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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The local school district is planning a special Veteran’s Day program. To put a face on past wars, organizers are asking for pictures of Ritzville folks when they were in the armed services, and one from today. Veterans are also asked to attend the Nov. 10 assembly in Gilson Gymnasium so students can honor them.

Ferry County

The carousel restoration project got a boost recently. Larry and Vivian Bouta of Malo donated “Old Blue,” a large Clydesdale rocking horse, for the carousel committee to raffle off. Larry Bouta has personally restored three of the local landmark carousel’s horses. Vivian, an artist, paints what her husband restores.

Grant County Soap Lake

The local school district has unloaded two semitruck loads of office and school equipment - a gift from Seattle University’s law school. The furniture and equipment will be used in the district’s new library. Soap Lake was chosen because the university’s recycling coordinator, Jennifer Jessen, was a substitute teacher here years ago. In return, Jessen, a horse lover, asked the district to find her a wrangler gig at an area ranch.

Lincoln County Reardan

Thanks to President Bill Clinton, Darla Hall is teaching first grade at Reardan Elementary School. Hall was hired with funds from Clinton’s program to hire 100,000 first-through third-grade teachers and the state’s K-4 program. Hall has been a substitute in the district for four years, and is glad for the opportunity. The school board is glad, too, as it is committed to lowering class size.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The latest unemployment statistics show a rise in jobs during the month of August in Pend Oreille County. July numbers showed 9.2 percent of the work force to be looking for employment. In August, 7.7 percent were searching for jobs. In August 1998, the unemployment rate was 9.5 percent.

Stevens County Colville

Students at Colville High School are good judges of land. The local FFA chapter recently sent a land judging team to the county competition. When the dust settled, the CHS squad took second place. Team members were Matt Girdner, Kodii Anderson, Wyatt Humphrey, Sarah Raynor and Jimmy Grecko. Girdner also earned second place in the individual land judging competition.

IDAHO

Benewah County Fernwood

The Tri-Community Library is starting a new program, “Beginning with Books.” The last Friday of each month, the library will present a theme event with finger plays and crafts from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. for children ages 3-5. The first story time event will be Oct. 29. For more information or registration, call (208) 245-4883.

Bonner County Oldtown

The Oldtown City Council has ruled that a trailer that burned down this summer, owned by Herbert Dinger, is a hazard and falls under an ordinance that says city residents must keep property free of refuse, noxious weeds and trash.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

The Bonners Ferry Seniors Hospitality Center operates 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center serves meals Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at noon. Home delivered meals are available. The center also provides transportation of elderly to recreational activities and operates elderly and handicapped subsidized housing. For more information, contact the center at (208) 267-5553.

Kootenai County Rathdrum

The Lakeland Booster Club and Senior Parents are selling raffle tickets for a 2000 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 pickup to raise money for the alcohol- and drug-free Class of 2000 graduation party and other student activities. Tickets are $20, with a maximum of 2,000 tickets to be sold. Tickets are available at all home athletic events, Steins IGA, all Super 1 stores and Parker Toyota. The Senior Party Committee will meet Wednesday at Lakeland High School. For more information or tickets, call (208) 773-0911.

Latah County Moscow

Alice Koskela of Moscow, a 1998 graduate of the University of Idaho Law School, will present a book signing of her memoir, “The Pull of Moving Water,” from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the University of Idaho bookstore. Koskela is an attorney for the Nez Perce Tribe. Koskela’s is the first in a series of book signings at UI. On Oct. 29, Oregon author Martin Stadius will sign copies of his book “Dreamers On the Trail of the Nez Perce” from 2 to 4 p.m. On Oct. 30, mystery writer J. A. Jance will be at the bookstore for a presentation on “The Mystery of Writing Mysteries.”

Shoshone County Wallace

The first Ladies Day party will be at noon Tuesday at the Wallace Elks in the Roundup Room. All women of the community are welcome to make up a foursome for bridge or pinochle for the afternoon. Reservations can be made by calling (208) 753-4255.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The Lincoln County commissioners and the county weed board have reached an agreement on a plan that will retain a full-time program supervisor answerable to the weed board. The commissioners had considered a major restructuring of the program, including reducing the supervisor’s position to part time and placing the program under the road department.

Under the agreement, weed board and program supervisor Marcy Mack will submit a work plan to the commissioners. The plan will be coordinated with the county’s three district road foremen and with the heads of other county departments such as parks and recreation. The position will consist of a 40-hour workweek for the supervisor of either four 10-hour or five eight-hour days.