Single-Vehicle Accident Kills Challis Woman
On Tuesday, May 14, at 3:23 p.m., Idaho State Police investigated a single-vehicle fatality crash on US 20-26-93 near Carey. Lawana Knox, 80, of Challis, was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer eastbound on US 20-26-93 at milepost 216 and went off the shoulder. Knox’s vehicle went down an embankment and collided with lava rock.
Knox was transported by air ambulance to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Knox succumbed to her injuries at the hospital later that evening. Knox was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
South Valley Artists Group Seeks New Members, Sets Summer Schedule
The Bellevue Artist Alliance (BAA) is looking for Bellevue and other south Valley artists who would like to participate in the Bellevue Artist Alliance. Opportunities exist to do group shows, solo shows, and the annual BAA Open Studios event, which will be held July 27-28 this year. The event kicks off with an artists’ reception at Silver Creek Hotel on July 26. The hotel will show featured artwork of participating artists from July 22 to July 28.
Applications to join the alliance can be found at tinyurl.com/yxo9c4j5.
ITD Highlights ‘100 Deadliest Days’ To Drive
As the Memorial Day holiday approaches, Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety is joining law enforcement agencies across the state in reminding drivers of the importance of seatbelts. This is especially true as the 100 Deadliest Days begin.
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer and the beginning of the 100 Deadliest Days of summer driving. The 100 Deadliest Days refers to the period of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends when there is an increase in crashes.
Idaho’s law enforcement officers across the state will take part in the nationwide effort to promote seatbelt usage. The Click It Don’t Risk It campaign runs through June 2. During the effort, additional officers will be on the roads enforcing Idaho’s seatbelt law.
“We know that seatbelts save lives, but still see too many people choose not to buckle up,” said ITD highway safety manager John Tomlinson. “Hopefully, this effort will help Idahoans make the right choice—especially as we head into the busy summer months.”
In 2018, 38 people who died in car crashes during the summer months were not wearing seatbelts. There were 102 fatalities during last year’s 100 Deadliest Days.
“Seatbelts are a wonderful way to take care of ourselves and the people we care about,” Tomlinson said. “Buckle up—every trip, every time.”
Botanical Garden Slates Annual Tour Date
The Sawtooth Botanical Garden will host its 24th Annual Garden Tour on Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will host private garden tours located in Streamside (The Valley Club), Starweather, Zinc Spur and Deer Creek neighborhoods.
According to SBG executive director Jen Smith, this year’s gardens offer the best of high-elevation horticulture and outdoor living enjoyment. Idaho Nursery & Landscape Association, in its 2019 Trends in Garden Design, said these gardeners “nailed it.” Low-maintenance considerations, backyard structures as focal points, private and secluded spaces, unexpected elements, including food in landscapes of all sizes, giving back with gardens, and creating a “staycation spot” are among the trends that will be showcased.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.sbgarden.org or at SBG. Sawtooth Botanical Garden members pay $25 until two days before the tour, then $30 on the day before and day of the tour. Non-members pay $30 and $35.
For questions or to inquire about corporate or individual sponsorships, contact executive director Jen Smith at jen@sbgarden.org or call (208) 726-9358.
Artists Can Start Vying For Hailey Mural Project
The City of Hailey and the Hailey Arts and Historic Preservation Commission invite local Idaho artists to submit two-dimensional artwork for a mural exhibition to be located on the north wall of Jane’s Artifacts in Hailey.
Application deadline is June 21. An artist will be selected July 1 and compensated $1500 to complete the project. Mural installation is planned for mid-July/mid-August (preferably before Labor Day). Materials will be paid for by the Hailey Arts and Historic Preservation Commission.
Organizers are encouraging artists to “get creative” but a final design that is dignified, stately and family-friendly is desired. A brick wall exists next to the selected wall, which is a remnant, built in approximately the late 1800s, of the original townsite of Hailey.
More information is available online at the haileycityhall.org.
Chime In On After-School Care
Are current after-school programs meeting the needs of children and families in Blaine County?
That’s the survey question a group of after-school program providers is asking Valley residents. An ad-hoc committee comprised of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Wood River Community YMCA, Blaine County Recreation District, City of Ketchum Recreation Department, Sun Valley Music Festival and the Blaine County School District have created a short survey inviting all Blaine County parents and caregivers to provide input on after-school program needs for their children.
The goal is to create a collaborative vision for after-school programs with a focus on equitable opportunities for all children in Blaine County, the providers said.
The survey is available in English and Spanish online at the Sun Valley Center, Wood River YMCA, Blaine County Recreation District, City of Ketchum Recreation Department, Sun Valley Music Festival and Blaine County School District websites. It closes June 3.
Survey responses are confidential, and the responses will be used to best assess future programming needs and collaboration.
For questions, contact Jenna Vagias, Director of Recreation, Blaine County Recreation District, at (208) 578-2273 or jvagias@bcrd.org.
Two Big Names, One Big Show: Summer Music Event Announces Kick-Off Concert
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts will kick off its ever-popular Summer Concert Series on Monday, June 24, with a co-bill show by two popular musicians and their bands: Michael Franti & Spearhead and Ziggy Marley. The concert begins at 7 p.m., with early entry and VIP access at 6 p.m. and general admission access at 6:15 p.m.
Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, Emmy Award winner, author and philanthropist. He is a reggae icon in his own right, but he is also part of reggae royalty—the eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley and the bandleader of his own Melody Makers. Michael Franti is well-known for his upbeat songs that feature funk, reggae, folk and, more than anything, a danceable vibe and energy.
“The Center’s summer concerts are one of the most fun ways that we gather as a community, and we can’t wait to have Michael Franti and Ziggy Marley here to start off the series in June,” said Kristine Bretall, director of Performing Arts at The Center. “Their brand of upbeat, feel-good music will get the whole Wood River Valley up and celebrating summer together under the stars at River Run.”
Each group will play a full set of music, with Ziggy Marley and his band of nine kicking off the show at 7 p.m. Michael Franti & Spearhead will likely come on around 8:30 or 9 p.m.
Utility Company Makes It Easier To Utilize Electric Cars
Idaho Power is supplying electricity to the region’s newest state-of-the-art, fast-charging station for electric vehicles (EV) provided by Electrify America. The station is located at Walmart, 8300 West Overland Road, Boise.
With a focus on both future and present-day EVs, the new station can deliver energy for up to 20 miles of range per minute of charge at 350 kW. Electrify America worked with Idaho Power to connect to the electrical grid and ensure smooth operation.
“The Electrify America fast-chargers provide the latest in charging technology for EVs on the road today and are sized to fuel future models that will feature larger batteries,” said Patti Best, Idaho Power program specialist.
The new station has a range of power options, starting at 50 kW to 150 kW up to 350 kW, to ensure all fast-charging cars will be able to use it. With four chargers, the station can charge multiple vehicles at once.
The Boise station completes a network of Electrify America stations across the Northwest. According to Beth Baird of the Treasure Valley Clean Cities Coalition, “With the completion of the Boise station, EV drivers can more easily travel from Boise to Portland or Boise to Salt Lake.”
To connect the rest of the state, the Idaho Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR) is identifying strategic locations within Idaho for more fast-charging equipment. “These locations will create a network of highways in Idaho that offer EV charging services to the public,” said John Chatburn, director of OEMR.
As the charging network grows, more people can go electric for their transportation.
Mine Historian Slated To Speak At Hailey Library Event
The Hailey Public Library will host a free talk with mining historian Tom Blanchard on Idaho mining history with a special emphasis on its impact on Hailey. The talk will be held Thursday, May 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Library located at 7 W. Croy St. in Hailey.
“Tom’s breadth of knowledge about state and local mining history and its impact on the establishment and development of Hailey is remarkable, and he makes it so interesting,” stated program specialist Kristin Fletcher. “During the talk, he’ll touch on what drove that development, how it influenced local politics and spurred competition between Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum.”
The talk is part of an exciting series of lectures highlighting the early history of Hailey and the Wood River Valley which commemorates the Library’s year-long Centennial Celebration.
For more information about the history of Hailey and other talks, call (208) 788-2036 or visit haileypubliclibrary.org.
Governor Assembles Team To Improve Idaho’s 38th Rank In Education
Gov. Brad Little has formed a 26-member task force to put together a five-year plan for improving K-12 education in Idaho—a state that, according to the Cato Institute, ranks 38th in the nation when it comes to student performance, graduation rates and other education benchmarks.
Goals of the task force include improving student achievement, recruiting and retaining quality teachers, and identifying education investment opportunities.
The task force is comprised of a variety of individuals with significant backgrounds in education and a genuine interest in improving the existing system. Members include teachers, school administrators, education stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators. A number of state legislators will sit on the so-called “Our Kids, Idaho’s Future” task force; they are:
- House Education Chairman Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls
- Senate Education Committee Chairman Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls
- Assistant House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Nampa
- House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise
- Reps. Wendy Horman, Jason Monks and Gary Marshall, R-Idaho Falls
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Winder and Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise
“The legislators on the task force are committed to extending and improving the recommendations of the first task force,” Sen. Ward-Engelking said. “We have a large group of individuals with various backgrounds who will provide the expertise necessary to help us improve graduation rates, teacher salaries, dual-credit opportunities, and many other areas for Idaho students.”
Ketchum Man Arrested For Felony Attempted Strangulation
On Sunday, May 19, at approximately 3:42 a.m., deputies from the Ketchum Police Division of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a domestic battery at Andora Villa in Ketchum.
Based upon their investigation, Luis Alberto Velasquez Reyes, age 29, of Ketchum, was charged with felony Attempted Strangulation and misdemeanor Domestic Battery in the Presence of a Child. Velasquez Reyes remains in the Blaine County Detention Center pending arraignment.
Two-Vehicle Accident Occurs On Hwy. 75 Near Peregrine Ranch
On Friday, May 17, at approximately 1:06 p.m., deputies from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle collision on State Highway 75 near Peregrine Ranch north of Hailey.
William T. Pullin, age 18, of Ketchum, was traveling northbound on Hwy. 75 in a silver Ford F-150 pickup truck when a black Ford Focus stopped in front of him in the northbound lane to allow another vehicle to turn left into Chapman Ranch. Pullin was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the Ford Focus driven by Katia Cisneros, age 44, of Ketchum. Cisneros’ vehicle traveled across the southbound lane and the opposite shoulder and into a wooden fence.
Cisneros was wearing a seatbelt; Pullin did not have his seatbelt engaged. Both drivers were transported to Wood River Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Both vehicles were towed from the scene with significant damage. Pullin was cited for Inattentive Driving. Cisneros was cited for Driving with an Expired License.
Parents, Students Invited To Literacy Event
On Wednesday, May 29, at 6 p.m. at Hailey Elementary School, a coalition of schools, libraries, businesses and civic groups from Blaine County are hosting parents and students to celebrate and plan ahead for summer reading. The school is located at 520 1st Ave. S., in Hailey.
Families can visit booths to learn about summer reading programs while principals scoop ice cream. Activities will include a scavenger hunt, raffle prizes, free books and more.
Booths will include activities with Cox Communications, Bloom Truck, The Hunger Coalition, The Community Library, Hailey Public Library, Bellevue Public Library, Blaine County School District libraries, Girls on the Run, ERC, YMCA, BCRD, Project Tools Success, Idaho Libraries Commission, Log Cabin Literary Center, Miss Rosa’s Summer Spanish Camp, and others.
I-84 Injury Crash Blocks Traffic For Three Hours
On Saturday, May 18, at 6:48 a.m., Idaho State Police investigated an injury crash eastbound on I-84 at mile marker 195.5 east of Hazelton.
Sheridan T. Jensen, 24, of Rupert, was driving eastbound on I-84 in a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. Jensen drove off the left shoulder of the road and hit the guardrail in the median. Sheridan’s passenger, Heaven M. Jensen, 21, of Rupert, was transported by ground ambulance to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls. A juvenile passenger was transported by air ambulance to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise.
Sheridan and Heaven were both wearing seatbelts. The juvenile was in a safety seat. The eastbound lanes of travel were blocked for approximately three hours.
Idaho State Police was assisted at the scene by the Jerome Sheriff’s Office, Magic Valley Paramedics and First Segregation Fire Department.
Educators Launch Online Lip-Sync Contest, Public Can Vote
The Blaine County Education Foundation is hosting its first Virtual Lip-Sync Contest, wherein teachers and students from Blaine County can produce a lip-syncing video in all eight schools in an effort to win money for their schools. All schools in the district were invited to participate in the contest. Teachers from Carey School, Bellevue Elementary and Wood River Middle School stepped up to the challenge and received $200 just for entering.
The idea of the lip-sync contest, the foundation said, was to help build school spirit in the district. Teachers performed in the videos and now staff, students, parents and community members can do the judging online. Voting can take place online at surveymonkey.com/r/DS5TJFR.
The winning school will be announced June 3 and will receive $3,000 to be used for their school.
“We wanted to do something fun to support our teachers and to help build school spirit,” Kristy Heitzman, executive director of the foundation, said. “We thought it would be a great way to end the school year and to provide some extra funds for the schools to use for the upcoming 2019/2020 school year.”
Sign Up For Olympics-Inspired Competition For Kids
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) is hosting its 6th Annual Olympic Day, June 20 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Sun Valley Community School’s Dumke Family Sagewillow Campus.
An international movement, Olympic Day promotes sportsmanship, healthy habits and teamwork, and is a time for our community to come together. With a little friendly competition, all Wood River Valley children can compete in the “Gauntlet of Games,” an epic obstacle course complete with slip-n-slide, pond crossing, tunnels, mazes and more.
There will be prizes for top teams, KB’s food truck onsite and Olympians in attendance. The event is free and open to any kids ages 7 to 18, regardless of whether or not they are part of SVSEF. Participants may register as an individual or as a team of five. Applications can be found at svsef.org/2019-olympic-day-gauntlet-of-games.
Valley Leaders Sign Up For Darker Skies, Brighter Stars
The mayors of Stanley, Ketchum and Sun Valley, the chairperson of the Blaine County Board of Commissioners, and the forest supervisor of the Sawtooth National Forest will gather in Ketchum at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that confirms their commitment to address light pollution and support dark skies in central Idaho.
Nearly two decades of planning efforts and policy decisions by city and county leaders, local businesses and organizations, and public land managers culminated in the designation of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve in December 2017. Working together, these partners continue to focus on preserving the quality of the nighttime environment and reducing the impact of light pollution in central Idaho.
Stanley Mayor Steve Botti, Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw, Sun Valley Mayor Peter Hendricks, Blaine County Commissioner Jacob Greenberg and Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor Jim DeMaagd will meet at Ketchum City Hall at 12:30 p.m. and the event should be concluded by 1 p.m.
The public is welcome to attend the signing.
Jerome Teen Found In Arizona
Authorities on Monday said they had located both subjects of an AMBER Alert, a 17-year-old female from Jerome and Miguel R. Rodriguez-Perez, an 18-year-old male who may have forcibly kidnapped the girl on Sunday, May 15, outside the Wendy’s restaurant in the 2800 block of Lincoln Avenue in Jerome, where the girl works.
An AMBER Alert was issued and law enforcement began searching for Rodriquez-Perez and the black 2015 Audi A4 he was driving. The two were ultimately found in Surprise, Arizona. Both appeared unharmed.
Sawtooth Society Is Looking For A Few Good Volunteers
Join a work party in the Sawtooth Mountains this summer. The Sawtooth Society’s Austin Kraal Memorial Volunteer Program seeks new volunteers to join the growing number of people who are working to improve the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The Sawtooth Society’s volunteer and stewardship program conducts over 20 restoration projects a year in the Sawtooth NRA, which involves over 200 volunteers.
At the suggestion of his parents, the Sawtooth Society’s Austin Kraal Memorial Volunteer Program was formed in 2011 in honor of Austin Kraal, who worked many summers in the Sawtooth NRA as a volunteer for the trail crew. The founding principle of the program was to give youths and adults alike the opportunity to spend time in the beautiful Sawtooth NRA while working on various maintenance and improvement projects. The volunteer program is the largest of its kind involving hundreds of urban and at-risk youth to do projects on the ground, build their understanding of nature, disconnect from technology and open their eyes to the grandeur of the area. The program also partners with other groups to accomplish its goals.
The Sawtooth Society was formed in 1997 and has since invested more than $750,000 in more than 190 recreational-related projects throughout the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. It also has been instrumental in preserving open space in the scenic Sawtooth Valley and Stanley Basin.
If interested in volunteering, please email Autumn Lear for further information at autumn@sawtoothsociety.org and to learn more about the Sawtooth Society visit www.sawtoothsociety.org.
Six And A Half Hour Delay On I-84 Due To Injury Accident
On Monday, May 20, 2019, at approximately 3:48 p.m., Idaho State Police investigated a single-vehicle injury crash on westbound Interstate 84 near milepost 159, east of Wendell.
Afshin Ahmadi Saberdoust, 48, of Redmond, Wash., was driving westbound in a 2015 Volvo tractor semi pulling one box trailer.
Ahmadi Saberdoust drove off the right shoulder, overcorrected back onto the right lane of travel, and then drove off the right shoulder where the semi and trailer overturned, coming to rest on its side.
Ahmadi Saberdoust was transported by air ambulance to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.
The right lane of travel was blocked for approximately six and a half hours.
Idaho State Police was assisted by the Gooding County Sheriff’s Office, Wendell Fire Department, and the Jerome County Fire Department.
