The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Othello
The McCain Foods processing plant in Othello has dropped its transport program. The company laid off seven truck drivers because it says hauling raw product is no longer profitable. Two of the seven were immediately hired within the company. McCain foods is headquartered in New Brunswick, Canada.
Ferry County Republic
Dr. William Gimness will have some backup at the Republic Vision Clinic. Chewelah native Dr. Willard Hogan, an optometrist, has joined the clinic’s staff. Also new to the medical community is Dr. Marilyn Strand, who came north from Walla Walla.
Grant County Quincy
With crop prices down, supports low and no relief in sight, 250 basin growers met with government officials to air frustrations last week. Farmers told U.S. Farm and Foreign Agriculture Undersecretary Gus Schumacher they fear for their future. Schumacher says it’s a serious problem. “Family farms all over the country are going out of business like never before,” he says.
Lincoln County Odessa
Ellis Nale has joined the Odessa Police Department. Nale, 22, is an Issaquah High School graduate and attended Spokane Community College to study fire sciences. Already a firefighter, Nale chose this job in community policing because he likes helping people in emergency situations. He is attending the Police Academy.
Pend Oreille County Newport
After 19 years, Newport City Clerk/Treasurer Yvonne Doolittle says she was forced to resign due to budget problems. Doolittle says she was asked to resign or be fired.
Spokane County Spokane
A series of seven free workshops for seniors is being offered at the Spokane Community College Lair Student Center on Aug. 14 in conjunction with the Senior Games event that weekend. The hourlong workshops start at 9 a.m. and will include self-publishing, fitness, genealogy, German and creative arts. For more information, call the Senior Program office at 533-3393.
Stevens County Wellpinit
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will take public comments about a defunct uranium mine on the Spokane Indian Reservation during a meeting Thursday at the Longhouse in Wellpinit. The Midnite Mine has been proposed for the EPA’s Superfund site. Wastes at the site are contaminated by toxic heavy metals and radionuclides.
Whitman County Colfax
Bob Bafus has been a hero in the eyes of many young Colfax boys, but it’s now official - he’s a Hall of Famer. Bafus, who coached Bulldog basketball for 25 years, was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He led the 1978 and 1979 teams to the State A championship. He tried, unsuccessfully, to retire back in the 1980s, but managed to finally put down his whistle in 1997.
IDAHO
Benewah County St. Maries
The University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System is offering a Master Gardener course this fall in St. Maries. The course will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Sept. 21 through Nov. 18. To become a Master Gardener, participants must complete the three-month course and a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer service. Applications are available at the Benewah County Extension Office.
Bonner County Priest Lake
A variety of programs and recreational activities are being offered at Priest Lake State Park this week. At Lionhead Campground, programs will include “Dutch Oven Cooking” on Friday, the “History of Priest Lake” on Saturday, and “Priest Lake Personalities” on Sunday. All programs begin at 8:30 p.m. Lionhead and Indian Creek campground will offer Junior Ranger programs, bike rides and nature interpretive hikes. For information, call (208) 443-2200.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
The Boundary county Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 3 in the Bonners Ferry city parking lot at the corner of Kootenai Avenue and U.S. Highway 95. All items are locally grown and crafted. To reserve a space, call Marsha Semar at (208) 267-7698.
Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene
A lake cruise/dance Thursday to raise money for the Coeur d’Alene Women’s Center has 60 tickets still available. The cruise is sponsored by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the state Department of Labor. The cruise runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and features music by Donny “The Donster” Hicks. Tickets are $12 per person. Money raised will go to the Women’s Center, which helps women and children escape domestic violence. For tickets, call 664-9303 or 769-1456, Ext. 351.
Rathdrum
Friends of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer meet in the Rathdrum Senior Center at 6 p.m. this evening. The group will be discussing its concerns over the new proposal for a railroad locomotive refueling depot near Rathdrum.
Latah County Moscow
The University of Idaho’s computer network is being upgraded. Work is being done to establish faster connections, handle more Internet traffic and allow more material to be downloaded over the network. The upgrade is a result of a partnership between Information Technology Services and California-based Cisco Systems, and is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 9. Work is being done at night to minimize downtime.
Shoshone County Silver Valley
Silver Valley Habitat for Humanity has received two grants to help build its sixth home in the Sunny Slope subdivision. The Idaho Community Foundation and U.S. Bank each donated $2,000 for building materials. ICF grants are made for programs that benefit the state and communities, and U.S. Bank grants support programs and organizations that address the needs of children and families.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Libby
Kootenai Valley Head Start will accept enrollment applications for the 1999-2000 enrollment year through Thursday. Registration is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Libby Head Start Center, 712 Louisiana Ave. Children must be 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 10. Parents or guardians must bring verification of annual income, child’s age and immunization records.