The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

The former Seneca juice plant here is in the middle of a makeover. Purchased by the SVZ Co. of the Netherlands during the summer, the plant is being retooled to process fruit and berry products into raw industrial juice and purees. With Seneca, six apple presses were needed. Now only two remain, as different machinery is needed to process red berries. SVZ officials hope to have their first test run this spring.

Ferry County Republic

Ferry County Memorial Hospital is looking into becoming a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). The designation, made by the state Department of Health, would give the facility more access to funding, as well as preserve access to existing primary care and acute services.

The hospital district has received a grant to investigate the steps involved in becoming a CAH. Grant County Soap Lake

The City Council is considering changing the city charter to make Soap Lake a code city. Currently, Soap Lake only has powers specifically allowed by state law. If the town were to move to a code city form of government, the council would have broad authority unless specifically prohibited by state law. Of the 270 cities in Washington, 170 are code cities.

Lincoln County Reardan

The Reardan Health Clinic is holding its open house Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nurse practitioner Susan Eastman and her assistant, Joan Dawley, will be give tours and let the community know what services will be available. They will also register locals for the Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 health screenings scheduled for the new clinic. The clinic is a branch of Davenport’s Lincoln Hospital.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The award-winning, toe-tapping a cappella music of m-pact is coming to Newport on Friday. CREATE Place will host the Seattle quintet for a 7 p.m. concert at Sadie Halstead Middle School. The group presents popular American music, including jazz and rock, plays several original songs and choreographs its own numbers. The show is appropriate for all ages. For ticket information, call (509) 447-9277.

Spokane County Spokane

Two of the three Spokane Valley school districts showed enrollment gains this fall. Central Valley’s September enrollment was 10,537, 200 more than last fall. West Valley gained 60 students, pushing the district’s enrollment to 3,496. East Valley experienced a slight decline, from last fall’s 4,589 to this September’s enrollment of 4,585.

Stevens County Northport

Sheriff’s deputies recently made a strong showing at the Northport Barter Fair. The Barter Fair is the last place anyone saw Nicholas Kaiser, 21, and Joshua Schaefer, 21, alive last June 10. Kaiser’s remains were found recently in a burned-out Ford Bronco hidden in the forest. Forensic tests are still trying to identify the other body. Deputies are canvassing the Barter Fair and those who were there last June to look for leads in the case.

Whitman County Pullman

About 300 Washington State University students were among 460 participants at the American Cancer Society Pullman Relay for Life Sept. 29 and 30. Participants raised more than $22,500 to help fund cancer research. The goal was to raise $15,000.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Dr. S. Alex Stalcup will visit St. Maries at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 to discuss methamphetamine addiction and treatment. The event, at the middle school gym, is open to the public.

Bonner County Sandpoint

James Kline, a classical 11-string arch guitarist from California, will perform a crossover of Baroque, Celtic, jazz and classical music at 8 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Panida Theater. Kline also will perform at Priest River, Sandpoint and Clark Fork high schools. Tickets at the Panida are $15, students 18 and under are $8.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Robert Winston, 35, and his son, Forest, 9, of Rathdrum, became lost while hunting last Saturday. After wandering for a day and a half, Winston called his wife, Angelique, on a cell phone about 6 p.m. and she notified the sheriff’s office. An air and land search began and pilot Marcus Byler spotted the two at 10 p.m. They were rescued by 11 p.m.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

The Coeur d’Alene Ladies Elks Lodge members donated $500 to Betty Bolstad of Post Falls. Bolstad has multiple sclerosis and her husband, Dean, is her main caregiver. Joan Braden, president of the Ladies Elks, presented the check for Bolstad to Washington Trust Bank Manager Lori Moreland.

Latah County Moscow

Candidates for Latah County offices will participate in an American Association of Retired Persons luncheon forum set for 11:30 a.m. Friday at the University Inn-Best Western. Bill Thompson, Jeff Crouch, Sam Duncan, Jack Nelson, Paul Kimmell and John Arno will each give a short presentation, answer questions, then give a one-minute final summary. Register for the event by calling Marge McBride at (208) 882-4604.

Shoshone County Cataldo

Voters in the Kellogg School District will decide Monday whether to close Canyon Elementary School. The ballot has two choices; those wishing to keep the school open should vote against discontinuance and those who wish to close the school should vote for discontinuance. Votes may be cast noon to 7 p.m. Monday at Canyon, Pinehurst and Sunnyside Elementary schools and Smelterville City Hall.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The Libby volunteer firefighters went door-to-door last Saturday handing out free smoke alarms and collecting food for the Libby Food Pantry. About 1,300 pounds of nonperishable food items were collected and about 40 smoke alarms were given away. The volunteers also tested smoke alarms and gave away batteries for the alarms needing them.