The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Othello
The OHS Speech Team cleaned up at a recent competition in Leavenworth. Although most members were deep in rehearsals for the school play, they competed as if they’d been practicing their speeches for weeks. Those bringing home trophies in the team’s second place effort include Kelly Dorow, Sabra McKinney, Angela Garza, Jon McClintick, Nicole Hamilton, Mark Wheaton and Sophia Lopez.
Ferry County
Inchelium
The Inchelium School District is starting a recycling program with the help of Ferry County Public Works. The county will supply special bins to the district in hopes that a full-scale recycling program can begin in Inchelium.
Grant County
Royal Slope
Although no accidents were reported, officers are aggressively looking for the persons who tore down 39 stop signs near Royal last week. Sheriff Bill Wiester says the series of malicious mischief incidents was “an extremely dangerous situation.” He asks that residents with any information contact his office.
Lincoln County
Almira
Two local youngsters were recently honored for their bravery. Karen Oliver and Danielle Thompson both received a plaque from the Coulee Dam Credit Union for keeping calm during the Nov. 10 armed robbery of the Almira branch. The girls passed the masked gunman on their way out of the bank. Thinking quickly, the fifth-graders ran to a nearby business and convinced workers there to call 911.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
The oath of office was taken by three newcomers to public service in Pend Oreille County. Sheriff Jerry Weeks, Clerk Fawn Opp and Treasurer Charlotte Demlow were sworn into office Dec. 29. Nellie Giles, wife of Pend Oreille County’s last Republican sheriff, Pete Giles, was honored to present the sheriff’s badge to Weeks. Pete Giles died in early December.
Spokane County
Deer Park
The Deer Park Senior Center, 1023 E. Crawford, offers bingo, music and pinochle weekdays from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunches are served at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 276-2411.
Stevens County
Kettle Falls
With City Treasurer Vicki Strong being sworn in as Stevens County commissioner, the city of Kettle Falls has searched for and found her replacement. Raena Hallam started crunching the numbers in Kettle Falls on Dec. 28. She is the former deputy clerk and treasurer for the city of Colville.
Whitman County
Pullman
Pullman Parks and Recreation is offering a trip to Kasai, Japan, Pullman’s sister city, March 12-21 for students in grades 8-12. Students will stay with a host family and tour with the group during the day. The $1,150 fee includes airfare, food, housing and tours. A nonrefundable deposit of $500 is due by Monday. For more information call (509) 334-4555, ext. 228.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
Three men, believed to be from Alaska, were arrested in Grant County, Wash., in connection with a firearm theft at a Sheep Creek residence between Dec. 2 and 3. Welton Paris and Darrick Bessman face felony grand theft charges in Washington and Idaho, while Thomas R. Paris is charged with grand theft. The men allegedly stole eight firearms from a vehicle parked in a garage at the residence. A preliminary hearing in Benewah County has not been scheduled.
Bonner County
Sandpoint
“Destination: Sandpoint!”, the tourism marketing arm of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, has received a$79,000 grant from the Idaho Travel Council for tourism marketing. The funds will be matched by local cash and in-kind contributions. Recent programs include the winter edition of Sandpoint magazine, production of a ski brochure with Schweitzer Mountain Resort and “Hometown Christmas” ads in The Spokesman-Review and the Pacific Northwest Inlander. For information about the program, contact Carol Novak at the Sandpoint chamber, (208) 263-0887.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
The Knights of Pythias annual hoop shoot will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the Bonners Ferry High School gym. The contest is open to students in grades three through eight. Two basketballs and 18 trophies will be awarded to the top shooters. For information, call (208) 267-7267.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
The Vandal Vision program for prospective University of Idaho students and their families will be at The Coeur d’Alene Resort at 7 p.m. Jan. 20. Representatives from every undergraduate college will be available to answer questions on academics. Other topics will be discussed including financial aid and scholarships and on-campus housing. For reservations, call UI New Student Services at 1-88-88-UIDAHO.
Latah County
Kendrick
A community open house is planned for the Kendrick Clinic on Saturday, Jan. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A variety of free health assessments will be offered, including cholesterol screens. The public may stop in and meet the Kendrick Clinic staff and other Gritman Medical Center health professionals. The Kendrick Clinic is the third rural health outreach clinic owned and operated by Gritman Medical Center.
Shoshone County
Kellogg
The Kellogg High School Class of 1949 reunion organizers will hold a meeting Jan. 12 to finalize plans for the 50th class reunion Aug. 27-28. The meeting will be at the home of Shirley Galbreath, 627 McKinley Avenue, at 7 p.m.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
Lincoln County agencies have received a 21 percent increase in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program. The Women’s Help Line, Kootenai Volunteer Hospice and the county’s threefood pantries recently divided $15,920 from the FEMA program, up from the slightly less than $12,000 grant received last year. The increased funding was based on a perceived increase in need for emergency food and shelter assistance in Lincoln County.