The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

After 30 years of calling the action at every home football game for Othello High, Don Godfrey is turning off his microphone. His voice will be missed.

Ferry County

Republic

The Republic News-Miner newspaper says folks here are used to not knowing the outcome of local elections for weeks after the polls close. The county votes by mail and, with such a small population, many races are decided by one or two votes as the final ballots are counted.

Grant County

Electric City

Residents have been reporting a cougar in the neighborhood for the past few weeks, though Department of Wildlife officials aren’t convinced. One resident reported a mauled horse, while another allegedly saw a big cat drinking from her birdbath. With a large deer population, cougar numbers will likely be high. Susan Miller says she recently saw “one big kitty” in her back yard, and another run down her street and out of town.

Lincoln County

Harrington

Rosie’s 3rd Street Cafe will again host its free Thanksgiving meal from 3 p.m. Nov. 23 until the food is gone. They gladly accept food donations for the dinner until Nov. 20.

Pend Oreille County

Newport

Danny Woelk sat in the front row for the Quail Manor ribbon-cutting ceremony because he was the first to sign up for an apartment there. After a decade of work, the center opened last week. The complex is for developmentally disabled and low-income people.

Stevens County

Chewelah

Dr. J. Scott Kohlstedt is part of the Vision USA program, which gets eye care to the needy. Low-income and uninsured families may pick up an application at his office before Jan. 31. To qualify, people must have one family member working at least part time, have no insurance for eye exams, meet income criteria, and have had no eye exam within the last two years. Call 1-800-766-4466.

Whitman County

Garfield

Cher’s Restaurant is selling cheesecakes to raise money for the Garfield Dollars for Scholars program. A mere $25 will buy patrons a sweet treat and the knowledge that they’re helping to pay one year of tuition at Washington State University for a deserving Garfield High graduate. The shop also sells the cake at $3 a slice. All the money earned goes to the program.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Trash pickup rates will go up on November’s bill. Residential customers will be charged $15 for two cans unless they call the city. Additional cans will be $4. The minimum rate is $10 for one can. Call (208) 686-1641.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

Artists wishing to display an item in the annual Holiday Invitational Art Exhibit must submit an entry from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 30 at the Pend Oreille Arts Council Gallery in the Old Power House Building, 120 Lake St. All art needs to be labeled with the artist’s name, address, phone number and medium, and be tagged with the value even if it’s not for sale. Call the POAC at (208) 263-6139.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Businesses have donated about $40,000 worth of goods and services to this year’s Mt. Hall School auction and spaghetti dinner. About 700 people attended last year’s event. Trips to the Caribbean, Disneyland and Hawaii, along with a computer and a signed script from John Travolta’s latest movie are items to be auctioned. Baby-sitters and kids activities will be available. For more information, call (208) 267-5276.

Kootenai County

Coeur d’Alene

Cadmus Hicks, director of research for Nuveen Asset Management, will discuss investing in municipal bonds at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Coeur d’Alene Inn. The workshop, presented by Salmon Smith Barney, is free. Register by calling (208) 665-4251.

Latah County

Moscow

As a fund-raiser for the Moscow Community Theatre and the newly restored Kenworthy Performing Arts Center, chairs are being “sold” for a $250 donation. A brass plate with the donor’s name will be mounted on the back of the chair. The donor will also get a ticket to “Little Shop of Horrors” and a lifetime membership to both organizations. Call (208) 882-1178.

Shoshone County

Smelterville

A benefit spaghetti dinner for the family of the late Charlie Marquardt will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Smelterville Lions Club and the Happy Landing bar. Cost is $3.50; $1.50 for kids 12 and younger.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Mix 84 students at Plummer Elementary with 14 boxes of Rice Krispies, 37 bags of marshmallows, 20 bars of margarine and black spray paint and you get a black panther, their school mascot. The students formed a panther with the ingredients and sprayed it black for the national Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats Recipe Sculpturing Contest For Schools.