The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Othello
Parents concerned about bullying and school violence are being asked to attend the Othello School Board meeting on Tuesday. The district is re-evaluating its discipline policy, including sections on intimidation, harassment and bullying. “In some cases, the kid is a bully one day, a victim the next,” says Superintendent George Juarez. “Our emphasis is that we will not tolerate that behavior.”
Ferry County Republic
Happy birthday, Effie S. Davidson. Davidson is celebrating her 99th birthday, and a shindig in her honor is scheduled today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Ferry County Memorial Nursing Home. Friends, relatives and acquaintances are invited to the reception.
Grant County Royal City
Red Rock School District may have to pay back $220,000 in state bilingual education funds. A recent audit by the state claims the school’s files contained errors in student counts. The problem stems from California Achievement Tests (CAT) given in the fall. Only bilingual students who take the test can be claimed as bilingual students for funding purposes. Principal Theresa Eilers says the state’s finding is like a “punch in the gut.”
Lincoln County Davenport
Despite a decline in the number of visitors to the local museum and visitor information center, people in Davenport say they aren’t worried because visits to visitor centers nationwide are waning. This year, 1,293 travelers stopped at the Lincoln County Museum and visitor information center in Davenport, a significant drop from 1998 when 1,900 people signed the information center’s register. In 1997, 1,987 people visited the Davenport center.
Pend Oreille County Newport
Two years of negotiations are taking their toll on county commissioners and Seattle City Light officials. The two sides are reworking contracts for impact payments from the operation of Boundary Dam. The payments are a staple not only for county government but also for many cities and school districts. “We feel this process is strikingly reminiscent of recent history when Great Britain colonized Kenya and extracted all the resources and gave the residents bones to chew,” says Commissioner Joel Jacobsen.
Spokane County Spokane
The annual Fall Leaf Festival at Finch Arboretum will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The family event will feature displays and a leaf pile for children to play in.
Stevens County Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls residents will be paying significantly more for utilities. Water rates will jump from $8 to $15 while bills for out-of-town users will rise from $13 to $20. Rate increase revenues will be used to repay a $1.6 million Public Works Trust Fund loan. Sewer rates will increase by $10, and garbage rates and dog license fees also are scheduled to jump Dec. 1.
IDAHO
Benewah County St. Maries
The annual Octoberfest at Riverdale will be Sunday in St. Maries. Events will include horse and pony rides, pumpkin carving, scarecrow and agro-art contests and demonstrations of radio-controlled airplanes.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
Boundary County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 on an application for a zoning amendment. Duane Scott is seeking to have a six-acre parcel rezoned from agriculture/forestry to rural community commercial to allow expansion of Round Prairie Mercantile on U.S. Highway 95.
Kootenai County Rathdrum
The Senior Citizens at Rathdrum will sponsor the annual arts and crafts fair Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the senior center at state Highway 41 and Montana Avenue. Admission will be free. Tables are available for rent. To participate, call (208) 687-2028.
Shoshone County Osburn
The Osburn Public Library will sponsor its annual Scholastic Christmas Shopping Book Fair from Tuesday through Oct. 25. The library will feature new children’s hard-bound and paperback books as well as crafts books, calendars and holiday books. The sale will be held during regular library hours Mondays and Wednesdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Libby
Former Lincoln County Commissioner Larry Dolezal is asking the county to pay nearly $10,000 in attorney’s fees he incurred fighting felony charges in connection with his reimbursement claims for mileage and meals. Felony charges of theft and false claims were dismissed in May. Dolezal had been accused of improperly billing the county for mileage on personal trips and for meals eaten on days he worked in the courthouse when the commissioners were not in session. In a recent letter to current county commissioners, Dolezal’s attorney, Scott Spencer, asked the county to pay the $9,570.86 it cost Dolezal for his defense.