Magic Reservoir Nearly Full, Farms Benefitting
The water in Magic Reservoir is currently pushing capacity, as water levels sit at 189,000 acre-feet, thanks to the wetter-than-normal weather in recent weeks and days. Capacity is 191,500 acre-feet, said David Stephenson, general manager of the Big Wood Canal Company. Stephenson’s company manages snowpack and water-level monitoring of the reservoir.
Last week the reservoir began overflowing and spilling into the Big Wood—and eventually the Snake River—when flows reached upward of 6,400 cubic feet per second. Within days that rate receded to 4,000 cfs. Stephenson said crews were able to divert roughly 50 percent of the spillage into the canals that irrigate area farms.
The water levels are a blessing to farmers, who rely on the irrigation system to grow their crops.
“We’re able to deliver 100 percent through the season,” Stephenson said.
Senators Introduce Legislation To Help Small Businesses
U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) have introduced a bipartisan bill they’re calling the Small Business Investment Improvement Act of 2019. If passed, it will create legislation to oversee and facilitate more early stage capital to Idaho’s small businesses.
Under current law, the government program lacks statutory timelines for processing applications, which has caused uncertainty when applying for funds to participate in the program and small businesses seeking investor capital. As a result, millions of private dollars are restricted from being invested in America’s small businesses.
This legislation will direct the goverment to approve or decline applicants within specific reasonable timelines and require Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks on all applicants before they can participate.
Sawtooth Fundraiser Sells Out, Silent Auction Still Open
The Sawtooth Society’s annual fundraiser, the Sagebrush Soiree, has sold out. However, the Sawtooth Society’s Soiree director Gary O’Malley is accepting names for a wait list and encouraging anyone to make absentee bids on an array of auction items. The event happens Saturday, July 27 at 6 p.m., at John and Kris Miller’s ranch in the Sawtooth Valley.
This year’s Sagebrush Soiree theme, “Celebrate the Trails of the Sawtooth NRA,” supports the new “Fund-A-Trail” venture to support the Sawtooth NRA trail maintenance, which allows guests to sustain the trail crews and supply the tools they use.
“We are delighted that the Soiree is sold out and it is gratifying to see that so many want to help us with the Society’s mission to preserve, protect and enhance the Sawtooth NRA,” said O’Malley. “Thank you to all our supporters who are coming and to those who have donated auction items for the event. Even if you did not get a ticket to this year’s event, you can still help out by placing an absentee bid or making a contribution.”
For the 2019 Soiree auction, the Sawtooth Society offers a wide variety of more than 80 unique gifts in a silent and live auction with all proceeds going to support the core work of the Society and the protection of the Sawtooth NRA. There is always something for everyone:
For wait list and absentee bidding, contact the Sawtooth Society’s Soiree director Gary O’Malley at (208) 721-2909 or email gary@sawtoothsociety.org.
Education Financing System Biased, State Report Says
Public school funding varies widely by community, and that has serious implications for the ability of Idaho’s children to reach their full potential, according to a new report from the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy.
Twenty-two school districts don’t have any local revenue and the remainder raise anywhere from $119 to $6,818 per student annually. It’s an alarming funding difference and a stark reminder that although K-12 education is free, it’s still not equitable.
“These disparities are primarily driven by low state investment and differences in property wealth across districts,” said Sasha Pierson, policy analyst with the Center.
The Center’s report found that the same tax rate would generate 13 times more revenue per student in Blaine County School District than in Blackfoot School District due to different levels of property wealth.
Over reliance on supplemental levies puts children on an unequal playing field when it comes to educational opportunity and presents obstacles for children of color. In nearly half of all Idaho school districts, 15 percent or more of the students identify as a race or ethnicity that is not white. Residents in these districts would need to vote to raise their property taxes by more than twice the rate necessary for districts with fewer students of color to raise the same amount of revenue per student.
Idaho lawmakers looked at different ways to fund education last session, but none of the proposals guaranteed sufficient funding for children regardless of their districts’ property values. Lawmakers will continue developing a formula before next session, giving them the opportunity to join neighboring states that address wealth disparities in their funding formula, like Utah and Wyoming.
“Other states have used research to develop formulas containing target funding levels for children of all learning needs,” said Pierson.
Meanwhile, Idaho’s public school investment hasn’t kept up with economic growth over the years, the report says. If residents invested the same share of personal income in public schools Idahoans did in 1980, each student would have $2,469 more funding than they do today.
The full report is available online, along with an interactive map that shows supplemental funding per-student and levy rates by district here: idahocfp.org/idahos-public-school-investment/.
Animal Shelter Announces Summer Fundraiser Plans
Mountain Humane is putting some soul into its annual fundraiser that helps the organization fund the care and programs strays and other dogs benefit from here. The Party For Paws concert will feature blues and soul singer/songwriter Chris Pierce, July 21 at 6 p.m.
Pierce, described by Elmore Magazine as a modern-day Otis Redding, has released seven independent albums worldwide. In addition to headlining road tours, he has performed with and/or opened for industry legends such as Seal, B.B. King, Al Green and Aaron Neville.
Food trucks from KB’s, Sawtooth Brewery and the Wood River Sustainability Center will be onsite for guests to purchase dinner, in addition to treats from Toni’s Ice Cream’s ice cream bicycle. The food vendors are generously donating 10 percent of their proceeds from the evening back to Mountain Humane. The bar will be stocked with libations donated by Party Animal Vodka and Talley Vineyards and served by the Red Shoe’s bartenders, with 100 percent of bar sales to benefit the animals at Mountain Humane.
Party For Paws will become a summer tradition in supporting Mountain Humane to achieve its mission of building a more compassionate community by connecting people and pets, and by teaching children and adults vital lessons about empathy, compassion, and the joy that comes from the human-animal bond.
The concert will be on the beautiful events patio at Mountain Humane’s new animal adoption and humane education center at 101 Croy Creek Road, overlooking Hailey and the Draper Wood River Preserve.
Regular tickets are $50 and VIP tickets are $75. VIP tickets offer stageside seating and include two drink tickets per person.
To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit mountainhumane.org/partyforpaws/
Motorcycle-Versus-Tractor Accident In Carey Turns Fatal
On Saturday, June 29, 2019, at approximately 3:07 p.m., deputies from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motorcycle-versus-tractor collision with injuries on Main Street in Carey.
The crash scene investigation indicates Richard E. Fox, age 54, of Bagley, Minn., was riding a 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he impacted the left rear tire and rim of a 1969 John Deere tractor while passing. The driver of the tractor, Chance J. Molyneux, age 33, of Carey, was not injured in the collision. Both vehicles were traveling northbound. The accident remains under investigation.
Fox was transported by ground by Carey Rural Fire and Rescue in preparation for air ambulance transport; however, he was pronounced deceased at the Carey airport by Big Wood Fire and Rescue. Fox was wearing a helmet.
US-20 Renamed To Remember Recipients Of Military’s Highest Honor
Idaho Governor Brad Little, Idaho legislators, representatives from the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Idaho Transportation Department officially celebrated the renaming of US-20 in Idaho as a Medal of Honor Highway in Caldwell Monday.
During the 2019 Idaho legislative session, a bill calling for US-20 in Idaho to be renamed as a Medal of Honor Highway was unanimously approved.
“The official renaming of US-20 in Idaho recognizes past, present, and even future Medal of Honor recipients for their great bravery in service to our country,” Governor Little said. “The timing of today’s ceremony couldn’t be more poignant, just days away from Independence Day and the celebration of our freedom, which would not exist without the sacrifices of America’s Medal of Honor recipients and all veterans.”
The new Medal of Honor signs will be installed in 11 locations across US-20. The area south of Bellevue near the “blinking light” is one of those spots.
To earn the Medal of Honor, a member of the Armed Forces had to act “with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of life during combat against an enemy of the United States.”
Community Raises Funds For Pediatric Care
The St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation has reached a major benchmark it set for itself, announcing this week the funding of the endowment for pediatric care here. The goal was to raise $1 million in order to help guarantee the specialized care for families and children in perpetuity. More than $1.27 million has been raised by the community.
Dr. Katie Quayle joined St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine last October to fulfill the need for pediatric care. She has averaged 176 patient visits per month since then. Dr. Quayle is also part of the hospital’s program in the medical/surgical department, providing care to pediatric inpatients.
To learn more about St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation, visit www.slwrf.org or contact Marsha Edwards, edwardsma@slhs.org, or call (208) 727-8416. To make an appointment with Dr. Quayle, contact (208) 788-3434.
Writers’ Conference, Community Library Partner Up On Free Lecture
For the fourth consecutive year, the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, which will be held this year at the Sun Valley Resort from Saturday, July 20, to Tuesday, July 23, 2019, has partnered with The Community Library in Ketchum, which will host a free lecture for the local community before the start of the conference. On Thursday, July 18 at 5 p.m., National Book Award-winning novelist and essayist Barry Lopez will speak in the library’s Lecture Hall.
Lopez is best known as the author of “Arctic Dreams,” for which he received the National Book Award. Among his other nonfiction books are “About This Life” and “Of Wolves and Men,” which was a National Book Award finalist. He is also the author of several award-winning works of fiction.
Lopez’s books, along with his magazine work, reflect a life of travel and cultural inquiry that has taken him to more than 90 countries. His latest release is a memoir titled “Horizon.”
60 Idaho Agencies Team Up For A Safe Fourth Of July
This Fourth of July holiday, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is partnering with law enforcement agencies across the state to remind Idahoans to drive sober or get pulled over.
Through July 7, law enforcement officers across Idaho will be on the lookout for impaired drivers. Nearly 60 different agencies will take part in a statewide effort to keep people safe during the holiday.
“The Fourth is a really fun time of year, but it can also be very dangerous,” said John Tomlinson, ITD highway safety manager. “If people choose to drink while they’re celebrating, it’s important they’re mindful of the dangers of impaired driving and that they have a plan for a sober ride home.”
Between 2013 and 2017, impaired driving was a factor in 38 percent of all fatal crashes in Idaho. With Fourth of July festivities wrapping up in the evening or late at night, more cars will be on the roads. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes is higher at night—57 percent of all impaired driving crashes in Idaho happen between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m.
Mosquito Carrying West Nile Virus Found In Twin Falls County
Twin Falls County Pest Abatement District (TFCPAD) has collected at least one mosquito carrying West Nile virus in a trap along the Jerome and Twin Falls county border. South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) joins TFCPAD in warning residents to act now to avoid catching the disease.
“Overall, mosquito trap numbers in the county are low,” said Brian Simper, TFCPAD manager. “But this positive serves as a good reminder that West Nile virus is out there, and the public can take steps to reduce mosquito habitat and avoid mosquitoes when they are most active at dusk and dawn.”
Public health officials remind residents to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites by:
• Using insect repellent with an EPA-registered active ingredient like DEET, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes carrying the virus are most active.
• Wearing loose-fitting clothes with long sleeves and pants.
• Installing screens on all windows and doors.
• Checking for, and draining, any standing water around your home every three to six days. This includes clogged rain gutters, pools, bird baths, old tires and other outside water features.
“West Nile virus can be nasty and, in some cases, lead to deadly complications,” said Logan Hudson, SCPHD nurse program manager. “When the Pest Abatement District warns us about a trapped mosquito carrying the disease, we know it’s possible West Nile could spread quickly through south-central Idaho. Preventing mosquito bites may be a hassle, but it’s worth it.”
Typical symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. People over 50 years old, with serious medical conditions, are at greater risk for serious illness from the virus. More severe infections may involve the central nervous system.
More information is available on the CDC [Centers for Disease Control] website at www.cdc.gov/westnile.
Last Chance To Access Certain Special Ed Documents
All public schools, including Blaine County School District, are required to keep confidential special education records for a minimum of five years after a student is disenrolled from the district. Medicaid-related records must be kept for six years. These records may include the following: access logs, contact logs, referral to special education and eligibility reports. The latter include assessment results, Individual Education Program (IEP) documents, progress reports and data sheets, correspondence, medical records that were shared with the district, and other miscellaneous records including Medicaid-related documents.
Student records for students with birthdays between Sept. 1, 1995, and Aug. 31, 1996, are due for destruction on Aug. 5. Parents of students with special education needs have been notified by mail that they have until Aug. 5 to contact Susie Reese via email sreese@blaineschools.org, mail at 118 W. Bullion St., Hailey, ID 83333, or phone at (208) 578-5007 to pick up records or request that records be sent to the parent. Parents may also formally object to the destruction of the information.
