The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Othello
Parents wanting to Christmas shop without the little ones in tow are getting a hand from the Othello High School Key Club. The club is holding a community child-care service Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Games, projects, movies and snacks are planned. Donations will be accepted. Those wishing to take advantage of the service may call (509) 488-4654.
Ferry County
Republic
Facing the loss of taxable lands, County Commissioner Dennis Snook says buffers protecting local wetlands will likely be dropped from the county’s Comprehensive Plan. Assessor Kelly Leslie estimates $30,316 in tax dollars would be lost if buffers as wide as 250 feet from waterways were built.
Grant County
All Grant Transit Authority buses are collecting nonperishable food items for local food banks. Clothing and toys are also accepted. Drop boxes inside the buses will travel the county through Dec. 22.
Lincoln County
Reardan
The Police Department wants more of a presence at the local school. The department is pursuing a federal grant to put a full-time officer in the school for in-service and curriculum programs. The grant would pay 75 percent of the officer’s salary and benefits. The city’s second officer, Ken Lesperance, would fill the position if the grant is obtained.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
The county Public Works Department is issuing snow-plow reminders. To keep children safe, parents should not let kids build tunnels, forts or play in snow berms along roadsides. Also, residents are reminded to move cars off of street before they are plowed in or towed. It is also against the law to shovel snow from driveways and sidewalks into the road.
Spokane County
Deer Park
Deer Park High School senior Brad Martin was named the Deer Park Rotary Club’s November student of the month. Martin is president of the school’s National Honor Society and a member of the Talented and Gifted Program, Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America and Math Club.
Stevens County
Colville
Those wishing to experience the back country this winter season are invited to a “snowshoe trek” in the Colville National Forest. Botanist Kathy Ahlenslager and biologist Sandy Lembcke will lead the trek along Deer Creek Summit South Cross-Country Ski Trail on Sunday. They will identify shrubs and animal tracks. For information and a pair of snowshoes, call (509) 775-3305.
Whitman County
Monday may have been snowy, but the month of November was a mild one in Whitman County, according to local weather buff Wayne Bly. The high temperature for the month was 72 degrees, which surprisingly occurred during the week of Nov. 22. The low temperature for the month, 20 degrees, was recorded during the week of Nov. 1. Rainfall was 3.11 inches for the month, bringing the year-to-date total to 12.87 inches.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
Mike McKeon, Bank of Latah assistant vice president, will present a program on “Countdown to the Year 2000” at the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting Wednesday. The meeting will be at noon at the Eagles Lodge. Lunch is available for $4.50, and nonperishable food donations will be taken for the St. Maries Food Bank.
Bonner County
Coolin
Priest Lake State Park is submitting a Waterways Improvement Fund grant request to replace two sets of docks and pilings at the park’s Indian Creek Unit, 11 miles north of Coolin. The replacement affects 10-year-old docks that are costly to repair and maintain. The public is invited to comment on the project by writing to: Manager, Priest Lake State Park, 423 Indian Creek Bay, Coolin, ID 83821-9706. Comments must be received no later than Dec. 31 to be included in the grant request.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
The Small Business Administration will open a disaster office in Bonners Ferry at the Business Assistance Center, 6821 Riverside Street. The office will be open today through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to assist victims of the October landslide in applying for a SBA loan. Victims unable to meet with a loan officer may obtain more information by calling SBA at (800) 488-5323. All applications for economic injury disaster loans must be returned to SBA no later than Aug. 27, 1999.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
Applications for Leadership Coeur d’Alene 1999 will be accepted through Dec. 31. The educational program offers a comprehensive look at education, the environment, the local economy, arts and recreation. Sessions are designed to educate current and future leaders about the role they can take in shaping our community. For more information, call the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce, (208) 664-3194.
Latah County
Moscow
Citizens and various organizations have scheduled a town meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Moscow City Community Center, 206 East Third St., in response to a cross-burning and fire-bombing of a local citizen activist’s home. The forum will provide an opportunity for community members to search for ways to prevent further such actions. Religious, human rights, minority organizations and business representatives, along with elected officials and the attorney representing one of the victims, have been invited to give short presentations. Liz Brandt, a local human rights authority, will be master of ceremonies.
Shoshone County
Kellogg
Silver Mountain Resort will hold a canned food drive Wednesday to benefit the Shoshone County Food Bank. Silver Mountain will give a $2 discount on any lift ticket purchased at the ticket window for those who bring a can of nonperishable food. Season-pass holders will receive a 10 percent discount certificate for food and beverage on the mountain if they bring a donation. The program has been part of the seasonal event list at Silver Mountain for several years.
Kellogg
The Shoshone County snowmobile trail groomer board will meet today at 7 p.m. in the public safety facility building of the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Department. The public is invited to attend. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
The Libby Area Chamber of Commerce recently elected new board members. The new board Rich Burns, John Crowe, Sonya Neisess, Linda Rosling and Tim Steele. The new board members will begin their terms in January.
Libby
Winter road information for the state of Montana is now available daily from the Montana Department of Transportation at (800) 226-ROAD. Cell-phone users can call *ROAD and connect to road information. The call is not billed to the caller’s allotted time. A free booklet on winter survival is also available from MDT and the Department of Disaster and Emergency Services. The booklets contain maps and phone numbers for road reports in Montana and neighboring states. The booklets are available by calling (800) 714-7296.