The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

Hundreds of miles of county roads have county commissioners finding it difficult and expensive to post all intersections with road signs. The county needs the signs to keep up with Enhanced 911 service. Last week, emergency personnel had trouble finding a fire south of Ritzville because of poor signs.

Ferry County

Republic

Assessor Kelly Leslie recently reported to the county commissioners that during the revaluation process, her team found property, and property improvements, which were not used in making the assessment. Improvements were done without a county permit leaving Leslie’s office unaware of the change in tax status. Leslie received permission to collect unpaid taxes for the past three years.

Grant County

Ruff

Recent lightning storms racked up thousands of dollars in damages throughout Grant County last week. As isolated power outages kept many busy, two homes in the Ruff area were destroyed by a storm-related grass fire. Ephrata High School was flooded with rain water.

Lincoln County

Davenport

While putting the final touches on the search for a permanent administrator, Lincoln Hospital has hired Richard Brumenschenkel to run the facility’s daily business. Brumenschenkel is a 30-year hospital administration veteran, and has worked as an administrator and consultant. The Lincoln Hospital Board says a new administrator is in the process of being hired.

Pend Oreille County

Cusick

A citizen’s group called Wings of Eagles is looking to establish a cultural center in Pend Oreille County. The group is looking to create a 187-acre historical village which shows what life in the Cusick area was like over the past 200 years. The group is restoring Locke Grange Hall north of Cusick for offices and other functions, including fundraising.

Stevens County

Kettle Falls

Powerhouse Energy Corporation (PHE) is looking into building a dam at Cascade Falls, near Christina Lake, B.C. Many locals are upset because they believe a power project on the pristine river will kill tourism as well as the river’s wild beauty.

Whitman County

Pullman

The Pullman School Board decided this week to renovate former Franklin Elementary School on Pioneer Hill to house the district’s administration. The $159,900 remodel will allow for the district’s administrative offices to move from their current location at Pullman High School by the new year. The City of Pullman also plans to contribute more than $212,000 for use of a portion of the building for offices and meeting rooms.

Spokane

Spokane County

The Parsons Apartments building at First and Jefferson has a new social area up on the roof. The improvements include garden features, benches, tables and chairs. A party was held there earlier this summer. Ernst & Payne Inc. of Spokane contracted the job.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Ten eagle perch poles have been constructed along the St. Joe River by Benewah County. U.S. Fish and Wildlife had the county erect the poles to compensate for trees cut on St. Maries’ dikes. The poles, erected on the Meadowhurst and Riverdale levees, provide a perch for wintering eagles.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

Stanley and Maxine Jones of Glenns Ferry, Idaho, will be finishing hiking and goat packing the Idaho Centennial Trail tomorrow. The trail, consisting of about 1,200 miles, begins at the Nevada border and ends near the Canada border. The couple began the journey in 1992, and have hiked different parts of the trail during the last seven summers.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

The Second Chance Animal Adoption volunteers are seeking foster families to temporarily take in puppies and adult dogs with special needs until permanent homes can be found. Dog food and vet care are provided. For information, call Alice Miller at (208) 267-2023.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

Kootenai County firefighters will raise money to support muscular dystrophy research tomorrow with the “Fill the Boot” campaign. The campaign raised more than $35,000 last year when community members put their spare change into firefighters’ boots. The program is sponsored by Kootenai Electric Cooperative.

Latah County

Moscow

The University of Idaho completed upgrades Tuesday to ready computers for the year 2000. UI purchased the administrative computer systems about five years ago. New computer servers were installed, and the campus computer network, which links computers throughout campus, was upgraded.

Shoshone County

Osburn

The Region I Public Transportation Advisory Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Silver Valley Senior Center in Osburn. The committee will receive updates grants, transportation issues and the status of the Regional Public Transit Authorities for Districts 1 and 6. For information, contact Ken Korczyk at (208) 765-5105.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation banquet will be Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Gym. Tickets bought before Aug. 25 qualify for an early-bird drawing for a framed Jocelyn Lillpop print. Raffle tickets are also being sold for $10. For tickets, call Debbie Decker at (406) 293-4871.