The County Lines
WASHINGTON
ADAMS COUNTY
Othello
The Adams County panhandle is well-covered in case of fire emergencies. The local fire district, with 36 volunteers, keeps tabs on the area 24 hours a day but says it could use more volunteers during daylight hours. Many volunteers are businessmen and other workers, but the district also recruits teenagers as trainees and truck drivers. The youths, after gaining experience, often become professionals elsewhere.
FERRY COUNTY
Curlew
Two Curlew High School students distinguished themselves at the international bridge-building competition in Chicago. Aaron Sutherlin finished fourth out of 60 students, while Ian Turner was fifth. Contestants constructed mini-bridges out of balsa to see how many pounds the bridges would hold.
LINCOLN COUNTY
Wilbur
The meat cleaver has been turned over to a new butcher. Mel Novotney, owner of Novotney’s IGA for 39 years, has sold the grocery store to Shaun Meeds. Meeds, who has a degree in marketing, plans to remodel the building.
PEND OREILLE COUNTY
Ione
After-hours vandalism at Ione Primary School is starting to add up. Picnic tables and trash cans have been trashed recently. Anyone with information is asked to call the school.
SPOKANE COUNTY
Deer Park
Kyle Tidd, 5, will meet with first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington, D.C., and travel to Disney World next month to receive an honorary medal and appear on the annual Children’s Miracle Network national broadcast on June 5 and 6. He was chosen to represent Children’s Miracle Network of the Inland Northwest and is sponsored by the Independent Order of Foresters. Tidd developed bacterial meningitis just after birth.
STEVENS COUNTY
Chewelah
A sixth house is under construction by the Colville Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity group. Concrete work has been finished at the site at Ridge and Roberts streets in Chewelah. The group is seeking volunteer labor as well as donations to its building fund. Also needed are prospective building lots.
WHITMAN COUNTY
Pullman
The Pullman School District has set up a safety hotline and a safety Web site. The hotline number is (509) 332-2671; the Web site can be found at http://www.psd267.wednet.edu. The services provide ways for anyone to divulge information or tips regarding school safety and security issues. Both the hotline and Internet site will be checked daily and information will be dealt with confidentially.
IDAHO
BENEWAH COUNTY
St. Maries
The University of Idaho will sponsor a program outlining techniques used in small-scale logging on Saturday at Heyburn State Park. The program will include a slide presentation and demonstrations of various skidding and hauling techniques. Space is limited to 40 participants and the cost is $10. Preregistration is required at the Benewah County extension office. For more information, call (208) 245-2422.
BONNER COUNTY
Sandpoint
Three Sandpoint towing companies will haul away at a reduced rate vehicles that have been abandoned or are broken down as part of the Bonner County Farm Bureau’s spring cleanup. Evergreen Towing, Northwest Auto Body and Towing and King’s Towing will pick up cars for $1 for each mile the vehicle is on the tow truck. The cars will be hauled to the old Arrow tie mill in Ponderay.
BOUNDARY COUNTY
Bonners Ferry
Second Chance Animal Adoption volunteers are looking for foster families to take in puppies and older dogs with special needs until permanent homes can be found. Dog food and veterinary care will be provided. For more information, call Alice Miller at (208) 267-2023.
KOOTENAI COUNTY
Post Falls
A public education meeting on radon gas will be held Friday at Cavanaughs Templin’s Resort in Post Falls. The 7 p.m. meeting is an opportunity for school officials, home builders, building-code officials, health professionals and the general public to meet with radon experts to learn more about the gas. Radon test kits also will be available.
LATAH COUNTY
Moscow
Donald Stookey has pleaded guilty for his role in a fire at the state parole office in Moscow. Stookey is the second man indicted by a grand jury for his role in the 1997 fire. He was charged with conspiracy to commit arson in the first-degree and principal to grand theft in connection with the July 1997 fire at the state probation and parole office. Stookey had been facing a 39-year maximum sentence and a $100,000 fine on original charges from the grand jury. Stookey, who changed his not guilty plea in return for a 10-year maximum sentence on the solicitation charge, will be sentenced July 8.
SHOSHONE COUNTY
Silverton
A Lewiston firm has expressed interest in providing medical services at the Silver Valley Medical Center. Family Hospital Corp. will be surveying doctors and seeking input from the community on what types of services they would like to have provided at the medical center. Since the hospital was closed last year because of a lack of income, the hospital board has been exploring ways to market the facility for a business that would not compete directly with any other local business.
MONTANA
LINCOLN COUNTY
Libby
The deadline to comment on a proposal to limit off-highway vehicle access on federal lands is May 31. Under the proposal, off-highway vehicles driven on Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service land would be restricted to existing roads and trails. The proposal would affect lands in Montana as well as North Dakota and South Dakota. The comment period had been set to end March 31 but was extended at the request of U.S. Rep. Rick Hill, R-Mont., and because the agencies wanted an adequate public comment period.