The County Lines

Fri., March 3, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

Voters were in a positive mood Feb. 29. Not only did the Ritzville School District win its maintenance and operations levy bid, but the East Adams Rural Hospital District and the Park and Recreation District both passed their levies as well. The Lind School District’s levy bid also turned out positive.

Ferry County Republic

Richard Eich said the county should reconsider paving the Golden Tiger Multi-modal Pathway between town and the Ferry County Fairgrounds. Eich said his rights as a property owner have not been considered, and he feels the adjacent landowners should have been given an opportunity to purchase the old railroad right of way. The project has been in the works for 10 years.

Grant County Ephrata

Grant County commissioners have approved a plan to pave more than 100 miles of gravel roads over the next few years. A citizens group of 12 rural people will look into which roads to pave. The committee invites all interested citizens to a meeting Monday at 7 p.m. to discuss the issue further. The meeting will be at the Public Works Building.

Lincoln County Creston

Dan Richer took the oath of office at the latest Town Council meeting, giving the council enough members to transact official business. At the top of the agenda, the city is working on a flood plan, culverting, and Labor and Industries fines for safety violations. L&I has dropped a $2,000 fine to $600, and the town is looking at spending $5,000 for safer equipment to avoid further fines.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Anyone interested in increasing tourism throughout the county is invited to a meeting of the Selkirk Loop. The loop group is a nonprofit corporation seeking to increase tourism and the economy of the 280-mile loop from Newport to Metaline Falls, through Canada, and back to Sandpoint and Priest Lake. The meeting, featuring the president of the Spokane Convention and Visitors Bureau, is set for Wednesday at noon at the Hotel Usk, in Usk.

Spokane County Spokane

Matt Lockard, a senior at Whitworth College, has received a $26,000 graduate fellowship from the Pew Younger Scholars program. Lockard, a math and philosophy double major from Yucaipa, Calif., plans to pursue a doctorate in philosophy and has applied to several graduate programs. He was one of 12 students nationwide selected for the prestigious fellowship.

Stevens County Kettle Falls

It’s opening night of the Woodland Theater’s production of “Li’l Abner.” The musical comedy features a special cartoon-strip look. Costume designer Nancy King rented some costumes from a Hollywood costume shop, while making others herself. She tried to remain true to the strip, complete with black outlined edges on all bright colored garb. The curtain goes up at 7 p.m.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

The St. Joe Valley Gun Show donated proceeds to local organizations recently. The Elks club received $200, St. Maries Ambulance got $400 and BetterCare got $400. Julie DeSaussure, Steve DeSaussure and Mel Doyle hosted the show.

Bonner County Sandpoint

The Sandpoint Independent Highway District will begin pruning trees the week of March 13, weather permitting, at Alder Street and continue north. Pruning is expected to take a month. The district is responsible for the street side of each tree and property owners are responsible for the rest of the tree. For more information, call (208) 263-8131.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

A new wooden welcome sign is being erected at the south city limit near the corner of U.S. highways 2 and 95. Dean Stonehocker, a high school senior who is working toward his Eagle Scout award, organized the project.

Kootenai County Spirit Lake

Recently two city officials resigned because they don’t like the direction Mayor Bill Moe is taking the city. Administrator Chet Anderson and Mary McMullan, purchasing agent for almost five years, quit. Both officials expressed concern about the mayor’s decision to double the Police Department’s budget at the cost of the city’s infrastructure.

Latah County Moscow

The Renaissance Charter School, Idaho’ first kindergarten-12th grade charter school, is looking for someone to fill a three-year board member position. The school is governed by its five-member board. The deadline is March 15. For more details, call (208) 892-3773.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Donations are needed for Project Uplift and the Chamber of Commerce’s annual fund-raiser set for April 29. This year’s fund-raiser will be a bingo benefit auction at the the Steelworkers Hall. Funds raised will benefit the visitor center and numerous youth and community projects in the valley. Donations can be left at the Kellogg Chamber of Commerce office at the gondola base.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

A countywide baby food drive will be held throughout March by the Women, Infants and Children program. Jars of fruits and vegetables and boxed cereals are being collected in the Libby office, 107 W. Fourth St. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The food will be divided among Libby, Troy and Eureka residents. For information, call (406) 293-5711.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.