The County Lines

Fri., March 12, 1999

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY Othello

The tradition of Old McDonald’s Farm is going strong at Othello High School. Students in Clint Sams’ FFA classes gathered up a menagerie of pettable animals to wow pre-schoolers and elementary children. The two-day event included miniature horses, donkeys, a Black Angus cow and newborn calf, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and puppies. The teens ran tours, gave information and helped supervise the youngsters as they petted the animals.

FERRY COUNTY Republic

State sales tax receipts have been totaled up and checks distributed. In Ferry County, year-to-date totals show the county receiving $165,002 in basic sales tax money and $164,513 for the optional tax. The city of Republic received $56,366 in 1998 from the basic sales tax collected. The optional tax provided $56,100. Hotel-motel tax receipts for 1998 brought $13,880 into county coffers.

GRANT COUNTY Moses Lake

Twenty-one Moses Lake High School special education students earned their Introduction to Safe Baby-sitting certificates recently. Linda Robertson, the safe-sitter instructor for Samaritan Healthcare, called the challenged students “the best group I’ve had in eight years.” The students learned how to handle emergency situations while baby-sitting and basic child care. The course was offered as part of the district’s work-based training program.

LINCOLN COUNTY Davenport

City crews are looking to brighten up Davenport with more street lights. With an eye on safety, the City Council is asking residents for suggestions of dark intersections needing a light. Some on the list include First and Park, Second and Washington and Second and Adams. Anyone wishing to make a suggestion is asked to call City Hall at (509) 725-4352. The city will add as many new lights as it can and make a list for future installations.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY Newport

A deal is in the works between Pend Oreille County and Seattle City Light concerning operation of Boundary Dam. Commissioners are hoping to increase impact payments from Seattle Light by $200,000. The company has offered a base payment of $935,000 annually for 10 years, with a built-in increase of 3.1 percent each year. Seattle Light would also pay $700,000 over this period to make up for funds Not received during the past 10 years.

SPOKANE COUNTY Deer Park

The annual Deer Park Junior Miss program will be held at the Deer Park Middle School gym Saturday at 7 p.m. Twenty contestants will vie for $2,500 in local scholarships and the chance to represent Deer Park in the state Junior Miss program at the end of the year in Pullman. Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, are $5 for adults and $4 for children ages 5 to 12.

STEVENS COUNTY Chewelah

An annual rite of spring - the finding of the first buttercup - has occurred in Chewelah. Zairn Wooley found the sunny yellow flowers north of town along Highway 395 last week. The person who discovers the first buttercup gets his or her picture on the front page of the Chewelah Independent. Wooley is the son of Dennis and Mary Wooley of Chewelah.

WHITMAN COUNTY Pullman

State Reps. Don Cox and Mark Schoesler, and Sen. Larry Sheahan, will host a pair of town meetings March 20 in Cheney and Pullman. The 9th District legislative team will give an overview of the first half of the 1999 session and then open up the meeting to constituents. There will also be time afterward for people to talk with legislators individually. The Pullman meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Neill Public Library in Pullman at 210 N. Grand Ave.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY Fernwood

The Tri-Community Library in Fernwood has started a reading discussion group. The group will meet 7-9 p.m. every Monday at the library. For information, contact Joanne O’Dwyer at (208) 245-0129.

BONNER COUNTY Clark Fork

Local wildlife biologists will discuss grizzly bears at a March 20 seminar at the University of Idaho’s Clark Fork Field Campus. The seminar will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature Wayne Wakkinen of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Wyane Kasworm of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To register, contact Edie Kinucan at (208) 266-1452.

BOUNDARY COUNTY Bonners Ferry

Organizers of the International Selkirk Loop Association, which passes through Bonners Ferry, will meet for an update on the project today. The meeting will be held in Creston, British Columbia. The association is a collection of chambers of commerce, economic development agencies and business leaders from Idaho, Washington and Canada which works to attract tourists to the loop’s communities.

KOOTENAI COUNTY Coeur d’Alene

The Kootenai County commissioners are accepting applications for the Planning Commission. The position is volunteer and the commission member will work with the Planning Department and advise board members on land issues. Applicants must be a Kootenai County resident for a minimum of two years. for information and an application packet, contact Cheri Howell, Kootenai County Planning Department, (208) 666-8268.

LATAH COUNTY Moscow

Latah County libraries are now equipped with a computerized circulation system. The system allows patrons to check their own files, renew material and check daily fines via the Internet. Book availability, location and due dates for all seven branches are accessible on the Internet site. The new computer system was possible through a $150,000 Library Services Technology Act grant. Future upgrades will include linking Latah County libraries with the University of Idaho library.

SHOSHONE COUNTY Kellogg

Shoshone Medical Center continues to profit under the management of Quorum Health Resources, Inc. In December 1998 and January 1999, the hospital had a profit of $136,000. Dan Smegelski, acting CEO for Quorum, will leave the hospital at the end of April when a permanent CEO is installed. Quorum has advertised the position throughout its network of more than 300 hospitals.

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