The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County Ritzville
Thanks to the Jonas Babcock Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, an Adams County hero has been remembered. Group members discovered the story of an Adams County marshal killed in the line of duty in 1956. Game Warden Marshal Albert Davis was shot in the head while investigating a possible poaching. His 19-year-old killer served only 12 years of his life sentence. Davis was awarded a medal of honor posthumously.
Ferry County Republic
The recent Prospector’s Day celebration was a smashing success - especially the mining competition. For the third straight year, Steve Crosten, a miner from Kellogg, won the “All Around Miner” award. For his efforts, he took home $1,400 in prize money. The competition included spike driving, hand steeling, hand mucking and jack drilling.
Grant County Moses Lake
Flower lovers will not want to miss the first-ever Basin Private Garden Tour. The event, a fund-raiser for Columbia Basin Allied Arts, is on the calendar for Saturday. Six homes with gardens will be featured. For more information, call (509)762-6244.
Lincoln County Odessa
The city is again preparing an environmental impact statement for the realignment of SR 21 through town. The highway between I-90 and Wilbur makes some dangerously sharp turns for trucks in downtown. The city has been working to straighten the route for several years.
Pend Oreille County Newport
The Pend Oreille PUD has signed a long-term agreement with Seattle City Light over Boundary Dam. SCL must go through the relicensing process in 2011. To ensure the local PUD’s support on the matter, the entities signed a contract guaranteeing 48 megawatts of power from Boundary in exchange for support in the relicensing effort. This guarantees cheap power for residents for years to come.
Spokane County Spokane
The statewide District and Municipal Court Judges Association elected Spokane County District Court Judge Christine Cary and three others from around the state to represent the association’s 215 judges on the state’s Board for Judicial Administration. The association was created to provide members with continuing legal education. It recommends changes to civil and criminal court rules and promotes improvement in judicial administration.
Stevens County Chewelah
The proposed antique car museum just received a $305,000 gift. The City Council voted to give the state grant - previously awarded to the city for a museum - to the Spokane Tribe. The car museum will be on tribal land south of town near the casino.
Whitman County Pullman
Three satellite libraries that had been considered for closure will remain in operation at Washington State University. The library consolidation proposal was a measure intended to help meet budget reallocations. After studying the proposal and considering requests to not close the satellites, the president’s budget council and the provost agreed to take the closures off the table.
IDAHO
Benewah County St. Maries
The City Council has endorsed several improvements proposed by the St. Joe Foundation. Some of the proposals include new sidewalks, new streetlights, construction of a parking facility and widening part of a street for turning purposes. The next step is for property owners to decide whether to form a Local Improvement District. If the LID is formed, the Idaho Transportation Department will match work done by the LID.
Bonner County Priest River
A round-trip train ride along the Pend Oreille River from Newport through Priest River and Sandpoint can be taken July 1-4. Round-trip tickets are $20, and one-way tickets are $10. Passengers may get on or off at any town along the route. For details, call (877) 428-0808. The train ride is sponsored by the Newport/Priest River Rotary Club and the Priest River and Newport/Oldtown chambers of commerce.
Boundary County Bonners Ferry
The high school cheerleaders held a 24-hour marathon teetertotter fund-raiser to support their trip to regional competitions next fall and spring, to hire two professional coaches for their teams, and for new uniforms. The teams raised $6,000.
Kootenai County Rathdrum
The nonprofit Lakeland Arts and Activities Council is offering two jump-rope programs at the Betty Kiefer Elementary School cafeteria. Single, double Dutch, rainbows, traveler, Chinese wheel, umbrella and water ropes will be included in the classes. The first class runs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and the second from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Both will be held on Fridays - June 30, July 7 and July 14. Cost is $19; call 687-3607 or e-mail LaklandArts@cs.com to register.
Latah County Bovill
The elementary school received a $400 grant from the Steele-Reese Foundation to support the Reading is Fundamental National Book Program. The grant will buy books for an additional 120 children at the school.
Shoshone County Pinehurst
City Council members have held off passing an ordinance requiring users of the skate park to wear approved helmets. When the ordinance is written by an attorney and passed by the council, those found violating the rule will receive a misdemeanor ticket.
MONTANA
Lincoln County Libby
The Town Pump is collecting donated items to be sold July 7 and 8 to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. The network helps pay medical bills for children in need. Children’s Miracle Network balloons are being sold for $1 each, with proceeds also going to the network. Items can be left at the business during operating hours.