The County Lines

Sat., Sept. 9, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

Plans for a downtown plaza are being developed. Mayor Craig Ulleland and Councilwoman Sharon Tison presented the idea to the Chamber of Commerce last week. The city is seeking grants and asking the Chamber for financial support. The Chamber allocated $10,000 from the Blues Festival receipts for the plaza, plus a $2,000 check to the Wagon Train Descendants to erect a statue of town father Phillip Ritz.

Ferry County Republic

The recent news that Ferry County leads the state in unemployment rates didn’t shock local residents. The Republic News-Miner reports joblessness has been a tradition here: “It’s a 100-year-old joke that in Ferry County we don’t notice the temporary depressions and recessions. We’ve been in a permanent depression since 1898.”

Grant County Moses Lake

The state Department of Ecology recently announced it will again make an environmental study of Moses Lake, and two of its tributaries. Crab Creek and Rocky Ford Creek will be checked as possible sources of phosphorus, which Moses Lake has long been known for.

Lincoln County Wilbur

A computer hacker broke into a local family’s computer recently. Laura Engelson said she was on the Internet when a message came across her screen that said, “I have taken control of your computer. Do what I say or you’ll lose all your files.” Engelson said she refused and shut down her computer. The next morning, she said, her screen said the computer was infected with the “Backdoor Virus” and the computer’s virus scan program couldn’t clean it. After rebooting, the virus scanner rid the computer of the virus.

Pend Oreille County Newport

Local thespians, musicians and dancers have only a few days to hone their skills. Auditions for the CREATE Place Fifth Annual Fall Spectacular Variety Show are on the calendar for next week. Auditions will take place at Sadie Halstead Middle School from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The variety show is scheduled to take place Thursday, Sept. 28. For more information, call (509)447-9277.

Spokane County

The Boundary Review Board for Spokane County will hold an open house and public hearing Monday on the plan to create the new city of Spokane Valley. The open house will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Spokane Valley Fire training center, 2411 N. Pioneer Lane. The public hearing follows at 7 p.m. The training center is located one block east of Sullivan Road and two blocks south of Marietta.

Stevens County Colville

Kids at Fort Colville Middle School are getting a little help with their U.S. geography. As part of his Eagle Scout project, Ryan Hayes has spent considerable time drawing and painting a giant U.S. map on the school’s playground. Hayes saw one like it in Colorado, and through research, found he could get a kit for the project. The kit included a stencil, paints, brushes and chalk. His scout troop provided the elbow grease to finish the project.

Whitman county Garfield

The Garfield Lions will sponsor a candidates forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Garfield Community Center. Those running for Whitman County Superior Court Judge as well as Whitman County Commission will be there to talk about their plans for the next four years.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

All Around Logger titles went to Terry Waddell and Tami Holdahl in the annual Paul Bunyan Days logging competition held Sept 2 through Monday. Waddell finished first in one event and second in four. Holdahl finished first in one event and second in three.

Bonner County Priest Lake

The community is invited to the Peninsula Union Church to help commemorate the 60th anniversary of the old Jackson School House, which is being dedicated as the Peninsula Union Sunday School. The event starts with Sunday School at 10 a.m., worship at 11:15 a.m. and a potluck picnic to follow.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Gene Fredrickson, who worked as the city electrical engineer for 22 years, has retired. The city made an offer to Don Smith, a registered engineer from Gillette, Wyo., for the position. Mike Woodward, city administrator, said Smith will start working around the end of the month if he accepts.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

The Kootenai County Solid Waste Department will have an open house with a slide show, presentation and tour of the Ramsey Road facility. The purpose of the event is to answer questions or concerns regarding the construction of the proposed Northern Transfer Station. The event will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Administration Building at the Ramsey Road Transfer Station, 3650 Ramsey Road.

Latah County Moscow

Students age 3 to 18 are invited to a singing and dancing class called Songs from Disney. The class will be taught by instructor Kierstin West, who has 10 years of dance experience in tap, clogging, jazz and ballet. She also has six years of experience in acting and musical theater. The cost is $70 for the first child, $60 for the second. To register, call (208) 892-0321. The class will begin Sept. 19 and continue through Dec. 9 at Emanuel Lutheran Church.

Shoshone County Wallace

The North Idaho College Even Start Program was given a $3,500 grant as part of Verizon’s Check Into Literacy grants program. The money will be used to buy a resource computer and literacyfocused software.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

The annual Nordicfest Lutefisk-eating contest is set for 3 p.m. today. Contestants are given a bowl of lutefisk with melted butter, and the first one to finish wins. Mike Turner, 13, of Kalispell was last year’s winner. Turner competed against many grown men in three heats. Judges are needed for the contest.

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