A southwestern Idaho bird farm has been quarantined after a bird there was found to have a low-pathogenic bird flu, but Idaho Department of Agriculture officials say it is not the same bird flu virus that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa.

The Ag Department says the type of virus found in the Idaho game bird is commonly found in wild birds and normally causes only minor illness in the animals. The virus poses little or no risk to human health and it’s not believed that any people have gotten sick in connection with the ill bird.

The farm was quarantined the farm and state officials will test the flock, investigate the source of the illness, and notify neighboring gamebird and poultry farms. (AP)

Nez Perce County Democrats have nominated three people to fill the county’s vacant sheriff’s post.

The group has nominated Chief Deputy Dale Buttrey of Southwick, Sergeant William Madison of Culdesac and former sheriff Ron Koeper of Lewiston. The names were given to county commissioners on Wednesday, and the commissioners are expected to choose one of the three men for the job within 15 days.

Former Sheriff Jim Dorian’s post was declared vacant last week after county officials said they had been unable to contact him despite repeated attempts. Dorian was placed on medical leave in May after telling commissioners he had terminal pancreatic cancer.

Buttrey is the Democratic party’s nominee for the post in the November general election where he will face Republican Steve Jenkins and independent write-in candidate David Estes.

Members Qwest Communications’ largest union are receiving ballots to vote on a new contract to replace one that expired last month.
The Communications Workers of America says ballots are due back by September 30. The union represents about 20,000 Qwest employees in 13 states, including Idaho and Washington.
Last month, negotiators for Qwest and the union reached a tentative agreement on a 3-year deal that includes raises totaling 9% over three years, an increase to the base pay of sales staff, and a 3% increase in pension payouts.
The proposed plan adds a monthly premium for health coverage, whereas employees previously paid only enrollment fees. Employees also would get a choice of 2 health plans. (AP)

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna could be in for a fight after earmarking a portion of his yearly budget proposal for a plan that will reward teachers based on their performance.
Luna submitted a proposed $1.5 billion budget to the governor’s office late Tuesday to operate and improve public schools in 2009 and 2010. The budget is to go before Idaho lawmakers in January and includes $27 million for teacher raises and a pay-for-performance plan.
The proposed merit-based pay system is similar to a measure Idaho lawmakers voted to kill in February.
The public schools budget the school’s chief proposes is about $77 million more than the $1.46 billion he requested in January to fund the current school year and covers everything from teacher salaries and efforts to boost student test scores in reading, to classroom supplies and a program to let high school juniors and seniors earn college credits.
Most of the $27 million for teacher raises is designated for an $18 million pay-for-performance plan. Since at least the early 1980s, Republican lawmakers have sought to break up the existing compensation system, based on classroom experience, arguing that it rewards good teachers the same as the bad. Read the rest of this entry »

The Lewis-Clark State men’s basketball team has announced the addition of new assistant coach Tim Collins.  Collins, who has been working on college basketball staffs for the past seven years, replaces Pete VanMullem who left the program to pursue an instructor’s position at Washington State University.

Warrior head coach Tim Walker says Collins brings a well-rounded resume to the LC program.

Warrior head coach Tim Walker comments

Collins, 25, spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Chadron State in Nebraska. Along with his coaching duties, Collins will also teach Kinesiology classes at LCSC.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter on Tuesday took part in two events marking one of the biggest sockeye salmon runs in the state in decades.

Otter joined Idaho Fish and Game and Shoshone-Bannock tribal officials in releasing more than 30 adult sockeye into Redfish Lake near Stanley to spawn naturally.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R) comments

The sockeye returns to Idaho numbered in the single digits during the 1990s. But, so far this season, state fisheries biologists say more than 500 of the endangered salmon have returned to the central Idaho hatchery near Salmon, the biggest run in more than two decades.

Otter continues

Later in the day, Otter celebrated the opening of a new state-of-the-art sockeye spawning center at the Eagle Fish Hatchery. The new facility is designed to double the capacity of the captive breeding program dedicated to sockeye recovery. (AP)

Residents in north central Idaho may notice a little more smoke coming from regional forests in the coming weeks as the Nez Perce National Forest plans to use prescribed burning in portions of the Salmon River Ranger District.  Public Affairs Specialist Laura Smith says the burns are a great tool used to benefit both wildlife and habitat.

Public Affairs Specialist Laura Smith comments

The planned burns will utilize hand ignition in conjunction with aerial ignition by helicopter. All burning will be weather dependent. For more information contact the Salmon River Ranger District at (208) 839-2211.

The Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District is lifting water conservation measures for the 2008 season effective immediately.  LOID General Manager Barney Metz says the combination of responsible irrigating by patrons, more precipitation and cooler summer temperatures have allowed for the earlier-than-normal lifting of watering restrictions.

LOID General Manager Barney Metz comments

The district will no longer be enforcing the water schedule, but is still encouraging patrons to continue to think conservatively when it comes to irrigating their properties.

Metz continues

The official irrigation season ends October 20th, however watering is allowed after that date for stock animals and immediate needs.  For more information contact the district office at (208) 746-8235.