Mountain Humane Tour: See What Everyone’s Barking About
The Chamber – Hailey & The Wood River Valley is inviting businesses and the public to the March Business After Hours hosted by Mountain Humane. The event will be located at Penny’s Barn, 101 Croy Creek Road, out Croy Canyon west of downtown Hailey. A tour of the new facility starts at 4:30 p.m.
Mountain Humane opened its doors to the public last month, so come and see the new Animal Adoption and Humane Educational Campus while tasting light food fair and refreshments provided for all to enjoy. It is a great way to make new contacts and learn about our community businesses. Please call (208) 788-3484 for additional information.
Don’t forget to bring your business cards for our monthly raffle.
Vape Tax Bill Is Ready For Debate
Representative John Gannon (D-Boise) introduced legislation this week that would put a 15 percent retail tax on vape sales in Idaho. The bill was printed with a 10-2 vote and is designed to start the discussion. Gannon’s bill provides that the tax proceeds will go to the Millennium Fund to be used for vaping education and outreach projects.
Because e-cigarette sellers are not licensed, there is little information about the amount of their sales, so it is not known how much money would be raised.
“The intent of the legislation is to tax the vape material with nicotine in it,” Gannon said. “The 15 percent percentage is very similar to how cigarettes are taxed.”
A recent study by the U.S. Surgeon General found that vape products are the most commonly used tobacco products among U.S. youth. The Food and Drug Administration recently said vaping is an epidemic among our youth.
Ketchum Rural Fire Officials May Fire The City Of Ketchum
The Ketchum Rural Fire District will meet Thursday, March 21, at 9 a.m. at Ketchum City Hall, to discuss whether to terminate its contract with the City of Ketchum. Ending their partnership would open the door to contracting with the Sun Valley Fire Department, a prospect that has been on the table since the Ketchum City Council voted against a full merger with Sun Valley for police and fire protection services earlier this month.
Head-on Collision Kills Twin Falls Woman
On Saturday, March 16, 2019, at approximately 6:37 a.m., Idaho State Police investigated a two-vehicle fatality crash on State Highway 46 at milepost 102 two miles north of Wendell.
Daniel Cruz Ortiz, 21, of Wendell, was driving southbound on SH46 in a 2009 Dodge 1500 pickup. Jessie Otton, 26, of Twin Falls, was driving northbound on SH46 in a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer. Ortiz fell asleep, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with the Chevrolet Blazer. Otton succumbed to her injuries on scene. All occupants were wearing a seatbelt.
Otton’s juvenile passenger was transported by air ambulance to St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise. The juvenile passenger was wearing a seatbelt.
Idaho State Police was assisted by Gooding County Sheriff’s Office, Wendell Fire Department, and the Idaho Transportation Department.
Steelhead Fishing Gets More Predictable
Idaho’s congressional delegation announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued Idaho an incidental take permit for steelhead fishing, providing reliability to Idaho’s outfitters and guides for the upcoming season and to the local communities that rely on the commerce steelhead fishing generates. After working to resolve the issue for months, U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and U.S. Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher applauded the news.
“Steelhead fishing is a cherished pastime among Idahoans and a critical economic driver in small communities,” said Senator Risch. “We have been working closely with NOAA to ensure that steelhead fishing is protected, and I am pleased that sportsmen, outfitters and guides and the communities that rely on them will have predictability going into the future.”
Driver And Passenger Flee I-84 Accident Scene
On Sunday, March 17, 2019, at approximately 12:54 a.m., Idaho State Police received a call for a wrong-way driver traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-84 near milepost 155, the Wendell exit. The vehicle crashed near milepost 147, the Tuttle exit, at approximately 1:02 a.m.
An unknown driver and his passenger, who fled the scene on foot, were in a 2008 Saturn Vue traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes on I-84. Demetri Kondratyuk, 22, of Lincoln, Neb., was driving a 2004 Audi A4 eastbound on I-84. The vehicles collided head-on near milepost 147, the Tuttle exit.
Kondratyuk and his passenger, Bogdan Kondratyuk, 19, also of Lincoln, Neb., were transported by ground ambulance to North Canyon Medical Center in Gooding. Demetri and Bogdan were wearing seatbelts.
Big Names Slated For Summer Music Series
Always one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Sun Valley summer season, the Sun Valley Center for the Arts’ 2019 Summer Concert Series will feature a lineup of world-class performers and their bands: Ziggy Marley, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Jackson Browne.
Tickets for individual concerts start at $20 for students (except for Jackson Browne), $35 for members and $45 for non-members, not including taxes and fees. Prices vary per concert; please visit www.sunvalleycenter.org for details on pricing and how to purchase.
St. Luke’s Local Trauma Care Recognized By State
St. Luke’s Wood River has been approved as a Level IV Trauma Center by the Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency (TSE) Center, demonstrating the hospital’s ability to provide advanced trauma life support and seamless transfer of patients to a higher-level trauma center when specialized care is needed.
The TSE system was approved and funded by the Idaho Legislature in 2014 to address three of the top five causes of death in Idaho: trauma, stroke and heart attack. Studies show that organized systems of care in such cases improve patient outcomes, reduce the frequency of preventable death and improve patients’ quality of life.
Idaho recognizes five trauma level designations. The higher-level facilities, I and II, treat more complex patients.
Fertility Help For Veterans Heads To Washington
Idaho lawmakers have formally called on the federal government to amend Veteran Affairs (VA) healthcare policy to include fertility treatments for veterans and their spouses when they suffer an injury that affects their ability to procreate.
“When I found out that the VA was not covering fertility treatments for injured veterans, I was shocked and disappointed,” Rep. Brooke Greene (D-Boise) explained. “When a soldier goes to combat, they should expect to come home and be taken care of. They should be able to start a family. I am so glad that my colleagues in the House and Senate unanimously supported this resolution because it shows they value the service that these individuals have given us.
The action taken by state lawmakers was a necessary first step to get the federal government to change their policy. A so-called memorial will now be sent to Idaho’s Congressional Representatives to urge them to change the federal policy.
The Generosity Project ‘Wows’ NAMI With Big Donation
Wow: The Generosity Project has announced it is donating $1,400 to the National Alliance for Mental Illness-Wood River Valley (NAMI-WRV) to support wellness programs here. In total, 56 students from Betty Ervin’s Studio Art class at Wood River High School painted birdhouses that will be on display at the “Journey to Wellness” art show on Monday, March 11 from 5:50 to 7:30 p.m. at the KIC building, 180 6th Street West, Ketchum.
Each student researched a famous artist who had a mental illness, and then painted one of the artist’s works onto a birdhouse.
“We will use these funds to continue our Stigma Free campaign to raise public awareness to the mental health issues that are within our community,” said Christina Cernansky, executive director of NAMI-WRV. “Backing will also be used to support ongoing well-being programs and to assist with NAMI-WRV’s five free support groups in the Valley.”
Bill Banning Child Predators From Owning Firearms Passes, Barely
On Thursday, Representative Melissa Wintrow’s (D-Boise) Sexual Battery of a Minor (H276) bill passed in the House with a 37-31 vote. Sexual exploitation of a minor child and lewd conduct with a child under 16 are already felony crimes that disqualify a convicted felon from owning a firearm. However, sexual misconduct with a minor child 16 or 17 years old are not currently covered under Idaho law and seem to have been left off the list of crimes that disqualifies a convicted felon from owning a firearm.
The bill now heads to the Senate for a full hearing in committee.
Idaho Power Seeks Rate Adjustment Upward
Idaho Power filed its annual Fixed Cost Adjustment (FCA) with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC), requesting an increase of $19.2 million for residential and small general service customers. Translation: If the FCA proposal is approved as filed, a typical residential customer in Idaho using 950 kilowatt-hours per month will see about a $3.49 increase to their monthly bill beginning June 1.
Governor Says It’s Now OK To Donate Your Drugs
Governor Brad Little signed into law a bill that allows individuals to donate drugs to places like medical clinics and health centers. However, it does not allow for controlled substances like opioids to be donated. The legislation goes into effect on July 1, 2019.
The bill also qualifies who may get the donated drugs. Among other constraints, the person must be an Idaho resident and cannot be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid.
