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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The County Lines

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Ritzville

The Adams County Public Works Department has announced snow removal will run the same as previous years. Top priority will be given to paved roads, then gravel roads used for mail or school buses, but only if there is an accumulation of 3 or more inches. All other gravel roads are the third priority. Rural residents with medical conditions are asked to register with the road department for emergency plowing.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

County residents can expect to see about half a million tax dollars spent on snow and ice removal in 1998. In 1993, the county spent $562,643 keeping roads passable. The high for the decade was $765,591 in 1996. Year to date totals show $389,190 has been spent on plowing and sanding, with the next few weeks expected to bring the total up to the $500,000 average.

GRANT COUNTY

Royal City

Fishing is good at Potholes Reservoir, especially if you’re looking to land a hefty trout or two. According to sources at the MarDon Tackle Shop, trout between 16 and 24 inches have been biting from the bank and the boat. Medicare Beach is the hottest trolling spot. Those fishing from the bank are directed to Frenchmen’s Wasteway. Othello’s Paul Rocha recently limited out on 10- to 14-inch coral trout.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Reardan

The City Council was asked to annex 5.7 acres of land west of town for a ballpark. The Reardan School District, having nixed plans to develop land north of town due to water-related and safety issues, is considering purchase of land nearer the school without safety concerns such as children crossing Highway 2 from the school. A public hearing is needed before the city can approve annexation.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Newport

When computer desks at the local high school deteriorated to the point of crashing to the floor, students didn’t run away. They dug in. Students in the woods program, metal shop and computer lab collaborated to construct new computer desks. The kids scrapped out the old desks and salvaged some materials to build 22 computer stations.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Medical Lake

The Medical Lake Fire Department is seeking toys for its annual Christmas giveaway. Donations will be accepted until 9 a.m. Sunday at City Hall or the Medical Lake Owl Pharmacy. Donors may also arrange for their toys to be picked up by calling (509) 299-9026.

STEVENS COUNTY

Chewelah

County residents fed up with the sniper still at large on Highway 395 are still collecting reward money. The current reward, $8,000, will be given to anyone giving information leading to the conviction of the shooter. In most cases, shots have been fired from a southbound vehicle at northbound cars near Jump Off Joe Lake and Loon Lake. To pass along information, call (509) 327-5111.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Colfax

Donations of clothing and personal items as Christmas gifts for developmentally disabled adults in the region are being accepted by the Whitman County Parks, Fair and Developmental Services offices. Clean clothing, coats, hats and gloves, as well as games, cassettes, candy, personal care articles and money are appropriate gifts. Donations can be brought to the public service building in Colfax or to the parks office in Pullman City Hall through Friday.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

Fernwood

Ida Seaman’s insistence on moving a fire hydrant that’s in front of her house has prompted engineers to reconsider options concerning the hydrant’s placement. The hydrant was one of more than a dozen installed in Fernwood according to the designs of engineers hired to upgrade the city’s water system. A law disallowing parking within 15 feet of a hydrant prohibits anyone from parking in front of her house. Seaman owns a 50-foot lot along state Highway 3 adjacent to the Fernwood church. It would cost the fire department $5,000 to relocate the hydrant.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

A vehicle weight limit of 300 pounds per inch of tire width has been imposed on Great Northern Drive. The weight limit applies to the Great Northern Road between the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad line and Woodland Drive. The limit will prevent damage to the road in periods of wet weather.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

Toddler Time at the Boundary County Library will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Beth Byers will share Christmas stories, crafts and songs with 2-year-old and 3-year-old children.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

North Idaho Community Express is offering free tours of holiday lighted homes in Coeur d’Alene Saturday. Buses depart from the Food Court entrance of the Silver Lake Mall at 5:30, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. The N.I.C.E. tour lasts 40 minutes, and song books for caroling will be distributed on board. For more information, call (208) 762-2112.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

The University of Idaho Alumni Association honored 40 top UI seniors with grade point averages above 3.93 at a Moscow banquet Dec. 3. Among them were Laura Crossler, Ruth Anne Keenan and Rachel Miller of Moscow, Deborah Dawes of Potlatch and Mark Kimsey of Princeton.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Wardner

Wardner residents are being asked to help safeguard work on the Milo Creek Permanent Improvement Project during the winter. Residents should refrain from parking on the grates over the new catch basins along the curb, and honor the 25 mph speed limit to avoid spinning tires on the temporary gravel surface.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

December has been designated adopt-a-magazine month at Lincoln County Public Libraries.

Individuals, community businesses and organizations are asked to consider adopting one of the 90 magazine titles at the library. Donations are tax-deductible, and a label identifying the donor will be place on the magazine cover. For more information, call (406) 293-2778.

Some of the information in County Lines comes from readers’ tips and from community newspapers. For items outside Spokane County, send your tips by fax to County Lines, (509) 459-5482, by mail to County Lines, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-2160, or by e-mail to news@spokesman.com. For items in Spokane County, send tips to Voices, The Spokesman-Review, same fax number and mail or e-mail addresses.