The County Lines

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Othello

Three men want the position being vacated by County Commissioner Shawn Logan. The candidates are Felix Castaneda, Jeff Stevens and Franz Laska. All three are registered as Republicans, which makes this race a sprint rather than a marathon to the November election. The final tally from the Sept. 15 primary will decide the next commissioner.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

With the Sept. 15 primary election just a few weeks away, the Republic Business and Professional Women will give area voters a chance to meet candidates at a forum Aug. 26 in the Republic Elementary School multi-purpose room. The forum starts at 6:30 p.m. Candidates will explain their platforms and participate in a question-and-answer session.

GRANT COUNTY

Ephrata

Charging that wind-warning devices on or near Wanapum Dam failed last summer, the family of Lorene Bougher, a Seattle woman who drowned there July 22, 1997, has filed a claim against Grant County.

The family is seeking $425,000 in damages, including pain and suffering and economic hardship. The county prosecutor’s office is reviewing the claim. If it’s denied, the family may file suit in Superior Court.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Wilbur

With its first house inhabited by a grateful Alan Grubb of Reardan, Lincoln County Habitat for Humanity is moving its operation to Wilbur. Construction is in the planning stages for Ben and Becky Peterson’s Habitat home. Local landowner Donna Roloff has tentatively donated two lots for the project. Although Grubb’s monthly house payments go toward the building of the Peterson home, cash donations, materials and volunteer labor are needed. For information, contact Millie Rinker at (509) 796-2766.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Cusick

Needing to drop nearly $50,000 from its budget, the Pend Oreille County Library District got a helping hand from Director Dave Remington. Remington eased the budget problem by announcing his resignation last week. He will be moving to Kootenai County to take the job of reference librarian at North Idaho College. By not filling Remington’s position, the library district will save an estimated $40,000.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Liberty Lake

Work is almost completed at the new Liberty Lake Elementary School, which will open this fall. It’s a thoroughly modern school, except for one little spot: a handful of old bricks nestled into a wall outside the main entry. The bricks are from yesteryear’s Liberty Lake School, built in 1912. A group of parents wanted to tie that little piece of Liberty Lake’s history into the new school, said Liberty Lake Principal Dennis Olson.

STEVENS COUNTY

Diamond Lake

Women interested in obtaining outdoors skills are invited to a weekend of archery, backpacking and canoeing Aug. 22 and 23. Sponsored by Washington Outdoor Women and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the classes take place at Camp Cowles on Diamond Lake, 50 miles north of Spokane. Also on the agenda are classes in cooking, fishing, shooting and survival. For information, contact Alison Block at (509) 226-0311.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Rosalia

The Rosalia School Board has signed a 20-year lease for use of a city ballfield from the Rosalia Park and Recreation District. The $5,000 lease will help pay for improvements at the field while easing athletic scheduling concerns for the school district.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

St. Maries

After 11 years as superintendent, Ronald Hill has resigned from the Kootenai School District. Kootenai High School principal Rich Lund will temporarily fill the position while the school district seeks a replacement. In addition, several coaching and teaching positions are open within the district for the 1998-99 school year.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

The new Bonner County jail is expected to be completed as early as next month, with occupancy sometime in October. It was scheduled to open before New Year’s Eve. Work began last year on the $3.95 million facility that will replace the county’s small and substandard jail, which operated on a consent agreement after it was condemned by the federal government.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

The Boundary County Board of Trustees have unanimously voted to award Bonners Ferry Builders the contract to construct the Mt. Hall gym. Bonners Ferry Builders had the lowest bid at $420,000.

Bonners Ferry

Trustee Dan Robertson was elected vice chairman of the Boundary School District during the latest school board meeting. Tom Foust declined to serve a fifth year in the position.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

About 100 teachers from Coeur d’Alene School District took part in a statewide computer competency test. Carolyn Thoresen, a Boise State University instructor who is supervising the test, said Idaho’s current score puts the state in the top 25 percent of teachers across the nation. By 2001, 90 percent of the 13,000 Idaho public school teachers are required to pass the test.

LATAH COUNTY

Kendrick

Participants are needed for the annual community market quilt show and salute on Sept. 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Kendrick Grange. Quilts will be entered and hung from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Closed judging will follow. To volunteer or get more information, call (208) 289-5302.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Silverton

The East Shoshone Hospital District is looking at a possible $619,039 shortfall for the current fiscal year after a $329,878 loss in 1997. Extra business generated by the addition of two doctors is expected to help cut losses in the upcoming fiscal year. A public hearing on the budget will be held Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. in the Silver Valley Medical Center boardroom.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

The Libby School Board has approved the 1998-99 budget, including authority to levy 5 percent more in property taxes. The budget is at $7.724 million, secured by a $400,000 mill levy election in February. The budget must now be approved by Lincoln County Superintendent of Schools Dean Jensen and the county commissioners.