The County Lines

Sat., Sept. 26, 1998

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

The state’s Work First welfare reform program is having an impact in the Othello area. Figures recently released by the Department of Social and Health Services show a decline of 364 cases in Othello welfare recipients since the program began in May 1996. “With Work First implementation, we can make people take a job in Moses Lake using the Grant Transit System bus,” said Louis Bunkelman, local DSHS administrator. With decreasing caseloads, DSHS staff also has been shrinking, another goal of the Work First plan.

Ferry County

Republic

The Heather Hill Apartment Complex for low income folks is becoming a reality. Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle awarded a $27,000 grant to help fund this three-unit transitional housing project. The two and three-bedroom units are designed as a temporary home for people with special needs, such as victims of domestic violence and people recovering from drug abuse. Financial counseling will be afforded residents as they look for permanent housing. Construction begins this month.

Grant County

Electric City

Rates recently jumped 20 percent at the Delano Landfill. Making up for a budget shortfall stemming from the loss of the Colville Tribe’s patronage, the Northwest Landfill Board set a new, higher fee scale. With costly excavation work on the landfill’s horizon, the board felt the increase necessary. The cities of Creston, Wilbur and Almira are represented on the landfill board and will pay $6.26 per ton to dump.

Lincoln County

Davenport

Riding on the success of its recycling program, the Lincoln County Public Works Department is looking at expanding the county transfer station. The county is negotiating the purchase of just less than five acres of adjoining land to give “a little more room to maneuver.” Implemented nearly two years ago, the transfer station has saved the public about $4,300 through recycling.

Pend Oreille County

Metaline Falls

The Sweet Adelines need help finding a murderer in the Cutter Theater Sunday night. Performing a cabaret-style “whodunit,” these songstresses will sing their way through the scenario and clues. The audience will ultimately solve the crime. Tickets for this musical murder mystery are $6 and can be obtained by calling (509) 446-4108.

Spokane County

Rockford

The annual Southeast Spokane County Fair is this weekend in Rockford. Today’s events begin with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. and continue with the 5K Harvest Hustle Fun Run, kids’ parade, regular parade and a 3-on-3 basketball competition. The fair continues on Sunday. The carnival area is open until about 10 p.m. each night. Admission is free, but it costs $1.50 to tour the main exhibit building.

Stevens County

Chewelah

It’s classic Shakespeare with a Chewelah twist. The Amayan Acting Troupe is debuting “Romeo and Juliet,” set in, where else, Venice Beach and Beverly Hills. “We’ve really shaken things up,” says director Laura Thain. A trio of professional actors from Los Angeles recently watched a rehearsal and felt the production was “as good or better than anything going on in L.A.” The play opened this week at the Chewelah Civic Center.

Whitman County

Pullman

So you’ve tried surfing the Net and can’t figure out what all the excitement is about? Community Free University presents a class on using the Internet and World Wide Web efficiently. Students should already have Internet access and the appropriate software. The class is $5 and is Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Call (509) 332-4645 for more information.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Construction of the new $890,000, 9,000-square-foot multipurpose room at St. Maries Middle School will begin immediately if voters approve a $1.5 million six-year levy on Sept. 29. If approved, taxpayers would make the first payment on the levy in December 1999 because the election is after levies for the current budget year have been certified.

Bonner County

Priest River

The new Priest River Museum and Timber Educational Center was dedicated Sept. 19 in the former Keyser House. The museum holds the Priest River Chamber of Commerce office and board room. Diane Mercer was recognized at the ceremony for her help with the project.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

A joint meeting of the Boundary County Board of Commissioners and the county planning and zoning commission will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in the commission chambers at the courthouse. The meeting will include a discussion on the direction and progress of the proposed Boundary County Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance. For information call (208) 267-7723.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest opened the Nilsen Creek 290 road system as a preferred woodcutting area on Friday. Road 290, located east of the Mokins Bay campground, is scheduled to close Dec. 15. This area can be closed ahead of schedule without advance notice. A wood permit is required to gather fuel wood and all fire safety equipment is required in this area. For information, contact the Fernan Ranger Station at (208) 769-3000.

Latah County

Moscow

The Gamma Phi Beta sorority at the University of Idaho has been placed on one-year probation for allegedly pressuring freshmen recruits to drink alcohol. The probation will ban the house and its members from participating in any function where alcohol is served. The sorority also is required to sponsor an alcohol abuse workshop for the campus.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

Kellogg is preparing for its sixth annual Dickens Festival Dec. 12-13. The festival features a historic fashion show, a high tea, carols and holiday-related skits. Business owners and residents take part in the festivities. Most events are free. Festival organizers have applied for a $1,000 Idaho Humanities Council grant to pay for the historic fashion show and will know by Oct. 23 if they have received the grant.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Libby High School Principal Tom Pannell is being criticized for new policies he has put in at the school including a new semester block schedule and a mandatory study hall program for students who get a grade of D or F. While several parents have complained about the new programs, Pannell has been supported by the chairman of the school board, the superintendent and the school librarian.

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