The County Lines

WASHINGTON

ADAMS COUNTY

Othello

In Othello, there is proof that spring is here. Sandhill cranes are back in town. To celebrate, the second Sandhill Crane Festival will start Saturday and run through the weekend. The festival includes tours of crane habitat, lectures, arts and crafts. Last year, more than 500 crane-lovers attended.

FERRY COUNTY

Curlew

The Kettle River Players will present “Let’s Hang Him and Read the Will,” a mysterious soap opera spoof, through April 3. Tickets are $6.50 for adults and $5 for seniors. The curtain goes up at the Kettle River Grange on Highway 395 at Barstow. On the playbill are local thespians Ruth Griggs, Dennis McKern and Theresa Disque.

GRANT COUNTY

Moses Lake

An Alaskan malamute on death row for killing a neighbor’s pet rabbit has been given a reprieve to nurse her puppies until they can be weaned. Owner Judy Mears is looking at options for keeping 1-1/2-year-old Kiawa alive even longer. A fence has been erected between the two properties.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Davenport

For the few residents in Lincoln County who don’t lock their doors, 1998 crime stats are a wake-up call. Burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft are all on the rise. In addition, the value of stolen property has doubled since 1997. Last year, there were 56 burglaries in this county of 10,000 residents. In 1997, there were only 32 reported burglaries. Stolen cars doubled from seven in 1997 to 14 in 1998.

PEND OREILLE COUNTY

Newport

Newport School District residents who aren’t registered to vote must do so at the county auditor’s office by Friday if they want to have a say on a proposed school maintenance and operations levy on the April 27 ballot.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Cheney

Tickets are on sale now for an April 15 spaghetti dinner that will benefit Cheney’s Habitat for Humanity project. The meal will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Cheney High School and is sponsored by the Cheney Care Center and Cheney Kiwanis Club. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 5 to 12 and free to younger children. Tickets may be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce, City Hall or the care center.

STEVENS COUNTY

Colville

The eighth annual Northeast Washington Loggers’ Workshop starts Thursday. Topics include forest management and an update on major rule changes. Implications of emergency rules will also be discussed as well as cougar management and road maintenance. The workshop is sponsored by WSU Cooperative Extension.

WHITMAN COUNTY

Colfax

Change Point, a program for assisting women going through transition, will be held this spring in Colfax. The session offers classes on financial, career and lifestyle advice to women facing life changes or uncertain futures. The free classes will begin April 12 and end May 7, held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Employment and Training Center in the Elks building at 123 N. Main.

For more information, call Gail Webster at Colfax Community Action Center, (509) 397-2205 or 1-800-482-3992 for more information or to register.

IDAHO

BENEWAH COUNTY

Fernwood

A Fernwood man will be sentenced next month after a jury convicted him of cruelty to animals and malicious injury to property March 3. Clyde Stamper, 57, was convicted on charges from a June 6 incident in which he shot and killed a young dog. Stamper faces up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 for cruelty to animals. The maximum sentence for malicious injury to property is up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

BONNER COUNTY

Sandpoint

Trustee elections for all zones in Bonner County School Districts 83 and 84 will be May 18. Anyone interested in running for a trustee position should contact the clerk of the board, Bonner County School District, 1123 Lake St., No. 2, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or call (208) 263-2184 and request a declaration of candidacy form. The deadline for filing is 5 p.m. April 16.

BOUNDARY COUNTY

Bonners Ferry

The deadline to register for the adult co-ed soccer league is Friday. Adults 18 and older can join. Registration is $25. For information, call Jim Fries at (208) 267-3532.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

The North Idaho Child Care Training Project will host a workshop for child care providers 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. March 27. “Children and Violence” will teach awareness about child abuse. Sessions taught will include confidentiality, types of child abuse, ways to prevent abuse, intervening with families, and legal responsibilities of child care providers. For information, call Jennifer Serrao at the Panhandle Health District’s Child Care Resource Center, (208) 765-6296.

LATAH COUNTY

Moscow

The Moscow Goodwill was honored with the 1998 Store of the Year award during the company’s annual awards ceremony. The Moscow Goodwill, which employs nine people, competed with against nine other Goodwill stores in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

SHOSHONE COUNTY

Osburn

A town meeting on the proposed “Rails-to-Trails” project will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Osburn VFW Hall. The meeting will give information on what residents can expect if the trail comes through the Silver Valley. Representatives from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, the Idaho Attorney General’s office and the Environmental Protection Agency will attend.

MONTANA

LINCOLN COUNTY

Libby

The Lincoln County Even Start Project has hired Kelly O’Brien as a new home literacy educator for the south end of the county. O’Brien was previously employed as an education aide for Asa Wood Elementary and was a case worker for Lincoln County Mental Health.