The County Lines

Sat., July 25, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Othello

May the best garlic win! Pitting plant against plant, researchers are laboring to solve the mystery of what type of garlic grows best in the Columbia Basin. Competing from as far away as Pakistan and Korea, garlic bulbs are soaking up sun and rain in a test plot near Othello. So far, growth has been slow, and Adams County WSU extension agent Gary Pelter says he expects Washington state’s garlic crop won’t outpace wheat, apples or potatoes anytime soon.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

The Ferry County Sheriff’s Department was better safe than sorry last week as it closed down a portion of the county fairgrounds to investigate a vintage mortar shell. The shell, found by a hiker, was presumed to be live. An Army ordnance team found the shell to be empty, most likely fired into the air to determine wind velocity, as was the custom during WWII.

GRANT COUNTY Moses Lake

The Grant County prosecutor’s office is getting paperwork in order to extradite Steven B. Smith from Tennessee. Smith, recently sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in connection with a 1996 shooting of a federal agent in Memphis, could soon face charges of first-degree murder of Hazel Alston, 41, of Moses Lake. Alston allegedly was abducted from her job at the Super 8 Motel on Dec. 12, 1995. Her body was found the following day at the Peninsula Boat Launch. Smith could be back in Grant County as early as mid-August.

LINCOLN COUNTY Davenport

The local volunteer fire department received a much-awaited new truck recently to replace its 1936 Ford. With a price tag of $217,000, the pumper should pump twice the volume of the old truck. The last new fire truck the city purchased was in 1971. Fire Chief Wayne Badgley said this pumper shouldn’t need to be replaced for 30 to 40 years.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport

With 480 residents looking for work, Pend Oreille County ranks first in the state for unemployment. The sole county logging double digits, Pend Oreille actually saw a drop in joblessness from 15.6 percent in February to 11.8 in May, according to the latest statistics from the state Employment Security Department.

SPOKANE COUNTY Colbert

A dozen Riverside High School students aced their spring semester, earning 4.0 grade-point averages. Those students were seniors Rayna Clerc, Sarah Davenport and Rachel Murray; juniors Devin Busse and Mandy Moskwik; sophomore Kammi Schafer; and freshmen Heidi Bowen, Courtney Bronkhorst, Hannah Leestma, Kristina Sari, Crystal Schafer and Wyatt Schurkamp.

STEVENS COUNTY Colville

Blues and reggae will be on the musical menu Aug. 23 at the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds. Moonglow Productions, a nonprofit organization, hosts the annual music festival. Also being served up are food, craft vendors and a beer garden. Festivities get under way at noon and run until midnight. Admission is $10 at the gate.

WHITMAN COUNTY Pullman

Two Pullman residents are having free “Trail Busters” fitness classes three days a week on the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail. Marysue Itani and Rosemarie Waller will teach proper stretching and walking techniques Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 9 a.m. Meet at the Quality Inn parking lot in Pullman or call (509) 332-2360.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries

The Police Department and Archie’s IGA sponsored the recent Kids Care Photos program, which supplies parents with information to give to police if their child gets lost. Parents of 135 children left Archie’s on July 18 with identification booklets on their children.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

A fire damaged a house Thursday on the corner of Selle and Selkirk roads. No injuries were reported. The owners of the home were out of town. Richard Sherman, 12, saw the fire before emergency crews arrived and entered the burning home to make sure nobody was inside. Another passer-by used a garden hose to try to contain the blaze while Sherman began moving some of the family’s belongings out on the lawn.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

A trust fund has been established for Bonners Ferry police officer Marty Ryan and his family. Ryan is recovering from a severe head injury suffered while rescuing a relative from a bolting horse near Seattle early this month. For information, call Sharon McNair at Panhandle State Bank, 267-7027.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

The North Idaho Brain Injury Coalition is having a rummage sale, silent auction and bake sale today to raise money for its ski helmet program. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Harding Center, 411 N. 15th. The coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and prevention of brain injuries through educational programs and safety clinics in North Idaho.

Coeur d’Alene

The Alpo Canine Frisbee Disc Competition is set for today at McEuen Field. Approval was granted from Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Department and the City Council to allow dogs in the park specifically for the competition. The event is open to all dogs and all skill levels. There is no charge. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the contest beginning at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call Tim LeBlanc at 667-2993.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

The Palouse Folklore Society is having a dance today at the one-room Blaine Schoolhouse south of Moscow. The dance will be called by Rachel O’Brien of Spokane. To reach the Blaine Schoolhouse, go four miles south of Moscow on U.S. Highway 95 and turn left on Eid Road. The school is at the intersection of Blaine and Eid roads. The dance starts at 8 p.m. and admission is $5. All dances are taught. Newcomers, singles and kids are welcome.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Kellogg

The 6-month-old Shoshone Community Health Clinic needs more customers. The clinic is fully equipped and is designed to handle a variety of health problems, but the staff sees only about five to six patients most evenings, said Dr. Allen Seely, one of the physicians who donates time at the clinic. The clinic is open Monday evenings at 6 p.m. with no appointment necessary. Services range in price from $1 to $10, depending on an individual’s income.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Libby

The Lincoln County Youth Soccer Association announced late registration dates for fall recreational league soccer. Registration dates are Aug. 4 at the Lincoln County Campus bandshell in Libby and Aug. 5 at First National Bank in Troy. There will be a swap meet for soccer equipment at the Libby registration. Both will be open from 6-7:30 p.m. All boys and girls in grades 1-8 are welcome to participate. Sign-up cost is $15. The association also is looking for volunteer coaches and referees for the fall program. For more information about registration, the swap meet or volunteering, call Dorie at (406) 293-2072.

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