The County Lines

Sun., Aug. 30, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Othello

The city is asking parents to help foot the bill for the After School Club. The program, which last year cost $12,000 to administer, has a 1998-99 budget of $23,300. To help cover the cost of additional personnel and supplies, families could pay as much as $105 per year, per child. The club is designed to help working parents by providing a positive place for kids to go after school. Despite the increase, the fee translates into 24 cents per hour for 2 hours of constructive activity.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

Thanks to the elbow grease of countless county residents, the flood-damaged Ferry County Fairgrounds will be ready for opening day. The Sept. 4-6 fair will feature horse events, cattle shows and displays of cooking, sewing and crafts by area residents. For adults, there will be dances on Friday and Saturday nights. Also on the docket is 8-year-old singing sensation Alexis Ebert, who will perform on the outdoor stage. The fairgrounds are located three miles east of Republic.

GRANT COUNTY Coulee City

Stop the presses! That’s exactly what Joyce Edie and Sunshine Didra have done at the Coulee City News & Standard. The pair have sold the rural weekly newspaper to Coulee City resident ShirleyRae Maes. Edie, a Mattawa resident, and Didra, of Quincy, say they will miss the job, but not the 160- and 120-mile daily commutes.

LINCOLN COUNTY Davenport

Loggers looking for a little extra cash have taken to the streets. B.G. Logging of Spokane has been taking down the towering firs that took a heavy beating over the past two years during severe winter windstorms free of charge. “We’re just doing it for the wood,” says owner Gene Basler of the project. Although some residents were concerned about the loss of these trees, many 100-plus years old, homeowners say it’s necessary. The trees, they say, are a hazard. Pend Oreille County Newport With low student numbers, the Newport Parent Cooperative Preschool could be forced to shut down this fall. Currently, only two families have enrolled in the program. A minimum of six families is needed to continue with classes. The preschool is operated by the Community Colleges of Spokane. For information, call Tracy Abercrombie at (509) 447-5803.

SPOKANE COUNTY Colbert

Ian M. Craig, son of Gady and Peggy Craig, and Jonathan C. Collier, son of Jeff and Giovama Collier, completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. The two completed courses in first aid, combat water survival, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat and various weapons training.

STEVENS COUNTY Northport

Trying to make up for lack of state funding, the Northport School District is looking to patrons to fund a $50,000 levy. In an attempt to give students a few of the fringe benefits, Administrator Patsy Gulgielmino says the district will use the money wisely. “We’re frugal, and we know how to operate with just state funds, but it’s not enough. Our kids deserve the extras,” she says, such as up-to-date textbooks, athletics and facilities maintenance.

WHITMAN COUNTY Pullman

The YWCA of WSU is sponsoring a panel discussion on the possibility of creating a shared-use commercial kitchen on the Palouse. Such a facility allows small communities to produce local products for retail use in accordance with health department regulations. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in room 224 of the WSU CUB, 7-9 p.m.

Margaret Viebrock of WSU’s Douglas County extension office and others will share their expertise in developing and managing such kitchens. For more information, contact Peggy Adams at (208) 882-1444 or Liza Rognas at (509) 335-6849.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries

Dr. Rick Thurston and Dr. Mike Stone are ending their family practices at St. Maries Family Medicine in hopes of improving service at Benewah Community Hospital. Starting in September, they will serve as emergency room doctors.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

A levy intended to improve Bonner County School District will be decided Tuesday. The $1.38 million supplemental levy will fund the purchase of 10 buses, additional staff and instructional materials. The polls will be open noon-8 p.m. at Priest River Lamanna High School, Priest Lake Elementary, Edgemere Grange Hall, Idaho Hill Elementary, Blanchard Grange Hall and Laclede Community Hall.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

Applications for free and reduced-price meals have been sent to all homes in the Boundary County School District. Completed applications should be returned to schools. The information on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or program officials.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is asking for anyone in the Coeur d’Alene Basin wanting to have their homes and yards tested for metals to contact them within a week. People interested can contact Sean Sheldrake at (206) 553-1220. The sampling is part of the EPA Superfund investigation into the extent of mining contamination throughout the basin.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

The Girl Scout Inland Empire Council is holding recruitment activities at the Eastside Marketplace in Moscow on Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m. Girl Scout members are girls ages 5 to 17 and adult volunteers. Dues are $7 annually.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Kellogg

A certified nursing assistant training class will begin Oct. 5 in the Silver Valley. The class, offered by North Idaho College Workforce Training Center, prepares students for employment as CNAs in extended-care facilities, hospitals, home care and hospice situations. The course will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 15. Information about the course is available by calling the NIC Workforce Training Office at (208) 769-3444.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Troy

A new computer lab, consisting of 26 Internet-accessible machines, is up and running at Troy High School. The lab is available for use by the school, businesses and the general public. Funding for the $200,000 project came from metal mine license fees paid to the county and set aside for economic development or planning.

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