The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

Kids at Lutacaga Elementary School are participating in a program called Drop Everything and Read. New principal Mark Stephens says the DEAR program will foster success in reading. Each day will have a theme, and today is cowboy day.

Ferry County

Republic

In addition to the presidential primary, local residents vote today on a school maintenance and operations levy. The Republic School District is asking voters for $254,000 for the next two years. Ferry County is vote-by-mail only.

Grant County

Moses Lake

Lorna Skeen, owner of Skeen’s Western Wear, has been named retailer of the year by the Western/ English Wear Industry. She is in the same company as recording star Tracy Lawrence, and world champion barrel racer Martha Josey, both recipients of the award. A self-proclaimed “dirt farmer’s wife,” Skeen is known for her showy Western skirts, knowledge of the industry, and customer service.

Lincoln County

Odessa

The local grain warehouse posted a $436,657 loss for the year, but Odessa Trading Co. shareholders didn’t bat an eyelash. Not surprised with the loss due to low grain prices and high operating costs, farmers are gearing up for another grain season.

Pend Oreille County

Usk

A few of the 100 elk being transplanted from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation have arrived in Pend Oreille County. The animals have been taken to their new home in the Selkirk Mountains.

Spokane County

Spokane

A lecture, “Growing early season vegetables organically,” will be presented March 20 at the East Side Library, 524 S. Stone. Master Gardener Dave Swett will talk about soil amendment techniques, developing soil fertility and selecting seedlings. For more information call 444-5375.

Stevens County

Colville

What’s yellow and is a sure-fire sign of spring? The buttercup. Local youngsters Emily Tveit, Emily Poling, Kaydee Poling, Taylor Murto and Alex Tveit brought the first blooms of the season to the local newspaper, which sponsors an annual first buttercup contest. Although the kids didn’t want to tell the exact location of their prized find, it is by a hill near Colville.

Whitman County

Pullman

The Washington State University Police Department is investigating an alleged acquaintance rape that reportedly occurred early Sunday in Goldsworthy campus residence hall. The victim is a WSU student, while the alleged assailant is a nonstudent from the the area, according to the department. WSU police are working with the Whitman County Prosecutor’s Office on the case.

IDAHO

Benewah County

Tensed

Tensed will receive a $76,000 grant from Project SEARCH (Special Environmental Assistance for Regulations of Communities and Habitat). SEARCH grants are to help small towns comply with federal regulations on water and sewer projects. Tensed is working on a wastewater project and is one of nine towns to receive a portion of $1.3 million allocated to SEARCH projects.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

Judy Deam is to be featured at Art Works Gallery during March. Deam’s creations include sculpting, painting and assemblage of objects such as bones, rocks and shredded files. A reception will be held for Deam at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the gallery.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Beginning Friday the speed limit for trucks and buses on U.S. Highway 95 north of Bonners Ferry will be 30 mph. The Idaho Transportation Department is putting speed and load restrictions on the highway on a 15-mile stretch to reduce pavement break-up caused by the freezing and thawing weather. Signs warning of the limits will be in place this week. For more information, call (208) 772-1200.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The Inland Northwest Chapter of The Alzheimer’s Association recently chose Randy Teall as chairperson of Northern Idaho Memory Walk, set for September at Farragut State Park. The fund-raiser supports the association’s Helpline, library, Safe Return, senior companions, support groups and quarterly newsletters. Teall is a Coeur d’Alene native.

Latah County

Moscow

“Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash” will include reading the book “The Cat in the Hat,” a puppet show, free books and birthday cake to encourage children to read. The event, sponsored by the University of Idaho’s Parents as Teachers and Even Start Family Literacy Programs, is set for 4 p.m. Thursday at the Moscow Public Library.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

Shoshone County has the highest rate of children living in poverty in the state, according to the 1999-2000 Idaho Kids Count report. About 13 percent of the state’s population live in poverty, 40 percent are children. In Shoshone 30 percent of children live in poverty compared to 20 percent in Bonner, Boundary and Benewah and 15 percent in Kootenai County. The average family income in Shoshone County is $29,600, according to the Kids Count report.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

The Federal Department of Health and Human Services has committed $80,000 to asbestos-related medical testing in Libby, according to a recent letter from Health Secretary Donna Shalala to U.S. Sen. Max Baucus. The Department of Health and its Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry have visited Libby twice and are working on a health action plan to coordinate testing, analysis and education with other agencies.