The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Ritzville
The Washington Wheat Foundation invites all to the dedication ceremony of its new 3,007-foot annex auditorium in Ritzville. Not only did the WWF build an auditorium, but also a seminar room, kitchen, lounge, restrooms and storage space. The festivities get under way Thursday at 2 p.m. The auditorium is located adjacent to WWF headquarters at 109 E. First Ave.
Ferry County
Republic
County District Court records show 13 hunting violations in the past few weeks. While most fines were for carrying loaded guns in vehicles, one hunter from the coast shelled out $250 for hunting raccoon and coyote without a license. Hunting fines so far total $3,292.
Grant County
Moses Lake
Genie Industries has backed out of a significant portion of its expansion to Moses Lake. The Redmond-based company announced late last week that it is nixing a 1,000-acre land deal. Genie, maker of industrial hoists and lifts, scrapped plans for up to five manufacturing plants, employing 1,400 people on that site. Instead, Genie is expanding in the Seattle area. The company is committed to using the 420,000-square-foot hangar at the Port of Moses Lake for a manufacturing plant.
Lincoln County
Davenport
Things are looking up for Pioneer Plaza. The local Lions Club took a work day recently to gravel the sidewalks of the long-planned park. The Lions and other volunteers have also performed site-work in recent weeks to ready the plaza for brick pavers in the spring.
Pend Oreille
Cusick
It took some compromise, but the Pend Oreille County Library Board has decided to offer at least one filtered Internet-accessible computer at both Newport and Metaline Falls.
Spokane County
Airway Heights
Teddy bears will be auctioned at the Airway Heights Community Center Nov. 14 to generate a scholarship fund for children in low-income homes. The center, W. 13120 13th, will host the silent auction from 1 to 3 p.m. The event coincides with a craft fair. For more information, call 244-4845.
Stevens County
Colville
Project 2000 just got an economic shot in the arm. The plan to improve the U.S. Highway 395 corridor through Colville has been awarded a $5.5 million Rural Economic Vitality grant. The money will help defray the costs to the city. Fee hikes for many city services and other city project have some taxpayers wondering where the money will come from.
Whitman County
Pullman
A proposed ordinance to limit the number of unrelated people who can live together in single-family zones will go before the Pullman City Council for a final decision soon. The proposed ordinance would allow only three unrelated people to live in areas zoned R-1. Currently four are allowed. The planning commission agreed to the more restrictive proposal this week after repeated requests from frustrated residents in some of Pullman’s neighborhoods.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
The St. Maries Police Department has several unclaimed bicycles in the evidence room. Bikes were found hidden in alleys and bushes and never were claimed by owners. To claim a lost bicycle contact Chief Fred Cruzan at (208) 245-5102. Bicycles left unclaimed will be donated to the Elks’ Community Christmas baskets.
Bonner County
Sandpoint
Sandpoint attorney Ford Elsaesser testified before the joint Senate and House Conference Committee on the future of bankruptcy judgeships Tuesday. Elsaesser is president of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the largest organization of bankruptcy professionals, including lawyers, judges, accountants, bankers, appraisers and others involved in the Bankruptcy Court process.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
Boundary County Sgt. George Voyles was recently recognized for the skill and tact in responding to and resolving domestic violence cases. Voyles was awarded an Officer Recognition Award from the North Idaho Coalition on Domestic Violence. In addition to answering calls while on-duty, Voyles is also involved in the fight against domestic abuse behind the scenes as a member of the board of directors of the Boundary County Youth Crisis and Domestic Violence Hotline.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
Idaho Capitol Commission Chairman Roy Eiguren will be at North Idaho College Thursday to speak on the proposed restoration of the state capitol in Boise. The Legislature appropriated funds in 1998 for the commission to form a restoration plan. Restoration will require public contributions in addition to further appropriations from the Legislature. The forum will be 4-5:30 p.m. in the Driftwood Bay Room of the Edminster Student Union Building.
Latah County
Moscow
A technology developed at the University of Idaho will neutralize explosives used for seismic exploration. It is already used to clean up areas contaminated by a banned herbicide and munitions residues. The SABRE technology, recently licensed to explosives manufacturer Austin Powder, also holds promise in disarming bombs or landmines through biodegradation.
Ron and Don Crawford, both professors in the Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UI, developed the process. Ron Crawford serves as director of the UI Environmental Biotechnology Institute.
Shoshone County
Kellogg
The Kellogg High School rummage sale will be 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Kellogg Middle School. Proceeds from the rummage sale will benefit the Senior Class of 2000 drug and alcohol-free graduation party.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
The city of Libby will conduct a street tree inventory this week. The goal is to inventory all trees on public rights of way. A crew from the Montana Conservation Corps will collect the information including location, species, diameter, condition, defects and available planting sites. The information will assist the city with tree maintenance plans.
Some of the information in County Lines comes from readers’ tips and from community newspapers. For items outside Spokane County, send your tips by fax to County Lines, (509) 459-5482, by mail to County Lines, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-2160, or by e-mail to news@spokesman.com. For items in Spokane County, send tips to Voices, The Spokesman-Review, same fax number and mail or e-mail addresses.