The County Lines

Mon., Dec. 25, 2000

WASHINGTON Adams County Ritzville

The Adams County Health District has good news for folks who missed getting flu shots. A large shipment of vaccine has arrived, and shots are available. People over 50 and those suffering from chronic disease are encouraged to get vaccinated. Flu shot clinics will be on Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (509) 659-3315.

Ferry County Republic

Everyone is invited to the annual Christmas dinner today at 1 p.m. at the Hitch-N-Post. The dinner is for those without family or funds to enjoy a meal with friends. Many residents dropped off food or money for the dinner, which is cooked and served by Hitch-N-Post staff and friends volunteering their time and love.

Grant County Moses Lake

First-grader Kristal Garland-Smith had a highly unusual birthday party recently. Her friends brought wonderful gifts, but none of them was for Kristal. The 7-year-old is a junior SeaGal and dances at home Seahawks games. Through the Seahawks, Kristal has adopted a child to shower with Christmas love. She and her friends and relatives gathered presents for a local 6-year-old girl. Kristal said she didn’t miss getting birthday presents, because giving to a needy child was more fun.

Lincoln County Odessa

Although the local economy has slowed and many look to the future with a jaundiced eye, newspaperman Don Walter says at least three town improvements are in the works. The city has a sewer system, so folks no longer have to use septic tanks and cesspools. Also, the development of an industrial park and the realignment of SR 21 are both under way.

Pend Oreille County Ione

Animal watchers take note. Bighorn sheep can be viewed close-up near the Noisy Creek Campground. The sheep are at their winter feeding station. A quarter-mile hike over snow and ice leads to the spot, and visitors are reminded to dress warmly. For more information on the site or the sheep, call (509) 456-4082.

Spokane County Spokane

Gonzaga University’s Department of Nursing raised $600 for the Downtown Women’s Shelter by raffling a lap quilt made by the department chairwoman, Susan Norwood.

Stevens County Colville

Santa received nearly 1,000 letters from children in the Colville area. The Colville Statesman-Examiner, which collected the letters, held a contest for the best letter to the man in red. First place went to Tanna Morris, 8, who wants a visit from her dad for Christmas, “because he left me when I was 2.” Tanna says her dad tells very funny stories, which she misses.

Whitman County Colfax

The Whitman County sheriff warns of continuing dangerous road conditions. When ice covers the roads, county crews have no means of removing it. Sheriff Steve Tomson advises drivers to slow down and drive carefully, and to have snow tires and chains.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The Winner’s Corner gym and fitness center will move to the former Boyds Furniture building at 902 Main St. sometime in January. Missy Asbury, owner of the gym, said the gym will gain 2,000 square feet of space and add new programs, such as reflexology and massage therapy.

Bonner County Sandpoint

The Pastime Sport Center will close after 50 years downtown. Don and Holly Banning purchased the business 10 years ago and said many issues affected their decision to close, such as a lack of parking spaces, a decline in the economic health of downtown and slow economic growth since the Ruby Ridge incident. The Bannings will stay in the area and look for jobs after the store closes at the end of January.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

The Boundary County school music department is encouraging residents to save the music notes from Pepsi products. If 3,880 can be saved, the department will get a new piano. The department has until Saturday to collect and send them in. Notes may be left at KBFI radio station, across from the sheriff’s office.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Alan Wasserman, the managing attorney with Coeur d’Alene’s Idaho Legal Aid Services office, is the recipient of the Pro Bono award in the 1st judicial district. The award is given to an attorney who has worked on unusual, lengthy and/or complicated cases at no charge to a client. Wasserman helped organize Legal Link in 1999 through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Legal Link offers free weekly consultations to the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless.

Latah County Moscow

The city planning commission decided on rules to guide communications tower placement, but it still needs a policy for placing communications antennas on city structures, said Dale Pernula, community development director. Tower regulations will be discussed at a city council public hearing Jan. 2.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Flu vaccines, typically given in late fall, were delayed due to a problem with production. The Panhandle Health District office says it has all the vaccinations it needs now, and those wishing to get a shot will be assigned an appointment as soon as possible. A district nurse said the delay might be a blessing in disguise, as the immunity will be carried well through the flu season.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The Volunteer Fire Department encourages residents to be cautious during the winter to prevent fires. They suggest not using electric cords if any sign of fraying or bare wires shows, using surge protectors, never leaving a burning candle unattended, watering Christmas trees every day, making sure smoke detectors have good batteries and are working, and making a fire escape plan with family members and rehearsing it.

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