The County Lines

Fri., Feb. 19, 1999

WASHINGTON

Adams County Lind

The Chamber of Commerce donated $6,500 to updating the town’s rodeo grounds, site of the Combine Demolition Derby each June, which is followed by a two-day, rip-snorting rodeo. The Lind Lions Club is in charge of the events, and will use the money to update the sound system and replace bleachers.

Ferry County Republic

The Ferry County Cooperative Extension is sponsoring a workshop for landowners contemplating a timber sale. The class is scheduled Thursday at 7 p.m. A $5 registration fee is required to reserve an information packet. For the chance to learn about regulations and how to market trees, call (509) 775-5235.

Grant County Mattawa

Residents voted down a measure to build a new medical clinic. The $790,000, 20-year bond would have paved the way for a 4,600-square-foot facility with six exam rooms and three doctors’ offices. The current clinic has three exam rooms. “We will run it again,” vowed office manager Diana Weberling. “Voters just need to understand how crowded we are.”

Lincoln County Reardan

Residents will see two changes in their utilities bill this month. First, garbage rates are increasing by 3 percent. Western Refuse, the city’s hauler, cites increasing business costs for the rise. Also, the city will charge $2.92 more for water and sewer service. The increase covers a surcharge and state exise taxes, not the service itself.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The city of Newport will receive about $62,500 this spring as a “rural enterprise community.” The REC program awards federal grants to areas needing help with economic development. The program runs for 10 years, with Newport receiving the same amount in grants each year. Other entities receiving REC funds are the Colville Confederated Tribes, the Spokane Tribe and Ferry County.

Spokane County Medical Lake

A group of citizens may resurrect the city’s Founder’s Day celebration. The celebration’s future was in question after the Medical Lake Chamber of Commerce folded in December. The group would organize the project, with the City Council overseeing the work. A decision from the city is due later this month.

Stevens County Kettle Falls

The city of Kettle Falls has hired Coda Consulting Group to analyze all city computer systems to make sure a crash is avoided when the year 2000 hits. “We’re not that concerned about Y2K,” said Mayor Jerry Davis. Back-up generators are in place and the water system doesn’t use date-coded chips, he said.

Whitman County Pullman

The Seattle Public Theater brings its Theater of Liberation series to Washington State University with “Uprooting Racism: Can We Work Together?” Part performance, part community dialogue, the event will take place March 2 at 8 p.m. in the Wadleigh Theater of Daggy Hall. Admission is free but seating is limited. The workshop and performance is sponsored by the Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Committee of WSU as part of its 1998-99 series “The Stunning Arts.” The events are co-sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center and the YWCA.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Benewah County commissioners are expected to adopt a new process for requesting an exemption to property taxes at a Feb. 22 meeting. Commissioners asked County Attorney Nancy Wolff to review its procedures last month after a court decision that may remove the property tax exemption for land owned by Indians. Commissioners plan to meet with representatives of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to discuss property taxes.

Bonner County Sandpoint

The Community Action Agency will continue to provide funding for the needy in Bonner County through the year 2000. The agency will provide the funding through the Bonner Community Food Center or another qualified service provider. Available funding will be reduced from $24,000 in 1998 to $20,000 in 1999 and $8,000 in 2000. Bonner Community Food Center will be seeking other sources of donations to continue its services.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

An auction to benefit Jeff Avery, Tia Roy and their children will be held at the Mission Creek Tavern at 2 p.m., on Feb. 21. They lost their home and belongings in a Feb. 4 fire. Donations of new and used items are being accepted. For information or to donate, call (208) 267-9915 or (208) 267-4133.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, Idaho’s senators, and Rep. Helen Chenoweth, will attend the annual Lincoln Day dinner Saturday at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. The event begins at 6 p.m., and admission is $40 per person. The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is planning the dinner. For tickets and information, call (208) 667-5762 or (208) 765-1904.

Hayden

Kootenai Electric Cooperative is hosting a town hall meeting Saturday. District 2, 3 and 4 state representatives and senators will speak from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the Kootenai Electric Cooperative office in Hayden. For information, call (208) 765-1200 ext. 1270.

Latah County Moscow

A $500 reward is being offered for information about University of Idaho theater student William Hendrick, 25, who has been missing since Jan. 10. Members of the Student Theater Organization are selling yellow ribbons attached to cards with Hendrick’s picture on it to raise funds for the search. Donations can be made to the search fund at Moscow U.S. Bank, 301 S. Main. Anyone with information about Hendrick’s disappearance should contact the Moscow Police Department at (208) 882-COPS.

Shoshone County Silver Valley

Students and teachers at the Silver Valley Christian Academy have created a quilt for the school’s March 5 auction. The quilt, “Spring Celebration,” features squares designed by each student and teacher. Along with the quilt, each grade at the academy is contributing auction items from cooking and video baskets to students auctioning themselves as volunteer workers.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The Lincoln County sheriff’s office is asking county commissioners for about $40,000 to replace a failing recording system used by the dispatch center. The system records phone calls and radio traffic. The current system is 7 years old. Repair cost is estimated at $8,745. A new system would provide better service, but would cost more, according to chief dispatcher Carl Petek. Petek plans to meet with a representative of the company that makes the preferred recording device to provide more information to commissioners.

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