The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Othello
“Killer Corner” is still claiming victims and a proposal to fix the problem is still alive. Local and state lawmakers have been lobbying for an overpass at the intersection of state Route 17 and state Route 26, one of the state’s deadliest. Though all was nearly lost with the passage of I-695, the Department of Transportation is still meeting with adjacent landowners in Othello about 30 acres for the construction of an overpass and ramps. The state hopes to start building by August. If it doesn’t, the project will be delayed two more years.
Ferry County Republic
People are watching the cougar bill being debated by the state House. Cougar sightings are on the upswing since voters banned hound hunting for the big cats in 1996. In Republic, not only are cougars a common sight in town, but they’ve been known to look in residential windows. South of town near the Konz ranch, the Department of Transportation may be forced to post “Cougar Crossing” signs due to the number of cats in the area.
Grant County Soap Lake
The city has decided to remain in the garbage pick-up business. After studying the possibility of privatizing garbage collection for its residents, the City Council found it wouldn’t save the citizens enough in fees to contract out the service. Basic monthly fees of $11.50 are only $1 higher than that of the lowest private bidder hoping for a contract. The city plans to streamline service to cut costs and continue the service.
Lincoln County Wilbur
The local Chamber of Commerce voted in new officers at its most recent meeting. Cheryl Lystad will serve as president, with Shaun Meed and Peter Rosman as vice presidents. Secretary will be Colleen Novotney, with RoxAnn Sherwood serving as treasurer through 2000.
Pend Oreille County Metaline Falls
Selkirk school officials are worried about the upcoming special levy election. On the calendar for March 14, the district is afraid the vote-by-mail affair will be confused with the Feb. 29 presidential primary. The county auditor’s office has issued special gray envelopes for the presidential primary and will send out manila envelopes for the Selkirk levy. The district encourages everyone to know the difference and remember to return that manila envelope.
Stevens County Colville
The city has recently taken measures to protect its water supply. A new ordinance prohibits cross-connecting with the city’s water supply without a preventative backflow device. Those with backflow devices must have them inspected annually to make sure they’re working. Premises with existing unprotected crossconnections will find their water service terminated and the cross-connection dismantled.
Whitman County Colfax
Whitman Home Health recently passed a Medicare survey with “zero deficiencies” according to department manager Susan Rammelsberg. The surveyor accompanied home health staff on home visits and reviewed patient charts to insure the department was in compliance with federal regulations. Whitman Home Health has officers at the Colfax hospital and in Pullman. During 1999, Home Health staff served over 350 patients in Whitman and Latah counties and provided more than 7,000 home visits.
Spokane County Spokane
The Spokane Park Board approved a proposal to hold six paid outdoor concerts in Riverfront Park this summer.
IDAHO
Benewah County St. Maries
Six residents have been sited since the city’s Junkyard Ordinance 617 was adopted two months ago. Del Rust was cited and plans to comply but said the ordinance is an affront to property owners. “In my personal opinion it is an attack on a person’s property rights,” he said. Rust has more than six cars, building materials and many buckets of miscellaneous items but isn’t sure exactly what the city wants him to remove. He could be fined $1,000 or spend 180 days in jail if he fails to comply by Jan. 31.
Bonner County Priest River
Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has appointed Stephen J. Rosinski to the Idaho Commission for National and Community Service. The commission’s primary function is to administer to the 180 AmeriCorps programs in Idaho. AmeriCorps VISTA has a tutoring program at Priest River Elementary School. Rosinski said he has a lot to learn about his new responsibilities but his primary interest is in promoting programs for youth and seniors.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
Donations are being accepted at the Health and Welfare office in Bonners Ferry for Shane and Tanya Huggins. The Huggins’ home in Elmira and everything in it burned recently. They had no insurance and need household items and clothing for a boy, size 10, and girls sizes 6 to 8.
Kootenai County Post Falls
Hospice Wine Taste and Auction received a donation of more than $10,000 worth of mahogany office furniture from Harpers/Kimball International. A leather executive office chair, a huge desk, a credenza with four file drawers and storage cabinets and a bookcase were included. To view the furniture, contact Harpers prior to the auction.
Latah County Moscow
Bob Hamilton, a Moscow native who died recently, left more than $2 million in scholarships for students attending the University of Idaho. A pool facility slated to open this summer will also be named after him. A family friend, Greg Kimberling said, “Hamilton was very conscious of the bottom line. What would benefit the kids was his main objective.”
Shoshone County Kellogg
Homecoming 2000 is trying to locate over 1,500 former graduates to inform them of plans for the celebration slated for July 28-30. Sharon Hewitt has a list of people whose addresses are needed. To contact Hewitt, call 682-2316, write P.O. Box 7, Kingston, ID, 83839, or e-mail carousel@nidlink.com.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Libby
Several water sample tests taken Dec. 28 downstream of the former W.R. Grace vermiculite mine showed no asbestos. Greg Butts, a specialist for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, said DataChem in Cincinnati tested the samples.