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Corona Virus, COVID-19 Updates Dear Readers: I have added this page and special menu bar link to give you the latest information I have on the COVID-19. Novel Coronavirus, particularly as it relates to the people of Clearwater Country. I have received, followed and researched a great deal of information on the pandemic and want to share with you what I feel will be the most factual and helpful information on the situation. While I don't feel there is a need for panic, there is a need for timely, clear, accurate information from responsible news sources, because knowledge is power. For that reason, all the articles and resources are fully open with no need for a subscription. I will be adding new as well as historical information. See closures, postponements and cancellations, as well as helpful links below: For more information about the novel coronavirus, please visit www.idahopublichealth.com or https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ or call the Public Health Hotline at 1-866-736-6632.COVID-19 data to be updated weekly The end of Covid-19 as we've known it, (maybe) COVID-19 booster shot clinic planned in Lewiston April 14 COVID-19 case numbers decline in Clearwater County COVID-19 case numbers have declined for more than three week in Clearwater County, except for upward spike earlier this week as positive cases from Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino were recorded. See the report... 2-15-22 Crisis standards deactivated as conditions improve, some hospitals still reporting stress The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has deactivated Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) in the three public health districts in southern Idaho in which they had been activated in accordance with IDAPA 16.02.09 - Crisis Standards of Care For Healthcare Entities. See the article... 2-2-22 Governor Little activates National Guard for COVID response BOISE - Governor Brad Little activated the Idaho National Guard Monday for the fourth time during the pandemic to alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 in Idaho. See the article... 1-25-22 COVID-19 cases continue to add up in Clearwater County COVID-19 cases continue to add up in Clearwater County, though which variant still remains to be seen since the statistics on variants on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website are still behind with the overwhelming numbers of new cases around the state in the last few weeks. See the report... 1-25-22 Idaho activates crisis standards of care in three health districts in southern Idaho The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) activated Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) Monday morning in accordance with IDAPA 16.02.09 - Crisis Standards of Care For Healthcare Entities in three local public health districts -- Southwest District Health, Central District Health, and South Central District Health - due to severe staffing and blood shortages. See the article... 1-22-22 Get free at-home COVID-19 tests Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. See the info... Breaking news (1-19-22, 4:30 p.m.) COVID case numbers are skyrocketing in Clearwater County, Health District COVID-19 case numbers are skyrocketing in Clearwater County and Public Health District 2 (Clearwater, Lewis, Idaho, Latah and Nez Perce counties) over the last two weeks and especially Tuesday. See the statistics... Breaking news (1-18-22, 8:45 p.m.) Clearwater County has total of 923 COVID cases reported in 2021 Clearwater County had a total of 923 COVID-19 cases reported in 2021 with 78 of those in the month of December, according to Public Health-Idaho North Central District's website. See the info... 12-15-21 Idaho deactivates crisis standards of care in northern Idaho, continues to monitor Omicron The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has deactivated Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) in the Panhandle Health District in accordance with IDAPA 16.02.09 - Crisis Standards of Care For Healthcare Entities. See the article... 12-15-21 Delta, Omicron, Molnupiravir, Paxlovid and MAB ? Say what? Just when you were getting used to all the "Covid Lingo,"we have some new names in the game. Some of the new terms represent good news, and some are definitely bad news. None of these are unanticipated or surprises, however. See the column and photo... 12-10-21 Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy has outbreak of COVID-19 Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy had an outbreak of COVID-19 this week that included 20 cadets and 2 staff, according to Director Trevor Sparrow. See the info... 12-9-21 Let's take a look at winter safety and Omicron If anyone has looked out the window this week, you can see that winter is already here, ready or not, a full two weeks early. See the column and photo... 12-2-21 Clearwater County COVID case counts down by one compared to previous two week period COVID-19 case numbers are down by one the last few weeks, Nov. 16-Dec. 1, compared to the previous period, Nov. 2-Nov. 15 in Clearwater County and down nearly 25% in Public Health District 2 (Clearwater, Lewis, Idaho, Latah and Nez Perce counties). See the report... 12-1-21 Hope is a strategy There is an old story attributed to Native American cultures, and most commonly the Cherokee Nation about two wolves that are inside of every person. See the column and photo... 11-22-21 Idaho deactivates crisis standards of care except for north Idaho With the exception of north Idaho, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has deactivated Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) in accordance with IDAPA 16.02.09 - Crisis Standards of Care For Healthcare Entities. While the number of COVID-19 patients remains high and continues to stress healthcare systems, the surge is no longer exceeding the healthcare resources available, except in north Idaho. See the info... 11-22-21 Gov. Little to answer COVID-19 questions at AARP telephone town-hall Tuesday All vaccinated adults in Idaho are now eligible for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine Clearwater County COVID case counts up slightly compared to previous two week period COVID-19 case numbers are up slightly the last few weeks, Nov. 2-15, compared to the previous period, Oct. 15-Nov. 1 in Clearwater County, but way down Public Health District 2 (Clearwater, Lewis, Idaho, Latah and Nez Perce counties). See the stats... 11-9-21 Idaho public health officials confirm first COVID-19 child death The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) and Southwest District Health (SWDH) have confirmed the first death of an Idaho child due to COVID-19. See the report... 11-5-21 Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 doses likely available next week in Idaho The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 Pediatric Vaccine for children ages 5-11. See the article... 11-5-21 Idaho will sue Biden Administration over OSHA vaccine mandate BOISE - The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration released an Emergency Temporary Standard Friday, a new rule requiring private employers with 100 or more employees to require vaccination or testing and masking for its employees. See the article... 11-3-21 COVID case counts similar to previous two week period COVID-19 case numbers are similar during the last few weeks, Oct. 15-Nov. 1, compared to the previous period, Oct. 4 to Oct. 15 in both Clearwater County and Public Health District 2 (Clearwater, Lewis, Idaho, Latah and Nez Perce counties). See the report... 11-3-21 Petersen reflects on'Enemy of the People' In 1882, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen published his play "An Enemy of the People". See the column and photo... 10-28-21 COVID-19 Booster Shots Widely Available in North Central Idaho LEWISTON - Residents will have greater opportunity to get a COVID-19 booster dose after a decision from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week allowing Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters, in addition to those made by Pfizer. See the info... 10-27-21 Katzman gives a few thoughts on staying safe, healthy We have all had a difficult 20-plus months. Few of us expected to see a crisis like this in our lifetimes, not just as healthcare providers, but as people living in this world. See the column and photo... 10-22-21 Booster doses of Moderna, Johnson & Johnson vaccines now available for some Idaho Department of Health and Welfare supports authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to administer booster doses of the of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. See the article... 10-15-21 COVID case numbers down from previous period COVID-19 case numbers are down during the last few weeks, Oct. 4-15, compared to the previous period, Sept. 15 to Oct. 1 in both Clearwater County and Public Health District 2 (Clearwater, Lewis, Idaho, Latah and Nez Perce counties). See the report... 10-1-21 Hope for the future, prepare for the present This past week I attended the American Academy of Family Physician's annual conference. See the article and photo... 10-1-21 Positive COVID-19 cases continue in county, district There have been 73 positive COVID-19 cases in Clearwater County between Sept. 15 and Oct. 1, 35 female and 38 male. See the info... 9-30-21 Monoclonal antibody treatments save lives, reduce hospitalizations; but not meant as alternative to vaccine COEUR D'ALENE - Governor Brad Little toured a state-sponsored monoclonal antibody treatment facility in Coeur d'Alene Thursday to highlight the effectiveness of the treatments in saving lives and reducing hospitalizations, but cautioned they are not meant as an alternative to receiving the safe COVID-19 vaccine. See the article... 9-25-21 COVID-19 Pfizer booster vaccine for specific groups to begin in region Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. See the article... 9-24-21 Booster doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine now available for some people Idaho Department of Health and Welfare supports the authorization of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to administer booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to certain people. Booster doses are available now for those individuals. See the article... 9-23-21 Idaho directs more aid to hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Idaho will direct an additional $10 million in relief dollars to address the growing needs in Idaho hospitals, primary and urgent care clinics, and skilled nursing facilities due to the recent surge in COVID-19 patients needing care. See the article... 9-22-21 'Thinking Rock' provides a place to formulate COVID article I formulated my thoughts for this article while sitting on my favorite thinking rock. Everyone should have a thinking rock. See the column and photo... 9-17-21 IDHW releases statement regarding COVID-19 boosters Idaho Department of Health and Welfare released the following statement regarding Friday's meeting of the Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. See the info... 9-16-21 Idaho expands Crisis Standards of Care statewide due to surge in COVID-19 patients The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has activated Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) in accordance with IDAPA 16.02.09 - Crisis Standards of Care For Healthcare Entities. See the info... 9-15-21 COVID-19 cases in Clearwater County, North Central Health District continue upward COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb in Clearwater County and Public Health-Idaho North Central District, according to statistics released by PH-INCD on their website: https://www.idahopublichealth.com/. See the info... 9-15-21 'I just recovered from COVID-19, Should I get vaccinated?' At Clearwater Valley Health, we have set up a walk-in clinic to help patients get tested and treated for COVID-19. See the column and photo... 9-9-21 COVID-19 cases in Clearwater County, North Central Health District continue to climb COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb in Clearwater County and Public Health-Idaho North Central District, according to statistics released by PH-INCD on their website. See the info... 9-8-21 Orofino Elementary School closure due too increasing COVID-19 cases extended Orofino Elementary School Principal Denise Pomponio issued the following letter concerning the extended closure of the school due to increasing COVID-19 cases. See the letter... Breaking news (9-7-21, 8 p.m.) Breaking news (9-7-21, 4:45 p.m.) Breaking news (9-7-21, 4:45 p.m.) Some COVID-19 questions going unanswered Idaho County Commissioner Skip Brandt writes about the need for more answers to COVID questions. See the Letter ot the Editor.... 9-1-21 Are we going to attempt to mitigate the increasing risks of COVID? What do the following all have in common: seat belts, traffic lights, speed limits, speed bumps, water treatment plants, sewers, public dumps, vaccinations, masking? See the column and photo... 9-1-21 DHW announces COVID-19 funding for hospitals, free-standing primary/urgent care clinics Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is announcing that hospitals and free-standing primary and urgent care clinics in Idaho can start applying immediately for funding made available by Governor Brad Little last week to address the dire situation in the state caused by COVID-19. See the article... 8-31-21 Little activates National Guard, directs hundreds of new medical personnel to help hospitals BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Tuesday a last-ditch effort to avoid the first-ever activation of statewide crisis standards of care by adding hundreds of new medical personnel for Idaho hospitals, but he said the real solution to the crisis is more Idahoans choosing to receive the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. See the article... 8-30-21 New COVID-19 case numbers continue to spike in Clearwater County, health district New COVID-19 case numbers are continuing to spike in Clearwater County and Public Health-Idaho North Central District, according to data posted Monday. See the report... 8-28-21 Delta variant identified from specimens of Lewis, Idaho county residents LEWISTON - Public Health - Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) is reporting that COVID-19 genetic sequencing of specimens collected from Lewis and Idaho county residents have been confirmed to be COVID-19 Delta variant. See the article... 8-27-21 Pfizer vaccine walk-in clinic Monday for immunocompromised individuals LEWISTON- Public Health - Idaho North Central District is having a walk-in clinic Monday, Aug., 30, for individuals who wish to receive the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19. See the info... 8-27-21 Little launches COVID-19 antibody treatment centers, directs funds to increase hospital capacity BOISE- As Idaho hospitals continue to be overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients, limiting healthcare access for everyone, Governor Brad Little announced Thursday he is taking additional steps to assist Idahoans and relieve the growing burden on our healthcare system. See the article... 8-25-21 Covid-19 Delta Variant overwhelms regional healthcare infrastructure; We need your help to avert disaster Over the past 18 months, my colleagues and I have written over 70 articles in this publication to help inform our community about the Covid pandemic. Today, given the impact of the current surge of the Delta variant, I am pleading for your help. See the column... 8-24-21 COVID-19 cases continue to spike up in Clearwater County, North Central Idaho COVID-19 cases in Clearwater County and North Central Idaho continue to spike up the three weeks since Aug. 2. See the report... 8-16-21 COVID-19 case numbers climbing in Clearwater County, North Central Idaho COVID-19 case numbers are climbing again in Clearwater County and North Central Idaho, both confirmed and probable cases, according to statistics on Public Health-Idaho North Central District's website. See the info... 8-12-21 Idahoans urged to receive COVID-19 vaccine now as students head back to school BOISE - Governor Brad Little held a press conference Thursday at Nampa High School to highlight facts about unvaccinated Idahoans getting sick, strain occurring in hospitals, and to urge Idahoans on the fence about receiving the vaccine to get the shot now to protect students' ability to learn in their classrooms this school year. See the article... 8-11-21 Regional healthcare capacity at dangerous level Usually, when a critically ill patient requires special intensive care services not available at our local hospital, it takes one or possibly two calls to regional hospitals to get the patient transferred for the needed care. Recently, North Idaho and inland northwest hospitals have stretched beyond capacity with high-volume cases and surging COVID-19 infections. See the column... 8-4-21 COVID-19 cases spiking up in county, region The journey continues... One day a philosophy professor brought out a mason jar full of large stones and showed it to his class. See the column... 6-15-21 Free, at-home COVID-19 tests are available in Idaho by dialing 2-1-1 Anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms is encouraged to get tested, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) is offering free at-home COVID-19 tests to Idaho residents. See the article... 5-25-21 Clearwater County has another COVID-19 death Clearwater County has had another COVID-19 death, a woman in her 70s, according to statistics posted by Idaho Public Health-North Central District. See the info... 5-19-21 Pfizer vaccine soon to be available for youth at Nimiipuu Health LAPWAI - Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) has been working diligently to vaccinate patients since the vaccine became available. See the article... 5-13-21 CDC updates guidance for people fully vaccinated for COVID Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Thursday updated their guidance for those who are fully vaccinated. See the article... 5-12-21 Sholar suggests activities for another pandemic summer As we are approaching the second summer of this pandemic I am reminded of all the reasons we moved to Idaho, and probably the reasons you live here too, there is so much to do that is naturally physically distanced and outdoors. See the column and photo... 5-12-21 Idaho children ages 12-15 now eligible to receive Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) is announcing that all Idaho children ages 12-15 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. See the article... 5-11-21 Continuing to thrive, state moves to Stage 4 in Idaho Rebounds Plan Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW), in coordination with Gov. Brad Little, announced Tuesday that Idaho continues to thrive during the pandemic and is moving from Stage 3 to Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds Plan. See the article... 4-28-21 Many people suffering from long COVID The lack of return to usual state of health after having COVID-19 is something that many people that have had this disease suffer. See the article and photo... 4-14-21 CVHC: Our second COVID spring; visitor policy changes for OB patients As the tulips are blooming and small green leaf buds are on the trees, we see new life all around us. Soon, we will also see small spotted fawns in town and neighboring woods, as well as ducklings and goslings at the ponds. CVH has started to feel the excitement of new birth with our own spring baby boom! See the article and photo... 4-14-21 IDHW recommends Idaho providers follow FDA and CDC guidance on J&J vaccine Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) is recommending that Idaho vaccine providers not use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until more information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). See the article... 4-7-21 What is the COVID Arm? Wow! I am so proud of this community! We have already vaccinated 3,432 people here in the Clearwater Valley region. Thank you all for doing your part to keep our community safe! See the article and photo... 4-7-21 Governor Little bans 'vaccine passports' in Idaho BOISE - Governor Brad Little signed an executive order Wednesday banning any State of Idaho governmental entity from requiring so-called "vaccine passports" - or proof of COVID-19 vaccination for citizens to receive public services or access facilities. See the article... 4-6-21 Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine available at Lewiston clinic on April 9 LEWISTON -Appointments are now available for individuals seeking to get the single dose Jansen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine on Friday, ,April 9, at Public Health in Lewiston. See the article... 4-6-21 Health and Welfare provides COVID-19 Q&A on breakthrough cases, variants Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in their blog April 6 provided answers to question about the breakthrough cases of COVID-19 after vaccinations, as well as the variants of concern. See the info... 4-1-21 FEMA to help pay funeral costs for COVID-19-related deaths BOISE - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently announced that they will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. See the article... 3-31-21 Nez Perce Tribe proceeding to Stage 4 in pandemic response LAPWAI- Beginning April 1 the Nez Perce Tribe (Tribe) will change its COVID-19 response to correspond with Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds guidelines. See the article... 'Here Comes the Sun' Effective immediately, Public Health and enrolled providers vaccinating anyone aged 16, older LEWISTON -Individuals who are 16 years of age and older are now eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccine through enrolled providers within Clearwater, Latah, Nez Perce, Lewis, and Idaho counties. See the article... 3-24-21 What should I do after the COVID vaccine? The short answer - continue social distancing, wearing masks in public spaces, and avoiding being around other people if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection. See the article and photo... 3-19-21 Effective now, Public Health, enrolled providers scheduling people aged 35+ LEWISTON-Public Health and enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers will start scheduling vaccination appointments for anyone aged 35 and older effective immediately. See the article... 3-11-21 Cheating COVID takes commitment For those of you who are not familiar with the tale of Sisyphus, it is a Greek myth of a king who cheated death; not once, but twice, in his life. See the column and photo... 3-11-21 Governor Little reflects one year of Idaho's pandemic fight BOISE - Governor Brad Little issued a message to the people of Idaho Tuesday, reflecting on one year of Idaho's pandemic fight. See the reflections... 3-9-21 Effective immediately Public Health, enrolled vaccine providers now scheduling those 55-64 LEWISTON-Public Health and enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers continue to urge those aged 65 and older to schedule their vaccine appointments. See the article... 3-8-21 COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee sends recommendations to Governor Little The Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (CVAC) will send recommendations for prioritizing Group 3 plus one clarification on Group 2 to Governor Brad Little after its regular meeting Friday. See the article... 3-6-21 Idaho launches COVID-19 vaccine appointment pre-registration system BOISE - Under Governor Brad Little's direction, the State of Idaho created a new COVID-19 vaccine appointment pre-registration solution to help alleviate the frustration of many Idahoans in trying to make an appointment to get the vaccine. See the article... 3-4-21 Public Health, enrolled vaccine providers now scheduling eligible frontline workers LEWISTON-Public Health and enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers continue to urge those aged 65 and older to schedule their vaccine appointments. See the info... 3-3-21 Idaho providing race, ethnicity data on vaccine data dashboard Race and ethnicity data is now available starting on the COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboard, which is available at coronavirus.idaho.gov. See the article... 3-2-21 Public Health to move to Phase 2.3 March 15 LEWISTON-Public Health-Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) is urging people aged 65 and older who have not yet received their COVID-19 vaccination to call Public Health at 208-799-3100to schedule an appointment while vaccine is still designated for this group. See the article... 3-2-21 Governor's Emergency Declaration secures millions in funding for vaccination effort BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Tuesday the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $39 million to the Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM) to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts throughout the state. See the article... 2-23-21 First infection with UK coronavirus variant in Idaho confirmed The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) and Central District Health (CDH) have confirmed the first known infection with the UK (B.1.1.7) variant of the virus that causes COVID-19. See the report... 2-23-21 COVID-19 vaccines available for those aged 65 and older LEWISTON-Public Health -Idaho North Central District is asking people aged 65 and older who have not yet received their COVID-19 vaccination to call Public Health at 208-799-3100. See the article... 2-23-21 State to require proof of residency or work in Idaho for vaccine appointments Given the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine that is available at this time and Idaho's commitment to equitable and fair access to vaccine, the state of Idaho is now requiring that those seeking COVID-19 vaccines in the state should either live or work in Idaho. See the article... 2-19-21 COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee sends recommendations to governor The Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (CVAC) sent recommendations for several additional clarifications to Group 2 and the results of a preliminary vote on the approach the committee would use to prioritize Group 3 to Gov. Brad Little after its regular meeting Friday. See the article... 2-19-21 First confirmed infection with coronavirus variant in southwest Idaho The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) and Southwest District Health have confirmed the first known infection with a known variant of concern of the virus that causes COVID-19 in an adult male living in southwest Idaho. See the report... 2-16-21 Maintaining emotional health important with stresses all around This last year has been stressful. We have had a pandemic. We have had a very stormy and even violent political period. See the article and photo... 2-12-21 Nimiipuu Health conducts mass COVID-19 vaccination event at Casino Event Center LAPWAI- Friday, Nimiipuu Health administered 211 first-dose, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccinations to individuals with the assistance of the Idaho National Guard. See the info... 2-10-21 Nothing lasts forever When I was in my mid 20's I had my first bout with low back pain. See the column and photo... 2-9-21 New COVID-19 vaccine administration transparency data now live BOISE - New COVID-19 vaccine administration transparency data that the Governor promised Idahoans in his Jan. 28 executive order is now live. See the article... 2-9-21 Breastfeeding mothers produce COVID-19 antibodies capable of neutralizing virus MOSCOW - Breastfeeding women with COVID-19 do not pass along the SARS-CoV-2 virus in their milk but do transfer milk-borne antibodies that are able to neutralize the virus, a multi-institutional team of researchers led by the University of Idaho reported. See the report... 2-6-21 COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee sends priority group clarifications to Gov. Little The Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (CVAC) voted on a new round of clarifications to Groups 1 and 2 of Idaho's COVID-19 vaccine rollout at its meeting Friday afternoon. The recommendations are preliminary and subject to approval, rejection, or modification by Gov. Brad Little, which is expected to happen early next week. See the article... 2-3-21 Telehealth an opportunity for advancement from the pandemic Given that we are entering the second year of the pandemic, I was pondering topics to discuss and felt a bit like a broken record. See the article and photo... Breaking news (2-2-21) Clearwater County loses two more residents to COVID-19 During the last week, Clearwater County has lost two more residents to the COVID-19 virus; both were men, one in their 70s and one in their 80s. See the info... 1-30-21 Public Health prepares for vaccine rollout to people over the age of 65 LEWISTON-Per Governor Brad Little's vaccine prioritization Idaho is continuing to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine across the state to first responders, K-12 teachers and staff, and others in the first phase of vaccinations. See the article... 1-29-21 New online tool helps Idahoans learn when, where to receive COVID-19 vaccine BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Friday the State of Idaho launched a new COVID-19 vaccination information web page to help Idahoans more easily find information on when and where to get vaccinated and what to expect when they get to their appointment. See the article... 1-28-21 Little signs executive order to speed up safe vaccine rollout, promote transparency BOISE - Governor Brad Little signed a new executive order Thursday requiring local public health districts and healthcare providers to regularly report the number of vaccine doses they have been allocated, how many shots they have given, and how many doses they have in inventory, to ensure vaccine is getting out in a timely fashion. See the article... 1-26-21 Wallace: 'It's the Small Things' I am sitting at the lodge at Bald Mountain watching my 9-year-old take her first skiing lesson. See the column and photo... 1-26-21 Adjustment made to school athletics event plan A change has been added to the updated attendance plan for school winter sports in Idaho. See the article... 1-23-21 Vaccine Advisory Committee clarifies priority groups for COVID-19 vaccine The Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (CVAC) on Jan. 22 voted on four clarifications to Groups 1 and 2 of Idaho's COVID-19 vaccine rollout. See the article... 1-22-21 Superintendent gives video update on school operations Friday, Dr. Michael C. Garrett, Superintendent of Joint School District #171, provided a video update of school operations. See the video... 1-22-21 Updated athletics plan allows more spectators at school athletic events An updated plan for school winter sports enables Idaho school districts and charter schools to allow up to 40 percent capacity in school gymnasiums for games and matches, or up to four spectators per student participant, whichever is larger, if physical distancing requirements can be maintained or if masks are worn. See the article... 1-20-21 High school athletic plan to include more spectators at sporting events BOISE - Following a weeks-long decrease in statewide COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Governor Brad Little announced Wednesday that he is instructing the State Board of Education to revise its high school athletic plan to allow more spectators at sporting events. See the article... 1-18-21 Exit ramp from a pandemic: COVID vaccines to soon be available to more Idahoans As of Jan. 17, 2021, COVID-19 has taken 397,000 American lives in just around 10 months. See the article and photo... 1-18-21 Gov. Little accelerates COVID-19 vaccine administration across Idaho BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Tuesday he will seek to increase the number of available Idaho National Guard personnel from 250 to 400 guardsmen later this week to aid in Idaho's pandemic response. See the article... 1-18-21 Clearwater County has two additional COVID-19 deaths Clearwater County had two additional deaths last week, one a man in his 80 and the other a woman in her 60s, both had been positive in December, according to information on the Public Health-Idaho North Central District website. See the report... 1-16-21 Idaho taxpayers warned about new wave of COVID-19 scams DENVER, CO - The Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) is warning Idaho taxpayers about a new wave of COVID-19-related scams as the agency delivers the second round of Economic Impact Payments. See the article... 1-14-21 IDHW expects 2-5 percent increase in weekly COVID-19 vaccine doses Idaho Department of Health and Welfare learned Friday that Idaho will not see a large increase in COVID-19 vaccine doses from the previously announced release of second doses. See the article... 1-14-21 COVID-19 vaccine continues to be distributed in North Central Idaho LEWISTON-Public Health -Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD )and enrolled vaccine providers in Clearwater, Latah, Lewis, Idaho, and Nez Perce counties continue to work closely on coordination of weekly vaccine allocations and future vaccine distribution. See the article... 1-13-21 Vaccine roll-out plan as outlined by Governor Brad Little Several patients have reached out to me requesting the COVID-19 vaccine. See the article and photo... 1-12-21 Gov. Little updates Idahoans on COVID-19 vaccine rollout BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Tuesday four key updates on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across Idaho. See the info... 1-9-21 Public Health to provide COVID-19 sign-up for Phase 1 Healthcare workers vaccination LEWISTON--Healthcare personnel identified in the Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (CVAC) prioritization list can now sign up to be notified when the COVID-19 vaccine is available to them. See the article... 1-8-21 151 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Clearwater County Idaho Department of Health and Welfare began posting information about the number of people in Idaho that have receive vaccinations for COVID-19, with Clearwater County at 151. See the info... 1-7-21 Joint School District #171 Trustees adopt state sports guidelines With some additions, trustees of Joint School District #171 in a special meeting Wednesday adopted the guidelines of High School Athletic Plan for Governor's Orders on Gatherings and Spectators as published by the Idaho High School Activities Association (IHSAA). See the article... 1-6-21 Clearwater Memorial Public Library opening to all ages of patrons Monday Clearwater Memorial Public Library will be opening to all ages of patrons on Monday, Jan. 11. See the article... 1-5-21 This is our shot The release of two vaccines against SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19 infection and illness, has been a bright spot in the world's path to recovery from this pandemic. See the article and photo... 12-31-20 Gov. Little launches weekly press briefings on COVID-19 vaccine BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Wednesday he is directing the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) to carry out weekly virtual press briefings regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. See the article... 12-30-20 Healthcare workers, residents of long-term care facilities receiving COVID-19 vaccine Idaho is in full swing getting vaccines out to Idahoans. See the report... 12-22-20 COVID-19 stats for long-term care facilities posted on Thursdays due to holidays. Due to the holidays, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare posted the statistics for long-term care facilities Thursday and they will also be posted this Thursday prior to the New Year holiday. See the report... 12-22-20 Make the most of the holidays in 2020 Every year the holidays come regardless if we're ready for it or not. See the article and photo... 12-22-20 Two severe allergic reactions reported after COVID-19 vaccination in Idaho The Idaho Division of Public Health has received reports of two healthcare workers experiencing severe allergic reactions, also referred to as serious adverse events, after they received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The events happened in northern Idaho and the Treasure Valley. See the article... 12-18-20 Health care workers at Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics start receiving COVID-19 vaccine Health care workers at Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics started receiving COVID-19 vaccine Friday, Dec. 18, according to their Facebook post which includes photos of several people getting the first of two doses of this new vaccine. See the report... 12-18-20 Clearwater County records two more COVID-19 related deaths Clearwater County recorded two more deaths during the last week as the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 744. See the report... 12-17-20 Gov. Little issues proclamation for Health Care Worker Appreciation Month in Idaho BOISE - Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation Wednesday naming December Health Care Worker Appreciation Month in Idaho. See the article... 12-15-20 Vaccine distribution in North Central Idaho in preparation stage LEWISTON-Public Health -Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) is preparing for the region's first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to arrive in the next few days. See the article... 12-14-20 Clearwater County COVID-19 rate at 27.2 percent Our current positivity rate over the past 30 days is 27.2 percent. See the article and photo... 12-12-20 Gov. Little increases Idaho National Guard response to battle COVID-19 BOISE - Governor Brad Little authorized an increase in Idaho National Guard support from 100 to up to 250 personnel serving on active duty in an effort to enhance medical capacity and COVID-19 response throughout Idaho. See the article... 12-12-20 The enemy is the virus, not each other Governor Brad Little writes about working together against the virus. See the guest opinion... 12-12-20 Idaho is at a croosroads, with human lives at stake Legistors write about their concerns with the virus spiking and its impacts. See the Letter to the Editor... 12-11-20 Virus impacting residents, staff at local retirement, long term care centers COVID-19 may have been slow to come to Clearwater County, but it now seems to be impacting people all over, including in retirement and long-term care facilities such as Brookside Landing and Clearwater Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia. See the article... 12-11-20 First doses of COVID-19 vaccine could be in North Central Idaho next week With the Food and Drug Administration approval for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine and it is expected that 975 doses will arrive in North Central Idaho as early as next week, according to Tara Macke, Public Health-Idaho North Central Idaho. See the article... 12-11-20 Board approves resolution directing compliance with 'Stay Healthy' order The Idaho State Board of Education Thursday unanimously approved a resolution directing school districts and charter schools to comply with Governor Brad Little's modified Stage 2 Stay Healthy Order issued last month. See the article... 12-11-20 Board of Health and Welfare adopts rule for timely activation of crisis standards of care At an emergency board meeting Friday, the Board of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare approved a temporary administrative rule that allows for the timely activation of crisis standards of care during a pandemic, natural disaster. or other emergency that is overwhelming Idaho's healthcare system. See the article... 12-11-20 Little explains Crisis Standards of Care, highlights steps to address hospital constraints BOISE - Governor Brad Little explained Friday that Idahoans can expect diminished healthcare access if the State of Idaho must activate the Crisis Standards of Care, and he outlined many of the actions the state has taken to address the constraints facing hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the article... 12-10-20 COVID-19 situation at Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino updated Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino is among the facilities in the area to be impacted by COVID-19 in the last few weeks. See the report... 12-10-20 COVID-19 now the leading cause of death in Idaho BOISE -- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has announced that COVID-19 is the leading cause of death in Idaho for November, based on preliminary data collected from death certificates. See the article... Breaking news (12-9-20, 5 p.m.) Guidance revised for quarantine after exposure to COVID-19 LEWISTON - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) have provided options to reduce the quarantine period for asymptomatic close contacts of COVID-19 cases. See the article... 12-8-20 Little says Idahoans must choose to keep others safe, protect Idaho's strong economic trend BOISE - November was the best month yet for state revenue figures in the new fiscal year, and Governor Brad Little said Idahoans must choose to do a better job to slow the spread of COVID-19 if the state is going to continue the strong economic rebound during the pandemic. See the article... 12-8-20 Board of Health and Welfare to meet Friday to vote on rule for crisis standards of care Idaho Board of Health and Welfare will meet via WebEx and in Boise at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, to review and vote on an administrative rule for crisis standards of care. See the info... 12-8-20 Incarcerated man who tested positive for COVID-19 dies at Boise hospital BOISE - A 63-year-old Idaho State Correctional Institution resident who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at a Boise hospital. See the report... 12-7-20 Grateful and Grieving I am grateful for my coworkers at Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics. See the article and photo... Breaking news (12-6-20, 7 p.m.) Keeping yourself and others healthy during a pandemic As a family physician, I feel that a good portion of my role is to provide preventative care for both individuals and our community. See the article and photo... 11-27-20 McGeachin offers message of strength, encouragementIdaho Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin writes about what she feels should happen in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic instead closures and mandates. See the guest opinion.... 11-24-20 ICIO has majority of positive COVID-19 cases reported Monday for Clearwater County Clearwater County's positive COVID-19 cases went up 106 on Monday and the biggest percentage of those at Idaho Correctional Institution Orofino. See the article... 11-24-20 Idaho's COVID-19 data dashboard will not be updated on Thanksgiving Day The Department of Health and Welfare staff will update the COVID-19 dashboard case data daily this week, except for Thursday. The counts from Thursday will be included in the Friday update. See the info... 11-23-20 COVID careens out of control in Clearwater County The Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated nationally and locally in the past three weeks. See the article... 11-23-20 Clearwater County COVID-19 case numbers move it into Idaho Hotspots Clearwater County's COVID19 case numbers during the last week have moved it into the Hotspots in Idaho. See the info... 11-21-20 Annual Patchwork Bazaar 2020 cancelled Orofino's annual Patchwork Bazaar 2020, sponsored by American Association University Women has been cancelled due to concerns and restrictions from COVID-19. See the info... 11-20-20 Orofino's Christmas Festival will be different this year, but the lights will sparkle Orofino's Christmas Festival is different this year with COVID-19 protocols being back in Stage 2, but the city park will still sparkle welcoming in the season. See the article... 11-20-20 CVHC makes urgent updates to their visitor policy Given the current prevalence of COVID-19 in the community, St. Mary's and Clearwater Valley hospitals and clinics are very concerned with limiting exposure to both their patients and staff. See the article... 11-20-20 Idaho Education Leaders make statement regarding pandemic Idaho Education Leaders write about the importance of working together manage the virus and keep students in school. See the Letter to the Editor... 11-18-20 Pierce Holiday Bazaar cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions Pierce's annual Holiday Bazaar has been cancelled in 2020 due to the latest restrictions on gatherings due to COVID-19. See the article... 11-17-20 School trustees vote for district-wide masking for staff, students After reviewing information about the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the area and the comparison of the number of cases in schools that had masking and those that were not, the trustees voted unanimously to have universal masking, at least until their regular meeting in January. See the report.. 11-16-20 Positive COVID-10 cases skyrocket in Clearwater County Positive COVID-19 cases skyrocketed in Clearwater County Monday with 62 new confirmed cases being reported since last Friday, according to the website for Public Health-Idaho North Central District. See the info... 11-14-20 School district looking at impacts to activities with return to Stage 2 As many of you know the Governor put the entire state back into Phase 2 Friday. This means that gatherings of 10 or more are prohibited and those gatherings of 10 or less have to be distanced and/or masked. See the article... 11-14-20 Health District now reporting COVID-19 cases by zip code Public Health-Idaho North Central District added a new reporting feature to their web site that shows a break down of COVID-19 cases, by zip code. See the info... 11-14-20 Community holiday dinners cancelled; food banks open Community Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners usually held in St. Theresa's Catholic Church Little Flower Room are cancelled this year due to concerns about coronavirus exposure with large numbers of people. See the article... 11-14-20 Pierce Gem Team cancels Festival of Trees for 2020 Pierce Gem Team has cancelled the annual Festival of Trees for 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. See the article... 11-13-20 Little calls on National Guard to help in pandemic as Idaho rolls back to modified Stage 2 BOISE - Governor Brad Little signed an executive order Friday mobilizing the Idaho National Guard to help the pandemic response in new ways, and he signed a new statewide public health order rolling Idaho back into a modified Stage 2 of the plan. See the article... 11-13-20 Rep. Wintrow reacts to Governor Little Idaho COVID-19 management Rep. Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise), a member of the Governor's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee writes concerning her reaction to Governor Little's management of COVID-19. See the guest opinion... 11-12-20 Election is over; COVID-19 is atill here The election is over. So, there will be a somewhat different political climate, as there is after each national episode of voting. See the article and photo... 11-10-20 Little: 'It's our turn to protect veterans from a new enemy - COVID-19' Governor Brad Little writes about how America's veterans have gone to war for centuries to protect us and now they need protected from COVID-19. See the guest opinion.... 11-10-20 Positive COVID-19 cases multiplying quickly in North Central Idaho I'm not usually a numbers person since words are my forte, but watching the spikes and surges of COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks is getting really concerning and I wanted to share some of those statistics. See the report... 11-10-20 Coronaviruses hijack lysosomes to exit cells COVID-19 cases are surging worldwide. With U.S. deaths nearing 225,000, scientists are working to better understand how the virus that causes the disease infects cells and spreads through the body. Check our Health Talk column sponsored by Brookside Landing and Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics. See the column.... 11-9-20 COVID-19 case surges overwhelm Public Health LEWISTON -- Public Health-Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) warns case surges in the last month have created backlogs and delays for their disease investigation teams, making it impossible to contact all new reported cases or those individual's close contacts. See the info... 11-5-20 Incarcerated man who tested positive for COVID-19 dies at Boise hospital A 53-year-old incarcerated man who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at a Boise hospital. See the report... 11-3-20 Have you Heard? Let's Talk About Herd Immunity Happy November! I hope you have all had your flu shots and are feeling well! See the article and photo... 10-30-20 'Respect everyone, Fear no one' Ackerman advises As a former college basketball coach, I sometimes like to approach issues from a sports strategy perspective. See the article... 10-28-20 IDHW announces $2,500,000 in funding to assist laboratories for COVID-19 testing To assist with the response to the current pandemic, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced Wednesday a new funding opportunity to help Idaho laboratories establish or increase capacity for community COVID-19 testing in Idaho. See the article... 10-27-20 Final report confirms remdesivir benefits for COVID-19 The antiviral remdesivir shortened recovery time for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, based on results from the completed trial. Check our Health Talk column sponsored by Brookside Landing and Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics. See the column.... 10-26-20 Nightforce Optics donates masks for all school district students, staff Thank you to Nightforce Optics for their generous contribution and partnership! We appreciate you purchasing masks for every student and employee!! Wow! What a great supporter! See the info and video... 10-26-20 Idaho moves back to Stage 3 amid healthcare capacity constraints statewide BOISE - Governor Brad Little signed a statewide public health order Monday moving Idaho back into a modified Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebounds plan as healthcare facilities throughout the state face alarming demand and capacity constraints due to increasing COVID-19 spread. See the article... Breaking news (10-25-20, 6 p.m.) COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee sets first meeting Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little announced the membership of the Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee, which held its first meeting Friday. See the article... 10-22-20 DHW partners with Get Tested COVID-19 to help Idahoans find testing sites The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is partnering with Get Tested COVID-19 to maintain an active, accurate database for designated COVID-19 testing centers in Idaho. See the article... 10-21-20 COVID-19: Possible treatments being developed As cases of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Idaho pass 50,000 and deaths in the United States approach a quarter of a million, the search for useful treatments for this infection continues. See the article and photo... 10-21-20 Idaho payroll jobs closest to pre-pandemic levels U.S. seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment was 7.6 percent lower in August than February. See the report... 10-20-20 Incarcerated man diagnosed with COVID-19 dies at Arizona hospital A man incarcerated under the jurisdiction of the Idaho Department of Correction has died after being hospitalized with COVID-19, they announced Monday. See the article... 10-19-20 Another Covid-19 surprise shows up Coronavirus continues to throw surprises at North Central Idaho, according to Kathryn Tacke, Regional Economist Idaho Department of Labor. See the analysis... 10-16-20 State Board to consider contract for 'Strong Families, Strong Students' program The Idaho State Board of Education will hold a virtual special board meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time) to consider a contract with ClassWallet a Florida-based financial technology company, to administer Idaho's 'Strong Families, Strong Students' program. See the article... 10-16-20 Governor Little urges personal responsibility to slow COVID-19 spread BOISE - As COVID-19 cases increase in communities across Idaho, Governor Brad Little urged Idahoans to ramp up personal actions to slow the spread of the virus to protect lives and economic prosperity. See the article... 10-15-20 Why I Wear a Mask: Part 2 I was lucky that my first week in town three years ago just happened to be during Lumberjack Days. See the article and photo... 10-13-20 Idaho County Sheriff's Office notified that inmate positive COVID-19 The Idaho County Sheriff's Office has been notified that a currently incarcerated inmate has tested positive for COVID-19. See the info... 10-10-20 Idaho on track for historic state budget surplus, Little cautions Idahoans about COVID BOISE - A strong and open economy, Idahoans' preventive actions against COVID-19, and other steps have positioned Idaho to potentially achieve the largest state budget surplus in Idaho history, but Governor Brad Little warned Idahoans to ramp up personal actions to prevent virus spread in order to protect lives, keep schools open, and continue our economic momentum. See the article... 10-9-20 My fellow 6Cers: Clayne Tyler writes from the hospital parking lot in Coeur d'Alane. See his Letter to the Editor... 10-7-20 COVID-19 testing, positive cases have increased over last few weeks Testing and positive number of cases of COVID-19 have risen in the last several weeks in our community. See the article and photo... 10-6-20 School Board meets in special session to discuss COVID-19 safety plans Joint School District #171's trustees held a special session Monday to update information and vote on procedures concerning COVID-19. See the info... 10-3-20 Clearwater County COVID-19 cases jump 10 on Friday On Friday, the number of cases of COVID-19 in Clearwater County jumped by 10 to 63, the largest number of confirmed cases reported in one day in the county, See the article... 10-3-20 Superintendent releases another video about school district situation Joint School District #171 approaches the end of one week and starts into another with online teaching at Orofino Junior Senior High School and required masks at Orofino Elementary School, other schools in the district have highly recommended masks as their guideline. Listen to the video... 10-3-20 Higher education benefits from major financial support during pandemic BOISE - The Governor's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) voted Friday to direct another $6 million in federal relief funds to higher education in Idaho, bringing the total financial support from federal COVID funds for the public institutions this year to $54.4 million. See the article... 10-1-20 COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning underway in Idaho BOISE- Governor Brad Little and public health officials Thursday outlined the steps Idaho is taking to work with the federal government on distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. See the article... Breaking News (10-1-20, 11:30 p.m.) Breaking News (9-29-20, 4 p.m.) A Tale of Two Viruses This fall and winter we will face a viral enemy that has the ability to kill tens of thousands of Americans in a short period of time. See the article and photo... 9-22-20 NICI releases information on COVID-19 outbreak Those following the Idaho Public Health-North Central District's information on their website would have noticed that there were 91 new cases of COVID-19 in Idaho County Monday. See the info... 9-18-20 Superintendent releases another video about school district situation Dr. Michael C. Garrett, Superintendent Joint School District #171, released the following video concerning the situation in the district. See the info and video... 9-15-20 COVID fatigue wearing on everyone I'm tired, as are all of you. I'm tired of the COVID pandemic. I'm tired of not being able to do all the things I would like to do. (This last week was originally going to be a Canadian wilderness canoe trip for us, but the closed border cancelled that plan.) See the article and photo... 9-12-20 Garrett offers video update on school district status Here is our schools' current status. See the video... 9-12-20 Financial support for K-12 education grows 10.5-percent during pandemic BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Friday Idaho public schools and families will receive even more financial support, making Idaho one of the only states in the country to significantly increase funding for K-12 education during the global pandemic. See the article... 9-10-20 Vaccine is seen as a way to return to 'normal' I am not sure what normal looks like anymore, but I hear a lot of people say "when things go back to normal" or "I want things to go back to normal." Well, me too. See the article... 9-10-20 Wildland firefighters taking extra precautions during pandemic In a year dominated by the global pandemic, fire camps look very different. While COVID-19 spreads, wildfires continue to occur. Incident Management Teams come together to fight fire from varied locations around the region and country. See the article and photo... 9-9-20 School trustees vote to move Orofino schools to 'Yellow Phase' Last (Tuesday) night the board voted to continue the online learning for Orofino Junior/Senior High School through this week. See the report... Breaking news (9-4-20, 12:30 p.m.) Coronavirus can impact mental health 'temperature' My new norm these days is arriving to work and taking my temperature. After reading "Taking Your Mental Health Temperature During COVID-19" by Kathy Katella at Yale University, this really got me to thinking about what the future brings for us, what are our new "norms," and how has this affected mental health? See the article... 8-25-20 Immune cells for common cold may recognize SARS-CoV-2 The virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, is part of a large family of coronaviruses. Coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. However, SARS-CoV-2 can cause serious illness and even death. Why people's COVID-19 symptoms vary so greatly isn't fully understood. Check our Health Talk column sponsored by Brookside Landing and Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics. See the column... 8-24-20 School opening Wednesday with masks 'highly recommended' Students in Joint School District #171 go back to classes Wednesday with masks 'highly recommended', as approved by the district trustees in their meeting Aug. 17. See the info... 8-22-20 COVID-19 cases in North Central Idaho up 29.44 percent in the last week COVID-19 cases in Public Health-Idaho North Central District (District 2) have shot up 29.44 percent in the week from Aug. 14 and Aug. 21. See the info... 8-22-20 Little highlights Idaho Foodbank and partners, announces Idaho will stay in Stage 4 BOISE - Governor Brad Little held a press conference at The Idaho Foodbank in Boise Friday to highlight the importance of supporting food banks and food assistance programs during the pandemic, and to provide Idahoans an update on statewide COVID-19 metrics. See the article... 8-21-20 COVID-19 - A Different Animal "Isn't the coronavirus just another common cold virus?" "I don't think I have risk, so why should I care?" See the article... 8-18-20 Special legislative session to address election, civil liability during the pandemic BOISE - Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation Wednesday outlining the issues to be considered by the Idaho Legislature during a special legislative session convening on Aug. 24. See the article... 8-14-20 Spike in positive COVID-19 cases continues, with cases a rising in Kamiah LAPWAI- Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) is continuing to see a spike in positive COVID-19 cases. See the report... 8-14-20 Idaho's long-term care facilities need more employees Idaho's long-term care community is at a breaking point. Facilities need more employees to care for their residents who are at the greatest risk of COVID-19. See the article... 8-14-20 Many educators, parents have angst over back to school plans Rod Gramer writes about the angst many educators and parents have surrounding whether students should return to the classroom or learn on-line. See the guest opinion... 8-14-20 USDA announces more eligible commodities for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. See the article... 8-13-20 Person working on fire line at the Pumpkin Fire tests positive for COVID-19 IDAHO CITY - As many as 360 people have been assigned to the Pumpkin Fire, with about 270 people on the fire line. See the article... 8-12-20 First case of COVID-19 confirmed in Lewis County LEWISTON--Public Health--Idaho North Central Idaho (PH-INCD) has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Lewis County. See the article... 8-11-20 New COVID-19 crisis counseling hotline offers support to struggling Idahoans As Idahoans identify the many impacts of COVID-19, the need increases for behavioral health support, food security, housing, and other services. See the article... 8-10-20 COVID-19 cases jump in North Central Idaho COVID-19 cases jumped by 22 or 7.59 percent between Friday and Monday, the largest single day jump in this region, according to Public Health-Idaho North Central District statistics. See the article... 8-10-20 School Trustees split over mask issue in school opening plan Trustees of Joint School District #171 split over the issue of mandatory masks in the school opening plan, but three of the five members voted for 'universal face coverings' that could include plastic face shields, both in buildings and on buses. See the article... 8-7-20 Nimiipuu Health records 13 positive COVID-19 cases in one day, more tests pending LAPWAI- Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) has seen a surge in positive COVID-19 cases Friday, Aug. 7. See the article... 8-7-20 Idaho directing millions of dollars to the safe reopening of schools BOISE - Governor Brad Little emphasized once again Thursday the importance of getting Idaho students back into schools for in-person instruction while highlighting the millions of dollars the state has directed to schools for safe reopening. See the article... 7-31-20 Proposed school opening plan outlined There are many things going on with the district but none more on the front burner than the opening plans for our district and schools. See the column... 7-30-20 IDOC inmate diagnosed with COVID-19 dies at Boise hospital BOISE -- With great sadness, the Idaho Department of Correction reports the death of an incarcerated person hospitalized with COVID-19. See the report... 7-27-20 Public Health-Idaho North Central District seeking public input At the July 23, Public Health-Idaho North Central District Board meeting, the Data Tool For Health Alert Levels was reviewed and approved be shared for public comments. See the article... 7-27-20 Headquarters Reunion cancelled for 2020 The Headquarters Reunion Committee announced Monday that they have cancelled annual event for 2020. See the article... 7-24-20 Keep your germs to yourself Anyone who knows me well, knows that personal columns/editorials are not my most comfortable form of writing, so chalk this up as rare, but I feel the topic is that important. See the column... 7-24-20 Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy starts 2020 fall semester with COVID-19 precautions Last week, Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy started the 2020 fall semester with COVID-19 precautions. See the info... 7-24-20 Funds to cover COVID-19 testing for school staff, more supplies to open schools safely BOISE - Governor Brad Little's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee approved an additional $40 million Friday to increase and improve COVID-19 testing in Idaho and an additional $10 million to equip schools with supplies needed to open safely. See the article... Breaking news (7-23-20, 6 p.m.) No Trespassing notices go up around town Those who have been at businesses around Orofino have seen the notices like the one below. See the info and notice... 7-23-20 Governor Little highlights state-local collaboration in COVID-19 response during visits Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little joined public health district directors Thursday during statewide media events to highlight the strong state-local collaboration taking place in Idaho's response to COVID-19. See the article... 7-20-20 Many topics related to COVID-19 considered for doctor's article For this week's article I considered several topics which are all pretty important. See the article and photo... 7-18-20 More North Central Idaho residents returned to work in June North Central Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 9.0 percent in May to 5.6 percent in June as about 2,800 people returned to their jobs as the reopening continued. See the article... 7-17-20 10,000 'Return to Work' bonuses sought during first day of opening BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced that more than 10,000 Idaho Return to Work bonuses were sought for employees by nearly 2,000 Idaho businesses Monday - the first day of the application window opening. See the article... Breaking news (7-16-20) Why I am choosing to wear a mask I have a confession to make. I wore a mask in public outside of work for the first time last week, and I felt ridiculous. See the article and photo... 7-11-20 Reopening our public schools is a top priority The upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic has affected so much in our daily lives, particularly so for our children and grandchildren. See the column... 7-11-20 State Board of Education approves plan for digital campus The Idaho State Board of Education Thursday approved an initial implementation plan to expand online postsecondary education opportunities to Idahoans regardless of where they live. See the article... 7-9-20 Gov. Little pushes for in-person instruction in Idaho schools this fall BOISE - Governor Brad Little and education leaders rolled out the new Idaho Back to School Framework Thursday, providing guidance to local officials in their decisions about the safe reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year. See the article... 7-9-20 North Idaho workers filed high number of new unemployment claims last week The number of North Central Idaho residents filing new unemployment claims rose from 99 in the week ending June 27 to 141 in the week ending July 4. See the analysis... 7-8-20 COVID-19 is here and spreading fast! Take action to protect yourself and others History has shown that there are critical times where the actions of individual citizens have the biggest impact on outcomes for the whole community and country. See the article and photo... 7-8-20 Over 100 COVID-19 tests conducted at Kamiah Nimiipuu Health KAMIAH - COVID-19 testing was conducted at Kamiah Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) on Saturday, July 4 with 101 tests done. See the article and photo... 7-3-20 SDE distributes hand sanitizer, masks for schools across Idaho BOISE - This week the State Department of Education distributed thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer and thousands of masks to school districts in Idaho to help protect vulnerable populations when school resumes. See the article and photo... 7-2-20 Mass COVID-19 testing to occur at Kamiah Nimiipuu Health July 4 KAMIAH- The Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) Kamiah Clinic, 313 3rd St., will be conducting tests for COVID-19 on Saturday, July 4, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. subject to change based on the availability of testing kits. See the article... Breaking News (7-1-20, 11 p.m.) Dr. Johnston gives update on COVID-19 situation Clearwater County had one person last week test positive for active COVID-19 infection. See the article and photo... 6-29-20 COVID-19 data to be updated daily on the website, including Sundays, holidays Idaho Department of Health and Welfare wants to make sure Idahoans have the most current information about cases of COVID-19 in their communities in light of the recent significant increases in case numbers throughout the state. See the article... 6-27-20 Mass COVID-19 testing to occur at Lapwai Nimiipuu Health Monday, June 29 LAPWAI- The Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) Lapwai Clinic (111 Bever Grade) will be conducting tests for COVID-19 on Monday, June 29, beginning at 9 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. subject to change based on the availability of testing kits. See the article... Breaking news (6-26-20, 12:30 p.m.) Idaho extends Stage 4 as COVID-19 response becomes more localized across state BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Thursday Idaho will transition to a regional response to COVID-19, and the state did not meet metrics to move out of the final stage of the Idaho Rebounds plan. See the article... 6-25-20 Decision on 4-H participation during county fair to be made in July According to Clearwater County Extension Educator Bill Warren their plan is to make a decision in July about what form 4-H exhibition of projects and auction will take. See the info... 6-25-20 Masks required at Clearwater River Casino, It'se Ye-Ye Casino LAPWAI - Beginning June 26, the Clearwater River Casino in Lewiston and the It'se Ye-Ye Casino in Kamiah will mandate that all customers wear masks while in the establishment. See the article... 6-24-20 COVID-19 numbers prompt Central District Health to order return to Stage 3 BOISE -Tuesday, Central District Health's (CDH) Director, along with the Board of Health, announced it will implement orders for Ada County to move back to many of the guidelines in Idaho's Stage 3 for COVID-19 response, effective Wednesday, June 24 at 12:01 a.m. See the article... Breaking news (6-23-20, 8 p.m.) Fish and Game hatcheries remain closed to visitors due to COVID-19 Recently, Fish and Game hatcheries have received numerous calls about visitation hours and tours. See the article... 6-20-20 Nez Perce National Historical Park begins to increase recreational access LAPWAI - Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Nez Perce National Historical Park is increasing recreational access. See the article... 6-20-20 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests rescinds all COVID-19 closures The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is happy to let the public know that all developed recreation closures on the forest due to COVID-19 have been rescinded. See the article... 6-19-20 Some North Central Idaho residents returned to work in May Unemployment rates in North Central Idaho fell from 11.3 percent in April to 9.1 percent in May as many people returned to work as the lockdown began ending. See the report... 6-19-20 More details available on Return to Work bonuses BOISE - Additional program details were made available Wednesday on the Idaho Return to Work bonuses, Idaho's approach to counteracting enhanced federal benefits that disincentivize workers returning to jobs. See the article... 6-17-20 New committees to address fall school reopening and the digital divide BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Wednesday the formation of two new committees to create a plan for reopening public schools this fall and a plan to address the "digital divide," a term that describes the inequity between students' access to remote learning across Idaho. See the article... 6-12-20 Idaho narrowly meets criteria to enter final stage of rebound plan BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Thursday, the state narrowly met criteria to enter the final stage of the Idaho Rebounds plan to safely and responsibly open the economy in stages, highlighting the importance of individuals strengthening their personal actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Idaho. See the article... 6-11-20 There are ways to deal with stress, anxiety during uncertain times Times are strange right now, we were so focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, with protests and riots, things have become even more stressful. See the article and photo... 6-11-20 ONE Idaho initiative highlights resilience and ingenuity of Idahoans BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Tuesday the launch of ONE Idaho, an initiative to highlight the resilience and adaptability of Idaho businesses, employees and consumers as the state moves through stages of reopening and rebounding. See the article... 6-9-20 Idahoans enduring great economic loss in the time of coronavirus No event has ever had such a massive, sudden impact on Idaho's economy as the COVID-19 economic crisis. See the article... 6-9-20 Governor Little to offer back-to-work cash bonuses BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Thursday his plan to offer up to $1,500 cash to Idahoans who return to work. See the article... 6-8-20 Antibody testing for COVID-19 explained Antibodies are proteins that our immune system develops when it fights off invaders. See the article and photo... 6-8-20 Idaho leverages federal funds to cover public safety costs, property tax savings BOISE - Governor Brad Little and legislators announced Monday the state is leveraging federal coronavirus relief funds to cover local public safety personnel salaries, and giving cities and counties the opportunity to pass on the savings to property taxpayers. See the article... 6-5-20 IDHW to publish information about COVID-19 at long-term care facilities The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is announcing that information regarding long-term care facilities with COVID-19 cases and deaths will now be published weekly at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ltc/, starting Friday. See the article... 6-4-20 New unemployment claims in North Central Idaho far below stratospheric levels earlier Thursday, the Idaho Department of Labor released data about new unemployment claims filed in Idaho in the week that ended May 30. See the info and graphics... 6-4-20 Guidance added for outfitting services in Idaho BOISE - Guidance for outfitters to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 to employees, guests and local communities was added Thursday. See the article... 6-2-20 Preventing exposure first line of defense against COVID-19 As we know, the first line of defense against coronavirus is preventing exposure. See the article and photo... 6-2-20 Idaho Department of Lands lobbies reopen across the state BOISE - After nine weeks of lobby closures at Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) offices statewide, reception areas opened again Monday. See the article... 6-2-20 Higher Education's planning for the Fall Semester Idaho's higher education institutions executed a remarkable pivot this spring by moving hundreds of in-person classes to distance learning options such as online, video and teleconference in a short period of time. See the article... 5-30-20 Nez Perce Tribe Spring General Council rescheduled LAPWAI - The 2020 Spring General Council of the Nez Perce Tribe, which was postponed because of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, is now scheduled to be held on June 18-20 at the Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center in Lapwai. See the article... 5-30-20 Guidance now available for safe gatherings BOISE - State and local public health experts created a new guidance document to assist with decisions about gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. See the article... 5-29-20 Still time for children to enjoy school meals If you have not been enjoying the breakfast and lunches offered by Joint School District #171, it is not too late. See the article... 5-29-20 What to expect as campgrounds open on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests KAMIAH - As the State of Idaho moves into Stage 3 of Governor Brad Little's Idaho Rebounds strategy, the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is opening developed campgrounds and other recreation sites previously closed for public health and safety due to COVID-19. See the article... 5-28-20 Idahoans reminded to continue safe practices as Idaho enters Stage 3 of reopening BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Thursday Idaho has met the criteria to advance to Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebounds plan to safely and responsibly reopen Idaho's economy. See the article... 5-28-20 Protocols now available for indoor movie theatres, safe campgrounds BOISE - Protocols are now available for movie theatres to follow in order to open in Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebounds plan to safely and responsibly open Idaho's economy in stages. See the article... 5-26-20 Llama antibody engineered to block coronavirus Animals produce antibodies much like those made by the human immune system. But some animals, such as llamas, also produce another type of antibody that's only about a quarter of the size of a typical human antibody. Such "single-domain" antibodies, or nanobodies, have several features that make them of interest as potential therapeutics. Check our Health Talk column sponsored by Brookside Landing and Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics.See the column... 5-23-20 Graduations planned for Joint School District #171 The past few months have had their fair share of uncertainties. Data, guidelines, recommendations and rules change almost daily as our communities settle into a different world. See the plans... 5-26-20 Llama antibody engineered to block coronavirus Animals produce antibodies much like those made by the human immune system. But some animals, such as llamas, also produce another type of antibody that's only about a quarter of the size of a typical human antibody. Such "single-domain" antibodies, or nanobodies, have several features that make them of interest as potential therapeutics. Check our Health Talk column sponsored by Brookside Landing and Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics.See the column... 5-23-20 Corps re-openings recreational site in Idaho, Washington WALLA WALLA, WA. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District is in the process of reopening its recreational facilities in Idaho and Washington. See the article... 5-23-20 Joblessness in North Central Idaho approached record highs in April Unemployment rates in North Central Idaho soared from near record lows in March to near record highs in April. See the report and graphics... 5-23-20 Idaho rolls out new COVID-19 testing strategy BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Thursday that the Testing Task Force assembled one month ago has completed its recommendations. See the article... 5-22-20 IDFG offices reopened for license services on Monday, May 18 Idaho Department of Fish and Game offices around the state reopened to the public Monday, May 18 for license services, having been closed to the public since March 27 due to COVID-19. See the article... 5-21-20 Dr. Phillip Petersen shares his perspective on COVID-19As you can imagine, COVID-19 has not left my mind for the past three months. Because of my age and medical conditions, I am at higher risk of a bad outcome if I am infected. As such, I have been fairly compulsive about checking the stats for this disease in our state on a daily or twice daily basis. See the article and photo... 5-21-20 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests plan to start opening campgrounds May 30 KAMIAH - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests officials say that many developed campgrounds and other recreation sites currently closed for public safety will begin opening at the beginning of Stage 3 of Idaho Governor Brad Little's Idaho Rebounds Strategy, tentatively scheduled for May 30. See the article... 5-21-20 Idaho's economic rebound hinges on the safety, confidence of consumers, employeesGovernor Brad Little writes about reopening Idaho. See the guest opinion... 5-20-20 Sixth Grade Forestry Tour, CL2N 4-H Camp cancelled for 2020 After much consideration and consultation with Idaho Public Health, Clearwater County Extension has decided to cancel the 2020 Sixth Grade Forestry Tour due to COVID-19 risks. See the article... 5-20-20 Protocols now available for opening bars, outdoor pools, onboarding seasonal workers BOISE - Protocols are now available for bars/breweries/wineries/distilleries and outdoor pools/splashpads/waterparks to open in Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebounds plan to safely and responsibly open Idaho's economy. See the article... 5-20-20 Clearwater River Casino and Lodge to reopen Friday LEWISTON - The Clearwater River Casino and Lodge (Casino) ceased operations on March 18 as a safety precaution in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the article... 5-19-20 Some VFW and Auxiliary events cancelled, postponed Due to Idaho's continued partial shut-down for the COVID-19 pandemic, some Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3295 and Auxiliary events are still being cancelled or postponed until a later date. See the article... 5-19-20 Gov. Little extends cash grants to self-employed BOISE - Self-employed individuals economically impacted by COVID-19 now may be eligible to receive up to $7,500 in cash support through the Idaho Rebound cash grants for small businesses. See the article... 5-19-20 SBA releases PPP Loan forgiveness application, detailed instructions The Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, has released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. See the article... 5-19-20 Clearwater Memorial Public Library to start curbside service again June 1 Good news, the Clearwater Memorial Public Library will resume curbside service beginning Monday, June 1. See the article... 5-16-20 Nimiipuu Health continues COVID-19 testing for Nez Perce Reservation LAPWAI- As of May 15, Nimiipuu Health has tested 137 individuals for the COVID-19 virus. See the update... 5-16-20 It's up to Idahoans to ameliorate government's heavy hand Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin writes about her concerns over the closure of businesses during the Stay-At-Home Order. See the guest opinion... 5-15-20 Schools following phases protocols Another week down and May is half over. Hard to believe! See the article... 5-15-20 There's only one way to describe this election: historic I'm writing to you from what we affectionately call the "Bunker." The Bunker is the base from which, under normal circumstances, we coordinate the massive undertaking that is required to pull off an election at hundreds of polling places, each processing hundreds, if not thousands, of voters. See the article and photos... 5-14-20 Coronavirus crisis makes More North Central Idaho residents jobless In the week ending May 9, 162 North Central Idaho workers filed initial unemployment insurance claims. See the article and illustrations... 5-14-20 Small businesses can access 30-day supply of PPE BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Thursday that small businesses have a new resource to access masks, gloves, and sanitizer as the state enters Stage 2 of the four-stage Idaho Rebounds plan to safely and responsibly open Idaho's economy. See the article... 5-13-20 Voters simply need to drop May Primary Ballot request postcards in the mail BOISE - In early May, registered Idaho voters were sent a ballot request form for the upcoming May Primary Election, which will be conducted from home to protect voters, election workers and community members from the coronavirus. See the article... 5-13-20 COVID-19 Response and Recovery Funds accepting applications through May 26 SPOKANE, WA, - Innovia Foundation Monday announced a second round of grant funding available to community-based organizations engaged in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. See the article... 5-12-20 SMH-CVHC getting back to business Idaho, along with the rest of the world, is experiencing an unprecedented public health emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic. See the article and photo... 5-11-20 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests working to reopen recreation sites KAMIAH - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests officials are working hard to re-open developed campgrounds and other closed recreation sites on the forest as soon as it is safe to do so. See the article... 5-11-20 White House highlights Idaho as leader in reopening plans, distribution of relief funds BOISE - The White House is highlighting Idaho as a leader among states for their plans to safely and responsibly reopen the economy and for how we are allocating federal relief funds. See the article... 5-9-20 School Superintendent appreciates recognition of teachers, staff Thank you all for recognizing and appreciating all of the hard working and well deserving teachers and staff this past week and over the year. See the column and video... 5-8-20 Coronavirus continues to infect regional economy In the week ending May 2, 221 North Central Idaho workers filed unemployment insurance claims. See the article and graphs... 5-8-20 Lunch Ladies continue to 'Rock'! More great news! USDA has lifted restrictions and Joint School District #171 will be able to continue the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs. See the article... 5-7-20 Nimiipuu Health, Nez Perce Tribe has four additional positive COVID-19 cases LAPWAI--On May 6, Nimiipuu Health recorded no new positive cases of the COVID-19 virus. See the report... 5-6-20 Protocols now available for indoor gyms, recreational facilities BOISE - Protocols are now available for indoor gym and recreational facilities managers to implement in order to open in stage 2 of the Idaho Rebounds plan. See the info... 5-6-20 CCED sends greetings in this crazy time Greetings from Clearwater County Economic Development. See the column... 5-5-20 State Board guidelines reflect governor's stage to reopen I wanted to let you all know that the SBOE (State Board of Education) has adopted new guidelines< that reflect the Governor's stages of reopening. See the article... 5-5-20 General, business-specific protocols for opening available BOISE - General and business-specific protocols for opening in various stages of the four-stage Idaho Rebounds plan have been added to the Rebound.Idaho.Gov website. See the info... 5-5-20 CMPL offering 'Grab Bags of Books' during closure Clearwater Memorial Public Library is offering 'Grab Bags of Books' to patrons during the closure of the facility. See the article and photo... 5-4-20 Little announces criteria, timelines for small businesses to apply for Rebound grants BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Monday the full eligibility criteria and process for small businesses to apply for an Idaho Rebound cash grant. See the article... 5-4-20 Clearwater County Extension office reopens Monday, May 4 University of Idaho Clearwater County Extension office reopens to the public beginning Monday, May 4. See the article... 5-4-20 Ybarra: Teacher Appreciation Week has special importance in these trying times Sherri Ybarra, Superintendent of Public Instruction writes about the importance of showing teachers appreciation, especially in these times. See the guest opinion... Breaking news (5-2-20,8:30 p.m.) COVID-19 continues to cause job losses in North Central Idaho COVID-19 continues to cause job losses in the region. See the report... 5-2-20 New emergency grants now available for childcare business owners BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced Friday a new Idaho Child Care Emergency Grant to provide childcare business owners with the financial resources to reopen and continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. See the article... Breaking news (5-1-20, 11:59) Breaking News (5-1-20, 1 p.m.) Labor ready to accept applications for extended unemployment insurance benefits Idahoans who are out of work and have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits can now apply for extended benefits under the CARES Act online at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal.See the article... 5-1-20 County Ambulance Service receives CARES Act funds In their meeting April 20, Clearwater County Commissioners discussed funds received by Clearwater County Ambulance Service under the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Payment with Director Darby Zick. See the report... 4-30-20 Idaho enters Stage 1 of reopening Thursday, Governor Brad Little replaced the previous statewide stay-home order with his new "Stay Healthy Order" for Stage 1. See the article... 4-30-20 Little plans to give $300 million in grants to small businesses as state enters Stage 1 BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced plans Thursday for more than 30,000 Idaho small businesses to receive Idaho Rebound cash grants, a $300 million investment in Idaho's small business employers. See the article ... 4-30-20 Avista Foundation provides funding to area food banks, United Way SPOKANE, WA--The Avista Foundation has approved another round of grants in response to community agencies experiencing increased demand for services due to the Coronavirus pandemic including several local organizations. See the article... 4-30-20 Greatness of educators clear amid Covid-19 response U.S. Senator Mike Crapo writes about the efforts of educators to teach students during the COVID-19 quarantines. See the guest opinion... 4-29-20 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests asking visitors to 'Leave No Trace' Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests are asking visitors to 'Leave No Trace Behind' when visiting public lands. See the article... 4-28-20 State Education Board updated on CARES Act funding for public education Idaho State Board of Education learned Monday that nearly $48 million in federal CARES Act funding will be available to public K-12 education in Idaho to help mitigate effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. See the article... Breaking news (4-27-20, 4:45 p.m.) CVHC, community partners in health, provides weekly update pm COVID-19 It is hard not to think about COVID-19 (also known as SARS-CoV-2) on a daily basis, and everyone has been impacted in some way. See the article and photo... 4-25-20 School Superintendent shares video of updates Dr. Michael C. Garrett, Superintendent Joint School District #171, shared this video with updates on the situation. See the video link... 4-25-20 Clearwater County Extension still available to provide services I hope everyone is healthy and safe and enjoying some of the spring weather we've been having. See the column... 4-25-20 Fishing a low-risk activity if social distancing used, fishing spots are nearby Taking the dangers of COVID-19 seriously and going fishing are not mutually exclusive, and in Idaho, most people can fish close to home. See the article and photos... 4-23-20 County Commissioners approve telecommuting policy for COVID-19 A telecommuting Policy and Procedure due to the COVID-19 circumstance were discussed, approved and signed by the Clearwater County Commissioners during their meeting April 13. See the report... 4-23-20 Adapting Idaho's public education system in unprecedented times What an incredibly disruptive time we find ourselves in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. See the article... Breaking news (4-23-20, 2:30 p.m.) Economic crisis caused by COVID-19 continues to put local residents our of work The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 continues to put North Central Idaho residents out of work. See the report... 4-23-20 Patient, staff safety biggest priority for Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics "Due to the location of our communities and the cooperation of our community members to practice social distancing measures we have been allowed adequate time to gather protective equipment for our staff, increase testing capabilities and develop protocols to try to safely care for all patients during this pandemic," says Dr. Jenny Johnston, provider at Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics. See the article and photo... 4-23-20 Valnet Libraries have due dates extended to May 29 As of Thursday, all Valnet Libraries, including Clearwater Memorial Public Library, are extending due dates on all materials check out before stay-home orders were issued in Idaho and Washington. See the article... 4-20-20 OB care during the COVID-19 Pandemic very important This is a very difficult time across the world. Our daily lives have changed as we live in this new world known as COVID-19 social isolation. See the article and photo... 4-18-20 State Education Board approves criteria for schools to resume normal operations The Idaho State Board of Education Thursday approved minimum criteria for public school districts and charter schools to use in deciding whether to resume normal operations prior to the end of the current school year. See the article... 4-18-20 'Recreate Responsibly Idaho' campaign aims to make outdoor recreation safe BOISE - Outdoor recreation remains a great way for Idahoans to take care of their physical, mental, and emotional health during the coronavirus situation, but Governor Brad Little and natural resource managers urge everyone to protect their health and the welfare of others while hiking, biking, fishing or doing other activities. See the article... 4-18-20 ITD extends studded tire removal deadline The Idaho Transportation Department is extending the deadline to remove studded snow tires to June 30 due to COVID-19 concerns and Governor Brad Little's statewide stay-home order. See the article and photo... 4-18-20 President's plan to responsibly reopen the economy in phases is underway in Idaho Governor Brad Little writes about reopening Idaho responsibily as President Trump and advisors have recommended. See the guest opinion... 4-17-20 IHSAA cancels spring sports, activities seasons Idaho High School Activities Association (IHSAA) issued the following statement Friday. See the statement... 4-17-20 UI Extension offers short season, high-attitude gardening publications, resources Pacific Northwest gardeners may find the growing season where they live too short to grow certain vegetables. See the article... 4-17-20 Commerce asks business owners to take COVID-19 impacts survey Idaho Department of Commerce and Idaho State Department of Agriculture would like businesses' feedback on impacts to them due to COVID-19. See the info... 4-17-20 Nez Perce County records 11 COVID-19 deaths As of Friday, 3 positive and 8 probable deaths have been attributed to COVID-19, according to Public Health Idaho-North Central District figures. See the report... 4-16-20 Another 524 North Central Idaho residents file new unemployment claims Another 524 North Central Idaho residents filed new unemployment insurance claims in the week ending April 11. See the report... 4-16-20 More updates and changes come to schools with COVID-19 situation Two more days of major changes and updates. See the article... Breaking news (4-15-20, 1:20 p.m.) Cares Act funding for higher education, how dual credit to be awarded updated Idaho's public higher education institutions are expected to receive more than $36 million in federal relief funding as a result of the CARES Act approved by Congress and the President, according to information discussed at a special meeting of the Idaho State Department of Education. See the article... 4-15-20 Model shows continued mitigation will effectively slow the spread of COVID-19 A model developed by Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), the University of Idaho, and four other colleges and universities has shown that continued mitigation efforts are effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19. See the info... 4-14-20 Innovia awards COVID-19 response, recovery funds to Clearwater County groups SPOKANE, WA -- Innovia Foundation Tuesday announced 138 grants totaling $779,000 from the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Funds for North Idaho and Eastern Washington, including three organizations in Clearwater County. See the article... 4-14-20 Labor to change phone availability times to help speed up claims turnaround Idaho Department of Labor is adjusting its phone schedule to accept incoming calls between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mountain Time, and is reserving the hours of 4 to 6 p.m. MT for processing claims. See the article... 4-14-20 SDE partners with IdahoPTV, Idaho Business for Education in 'Classroom Idaho' BOISE - Thousands of Idaho students do not have a computer at home or a way to connect to the internet so they can learn remotely during this coronavirus pandemic. See the article... 4-13-20 CVHC COVID -19: What we are doing seems to be working; keep it up "Last week Clearwater Valley Hospital received our first positive COVID-19 test result. The patient is not a resident of Clearwater County and therefore this result will not appear in Clearwater County's numbers on the Public Health website," explains Dr. Kelly McGrath. See the article and photo... 4-11-20 UI Extension still serving community despite office closure I also want to remind you that we at UI Extension in Clearwater County are still working and available to you despite our office being closed. See the article and resources... 4-11-20 SDE offers wide array of resources to educators, parents amid pandemic BOISE - Although public school buildings are closed, Idaho educators continue instructing students through distance learning, and parents are helping children learn at home. See the article... 4-10-20 Second Chance Animal offering help for pet owners in need As families find themselves struggling to make ends meet in these difficult times, we want to let folks know that we have free pet food and supplies for those in need who reside in or near Clearwater County. See the article... 4-9-20 Coronavirus onslaught on North Central Idaho's economy continues North Central Idaho residents filed a record number of unemployment insurance claims in the three weeks starting March 15 and ending April 4, as the table below shows. See the report... Breaking news (4-8-20, 8:30 a.m.) All Idahoans will vote absentee in May 19 primary BOISE - In order to keep Idahoans safe amid a growing global health pandemic and protect their right to vote, Idahoans will vote in the May primary exclusively from home using absentee ballots. See the article and request... 4-8-20 Telemedicine visits now available at SMH/CVHC "Times of crisis spark innovation. At St. Mary's and Clearwater Valley Hospitals and Clinics we acknowledge the need to keep people physically distanced to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our communities," says Dr. Colleen Sholar, CVHC. See the article and photo... 4-7-20 CDC, Surgeon General now advise wearing face masks in public Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams have changed their guidance about wearing face masks in public. See the article... 4-7-20 Income tax filing, payment deadline, property tax relief applications now due June 15 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Brad Little has extended the 2019 Idaho income tax filing and payment deadlines from April 15, to June 15. See the article... Breaking news (4-6-20, 6:42 p.m.) Local school trustees vote to continue 'soft closure' through end of year Trustees of Joint School District #171 in a split vote mirrored the earlier decision of the Idaho State Board of Education and approved a 'soft closure' of all the schools in the district through the end of the 2019-20 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the info... 4-6-20 CVHC provider Dr. Ann Lima gives update on COVID-19 The staff at Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics (CVHC) and St. Mary's Hospital (SMH) have been preparing for COVID-19 and are dedicated to keeping our employees safe and meeting the needs of our patients. See the article and photo... 4-4-20 Local churches join together in the Holy Week journey online broadcasts Local churches will join together each evening at 6:30 this week in online broadcasts for Holy Week on the Upriver Days of Praise Facebook page. See the info... 4-4-20 Nez Perce National Historical Park modifying operations to implement health Guidance LAPWAI - Nez Perce National Historical Park is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. See the article... 4-3-20 Nez Perce Tribe's COVID-19 response continues LAPWAI- Following the Nez Perce Tribe's (Tribe) declaration of a Public Health Emergency on March 18, it continues to run its Emergency Operations Command (EOC) center under the direction of Incident Commander Marty Antone, Nez Perce Tribal Police Department (NPTPD) Captain. See the info... 4-3-20 Joint School District #171 updating information on school closure Joint School District #171 is trying to keep up to date information available to our families and community. See the info... 4-3-20 Idaho DMV encourages residents to complete DMV services online BOISE--The Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Motor Vehicles encourages residents to complete DMV services online, as COVID-19 leads to limited in-person service at most county driver's license and registration offices across the state. See the article... 4-2-20 Labor releases data on early, pre-COVID numbers Idaho Department of Labor has just released some data that gives us a good idea of how North Central Idaho was doing before the coronavirus started to cause an economic pandemic, according to Kathryn Tacke, Regional Economist. See the analysis... 4-2-20 County Commissioners approve resolution for emergency declaration During their meeting March 23, Clearwater County Commissioners approved Resolution No. 20-03-02 designating the Declaration of Disaster Emergency and Request for Declaration of Disaster Emergency Resulting from the Global COVID-19 Pandemic. See the report... 4-2-20 New traffic-tracker tool from ITD shows significant decline in vehicle trips in Idaho BOISE - The Idaho Transportation Department has launched a new traffic-tracking tool that allows government agencies, emergency services, and the public to see the latest changes in driver behavior on Idaho highways. See the article... 4-1-20 First case of COVID-19 confirmed in Latah County, second in Idaho County LEWISTON - Public Health -Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Latah County and a second in Idaho County. See the report... 4-1-20 Foundation announces $150,000 COVID-19 Response, Recovery grant SPOKANE, WA, -- The Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation announced Wednesday a donation of $150,000 to the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Funds that will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the frontlines of the region's coronavirus outbreak. See the article... 3-31-20 Toilet paper, other important forest products will continue to roll out of Idaho BOISE - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified "Workers who support the manufacture and distribution of forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood products as critical during the COVID-19 response". See the article and photo... 3-31-20 Reducing stress important during COVID-19 In light of the current ongoing pandemic, there have been many recent life altering changes that have caused an increase in stress for all of us, including the concept of social distancing. See the article... 3-30-20 Increased safety measures Clearwater Valley and St. Marys hospitals, clinics "As a result of confirmed communal cases in Idaho County and the school district closures, we are taking increased precautions at St. Mary's and Clearwater Valley Hospitals & Clinics to protect staff and patients in regards to COVID-19," says Steve Frei, Director of Ancillary Services, SMH/ CVHC. See the article and photo... 3-30-20 Nez Perce County has five newly confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus LEWISTON - Public Health -Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed the five newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Nez Perce County. See the report... 3-30-20 Governor signs new executive orders, proclamation to further position Idaho to overcome coronavirus challenge BOISE - Governor Brad Little's latest executive orders and proclamation will boost funds available for Idaho's coronavirus response, manage the impact of the crisis on the state budget, and help the thousands of Idahoans suddenly unemployed due to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). See the article... 3-30-20 If you need to travel on an airplane What is the risk of getting COVID-19 on an airplane? See the column... 3-28-20 School district navigating new waters with closures, COVID-19 UI Extension reschedules workshops, delivering 4-H, other programs in alternate ways Idaho initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 1,200 percent Breaking news (3-27-20, 4:30 p.m.) Breaking news (3-27-20, 2:55 p.m.) Public asked to refrain from nonessential open burning Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) and the Nez Perce Tribe on their reservation remind the public to refrain from all nonessential open burning activities as communities respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. See the article... 3-27-20 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests close developed recreation sites KAMIAH - Effective March 28, all developed campgrounds and certain other recreation sites on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests have been closed indefinitely for the health and safety of visitors and staff. See the article... 3-26-20 Idaho reports 3 deaths related to COVID-19 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) and two local public health districts are reporting the state's first deaths related to COVID-19. See the info... 3-26-20 Coronavirus: What CVHC is doing, what the public can do to slow the spread COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation that requires increased planning and effort from all members of our communities. See the article and photo... 3-26-20 VFW office, bar closed, event postponed or cancelled Veterans of Foreign Wars Harold Kinne Post #3296 office and bar are currently closed and will remain so until Governor Brad Little's 'Stay Home' order is lifted. See the article... 3-26-20 IDFG offices to close starting March 27 except by appointment Consistent with the Governor's statewide, stay-at-home order to aid in reducing the spread of Covid-19 in the community, Idaho Department of Fish and Game public offices will close March 27 through April 15. See the article... 3-26-20 Three new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Nez Perce County LEWISTON - Public Health -Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Nez Perce County. See the report... Breaking news (3-25-20, 8 p.m.) First positive case of Novel Coronavirus in Idaho County confirmed LEWISTON - Public Health -Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in an adult in their 70s in Idaho County. See the info... 3-25-20 Clearwater County Ambulance Service shares COVID-19 awareness, prevention info As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, Clearwater County Ambulance Service (CCAS) would like to remind the public of a few key elements to help protect yourself and your first responders. See the article... 3-25-20 School facilities close to staff, except food service Beginning at 11:30 am Thursday, March 26 all Joint School District #171 buildings will be closed to all personnel, except for food staff and support staff delivering meals. See the article... 3-25-20 Clearwater Memorial Public Library shuts down due to COVID-19 pandemic Clearwater Memorial Public Library is shut down for all patron services and will no longer be offering curbside services due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. See the article... 3-25-20 County courthouse, satellite offices closed to public As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, the Clearwater County Courthouse and satellite offices are closed to the public. See the article... 3-24-20 SEL learns that employee tested positive for COVID-19 Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) learned late Tuesday that a Lewiston employee received a positive COVID-19 test. Breaking news (3-24-20, 7:15 p.m.) Breaking news (3-24-20, 1:25 p.m.) School District providing meals for students during closure I just wanted to give you a quick update Joint School District #171 food service department will be providing meals to families with children during the school closure. See the article... 3-20-20 School district providing positive services for students After a short period of time we are proud to announce the positive services we are providing for the students and communities. See the article... 3-20-20 Governor to hold telephone town hall Tuesday Governor Brad Little will host a statewide AARP telephone town hall Tuesday to provide information and answer questions regarding coronavirus in Idaho. See the article... 3-20-20 Avista enhances operational, community response amid outbreak SPOKANE, WA -- Avista has implemented additional measures to enhance the Company's operational and community response amid the Coronavirus outbreak. See the article... 3-20-20 Clearwater Power temporarily suspending electric disconnections Clearwater Power has made the decision to temporarily suspend electric disconnections for homes and small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. See the article... 3-20-20 Public Health, IDHW update guidance for mass gatherings, public events LEWISTON - Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the seven local Public Health Districts have developed guidance for event and venue managers to assist with decisions regarding mass gatherings and public events during the COVID-19 pandemic. See the article... 3-19-20 Emergency Declaration issued for Clearwater County due to COVID-19. In a special meeting held telephonically Thursday morning, Clearwater County Commission Chairman Rick Winkel issued an Emergency Declaration, including an economic impact statement, due to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus in the state and region. See the article... 3-19-20 Orofino City Council meeting March 24 cancelled due to COVID-19 Orofino Mayor Ryan Smathers in a memo sent out Friday said that the next City Council meeting scheduled for March 24 has been cancelled. See the info... 3-19-20 County provides information on courthouse operations At the present time, the Clearwater County Courthouse and Department of Motor Vehicle Offices (both vehicle license and driver license) are open with business as usual, but are subject to closure at any time. See the article... 3-19-20 Corps closing all Walla Walla District Visitor Centers WALLA WALLA, WA -At this time, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will close all Visitor Centers in the Walla Walla District. See the article... 3-18-20 Two more novel coronavirus cases reported in south central Idaho South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) have confirmed two additional cases of novel coronavirus in south central Idaho. See the report... 3-18-20 CVH shares information on slowing the spread: of Coronavirus "You may be hearing a lot of different information about the severity of the coronavirus in different countries," explains Dr. Kelly McGrath, Chief Medical Officer, Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics. See the article... 3-18-20 Orofino Senior Mealsite to be closed, meals will be delivered to seniors Orofino's Senior Mealsite found out Tuesday that they will be closed for an undefined amount of time due to concerns about Coronavirus transmission, according to Deryl Ketchum, president of Clearwater County Senior Citizens, Inc. See the article... 3-18-20 Court in reduced operation to lessen spread of COVID-19 The 2nd Judicial District Court Operational Plan for the COVID-19 pandemic was provided by the 2nd District Administrative Judge, Jay Gaskill to the Clearwater County Clerk and Commissioner, as of March 16 stating all 2nd District Courts are elevated to Level 2: Reduced Operations. See the article... Breaking news (3-17-20, noon) Clearwater Memorial Public Library closed to foot traffic, curbside service available Due to the Coronavirus, Clearwater Memorial Public Library is closed to all foot traffic, until further notice. See the artucke,,, 3-17-20 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare confirms 9th Coronavirus case in state Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has confirmed the ninth Coronavirus case in the state, the fourth in Blaine County. See the report... 3-15-20, 4:15 p.m. Garrett shares information from Idaho School Boards Association call on COVID-19 After hours of technical difficulties, we finally got the word from the meeting scheduled this morning. See the info... 3-14-20, 7:22 p.m. Idaho reports three additional cases of COVID-19 in the state, for a total of 5 The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, in conjunction with the affected local public health districts, is announcing an additional three cases of novel coronavirus infection in Idaho, bringing the total to five. See the report... 3-14-20, 1:44 p.m. Idaho's second case of novel coronavirus reported BLAINE COUNTY - South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) have confirmed a positive case in south central Idaho of novel coronavirus in a female over the age of 50. See the report... 3-14-20, 12:58 p.m. Joint School District No. 171 is addressing concerns about the coronavirus in relation to students, staff and the community. See the letter... 3-13-20, 5:40 p.m. First case of novel Coronavirus in Idaho has been confirmed Idaho Governor Brad Little joined Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) and Central District Health (CDH) in a news conference Friday afternoon to confirm the first positive Idaho case of novel coronavirus in a woman over the age of 50 in Ada County. See the report... 3-12-20 Here are FAQs from Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics. See their ad... 3-11-20 Gardner: Stay informed, Stay calm, Wash your hands Don Gardner, Clearwater County Emergency Management, is advising local residents to 'Stay informed, stay calm and wash your hands'. See the info... Cancellations, closures and postponements: 11-21-20Annual Patchwork Bazaar 2020 cancelled Orofino's annual Patchwork Bazaar 2020, sponsored by American Association University Women has been cancelled due to concerns and restrictions from COVID-19. See the info... 11-18-20 Pierce Holiday Bazaar cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions Pierce's annual Holiday Bazaar has been cancelled in 2020 due to the latest restrictions on gatherings due to COVID-19. See the article... 11-14-20 Community holiday dinners cancelled; food banks open Community Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners usually held in St. Theresa's Catholic Church Little Flower Room are cancelled this year due to concerns about coronavirus exposure with large numbers of people. See the article... 11-14-20 Pierce Gem Team cancels Festival of Trees for 2020 Pierce Gem Team has cancelled the annual Festival of Trees for 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. See the article... Breaking news (10-25-20, 6 p.m.) Headquarters Reunion cancelled for 2020 The Headquarters Reunion Committee announced Monday that they have cancelled annual event for 2020. See the article... Breaking news (7-23-20, 6 p.m.) Breaking news (7-16-20) Breaking news (6-23-20, 8 p.m.) Sixth Grade Forestry Tour, CL2N 4-H Camp cancelled for 2020 After much consideration and consultation with Idaho Public Health, Clearwater County Extension has decided to cancel the 2020 Sixth Grade Forestry Tour due to COVID-19 risks. See the article... 5-19-20 Some VFW and Auxiliary events cancelled, postponed Due to Idaho's continued partial shut-down for the COVID-19 pandemic, some Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3295 and Auxiliary events are still being cancelled or postponed until a later date. See the article... 4-23-20 Valnet Libraries have due dates extended to May 29 As of Thursday, all Valnet Libraries, including Clearwater Memorial Public Library, are extending due dates on all materials check out before stay-home orders were issued in Idaho and Washington. See the article... 4-4-20 Nez Perce National Historical Park modifying operations to implement health Guidance LAPWAI - Nez Perce National Historical Park is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. See the article... 3-27-20 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests close developed recreation sites KAMIAH - Effective March 28, all developed campgrounds and certain other recreation sites on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests have been closed indefinitely for the health and safety of visitors and staff. See the article... Clearwater Historical Museum is closed until further notice. 3-26-20VFW office, bar closed, event postponed or cancelled Veterans of Foreign Wars Harold Kinne Post #3296 office and bar are currently closed and will remain so until Governor Brad Little's 'Stay Home' order is lifted. See the article... 3-26-20 IDFG offices to close starting March 27 except by appointment Consistent with the Governor's statewide, stay-at-home order to aid in reducing the spread of Covid-19 in the community, Idaho Department of Fish and Game public offices will close March 27 through April 15. See the article... 3-25-20 County courthouse, satellite offices closed to public As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, the Clearwater County Courthouse and satellite offices are closed to the public. See the article... 3-25-20 School facilities close to staff, except food service Beginning at 11:30 am Thursday, March 26 all Joint School District #171 buildings will be closed to all personnel, except for food staff and support staff delivering meals. See the article... 3-25-20 Clearwater Memorial Public Library shuts down due to COVID-19 pandemic Clearwater Memorial Public Library is shut down for all patron services and will no longer be offering curbside services due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. See the article... Breaking news (3-24-20, 1:25 p.m.) Orofino City Council meeting March 24 cancelled due to COVID-19 Orofino Mayor Ryan Smathers in a memo sent out Friday said that the next City Council meeting scheduled for March 24 has been cancelled. See the info... 3-18-20 Court in reduced operation to lessen spread of COVID-19 The 2nd Judicial District Court Operational Plan for the COVID-19 pandemic was provided by the 2nd District Administrative Judge, Jay Gaskill to the Clearwater County Clerk and Commissioner, as of March 16 stating all 2nd District Courts are elevated to Level 2: Reduced Operations. See the article... 3-18-20 Orofino Senior Mealsite to be closed, meals will be delivered to seniors Orofino's Senior Mealsite found out Tuesday that they will be closed for an undefined amount of time due to concerns about Coronavirus transmission, according to Deryl Ketchum, president of Clearwater County Senior Citizens, Inc. See the article... Breaking news (3-17-20, noon) Clearwater Memorial Public Library closed to foot traffic, curbside service available Due to the Coronavirus, Clearwater Memorial Public Library is closed to all foot traffic, until further notice. See the artucke,,, 3-17-20 Clearwater Writers Guild cancels March meeting Clearwater Writers Guild is cancelling their meeting Thursday, March 26. See the article... 3-17-20 City of Orofino Planning and Zoning meetins are cancelled until further notice. Links |
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