The County Lines

Sat., Jan. 1, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

Preliminary budget cuts in Adams County likely will mean at least two employees losing their jobs. Two juvenile services positions likely will be cut and the Sheriff’s office will not be allowed to fill two vacancies. Hours for one of the county’s deputy prosecutors also will be slashed to hit the $24,872,540 target budget.

Ferry County Republic

The county does not have money to pay the airspace lease on the local airport. Ferry County leases airspace at the runway’s south end from the Department of Natural Resources for $150 per year. Because funds are tight, the county cannot afford to operate runway lights or beacons at night unless the lease is paid. Night operation of the airport is crucial.

Grant County Soap Lake

The local school district has set its maintenance and operation levy for March 14. It will ask voters for $373,378 in 2001 and $380,845 in 2002. The district also is going through a major building program. In Wilson Creek, the district is asking voters for $155,000 in 2001. That levy will go before voters Feb. 29.

Lincoln County Wilbur

Bonnie Jensen is ending her tenure as mayor of Wilbur. Leading the town for eight years, and serving on the council for nearly seven years prior to that, Jensen was glad to help swear in new Mayor Don Reid. Reid was mayor for several years in the 1980s.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The City Council is pondering how to fight a surge in juvenile vandalism. The city says state laws tie the hands of law enforcement when it comes to handling juvenile matters. The local gazebo has been a target, as have the young trees lining the main business streets. Not only have an average of nearly two trees been broken each week, but they’ve been stripped of Christmas lights as well.

Spokane County Spokane

Ken and Anne Couch, a harmonica duo with the Project Joy senior cultural program, recently were awarded the outstanding performers award by the organization.

Stevens County Twin Lakes

The county Sheriff’s Department is looking for a suspected child molester in the county. According to Sheriff Craig Thayer, a man recently confronted a 15-year-old girl near Twin Lakes, offering her a ride. The girl says she refused, but the man was adamant. He finally drove off. Thayer says his office still is looking for a different suspect in alleged child-luring cases which happened Nov. 4 and 5.

Whitman County Pullman

The Washington State Junior Miss Program is slated for Jan. 20-22 in Pullman’s Gladish Community Center. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at 334-3565.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries An addition to the Golden Terrace Apartments will be complete by the end of January. Applications are being taken for the two onebedroom, and two two-bedroom apartments in the complex. Tenants must be 62 or older or disabled with adjusted income for one person under $29,000. Rent is 30 percent of income with an additional $20 per month charge for the two-bedroom units. For information, call St. Vincent de Paul Housing at (208) 664-9629.

Bonner County Sandpoint

A 41-year-old Priest River man has been ordered to serve two years probation following a plea bargain with prosecutors. Martin Joseph Kaelin pleaded guilty to a single count of attempted assault in exchange for dismissal of a felony domestic battery charge. He was accused of battering his wife in a parking lot Sept. 15.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Second Chance Animal Adoption is looking for foster homes for puppies, special-needs dogs and some adult dogs. Volunteers are needed for walking dogs at the city pound. For information, call Alice Miller at (208) 276-2023.

Kootenai County Post Falls

The city of Post Falls will collect Christmas trees Tuesday for disposal. Trucks will collect trees in the Riverside Harbor area at 8 a.m. If there is snow prior to Tuesday, tree collection will be postponed until the streets can be cleared. Trees also can be dropped off at the wastewater treatment plant on Seltice Way.

Latah County Moscow

Fifty trees on Travois Way growing under the main power transmission lines that serve Moscow will be cut down in the next eight years. A tree service contracted by Avista Utilities will remove 28 trees in January. The trees will be replaced away from the power lines. The city has an ordinance against topping, which can cause a tree to decay.

Shoshone County Smelterville

The city of Smelterville has an open seat on the City Council. Those interested can contact the city clerk to make an appointment with Mayor Tom Benson.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Information on Montana road conditions is available over the phone and the Internet. Reports are updated at 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The road report is a service of the Montana Department of Transportation. Reports are available at 1-800-226-ROAD or at the department’s Web site at www.mdt.state.mt.us.

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