The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County

Othello

Apple pickers walked off their jobs at Mar-Jon Orchards southwest of Othello last week to protest low wages. The 40 workers were offered $20 per bin this season to pick Fuji apples here. Last year, they were paid $25 per bin. Orchard owners said they paid more last season because it was a difficult crop to pick. Owners argue pay is still above $10 per hour. Workers picketed for two days, then signed an agreement for $22 per bin.

Ferry County

Curlew

The William Barkley family is recovering from a devastating house fire last week. Their home and all belongings, including the car, were lost. Their 4,000-square-foot home was located five miles west of town.

No cause has yet been released for the blaze. Barkley is a teacher at Curlew schools, while his wife is on staff with the Curlew Job Corps. Three of their four children are still at home. Fund-raisers are being planned.

Grant County

Ephrata

The school district needs volunteers to Help One Student To Succeed. HOSTS, a reading mentor program, has been a fixture at the district for years. However, this year, the number of volunteer tutors has declined. The program has proved successful, and 35 tutors are involved. Ideally, the program could use up to 70 volunteers. Both Ephrata and Soap Lake schools are looking for HOSTS volunteers.

Lincoln County

Davenport

The City Council will be recruiting a police chief and two full-time officers in the wake of Officer Mike Sullivan’s resignation. Sullivan was the sole remaining officer on the force. The city has an agreement with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department to provide protection during the transition, though the department declined a long-term protection contract. “It really is best that Davenport staff a department of its own,” says Undersheriff Wade Magers.

Pend Oreille County

Metaline

With the Pend Oreille Mine reopening drawing nearer, locals are seeing new faces in town. Company officials recently attended a meeting of the Selkirk-Cominco Community Planners to keep communication with the community open. Over 100 people attended to discuss what changes they would like to see in the mine’s management, if any.

Stevens County

Chewelah

Police officer Mark Burrows says he’s heard several citizens say they are in the habit of driving around town to find the police instead of calling. Chewelah may be small, but not small enough to find a police officer by cruising the streets. Burrows says the best way to receive an immediate response is to call 911 in an emergency, or dial (509)935-6555 during business hours.

Whitman County

Cusick

Superintendent Kristi Harwood says it was a decision few school boards face. The Cusick School Board voted to keep the leftover $500,000 from a recent capital project in its pocket - but the money is burning a hole. Board members deliberated for nearly two hours whether to spend the money or pay down the bond. The vote was to wait to see what the community wants. Citizen input is being sought, and all interested parties should call the school or attend the next board meeting.

IDAHO

Benewah County

St. Maries

Heather Boyd, a 1995 St. Maries High School graduate and a student at the University of Idaho, is student teaching at Juliaetta Elementary School in Kendrick. Heather is the daughter of Sharon and James Boyd of Calder.

Bonner County

Sandpoint

Students in third though eighth grades will be taking the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in Lake Pend Oreille School District No. 84 through Nov. 3. Home-schooled students may also participate. Their parents need to contact the school’s principal for an appointment by calling (208) 263-2184.

Boundary County

Bonners Ferry

Ralph and Beverly Goding, owners of the new Radio Shack and Taft’s Variety Store, plan to open a full-service Radio Shack in the old Boundary Hardware Building before Christmas. The 1,600-square-foot store will carry a full line of products. The Godings also own the Radio Shack in Sandpoint.

Latah County

Moscow

The City Council approved a new parade permit ordinance recently. The ordinance gives the police authority to enforce the right to march, said Police Chief Dan Weaver. A $25 permit fee, which was set earlier in the year, may be raised to $50.

Shoshone County

Kellogg

The annual Tootsie Roll Drive, sponsored by the Father Cataldo Councils of Kellogg and Wallace and the Knights of Columbus, is in progress. The organizations exchange Tootsie Rolls for donations to benefit the Silver Valley Special Olympics.

MONTANA

Lincoln County

Libby

Kirby Maki, superintendent of Libby Public Schools, was honored Friday by the Corvallis School District by dedicating its soccer complex as Maki Fields. Maki spent 20 years in the Corvallis district, the last nine as superintendent.