The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

Hoping to be proactive, landowners Larry and Derek Schafer have given county commissioners some suggestions on improving Paha-Packard Road. The Schafers hope the county will replace two approaches to their property because one is near an S-curve with little visibility. They also requested a new culvert location. The two men farm along a stretch of the road that needs safety improvements.

Ferry County Republic

With the county short of funds, Sheriff Pete Warner wants to rent space in the county jail to other jurisdictions with overcrowded jails. To do this, the county would have to purchase bunk beds for each cell, doubling capacity. Warner says laundry and kitchen facilities also would need to be expanded.

Grant County Moses Lake

After 15 years of serving the city of Moses Lake, Lakeside Disposal is calling it quits. The waste-disposal company, owned by Bob Bernd, has been sold to California-based Waste Connections Inc. The City Council has approved Waste Connections taking over the remaining five years of Bernd’s contract. Few service changes are expected. Bernd said he sold the company so he could fund his retirement.

Lincoln County Creston

Residents of Creston are watching a proposal made by Gov. Gary Locke to provide financial relief to towns hit hard by state Initiative 695. The City Council recently learned that if Locke’s latest proposal is approved, the town would receive $10,300 in aid. That doesn’t make up for the $26,000 in lost motor vehicle excise tax revenues, but it would help the town nevertheless. In the meantime, budget cuts and wage decreases are being discussed.

Pend Oreille County Newport

A construction project by the Spokane Teachers Credit Union will benefit the Pend Oreille County Public Utility District. The PUD has agreed to lease space to the credit union to build a new branch. The credit union has included a large auditorium, which will be open for PUD and public use, in its plans. In 15 years, the utility district may purchase the building at a portion of the original cost, as the credit union likely will outgrow the office and be ready to build another one.

Spokane County Spokane

Spokane County has purchased 455 acres adjacent to Liberty Lake County Park through its conservation futures program. The acquisition will help preserve a corridor for wildlife movement through the hills above the lake. The county paid $527,000 to Olympic Coast Mortgage Co. for the land.

Stevens County Colville

The local fire crew has some new faces. Jeff Cox, Bob Meshishnek and Troy Braun are new recruits to the volunteer force, replacing three longtime volunteers who took the new millennium as their cue to retire. Dr. William Doyle, LeRoy Sells and Jerry Mugaas spent a combined 75 years on the fire crew. The new recruits already have put in many hours of training.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The St. Maries High School associated student body is seeking nominations for the Wall of Fame, an award that recognizes outstanding personal achievement and community involvement. Anyone who graduated from St. Maries High School is eligible. Send a nominee’s name, the year he or she graduated and why the person deserves to be honored to: Wall of Fame, St. Maries High School, Route 3, Box 33B, St. Maries 83861.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Boundary County commissioners have established a Web site, which includes information from each county department, emergency information, application forms, planning and zoning ordinances, addresses, e-mail links and telephone numbers. The site address is http://www.boundaryidaho.com. Suggestions and comments are welcome.

Kootenai County Harrison

High jumper Annie Goodson, a 1998 graduate of Kootenai High School, jumped 5 feet 4 inches while competing at the University of South Dakota’s preseason open. The jump qualified her for the NAIA indoor track and field championships to be held in Lincoln, Neb., in February. Goodson, a sophomore at the University of Mary, is majoring in biology with a pre-med emphasis. She is the daughter of Sue and Bob Goodson of Harrison.

Latah County Moscow

The Idaho Trio AmeriCorps is sponsoring a food drive in conjunction with Human Rights Day. Nonperishable food may be left at the Moscow Co-op, Rosauers, Safeway and WinCo supermarkets. The food will be donated to Sojourners Alliance. To volunteer, call (208) 885-5552.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Seventy percent of jobs require the use of computers, according to the staff at the Learning Center in Kellogg. Educators, business people and people who want to receive computer training are invited to the “Digital Divide” town forum from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Learning Center in the Steelworkers Building at 110 N. Hill. Lynn Allen, a public television producer, will show excerpts from the documentary series “The Digital Divide.” For more information, call the center at (208) 783-5205.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Troy

J.K. Rowling’s children’s book “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” will be discussed at the Troy library at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. Many schoolchildren enjoy reading the book and choose it over watching television or playing video games.