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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The East Adams Rural Hospital Health Fair features bone density testing this year. State-of-the-art machinery will scan for signs of osteoporosis today and Saturday. Women over 40 are at high risk, especially if they have a family history of osteoporosis, have had previous fractures, or have an intolerance to dairy products.

The five-minute, non-invasive test costs $50. For an appointment, call (509) 659-1200.

Ferry County Republic

In recent statewide fourth-grade testing, Republic youngsters showed improvement over the previous year. Testing below state average in all categories in 1997, Republic students bested the state this year in all but one category, writing.

In reading, the scores jumped 35 percent to best the state average by 14.9 percent. Math scores were up 36 percent, topping the state by 23 percent, and writing scores were up 6.6 percent. This score is still 23 percent below state average.

Grant County Wilson Creek

The towns of Wilson Creek, Marlin and Stratford are throwing a Harvest Fest celebration Saturday. The event in Wilson Creek features a parade, booths, entertainment, games and a barbecue at the city park. The Wilson Creek Future Business Leaders of America club will host a fun run.

For more information, call Kathy Ribail at (509) 345-2250.

Lincoln County Harrington

The historic fire bell, missing from the old City Hall building for a number of years, was finally brought home last week. The bell, taken to Medford, Ore., by the former building owner, was tracked down thanks to the efforts of Margaret Kupers.

The city has put the bell in storage until it can decide on a proper display.

Pend Oreille County Cusick

Falling student numbers will impact the Cusick School District this year. Budgeted for 360 students, the last head count showed 337 desks filled. At the Selkirk District, 408 students are enrolled. The district budgeted for 430 kids. State funds are allocated per student.

Both schools are scrambling to tighten their fiscal belts.

Spokane County Cheney

Eastern Washington University is sponsoring an open house for prospective students Oct. 10 in conjunction with the homecoming football game. The open house will be from 8:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and begins at Showalter Auditorium.

Academic showcases, an ethnic food festival and campus tours will be part of the event.

Stevens County Colville

A two-day Child Care Trainer Workshop is scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday. Starting Jan. 1, the Department of Social and Health Services requires lead personnel at day-care centers statewide to have 20 hours of child-care training. This class is to give instruction to trainers who will be providing the child-care classes to day-care providers.

For information on the trainer workshop, call (509) 684-2588.

Whitman County Pullman

Big, bad wolf, beware! A huffproof strawbale house, constructed by WSU architecture students last year, will be discussed Thursday as part of the A la Carte noon lecture series. Architecture professor Mike Owen will talk on “Tales, Trails and Bales.”

Owen also will chat about the Chipman Trail and outdoor art installed by his students last spring. The talk starts at 12:10 p.m. in the CUB Cascade Room.

IDAHO

Benewah County Plummer

The Plummer/Worley School District trustees passed an emergency levy to compensate for 41 new students. The $95,595 generated by the levy will pay for additional personnel, books at the elementary and middle schools, an additional teacher at the middle school and a cheerleading program. The levy’s cost to property owners is estimated to be $15 for every $50,000 of taxable property.

Bonner County Sandpoint

For more than a year, pilots at the Sandpoint Airport have filed complaints about people driving vehicles on the taxiway and crossing the north end of the runway at Dave Wall Field. Bonner County Commissioners decided Wednesday to curb this action. Commissioner Larry Allen suggested the county’s risk management agency send letters to violators.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Bible students are invited to tune into Yahweh New Covenant Assembly’s “Back to the Truth” telecast available biweekly on local cable channel 11. The program airs on Fridays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m.

For more information, call Bret Skinner at Hallelujah Farms, 267-8505.

Kootenai County Post Falls

The late Linda Huff will be honored with the Spirit of American Woman Award, which is designed to inspire and challenge others to reach higher goals. Huff, an Idaho State Patrol trooper, was killed in the line of duty in June. The dedication to duty and community exhibited by Huff is the essence of the award’s spirit.

The Women’s Forum will present the award later this month.

Latah County Moscow

University of Idaho Student Health Services will sponsor the 10th annual Health and Nutrition Fair Oct. 15. “Wellness for a Lifetime” is the theme of this year’s fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in UI’s Student Union Building Ballroom.

The fair invites health-related agencies to campus to share the latest information and products on exercise, fitness, body chemistry and health foods. Cholesterol checks, bone density examinations and flu shots will be available. For more information, call Joanne Buteau at 885-6693.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Vandals disturbed and broke more than 40 gravestones, kicked markers off bases and littered Greenwood Cemetery on Wednesday. Cemetery officials estimate the repair cost at $2,000. The cemetery was targeted by similar vandalism three years ago.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The future of downtown Libby will be discussed at the Tuesday meeting at 7 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room at City Hall. Scott Ohm will focus on the problems standing in the way of more successful commerce in Libby. Comparing Libby with towns that have booming economies, such as Sandpoint and Kalispel, Ohm wants to generate the same success. Ohm said he’s looking 20 years into the future for Libby’s downtown area.

Zoning, retail layout, tourism and preserving local character are some of the topics that will be discussed.