Panhandle Health District

                                                               8500 N. Atlas Road         Hayden, Idaho  83835

www.phd1.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      Date:     June 19, 2008                

Contact:                                                                                  Released by: Jeanne Bock, Director                     

Cynthia Taggart

Public Information Officer

(208) 415-5108

(208) 818-7288 (cell)

Health District Services Closed During Move

              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 7.

              PHD services in St. Maries will be closed Monday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 1, during the move from the Gordon Leuty building to the new offices. PHD will be available by phone and for emergency services on Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3. PHD will be closed for the Fourth of July holiday on Friday, July 4.

              The new PHD building was designed with many of the characteristics of the Kootenai Inn, a hotel built 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 second floor includes a meeting room for classes.

              A grand opening for the public is scheduled for 2 p.m. on July 31. Refreshments will be served.