The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

The city is keeping close watch on Well no. 6, an emergency backup to the water system. With water that highly exceeds state standards for fluoride, the well cannot be used as a main source. It can, however, be used in the summer when city water usage skyrockets. Demand is even higher this summer as a well used by McCain potato processors failed and city water is needed for that industry.

Ferry County

Curlew

Young children in Curlew will now get a leg up on school. The Curlew Center is offering a Head Start program for kids ages 3, 4 and 5. All children may apply, but registration priority is given kids from low-income families or disabled youngsters. Classes will run four hours Monday through Thursday and transportation is available. To sign up, call (509) 775-2009.

Grant County

Moses Lake

The county fair continues through Saturday and features a carnival, rodeo, entertainment, exhibits, commercial vendors and, among other culinary delights, the Space Burger. The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

Lincoln County

Davenport

The county recycling program has been in place nearly two years, and its popularity may equate to dollars. It’s currently funded by taxes, but as more recyclables are recovered and sold, the program is quickly becoming self-sufficient, said Public Works Director Bob Breshears.

Pend Oreille County

Cusick

All county residents now have access to the Internet. The county Library District Board of Trustees voted to treat Internet access the same as checking out any book or tape. The library district also purchased a filter system for the Internet called Cyber Patrol. Cyber Patrol is part of an anti-hacker system installed last month. A group called Village Protection People has expressed concern to the county that kids may see pornographic sites while surfing the ‘Net at the library.

Spokane County

Cheney

Cub Scout Pack 356 is turning 50 in December, and its looking for alumni to help mark the occasion. The pack also wants to gather memorabilia, including photos and personal anecdotes in writing or on tape. The Scout group has 43 kids and 23 adults currently in the program. They hope to celebrate the anniversary at their annual Blue and Gold Banquet next February. To provide information, call Mickey Smith at (509) 235-8045.

Stevens County

Colville

After nearly closing its doors last winter, North Country People’s Cooperative organic food market is thriving. Now an experienced interim manager, Bill Zietlow, has been hired to continue rebuilding the co-op.

Whitman County

Pullman

A 72-year-old Pullman motorcycle enthusiast won two first place awards in a tattoo contest in Sturgis, S.D., last week. Bob Towse placed first in two categories at last weekend’s contest sponsored by Harley Davidson Motorcycles. Towse, whose tattoos were done by Wal Daily, owner of Tiger Tattoos in Spokane, won awards in both the best use of color and best overall categories. Now retired, Towse worked for years as stage manager and technician at Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum, where he still occasionally lends a hand.

IDAHO

Benewah County

Avery

Work on the Avery Community Center is scheduled to be finished this month. Formerly the Milwaukee Railroad depot, the structure houses a museum, post office, library and a meeting room. Improvements include replacing the original timber foundation with concrete footings, adding a foundation and two steel beams that run under the floor. The Avery Citizens Committee raised $30,000 to restore the depot. Grants from the U.S. Forest Service, Plum Creek Foundation, O’Neil Foundation and the National Honor Society, along with donations from individuals and businesses, funded the restoration.

Bonner County

Hope

Rattle Creek Road 473, which crosses the Cabinet Mountains between Hope and Troy, Mont., is closed for repairs until Aug. 30. According to Sandpoint Ranger District road manager Larry Elliot, the road will be closed at mile marker 3 from its junction with Lightning Creek Road while improvements are made at a creek crossing. The upper reaches of Rattle Creek and the Keeler Creek drainage on the east side of the Cabinet Mountains can be accessed by Road 473 just south of Troy. For information, contact the Sandpoint Ranger District at (208) 263-5111.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

The University of Idaho Boundary County Extension Office will sponsor “Managing Birch in Inland Northwest Forests,” a program for landowners and foresters, Sept. 24. The program begins at 8 a.m. at the extension office and will feature a field trip. Topics include the birch’s role in North Idaho forest ecology, birch silviculture, integrating birch with native conifer production, current birch markets and developing stronger markets for Idaho birch. The program costs $5. For information or registration, call (208) 267-3235.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The D.C. Marketing group will present a benefit concert starring country singer Dan Seals on Sept. 17. The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. in Schuler Auditorium at North Idaho College. Proceeds will benefit the Coeur d’Alene Chapter of the American Red Cross. Tickets are $12.50 per person or $35 for families. Tickets can be ordered by phone at (800) 440-7488 or by mail to P.O. Box 2757, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816-2757. For information, call (208) 664-5414.

Latah County

Moscow

Maurice Hornocker, director of the Hornocker Wildlife Institute at the University of Idaho, is included in this month’s Outside magazine article titled “Great Ones,” a series of portraits about people who have made significant contributions to the outdoors or environment. Hornocker is honored for his groundbreaking work on the science and ecology of carnivores around the world, particularly cougars. He is commonly credited with beginning the comeback of cougars in the West after decades of persecution. He and biologist Diane Boyd are featured biologists among those termed “keepers of the flame,” by Outside.

Shoshone County

Mullan

Registration for Mullan Junior/ Senior High School students will be Aug. 24 in the high school library. Seniors can register 9-9:30 a.m., juniors 9:30-10, sophomores 10-10:30, freshmen 10:30-11, eighth-graders 11-11:30 and seventh-graders 11:30-noon.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

The 10th annual Libby Gun Show is scheduled for Aug. 28-29. The show at Veterans Memorial Gym includes vendors for buying, selling and trading a variety of guns, Indian artifacts and collectibles. The show runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. To reserve a vendor space or for information, call Bob Dedrick at (406) 293-2227.