The deadline for the Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission's Student Essay Contest is coming up quickly — Dec. 1.

So for those young writers who need a bit of a push, just remember two words: broomball party.

"Broomball is a really fun game played all over the world. It’s a lot like ice hockey but players wear street shoes … no ice skates allowed and no ice skating or hockey skills are necessary," said Vince Hughes, director of the nonprofit Kootenai Youth Recreation Organization (KYRO), which owns and manages Frontier Ice Arena. "Broomball is a very popular game for birthday parties and as a team-building exercise for businesses and other organizations. It’s just a really fun activity!"

Frontier Ice Arena has donated six broomball parties accommodating up to 30 people each as prizes for the first, second and third place winners in both the middle and high school categories of this year's contest. The broomball parties are in addition to the cash prizes of $200, $100 and $50, sweetening the prize for the top writers.

"This could be a down payment on your new smartphone," Skip Fuller, HPC vice chairman and student essay contest coordinator, said Thursday. "The cash prizes are great incentives for students to participate."

Winning a broomball party is also pretty cool, he said.

"It’s not often middle- and high-school students can compete for a prize that affords them the opportunity to share such a fun time with so many family members and/or friends!”

This year's contest topic poses questions about what life was like in Kootenai County in 1910. Students are asked to imagine they are a county commissioner who is writing a response to a lumber mill owner in Minnesota, "Mr. Smith," who is considering moving to North Idaho.

"It’s a little bit imagination and a little bit creativity," Fuller said.

Those who wish to participate in the fourth annual HPC Student Essay Contest must have their entries submitted by Dec. 1. Contest rules/guidelines can be found by visiting www.kcgov.us and clicking on the Historic Preservation Commission's prompt under the "Committees" menu.

Questions may be addressed to Fuller at 208-676-9820 or by emailing diski@live.com.