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The Rathdrum Fire District was established in 1976, when just 2,150 people lived in the city and volunteers responded to a mere 43 incidents. Today, more than 9,000 residents call Rathdrum home. They sent firefighters on 643 calls last year. But it wasn't until this year that the district was able to have paid firefighters available around the clock for emergencies.

Lakeland Head Start Center is accepting applications for the fall program. The center provides services to limited income families who reside within the Lakeland School district. In an attempt to balance elementary enrollments for the 2000-2001 school year the Lakeland School Board entertained discussion for boundary adjustments as follows: Athol elementary students in the Chilco Estates area would attend Garwood; Spirit Lake elementary students in the Upper Twin Lakes Road area would attend Garwood; and John Brown Elementary students from Sturgeon Road, north, also would attend Garwood. No formal action was taken but is expected to be adopted at the April 10 regular board meeting, which will be held at Athol Elementary at 7 p.m. Patrons may contact the district office with ideas and/or concerns at 687-0431.

Lakeland Junior High eighth-grader Chelsie O'Bryant was selected as a winner of the 2000 Qantas Airways Student Ambassador Scholarship. She will represent the Inland Northwest during a three-week summer visit to Australia and New Zealand. She will study cultural heritage, visit historical sites and attend music and dance performances. The group of students also will attend activities at embassies, ministries, meet with industry and trade officials, tour headquarters of international organizations and meet with youth clubs. Lakeland High teacher Wes Hanson is busy, \"getting back into the rhythm of teaching classes.\" Hanson returned to instruction in his literature and college-prep English classes after a semester off on sabbatical. Traveling more than 11,000 miles from Sept. 1, to Dec. 5, he feels he \"took in the whole world\" visiting the northern United States and Canada.

The success of a reading contest at Athol Elementary meant that Principal Connie McGee made good on her promise to dye her hair blue and kiss a pig at a recent assembly. Students earned 7,500 points for reading books and for testing about the books they read. Their long-term goal is set for 15,000 points, at which time they will receive time off for a movie and popcorn. The pig-kissing at the 7,500-point level was put off for awhile because a pig could not be found. Finally, Roy Milks came up with a 3- week-old baby piglet that was very surprised.

About half of the tickets have been sold for the Lakeland Booster Club's drawing for a new pickup. Proceeds from the drawing go toward scholarships for Lakeland students and for the annual drug- and alcohol-free party scheduled for graduation night in June. Only 2,000 of the $20 tickets are being offered for the drawing on a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. Tickets are available from Jonell Desmarais, committee spokeswoman, at 773-0911. Tickets also are available at Steins' IGA. Riverbend Professional Technical Academy currently serves 27 Lakeland High students. They take classes in Computer and Networks Systems Technology, Health Services Technology, and Engineering and Construction Technology.

Best Low-cost Orchids of Our Millennium (BLOOM) company was created as a profitable learning opportunity. Under the direction of teacher Michael McKibbin, the multi-class, hands-on learning experience has been an exciting venture for students. Using skills from English, social studies and presentation technologies classes, BLOOM students sold live Hawaiian orchids. Delivered by overnight FedEx, students unwrapped each plant only hours after arrival and took care to deliver to their customers in time for Christmas. Lakeland Junior High School held the local Geography Bee competition Jan. 11, in the school library. The local winner was Brandon Arp, with Michael McMullin placing second. Brandon received a ribbon, a medal and an atlas donated by Staples. Michael received a ribbon and a gift certificate donated by The Book and Game Co. Brandon earns the opportunity to compete with other winners from throughout the state for the right to represent Idaho at the National Geography Bee.

The donor is Ken Goldthorpe of Microsoft Corp. A team of teachers met during Christmas vacation to determine how to best use the donation based on the school's philosophy of \"Children First\" and the motto, \"Dedicated to Excellence.\" The committee of teachers submitted an order for computer software, including Office 2000 with Front Page, Publisher, Photo Draw, Encarta Dictionary, Creative Writer, My Personal Tutor and Magic School Bus Software. The materials should arrive within several weeks. The Lakeland district will hold a special bond levy on Jan. 25. The levy will sponsor building classrooms onto three existing schools, including Timberlake Junior/Senior High in Spirit Lake, and two elementaries, Garwood and Athol. Call the district office for absentee ballots or more details about the proposal and election.

Several Lakeland High School students won placement in the all- state choir and orchestra. First-place alto was Anna Crecelius, a senior at Lakeland. Taking third-place soprano was Kara Kiefer, a freshman from Lakeland Junior High. Ruby Clapper, a junior, won placement in the honor choir and also took fifth-place soprano II for Region I in the all-state choir. Clapper said students took part in the live auditions in Coeur d'Alene at Lake City High. She and the others were asked to sing a series of two-step scales with the words, \"I love to sing,\" seven times. They also sang the first verse and chorus of \"America the Beautiful.\"

On Dec. 4, the Lakeland High School cheer squad took second place in the Universal Cheerleading Association regional competition at Central Valley High School in Spokane. According to Loni Baumann, Lakeland student, the squad was indecisive about competing due to injuries to some squad members. After reforming the routine, the girls had only three weeks of practice to perfect their performance. The Garwood Parent Teacher Organization is coordinating efforts to provide assistance to families in the Garwood area during the Christmas season. A Wishing Christmas Tree stands in the school lobby. Families that want to contribute gifts may select from the special tree ornaments. Each ornament specifies Christmas wishes of area residents.

The new Lakeland Center of the Head Start Program is serving 35 families within Lakeland School District. Principal Sharon Pritchett continues to accept applications for attendance. Students ages 3 and 4 from limited-income families are eligible. The federal government requires the center to have a waiting list of eligible students for continued future funding. Special visitors who came to the open house Nov. 12 included State Sen. Clyde Boatright, State Rep. Wayne Meyer, Athol Mayor Lanny Spurlock and Athol Elementary Principal Connie McGee. Other visitors included representatives from the Panhandle Health and Welfare program, Athol Library and other community organizations.