The County Lines

(From For the Record, May 9, 2000): Column wrong: Building permits are not required for fences in the city of Republic. Sunday’s County Lines column stated otherwise.

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

The proposed overpass on the deadly SR17-26 intersection was thought to have been the victim of I-695 budget cuts. However, the project is still in the works, thanks to the Legislature’s supplemental budgeting process. Construction could begin by February 2001, with planning and resolution of property right-of-way issues getting under way immediately.

Ferry County Republic

The City Council has been seeing many home improvement projects, including fences, being done without a city building permit. The council will remind all in the Republic News-Miner that permits are necessary to avoid a financial penalty.

Grant County Ephrata

Enrollment at Ephrata schools is up and the district has purchased three double-unit classrooms at a cost of $173,000. The biggest problems are at the high school and at Grant and Columbia Ridge elementaries, where the fifth- and sixth-grade classes have nearly 400 students between them.

Lincoln County Odessa

In ancient tradition, members of the Spokane and several other area Indian tribes have come to the Channeled Scablands to dig for roots each spring. The tradition died away early in the 20th century, but was reinstituted in 1993. Last week, nearly 50 Indians dug through the land around Pacific Lake for roots such as camas and bitterroot, which were eaten at a picnic lunch, along with salmon and buffalo.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The county is not considered to be in financial hardship. The Legislature recently declared the county will not receive full replacement of money lost to I-695. In its new supplemental budget, the Legislature awarded the county 53.39 percent of lost excise taxes, which will total $775,017 over a two-year period. Four counties deemed hardest hit received up to 90 percent replacement.

Spokane County Spokane

The Delta Gamma sorority will hold its annual garden fair at Camyn’s Greenhouse, 4317 S. Garfield, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the blind.

Stevens County Colville

Former Stevens County Deputy Prosecutor Charles W. Burns Jr. was disbarred recently for stealing more than $13,000 from clients while in private practice in Colville between 1995 and 1997. The state Bar Association found Burns guilty of 28 counts of misconduct, including forgery and theft. Burns voluntarily transferred his license to inactive status in 1997 when the investigation began.

Whitman County Pullman

Washington State University’s “Ask Dr. Universe” Web site has won a national award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The Web site, www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/ allows anyone to submit science questions, which staff answer daily. WSU professors also provide answers in a biweekly column, which appears in 25 newspapers. Tim Steury is the “Ask Dr. Universe” Web site director and editor of Universe, WSU’s magazine of research, scholarship and the arts. Web site designer Carol Hill and graduate students Kate Petersen and Krystal Walker also work on the Dr. Universe staff.

IDAHO

Benewah County Plummer

A group of residents is organizing an auction, potluck and jam session to raise money for Charlie “Cardy” Nelson, who was diagnosed with heart disease last year. Due to complications, Nelson recently had both legs amputated below the knees. Donations for the June 25 auction are needed and raffle tickets for a Ruger rifle are now being sold. For details, call Bobbi Doupe at (208) 686-0282.

Bonner County Priest River

A train ride along the Pend Oreille River from Newport through Priest River and Sandpoint, back to Priest River and Newport can be taken Saturday and Mother’s Day. Roundtrip tickets are $20, one-way tickets are $10, and passengers may get on or off at any town. 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 Naples

Welco of Idaho Sawmill employees earned a safety award for a full year without a time-loss accident. John Beeghly Sr., loss prevention consultant, and Jim Edom, account executive for Liberty Northwest Insurance, presented the award to mill manager Chris McCoy and the employees.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls

Letter carriers and volunteers will collect nonperishable food items Saturday as part of the annual Drive for the Hungry. The Postal Service encourages participants to put food (no glass or breakable containers) in a plastic bag and leave it by a mailbox just prior to mail delivery. The food will be donated to local food banks. Last year, Idaho residents donated a record 430,000 pounds.

Latah County Moscow

The Farmers’ Market opened Saturday at Friendship Square. Flowers, fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts and more can be found along with live music and outdoor meals. The market season runs May through October. For details, call Mary Blyth at (208) 883-7036.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade attending summer school at Sunnyside will have the opportunity to explore life in the 1600s through a variety of reading, writing and math activities surrounding the theme “Colonial America.” Summer school will be 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, June 19 to July 14, excluding July 4. Free breakfast and lunch will be served daily.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Troy

J.E. “George” Hartwell’s grave is the only unmarked site in the Troy cemetery. He died in 1934 after donating the cemetery land to the city and donating the land the Forest Service airport is on. At a recent city council meeting, there was discussion about having a city crew make a monument marker. Niles Nelson of Nelson and Vial Funeral Home has offered to have a bronze name plaque made for Hartwell’s grave.