The County Lines
WASHINGTON
ADAMS COUNTY Othello
County commissioners want to convert Rodeo Lake into a recreation area. The area has problems with drainage and fluctuating lake levels. Landowners favor selling property to form “Rodeo Lake Park.” Commissioners and the local City Council have put $10,000 toward development of a concept and implementation plan.
FERRY COUNTY Orient
Giving kids something wholesome to do, the Orient School will construct an ice skating rink. Using funds from the “OK Not To Use Drugs” program, the district has put down plastic and a perimeter of treated boards to make the 35-by-75-foot rink. The local fire department will flood the rink when the weather gets cold enough.
GRANT COUNTY Moses Lake
Mel Olson is the sixth local man to be inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Hall of Fame. Olson, who began his stellar career as a coach at Chief Moses Junior High in 1958, is still contributing to the sport’s popularity as a radio announcer. Olson credits his sense of “pizazz” for helping him keep wrestling strong in the basin. He joins local coaches Eric Beardsley, Dick Deane, Lyle Pugh, Gary Frey and Jon Lane in the Hall of Fame.
LINCOLN COUNTY Odessa
Boy Scouts collected 1,180 pounds of food for the Odessa Food Bank during the recent “Scouting for Food” event. Those collecting the canned goods were then treated to a spaghetti dinner by the Prime Timers senior group. The Prime Timers also sponsored a Pinochle for Food event with an entry fee of a can of food. The event brought in another 116 cans for the food bank.
PEND OREILLE COUNTY Usk
With its acquisition of Burlington Northern & Santa Fe railroad tracks between Newport and Dover Junction, Idaho, last spring, the Port of Pend Oreille has seen a record jump in its operating budget. The port district gave the green light to the 1999 budget of $1,624,855 - a 60 percent increase over 1998 numbers. Freight car revenues, FEMA dollars for flood repair and licensing fees are included in the total.
SPOKANE COUNTY Medical Lake
Medical Lake’s city administrator, Pete Rose, announced his resignation this week after four years on the job.
Rose said he has taken a position as administrator of the city of Woodinville northeast of Seattle, and is scheduled to begin there on Jan. 1.
Among his accomplishments was planning a new sewer plant now under construction. He also has overseen improvements to streets, parks and city finances.
STEVENS COUNTY Chewelah
Santa Claus is coming to town Dec. 4 and will greet children at “Christmas Corner” at 6 p.m. According to the local Chamber of Commerce, the town will be lit with twinkling lights and local merchants are decorating with angels to welcome shoppers. Kids wishing quality time with St. Nick are invited to a “Santa Social” on Dec. 13, complete with pizza and gifts.
WHITMAN COUNTY Colfax
Those in need of a good laugh are invited to the Colfax High School musical “Once Upon a Mattress.” The production is based on the “Princess and the Pea” fairy tale. Jessica Line and Kelly Kopszynski will headline the cast on Friday, with Jessica Rohner and Jason DeFord as the leads on Saturday night. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. at the high school auditorium.
IDAHO
BENEWAH COUNTY Fernwood
Justin Sweatfield, 18, pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony arson in a district court hearing Nov. 13. Sweatfield is accused of starting an Oct. 3 fire that razed the old Fernwood Mercantile building and damaged several other structures. The investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing. Sweatfield is the only suspect charged in the incident. He was arrested the morning of the fire after several witnesses say they saw him loitering in the area.
BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint
The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is accepting applications for the District 1 position on the state Recreational Vehicle Advisory Committee until Dec. 15. Committee members must live in District 1, own a licensed RV, serve six years with limited compensation and attend up to three meetings statewide each year. Applications may be obtained from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0065. Information: (208) 334-4199.
BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry
The Seventh Day Adventist Church is offering a free Thanksgiving meal in Bonners Ferry at 1 p.m. The dinner will be at the church on U.S. Highway 95. For information, or to arrange transportation to the dinner, call (208) 267-6064.
KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene
The musical duo Sentimental Journey will perform Saturday at the Coeur d’Alene Inn. The group specializes in music from the 1930s to the 1950s. Cost for dinner and the show is $40 per person. Group rates are available. For information and reservations, call Julie at Group Coordinators, (509) 455-4354.
LATAH COUNTY Moscow
A public forum on the ethics and economics of tribal gaming will be held Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at the University of Idaho law courtroom.
Sponsored by the UI Philosophy Club and the UI Economics Club, the event will feature a panel of experts addressing the ethical, economic, political, legal and cultural aspects of tribal gaming. Speakers from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the Nez Perce Tribe, an economist with the Center for Business Development and Research and two UI professors have agreed to attend. Information: (208) 882-6324.
SHOSHONE COUNTY Osburn
The Osburn Christmas Festival is scheduled for Dec. 3. The parade will begin at 5:50 p.m. at the Osburn Club and end at the Osburn Square. Contests, games and a visit from Santa Claus will follow the parade. For information on having a craft or food booth in the festival, call Bonnie Slater at (208) 753-0551 or (208) 753-0302.
MONTANA
LINCOLN COUNTY Libby
Libby High School band members are taking orders for Christmas wreaths and swags to raise money for a trip to Seattle. Cost for a wreath is $10 and swags are $9. To order, call Jane at (406) 293-4836. Delivery will be Dec. 1.