The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The Adams County commissioners are considering taking over the county health district. To do this, the commissioners would have to change the health district, which has its own board of directors, to a health department - answerable to them only. Commissioner Jeff Stevens said the change is being considered so commissioners can “be able to supervise the employees and department a little more than it is with the health district board,” which meets once every one or two months.

Ferry County Republic

Local veterinarian Dr. June Konz recently treated an abandoned dog that was shot and wounded. The dog was a nursing mother. It was found on Highway 21 near Keller. Konz is asking anyone with information about the dog to call (509)775-3536.

Grant County Moses Lake

“Burgers and Books” is the battle cry of students at Larson Heights Elementary School. To encourage reading outside the class, Principal Loren Fitting has promised students a hamburger barbecue. To encourage the kids, Fitting has dressed as the Burger King, along with Dairy Queen Sara Ferris, also a first-grade teacher. The kids have already read a quarter of the 20,000 books required. The school is part of the Accelerated Reader Program.

Lincoln County Harrington

Local hunter Carl Aldridge is safe and warm at home after a bitter cold night in the wild. Aldridge was hunting north of Davenport near Egypt last week when he was separated from his partner. In unfamiliar territory, Aldridge found himself keeping warm by a fire until daylight. He was picked up the next day by Erin Utley, who lives in the area and was part of the search party. Poor visibility grounded an air search the night before.

Pend Oreille County Newport

More than 180,000 acres of Colville National Forest land, much of it in Pend Oreille County, is now protected by the federal government. The Clinton administration is hoping to set aside 60 million acres of roadless wilderness nationwide. Colville Forest public affairs officer Diana Baxter said the land’s new status will have a negligible effect on timber harvests in this area. Also to be protected are 830,000 acres in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

Spokane County Otis Orchards

The county No Shooting Advisory Council has recommended that county commissioners add Highland Estates, a hillside subdivision of 80-plus homes on the rural edge of the Spokane Valley, to the noshooting zone. Residents petitioned to the council after a deer was killed near one of the homes in the neighborhood last fall. Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on the matter, but the hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Stevens County Colville

A desperate plea for Thanksgiving turkeys has been issued by the local food bank. The Colville Volunteer Food and Resource Center is short of the birds for holiday food baskets, and the list of needy people is growing. The facility hopes to put together 200 Thanksgiving food baskets, but needs help. Anyone who wants to donate a turkey or other foodstuffs may do so at the center, or call (509) 684-2971.

Whitman County Colfax

Whitman County has set its snow removal priorities for the winter, putting first the larger paved roads and then following up with school bus and mail routes. Rural routes and gravel roads won’t be plowed unless they have 6 inches of falling snow or drifts. Weekend plowing will be done only at the discretion of the road superintendents. Questions about snow conditions should be directed to Whitman County Public Works, (509) 397-6206.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Silver Valley Heritage Realty recently opened an office at 1525 Main Ave. in St. Maries. Employees are Terry Duffey, Bill Rhodes, Sandy Nagle, Jeri Gee and Mary Beth Humphrey. Silver Valley Heritage is based in Kellogg.

Bonner County Hope

The sold-out annual Harvest Dinner held last week at the Memorial Community Center was attended by more than 100 people. The event is a fund-raiser for the center, which was built 15 years ago in memory of two local couples killed in a boating accident.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

To apply for help from the Care-N-Share Christmas program, pick up an application at the Panhandle Health Clinic or the Health and Welfare office. To help sponsor a child or a family, call Linda Lederhos at (208) 267-7220 or 267-6006

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Christmas wreaths are available through Hospice for $25. The 24-inch wreaths are made with fresh cut greens with pinecones and include a bow. With the purchase, $15 is tax-deductible. Wreaths can be shipped for $10. Proceeds will benefit Hospice of North Idaho’s efforts to help terminally ill patients. For details, call (208) 772-3353.

Latah County Moscow

The Household EcoAwareness Response Team held an introductory meeting Tuesday. The group focuses on six specific ways to reduce household impact on the environment; water conservation, waste reduction, energy conservation, hazardous household products, eco-wise consuming and transportation alternatives. For more information on the group, call JoaAnne Johnson at (208) 822-1444.

Shoshone County Kellogg

The county granted a conditional use permit to American Tower for the construction of a 250-foot self supporting tower near the Idaho/ Montana border, said Ken Hicks, Planning and Zoning administrator. The Kent, Wash., company hopes to provide reception in areas that are currently considered dead zones for cell phones. American Tower would then lease the tower to communication and information companies.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Thanksgiving baskets will be available from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Libby Food Pantry. Proof of eligibility is required to receive a basket.