The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Ritzville
Soon-to-be Superintendent Bob Hammann says morale is low among elementary school staff. Hammann told the school board and concerned parents that teachers are feeling undermined and overly criticized by parents. Hammann told the board he wanted to get the problem out in the open, letting parents know concerns are to be discussed with the teachers before going to administration.
Ferry County
Curlew
It may be a few months away, but all are abuzz with the news that the Missoula Children’s Theater will be in town this summer. The traveling children’s theater will be in residence from June 26 to July 1, when local children will present “Sleeping Beauty.” Between 50 and 60 children from kindergarten through high school are needed to be the king, queen, fairies, palace attendants, butterflies and production assistants.
Grant County
Moses Lake
The City Council has voted to continue the DARE program, but will not hire an officer for up to 18 months. The Police Department has two officer vacancies and has decided to fill the general officer slot first, then take time to look for a DARE officer.
Lincoln County
Odessa
Those with a vested interest in the local business area gave a thumbs-up to a downtown beautification plan. The town is looking at sprucing up a three-block area of First Avenue. To do this, those affected would have to form a Local Improvement District (LID). This plan was unanimously supported at a recent Downtown Beautification Committee meeting, though many favored limitations or modifications to the architect’s plan, which they feel is too costly.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
The Great Pend Oreille Train Rides are about to swing back into action for the spring and summer. Round trips from Newport to Sandpoint will leave the Newport station starting May 13 and 14 in honor of Mother’s Day. Trips will also run July 1, 2 and 4 for the Fourth of July holiday. The train rides are courtesy of the Newport/Oldtown Rotary Club. For ticket information, call 1-877-428-0808.
Spokane County
Spokane
St. Lukes Rehabilitation Institute will host its annual silent auction May 17 to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. For the first time, the auction will be open to the public. Bidding runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items include everything from a 1940s Barbie doll to a night’s stay at Hotel Lusso, dinner for two at the Bayou Brewery and a wine and hors d’oeuvre party for 10 at Worden’s Winery.
Stevens County
Colville
The Colville Volunteer Food and Resource Center was recently the recipient of a 1979 Chevrolet El Camino. The truck was donated by the estate of Howard Phillips. Workers at the food bank are excited because they can use the vehicle for weekly pickups of bread and milk, which is given free on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Whitman County
Colfax
There are four bright, smiling faces at the head of the Colfax High School class of 2000. With graduation nearing, the school announced its valedictorians and salutatorian. Three maintained a 4.0 grade-point average throughout high school. Emily Hall, Carrie Pauls and Tiffany Ludka will be valedictorians, and Lisa Appel will serve as salutatorian. Appel maintained a 3.99 GPA through her four years.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
County commissioners are proposing to change the speed from 35 mph to 50 mph for boaters on the St. Joe River traveling north of Hells Gulch Creek to Coeur d’Alene Lake. The St. Joe Boat Club suggested the change, and the Sheriff’s Department is protesting it. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which has jurisdiction on the river from St. Maries to Coeur d’Alene Lake, is watching the debate, but isn’t involved.
Bonner County
Priest River
Advanced Input Devices Corp., which opened in 1983, will close its 20,000-square-foot plant in mid-June. AID’s 16 employees produce bare circuit boards and were offered positions at AID’s headquarters in Coeur d’Alene. Six of the employees accepted jobs and the remaining 10 took severance packages, according to President Frank Houston.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
County commissioners have signed an agreement with Mountain States Legal Foundation, which is based in Denver, to help them litigate issues surrounding Boundary Creek Road. The county and the Forest Service have disagreed for years over the road and a court hearing has been set.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
The Kootenai Humane Society offers a new service, which lists an updated inventory of stray animals, their description and where they were found for after-hours callers. The hotline not only lists animals but encourages callers who have lost pets to leave their name, number and a description of an animal they’ve lost. KHS will try to match callers with strays found. The hotline number is 772-9348.
Shoshone County
Kellogg
Tiffany Carney and Carrie McNutt, of Kellogg Middle School, won the Labor History Award for their entry on the Sunshine Mine fire disaster in the Idaho History Day competition held in Boise. They also took second in the category Junior Group Performance with the same entry. About 350 students competed with entries that followed the theme, “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events.”
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
Three new members, Roger Kensler, Rick Jaqueth and Connie Welter, were appointed to the St. John Lutheran Hospital board of directors recently. Re-elected hospital officials for the term are Chairman Kerry Beasley, Vice Chairman Steven Sorenson and Secretary-treasurer Chari Lucas.