July 2007

June 2007

Cabela's Starts Hiring in North Idaho

Outdoors retail giant Cabela's is seeking employees for their new Post Falls location. The 125,000-square-foot store, set to open Nov. 9 near the Idaho/Washington state line, is advertising for managers. Hourly positions will be posted on their website later this summer. The store will feature a towering mountain replica, an aquarium, indoor archery range and atrium and employ about 230 workers.

May 2007

WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO, GET THE GUIDE!

The 2007 Guide to North Idaho was on the stands and in your hands over the Memorial Day weekend, as it's been for the 18 years that Kagey Company has published the #1 information source for visitors and newcomers to North Idaho. The goals continue today as they were in the beginning... to make the travel experience for visitors memorable, to support the ever-important Idaho tourism industry and to promote those North Idaho businesses who contribute to our communities. We're sure you'll agree that this is the best ever Guide to North Idaho! When doing business with those attractions, hotels, restaurants and businesses who've advertised, tell them thanks for making The Guide to North Idaho possible.

IDAHO CONTINUES FAST PACED GROWTH

The latest U.S. Census data show Idaho's population is getting bigger, older and more diverse, and that men continue to outnumber women in every age group under 50. The latest population and demographic estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau show Idaho added more people the past six years than the combined populations of Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Nampa. The bureau estimates the state's 2006 population at 1,466,465, an increase of 172,512 people, or 13.3 percent, from the roughly 1.29 million tallied during the last major census in 2000. Idaho has typically been one of the fastest-growing states in the nation and the trend is expected to continue through the next decade.

POPULAR TRAIL IS READY FOR THE SEASON

All 72 miles of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes from Plummer to Mullan have been swept in time for bicycles, walkers and in-line skaters to enjoy the mild spring weather. The paved rail trail has become incredibly popular, with more than 100,000 trail users in 2006. 15,000 trail maps were printed this winter and 7,000 requests have already come from cyclists across the United States and abroad. www.friendsofcdatrails.org.

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April 2007

35TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC MINE FIRE

On May 2, 1972 the Sunshine Mine disaster claimed ninety-one miners. To visit the Sunshine Mine Memorial take Exit 54 off I-90 near Kellogg. The statue stands at the mouth of the Big Creek Canyon in North Idaho. The metal-sculpted hard rock miner eternally beams his cap lamp toward the site of one of America's worst mining disasters.

ANGLER REELS IN RECORD NORTHERN PIKE

Bob Ringer of Post Falls caught a state record breaking Northern Pike on Lake Coeur d'Alene's Cougar Bay this month. The fish weighed 39 lb., 13 oz. and was 49.5" long. It was his first fish of the season and will be a hard one to beat!

RETIRE YOUNG IN COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO!

Money Magazine named North Idaho's Coeur d'Alene the top of the top ten best places to retire young. Young retired people are still active, with a need for travel and recreation as well as for taking a well-earned rest. They don't have to fight the crowds of commuters each day, so they can live beyond the borders of major metropolitan areas. A range of leisure activities is important. Each town on the 2007 list of Best Places to Retire Young is near a sizable city such as Spokane, providing resources like a major airport, great dining and shops, sports and an active music scene. Housing costs, cost of living, population growth and economic health were also criteria used in the selection process.

IDEAL TIME FOR VIEWING THE FALLS

During the week hundreds of spectators visit Falls Park off of Spokane Street at Fourth Ave. in Post Falls, where viewing platforms and handicap accessible trails give front-row access to the north channel of the dam. The falls are flowing at an estimated 17,000 cubic feet per second, making for some spectacular viewing. The spring runoff came two to three weeks early this year. The runoff swells Lake Coeur d'Alene, funnels into the Spokane River and flows over the dam, which is operated by Avista Utilities.

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March 2007

BOATER REGISTRATION FEES TO INCREASE IN 2008

Starting next year, Idaho boaters will pay $7 more annually to register their vessels. House Bill 200, which increases the minimum annual registration fee for motorboats and sailboats to $20, up from $13 became law this week. Owners will pay $2 more for each additional foot of boat length over 12 feet. While state costs associated with boating - for parking and access, rescue operations and rule enforcement - have risen, registration fees have not increased since 1994. The fee does not apply to rowboats, canoes, kayaks and outboard motorboats measuring under 12 feet, according to the Idaho Transportation Department. The increased fees will begin Jan. 1, 2008 for new registrations and renewals.

HOUSING MARKET CONTINUES TO GROW IN N. IDAHO

North Idaho's real estate market isn't expected to slow down in the coming years. The region is still growing and continues to be viewed as a value compared to many parts of the country. Combined with the wealth of several generations, the fascination with the outdoor life style and attraction to the area's lakes and rivers is expected to continue to drive growth for about a decade. Between 2000 and 2004, about 1,400 new homes per year were being built in Kootenai County. Projections for the next eight years are for new construction to double to about 3,000 homes per year. "Baby boomers" from the urban centers of the west coast and rural areas of the Inland Northwest will be looking here for their final homes.

HUNTING SEASON EXPANDS IN N. IDAHO

Deer seasons in the Idaho Panhandle have been expanded, starting this summer in answer to complaints about too many deer. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently set 2007 big game hunting seasons that will include three additional weeks of antlerless white-tailed deer hunting in most Panhandle units. The official state rules brochure will come out in April. Oct. 10 is the opening day for bull elk, any whitetail, and mule deer bucks. 40 extra cow elk tags valid north of Bonners Ferry will also be available by application.

ABUNDANT SNOW MAKES FOR WET SUMMER FUN

The National Weather Service predicts North Idaho streams and lakes will be full this summer due to a deep mountain snowpack. A water supply outlook calls for stream flows to be near 100 percent of normal from April through September. That will benefit migrating steelhead and salmon and recreational users. The healthy snowpack should also fill the region's smaller lakes, many of which are fed by mountain runoff.

SPIRIT LAKE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

With a new Chamber office, a visitors center, a library expansion and several new businesses in the works, Spirit Lake is aggressively looking at ways to increase its visibility and grow while maintaining a sense of community. The lakeside community, just north of Rathdrum, will celebrate their centennial in January 2008.
Spirit Lake is the 'Gateway to the Selkirk Loop,'" a 270-mile scenic loop through Idaho, Washington and British Columbia.

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February 2007

IDAHOANS VACATION IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD

Spending by leisure travelers, who tend to travel in larger parties and stay longer, reached $2.9 billion. Business travelers spent nearly $848 million. Direct spending includes what travelers pay for transportation, lodging, dining, entertainment, shopping and other miscellaneous expenses.
Leisure travelers also account for 58 percent of all Idaho room nights compared to business travelers at 42 percent. Idaho attracts a more youthful traveler because of its outdoor recreation and value advantages.
Idaho's unique identity as an outdoor adventure state is reinforced by the fact that travelers rate the state a high value destination for boating, skiing, rafting, camping, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities.
Visiting family and friends continues to be reason the majority of all travelers come to Idaho. Twenty percent come from Washington, 13 percent from California and 8.6 percent from Utah. Together these states account for more than 40 percent of Idaho's visitors, but the most overnight leisure visitors - nearly 30 percent - are Idahoans themselves.
A full copy of the 191-page report can be downloaded from the Idaho Commerce & Labor at www.cl.idaho.gov. Samples of the state's new ads to promote tourism are also available on request. Contact Ron Gardner at (208) 334-2470 or ron.gardner@tourism.idaho.gov

NEW LIFTS TO WHISK SKIERS TO MOUNTAIN TOP

When ski season ends in April, Chair One will be torn down to make room for two high-speed replacement lifts at Schweitzer Ski Resort in Sandpoint. Schweitzer will spend $6 million on the new lifts, which will be ready by Thanksgiving. The Basin Express, a quad, will whisk skiers and snowboarders to a midway station accessing intermediate terrain in less than 4 minutes. The Lakeview Triple lift will begin at the midway station, reaching expert-level terrain at the top of the mountain in another 4½ minutes. The new lifts should shorten wait times on the mountain. Now Chair One can transport 660 people an hour, while the new lifts can haul 3,200 people an hour. Idaho has a unique identity as an outdoor adventure state, with travelers rating the state a high value destination for skiing, boating, rafting, camping, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities.

WORLD CLASS ATHLETES COMING TO WORLD CLASS RESORT

The Great West Gymfest returns to Coeur d'Alene Feb. 23-25, playing host to 2,000 coaches, judges and elite youth and adult athletes from around the country. Three Olympians from the 1996 US Magnificent Seven gymnastics team; Amanda Borden, Jaycie Phelps and Dominique Mocceanu will appear at the event. The Coeur d'Alene Resort is the venue for Gymfest and tickets are available through www.ticketswest.com 

LONGTIME BUSINESS RECEIVES PROCLAMATION

In 100 years Hudson's Hamburgers in downtown Coeur d'Alene has survived the Depression, the arrival of the Golden Arches and the demolition of an adjacent building. Lawmakers commended the small eatery's history of no-frills burgers and family-oriented atmosphere in January with a proclamation introduced by Rep. Marge Chadderdon, R-Coeur d'Alene. Three generations of the Hudson family watched from the House gallery as North Idaho legislators praised the family-owned business for its longevity.
Five generations of Hudsons have manned the grill, located today at 207 E. Sherman Ave., since Harley Hudson founded the restaurant as a "quick-eats" stand in a tent in 1907.
The proclamation states: "The counter dining at Hudson's Hamburgers, with 18 stools, is like being with family, eating elbow-to-elbow with neighbors, family and visitors to await the treat of a Hudson's hamburger."

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January 2007

SANDPOINT TOWN HALL MEETING WITH FISH & GAME DEPT.

The Idaho Department of Fish & Game will give their "State of the Lake" update on Saturday, Feb. 10. From 8 a.m. to noon at Sandpoint Community Hall, Lake Pend Oreille's lake trout population and their affect on the Kokanee salmon will be the topic of discussion. Renowned lake trout expert Mike Hansen has worked with fishery managers to assess kokanee recovery efforts and has constructed a lake trout population model for Lake Pend Oreille. The meeting is open to the public and will include a question and answer session.

GROOMING BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS A BIG SNOW JOB

The 500 miles of trails in Kootenai County which are used by snowmobilers are overseen by the Kootenai County Snowmobile Program. With an annual budget of $75,000 the program operates three snow machines for grooming. The series of looped trail segments encompass much of the beautiful backcountry where Kootenai, Bonner and Shoshone counties converge. There are approximately 4,000 active snowmobilers in Kootenai County.

NEW FOREST CHIEF HAS NORTH IDAHO TIES

U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth, who began his 41-year career with the agency in North Idaho's St. Joe River backcountry, is retiring. Bosworth will be replaced by Gail Kimbell, another longtime agency employee with deep ties to the Inland Northwest. Kimbell, who is currently the Missoula-based regional forester in charge of North Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas, is the first woman to hold the job and an architect of President Bush's "healthy forests" program. The measure allows companies to log large, commercially valuable trees in national forests in exchange for clearing smaller, more fire-prone trees and brush. As the agency's 16th chief, Kimbell will be responsible for overseeing 155 national forests, 30,000 employees and a nearly $5 billion budget.

N. IDAHO SKI RESORTS HAVING BANNER YEAR

Silver Mountain, Schweitzer Mountain and Lookout Pass Ski Area already have snow accumulations of more than half what they received the entire season last year. Schweitzer is currently reporting 54 inches at the base and 92 inches at the summit. Lookout is reporting 75 inches at the base and 110 inches at the summit, and Silver Mountain is reporting 69 inches at the base and 84 inches at the summit.
Excellent snow conditions coupled with early openings have also kept local retailers, restaurateurs and motel owners hopping.

CABELA'S TO OPEN POST FALLS STORE IN 2007

Outdoor retail giant, Cabela's has begun site preparation for a 152,000-square-foot store that will feature a mountain replica, aquarium, wild-game displays, deli-style restaurant, gun library, archery range and atrium. The destination store will be located in Post Falls near the state line and I-90. Innovatively designed and showcasing thousands of products from Cabela's world-famous catalogs, the stores are known as shopping and tourism destinations, drawing customers not only from the local area, but from hundreds of miles away as well as from across the nation.

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December 2006

SENIOR POPULATION GROWTH PROMPTS NEW FACILITIES

With the influx of seniors retiring and moving to North Idaho, developers are meeting the housing demand. A senior-living campus estimated to cost between $18 million and $21 million is the latest of a growing list of similar facilities planned for Post Falls. Oregon-based Canyon Creek Development will start construction of River Pines Senior Living in June on 8.2 acres along Cecil Road north of Mullan Avenue. Tennessee-based Life Care Centers of America is expected to start construction this spring on its $40 million Garden Plaza Campus of Care on the west side of Wal-Mart. Just to the east, Guardian Angel Homes is expanding with the 35-suite Legacy House under construction. Other planned retirement communities include one next to the Post Falls Senior Center, another in Greenstone's Montrose subdivision, and a Garden Homes expansion. In Coeur d'Alene, Coeur d'Alene Homes added a new $8 million, 46,000-square-foot addition. Idaho Commerce and Labor projects the senior population in the area to double over the next 15 years.

SNOW PLENTIFUL IN PRIEST LAKE FOR CROSS COUNTRY SKIERS

The Nordic Center at the Priest Lake Golf Course clubhouse will be open every Saturday starting December 16, and both Saturdays and Sundays on holiday weekends. Heat, restroom facilities and limited beverage services are available. The 10 KM track at the golf course is groomed for track and skate skiing. A sledding hill for children is nearby.

CENTENNIAL TRAIL WILL EXPAND TO THE NORTH

Coeur d'Alene is getting a new 5.2-mile public trail that will link the Centennial Trail and the town's northwest neighborhoods, schools and the Kroc Community Center.The abandoned Union Pacific Railroad spur runs north from the Riverstone Development along Northwest Boulevard through Ramsey Park before veering across the Rathdrum Prairie almost to Meyer Road. The Centennial Trail Foundation will design the trail and raise money for construction. The foundation plans to seek money from adjoining property owners, developers and public entities that would benefit from the trail. Construction on the first segment of the trail between Riverstone and Golf Course Road is likely to begin in the summer of 2007. Eventually the trail will extend to Atlas Road to provide access to the Kroc Community Center.

November 2006

WINTER HAS ARRIVED IN NORTH IDAHO!

Old Man Winter has arrived in North Idaho, much to the delight of outdoor enthusiasts. With snow and single-digit low temperatures forecast for the coming week, skiers and snowmobilers need to bundle up. Schweitzer, Silver Mountain and Lookout Pass ski resorts are open for the season. Check out The Guide to North Idaho for winter activities throughout the area.

SKI RESORTS NOW OPEN AND OFFERING TUBING OPTION

Silver Mountain opened its new "Prospector Adventure," a tubing ride on Saturday at the ski and snowboarding resort in Kellogg. Silver Mountain joins Schweitzer Resort in offering a wrinkle on winter sports standbys: tubing down a snow-covered hill. Jeff Colburn, the general manager of Silver Mountain, said a growing number of ski resorts are adding tubing hills - separated from skiing and snowboarding areas for safety reasons. Silver Mountain's tubing park, with new lighting towers, will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and until 8 p.m. when night skiing begins on Dec. 26. The Schweitzer tubing center - "Hermit's Hollow" - has two tubing lanes that run 500 feet in length, said resort spokesman Patrick Sande.

COEUR D'ALENE RESIDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LEAF PICK-UP

The City of Coeur d'Alene leaf pick-up starts Monday, November 13, on streets south of Sherman Avenue with crews working north until the completion date of Nov. 28. Residents are asked to rake leaves into the street but not to bag leaves or include debris in piles. For more information call the city at 769-2233.

LAKE WATER LEVELS BEING LOWERED FOR WINTER AT POST FALLS DAM

Dropping water levels mean an end to the season for the Q'emiln Park boat ramp on the Spokane River in Post Falls.The launch will be closed beginning Nov. 13, according to Avista Utilities. Each fall, Avista gradually opens the gates to the Post Falls dam, lowering the level of Lake Coeur d'Alene by as much as 7 feet to make more room for spring snowmelt and rain. This lower water level puts the boat launch out of service during winter. It will reopen in late spring or early summer, depending on how fast the lake refills.

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October 2006

POPULARITY TRANSLATES TO EXPANDING POPULATION

Idaho is not only the third-fastest growing state in the country, the growth is expected to continue indefinitely. In the last 15 years, the state's population has grown from 1 million to 1.4 million, a 40 percent increase. If the rate maintains for the next 15 years, Idaho's population would be nearly 2 million people by 2021, twice the 1990 population.

NORTH IDAHO TOURISM ON THE RISE

Higher gas prices didn't affect tourism in the Inland Northwest this summer. Demand for rooms was up 6 percent in Kootenai County, translating into 19,000 additional room nights booked. The Coeur d'Alene/North Idaho tourism market is sometimes described as a "rubber tire market" because many visitors get here by driving. In addition to higher demand, hotel room rates rose during the first eight months of the year. Occupancy rates were also up. In Kootenai County, the average cost of a hotel room was $103 through August, compared to an average of $98 for the same period last year. Hotel occupancy rates were 62 percent in Kootenai County.

TIPS TO ENJOYING OUTDOORS DURING HUNTING SEASON

Throughout the West, including North Idaho, hunting season is open but non-hunters don't have to give up hiking, mountain biking and picnicking during this beautiful time of the year. The following safeguards are advised for those heading out to the woods:

Wearing a hunter orange cap and strapping hunter orange vest around a daypack can help a hiker stand out in the landscape.

Don't hike or bike on trails at dawn and dusk. Big-game hunting is allowed 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.

Stay on main trails where hunters are more likely to expect to see human activity. Hunters are most likely to be hunting deeper in the mountains and away from roads and trails.

Tack on some orange ribbon or material on your pack. If you are hiking or mountain biking with a dog, help hunters see and hear your pet with the help of a brightly colored collar or bandanna and a bell attached to the collar.

Avoid bird watching at state wildlife management areas. Waterfowl hunting season in Idaho's has already opened.

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/

MIGRATING DEER PROMPT CITIES TO ISSUE PLEA TO RESIDENTS

Coeur d'Alene and Hayden city officials are concerned that the increase of deer in urban areas is causing property damage and threats to health and safety. Well-intended citizens attract the deer into neighborhoods by feeding them. The problem is mostly on the east side of the cities where neighborhoods adjoin hillsides.
Recommendations to prevent deer populations from increasing:
• Don't feed deer or leave food out that may tempt them.
• Fence flower beds and vegetable gardens.
• Pick low-hanging fruit and pick up any fruit that has fallen to the ground.

SALES TAX INCREASES, PROPERTY TAX REDUCED

Idaho's sales tax changed to 6 percent on October 1. The state raised its sales tax as part of a tax reform plan that also includes shifting a portion of school funding off the property tax, lowering property taxes. Idaho's sales tax had been at 5 percent from 1986 until 2003, when lawmakers approved a temporary, two-year hike to 6 percent to address a state budget crisis. The tax dropped back down to 5 percent on July 1, 2005. Across the border in Spokane, Washington, sales tax is 8.6 percent.

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September 2006

SKI RESORT TO ADD TUBING HILL FOR WINTER FUN

Silver Mountain Resort, in North Idaho's historic Silver Valley, is building a tubing park, replacing the former amphitheater. A moving, carpeted lift will split the beginners' hill with the tubing park and serve snow-goers from both sides. Each of the four 8-foot-wide tubing lanes will be divided by snow berms and feature bumps toward the middle and end of the run.
The tubing park is scheduled to be open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holiday periods and will mirror night-skiing schedules. The tubing park and carpeted-lift also will be lighted for evening hours. Tentative opening for the 2006 ski season is mid-November.

LOCAL GALLERY OWNER TO RECEIVE GOVERNOR'S AWARD

Steve Gibbs, owner of the Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Art in Coeur d'Alene, has been selected to receive the 2006 Idaho Governor's Award for Support of the Arts. The biennial awards were established in 1970 by the Idaho Commission on the Arts to elevate recognition and awareness of Idaho arts and artists. Idaho was among the first in the nation to establish such a program. In announcing the awards Governor James E. Risch said, "This year's recipients are outstanding in their respective fields and reflect the quality talent and deep commitment to the arts that we find throughout this great state."
Gibbs will receive his award from Governor Risch on Saturday, Oct. 7, in Boise.

CYCLISTS SET RECORDS ON NORTH IDAHO TRAILS

Record numbers of outdoor enthusiasts have enjoyed the Route of the Hiawatha and the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. Since spring, an estimated 7,500 bicyclists have ridden the Route of the Hiawatha, which is open through October 1.
The 74-mile Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, a paved rail-to-trail project that runs from Mullan to Plummer, is expected to log 100,000 users in 2006. The trail is open year-round.

EMERALD CREEK GARNET AREA REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC

A remote North Idaho creek valley that's home to some of the most unique gemstones in the world has recently been reopened for public scavenging. The area is located on public land about an hour southeast of St. Maries. It's one of two known places in the world where 12-sided crystals are found - the other is in India. Star garnets, which are also Idaho's state gem, range in size from tiny flecks of gravel to larger than a golf ball. When polished, the gems often reveal a star-like pattern. Rock hunters are given five-gallon buckets full of gravel, which they can sort in a sluice box. In a five gallon bucket maybe three to five chips or even complete garnets are often found.

Directions/Information
Emerald Creek Garnet area

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Tuesday through Oct. 1.

Permits: $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 14. The permit is valid for a day and includes all equipment.

Directions: Follow state Highway 3 south of St. Maries for 24 miles to Road 447. Proceed southwest on Road 447 for eight miles to the parking area.

STILL LOTS OF SUNSHINE IN LAST DAYS OF SUMMER

The Coeur d'Alene area's last measured precipitation was a scant .01 inches which fell on July 13. This year was the second wettest spring but since mid-June there's been less than an inch of moisture. The week of August 28 is predicted to bring the area's 32nd day of temperatures of 90 degrees or above.
According to meteorologist Cliff Harris in the Coeur d'Alene Press, clear skies and warmer than normal temperatures will usher out the summer season with picture perfect Labor Day weekend weather.
North Idaho Weather Trivia from FYInorthidaho.com: We enjoy a true four-season climate with cool mountain evenings. The average summer temperature is around 85 degrees, dropping to 32 degrees in the winter. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 26 inches with the annual average relative humidity of 46 percent. Coeur d'Alene's elevation is 2,152 above sea level.

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August 2006

PLAY IT SAFE WHEN CAMPING IN THE FOREST

While most wildfires are caused by dry lightning in western states, an alarming number of fires were ignited by careless human acts this year. And with fire conditions so extreme on public lands, visitors are urged to take precautions and be aware of restrictions and closures. Here are some helpful tips from Smokey Bear and your friends at FYInorthidaho.com to follow when visiting public lands or other areas where wild fires can ignite.

Clear campfire sight down to bare soil
Circle the pit with rocks.
Build campfires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, dry grass, and leaves.
Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby.
Never leave a campfire unattended.
When putting out a campfire, drown the fire, stir it, and drown it again.
Always have an adult around to supervise outdoor cooking.
Be careful with gas lanterns, barbeques, gas stoves, and anything that can be a source of ignition for a wildfire.
Never park your vehicle on dry grass.
Never throw a lighted cigarette out the window of a vehicle.
Avoid driving through tall grass.
Internal combustion engines on off-road vehicles require a spark arrester.
Check and clean the spark arrester.
Carry a shovel and fire extinguisher in your vehicle or OHV/ATV.

CIRCLING RAVEN NAMED BEST GOLF COURSE

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe's popular Circling Raven Golf Course has been named No. 1 among the nation's casino resort golf courses. The designation has been made in Native American Casino magazine's August issue as it unveiled its "Top 10" tribal golf course list for 2006.
Circling Raven was listed a "Top 10 Best New Courses" by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine following its opening in August 2003. The course has garnered further "best of" accolades from Zagat, among other surveys and, in December 2005, was listed by Fairways and Greens magazine as No. 7 among the "Top 101 Golf Experiences in the West". That ranking placed Circling Raven shoulder-to-shoulder with Oregon's Bandon Dunes and the famed Pebble Beach. It has also earned a listing with Audubon International's Cooperative Sanctuary System.
Circling Raven, a member of the Idaho Golf Trail, is also currently rated as the top public golf course in the state.
http://www.circlingraven.com/

NEW CHAMBER VISITOR CENTER BREAKS GROUND

The Coeur d'Alene Chamber, the second largest chamber of commerce in the state, broke ground on a new building in late July. The location, with a world-class view of Lake Coeur d'Alene and mountain vistas in downtown Coeur d'Alene, is any Chamber's dream. An estimated 50,000 visitors to the nearly 12,000 sq. ft. office and visitor center will be just steps away from Independence Point and Coeur d'Alene's city beach. Sharing office space will be the Coeur d'Alene Cultural Alliance and the Lake City Development Corporation. The new office building is slated to open in the spring of 2007, just in time for the tourist season.

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May 2006

SCENIC RAIL TRAIL OPENING DELAYED

The season opening for the Route of the Hiawatha rail trail near Lookout Pass has been delayed until mid-June because of tunnel repairs. The 15-mile hiking and biking route is among the most scenic stretches of rail-trail in the country, crossing the Montana-Idaho border in the Bitterroot Mountains and featuring seven trestles and 10 tunnels, including the 1.7-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel.

In 2005 the trail opened May 21. This year, workers are fixing the tunnel to prevent rock from falling onto the trail, according to the St. Joe Ranger District. The trail is expected to open around June 17. Trail fees are charged and lights are needed for the tunnels. Helmets are required for cyclists. Rental bikes, equipment and maps are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area. Info: www.skilookout.com, (208) 744-1301 or www.ridethehiawatha.com.

Q'EMLIN PARK CLIMBING ROCK TRAILS IMPROVED

Climbers will now find the path leading to the rugged climbing walls in Post Falls' Q'emiln Park much easier to navigate. A six-person crew from the Montana Conservation Corps spent over a week improving the park's trail network. The new trails will be safer and offer easier access to people of all physical abilities. Many non-climbers also hike the area, down the Spokane River from Lake Coeur d'Alene, which links to an old wagon trail that was once a major access route between North Idaho and the Spokane Valley. www.postfallsidaho.org/parkrec.htm.

COINS IN THE FOUNTAINS BENEFIT CHARITY

Art Walk on May 12 marked the debut of 18 fountains that will grace downtown Coeur d'Alene throughout the summer. Much like the "No Moose Left Behind" project two years ago, "Fountains of Wishes" is more than art -- it also represents a creative way to raise funds for a variety of local charitable organizations. The fountains will be based at different corners downtown. Each represents a charity that will be the recipient of the proceeds from the fountain when it's auctioned at a gala auction Sept. 9.
The community can give as well, by throwing coins in the fountains as they make a wish. The fountains range from metal, bronze and copper, to painted ceramic, tiles, cement and granite. They are five square feet at the base and up to seven feet in height.

Art Walk in Downtown Coeur d'Alene is the second Friday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. April through December.

COLDWATER CREEK OPENS NEW STORE IN SANDPOINT

The new Coldwater Creek store is downtown in the historic W.A. Bernd building, and retains the original brick walls and grand fir rafters and beams. Founded as a catalog retailer in 1994, Coldwater Creek will operate 239 stores by the end of 2006. Sandpoint, Idaho is the retailer's corporate headquarters.

The new store is about two-thirds the size of the company's original store on the Cedar Street Bridge. The Sandpoint store will still be a destination for shoppers from Spokane, WA, Coeur d'Alene, Western Montana and southern British Columbia. At 9,300 square feet, the new store is about twice the size of Coldwater Creek's average store. The upstairs contains a wine bar, with deep leather chairs and a fireplace, plus two apartments for visiting Coldwater Creek executives. On the ground floor, racks of summer fashions hang in rainbows of teal, fuchsia, lemon and peach. www.coldwatercreek.com

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April 2006

THE MUSEUM OF NORTH IDAHO

The Museum of North Idaho has opened for the season with the feature exhibit, "Highway 10-Remember When?" exploring the main highways across North Idaho. It's a fascinating look at road construction, early automobile travel, service stations, hotels, restaurants and attractions.

The museum, located at 115 Northwest Blvd. in downtown Coeur d'Alene, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults are $2 and children 6-16 years are $1. Under 6 are free. The museum store features local history books, silver jewelry and locally produced gift items.

KOOTENAI MEDICAL CENTER

Coeur d'Alene's Kootenai Medical Center has been designated as a Magnet Hospital, the only facility in the region to earn this distinction, joining an elite 3 percent of the nation's 5,000-plus hospitals to be awarded Magnet status.

The Magnet Recognition Program identifies health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing philosophy and practice, adherence to national standards for improving patient care, leadership and sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity.

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March 2006

COEUR D'ALENE SKYSCRAPER

The regions tallest building proposed for east Coeur d'Alene, Fernan Towers is still in the planning stages but if approved would be 8 to 13 stories taller than North Idaho's current tallest building The Coeur d'Alene Resort. It's tall and slender design will give the 115 condo owners a birds eye view of The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course and Lake Coeur d'Alene. Located on CDA Lake Drive it's 18 blocks from Downtown Coeur d'Alene and only 5 blocks from I-90. Amenities include four story parking facility, Spa, rooftop gardens, retail and lease spaces and 3/4 of an acre of green space. Proposed by Meridian- based Charter Builders the $50 million dollar project is moving through the approval phase with no scheduled date of ground breaking.

NORTH IDAHO DEALER, NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Eve Knudtsen, president/owner of Knudtsen Chevrolet Post Falls Idaho, received the 2006 Time magazine Quality Dealer Award at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in Orlando FL. She was one of 66 nominated by a peer group of over 19,500 auto dealers nationwide. The coveted award is presented for excellence in dealer commitment to community service. The 37th annual award was presented by Ed McCarrick, worldwide publisher of Time magazine. Eve is a third generation owner of the Chevrolet dealership in North Idaho started by her Grandfather in Coeur d'Alene in 1939, taken over by her father in 1968. The dealership moved to Post Falls in 2004.

OUT WITH THE OLD

Harold's Food Store / Cinema 4 Theatre block, located at Oak and 4th in Sandpoint Idaho had it's doors open for the last time the weekend of March 6th. After decades of supplying the citizens of Sandpoint with dinner and a movie, the block will now be home to the expanded Panhandle State Bank building. Our good friends at PSB have been serving North Idaho well and are moving their quality banking practices throughout the state. Movie goers in Sandpoint will now be limited to the Bonner Mall Cinemas for first run features. On the upside, perhaps the grand old Panida (one of the states oldest theatres/stages located on First St. in Sandpoint) will glean a larger audience for their fabulous live performances, films and art shows.

UNUSUAL WATER SPORTS ABOUND IN NORTH IDAHO

With the onset of spring comes hundreds of new North Idaho water activities. A little known local favorite is dock fetching. Many Lake Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake and other area lake dock owners must "winter" their docks at sites other than their property due to fluctuating lake water levels throughout the season. For a winter moorage fee, local North Idaho maritime companies will tow docks in late fall to a designated storage location. By November Powderhorn Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene can be see filled with hundreds of floating docks anchored safely for the winter. Just in time for summer water sports, the docks are towed back, attached to their respective pilings and made ready for another summer of North Idaho on water fun.

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February 2006

IDAHO CITYLINK

Have you noticed the new Citylink busses on the streets of Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, and Post Falls recently? Citylink is a partnership between the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization, the State of Idaho and Kootenai County. It is designed to provide FREE transportation for the general public in the Southern Kootenai and Western Benewah county areas, including the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Reservation. All busses are wheelchair accessible and have bike racks. Routes and passenger information are available on the Citylink website.

Citylink, operated by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe through the transportation department at the Coeur D'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, represents the first time in the United States that a tribal government and a local government have collaborated to create free public transportation.

SHARING THE WEALTH

The same talented leader that spearheaded the most successful regional tourism promotion group in Sandpoint Idaho, then moved the Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce into an area business and tourism powerhouse organization is now lending his expertise to a broader group. Jonathan Coe, President of the Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce was elected to the chair the Idaho Association of Chambers of Commerce. The skill and focus of this individual will no doubt be a tremendous asset to the state wide group as well as give North Idahoans one more reason to be proud.

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January 2006

BLOW OUT SALE

When Silver Mountain Resort offered it's phase one hillside condominiums for sale to the public it didn't last long. Within weeks the entire project was sold. When phase two was announced, the waiting list after the entire project sold out within hours, had dozens of names on it. Currently Morning Star Lodge at Silver Mountain is promoting a "preferred client advantage" package. With a buy in fee you will be notified in advance of the general public of the phase three real estate offering. As the real estate market in Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, Wallace, Kellogg and surrounding Lake Communities of North Idaho gets hotter the competitive edge of knowing what's available first has it's upside. Silver Mountain's expansion plans include a "flowboard" equipped water park and golf course, along with shopping and dining amenities in it's plaza. The backyard of this new resort village has 67 ski trails, North Americas longest fully enclosed gondola, white water rafting, 100mi of snowmobile trails, within minutes of site. More info available at www.silvermt.com

IRON WILLS

The Post Falls City Council voted 3-1 to stay with the status quo of asking Ironman for reimbursement for an estimated $11,000 in expenses incurred during the Ironman Coeur d'Alene competition June 28. "(Ironman) benefits businesses, but not necessarily the citizens," Councilor Ron Jacobson said. "My concern is taking taxpayers' dollars to spend money on a for-profit company." The Post Falls Area Chamber had requested the city to stop seeking reimbursement because it may hamper contract negotiations to extend the event in North Idaho another three years and may spoil future opportunities to attract large events, as well as impede the Tourism arm of the Post Falls Chamber's efforts to secure additional state grant funding for events attraction. Post Falls Police Chief Cliff Hayes said that Post Falls invests more man hours (for traffic control) than Coeur d'Alene does due to railroad closures and other potential hazards on the course. He stated that to be involved at all would necessitate doing it properly. Although the finish line and media opportunities for Ironman are in Coeur d'Alene a large portion of the course winds through the outskirts and city area of Post Falls. Council President Scott Grant has expressed frustration that the Post Falls Chamber is not part of the Ironman contract extension negotiations with the Coeur d'Alene Chamber. The expectation of support yet no inclusion in the process has left local chamber and city officials at odds. Ironman officials have not indicated that a contract extension hinges on the Post Falls request for reimbursement, nor have they publicly complained about the fees. 

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