The County Lines

Sat., April 24, 1999

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Ritzville

Pardon the mess at the County Courthouse. County commissioners were recently told that the janitor, an employee of IPS Inc., had gone on strike. The worker claimed to have not been paid by the company, which has had the contract to clean the courthouse for the past several months. The commissioners decided to not renew the IPS contract, which expires Sunday.<

FERRY COUNTY Republic

The local volunteer fire department continues to warn of fire danger this burning season. Although the season’s greenery seems lush, officials say conditions are dry and urge extra caution when burning. A charged hose should be on hand and the sheriff’s office should be notified of the burn ahead of time. Burning during evening hours is recommended.

GRANT COUNTY Ephrata

The treasurer of a Soap Lake children’s charity is behind bars for embezzlement. Debbie Tift, 28, will spend 60 days in jail and pay more than $3,000 in restitution and other fees after pleading guilty to one count of first-degree theft and 10 counts of forgery. Tift falsified checks and stole money from Parents for Kids, a nonprofit group to aid local children.

LINCOLN COUNTY Davenport

Students at Davenport High School have not given up hope of an open-campus policy. Student leaders recently approached the school board with three alternatives to the current closed-campus policy. Options include letting juniors and seniors leave campus as a privilege, parent waivers absolving the district of liability and open campus without driving privileges. The district is considering the requests.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport

And the winner is … Elijah Decker. Decker’s science project, “Stirling Hot Air Engine,” netted him $400 from the Pend Oreille Public Utility District at its recent energy fair. The fair is designed to get students excited about science by doing hands-on projects related to power. This year, the PUD gave out $800 in prizes.

SPOKANE COUNTY Medical Lake

Raena Parsons, 11, of Medical Lake has been named a state finalist for the Miss Washington American Pre-Teen Pageant. Raena plays soccer, basketball, volleyball and the flute. The winner of the state finals in September earns a $1,000 award and a trip to the national pageant in Orlando, Fla. Raena is the daughter of Laura Parsons and Michael Parsons.

STEVENS COUNTY Northport

With the grand opening less than a month away, people involved with Northport’s new museum are hard at work. The museum will share space with the Northport Community Library in the Old Town Hall building. Anyone with pictures or artifacts to donate is asked to call (509) 732-6199.

WHITMAN COUNTY Colfax

The second annual Duck Dash begins today at 11 a.m. Some Colfax retailers are selling “duck adoptions” for a chance at a grand prize of a $500 shopping spree in Colfax. Second prize is a four-minute shopping spree at Excell Foods and third prize is a watch from Glaser’s Jewelry. The race begins at the South Palouse River bridge between Colfax Body Repair and Folsom’s Ace Hardware and ends at the courthouse bridge next to the Port of Whitman.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries

A Project Learning Tree workshop for teachers and youth leaders will be May 7-8. The workshop will provide teachers with information needed to help children learn how to think about the environment. The workshop will be 4-9:30 p.m. May 7 at the Heyburn cafeteria, and May 8 participants will travel to Pettis Peak Tree 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register, contact Jane Thornes at (208) 245-2025.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

The Bonner County Local Emergency Planning Committee will discuss the potential for flooding this spring at 11 a.m. Monday in the VFW Hall. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representatives will discuss forecasted lake levels and the potential for streams and creeks to swell from heavy snowmelt this spring.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

The Boundary County Community Action Agency is seeking a volunteer interested in traveling to Coeur d’Alene once a month to pick up commodities for the local food bank. A one-ton truck is needed for the job. To volunteer, call Christine at (208) 267-3663 during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

Mothers of Preschoolers of the Lutheran Church of the Masters will hold its annual Everything For Children Sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m. today. Items include new and slightly used children’s clothing, baby equipment, toys, furniture and maternity clothes. The sale will be at the church, located on the corner of Kathleen and Ramsey. For information, contact Leighanna Ward at (208) 664-1307.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

The Moscow City Council eliminated an ordinance restricting beer advertisements April 19. The city ordinance would have prohibited window signs or banners advertising beer.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Kellogg

Interim chief executive officer Dan Smegelsky outlined goals for the financial future of Shoshone Medical Center to the SMC board Wednesday. Smegelsky presented objectives including refinancing the existing debt and consolidating the outstanding short-term debt, reducing the days that bills are held in accounts receivable from 105 to 80 and integrating physicians to provide unified medical staff.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Libby

Lincoln County has purchased 31 acres along Parmenter Creek through Project Impact. The $53,000 land purchase and conservation easements granted by several nearby landowners increase efforts to control flooding in the Woodway Park and Education Way areas. With the county owning the property, Project Impact will be able to work on correcting problems with Parmenter Creek. A trail between Plummer Elementary and Libby High School will be constructed on the property.

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