The County Lines
WASHINGTON
ADAMS COUNTY
Othello
With an eye on holding a Sandhill Crane Festival, Othello citizens groups are hoping to get the Adams County Economic Development Council to join in the effort. The Othello Chamber of Commerce authorized $3,000 in tourism funds for the project and noted the development council would likely match that amount if brought on board.
FERRY COUNTY
Republic
Ferry County Memorial Hospital’s first baby of the new year was Angeleana Marrie Walker, daughter of Tracy Cooper and Patrick Walker Jr., of Curlew. Born Jan. 2, she tipped the scales at 7 pounds, 1 ounce.
GRANT COUNTY
Ephrata
A Seattle-based development firm has decided against developing 52 acres of city property. FreeHold Group LLC, terminated its option agreement last week because “the market is not ready to respond to the development we wanted to do.”
The company says it had trouble financing the two-phase residential development it had planned.
LINCOLN COUNTY
Davenport
Victims of the bankruptcy of a mapping company hired to map hundreds of county roads, county commissioners are hoping to get enhanced 911 service up and running soon. Nearly 10 percent of new addresses sent to residents were returned for correction. The majority of wrong addresses were north of Highway 2 near Lake Roosevelt. Commissioner Bill Graedel says he hopes to have revisions finished this month.
PEND OREILLE COUNTY
Ione
Now that funding has arrived, informational signage and visitors’ kiosks will begin to dot state Highway 31. The highway, known as Heritage Corridor, was awarded a $120,000 National Scenic Byways grant. Matched by $30,000 in local funds, the road may feature five interpretive centers. SR31 runs from Tiger north to the Canadian border.
SPOKANE COUNTY
Deer Park
Deer Park School District volunteer Pamela Ramsden has been appointed to a one-year term with the Eastern Washington Restructuring Network. She will be one of two parents on the committee. The network aims to help school improvement efforts, makes funding decisions and works with district site councils and restructuring committees.
STEVENS COUNTY
Colville
Local taxpayers are urged to attend a public meeting tonight to discuss the Colville School District’s upcoming maintenance and operations levy. The forum will be held at Woody’s American Grill at 6:30 p.m.
WHITMAN COUNTY
Palouse
Palouse Elementary School won first place and $500 for collecting 8,100 pounds of old phone books for recycling. The total equaled 68.5 pounds per student. The Palouse Hills Adventist School won second place and $300 for bringing in 866 pounds. Hagadone Directories of Moscow sponsors the annual recycling event, which retrieved 32,033 pounds of phone books from around the region.
IDAHO
BENEWAH COUNTY
St. Maries
The St. Maries City Council members voted three to one this week against Mayor Ernie Pendell’s plan to appoint Doyle Gibson to fill a council vacancy. Pendell argued that Gibson would represent retired residents and bring construction expertise to the council. Gibson and Jerry Wicks have both expressed an interest in the seat vacated by George Currier, who resigned. Pendell indicated he would come back with another recommendation.
BONNER COUNTY
Clark Fork
The trailer of Clark Fork Junior/Senior High School Principal Patrick Valliant was destroyed in an apparent propane explosion Sunday morning. Valliant was out of town at the time of the explosion. The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Valliant’s neighbor at 12:44 a.m. after the blast occurred on private property along River Lane Road.
BOUNDARY COUNTY
Bonners Ferry
A sheriff’s sale will be held on a piece of property located in Section 15, Township 61 North, Range 1 East at 10 a.m. Jan. 29 in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Department. The property will be sold to the highest bidder at public auction. For information, call (208) 267-3151.
KOOTENAI COUNTY
Athol
Farragut State Park is applying for a waterways improvement grant for maintenance at the boat launch area. Three broken pilings will be replaced and an 8-foot by 4-foot dock section will be moved to provide a dock bordering the fourth launching lane. One broken piling at Buttonhook Docks will be replaced. Farragut is also applying for a recreation vehicle grant to complete the refurbishing of Snowberry Campground, and a trail improvement grant for Shoreline Trail restoration near the boat ramp. Questions, comments or input can be directed to Bryan Rowder, park manager, (208) 683-2425, Ext. 23.
LATAH COUNTY
Moscow
University of Idaho Vandal fans are invited to show their spirit at a parade Saturday at 10 a.m. The event is sponsored by the city of Moscow, the Latah County Vandal Boosters and the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. The parade will feature the Vandal football team, coaches, cheerleaders, dance team and the Vandal marching band. The parade will begin at “A” Street and turn on to Main Street where it will continue to Sixth Street. For information, call the Moscow Chamber office at (208) 882-1800.
SHOSHONE COUNTY
Silverton
Burglars targeted a Silverton daycare facility Sunday, according to the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office. Burglars apparently broke a window to access the Huggy Bear Day Care late Sunday night or early Monday morning. A television, VCR, carpet-cleaning machine, a Nintendo with numerous games and a large amount of food was taken. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office.
MONTANA
LINCOLN COUNTY
Libby
Lincoln County Commissioners approved the name change of Airfield Park to J. Neils Memorial County Park on Jan. 6. The commissioners received a petition submitted on behalf of the Libby Area Chamber of Commerce and numerous users of the facility. The land occupied by the park was part of the holdings of the J. Neils Lumber Co. until it was handed over to the Forest Service for a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp and airfield in the 1930s. The new name has been endorsed by the Libby Parks District board.