The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

The Missoula Children’s Theater is coming to town. Local children will join the group’s performance of “Sleeping Beauty” on April 28 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the grade school gymnasium. Kindergartners through high schoolers may audition on Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Roles include Sleeping Beauty, the king, queen, fairies, trolls and butterflies.

Ferry County

Republic

Spring weed spraying is under way. The Ferry County Public Works Department is spraying noxious vegetation along county roads only.

Residents along county roads must contact the weed board office to sign a no-spray agreement. People who do not want their weeds to be killed must maintain them to county safety standards.

Grant County

Quincy

Cleanup of the former Cenex fertilizer storage site is not finished. Local watchdog group Quincy Concern has received a grant to hire independent reviewers to report on cleanup efforts. David Yonge, professor of environmental engineering at Washington State University who was hired to provide oversight, says air-quality tests at Quincy High School in 1998 were inadequate and is requesting more testing.

Lincoln County

Davenport

Newly crowned royalty for the town of Davenport consists of queen Cindy Swain and princesses Laura Masteller and Kristi Buchanan, all of whom are lifelong residents. They were crowned at a recent pageant.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

With crime on the upswing and methamphetamine labs being busted nearly each week in the area, the Newport Police Department was hoping a Block Watch program would pique citizen interest. However, a recent meeting attracted only 10 people. Anyone wishing to join the program is asked to call the Police Department to receive signs and information.

Spokane County

Spokane

Free cholesterol screening will be offered at Albertson’s stores in Spokane, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Richland and Coeur d’Alene from next Wednesday to May 1. For the exact dates and locations of the stores, call (800) 932-5388. People wishing to take the test should consume only water for 12 hours before the testing.

Stevens County

Colville

Local businesswoman Gwen Hansen has talk show host Montel Williams’ seal of approval. Hansen’s Gold Creek Originals - which specializes in Western wear, rodeo clothes and dusters - was included on Williams’ Internet site because of the number of “hits” her own Internet site gets. Now, Hansen is selling collapsible canvas camping cupboards and similar items worldwide.

Whitman County

Pullman

The Pullman Community Action Center has opened an 8,200-square-foot community resource center and has expanded its programs for low-income people. The programs include rental assistance, affordable housing rehabilitation financing and job training. Located behind Wheatland Shopping Center, the new center also provides family development and employment services as well as emergency housing for homeless families countywide. A state Department of Employment Security office also will be located in the building.

IDAHO

Benewah County

Plummer

Lakeside High School band members raised money to travel during spring vacation to Western Washington’s San Juan Islands, where they went sightseeing, hiking and golfing. They also spent two days in Seattle touring an art museum, the aquarium, Pike Place Market, the science museum and the Space Needle.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

The newly formed nonprofit Women Inspired to Stay at Home ministry is gathering donations through May 1 to help local residents get through tough times. Clean items in good shape such as dressers, beds and clothing are needed. Canned food, diapers, personal-hygiene products and small household items also are being collected. Drop-off points are located at North Idaho Transmission Specialists in Ponderay and Bill’s Garage and Pellet Stove Designs, 315 Foster, 910 Lake and 510 Willow in Sandpoint. For more information, call (208) 665-0242 or (208) 265-5910.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

The state Department of Education’s child nutrition program has awarded $106,000 in grants to 11 Idaho schools to teach students the value of exercise and healthful eating. Boundary County’s Evergreen and Valley View elementary schools will receive $10,758.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The Idaho Transportation Department began bridge repair work at several locations on Interstate 90 recently. One lane of I-90 will be closed through Blue Creek Bay and on the Spokane River bridge, and traffic also will be slowed on the state Highway 3 and Yellowstone Trail bridges. Work is expected to be completed in a month; until then, flaggers will be guiding traffic.

Latah County

Moscow

Latah County commissioners met recently with about 40 residents who wanted to discourage construction of a landfill at a Harvard-area location. Hundreds of signatures in opposition to the site also were presented. Don Bafus, county solid waste coordinator, did not recommend the site, saying the cost of purchasing the land makes it too expensive. Commissioners will meet May 2 with the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Commission to discuss other options.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig will visit Kellogg on Thursday. The Idaho Republican will address the high school senior class at 9:30 a.m. and meet with elected officials at 10:35 a.m. at the Broken Wheel Restaurant to discuss resource issues. At noon, the senator will join the Wallace and Kellogg chambers of commerce at the Kellogg Elks Club. Lunch costs $6; for reservations, call (208) 784-0821.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Troy

The City Council recently rejected the latest land-trade proposal between Osprey Bend developers and the city. Developers want to build a motel or resort and some residences. Mayor Rod Johnson said discussions will continue.