3B