The County Lines

Wed., Dec. 13, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The Lions Club adult fitness center is open for the season in the American Legion Hall. The Lions traditionally open the gym during the winter months when little is available in the way of exercise opportunities. Hours are 7 to 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

Ferry County Republic

Plans for an international tourism loop have been mapped out. The Northwestern Gateway International Discovery Loop route was finalized at a meeting of Canadian and American officials in Omak last week. The loop starts in Oroville, goes to Tonasket, Republic, then north to the Midway border crossing. After that it hits Rock Creek, Bridesville, Osoyoos and back to Oroville. Several side trips are mapped out for those wanting to get off the beaten path.

Grant County Ephrata

Sheriff Bill Wiester says the basic needs of his department for 2001 will cost the county around $7 million. Along with annual salaries and general operating expenses, Wiester has requested three new officers, four more jailers, and a trained polygraph operator. He said the department also needs a new polygraph machine, pistols and a new fingerprinting machine.

Lincoln County Creston

Local residents are getting ready for the annual Living Nativity Scene. Ken Botts will do the casting of characters. Plenty of people will be needed, because the actors will be rotated every 15 minutes to ward off the cold. The Creston Christian Church is the host of the event, which is set for Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is the first year there will be no live animals in the presentation. The church choir will provide background music.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Police Chief Bill Clark is trying to find a few corners to cut in the wake of the county sheriff’s announcement that jail fees are going up. Clark and Sheriff Jerry Weeks are negotiating costs while both try to meet their budgets for the upcoming year. Weeks announced jail fees would rise from $40 to $45, and a $25 booking fee would be charged. Clark says the increase will do heavy damage to his budget as the city uses the county jail all too frequently.

Spokane County Spokane Valley

The University SCOPE substation at 10621 E. 15th will host an open house on Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors can munch Christmas cookies, win raffle prizes and learn more about the Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort and crime-fighting efforts in the neighborhood.

Stevens County Colville

Those who would rather have a plump rainbow trout instead of turkey for Christmas dinner are reminded that winter rainbow season is in full swing. Williams Lake has been sporting some monsters in the 10- to 16-inch range. Hatch Lake was recently restocked and offers smaller fish in the 10-inch range. Anglers are alerted that ice has formed on most lakes, but isn’t thick enough to walk on or fish through yet. Rainbow trout season ends March 31.

Whitman County Colfax

Whitman County Commissioners denied Auditor David Repp’s request for $40,000 to cover extra election costs, but approved $17,000 to cover election poll workers’ wages out of the commission’s budget. According to Repp, the county will be reimbursed for its expenses by the state, as well as towns that had levies.

IDAHO

Benewah County Santa

What does Mr. Rogers do in Santa, Idaho? He answers 300 to 400 letters a year sent to Santa Claus from reporters, parents, grandparents, children or other post offices wanting letters canceled on a specific date, post marks, letters with the Santa, Idaho, stamp or a letter from Santa. Bill Rogers, postmaster for 27 years, continues the more than 30-year tradition the previous owner of the mercantile started in about 1904.

Bonner County Priest River

Wanda Allbee recently purchased Curves for Women from Sherra Carlson. The center at the Rivertown Mall offers a 30 minute fitness program for women only from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturdays.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Julie and Travis Smith, owners of Horizon Landscapes, bought the Wreath Farm at Three Mile Corner from Dave and Kitty Jenkins. In their first year of business, with the help of Women in Timber, who brought in about 500 orders, they expect to sell about 2,000 wreaths to customers worldwide. Wreaths sell from $14 for a plain pine wreath to $225 for a seven-footer with all the trimmings. The Smiths employee 10 people.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

The North Idaho Community Express bus service is collecting canned food, toys, blankets and winter clothing for local food banks. Participants may get a free one-way ride on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with a donation through Dec. 21. Donations will be picked up by drivers at regular stops. Drop boxes are also located at Denny’s Classic Restaurant and Mountain West Bank in Post Falls; Eisenhauer Family Produce, both Safeway stores, Heritage Retirement Home, Eyemasters at the Silver Lake Mall, Simon’s Hardware and Mountain West Bank in Coeur d’Alene. Denny’s Classic Restaurant will give donors a free drink. About 500 pounds of food, some blankets, toys and coats were delivered Tuesday to the food bank, N.I.C.E. driver Chuck Myhre said.

Latah County Moscow

Christmas tree permits in the Clearwater and Nez Perce national forests may be purchased for $3 at Southside Chevron and Woodlawn Enterprises. Each family may get three permits. For more information, call (208) 476-4541.

Shoshone County Cataldo

The annual Yule log burning will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at the Masonic Lodge. A hay ride, caroling around a fire and refreshments will be included in the free event. The event is sponsored by members of the lodge.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Libby Police Chief Clay Coker left in September to spend a year in Kosovo as part of a United Nations mission. On Nov. 22, he was knocked to the ground by a bomb and suffered a concussion as a result. The bomb landed 50 yards from him. It was intended for the Serbian ambassador’s house in Pristina. Coker has been recovering in Libby, but will return to Kosovo on Thursday.

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