The County Lines

Wed., Nov. 11, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Ritzville

Ritzville Pet Rescue recently came to the aid of stranded motorists from Montana. Victims of an engine meltdown, the couple traveling with a German shepherd and six small pups found themselves stuck at Templin’s Convenience Store. Kathy McGregor of Pet Rescue was called and is nursing the dogs until their grateful owners can retrieve them.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

Safety of children walking to school along Highway 21 is a priority for local law enforcement. Dropping the speed limit from 45 to 20 mph, Republic police and sheriff’s deputies will step up patrols. Some students must walk on the shoulder of the highway. The city has been encouraged to apply for a $75,000 grant to build sidewalks and install lights.

GRANT COUNTY Moses Lake

With a poor crop of small spuds, local potato growers are disheartened by dwindling potato prices. Prices have fallen $15 per ton since 1996. Add NAFTA to the mix, and tuber farmers are reaching for the Maalox. “The U.S. is importing cheap Canadian potatoes while fewer of ours are getting there,” says Lew McCullough, owner of Columbia Potato Inc. McCullough fears potato farmers may not close the gap next harvest, even with good crops.

LINCOLN COUNTY Reardan

The Police Department is looking into adding another officer. Chief Leland Varain and Officer Ken Lesperance have asked the City Council for a K-9 officer with drug training. Lesperance, with a background in Search and rescue dogs, has found a Lab-Rottweiler pup at the Spokane Humane Society. The dog is eligible for the state’s training program at McNeil Island.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport

An easement on the Newport side of State Street has been deeded back to the city, paving the way for a new street and traffic light on the Washington-Idaho state line. Newport and Oldtown, Idaho, as well as both states, will share construction expenses.

SPOKANE COUNTY Spokane

The Spokane Housing Authority recently received an award of excellence for its development of the Westfall Village and Heritage Village complexes near Garland and Cook. The award recognized development of affordable housing. It was one of 20 given out nationwide by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials at a recent convention.

STEVENS COUNTY Colville

Autumn Kowitz, seriously injured in an auto accident last month, received a welcome-home gift. Her schoolmates, led by friend Laci Chipps, designed and constructed a special wheelchair ramp from her home’s driveway to the front door. Shop instructors Todd Strobel and Larry Cada assisted with the project, which should make her recuperation a bit easier.

WHITMAN COUNTY Pullman

Artist Diana Pace will discuss her painting today in an “Art from the Heart,” presentation. Pace’s painting, “Water Lily,” was selected by the National Acrylic Painters Association for a juried exhibit in England. The program, sponsored by the Pullman branch of the American Association of University Women, begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Townhouses clubhouse, 600 S.W. Crestview.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries

Green and white signs marking public roads are being erected throughout Benewah County. Roads on which people live, no matter how remote, will be marked. St. Maries Rural Fire District hired Harold Van Asche to assign rural identification numbers to each residence in rural Benewah County. The signs are being put up to assist rescue workers in finding rural homes.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

The Sandpoint Job Service held an open house last week to display its new Employment Resource Center Guide. The program is designed to connect job seekers and employers speedily, easily and efficiently. Job Service assists job seekers with career development needs free of charge.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

The 17th annual Ducks Unlimited banquet will be at the Fairgrounds Memorial Hall Friday at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $42 per person or $52 per couple, which includes a membership and a subscription to the Ducks Unlimited magazine. For tickets, call Dan Pennington at (208) 267-3888.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has set a Nov. 25 deadline for written comment on its plan to consider without public hearing an application from Level 3 Communications, LLC to provide local and in-state long distance service in those areas of Idaho currently served by GTE Northwest, Inc. and US West Communications, Inc. Level 3 Communications intends to provide all forms of facilities-based and resold service as provided by the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. Written comments regarding the application or the Commission’s plan should be sent to: Commission Secretary, Idaho Public Utilities Commission, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0074

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

The University of Idaho will be offering low-cost bus service to south and southeastern Idaho during the Thanksgiving and winter break holidays. Bus service to Boise, with stops at New Meadows, Payette and Weiser, will cost $60 round trip. Travel to Twin Falls, Pocatello and Idaho Falls costs $90 round trip. The Thanksgiving bus will leave Moscow at 5 p.m. Nov. 20 and make the return trip Nov. 29. The winter break bus will leave Moscow at 5 p.m. Dec. 18 and return Jan. 10. Reservations can be made through the Office of Student Advisory Services on the UI campus. For information, call the office at (208) 885-6757.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Kellogg

The Kellogg Christmas Dickens Festival organizers are looking for help decorating bonnets, sewing, ironing and sizing costumes for the Dec. 11-12 festival. Dress forms are also needed to borrow for display and construction. Costume construction will be at the Silver Needle Manufacturing and the old Melody Lane Building. For work party times, call the Kellogg Chamber at (208) 784-0821.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Libby

The Cherry Creek Road on Libby Ranger District Forest Road No. 867, will be closed at mile marker 1 until Friday while a new culvert is installed. Truck traffic will be detoured to portions of Bear Creek Road No. 278. For information on the construction, contact Ken Goddard at Canoe Gulch Ranger Station, (406) 293-7773.

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