The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

Shareholders in Ritzville Warehouse Co. and LaCrosse Grain Growers are pleased with a recent vote to merge. RWC members approved the plan with 93.1 percent, while the LaCrosse contingent voted 97.7 percent to merge. RWC has been looking for extra grain storage space, which LGG has. LGG has been struggling financially for the past few years and the merger is a perfect fit.

Ferry County

Republic

The annual Winterfest celebration will feature a new and odiferous event. Outhouse racing fans will gather this month to watch “kings” and their “thrones” compete on an icy Keller Street drag strip. There is to be one rider sitting on one hole mounted 36 inches from the ground. Four pushers or pullers can propel the contraption, mounted on skis, sleds or runners.

Grant County

Ephrata

The county has balanced its budget for 2000. Commissioners found in early December they’d have to slash nearly $1.4 million to make ends meet. The board isn’t worried though, as the county will see a large decrease in building costs in 2000, which will help keep capital expenditures down. Also, the county will not have the over $70,000 in Y2K associated costs to fund.

Lincoln County

Davenport

Assessor Frosty Freeze says the county is worth $692,043,297 for tax levy purposes. By school districts, Davenport is worth $143 million, Reardan $111 million, and Wilbur $96 million. New construction has increased the county’s value by over $10 million in the past year alone.

Pend Oreille County

Metaline Falls

The new board game “Pacific Northwest Rails” gives a taste of the county. Local rail lines and the town of Metaline Falls play prominently in the game. The game’s designer, Bob Carlson, is a former Newport Miner journalist. He says the object of the game is to make money by purchasing and selling rail stocks.

Spokane County

Spokane

Tim Mitrovich, who graduated in December from Whitworth College, was the only student from a Washington college or university to be a 1999 finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship. Mitrovich, a 4.0 political science major, was one of only 12 students from a seven-state western district to reach the final round of interviews in a three-stage process. However, he was not among the four from the district chosen as Rhodes scholars. Mitrovich, originally from the Tri Cities, plans to work as a consultant and researcher for Copernicus Interactive Corp. this spring and start graduate school in the fall.

Stevens County

Colville

The new Veteran’s Food and Clothing Bank has already given $12,000 in help to needy vets in the tri-county area. The bank was formed in September by David and Lydia Achtemeier. The charity has not only helped vets, but has given food and clothing to other local food banks. Vets in Curlew, Republic, Chewelah, Springdale, Kettle Falls, Colville and Spokane have been served.

Whitman County

Pullman

The Pullman High School booster club will hold an Aloha 2000 auction in Pullman Jan. 27. Proceeds from the night of Hawaiian-themed dinner and entertainment will support PHS students who participate in academic and athletic activities, said Gail Gearhiser, auction chair. The silent auction and catered dinner begin at 6 p.m., with the verbal auction at 7:30. For more information or to donate items call Gail at (509) 332-8004.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

The Benewah County Humane Society has found homes for 69 dogs and cats in the past nine months. The society has spayed or neutered 90 pets. It provides temporary housing for lost, unwanted and abandoned animals and sponsors semi-annual spay and neuter clinics.

Bonner County

Priest River

West Bonner School District trustees have accepted the first reading of Snow Days and Emergency Closure policies. The policies are an administrative procedure that applies to when students are sent home early because of weather conditions or emergency reasons. A complete copy of the policy is available at the school district office in Rivertown Mall.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

The Board of County Commissioners has appointed Boundary Community Hospital Chief Financial Officer and former commissioner Mike Young to the Planning and Zoning Commission. He will serve the remainder of the term vacated by Lisa Tanner, who moved to Boise. Young was one of five who submitted letters of interest.

Kootenai County

Post Falls

The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its annual celebration banquet Jan. 8 at Cavanaughs/Templin’s Resort. The banquet will honor past presidents of the organization and awards for Citizen, Business and Volunteer of the Year. Chamber president Dick Harris will install incoming officers and board members and Mayor Gus Johnson will present the annual Mayor’s Award for community service.

Latah County

Moscow

Latah County Library District Director Lori Keenan will retire in April after 11 years as director. Latah County will be looking for a new director to manage the seven libraries, used by 32,000 people.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

A lawyer from the Coeur d’Alene office of Idaho Legal Aid Services will be in Kellogg on Monday. The lawyer will meet with low-income residents with legal questions. For an appointment, call the Food Bank at (208) 783-4901.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Elk mounts by Libby taxidermists Phil Soucy and Scott Lennard are part of a traveling exhibit by Trophy Show Productions of Livingston. The tour, featuring 10 mounts, begins Monday in Portland.