The County Lines

Wed., Oct. 25, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

The local school district has released details of its recent student survey on illicit drugs. The drug of choice, students said, is alcohol, with 7 percent of sixth-graders and 37.1 percent of seniors partaking sometime in the 30 days prior to the poll. Cocaine was the second-most commonly used drug by local students, with more than 20 percent of seniors reporting they had tried the drug.

Ferry County Republic

The state Department of Revenue has released sales tax distributions for May and June - the start of tourism season. The basic .5 percent sales tax netted the county just over $20,000, while the city of Republic took in around $8,0000. Ferry County and Republic also receive tax distributions on an optional .5 percent sales tax. The county received more than $20,000, with the city netting more than $9,200. The county also collected hotel/motel taxes for May and June, with nearly $7,000 put back in county coffers.

Grant County Grand Coulee

Mayor Tammara Byers says she supports the Grand Coulee Police Department’s methods of patrolling for suspected drunken drivers. Tavern owners Larry Maier and Cathie Gates, along with other restaurateurs and customers, packed a recent City Council meeting to complain that police lay in wait for people leaving taverns and restaurants. “I don’t want to shut down the taverns, just the DUIs,” Byers told the crowd.

Lincoln County Wilbur

As temperatures drop, the number of folks needing the local Emergency Fund increases dramatically. The fund helps Wilbur’s poorest with rent, heat, food and gasoline. Currently, the fund contains $723. Since January, more than $9,000 has been given to the needy, including $3,502 for rent, $1,989 for local utilities and $2,211 for Avista bills. Anyone wishing to donate should take a check to the local Wheatland or Key Bank.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Vote-by-mail ballots for the general election were mailed by the county auditor Friday. Only seven precincts in the county still have polling booths, and even in those, most voters request mail-in ballots, the auditor reports.

Spokane County Cheney

The Cheney Farmer’s Market is hosting an End of Market Potluck starting at 6 p.m. Sunday at 19 3rd St. The event is open to the public. Market coordinator PeggyLynn Boggs will lead a discussion about plans for next year’s market, which is scheduled to start May 13. To RSVP, call 235-6003.

Stevens County Kettle Falls

Barney’s Junction Restaurant will close for the winter, and possibly beyond. Owned by the Colville Tribal Enterprise Corporation, the restaurant is shutting its doors due to weak market conditions. CTEC’s general manager of tourism, Andrew Pooler, says the restaurant has been a fixture at the junction of highways 395 and 20 since 1953.

Whitman County Pullman

The Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Washington State University’s Beasley Coliseum. The event, now in its 25th year, brings together artists and entrepreneurs from five states and is a shopping bonanza with clocks, jewelry, metal, paintings, pottery, quilts and everything from functional to decorative. Admission is free.

IDAHO

Benewah County Plummer

A recent open house celebrated the success the new visitor and information center experienced during its first summer of operation. The center plans to stay open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays this winter and will continue to offer travel information, computer services, fax access and Idaho gift items. Volunteers are needed to expand the center’s hours next summer.

Bonner County Sandpoint

Algoma Addition Subdivision overseers failed to perform routine testing for coliform bacteria and failed to notify customers the test were not completed, according to the Department of Environmental Quality. The test determine if drinking water is safe.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Delton Isaac, owner of Ri-Co Industries, donated an estimated $800 in materials and labor to build handrails for disabled people on the entrance of Mt. Hall School.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Storytime at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library will be interpreted by Russ Patteson in sign language for deaf and hearing-impaired children from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. the last Wednesday of every month starting today.

Latah County Moscow

Tom Upshaw, who lived for several years in Moscow, returned recently and opened Ace Truck and Tractor Diesel Repair at 2305 S. Main St. For the past seven years he was a mechanic for an Arizona truck dealership. Upshaw is an ASE-certified diesel mechanic and earned his mechanic’s certification from Eastern Arizona College.

Shoshone County Pinehurst

Donations are needed for the Country Chef Christmas Fund to make the holiday season merry for needy families in the area. To donate, call Donna and Bill White at (208) 682-2992, or Becca and Rick McCorkle at (208) 687-4393. A chili feed and auction will be held at the Lion Club Community Center at 4 p.m. Nov. 11, and a drawing for a unique gift basket with handmade items will be held Dec. 21 at the Chef. Tickets are $1 each, or six for $5.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The Libby school board is attempting to set a policy on bonding leave. Several teachers have requested half-time leave, but the board would like them to take a full year off. The board tabled the decision until next month’s meeting.

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