The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Ritzville
Crop-duster Maynard Lund was recently awarded the “Agrinaut” award at the national Agricultural Aviation Association convention. His invention of the “Lund Nozzle” has helped to reduce chemical drift. Lund also works with crop-dusters throughout the West on improving their application patterns to cut down on drift. He operates Lund Flying Services.
Ferry County
Republic
With revenues down sharply and business expenses rising, the county finds itself short on cash. County commissioners say the county has $120,000 less in the current expense fund than in January 1998. Cash flow has steadily declined over the past five years. In response, all county offices are to hold spending to the bare minimum until April, when the issue will be revisited.
Grant County
Ephrata
The family of Manuel Vela Jr., killed three years ago by a fellow student at Frontier Junior High, has refiled a lawsuit against the Moses Lake School District. The suit, withdrawn in 1998, claims the school maintains “a policy of indifference toward security and safety.” Terry and Joanne Loukaitis are also named. They are accused of being negligent in the supervision of their son, Barry Loukaitis, and their firearms, which he used to kill three people.
Lincoln County
Harrington
Residents are asked to give the gift of life today. The Inland Northwest Blood Center will set up shop at Harrington High School from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donors should be free of cold symptoms and eat well before giving. For information, call Neils Peterson at (509) 253-4331.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
Expectant mothers have a new resource in Pend Oreille County. Special Delivery, a shop set up by Shannon Bennett, will act as a lending library, store and support group for pregnant women. Child-car seats, infant clothing, bedding, books and videos will be available as well.
Spokane County
Spokane
The eighth-grade class at St. Patrick’s School is having a “Winter Meltdown Rummage Sale” from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 28. The school at 2706 E. Queen, has been gathering items since November for the sale. Call (509) 487-2830 for more information.
Stevens County
Colville
“The Bad Boys Golf Tour” is hitting the road March 6-7. Participants will travel to the Tri-Cities for 36 holes at the new Columbia Point course. They will also play Horn Rapids. Those wishing to join the tour can do so for $100. For information, call (509) 738-4653.
Whitman County
Colfax
The Washington Legislature is accepting applications for legislative pages from Whitman County. The pages serve as runners for legislators and learn about the operation of state government while staying with a host family. Students age 14 to 17 can get more information by contacting Whitman County Commissioner Hollis Jamison at (509) 397-6200.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
The city of St. Maries and Carney Products Co. Ltd. have been named in a federal cleanup order from the Environmental Protection Agency. While a title report showed the parcel of St. Joe River frontage targeted by the cleanup effort belongs to the federal government and not the two entities named in the order, St. Maries and Carney Products are working together on the cleanup project. According to EPA estimates, the project could cost about $1.3 million.
Bonner County
Sandpoint
The public is invited to attend a Transportation Fair at the Bonner Mall in Ponderay today from 3 to 7 p.m. The purpose of the fair is to inform the public about upcoming construction projects for 1999 and 2000. Exhibits will highlight projects for the Idaho Transportation Department, Sandpoint Independent Highway District and the Bonner County Road Department. North Idaho Pathways will have an exhibit on the Sandpoint to Dover bike path project. Residents may submit written comments, ideas and suggestions on projects during the fair.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
Pharmacist Bruce Spradin will be the guest speaker at a diabetes support group Thursday. The meeting will be at noon at Panhandle Health in Bonners Ferry. For information, call (208) 267-5558.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
VISTA Volunteers are sponsoring “Reading is Family Fun Book Drive Week” Feb. 21-27. A new children’s book may be exchanged for admission to attractions including Sunset Bowling Center, Coeur d’Alene Discount Cinemas, Skate Plaza and ice skating at Go Kart Family Fun. For information and donation times, call (208) 665-1592.
Latah County
Moscow
A panel discussion on proposals to end commercial logging on our national forests will be Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Moscow Community Center. The panel will include Win Green, former supervisor of the Clearwater National Forest; Mike Peterson, Forest Watch coordinator for the Lands Council in Spokane; and Paul Hirt, Washington State University professor and environmental historian. The event is sponsored by the Palouse Group Sierra Club and Friends of the Clearwater. It is free and open to the public.
Shoshone County
Wallace
A Ski Safety Program for kids will be at Wallace High School Feb. 25. The program, which will promote the use of helmets, costs $35 per child and begins at 7 p.m. Each child will receive a free helmet. The program is sponsored by Lookout Pass Ski area, the North Idaho Brain Injury Coalition and the Lookout Pass Free Ski School. For information contact Dean Cooper or Chase Sanborn of Lookout Pass at (208) 744-1301.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
Bob Castaneda has been named supervisor of the Kootenai National Forest, headquartered in Libby. Castaneda was supervisor of the Winema National Forest in Klamath Falls, Ore. He received a degree in forestry at Northern Arizona University and has worked several positions in Idaho, Montana and Oregon. As supervisor of the Winema National Forest, Castaneda implemented the Northwest Forest Plan and Lone Pine Fire Recovery Project, along with strengthening relationships with communities and the Klamath Tribes.
“As much as we’ve enjoyed Oregon, we’ve wanted to get back to Montana where I worked a great deal of my career,” Castaneda said.