The County Lines

Sat., Aug. 1, 1998

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

The 1997 numbers are in, and according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, violent crime rates are dropping in Othello. Such crimes in 1994 numbered 41, then hit a low of 19 in 1995. The following year, crime was back up with 36 violent episodes reported. In 1997, the number dropped to 25.

Ferry County

Republic

To fight an infestation of yellow star thistle in the southeast quarter of the county, the WSU Extension office released 1,500 hairy weevils recently. Star thistles cause livestock chewing diseases and destroy habitat for wildlife due to the 1-inch needles on their heads. Hairy weevils feed on star thistle head buds, reducing seed production dramatically. The extension agency and the Colville Tribes Range Department will monitor both the weevil and the star thistle for results.

Grant County

Soap Lake

The steamy Tennessee Williams classic “A Streetcar Named Desire” is on the marquee at Masquers Theatre. The play, which features Thomas Sergneri as rough-and-tumble Stanley Kowalski, Bobbi Konshuk as his kindly wife Stella, and Masquers veteran Karen Kinch as potboiler Blanche DuBois, runs every Friday and Saturday night through Aug. 15.

Lincoln County

Davenport

Candidates have been registering at the county auditor’s office. While most incumbents are running unopposed, Treasurer Doris Hein says she will not seek re-election. Linda Fisher, a Republican from Creston, wants to replace Hein.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

The first Pend Oreille County Bull-A-Rama is on the docket today at the Newport Rodeo Arena. Held in conjunction with the Fabulous ‘50s Car Show, which is staged in the city park, the Bull-A-Rama opens with 32 riders and dwindles to eight for the final round of competition. Action gets under way at 7 p.m.

Spokane County

Medical Lake

An annual bicycle race in Medical Lake has been renamed in memory of Cooper Jones, the teenage rider killed near Cheney last summer while training. The Cooper Jones Hammerfest Stage Race was held recently. Jones’ death led to enactment of the Cooper Jones Act, a piece of state legislation setting up a bicycle safety and awareness program.

Stevens County

Clayton

People looking for a little excitement today are invited to Brickyard Days. Kicking off with breakfast at 7 a.m. provided by the local volunteer fire department, the agenda includes a fun run, parade, barbecue and kiddie games.

Whitman County

Pullman

The annual Crazy Days celebration continues through Sunday downtown, where merchants will feature sales and special promotions. A blood drive sponsored by the American Red Cross is scheduled today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Family Eye Clinic in the Wheatland Shopping Center.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Children age 6 through 14 can register for ArtFun, scheduled for Aug. 10-13 at Central Park. Sponsored by the St. Maries Art Council, the program offers classes in clay sculpting, basket weaving, marbleized paper and tie-dying. Each one-hour class is limited to 12 students, so registration must be received in advance to save preferred time slots. The cost is $2 for each class, with the exception of tie-dying, which is $3. For registration information, call Sharron Smillie at (208) 245-3417.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

The Idaho Immunization Program is offering hepatitis B vaccines. For appointments for immunizations, call the Panhandle Health District at (208) 263-5159.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Shaugnessy Hill performs traditional Irish music tonight at Second Street Pizza. The band comes from Libby, Mont. They will play from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more information, call (208) 267-5153.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

Two young barred owls that were found orphaned will be set free on Sunday after spending a month in captivity. Observers of the release are encouraged to meet at the Farragut State Park visitors’ center at 8:45 a.m. to caravan to the launch site. The barred owls have been held at the Pend Oreille Birds of Prey Raptor Rehabilitation Shelter in the park. For more information, call Tami Johnson at (208) 683-2425.

Latah County

Potlatch

Longtime Potlatch farmer Doug Scoville has been named to the Idaho Barley Commission, the advocacy organization for barley production and distribution. Scoville will represent producers from the Canadian border south to Grangeville, Idaho.

Shoshone County

Kingston

Authorities are searching for a missing dog in the Kingston area that may have been exposed to rabies. The dog is an older black lab with no collar or identifying marks. It has been reported to be running with a large group of dogs in the Hunt Gulch area. Anyone with information on the dog or who knows if another animal has been exposed is asked contact a local animal hospital or call Shawn Eixenberger at (208) 556-1114.

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