Walk down the streets of Bonners Ferry or stop to shop at places like Yoder’s Market, and you may notice small planter boxes with a variety of veggies and herbs and little green and white signs sporting a watering can that say “Little Free Garden.” Funded by a grant from the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation, High Five! and administered by the City of Bonners Ferry, with assistance from the University of Idaho Master Gardeners and GROW!, the program partners with local businesse

On May 19, Bonners Ferry residents will have the opportunity to vote on a bond that if passed will help keep electric rates at some of the lowest in all the country. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the average American pays 10.29 cents per Kilowatthour (kwh). Idaho and Washington residents pay roughly 8 cents per kwh, while Bonners Ferry residents pay just 6.5 cents per kwh. “I can’t say for a fact we are the lowest, but we are definitely one of the lowest co

“One day a mom walked over with her toddler in only a diaper. The mom slipped a dress over her head and the little girl just looked at herself in the mirror and started twirling and squealing with delight,” recalls Aimee Christopherson, the volunteer director for Hope House. It’s moments like these that remind us that a helping hand can transform a person’s life. Hope House started in Boundary County doing private deliveries to schools and anonymous doorstep drops with items

I’m sure most Boundary County residents would agree that we live in a beautiful place. Whether enjoying snow-covered Purcells from afar or hiking the peaks and ridgelines of the Selkirks, stunning scenery is all around us. But anyone who spends much time out in the forests has surely found evidence that many people do not respect the beauty of the roads and trails. Terry Huggins has lived in Boundary County all his life, and he loves where he lives. He and his wife have been

The new year is a time when we reflect on the past year and express gratitude for support received. The Fry Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors is grateful to be able to provide Boundary Community Hospital (BCH) with the medical equipment and health-care services that are needed in our community. In 2019, they purchased the last four telemetric heart monitors for Emergency, Surgery and Acute Care, a new Blood Bank refrigerator and upgraded refrigerators for the Clinical

“God has done so many amazing things for us.” It is inspiring to witness the incredible people in the community who give of themselves selflessly to impact others in a positive way; devoting countless hours to help improve the lives of those in our community. And one such organization that works toward its mission every hour of every day is Priest River Ministries - Advocates for Women—which strives to do all it can for the betterment of women who have endured, and are contin

Traditions passed down from one generation to the next bring us closer to our loved ones, especially around the holidays. Except when they don’t. What do we do with a tradition centered around togetherness when we find ourselves alone? How do we manage to celebrate when each passing holiday only stands to remind us just how far away we are from extended family? The holidays can be particularly hard for anyone who isn’t surrounded by those they hold dear, regardless of the rea

“Music is the universal language of mankind.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow What does Bonners Ferry have to offer to the members of our community as well as draw residents of neighboring towns? What could compel people to drive once a week from an hour away in all directions and appeal to an age range of 12 years old up to mid-80s? It is the Bonners Ferry Community Orchestra—an organization that has been in existence for the past 45 years. And since the group is filling a dema

The streets of Libby, Montana, will be louder than usual during the second weekend of September as chainsaws fire up and beautiful works of art will be revealed right before your eyes. The third annual Kootenai Country Montana International Chainsaw Carving Championship kicks off on Thursday, September 13, with all kinds of demonstrations and competitions throughout the weekend. “What could possibly be more distinctly Montana than chainsaw art,” said Paul Bunn, the local resi

What began five years ago by Darleen Jackson and Bud Ewing handing out bags of food to those in need in North Idaho has blossomed into a small independent nonprofit, non-governmental, non 501C3 group of Christian men and women called the Living Sanctuary Ministry. Located right here in Boundary County, the work they carry out helps the homeless and disadvantaged not only in North Idaho but has spread to Spokane and is as far reaching as South Dakota. “As the need continued to

Want the job done right? Hire a veteran! TrustVets.com connects the public with thousands of highly qualified veteran business owners and professionals across America. Joe Johnson got his heart and his back broken in the same car accident when he was just 17 years old. The boy, whose family were all proud veterans, was unable to pass the military enlistment requirements when his time came because of his injury. Giving back was the core of his DNA, and he could not. But good m

It was a joyous day in 2017 when the city of Bonners Ferry found out it would be a recipient of a $250,000 grant to help improve the health of youth in and around the community. According to the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, one in three Idaho children are categorized as overweight or obese. This can lead to many health problems down the road like increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Every few years the organization awards a Communit

When Aleah Jones entered her freshman year at Bonners Ferry High School, she was especially looking forward to her art class, a topic she has explored since the sixth grade. But after one week in basic art, she said it quickly became apparent that she was far more advanced than what the class was geared toward. Art teacher Josh Knaggs said the basic art class teaches things such as the color wheel and other introductory concepts. He was reluctant to allow Aleah to test out of

When Rob and Kathy Wenzel first came through North Idaho about four years ago, it seemed like they had entered a time warp. “Meeting the people, we thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is like going back 50 years into a beauty where people are respectful and loving and neighborly,’” Kathy said. They moved to Bonners Ferry from Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2015 and set up a counseling practice, Art of Redirection. They found ways to invest in their community, volunteering with the fir

Gardens can serve many purposes. They can be a place where people seek solitude and peace among nature. They provide beautiful colors, sights and smells in the spring, summer and fall. They also help nourish our bodies through fresh produce. Thanks to a group of area residents, you will soon be able to enjoy a garden that offers all of this and more at Boundary Community Hospital. Casimir Holeski was the creator of the project and serves as the garden manager. He is excited a

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kootenai Medical Center can see anywhere from a couple to up to 16 babies a day, depending on what is happening in the maternity ward. Babies are brought to NICU for many reasons, most often when they are born premature, underweight or are in need of a medical procedure right after birth. Others are dealing with symptoms related to a mother’s drug or alcohol addiction. They are the most fragile infants in the hospital and are watched

As we prepare and participate in holiday gatherings, work parties, and New Year celebrations, food is often the centerpiece of the event. Many of us gather with family and friends to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year with a big meal. It’s a time to be thankful but also an important time to remember that there are those in the community who struggle each day putting a meal on the table, let alone a holiday feast. Community Action Partnership (CAP) is one of the grea

Micah and Nancy Smith, along with their daughter and son-in-law Hannah and Ben Phillips and son Jacob Smith, operate Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters in Bonners Ferry. But their work is much more than a business to them; it is one of many ways they bestow blessings to others around the world. “We believe that when you are blessed, it is to be a blessing (to others),” said Micah. At Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters, the family purchases green coffee beans from the farmers they work with

For anyone who knows Candy Beck, they can attest to what a blessing she is to those in the Bonners Ferry community. Her heart, compassion and energy are evident the moment you meet her. Candy works with adults in Bonners Ferry who have special needs and has not only opened up her heart to them but her home as well, having two women who are her longtime clients share her home. In 2001, Candy began working with a company called Partnership for Inclusion, which was owned by Lisa

It’s hard to walk into a room and find someone not touched by cancer in one way or another. Thousands are currently in the middle of their battle, millions have been claimed and tomorrow many more will be diagnosed with this life-changing disease. Reaction to a cancer diagnosis varies from person to person as does treatment and counseling sessions. In Bonners Ferry, women affected by cancer have a place to go to hear from others who have been in their shoes. “People have such