ERC Executive Director Hadley DeBree To Leave Organization
Executive director for the Environmental Resource Center, Hadley DeBree, will leave the nonprofit organization after four years at the helm. There will be a thank-you and goodbye party for her from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6. DeBree, a Wood River Valley native, plans on moving to Portland, Ore.
DeBree graduated from Wood River High School and earned a B.A. in biology – Environmental Studies, from Whitman College in 2010. She first served with the ERC as an AmeriCorps member before becoming its program director. Since 2015, under the leadership and direction of DeBree, the ERC re-focused its time and resources on the organization’s five core pillars—Youth Education, Connecting People with Nature, Pesticide Action, Recycling & Outreach (to include the annual Clean Sweep that has been held in the Valley since 1994) and PUP – Pick-up for Pets.
DeBree also helped steer the ERC through a fiscal turnaround; offered the community a new and annual event, the ERC Street Party for the Planet; celebrated the ERC’s 25th Anniversary at a celebration event held at the Limelight Hotel; and significantly grew the number of youth and adults who are educated about, and inspired to take action for, the environment, as well as to appreciate time in the outdoors. She also helped create important partnerships. The ERC is now an instrumental provider with the ROES Camp for Wood River Middle School sixth graders, and DeBree re-established the ERC’s work with Blaine County 5B Recycles.
“The board always knew that Hadley has other dreams that she’d like to pursue someday, but it doesn’t make it easier to say goodbye and good luck to such a humble, yet determined and committed ED,” said ERC board chair Kingsley Murphy. “The entire board is happy for her and most thankful for all she has done for the Wood River Valley and the Environmental Resource Center. She truly exceeded everyone’s expectations of her.”
Smiley Creek Accident
A two-vehicle accident occurred Sunday afternoon in front of Smiley Creek Lodge in the Sawtooth Valley, north of Ketchum, when a northbound truck was unable to stop for a southbound truck pulling a fifth-wheel trailer as it turned off Idaho State Highway 75 into a lot across from the Lodge. The driver of the truck and trailer failed to yield to the oncoming traffic.
The truck and trailer was also hauling a boat.
The road was blocked for several hours, though traffic was diverted through Smiley Creek’s parking lot, and lot across the street.
According to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, two people involved were transported to St. Luke’s Wood River with minor injuries.
Trailing Of The Sheep Festival In Running For USA Today 10Best
The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award contest for Best Fall Festival has launched, and the Trailing of the Sheep Festival was selected as one of the 20 nominees by a panel of relevant experts, including editors from USA TODAY and USA TODAY 10Best.
The public is invited to vote online at 10best.com/awards/travel/best-fall-festival. The contest closes on Aug. 26 at noon. Winners will be revealed Friday, Sept. 6. Rules allow the public the right to vote online for one nominee per category, per day.
“We are thrilled that the Trailing of the Sheep Festival was nominated for another prestigious award, and we encourage all of our fans to go online and vote for us,” said Laura Musbach Drake, Trailing of the Sheep Festival’s executive director.
Brandon Lay To Perform At 2019 Wagon Days Street Party
The City of Ketchum will bring one of country music’s most promising newcomers, Brandon Lay, to town for this year’s annual Wagon Days parade and celebration.
The Tennessee singer-songwriter has worked his way up, opening for artists like Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley and Old Dominion. Now signed to EMI Records Nashville, Lay is now playing fairs and festivals around the country.
Wagon Days 2019 will kick off Friday, Aug. 30, with cowboy poetry in the Ore Wagon Museum and a celebration of this year’s grand marshals, followed by a barn dance later in the evening. Saturday, after the Big Hitch Parade through downtown, Lay will perform live downtown.
“I’m excited that Brandon Lay, an exciting new talent, is coming to Ketchum,” said Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “Country music and Wagon Days go well together. I am confident that Brandon’s music will draw people in and keep them around to enjoy the show long after the parade is over.”
The live music and street party event will also include local food vendors, beverages and events suitable for families.
The lineup of events for the entire Wagon Days weekend includes the Papoose Club pancake breakfast fundraiser, cultural demonstrations at Festival Meadow, a variety of children’s activities and the Big Hitch Parade.
For additional information about this year’s Wagon Days, visit: wagondays.org.
Repairs To Occur This Week On I-84
The Idaho Transportation Department is expected to begin repairs next Wednesday (July 31) on Interstate 84 east of Jerome to improve roadway conditions for motorists. Work will occur between milepost 166 and 174 on both eastbound and westbound lanes. While crews are onsite, directional traffic will be reduced to one lane.
Repairs are anticipated to take place between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Drivers should exercise caution and watch for crews on the following days:
Wednesday & Thursday (July 31 – Aug. 1)
Monday & Tuesday (Aug. 5 – Aug. 6)
The Center Asks For Help To ID Photos
As the Sun Valley Center for the Arts prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, staff members are busy digging through the organization’s archives and reviewing a treasure trove of photographs from the 1970s and 1980s. But staff members need the community’s help to identify the people, places and activities—including ceramics, photography, dance and weaving, among others—captured in these historical photos.
The community is invited to The Center at 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 15 (before the free evening tour of Mirage: Energy, Water, and Creativity in the Great Basin) to see these historical photos and help The Center to fill in the blanks. At the very least, it promises to be a fun trip down memory lane.
“We are thrilled to be able to celebrate The Center’s 50th year of service to this community,” said Kristin Poole, artistic director at The Center. “We’ve uncovered some great history and many hilarious photos, and now we’d appreciate the community’s help in sharing their memories and helping us identify some of the people and events of the past.”
For more information about this special event, please visit sunvalleycenter.org or call (208) 726-9491.
Peter Farrelly Will Judge SVFF Film Lab In 2020
Peter Farrelly will judge the Sun Valley Film Festival’s Film Lab in March 2020. The festival will be presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Farrelly, the director of many films, won the Oscar and two Golden Gloves in 2018 for “Green Book.”
In order to enter the Film Lab, filmmakers can enter their work-in-progress feature to win up to $185,000 in post-production services from Farm LA. The director and producer of the winning film will also receive travel, lodging and the opportunity to screen their rough cut on Thursday, Oct. 10 in Austin, Texas. The Austin Film Society will host a moderated discussion where discerning professionals and film lovers will give feedback to the winner.
For more information, visit sunvalleyfilm.org.
ERC Executive Director Hadley DeBree To Leave Organization
Executive director for the Environmental Resource Center, Hadley DeBree, will leave the nonprofit organization after four years at the helm. There will be a thank-you and goodbye party for her from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6. DeBree, a Wood River Valley native, plans on moving to Portland, Ore.
DeBree graduated from Wood River High School and earned a B.A. in biology – Environmental Studies, from Whitman College in 2010. She first served with the ERC as an AmeriCorps member before becoming its program director. Since 2015, under the leadership and direction of DeBree, the ERC re-focused its time and resources on the organization’s five core pillars—Youth Education, Connecting People with Nature, Pesticide Action, Recycling & Outreach (to include the annual Clean Sweep that has been held in the Valley since 1994) and PUP – Pick-up for Pets.
DeBree also helped steer the ERC through a fiscal turnaround; offered the community a new and annual event, the ERC Street Party for the Planet; celebrated the ERC’s 25th Anniversary at a celebration event held at the Limelight Hotel; and significantly grew the number of youth and adults who are educated about, and inspired to take action for, the environment, as well as to appreciate time in the outdoors. She also helped create important partnerships. The ERC is now an instrumental provider with the ROES Camp for Wood River Middle School sixth graders, and DeBree re-established the ERC’s work with Blaine County 5B Recycles.
“The board always knew that Hadley has other dreams that she’d like to pursue someday, but it doesn’t make it easier to say goodbye and good luck to such a humble, yet determined and committed ED,” said ERC board chair Kingsley Murphy. “The entire board is happy for her and most thankful for all she has done for the Wood River Valley and the Environmental Resource Center. She truly exceeded everyone’s expectations of her.”
Youth Soccer Registration Is Now Open
Registration for Blaine County Recreation District’s Youth Soccer league is now open through Friday, Aug. 23. This popular program emphasizes skill development, sportsmanship and fun and is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade. The season runs from Tuesday, Sept. 3, through Saturday, Oct. 19, with a mandatory one-hour skills evaluation for first through sixth grade players the week of Aug. 19.
The kindergarten program is a co-ed, clinic-style soccer development program that practices on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the season. Older-age teams are separated by gender and age, practice twice a week and play games on Saturdays. All practices and games for the league take place in Hailey.
The registration fee is $65 and includes instruction, a team jersey, and a participation award. Early registration is encouraged and will help us form teams and prepare practice and game schedules.
Volunteers are always needed—the registration fee is waived for coaches’ children. Contact the BCRD for more information. Team sponsorship opportunities are also available, and sponsors receive their business name on team jerseys, as well as other acknowledgements.
For full program, coaching, and sponsorship information and to register, visit bcrd.org, or contact Dave Keir, associate director of Youth Programs, at (208) 578-2273 or dkeir@bcrd.org.
Suicide Prevention Alliance To Launch Reduction
Of Access To Lethal Means Campaign
The 5B Suicide Prevention Alliance, comprised of several Blaine County citizens and organizations, works to prevent suicide and educate our community about mental health. The Alliance involves combining efforts to share statistics on local suicide rates and encourage the safe storage of medications and firearms. The Alliance has developed a handout showing that in the past five years, firearms were used in 87 percent of suicides occurring in Blaine County.
The Alliance is coordinating with the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, local police stations, libraries, and other community partners to raise awareness and distribute gun locks. At this time, locks can be obtained at no charge, at all local law enforcement agencies and the Hailey Public Library. It is proven that limiting access to lethal means reduces the opportunity for someone to take their life.
“Studies show that storing various components of firearms in separate locations and eliminating access to certain medications creates a pause during an impulsive moment,” said Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins. “This gives a person time to think and reach out for help. If you or someone you know is struggling with a recent life or emotional change, making guns, medications and other lethal means more difficult to access can save lives.”
“NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] has been working with the Idaho Suicide Prevention Action Collective for over a year on implementing this campaign locally,” said Christina Cernansky, executive director of NAMI-WRV. “We’ve had cost-free gun locks at all of our events, promoting safe storage of lethal means at home. We’re thrilled to have so many community partners coordinating with us on these efforts, along with our board of directors and our advisory board.”
For more information, visit namiwrv.org/5balliance.
Professional Bull Riding To Ride Into Hailey
The Sun Valley PBR Classic, a Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro-Division event, will take place at the Hailey rodeo arena, at Werthheimer Park, on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Gates will open at 6:30 p.m., the top 35 professional bull riders will appear at 7 p.m., and the high-energy competition begins at 8 p.m.
Top bull-riding athletes travel from around the world to capitalize on events like the Sun Valley PBR Classic, coming from as far away as Australia, Brazil and Mexico. The bulls are big and ornery, and it takes extraordinary skill to successfully ride one for a full 8 seconds. Young local bull riders will also get in on the action.
This is an action-packed event and is expected to sell out.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $55 for the Pendleton VIP bullpen ticket, which includes a special seating area, grass-fed beef from Silver Spring Ranch, cocktails and beer. Tickets are available at Les Schwab Tire Center, the Hailey Chamber Visitor Center, Atkinsons’ Market in Hailey, the Sun Valley-Ketchum Visitor Center in Ketchum, online at eventbrite.com, or call (866) 443-8849 for more information.
