The County Lines

Wed., June 9, 1999

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

The fishing is free this weekend at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. June 12-13 have been set aside for unlicensed fishing in recognition of National Fishing Week. The event is aimed at hooking youngsters on the joys of fishing. All are invited to “catch a smile” at Soda Lake, the Hampton Lakes, Teal Lake and Coyote Lake.

Ferry County

Republic

The Ferry County Technology Center is looking for volunteers to teach computer classes or help as computing assistants. The center’s manager, Gary Michaels, is asking all prospective teachers to call him at (509) 775-8175 for an interview.

Grant County

Quincy

A 14-year-old Quincy boy is being held in the June 2 murder of 17-year-old Augustino Travino. A July 17 hearing will determine whether Abel L. Espinoza will be tried as an adult in the shooting. Espinoza has both admitted and denied shooting Trevino during interviews with detectives. The shooting happened just after school. Espinoza claims Trevino threatened him with a piece of pipe, and says he pulled a .22 caliber pistol from his waistband that he carries for protection.

Lincoln County

Odessa

Townsfolk in this rural farm community are debating a new route for SR 21 through Odessa. Formal questionnaires are circulating as to whether the north-south highway from Lind and I-90 to Wilbur would best serve the town on the Alder Street extended route or the Division/First/Alder Street Route. Large trucks, which make up most of the highway’s traffic, have a hard time negotiating the turns in downtown Odessa, prompting a straighter route.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

A woman who claimed last October that former Pend Oreille County District Court Judge Chuck Baechler raped and stalked her says state officials are taking too long to decide whether to prosecute Baechler. Assistant Attorney General Jerry Ackerman says at least a couple of more weeks will be needed to complete work that hadn’t been done when the Washington State Patrol gave him its report a month ago.

Spokane County

Spokane

The Friends of Manito are sponsoring a sale of ornamental grasses and herbs this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the yard just east of the Gaiser Conservatory in Manito Park. Proceeds will benefit park projects.

Stevens County

Valley

The Summit Valley School is looking for a new top administrator. Elaine Porter-Cole, the superintendent/principal, resigned to accept a position at the Prosser School District. Porter-Cole has been at Summit Valley for eight years. Board President Dave Johnson wishes her well and says her replacement will have to “seek and support parental involvement and maintain fiscal accountability.”

Whitman County

Pullman Valipuram S. Manoranjan has been named the associate dean for research and academic affairs of the College of Sciences at Washington State University. Chair of the Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics since 1996, Manoranjan is noted for his research related to biological and environmental sciences and chemical and mechanical engineering. He developed industrial collaborations that helped many students get jobs and helped found an Algorithmic Science Research Center at WSU. He also helped create online selfhelp math lessons for non-science majors and a web site that helps high school students determine how prepared they are for college math. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1977 from the University of Sri Lanka and a doctoral degree from the University of Dundee (Scotland) in 1982, both in mathematics. He came to WSU in 1989.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Children in grades one through three are invited to participate in the Plummer Public Library summer reading program, “Treasure Your Library.” Children must be registered by Thursday for activities that will begin June 17. More info: the library at (208) 686-1812.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

The Bonner County Fair will accept applications for booth space at the 1999 fair until June 16. Indoor and outdoor booth space is available. To apply, call the fair manager’s office at (208) 263-8414. The fair will be Aug. 26-28. The theme is Country Sunshine and Sunflowers.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Artist Zoltan Szabo will present a five-day workshop at the Kootenai River Inn June 14-18. Space is limited. More info: Wendy McClintock (208) 267-2570, Katherine Haynes (208) 267-2007.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

Kootenai County Habitat for Humanity will hold a family selection orientation meeting June 19 at 10 a.m. in the County Extension office. Potential homeowner families must attend the meeting to fill out an application. More info: Don at (208) 664-5377 or Ralph at (208) 773-8198.

Latah County

Potlatch

The volunteer efforts of Carol Haddock in the greater Potlatch community have earned her the Volunteer of the Year Award for 1999 from the Aid Association for the Lutherans Branch 5545. Haddock was instrumental in helping secure a new library and historical center and recently founded the Potlatch Historical Society.

Shoshone County

Osburn

Miners and employees of the Star Mine will gather for a reunion July 24 at Gene Day Park in Osburn. Hecla Mining Co. ceased operations at the Star Mine in 1982. More info: (208) 753-4581 or (208) 753-0141.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Forester Russ Hudson of Libby received the Honor Alumnus Award from the University of Idaho during School of Forestry commencement ceremonies May 15. Hudson received his master’s degree in forestry in 1957 from UI. He was appointed by Gov. Marc Racicot to serve on the Board of Environmental Review for the Department of Environmental Quality in 1995.

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