The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Ritzville
Principal Bob Hammann is concerned Ritzville High School students aren’t spending enough time in class. Hammann says 84 school days were disrupted for student activities, conferences and special testing in a single year. Classes at the end of the day are hardest hit. The school board is considering cutting back activities and scheduling sports later in the evenings and on Saturdays.
Ferry County
Kettle Falls
It wasn’t an appetizing scene. Sheriff’s deputies were called to Barney’s Restaurant on Highway 395 last week when a citizen found what looked like two child-sized fingers in the parking lot. The appendages were taken to the Barstow substation, where it was determined they belonged to a foam-rubber doll. The fingers looked real and even sported nails, deputies said.
Grant County
Delano
A hungry cougar attempted to turn John W. Nelson’s dogs into a gourmet meal Jan. 26. Nelson, 42, heard a struggle and rushed out to fend off the big cat. In the fight, Nelson received puncture wounds on his right arm. It is unclear whether he was bitten by the cougar or his own dogs. Officials attempted tracking the cougar with a dog team, with no success.
Lincoln County
Sprague
The local Chamber of Commerce recently took time to honor some of its citizens. Kayla Kanzer was presented the Miss Sprague-Lamont crown. Her princesses are Angie Heide and Jhanine Smith. The chamber also chose Barbara Danner as person of the year. Danner contributes to senior citizen issues, and is a “cookie grandma” with an open door and ear to the community’s children.
Pend Oreille County
Metaline
Selkirk School District enrollment is 15 students less than budgeted. As districts are funded by the number of children enrolled, the district is running on less money than anticipated. Feeling the trend will not reverse itself next year, administrators are already crunching numbers and looking for cuts in the 1999-2000 budget.
Spokane County
Cheney
The Eastern Washington University music program is sending two groups to the Music Educators National Conference in Portland on Feb. 12-13. The groups are the 17-member Percussion Ensemble and the 67-member University Orchestra. Music Professor Martin Zyskowski said it is the first time two groups under the same director have performed at the conference.
Stevens County
Nine Mile Falls
Residents of Tum Tum, Nine Mile Falls and Suncrest now have their own public library. The Lakeside Community Library opened in late January, but offers limited services until phone lines are up and running. The facility is located in the SALCO Industries building at 2176 Hwy. 291, and is open Saturdays and Wednesdays. Librarian Deborah Wakeley welcomes all to drop in or call (509) 233-9621 for information.
Whitman County
Garfield
The Garfield Post Office is inviting everyone to a reception recalling the 1930s, a decade depicted on the latest series of postal stamps. The reception will be Feb. 10 at 1 a.m. in the community center to honor the survivors of the Great Depression. A booklet of Depression-era memories will be available and Garfield-Palouse history students will do some readings.
IDAHO
Benewah County
Plummer
The Comprehensive Youth Activities Program will sponsor an after-school learning program at Plummer, Lakeside Elementary and the Tribal School in DeSmet. Students in Plummer will meet Mondays and Thursdays at the Language Center from 3 to 7 p.m. Tribal School students will meet Tuesdays and Lakeside Elementary will meet Wednesdays. For information or to register a child, call (208) 686-5051.
Bonner County
Sandpoint
The 1999 Jimmie Heuga Snow Express for Multiple Sclerosis will be at Schweitzer Saturday. The Express supports the Heuga Center in Colorado, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with MS. Teams of three earn points based on the amount of funds raised and team results in the downhill marathon and dual giant slalom races. The winning Schweitzer teams will compete at the Snow Express Finals in Vail, Colo. Registration will be 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 7:45 a.m. Saturday at the resort.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
Former KBFI radio news director Mike Weland is starting an Internet Web page offering news and information for Bonners Ferry and North Idaho. Information can be sent to Route 1, Box 581-A, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, or call (208) 267-3856.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
Area teens in grades 7 through 12 interested in becoming members of Kootenai Medical Center’s Teen Volunteer Summer Program are encouraged to attend a meeting Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to noon in the KMC Health Resource Center. The programs runs June 9 through Sept. 6. For information, contact Cyndi Petersen, program director, (208) 666-2511.
Latah County
Moscow
Spring semester enrollment at the University of Idaho grew 3.6 percent statewide over the previous year. A total of 10,775 students are taking classes on the Moscow campus and satellite instruction centers in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Falls. Students attending classes in Moscow grew slightly to 9,440, compared to 9,337 for spring semester 1998. The number of full-time students grew by 2 percent, from 8,690.9 in 1998 to 8,869.8 this spring.
Shoshone County
Wallace
The annual Wallace Sno Fest is set for Feb. 13-14. With a lack of snow, crews have been stockpiling snow that was cleared from city streets for the race course. City ordinances allow visitors to ride snowmobiles on Wallace streets to different events as well as from hotels to outlying trails.
Cataldo
A meeting for Shoshone and Kootenai County residents concerning flood mitigation work will be 10 a.m. Friday at the Masonic Hall in Cataldo. The meeting will discuss work along the Coeur d’Alene River in areas of both counties.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
The Lincoln County Insect, Rodent and Weed Board has two vacancies in the Troy and Eureka districts. The board meets at 1 p.m. on the second or third Thursday of each month. For information on the positions, contact Mike Switzer at (406) 293-2512, Marcy Mack at (406) 293-7781 or (800) 824-3275, Ext. 260.