The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

Police have a lead in the burglary of the Coast to Coast store. Merchandise and a stolen check from the burglary have been tracked to Spokane where two people say they purchased the goods from a gray-haired man known as “Clearwater.” Police said the suspect drives a faded yellow 1980s model van similar to the one thought used in the crime.

Ferry County

Republic

Ferry County commissioners approved applying for federal money to pave the Old Railroad Grade Bike Path. The Public Works Department will apply for the grant, which would go toward paving the path from Republic to the Ferry County Fairgrounds. The county can count the purchase of the railroad property toward its portion of the match.

Grant County

Grand Coulee

Local motorcyclists Ken Patrick and Don “Hey” Weyer took the checkered flag at the recent Baja 1000 Sportsman Open. Called the “Coulee Riders,” these men and two other team members spent 21 hours, 58 minutes, in the saddle of their Honda XR600R. Unknown on the circuit, the Riders say their effort was, “not too bad for a bunch of hillbillies and loggers from Washington.”

Lincoln County

Wilbur

Two local musicians were recently honored with induction into the All-State Band and Choir. Joni Starkey was chosen from more than 2,000 voices throughout Washington to sing in the choir. Rachel Hilditch will play the flute in the band. Both hope to make music a profession after graduation this spring.

Pend Oreille County

Usk

The Pend Oreille Valley Railroad shop is under construction. Concrete work is finished at the 75-foot building, which houses a crane for locomotive repairs, and tracks are going into place. The Port of Pend Oreille did not bid the concrete work out; employees poured the pad themselves.

Spokane County

Cheney

Boy Scout Troop 356 will be picking up trees in Cheney Saturday. Just place your tree by the curb by 9 a.m. with a recycle tag on it. If you don’t have a tag, they’ll collect $2 at your door.

Stevens County

Colville

With burglaries in the business district reaching an all-time high, Colville Police Chief Damond Meshishnek says his department is doing its best to find the culprits. Nearly 35 businesses were hit in 1998, compared with 20 in 1997.

Whitman County

Pullman

John R. Gorham, professor of veterinary microbiology and pathology at Washington State University, was one of three WSU graduates honored as legends in veterinary pathology by the Charles L. Davis Foundation. Gorham, former longtime research leader in the Agricultural Research Service with the USDA at WSU, was honored along with Thomas Carlyle Jones and Floris M. Garner, all of whom earned their veterinary medicine doctorates at WSU.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

The Humane Society will hold its annual election meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Washington Water Power building. A lack of volunteers presents the danger of losing inheritance money recently left to the nonprofit organization. The organization will disband if the office of treasurer is not filled. For information, contact Isabelle Barnes at (208) 245-2807.

Bonner County

Priest River

A financial aid workshop for graduating seniors and their parents will be held at the Lamanna High School library at 7 p.m. Wednesday. North Idaho College’s financial aid director will attend.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

A meeting of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 25 at the U.S. Forest Service office in Bonners Ferry. The meeting will address an Interim Access Management Plan implemented to the grizzly bear recovery areas of northeast Washington, North Idaho and western Montana. Contact Elaine Zieroth at (208) 267-5561 with questions or for a copy of the plan.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a free ski day Saturday. Cross Country Idaho is designed to introduce as many people as possible to cross-country skiing. Farragut State Park near Athol will offer free skiing, parking, beginner lessons and a guided Moonlight Ski, and Fourth of July Pass will offer free skiing. Six state parks and 16 park and ski areas are participating.

Latah County

Moscow

Tickets are available for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Feb. 24-27. Prices range from $18 to $25 and can be purchased at the UI Ticket Office at 1-88-88-UIDAHO. Call the ticket office for concert lineups.

Shoshone County

Wallace

The Sixth Street Melodrama is holding auditions for the 1940s musical “Sixth Street Canteen” today, 7 p.m., at the theater, 212 Sixth. Positions are available for five men and eight women. Bring a prepared song to perform. An accompanist will be provided. The show will run in February. For more information, call (208) 752-8871.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Troy

A health advisory has been issued in Troy after coliform bacteria was discovered in a water sample taken from the city shop. The bacteria were not in the general water supply. Tests by the state Department of Environmental Quality in other areas of the city were negative. The public advisory is not a boil order, and will remain in effect until corrective measures are completed and samples indicate the system meets EPA standards. For more information, call the department at (406) 755-8985.