The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

City administrator Bill Shaw told the City Council to consider adopting an ordinance restricting adult entertainment facilities. Although there are no such businesses in the area, Shaw says having rules in place before a request for a strip club is made gives the city leverage. “It will likely serve as a strong deterrent to such activities,” says Shaw.

Ferry County

Curlew

Local parents are glad to hear fourth-grade test scores are up 25 percent over last year. Local students made big gains in reading and math. Reading scores were 6 percentage points higher than the state average, up 15 points from 1997. Although math scores were up nearly 10 points from last year, Curlew students are still 10 points behind the state average in that subject.

Grant County

Ephrata

Although the government does not pay taxes on its land, Grant County was issued a $105,226 check from the federal government. This payment in lieu of taxes is provided by Congress each year. It compensates counties for the loss of tax revenue on lands owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service and federal water projects and military installations.

Lincoln County

Davenport

The Sheriff’s Department has arrested a second suspect in connection with growing marijuana in Lincoln County. Davenport resident Daniel Charles Stemmelin, 49, is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture or deliver. Nearly 40 pot plants were spotted on his Hawk Creek property during an air sweep by the Sheriff’s Department, Air National Guard and National Park Service. More plants and manicured marijuana were found in the house.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

The Newport College Center will not be ready for classes until January. Until then, classes will remain in the center’s portable classroom. Community Colleges of Spokane officials told Newport school directors of the delay in construction. When the building is completed, the portable classroom will be moved to Inchelium for classes there.

Spokane County

Spokane

The “Worm Woman from Kalamazoo” will appear Friday at the County Extension Agricultural Building at 222 N. Havana. Mary Appelhof will give a 90-minute seminar at 1 p.m. on the care of worms.

Stevens County

Colville

Rocco Azzarito will do most anything to sell a pair of shoes. Owner of R.E. Lee Shoe Company, Azzarito has installed a giant “Wheel of Fortune” in his store. Customers can spin for prizes and up to $50 in store certificates. Azzarito is known for playing ping-pong with customers for a pair of new shoes.

Whitman County

Colfax

Farmers are invited to a public hearing Oct. 29 to consider whether to form a Turfgrass Seed Commission or have a grower referendum on developing alternatives to grass burning. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is holding the hearings at 10 a.m. at the Franklin County PUD at 1411 West Clark in Pasco and at 6 p.m. at the WSU Cooperative Extension, 222 N. Havana in Spokane. For more information, contact Walter Swenson at (360) 902-1928.

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Benewah County

St. Maries

Ingrid Liljeroos recently retired as senior dispatcher for the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office. Liljeroos began working as a dispatcher for the county in 1989.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

An introductory workshop for present and prospective small-business owners will be held at the Bonner Business Center on Friday. The class will be taught by SCORE volunteers. For more information, call (208) 263-4073.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

The Type 2 Diabetes workshop, originally scheduled for today at Panhandle Health, has been rescheduled for Nov. 3. Class cost is $90, which is covered by most medical insurance policies with a doctor’s referral. To register for the class, contact Edna Eby at (208) 267-3141.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

Throughout hunting season, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game runs wildlife management check stations and enforcement check stations. According to Idaho Code, all sportsmen must stop at Fish & Game check stations, including those without fish or game. At a check station, sportsmen are required by law to produce all fish or game in possession for inspection. For answers to questions about regulations or hunting season, contact the Panhandle Region Office at (208) 769-1414.

Latah County

Moscow

Arizona landscape artist Jim Waid and a father-daughter, photographer-painter duo are featured in the exhibition showing at Moscow’s Prichard Art Gallery. “Janette Hopper and Robert Higgins: The Threads that Connect Us,” presents side-by-side works of two generations of the family.

Shoshone County

Pinehurst

A meeting to plan the Halloween carnival and dance in Pinehurst is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Pinehurst City Hall. The carnival, in its second year, is organized by local groups including the Pinehurst Police Department as part of the department’s Community Policing Program. Organizers plan to add more games of chance and a haunted hallway, along with better prizes.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Project Impact of Libby and Lincoln County has received $500,000 to make the community more disaster-resistant. The money comes under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Project Impact. Plans for Libby include implementation of an early warning system, improving flood control efforts along Parmenter Creek, public awareness and wildfire prevention. Libby also received a $71,591 grant from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the city’s early flood warning system.