The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

The City Council has approved a fee hike on animal impounds. A first-time offender will cost its owner $15 to get it out of the pokey, up from $7.50. A second offense will cost $25, and the third time the animal is picked up, the fine will jump to $50. Boarding fees also went up from $3 to $5 per day. Animal control costs the city $27,000 each year, with only $3,000 coming from impound fees.

Ferry County Republic

Five young ladies are being touted as champions of helping others. Tami Keyser, Talena Vangemert, Kasa Zipfel, Katharina Pierce and Trista Gregory were top contributors to a recent food drive for the local food bank. All told, 845.5 pounds of food was collected. Keyser, the top contributor, brought in 70.5 pounds on her own.

Grant County Moses Lake

The Port of Moses Lake was named “Port of the Year” by the Washington Public Ports Association. The port was recognized for government partnerships, business recruitment and construction of a world-class airport terminal. The port also solved a wastewater capacity problem at its facility, which helped a local manufacuturer expand and hire 50 more employees.

Lincoln County Almira

Creston, Wilbur and Almira folks are now asked to dial 911 in an emergency. The 911 emergency system is operational across the county. Starting Jan. 1, traditional fire and ambulance phones will no longer be in service. Enhanced 911 service, which automatically shows dispatchers where the emergency call is coming from, should be online next year.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The school board decided on Dec. 14 to ask voters to support a two-year maintenance and operations levy in February. The district hopes for support of $550,000 for year 2000, with $290,000 to be collected in 2001. Taxpayers are looking at $1.87 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That is up from the current levy of $1.41 per thousand, which brought in $389,000 in 1999.

Stevens County Colville

Local teens raising money for a skateboard park are hoping to haul off Christmas trees after the holiday is over. Donations will benefit a skateboard park being planned for the Colville High School campus. Although $30,000 has already been raised, the project still needs money. Volunteers will pick up all discarded trees on Jan. 2 and 9.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The St. Maries Ambulance Association is seeking new members. The group is looking to increase the number of certified volunteers by at least four. State EMT certification requires a minimum of 110 hours of training. Volunteers respond to three to 10 calls each week and alternate 12-hour shifts during the week and 24-hour shifts during the weekend. Persons interested in certification are invited to attend the St. Maries Ambulance meeting Dec. 30. For information, call (208) 245-2972.

Bonner County Sandpoint

Calvary Chapel recently installed a 250-watt translator antenna at the KPND tower on Marion Street. The radio feed of the Calvary Satellite Network, a nonprofit Christian radio network, is from KAWZ in Twin Falls. The new station will operate as K212EY at 90.3 on the FM dial, broadcasting 24 hours a day. For information or program schedules, call (800) 272-9673 or the church office at (208) 265-1613.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Free lunch is available every Thursday at noon at United Methodist Church. The Boundary County Community Kitchen, organized by Evalie Sturman, serves hot, nutritious meals at the church. Although the meals are free, donations are accepted.

Kootenai County Post Falls

Cabletron Systems has donated $2,000 to 13 families in Idaho and Washington. The donation from the networking systems provider came from bake sales, breakfasts and the sale of a gingerbread house.

Latah County Moscow

Moscow High School students are heading a project to erect entrance signs at the city limits of Moscow. The student council project is receiving help from service clubs, the University of Idaho and the city. The signs cost $21,000 each, with the city footing half the bill. UI donations will cover 40 percent of the cost, while the remaining 10 percent will be divided between the Moscow school district, and the student councils of Moscow High School and UI.

Shoshone County Lookout Pass

Snowmobilers from throughout the region are planning a Jan. 2 rally to protest the Forest Service’s planned closure of the Hoodoo/ Stateline area on Jan 4. The rally is organized by the Superior Chamber of Commerce, the Montana Snowmobile Association and the Blue Ribbon Coalition. The Forest Service announced earlier this year that several management areas in the Stateline area would be closed in accordance with a 1986 Lolo Forest Plan, which includes closure of roadless areas to motorized traffic.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Public land managers have decided that some roads in grizzly habitat on the Kootenai National Forest can be seasonally open to vehicles beginning Jan. 1. A subcommittee of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee recently approved the interim access management plan that could be in effect for three years. A copy of the interim plan is available from Bob Summerfield at the Kootenai National Forest, (406) 293-6211.