The County Lines

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Ritzville

The Ritzville Chamber of Commerce may be under new leadership, but will stay the course on economic diversification. Celia Benzel, owner of the Garden Gate Quilt Shop, will pick up where former president Sandy Sparks left off. The chamber hopes to lure new merchants and industry to strengthen the economy.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

Local weather buff Dick Slagle reported 1998 to be the wettest in recent Ferry County history. According to his calculations, 26.32 inches of moisture fell in 1998, well above the 16-18 inch annual average. With just under 10 inches falling in late May and early June, millions of dollars in property damage occurred.

GRANT COUNTY

Soap Lake

The Soap Lake School District is in hot pursuit of a board member succeed Leslie Nelson. Nelson resigned in October and no candidates have come forward to fill her spot. Superintendent Ron Stegmann says he will make a concentrated effort to encourage people in the district to step forward for the children.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Davenport

Because of popular demand in rural counties, the WSU Cooperative Extension has scheduled more “Generating Wealth” workshops. The workshops, geared toward farmers and ranchers, apply to other businesses as well. The workshops are scheduled Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Jan. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 222 N. Havana St. in Spokane.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Cusick

Although many donate coats to charity during the winter, a local mother and daughter are collecting socks for the needy. Sue Cook and Terry McCoy are keeping donated socks of all sizes, colors and varieties to give to folks in need this winter. The socks, say the pair, will be distributed through missions and other organizations. For information, call (509)445-0304.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Spokane

New officers at the Southside Senior Activity Center are Ray Tomlinson, president; Jack Stallcop, first vice president; Al Cutler, second vice president; Jean Atteberry, secretary; Thurley Pack, treasurer, and Carol Delehanty, past president.

STEVENS COUNTY

Colville

County Commissioners passed their $33.5 million budget for 1999 despite having to fill in a few blanks at a later date. The State Department of Revenue has not sent updated property tax information and an error in utility rates has left another hole. Despite missing numbers, the commissioners say the county is walking a financial tightrope, with little room for extras.

WHITMAN COUNTY

LaCrosse

Margaret Enzweiler was named December’s Citizen of the Month. Enzweiler organized the local Christmas decorations drive on Main Street. Metal Christmas trees were purchased, decorated and mounted on power poles. Avista donated the manpower to wire the lights, with many citizens donating money toward the decoration effort.

IDAHO

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

The city of Sandpoint’s Recreation Department will sponsor an avalanche safety seminar at 7 p.m., Jan. 22 at the Sandpoint Community Hall. Rick Price and Gene Klein will run the meeting, which includes back-country safety tips and a discussion on hypothermia. Access to additional information will also be available.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

Due to a delay in the adoption of the Boundary County zoning and subdivision ordinance and the attendant zoning map, the January meeting of the county Planning and Zoning Commission has been canceled. The commission’s next regular meeting will be at 5:30 p.m., on Feb. 18 in the main courtroom of the Boundary County Courthouse. Business scheduled for the January meeting will be postponed until then.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Post Falls

The first annual Senior Seminar will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Templin’s Resort in Post Falls. The program will feature guest speakers and on-site professionals in the fields of health care, financial management and long-term care planning.

Registration is $15 per person or couple and fees are tax deductible. Proceeds benefit the Extendicare Foundation, which supports Alzheimer’s disease research and service, quality of life projects and caregiver education. To register, call Michael Hayes at (208) 664-2185.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

Michelle Posey, office manager for the Moscow Chamber of Commerce, officially left her job Jan. 8. She now works at Anantek Labs in Moscow. Along with her management duties, Posey worked on the chamber’s fund-raising and Promotions and Government Affairs committees.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Kellogg

Quorum Health Resources, Inc. and Shoshone Medical Center officials signed a three-year contract Thursday. Quorum will update and improve the facility with the financial status of the hospital the largest concern. The hospital will continue to pursue ways to restructure its short-term debt into a long-term plan. Quorum will have to report to the West Shoshone Hospital District board of directors, which will have the final say in matters.

Some of the information in County Lines comes from readers’ tips and from community newspapers. For items outside Spokane County, send your tips by fax to County Lines, (509) 459-5482, by mail to County Lines, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-2160, or by e-mail to news@spokesman.com. For items in Spokane County, send tips to Voices, The Spokesman-Review, same fax number and mail or e-mail addresses.