The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Othello
If construction remains on schedule, Columbia Colstor’s new Othello facility will open the first week in August. The company hopes to move frozen potatoes from another plant as soon as the building is ready. The 145,000 feet of freezer space can hold up to 62.5 million pounds of frozen foods. The 35-person staff has been training at Columbia Colstor’s Warden facility.
Ferry County Republic
The News-Miner newspaper reports that old-timers say they’ve never seen such an abundance of wildlife as they have this summer. Wild turkeys, deer and even moose have been spotted with increasing regularity. Cougars, whom many wish weren’t in abundance, have also been making themselves known, as have rattlesnakes. The town deer herd has been stopping traffic, and feeding in several local yards, much to the delight of tourists.
Grant County Royal City
The local medical clinic is getting back on its feet. Country Clinics, under the direction of Dr. Cathy Spanton, has hired two former Mattawa Clinic employees.
Lincoln County Odessa
County Commissioner Bill Graedel has announced he will run for re-election this fall. Graedel, who represents the Odessa, Harrington and Sprague areas, says he wants to finish some of the projects he’s started. Solving the Sprague flooding problem and supporting the housing authority are two of his pet projects.
Pend Oreille County Ione
The annual community celebration of Down River Days this weekend includes an old-fashioned train ride from Ione to Metaline Falls and back. The trip, sponsored by the local Lions Club, runs at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Other events include a parade, food and craft booths, entertainment, a softball tournament, golf, an art and quilt show, and hydro-boat races.
Spokane County Spokane
Lynn Mandyke, the director of the Corbin Art Center, was named the 1999 employee of the year for the Spokane Parks Department. She has been instrumental in restoring the 1898 Corbin House and developing the center’s programs. She has led efforts to resurrect two historical gardens in Pioneer Park, where the center is located.
Stevens County Colville
The road construction project through downtown Colville is going smoothly. Eller Corporation, working on Phase I of the Colville 2000 project, has announced that traffic will be able to pass that portion of Wynne Street by the end of the month. At that time, only the gravel road base will be finished. The company says it will pave the entire roadway at one time, when the other phases are done.
IDAHO
Benewah County Plummer
Chief Allan was honored by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe at a luncheon July 13. Allan was selected senior legislative associate for the National Congress of American Indians in Washington, D.C. Allan will be an advocate for Indian issues on Capitol Hill and distribute legislative information to all tribes in the United States. During the luncheon Allan was presented an eagle feather by Ernie Stensgar in recognition of four years of work he’s performed for the tribe.
Bonner County Sagle
The Bonner County Road and Bridge Department will close the Westmond/East Dufort Road to level a hill for improved sight while driving. Travelers should expect detours to the Sagle and Algoma Roads for about four days. Construction work is expected to be done by 4:30 p.m. Aug. 3. For details, call the department at (208) 265-1497.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
The amount of traffic generated by the Kootenai River Inn necessitates a pedestrian underpass beneath U.S. Highway 95, Mayor Darrell Kerby told the Idaho Transportation Board last week. The board was in town for the dedication of the North Hill project. The cost to build the underpass is estimated at $497,000. Transportation officials agreed to look into possible funding sources for the project. The Kootenai Tribe already paid for the engineering design.
Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene
Jamba Juice is offering free smoothies on Thursday at its Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls stores to raise awareness - and money - for cancer research. Free smoothie day runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Although smoothies are free, the business is encouraging donations to the American Cancer Society. Money raised locally will be donated to the Relay for Life campaign, according to Jamba Juice co-owner Jan Armon. She said the stores are trying to raise a combined $1,000 - more than any other stores contributing to the campaign.
Latah County Moscow
Ben Cartwright, a Washington State graduate with a double major in humanities and French, is hoping to change people’s perception of poetry at the Farmer’s Market. Cartwright recently finished a novel and needed a project to keep him busy so he made a sign that says, “Poems - all sizes - 15 minutes - any subject - $5 - full refund if not satisfied.” He sits at the market on Saturdays and waits for customers. Cartwright says the endeavor forces him to improve his writing skills while on a deadline.
Shoshone County Kellogg
The school district has hired four teachers for the upcoming school year. Cory Baerlocher will teach social studies and Christina Karst will teach special education at Kellogg Middle School. Millie Straabe will teach special education and Glen Payne will be the part-time athletic director at Pinehurst Elementary.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Troy
Kay Burk of Troy spends her summers trapping and banding hummingbirds. Burk is a master bander and is licensed with the Montana, Nevada and Arizona fish and game agencies and the U.S. Department of Interior. Master banders gather information on bird migration, population and territorial changes. Burk bands about 400 hummingbirds a summer and has been doing it for forty years. The oldest bird she’s captured is 9 years old.