The County Lines

Tue., March 28, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

The Adams County treasurer’s office has mailed property tax statements to approximately 17,000 residents. The newly designed statements should be easier to decipher, the office says. Deadline to pay first-half property taxes is April 30. All payments must include the payment stub; people paying in person who forget the stub will find it takes much longer to process their payments.

Ferry County

Curlew

A new generation of engineers is being trained at Curlew High School. The CHS bridge-building team recently won several high honors at the Inland Northwest regional bridge-building contest. Adam Volluz took top honors for efficiency prediction, Sarah Sutherlin and Jeremiah Grimsley made top placings in the open division and Aaron and Emily Sutherlin earned first and third places for efficiency. A total of 175 bridges were built and tested, with the winning bridge holding 3,308 times its weight.

Grant County

Grand Coulee

Common Grounds, a youth center, has been opened in the former Sunflower Graphics building. The center is the brainchild of volunteers from Faith Community Church and the local Church of the Nazarene. The center, which includes concessions and youth games, features a coffeehouse atmosphere and a positive, Christian environment. Bible studies are popular among youths, with up to 40 attending, and Christian concerts are slated for spring.

Lincoln County

Wilbur

Anya Aubertin was chosen as the town’s official hostess at a recent pageant. The new Miss Wilbur, along with three princesses, will ride the community float in parades throughout the region this spring and summer. Princesses are Hayley Aubertin, Jennifer Schroeder and Katie Goddard.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

Newport is looking for a city public defender. Tim Trageser, who says his heavy caseload prompted him to resign last week, will finish the remaining three months of his contract while the city looks for a replacement. Trageser’s resignation leaves Anna Nordvedt as the only public defender in town. A third public defender in Newport, Al Schwenker, became ill, leaving his caseload to Trageser and Nordvedt. They asked the city for a raise due to increased work but were denied.

Spokane County

Spokane

Spokane Public Library will offer evening Japanese storytelling sessions at three branches in April. The dates and locations are April 3 at Indian Trail Library, 4909 W. Barnes; April 4 at East Side Library, 524 S. Stone; and April 11 at South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry. All sessions will start at 7 p.m.

Stevens County

Kettle Falls

Friends and neighbors of Dana Hopkins’ have opened a bank account to help her hire a German lawyer. Hopkins is fighting her ex-husband, Cole Cummings, for custody of her two sons. Cummings is accused of kidnapping the youngsters in 1998 and taking them to Germany. The Dana Hopkins Legal Defense Fund has been set up at Bank of America in Spokane, account number 637344297.

Whitman County

Pullman

The city plans to temporarily close the animal shelter on Friday until two animal-control officers can be hired and trained. Police Chief Ted Weatherly said Monday the closure follows a 10 percent budget cut after passage of state Initiative 695, in addition to the resignation of two shelter employees. Although animal ordinances still will be enforced, citizens are asked to use other resources to deal with stray and vicious animals. Animals left at the shelter Friday will be put up for adoption or other resources will be used to care for them. A citizens group is attempting to establish a Whitman County Humane Society, which could replace the city animal shelter.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Bud McCall and Jack Buell will seek re-election as Benewah County commissioners despite Idaho’s law on term limits. McCall has served as a commissioner since 1977, while Buell has been in office since 1974. District Judge Randy Smith has stayed application of the law until the state Supreme Court hears arguments on whether term limits are constitutional.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force will hold its annual membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. today at the Sandpoint Community Hall. The theme is “Offensive Language/Creating a Safe and Positive Environment.” A short program, “Diversity in the Public Schools,” will begin at 7:30 p.m., and several high school principals and students will offer their perspectives and solutions. For more information, call (208) 263-6893.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

The Idaho Transportation Department is holding two workshops to gather public comment on realignment alternatives for U.S. Highway 95 from state Highway 1 north to the Canadian border at Eastport, Idaho. The first workshop will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Bonners Ferry High School cafeteria; the second will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Mount Hall Elementary School. For more information, call (208) 772-1288.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene and its sister city of Cranbrook, British Columbia, are challenging each other in a book-reading competition. Residents interested in joining may enter any books they’ve read between March 6 and this Friday by filling out a slip at the library. Prizes will be awarded. For details, call (208) 769-2315.

Latah County

Moscow

Moscow Care Center is the first business approved for the city’s Adopt-a-Street program. Mayor Marshall Comstock said the program is patterned after the state’s highway adoption cleanup program. City of Moscow and Latah Sanitation Inc./Moscow Recycling are in charge of administration. For more information or an application, call (208) 883-7096.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

Silver Valley Habitat for Humanity recently received a $2,000 grant from Foundation Northwest, which awards grants for civic and community development, human services, education and arts.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Six spruce trees were cut down along Lincoln Boulevard recently to avoid a possible accident. Because the trees were rotting, officials were worried they would be blown over in a windstorm. The trees will be replaced with maple and ash trees. Proceeds from the sale of lumber from the spruce trees will be used to purchase the maple and ash trees and a sprinkler system.

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