The County Lines

Fri., Oct. 23, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Othello

Four missing landmark basalt columns taken from the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge were returned last month. Taken illegally four years ago by Royal City businessman Gerald “Spud” Brown, the 10- to 30-million-year-old columns were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1986. Brown, hoping to use the columns in the construction of his home, used heavy machinery to pull the 15-ton rocks from their formation. Charged with theft of government property in May 1998, Brown returned the rock columns at his own expense and will pay a $10,000 fine. The columns will be used for a future interpretive center.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

County commissioners are considering a contract for a back-up to the public defender. The county plans to pay attorney Cleve O. Ives $300 per case to take certain clients. Ives has been working in this capacity without a contract for nearly a year.

GRANT COUNTY Moses Lake

The Salvation Army will close its thrift store by Oct. 31. “It’s time for the Salvation Army to shift focus,” says Capt. David Teeter. The thrift shop was hard-pressed to compete with the local Goodwill store, so the Salvation Army will use the store for a family and education center.

LINCOLN COUNTY Creston

The City Council was recently told by Lincoln County Assessor Frosty Freeze that the town is valued at $3,983,079. Creston, 57 miles west of Spokane, has a population of 265. City Clerk Debbie Cook jokes the council is not looking to sell the town. “We like it here,” she says of this rural farm community, which sports 135 homes and businesses.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport

Pend Oreille County Prosecutor Tom Metzger was appointed by Gov. Gary Locke to another three-year term with the Washington Sentencing Guidelines Commission. He is one of three members of the 20-person committee from east of the mountains.

SPOKANE COUNTY Medical Lake

Medical Lake Rainbow Girls will be going door to door on Halloween, but not for candy. Between 4 and 6 p.m., the girls will collect nonperishable food for the Medical Lake Food Bank.

STEVENS COUNTY Colville

Boy Scout Troop 904 recently paddled 50 miles on the Selway, Locksa and Clearwater rivers in Idaho. Every August, the troop hikes 50 miles, and on the fourth year, does the trip by canoe. Celebrating its 70th anniversary, members through the years have completed 30 50-milers.

WHITMAN COUNTY Pullman

Pullman Memorial Hospital presents Diabetes Expo ‘98 on Saturday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. The community education program and product fair is a chance for people whose lives are affected by diabetes to improve their knowledge and meet others who share similar challenges. It will be held at Pullman High School. For more information, contact Diabetes Education Services at Pullman Memorial Hospital, (509) 332-2995.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries

The St. Maries Chamber of Commerce announced the “Christmas in St. Maries” schedule of events. The festivities will kick off Nov. 29 with a merchant open house from noon to 4 p.m. On Dec. 4, the Hughes House Lighting and the crowning of the Snow King and Queen will be held at 5 p.m. with the lighted Christmas parade beginning at 6 p.m. and the Christmas youth dance at 9 p.m. For more information, call Gaye Van Winkle at (208) 245-4270 or (208) 245-4538.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

The East Bonner County Library board of trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

The United Methodist Church provides free lunch every Thursday at noon at the Boundary County Community Kitchen at the church. Donations are accepted.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

The first of seven Mica Flats Grange winter barn dances is scheduled for Halloween at 7:30 p.m. in the grange hall. Prizes will be awarded for best kids costumes. The hall is on the northeast corner of U.S. Highway 95 and Kidd Island Road, seven miles south of Coeur d’Alene. Cost is $1.50 for adults and 75 cents for kids.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

A Halloween program is scheduled at McConnell Mansion from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 31. Three McConnell “witches” will share holiday stories and legends.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Osburn

The city has tightened its blight ordinance, but for a short time will haul away junk cars free of charge. In about two weeks, police will step up enforcement and begin charging people for car removal.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Libby

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is working with service station owners and operators to meet a Dec. 22 deadline for upgrading underground gasoline storage tanks. Tentative DEQ figures show that 150 to 300 of 1,020 Montana service stations will close because of inability to comply with the federal requirements.

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.