The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Ritzville

The local Historic Preservation Commission once again is considering sprucing up downtown and has been discussing the city’s downtown historic district for several months. The commission has plans for a revitalization project but needs community input and support to launch and fund it. The commission meets the first Wednesday of each month and invites everyone to get involved.

Ferry County

Republic

Children here won’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from this summer. Ferry County Community Services Prevention Program and AmeriCorps will sponsor a summer food service program for children.

Youths under 19 years old may receive free meals June 19 through Aug. 9 in Curlew, Republic and Orient. Statistics show many children go hungry in rural areas once school is out and food programs are scarce.

Grant County

Grand Coulee

The annual Colorama festivities will be held this weekend in Grand Coulee. The spring celebration and rodeo have been observed here for 43 years. The fun will begin Friday night with Pro-West bull riding, stick horse races and barrel racing at the Ridge Rider Grounds. Saturday’s events will include the Grand Colorama Parade, a carnival, entertainment, food booths, soapbox derby, hoopfest, fun run and special showing of the Grand Coulee Dam laser light show. For more information, call 1-800-COULEE2.

Lincoln County

Odessa

The city of Odessa is looking to Newport, Wash., as a model for downtown revitalization. Odessa residents are considering forming a local improvement district to attract grants for streets, sidewalks, lighting and business improvements. Major highway work is scheduled in town, and Odessa, like Newport, would like to make the most of the economic opportunity. Newport’s downtown revitalization plan is being studied by Odessa city officials as they form a plan to retain local shopping and attract tourism.

Pend Oreille County

Diamond Lake

The fishing has been great at Diamond Lake this season. Spencer Hunt, 7, recently caught a trio of whoppers while fishing from shore. He hooked three trout, each weighing between 4 and 5 pounds. New resident Ben Gillespie caught a 24-inch trout, which tipped the scales at just more than 5 pounds. And a 25-incher weighing more than 6 pounds was reeled in by Mike Trowbridge.

Spokane County

Spokane

The Spokane Blue Devils, an American Legion baseball team, will hold an auction on Saturday at the Nazarene church, 9004 N. Country Homes Blvd. Sports items signed by Spokane professional sports stars Ryne Sandberg and John Stockton will be among the items auctioned off. Viewing of items will begin at 4 p.m., with bidding starting at 5 p.m. Admission will be $10, but players and children will be admitted free of charge. Schools involved are Shadle Park, North Central, Lakeside, Medical Lake, Cheney, St. George’s and Northwest Christian.

Stevens County

Colville

County commissioners have done away with seasonal speed limits. During the winter and the spring thaw, the county traditionally has dropped speed limits to 30 mph to decrease damage to roads. But a recent study says decreased speeds during the spring thaw actually are harder on roadways. However, weight restrictions still will be in effect because weight is a significant factor in highway wear during this time of year.

Whitman County

Pullman

The city of Pullman and the Pullman Police Officers Guild have signed an agreement on contracting out animal shelter work. Under the agreement, the guild will not contest the city’s desire to contract out animal shelter work and will support the city in its attempt to establish a contract with the Humane Society to operate a shelter. The city, in turn, will hire two code-enforcement officers by July 1 for animal control and parking enforcement.

IDAHO

Benewah County

Plummer

The Benewah County Sheriff’s Department is looking for information that will lead to the arrest of persons responsible for taking 110 feet of chain-link fence on Renlow Road near Plummer. The fence, owned by the county, was 8 feet tall and ran beside the county Dumpsters. To report information, call deputy Bob Loe at (208) 245-2555.

Bonner County

Priest Lake

A sheriff candidates forum will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday in the second-floor conference room of the Inn at Priest Lake at Coolin. All candidates who have filed for office are invited to share their views and goals. Coffee and cookies will be served after the forum, allowing for individual conversations with the candidates. The forum is being presented by the Priest Lake Association.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Local author Robert Del Grosso’s newest book, “BNSF 1999 Annual,” includes 128 pages of facts, figures, descriptions and photographs of various Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. trains. Railroad department heads provided Del Grosso with much of the information. The book sells for $25, but the railroad annuals often become collectors’ items. For example, the 1980 annual now sells for more than $75. To contact Del Grosso, call (208) 267-3054.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

The ninth-annual Walden House Classic golf tournament is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 16 at the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Club. The tournament will benefit the Walden House, which provides a temporary home for outpatients receiving treatment at North Idaho Cancer Center. Entry fees are $55 a person and $275 per team, including greens fees, lunch, beverages, goody bags and tee prizes. A raffle and player prizes also will be included. The first person to make a hole in one will win a new car from Robideaux Motors. Silver Lake Mall and Washington Trust Bank are sponsoring the event. For more information, call (208) 762-2112.

Latah County

Moscow

Lodging sales last year in Region 2 totaled nearly $18 million, the North Central Idaho Travel Association’s annual report indicates. In 1998, lodging sales were about $17 million; in 1995, sales were $18.2 million. Region 2 includes Latah, Nez Perce, Lewis, Idaho and Clearwater counties.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

Brenda Sandow has been recognized as Shoshone Medical Center’s Employee of the Month for May. Sandow has worked at the center since 1993 in the housekeeping department. She is known for immediately dropping her chores to help meticulously clean the birthing and emergency rooms when needed. Sandow says she enjoys riding motorbikes, camping, crocheting and reading.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Zach Cuskelly, a senior at Libby High School, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship for being named a National Merit Scholar. Cuskelly took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test a year ago and recently was notified that he’d won the award along with only 2,500 other students in the United States. Cuskelly is graduating fourth in his class.