The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The East Adams Rural Hospital continues to update its equipment. The goal for this year is to replace the aging lab chemistry machine. Administrator Jim Parrish says the current machine is 10 years old with 15 year old software.

Ferry County Republic

There is no love lost between roaming cougars and Jamie Nash. Nash, 16, said she arrived home recently to find her beloved sheepdog, Sundown, 7, nearly dead. The dog had rescued the family horse from a cougar, only to be nearly killed. Sundown drug herself up a flight of stairs to Nash’s room, waiting for her to come home. Her collar saved her life. Sundown is Nash’s 4-H dog, and provides pet therapy to the elderly at the local nursing home.

Lincoln County Sprague

Jack Lee was recently named Sprague’s Person of the Year. Honored at a special Chamber of Commerce banquet, Lee was reminded his efforts have not gone unnoticed. He gives hundreds of hours to helping senior citizens with personal needs and medical visits, while finding time to build and maintain the town’s new Little League field.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The Pend Oreille County Economic Development Council has three major projects planned for 2000. The group, hoping to build the infrastructure that brings the county to economic prosperity, will focus on the Kalispel Tribe’s business park in Cusick, and property development by the port district. The group will also concentrate on projects related to the Community Enterprise Zone.

Spokane County

The Washington State Department of Licensing Web site now includes a foreign language translator for easier access to non-English speakers. The new service will translate all text from English to either Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese. The DOL also offers versions of the Washington State Driver’s Guide in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian and Spanish. “As our state becomes increasingly diverse, it is vital that government ensure that accurate information is available to all citizens,” said DOL Director Fred Stephens. Contact the DOL at: http://www.wa.gov/dol

Stevens County Kettle Falls

Two recent marijuana busts at the Canadian border are making news here. In one case, a couple was arrested when seven pounds of marijuana was found in their aging motor home. The woman, 24, of Montana, and her 26-year-old British Columbian boyfriend were arrested by Kettle Falls Police after a tip from the border patrol. The second case involved two Canadian men accused of stashing 103 pounds of marijuana into hockey bags, hoping to make it into the U.S. The drugs are valued at $300 per pound.

Whitman County Pullman

Kay Walker-Simmons, a plant physiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Pullman has been named a “Senior Research Scientist of the Year” by the Agricultural Research Service. Simmons leads a team of eight researchers at ARS’ Wheat Quality, Physiology and Disease Research Unit on the WSU campus. Specifically, Simmons has helped scientists understand how hormones affect the ability of a wheat seed to survive adverse environmental conditions. Also, a team of local USDA researchers has won a 1999 Transfer Award for developing a novel diagnostic tool for several animal diseases. Katherine I. O’Rourke led the team that invented the first preclinical, noninvasive test for scrapie in live sheep. ARS veterinary medical officer Donald P. Knowles developed the most accurate tests available for anaplasmosis in cattle and piroplasmosis in horses. ARS administrator Floyd Horn will present the awards to Simmons, Knowles and O’Rourke Feb. 9 in Beltsville, Md.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Security measures have been installed at the Benewah County sheriff’s office and courthouse for after-hours entrance. A security camera and a dispatcher will monitor the door and visitors must give their name and business to be allowed into the building after hours.

Bonner County Sandpoint

The closure of the Building Department in January 1997 has created some confusion. Several residents have assumed building permits are not needed outside city limits. Permits are necessary, according to planning officials. Building permits are also required within city limits, but they are purchased through the city.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

The North Bench Volunteer Fire Department recently held its annual election meeting. Secretary Denny Wedel and President Greg Mead were re-elected and Jerry Hendrix was elected as treasurer. The department discussed the need to update the firefighters’ breathing apparatus, boots, helmets and protective clothing.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

The “Great Backyard Bird Count” held February 18-21 is open to anyone interested in gathering information to help define bird ranges, populations, migration pathways and habitat needs. To participate log on to the BirdSource Web site http://birdsource. cornell.edu/gbbbc or call Wild Birds Unlimited (208) 765-8787.

Latah County Moscow

The Moscow Parks and Recreation department needs a nickname for the moose mascot at the aquatic center. A contest will be held Feb. 14 through March 14. A statement containing 25 words or less explaining why the name was chosen should be included and taken to the Moscow Parks and Recreation office, 1515 E. D St. or the City Hall Annex, 122 E. Fourth St. The winner will receive a family season pool pass. For details call (208) 883-7085.

Shoshone County Wallace

Auditions for the play “Let Him Sleep Until It’s Time for His Funeral” will be held at 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sixth Street Melodrama, 212 Sixth St. The play is a comedy about growing older and requires three males and two females who can portray characters in their 40s or 50s and a teenaged girl.