Jury duty phone scam occurring in Blaine County
The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous calls from Blaine County citizens saying a “Lt. Jerry Mills,” who claimed to be with the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, contacted them. The caller informed the citizens they had warrants issued for their arrest by Judge Robert Elgee for failure to appear for jury duty, and that they owe fines from $250 to $5,700.
Using knowledge of a spouse’s name and their current address, “Mills” explained that their spouse previously signed for a certified letter weeks ago notifying them of the jury summons. “Mills” asked them to purchase a “green dot card” with the specified fine amount charged to the card. Once returned to him, he will have the warrant eliminated.
No such officer exists or is employed by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office. The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office does not request money over the phone or offer to “take care” of warrants. Real warrants must be dealt with through the Blaine County court system.
If you receive a call from (208) 270-3310 or anyone asking you to send them money to get rid of a warrant, report it to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office Detective Unit at (208) 788-5515. This scam is currently under investigation.
Where is Idaho headed?
The Community Library will present a talk called “Where is Idaho Headed?” by Lauren Necochea, the director of two nonprofits, the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy and Idaho Voices for Children, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Necochea will discuss how trends in investment in education, healthcare, and other public priorities impact our economic future. She says the investments we make today are critical for our quality of life tomorrow. These priorities include public schools, higher education, transportation, health and public safety. This presentation will discuss the extent to which Idaho is meeting its own goals in these areas and the implications of the recent national election.
Necochea previously oversaw and evaluated programs addressing children’s safety and health hazards for the Baltimore City Health Department, in Baltimore, Md. She was a policy fellow with joint appointments at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Princeton University’s Center for Health and Wellbeing. She has evaluated anti-poverty programs internationally and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study microfinance in Peru. Lauren earned her master’s in public affairs at Princeton University and holds a B.A. in economics from Pomona College.
For more information, call (208) 726-3493.
Wood River Insurance earns award
Wood River Insurance in Hailey earned a 2016 Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award for its community work with the Crisis Hotline.
The award includes a $4,000 donation to the Crisis Hotline from Safeco Insurance. Wood River Insurance agent Hailee Blomquist and the Crisis Hotline also had a story featured on Safeco.com, which awarded the nonprofit an additional $1,000. For the organization to win the extra money, at least 50 different individuals had to leave a virtual “cheer” on the Safeco.com story.
Safeco’s Make More Happen Award recognizes independent agents who demonstrate extraordinary volunteerism for a nonprofit organization. Wood River Insurance was selected for the Make More Happen Award based on a photo and application demonstrating its commitment to the Crisis Hotline, which serves Blaine County.
The teen outreach program is a prime focus area of the Crisis Hotline, with volunteers visiting schools and educating students on issues such as bullying, depression and the warning signs of suicide. Wood River Insurance employees volunteer at events each quarter, including school lunch hours, to hand out flyers.
Holiday Market in Hailey returns for second year
The Holiday Market at the Wood River Sustainability Center will bring the focus of Valley holiday shopping to Hailey on the second weekend of December, joining the long-established Tara Bella’s Cristkindl Markt, which has been held in Hailey for many years.
The Holiday Market is located inside the Wood River Sustainability Center, at 308 S. River St. in Hailey. The open hours will be Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Haven food truck will be onsite with many delicious options created by chef/owner Kellee Havens. You can sip your favorite beverage while you peruse the arts and crafts offerings of 11 local artisans plus piles of books, gifts and stocking stuffers.
The list of participating Holiday Market vendors will include Debra Thomas with divinity, caramel pecan logs and other holiday confections; Louise Pidgeon, cheese straws and “The Recipe”; Lisa Horton, bronze, copper and silver handmade jewelry; Kerry Brokaw, felted gnomes and dolls; Sean Peterson, bowls hand-turned from local woods; Elise Stelling, fine silver and bronze jewelry; Mary Jones of The Chocolate Moose with gingerbread houses and cookies, plus edible jewelry; Billie Leigh, jams, sauces and homemade soaps; Kira Gray, Wood River Naturals body products; Jennifer Biondi, unique upcycled accessories and home décor; and Sandi Chapman, nutcrackers, nuts and popcorn treats.
Sarah Hedrick of Iconoclast Books and Café will have a minivan full of gifts for kids and adults. Also available at the Sustainability Center will be Al’s famous sourdough bread, organic meats and vegetables to take home for dinner.
For more information, call 208-721-1798.
The Spot gains nonprofit status
The Spot, a performing arts studio in Ketchum, recently received its nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Interval Revenue Code.
The Spot provides an educational venue for young artists to collaborate with professional mentors and produces exhilarating works––contemporary and classical––in an effort to make theatre accessible to the larger community and explore our collective humanity. All donations to The Spot will now be tax-deductible; visit spotsunvalley.com to learn more about the organization.
Volunteer with the ACLU of Idaho
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will hold a Volunteer Open House for prospective volunteers, either in person or via Facebook, from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Linen Building, 1402 W. Grove St., in Boise. The organization will offer volunteer opportunities with our different departments, explain what the ACLU of Idaho does, and plan how we can all work together to make change in Idaho.
This event is being held in Boise, but the organization will live-stream portions on Facebook for those who aren’t able to make it. ACLU is seeking volunteers from all over the state.
To RSVP, visit facebook.com/events/507804372744990.
Holiday parties to be held at Webb Garden Centers
Webb Landscaping’s three garden center locations will host its annual Sleigh Bells and Cocktails event from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. There will be food, music and much more.
The garden centers are located at 162 Glendale Rd., Bellevue; 417 N. Main St., Hailey; and 891 Washington Ave., Ketchum. For information, call (208) 788-2066 or email info@webbland.com.
Musician and writer to read from new book
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts will present the singer/songwriter Korby Lenker in a reading from his first book of stories, “Medium Hero,” 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at The Center in Ketchum. There is a $10 suggested donation.
The stories are culled from Lenker’s 15 years on the road as a solo touring musician. A Twin Falls native, Lenker will also perform the following night at the Sun Valley Opera House in Sun Valley.
For more information, visit sunvalleycenter.org or call (208) 726-9491.
City of Hailey to honor retiring board members
The City of Hailey has 40 non-elected volunteer advisors and experts on various boards and commissions, which shape significant community dialogue. Board members act as engaged citizens and creative thinkers to make recommendations to the city council. The people who volunteer in the capacity of a board or commission member perform an essential service to government
In 2016, several longstanding board members stepped down from their boards, after having completed several years of service, including Janet Fugate (20 years), Terry Clark (6 years), Jeff Beacham (6 years), Mary Sfingi (5 years), Jim Spinelli (5 years), Angela Hicks (4 years) and Sara Baldwin (2 years).
These members belonged to, respectively, the Hailey Parks & Lands Board,
Hailey Parks & Lands Board, Hailey Tree Committee, Urban Renewal Agency,
Urban Renewal Agency, Arts & Historic Preservation Commission and the Hailey Public Library Board of Trustees.
They will be honored in a public reception in the Hailey City Council chambers 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5.