News Digest:
Monday, February 18, 2008 10:41 AM PST
Idaho — Idaho officials advise residents to be prepared for flooding
NAMPA (AP) — Idaho health officials say residents should be prepared for possible flooding when the heavy snowpack begins to melt.
While there’s no immediate concern, they say a sudden spring warmup could send Southwest Idaho rivers, including the Boise and Weiser rivers, over their banks.
Southwest Health District officials say homeowners should prepare to deal with health risks associated with flooding, including drinking water contamination and mold problems.
Schools rely on grant money to pay for spendy education goals
LEWISTON (AP) — The new curriculum in many north-central Idaho school districts is for administrators and teachers: writing grant requests. As local funding is stretched further to meet educational goals required by the state and federal governments, schools are relying on grant money for programs that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Grants are used to improve technology, but schools also seek money to enhance classroom teaching, help provide learning assistance outside of the school day, fund kindergarten and plan for emergencies.
Heavy winter snowfall could stretch ski season into April
NAMPA (AP) — The heavy dose of snowfall since the New Year could help southwest Idaho resorts stretch ski season into April. Despite a late start, officials at Bogus Basin north of Boise say they would like to keep chair lifts running through April. The resort typically shuts down in the first or second weeks of April.
Oregon
More farms disappear in Oregon, part of national trend
SALEM (AP) — Oregon has joined some of its Western neighbors in the decline of the number of farms, part of a national trend.
At the start of the year in Oregon, California, Idaho and Washington, there were 170,800 farms, a decline of 2 percent compared to one year ago.
