The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

With fall well on its way, demand for irrigation water is slowing. The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District has cut back ditch rider service to five days per week. As of this Saturday, irrigation service will be terminated on Saturdays, and ditches will be filled Mondays through Fridays only. Water masters also will be in their office on weekdays only.

Ferry County Republic

Could it snow in Ferry County in all 12 months of 1999? This year - the weirdest weather year in local memory - snow has fallen in every month so far.

The latest dusting on Sherman and Wauconda passes was recorded last Monday. Yes, it did snow in July, too, as recorded by local weather buff Dick Slagle, and September temperatures already are in the low 30s with ice and frost reported.

Grant County Moses Lake

A local business will pay the state Department of Labor and Industries $100,000 for what the agency says are “overpayments” of claims for hearing aids and “reimbursements” for incorrect billings for hearing aids and batteries. Lakeside Audiology owners Jeff Johnson and Donald Tucker maintain their innocence but say that fighting the state would cost them more money than paying the settlement. The department claims it received several complaints that people allegedly were pressured by Johnson and Tucker into buying hearing devices they didn’t need.

Lincoln County Wilbur

A small group of homeowners in the northwestern corner of Lincoln County has asked Grand Coulee’s Fire District 9 for fire protection. Homes at Plum Point recently were threatened by fire, which made residents more aware that Grand Coulee’s fire services are much closer than Wilbur’s or Almira’s. The 5,000 acres would be worth $4,450 in additional property taxes to District 9. Despite this, a dispute is being waged between the Plum Point residents and landowners across the Grant County line.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Locals are looking forward to thousands of dollars in economic development funds flowing into the area in the next 10 years. Because the Newport area is part of the Five Star Enterprise Community, it is eligible for select state and federal grants. The enterprise community pact officially will be signed on Thursday.

Stevens County Colville

After heavy use during the summer, the Colville Skate Park will become a virtual wasteland this fall. That’s because the park will be off-limits while school is in session. Because the junior high school is adjacent to the park, even the public is being discouraged from skating until after school is out. But once the final bell has rung, wheels are expected to roll again.

Whitman County Pullman

Neill Public Library will be closed today for Labor Day, but regular fall hours will resume on Tuesday. Fall hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The caboose on Main Avenue was repainted this summer as part of the Summer Youth Employment Program’s renovation project. Thirty-eight Benewah County teenagers participated, also doing work at UpRiver School, St. Maries High School, the American Red Cross, St. Maries Head Start and Heyburn State Park. The program is sponsored by the Department of Labor and the North Idaho Private Industry Council.

Bonner County Sandpoint

The Idaho Small Business Development Center is offering a small-business course at the Bonner Business Center. NxLevel, a three-month program to help small businesses identify and manage growth opportunities, will begin Thursday with the class meeting every Thursday at 6 p.m. The $149 fee includes a textbook, business reference guide and business plan workbook. The program is being made available through the North Idaho College Work Force Training Center. For more information, call (208) 769-3333.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

The Boundary County Community Action Agency is seeking a cook and a group interested in continuing the Community Kitchen. The kitchen serves meals to senior citizens every Thursday. For more information, call Christine at (208) 267-3663.

Kootenai County Post Falls

The Post Falls Parks and Recreation Department is offering tole painting classes. One-day Saturday classes and two- to four-week classes held in both the morning and the evening are available. Samples are on display at the parks and recreation office at 408 Spokane St. For more information or to register, call (208) 773-0539.

Latah County Moscow

Two Russian ensembles will perform in the Auditorium Chamber Music Series at the University of Idaho. The Moscow Chamber Orchestra will be featured on Jan. 25; the St. Petersburg String Quartet will perform with American pianist Mac McCray on March 28. The music series season will begin Oct. 15 with the Orion String Quartet, and chamber music from the Palouse will be featured on Feb. 29.

Shoshone County Silverton

The Coeur d’Alene River ranger district is accepting proof of eligibility through Oct. 1 for this season’s mobility-impaired hunting program. A random drawing will be held in the district’s Silverton office on Oct. 4. Hunters selected will be allowed three consecutive days to hunt within one of the mobility-impaired hunting sites. Applicants must go in person to the U.S. Forest Service district office in Silverton or Fernan and present an Idaho handicapped person’s motor vehicle hunting permit, a valid Idaho disabled hunting license and a big-game tag for permit validation.

For more information and maps, call the Silverton office at (208) 752-1221 or the Fernan office at (208) 769-3000.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The 15th-annual Nordicfest will be held Friday through Sunday featuring food, music and the cultures of Scandinavia as well as the evolution of those cultures in the mountain West region.

Whitefish, Mont., musician Dave Walburn will perform Friday; Juice Newton will be featured Saturday. New activities this year include Scandinavian rock throwing and a lutefisk-eating contest.