The County Lines

Sun., July 23, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The Ritzville School District, like neighboring Harrington, is searching frantically for a certified music teacher. The school did a search in the spring, which resulted in only one interview. The candidate took a job elsewhere. The district is waiting to hear from one other candidate before hitting the panic button.

Ferry County Republic

People traveling through Ferry County are being warned of fire danger. The Republic Volunteer Fire Department, along with Department of Natural Resources crews, have been called out numerous times this summer. People are asked to follow proper campfire procedures and refrain from throwing cigarette butts out car windows.

Grant County Moses Lake

Earlier this week in Moses Lake, a cellular tower toppled while being installed, smashing a new Mazda pickup truck. The truck, on the lot of Ponderosa Motors, was totaled. Salesman Bill Horst had been sitting in the vehicle 10 minutes before the crash.

Lincoln County Davenport

The local livestock exchange received permission from the state Department of Agriculture to be open an additional two days per week. Stockland livestock exchange will now hold auctions on Mondays, Tuesdays and some Saturdays. The company is moving its Spokane sale day to Davenport. Neighbors, upset with manure piles and flies, hoped Stockland’s request for expansion would be turned down. Stockland officials say they’ve been keeping up the grounds to be a good neighbor.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The Pend Oreille County Fair Board is seeing some strong opposition to its new policy on political campaigning. Tired of seeing politicians glad-handing throughout the fairgrounds, the board relegated office-seekers to booths. The county’s Democratic Central Committee has threatened the board with the possibility of legal action if the policy remains. Democratic Party chairman Joel Jacobsen, a county commissioner, says it violates both state and federal rights.

Spokane County Spokane

The Boundary Review Board for Spokane County will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District office to hear testimony on the proposed incorporation of Liberty Lake. If the proposal is approved or modified, then residents of the planned city would vote on the incorporation in November. For more information or a copy of the incorporation study, call Susan Winchell at 477-4237. The report is also online at: www.spokanecounty.org/boundary/index.htm.

Stevens County Colville

The speed limit in and around Colville will remain the same. The City Council recently struck down an idea to drop the limit at the south entrance to town from 40 mph to 25 mph. The manager of the Holiday View Trailer Court made the request for the safety of his residents. Council members see the 40-mph zone as a transitional zone where motorists can slow down before hitting the 25-mph zone farther into the city.

Whitman County Pullman

Budget reallocations at Washington State University have affected 35 classified positions on the Pullman campus, but no permanent classified employees have been terminated. Most of the affected employees found new jobs through the state civil service “bumping” process that allows employees with seniority to bump individuals with less seniority. Vice President for Business Affairs Greg Royer said WSU wanted to “set the record straight” regarding rumors of larger layoffs. The impact on employees in Pullman will be minimal, Royer said.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The BetterCare Memorial Walk held July 14 raised $8,706 for hospital improvements. Volunteers walked all night around the football field for donations made in memory of friends and loved ones. The St. Joe Oil team earned the first place trophy for raising $2,700. Francie Walter won first for raising the most money individually ($1,500).

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Last weekend volunteers added two new sandboxes, new steps to bleachers and slats to bleacher railings at the Riverside Field. Donations of time and materials were made by the Solts, the Clarksons, the Hummells, Mesenbrink Lumber, Ebys, Redi Mix, Jayson at the Pizza Factory and the Bertlings.

Kootenai County Dalton Gardens

Kootenai County Fire District volunteers have set their annual pancake breakfast/yard sale for 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Dalton Fire Station, Fourth and Hanley. To schedule a pickup of donations for the yard sale, July 24-26, call (208) 765-1112 or e-mail RShov96242@aol.com.

Latah County Moscow

Jan Wall has taken a new job after 25 years with the Potlatch and Moscow Libraries. She accepted a position in Moscow as a library consultant for the Idaho State Library’s northern region. She’ll start in September.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Paul Lynch received a certificate of appreciation last week from Heartworks Coordinator Marilyn Bewick and Shoshone Medical Center director of rehabilitation Mike Russell. Lynch has volunteered over two years of consecutive service helping with therapy and the exercise equipment.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recently received Medicare certification for the the reorganized St. John’s Hospice. The certification expands the range of Hospice services available to the community while continuing its end-of-life care. The organization also changed its name from Kootenai Volunteer Hospice to Kootenai Volunteers in Support of Hospice Inc.

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