The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

Angry citizens are asking City Council members why they paid $10,000 for a person to prepare local baseball fields for spring play. Citizens estimate the job should take 250 hours, not the eight weeks the city budgeted for. League members paid $3,000 of that fee. Also, the city will no longer supply a field groomer before games. The city will provide the grooming tools, and the leagues must provide the labor.

Ferry County Republic

Ferry County’s jobless rate soared to 17.3 percent in February. Out of 2,660 insurable workers, 460 drew unemployment benefits. Pend Oreille County’s unemployment rate for February was 15.2 percent. The rate was 11.9 percent in Stevens and 12.9 percent in Okanogan. Only Columbia County topped Ferry with 19.1 percent.

Grant County Moses Lake

There’s one tradition students at Moses Lake High didn’t mind breaking. The Chiefs marching band has worn the same uniforms for 17 years. The 80-member group recently showed off their new togs: maroon jackets with brass buttons and formal black pants. This marks the first time since 1982 that all band members have worn the same uniform to a performance. At $250 a pop, the uniforms cost the district $23,000.

Lincoln County Odessa

If all goes according to schedule, the first homes to hook up to the city’s new sewer system should see service by July. Odessa does not have sewers and has been working toward this goal for several years.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Quail Manor, the proposed home for developmentally disabled residents, continues to be a hot topic. Some people have complained that County Commissioner Joel Jacobsen, who owns neighboring land, will benefit from the project. At a recent meeting, Jacobsen was not present, but other commissioners denied the allegations and stressed the complex is sorely needed.

Spokane County Deer Park

A spaghetti feed to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network will be held Saturday from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Deer Park Eagles Lodge, W. 12 South Ave. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and younger.

Stevens County Kettle Falls

“Not in my back yard,” is a sentiment being heard in one Kettle Falls neighborhood. Folks in the area of Juniper and Sixth streets are upset that the U.S. Postal Service plans to build a new post office at the intersection. Although postal officials admit the site would be too small, they say it will be better than the current building. A conditional use permit from the city is needed before work can begin.

Whitman County Pullman

The Pullman City Council will meet Tuesday to discuss a proposed ordinance that would regulate housing density. The housingdensity ordinance is intended to limit the number of people who can live in Pullman residences in order to better manage sanitary, parking and other city services. There will be a public comment period at the meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The city of St. Maries has purchased two mountain bicycles to be used by police and reserve officers. The 18-speed bicycles cost $600 each and are equipped with lights for night riding. The bicycles were purchased to cut down on crime and vandalism in downtown St. Maries and in city parks.

Bonner County Sandpoint

Hospice of Bonner County is sponsoring training sessions at Bonner General Hospital. Seven sessions will be held on various days from April 28 to May 22. Hospice volunteers and professionals provide training for new volunteers twice a year. For more information, call Hospice at (208) 265-1179.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

The Eagles Spring Dance will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Eagles Aerie in Bonners Ferry, with music by the Moonlight Band. Advance tickets are $5 and available at Eagles. Tickets are $6 at the door.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig will discuss Social Security issues at a town hall meeting Thursday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Lake City High School auditorium. Craig will address how the current system works, why many see a need for change and give a general overview of alternatives.

Latah County Moscow

Physical therapists from Gritman Therapy Central of Moscow will be at the University of Idaho Women’s Center at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Therapists Kelly Mahoney and Brooksie Larson will discuss various treatment options for incontinence in women caused by back problems. An overview of anatomy, physiology and the relationship between back problems and bladder control will be discussed. The presentation is free.

Shoshone County Kellogg

The Kellogg School Board of Trustees election has been set for May 18. Positions in Zones 3 and 5 are vacant. Candidates who wish to run must be a qualified resident of the zone, and nomination petitions must have at least five signatures of district residents. Petitions must be filed with the school board clerk, Terry Rinaldi, by 5 p.m. April 16.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Lincoln County Commissioner Rita Windom helped draft a set of land-management principles at a recent conference of the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition in Reno, Nev. People from 17 states represented government, education and industry at the conference. Keynote speaker Sandra Key with the U.S. Forest Service said the Clinton administration supports a fixed payment that isn’t tied to economic activities on the forest. The coalition is against the change.