The County Lines

Tue., Feb. 9, 1999

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Ritzville

Ritzville Elementary School children are glad their teachers have a lot of good ideas. Teachers Randy Heidenreich and Allen Majors earned $1,000 to purchase technical equipment for classrooms through Avista’s “Good Ideas” grant program. Their good idea was to give students access to equipment for multimedia presentations and portfolios kids could keep on compact disc.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

Ferry County will be 100 years old on Feb. 16. In the late 1800s, the county was part of Stevens County, but citizens were unhappy about traveling great distances for county business. It was first suggested that the county be Eureka, after its rich gold mining industry. When the bill to form the new county was passed in the Legislature, the name Ferry was substituted to honor the state’s first governor, Elisha P. Ferry.

GRANT COUNTY

Coulee City

Hoping to raise money for athletics, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline baseball team is selling advertising space on Warrior baseball field’s fence in Almira.

Area merchants can purchase a 4-by-8 foot space for $100. To support the project, call (509) 639-2611. The football field in Coulee City will also sport the giant signs.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Davenport

Davenport’s flock of Eagle Scouts is large and growing each year. High school seniors Mark Swain and Josh Cate recently earned their wings. Both boys had plenty of leadership, as their fathers and mothers were all involved in scouting.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Newport

Rural county residents with post office boxes in town should look closely at their monthly long-distance bill. Some folks are being charged a Newport city utility tax. The problem surfaced two years ago, and residents felt all was well when AT&T removed the tax. About three months ago, the charge began to reappear. AT&T is using the billing address, city post office boxes, to determine who lives in the city limits, hence the tax.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Spokane

Send a singing Valentine to someone special in the Spokane area Friday through Sunday with the Spokane Pages of Harmony of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Proceeds go to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and Heartspring of Wichita, Kan. Cost is $35. For more information, call 928-7804. Stevens County Chewelah A staple to the agricultural community is closing its doors for good. The Chewelah Grange Supply (Cenex) served farm and logging needs since 1947. Current manager Jeff Simmons says he hopes to have final closing procedures finished by mid-March.

WHITMAN COUNTY

LaCrosse

Keith Wigen and Ryan Cronrath were recently honored as LaCrosse School’s Students of the Month for January. The boys received plaques from the school, tote bags from Seafirst Bank and certificates from the LaCrosse Market. Outstanding students are chosen by their teachers for academic achievement, citizenship and leadership.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

St. Maries

AARP’s 55 Alive Driving Class will be in St. Maries on Feb. 17-18 at the St. Maries Senior Center. Classes for people age 50 and older will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost of the two-day class is $8, and some insurance companies give reductions in insurance premiums to drivers who complete the course. For information, contact Elinor Sowers at (208) 245-5301.

BONNER COUNTY

Priest River

The Priest River City Council has asked city residents to obtain reflective numbers for home addresses. The request is part of the 911 emergency response system being implemented in Priest River and West Bonner County. A limited supply of numbers is available at City Hall at no charge. Numbers also are available at hardware stores.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

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

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

Kootenai County commissioners have canceled the regular meeting scheduled for today due to a lack of a quorum. Commissioners Dick Panabacker and Dick Compton are in Boise on business. The commissioners will hold their next regular meeting Feb. 15.

LATAH COUNTY

Kendrick

The Kendrick Juliaetta Community Development Association is holding a public meeting Feb. 18 to review the group’s short and long-term goals. The recent closure and sale of the Gem State Lumber mill in Juliaetta prompted the group’s meeting. A similar group from Grangeville will be at the Feb. 18 meeting to share their experience in dealing with the closing of their community’s lumber mill. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Kendrick’s fire hall.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Wallace

A survey at the Wallace School District asked residents what the duties of the school system are and what changes should be made. The survey was conducted at recent parent-teacher conferences. The list by residents included writing so others can understand the message, using basic math in daily life and understanding and getting along with others. Information on the survey is available by calling (208) 753-4514 or accessing the web page at www.sd393.k12.id.us.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

The county health department has proposed a rule which would require well-drilling permits to ensure the wells are placed where subdivision plans require them to be. Currently there is no rule keeping people from drilling wells in areas designated as septic drainfields. Assistant County Sanitarian John Peterson addressed a group about the proposal at the county courthouse Jan. 27. Peterson will take comments from well drillers and others to the county health board, which will hold a public hearing.

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