The County Lines

Fri., July 2, 1999

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Ritzville

Ritzville is gearing up for the annual Blues Fest on July 10. Six bands will play the outdoor stage downtown, with another 15 bands performing at local clubs. All are invited for blues, brew and barbecues starting at noon. Tickets cost $15 at the gate.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

Townspeople turned out to watch as the steeple on Republic Catholic Church was lifted to the ground where it will receive a face-lift. E&J Construction used a crane to lift the steeple. Parishioners have raised $32,000 for the repairs. The steeple is a local landmark.

GRANT COUNTY Wilson Creek

Wilson Creek seventh-graders are celebrating their standardized test combined scores in reading and math. The students scored in the 76th percentile, well above the state average of 55 percent.

LINCOLN COUNTY Creston

The Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad has offered to let Creston residents use its concrete slab on the east end of town if the city agrees to maintain weeds along the rail right of way within city limits. City fathers would like to use the concrete area for a tennis court and a skating rink.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport

The county Mounted Sheriff’s Posse has disbanded. Posse members say they made the decision because new Sheriff Jerry Weeks didn’t want the posse helping with search and rescue, traffic control, cabin checks and surveillance. “He wanted us to mainly ride in parades,” said posse Capt. Erv Richter.

SPOKANE COUNTY Colbert

Navy Hull Maintenance Technician and Fireman James R. Barnes, son of Brian and Kris Barnes of Colbert and a 1994 Deer Park High School graduate, recently graduated from basic training at the Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Ill.

STEVENS COUNTY Kettle Falls

New rules at the local pool have some parents upset. Not only are there height and ability requirements, but now children under 6 must be accompanied by someone 15 or older in order to swim.

WHITMAN COUNTY St. John

An empty storefront on the main drag will soon be filled, but not with another business. Basil and Judith Hartley recently purchased the vacant Tick Klock building and are planning to convert it into senior apartments. The city gave its initial blessing to the five-unit project and will look over blueprints before making a final decision.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY St. Maries

The University of Idaho Extension office is seeking names of producers growing food or fiber products for local and regional direct markets for the Inland Northwest Small Acreage Farming Directory 2000. Producers from North Idaho, eastern Washington and western Montana are invited to participate. For information, contact Valdasue Steele at the Benewah County Extension Office, (208) 245-2422.

BONNER COUNTY Sandpoint

All Bonner County attended waste disposal sites, including those on Garfield Bay Cutoff Road and Hanna Flats, will be closed Sunday in observance of Independence Day.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

The 1999 Boundary County Logger Events will be July 10 at the Boundary County Fairgrounds, sponsored by Boundary Search and Dive Rescue. Finals start at 7 p.m. Applications are available at North Columbia Equipment, South Hill Saw Shop and Boundary Tractor, or by calling (208) 267-9876.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Rathdrum

The third annual Rathdrum Street Hoops 3-on-3 basketball tournament will be July 17 at Lakeland High School. Males and females ages 10 and up are invited to participate. Cost is $16 per team. Teams must register by July 10. For information, call (208) 687-2866.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

Reel Entertainment of Spokane is offering free G- and PG- rated movies to children at Eastside Cinemas and the Kenworthy and Nuart theaters in Moscow. The movies are shown at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through the month of July.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Wallace

Sixth Street Melodrama will present its traditional two summer melodramas July 6 through Aug., 28. “The Old Cookie Shop,” directed by Audrey Smith and Dora Eckel, will be performed Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays. “Unhand Her, You Villain,” directed by Don Springer, runs Wednesday and Fridays. All performances begin at 8 p.m. and are followed by “Kelly’s Alley Revue,” a musical variety program. Tickets are $7 and $9. For reservations, call (208) 752-8871.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY Libby

Lincoln County Commissioners have approved a property tax exemption for Green Meadow Manor in Libby. The exemption comes under a new state law waiving taxes for qualifying low-income rental properties. Last year Green Meadow Manor paid $7,816.20 in taxes. A public hearing determined that Green Meadow Manor meets a community housing need. The property is owned by Northwest Montana Human Resources, a private non-profit organization, and Hampstead Partners, which is private and for-profit.

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