The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

Two years of bargaining has netted sheriff’s deputies a raise. The agreement includes 10 percent pay increases for starting patrolmen, and 8 percent increases for the next two years of service. Previously, first-year deputies were paid $1,910 monthly. Now, they will receive $2,101. After three years, their monthly paycheck will tally $2,451.

Ferry County

Republic

The county is looking into funding a facilitator to help people through legal problems at least one day per week. To pay for the position, the county may raise licensing fees $15 or more. Already, the county clerk’s office intends to collect an allowable surcharge on civil filings. The program will cost a minimum of $600 annually.

Grant County

Moses Lake

Officials at Samaritan Hospital are considering building a morgue. Currently, bodies must be transported to Spokane or Wenatchee for autopsies. A county morgue would save taxpayer money, say officials, and free up space at several area funeral homes currently used for storage.

Lincoln County

Reardan

Reardan School will hold kindergarten preregistration May 20 at 6 p.m. at the elementary library. Attending preregistration gives parents a better shot at choosing school days for their child. Kindergarten in Reardan runs Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Each class attends every other Friday.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

After months of debate, the city has chosen a site for a permanent stage in the city park. The stage will sit next to the restrooms, across from the covered picnic area. Donations are still needed to fund the building.

Spokane County

Spokane

The Spokane Community Asthma Committee focuses on asthma assessment and public education, and holds monthly meetings that are open to the public. The next meeting is at 12:30 p.m. May 18 at the local American Lung Association office. Anyone affected by or concerned about asthma is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 324-1528.

Stevens County

Colville

Laurel Somerlott will continue as chairperson for the Colville Food Bank. Somerlott was re-elected to that position recently. The bank has new board members. Allan Nielson and Erma Hellie, will join Jaymi Gates, Lanie Lamb, Pat Graham and Ken Walden in directing the charity. The Colville Food Bank distributed 279,220 pounds of food in the past year.

IDAHO

Benewah County

Avery

Avery School District voters failed to pass a $1.4 million school plant facility levy April 6. The levy would have allowed the district to build a new school near milepost 36 on the St. Joe River Road. Of the 165 votes cast, 75 approved the measure, while 90 opposed.

Bonner County

Grouse Creek

A 69-year-old retiree drowned in a canoeing accident on Grouse Creek last week. Robert Ray Ward of Sandpoint was found by Bonner County searchers early Friday morning. His canoe was found about a quarter-mile upstream in a logjam near the bridge at Grouse Creek Road. Ward was wearing a life jacket, but may have been knocked unconscious by his fall from the canoe.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

The Boundary County Community Action Agency is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The agency is a nonprofit organization that helps residents with immediate needs and becoming self-sufficient. For information, call (208) 267-3663.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The Coeur d’Alene Public Library is hosting events this week in recognition of the Holocaust. At 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Brad Veile will present a program on various aspects of the Holocaust using visuals from several museums as well as photos of Auschwitz and Majdanek. Veile will also present Holocaust topics in a manner appropriate for students in fifth grade and older at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. The events will conclude Friday with “Life in the Ghettos” at 6:30 p.m.

Latah County

Moscow

Novelist Carole Maso will read from her works Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the University of Idaho Law Building Courtroom. The reading, part of the UI English Department’s distinguished visiting writer program, is free and open to the public. Following the reading there will be a reception and book signing sponsored by the English honorary society Sigma Tau Delta and BookPeople of Moscow. Maso is the director of creative writing at Brown University.

Shoshone County

Silver Valley

The U.S. Forest Service will begin prescribed burns in the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District as weather and smoke management conditions permit. Aerial and hand-ignition burning methods will be used.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Troy

Residents are being sought to serve on a Troy building codes appeals board. Resumes with qualifications and interests should be submitted at the Troy City Hall by May 4. The board will be comprised of three to five people. For information, call (406) 295-4151.