The County Lines

Sat., Oct. 3, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Othello

The right to vote is important to all, says Mary Lynch of Othello, even those who don’t speak English. Lynch and Pastor Bob Luhn of the Othello Nazarene Church publicly expressed concern last week that no interpreters were present at the Othello primary election polls. “We have always had interpreters before. Why not this time?” asks Lynch, who says she saw Hispanics leaving the polls without voting.

FERRY COUNTY

Orient

With no trash pickup, Orient residents must drive 30 minutes to the Stevens County landfill in Kettle Falls. In a recent mail survey, 70 percent of Orient folks said they would like roadside pick-up or drop-box services. Nearly 80 percent asked for a recycling program. Ferry County officials are studying bringing garbage service back to this area.

GRANT COUNTY

Ephrata

Local residents will be straining to see area landmarks as the motion picture “Smoke Signals” makes its debut at the Lee Theatre. Based on short stories by Sherman Alexie of Wellpinit, the movie was filmed partially in the Coulee City and Soap Lake area in 1997. The film was honored at the Sundance Film Festival.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Creston

Resident Jim Petty has been hired as the town’s building inspector. Petty will be paid $25 for each permit he issues. Mayor Larry Haydon says former building inspector Bob Young will complete the permits he had already started.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Newport

The city council is looking at building a permanent stage in the city park. With increasing popularity of live shows in the park, the park commission suggests the existing portable stage is wearing out. Donations will most likely be the primary funding source.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Spokane Valley

Sometimes, schools get new technology quite literally one step at a time. At University Elementary School, students will be taking thousands of steps today. It’s the school’s third annual Technology Walk-a-thon. Principal Phyllis Betts says the school’s goal is to have a computer in each classroom. Students will be walking laps at University High School’s track from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

STEVENS COUNTY

Kettle Falls

The Stevens County Public Works Department will accept, free of charge, all scrap metals at a Sunday event. Starting at 9 a.m. at the county landfill, the disposal has its dos and don’ts. Do bring barbed wire, cleaned appliances, lawn mowers and rototillers drained of fuels. Don’t bring automobile chassis and engines, paint cans, toasters, irons and small items such as nails and screws.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Pullman

East Indian Vasant Ghodke is the featured artist in the Compton Union Gallery at Washington State University. His exhibition of contemporary figural paintings opens Monday and continues through Oct. 23. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as Saturdays on Oct. 10 and 17. Ghodke’s work reflects Indian mythology and the gods and goddesses central to Hindu myths. The exhibition was made possible with the assistance of Pullman resident Shirley Sanderson.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

St. Maries

One of two motorcycles stolen from a Sheep Creek residence was recovered north of St. Maries Sept. 21. The motorcycles were stolen Sept. 18 from a closed garage behind the owner’s home. The theft of an outboard motor from a boat at Rocky Point also was reported to the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about the stolen motorcycle or boat motor should contact the sheriff’s office at 245-2555.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

The Bonner County assessor’s office announced that residents who purchased license plates in 1992 will need to renew them in 1999. Vehicle owners who want to keep the same number must reserve their plates by Nov. 13. A list of inactive plate numbers is available for owners who want a new number. The cost to reserve a plate number is $3.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

Boundary County Commissioners and the District Forest Ranger are designing a five to six mile public trail for hiking, bicycling and cross country skiing. The trail would be on National Forest land near Bonners Ferry and would offer historic stops and views of Montana, the Kootenai River, Katka Mountain and the Cabinet Mountain Range. The Forest Service is planning to begin the proposed project next spring and is seeking public input.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

The annual Closing/Open Golf Tournament will be at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. Cost for the four person scramble is $100 per person, which includes 18 holes of golf, a $50 credit toward greens fees in 1999, golf cart, unlimited practice balls, beverages and snacks and prizes to win on every hole. Registration deadline is Oct. 12. Registration forms are available at the Chamber office.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

More than 150 businesses from around the country will be at the University of Idaho Tuesday looking for new employees among the class of 1999. The Career Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome and is jointly sponsored by UI and Washington State University. About 70 companies have made arrangements to conduct job interviews Wednesday. Many companies also will be seeking candidates for internship positions.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Kingston

Shoshone County is constructing a parking lot for residents to park and carpool to areas for work and recreation. The lot, purchased by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is next to the Texaco station north of the Kingston exit on I-90. The lot was purchased as part of the hazardous mitigation from flooding of the Coeur d’Alene River. Parking problems were noticed by county commissioners along the river road and at the Kingston post office.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Troy

Mayor Barbara Anderson is gathering information after receiving complaints from Troy residents about loud music. Residents want the City Council to take action now so the problem doesn’t come back next summer. Complaints were issued concerning live bands playing outside. Home Bar owner Tami Morris told the city council two weeks ago that the season for live music outside was over. Residents and city council members are concerned that a noise ordinance would be awkward for band music, football games, barking dogs, car stereos, passing trains, boom boxes and parades.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.