Republican Dave Resser came out the winner in the highly-contested battle for Benewah County Sheriff. He finished in front of Democrat Rick O’Donnell by 638 votes, while write-in candidate Jim Comack received the support of 179 voters.
The other Benewah County contest was that for Benewah County Commissioner. Voters decided to keep Commissioner Bud McCall, giving him 1,075 votes over his opponent, Republican Tom Howard.
District 5 legislative races were closer. The closest being the race for Representative Seat A, with Rep. Cindy Agidius winning by 61 votes. Rep. Ken De Vries lost the race for Seat B to Dem. Shirley Ringo by 964 votes. Dem. Dan Schmidt retained his seat in the Senate defeating Rep. Gresham Bouma by 275 votes.
In statewide results, both amendments to the state constitution, including SJR 102, involving the Board of Corrections managing felony probation, and HJR 2AA, involving protecting hunting, fishing and trapping as a way of life, passed. All three propositions involving educational reforms proposed by Superintendent Tom Luna and approved by the legislature earlier this year were rejected by voters.
Rep. Raul Labrador was reelected to serve as the U.S. Representative for District 1.
Benewah County voters cast their ballots as follows:
Sheriff
Rep. Dave Resser 2,162
Dem. Rick O’Donnell 1,524
Writ-in Jim Comack 179
Commissioner District 1
Dem. Jack Buell 2,925
Commissioner District 3
Dem. Bud McCall 2,426
Rep. Tom Howard 1,351
Prosecuting Attorney
Doug Payne 2,480
Magistrate Patrick McFadden Retention
Yes 3,115
No 723
In other Idaho races voted upon by area residents:
District 5 Senate
Dem. Dan Schmidt 8,254
Rep. Gresham Bouma 7,979
District 5 Representative Seat A
Rep. Cindy Agidius 8,069
Dem. Paulette Jordan 8,008
District 5 Representative Seat B
Dem. Shirley Ringo 8,502
Rep. Ken De Vries 7,538
U.S. Representative, District 1
Rep. Raul Labrador 148,153 62.9 percent
Dem. Jimmy Farris 73,244 31.1 percent
Lib. Rob Oates 8,900 3.8 percent
Ind. Pro-Life 5,284 2.2 percent
Poll results for amendments and propositions included:
S.J.R. 102:
Yes 358,806 74.6 percent
No 122,043 25.4 percent
H.J.R. 2aa:
Yes 363,430 74.3 percent
No 125,529 25.7 percent
Proposition 1
Yes 219,723 43.1 percent
No 289,646 56.9 percent
Proposition 2
Yes 216,257 42.4 percent
No 293,976 57.6 percent
Proposition 3
Yes 171,902 33.7 percent
No 337,825 66.3 percent
It’s another busying weekend in St. Maries! Book sales for the library, an auction and spaghetti for the Boller family and the Dutch oven dinner for
If you’re in need of a good winter read chances are you’ll find it at the seventh annual Friends of the Library book sale. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.
This year, children who attend with an adult can take home five free children’s book as well as a free video. Hardcover books will be sold for $1 and paperbacks are 25 cents.
The Friends of the Library collects books year round from the community in preparation for their annual sale and uses the money to help support the library.
The nonprofit group averages between 20 and 30 members. Anyone who wants to get involved can visit the library for more information.
Another great event this weekend is the spaghetti dinner and benefit for longtime St. Maries resident Kenny Boller and his family. Mr. Boller was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April. He’s received chemotherapy treatments and will undergo a stem-cell transplant soon.
The Spaghetti-O’s, a group of volunteers who frequently pull together when there is a need, will serve the dinner. Kenny’s friends, family and neighbors have pulled together a live auction, silent auction and dessert auction to help pay for the families expenses.
And that’s not all.
Saturday is Hope’s Haven’s third annual Dutch Oven Dinner.
Dinner is served from 5 to 7 p.m. and includes a large menu of approximately 20 entrees and 10 desserts. Volunteers from St. Joe Outfitters will return this year to help cook and serve the food Dutch ovens.
Hope’s Haven is the animal shelter in Benewah County. This year organizers hope to raise money to help refurbish dog kennels. The kennels were first installed in 2001.
For additional information call the shelter at 245-7387.
Despite the rain and threat of snow, area children are excitedly gearing up for trick or treat and Halloween.
Their parents and others in the community have organized events to help make it memorable.
In Fernwood, south of St. Maries, the UpRiver School’s PTO annual carnival is Saturday. Though the PTO conducts fundraisers to purchase extra items for the school, this event is just for fun. The carnival is from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27.
Other area Halloween activities include:
- Fright Night – 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at Benewah Community Hospital
- Haunted Forest – from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 26 & 27 at Cherry Bend Boat Park – cost $4
- Harvest Night – from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 – at the SM Library
- VeggieTales Movie – begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Assembly of God
- Heyburn Harvest Festival – 3 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Nazarene Church – cost $5
St. Maries is a great community and at the heart of every great community are its people, its school, and its sports programs.
At the heart of St. Maries are the Lumberjacks. Whether it’s the tough and tumble football players or the state champion volleyball team, the community and the Lumberjack Booster Club are behind its teams, its coaches, through every season.
The Lumberjack Booster Club has supported St. Maries High School for several years, supplementing the school budget with the purchase of uniforms and supplies for the school’s athletic teams. The annual Lumberjack Hall of Fame Banquet & Auction is the primary fundraiser for the booster club.
This year’s banquet is Nov. 9 at the Elks Lodge. The event begins with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The newest member of the Lumberjack Hall of Fame, Steve Konkright, will be inducted at 6:30 p.m. with the auction and games to follow. Tickets are $20 each and diners have a choice of New York Strip or Chicken for dinner.
Mr. Konkright, or “Konk” has he’s known, taught sixth grade at St. Maries Middle School for approximately 30 years before he retired. In addition to a career as a favored teacher, Konk coached baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball, often as a junior varsity, providing the younger athletes with a strong foundation of knowledge and skill in each sport. During that time the Lumberjacks, varsity and junior varsity carried some impressive records. Who more deserving to be honored than the coach that lead them there.
Just 225 tickets will be sold for the dinner. Tickets can be purchased at the following locations: Archie’s IGA, BrickwaL.L. Spa & Espresso, Country Fair, Mountain Plating and Studio 201
It’s definitely October. The air is cool and crisp, there is a multitude of hunters in town each day, and the cottonwood trees are bedecked in the bright orange, yellow and red of fall, leaving little doubt it’s October.
Another sure sign it’s October is the multitude of campaign signs dotting the roadsides and sprinkling the yards throughout the area.
The Benewah County Farm Bureau wants area voters to be prepared and to do so will sponsor a candidate forum Saturday. The forum begins at 10 a.m. in the conference room at the Federal Building in St. Maries.
All District 5 legislative and county candidates have been invited to attend.
Candidates include Dan Schmidt and Gresham Bouma for state senate; Cindy Agidius and Paulette Jordan for the House Seat A; Shirley Ringo and Ken DeVries for House Seat B.
Benewah County races include commissioners for District 3 Bud McCall and Tom Howard; and Benewah County sheriff candidates Rick O’Donnell (D), Dave Resser(R), and write-in candidate, Jim Comack.
The candidates will answer general questions submitted by members of the public before the forum.
The forum is expected to adjourn at noon.
To submit questions for the candidates mail them to Chairwoman Carole Rust, C/O Benewah County FB, 412 Main Ave., St. Maries or e-mail: spatterson@idfbins.com.
Be prepared. Learn the issues. Meet and listen to the candidates.
