County receives very high grade for high frequency of road grading
Over the last couple of weeks, we received a few inches of snow in Elk. A couple of inches of the white stuff for a couple of days is just fine after having several feet of it for several months the last two winters. Even better is that the temperatures have been above normal so far this year, giving us intermittent rain showers instead of snow.
Maybe the unusual weather conditions are the basis for a welcome occurrence: our area roads have been graded monthly in 2010! Thank you, Spokane County; it has been a pleasure. It probably takes the combination of moisture and temperatures warm enough so the ground isn’t frozen to provide the perfect grading conditions. Now, if we could just get some nice summer showers into July and August, maybe it will continue.
The road conditions are the subject of much of the feedback and suggestions area residents send me. Several e-mails came in about a gigantic pothole on Elk-Milan Road just north of Deer Park-Milan Road. Again, thank you to the county folk for filling that one. It was scary.
Virtually connected
There have been a couple more “All right!” moments happening in North Country. First is the addition of high-speed Internet availability in Elk. Satellite Internet through several sources has been around for a while, but it is too costly for many people. Now Qwest offers it through the regular phone lines (with a modem, a couple cords and hardware connection items). So, if dial-up is as frustrating for you as it was for me, check into high speed; it is great!
Also, an attempt was made to help bring residents of the “areas with trees and hills, especially to the north and east” into the modern world. A couple of the local TV stations upgraded their signals. Reception was a little better for a couple of days and then was gone. Many folks have resorted to satellite dishes since the changeover from analog to digital TV waves. The odd part about this is that most people could pick up three or four local stations with TV antennas before the change. When the changeover happened, some got several additional stations; but more lost all but one or two local channels – ABC and KSPS. We have tried several different antennas – the old one on a big pole, one on top of the house and a couple of those special ones that sit on or near the TV. I guess some people have just the right opening to pick up 15 or 20 stations with antennas or even “rabbit ears” in some cases.
Miscellaneous
I guess we should all be busy getting the gardens prepped and seeds started; spring is upon us!
Just a couple of event reminders: the Fertile Valley Fire Station benefit breakfast is Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. (509-292-8065). Proceeds will help finish up Camden Station 11.
The Elk Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort rummage and bake sale is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Inland Grange. Proceeds will go into a fund for emergency supplies for the community-oriented policing car. Call (509) 292-2604 for more information.