The County Lines

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Ritzville

A local student found a counterfeit $50 bill on a residential Sixth Street sidewalk Jan. 11. The fake bill looked legitimate from the front, but was blank on the back side. Local banks were notified of the find. The bill appeared to be computer-generated. Police are investigating.

FERRY COUNTY

Republic

An 11th-hour snowstorm saved Republic’s recent Winterfest Celebration. With events such as snowshoe baseball, snowmobile races and cross-country ski competitions, locals were dismayed to find rain erasing all their snow the day before the event. Mother Nature cooperated in the end, dumping 4 inches of snow on opening day, Jan. 16.

GRANT COUNTY

Ephrata

The long-awaited Grant County satellite jail could be finished by the end of January. Sheriff Bill Wiester says he hopes to move 100 minimum-security prisoners from the downtown tent jail by March 1. Until then, staff will work on security checks and equipment training. The completion of the facility was stalled last September when specialized security equipment did not arrive on schedule.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Davenport

The trial of a Creston mail carrier accused of threatening to kill a local judge has been set for Feb. 24. Ken Side will represent himself with technical help from Spokane attorney Russell Van Camp. He was scheduled in court Jan. 6, but was granted a continuance until late February to ready his case. Side has been in jail since Oct. 7 for threatening to kill Superior Court Judge Phil Borst, as well as postal supervisors and law officers.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Newport

The criminal investigation of former District Court Judge Charles Baechler is nearing completion. Washington State Patrol investigators say they are awaiting lab results on evidence before moving forward. If enough evidence is found to file charges, a special prosecutor will take over. Although he has not been charged, Baechler was accused in October 1998 of stalking and raping a former defendant who appeared before him in his courtroom. He has since resigned his position.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Spokane

The Rotaract club for young business and professional people is seeking new members. The service club is sponsored by the Downtown Rotary Club for 18- to 35-year-olds. It meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at room B-103 of the Washington State University building at 601 W. First, said club member Chad Dashiell.

STEVENS COUNTY

Colville

There is no plan to turn Wynne Street into a truck route, as reported in County Lines on Tuesday. Instead, the Colville 2000 Committee is proposing improvements to Wynne to relieve traffic on Main Street, a stretch of state highway that would still carry trucks as well as cars.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Pullman

Two full-time Avista Corp. employees will be laid off in Pullman now that the company announced it will stop taking inperson payments from customers in Pullman and Moscow. Avista is increasing places where payments can be dropped off, and payment over the Internet will also be available soon. The move will eliminate 14 employees companywide.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

Plummer

Tutoring programs for students of all ages are now available in Plummer and DeSmet. Services are provided from 3 to 7 p.m. Tutors will be at the Language Center in Plummer on Mondays and Thursdays, and at the Tribal School in DeSmet on Tuesdays. For information on the program, call Kim at (208) 686-5051.

BONNER COUNTY

Priest River

The Priest River Museum and Timber Education Center in the Keyser House will change displays March 1. The Old Fashion Christmas display will be replaced with Wedding Ensembles, Clothing and Accessories. The museum is looking for wedding items from the 1890s through the 1960s. For information or to loan or donate an item, call Jeannie Dickmann, curator, at (208) 263-0871 or leave a message at the Chamber of Commerce, (208) 448-2721.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

Boundary County food service workers are encouraged to attend a food handlers class at Panhandle Health on Thursday. The free class will begin at 9 a.m., but reservations are requested. For information, call (208) 267-5558.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

Coeur d’Alene

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is selling $35 annual passports to Idaho’s state parks for $25 through Sunday. Passports can be purchased at IDPR’s North Region office at 2750 Kathleen in Coeur d’Alene. With a passport, visitors do not have to pay the daily motorized vehicle entrance fee of $2-to-$3 collected at most state parks. Parks do not charge a per person admission fee, and the pass does not apply to camping.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

Opening Friday at the Prichard Art Gallery in Moscow are the works of noted calligrapher Dick Beasley and a graphic chronology of the Lionel Hampton University of Idaho Jazz Festival.

Both shows begin Friday with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 5 and will run through March 18. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Pinehurst

The city of Pinehurst is in the beginning stages of a proposed local noise ordinance. The proposed ordinance is a response to complaints received by city officials. One method proposed is a citywide ordinance that would regulate excessive noise. The city council also researched Idaho statues designed to limit noise disturbances, finding that such laws may not meet individual cities’ needs.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Troy

The city of Troy got its first traffic light this month. Federal law required the light at Kootenai Avenue and Third Street with the creation of handicapped parking in front of city hall. The blinking red light is not expected to change traffic patterns at the intersection since it is already controlled by stop signs on Kootenai Avenue. The city added the city hall handicap access after receiving complaints from a local resident.