The County Lines

Tue., Oct. 26, 1999

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

Danny and Janice DeBoer still are putting smiles on the faces of local children after 15 years. Each year, the DeBoers invite all kindergartners and preschoolers to their pumpkin patch to pick out Halloween pumpkins. Children pay 25 cents for the gourd of their choice and also are treated to pumpkin cookies. The pumpkin patch, once covering 80 acres, has been whittled to two acres.

Ferry County Republic

Mortar used in the carousel pavilion wall this summer already is cracking. The county Fair Board is having a pavilion built around the historic carousel at the fairgrounds. The vendor who sold the mortar will be asked to reimburse the county as well as pay for labor costs to fix the damage.

Grant County Moses Lake

What caused a hunting dog to die just an hour after swimming in a pond near the Nestle factory on Wheeler Road earlier this month? Water samples in that area are being tested. Three hunters who were with the dog were treated for vomiting and stomach cramps.

Lincoln County Wilbur

Local residents are being asked to donate their Saturday to Habitat for Humanity. The local Habitat house is in need of roofers, and other jobs also need to be done before winter. Volunteers are being asked to bring hammers to Trinity Street just east of Division between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Pend Oreille County Metaline Falls

The local water system will be upgraded thanks to a $2.5 million federal grant for installing a water filtration system, reservoir and waterlines.

Spokane County Deer Park

Deer Park Elementary School’s annual fish fry will be Nov. 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Deer Park Eagles lodge. Proceeds will help pay for Writer’s Week, which gives children authentic writing experiences. Everyone is invited to attend the dinner.

Stevens County Kettle Falls

The city’s annual water test shows the drinking water is safe and free of organic contaminants and 14 other toxins. Kettle Falls gets its drinking water from four deep wells south of town near the Kettle River.

Whitman County Garfield

The Garfield Lions Club is holding a candidates forum Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Garfield Community Center. The Rev. King Rockhill will be moderator. Democrat Mike Connelly and Republican Rep. Don Cox, who are seeking a 9th Legislative District seat in the state House of Representatives, have been invited, as have candidates for the Garfield City Council.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Building permits in Benewah County in September totaled $9,255. The city of St. Maries received $94 from permits, while Benewah County collected $8,761.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Panhandle Health District has formed a diabetes support group in Bonners Ferry to provide educational programs and participate in special events to increase diabetes awareness.

Kootenai County Rathdrum

The Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Meet Your Candidates night Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Rathdrum Senior Center on state Highway 41. Candidates for mayor and City Council seats will present their views on community issues and respond to questions. For more information, call (208) 687-2866.

Latah County Moscow

The Missoula-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies will present a video and slide show showcasing northern Rockies wild lands Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the University of Idaho Law School auditorium in Moscow. The event is being brought to UI in conjunction with the university’s Environmental Law Society, Friends of the Clearwater and the Idaho Conservation League. Refreshments will be served at the program, which will be free of charge and open to the public. For more information, contact Friends of the Clearwater at (208) 882-9755.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Two men died in a fire last Wednesday in a Libby affordable housing project. Bob Flowers, 47, and Kurt Poush, 37, lived on the second floor, where most of the damage was due to smoke. The three-story apartment complex had 34 residents. Fire crews responded at 5:27 a.m., but flames engulfed the entire third floor and roof of the 30,000-square-foot complex. Lincoln County detective Steve Hurtig, the state fire marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are investigating the cause of the fire. The building is more than 30 years old and predates city codes requiring sprinkler systems. Volunteers with the local Red Cross helped find temporary housing for displaced residents without local family members.

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