The County Lines

Sun., Dec. 17, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

The local hospital’s new administrator, Harry Geller, has been at the helm for a week. A 20-year hospital administration veteran, Geller comes from Princeton, Ill. He replaces Jerry Lane, who resigned last spring, saying changes on the hospital board were making it harder to move the facility in a positive direction.

Ferry County Orient

Residents are coming to the aid of a family of six who lost their home to fire last week. Neighbors woke the children in the home and helped them and the family pets to safety. The adults who live at the home were out of town for the evening. The Red Cross was alerted, and is filling special medical needs. One of the adults at the home suffers from multiple sclerosis, and lost medications and other necessities.

Lincoln County Harrington

The Falcons boys and girls basketball teams are challenging fans to pledge money for each free throw made. Earnings will buy new playground equipment for the elementary school. The fund-raiser gives the kids more incentive to hit the hoop, and shows the smaller children their high school heroes are deserving of the title.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Gov. Gary Locke issued a statewide request to conserve electricity, but the Pend Oreille Public Utility District says it’s confident it will keep the county’s lights on. The amount of power purchased here from the Bonneville Power Administration is relatively small. The Pend Oreille PUD generates electricity at Box Canyon Dam, and has an agreement with Seattle City Light for Boundary Dam power.

Spokane County Spokane Valley

The Community Center is asking for blankets, new toys and other gifts for Christmas. Barrels are at: all Valley fire stations; First Bank at 22408 E. Appleway; Farmers and Merchants Bank at 10808 E. Sprague and 25 N. Mullan; and PayLess Shoes at McDonald and Sprague. Gifts will be distributed to needy families Wednesday at the Valley Foundation Bingo Hall, 1212 N. Pines Road.

Stevens County Colville

Mayor Bob Anderson has asked each department to trim even more than planned from the 2001 budget to meet shrinking revenues. The total city budget is $15,994,032 - $4million less than last year. City managers say they are committed to cutting expenditures, but are dismayed about the situation.

Whitman County Colfax

A recent report showed that September’s Palouse Empire Fair came in with lower revenues from admission and concessions than in 1999. Blaming poor weather in part, the fair management said admissions were down by more than $10,000, to $49,669, and carnival and concession fees had also dropped due to the reduced attendance. Advance ticket sales helped offset some of the losses.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Residents wishing to tour Christmas lights in the area may meet at Jack’s Pharmacy. A bus, provided by Valley Vista, will leave at 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 28. Call the Chamber of Commerce at (208) 245-3563 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Bonner County Priest River

Korean War veterans interested in receiving the Korean War Service Medal given by the South Korean government should contact Veterans of Foreign Wars commander Fred Lartz. Write to P.O. Box 217, Priest River, ID 83856 or call him at (208) 448-1442.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Valley View Elementary student Samantha Hiatt received honorable mention for her essay in the fifth annual Forest Products Essay Contest, sponsored by the Idaho Forest Products Commission. Students wrote about forest products and their importance, forest care for future productivity, clean air and water, benefits for wildlife habitat and other topics.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

To participate in next year’s Leadership Coeur d’Alene program, applications must be in by Dec. 31 to the Chamber of Commerce. The program provides information about the community and is an educational source for business leaders. Call Toni Sayler at (208) 664-3194.

Latah County Moscow

Mr. Leon’s School of Hair Design instructor Linda Emerson won the traveling trophy for most points in all categories in the Inland Empire Cosmetology Association’s fall competition Nov. 19 in Spokane. She also took third in makeup and women’s haircutting. Another instructor at Leon’s, Teena Steinmetz, took sixth in women’s haircutting and second in the Jungle, Animal or Creature event. Student Tonya Lentz placed third in the student Jungle, Animal or Creature category.

Shoshone County Mullan

Dan and Lorretta Chisholm’s home, 501 Pine St., took first place in the Mullan Christmas Festival lighting competition. Ernie and Janet Newell, 716 Montana St., took second. Sandy Barrett took first, Valerie Douglas second and Dan Baillie third in the chili competition. Norma Decker took first, Karen Dunningan second and Doris Krulitz third in the pie competition.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

St. John’s Hospital Auxiliary is sponsoring the “Holiday of Homes Tour” from 2 to 6 p.m. today. The auxiliary will use proceeds to buy a noninvasive blood pressure monitor. Tickets are $6 at the hospital’s gift shop. The auxiliary recently purchased recliners for all the patient rooms at the hospital.

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