The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

Othello Seneca Foods, apple-processing plant, has been acquired by a Dutch company, SVZ International BV of the Netherlands, for more than $2 million. The company plans to change to berry and cherry processing with fruit from the United States, Mexico and Canada. The plant will employ about 40.

Ferry County Republic

The county Fair Board needs volunteers to work at the Exhibit Hall during the five-day fair run. To volunteer or receive more information, call (509) 586-2514.

Grant County Ephrata

The county public utility district has finalized an agreement to protect salmon running through its dams. The PUD has agreed to provide spill levels at Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams that would improve survival rates of fish passing through. The new levels are effective immediately.

Lincoln County Odessa

The first load of grain in the Odessa area has been delivered to the elevators. Claassen Farms delivered a load of hard red spring wheat to the Moody elevator. Farmers have been experiencing nearly perfect growing conditions. It is expected dryland farms will yield 70 bushels per acre for winter wheat.

Pend Oreille County Newport

After years of declining enrollment and penny pinching, the Newport School District finds itself with $479,000 in extra revenue for the 1999-2000 school year. “Considering the prudent nature of all the teachers and administrators for the past two years since I’ve been here, (the surplus) is reassuring to everyone in Newport schools,” said Superintendent Shirl Nadeau.

Spokane County Airway Heights

A highway corridor safety project is being organized in Airway Heights to reduce accidents and injuries on a segment of U.S. Highway 2.

Stevens County Colville

All citizens are asked to watch over their cars and trucks until a pair of smash-and-grab car prowlers is found. The thieves are not worried about locked cars as they’ll just smash the windows and take what they want. Police Chief Damond Meshishnek reminds people to park inside or near a well-lighted, public area.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

A benefit for Kelly Smith will include a silent and a live auction, a raffle, a dance and a dinner. It will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Elk’s Lodge. Two loads of logs and a chain saw will be included in the live auction. Smith was injured in a car accident in March and is at home recovering. Families are welcome at the benefit. For details, call (208) 245-2213.

Bonner County Sandpoint

This year’s Festival at Sandpoint poster art is a quilt made by three artists, Sue Graves, Helen Newton and Gerri Harvill. The three are known as The Loose Threads and spent more than 13 months and 300 collective hours on the quilt that was inspired by the setting of the festival.

Latah County Moscow

The Idaho Humanities Council will present “Tough Paradise: The literature of the Intermountain West,” a series of presentations now through July 22 at the University of Idaho. Presentations are nightly (except Thursday) at 7:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

Shoshone County Wallace

The Heritage Festival will include an all-day Peddler’s Fair, a period dress ball and a huckleberry run. The fair will be held Aug. 18 and 19 by the Historical Wallace Preservation Society. For details, call (208) 765-9401.