The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Othello
Some local merchants, concerned by reports of a large retailer moving to town, attended a city planning commission meeting last week, though few spoke of their fears. An outside land-development company has been working on obtaining land and permits for an unknown retailer to locate here. The new retailer may employ up to 200 people, with general merchandise, a pharmacy and sporting goods.
Ferry County
Inchelium
Twenty local kids trained, then made the trek to Spokane, to run in Junior Bloomsday. The kids began their workouts in February with wind sprints and bake sales. Raising money was a big part of training as the students needed more than $700 to pay for hotel, registration, meals, transportation and a movie.
Grant County
Warden
Ofelia Farias spent her income-tax refund to open El Vago, a Mexican restaurant. Although it is only the fourth eatery in this town of 2,000, it has at least one detractor. Raul Diaz, a city councilman, owns Catalina’s Mexican restaurant, right next door. Diaz says that since the El Vago building is on his property line, his competitor’s guests will not be allowed to park on his property.
Lincoln County
Sprague
Angela Vold was recently chosen as one of the University of Idaho’s Outstanding Freshmen of the Year. She was cited for outstanding academics, service and leadership. Not only is Vold in several service clubs, but she also volunteers at the Moscow Care Center and maintains a 4.0 grade-point average.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
Sheriff Jerry Weeks says his department’s budget will be depleted by July. County commissioners have refused to allocate more funds until a budget review is completed. Weeks blames overtime pay for the deficit. He’s been operating without two deputies and has had to pay officers extra to cover those shifts. He says drug cases are forcing the overtime.
Spokane County
Staff and friends of the Spokane Housing Authority recently raised $2,700 for Big Brothers & Sisters organization in a bowling-for-kids event.
Stevens County
Ford
Dawn Mining has submitted an amended proposal for closure of its uranium mill. The company wants to use nearby material as fill, along with direct disposal of filter cake sludge from the Midnite Mine Water Treatment Plant. Also proposed is a plan to enhance the evaporation system. Residents are invited to a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ford fire station.
Whitman County
Pullman
Pullman Memorial Hospital will hold a community meeting for input on key issues affecting the hospital. The meeting will be Monday from 7 to 9 p.m in the City Council chambers; it will be televised live on channel 13 in Pullman. The hospital wants feedback on whether it should expand, whether the community would support a levy to continue hospital services, and what PMH should do to consolidate services with the hospital in Moscow. Comments can also be e-mailed to kfinch@pmh1.org, or by fax at (509) 332-4242. A tape of the meeting will be replayed Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. on TV channels 13 and 11, which also serves Moscow.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
The first Benewah County Humane Society Pledge For Pets walk-a-thon will be May 13. Registration for the five-mile walk will begin at 10 a.m.; the walk starts at 11 a.m. Walkers collect monetary pledges for their participation and donate the funds for spay and neuter clinics. A 10-speed bike will be awarded to the boy and girl who raise the most money. Each walker who raises $25 or more will receive a T-shirt. Pledge forms are available at Economy Hardware.
Bonner County
Sandpoint
The Farmers Market is seeking nonprofit organizations to hold bake sales on Saturdays at the market. Two Saturdays are available to each organization throughout the season, which begins May 6. For details, call Diana May at (208) 263-3538.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
Students in all grades participated in the recent Evergreen Elementary School science fair. Some projects included: first-grader Coe Watt created crystals by adding alum to boiling water; sixthgrader Lydia Morgan discovered fat dissolves faster in water and shampoo than in vinegar; firstgrader Miranda Stippich discovered seeds can grow upside down in water; and sixth-grader Kyle Flory’s project determined who stole jewels.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
The Alzheimer’s Association Inland Northwest Chapter and Kootenai Humane Society are working together to provide companionship for home-bound Alzheimer’s patients by giving them a free pet. For details, call Rich Lopes at 772-9348, or Bar Hartson at (208) 457-0121.
Latah County
Moscow
Income-eligible households interested in applying for assistance with heating costs need to do so by Friday, says the Community Action Agency.
Applications are available at the office, 428 W. Third St., Suite No. 2. For details, call (208) 882-3535.
Shoshone County
Kellogg
The bike path, north of the Bunker Hill between Exit 48 and Exit 49 on the south side of Interstate 90, will be closed through June 5. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will try to reopen the path after work hours when it’s safe to do so.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
The Volunteer Appreciation Dinner set for May 24 will serve more than 200 volunteers and their families from the Libby Volunteer Fire Department, Search and Rescue and Ambulance crews. The dinner will be served by the Knights of Columbus and the Chamber of Commerce at the new Veterans of Foreign Wars building on West Second Street.