Shoshone News-Press 2017 in review

It was an exciting year in Shoshone County. We had celebrity visitors, several potential disasters, local sports triumphs, tragedies, all the while we at the News-Press began the process of figuring out how to navigate our new, bi-weekly print format, and the process of managing and updating our new fully-functioning website.

As we approach the new year, we would like to run down some of our more notable headline stories of 2017. Please remember that these are headline dates, not exactly the day of the event.

Who knows what surprises may be in the new year, but one thing is for sure, the Shoshone News-Press will be there to get you the scoop.

We appreciate your support Shoshone County, here’s to a great 2018!

JANUARY

3 — NBA hall of famer Shaquille O’Neal visits Silver Mountain where he enjoys a round of tubing.

5 — A small house on in Wallace on the corner of King and Bank Streets becomes topic of debate after it is spared demolition due to historic status.

7 — Former Kellogg High School golf coach Carter Wardwell is named 3A State Golf Coach of the Year.

12 — Accused murderer Heather Crawford’s trial begins in Coeur d’Alene after it is deemed impossible to find an impartial jury in Shoshone County.

13 — Kellogg School Board passes motion to move Kellogg Middle School into the former Sunnyside Elementary building.

14 — The City of Mullan receives a $30,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to continue funding some of the city’s road and sewer repair.

19 — Gas leak in downtown Wallace sends residents into panic.

20 — Rescue crews amputate arm, but are able to save man involved in 3-semitruck accident on I-90 near Rose Lake.

21 — Idaho State Police traffic stop in Shoshone County yields 378 pounds of marijuana, worth over $1 million,

FEBRUARY

3 — Heather Crawford found not guilty of murder in the 2014 death of infant Ezra Wilson.

7 — KHS students hold special night to honor classmate Sarah McFeeley, who tragically passed away due to health complications.

8 — Army Corps of Engineers announce $50 million project to upgrade the Bunker Hill Central Treatment Plant.

10 — City of Pinehurst declares state of emergency due to frozen and broken water lines leaving several residents without running water.

16 — County officials hold emergency meeting to discuss their plans to get the water crisis in Pinehurst resolved.

21 — United Steelworkers Union chapter 5114 rejects Hecla Mining Company’s “Last, best, and final” contract proposal.

24 — Local schools brace for mumps after surrounding areas report outbreaks.

28 — KHS wrestler Tanner Figueroa caps off senior season with a championship finish at 3A State Wrestling Tournament.

MARCH

1 — KHS Student Allysen Hei wins Best-in-Show at State Art competition in Moscow.

2 — City of Pinehurst reports air quality within approved levels of attainment for first time in four years.

4 — Kellogg Wildcats defeat Gooding 49-40 to capture third place at the 3A State Basketball Tournament.

7 — Shoshone News-Press makes announce new website and begin printing newspaper bi-weekly.

9 — Missing man found after being lost for two days in the mountains near Prichard.

12 — USW 5114 Lucky Friday Miners vote to go on strike and take to the picket line the following day.

17 — Quick thaw leads to massive flooding throughout the Silver Valley.

18 — Former Pinehurst police chief Rocky Wilson officially retires.

23 — Lookout Motel in Mullan catches fire.

24 — Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office investigates former Ferris High School football coach Jim Sharkey for indecent exposure claims that occurred in county.

APRIL

1 — Shoshone News-Press managing editor Chanse Watson pens story about Mullan becoming part of Montana as annual April Fool’s story.

4 — The Gonzaga Bulldogs break the hearts of regional basketball fans when they lose National Championship to North Carolina.

5 — The Shoshone News-Press publishes first paper under the new bi-weekly format. Stories include a returned Medal of Honor and a look at the Justice Reinvestment Act.

20 — Kindred Mountain Valley Care and Rehabilitation receives Malcolm Baldrige Award for Quality service.

22 — Wallace City Council passes motion that will alter downtown Wallace’s parking from curbside to diagonal in some areas in 2018.

26 — Broken water pipe beneath the Coeur d’Alene River near Pinehurst leaves Central Shoshone Water District customers across the Silver Valley without water.

29 — Silver Valley Dialysis Center in Smelterville closes.

MAY

3 — Kellogg High School receives bronze medal as one of the state and nation’s top schools according to U.S. News.

6 — Locals gather in Big Creek on the 45th anniversary of the Sunshine Mine fire to honor and remember the fallen.

10 — Dr. Heather Branstetter’s book, Sex in the Silver Valley, is released to rave local reviews.

17 — Body of Spokane man, Mark Arnold, found in Shoshone County.

20 — Kellogg High School men’s golf team wins 3A State Golf Tournament.

27 — Shoshone County Airport hosts successful Fly-in/Drive-in event.

JUNE

7 — Littering issue in Shoshone County becomes hot topic after massive dump sites discovered near Moon Pass.

10 — Former Kellogg Middle School closes its doors to students.

17 — Vandalism crime wave hits Kellogg.

21 — Truck and trailer containing fireworks explodes in Kellogg near McDonalds.

28 — Colonel William Ross Wallace’s headstone brought to Wallace for proper dedication.

JULY

5 — Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office receives jail certification, becomes eligible to house state and federal inmates.

8 — Earthquake in Montana sends rattling aftershocks into North Idaho. Silver Valley residents feel the rumble.

12 — City of Wallace hosts another wildly successful Blues Festival.

15 — The Grouse Creek Fire near Mullan kicks off a busy wildfire season in Shoshone County.

26 — Holly Lindsay promoted to undersheriff at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, becomes first female to hold the position in county history.

29 — Dare to Imagine Summer Camp wraps up most successful session yet with over 250 daily campers.

AUGUST

5 — Local fire chiefs raise Silver Valley danger to extreme. (Foreshadowing)

9 — USW 5114 strike at the Lucky Friday Mine in Mullan reaches 150 days.

12 — Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office bust marijuana grow operation in Wallace

12 — Multi-agency search and rescue operation locates lost man and his deceased wife during Buck fire in the St. Joe region of the county.

16 — New Scoreboard unveiled at Teeters Field.

19 — Silver Valley family loses home to fire in Sunny Slopes area.

23 — Locals take in Great American Eclipse

23 — Basin Commission hosts their annual Bunker Hill superfund clean-up tour.

September

2 — Historic McConnell Hotel in uptown Kellogg goes up in flames. Neighboring buildings damaged as a result.

9 — Autopsy clears local man of manslaughter after determining that July fight was not a factor in G. Crawford’s death later that month.

13 — Mountain Valley Care and Rehabilitation drops Kindred name and is bought out to become Mountain Valley of Cascadia.

23 — Cataldo Mission gets new roof after 40 years.

23 — Man involved in standoff with Shoshone County Sheriff’s deputies commits suicide in Pinehurst.

30 — Shoshone News-Press presents their first ever Emergency Responder Edition.

OCTOBER

4 — Idaho State Police wraps up annual enforcement emphasis in the Silver Valley.

7 — The National Resource Education Outreach gives their final donation to local schools and then disbands after 12 years of educational funding.

11 — Idaho gubernatorial candidate Tommy Ahlquist visits Osburn.

11 — Local physician Terry Spohr retires after 40 years of service.

14 — Kellogg and Wallace High Schools continue tradition of supporting breast cancer awareness and research by putting on annual “Dig Pink Night.”

18 — Vandalism causes massive Suddenlink internet outages throughout the Silver Valley.

21 — Pinehurst man Ray McCorkle dies in UTV crash.

25 — Both the Kellogg School District and Shoshone County Fire District I discuss their important bond and levy votes.

28 — Kellogg middle and high school students attend controversial assembly dealing with the addictive natures of pornography.

NOVEMBER

8 — Mullan School District begins serving hot lunch and breakfast for first time in 128 years.

8 — Missing I90 conduit in Cataldo area halts progress by Syringa Networks to bring high speed internet to the Silver Valley.

11 — Silver Valley election results are reported.

11 — New owners of Bunker Hill Mine in Kellogg announce plans to reopen the mine in 2018.

15 — Thieves steal an estimated $1 million in Bunker Hill Mine stones, gems, and artifacts after break in at Bunker Hill house in Kellogg.

18 — A record 14 Kellogg football players named to Intermountain all-league team in over 20 different positions.

22 — Undercover Idaho Fish and Game officials bust local and international poachers in sting operation.

25 — Emergency crews respond to a report of a suspicious substance in water bottle outside a Smelterville residence.

29 — Shoshone County Planning and Zoning director Dan Martinsen named as County disaster services coordinator.

DECEMBER

2 — Former Pinehurst Doctor, Rafael Beier, sentenced to 16 years for illegally dispensing opiates.

13 — Wallace mayor Dick Vester proclaims that December 13 will be known as Chase Sanborn Day.

16 — Missing Spokane Woman found in woods near Murray after going missing the previous night.

23 — Jordan Martz charged in multiple rape cases as four different women come forward with accusations.

26 — House fire in Wallace leaves family without home.