The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Othello
The Panhandle Task Force isn’t dead - it’s just taking a new direction. The task force, formed three years ago to help control growth in the Othello area, will be taking a pro-business turn. Adams County commissioners were concerned the group was using agriculture as the base for planning decisions. Commissioner Bill Wills said having a county mind-set to stop growth altogether is wrong.
Ferry County
Republic
More than 690 needy Ferry County youngsters eat free lunches during the school year, but where do they go for lunch when school is out? According to the latest Children’s Alliance report, 150 of them find a hot meal in Orient, Curlew and Republic thanks to AmeriCorps. Ferry County was targeted by the alliance last year as an area needing sites for free summer meals because Ferry is the poorest county in terms of per capita income in Washington state.
Grant County
Electric City
Ted Christiansen says he’s being singled out. Grand Coulee police were called to his home after a neighbor complained about expired license tabs on Christiansen’s 1960 pickup truck, claiming it had been abandoned. Christiansen noted a large number of such vehicles around town, even at the city attorney’s home. The ordinance, Police Chief Mel Hunt says, is enforced by complaint only as the local police force is “greatly hesitant to step on people’s private property.”
Lincoln County
Creston
Guests at the Sharon Chrisman-Ward Baker nuptials are asked to call the Lincoln County Environmental Health Department. The agency is investigating an outbreak of illness among those who attended the July 10 outdoor wedding at Indian Creek. Health officials have narrowed the cause of sickness either to the water or the barbecued beef but say contaminated water is the most likely culprit. The department is awaiting test results to see if the illness is viral, bacterial or parasitic.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
A large load of gravel is the cause of contention between the Newport and Oldtown, Idaho, city councils. The two towns share a dividing line - State Street - which was graveled at the extension of U.S. Highway 2 and Idaho Highway 41 under an agreement between the two towns. After miscommunication, the city of Newport paid its $1,090 share of the gravel costs. Now, Bonner County is investigating the project, saying county gravel and equipment were used for the city project.
Spokane County
Liberty Lake
Volunteers are organizing a Liberty Lake community-oriented policing unit. The first Liberty Lake SCOPE meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District office, 22510 E. Mission.
Stevens County
Chewelah
What will you be doing when the new millennium arrives? In Chewelah, they’ll be partying. Several civic and veterans organizations are planning “Mill-Night Eve - a Night to Remember.” The groups are preparing a time capsule containing newspapers, club rosters, pictures and other Chewelah memorabilia to be opened at a much later date. The Chamber of Commerce will sell engraved brick pavers for the site of the time capsule for people who wish to be memorialized for the as-yet-unplanned year 3000 party.
Whitman County
Colfax
Washington State University cooperative extension offices no longer will be in the burn-permit business. The university recently told Whitman County commissioners that extension agents are in the education business. Whitman County itself is looking to stop issuing burn permits because regulations are getting more intricate, time-consuming and costly.