The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

The city will perform a statewide search to replace Fire Chief Duane Van Beek, who is moving to a regional fire inspector position. The job pays between $45,000 and $55,000, and is the only paid position on the force. The city was looking at merging with the county fire district, but decided it would not be cost-effective under the current tax structure.

Ferry County

Republic

The Republic Library has kicked off its Summer Reading Fiesta, which includes a fossil dig and puppet show. Picnics, hayrides, tie-dying and other activities are also on the calendar. Preschool story hour will be Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Kids can still sign up at the library.

Grant County

Vantage

A high-tech vortex is keeping a dangerous stretch of Highway 243 free of sand this summer. The road from Vantage to the Tri-Cities is often blocked by up to five inches of blowing sand. This year, the DOT has installed tall poles with 8-foot triangular wings on each side of the road to create a whirlwind. The winds keep the road free of sand. In the past, trucks had to plow the stretch up to three times each day due to wind of at least 30 mph.

Lincoln County

Harrington

The City Council has closed bidding and will start it again for the Sherlock Street construction project, to avoid the possibility of lawsuits. The city’s engineer from Century West told the council the original bid document contained an improper listing of subcontractors, constituting a misrepresentation of the bid requirements.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

The Newport Youth Center is now in the former Assembly of God church. The center is filled with games, couches and kids. More than 40 kids helped open the facility’s doors May 2. Youth Center director Curtis Frisque says the nonprofit group hopes to buy the facility and is looking to raise the $12,500 down payment.

Donations of money or items for cleaning or fun are being accepted.

Spokane County

Spokane

Rip Horsey has been hired as Spokane’s parks aquatics supervisor. He holds every aquatics certificate offered through the American Red Cross and is completing his master’s degree in recreation and tourism at the University of Missouri.

Stevens County

Northport

The Strategic Planning Action Teams are looking for adults to donate time and materials for two projects. The first is an extracurricular/recreation team, which wants to prepare a weight room for students and the community. Equipment is needed. The other team is working on school and community pride and will beautify the school grounds. Heavy equipment operators are needed. To volunteer, call (509) 732-4304 or 732-4441.

Whitman County

Pullman

The Pullman and Moscow chambers of commerce are sponsoring the Palouse Region Rural Tourism and Development Workshop on June 22 in Pullman. The workshop will address tourism development on the Palouse and will feature Peter Tarlow, a Texas tourism expert who founded Tourism and More Inc., and heads tourism development for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The workshop is free and open to the public. To register, contact the Pullman Chamber of Commerce.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Jerry McCarter and Mike Howland organized the rejuvenation of the American Legion baseball field on Idaho Avenue. Right field was 18 inches lower than home plate, but after 280 truckloads of dirt, the field is level. An automatic sprinkler system was installed, and another 100 loads of dirt may be needed to cover settling. The field is expected to be ready for a tournament by July.

Bonner County

Nordman

The Entrie Gallery, two miles east of Nordman on Reeder Bay Road, will be featuring jewelry from artists in the Spokane Jeweler’s Guild. Some of the handmade jewelry displayed by eight artists is made from bone, clay shells and semiprecious stones. For details, call (208) 443-2001.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

As part of National Fishing Week, the ninth annual Bonners Ferry Fishing Clinic will be today at Snow Creek Pond, west of Bonners Ferry. Anyone can fish today without a license, but all other fishing regulations apply. The clinic is for kids up to 12 years old. The Idaho Fish and Game Department has donated the fish and will loan fishing rods. The Lions Club will provide free hot dogs and pop for kids. For details, call (208) 267-5571.

Kootenai County

Harrison

This year’s Pig-Out-in-the-Park chef in charge is Ron Jean Blanc, who is following in the footsteps of his father, Ferd Jean Blanc. Ron will spend two days cooking turkeys and pork. Local cooks will donate desserts. The fifth annual June Bug Craft Faire will be held in conjunction with Pig-Out. The dinner funds the Fourth of July fireworks show presented each year by the chamber of commerce.

Latah County

Moscow

The Police Department is finishing an expansion of its office. Department staff did much of the remodeling work and asked the City Council for money to install new carpet in the high-traffic areas. The council approved and money will come from the police budget and a city legislative reserve account.

Shoshone County

Wallace

Silver Valley Alternative High School principal George Heaton is moving to Ronan Middle School in Montana. SVAHS students gave him a plaque for his nine years of dedicated service during the senior graduation ceremony Monday at the Shoshone Golf and Tennis Club.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Troy

Two Troy High students placed in the state track meet last weekend in Butte, Mont. Kayla Meyer was second in the long jump, fourth in the 200 meters and sixth in the 100 meters. Jake Stephens took second in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump. The boys team scored 10 points and the girls team 13 at the meet.