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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Ritzville

The Adams County Park and Recreation District No. 4 is hoping a single hour of fund-raising will keep the local swimming pool open through August. In a swimathon today, all pool-users are asked to sign up sponsors to donate money for every lap they swim. All swimmers will be given one hour to swim their laps. Initial dive-in begins at 10 a.m. Those who wish to donate to keep the pool open longer are asked to call 659-0563.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

Parents, get your pens ready to mark your calendars. The Republic School District has chosen Monday through Thursday for school registration. Children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 can register for kindergarten Thursday. New students to the area are asked to register Monday. High school registration will follow with seniors signing up Monday, juniors and sophomores Tuesday, and freshmen registering Wednesday. Returning elementary through eighth grade students are automatically registered with the district.

GRANT COUNTY

Although Census 2000 is two years away, 200 census workers will be knocking on doors basinwide to get a head start. The crews will be address listing, which involves updating maps and addresses, an important practice in growing rural areas. The updated information ensures all housing units will receive an official census questionnaire in the spring of 2000.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Davenport

Victims of recent vandalism in Davenport have banded together to nip this problem in the bud. Local businesses and citizens have started a reward fund to find those responsible for hundreds of dollars of damage to businesses in the downtown area last week. Vandals spray-painted walls and at least one vehicle, broke windows and cut phone lines in a two-block area. The old city police car, parked several blocks from the ravaged area, also was trashed. Davenport Police Chief Charlie Varain said the case is under investigation and has a high priority. The reward fund is more than $300 and growing.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Usk

Saying the long-term effects of the industry should be “very favorable for Ponderay Newsprint,” Ponderay Newsprint General Manager Bill Meaney announced managing partner, Canadian-based Avenor, has sold all its holdings and debt to Bowater Inc., of South Carolina. Bowater is now the majority owner in Ponderay Newsprint, with 40 percent holdings. Privately held, the other partners in the local paper mill are large newspaper companies who helped build the business in 1987. Avenor received $2.37 billion in total consideration for its mills and land.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Spokane Valley

Moving day has arrived for Trent Elementary School in the Spokane Valley. Well, it’s more like moving month. The 45-year-old dowager of the East Valley School District has been remodeled in two phases during the past year. Now, it’s time for cleaning, waxing floors and moving boxes into the new classrooms. “Where everything is at in Trent, is still in the hallways,” said Judy Christianson, district spokeswoman.

STEVENS COUNTY

Colville

Fighting illiteracy in Stevens County, North Eastern Washington Rural Resources is looking for interested citizens to become reading tutors. The Adult Literacy Program is looking for folks to share their talents and skills in the complex world of reading and communications. To volunteer, call 684-8421 ext. 226. Those who wish to enroll someone in the program also are invited to call.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Pullman

Paul Kreager, a longtime Pullman resident, was honored in the latest issue of Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine as one of the 10 most influential people in the telecommunications cabling industry. Kreager is president of KAI/Level 0-1, a Pullman-based global telecommunications consulting and education company.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

St. Maries

The Forest Service has started a program renting former outposts in the St. Joe River drainage. The Arid Peak Lookout and the Red Ives Ranger Cabin recently were remodeled to accommodate visitors. Outposts at Conrad and Surveyors Peak are being remodeled. For information about renting Forest Service cabins, call the Avery Office of the St. Joe Ranger District at 245-4517.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

Dance classes will be offered by The San Francisco Dance Troupe today and Sunday at the Performing Arts Center. The classes will be from 9:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Lessons will be given in classical Egyptian belly dance, Hungarian, cymbals, Bulgarian gypsy dance, classical sword dancing, classical eastern Indian dance and classical Egyptian dance. For registration information, call Celeste Generaux at 255-1082. The San Francisco Dance Troupe will perform at 5 p.m. today and Sunday at the Pend Oreille Arts and Crafts Fair.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

The Bonners Ferry Ranger District and the Bonners Ferry Interagency Dispatch Center have been receiving calls concerning the high level of smoke that has moved into the area. According to Coeur d’Alene Dispatch Satellite Imagery, the smoke is coming from the Chelan fire in Washington state, which had grown from 25 to about 4,800 acres by Friday. For more information, call the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 267-5561.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

About 150 knapweed root weevils were released on two knapweed-infested areas this week in Kootenai County. Weed abatement officials are spreading the bugs in order to combat the sprouting problem of spotted knapweed.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

The third annual “Cruisin’ the Eastside,” car show, rally and free community dance is scheduled here today. The car show starts at 3 p.m. and the dance begins at 7 p.m. There will be prizes, a poker run, food booths, and T-shirts. For more information call Donna Kendall or Angie Fredrickson at (208) 882-1533.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Pinehurst

The Pinehurst Police Department is investigating a forced entry burglary to the Washington Water Power sub-station. Someone entered the fenced area and broke into two buildings. A Panasonic cordless telephone was stolen. There also was damage to the building entrances. Anyone with information regarding the burglary is asked to contact the Pinehurst Police Department, 682-3662.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Troy

Forest Road 746 will be closed to traffic a half mile up the road Monday through Thursday. The closure will allow the Three Rivers Ranger District to install a new culvert at the Fowler Creek crossing. The road still will be accessible by way of Forest Road 5812 or the Upper Ford Road. For more information, call Wayne Kroeger at the Troy Ranger Station, (406) 295-4693.