This is the second part in a series of stories on the top news of 2019.

By CIENNA ROGET

Contributing writer

SANDPOINT — There was no shortage of news in 2019.

Below are the highlights of the events which took place in the county during 2019, from a fire which destroyed two buildings in downtown Sandpoint to the selection of Sandpoint High School principal Tom Albertson as the new Lake Pend Oreille School District superintendent after Shawn Woodward accepted a job in Washington state.

Top stories in 2019 include:

February

The Elk’s Club and 101 Women supply charitable donations to Community Cancer Services. The Elks donates $2,000, and 101 Women donates $10,000.

Five businesses were destroyed after an early morning structure fire at the corner of First Avenue and Bridge Street of the historic district. The fire originated in The Hound, but China Kitchen, the Chocolate Bear, the Headlines Salon, and Sandpoint Tattoo.

March

Sandpoint seniors receive honors. Alana Seifert is named as Sandpoint High School valedictorian. Chloe Braedt and Adele Marchiando are named co-salutatorians. Both Isaac Solly from Forrest Bird Charter School and Adele Marchiando from Sandpoint High School are named National Merit Finalists based on their junior year PSAT scores.

LPOSD levy passes in March 12 election. In preliminary results, the Lake Pend Oreille School District’s two-year $25.4 million request had garnered 2,835 yes votes, or 56.32 percent, to 2,199 no votes, or 43.68 percent.

In other election news, the West Bonner County School District levy — a request for $6 million over two years failed as did a second question on the ballot to make the levy permanent.

Bonner County sheriff’s officials investigated a burglary at the Holy Spirit Episcopal Church. A number of sacred and secular items were taken in the burglary, including a large cross which hung above the church’s altar, a tabernacle, patens used to hold Eucharist bread, other crosses, chalices, candlesticks, an ointment anointing ring, collection plates, and other items.

Little Fit Day Care operator, Dennis Ray McLeish, faces a pending criminal charge after an infant was seriously injured by other children when left unattended at the facility.

Bonner County commissioners unanimously affirmed their approval of a hotly contested asphalt batch plant proposal despite strenuous push-back from neighboring landowners and a comprehensive legal argument that a conditional use permit for the project cannot be lawfully granted

April

After seven years at Lake Pend Oreille School District, Shawn Woodward resigns from the superintendent position. His resignation is in accordance with his new position as superintendent of the Mead School District in Washington starting July 1.

Four Sandpoint High School runners take down a 25-year-old boys 4x800 record of 8:22.5 at the Christina Finney Relays. Sloan Woodward, Nikolai Braedt, Jett Lucas, and Seth Graham comprised the relay team.

A Sagle man was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Robert Cameroen Hegseth-Wohali. According to an indictment, Michael Ryan McDermott shot and killed Hegseth Wohali, 26, with malice aforethought but without premeditation on March 14 or 15, according to the indictment. The indictment alleges McDermott shot Hegseth Wohali in the chest.

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is presented with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve Seven Seals award on April 10.

Montana District Court Judge overturns water permit approval from the proposed Rock Creek Mine that would have allowed groundwater pumping. The decision was made to protect unspoiled lakes and streams and prevent depletion of groundwater resources.