The County Lnes

Sat., May 20, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Benge

Six youngsters recently took part in the Jump Rope for the Heart program at Benge Elementary. Together, they jumped rope for several hours and raised more than $1,000 for the American Heart Association. This is a school record. Jumping this year were Chelsea and Hunter Coon, Corin Eckley, Elena and Hans Hennings and Brian Ault.

Ferry County Republic

Ferry County Auditor Clydene Bolinger recently met with county commissioners to request money for personnel in her department. Cut back due to I-695, Bolinger made the request as soon as she heard the Legislature had approved replacement funding for hard-hit counties. The commissioners hadn’t even been notified when or how much the county would receive, but are keeping the request in mind.

Grant County Moses Lake

Business is more than booming in Moses Lake. The most recent word on the street is that Staples will open a 24,000-square-foot retail store this fall. The office mega-center will be next to Lamonts and employ 35. Local office supply store Business Interiors & Equipment is not going to let the news scare them. The company plans to match or beat Staples’ prices. Also opening soon in the basin are Ziggies, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Gottschalks and two new strip malls.

Lincoln County Davenport

The county commissioners recently approved budget extensions for the jail and District Court. The District Court, which handles traffic infractions and other civil cases, needed an extra $500 to meet overtime costs. The jail received $600 to purchase additional equipment. While they were in the giving mood, the commissioners OK’d an extension to the current expense budget for a study of job classification and compensation.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Newport Miner publisher Fred Willenbrock has blasted the Pend Oreille County Fair Board for its decision to end political gladhanding at the annual fair. The board passed a measure to keep all political candidates at their paid booth space. Before, candidates walked the grounds shaking hands and talking. Willenbrock says free speech is being flouted. He adds that the county commissioners, who own and manage the fairgrounds, should demand a reversal in decision immediately.

Spokane County Spokane

Angela Anderson of Spokane is one of 21 students graduating from Eastern Washington University this spring to be awarded the Frances B. Huston Award, the most prestigious award given by Eastern to a student. Anderson graduated as valedictorian from Shadle Park High School, and is graduating summa cum laude from Eastern with a degree in secondary mathematics education. She is currently working on her master’s degree at Eastern.

Stevens County Colville

Colville Mayor Bob Anderson says he had no problems deciding the city Employee of the Year. Four different nomination forms for police Sgt. Robert Meshishnek were received by the City Council. Included in those nominations were 48 positive attributes to his character and performance, including “innovative, leadership and pro-active manager.” Officers feel Meshishnek puts their safety first.

Whitman County Pullman

Utility work related to construction of the Teaching and Learning Center will disrupt traffic on Stadium Way, Washington State University officials announced this week. Traffic near the facilities will be reduced to two lanes beginning Monday, May 22. The project involves installation of chilled water lines in a utility tunnel under the roadway. Traffic will be affected for approximately five weeks.

IDAHO

Benewah County Plummer

Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students from Upriver, Harrison and Lakeside schools gathered at the Benewah Wellness Center for the third annual Teen Day. Workshop topics covered drugs, alcohol, sexual harassment, domestic violence, tobacco, refusal skills, media literacy and nutrition. The students took three of the workshops and also used the center’s swimming pool. The event was presented by the Benewah County Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition.

Bonner County Sandpoint

The Idaho State Police, Bonner General Hospital and the Human Connection are presenting Meth is My Neighbor, a free educational program on North Idaho’s drug problem, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint. Speakers will include Wayne Longo of the Idaho Criminal Investigation Bureau, Rodney Reynolds of Kootenai Medical Center and John Givens of the Ponderay Police Department.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Commissioner Murreleen Skeen and Margaret Huggins of the Boundary County Youth Crisis and Domestic Violence were instrumental in bringing an emergency service to abused women in the county. A program through Vorizon, formerly Air Touch Cellular, provides used cell phones to women in abusive situations. The phones can only be used to dial 911, which directs the call to the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office’s main line. To donate a phone for the program or more information, call Margaret Huggins at (208) 267-3355.

Kootenai County Post Falls

The Visitor Center, located at the Post Falls Factory Outlets, was one of three finalists statewide for the Visitor Center of the Year award. The center was started four years ago and provides local information to more than 170,000 businesses and travelers a year. The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce runs the center.

Latah County Moscow

The area Hospice is forming a community advisory board to help develop new services and better use donated funds to meet Hospice needs. The board will meet quarterly to discuss and offer suggestions regarding current issues. The first meeting is set for June 12 at Gritman Medical Center. For details, call (208) 883-6423.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Sunnyside Elementary received an A-Plus Excellence in Education Award on Thursday. The school received the award for demonstrating extraordinary commitment in meeting the need of students. The school also recently received the National Distinguished Title I School Award from the U.S. Department of Education.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Crystal Lyght, who attends Libby Middle School, was nominated for and won the U.S. National Award in English. The U.S. Achievement Academy gave the award. Lyght will be in the U.S. Achievement Academy official yearbook published nationally. Her parents are Darryl and Selena Lyght of Libby.

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