Thursday, February 26
Bonners Ferry Junior Miss contestants named
Fourteen Bonners Ferry High School junior girls will participate in the 43rd Annual Bonners Ferry Junior Miss Program.
Sprungl gets top honor
Boundary County Sheriff Greg Sprungl has received the highest honor possible for a management-level law enforcement officer in Idaho.
Rose Ellen McUne, 72
A former Bonners Ferry resident, Rose Ellen McUne, 72, of Montrose Colo., died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at Colorow Care Center in Olathe, Colo., after a two-year battle with bone cancer.
County, school to share $2M
The check is in.
Gina Elizabeth Renaldi
A daughter was born Jan. 15, 2009, to Anthony Renaldi and Sarah Allegretti-Renaldi of Twin Falls at Twin Falls Hospital.
Judge rejects rapist's plea
A guilty plea arranged for an alleged child rapist has been denied.
Badgers defeat Orofino in playoff game
Bonners Ferry senior Aaron Hoisington scored 13 points to help the Badgers win their first District 1 game 57-40 over Orofino on Tuesday night.
Cancer within timber industry
On Jan. 20, we heard a lot of words about the American spirit— as though a good spirit emanated from Washington,D.C. The reality in Idaho is that Washington has choked our spirit.
Every drug-tested Bonners student passes
None of 50 Boundary County School District students checked for illegal drug-use last week tested positive.
Bonners Ferry girls drop two at state event to end season
Bonners Ferry High School girls basketball team finished the season Friday after losing two close games at the state tournament in Nampa.
Edward Wayne Thompson, 73
Edward Wayne Thompson, 73, left this world Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, to begin his journey along the stars back to the Creator’s land, a place of living light where he will be embraced by those who have gone on before.
Wages named new hospital trustee
Bonners Ferry native Theron Wages has been appointed to Boundary Community Hospital Board of Trustees.
$1,000 offered for drop-off box
For the last two winters I have both observed and experienced the extreme difficulty in returning books to our Boundary County Library. The problem that exists during the harsh winter weather is the ice packed area, which presents a major hazard to all senior citizens that try to retain their footing while going from their parked vehicle to the opposite side of the library, up the steep ramp with their arms filled with books to return that must be deposited in the book drop by the main entrance door.
How could city council justify $24,000 pay raise for city attorney?
In a time such as this, with unemployment as high as it is. . .
Judge orders evaluation for batterer
In July 2008, less than two months after Gerald Kittell beat his girlfriend nearly to death, he sent her a note from jail hoping for forgiveness and asking her to visit.
Seven wrestlers qualify for state tournament
Four out of seven state qualifying Bonners Ferry High School wrestlers are ranked among the top eight in their weight classes for this weekend’s 3A state tournament in Pocatello.
Gaige Johnson turned 1 year old
Gaige Johnson turned 1 year old on Jan. 11.
Thursday, February 19
Bonners Ferry girls basketball team go to state
The Bonners Ferry girls basketball team will play Wendell in the first round of the state tournament at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 19, at Skyview High School in Nampa.
James Carl Godwin
You hear and read of people losing their battle with cancer and other illnesses, but for James Carl Godwin, he didn’t have a chance to even make a battle plan, let alone fight one.
American Legion building for sale
The downtown Bonners Ferry building constructed more than 60 years ago for the American Legion Post No. 55 is for sale.
Election of new President triggers interest in guns
Bill Munson calls President Barack Obama “salesman of the year.”
Arrests renew interest in polygamy in Boundary County
In the scenic international region where Idaho’s Panhandle meets British Columbia, polygamy is a way of life for hundreds — the open secret that’s gone untouched by authorities until now.
Teen nabbed with pills stolen from mother
A 17-year-old boy at Riverside High School was cited for having a sandwich baggy with prescription pills he stole from his mother, police said.
Hospital audit statement misleading, CEO says
The 2007 Boundary County government audit indicates that Boundary Community Hospital’s “significant operating losses raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue.”
City council members sought
Here we are in the midst of the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930’s and the Bonners Ferry City Council just voted to approve a 22.38 percent pay-raise for city attorney Tim Wilson. You heard it right folks… at the stroke of a pen his salary exploded from $71,000 to $95,000 per year. What even makes this more obscene is that this is not even a full-time job.
Blue Lake RV Resort sold
Blue Lake RV Resort on Highway 95 outside Naples has been sold and is undergoing renovations.
Stimulus program needed for laid off workers
When a person is laid off from a job, he is in danger of having his house foreclosed. If he is buying a house, and can have his car repossessed, he will lose a large part of his buying power.
op wrestlers will return for districts
Bonners Ferry will see the return of some of its top wrestlers when the team travels to Lakeland for the Region 1, District 1 and 2 Championships on Friday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 21.
Thursday, February 12
County's comprehensive plan lacks leadership
Several years ago, our county commissioners were forced into holding a public meeting to discuss land use: The Comprehensive Plan. This meeting was brought about because hundreds of local citizens saw their ways of life, their investments in their homes, and their quality of life being paved over by rapid, unregulated land development. Prominently they saw the open spaces of the valley bottom and other prime agricultural land threatened by subdivisions and rampant speculation.
Drug dog always by officer's side
Six-foot-eight Don Moore has a 3-foot-tall shadow —- a 3-year-old black Labrador Retriever trained to find drugs.
Wrestling
Returning state placer Trevor Hampton was the only Badger to win a title during the Bonners Ferry Invitational Tournament on Saturday.
Lady Badgers top seededfor today's District tourney
The Lady Badgers are top seeded for the District I 3A Girls Basketball tournament, which opens today, Feb. 12, at Lakeland High School. Bonners Ferry and Timberlake tied for first place in the Intermountain League and the Lady Badgers won the coin toss and a first round bye.
Kenneth Franklin Thornbrugh Jr., 62
Kenneth Franklin Thornbrugh Jr., 62, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, in the emergency room at Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry.
Naples ladies offering folks homemade soup
Four ladies from Naples are attempting to feed the community one meal a week.
Younger Boorman appointed to city council
Bonners Ferry High School senior Riley Boorman will serve as a non-voting member of the Bonners Ferry City Council.
Boys Basketball
Bonners Ferry 6-foot-1 senior Aaron Hoisington scored a game-high 16 points for the Badgers’ 52-39 victory over Orofino and a game-high 17 points in the 64-38 loss to Lakeland.
Webb wins best of show with mule deer in velvet
ustin Webb won best of show during the Kootenai Valley Sportsman Association’s 16th annual Gun ‘n Horn Show at Boundary County Fairgrounds.
No. 1 goal is education
Each week an administrator from Boundary County School District 101 has the opportunity to write a letter to the newspapers in Boundary County.
Bail-out destroys economic stability
Two recent articles in the Boundary County Digest on the topic of our financial woes got my attention.
Not good time for renewing county school tax levy
Is anyone else sick and tired of the school board’s relentless tax-em mentality?
Glenna Hatfield, 85
Glenna Hatfield, 85, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, surround by members of her family from complications of pneumonia.
James Godwin, 85
James Godwin, 85, of Bonners Ferry passed away Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, at Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry.
Parents like 4-day school week, quality of education
Parents of students in Boundary County School District like the four-day school week.
Hittle tradesin logging for well drilling
Scott Hittle of Bonners Ferry spent most of his adult life working in the timber industry. Hittle began when he graduated high school in 1991. In 1994 he became a self-load log truck driver and continued this for 14 years.
Tough year for local loggers
Foust Inc. currently employs a record-high 45 workers.
Former logger still worksa logger's hours
Patrick Hanes may have changed careers, but he just can’t give up a logger’s hours.
Logger turnsfurniture maker
Jack Messick has been building custom log furniture in Bonners Ferry for more than 20 years.
City water, sewer rate increases proposed
Bonners Ferry City Council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at city hall to discuss water and sewer rate increases.
Friday, February 6
Boys lose two
Bonners Ferry varsity basketball team lost 50-26 to Moscow and 55-34 to St. Maries.
Diane L. Church, 53
Diane L. Church, 53, of Pleasant Valley went to rest with her Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.
JV boys go 2-1
Bonners Ferry junior varsity boys defeated Coeur d’Alene 60-51 and St. Maries 53-39, and lost to Moscow, 45-36.
Betty Jean Heaps Dodge, 63.
On Monday, Feb. 2, 2009 , Betty Jean Heaps Dodge, precious wife and mother, passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was 63.
Solicitor gets $24,000 pay-raise
Bonners Ferry Council voted unanimously to renew the contract for its attorney and increased his pay by $24,000 for the year.
JV Girls Basketball
Bonners Ferry Girls Junior Varsity basketball team is having a banner year.
Super Bowl fans who missed TV ads can view them online
Bonners Ferry residents, who saw Canadian commercials during Sunday’s Super Bowl, still have a chance to see the commercials everyone else saw. Go to
Paradise Valley woman applies for school board
A stay-at-home Paradise Valley mom has applied for the seat on Boundary County School Board left vacant from trustee Maria LaBarbera’s death on Nov. 15.
Soccer players honoredby nationalassociation
Bonners Ferry High School junior forward Kendra Johnson and senior goalkeeper Samantha Schmitz were named to the All Far West Region Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Bonners Ferry man may have died before crash
It’s believed that a Bonners Ferry man may have passed away before losing control of the van he was driving at 5 a.m. Tuesday south of town.
Varsity girls loseto 46-39 Moscow
The Bonners Ferry girls basketball team lost to Moscow 46-39.
Wolves
Sam Reifsteck has no doubt that the animal he fired a shot at four feet from his Bonners Ferry doorway was a wolf.
$2 million expansion under way at Fodge Pulp
A $2 million expansion is under way at Fodge Pulp in Bonners Ferry. Owners Deneice and Sam Fodge don’t know how many jobs the project could create. That will depend on the economy.“Right now there’s really no new jobs,” Deneice Fodge said. “It all depends on the market. The project involves installing machinery that will allow them to produce their products more efficiently. The company manufacturers paper chips, hog fuel for generating electricity and bark for landscapingThe new debarking system will be electrical, which should mean less waste at the mill, which employs nine. Currently the system is run by diesel The project began in December and should be completed in April, weather permitting. Ansley Inc. is the general contractor. E.L. Automation is doing the electrical work and BF Redi Mix did the concrete work. The project is good news for Mike Sloan. I have been amazed at the number of people who have expanded their business or taken on new projects at this time,” said Sloan, economic development director for Boundary County. “Sam is one of them. If it adds jobs, it helps the community moving forward. Even if they don’t add employees, it helps psychologically.”
