The County Lines

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Othello

With an enrollment of 571 in grades 10-12, Othello High School is a solid Class 2A school. However, if enrollment projections remain on track, the district may become a 3A school of more than 600 kids within two years. The school is concerned about keeping travel to sporting events at a minimum on school nights, with long trips scheduled for weekends.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

The City Council is unhappy about its latest rise in utility rates. Council members say they are passing along the $20,000 cost of adding corrosion control to the city’s water system - a Department of Ecology mandate. Residents will see water and sewer rates go up $1.50 each in 1999.

GRANT COUNTY Royal City

Administrators at Red Rock Elementary recently finished the school’s accountability plan. The state-mandated plan shows how the district will improve fourth-grade test scores. In 1998, only nine of Red Rock’s 104 fourth-graders met the state standard. The district has a large number of migrant students with limited English skills, something the plan will address.

LINCOLN COUNTY Almira

The reins of Lincoln Mutual No. 1 have been officially turned over. Scott Winona of Coulee City has taken over management from longtime top dog Roy Rice. Rice has run the chemical co-op since April 1960. He plans to travel and make intricate wooden rocking horses for his grandchildren.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Ione

Wildlife lovers can get a close-up of Bighorn sheep at the south end of Sullivan Lake. The herd, staying near a state Fish and Wildlife feeding station, numbers 27 animals. The site is a one-mile hike from the Noisy Creek Campground. For information, call (509) 446-7500.

SPOKANE COUNTY Spokane

Holiday music coming from the Riverfront Park Clock Tower was made possible by the purchase of a new carillon last fall. The $14,000 music maker was financed by the Spokane Parks and Recreation Foundation, and will resume classical and popular music after the holidays.

STEVENS COUNTY Colville

Hoping to change the perception of local youths as “troublemakers who vandalize, steal and cause general mayhem,” two women are organizing the Colville Youth Commission. The Commission, brainchild of Julianna Rigg and Sierra Santoyo, will get kids involved in government, give educational opportunities and showcase positive achievements.

WHITMAN COUNTY Colfax

The Palouse Economic Development Council has been selected to form a Business Retention and Expansion program in Whitman County. It will be funded by the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. To determine the needs of county businesses, 60 visitation surveys will be conducted to pinpoint areas of concern.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries

For the third year, the St. Maries Public Library is displaying Randy Silflow’s collection of “Department 56” scenes of Christmas. They include porcelain homes and shops of an alpine village, scenes from Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol,” a country farm and Santa’s village.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

Sandpoint clerk’s office and the utility department will close at 2:30 p.m. today for Christmas. They will keep regular hours New Year’s Eve. The post office will be fully staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and partially staffed until 5 p.m. today.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

The Beating the Odds Gamblers Support Group meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of the United Methodist Church at 6568 Lincoln Street. For information, call Susan Falck at (208) 267-5100.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

The North Idaho College Alumni Association is offering a $1,500 scholarship to a full-time sophomore for fall 1999 and spring 2000. It is open to degree-seeking students in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applications are due to the Financial Aid Office by March 1. The recipient will be notified by May 1. For information, call (208) 769-7806 or (208) 769-3376.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig is rallying support from agricultural groups for legislation to help combat noxious weeds spreading across the West in his Plant Protection Act of 1999. Donald Thill, University of Idaho professor of weed science, said recreationists often transfer seeds on their vehicles, so it is important to check them before traveling to another location. Livestock and farm equipment move the plants around. Idaho suffers from infestations of such species as hawkweed, yellow star thistle, spotted knapweed, purple loosestrife and leafy spurge.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Wallace

Churches in Wallace, Osburn and Silverton will sponsor the annual Christmas Dinner Dec. 25 from noon to 3 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Church, at Second and Pine streets in Wallace. It is open to all Shoshone County residents. For information or reservations, call (208) 752-7461 or (208) 556-4001.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Libby

The Forest Service is seeking public comment on what should be addressed in the Government Performance and Results Strategic Plan 2000 Revision. The first phase, which involves soliciting views from the public and employees, is to be completed by January 31. The second phase will be completed by January 2000. A copy of the plan for 1997 can be found at www.fs.fed.us/pl/rpa or by contacting Tom Rhode at (406) 329-3196.