The County Lines

Sat., Nov. 28, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Ritzville

Merchants are letting shoplifters know they’ve adopted a no-tolerance policy toward crime. Police Chief Dave McCormick says his department is offering “free rides in a police car” for all shoplifters. All local businesses vowing to be tough on offenders are sporting signs offering the free ride to jail as an easy way to deter crime.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

Going over their criminal justice contract with the city of Republic, county officials asked for substantial increases. The county is asking for a $5 increase in jail booking fees, and an increase from $20 to $35 per day in jail boarding fees. In addition, the bill for 911 dispatching service may rise from $11,000 to $24,000 annually. The city hopes to decide this month.

GRANT COUNTY

Quincy

Quincy’s Eri Moreno won the regional Forklift Rodeo. Part of the Governor’s Industrial Safety Conference, the rodeo tested forklift drivers’ dexterity in navigating an obstacle course. Jerry Trumble of Ephrata took third place.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Cusick

Residents wishing to help those in hurricane-torn Honduras are asked to bring supplies to the Pend Oreille Valley Church of the Nazarene. The church is soliciting medical supplies, medicine, food, clothes, tools and hardware, and household items. Also needed is the cost of shipping, which is $10 per box.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Medical Lake

The Medical Lake Community Center is looking for volunteers to help cook the senior nutrition meals on Thursdays. Volunteers help plan, prepare and serve meals to about 50 seniors. Call the center at 299-7712 for more information.

STEVENS COUNTY

Chewelah

Two students from Ann Marie’s School of Dance in Chewelah will dance with the Alberta Ballet Company this Christmas season. Mollie Black and Sarah St. John will perform in “The Nutcracker” at the Spokane Opera House. Black, 12, was cast as a mouse, and St. John, 13, will portray a child at the party. They were chosen from 120 hopefuls. Both girls hail from Valley.

WHITMAN COUNTY

St. John

The St.John-Endicott High School Honor Society is again sponsoring the annual Giving Tree for those in need. The kids have sent out gift request forms and, when returned, will hang them on the tree. The tree will be in the school’s main hallway on Tuesday . The Honor Society wraps and delivers 50-60 gifts. They also purchase any presents unclaimed on the tree.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

Harrison

The Harrison City Council has approved forming an improvement district to pay for city water and sewage upgrades. The city council estimated that owners of 350 lots will pay for the bulk of the projects’ $1.6 million cost. The city has applied for a $500,000 grant to help cover the cost of exemptions.

BONNER COUNTY

Priest River

Priest River Elementary and Priest River Junior High School recently purchased books with money from an Idaho Historical Society grant to the Priest River Historic Preservation Commission. The money was the unused portion of a grant the commission received last October to cover the cost of printing a brochure of the city’s historic district.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

The Frances Lederhos volunteers will hold their 12th annual Hospice Tree Lighting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11 in the basement of the Boundary County Library. For information on adding a light in remembrance of a loved one call (208) 267-5139. To support the Frances Lederhos Hospice volunteers, send contributions to P.O. Box 1801, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

More legal aliens qualify for food stamps under federally mandated rules that go into effect this month. The changes affect people who lawfully lived in the United States on or before Aug. 22, 1996. In addition, legal residents who are not U.S. citizens must meet general food stamp eligibility requirements and fit into one of three categories: 65 or older on August 22, 1996; under 18; receiving assistance for blindness or disability.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

Gritman Medical Center’s annual wine tasting benefit will be Friday from 6-9 p.m. at the Eastside Marketplace. Tickets are $15 per person, including five wine tastes and hors d’oeuvres. Proceeds benefit Gritman’s Family Birth Center and the hearing screening program for infants and young children. For more information call (208) 883-6231.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Kellogg

The Kellogg Elks Lodge, No. 1841 welcomes Christmas with its Needy Family Benefit Dinner on Friday from 5-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 at local merchants. The Elks are accepting donations of toys, food and money at the door.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

A Libby man, James David Ficquette III, 37, was charged with robbery after allegedly stealing a 1986 Subaru from the First National Bank parking lot Nov. 17. The owner of the parked car, Amanda Weitzel, reportedly was near it when she saw a man getting inside. She tried to stop him but he knocked her down and drove away. A witness flagged down Libby Police Chief Clay Coker, who apprehended Ficquette near 10th and California. Ficquette is being held in the Lincoln County jail pending arraignment.

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