Athol Elementary benefits from KEC’s round-up program

A couple of cents here and there make a difference.

By rounding up customers’ bills to the nearest dollar, Kootenai Electric Cooperative collected $18,193 this first quarter of 2006 to give out in grants to community members and groups.

For example, Athol Elementary was able to buy keyboards with large keys and rollerball computer mice for special-needs children.

“It just makes it easier for them to be on a computer and use the education-type things we have for them,” said Principal Kathy Thomas. Some of the special-education children have difficulty with their motor skills.

“It’s something we wouldn’t have done otherwise because we have such limited resources,” Thomas said.

All Kootenai Electric customers are included in this 3-year-old program unless they opt out. The average contribution per customer is about 50 cents a month.

Applicants for individual grants must be Kootenai Electric customers; group applicants must serve Kootenai County-area residents. Applications are available at the Kootenai Electric office at 2451 W. Dakota Ave. in Hayden and on its Web site at www.kec.com. The deadline for the next award period is May 8.

Centennial reunion

Bryan Bears past and present are invited to a reunion on May 18 to celebrate the school’s centennial.

Alumni, staff and students will gather at the school’s gym from 1:45 to 4 p.m. for a look back at Bryan Elementary’s history. Organizers have put together a PowerPoint presentation of photographs, summoned past principals and hope alumni will come to share their experiences.

For Vicki Fulton, who taught at the school for 16 years, Bryan Elementary is an important part of her life. Fulton said she would love to see everyone get together and celebrate the midtown Coeur d’Alene school.

For more information, e-mail Michelle Faucher-Sharples at msharples@sd271.k12.id.uscall.

‘Sesame Street’ workshop

Want to introduce your preschoolers to the world of music-making?

The Northwest Academy of Music in Coeur d’Alene is offering free “Sesame Street” Music Works workshops this month and next to any organization that serves children ages 3 to 6.

The workshop shows children a wide variety of instruments and how they work, as well as an opportunity for each child to experiment with several. An interactive “Sesame Street” DVD, featuring characters from the popular television show, is also shown.

For more information, call Keith Milligan at the academy at 667-6200.

Forestry skills contest

Students can put their forestry prowess to the test on May 11.

The annual Idaho State Forestry Contest returns that day to the Delay Farm in Careywood.

Seventh- to 12th-graders, in four-member teams and individually, will compete for prizes in activities such as log scaling, timber cruising, tree and plant identification, map reading, compass and pacing, tool identification and silviculture (forest management).

This competition dates to the early 1980s and typically attracts about 500 people.

Registration forms and preparation tips are available online at: www.idl.idaho. gov/bureau/ForestAssist/contest 2006/contest2006.htm. For more information, call Karen Robinson at (208) 263-5104.