The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The county has asked the city of Ritzville to help with planning. The county is looking to identify opportunities for economic development, and figures many possible parcels will be close to city limits. County Planning Director Dee Caputo has asked the City Council to partner with the county in finding property the city may want to annex and rezone.

Ferry County Republic

It seems when choosing someone to pucker with a pig, visions of Prosecutor Steve Graham came to mind for most Ferry County folk. Graham won the “Kiss the Pig” contest quite handily. And, in true gentlemanly fashion, the prosecutor got down on his knees to sweep the swine off its feet. All proceeds from the contest are used by local 4-H groups.

Grant County Grand Coulee

The bill to shore up the sliding hillside beneath the Grand Coulee Community Hospital is a bit steep. Associated Earth Sciences Inc. studied the area and has attached a $750,000 price tag to a permanent solution. The hospital does have a cheaper alternative - to move the hospital helipad. The city, which is also involved, has presented both plans to the state, which is overseeing the project and will find money to help once a plan is chosen.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The Pend Oreille Valley Habitat for Humanity is looking for a church group to develop and run a fund-raiser auction. The group needs help with fund raising, but doesn’t have the manpower or expertise to run an auction. Habitat for Humanity was recently aided by the Pend Oreille Public Utility District. PUD employees helped clean up three new building lot sites in Newport.

Stevens County Chewelah

A longstanding city monument has been refurbished and is back on display. The large historical marker near the Bell Tower noting the Rev. Cushing Eells will soon sport a roof to keep it safe from the elements. Eells was the first missionary to preach the Gospel in the Chewelah area - Sunday, Sept. 16, 1838, to be exact. Eells donated the bell in the community tower to the First Congregational Church of Chewelah. It arrived Feb. 11, 1893, the day of his death.

Whitman County Pullman

The city Fire Department is looking for recruits to fill vacancies in its reserve program before Oct. 6. Year-round residents of Pullman who can dedicate at least two years to the program are encouraged to apply. For more information, call 509-332-8172.

IDAHO

Benewah County Plummer

Students in Plummer and Worley will be released early from school Thursday and Sept. 22. Teachers will be attending training sessions. Elementary students will get out at 12:45 p.m.; high school and middle school students will get out at 1 p.m.

Bonner County Priest River

Recycle and help raise money for the high school by giving your empty inkjet printer cartridges to the Parent/Teacher/Student Association. The association will recycle the cartridges for cash. The school requests recyclers to put cartridges in a sealable plastic bag.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Bonners Ferry Grain will not close this month as planned. The board of directors said the decision was made because of a lease agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. The feed-making operation will continue and wine and beer-making supplies will still be sold. Marlene Warner was hired as manager, replacing 12-year manager Fran Oakes.

Kootenai County Harrison

An immunization clinic for Harrison Elementary and Kootenai Junior/Senior High School students will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday by Panhandle Health. Immunization records should be brought to the clinic. For details, call (208) 245-4556.

Latah County Moscow

A new program aids students attending the University of Idaho by helping furnish their temporary home. The Household Goods Exchange needs kitchen items, bedding and furniture. To arrange a time to drop off items, call Glen Kauffman at (208) 885-7841 or (208) 885-0865.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Buses in the three Silver Valley school districts have not been affected by a national recall. A total of 46,000 buses, which may have been fitted with defective brakes, were checked.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Troy

Saskatchewan’s Type I Fire Management Team Chief Dave Silversides noticed nonperishable leftover food items like canned juice, canned macaroni and vacuum packed cookies were piling up around Kootenai Complex firefighting camps. Silversides decided the extra food should be donated to W.F. Morrison School’s breakfast and lunch program for hungry children. The lunch program feeds about 250 children and the breakfast program feeds about 80 children. After two days of collecting the extra food, a half-ton truckload was delivered to the school. Items will continue to be gathered and delivered until fire operations cease.