The County Lines

Thu., April 6, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

Real estate signs have started disappearing from the yards of homes for sale, sometimes ending up in the yards of folks intent on staying put. Police remind residents that anyone caught with one of the signs is in possession of stolen property. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (509) 659-1313.

Ferry County

Republic

The historic carousel at the Ferry County Fairgrounds is under reconstruction. Two brothers and former Republic residents rolled their construction crews into town and “barn-raised” the masonry. Stan Fairweather of Colville had crews place block and scaffolding for his brother Rob’s crew to come in from Seattle and perform masonry work. Other companies donated work and materials, as well.

Grant County

Mattawa

The successful Esperanza Project will be expanded. Last year, 26 large shipping containers were turned into homes for migrant workers. Because the homes were inexpensive, clean and safe, another 14 will be added. The Mattawa area has long seen overcrowded housing during harvest months with complaints of up to 20 people living in a single-wide trailer. In many cases, families have camped by the river with no clean water or toilets.

Lincoln County

Wilbur

The Wilbur School, in a joint effort with Creston and Odessa, is in the running for a WSU Cooperative Extension grant to provide an after-school club, summer learning camps, longer library hours and parenting programs. Another grant - for technolgy improvements - is being sought from the Gates Education Foundation.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

Commissioners for the Port of Pend Oreille want to set up a small-business incubator on a tract near Safeway. The port is making the land available for development into a small industrial park to get small local businesses off the ground. The local Economic Development Council is considering a 10,000-square-foot building for the site.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St.Maries

Latex balloons are now banned at Benewah Community Hospital. The ban was created because many health care workers are allergic to latex. Studies show 8 to 12 percent of health care workers are allergic to latex, compared to 1 percent of the general public, according to Nancy White, the hospital’s quality improvement and risk management coordinator.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

The Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service urge that you use caution when burning grass, slash or other waste. A person found responsible for an escaped fire will be billed for actions taken to put it out.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Junior Miss contestants collected more than 1,000 items for nonprofit groups, including the Food Bank, Second Chance Animal Adoption, Headstart, Fire Relief, Seventh Day Adventist Community Coats for Kids and Care n’Share. The items were gathered during the Be Your Best Self Scavenger Hunt. The contestants also participated in the Multiple Sclerosis Walk-a-Thon and are visiting the elderly, reading to children and helping with animal shelter dogs.

Kootenai County

Harrison

Larry W. Jones will discuss videos of a seven-point bull elk he befriended over four years while writing a book on elk hunting. Jones’s presentation is 7:30 a.m. Saturday during the Men’s Breakfast at Harrison Community Baptist Church.

Latah County

Moscow

Don and Joanne Meyer recently opened Trailhead Rentals at 450 W. Sixth St. They closed a similar business in Lewiston to open the rental shop in Moscow. They rent Morgan Roadsters, which hold three adults and two children, tandem bikes, two-wheelers and in-line and roller skates by the half-hour or day.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

For the second year, Kellogg has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Kellogg also received a Tree City USA Growth Award and a $150 Arbor Day Grant.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Betty Jo Beagle recently became a community outreach coordinator for Montana’s Covering Kids Children’s Health Insurance Plan. CHIP is a federal- and state-funded insurance plan which provides health care coverage for children under 19 years old in a low-income family.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.