The County Lines
WASHINGTON
ADAMS COUNTY Ritzville
With the Ritzville Community Parade coming up Sept. 5, organizers are putting out an all-points bulletin for entries. So far, floats from Sunnyside, Moses Lake, Royal City, Harrington, Davenport and Airway Heights are entered, along with numerous horse and car units. Those interested in entering the parade are asked to call Shirley Roth at (509) 659-0893 by Sept. 2.
FERRY COUNTY Republic
Merchants are planning the annual Best Bargains of the Year Sidewalk Sale on Friday and Saturday. The Chamber of Commerce promises a beautiful drive and interesting, quaint shops in this rustic Western town. For more information, call (509) 775-3351.
GRANT COUNTY Ephrata
Due to tightening of criminal justice funding for parole, as many as 15 Grant County juvenile offenders could be released without state supervision this year. In a 1997 legislative mandate, Level III sex offenders and boot camp inmates were given “intensive parole supervision.” Because this takes more resources than normal post-release supervision, money for regular parole is scarce. Juveniles currently on parole will be cut off as of Sept. 30 unless categorized as needing intensive parole. Grant County Juvenile Justice Administrator Greg Grammer calls this, “a community risk issue,” and says his office is getting creative with ways to keep juvenile offenders out of trouble.
LINCOLN COUNTY
Two Lincoln County students have done well at Washington State University. Odessa’s Deric Schmierer recently received $1,750 in scholarships to study crop science and biotechnology. Carolyn Kruger of Davenport was awarded $2,500 to continue her education in crop science. In addition, Sprague’s Stephanie Swannack and Wilbur’s Ronee Jo Deahl have earned $6,500 and $3,000, respectively, in scholarships to begin their college careers at WSU. Both will major in animal science.
PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport
Need information on the candidates before you cast your ballot? The Newport/Oldtown Chamber of Commerce will hold a candidate forum for county office-seekers Wednesday in the high school auditorium at 7 p.m. Francis Olson will act as moderator with Rod Owen as timekeeper.
SPOKANE COUNTY Airway Heights
City planner Gordon Howell was recently promoted to city administrator. Howell replaces Mike Patterson, who left at the end of last year for the job of city administrator in College Place, Wash.
STEVENS COUNTY Loon Lake
A local group will produce a short documentary in hopes of bringing attention to the dangers of Highway 395. Project 395 has contracted with Spokane’s North By Northwest Productions to put together a 10-minute overview of the highway’s tragic history. It will also look at traffic congestion and the increase in traffic accidents along this corridor. The group hopes to use the film as testimonial to the state Legislature for road improvement funds.
WHITMAN COUNTY Pullman
Constantine Alexander has been named executive director of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce. Alexander, 41, a native of Greece, is the former executive director of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of the Council of European-American Chambers of Commerce in Los Angeles. Alexander’s background includes international business, finance consulting and investment banking. He moved to Pullman to take the chamber position and replaces George Sharp, who resigned in April.
IDAHO
BENEWAH COUNTY Plummer
Employees of the Rayonier sawmill in Plummer have been notified of possible layoffs as required by federal law. Rayonier executives continue to contemplate rebuilding the sawmill, which was destroyed by a fire July 17.
BONNER COUNTY Priest River
Elden Gregory of Priest River, who was struck by lightning while hiking in Wyoming earlier this month, has been released from Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie, Wyo. He is recovering in Longmont, Colo. Gregory suffered a broken arm and facial lacerations from the lightning strike.
BOUNDARY COUNTY
The Boundary County School Construction Committee has voted to put a levy on the November election ballot to build a new high school. The committee met with the school’s architect, Gordon Longwell, and discussed preliminary plans for the proposed facility.
KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene
Patrick Ryan recently completed his quest for Eagle Scout with a service project on Tubbs Hill. Ryan, an Eagle in Troop 3, put up 28 signs along the Tubbs Hill trail, which he made with the help of other area Boy Scouts. He got the idea for the service project after talking with Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Judy and other city employees.
LATAH COUNTY Moscow
Six Latah County homeowners will open their doors for the Latah County Historical Society’s home and gardens tour Aug. 30.
Among the homes on display will be the former residence of Frank Robinson, the founder of the mail-order religion Psychiana. The house, now owned by John and Jan Reed, still holds the theater pipe organ Robinson used for relaxation and his weekly radio broadcasts. For a list of other homes and gardens on display and a schedule of events, contact the Latah County Historical Society at (208) 882-1004.
SHOSHONE COUNTY Wallace
Deputy Zipper with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office retired from duty at the end of July. Zipper, a black Labrador, was used by the department to search for drugs. During her four-year career, Zipper helped find more than $600,000 worth of street drugs and paraphernalia.
MONTANA
LINCOLN COUNTY Libby
A black bear was shot last week after a homeowner claimed it was trying to get into a house located in the Flower Creek neighborhood behind Rosauers. State game warden Steve Anderson responded to the call and shot the estimated 180-pound bear after it wandered near a group of people having a picnic.