The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Ritzville
Police are looking for leads in a recent vandalism spree. Both Philadelphia Congregational and Emmanuel Lutheran churches had their doors covered with unrecognizable, black marker symbols. Police also found four headstones knocked down at the cemetery.
Ferry County Republic
Jayne Nash hopes to compile cougar stories and sightings from local residents into a book. She wants to make the book available for purchase, with funds going to the Forget-Me-Not Animal Shelter.
Grant County Grand Coulee
The city well does not meet the city’s peak needs when combined with other wells. To compensate, Grand Coulee has been using unfiltered water from Lake Roosevelt. A filtration plant will cost the city as much as $14 million.
Lincoln County Wilbur
Lincoln County may have bus service as early as this summer. County Commissioner Bill Graedel told the Wilbur Register newspaper that he’s working on a grant to provide bus service to the county. If obtained, it could connect with bus service in Grant and Spokane counties.
Pend Oreille County Newport
Nine residents are seeking spots on the Newport City Council. With two seats available, the city is looking to fill the vacancies by month’s end. Candidates going through the selection process are Joseph King, Steve Myers, Gary Merrill, Shirley Sands, Judy Smith, Terence Gardner, Carol Cherry, Sandi Lewis and Mercy Jacobsen. Spokane County Deer Park Deer Park’s Jaime Stone and Jaidean Watson were honored for academic achievement at the University of Idaho for the 1999 fall semester.
Stevens County Chewelah
Chewelah will be home to the SR 395 International Antique Car Museum. The city received a grant that will make the museum a reality. The area is home to many antique car clubs and will feature a rotating display of up to 400 cars.
Whitman County Pullman
Pullman resident Beverly McConnell received the United Way Red Feather Award for being an outstanding community volunteer. McConnell was honored for her work for Friends of Gladish and in bilingual education. The award was announced at the United Way of Pullman and Whitman County annual meeting. New officers were also announced, and Campaign Chairman Aaron Frakes reported that the organization’s $127,000 fund-raising goal had been met, and the money distributed to local agencies.
IDAHO
Benewah County Plummer
Three signs made by Lakeside High School students will welcome people entering town. Amy Fuchs’ design was chosen. The signs will be placed at the north and south entrances on U.S. Highway 95 and at the east entrance on U.S. Highway 5.
Bonner County Priest River
A Priest River Panther will carry the torch to officially open the Special Olympic Area Winter Games 2000 during ceremonies set for 6:30 tonight at the Bonner Mall, Ponderay. The competition will begin about 10 a.m. Monday at Schweitzer Mountain Resort. For more information call (208) 448-2680.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
Two businesses in the county failed to perform required testing for coliform bacteria during the third quarter of 1999, according to a release from Panhandle Health District I. The businesses also failed to inform the public of their failure to perform tests. Both businesses performed tests in the fourth quarter and the samples were clean.
Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene
Betty Boiken, 82, was honored as the North Idaho Community Express’s one millionth rider at the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce. Boiken is a Coeur d’Alene resident.
Latah County Moscow
About 17,000 students from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada will attend the 33rd annual University of Idaho/Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Jazz artists planning to attend include Lionel Hampton, Dianne Reeves, Freddy Cole, Carla Cook, the Ray Brown Trio and the Roy Hargrove Quintet. Concerts will be held each day Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, contact the Jazz Festival Office at (208)885-6765.
Shoshone County St. Joe River
A large rock slide that occurred Wednesday is still blocking the main St. Joe River Road. The slide occurred near the Spring Creek area, according to Shoshone County officials. A detour along the old Potlatch road is being used to access property past the slide.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Libby
Even Start received a $950 grant from Laubach Literacy. Books and instructional material for a family literacy program will be purchased. Even Start began in 1998 and is a home-based program serving families who are geographically isolated from services or don’t have transportation.