The County Lines

Fri., Sept. 29, 2000

FOR THE RECORD: 9-30-00 Story wrong: Washington Assessment of Student Learning results for seventh- and 10th-graders in Chewelah exceeded the state average in all categories. The results were incorrectly analyzed in Friday’s paper.

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

The school board is brainstorming how to deal with more than $1 million in capital facilities needs. The aging grade school building has several issues that must be addressed, as does Gilson Gym. Worn-out carpeting in both schools and several other items have the board discussing whether to pursue a levy or a bond issue.

Ferry County Republic

County commissioners are considering a preliminary proposal from Eagle Information Systems to update and expand the current communications systems used for imaging and archival purposes. The board has asked Eagle Information Systems for a formal proposal with cost breakdowns.

Grant County Mattawa

Area historians are tired of seeing the basin’s colorful history disappear in the name of progress. Columbia Basin Herald columnist Dan Bolyard, also a train and history buff, is hoping to save the Taunton substation, between Mattawa and Othello, from being torn down. The substation belonged to the former Milwaukee Railroad. Similar substations have been made into commercial property and offices, which is what Bolyard would like to see happen. Avista, which owns the property, has so far ignored offers for the substation.

Lincoln County Almira

Local firefighters and EMTs have raised the $10,000 necessary to add on to the fire hall. The crew wants to add a 20-by-30-foot meeting room and shower facility. The shower facility is important for firefighters who come into contact with hazardous materials. The town of Almira and the rural fire district contributed money to the project.

Pend Oreille County Metaline Falls

The annual Mushrooming in Northeast Washington workshop gets under way at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Cutter Theatre. It gives mushroom hounds loads of information on where, when and how to pick the wild delicacies. It also offers tips on which kinds of mushrooms to avoid. Participants should bring a basket, pocketknife, notepad and sack lunch. Over 75 species were collected last year.

Spokane County Medical Lake

Mayor Jim Hill and City Council members will discuss with members of the community a plan to house sex offenders in the city at a council meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Medical Lake High School auditorium, 200 East Barker.

Stevens County Chewelah

Folks here are awaiting the October school board meeting to get a complete report on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning results. Although fourth-grade scores are not available due to an error by the state, seventh- and tenth-grade scores are ready for discussion. The tenth-graders scored well on reading and listening, but below the state average in math and writing. The seventh-graders were below the curve in all categories except listening skills.

Whitman County Pullman

Following an anonymous tip on Sept. 25, Pullman police recovered a safe that was recently stolen from the Harvest House facility of the Whitman County Mental Health Counseling Center. The safe contained $150 in petty cash for soft drinks and other items for Harvest House’s clients. Officers found the empty safe near some trees by the WSU observatory on campus. The door had been pried off. One officer found blood on receipts near the safe. Police are still investigating and may have one suspect.

IDAHO

Benewah County Plummer

Lakeside High School’s homecoming week is next week. To celebrate, a powder puff football game will be played Wednesday, while the homecoming game will be Oct. 6, with royalty presented at halftime. The game will be followed by a dance for students. Also, Plummer/Worley schools will be closed Oct. 6 for the teachers to attend a crisis prevention/intervention training program.

Bonner County Sandpoint

Gerald A. Kopfenstein has filed a lawsuit against Bonner County because of injuries and damages suffered in a head-on collision with a Bonner County sheriff’s patrol car in October 1998. Kopfenstein said he was riding his motorcycle on Dufort Road when the accident occurred. He claims that sheriff’s deputy John Lunde caused the accident by driving his patrol car negligently. Kopfenstein now lives in Spokane County.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Magistrate Judge Quentin Harden announced recently he will retire at the end of the year. Kenneth Adler, Brent Featherston and John Topp, all attorneys in Bonner County, will be interviewed for the position in Boundary County. Applicants must be at least 30 years old, a member of the Idaho State Bar and have five years’ experience practicing law.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Many blood donors won Beanie Babies during a recent drive and gave the toys back to the Inland Northwest Blood Center. The INBC will donate the toys to Kootenai Medical Center today at 1:30 p.m. The hospital plans to give the toys to children in its care.

Latah County Moscow

Terri Schneider, a Washington State University veterinarian and mother, was sworn in Tuesday as a Moscow School Board member. Schneider won the position over WSU employee Janis Hall in a 3-1 vote. Schneider will replace Karen Falke, didnn’t seek re-election in May.

Shoshone County Kellogg

Kellogg Wrestling Club coaches, Ron Stewart and Joe Kromer, are encouraging kids ages 4 to 14 to join the club and attend the first meeting and practice set for 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Kellogg High School wrestling room. Wrestlers are required to buy a USA wrestling card for $25 to compete.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Asa Wood Elementary Community School will have cartoonist and humorist Wally Badgett serve as artist-in-residence next week. All students will have a chance to work with Badgett, but the fourth-grade class will work daily with him. An open house will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 for the students to show their cartoons to the community.

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