The County Lines

Fri., Sept. 18, 1998

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Othello

Ground has been broken for the $6.7 million dollar expansion of Othello Community Hospital. A new surgery suite, day surgery room, emergency room, obstetrics area and medical records suite are in the works. In addition, the hospital will build 6,000 feet of vacant space for future use.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

The town will have another police officer on the beat. Prosecuting Attorney Steve Graham recently told the Ferry County Commission that the new officer will really be a county deputy in a city uniform, courtesy of a federal community oriented policing grant that the county received. Republic agreed to pay all costs, including matching funds and overtime, for the officer.

GRANT COUNTY

Grand Coulee

Two handicapped parking spaces at the Grand Coulee Senior Center are not enough, say area senior citizens. “We have two spaces, and we’re not getting any younger,” said Jack Barnard, president of the local senior club. Barnard sent a letter to the City Council asking for more, and larger, handicapped spaces in front of the senior center on Main Street.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Odessa

Only one candidate showed up to take the civil service exam for the position of Odessa town marshal last week. In the process of replacing former top cop Randy Carlson, the City Council was expecting four applicants for the position. The single candidate passed the test and joins a pool of two other potential town marshals who were previously determined as eligible for the position.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Metaline

Crawford State Park/Gardner Cave may become the victim of state budget cuts. The state Department of Parks and Recreation has put the park on its short list for closure if it is forced to cut another $2 million from its budget. “The idea of possibly having to close parks is horrendous,” said Cleve Pinnix, director of the parks department.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Deer Park

A quartet of Deer Park residents participated in spring graduation ceremonies at Eastern Washington University. Earning bachelor’s degrees were Chris M. Blair, Angela M. Price, Jody R. Schulz and Carol Rasmussen.

STEVENS COUNTY

Hunters

It may cost $1.50 per month, but residents of Hunters don’t mind. Currently, folks here pay long distance fees to call other Stevens County towns. Under a new plan by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Hunters residents could be calling Colville or Chewelah toll-free before Christmas.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Pullman

A top Washington State University student soon will have a guest spot on “Baywatch” to add to her resume. Jamie Kern, a 4.0 business student who plans to get her MBA at Harvard, landed a small part on the program through a national search that took place on campus last spring. Kern credits her sense of humor for clinching the part. “I’m not sure having ‘Baywatch’ on my resume is Harvard’s No. 1 criteria for selection,” she said.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

Plummer

Rayonier officials still have not determined the future of the company’s sawmill after a fire destroyed it almost two months ago. Wendy Pugnettis, a company spokeswoman, said the sale of the mill is among options being considered.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

The Bonner County Dispatch Center is set to open this time next month. The new 911 Dispatch Center is on the second floor of the City Hall building and plans are to staff 10 dispatchers and a supervisor. Sandpoint Public Safety Director Bill Kice said some portions of the county do not have 911 service. Because of this, no emergency phone numbers will change. A new countywide nonemergency number is yet to be set up.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

The Boundary County Extension Office will host a gourmet canning class with Wendy McClintock and Lorraine Nicholas, both 1998 master food preservers, Wednesday, 9:30-noon, at the extension office. Preregister by Tuesday. Fee: $5. Information: 267-3235.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Hayden Lake

Mr. Vacuum & Sewing Center is taking part in a national drive to create 100,000 cancer caps. Mr. Vacuum will have a sewing party to make caps for cancer patients Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the business, 8421 Government Way. Jacque Duffin will host the sewing party and invites volunteers to sew caps to protect cancer patients’ sensitive scalps during temporary hair loss resulting from chemotherapy. The caps will be donated to the American Cancer Society and shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes each to make. Materials will be provided. Information: 772-7182.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

Latah County commissioners decided Monday to pay the city more than $8,500 to help provide funding for the county’s enhanced 911 service. Though the figure is less than 10 percent of a $90,000 bill for the emergency expense, the six cents per line maintenance charge was all the commissioners were willing to pay. City Supervisor Gary Riedner said the payment does not adequately address the cost the city has incurred and will only make it harder to maintain the system on the city’s budget.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Kellogg

Spokane author Jack Nisbet will present “David Thompson’s Travels in Idaho” at 7 p.m. at the Kellogg Middle School library. Nisbet, author of “Sources of the River: Tracking David Thompson Across Northern America,” won the Idaho Library Association’s “Book of the Year” award in 1995. During his program, Nisbet will follow the traveler’s footsteps through the Idaho Panhandle. The five Silver Valley libraries have combined efforts for the program and it is free to the public. Information: 786-7231.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

Last year’s pay freeze on elected officials in Lincoln County was reversed Sept. 11 , after an arbitrator hired by the county ruled in favor of the Sheriff’s Department. County deputies who hadn’t received a pay raise for the past year were granted their 1 percent longevity raise after arbitrator Jay Grenig’s ruling. The county will grant the sheriff a raise retroactive to July 1, 1997.

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