New firetruck in North Bench
The North Bench Fire District purchased a 1999 firetruck that arrived in town Feb. 27.
Former IFG official named Forest Service chief
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Feb. 27 that Tom Schultz, former Idaho Forest Group vice-president of resources and government affairs, will be the 21st U.S. Forest Service chief.
Badgers advance to state tournament
The Bonners Ferry Badgers boys' basketball team is headed to Eagle for the 3A state tournament with hopes to defend its title after a Feb. 24 district championship win.
USDA changes felt in North Idaho
Outdoor recreation, logging, farming face uncertain path forward
North Idaho’s outdoor recreation and agrarian industries will take new form as federal efforts, initiated earlier this month, aim to reduce bureaucratic fraud and waste through layoffs and paused funding.
Cowells' charges mount in child abuse investigation
The updated criminal complaint charges Richard Cowell with raping a female child between 2013 and 2016. Katherine Cowell has been charged with conspiring in the act.
Near-fatal accident sparks safety reform
The Moyie Springs toxic manhole incident did not violate OSHA regulations, officials say
The recent confined space accident at the Moyie Springs sewer plant has prompted local officials and contractors to reconsider and reinstate construction safety protocols.
PREP BBALL: Boys finish regular season 20-1, gear up for playoffs
The Bonners Ferry Badgers boys (20-1) wrapped up their regular season in dominant fashion behind a near triple-double from Brody Rice in a 43-point Feb. 14 victory against the Timberlake Tigers (9-10).
Bonners Ferry Rotary inducts five new members
New members inducted at the Feb. 11 Bonners Ferry Rotary meeting signal growth of a service organization that, like many others across the nation, once faced challenges in attracting new participants.
Daycare shut down after alleged child abuse
Police arrested a married couple Feb. 5 at their Naples home, which doubled as an unlicensed child daycare, over charges of lewd conduct with a minor.
Donkey Basketball raises money for BC Victim Services
The annual Donkey Basketball games at Bonners Ferry High School Feb. 6 were competitive, entertaining and raised money for Boundary County Victim Services.
PREP BBALL: Boys' first loss, girls' season ends
The Bonners Ferry Badgers boys (19-1) had their 36-game win streak snapped in their final road game of the regular season against the Lake City Timberwolves (16-4).
School board kickstarts voter education, discusses program expansion
The Boundary County School District board presented student awards and discussed both the upcoming levy and school expansion at its Feb. 10 meeting.
Boundary County celebrates 32nd gun and horn show
The Kootenai Valley Sportsman Association hosted the first gun and horn show of the year in North Idaho, marking the 32nd annual event in Boundary County at the fairgrounds last weekend.
Idaho lawmakers return to Bonners Ferry
Sauter and Woodward share legislative progress, challenges after five weeks in session.
The state budget, judicial system, and education were among the topics discussed by Idaho District 1A House Rep. Mark Sauter and District 1 Sen. Jim Woodward Saturday at the Bonners Ferry Visitors Center.
City Council talks road safety, energy spending and police fleet
City officials covered a wide range of issues at Tuesday’s meeting, addressing safety concerns with city roads, spending for energy-efficient projects and leasing new police vehicles.
PREP BASKETBALL: Girls win a thriller and prep for districts, boys beat Coeur d’Alene to remain undefeated
The Bonners Ferry Badgers girls (12-8) won a thriller on Senior Night at the Badger Den Jan. 30 against the Lakeside Knights (11-7).
Local firefighters aid in L.A. wildfire battle
Paradise Valley firefighters returned safely to Boundary County Jan. 28 after two weeks in California fighting the most destructive wildfires to ever hit Los Angeles County.
PREP BASKETBALL: Boys pull away after close first half, girls dominate
The Bonners Ferry Badgers (17-0) defeated the Lakeland Hawks (8-8) to extend their winning streak to 34 games.
Construction workers rescued from Moyie Springs sewer lagoon
Public works officials and first responders rescued a local pair Thursday, Jan. 23, from a Moyie Mill sewer lagoon filled with toxic gas.
Legislators push for public education funding amid school choice debate
Boundary County School District officials traveled to Boise last week to voice opposition to state-funded private school tuition and to meet with North Idaho lawmakers.
Boundary Consignments owners to sell
Luke and Nancy Croll are selling Boundary Consignments after eight years of owning the family department store.
Downtown Bonners Ferry revitalization effort set to begin
The Bonners Ferry City Council voted at its Jan. 21 meeting to participate in a regional non-profit initiative to revitalize downtown Bonners Ferry.
PREP BASKETBALL: Bonners Ferry boys remain undefeated; girls look to bounce back
The Bonners Ferry Badgers (15-0) defeated the Logos Knights (8-6) for the second time this season in a Jan. 20 home game.
Asher Williams breaks 35-year scoring record at the Backwoods Brawl
Boundary County students raised over 2,300 pounds of food donations for the Backwoods Brawl, and Bonners Ferry High School senior guard Asher Williams scored a school-record 50 points in the boys’ basketball 73-28 win at Timberlake.
Mistrial declared in murder case
The jury in the Shannon Dabbs murder and arson trial was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, with 10 jurors favoring conviction and two undecideds.
Jury nears verdict in Dabbs trial
The jury in the Shannon Dabbs’ murder and arson trial has been deliberating a verdict since Jan. 14 after more than eight days of witness testimony and photo, video and audio evidence exhibited by state and defense lawyers.
School district to rerun levy, battle state’s school choice initiative
Boundary County School District trustees approved rerunning the failed November levy again in the upcoming May election, along with over $2 million in budget cuts if it does not pass.
New sheriff in town
Kramer, Stephens out, Stolley, Zimmerman in
Travis Stolley was sworn in as Boundary County sheriff Monday on Jan. 13 to fill the position formerly held for two terms by Dave Kramer, who is retiring after 50 years of local service.
Bonners Ferry expands rental market with new duplexes
As the nation’s housing costs continue rising, Boundary County remains relatively stable.
Affordable new duplexes have hit the market in Bonners Ferry, adding to the area’s growing list of renter-friendly developments, as much of Idaho faces inflated housing costs.
PREP BASKETBALL: Badgers' historic run continues with Williams' record-breaking game
Boys extend winning streak to 29 games, Girls win two in a row
Asher Williams broke the Badgers single-game scoring record with 45 points, playing only three quarters in a Jan. 7 home win over Libby.
Dabbs murder trial underway
The two-week jury trial of Shannon Dabbs, accused of killing his wife and setting their house on fire in 2020, began on Jan. 6 at the Boundary County Courthouse.
PREP BASKETBALL: Bonners Ferry Boys make history with 10-0 start, but Girls are upended with injuries
The Badgers cruised to another tournament victory with a 47-point win in the Championship game of the Avista Holiday Tournament. They are the first Badgers basketball team to open the season 10-0 in school history.
Retail chains come to town
The newly opened O’Reilly Auto Parts and Tractor Supply Co. bring product overlap with existing businesses, but owners agree that the corporate chains will enhance the local economy.
PREP BASKETBALL: Bonners Ferry boys win Reardan Tournament, girls fall just short
The visiting Badgers faced their toughest test of the season, but Asher Williams scored 32 points and came up with some key steals as Bonners Ferry defeated the tourney host Screaming Eagles in the championship game of the Reardan Christmas Tournament.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lady Badgers take down Flathead Valley
Sophomore Taren Bateman poured in a season-best 31 points in the win.
Fair board seeks sponsorships and facilities upgrades
The Boundary County Fair Board is seeking new funding sources to sustain popular events and upgrade aging facilities. Though the fairgrounds get most of its attention during the summer months, its staff is hard at work in the off-season to sustain and improve hallmark community events.
Opportunities and limitations of industrial growth in Boundary County
What local property rights conflicts reveal about county zoning ordinances
The recent dispute over Panhandle Door Inc.'s industrial expansion near residential homes has highlighted a larger issue in Boundary County: where should industrial development go?
PREP BASKETBALL: Bonners Ferry boys reach 5-0 with rout of Logos; girls take down St. Maries
Bonners Ferry's boys (6-0) will not play again until Dec. 27 when they head to Reardan High for the Lions Club Christmas Tournament.
Appellants pledge legal action after Panhandle Door receives new permit
Boundary County commissioners approved a new conditional use permit Dec. 11 for Panhandle Door, Inc., a large-scale manufacturer located near residential county homes. The amended permit, set for adoption in the coming weeks, will resolve a nine-month zoning dispute involving numerous allegations of dangerous and illegal conduct by Panhandle Door over the course of several years. Opposers to the permit have indicated they now intend to take legal action.
Kootenai Tribe buys district office
Contruction plans for a Valley View Elementary replacement will begin after the Kootenai Tribe bought the old school district office building. The tribe won the bid to acquire the office building after placing the sole bid at $611,601.
PREP BASKETBALL: Bonners Ferry boys remain undefeated; girls win two of last three
The Bonners Ferry High boys ands girls basketball teams combined to go 5-1 in the first week and a half of December hoops.
NICA eyes lot behind fairgrounds as alternative to Boulder Creek
The North Idaho Classical Academy is set to open next fall, though its exact location remains to be seen. An emerging alternative plan to occupying Boulder Creek would place the charter school on the vacant industrial lot behind the fairgrounds, repurposing the sawmill that has been inactive for nearly 20 years.
National nonprofit gifts armor to county deputies
On Dec. 5, Shield 616, a nonprofit based in Colorado Springs, donated about $20,000 worth of body armor to Boundary County Sheriff’s deputies.
North Idaho schools are most dependent on local dollars, least capable of passing levies
Of the 25 supplemental school levies on the ballot in November statewide, only three failed, all in North Idaho.
Boundary Electric team takes cross-country donations to Helene victims
Two months ago, Hurricane Helene laid waste to North Carolina, causing floods that destroyed homes, cars, and claimed 103 lives. When Will and Tammy Hendrix, owners of Boundary Electric, saw the widespread devastation, they knew they had to help in any way possible.
BFH looks to take advantage of an early December homestand
This week Bonners Ferry High School will host seven sporting events in the most action-packed homestand of the winter season.
Badgers rout Sandpoint in season opener
Williams scores 24, Hinthorn banks half-court buzzer beater in a wire-to-wire victory in a packed house at the Badger Den.
Williams scores 24, Hinthorn banks half-court buzzer beater in a wire-to-wire victory with a packed house at the Badger Den.
Turkey Trot participation soars
Attendance and food donations reached an all-time high at the annual Bonners Ferry Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.
BCSD faces potential teacher layoffs, set to sell old office building
The Boundary County School District is selling its old district office building to the highest bidder. The sale could minimize the blow should next May's maintenance and operations levy fail.
Eagles keep giving tradition alive
The Bonners Ferry Eagles Aerie Group donated $6,450 last weekend to nine youth organizations with money raised from a fairgrounds cotton candy booth.