The County Lines

Fri., Jan. 15, 1999

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Ritzville

A group of local citizens is trying to establish an arts commission to guide the preservation of an eight-block historic district in downtown Ritzville. The City Council supports the idea of a 12-member volunteer panel to help rejuvenate downtown. In addition, the group would provide activities and programs and try to find grant money.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

Sales tax revenue checks for last September and October brought $31,601.62 into the county coffers. The optional .5 percent sales tax brought in another $31,510.42 for t same period. The city of Republic received checks totaling $18,126.78 in sales tax revenues for September and October.

GRANT COUNTY Moses Lake

Samaritan Hospital reports its ambulance service is doing well. Business is up 3.7 percent more than budgeted, with 2,600 calls in 1998. Samaritan Ambulance director Corbin Moberg says when calls reach the 3,000 mark, a third full-time team of emergency medical technicians and paramedics will be needed.

LINCOLN COUNTY Odessa

Eight local women spent the past year knitting and crocheting for the needy. More than 150 s were made from donated yarn and given to the local Tree of Sharing, Quail Court assisted living center, local nursing home patients and assorted missionary groups. Hat maker Sharon Parr says the group is in need of used yarn and strong hands for the 1999 version of the project.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport

The Newport High School production of “The Clumsy Custard Horror Show and Ice Cream Clone Review” runs through Wednesday. The comedy is scheduled for Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. in the high school cafetorium.

SPOKANE COUNTY Cheney

The holidays are over, but credit card bills are still rolling in. Eastern Washington University is offering a free public seminar called “Ouch! The Credit Card Debt Thing” at noon Wednesday in room 114 of Monroe Hall. A personal financial adviser will share strategies on budgeting and savings. For more information, call the EWU Women’s Center at 359-2847.

STEVENS COUNTY Colville

Although the budget is tight, county commissioners have found funds to give employees a pay raise. After two years without a wage increase, elected officials will see between 5 percent and 12.8 percent more in their paycheck. Department heads will receive between 2 and 5.8 percent raises, while employees will earn between 2 and 23.8 percent more this year than last.

WHITMAN COUNTY Colfax

The Community Free University is offering additional classes not included in its printed catalogue. They include Relationship Development, Science and Religion: The Development of the Christian Faith, and a parenting class and are offered by the staff of the common ministry at Washington State University. Sign up by phoning (509) 332-2611. The other courses are Waltz, Foxtrot and Swing, and Beginning Belly Dance, both taught by Wiley Hollingsworth. Call (509) 332-2202 for more information.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Joe

St. Joe Valley Search and Rescue recently purchased avalanche rescue equipment with an $872 donation from the St. Joe Snowriders. The search and rescue bought three transceivers, which send and receive signals, probes t can poke 10 feet beneath the snow and three rescue shovels. The money was raised through the snowmobile club’s annual fun ride.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

A Women and Wellness Forum is scheduled for today and Saturday at the Sandpoint Community Hall. Sponsored by Pend Oreille Chiropractic, the forum will provide education on the needs of women as they experience different stages of their lives. A panel of experts will discuss neonatal care, anger management, abuse and domestic violence, depression, obesity and development of the adolescent. For information, call Pend Oreille Chiropractic at (208) 255-1108.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

Voters are being asked to go to the polls Feb. 16 to decide whether Boundary County will get a new high school, an upgraded junior high and room for the alternative school. The $9 million measure was narrowly defeated in November. The Citizens Committee for School Construction is posing the question again because its members feel the package gives the county the best value for its tax dollar.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

North Idaho College President Michael Burke was recently chosen as one of the University of Texas-Austin’s top graduates. The award was given to Burke because of his doctoral work, achievement in leadership roles and accomplishments after graduation. He graduated in 1985.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

Latah County officials had a “team-building” workshop for commissioners Tuesday to set goals for the new administration. The workshop was designed to put an end to hard feelings started with the past administration two years ago. The commissioners heard suggestions from peers on ways to improve daily operations. Elected officials and department heads want Latah County commissioners to get along and improve communications with employees. These were two of 20 goals set at the meeting. Other suggestions included perfecting the heating and cooling system and better information about the courthouse’s computer upgrade. The goals will be summarized and prioritized into long- and short-term goals.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Wallace

The Wallace Booster Club will have an open meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Silver Hills Middle School in Osburn. The booster club supports all activities, both sports and academics, and is seeking assistance from parents of students in all grade levels. The organization plans to have a variety of fund-raising events during the year and the support of district parents is needed.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Libby

An 18-year-old Libby man was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years probation Jan. 6 in connection with a string of thefts from vehicles last summer. James Rand Hernvall received credit for 15 days already served in jail. Hernvall had pleaded guilty to attempted criminal endangerment in a plea agreement t included the dismissal of one count each of misdemeanor theft and felony theft. Hernvall was arrested last summer after a Libby man reported catching him and three other teenagers breaking into his son’s car.

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