Public input sought about potential Timmerman junction improvements
The Idaho Transportation Department invites the public to help plan future improvements to the intersection of U.S. 20 and Idaho 75, more commonly known as Timmerman Junction, by completing an online survey about several potential roadway options.
The online survey runs through Aug. 21 and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. The survey can be found at the following link: www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2953321/US-20-and-Idaho-75-SH-75-Intersection-Timmerman-Junction-Study.
The intersection is located in southern Blaine County and is used by many motorists traveling to and from Sun Valley and the Wood River Valley. The online survey is part of the ITD’s Timmerman Junction Study identifying future intersection improvements.
The online survey will help ITD evaluate and recommend improvements to enhance safety and provide reliable mobility at this regionally significant highway junction.
By taking the online survey, the community can:
•Help ITD learn more about why and how often motorists travel through Timmerman Junction.
•Review and prioritize criteria for evaluating alternatives.
•See and provide feedback on the range of options being studied.
•Learn more about the study.
The study is built upon previous improvements, planning efforts and recommendations from previous federal, state and local planning efforts. Construction funding has not been identified, so a timetable for intersection improvements is not certain.
The public is also invited to attend the final Community Advisory Committee meeting for the Timmerman Junction Study, scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at the Old Blaine County Courthouse in the Commissioners Meeting Room, at 206 S. 1st Ave., Ste. 300, in Hailey.
To learn more about the study and evaluations to date, visit https://itd.idaho.gov/Projects/D4/US20_ID75_IntersectionStudy/.
Sawtooth Association offers lecture series and photo contest
The Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association’s Forum and Lecture Series will present Wayne Melquist at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, at the Stanley Museum in Stanley. Melquist will speak on “Otter and Osprey: They have more in common than the letter O.” Melquist was formerly a research associate professor at the University of Idaho in Moscow, and retired in 2003 from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
During his 18 years with Fish and Game, Melquist was the State Nongame Wildlife manager, State Furbearer Program and Federal Assistance Program coordinator, and acting Wildlife Bureau chief. Since 2004, he has worked with the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department, first on an osprey translocation and restoration project and more recently on river otters.
On Saturday, Aug. 13, the Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association will hold its annual Sawtooth Association Ice Cream Social from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Stanley Museum. All are welcome.
Photo contest open to all
In addition, the Association’s annual Sawtooth Valley photo contest deadline is upcoming. Entry for the contest is free and all photographers are eligible, including non-professional photographers.
Individuals may submit up to three photos – one in each category: Scenery, Wildlife, and People in Nature. Members of the Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association may submit up to two photos in each category. Submissions will be accepted until Aug. 26.
For all ideas, suggestions or recommendations about what to see or experience at the Redfish Center & Gallery, visit www.discoversawtooth.org or drop a note in the suggestion box at the Redfish Center & Gallery. For more details, call (208) 774-3376 or email redfish.center.coordinator@gmail.com.
Seal coat scheduled for trail system
The Blaine County Recreation Department will seal coat a section of the Wood River Trail beginning Monday, Aug. 15 through Friday, Aug. 26.
The project encompasses the section of path from the north side of East Fork Road to the beginning of the path at Hulen Meadows in Ketchum.
This section of trail will be closed during the seal coating process. Despite regular applications of the asphalt emulsion, after several years of regular use and the elements, the worn surface will roughen and crack. In order to preserve the trail’s smooth surface, it must be seal coated regularly.
During the application and drying process it is important that trail users stay off the new surface for 48 hours. Wet seal coating material will ruin shoes, clothes, bikes, rollerblades and the trail surface.
For more information, contact Janelle Conners at the Blaine County Recreation District at (208) 578-5453.
Animal Shelter has banner month
The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley had a huge July for homeless pets; 67 pets were connected with their forever homes during the month.
“Not only did this number beat the adoption goal of the month, but some of our longest-term residents found their forever families,” said marketing coordinator Bekka Montegue. “Elsa the cat, who was at the Shelter longer than any other cat, went home at the beginning of the month, and Katie, one of our most senior dogs, went home at the end of the month.”
Blaine County Dems set up shop
Blaine County Democrats have a new field organizer and office. Matt Kopydlowski works out of the Dems’ headquarters at 16 W. Croy St., in Hailey, where he seeks additional help manning the office, making calls and knocking on doors in the community.
Call Kopydlowski at (208) 293-5496 to get involved.
Time to register for fall rec programs
Registration for fall youth recreation programs of the City of Ketchum is now open online at www.ketchumidaho.org/registration.
The After School Program at Atkinson Park serves children currently enrolled in second through fifth grades. The program runs through the school year, Monday through Friday, with a variety of sign-up options. Guided supervision encourages free play and fun, active outdoor activity and creative, stimulating indoor play at “The Wreck.”
Fall soccer is available to students in kindergarten through fifth grade from mid-September through mid-October. Recreation league play teaches fundamentals of the sport.
The fall Swim Club at the Zenergy Health Club pool will be offered in two sessions, the first beginning in September and the second in October. Longtime coaches Ed Flory and Maria Beattie teach swim team-type classes to elevate stroke mechanics and conditioning.
Programs are available to all Valley children, though some restrictions apply. For more information, contact the parks and recreation department at (208) 726-7820 or jkearney@ketchumidaho.org.
Ice Show partners with Higher Ground
Sun Valley announced today that they will partner with Higher Ground Sun Valley for the Sun Valley on Ice show on Saturday, Aug. 13. A portion of proceeds from the general-admission ticket sales will be donated to HG for their development programs.
The headliners for show are Ashley Wagner and Adam Rippon. Wagner was the 2012, 2013 and 2015 U.S. National Champion, 2014 Olympic bronze medalist and 2016 World Championships silver medalist. Rippon is the 2016 U.S. National Champion and earned the 2012 and 2015 silver medal at the U.S. National Championships.
“We are proud to be giving back to an outstanding community organization such as Higher Ground,” Jack Sibbach, Sun Valley’s director of public relations and marketing, said.
Higher Ground utilizes recreation as therapy and is considered one of the premier rehabilitation programs in the country by the U.S. Department of Defense, military medical centers and veteran service organizations. HG serves military personnel and veterans with traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress and other polytrauma. Sun Valley Resort is currently a premier sponsor, with some of HG’s winter programming of alpine skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking taking place at resort’s two mountains.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 9:10 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Sun Valley Recreation Office, or call (208) 622-2183 for additional information.
Girls on the Run seeks coaches
Girls on the Run of the Wood River Valley seeks volunteers to be mentors of this life-changing program for girls grades 3 through 8.
“We need passionate, confident and engaging role models to be coaches and change the way young girls feel about themselves and their bodies,” Mary Fauth, GOTR executive director, said. “Your three-hour-per-week commitment will have a lasting impact on you as well.”
Volunteers of all ages and athletic abilities are invited to come make a difference.
The fall season will begin Sept. 12, with a new coach training scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27. After-school programs meet twice a week at all of the Wood River Valley’s elementary schools and middle school for 10 weeks. Coaches, who don’t have to be runners themselves, receive training to facilitate the curriculum and become mentors. Interested individuals should contact Fauth at mary@girlsontherunwrv.org or (208) 788-7863.
School immunization clinics offered at St. Luke’s
St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine will offer school immunization clinics for St. Luke’s patients at the Hailey Clinic, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23. The clinics will be open only to patients who need immunizations prior to the start of the school year. Well-child exams and physicals will not be available during these clinics.
Appointments are required and may be scheduled by calling (208) 788-3434. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to their appointment. If the child has a yellow immunization card, bring this to the appointment. The Vaccines for Children program will cover the cost of the vaccines; however, there will be an administration fee, which many insurance policies cover. Refer to your insurance benefits guidelines for coverage information.
The Hailey Clinic is located at 1450 Aviation Drive, in Hailey.
Hearing scheduled for alleged sexual assault perpetrator
At 1:40 a.m. on March 7, deputies from the Ketchum Police Department were dispatched to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center for the report of a possible rape. Officers responded and spoke with the 25-year-old female victim. She told them she was sexually assaulted in a downstairs “green” room of Whiskey Jacques’ restaurant and nightclub a short time earlier. She told officers the alleged suspect was possibly a current or past employee of Whiskey Jacques’.
Identified as Ketchum resident Nicholas Mikhail Hilton Ward, 24, the suspect was an employee of Whiskey Jacques’, but wasn’t working at the time of the incident.
After a lengthy investigation, Ward was served a summons on July 20, and appeared in Blaine County Magistrate Court on Monday, Aug. 8 on a charge of Idaho Code 18-6608(1) Sexual Penetration–Forcible by Use of Foreign Object Against Victim’s Will. Ward is next scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 16.