The County Lines

Thu., Sept. 30, 1999

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The Ritzville School District has taken a cut in school bus funding. Transportation is provided for children living north of the railroad tracks, due to the hazardous crossing. The state now deducts funding from the K-5 program for each child picked up within one mile of the school.

Ferry County Inchelium

Tiffany Christianson, daughter of Dirk and Sylvia Christianson, recently received the Andy Lawson Award for her outstanding 4-H efforts over the years. A freshman at Eastern Washington University, Christianson plans to become a neo-natal nurse.

Grant County Moses Lake

The City Council is looking into a pigeon-control ordinance. Pigeons have taken up residence in and near several businesses. Lumberman’s supply is especially hard hit. Pigeons are roosting in the rafters of the 20,000 square-foot open warehouse. The birds cannot be shot within city limits, so the council is looking into what it can do.

Lincoln County Davenport

A dozen members are not enough for the county’s Rainbow chapter. The group is hoping to enlist new members in the service program. Charter member Virginia Hutsell, a Rainbow girl since 1945, says affiliation with the Masons is not required. Rainbow promotes religion and public speaking.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The county Auditor’s Office has announced nine new vote-by-mail precincts. Voting from home will be citizens of Camden, Cusick, East and West Ione, Metaline, Metaline Falls, Tiger Dry Canyon, Sacheen and Usk. This brings the total of vote-by-mail precincts in the county to 13.

Spokane County Spokane

Spokane Community College is hosting disAbility Fest ‘99 on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, in the Lair and gym, 1810 N. Greene St., will include activities for all ages and abilities, such as wheelchair basketball, bingo, food and door prizes. For more information, call 326-6355.

Stevens County Colville

Falcon Cable TV says it expects episodes of degraded reception from its satellite between 1 and 5 p.m. through Oct. 18 because of the orbital position of the satellite.

Whitman County Pullman

Rural health care will be the focus of a town hall meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday with state Rep. Don Cox in Pullman at the Neill Public Library. Health care coverage, affordability and availability will be covered.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Members of local law enforcement agencies, fire districts, ambulance associations, and local search and rescue personnel were honored Sept. 24 at the first Emergency Services Personnel Appreciation Dinner. St. Maries Elks Lodge hosted the event for volunteer personnel and spouses. Awards were also presented to local officials.

Bonner County Sandpoint

Two residents have filed declarations for candidacy to serve on the Sagle Fire District’s board of commissioners. District secretary and incumbent commissioner for sub-district No. 3 Lorry Allen has filed to retain her seat. Talache attorney Edgar Steele has filed for sub-district No. 2. Current subdistrict No. 2 commissioner Terry McConnaughey has not filed. The deadline for write-ins is Oct. 8.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Boundary Community Hospital is facing a $3 million tort claim after a Med-Star flight form Bonners Ferry to Spokane allegedly was cancelled by an emergency room physician. The July 12 claim alleges that Dr. Gregory T. Botkin postponed treatment for a Troy, Mont., man whose leg became entangled in a wood splitting machine Jan. 15. The claim contends the action cost Eugene W. Frederick his lower leg.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Auditions for the Lake City Playhouse presentation of “It’s Christmas and It’s Live” will be Oct. 4 and 5 at 6:30 p.m. The musical comedy, directed by Charles I. Gift, will be performed Dec. 3-5, 8-12 and 16-18. Those auditioning must prepare a Christmas song. A piano will be provided. Parts are available for most ages and various musical instruments. For more information, call (208) 667-1323.

Latah County Moscow

The University of Idaho’s new Center for Intelligent Systems Research will bring together researchers and graduate students from UI departments of electrical, mechanical and computer engineering and computer science, under the direction of Michael Anderson and Joseph Feeley. Directed by Touraj Assefi, CISR will operate as a unit of UI’s Microelectronics Research and Communications Institute to pursue basic and applied research in areas of significant state and national interest.

Shoshone County Smelterville

Panhandle Paving of Kingston will begin paving Main Street from A to C streets, weather permitting. Traffic will be detoured around North View.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Figures released by the Montana Department of Revenue set the county taxable value of a mill at $27,041, down from $28,507. The county budget has been trimmed by about $500,000 from last year. State law allows the county to raise the mill levy to equal the revenue brought in last year; doing that would increase taxes $8 or $9 on a $70,000 house. The market values in Lincoln County increased $29 million this year to more than $664 million.

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