BRIEFLY

Cutter Theatre hosting scavenger hunts

METALINE FALLS — The Cutter Theatre is hosting a new scavenger hunt as another way to tour the historic building.

Developed for Selkirk Elementary School third-graders, the scavenger hunts allow children to look at the old school in a new way. Each of the Cutter Theatre’s floors has items that may or not be easily found. For a self-guided tour and the scavenger hunt page, check the Cutter Theatre’s lobby area.

At 302 Park St. in Metaline Falls, the Cutter Theatre is open for tours during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The building also has Saturday tours on June 28, July 12, July 26, Aug. 9 and Aug. 23. Special group or event tours can be arranged through the Cutter Theatre office by calling 509-446-4108, visiting during business hours or checking the Cutter Theatre’s website at cuttertheatre.org.

Newport presents water quality report

NEWPORT — The City of Newport presented its annual water quality report for 2024.

Newport’s water fully complied with all health standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state throughout 2024, according to the report. Required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, the report covers all testing performed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31.

During the reporting year, city water crews took dozens of water samples throughout Newport to determine the presence of any contaminants in the city’s drinking water. Though the city detected minor amounts of arsenic, nitrate, nitrate nitrogen and disinfection byproducts such as hardness, trihalomethane and halo-acetic acids, none resulted in a violation or exemption, remaining at or below levels the EPA has determined safe for drinking water.

To meet all regulatory requirements, the city constantly monitors for various contaminants in the water supply. Improvements to the water system that will “benefit all our customers,” according to the report, are occasionally necessary for maintaining a safe water supply. These improvements may be reflected in part of the periodic rate adjustments in water bills, which help fund such upgrades.