The County Lines
WASHINGTON
Adams County
Ritzville The tourism season already is under way, and the local visitor and information center is welcoming guests. The center’s new home is in the “red barn” behind the Perkins restaurant on Smitty’s Boulevard just off Interstate 90. A grand opening celebration will be held May 26 and 27 at the new center. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help staff the center should call (509) 659-1936.
Ferry County
Republic
Local basketball player Derek Gianukakis, 12, is the fourth-best free-throw shooter his age in the nation. Gianukakis recently traveled to Springfield, Mass., to compete in the national Elks free-throw contest, where he made 42 of 45 shots. He missed three shots in the first round, but after that, Gianukakis hit 30 straight and was the only person in his age bracket to net 15 of 15 in the final round.
Grant County
Moses Lake
Our Place, a center for victims of domestic violence, has shut its doors after 20 years. Board member and volunteer Judy Hansen says financial problems were the culprit the center had lost at least one state grant, which left it scrambling for funding. New Hope Domestic Violence Services of Grant County is gearing up for cases that Our Place had been handling.
Lincoln County
Wilbur
The quiet pitter-patter of little feet likely will turn into a dull roar at Golden Rule Childcare Center soon. Although the center opened with only two children Peter Ritchey and Zoe Clark last week, those involved know the need for good, affordable child care here is great. The center, which hopes to be on the U.S. Department of Agriculture food program by the end of summer, is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Pend Oreille County
Newport
Although Newport enjoys many amenities that larger cities have, some locals say there are not enough baseball fields for the number of youths playing softball and baseball. The Newport Youth Athletic Association has asked the City Council if it could lease city property behind the high school and adjacent to the cemetery to build two more Little League fields. Currently, a 14-team Little League shares fields with the high school and area softball league.
Spokane County
Cheney
Cheney American Legion will hold a barbecue rib dinner Friday at 6 p.m. at the Legion Hall, 116 College Ave. Cost is $12 per person.
Stevens County
Colville
Eastern Washington University’s early Head Start program and the Growing Tree Preschool and Child Care Center will hold an open house in Colville on Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the new child care center at 146 Buena Vista Drive. The event will celebrate the opening of new centers in Colville and Kettle Falls. Tours of the Kettle Falls center will be given Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kettle Falls Elementary School, 225 E. Eighth, Building 4. The public is invited. For more information, call (800) 776-9136.
Whitman County
Pullman
The Pullman City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss support for the Human Rights Commission as well as an agreement with Whitman County for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor costs. The Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee’s 1999 annual report also will be discussed.
IDAHO
Benewah County
St. Maries
Drs. Michael and Leslie Stone have accepted jobs at a private-practice medical clinic in Ashland, Ore. Both are from Oregon and have family members there. The Stones have practiced at St. Maries Family Medicine for seven years.
Bonner County
Sandpoint
Joe Gillie holds the lead for catching adult Mackinaw in the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club’s K&K Spring Derby. Dave Ivy is in first place in the adult rainbow standings after catching a 19-pound, 10-ounce fish from a boat off Maiden Rock. Kadee Belgarde, 9, is in first in the youth category.
Boundary County
Bonners Ferry
Sandy Short, a Bonners Ferry High School senior, was named an Idaho youth volunteer of the year in the Prudential Spirit of Community awards. Short was one of two students selected out of more than 20,000 considered. She created and directs a youth theater group and summer theater workshops to encourage students to take part in safe, fun and artistic activities.
Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene
Habitat for Humanity has scheduled orientation for new and prospective volunteers at 7 p.m. May 17 at the Kootenai County extension office, 106 E. Dalton. Habitat for Humanity helps build housing for low-income families. For details, call Mae Riedel at (208) 765-4983.
Latah County
Moscow
The City Council has given its approval to the mayoral appointment of JoAnn Mack as the council’s newest member. But some council members said public participation should be included when filling future council vacancies. Mack, who replaces Tony Johnson, will serve through 2001 and will have to run for election to keep the council seat.
Shoshone County
Kellogg Three proposals to benefit high-ability students were approved recently by the school board. Two new courses will be offered: a 9th-and 10th-grade honors English class with a two-year rotating curriculum and an independent study class called extended learning internship. The school board also agreed to give high-school credit to any younger student who takes accelerated course work at the high school.
MONTANA
Lincoln County
Libby
Letter carriers and volunteers will be collecting donations of nonperishable food on Saturday as part of the annual Drive for the Hungry. The U.S. Postal Service encourages each participant to put food items in a plastic bag and leave it by a mailbox just prior to mail delivery. Or donors may bring the food to the post office and leave it in the lobby. No food in glass or other kinds of breakable containers should be donated. The food will be given to the local food bank. Last year, Libby donated 6,000 pounds of food.