In brief: Osprey adults abandon nest on popular Webcam

A pair of osprey tending three eggs above Coeur d’Alene’s McEuen Park abandoned their nest recently, ending a city Webcam attraction from atop one of three platforms in the downtown park.

The raptors returned in early April and settled in atop the nesting pole on the park’s south side. But the adults abandoned the nest about 10 days ago, meaning the eggs won’t hatch.

“It’s just kind of the brutal truth of nature,” city spokesman Keith Erickson said.

Osprey have been spotted occupying the north platform as well, but no eggs have hatched yet.

Earlier in the spring a pair of Canada geese occupied one of the three McEuen nests, and their five goslings safely made the 70-foot leap off the poles around April 24 as the dominating osprey arrived.

The city installed a camera at each of the three platforms. The streaming video can be viewed at cdaid.org/osprey-web-cameras.

Careywood post office will stay closed

The tiny community post office serving unincorporated Careywood, Idaho, in Bonner County will remain closed after a review by U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission.

The commission on Wednesday dismissed an appeal of the U.S. Postal Service decision to close the contract postal unit in March, saying it lacks authority to review actions related to contractor-operated retail facilities.

The Postal Service notified Careywood contractor Carrie Bartelt on Feb. 23 that it would not renew her contract, and the 120 mailboxes there were removed March 27. Customers now pick up their mail in Athol, 7 miles to the south, or in Cocolalla, Sagle or Bayview.

Almost 500 people signed a petition asking the Postal Service to keep the Careywood post office open. The rural community has had a post office for more than 100 years.

Labrador to help Rand Paul’s campaign

Republican Rand Paul’s 2016 presidential campaign on Wednesday named Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador its “western states co-chairman,” and Labrador began campaigning for Paul in a series of radio and TV interviews in Idaho.

Both men are tea party favorites.

Paul, a senator from Kentucky, announced his candidacy April 7.

Rotary clubs host Riverfront Park party

Local Rotary clubs are throwing a party from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday to celebrate “Rotary Day of Spokane,” with live music in Riverfront Park and free rides on the Looff Carrousel. Discounts also will be offered at the Fountain Café, near the Rotary Fountain. All 10 clubs in the Spokane region will be on hand to staff booths and chat with people about Rotary’s impact in the community.

Two bands, the Mike Greenwood Show and Oracle’s Kitchen, will play.

According to a news release, there are 34,000 Rotary clubs worldwide.

Expect delays east of Snoqualmie Pass

Traffic east of Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 will be held up during a prolonged rock blasting operation that begins at 7:30 tonight.

Transportation officials said the delay could last multiple hours.

The work is part of a multiyear widening of I-90 east of the pass along Keechelus Lake. Today’s closure will run from Price Creek on the east to Gold Creek on the west.

Former clerk pleads guilty in recall case

A former North Idaho election official accused of not following the law involving verifying signatures on a recall drive has pleaded guilty to making a false statement as a public official.

The Bonner County Daily Bee reported that Ann Dutson-Sater made the plea Tuesday in 1st District Court and was sentenced to a year of probation and 100 hours of community service.

Dutson-Sater originally was accused of having falsely notified the Lake Pend Oreille School District board chairman that enough people signed a recall petition against one of its trustees.

The charge stemmed from the recall effort against a trustee who introduced a plan, ultimately unsuccessful, to arm teachers. The recall was called off in January 2014 because of a procedural error.

Authorities said Dutson-Sater allowed a recall backer to attest under penalty of perjury that he witnessed all the signatures for the recall being obtained even though the backer estimated witnessing only about 70 percent.

Some signatures were disallowed, and organizers were mistakenly permitted by Dutson-Sater’s staff to collect and submit more.

The recall was never held, but concerns from board Chairman Steve Youngdahl led to an investigation by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.