The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

The county health district initially lost $72,000 in state funding and taxes after the passage of Initiative 695, which brought about the popular $30 car tabs and required a vote on new fees or taxes. However, health district officials have learned most of that money will be reinstated through the state, leaving a gap of only a few thousand dollars.

Ferry County

Curlew

Interested residents are asked to attend a special Monday meeting to discuss the vacant principal position at the school. Citizens can give input on qualities the new principal should have and ways the position can be effective. Child care is available. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the school library.

Grant County

Ephrata

The average visitor to Grant County stays four days and takes in a concert at the Gorge Amphitheater, according to a recent survey by the Grant County PUD. The survey found a significant increase in Puget Sound residents trekking over for concerts, and staying nearly two days longer than concertgoers in 1996. Most staying overnight say they used local and PUD campgrounds and boating opportunities.

Lincoln County

Odessa

Odessa recently formed a Public Development Authority to start plans for an industrial park, which would be home to a proposed strawboard fabrication plant. The four sites the town will select from have access to transportation, utilities and fire protection.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

Contractors will bid to work on Pend Oreille County’s counseling complex. There are three projects involved, the construction of the Quail Manor home for the developmentally disabled, the counseling services building and improvements to Garden Avenue. The county wants to use the same contractor for uniformity purposes. Bids are due March 6.

Spokane County

Spokane

Spokane Preservation Advocates now has more than 200 members after being organized three years ago. The group has taken an active role in the preservation of historic sites. Members receive a newsletter and meet every three months in historic homes. Memberships are $10 a person or $20 for a couple and requests can be mailed to SPA at P.O. Box 785, Spokane, WA 99210.

Stevens County

Colville

“Burgundy Lil’ Wizard,” a white long-haired Chihuahua owned by Jan Lotze, strutted her stuff before judges this week at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. Only 2,500 dogs are invited to attend.

Whitman County

Pullman

The Washington State University Board of Regents is expected to choose the university’s next president Thursday. The final candidate for the position is V. Lane Rawlins, currently president at the University of Memphis. Rawlins, who worked at WSU for more than a decade as a faculty member in the Department of Economics and later as an administrator, was on campus last week for a meet-and-greet session with campus leaders. Rawlins is the only candidate whose name has been released. Regents will meet in executive session at 9:15 and an open session will follow.

IDAHO

Benewah County

Plummer

The U.S. Census Bureau needs help interviewing members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe on the reservation to establish a demographic profile of the area and to determine the population. The bureau is testing interested residents at 1 p.m. today at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Education Center in DeSmet and at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Coeur d’Alene Casino. The job pays $9.25 an hour plus mileage reimbursement. For more information, call (888) 325-7733.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

Nancy S. Burnett, Sandpoint, was named to Gonzaga University’s Board of Regents. Burnett taught a graduate course in administration through the University of Idaho and several courses for the Idaho Small Business Development Center and the Panhandle Area Council.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

The assessor’s office is reminding residents to apply for the tax relief circuit breaker and homeowner exemption programs. Homeowners who are at least 65 years old, a widow or widower, disabled persons, former prisoners of war, or a fatherless or motherless child under 18 years old may qualify for the circuit breaker and must apply every year between Jan. 1 and April 15. For more information, call (208) 267-3301.

Kootenai County

Worley

The 25 top environmental concerns on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation will be discussed at a meeting slated for 6 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Community Center. These issues and the effect they have on health, ecology and quality of life will be ranked during the meeting.

Latah County

Moscow

A year ago over 200 local businesses, agencies, organization and individuals concerned about the decline in elk population in the Clearwater drainage area organized and committed themselves to restoring healthy habitat and herds. A presentation of the progress made by the Clearwater Elk Initiative will be included in the first anniversary open house at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Orofino National Guard Armory. For more information, call (208) 799-5010.

Shoshone County

Wallace

The Wallace KEY (Kiwanis Education of Youth) Club donated $294 to the Shoshone County Headstart program. The club, composed of high school students, raised the money by selling sports programs at local games and matches.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

The City Council is considering a small sewer rate increase of one or two percent this year to help meet rising costs. The current base rate for city residents is $13.77.