No Joke: Company Of Fools Fool’s Day Event To Promote New Season
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Company of Fools (COF) will be hosting their annual Fool’s Day celebration, Monday, April 1, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. The event is free and open to the public.
Every year, Fool’s Day brings together The Center, COF and members of the community to celebrate the new season. Attendees can look forward to sneak peeks of upcoming programming, including an announcement of COF’s 24th season and The Center’s 2019–2020 BIG IDEA projects, concerts, films, lectures and more. Guests will enjoy homemade desserts, refreshments and festivities, as well as chances to win tickets for COF’s 24th season and fun schwag from The Center.
“I am so excited to begin my work as the new producing artistic director of Company of Fools,” said Scott Palmer, who begins his new position at COF this March. “We hope to bring laughter, love, and provocative questions to our audiences in a season that features classics of American drama, new visions of beloved stories, and cutting-edge new works. It will be a season to remember, I promise.
Ketchum Hires Interim Fire Chief
The City of Ketchum has hired Tom Bowman, a current volunteer for the Ketchum Fire Department, to serve as Interim Fire Chief.
A long-time Blaine County resident, Bowman has spent much of his time in public service. He was a Blaine County Commissioner, Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commissioner and Ketchum Rural Fire District Commissioner. Bowman has also served as a volunteer firefighter since 1984.
“I’m very excited that Tom has joined our team,” said Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “His experience and relationship with our volunteer and full-time firefighters will be good for the city.”
Lawmakers Want Property Tax Hikes To ‘Take A Hike’
A Senate committee voted unanimously last week to address the unforeseen negative impacts associated with a 2016 law that caps homeowners’ property tax exemption at $100,000. The bill will now have a full hearing before heading to the House floor.
In 2016, the legislature capped the property tax exemption at $100,000 and, since then, increases in property values have resulted in massive increases in property taxes for many homeowners. Property tax exemptions allow homeowners to reduce the tax burden associated with the home in which they reside. It does not impact second homes or rental properties.
“When the exemption was capped, no one could have anticipated the incredible rise in taxable values,” Sen. Maryanne Jordan (D-Boise) said. “Now (homeowners) have been blindsided by enormous tax bills they could not have seen coming.”
The cap, combined with increased property values, has disproportionately shifted the tax burden to homeowners over commercial properties. Restoring the index will bring fairness back to property tax levels and align better with federal tax laws, proponents say.”
Child Thrown From Snowmobile
The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a snowmobile crash Sunday out Croy Creek Road west of Hailey.
Jesus Gilberto Munoz Jimenez, 35, of Bellevue, reported he was riding a snowmobile with a 5-year-old male passenger sitting in front. The child accidentally grabbed onto and fully depressed the throttle, launching the snowmobile airborne from a snowbank on the north side of the road and impacting a snowbank on the south side of the road. Both passengers were ejected and sustained injuries. They were transported by ground ambulance to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. Jimenez was treated and released for minor injuries. The child was flown to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Neither rider was wearing a helmet, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Solar Bill Sees Light Of Day
On Monday, the Homeowner Solar Rights bill, sponsored by Representatives Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) and Randy Armstrong (R-Inkom), passed unanimously in Senate State Affairs. The legislation now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. The bill has already passed overwhelmingly in the House, so the Senate floor will be the final hurdle before going to Governor Little to be signed into law. Rep. Rubel expressed the importance of passing the legislation.
“After working closely with HOAs and industry, we have developed legislation that restores homeowners’ rights to make their own decisions about solar panels. I am extremely encouraged by the overwhelming support the legislation has seen in the House and Senate, so far. I hope that the Senate floor will prioritize homeowners’ rights in the same way other legislators have,” Rubel said.
High School Grads Could See Financial Help At College
Senator Grant Burgoyne (D-Boise) unveiled draft legislation to provide “last dollar” financial support to Idaho students seeking education and training beyond high school. He also announced that, over the next several months, he will discuss the proposed legislation with key stakeholder groups including K-12 and post-secondary educators and administrators, state and nonprofit agencies, business leaders and the general public.
“For many Idaho students, the gap between the financial resources they have and the actual cost of attending college or workforce training is just too wide,” Burgoyne told members of the press gathered at the Capitol. “This legislation will help fill that gap, improve enrollment and completion rates in Idaho’s public post-secondary programs and, thereby, jumpstart the state’s workforce readiness.”
The legislation would be available to students of all ages and incomes and target those who wish to enroll in one-year certificate and two-year associate degree programs. Under the legislation, institutions would be tasked with providing participating students pre- and post-enrollment mentors and other supports needed for student success and program completion. A required community service component would allow students to give back for the support they receive. The approach is intended to maximize the return on investment for both the student and the state.
Although there is more work to be done on cost estimates, a preliminary analysis indicated a possible cost in the $18 million range, but there are several factors that would immediately mitigate this cost estimate.
Helping The Children Of Haiti
A Haiti Relief Team from St. Thomas Episcopal Church, along with students and teachers from Sun Valley Community School and Ernest Hemingway STEAM School, are hosting a Haiti Micah Project Community Dinner fundraiser April 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will be upstairs in the Big Room of the Middle School Building at the Sun Valley Community School campus. Tickets are $40 adults, $20 children. Proceeds go to efforts that, among other things, sponsor individual children, providing funds to secure their most basic needs of food, water, shelter, clothing, medical care and education.
There will be a buffet-style Haitian dinner with juices and dessert. Videos and pictures of the group’s recent April 2018 trip will be on displa
Fish and Game Seeks Volunteer Planting Help This Spring
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is looking for volunteers to assist in planting sagebrush and bitterbrush seedlings this spring.
These native shrub communities provide food and shelter to a variety of wildlife including mule deer, elk, sage grouse and other upland birds, as well as songbirds and small mammals. Native shrub communities at lower elevations provide critical wintering habitat for big game; but wildfires have burned thousands of acres of winter range in the Magic Valley region. These plantings are an effort to restore wildlife habitat that has burned during recent wildfires.
Over the past nine years, volunteers have planted 300,000 seedlings during restoration efforts in the Magic Valley region.
Planting dates and locations are below:
- March 16 – Walker Reservoir north of King Hill
- March 23 – Connor Fire south of Malta
- April 6 – Dog Creek Fire north of Gooding
Planting tools and materials will be provided at the site.
For more information regarding the planting projects or to get signed up as a volunteer, please contact Brandon Tycz or TanaRae Alberti at (208) 324-4359 or brandon.tycz@idfg.idaho.gov or tanarae.alberti@idfg.idaho.gov. Maps defining the gathering site will be emailed to each volunteer after signing up to help plant.”
Hailey and Wood River Fire Board
to Appoint Member-at-Large
The City of Hailey and Wood River Fire Protection District is currently seeking interested parties to fill a position on its board.
The board consists of two Wood River Fire Protection District commissioners, two Hailey City Council members and a fifth member-at-large position. All appointments expire at the end of each calendar year, with appointees being eligible for reappointment following the advertisement and consideration of all interested candidates. Anyone who has resided within the City of Hailey or the Wood River Fire Protection District for at least two years may apply for the member-at-large board position.
A letter of interest and resume should be directed to either organization, on or before April 1, 2019. The appointment will beconsidered by the board during their first meeting in April. Please send letter of interest and resume to City Clerk, 115 South Main Street, Suite H, Hailey ID 83333 or HFD@haileycityhall.org or blassman@wrfr.com.
Hailey To Play Host To Gymnastics Championships
Hailey’s Spirit ‘n Motion Athletic School (SMAS) is set to host the Idaho State Xcel Gymnastics Championships. The two-day event will take place March 23-24 at the Wood River High School gymnasium. Around 350 athletes from all over Idaho are registered to compete. Everyone from the community is invited to attend.
“We are super excited that SMAS got the bid to host the USA Gymnastics Idaho State Xcel Championships this year, and are thrilled to invite all the athletes that have qualified around the state to the final competition of our season,” said Amanda Wilson, SMAS head coach.
To learn more about Spirit n’ Motion and its upcoming gymnastics meets, visit www.spiritnmotion.com.No Joke: Company Of Fools Fool’s Day Event To Promote New Season “The Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Company of Fools (COF) will be hosting their annual Fool’s Day celebration, Monday, April 1, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. The event is free and open to the public.
Second City To Make Second Trip To Sun Valley
After two sellout performances by The Second City in 2018, the Sun Valley Center for the Arts is bringing back Chicago’s legendary comedy company to perform their newest touring show, “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” at the Sun Valley Opera House for two performances Saturday, April 6, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m.
The Second City on Tour features comics performing a diverse array of sketches and songs, as well as off-the-cuff improvisation. The company’s latest laughter-inducing undertaking, “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” takes direct aim at love, heartbreak, missed connections and the messy mire of human relationships.
“It’s possible that my stomach is still sore from the belly laughing at last year’s show,” said Kristine Bretall, The Center’s Director of Performing Arts. “They are simply the gold standard for improv, so be prepared to laugh—and maybe even be a participant.”
The Second City’s formula is deceptively simple: five actors, joined by a musical accompanist and a sound and lighting director. They perform a two-act revue featuring sketch comedy, songs and improvisation.
Preschool and Kindergarten Open Houses and Tours
Registration for all-day kindergarten, dual immersion kindergarten and preschool will take place the week of April 8. Prior to registration, tours for prospective kindergarten parents are scheduled at Hailey Elementary and are available by appointment at other schools.
Tours at Hailey Elementary are available on Friday, March 15 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. or by calling the school to make an appointment. In addition, Hailey Elementary will hold an open house for kindergarten on Wednesday, March 13 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The open house offers parents a chance to see Kkndergarten classes in action and learn more about the instruction and curriculum.
Tours at Alturas Elementary, Bellevue Elementary and Ernest Hemingway STEAM School are available by appointment.
All-day kindergarten options include a dual immersion program in which students learn in and through two languages. The goals are bilingualism, biliteracy, and high academic achievement in both English and Spanish for all students. Different versions of the program are offered at Hemingway Elementary and Alturas Elementary.
Students entering kindergarten must be age 5 on or before Sept. 1, 2019. Students entering preschool must be age 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2019.
Prospective parents can contact any of the elementary schools to schedule a tour. School contact information is:
- Alturas Elementary, (208) 578-5090, Secretary Andrea Jost, Principal, Brad Henson
- Bellevue Elementary, (208) 578-5080, Secretary Sharon Boyle, Principal, Mark Sauvageau
- Hailey Elementary, (208) 578-5070, Secretary Nancy Sutton, Principal, Thad Biggers
- Ernest Hemingway STEAM School, (208) 578-5050, Secretary Michelle Dion, Principal, Tish Short
BCRD Youth Spring Sports Registration Now Open
Registration for the Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) youth spring sports leagues is now open. BCRD spring sports, for boys and girls ages 5 to 12, include track and field, t-ball, machine-pitch baseball, player-pitch baseball, and player/coach-pitch softball. These popular programs emphasize skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork and fun.
Volunteer coaches are vital to these programs. The registration fee is waived for children of coaches. 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, please visit www.bcrd.org, or contact Dave Keir, Associate Director—Youth Programs, at (208) 578-2273 or dkeir@bcrd.org.
Medicare Workshops To Be Offered In Burley
A pair of Medicare workshops for individuals turning 65 and those approaching Medicare eligibility will be held Monday, March 18, at the Burley Public Library, 1300 Miller Ave., Burley. The first of the two free sessions will run from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by an evening workshop from 5 to 7 p.m. Caregivers, those interested in learning how Medicare works, and individuals not eligible for Medicare are encouraged to attend and learn about other health plan options from a local enrollment counselor.
The Medicare workshops will be led by Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA), a unit of the Idaho Department of Insurance. SHIBA presenters will introduce the various parts of Medicare and explain some of the vocabulary associated with the program. To register for either workshop, please contact the SHIBA Helpline at 1 (800) 247-4422. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Local Middle Schoolers Win State Robotics Tournament, Headed To Worlds
The sixth- and seventh-grade robotics team from Wood River Middle School won the Idaho VEX IQ Robotics Competition held at Syringa Middle School in Caldwell. They were two of the 21 teams from throughout Idaho that participated in the event that qualified winners for the upcoming world tournament.
The team consisted of Kameron Perron, Preston Kendall, Finn Wolfrom, Dylan Benson, Johny Blacker, Charles Rollins, Orrie DeShields, Jonah Pettinger, and McKay Wilson. In addition, the seventh-grade team of Perron, Kendall, Wolfrom, and Benson brought home the Tournament Champions trophy, Robot Skills Trophy, and the AMAZE award. The sixth-grade team of Blacker, Rollins, DeShields, Pettinger and Wilson brought home the Tournament Champions trophy as well as the Excellence Award. The mixed-grade-level team of Isaiah Garrison, Chase Schwartz and Luke Miller placed fourth in Robot Skills and eighth in overall qualifying rounds.
Now entering its 12th year, VEX IQ Robotics will bring together the top student-led robotics teams from around the world to Louisville, Kentucky, on April 28 to May 1. Wood River Middle School’s teams will be two of 400 teams from around the world that have qualified to attend this event.
Jeremy Silvis, teacher and robotics coach from Wood River Middle School, said, “These kids have worked extremely hard and put in many, many hours before school to get where they are. Their hard work paid off and they are now the top middle school VEX IQ Robotics teams in the state.”
The Blaine County School District’s K-12 robotics program (known at BCB Bots) was the first of its kind in the state of Idaho. Now in its 10th year at Wood River High School (WRHS), and its seventh year at Wood River Middle School (WRMS), BCB Bots has participants from elementary to high school.
Students are fundraising for travel expenses and donations can be made through Go Fund Me: www.gofundme.com/wrmsrobotics2019.
State Urges Residents To Prepare For Snow Melt Surge
It takes only a few inches of water to cause thousands of dollars in property damage. That’s the message the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) is trying to get out to residents in the Wood River Valley and other high snowfall areas.
As spring temperatures begin to rise, so does the potential for area flooding. So the DOI is urging consumers to protect their homes and families by securing flood insurance long before area snowpack begins to melt and seasonal rains occur.
Consumers should be aware that only flood insurance covers flood damage, while most standard homeowner’s policies do not. Also, flood policies typically mandate a 30-day waiting period before coverage becomes effective.
“Many consumers remain unprotected, but you don’t have to live in a flood zone or high-risk area to suffer major flood damage,” said DOI Director Dean Cameron. “Don’t get caught off guard. Meet with a licensed agent to discuss and review your coverage now.”
For information on flood insurance policies, visit the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or call (800) 427-4661.
Senator Shoots Down Concealed Firearms Bill
The firearms bill that would have allowed special concealed-carry permit holders to bring their hidden weapons into schools unannounced got silenced by Sen. Fred Martin (D-Boise) last week. In February, the bill garnered enough committee support to move to the full House. But the public hearing required to take place in the Senate was nixed by Martin last week.
Proponents of the controversial bill derided Martin’s decision, calling it reprehensible and a veto of a group of elected lawmakers’ votes by, essentially, one person.
Up Next: Conceal Carry Permits For 18-year-olds
On Tuesday morning, legislation that would allow 18-year-olds to conceal carry guns passed in the House State Affairs committee. The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote. Under current law, someone must be 21 or older to be allowed to conceal carry. Representatives Brooke Green (D-Boise) and John Gannon (D-Boise) led the opposition to the bill in committee. Rep. Gannon explained his genuine concerns if the legislation became law.
“There is no requirement of any training or experience with weapons in the bill and some kind of minimal familiarity with them is something we should expect and require before they carry concealed handguns, period,” Gannon explained.
“In Idaho, most 18-year-olds are still in high school,” Green said. “Kids this age will often hang out with 15- or 16-year-old children. And, it terrifies me to think of a group of kids playing video games, running around the park, or riding bikes while one of the them is holding onto a gun. It’s impossible to guarantee that younger kids will not grab at the gun and potentially cause an accident.”
Legislature Hopes New Laws Can Catch Up To E-bikes
Legislation regarding e-bikes passed on the Senate floor with a unanimous vote taken last week. The bill now heads to the governor where it is expected to be signed into law.
The legislation clarifies Idaho code with regard to a new category of bicycles commonly known as e-bikes. These bicycles use a small electric motor to give a boost to the rider when extra speed is desirable but current law does not correctly address these technological advances. Specifically, the bill incorporates three basic categories of e-bikes into the definition of an e-bike, agreed upon by bicycle manufacturers. This will help cities, counties, and the state to better regulate their use.
Fatal Crash On US 30 Near Buhl
On March 5, 2019, at 5:21 p.m., Idaho State Police investigated a two-vehicle fatality crash on US 30 at milepost 195.4, near Buhl. Robin Parry, 37, of Hollister, was driving a 2006 Subaru Impreza westbound on US 30. Dennis Norwood, 62, of Buhl, was driving a 2013 Toyota Tacoma pickup eastbound on US 30 at milepost 195.4. Parry drifted over the centerline and collided with Norwood head-on. Norwood went off the right shoulder of the road. Parry’s vehicle came to rest in the eastbound lanes of travel.
Parry succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the crash. Derek Haas, 50, of Hagerman, was a passenger in Parry’s vehicle. Haas and Norwood were transported by air ambulance to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Parry and Haas were wearing seatbelts. Norwood was not wearing a seatbelt.
Fireworks Bill Hopes To Prevent Fires
A bill aimed at preventing fires caused by Fourth of July celebrations passed in committee last week and now heads to the Senate floor. The legislation will align Idaho’s code on state lands with federal lands law to ban “exploding targets” during the designated fire season. According to officials, the flammable targets have been one of the biggest culprits of human-caused blazes.
“Every year, an increasing number of fires in Idaho are caused by exploding targets,” bill sponsor Sen. Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) said. “In July alone, fire officials said that at least eight wildfires were caused by exploding targets in southern Idaho, burning tens of thousands of acres.”
