In last two weeks Eastern Washington and North Idaho have seen over five ATV accidents including one death in the LC Valley last week. While ATV riding is fun, it's important to learn proper technique to remain safe.

“We think it takes special skills to ride an ATV,” says Dale Stevens, a licensed ATV safety instructor with the ATV Safety Institute. ASI is a non-profit sponsored by the all the major ATV manufacturers. Instructors like Stevens teach regular safety classes to educate riders on proper technique, safety skills and the responsibilities that come with owning and riding ATVs.

After taking his course many riders tell Stevens that they didn't know what a work out riding is and that they expected it to be easier. Stevens says that a lot of people expect ATVs to be like riding a couch on wheels but it that it takes a lot of physical effort and knowledge of how ATVs operate to remain safe while riding.

Every year, The Family Support Center in Colville works with area high school students to educate them on abusive relationships and how they can prevent them. This year, students at Jenkins High School in Chewlah decided to step it up a notch. Alex Mueller, of The Family Support Center, tells us about "Brenda's Story".

It's a dynamic story of an abused teen girl, Brenda, trapped in a dead-end abusive relationship. As the story unfolds, you see the manipulation, put-downs, and torment as it happens to this young girl. You see her boyfriend constantly pressing her to have sex with him as he threatens to ruin her reputation if she won't concede to sex and revealing text messages. But there is hope to this story. I won’t give away the ending…you’ll just have to watch the film!

A state funded scholarship program is making the burden of affording higher education easier for low income families. Students apply for the program in the eighth grade and this year's dead line is on the horizon. Applications for the College Bound Scholarship Program are due on June 30th.

To qualify for the program, the student's family must meet one of four income standards and still be in the required income bracket when they file their FAFSA their senior year of high school. The income standards include students who are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program, if their family receives basic food or TANF benefits, or if the family makes below a certain income depending on size. Students who are in foster care are automatically eligible.