Whitefish Trail easements open for public comment

A land deal currently open for public comments aims to connect two sections of the Whitefish Trail.

Wellness plan remains an option

SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners declined on Tuesday to adopt policies establishing an employee wellness program and preventing tobacco users from being hired.

Tremendous growth earns Quest honors

SANDPOINT — Quest Aircraft Company was awarded the annual "Business of the Year" award from the Bonner County Economic Development Corporation as a result of their tremendous job growth during the past year.

Group working to solve cross-border concerns

One of the pleasures I have serving as your state representative is the occasional opportunity to address issues that go beyond the Idaho Statehouse.

TAXES: Stick to essentials

Here we go again! Sprinklings of stories from the taxing districts justifying their reasoning's for an increase in budgets when for the past year we have read numerous stories, op-ed pieces and public comments on the excesses of government spending. The outrages expressed, the inefficiencies, and inadequacies in programs and compensation continue. The most recent from our two largest cities here in North Idaho. We're hearing all of the same explanations that have been stated so many times in the past. "Our employees have not seen raises in three years; in order to maintain essential services; our equipment is falling apart; we are a training ground for other agencies; it will only cost X amount of dollars more per year; our levy rate is lower than other districts." YadaYadaYada. Are we tired yet of hearing these same sound bites?

Fountain: I can balance Lakes Highway District

By ALECIA WARREN

Crapo: Time for a better approach, Part 2

By U.S. SEN. MIKE CRAPO

Kootenai's jobless rate falls again Consumer confidence sinks

State dips below 7 percent for first time in 3.5 years

POST FALLS - Kootenai County's jobless rate fell eight-tenths of a percent to 8.1 in November, marking the sixth straight month that the number has dropped.

Paid Parental Leave Creates Great Families

Kudos to Governor Little for issuing the executive order to provide for paid parental leave for state employees. In his words “this will enable families to spend time together in those critical weeks after a child enters the family.” This order will impact the 25,000 state employees who work for the executive branch of state government, the largest workforce in the state.

Lakes remain peaceful for Kootenai County over Fourth

Boaters flocked to Lake Coeur d’Alene and Hayden Lake for Thursday’s Fourth of July festivities, keeping the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office busy — but generally happy — during the holiday.

Bank On building a better N. Idaho

In Idaho’s five northern counties, more than 21,000 households are living on a bare-bones survival budget as measured by the United Way ALICE Report of financial hardship. There is no margin for savings or emergency funds in a survival budget, which means a blown tire or broken heater can plunge an ALICE family into crisis.

Senator: Economy will rebound

It all comes down to confidence, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said in describing the country's potential for recovering from the ongoing global financial crisis.

Timber firm cuts 145 jobs

The Daily Inter Lake

Governor: 'We will weather the storm'

Heading into the Labor Day weekend, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer expressed concern about the state's unemployment rate but confidence in the state government's fiscal position.

County unemployment rate drops to 9.8 percent

Job Service head ‘cautiously optimistic’

Flathead County’s unemployment rate dipped to 9.8 percent in September, the first time it’s been below 10 percent in a year, according to numbers released by the state Department of Labor and Industry’s Research and Analysis Bureau.

C. Falls looks for new revenue sources

Columbia Falls City Council members have a 2005-06 budget assignment over the next month: Think of new ways to cover major projects.

Group aims for Kalispell foundation

Whitefish has one. Other communities have them. Why not Kalispell?

Eyes on the road? What a concept

With all the distractions available to drivers these days, one might wonder whether DWM - "driving while multitasking" - has replaced DWI as the chief hazard on the highways.

This Week In Bonners Ferry History

100 Years Ago

A partnership for public lands

To do right by Whitefish we need to acknowledge that we are both a rural and urban community, both full of new-comers and old-timers but still one great place.