Nearly one year after Julien Bucher died in a farming accident near Porthill, his name and the passion he had for Boundary County continue to live on.

Mayor Darrell Kerby and Rolly Jurgens, vice-president of North Idaho College, hold sign for the future Julien Bucher Early Childhood Learning Center.

Thanks to a community fundraiser that brought in $70,000 and an acre of land donated to Head Start by Boundary County Commissioners, the Julien Bucher Early Childhood Learning Center broke ground on Chippewa Street Nov. 29.

The new 3,000-square foot facility constructed by BF Builders that opens this spring will become the new home for more than 20 four-year-olds in Boundary County's Head Start program, which has a waiting list backed up with 40 additional children.

Local fundraising efforts - spearheaded the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and Panhandle State Bank- did not go unnoticed.

"It's extremely rare, almost unprecedented for a small community to go out and raise $70,000 for Head Start," said Lori Mayfield, chairman of the board for North Idaho Friends of Head Start based in Coeur d'Alene. "This community helped make a dream become a reality. Thank you for believing in children and giving them a head start."

Funded with an $185,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture secured by Friends of Head Start - which also pledged a $50,000 grant for the new center - the $370,000 project could not have come at a more opportune time for Boundary County's low-income families.

Housed for the last two decades in a makeshift room at the Fairgrounds that served as a food service and restroom facility, Head Start's space has been woefully inadequate for years. Not only are sinks and toilets at adult heights, the bathroom is located far from the classroom. Teachers have to accompany children to the restroom, leaving one less adult in the class. Additionally, the playground has no permanent fixtures.

"Each year when June rolls around, everything in the classroom has to be packed up and placed in storage so the space can be used for the county fair," said Mayfield. "Then everything is hauled back in again. The bottom line is the children deserve better. Now they will finally have a permanent home that will provide for their needs."

The project may never have seen the light of day if county librarian Sandy Ashworth had not asked commissioners to donate the county-owned property on Chippewa Street to Head Start in 2005.

"That's what really got the ball rolling," said Mayfield. "Then the fundraiser started and just took off. Everyone stepped up to the plate, especially Panhandle State Bank."

PSB pledged to match dollar-for-dollar for whatever amount was raised, which totaled $34,000. Along with the Tribe's $20,000 donation, individuals like Doug Kim-Brown - who chipped in $5,000-and Greg Johnson who canvassed the community for contributions provided the financial firepower for the project.

However, when the first bid to construct the facility came in a whopping $150,000 over budget, Head Start officials did a double take.

"We weren't quite sure how to proceed," said Mayfield.

But BF Builders did. The company offered to build the new center on budget.

"I have never seen a community come together like this one did," said Jeff Beeman, area director of USDA's Rural Development program. "It was very impressive."

Mayfield said she was also touched at how the community suggested naming the center after Julien Bucher.

"He was a well-respected member of the community who valued the importance of education," she said. "It was a most-deserving honor."

Bucher's wife, Nancy Bucher, was also touched and honored.

"Julien loved this community and loved people," she said tearfully. "Thank you for putting his name on this. He realized his goal."