The County Lines

Sun., Sept. 13, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Ritzville

It’s safety first in the town of Ritzville as the volunteer fire department plans its annual hydrant check for Monday and Tuesday. Local firefighters will inspect and test every fire hydrant in town to make sure all are in working order. Fire Chief Andy Lefevre warns residents they may find dirty water running through their faucets at this time, but says to let the water run and the system should clear out.

FERRY COUNTY

Curlew

Four Curlew residents met with Ferry County commissioners recently to request more patrols by deputies. The citizens said weekend nights are especially bad for speeding, drugs, barking dogs and vandalism. Sheriff Pete Warner vowed he’d try harder, but with only seven officers to cover all shifts, he said he could make no promises. Curlew residents will have a public meeting Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. to discuss these problems and form a Neighborhood Watch.

GRANT COUNTY

Moses Lake

Keeping the memory of Manuel Vela Jr. alive is a labor of love for his family. Vela, killed three years ago when classmate Barry Loukaitis opened fire in a Frontier Junior High classroom, is remembered annually by his family, which makes a three-day bike trek in his honor.

This year, 41 family members pedaled from Lincoln City, Ore., to Coos Bay, Ore. The 127-mile trip helps the family deal with its loss. Manuel Vela Sr. says he started the trip to keep a promise to his son. They had planned a bicycle trip to Northern California when Manuel Jr. turned 15. He was killed one month before that.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Davenport

The 61st Lincoln County Fair was a success. Fair officials say attendance increased by 1,200 over last year. There were 1,000 more exhibits than last year, with the junior department, arts and crafts, baking, gardening and photography departments nearly overflowing.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Newport

Detour days are numbered. On Wednesday the paving project in downtown Newport is scheduled to be finished. The construction, which included creation of a one-way couplet and a downtown beautification project, has been going on all summer. Merchants, fearing the one-way streets would hurt business, will be posting signs on both streets to aid motorists who want to stop and shop.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Rockford

There’s still time to sign up for the annual Harvest Hoops 3 on 3 basketball tournament Sept. 26-27 at the Southeast Spokane County Fair in Rockford. The entry deadline is Tuesday. Teams can include three or four players. Players must be in third grade or older. For information, call (509) 928-5839.

STEVENS COUNTY

Colville

Before putting up your pickles, Stevens County residents are invited to have their pressure canner lids tested. The free service from the WSU Cooperative Extension is available Wednesday. Lids will be tested from 1 to 4 p.m. at the extension office, 985 S. Elm. There also will be information on food safety, preservation and preparation available.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Pullman

Douglas Ouellette, a graduate student in choral conducting at Washington State University, will give a free vocal recital Tuesday at 8 p.m. at WSU’s Bryan Hall auditorium. Amy Bland will accompany him on the piano.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

St. Maries

Benewah County schools received more than $140,000 from the Albertson Foundation this year. Worley, Heyburn and Harrison Elementary schools received the grants in the form of computers, printers and peripheral materials. The materials will be used to introduce an early reading program in kindergarten.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

Bonner County’s preliminary August unemployment rate shows a .5 percent increase from July. The rate for July was 7.7, while the August rate was 8.2. The 1997 August rate was 8.4. The state’s rate stayed the same in July and August at 4.9 percent, while the national rate stayed at 4.5 percent.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

A special meeting of the Boundary County School Board will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Bonners Ferry High School Library to discuss business with Johnson Controls and Performance Contracting. The meeting is open to the public.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

The Forest Service is installing several structures where roads cross streams to assist fish passage. Segments of forest roads will be temporarily closed during the project. Brown Creek Road 207 will be closed from the junction with County Road 503 to Brown Saddle. The lower section of Road 207 is closed from its junction with Road 622. The work is expected to be completed by the end of October. For further information, contact Dwight Clift, Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District, 208-769-3015.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

James Reid, classical guitarist and professor of music at the University of Idaho, will give a free recital Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. in the Lionel Hampton School of Music recital hall. He will perform music of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, featuring the music of Weiss, Garcia, Johanson and Yocoh. Shoshone County Wallace School will not be in session Oct. 1 and 2 for students in the Wallace School District. Teachers and support staff will be attending meetings in order to implement changes in curriculum. Classes will resume as usual Oct. 5.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

Bonneville Power Administration will be installing a disconnect switch on its transmission line at the Yaak substation Sept. 22. The project will cause a temporary outage for power from the Yaak River Campground to the Idaho state line, including the entire Yaak River Road. The outage will be from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. The new disconnect switch will help reduce the number of BPA outages necessary to provide future BPA line sectionalizing.

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