The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

Local police officer Kevin Kelly taught a three-day safe kids seminar. Children learned how to stay safe when home alone and how to handle potentially dangerous situations at the playground, going to school and in the car. Kelly invited a black belt in karate to show the kids a few defensive moves as well.

Ferry County Republic

The Police Department has moved into City Hall. The move also gives added protection to city staffers during business hours. The city has long had a goal to consolidate services into one building to save money. All phone numbers will remain the same, and callers will find someone answering the police phone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Grant County Moses Lake

A good number of Moses Lake residents are glad to hear Dr. James Young is alive - especially Dr. James Young. Young, along with other readers of the Columbia Basin Herald, opened his paper recently to read a story on medical pioneers in the area. The article listed Young, a hospital trailblazer here, as deceased. Young, who has practiced medicine here since 1954, jokes that although he retired in 1987, he’s a “pretty active corpse.”

Lincoln County Odessa

Harry Price says the view from his kitchen is less than panoramic. Price, who purchased his tidy Odessa home three years ago, is fed up with the junk pile his neighbors are accumulating. There have been three tenants at the rental home next door, and as each leaves, the pile grows larger. Price recently took a picture of a ramshackle shed and junk pile to the local newspaper to show all citizens why he is pursuing action through the city police.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Newport High School juniors Dedra Taylor and Lauren White recently took second place in the national Future Business Leaders of America Conference Web page design contest.

Spokane County Riverside

Riverside soccer player Larissa Mueller was a member of the West Washington State squad that took part in the Inland Empire vs. West all-star soccer game at Joe Albi Stadium recently.

Stevens County Colville

The school district dodged a very expensive bullet recently. After abandoning the Panorama Alternative School building, the district found it would cost between $35,000 and $47,000 to remove the portable building. Since the building was not worth that much, the district put the removal out for bid. Local man Frank Swiger offered the district $277.93 for the building and says he will remove it. He will use it as office space. The next best bid had the school paying $11,000 for removal.

IDAHO

Benewah County Tensed

Ron and Rosie Leach were at work when their stove caught fire and started burning their home. A local UPS driver, Mike Stoltey, who was running a couple of hours early noticed a burning smell when he dropped a package off at the Leaches’ home. He managed to put the fire out with a garden hose, called 911 and, with the help of neighbors, saved many valuables in the home. The Leaches’ insurance adjuster said everything would have been lost if the fire had been left burning another five minutes.

Bonner County Priest River

The Priest River Chamber of Commerce is having its first membership drive. The chamber is seeking supporters for local events and causes such as timber legislative issues. Yearly dues range from $20 to $250. Call (208) 448-2721 to register.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Boundary County Community Justice Department offers several parent education classes. The Parent Project Jr. class is designed for parents of strong-willed children ages 5-10 years old and will start as soon as the class is filled. The Parent Project Sr., for parents of strong-willed teenagers, is held Thursday evenings. Both classes are held above the post office. The Jr. class runs 8 consecutive weeks, and the Sr. class runs 12 weeks. The cost is $20, but no one will be turned away for lack of money. Register by calling (208) 267-7983.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

The Kootenai Humane Society wants to remind pet owners not to leave pets in vehicles for more than a few minutes during hot weather. Temperatures run much hotter inside a vehicle even when it’s parked in the shade. The society would also like to remind pet owners to provide shade and plenty of water for animals left locked in a pen or yard.

Latah County Moscow

The Renaissance Charter School was granted a contract for another year on the condition the school give a detailed financial statement and an outline of amendments to the Moscow School Board in the next few months. Although the board, parents and the Moscow School District expressed concerns, Ed Fisk, the school district superintendent, said he feels the charter school has great potential if organizers can implement some of their original goals.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer Dwayne Lowry is retiring after 27 years of service in the Silver Valley. He and his wife moved to the area in 1973 and had planned to move in a couple of years, but after the years passed they agreed to stay and will continue to live in the valley. Lowry plans to do some wood carving, oil painting, photography and, of course, hunt and fish.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Wayne Kasworm of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will discuss bears during a Saturday evening campfire program at 8 p.m. at the Blackwell Flats Recreation site. The program is part of series that runs weekly through Aug. 17.