The County Lines

Thu., May 27, 1999

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

As the Othello High graduating class faces its future, two hard-working students will stand tall. Brienne Roloff, valedictorian, and Jesus Ramirez, salutatorian, have earned top honors. Both students have attended Othello schools since kindergarten. Roloff plans to study pre-med at the University of Washington, while Ramirez will major in political science at Princeton.

Ferry County

Republic

Timberland is costing the county tax dollars. County Assessor Kelly Leslie estimates her office will spend $2,509 next year processing timberland and open space applications. Thirty-nine property owners filed these applications. Because land classified as timberland or “open space” for farming purposes is taxed at a lesser rate than other classifications, these losses add up to an additional $24,256.

Grant County

Ephrata

One high school boy is sorry he took a dare from his friends. The unidentified student, 15, called in a bomb threat to the school last Friday after being pressured by his friends. The school was evacuated and closed for two hours. The boy was arrested five hours after the threat was made. Making a bomb threat is a felony, regardless of whether the act is carried out.

Lincoln County

Wilbur

Stephanie Walker has been named Almira’s Junior Miss. Walker and her princesses, Sharla Higginbotham and Rhianna McKay, will ride the Almira community float in several parades this year. The float is the first for this small Highway 2 town in eight years. The girls will also play an active part in the annual Almira Country Fair in the fall.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

Brothers who vandalized downtown Newport on March 9 will be “city employees” for 30 days. Eben Jacob Steele, 18, and Jeb Mathew Steele, 20, retaliating for being approached by local police, did thousands of dollars in damage to city and private property, including 25 slashed tires. The boys will spend the next month cleaning up the town.

Spokane County

Spokane

The Friends of the Centennial Trail will present the seventh annual Spokane River Centennial Trail Celebration on June 5. Morning activities will run from the Barker Road area all the way to Nine Mile Falls. There will be a fun run for kids, and walking, running, cycling, skating and equestrian events for adults. Event registration is $15 for adults ($12 for current Centennial Trail members) and $8 for kids 12 and under. Entry forms are available at local sporting goods shops or by calling 624-7188.

Stevens County

Onion Creek

Teacher Alyson Fellman was recently impeached from her position at the Onion Creek School. Fellman, teaching about government and critical thinking, led her students in a mock impeachment hearing. The seventh- and eighth-graders took all they had learned in their government unit and wrote a play for the entire school.

Whitman County

Pullman

Traffic through Washington State University’s campus and along Stadium Way will be slowed starting in June for construction. State Highway 270 east of the campus entrance will be closed for construction during part of June and traffic will be restricted along Stadium Way as new sewer lines are installed. The repairs are part of a $10 million upgrade.

IDAHO

Benewah County

Plummer

The Coeur d’Alene Tribal Wellness Center will conduct a lifeguard training course June 4-12. The class will be taught weekends and after school. Individuals may register at the Wellness Center until June 4. For information, call Susan Hanes or Jeff Rigg at (208) 686-9355, ext. 453.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

Colburn Water Association customers are being asked to use water sparingly because spring runoff is hampering filtration. According to the association, high flows in Berry Creek are pushing dirt and other debris into the filtration plant, which causes slower filtration.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Dr. Lillian Nail of the University of Utah College of Nursing will offer a public forum for cancer patients and their families today at Boundary Community Hospital. Nail, a cancer survivor, will present tips on coping with fatigue. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is presented by Kootenai Medical Center via the Interactive Video System. For information, call (208) 267-3141.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

Predator Project, a Bozeman, Mont., conservation group, will present a slide show today at the Comfort Inn in Coeur d’Alene. Predator Project works to conserve and restore ecosystem integrity by protecting predators and their habitats. The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land management are currently soliciting public comments for a proposed plan to manage off-road vehicle use on all agency lands in North Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. The slide presentation will show the effects of uncontrolled off-road vehicle use on public lands. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by Kootenai Environmental Alliance.

Latah County

Moscow

The University of Idaho’s College of Business and Economics in Moscow will be recognized by the Idaho Quality Awards, an awards program for Idaho companies founded and sponsored by a consortium of 22 Idaho businesses.

The UI College of Business and Economics will receive the 1999 Idaho Quality Award for Performance Excellence for its integrated business curriculum, which allows students to work with faculty in a living and learning setting. The practical experience with curriculum partners Harley-Davidson, Micron Technologies and Columbia Sportswear helps students better prepare for the workplace, said Business and Economics Dean Byron Dangerfield, who will accept the award.

Shoshone County

Smelterville

Smelterville voters turned down a proposal to increase taxes Tuesday. The tax levy increase was five votes short of the 60 percent majority needed for approval. The City Council sought to increase the tax levy rate to help maintain current programs and to improve the streets.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Yaak River as the area’s snowpack begins to melt. The Yaak hit the flood stage of 8 feet Monday with flows of 7,070 feet per second. Lincoln County Commissioners signed an emergency declaration Monday that will allow the county to receive assistance from state and federal sources should the need arise.

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