The County Lines

Tue., June 13, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

Thanks to innovations by high school food director Lance Wells, more than 50 percent of students eat hot lunch. Wells has styled the lunchroom to resemble a food court with five restaurants serving pizza, Mexican food, a salad bar, burgers and hot dogs and a build-your-own brown bag - all for $1.50.

Ferry County Republic

County residents are on the alert after several cougar incidents were reported to the county Sheriff’s Department. Big cats killed a family dog in the Barrett Creek area. In the Rose Valley area, cougars killed sheep at least two nights in a row. An Inchelium woman shot a cougar that was killing sheep in her barn.

Grant County Royal City

Algae is causing problems with a clarifier filter at the city’s new wastewater treatment facility. Public Works director John Lasen is considering a covering to block direct light from the bloom and educating the public about phosphates - a big cause of algae.

Lincoln County Harrington

Lea Jeffers’ sweetheart, now her husband, is a golfer. After becoming an avid golfer herself, Jeffers has been named manager of the Harrington Golf and Country Club. The couple moved from Spokane for more time on the links.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Leaders will go to jail as part of a fund-raiser. They’ll rely on friends, relatives and even strangers to pay their bail. Proceeds will go to the reward fund for the newly formed Secret Witness program, which gives people incentive to offer information on crimes.

Spokane County Deer Park

Crawford Gallery Park will host two exhibits, one this month and one next month. The first, “Wild and Friendly Beasts,” a collection of pastel and colored pencil works by Melissa Swann Wagner, will run until June 30. The other exhibit, “Warm Glass with Cool Quilts,” which runs July 3-28, will fill a 3-D case with various free formed, warm glass objects, by glass artist Louise Telford. The gallery is in Deer Park City Hall, 316 E. Crawford St. Call the Deer Park Arts Commission at 276-8884.

Stevens County Colville

There are three versions of traffic signs in Colville school zones, and the City Council is looking into making them look the same. In addition, council member Patty St. Clair found the city has conflicting school zone speed ordinances, which are being addressed.

Whitman County Pullman

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories will unveil its newest building, a 65,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, today. At noon, SEL President Ed Schweitzer and Doug Voda, vice president of operations, will discuss the facility at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in the new building. Tours follow from 1-4 p.m.

IDAHO

Benewah County Plummer

Marcie Haeg, of Plummer, will work with the Peace Corps as a small-business development adviser. Haeg’s work will include training business owners in management skills. She’s also worked at Rockey West Public Relations and the Ambassador Programs, both in Spokane.

Bonner County Priest Lake

Camping in Priest Lake and Farragut state parks on Thursdays through Sundays in June is half price in celebration of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation’s 35th anniversary. Campers must also be able to name three of Idaho’s state parks to get the discount. Visit the Web site www.idahoparks.org or call (208) 334-4199.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Local property owners violating ordinances on abandoned motor vehicles and garbage can expect a notice from the city. After receiving a notice, residents have 72 hours to comply before a fine will be imposed. For details, call (208) 267-3105.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

A fire-safety video for children is available at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. The video was brought to the library in honor of former Fire Chief Rick Lasky, who who read to children at the library. The 23-minute video teaches children what to do if their clothing catches fire, if smoke fills a room or if a smoke detector goes off.

Latah County Moscow

Karen Thorndike, the first American woman to sail solo around the world, was keynote speaker during the second annual Leadership Moscow Graduation Recognition Dinner and Program on Thursday at the University Inn. Thorndike made the two-year trip in 1996-1998. Her speech focused on setting goals and the commitment it takes to meet personal challenges.

Shoshone County Kellogg

The Shoshone County Fire Prevention Cooperative recently presented the annual fire prevention program at area Silver Valley elementary schools. As part of the program about 250 children wrote radio public-service safety announcements. Winners from The Silver Valley Christian Academy are Lance Claflin, Hunter Syruws and Andrew Kauffman. Winners from Canyon Elementary are Melissa Sawyer and Ian Marshall. Winners from John Mullan Elementary are Kara Reynolds, Rose Thelan, Jani Hilliard and Hailey Samms. Their messages will be on KWAL this summer.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Kootenai River levels below the Libby Dam are being raised about 6 feet. The increase began last Tuesday and was requested by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help the endangered white sturgeon downstream of Bonners Ferry.

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