The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Othello
The Association of Washington Business recently honored Nestle USA for its local Adopt-a-School program. Workers for the frozen potato manufacturer distribute and read books to students, judge science fairs, tutor and become pen pals with fourth grade students at Hiawatha Elementary School.
Ferry County Republic
County commissioners voted to continue with a redirection of portions of state sales tax. The state allows counties with high unemployment to redirect .08 percent sales tax from the state to local use in job creation and financing of public facilities.
Grant County Moses Lake
A Level 3 sex offender has registered with Grant County. Brett Allan Bramme, 32, is living in the 200 block of West Nelson Road. Bramme was convicted on two counts of first-degree child molestation in Chelan County.
Grant County Royal Slope
Royal City resident Steele Brown, 14, was plowing his father’s field when he discovered a World War II-era explosive labeled “100 pound TNT bomb.” The Royal Slope area was used as an Air Force bombing range during World War II. Both live and dud bombs were used there. This bomb, however, was the real thing. Army bomb detonators say Steele, who took the device home in his tractor, is lucky to be alive. The TNT had probably grown unstable over the years.
Lincoln County Wilbur
Special $100 scholarships were given by the parents of Cindy Clark to the 16 graduates of Wilbur High School who started school with their daughter. Cindy was hit by a car and killed in the first grade. Her picture was displayed where she would have sat during the ceremony.
Pend Oreille County Newport
Parents patrolled the halls of Sadie Halstead Middle School last week in an effort to keep kids safe. “I can’t believe what the folks around here will do,” said Superintendent Shirl Spelgatti. “The community is in there in force.” Parents began patrolling halls after a written bomb threat was found on the wall of a girls’ bathroom. The threat was for the last day of school, which passed peacefully.
Spokane County Spokane
Participation declined sharply in adult sports recreation programs sponsored by the city parks department in 1998. Numbers were down by nearly 15,000. Average participation for the previous five-years was at 59,000.
Stevens County Kettle Falls
People attending the annual Panorama Rodeo and Father’s Day Celebration will enjoy the sunny smile of Helen Houck. Houck has lived in, and loved, the community since moving there in 1946. For her contributions as an active citizen and businesswoman, Houck was chosen grand marshal of the rodeo parade. It runs through the center of town at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The rodeo will take place immediately following the parade.
Whitman County Colfax
County commissioners plan to meet with regional planners July 1 to discuss a new zoning ordinance in the Moscow-Pullman corridor. Commissioners will meet with Pullman, Moscow and Washington State University officials to discuss regional concerns about the ordinance, which would allow limited development in the corridor. The commissioners will also meet with the Planning Commission July 7 to further debate the proposed changes.
IDAHO
Benewah County St. Maries
Construction will begin in July on a new community child care center on the Valley Vista campus. A 2,300-square-foot addition to the existing 1,700-square-foot Valley Vista building is planned for the center. A $100,000 Health and Welfare grant will help pay operating expenses. The center will open this fall.
Bonner County Sandpoint
Artwalk 1999 opens Friday in Sandpoint. Sponsored by the Pend Oreille Arts Council, Artwalk will feature a variety of media at exhibitions in 19 galleries and businesses through July 29. Brochures for the self-guided Artwalk are available at the POAC Gallery or the Chamber of Commerce.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
Help is available through the Boundary County Youth Crisis and Domestic Violence hotline. Volunteers are trained to help prevent the cycle of abuse. All information is kept strictly confidential. For help, call (208) 267-5211.
Kootenai County Kootenai
The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department recently put 40 new self-contained breathing apparatus into service. The department has not purchased new scba since 1981. Four units were purchased for the Waste Water Treatment Plant and two for the City Water Department. The Fire Department has three certified repair technicians in the department to handle all repairs.
Latah County Moscow
More than 50 middle level managers from public utility companies around the world have signed up for the University of Idaho’s summer Utility Executive Course June 21-July 9. The three-week course will address a wide range of public utility issues, including the use of future contracts in electricity trading, the global aspects of the utility industry and the deregulation of the industry.
Shoshone County Kellogg
Shoshone County unemployment was 11.7 percent in May, a full percentage point over that of April. In May 1998 the rate was 9.1 percent, according to statistics from the Idaho Department of Labor.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Libby
Buttons and T-shirts promoting Libby Logger Days are available at the Libby Chamber of Commerce. Logger Days will be July 9-11 at J. Neils Memorial Park. More info: the Chamber (406) 293-4167.