The County Lines

Wed., Dec. 1, 1999

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

Because the Seattle Seahawks football team is getting a new stadium, Othello will be able to finish Taggares Park. With passage of Referendum 48 in June 1997, state voters agreed to a tax plan to pay for the Seahawks stadium. The measure also helps fund ball fields for youths around the state. Othello has received a $153,000 matching grant - even though only 39.4 percent of Adams County voters favored Referendum 48.

Ferry County

Republic

A local tourist attraction is celebrating its 10th anniversary. More than 69,500 curious people from around the world have visited Stonerose Interpretive Center since 1989. At Stonerose, visitors can see fossils and dig for them themselves.

Grant County

Moses Lake

City Councilman Daryl Jackson is angry at Grant County. The city and county signed a revenue-sharing agreement over Moses Lake’s annexation of the Wheeler Road industrial area. But now the county is suing the city to prevent the annexation. “I cannot believe this,” Jackson said. “All this time, we negotiated in good faith and gave away this city’s tax base. Now we are facing a lawsuit.”

Lincoln County

Davenport

District Judge Jack Buck has decided to hang up his robe on Dec. 31. Buck, who has held office for 30 years, is one of the last lay judges in the state - he does not have a law degree. Letters of interest in the job, which pays $76,900 per year, will be taken until 4 p.m. Thursday.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

Pend Oreille County commissioners have asked all departments to pare spending by 10 percent in anticipation of revenue losses next year due to state Initiative 695, the car-tab proposal which was passed last month.

Spokane County

Airway Heights

The Computers 4 Kids program based at Airway Heights Corrections Center has donated more than 1,200 computer systems to public schools in Washington. Inmates refurbish surplus computers from business, government and private citizens and then deliver the computers to needy schools around the state. For more information on the Computers 4 Kids program, call 1-800-467-9843.

Stevens County

Colville

The Statesman-Examiner plans to publish local letters to Santa Claus. Children 10 years old and younger should send their letters to the newspaper by Dec. 15. Some letter-writers will receive cash prizes.

Whitman County

Pullman

A candlelight vigil, a keynote address and a display of patches from the AIDS quilt will be part of Washington State University’s recognition of World AIDS Day today. Participants will gather for a vigil and march at 5 p.m. on the Glenn Terrell Mall on campus. Jennifer Jako, an HIV-positive artist and AIDS educator from Portland, will be keynote speaker at 6:30 p.m. in the CUB auditorium. For more information about WSU’s observance of World AIDS Awareness Week, contact the Associated Students of Washington State University at (509) 335-4311.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Benewah County commissioners agree that a third-floor addition to Benewah Community Hospital for a new jail would be feasible. George Currier investigated jail construction for the county and briefly went over proposals with commissioners.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

City officials have sent a letter to the Federal Highway Administration restating their support of the Sand Creek route for the U.S. Highway 95 north and south project. Officials sent the five-page letter last week although they still have concerns about no off-ramp being planned at the north end of Long Bridge and about the visual impact the alignment would create.

Boundary County

Boundary County search-and-rescue personnel helped look for a missing hunter, Matthew Lindgren, near Road 632 on Roman Nose Mountain on Sunday. The search was called off about 2:30 a.m. Monday due to bad weather but was resumed at 6 a.m. Monday. Lindgren was found at 8:37 a.m. after wandering about five miles. He was reported in good condition, according to the Boundary County sheriff’s report.

Kootenai County

Post Falls

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has named Post Falls Mayor Gus Johnson to a commission that appoints judges for the 1st District Court. Johnson’s term on the 1st District Magistrates Commission will expire on Jan. 1, 2005.

Latah County

Moscow

Local residents are pulling together to help area children have a happier holiday. Don’t be alarmed if you see more than 50 motorcyclists - they’ll be helping collect Toys for Tots donations. Firefighters from the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department also will be cleaning and repairing tricycles as gifts for area children.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

A Kellogg-based company, Insulspan, has shipped two home kits to Schrobenhausen, Germany. The kits contain a pre-cut insulated panel system manufactured to complete a home’s wall and roof system. The panels reduce the lumber used in a stick-frame home by 80 percent and also improve the home’s strength and energy efficiency. Schrobenhausen’s building requirements are much like North Idaho’s for meeting heavy snow-load demands. Insulspan hopes these will be the first two of 48 home kits shipped to Germany.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is getting a new phone number on Jan. 1 - (406) 293-0100. The old number is (406) 293-7761, and callers may dial either number until Jan. 1. The hospital is installing a new digital telephone system, which requires the change.

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