The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

According to the North American Potato Market News, Washington state, and the Columbia Basin in particular, is the top french fry producer on the continent. Idaho is No. 2. Nearly half of North America’s frozen fries are grown in the basin. The magazine credits good weather and dedicated farmers for the consistently high quality spuds it takes to make good fries.

Ferry County

Republic

The Veterans Administration Mobile Clinic will be in town Wednesday. Appointments are recommended and may be made in advance by calling 1-800-325-7940. Basic health care and inoculation are available during clinic visits. The bus will be parked at Ferry County Memorial Hospital starting at 8 a.m.

Grant County

Royal City

County Hospital District No. 7 commissioners are trying to save what’s left of the lone local medical clinic. The clinic closed earlier this year for financial reasons. Commissioners have been negotiating with part-owner Dr. Cathy Spanton. The hospital district is considering making a $2,218 late payment on the clinic’s equipment to buy more negotiating time.

Lincoln County

Creston

The town of Creston is well-known for its girls basketball teams in the early 1980s. A large purple and gold sign on Highway 2 reminds all of the Creston Comets’ State B titles in 1982 and 1984. However, as nobody has stepped forward to maintain the billboard, and the Comets no longer exist, the Creston Community Club plans to take down the sign this spring. The Comets combined with the Wilbur Redskins in the late 1980s and are now called the Wilbur-Creston Wildcats.

Pend Oreille

Newport

County commissioners are considering reactivating the county diking district. The district has been inactive since 1988. The public is invited to a meeting Monday at 1:30 p.m. in the commissioners’ quarters to decide if reactivation is necessary.

Spokane County

Spokane

SMILE, an educational organization, will hold a conference Tuesday and Wednesday on youth issues, such as depression, suicide and violence, at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park.

Stevens County

Chewelah

The Community Action Team is investigating whether to open a farmers market downtown this spring. The market would be located at the Third Street East mall and would feature locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants, crafts and more. Team members say the weekend markets would not only draw locals, but tourists to downtown Chewelah.

Whitman County

Pullman

Pullman Transit and Dial-A-Ride reduced services this week due to spring break. From March 13-17, the A and D routes will operate from 6:50 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. A route will serve North Campus Heights and Campus Commons areas at five and 35 minutes after the hour. All other service, including the Express Route, is canceled during that week and there is no weekend bus service. Regular bus service resumes Monday. For more information, call 332-6536 or check the website at www.pullmantransit.com.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Five St. Maries High School wrestlers brought home medals from the state tournament in Pocatello recently. Charlie Skinner placed third, Devin Moore placed fourth, and Mike Boller, Mica Kunkel and Paul Sotin all placed sixth. The team placed 10th overall. “We had a great year, a really smooth year for us,” said coach Ryan Wood.

Bonner County

Priest River

A small group met recently at the Priest River Public Library to establish a tax-supported library district. The group will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on March 21 to discuss possible boundaries of the district. Their next step will be to submit a signed petition by 50 registered voters to the county commissioners.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

A recent mudslide that closed a lane of U.S. Highway 95 north of town could be repeated this spring. The slide was one-half mile north of the 1998 mudslide which closed the road for months. Bob Graham, incident commander for Boundary County Disaster Services, said there is the possibility of more slides in the next few months.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The Museum of North Idaho’s nominating committee is seeking applicants for the museum’s board of trustees. Vacancies include two three-year positions and one two-year position. Board members work as volunteers. For more information, call Dorothy Dahlgren at 664-3448, by March 17.

Latah County

Moscow

A lost girl was found at a neighbor’s mobile home after a 5-1/2 hour search. Latah County search and rescue teams responded about 12:30 p.m. Saturday. She was found around 6 p.m. in a neighbor’s trailer. The neighbors had left for the evening, according to Marvin Pillers, county search and rescue coordinator.

Shoshone County

Wallace

Dylan Dean, a second-grader, was recently diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. The community has planned several fund-raisers to benefit the family’s trips to Spokane and Seattle for Dylan’s‘ treatments. On March 24, mothers of the Wallace High School boys’ basketball team will play mothers of the girls’ basketball team. Afterward, a dinner and a dance at the Wallace Elks Club are planned. On March 25, members of the Boy Scout Pack 354 will sell refreshments at the annual Pinewood Derby to benefit the Deans. Donations can also be made to the Scouts for Dylan Dean account at any Bank of America.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

The Youth Job Fair is set for 5 to 8 p.m. on March 16 at City Hall in the Ponderosa Room. Employers looking for employees and those interested in providing interview experience for students may call Kim at the Job Service at (406) 293-6282, extension 225.