The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Othello
Representatives of Assisted Living Communities, an Oregon-based development company, discussed local plans at a recent meeting. The company is planning to build two nearly 50-unit assisted living centers here within the next two years.
Ferry County
Republic
According to the most recent Employment Security Department numbers, Ferry County leads the state in unemployment for the second time this year. The county’s July jobless rate was 10.4 percent.
Grant County
Grand Coulee
Two local police cars are being fitted with video cameras. Police Chief Mel Hunt used a state grant and $5,000 of the department’s budget to purchase the cameras. The total bill is $8,000. “It’s a matter of safety,” Hunt said. The cameras are activated when an officer turns the flashing lights on.
Lincoln County
Creston
The annual Creston all-school alumni party will be Sept. 9. The school building will open at 3 p.m. that day for the alumni choir to rehearse. The alumni business meeting gets under way at 4:30 p.m. with election of officers. A dinner, concert and dancing will follow.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
County commissioners are planning how to bargain with the county’s two new employee unions. The state Public Employee Relations Commission has notified commissioners that the clerk’s and prosecutor’s clerical employees, and the deputy prosecutors have formed new bargaining groups. A possible split in county sheriff’s and jail/dispatch employees may result in two separate groups, leaving the commissioners to bargain with six different unions.
Spokane County
Spokane
Restrooms at most city parks will close for the season Tuesday. Restrooms at the larger parks will stay open until Sept. 29. They include Audubon, Clark, Coeur d’Alene, Comstock, Franklin, Garry, Grant, Liberty, Mission, Thornton-Murphy, Shadle, Manito and the Finch Arboretum.
Stevens County
Colville
Eagle Healthcare, which runs Colville’s Pinewood Terrace Nursing Home, has made some major personnel changes. Gail McDowell has replaced Lee Malott as the administrator. McDowell ran Pinewood Terrace two years ago. The new director of nursing is Martin Garrett. He is a former Pinewood floor nurse. Eagle Healthcare took over the facility from Beverly Healthcare on July 1.
Whitman County
Colfax
Rescue and fire officials announced that they expect an ambulance from Long Island to join their fleet this week. The county purchased the vehicle to replace equipment damaged in a firehouse fire last June.
IDAHO
Benewah County
Bonners Ferry
The county planning commission approved a preliminary plan to subdivide 237-acres into 12 lots ranging from six to 26 acres. The land is owned by Rayonier Inc., a timber company based in Seattle. Panhandle Health has approved ten of the twelve lots for septic systems, said Dale Pierce, engineer of the project.
Bonner County
Sandpoint
The Cowboy Cartoonists International Rendezvous 2000 will be Sept. 15-17 at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. Exhibitions and demonstrations by members will be held both days and a Saturday morning workshop will be conducted by Jack Davis of Mad Magazine and Alfred E. Neuman at the ranch. A raffle and live auction of Davis’ and members originals along with a slide show of Davis’ life as a cartoonist will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Panida Theatre. For more information, call (208) 263-6534.
Boundary County
Naples
Montel Williams, a syndicated television talk-show host, helped two other motorists after they’d pulled Brain Thorne, 16, out of his 1984 Dodge Ram Charger, just before it caught on fire, said Brian Zimmerman of the Idaho State Police. Thorne had fallen asleep while on the way to football practice at about 8 a.m. Williams and his driver both used their belts to splint an ankle which appeared to be broken and Williams carried Thorne up an embankment to safety from the burning rig.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
Area residents recycled about 16,000 pounds of outdated phone directories during a three-week period, according to a press release by Verizon. Last year less than 4,000 pounds were collected. Verizon, formerly GTE, will donate $2,000 to Children’s Village in recognition of the community’s efforts to recycle. The Village will use the money to buy books and school supplies. The old phone books will be recycled into insulation products by Thermoguard Industries of Spokane.
Latah County
Moscow
Vandal teammates chose Rick Demulling, a senior offensive guard from Cheney; Chris Nofoaiga, a senior linebacker from Tacoma; Rick Giampietri, a senior linebacker from Spokane; and John Welsh, a junior quarterback from Oak Forest, Ill., as team captains. The first game will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the University of Washington.
Shoshone County
Silverton
The new proposed bankruptcy plan for East Shoshone Hospital District will be presented during a public meeting set for 6:30 tonight at the Wallace City Hall council chambers. Executive sessions will be held during the meeting.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
The second annual Burn-out contest held recently during Hot August Nights was won by Dean Beck of Libby. He was driving a 1957 Chevrolet pickup and won $100. Dave Swenson won second place and $50 and Gary Miller and Gerry Mercer tied for third place each received $25. The contest was sponsored by Les Schwab Tires.