The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Ritzville
You’re never too young to volunteer. Just ask Jenna Kragt and Marci Heidenreich. The fourth graders have been volunteering at the Life Care Center for seniors since they were in first grade and kindergarten. These kind-hearted young women were recently honored for their efforts by the center’s residents. The girls help with ice cream socials, play games with residents and decorate for seasonal holidays.
Ferry County Republic
The Republic News-Miner is surveying county residents for their views on gambling. A local group is looking to run an initiative that would allow the state’s eight counties with 15,000 or fewer residents to permit gambling. The gaming would include slot machines. The group says small counties need the revenues from gaming.
Grant County Ephrata
The city recently lost a bid to host the 2003 World Gliding Championships. The successful bidder for the event was Rieti, Italy. Ephrata officials were disappointed, but not surprised the event was awarded to a European nation because of the cost of transporting gliders from Europe to the United States. Ephrata was nominated by the Seattle Glider Council as the American bid over Hobbs, N.M.
Lincoln County Odessa
Cable TV subscribers are unhappy about television reception. Town clerk Sharon Hester says she is taking many complaints. The cable provider for 350 Odessa households is Community Cable Service. Recent upgrades were supposed to clear “snow” from channels 2, 4, and 6. The picture, however, has not improved, say subscribers.
Pend Oreille County Newport
A play celebrating Spokane pioneer May Arkwright Hutton’s contributions to woman’s suffrage will be performed Saturday night at the Cutter Theatre. “May’s Vote” starts at 7:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the Washington Commission for the Humanities. Hutton, whose husband was a turn-of-the-century mining magnate, was flamboyant and acted as “one of the boys” to win women the right to vote.
Spokane County Deer Park
City officials will discuss the creation of a new police force during a city council workshop next Wednesday at 7 p.m. The session is open to the public, and is designed to allow the council to gather information on the subject. No official action will be taken that night.
Stevens County Colville
The Panorama 4-Paws 4-H dog club is sponsoring the “Dog Daze” program Saturday. The program includes canine good citizenship testing and an agility test. In the citizenship test, dogs must respond to basic commands such as sit and heel. For more information about the event, which starts at the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds at 9 a.m., call (509) 684-5977.
Whitman County Pullman
Washington State University will sponsor a noontime wildlife series March 30 through April 7 in CUB Cascade 123 at 12:10 p.m. daily.
On March 30, WSU veterinarian Eric Stauber will give an illustrated talk on “Raptors of the Palouse - Rehabilitation, Research and Education.” On March 31, University of Idaho College of Law faculty member Arthur Smith will address “The Endangered Species Act: Is It Endangered?”
On April 1, Kristi Rennebohm Franz and her Sunnyside Elementary School students will present the slide show “Restoring Water Habitats: Children Making a Difference in the Environment.” Howard Quigley, president of the Hornocker Wildlife Institute at the University of Idaho, will discuss “Cougars in a Changing West: Science to the Rescue?” on April 2. The series will conclude April 7 with Dave Ostrom of The Nature Conservancy of Washington discussing the organization’s efforts statewide.
IDAHO
Benewah County St. Maries
The St. Maries Police Department recently leased a 1998 Chevrolet Blazer. The four-wheel drive vehicle will be equipped for police use and on the streets by the end of March. The department anticipates the leased vehicle will be less expensive than maintaining the city’s aging fleet. The Blazer will be assigned to Officer Jim Hess, who is now driving the oldest vehicle in the fleet.
Bonner County Sandpoint
The second in a three-part video conference, “Common Sense, Common Ground: Preparing for Y2K,” will be 9 a.m. to noon April 8 at the Bonner County Extension Office. Robert Theolbald, Cynthia Beal and Rachel Bagby will discuss a common sense approach to getting prepared for transformational change. Key concerns will include preparation basics, looking beyond January, 2000 and how to talk to others about Y2K and resilience. To register, call (208) 263-8511.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
The Boundary Community Hospital Ethics Committee will hold a no-host luncheon at noon March 31 in the hospital dining room. The committee will meet in the hospital conference room following the luncheon to work on the agenda for the year ahead. For information, call Elaine Atkins at (208) 267-3141.
Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene
The Coeur d’Alene Garden Club is accepting entries for the 1999 Garden Tour poster contest. The winning entry will receive $100. The theme should be a garden setting in a traditional style. Entries may be delivered to the Frame of Mind Gallery in Coeur d’Alene from noon to 4 p.m. May 7. The poster will be used to promote the garden tour June 27. Proceeds will benefit the Kootenai Humane Society and the Tubbs Hill Project. For information, call (208) 765-6570.
Latah County Moscow
The three-day Palouse Empire Home & Garden EXPO is scheduled to open Friday at the University of Idaho Kibbie Dome. More than 80 exhibitors from the Inland Northwest will converge on the Kibbie Dome for the event, which costs $2 for adult admission. Half-price admission coupons are available at Tidyman’s in Moscow and Lewiston and Dissmore’s IGA in Pullman while supplies last. Prizes, drawings and giveaways are also planned for the three-day expo, open from 3-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Shoshone County Kellogg
Sunnyside Elementary and Kellogg Middle School recently received official accreditation ratings for the 1998-99 school year. Sunnyside received its merit recognition from the School Accreditation School Improvement model, while KMS received exemplary status from the Northwest Accreditation Standards. Schools which apply for accreditation undergo a series of evaluations in five areas.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Libby
The Lincoln County sheriff’s office and the U.S. Forest Service are investigating vandalism to USFS vehicles at the former Libby Ranger District compound. The vandalism occurred either Thursday night or Friday morning, when someone smashed windows in 11 vehicles and stole items including two-way radios. According to the sheriff’s office, a turpentine-like substance was poured over some of the vehicles, ruining the paint. A dollar amount has not yet been put on the damages.