The County Lines

Sun., Dec. 24, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

County commissioners have approved a $25.2 million budget for 2001. Union benefits for courthouse workers, public works staff and the Sheriff’s Department are included. Not in the budget is money for the Othello Rural Library District. Commissioners denied a request from district officials for funding.

Ferry County Republic

Echo Bay Minerals recently donated $500 to the Ferry County Tech Center. The money will keep the center’s doors open for one month, and allow many folks free access to computers and Internet research. The center is open every day thanks to volunteers.

Grant County Ephrata

Weather has forced changes in the Grant Transit Authority bus schedule. Local radio stations will run updates on route and time changes. GTA will not run buses on roads closed by law enforcement, and will drive slower.

Lincoln County Davenport

The Department of Ecology has drilled three test wells at former gas stations looking for gasoline leaks. The former Corner Express and Price Less Gas outlets have been suspected in contamination that has displaced at least one family. Adjacent property owners will be notified of findings and asked to respond to any problems found.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Despite a tight budget, county commissioners have given all hourly employees a pay raise. This is good news for workers who didn’t receive cost-of-living raises last year due to Initiative 695. The increases were partially funded through a loan from the county timber reserve fund.

Spokane County Spokane

If you don’t have a physician and would like information about physicians in the community, call the Holy Family physician referral service at 482-2256. Your call will be answered by a registered nurse. The free service is offered Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Whitman County Pullman

Pullman Memorial Hospital administrator Scott Adams was recently elected to a one-year term as president of the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts. The trade association provides educational services and legal advice to its members.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The county will receive a new $250,000 trail groomer in 2001 if 500 snowmobiles are registered in the county this year. The county now shares a groomer with Shoshone County, which uses it for 12 days then gives it to Benewah County to use for about seven days. St. Joe Snow Rider members expect the quota will be exceeded. Volunteers run the groomer and said many more trails close to town will be open if the county receives its own groomer.

Bonner County Sandpoint

PG&E National Energy Group-Gas Transmission Northwest donated a 1990 Chevrolet four-wheel drive pickup to Bonner County Search and Rescue’s extrication unit. The unit focuses on making precision cuts, breaking out door glass and other safety procedures needed to get victims out of wrecked vehicles. The donated truck is in great shape with 30,000 miles on it.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Six Bonners Ferry High students were chosen to participate in the District One Honor Choir: Julie Heigel and Rachel Goforth, sopranos; Rhett Hale, tenor; Artiesa Doyle, alto; and Martin White and Adam Portrey, basses. The students were among 120 from Coeur d’Alene, Lakeland, Post Falls, Priest River, Sandpoint and St. Maries schools who performed in Post Falls recently.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

An attorney with Lukins and Annis, Edward Wroe, recently received the Professionalism award from the 1st Judicial District at the annual resolutions meeting. The award from his peers is one of the highest an Idaho lawyer may receive. Only one lawyer from each of the seven districts receives it.

Latah County Moscow

The project to turn the old 1912 Moscow High School into a community center will be charged $20,000 for permits it requested from the city. Project members requested the fees be waived as an in-kind donation, but several council members said pledges were made earlier by the council that tax money wouldn’t be used to build the community center. The council said its possible fees for future phase permits could still be waived.

Shoshone County Kellogg

The winners of the Silver Valley merchants ham drawing are: Sherry Ransier, Andrew Anderson, Laverne Plummer, Gloria Rivers, Edward Banning, Willie Pettit, Ben Castro, Cindy Arthur, Silas Domy, Eddie Johnson and Brenda Sandow.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Residents are urged to be cautious with wood stoves, electric heaters and Christmas decorations. People should let wood stoves burn hot for 10 to 15 minutes every day before being dampened, buy portable electric heaters with sensors to shut them off in case they’re tipped over, never run heaters on light extension cords, use a heat gun to thaw frozen pipes and don’t overload cords by doubling up Christmas lights on each plug-in.

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