The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Othello
Othello school officials say the district will soon be the state’s most technologically advanced. Network Special’s Russ Beard has been spearheading the district’s Wide Area Network, which will let each of the district’s five schools have their own Local Area Network, as well as be centralized by the WAN. The latest Microsoft software will be used by both students and staff.
Ferry County
Malo
Local pistol shooter extraordinaire Darius “Doc” Young is blowing away the competition yet again. Young entered several events at an international shooting event in Pensacola, Fla. He won all events except the air pistol competition, which he did not participate in. He took top honors in free pistol, rapid fire, standard pistol and international center-fire competitions.
Grant County
Electric City
The water lines are in and the grass seed ordered. Officials at Banks Lake Golf and Country Club are hoping to begin planting grass on the back nine beginning Sept. 1. The first four holes have been graded and are ready for the trimmings. The remaining five holes are being cleared and graded. The project began in December.
Lincoln County
Wilbur
The local swimming pool is proud to report that 105 youngsters passed their swimming lessons last week. The Wilbur Pool draws swimmers from Grand Coulee, Creston, Almira and Coulee City for lessons each year, as those towns have no pool. The pool offered five classes of Level I and II, with 57 swimmers doing well enough to advance to the next level.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
Summer brings good news for those looking for work in Pend Oreille County. June numbers show a drop in unemployment percentages - the third month in a row that the rate has fallen. April numbers reflected 9.8 percent looking for work. By June, only 7.9 percent of insurable workers were in need of a job. Jobless rates were as high as 15 percent earlier in the year.
Spokane County
Cheney
The city is considering moving its Police Department to a larger facility. Mayor Amy Jo Sooy has signed an $12,000 agreement with an architectural firm to determine the feasibility of moving the department to The Ball and Dodd Funeral Home at Second and G streets.
Stevens County
Colville
Don’t forget the fun and frolic of Colville’s annual Rendezvous, which is in full swing today. The community celebration includes a parade, free entertainment in the city park, a basketball tournament and more than 100 food and craft booths. Also on the agenda is a quilt show, followed by the play “How to Make an American Quilt.” The highlight of the weekend is the egg toss contest. Winners receive $500 for their egg-launching expertise.
Whitman County
Pullman
Neill Public Library in Pullman will be closed this Sunday through August 13 for special projects, cleaning and maintenance. The library is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. Monday. The library closes for one week each year to do remodeling, staff training and various projects. Books may be returned in the outside book drop.
IDAHO
Benewah County
Plummer
Charlene Waddell retired after 35 years of driving a school bus for the joint Plummer/Worley School District. She was presented a plaque from the state of Idaho for her excellent driving record by Carl Richel, bus superintendent. Waddell is also the mayor of Worley, works full-time for the Worley ambulance department and is an advanced emergency medical technician. She said when she retires in a few years from her other jobs she’ll return to bus driving.
Bonner County
Ponderay
A new traffic light will be installed at the Bonner Mall Way intersection instead of at a proposed connector that would link U.S. Highways 95 and 200.
Pedestrian safety was the main reason the mall intersection was chosen. The light is part of an $8million reconstruction project, set to begin in 2003, which will widen the section of U.S. 95 that runs through Ponderay.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
Mel and Lisa Still opened R-Store this week at 6429 Bonner St. The store features items priced at a dollar but also sells brand name shoes for about $15 and brand name jeans for $10. The business also provides access to a computer with Internet service and e-mail for $6 an hour. Faxes and copies are $1 a page.
Kootenai County
Spirit Lake
The Spirit Lake Garden Club raffle raised $256 to purchase flowers, shrubs and trees to plant around the city. Becky George, of Rathdrum, won the raffle, which entitles her to four people working three hours each in her yard.
Latah County
Moscow
Internet provider First Step has expanded to the Eastside Marketplace in Moscow. A grand opening celebration is set for 9 a.m. today and will include a tour of the facility, games for children, prizes, drawings and giveaways. The opening coincides with Marketplace’s fifth annual car show and flea market, called “Cruisin’ the Eastside.”
Shoshone County
Wallace
About 30 children attended a Harry Potter birthday party Monday at the Wallace Public Library. Children gained entrance to the party by figuring out a password, then enjoyed games, ate peppermint humbugs, drank pumpkin juice and were read to from the latest children’s book by J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
The Service Corps of Retired Executives is looking for volunteers who are successful women business owners, managers or retired professionals to work with entrepreneurs. The volunteers counsel and/or mentor entrepreneurs. If interested in volunteering or getting more information, log on to www.score.org.