LEWISTON, Idaho - The Idaho Humanities Council will honor retired Lewis-Clark State College Anthropology Professor Alan Marshall, of Lewiston, by presenting him with IHC’s award for “Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities” at a wine/dessert reception and ceremony on Thursday, March 21, 7 p.m., at Lewiston’s Red Lion Hotel. The award, which carries a $1,000 honorarium, will be presented to Marshall for his exemplary career as a teacher, scholar, and mentor to many interested in exploring cultural anthropology and Native American studies. For many years, he made extraordinary efforts to reach off-campus to promote greater awareness, appreciation, and understanding of Nez Perce culture. The ceremony is open to the public.

At the March 21 award presentation, several of Marshall’s friends and colleagues will speak to the appropriateness of him receiving the award. After several testimonials, Marshall will deliver a talk about his life’s work in the humanities.

Kristin Blevins was a passenger in the backseat of her family's van when her life was irreversibly changed.

On Oct. 12, 2011, Blevins was on her way home from helping family members move from Potlatch, Idaho, to McCall. During the drive, Blevins took off her seatbelt so she could doze off comfortably. Blevins' stepfather Brad Poe, who has breathing problems and sleep apnea from working in oil fields, was driving. Seven miles south of Riggins, Poe fell asleep and his 1998 Dodge Caravan went off the side of the road and “traveled another 375 feet before hitting a driveway, which launched the vehicle into the air for 30 feet before it came to rest on its side, trapping three passengers,” according to the incident report in the Idaho County Free Press.

Blevins was airlifted to a hospital in Boise, but she said she didn't need that trip to know that her life would never be the same.

Despite Idaho's reputation as a business-friendly state, it turns out it may not be as fortuitous a region for workers.

The Idaho Department of Labor said Thursday that the state ranks 50th in the U.S. in overall earnings by full- and part-time workers with a median wage at $23,192., the Associated Press reported.

Spokesman Bob Fick said the reason for the low average can be attributed to losses in production-sector jobs.

"You look at manufacturing in general in Idaho, and the only thing that's really held its own is food processing," Fick said. "It'll be another 20 years before we get back to where we were before the recession as far as construction goes."