The County Lines

Thu., June 15, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

The Friends of the Library II has begun getting the 150 signatures needed to put the issue of a library taxing district on the next ballot. The county has had to pull funds due to I-695 budget cuts.

Ferry County Curlew

With recent rain, the Mosquito Control District asks residents to watch for larvae in standing water. Anyone finding larvae on their property should call (509) 779-4445 for assistance. The mosquito district only has funds for larvae control using a bacteria to kill the pests before they take wing.

Grant County Moses Lake

The Army Corps of Engineers has been asked by the Environmental Protection Agency to build a costly new well for the Skyline Water System. Skyline residents have been drinking bottled water from the Port of Moses Lake since April 1994. Their water is contaminated with trichloroethylene, used at Larson Air Force Base to clean equipment several decades ago.

Lincoln County Odessa

The visitor guide, “This is Odessa,” will soon be distributed by the Odessa Record newspaper. The guide has information on recreation, schools, housing, local businesses and organizations, the Lake Creek Trail - for hikers, bikers and horse riders - the Channeled Scablands and Deutschesfest. To receive a book, call (509) 982-2632.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The city has filled two vacant public defender positions. Newport has long had a three-member team, but in recent months two lawyers have left. Al Schwenker resigned for medical reasons, leading to Tim Trageser’s resignation because the case load had grown too large. The city has contracted with Chris Bajacaliev and Dennis Lewellen to fill the team out again.

Spokane County Spokane

Spokane County commissioners gave their final approval this week to the purchase of 455 acres west of Liberty Lake County Park through the conservation futures program. Spokane County paid $527,000 for the land, which was owned by Olympic Coast Mortgage Co. The deal had been agreed to in January. The land is adjacent to the 3,000-acre Liberty Lake County Park and will help keep a corridor open for wildlife. The area has also been used by hikers and horse riders.

Stevens County Colville

Parents are invited to enroll kids ages 7-12 in a martial arts summer camp. Instructor Joan Davis says the camp will focus on respect, goal setting, self-esteem, motivation and humility. The camp will cost $75 for four days in July. Call (509) 684-8919.

Whitman County Pullman

The Pullman Education Foundation recently awarded $2,850 in teacher grants. The grants will help pay for a range of special projects, including Human Rights Club assemblies, a new digital camera, a portable art gallery, a lending library and take-home books for kindergarten. The Pullman Kiwanis Club funded $250 of the grant.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

For their achievements and community service, Francie Walters and Everett Anderson were inducted onto the St. Maries High School Wall of Fame. Both received more than one letter of nomination. Anderson was born in St. Maries, graduated in 1935 and served as mayor. Walters graduated in 1950, became a nurse in 1957 and serves the community in many volunteer activities.

Bonner County Priest River

The District 83 board of trustees approved hiring David Bradbury as principal at Priest River Junior High. Bradbury is a Newport native who recently completed his administrative certification and has taught in Oregon and at Sandpoint Middle School.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Bonners Ferry High student Esther Correnti, 15, won an American Literary Council honorable mention for her poem, “My Hero - A Tribute to Robert Chall,” in memory of the late elementary school principal. The poem will be in the 2000 edition of the council’s publication.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Two sets of 40 double banners will be displayed downtown thanks to the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association. One set will have a spring/summer design and the other fall/winter. The banners cost $17,000. The Urban Renewal Agency will provide $10,000 and the association will raise the rest.

Latah County Moscow

Mary Guptill is the new administrator of the Latah County Library District, which has seven branches. Guptill was head of the Jasper Public Library/Dubois County Library Services for seven years prior to accepting the position.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Excelsior Cycle will move from 10 W. Portland Ave. to perhaps the oldest building in Kellogg, according to owner Mike Domy. The city-owned building at 21 Railroad Ave. was built around 1894 and was originally the Wardner Freight Depot. It’s been vacant or used for storage the last 12 years. Mike and his wife, Debbie, expect to be in the new spot by June 24. Call (208) 786-3751.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

April was the second consecutive month Lincoln County’s unemployment rate was the highest in the state. March’s rate was 16.7 percent and April’s rate was 16 percent. Montana’s rate for April is 4.9 percent, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry’s Office of Research and Analysis. The U.S. unemployment rate for April was 3.9 percent.

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