JOSH McDONALD
Staff Writer
Recent Stories

3 on 3 basketball this weekend in Kellogg
Organizers are expecting over 200 teams at this year’s SilverHoops 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, once again eyeing the record for most teams in a single year.

SCSO, commissioners examining department's pay sturctures
As Shoshone County enters its annual budget planning season, administrators from the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) recently met with county commissioners to propose several changes to the department’s pay structure.

Charges filed in Silver Valley newborn-for-trade case
Two Silver Valley women are facing felony charges after authorities uncovered an agreement involving the custody exchange of a newborn.

City tackles tree replanting after sudden removal
City officials in Kellogg are working to replace dozens of trees that mysteriously died over the past two years, leaving noticeable gaps in some of the town’s most visible areas.

Pottsville Seven project nearing an end
Since 2021, the Pottsville Seven have tackled the restoration of East Shoshone Park one project at a time. Now, they’re nearing the finish line.

Aging bridge to be removed
Last week, county commissioners approved a bid to remove the aging bridge near the mouth of Moon Gulch. Spanning Moon Creek, the bridge provides access to several homes on the east side.

Validation denied, access granted?
Shoshone County road dispute adds new complexity
A recent decision from the Idaho Supreme Court may have raised more questions than it answered regarding one of Shoshone County’s most contentious legal disputes.

Kellogg library opens doors at 'new' building
After months of preparation, the Kellogg Public Library officially opened its doors at a new location along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes earlier this week.

Popular show returns to Sixth Street
One of Sixth Street Theater’s most popular productions is back on stage for the company’s 42nd season – just in time for a milestone celebration.

Data breach affecting SCSO email
The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office is experiencing email outages following a reported data breach at the cloud hosting and IT company it uses to host the online service.

Shoshone County greenlights big money for green spaces
Last week, the Shoshone County Commissioners approved a $300,000 reinvestment of funds into the county’s parks department to begin the process of modernizing the deteriorating facilities.

Long-awaited bridge project to begin in Pinehurst
The nearly 60-year-old bridge connecting Pinehurst to the Bauman’s Addition area of Kingston over Pine Creek is set to receive a brand-new deck, replacing the current one that is beyond repair.

Mountain West Bank continues work at Nine Mile Cemetery
For the second year in a row, the team from Mountain West Bank (MWB) made the short trip up Nine Mile Road to care for Wallace’s historic Nine Mile Cemetery.

County considering St. Joe River Road work
Last week, the Shoshone County Commissioners met with Public Works Director Jessica Stutzke to discuss the 23-mile stretch of road between Avery and Calder.

Fire officials urge safety during coming days
As the Fourth of July approaches, local and state agencies are urging the public to celebrate safely—especially in fire-prone areas like North Idaho.

Shoshone County leaders offer messages of support following tragedy
The shocking acts of violence committed against the city of Coeur d’Alene and its first responders on Sunday afternoon sent shockwaves across the nation. In neighboring Shoshone County, elected officials, law enforcement, and EMS personnel are standing in solidarity with their counterparts in Kootenai County.

Kellogg hosting Fourth of July Kickoff celebration
Those looking to get a jump on the holiday weekend are going to love Kellogg’s Fourth of July Kickoff celebration this Thursday.

Keep the air inside your homes safe this summer
Around this time each year, air quality becomes a major concern across North Idaho. As wildfires ignite across the U.S. and Canada, smoke drifts into the panhandle, casting a toxic haze over the region’s typically blue summer skies.

Kellogg men arrested following two seperate drug raids
Deputies with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) recently executed two search warrants in Kellogg, resulting in the arrests of two individuals identified as known drug dealers.

Shoshone BOCC adopts new meeting rules
Last week, the Shoshone County Commissioners formally adopted a new set of rules to guide all future meetings.

Housing shortage causing concern for Silver Valley leaders
Finding quality, affordable housing in Shoshone County has become increasingly difficult due to a combination of economic, geographic, and social factors. For Paige Olsen, director of the Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation (SVEDC), solving this long-standing issue has become a mission. But despite her tireless efforts, progress remains elusive.

Exciting news from Silverton assisted living facility
Silverton Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia recently celebrated two major achievements that will help shape the future of the assisted living facility.

County seeks public comment over potential North Fork road work
Shoshone County Public Works Director Jessica Stutzke met with the county commissioners earlier this week to discuss several road failures in the North Fork Coeur d’Alene River region of the county.

Silver Valley pair arrested for child abuse
Two Silver Valley residents have been arrested and are facing numerous charges in what law enforcement is calling one of the most unsettling cases of child abuse in recent memory.

Shoshone County back on track with wage study
After numerous setbacks, Shoshone County is one step closer to completing a long-awaited wage study.

Asphalt test failures put brakes to Fourth of July repaving project
Construction along the Fourth of July Pass section of Interstate 90 has stalled in recent weeks, prompting many commuters to question whether the roadwork remains on schedule.

Dive team making a comeback in Shoshone County
According to Shoshone County Sheriff Holly Lindsey, discussions to reform the team began a few years ago. In the years since, Shoshone Fire District #2 Chief Scott Dietrich has taken an active lead on restarting the group.
Kellogg to host world class hard-enduro races
Hard-enduro motorcycle racing isn’t for the faint of heart. With heart-stopping jumps and death-defying drops, it demands a rare breed of athlete to take on one of motorsport’s toughest challenges.

New lobby turns the page on Brooks renovation
Dozens of residents packed the entryway to the Brooks Hotel for the grand reveal of their newly remodeled lobby on Thursday afternoon.

Bridge project to be discussed at open house
An open house is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss an upcoming bridge project near Osburn.

Shoshone County cracking down on meeting rules
BOCC Chairman Jeff Zimmerman presented a list of five rules that had been discussed that would be printed on the back of the board’s meeting agendas that they and the public would adhere to during all future meetings.

Family completes late author’s book on schoolhouses
Not many people know that there were more than 100 schools and school buildings along the Coeur d’Alene River... But Marvin Lake was the exception to most people.

Woody appointed chief at OPD
Earlier this month, Jason Woody was officially sworn in as the new Police Chief of Osburn, bringing more than two decades of law enforcement experience to the role.

Washington man facing aggravated DUI charge following holiday weekend crash
A Cheney man is facing multiple felony charges after an alcohol-related crash over Memorial Day weekend sent two people to the hospital.

The epic career of Scott Miller
For nearly four decades, Scott Miller has been working with athletes of all ages and skill levels, but at this point, simply calling him a coach feels like a disservice. Through all of the navigating of both emotional highs and lows of high-level competition, Miller became so much more to so many.

"An incredibly personal endeavor"
Brooks Hotel to celebrate major milestone in ongoing renovation project
Ongoing work at the Brooks Hotel has reached another major milestone, according to owner Emily Nelson.

JROTC cadets prepare for Memorial Day ceremonies
Students in the Marine Corps JROTC Program at Kellogg High School have been busy over the past few days as they prepare for Memorial Day.

KHS math teacher wins school and district teacher awards
Kellogg High School teacher Megan Cline was named both KHS and Kellogg School District Teacher of the Year and was honored during a special assembly last week at KHS.

New field offers new opportunity for Silver Valley youth baseball
A special group of dads and more than a few generous businesses have given Silver Valley kids a quality place to play baseball with the “new” Pastime Park.

Navigating seasonal allergies in North Idaho
Spring has sprung, and there’s a certain feeling in the air as the sun begins to shine and things start turning green again.

Quiet reflections
Shasta Groene's childhood friend recalls life after tragedy
20 years ago, the unthinkable happened. The triple homicide and kidnapping of two young children from a home near Wolf Lodge stopped North Idaho and much of the nation in its tracks. 47 days later, 8-year-old Shasta Groene was identified and rescued at a Coeur d’Alene restaurant, and the man responsible was arrested.

Depot Day shatters registration records
It was a record-breaking year for the Inland Northwest’s longest running car show, as Depot Day brought hundreds of class cars and thousands of people to look at them.

Cat Wranglers celebrate successful fundraiser
The Silver Valley Cat Wranglers have a little bit of breathing room thanks to a recent fundraiser that went above and beyond for the local feline rescue group.

"At the end of the day, you still have to play"
Kellogg heads to golf state for 22nd consecutive year
For more than two decades, there has been one constant in North Idaho athletics... Boys golf at Kellogg High School.

Favorite things about the Silver Valley: Old Mission State Park
At the western entrance to the Silver Valley sits the Mission of the Sacred Heart, the crown jewel of Old Mission State Park. While technically sitting in Kootenai County, Silver Valley residents have an attachment to the Mission beyond what most of their neighbors to the west experience. Mary Davis is one such resident.

Living water
Just over one year ago, the Silver Valley was hit hard following the loss of Real Life Ministeries’ Pastor Gene Jacobs, but over the past few weeks, the church and community came up with a wonderful way to honor Jacobs’ legacy.

Community gathers for 53rd Sunshine Mine memorial
Every year, on May 2, the Silver Valley pauses for an hour and remembers the 91 men who perished in the Sunshine Mine Disaster of 1972.

KHS musicians show out at jazz festival
Students in Kellogg High School’s jazz choir were recently recognized as one of the best groups in the region after winning at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho.

KSD to stay on 4-day schedule next year
Board elects to continue pilot program through 2025/26 school year.
The Kellogg School District is extending its pilot four-day school week into next school year, according to Superintendent Lance Pearson.

Wyatt Earp celebration this weekend in Murray
Something unique is happening this weekend in the former seat of Shoshone County.