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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

The Adams County Community Network has been awarded a $42,000 state grant. The network has made major inroads into reducing juvenile violence and crime here - juvenile crime has dropped 35 percent since 1993. The grant money will go to programs such as the Boys and Girls Club, and Othello Literacy Council.

Ferry County Republic

Tapes of recent County Commission meetings are either of very poor quality or blank. The county prosecutor requested a tape and discovered the problem. A broken recorder is being blamed. Tapes as far back as July are missing or faulty. The clerk takes notes which are available. A new recorder has been ordered.

Grant County Moses Lake

Mayor Richard Pearce is a newly published author. Pearce wrote “Taylored Around the USA,” about a 1997 trip across America in a 1946 Taylorcraft airplane with no radio. The trip took 110 hours over 33 days. “I had such a nice adventure going around the United States. I came home feeling good about our country,” he says; so good, he had to share the positive news.

Lincoln County Davenport

Last spring, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association called for basketball officials to tighten foul calling. The WIAA feels high school basketball has strayed from finesse, skill and speed, and is getting too aggressive. DHS coach Jim Stinson sees a difference in longer games and lower scores. He says as kids get used to the rules, fewer will foul and games will be more interesting.

Spokane County Deer Park

The Crawford Gallery will host a “Gifts of Heart” benefit auction from Tuesday to Jan. 26. Works by various artists who have contributed to the gallery will be available through a silent auction. The proceeds will benefit the gallery’s work. The public gallery is operated by volunteers. Call the gallery at (509) 276-8884.

Stevens County Colville

Tree and shrub seedlings should be purchased soon from the County Conservation District. The district has trees and shrubs both for home landscaping and in bulk for reforestation. The seedlings are hearty and are grown from seeds harvested in Stevens County. Call (509) 685-0937.

Whitman County Garfield

The town council voted to raise garbage rates by $1 per month to offset extra labor costs from recycling. The council is also looking for a new member since Greg Partch is leaving to serve on the Whitman County Commission.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The county Soil and Water Conservation District sponsors an annual art contest for its calendar cover. Three students from St. Maries High School received checks for their artwork: Jennifer Thorp earned $50 for first place, Toni Anderson $35 for second and Mandy LeCoultre $20 for third. Thorp’s picture is of a blue-ribbon piglet at a county fair. Calendars are at the Plummer conservation district office and local businesses.

Bonner County Priest Lake

The Forest Service’s Priest Lake Ranger District wants snowmobilers who park along the Nordman-Metaline Road 302 near Tango Road junction to park at the new trailhead area. The additional mile of road to the trailhead should be plowed to accommodate parking. No-parking and directional signs have been posted in the old parking area.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

The Red Cross offers free relief to victims of disasters and trains volunteers in lifesaving skills. An free introductory class on Family Services will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 13 at the city fire hall. Register by calling (208) 267-7178.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

The Coeur d’Alene Cultural Center brings “Clark and Lewis,” a Montana comedy theater company, to town for a dinner theater show. A blend of history and comedy will add to the Jan. 20 performance by the Vigilantes. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner’s at 6 and the show will start at 7:30. Dinner will be catered by Tuttis. Tickets are $30. Call (208) 676-9054.

Latah County Moscow

A Moscow restaurant provided a free Christmas dinner to local senior citizens on Dec. 22. Kevin and Lori Clary, owners of the Breakfast Club, provided the meal to thank the community for its support. Kevin got the idea from his grandmother, Phyllis Clary of Coeur d’Alene, who told him about a restaurant in Coeur d’Alene providing a $2 turkey dinner for seniors.

Shoshone County Pinehurst

The formation of a nonprofit Kootenai-Shoshone Area Libraries foundation was announced recently. The foundation will concentrate on raising funds to purchase technology, educational programs and materials for the library district. The Foundation Board is looking for volunteers to help. Contact any of the branches in Pinehurst, Athol, Harrison, Hayden, Rathdrum, Spirit Lake or the Bookmobile.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The school board accepted resignations of three longtime staffers. Grant writer Al Randall was hired as director of Lincoln County Public Libraries and worked for the district for 28 years. Eileen Carney, a high-school Spanish teacher, was elected to the Montana House of Representatives and worked for the district for 25 years. District secretary Connie Donahue plans to join her husband in retirement after working 11 years for the district.