Seventh-grader wins with Idaho recipe
Earlier this year, Jacob Russell, a Wood River Middle School seventh-grader, placed first in Idaho in the national White House recipe contest, known as the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.
As a result, Jacob and his mother, Missy Russell, were flown to Washington, D.C., in July to take part in a kid’s state dinner, a Smithsonian tour, and a White House party and tour. The winners were challenged by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in their speeches to return home and be an ambassador for kids and their communities for good health practices.
“It was such an honor and quite fun and inspiring to take part in the First Lady’s initiative for better health for children and communities,” Missy Russell said.
Jacob submitted a recipe for the contest when he was in third grade at Hemingway Elementary, for which he received second place. Last year, he entered the competition again, fine-tuning his recipe and learning from other first-place winners.
“His persistence and hard work paid off,” said Missy Russell.
Hunters shut out by Texas businessmen
Two Texas energy billionaires, Faris and Dan Wilks have bought land all over the West, and are closing off much of the access to those lands, including private land recently owned by Boise Cascade. Rocky Barker of the Idaho Statesman writes that this land is now closed to hunters and recreationists. The Wilks brothers made their money in hydraulic fracking.
They purchased 172,000 acres of timberland and a vast road system in Adams, Valley and Boise counties, and recently informed the Idaho Department of Fish and Game that the land will no longer be open to hunters.
Memorial service
to be held for Nikki Potts
Everyone is welcome to attend a fond farewell for longtime Ketchum resident Nikki Potts at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at an
informal service at the Silver Creek bridge near Baker Creek, north of Ketchum. Follow balloons and signs. After the service, there will be a gathering at the Ketchum Forest Service Park at
about 4 p.m.
Hemingway to sell
organic produce to raise funds
The Hemingway Elementary Parent Auxiliary kicked off its third annual FarmRaiser fundraiser on Sept. 30 to raise money for educational programs, classroom supplies, teacher enrichment and special school events. Working with Michigan-based company FarmRaiser, Hemingway students will sell fresh apples, organic veggies, raw local honey, sourdough bread and other locally made foods while teaching kids about the importance and benefits of eating a healthy local diet.
Students will gain valuable knowledge about healthy foods and products produced in our community. And local farms and businesses that participate as vendors will gain much needed product exposure. Supporters of the fundraiser receive fresh, high-quality products that are good for them and their families.
“I love witnessing the enthusiasm the kids have for this event,” said Sarah Uhlenhopp, co-chair of Hemingway FarmRaiser and mother of two Hemingway students. “The hands-on involvement is so valuable to teach kids the benefits of local food and giving back to their community.”
Stacy Whitman, the FarmRaiser co-chair and mother of three Hemingway students, agrees.
“It is a win for our school, local food producers and the health of our Wood River Valley community,” she said.
Local products being sold in this year’s FarmRaiser will include Idaho-grown apples, an organic fall vegetable mix, a fall harvest soup starter kit, fresh-baked fermented sourdough bread and local raw honey. Products will be sold from Sept. 30 to Oct. 19, and will be distributed to customers on Oct. 26.
The Hemingway FarmRaiser vendors will include Kelley’s Canyon Orchard, Idaho’s Bounty, Wood River Sustainability Center, Kraay’s Market Garden and Rasberrys Catering & Bistro.
Mental Illness Awareness Week
The first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week. Each year, the first week of October provides an opportunity to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care. The National Alliance on Mental Illness-Wood River Valley (NAMI-WRV) has teamed up with partners throughout the Valley to shine light on mental illness by hosting events in October and encouraging leaders to sign onto The Stigmafree Pledge.
One in five adults experience mental illness problems every year and 50 percent of chronic mental illness begins by age 14. Although many people today understand that mental illness is a medical condition, individuals and families affected by mental illness are still often subjected to stigma and discrimination.
This year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is calling on everyone to shine a light on mental illness and replace stigma with hope. “We are calling on everyone to join NAMI in shining a light on mental illness and replacing stigma with hope by taking the pledge to be Stigmafree,” said Tom Hansen, president of the NAMI Wood River Valley affiliate.
ITD to present study for Timmerman Junction
For the third and final time, the Idaho Transportation Department will consider a study report for the intersection of U.S. 20 and State Highway 75 at Timmerman Junction, Wednesday, Oct. 5, with the Community Advisory Committee.
The report identifies a range of recommendations for improvements at the junction. ITD developed the improvements based on technical studies and input from the community.
The public is welcome to attend the meeting at 10 a.m. in the Blaine County Courthouse in Hailey at 206 S. 1st Ave., suite. In addition to committee meetings, ITD gathered input through an online survey this summer. More than 700 people took the survey and gave input on potential improvements.
A survey summary and draft study report are posted at itd.idaho.gov/projects/d4/US20_ID75_IntersectionStudy/.
Kittelson & Associates, Inc., of Boise, is leading the study in close cooperation with staff from ITD District 4 and Blaine County.
Cel show starts at Community Library
The Community Library has a new exhibit in the Lecture Hall, called The Art of Animation: Bringing Back Memories of Childhood, from Jay and Gretchen Basen’s Collection.
There will be a free public opening reception at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The Basens will say a few words about the showcased work and about the history of animation. The exhibit will be displayed through December.
The Basens have had an interest in animation for years. Many years ago, while browsing in an art gallery, they found an animation celluloid (cel) from the 1987 Hanna-Barbera film, The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones. In the cel, George Jetson, on rocket-powered skis, and Fred Flintstone, riding giant mammoth tusks, are skiing together.
This exhibit focuses on early animation and features production cels and drawings from 1950’s Disney cartoon Donald Duck’s Birthday, Bugs Bunny from a Nike television ad with Michael Jordan, production cel and drawings from The Simpsons, and others.
For more information, call (208) 726-3493, ext. 123, or asvidgal@comlib.org.
ERC to host Science After School
The Environmental Resource Center will offer a free six-week outdoor after-school science program, Science After School, at Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum on Tuesdays, starting Oct. 11, and at Bellevue Elementary School on Thursdays, starting Oct. 13. Both programs run from 2:30-4 p.m.
Science After School provides fourth and fifth graders opportunities beyond the school day to participate in project-based learning, within the context of natural science, the environment, and sustainability issues.
Hemingway’s students will focus on how our actions influence the natural world through exploring topics related to sustainability, while Bellevue’s students will focus on exploring the different animal habitats the Wood River Valley has to offer.
Preregistration is required and space is limited.
For more information on this program or to register your student, contact Alisa McGowan, ERC program director, at alisa@ercsv.org or (208) 726-4333.
SV Summer Symphony to receive grant
The Sun Valley Summer Symphony, which ended its 32nd season in August, is the largest privately funded free-admission orchestra in America. It maintains that position by receiving donations and grants. Sun Valley Summer Symphony recently received a combined contribution of $16,000 from U.S. Bank and U.S. Bancorp Foundation.
“U.S. Bank is committed to supporting our community,” Jackie Cole, a member of the Ketchum Private Client Group at U.S. Bank, said. “We are so proud and pleased to be part of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony’s efforts, including world-class performances that bring renowned artists to our valley and music education in the schools. We are already looking forward to next season.”
SVSS Executive Director Jenny Krueger said the organization appreciated the “recognition that comes when a national financial institution such as U.S. Bank makes a significant investment in the Sun Valley Summer Symphony. This is the third year in a row that U.S. Bank has made a major contribution, and we are grateful for the support.”
Further information can be found at svsummersymphony.org and usbank.com.
Ribbon Cutting & Appreciation Party to Celebrate Bloom Community Farm
The Hunger Coalition is driving attention to Hunger Awareness Month and the new Bloom Community Farm at a Ribbon Cutting and Appreciation Party from 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12. The event is free and will be held at the Farm, located on the south end of Quigley Canyon and accessed from Fox Acres Road.
Hunger Awareness Month is designed to build advocacy for the food insecure. Despite the marked affluence of our community, hunger affects a surprising number of Blaine County residents. Last year The Hunger Coalition provided support for 17 percent of our county’s population of more then 3,500 individuals. From a community food assessment, The Hunger Coalition learned that inability to afford food competing with the overwhelming stigma about accessing food assistance is preventing families from getting the healthy foods they need.
Bloom Community Farm is a visionary new opportunity to address hunger in our county. The Ribbon Cutting and Appreciation Party will introduce the community to this exciting new project, made possible by the generosity and partnership of many. With the objective of enhancing the knowledge, skills, and nourishment of its participants, the Farm will engage a thoughtful community from diverse backgrounds to ultimately join together and provide for one another.
To RSVP, contact The Hunger Coalition at (208) 788-0121 or info@thehungercoalition.org.
A treat or just creepy?
Like the rest of the nation, southern Idaho communities have seen an influx of random clown sightings in recent weeks. If this weren’t strange enough, there are also clown characters who are trying to follow and “friend” teens on social media such as Facebook and Instagram in the Shoshone, Hagerman, Wendell and Gooding areas. Nampa also reported activity of clown sightings and social networking.
If you see or read anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement. The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office said that, to date, there have been no reports of such activity in the Wood River Valley.
ERC hires new program director
The Environmental Resource Center recently hired Massachusetts native Alisa McGowan as the nonprofit organization’s new program director.
McGowan graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor of science degree in environmental science and water resources. After graduation, she worked as a naturalist in Colorado, led whitewater rafting trips on the Salmon River, led backcountry ski trips throughout the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and led outdoor program trips for The Sage School and Community School.
Stop by the ERC office at 471 N. Washington Ave., Ketchum, to meet and visit with McGowan, or call (208) 726-4333. For more information on current and upcoming programs and initiatives, visit ercsv.org.
Scam artists are hitting small towns
Reports of a scam focusing on ads placed in small-town newspapers have surfaced in Ketchum. The buyer says he will send a check for over the amount requested, and that the seller should deposit the check and give a “mover” the extra amount. Recently, a seller who had placed an ad in a local paper for a bed decided to check with the issuing bank. She found the check was fraudulent. She immediately told the buyer, who would only converse via text or email, that she would not sell the bed to him. If checks are for more than the amount, be wary and check it out.
Another scam involves a so-called Visa security check. “This is happening in the Midwest right now and moving across the country,” the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office said on a Facebook post. “This one is pretty slick, since they provide you with all the information, except the one piece they want,” which is your three-digit code on the back of your card.
The caller identifies himself as being from the Security and Fraud Department at Visa. He gives a badge number and says that the customer’s card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern.
The caller asks if you bought some item. When you say no, the caller says they will give you credit, and says that they’ve been watching this company.
“The caller continues: ‘I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this control number.’ The caller then gives you a six-digit number. ‘Do you need me to read it again?’”
At this point the caller gets to the real question. He’ll ask for the three-digit code on the back. He will say that that verifies the card is in your possession.
The actual Visa Security Department has verified this is a scam, and recommends that one not give out the three-digit number to someone who wants to verify your card. Instead, tell them you will call Visa or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation.
Insurance rates in Idaho to increase
The Idaho Department of Insurance says insurance rates will increase in 2017, though there will be more carriers available with 186 medical plans to choose from.
“While other states have seen dramatic reductions in carriers participating on their health insurance exchanges, the good news for Idaho is that we continue to have robust choice,” Dean Cameron, Idaho Department of Insurance director, said.
The final 2017 rate adjustments and justifications for each carrier are published on the Department website, doi.idaho.gov/consumer/RateReview, along with an interactive tool where consumers can click on their geographical location to find plans sold in that area and see the rate adjustments per plan.
“The rate increases are definitely greater than we would like, and we were able to work with the carriers to reduce some of the rate increases,” Cameron said. “However, the claims costs continue to be much greater than the carriers originally expected, which is a key driver of the rate increases.”
To help consumers understand the network changes, the Department worked with Idaho’s state-based marketplace, Your Health Idaho, to develop network size indicators of “Basic,” “Standard” and “Broad.” Consumers are encouraged to consider their plan’s network and consult their provider directory. The Department also encourages consumers to carefully review the out-of-network provisions of their plan.
Consumers are encouraged to contact the Idaho Department of Insurance by visiting doi.idaho.gov or (800) 721-3272 toll-free statewide.
Hearings will give Idahoans a voice for salmon
After two decades and five failed attempts to write a legal and biologically sound plan to keep Idaho’s endangered salmon from going extinct, the federal government announced a fall meeting schedule to gather public input about how to manage dams in the region.
Region-wide meetings will start Oct. 24 and run through Dec. 13, four of which will be in Idaho: Oct. 26 in Priest River, Oct. 27 in Bonners Ferry, Nov. 16 in Lewiston and Nov. 29 in Boise.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the people of the Pacific Northwest to speak with one voice on behalf of free-flowing rivers and abundant salmon,” said Tom Stuart, an Idaho Rivers United board member and ardent advocate for salmon recovery.
The process will be undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries and Bonneville Power Administration. It’s the result of a May 4 federal court ruling won by a coalition of conservation organizations, including Idaho Rivers United and the Idaho Sierra Club. In that ruling, federal District Judge Michael Simon lambasted the federal government for failing to show that its dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers aren’t driving endangered salmon and steelhead further toward extinction. It was the fifth consecutive time in 25 years that a federal judge has overturned a salmon plan; Simon is the third judge to do so.
Simon went further than his predecessors and required that the federal government write an environmental impact statement that considers an array of options. Simon wrote that he doubted such a document could be written without thoroughly considering lower Snake River dam removal. Federal agencies then announced they would undertake a five-year process to write the document.
“Idaho’s salmon and people need help now, and they need certainty now,” Stuart said. “Five more years of salmon slaughter because of unnecessary dams is unconscionable. We need to free the Snake now.”
“Federal dams in Washington state have destroyed Idaho’s salmon and steelhead fisheries, and despite spending more than $15 billion on techno fixes, we haven’t moved the needle,” The Sierra Club’s Idaho director Zack Waterman said. “This is not just a historic opportunity to save Idaho’s wild salmon, but also a chance to restore an entire river ecosystem. It would be one of the largest fishery restoration projects in human history and is an enormous economic opportunity for the state.”
Lana Weber, a community engagement associate for the Idaho Conservation League, reiterated that this process is about people, and the more people who become involved, the better.
“Public turnout and participation in this process is vital,” Weber said.