A Place On The . Net

Anyone seeking a gift that truly keeps on giving need not look far this holiday season. Every dollar spent locally goes back into the pockets of another Palouse-area resident in one form or another, and buoys businesses that can use every bit of help they can get in today's economic climate. With that in mind, we'd like to commend a pair of grass-roots business-support groups that are helping spread a message that has more importance this year than others. Think Local First highlights the great businesses in Pullman, and Buy Local Moscow serves the same purpose on the other side of the border. Both have helped organize events that showcased the various local businesses in their communities and raised awareness about the need to give where you live, so to speak/Doug Bauer, Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Full post below.

Question: Do you buy local? Do you feel guilty when you don't?

Ahron McArney, 13, of Middleton, Idaho reads to therapy dog Skye, a 6-year-old Sheltie during the "Reading Tails" program at the Nampa Library in Nampa on Saturday. (AP Photo/The Idaho Press-Tribune, Mike Vogt)

Hurricane Sarah has come and gone, although she leaves behind a fairly funny video from her appearance with William Shatner on the "Tonight Show" Friday night here (link fixed). Meanwhile, we're waiting for the latest development on Jim Brannon's lawsuit against Mayor Sandi Bloem, Mike Kennedy and the other incumbents who had the audacity to win their races in Coeur d'Alene's municipal elections last month. You can always play this Wild Card while we wait for fun to break out here ...

Kendramama: I'm in a whirl of emotion and confusion right now, scared to death that I'm going to pick the wrong lender, put down the wrong date or amount (like, for instance, when they say, “search for available loans, do it put the exact amount listed on my award letter? both sub and unsub, or both combined?) Arggh! And I have the feeling, once I quote unquote, sign on the dotted line, there's no turning back and what's done is done. Plus, there's greed poking its ugly little green head up too, especially once I saw during my first look-see at the website that I was entitled to up to nine grand per school year. Full post below.

Question: Can someone help K-Mama decide what to do with the student loan that she's considering?

"I really wasn't going to do this this year," said Julie Kress of Coeur d'Alene after she changed her mind and decided to put lights around her home today. Winter weather advisories have been posted for what’s shaping up to be the biggest snowfall of the season in the Inland Northwest starting this evening and continuing into Tuesday before rain arrives in lower elevations. The National Weather Service is forecasting 5.5 inches of snow in Spokane and 5.3 inches in Coeur d’Alene through Tuesday. Mike Prager/SR story here. (Kathy Plonka/SR)

• Slip on snow-covered ice may have led to hunter's death/Mike Prager, SR
• Pam Lowe's case moves to federal court/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• Congressional Quarterly weighs in on 1st Congressional District/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• Idaho libraries get Gates' help for broadband grants/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• Colton shocked by hunter's death/Tania Dall, KXLY
• All-state will donate 1965 VW bus, donate proceeds/KHQ
• $200K Powerball lottery ticket sold in Benewah County/KREM2
• Creditors try to force Tamarack into bankruptcy/KTVB
• Idaho R's oppose amendments to Clean Water Act/Dan Popkey, Statesman
• Cenarrusa to speak, sign memoir/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise

Santa looks for a little help during a photo as Cameron Dirr, center right, 11 months, of Green Township, starts to cry as his older bother Jaycob, right, 11, attempts to calm him on Saturday in Delhi, Ohio. Cousin Timothy Kemplin, 9 months, of Green Township, looks on. You write the cutline. (AP Photo/The Enquirer, Ernest Coleman)

Top Cutlines:

• 1. “Yeah, I know, kid. You stood outside all night with your folks and all you got was a lousy signature” -- John Austin.
• 2. (tie) Little Larry Spencer cries, “You people are either stupid or gullible! This guy Claus is just making stuff up. Don't believe it! Don't believe it!” -- Idaho Dad, and: Digger bursts into tears after Santa asks a stupid technical question -- Taryn.
• 3. Bent, spokelooneh… Santa doesn't care about global warming. So please stop arguing about it -- Nic.
• HM: Phaedrus

• 5:08 p.m. 3 males in the parking lot of Lowe's pointed what appeared to be a handgun at a passing motorist on Appleway.
• 4:58 p.m. A truck pulling 3 trailers on I-90 & M/P 24 (Big Cedar Creek) is so covered with snow and mud that it's hard to see its headlights and taillights.
• 4:36 p.m. Female reports that a male is throwing things and brandishing a knife at a female as the walk toward Safeway in the Neider/Government Way area. Update: Male told police that he threw his hat at the female and denied having a knife.
• 3:17 p.m. Ace Hardware/Hayden reports that two males may be camping behind the store.
• 3:16 p.m. A stop sign has been knocked down @ Prairie & Vantage/Hayden.
• More below

Coeur d'Alene police are looking for a male of about 5-feet-10, 180 pounds, who robbed the Rite Aid (208 Ironwood Drive) store Sunday night. The male was wearing a black baseball cap, black ski mask, white hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants, black tennis shoes w/white trim. The man handed the pharmacist a note demanding drugs and stated he had a gun.  The pharmacist complied with the demands, and the suspect fled the store with an undisclosed amount of prescription drugs. The weapon was not displayed. Kootenai County Sheriff's Department assisted in the search for the suspect with a K-9, but met with negative results/Coeur d'Alene Police Department.