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

The County Lines

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Ritzville

Moving out of city district No. 2, Councilwoman Beth Balch submitted her resignation to the mayor last week. Those interested in appointment to this position on the City Council are invited to submit a letter of interest to the city clerk. District 2 runs from the south side of Alder Street south to First Street. The city limits on both sides of town are the eastern and western boundaries.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

The Friends of Stonerose Interpretive Center are trying to raise money for an educational cause. Throwing a Breakfast and Bargains fund-raiser, patrons of the local fossil dig and museum will serve up breakfast burritos and hold a yard sale on Aug. 15. Those who have neat stuff they haven’t used in a couple of years are asked to call Lynn Beltz at 779-4670 to donate to the cause. Also, if you’re a fossil buff whose collection is gathering dust, Stonerose is offering to give your fossils a home. Just call 775-2295 to make a donation.

Soap Lake

Hoping the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Office calculated incorrectly, the Soap Lake School District is reacting to news it won’t receive $560,000 of state money for its construction and modernization projects. In dispute is 8,000 square feet of space that has been designed as an indoor play area. Soap Lake voters passed a bond issue in 1997 so the district could seek matching funds from the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The bond measure was designed to build a $3.6 million new elementary school to replace the aging and overcrowded Delancey-Houghton Elementary School, and $4.4 million to remodel the high school, adding a second wing of classrooms.

LINCOLN COUNTY

The Lincoln County Summer Youth Sewing program is offering four sewing courses through August. Open to kids 9 to 18 years old, the program kicks off Wednesday and Thursday at the Creston School with a 42-by-60inch star point quilt project. Other projects include making a backpack, hat, baseball cap and pillow. Venues and dates for the remainder of the classes are available from the WSU Extension Office by calling 725-4171.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport

A grant from the Gates Library Foundation, established by Microsoft owner Bill Gates, will help a local teacher help his peers. Sadie Halstead Middle School teacher Greg Massey was selected for the Washington State Teacher Leadership in Technology Project. Massey will attend seminars in how to incorporate technology into the classroom over the next three years, then teach his fellow staff members what he’s learned. The district also will receive $9,000 in hardware and software from Microsoft, and will be reimbursed for any travel costs Massey incurs.

SPOKANE COUNTY Medical Lake

The Medical Lake Food Bank Serve and Volley Tennis-Thon is Aug. 19-20. Team games are set up in one-hour intervals and people of all tennis abilities are encouraged to participate. All money raised goes to the food bank and the Medical Lake Community Outreach. Call 299-7781 for more information.

STEVENS COUNTY Ford/Colville

Proving themselves student leaders at Eastern Washington University, Darin Kamstra of Colville and Wendy Peone of Ford were among 20 students to receive the prestigious Frances B. Huston Medallion. The award is given annually to students who have excelled in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. Kamstra, a senior majoring in music performance and composition, is a 1994 graduate of Colville High School. Peone, a 1990 graduate of Springdale’s Mary Walker High School, is a senior majoring in education.

WHITMAN COUNTY Whitman

County Sheriff Steve Tomson warned residents of extreme fire danger in all parts of the county this week. Campfires are prohibited at all county parks and all Corps of Engineers recreational areas along the Snake River. Only gas-fired stoves and grills should be used, and with extreme caution. Motorists should not park vehicles in dry grass or brush.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries

St. Maries residents Brenda Couture and Matt Searles were recently hired to fill vacancies in the St. Maries Police Department. Graduates of the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office reserve program, they were chosen from among 17 applicants. Couture is also a Benewah County marine deputy. The City Council requires both officers to sign a two-year contract following their state certification. That requirement was passed after several newly trained city officers left the department for other law enforcement jobs.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

Jennifer Thompson, 15, of Sandpoint was given an achiever award at the Miss Teen Idaho Scholarship and Recognition program, which was July 23-25 at the Quality Inn Pocatello Park Hotel. Forty-five teenage girls from across the state participated in the event.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

The Boundary County School District 101 Board of Trustees will meet at 6:30 tonight in the junior high cafeteria. Included on the agenda are readings of new policies covering gang-related activities, clothing, safety and first aid. In addition, discussion will be continued on new facilities needed throughout district. Retiree Dick Dawson will be recognized for his years of service at the high school. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

The Lake City Senior Center will continue its summer fund-raising campaign today and Wednesday at Rosauers in Coeur d’Alene. LCSC depends entirely on grants and donations to provide homedelivered meals, senior companion programs, blood pressure clinics and other services. For additional information, call Pamela Lessard at 667-4628.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Wallace

Valerie Claypool has been named the new executive coordinator for the Wallace Chamber of Commerce. She replaces Bekka Rauve, who left the position to further her education. A lifetime resident of the Silver Valley, Claypool aims to establish an even greater line of communication between the businesses in Wallace and the chamber.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

Bill Parks, owner and founder of Northwest River Supply in Moscow, received an award for sporting goods catalog excellence from the National Catalog Conference in Boston. NRS manufactures and distributes whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoing and fishing equipment. The company, which employs about 75, sells many products via catalog.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Libby

Three Libby teens are facing criminal charges after being connected to a series of recent thefts of vehicle items. James Rand Hernvall, 18, was charged with felony theft, criminal endangerment and misdemeanor theft. The Lincoln County Attorney’s Office is pursuing related charges against the two 16-year-olds.