In November, 1966, Kootenai Memorial Hospital was opened with half the cost of construction funded by a federal grant. The other half of the funds was provided through a general obligation property tax levy, approved by over 2/3 of Kootenai County's voters in a special election.

Kootenai Memorial replaced the outdated 36-bed Lake City General Hospital and the 36-bed Coeur d'Alene General Hospital.

Building projects in 1970, 1972, and 1978 doubled the bed capacity to 181. In 1984, a new replacement facility was opened and named Kootenai Medical Center. Currently, KMC has 225-licensed beds and an additional 70-beds in mental health residential, chemical dependency and skilled nursing (the Kootenai Transitional Care Center) sections.

Current plans call for more growth in KMC's future. KMC will soon be adding open-heart cardiology services and new inpatient beds to serve the county's and North Idaho's growing populations.

Location: 2003 Lincoln Way, Coeur d'Alene Idaho 83814 Telephone 208-667-2000

The Most Anticipated Upcoming Idaho Events Are: Lincoln: Preservation of a Nation Idaho Falls continuing thru December 5 Park Merchandise Sale at Silverwood Theme Park! Athol continuing thru November 1 Steelhead Derby Riggins continuing thru March 31 Christmas in St. Maries St. Maries December 5 Christmas in the City Boise November 28 thru December 25

Other upcoming events include: Winter Garden Aglow Boise December 4 thru January 10 SnowFEST Rexburg January 30 Winter Holidays Antiques Show Ketchum December 28 thru December 30 A Year with Frog and Toad Hailey December 16 thru January 3 Festival of Trees Twin Falls December 2 thru December 6