The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Othello
Local residents are keeping their fingers crossed that lawmakers will vote to solve a problem near Othello. “Killer Corner,” the intersection of state routes 17 and 26, has claimed many lives over the years. Residents are looking to Sen. Larry Sheahan, R-Spokane, to spearhead the effort to get funding for an overpass for this section of road.
Ferry County Republic
The county is readying for emergencies on Deadman Creek Road. The road, which is prone to slides, is partially blocked. In case the road is closed due to a landslide, the county is placing a water tanker for fighting fires on the other side of the affected area. Engineers say there is no easy fix for the slide problem, with much of the material to fix the road being hauled from 50 miles away. Nearly 50 families could be trapped by a slide.
Grant County Soap Lake
The mayor of this small vacation community saw his paycheck cut in half at a recent council meeting. The City Council voted 5-1 to drop the mayor’s salary from $600 per month to $300 beginning in January 2000. The move drew criticism from residents and Mayor Phil Wick. The council didn’t change members’ $70 per month compensation.
Lincoln County Davenport
Lincoln Hospital will get $4.8 million in upgrades. Electrical, mechanical and lighting systems, roofing, smoke detectors and fire sprinklers will be updated. Hospital administrator Kenny Hall says he plans to use up to $2 million from the funded depreciation account. He will also finance the project through limited Tax General Obligation bonds. The retrofit will allow the hospital to make other improvements.
Pend Oreille County Newport
The city of Newport says its recent audit by the state was the best in years. The audit covered Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 1997. The state recommended the city put adequate controls over cash receipting, a request made in several previous audits. The city did take steps to put controls in place, which, the state says, is a positive step.
Spokane County Deer Park
Television horticulturist Phyllis Stephens will discuss trees during a session at 7:30 p.m. April 13 at the Deer Park Community Center in the basement of City Hall, 316 E. Crawford. The session, sponsored by the North Country Organic Garden Club, will include lessons on proper pruning and care along with a slide show on best traditional varieties of trees. For more information call 276-6125, or 276-5716.
Stevens County Colville
Support is overwhelming for the tri-county Senior Nutrition Program. Program coordinators recently thanked 150 volunteers who keep the meals program running. The program has served over 30,000 hot meals to senior citizens at 11 meal sites. In addition, nearly 6,000 meals have been delivered to needy seniors at home. Volunteers are instrumental in the preparation and delivery of the meals.
Whitman County Pullman
The first “Reach the Summit” Fun Run will be held April 18. The 6-mile run begins at 9 a.m. at Pullman Memorial Hospital’s Summit Therapy on Bishop Boulevard in Pullman, and continues along the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail. Participant classes are elite, intermediate and novice for runners, with an open class for walkers. Early registration is $10 before April 5. Runners will receive a free T-shirt on day of the run. Participants can pick up registration forms at Pullman Memorial Hospital or PMH Summit Therapy or call 332-5106 to have one mailed.
IDAHO
Benewah County Plummer
The Plummer Public Library will operate under new hours beginning Thursday. The library will be open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. The library has several new books, including titles on gardening and Irish themes, available for checkout. For more information, call (208) 686-1812.
Bonner County Blanchard
The Spirit Lake Fire District is proposing an expansion to its Blanchard fire station to establish a Community First Responder unit at the location. The Bonner County Planning Department will hold two public hearings on the proposal Saturday in Courtroom No. 5 of the Bonner County Courthouse. The first hearing will be at 7:30 p.m. and will be for variances to the setback requirements. The second will be at 7:45 p.m. and will be for conditional use permit approval to construct the addition. For more information and maps, call (208) 265-1458.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
A portrait and still-life painting workshop will begin Wednesday in Bonners Ferry. Artist Diana Moses Botkin will lead the four-week workshop, which will focus on painting with pastels. Class cost is $25. For more information, call (208) 267-0650.
Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene
The Idaho Board of Scaling Practices will conduct a standard license examination at 7 a.m. April 8 and 9 at Idaho Forest Industries. Individuals successfully completing the exam will receive a license allowing them to scale logs for commercial purposes in Idaho. A $25 fee is required, and applicants must supply their own scaling equipment. To register, call (208) 769-1445.
Latah County Troy
Troy High School head volleyball and basketball coach Bobbi Hazeltine announced Tuesday that she is leaving at the end of the year. Hazeltine has accepted a position as head women’s basketball coach and associate athletic director at Walla Walla Community College. She coached volleyball for 13 years and basketball for 12 while teaching physical education at Troy High School.
Shoshone County Smelterville
The Smelterville City Council is proposing to raise the current tax rate of .002634549 to .004 to pay for city improvements. A tax levy committee met with citizens Wednesday to discuss the increase. Senior citizens age 65 and older, disabled residents or widows and widowers would be eligible for an exemption from a tax increase.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Libby
The lupus and fibromyalgia support group will meet at 7 p.m. April 9 at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. Susan Stapley of Kalispell will lead the seminar. Donations at the door are requested. For information, call Gurine Wilkins at (406) 293-5095.