Election observers, often called “poll watchers” have been on the job all afternoon at both the Fernan and Ramsey locations.  They have just called to update OpenCdA on the results of the school board election.

As of  9:15 pm the Zone 3 results are in:

Incumbent Bill Hemenway has won with 233 votes.  Challenger Terri Seymour was very, very close with 191 votes.  (That’s a difference of only 42 votes.)

Zone 1 results are still being counted at this moment…stay tuned.

UPDATE: As of 10:20 pm  Incumbent Edie Brooks has won relection by a mere 7 votes.  Out of the very large total of 642 votes for Zone 1, Edie Brooks had 323 votes and challenger Jim Purtee had 316 votes.

What a close election!  Let’s hope there is a recount and a challenge to make sure every voter was indeed from Zone 1.

Our best regards to all.

The CdA P&Z meeting was tonight and they were hearing the zoning prior to annexation request for parts of the DeArmond Mill site next to NIC.  I didn’t see the whole thing, but I watched about 20 min. during their deliberations.  Gotta say, I was embarrassed for them.   (more…)

Spokane schools have just announced that 103 teachers will be laid off, most on a temporary basis.  They are considering other cost cutting measures as well, some listed were:   (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter, by Mary Souza

They lied to us again.  Coeur d’Alene’s Finance Director, Troy Tymeson, admitted at last Tuesday’s council meeting that the city has never tried to sell the old library.  After they made it a big deal in the bond campaign for the new library, they did not do what they promised and never came to the public to reveal or explain.   (more…)

2007 Campaign Ad for change*

An alert reader sent me info from another blog which mistakenly reported that Kathy Sims would be appearing before the CdA city council tonight to offer a letter of apology.  She will not.  Her attorney will be there to read a letter  he sent to the city more than a month ago.  The city refused to accept the letter, until now.

Here’s the back story:   (more…)

I have been sorting and filing paperwork today and came across a property tax statement from 2004.  I compared it to the 2008 statement, and in just 4 years, here’s the increase:

County tax went up 35%

City of CdA tax up 77%

NIC tax went up 111%

Ouch!

Today’s Press shows a front page photo of a CHS student standing on top of a car, leading a protest.  Are we back in the 60’s again?  Nope.  They are upset about the new cuts in the activities budget, particularly after everyone was lead to believe that the passage of the levy two weeks ago would safeguard those programs and more.

The school district held a meeting last night to listen to public feedback.  Good for them for having a meeting, but how did it go?  I was unable to attend but I know Bill was there.  Does anyone have a report about the meeing?  Were folks upset?  Were students there?  How did the Board and Hazel handle it?

The City’s Pulse Newsletter, by Mary Souza

Beaches are on my mind right now, maybe because the promise of summer seems closer today, with all the blue skies and sunshine.  But the recent news about Sander’s Beach has dredged up old memories and many unanswered questions.  (more…)

The great CdA Tea Party Video on You Tube just went over the 1000 mark today.  Great job!  Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg3AchQy1r8

This was sent by one of our readers who is originally from the UK.  This news has not been covered by US media.  If some people thought our Tea Party protests were out of line, check this out:

“I was standing at a bus stop in Kensington, London minding my own business when suddenly I thought I was in the Middle East – 1979 – the chanting was DEATH TO AMERICA … and I realized the British govermnent was allowing these demonstrations to go on  – it was disheartening —by the grace of God I was able to come to America – take a look in 2009 how confident these guys are now . . . .

Where is the U.S. Media on this one?  I want to hear more about this if anyone knows anything about it . . . .
(more…)