The County Lines

Sun., Aug. 16, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Othello

High fluoride levels in water from city well No. 6 are causing debate in Othello. Pumping out fluoride at nearly 4 parts per million, the well is decidedly higher than Environmental Protection Agency standards. The EPA says cities with water exceeding 2 parts per million of fluoride are required to post annual notices with citizens. Although there are no life-threatening consequences from high fluoride levels, children’s teeth can be damaged by dental fluorosis.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

Getting area roads in order before the weather turns, the Ferry County Commission awarded an emergency contract to fix Aeneas Creek Road. The road, devastated by the May 26 flood, needs to be moved one-quarter mile south of its current location. The commissioners waived the usual bid process, saying that in a declared emergency “the Public Works Department can contract immediately with any suitable party who can complete the construction.”

GRANT COUNTY

Ephrata

It’s been a long, hot summer without a community pool. The old city pool closed two years ago, and the Ephrata City Council is eyeing 2000 to begin construction on an aquatic center. Hoping to obtain grant money, the council agreed unanimously to pursue building a scaled-down version of a facility voters snubbed in 1997. The council designated $1.2 million toward the project and will try to fund any cost overruns without a bond issue.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Odessa

Pickle lovers, don’t fret! A pickle crew for the annual Deutschesfest celebration has been assembled. With volunteer labor dwindling, organizers of the local German celebration were worried they wouldn’t find enough people to cure homemade pickles for the event. But, members of the Chamber of Commerce beat the crunch and spent Thursday putting hundreds of cucumbers in brine for the weekend of Sept. 18.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Newport

It’s time to hit the books again at the Newport branch of the Community Colleges of Spokane. Classes will begin Sept. 17. In-house and telecommunications courses are scheduled, but officials warn prospective students that funding and enrollment levels could cancel come courses. Both credit and noncredit classes are available. For a catalog, call (509) 447-3835.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Deer Park

For the third straight year the city experienced slight growth. According to estimates released by state officials, Deer Park’s population grew from 2,890 residents in 1997 to 2,920 this year, a 1 percent gain. In 1996 the city’s population was 2,835. Roger Krieger, director of community relations, said the new figure is just an estimate and that Deer Park’s true population will not be known until the 2000 census.

STEVENS COUNTY

Chewelah

Ground will be broken here Saturday as Habitat for Humanity, Colville Valley Partners gets started on its second home. Fund raising for the organization’s first home has been going well, with a raffle for a boat and trailer expected to net $25,000. Gilbert and Marci Curtiss, and Jose and Mary Ruiz have qualified for these low-cost homes. Construction will begin on the second Chewelah Habitat home after the completion of the current house.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Pullman

Washington State University Dining Services will hold its “All Campus Picnic” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Grimes Way rugby field. Tickets will be on sale at the event. For more information, call Diane Patterson at (509) 335-5498.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

St. Maries

Potlatch Corp. appealed the 1998 assessment of its plywood mill in district court last week. The appeal is the fourth consecutive year the company has disputed the county’s assessment. The county assessed the property at $15.9 million, while Potlatch believes it should be valued at no more than $4.5 million.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

Four Sandpoint High School students are trying to generate enough funds to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Heather Turnbull, Alicia Wolfe, Brook Reha and Melissa Knight earned the opportunity to march as a result of a strong showing in the UCA cheerleading competition in Boise.

A yard sale has been scheduled for Aug. 23 in Sandpoint, raffles at Wal-Mart today and on Aug. 30, and a cheerleading demonstration at the Bonner County Fair on Aug. 29. For more information, call (208) 265-9509.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

The Wildlife Building at the Boundary County Fairgrounds will be closed during this year’s fair beginning Aug. 27 due to recent exhibit construction work. If the electrical systems are not brought up to code prior to being opened to the public, the building will be red tagged by the state, resulting in discontinuation of electrical services to the building, through which most of the fairground’s electrical service flows.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Rathdrum

Bluegrass farmers on the Rathdrum Prairie did not burn fields last Wednesday or Thursday due to unfavorable wind conditions. According to the smoke management agreement, growers will refrain from burning on Fridays, weekends and Labor Day. However, there are still 12 more days to burn until Sept. 24.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

The Latah County Historical Society will sponsor their annual Homes and Gardens Tour on Sunday. The event features vintage automobiles at each site and includes the traditional ice cream social at the McConnell Mansion. The tour is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. with the open house from 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the event. The Homes and Gardens Tour is a fund-raising event for the historical society which benefits educational programs. For more information, call at (208) 882-1004.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Kellogg

Children have apparently been playing on the 60-foot-long sections of high density polyethylene pipe used for the Milo Creek Permanent Improvement Project in Kellogg and Wardner. Each section weighs 7,500 pounds and could easily move due to uneven ground. Officials are insisting that children stay away from the pipe, trenches and other areas that have been excavated.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

Lincoln County Commissioners voted to put a levy request on the fall ballot asking local property owners to agree to a tax hike to fund the increasing demands of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The amount of the taxation will be determined by late September, Lincoln County Commissioner Larry Dolezal said.

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