The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Ritzville
People in Ritzville are singing anything but the blues over the success of their recent blues festival. About 400 tickets were sold to local residents, but attendance at the two day blues-a-rama reached 2,529 a record for this small rural wheat community. Many blues lovers chose their favorite mode of transportation to the festival more than 300 motorcycles lined downtown streets.
Ferry County
Republic
Echo Bay Mining Co.’s efforts to educate local residents about conservation and the environment have not gone unnoticed. The Association of Washington Business recently lauded the company for its Arbor Day program, which was filled with hands-on natural-science experiments for fourth-grade students. The program began in Republic, but its popularity has spread throughout the county.
Grant County
Moses Lake
Manufactured-home parks may become extinct within the Moses Lake city limits. The City Council plans to phase out what it calls “nonconforming land uses.” In a nutshell, that means 11 manufactured-home parks will have to conform to their surrounding neighborhoods or shut down. Others areas affected by the council’s decision would be horse pastures within the city limits and businesses surrounded by homes.
Lincoln County
Reardan
Constructing a community float isn’t cheap - it costs around $2,000, to be exact. In Reardan, float volunteers have found a creative way to pay the bills. They rent their float to private businesses for the Butte, Mont., Winter Carnival. This year, Columbus Plaza retirement home not only rented the float but also paid for transportation and lodging of the float staff.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
The Newport School District, still recovering from the loss of students and revenue, has set its 1999-2000 budget at $9 million, including a $500,000 loan the district is seeking to maintain operations during times of low tax-revenue flow. The district, which borrowed $375,000 a year ago for the same reason, likely will remain in a borrowing cycle for about five years, officials say. But, the school board says, it will work its way out of debt as quickly as possible.
Spokane County
Nicholas C. Jarvis, son of Floyd W. Jarvis of Chattaroy and Deanna T. Thomas of Mead, recently enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. Jarvis, a Riverside High School graduate, has left for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Stevens County
Chewelah
Roberta McMillin recently was voted Honored Citizen of the Year. Those who nominated her used the words “tireless commitment, dedication, civic pride, kind heart and cheerful disposition” to describe her and her love of the community. McMillin has spearheaded efforts to beautify downtown Chewelah.
Whitman County
Garfield
Tami Hickle, curriculum director and grant manager for the Elma School District near Olympia, is the new superintendent of the Garfield and Palouse schools. She received a master’s degree from Washington State University in 1973 and has been in the Elma district since 1975, working as a counselor, teacher, middle school principal and acting superintendent in addition to her current position. In other Garfield-Palouse school news, Erik Perryman will be the new middle school language arts teacher, and Michael Allen of Spokane will be the middle school science teacher.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
A public forum is scheduled for Aug. 5 in St. Maries to discuss distribution of federal money for affordable housing. The meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Benewah County Courthouse. An estimated $70 million is available for housing throughout Idaho over the next five years.
Bonner County
Sandpoint
Curt Hagan of Sandpoint has been named Realtor of the Year by the Bonner County Association of Realtors. A real estate sales associate at Evergreen Realty, Hagan received the award during the association’s membership luncheon last week.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
Second Chance Animal Adoption volunteers are seeking foster families to take in puppies and older dogs with special needs until permanent homes can be found for the animals. Dog food and veterinary care will be provided. For more information, call Alice Miller at (208) 267-2023.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
The Small Boats, Big Fun race series, a new sailing event on Lake Coeur d’Alene, will be held on Wednesdays from July 28 through Aug. 18. The competition, open to any type of sailboat up to 20 feet long, will be held near the North Idaho College beach beginning at 6:20 p.m. Finishing times for all boats will be adjusted for boat type.
Latah County
Moscow
University of Idaho professor Leonard R. Johnson has been appointed interim executive director for institutional planning and budget. Johnson will coordinate UI strategic planning and implementation, including development and allocation of funds for annual budgets. Johnson previously was interim dean of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences and heads the college’s department of forest products.
Shoshone County
Kellogg
Pastor Dan Vellinga of the United Church of Kellogg has accepted a pastoral position with the Plain Congregational Church in Bowling Green, Ohio. Vellinga gave his first sermon at United Church of Kellogg on Aug. 1, 1993. A reception was held for the Vellinga family last Sunday.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
Lincoln County commissioners recently awarded contracts for road department supplies and equipment, printing and advertising. The county will buy a Caterpillar loader for the Eureka district from Long Machinery of Kalispell, Mont., for $112,224. A road oil contract went to Idaho Asphalt Supply of Post Falls, while gasoline and diesel bids were awarded to Peltier Oil Co. for the Eureka district, Moore Oil for the Troy district and Golden State Oil for the Libby district. A gravel contract was awarded to Ward Crushing of Libby.