The Okanogan County PUD board recently heard from General Manager John Grubich that the utility has hired a team of six state employees to remove fire dangers near power poles.
     The Conservation Corps crew will spend three months at $10,000 per month clearing sagebrush and other fuel away from power lines.
     In other business, the board congratulated two employees receiving service awards.
     Kellie Gunn has worked in the Okanogan office for five years. She started as a customer service representative and now is in the engineering department, Grubich said.
     Rod Little has been with the district for 10 years, first in the warehouse in Okanogan and now as a lineman.