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

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Washington

Adams County

Ritzville

The old Lind ambulance still is being used to save lives - just not in the same way. The former ambulance has been refurbished and turned into an incident command van for the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies will use the van at crime scenes and in emergency situations ranging from wildfires to natural disasters. Three radio systems will be used to call for mutual aid.

Ferry County

Orient

Ferry County is planning a day this week for free disposal of hazardous wastes. Citizens may bring hazardous household wastes to the Orient Fire Station on Friday between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Paint, used engine oil, cleaning products, solvents, pesticides and herbicides will be accepted but PCB wastes and infectious and explosive materials will be forbidden.

Businesses wishing to dump wastes are asked to call (509) 775-5217.

Grant County

Mattawa

Salvador Maldonado harvested only one watermelon from his normally productive garden this year. Maldonado clipped all the other melons from the vines when he noticed a prize-winner among his crop. He allowed the one watermelon to grow to a portly 123 pounds. Maldonado is considering taking the melon on the county fair circuit.

Lincoln County

Davenport

Girl Scouting will be offered in Davenport this year. Interested girls and their parents are invited to an introductory meeting today at 6 p.m. at Davenport High School. For more information, call Jaime at 1-800-827-9478, extension 212.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

Many local landlords are upset with the Newport City Council. The council had hoped to pass an ordinance requiring inspection of all rental units within the city limits in an effort to improve conditions in some of the housing. But city administrator Delphine Palmer says the proposal would create too much work for the city staff and she also warned of possible lawsuits. The city has tabled the ordinance for further discussion and research.

Spokane County

Deer Park

A three-artist show called “A Quality of Light and Life” is on display at the Crawford Gallery in the basement of Deer Park City Hall. The show, which will run through Sept. 30, features the abstract oil and watercolor art of J. Vivian Pendell of Spokane, the ceramics of Sandy Beecher of Deer Park and the watercolors of Katherine Haynes of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Stevens County

Colville

Rural residents of Stevens County are invited to a community workshop this week on the county’s growth management plan. Local governments must adopt comprehensive growth plans addressing land use, transportation, capital facilities, utilities and housing. Rural areas will be discussed at Thursday’s meeting at 7 p.m. in the county courthouse.

Whitman County

Pullman

The Pullman School District is proposing $19.3 million to rebuild Lincoln Middle School and remodel the high school. According to Pullman Superintendent Douglas Nelson, the district will decide on a facilities improvement package in November and a proposal would go to voters next February at the earliest. Public meetings are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Pullman High School, Oct. 6 at Jefferson Elementary School, Oct. 7 at the Albion City Hall, Oct. 8 at the Ewartsville Grange, Oct. 11 at Sunnyside Elementary School and Oct. 20 at Pullman High School.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

The local chapter of the United Way will distribute $3,000 to local nonprofit organizations.

Applications, which are available from Ginny Oakes at Premier Alliance, 801 Center Ave., are due by next Tuesday. The money will be issued to approved groups at the annual United Way meeting on Oct. 5.

Bonner County

Priest Lake

Construction work scheduled for Forest Road 1013, which provides access to the northern end of Upper Priest Lake, has been postponed until next year. According to Dale Schrempp, road manager for the Priest Lake ranger district of the U.S. Forest Service, the road will not be closed this month as previously planned. For more information, contact the Priest Lake ranger district at (208) 443-2512.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Boundary County America Reads is looking for volunteer reading helpers for kindergarten through third-grade children in Boundary County. Volunteer opportunities also are available with the mentor program and with Reading Partners.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The Coeur d’Alene Urban Forestry Committee is seeking nominations of trees to be featured in the “Historical, Unusual and Big Trees of Coeur d’Alene” publication. Trees must be located within the Coeur d’Alene city limits and be visible from a street or other public area. Nomination forms are available at City Hall and at the Parks Department.

Latah County

Moscow

Susan Finn, director of nutrition services at the Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories, is the University of Idaho’s 1999 Margaret Ritchie distinguished speaker. Finn will give a free, public presentation at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Moscow Community Center, 206 E. Third, on “Nutrition: the Best Opportunity to Improve the Health of Women.”

Shoshone County

Smelterville

The city of Smelterville is considering banning truck traffic on Main Street from the city park east toward Government Gulch. Mayor Bill Keller recently met with the city attorney and officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Panhandle Area Council and U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo’s office to discuss how to deal with overuse of the street. Keller wants at least a 4-inch asphalt cap on the road. The city also may consider imposing weight limits on the road.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Troy

Deadline for the Voice of Democracy essay contest is Nov. 1. The Troy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5514 Ladies Auxiliary is sponsoring the contest, which is open to high school students. Local, district, state and national scholarship awards are available. This year’s theme is “America’s Role for the Next Century.”

For more information, call Fran Stanton at (406) 295-1032.