The County Lines

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Othello

County Fair Board President Skip Hall is biting his nails over funding for the annual fair. Because the state has not yet committed to the usual $30,000 in support, Hall is looking at possible alternatives. One alternative, turning to county commissioners, is one Hall thinks is a waste of time. He says the last time he approached them, they suggested creative fund raising, such as renting the fairgrounds for RV parking and boarding of animals throughout the year.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

Two young ladies will represent Curlew and Republic at regional festivals this summer. Esther Ciais was crowned Miss Republic-Curlew at the recent pageant. Also assigned a tiara was Jill Lindsey, who will act as princess. The pair will be the towns’ official representatives for the next year.

GRANT COUNTY

Moses Lake

The stench is unbearable to some, but to millions of feasting bugs, rotting piles of sugar beets in the Wheeler corridor smell like mom’s home cooking. The bugs are multiplying at an alarming rate.

County Environmental Health Director Kevin Barry has asked Pacific Northwest Sugar Co. to spray the beets weekly to kill bugs. The state Department of Agriculture is investigating as well. The beets should be moved within 60 days.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Creston

The entire student body of Creston School will compete Friday in the annual egg drop. Kids of all ages are challenged to package a raw egg using only a small list of materials. The egg is then dropped from the gymnasium ceiling. Rules on packaging vary, with preschoolers having more leeway than high school students. To win, the egg must survive the fall, and be creatively packaged.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Sacheen Lake

Whether you’re talented or just bold, the Northwoods Performing Arts group wants you. The group is planning a talent show for later this spring. To make the best show it can, Northwoods folks are holding two preliminary shows before the big show on June 19. The two preliminary rounds of talent competition will be April 4 and 9.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Spokane

Hoopfest wants to move its center-court competition into the gondola meadow at Riverfront Park under a lease that the three-on-three basketball tournament is seeking from the city Parks Department.

STEVENS COUNTY

Chewelah

Residents say the county’s proposal to close Jump-Off Joe intersection on Highway 395 and upgrade a nearby intersection is unnecessary. County Engineer Jerry Bryant says the intersection is a danger due to lack of a left-turn lane for northbound traffic. Work will begin this summer if the project is approved.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Pullman

The Washington State University Museum of Art is planning the Fine Arts Graduate Thesis Exhibition, which opens with a reception Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center lobby. The annual exhibition features work by candidates for the master of fine arts degree from WSU, including Jessie Bukrey, Mitch Cope, Hasaan Kirkland, Peggy Sue McRae, Liz Obert and Marc Steine.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

St. Maries

No one was injured March 17 when fire destroyed an Elm Street home. St. Maries firefighters responded to the home after smoke began pouring from a bedroom window at about 5:50 p.m. Eight people were inside the home, owned by Tina Ryles, when the fire broke out. A fund has been set up to help the Ryles family. For information, call Shelley McGregor at (208) 245-2340.

St. Maries

The St. Maries community egg hunt will be Saturday. The event will begin at 11 a.m. at the St. Maries High School football field.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

Northern Lights Inc. will interrupt utility services from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today while new power poles are installed. Customers on the east side of U.S. Highway 95, including Glengary, Garfield, Camp and Elliot bays; Heath Lake, Martin and Eureka roads, will be affected. The company is installing the poles during the day in an attempt to minimize inconveniences to customers.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

Boundary County will hold a public auction at 10 a.m. April 10 at the Boundary County Road and Bridge Department. An assortment of personal property deemed to be surplus of the county by county commissioners will be sold. Inspection of items will begin at 9 a.m. All sales will be final with no warrantee.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

“Celebrate the Century” will be the theme for the 11th annual Kootenai Medical Center Festival of Trees this fall. The festival has raised $800,000 for the hospital and community health issues since it began. This year’s event will be held Nov. 26-29 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. For more information, call 666-2345 or 666-8733.

LATAH COUNTY

Genesee

Jordan Udy, 9, the daughter of Brenda and Dan Udy of Genesee, will attend the national Hoop Shoot competition in Springfield, Mass., April 17. The honor comes after Udy won the local, district, state and regional Hoop Shoots. At the regional competition, she made 21 out of 25 free throws to win the title. More than 35,000 youth participated in the Elks Hoop Shoot in Idaho alone.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Prichard

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has space available in a “Project Wild” workshop for teachers and youth leaders April 16-17. Pre-registration and a $5 deposit are required, and one hour of graduate or undergraduate credit is available for participation. The workshop will be held at the Shoshone Base Camp near Prichard. Call (208) 769-1414 for registration information.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

The new Lincoln County Campus Service Region Board is considering adopting a new parent college because of the strained relationship with Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell. Suggestions to the board at their first meeting included a partnership with Libby Public Schools, contracting for services now provided by FVCC, or LCC going out on its own. New board members elected by the Lincoln County Commission are Sarah Truman and Mike Gallegos of Eureka and Mike Bissell and Ardell Fisher of Libby.