The County Lines

Thu., Feb. 25, 1999

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

Bird-lovers are invited to register early for Othello’s Sandhill Crane Festival on March 27 and 28. The festival includes several crane viewing tours, as well as history and geology tours. Adults will enjoy guest speakers and a banquet, while children will be busy with arts and crafts. For schedule information and admission prices, call the Chamber of Commerce at (509) 488-2683.

Ferry County Republic

Planning Director Lynette Fritts reports the average number of building permits for the county in one year is 173. Fritts totaled building permits from the past five years to find 868 permits issued since 1993. This past year was a slow one, with only 129 building permits issued.

Grant County Moses Lake

Potatoes as art? You bet! The Adam East Museum has put spuds in the spotlight with its annual “Baked, Mashed or Fried” exhibit. The Golden Potato Award was presented to “Larry’s Half-Baked Theory of Evolution,” which features a spud rising from primordial goo and ending up a “couch potato” gazing at the boob tube.

Lincoln County Odessa

Two farmers’ cooperatives in town are looking to cooperate. Odessa Trading Company and Odessa Union Warehouse are friendly competitors in grain storage. With grain prices in the cellar and profit margins slimmer, the two are looking to merge. The accounting firm of McFarland & Alton will unveil a feasibility study on the proposal later this month.

Pend Oreille County Newport

A $73,000 grant is just what the doctor ordered for Quail Manor, a proposed home for the developmentally disabled. County Commissioner Mike Hanson says ground should be broken on the 10-unit home this spring. The project has been under fire from neighbors who feel creating more low-income housing in an area with so much available housing is a poor use of tax money.

Spokane County Spokane

The Spokane Youth Sports Indoor Center, 3014 E. 55th Ave., offers indoor soccer leagues for adults in men’s and co-ed divisions. The next eight-game season begins March 8. Players of all ability levels are welcome. Register by calling 448-1620.

Stevens County Springdale

An outbreak of hepatitis A has been discovered in the Springdale and Chewelah area. The Northeast Tri-County Health District is investigating. The group is also giving information on what the disease is and how to avoid it. Hepatitis A is a virus that causes swelling of the liver and appears 28-39 days after contracting the virus. Lethargy, diarrhea, nausea and jaundice are common symptoms.

Whitman County Colfax

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials will hold a community forum in Colfax today on the impact of salmon recovery alternatives and the possibiity of breaching the four Lower Snake River dams. The forums, designed to inform the community about the potential effects that recovery alternatives could have on the community, will be led by University of Idaho social scientists Chuck Harris and Bill McLaughlin. The Colfax meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds community building.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has awarded nearly $100,000 to the Benewah County Child Care Coalition. The coalition plans to build a community child care center in St. Maries. Benewah County commissioners are applying for a $150,000 grant from the Idaho Department of Commerce for additional funding to build the center.

Bonner County Sandpoint

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. recently decided to keep the finishing plant in Sandpoint. The company had been seeking a buyer for the plant and the Chilco sawmill near Garwood for five months. The company will continue to operate the plants, which employ about 177 hourly and salaried workers. The plants were among seven mills put up for sale by L-P last year as part of a new focus on the retail lumber market.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Eagles Aerie 3522 will celebrate the grand opening of the new addition at 3 p.m. March 6. Bill LaRue will cater a barbecue from 3-6 p.m., with a dance featuring Bob Cody’s Moonlight Band from 8 p.m. to midnight. For information, call (2080 267-3024.

Kootenai County Post Falls

The Community Building Partners of Post Falls are looking for old photos of the Community Presbyterian Church to aid in the restoration of the building. The group is working with architectural historians at the Idaho State Historical Society’s state preservation office and the local historical society for the project. Anyone with photos can call Kim Brown at (208) 773-4681 or Susan Jacklin at (208) 773-5844.

Latah County Moscow

Gary Young, president of the Latah County Republican Central Committee, is asking District 1 residents to apply for Commissioner Tom Spangler’s seat rather than Young picking the candidates. Spangler resigned Monday.

Idaho state law says the commissioners have until March 15 to forward three potential replacements to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, who has until March 30 to select a replacement. Residents interested should send a resume and letter of interest to Young at 1038 C St., Moscow, Idaho 83843. Young can be reached at (208) 882-7473.

Shoshone County Mullan

Snowmobiles will take over the streets of Mullan on Saturday during drag races sponsored by the Mullan Sky Riders snowmobile club. The races are nonsanctioned, allowing riders of different size machines to challenge each other. Once registered, riders can race all day. Entry fee for the races is $10 for people with Shoshone County groomer tickets and $20 for those without. Registration will be at 8 a.m. at the Smoke Shop Lounge with the races beginning at 9 a.m. A fun ride with follow on Sunday.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The Libby School Board approved a 5 percent salary increase for teachers Tuesday. Money for the raises will come from savings in not filling positions created by eight resignations approved by the board Tuesday. Along with the salary increase, the board approved to increase the family insurance premium for teachers to $325.

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