The County Lines
WASHINGTON
ADAMS COUNTY Washtucna/Ritzville
Voters in both towns supported pools in recent elections. In Ritzville, the public pledged $70,000 to maintain the pool through 2000. More than 70 percent of Washtucna’s citizens voted yes on the $29,000 maintenance levy for their pool and the Washtucna School’s $110,000 maintenance levy. Area taxpayers also supported the East Adams Rural Hospital levy for $450,000.
FERRY COUNTY Republic
With Ferry County’s centennial right around the corner, the Republic News-Miner is reminding residents of the area’s wild and woolly past. A gold-mining boom town, Republic was known for hard-working and hard-drinking men. The first resolution of the board of county commissioners legalized the selling of alcohol and cigarettes. It also placed licensing fees of $600 annually on liquor and $10 on cigarette sales.
GRANT COUNTY Moses Lake
The Grant County commissioners are considering a rezone of 163 agricultural acres to heavy industrial. The property, belonging to Larry Campbell, would create a 640-acre heavy industrial area north of I-90 near Eka Nobel and Nestle. Although no projects are slated for the land, the Grant County Economic Development Council could market the area to companies considering the basin.
LINCOLN COUNTY Davenport
Five local churches used Super Bowl Sunday to help strangers and neighbors in need. Hosting the “Souper Bowl of Sharing,” the parishioners donated $430 for groceries and meals at local restaurants for transients and residents. Local churches participating were Davenport Assembly of God, First Presbyterian, Zion Lutheran, Egypt’s Christ Lutheran, and Davenport-Edwall United Methodist Church.
PEND OREILLE COUNTY Metaline
Cheaters never win, and at Selkirk High School, the punishment is severe. Several students viewing a stolen test form before an advanced math test received harsher punishment than the district’s policy called for. The students not only received a “0” grade and probation, but athletic coaches suspended them from one quarter of a basketball game. The kids also received the dirty task of cleaning the bleachers after home games.
STEVENS COUNTY Colville
To those wishing to win a fishing boat from the Colville Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity, your days are numbered. Fewer than than 600 tickets remain for the drawing, which will be held March 13. Raffle day will feature fun, food and entertainment at the Colville Junior High. A rummage sale is also planned. Other big prizes for the raffle include a houseboat cruise and a set of Bev Doolittle prints.
WHITMAN COUNTY Tekoa
The Port of Whitman is considering an industrial park in the small Whitman County town of Tekoa. Port of Whitman officials are contracting a $5,000 feasibility study to examine whether the community could support a straw-based industry. While there’s been no official announcement, the Port of Whitman has been in discussions with an unnamed strawboard plant in hopes the plant would locate in Whitman County. Tekoa’s economy has suffered since many jobs were lost when the Rayonier lumber mill burned in Plummer, Idaho.
SPOKANE COUNTY Spokane
The Spokane Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring its yearly Job Fair on Feb. 27 at Riverfront Park for young people and seniors seeking summer employment. More than 400 spring and summer jobs are available for various park activities. The fair, in the Pavilion lobby from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will give information about the kinds of work available for youths age 16 or older as well as seniors. Applications for jobs are available seven days a week at the IMAX Theater lobby during normal business hours. The employment hotline is 625-6673.
IDAHO
BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries
The Environmental Protection Agency is asking the city of St. Maries to present a cost analysis before it allows plans to improve Rochat Creek as the city’s primary water source. The EPA will not release a $4.75 million grant unless the city complies with the request. The request came after voters approved a $1.95 million measure on Feb. 2 for improvements to the city’s water system.
BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint
The general membership meeting for the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce will be at noon Thursday at the Elks. The meeting will feature Ron Cook, executive vice president of Harbor Resorts, the new owner of Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Cook will share thoughts on future plans for Schweitzer. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the chamber office at (208) 263-0887 by Tuesday.
BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry
Small-business owners who suffered economic losses as a result of the Oct. 27 landslide north of Bonners Ferry are eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. Eligibility for the loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only, and not on actual property damage. Applications for loans must be returned to the Small Business Administration by Aug. 27. For information, call SBA at (800) 488-5323.
KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene
Arbor Day grants are available for Idaho cities and organizations from US Bank and the Idaho Department of Lands. Grant money can be used to buy trees, educational materials or any other items needed for the celebration of Arbor Day. A 35-percent match in cash or in-kind is required by the legislation that established the Idaho Community Forestry Account. Applications are due at the IDL Community Forestry Office in Coeur d’Alene by March 15. A lottery drawing March 18 will select cities receiving the grants. For information, call the IDL Community Forestry Office at (800) 432-4648.
LATAH COUNTY Moscow
About 100 Palouse residents attended the first community meeting concerning the old high school on Tuesday. Residents generated ideas for the old school, including recreational space, gearing the facility toward youth and using the building for arts, science and education. Renovation of the school will cost between $2.8 and $3.5 million, with work expected to begin by 2002. Two more public meetings will be held, on Thursday and on March 29 at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers, before proposals are brought to the council in April.
SHOSHONE COUNTY Osburn
The Osburn City Council passed a new pet ordinance Tuesday. A resolution is attached to the ordinance, which will institute the use of municipal citations instead of criminal citations. Owners pay a fee for infractions, and the fee will increase with each additional violation during a year with municipal citations. Under criminal citations, pet owners are assessed $67.50 for court costs in addition to any fines imposed by the judge.
MONTANA
LINCOLN COUNTY Libby
Lincoln County commissioners heard recommendations from a group of employees Wednesday on ways to trim $500,000 from the budget next year. Recommendations included eliminating the indigency program without laying off its part-time director, and collecting delinquent taxes. Commissioners agreed to develop policies to reduce travel costs out of the county.