Panhandle Health District

                                                             8500 N. Atlas Road         Hayden, Idaho  83835

www.phd1.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      Date:     July 15, 2008                 

Contact:                                                                                  Released by: Jeanne Bock, Director                     

Cynthia Taggart

Public Information Officer

(208) 415-5108

(208) 818-7288 (cell)

Health District Opens New Building July 28

              The Panhandle Health District  (PHD) will open the doors of its new St. Maries building at 137 N. Eighth Street for public business at 8 a.m. Monday, July 28.

              PHD services in St. Maries will be closed Monday, July 21, and Tuesday, July 22, during the move from the Gordon Leuty building to the new offices. PHD will be available by phone, 208-699-6344, and for urgent services on Wednesday, July 23, Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25.

              The new PHD building was designed with many of the characteristics of the Kootenai Inn, a hotel building in 1909 on the same site. The first floor includes four exam rooms, space for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition education program, two rooms for clients to meet with staff and a computer station to enable clients to look up food permits and other online documents,

              The women’s bathroom includes a separate area for mothers to nurse their babies and change diapers. The waiting area offers a special play area for children.

              The building also offers space and the infrastructure to serve as Benewah County’s emergency operations center.

              A grand opening for the public is scheduled for 2 p.m. on July 31. State and county officials will attend. Refreshments will be served.