The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Ritzville
As far as triathlons go, the Ritzville Triathlon is a must-do. Some local residents eschew running, swimming and biking long distances. Their idea of a grueling triathlon is sweating over 50 clay targets at the local gun club, followed by playing six grinding holes of golf at the Ritzville Golf Club. To top off this arduous event, athletes will roll two lines at Big Bend Bowl. To participate in the Saturday competition, call (509) 659-0233 or sign up at the Brunswick Tavern.
Ferry County
Republic
Everyone is invited tonight to another Family Fun Night Out with the Republic School District and Washington State University Cooperative Extension as hosts. The event will feature a diversity dance workshop, which uses dance and theater to confront racism, sexism, violence and substance abuse. Pizza and dessert will be provided at the free event, which will start at 7 p.m. at the school.
Grant County
Moses Lake
Hands of experience recently reached out to students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., where 13 people were killed by two gunmen last month. Seniors and juniors at Moses Lake High School who witnessed student Barry Loukaitis’ shooting rampage at Frontier Middle School in Moses Lake three years ago sent a package to the Colorado school containing more than 2,000 tiny guardian-angel pins.
Lincoln County
Davenport
The Warwick Building in Davenport isn’t going into the 21st century without a face lift. Owner Floyd Warwick says the building, circa 1889, was suffering from brick fatigue. To ensure the safety of pedestrians, the bricks have been restored, and new paint has spruced up the building. Interior renovations are beginning now.
Pend Oreille County
Metaline
Tickets are going fast for the Puttin’ on the Ritz dinner theater on Saturday. The Ritz is an annual event to raise money for student scholarships at Selkirk High School. This year, student performers, along with local musician Danny Smith, will provide entertainment. The menu includes New York steak and potatoes. For tickets, call (509) 446-3505.
Spokane County
Cheney
Cheney School District has started elementary school registration. Between now and the end of the school year, parents may register their children at their neighborhood school from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. each school day.
Stevens County
Chewelah
The local volunteer ambulance crew is hoping to raise more than $150,000 for a new facility. Chewelah Rural Ambulance has purchased land and has obtained a loan to build a bus barn complete with training rooms and crew housing facilities. Construction should begin in June. The ambulance crew hopes for donations of cash or equipment to furnish the building as well as to help pay off the loan. The ambulance crew is funded by fees and donations.
Whitman County
Pullman
The Whitman County Genealogical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in Room 103A of the Gladish Community Building. A retired Pullman High School English teacher, Annette Pettenger, will help people get started writing stories about ancestors and family groups. Participants are welcome to bring stories, notes and charts. For more information, contact Jean Innerarity at (509) 334-9583 or by e-mail at bluejean@wsu.edu.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
Administrators at St. Maries High School are considering mandatory drug testing of student athletes. Nearby Plummer High School implemented testing last year. But St. Maries school officials have not yet presented the school board with a plan. If a testing policy is adopted, students involved in any extracurricular activity, including athletics and clubs, could be subject to mandatory testing.
Bonner County
Careywood
Area students will participate in the 17th-annual Idaho state forestry contest Thursday at the Delay farm. The contest introduces students to basic skills used in forestry and resource conservation professions. Teams will compete in timber cruising, log scaling, plant identification, tree health, silviculture, map reading, water quality and soils. The contest is being sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bonner County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Idaho Department of Lands.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
The Boundary County youth crisis and domestic violence hotline is manned 24 hours a day. Volunteers are trained to try to help end the cycle of abuse. For help, call (208) 267-5211.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
Girl Scouts will be sprucing up outdoor public areas Saturday on Green It and Clean It day. Projects include planting trees, shrubs and annuals as well as raking, weeding and watering.
Latah County
Kendrick
Kendrick Veterans of Foreign Wars and VFW auxiliary, along with the city of Kendrick, have installed a new park bench behind the Veterans Memorial facing the city park. It is dedicated to the late Frank Abrams, a veteran, businessman and civic leader, and was crafted by Frank Dammerall and Don Whybark-Johns.
Shoshone County
Osburn
Mine rescue teams from Idaho, Washington, Alaska and Nevada will compete in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District benchmen’s and mine rescue team competition Friday and Saturday. The written test, as well as the equipment and apparatus and first aid portions of the contest, will begin at 8 a.m. Friday at the Osburn Veterans of Foreign Wars hall. The contest will continue at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Gene Day Park. The central mine rescue unit in Osburn is host of the contest.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
John Desch has been named Libby District director for Flathead Electric Cooperative. The co-op also plans to hire one full-time and one part-time customer service representative to serve the Libby area. Both positions for the Libby Service Center are being advertised through Kootenai Job Service.