The County Lines

Fri., Dec. 25, 1998

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

Two employees were let go as the Othello City Council trimmed its 1999 budget. Recreation director Gary Ableman and assistant building inspector Roger Kilpatrick found their positions eliminated due to “lack of work.” The recreation director position was scheduled to pay $28,300 in 1999. All other city employees were given 3 percent raises.

Ferry County Republic

County commissioners approved a $500 start-up fee for the DUI home monitoring program. Hoping to save money by keeping DUI offenders out of jail, the county will let some offenders do time at home. Prisoners can be charged for the service, while the county makes money renting out cell space to other counties. The $500 start-up fee should fund two cases for 60 days.

Grant County Grand Coulee

The local food bank is giving thanks to Zion Lutheran Church for its annual food drive. Parishioners, under the direction of 9-year-old food drive coordinator Sam Rise, filled the shelves with over 3,000 pounds of food.

Lincoln County Reardan

Reardan is asking residents to get unlicensed cars off streets to make way for snow plows. City workers will tag unlicensed vehicles. Owners can move them, or pay impound costs.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Local residents who helped a stranded motorist were heartily thanked. Joni Emerson of Spokane found herself in a ditch off an icy Highway 2 recently. Afraid no one would help her and her children, Emerson was pleasantly surprised by the numerous people who stopped to give her assistance. “What a wonderful community you have,” Emerson told the local newspaper.

Spokane County Spokane

City building director Bob Eugene is leaving his job to go to work for Underwriters Laboratories in Edmonds, Wash. He was honored at a reception at City Hall last week.

Stevens County Colville

Evergreen Elementary School students are enjoying a new playground with enough space that all students can play at once. It was developed by local volunteers and boasts a sledding hill for winter fun.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Girls and boys ages 8-13 are encouraged to participate in the Elks Hoop Shoot Jan. 9. The free-throw competition will be at the Heyburn gym. The area hoop shoot will be Jan. 16 and is open to participants from DeSmet, Plummer, Kootenai, UpRiver, Calder and Clarkia. Winners of the area shoot will advance to the district competition in Moscow Feb. 6. Registration forms and information are available at area schools.

Bonner County Sandpoint

Don Holland has been awarded honorary membership in the Sandpoint Kiwanis Club. The honor is given to currently non-active Kiwanis for significant service to the community. Holland has been active in Kiwanis since 1986 and was responsible for founding the local book fund program for “Reading is Fundamental.”

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Bonners Ferry 2- and 3-year-old children and their parents are invited to attend Toddler Story Time at the Boundary County Library. Toddler Time will be Dec. 30 at 10:30 a.m.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene Fire Department has installed outside phones, for use when firefighters are out on a call, at the stations at 4th Street and Foster Avenue and on Ramsey Road at Kathleen Avenue. The phones connect directly to a 911 dispatcher.

Latah County Moscow

Assistant Moscow Schools Superintendent Robert West will serve as chief deputy when state schools superintendent-elect Marilyn Howard takes office. West has 35 years experience in education. He replaces Darrell Loosle, who is retiring after 17 years with the education department.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Shelley McGill, member of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, will train at Silver Mountain Dec. 26-Jan. 2. During her stay, McGill will work out with the Silver Mountain freestyle team and the Mitey Mite race team, both made up of students from the Silver Valley.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Troy

Troy and outlying schools in Yaak, Sylvanite and McCormick have been awarded a federal Goals 2000 grant of $191,880 to be distributed over a two-year period. The Goals 2000: Educate America Act was passed in 1994 to improve education at state and local levels. The Troy schools will receive $99,192 in the first year of the grant and $92,688 the second year.

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