The County Lines

Fri., Dec. 15, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The Chamber of Commerce has received a $110,000 grant to beautify the downtown historic district. This includes construction of Pioneer Plaza. Trees will be planted, cobblestones laid and seating areas constructed for this downtown oasis.

Ferry County Curlew

The North Ferry Enterprise Committee is researching the idea of starting a new business incubator. The incubator would help locals with good ideas for starting new businesses, as well as attracting existing ones. Space is offered at a reduced price to keep overhead down and allow business folks to get their companies off the ground.

Grant County Moses Lake

Architects West of Coeur d’Alene will design the new Columbia Basin Alternative High School. The 35,000-square-foot building is in capable hands, say top administrators. Architects West was used for the recent remodel of the elementary and middle schools. The construction will be funded by a portion of the leftover funds from the $70 million, long-range construction project. This is the first new school building in the Moses Lake School District since 1959.

Lincoln County Odessa

When the Odessa Tigers take the basketball court against the Ritzville Broncos tonight, it will be the fans who have center stage in the battle for the Golden Throne. This spirit competition was started when the two towns wondered who had the best fans.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The Pend Oreille County Public Utilities District is plugging along with its community network system to bring high-speed fiber-optic communications to the county. The latest accomplishment is finding 10 miles of fiber-optic cable at a bargain price. The cable was color coded wrong at the factory, making it hard to market. The PUD will have it in hand in January. Usually, it takes 110 weeks for fiber optic cable orders to be filled.

Spokane County Cheney

The Cheney Parks and Recreation Department’s brochure of winter recreational activities is now available. The 15-page program includes dozens of activities for youths and adults. The program also includes a registration form, which can be mailed in right away. To get a brochure, call 235-7295.

Stevens County Colville

Colville kids are invited to a Christmas card party Saturday. There will be free supplies, free hot chocolate and maybe some free advice from Santa Claus. Kids will be asked to make cards for residents of the Parkwood Terrace retirement home as well as for their friends and family members. The event, sponsored by the Northeast Washington Fair Youth Advisory Board, will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Family Fun Center, 151 W. First.

Whitman County Palouse

The city of Palouse doesn’t have room to store all of its fire and emergency vehicles. Now one fire truck is out of commission for the winter because there is no heated space for it. If it were outside, its plumbing and tank would freeze. The city is now hoping to win a $100,000 community revitalization grant from the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Team.

IDAHO Benewah County Plummer

The Police Department received a $5,000 grant from the Idaho Department of Corrections to help stop underage drinking. Five portable intoxilyzer units will be purchased along with several small breath testers, according to Chief Les Hall. Testers will be used in the schools and during school functions when a problem is suspected.

Bonner County Sandpoint

The annual community Christmas dinner will be served from noon to 3 p.m. on Christmas Day by the Bonner Gospel Mission at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First St. The dinner is free. The mission will also deliver dinner to home-bound residents upon request by Dec. 22. Call (208) 263-6698.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

The County Treasurer’s Office would like to remind property owners to pay the first property tax installment by Dec. 20 to avoid paying interest and late fees. Payments can be either mailed on Dec. 20 or brought to the office. For more information, call the office at (208) 267-3291.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

The St. Thomas Church community kitchen will hold its second annual Christmas dinner and celebration. A visitor bearing gifts and a jolly laugh, hot chocolate and all the trimmings will be included. Volunteer Mike Anderson expects at least 60 community members to attend the event set for 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the church, 10th and Indiana.

Latah County Moscow

The city Planning and Zoning Commission gave temporary approval for an ice rink to be constructed at the fairgrounds, pending certain improvements made to the gravel parking lot. Pete Robichaud, a member of the Palouse Ice Rink Association, said county officials were open to improving the parking lot to help establish a rink. Plans are to open the rink in March.

Shoshone County Kellogg

The 29th annual Elks Hoop Shoot will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Sunnyside Elementary gym. Students 8 to 13 are invited to participate and winners will advance to district competition. For more information, call Jim Calkins at (208) 682-3439.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The Libby post office stamped mail Thursday with its specially designed holiday postmark. Last year collectors requested between 200 and 300 letters stamped along with local request of about 1,000. This year’s stamped featured the message “Old Fashioned Christmas” and the words, Libby Old Fashioned Christmas Station December 14, 2000 - Libby, MT 59923. The design, by local artist Stephanie Berry, also features a couple of poinsettias.

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