Hailey Unveils Town Square Concepts, Locations To Residents
Renderings of a proposed Hailey Town Square were presented publicly on Monday by two landscape architectural firms working with the City of Hailey to bring a new community venue to the area that could contain intimate spaces within a public setting.
Four renderings were shown for each of the two sites, which were labeled as the City Library Site (on Croy Street between the Hailey Public Library and the former Hailey Hotel) and the Courthouse Site (on privately owned property at the corner of Croy and 1st Avenue, adjacent to the County Annex Building and the Cari’s Hair Care and Jersey Girl building).
The first site is flat, and would entail closing a portion of a street and creating some elevation within the otherwise flat site. The second site is sloped, and would require terracing the slope to connect to 1st Avenue and the courthouse lawn, or constructing a retaining wall to create two separate levels.
Costs for development of each site are expected to be similar, except that one would require the purchase of private property, which is assessed at $433,000. All renderings drew from previous workshops regarding community vision, amenities and activities.
The two-hour workshop was used to create vision and answer questions. Citizens and adjacent businesses attended, and helped evaluate the pros and cons of each site. A follow-up presentation will be made to the city council on June 10.
‘Wolf-Killing Case’ Reinstated By Court
In a victory for a coalition of wildlife conservation groups, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today overturned an Idaho court’s dismissal of their lawsuit challenging Wildlife Services’ wolf hunting in the state. The lawsuit alleges that the federal agency has failed to properly analyze or disclose the effects of its policy.
“With the new decision, we can return to the heart of the matter: whether or not Wildlife Services adequately reviewed the ecological consequences of killing scores of wolves each year in Idaho,” said Talasi Brooks, attorney with Western Watersheds Project. “This lawsuit is all about dispelling the myths and propaganda about the ‘big, bad wolf’ and getting federal agencies to acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence that killing wolves to reduce livestock losses or increase populations of hunted wildlife is cruel, pointless, and doesn’t work.”
Wildlife Services is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture that allows for the hunting of wolves in coordination with livestock industry interests.
The lawsuit calls for new analysis that would consider the impacts of the federal killing program in the context of the state’s management of Idaho’s wolf population.
Wellness Festival Reveals
2019 Event’s Featured Speakers
The Valley’s most health-friendly festival has its slate of featured speakers all set. The Sun Valley Wellness Festival & Conference (SVWFC) released its list of headline speakers for the 2019 Festival, including keynote speaker Dr. Joe Dispenza, an expert on the brain, mind and human potential and best-selling author of “Becoming Supernatural: How Common People are Doing the Uncommon.” He will discuss how people can rewire their brains and recondition their bodies to make lasting changes.
Other featured speakers include:
Roshi Joan Halifax, a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, author, and pioneer in the field of end-of-life care and healing trauma through the medium of mindfulness
Roger McNamee, New York Times best-selling author of “Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe,” will discuss his campaign to trigger a national conversation about the dark side of social media
Dr. David Hepburn, one of Canada’s foremost medical cannabis educators, and an internationally sought-after speaker to policymakers, physicians, pharmacists, and the general public
Dr. Zach Bush, a triple board-certified physician focused on applying the rigor of science, the strength of humanity, and the intelligence of nature to transform the world
Chef Sean Sherman, an Oglala Sioux, founder of The Sioux Chef, and James Beard medal winner who has become internationally renowned in the culinary movement of indigenous foods, will discuss the health benefits of an indigenous diet and his work to educate and make these foods more accessible to the public
Dr. Steven Gundry, New York Times best-selling author of “The Plant Paradox” and latest release, “The Longevity Paradox,” will translate the complex science of aging into a clear, actionable plan for longevity
The event is widely recognized as the longest-running wellness festival in the world. The 22nd annual event will be held June 28 to July 1.
Underage Driver Rolls SUV, Avoids Serious Injury
On Friday, April 26, at approximately 7:58 p.m., deputies from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle rollover on Muldoon Canyon Road, approximately .6 miles east of Bayhorse Road in Bellevue.
A black 2002 GMC Envoy rolled two and half times, coming to rest on its roof on the north side of the road. The driver, a 15-year-old juvenile, reported losing control as he came around a curve while heading west. Both the driver and his 13-year-old passenger were transported to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts. The vehicle sustained substantial damage and was towed from the scene. No citations were issued.
You Can Guide Sawtooth National Recreation Area On Guide Permit Proposal
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is proposing to renew 16 outfitter and guide permits that are expiring at the end of April 2019.
Outfitters and guides provide a valuable service to the public and benefit the local economy. Their specialized knowledge, skills, and experience provide opportunities for people to recreate on national forest lands regardless of their skill level or prior experience.
Comments regarding this proposal will be most useful if received before May 17. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Tom Winter at the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters office at 5 North Fork Canyon Road in Ketchum or by phone at (208) 727-5000. Comments may also be emailed to: TWinter@usda.gov
Services provided by these outfitters are primarily land based and include overnight pack trips, horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, fishing, mountain biking, skiing, backcountry hut rentals, mountaineering, snowmobiling, and hunting. The majority of use occurs in the spring, summer and fall. Winter use is primarily backcountry skiing with some snowmobiling and lion hunting. The new permits would reflect the types of activities, number of service days, and operating areas as currently authorized.
Middle School Braves Student Threats
Wood River Middle School in Hailey spent last Tuesday night and the early hours of last Wednesday morning reacting to possibly threatening statements made by a student, increasing police presence on the campus through the week and raising the possibility classes might be cancelled. The threats were made within a note left in a bathroom Tuesday.
After investigating, law enforcement and school officials agreed that no credible threat had been established. By Wednesday afternoon, however, officials continued to look into the credibility of the threat to WRMS because students came to administration officials to report other information. Each student statement was investigated fully and additional interviews took place throughout the day, the district said.
According to the district, Wood River Middle School Principal Fritz Peters asked that law enforcement officers have a visible presence in the school and to assist in any further information gathering that may come forward. All district schools remained open as usual through the week.
Attention US-93 Drivers:
Expect Delays In Lincoln County
Construction is beginning on a portion of US-93 in Lincoln County. The project will involve the addition of northbound and southbound climbing lanes near Notch Butte, south of Shoshone. Work is expected to be complete this coming fall.
“The addition of climbing lanes will allow drivers to safely pass slower vehicles that may be traveling along the elevated stretch of roadway,” said south-central Idaho project coordinator Kenny Lively. “Overall, this project will help improve safety in the corridor for both commercial and passenger vehicles alike.”
Reduced speeds will be in place throughout the project. Drivers should be aware of crews and equipment present during working hours—Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Western Construction is the general contractor for this project.
Survey Results To Be Unveiled May 1
The advisory board for Visit Sun Valley has been attempting to get your opinions concerning this winter season, especially when it comes to how your business performed. And on Wednesday, May 1, they will unveil their findings.
The session will be held at The Community Library in Ketchum at 10 a.m.
The six-question survey was sent to area businesses with the goal of receiving feedback that would help direct where, and to whom, the efforts of Visit Sun Valley go, the organization said.
Aquatic Center Floats Its Summer Season Schedule
The Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) Aquatic Center in Hailey is gearing up for its summer season with limited pre-season pool hours beginning Saturday, May 25. Regular summer hours start Friday, June 7.
The Aquatic Center offers a 25-yard, six-lane outdoor pool, a kiddie pool with spray feature, a snack bar, a playground, and an in-pool log roller and climbing wall. Swim lessons, youth swim team, adult and family lap swim, masters swim team, aquarobics classes, and recreational swimming are offered throughout the season.
Season passes are available for online purchase and early-bird pricing is offered through May 27. Early-bird pricing on season passes is offered for a family of four (two adults + two children) for $154, an adult for $80, a child (17 and younger) for $66, and seniors (62 and older) for $66.
Masters swim team will be offered this year providing coached workouts to adult swimmers throughout the summer. The program will run June 10 through Aug. 16, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 6 to 7 a.m. Swimmers can enroll for the entire season for $90 or pay an $8 drop-in fee per workout.
For more information on BCRD Aquatic Center programming, call (208) 573-2273 or visit www.bcrd.org.
Local Engineering Firm Earns National Ranking
Engineering News-Record, an industry-leading magazine that publishes a yearly list of top-notch firms, has once again recognized POWER Engineers, Inc., as one of the top design firms in the United States. The company, which is headquartered in Hailey, has ranked among the top 100 design firms since 2005.
ENR ranks the top 500 design firms in the U.S. each year based on annual revenue. POWER has consistently ranked within the top percentiles for overall design firms, the power section, and pure design. POWER solidified its place on these exclusive lists, ranking 36th in overall design firms, fourth in the power sector, and 20th for pure design.
POWER Engineers is a global consulting engineering firm specializing in the delivery of integrated solutions for energy, food and beverage, facilities, environmental and federal markets. POWER Engineers offers complete multidiscipline engineering, architectural, and program management services. Founded in 1976, it is an employee-owned company with more than 2,500 employees and 45 offices throughout the United States and abroad.
Hailey’s Main Street Is About To Get More Colorful
The City of Hailey’s newly formed Hailey Flower Committee is set to begin their pilot summer beautification project in early May on two blocks of Main Street, between Croy and Carbonate streets. The committee, in partnership with local businesses and with support from public and private donations, plans to add hanging flower baskets along storefronts and planter boxes along much of the curbside, as well as spruce up the existing planter beds with a variety of flowers and additional landscaping.
The committee also hopes to incorporate seating and ambient lighting on a few major street corners, such as on the corners of Main and Carbonate streets, outside of Christopher & Co. jewelry store, and in front of the Hailey library on Croy Street. The installations will be in place by late June.
Due to cost, the pilot project will be limited to the three designated blocks this summer only. However, the Flower Committee hopes to expand the program to all of Main Street in future years.
“Let’s make Hailey as beautiful in the summer as it is in the winter,” Jane Drussel, longtime local business owner and member of the Flower Committee, said.
For more information about the project or to make a donation, please contact Hailey Flower coordinator Maddy Waller at maddy.waller@haileycityhall.org.
Business Magazine Honors The Advocates’ CEO
Each year, Idaho Business Review recognizes top leaders in business, government and the nonprofit sector who the magazine describes as “leading the charge toward growth and prosperity.” This year, local nonprofit leader Tricia Swartling, CEO of The Advocates, was selected as one of nine honorees.
“I’ve put my heart and soul into my work with The Advocates. I am thrilled to receive the recognition,” Swartling said.
The CEO of Influence program is in its ninth year. Applications were reviewed by past honorees, who considered each candidate’s track record of leadership, vision, innovation, competitiveness, financial performance and community leadership.
At the helm of The Advocates for over 23 years, Swartling grew the organization from a fledgling nonprofit to one that is considered a leader in the community and model program in Idaho. Along the way, she raised $23 million to support the vision of a compassionate community free from emotional and physical abuse.
“The Idaho Business Review is proud to produce a program that honors CEOs across the state of Idaho for their talent,” said Cindy Suffa, IBR publisher. “This year’s honorees join an impressive group of leaders from past years, representing a variety of business sectors.”
Swartling commented that she was selected in part due to her ability to think big and continue to develop and implement innovative programs that meet the needs of our clients and the community.
The Advocates is recognized as a leader in the state for its focus on implementing results-based programs with the goal of social change over time such as Green Dot Bystander Empowerment, Every Teen Has A Choice Youth Activists, Skills for Success Employability Program, Smart About Money Economic Empowerment Program, and Domestic Violence First Housing. Their newest initiative is Safe Housing First, the construction of 18 units of transitional housing apartments and a new client services center in Hailey. This will address a serious need for affordable, transitional housing for many women, children, men, and even their pets.
A networking reception, dinner and awards event featuring videos of the honorees will be held in their honor on May 9 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Boise Centre. The leaders will be featured in a magazine published with the Idaho Business Review on May 10. The public can reserve tickets to the event on the magazine’s website.
Mental Health Organization
Organizes Mental Health Awareness Month
The organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with mental illness issues has sets its schedule for May—aka Mental Health Awareness Month.
The Wood River Valley affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-WRV) will have a membership drive that will highlight the national StigmaFree campaign and will provide updates on mental health accomplishments in the Valley over the past year. These efforts will bring attention to mental health challenges and encourage wider acceptance and change within the community by removing negative connotations commonly attached to mental health needs.
The community is invited to take part in the annual bike ride this month, NAMI-WRV Executive Director Christina Cernansky said. One way employers, big and small, can make a difference this May is to participate in an HR presentation in partnership with The Chamber and KIC on Wednesday, May 15 at KIC (180 6th St. W., in Ketchum). The event includes a free lunch and will provide information on mental health and the workplace: what these challenges look like, what you can do as a supervisor or manager, and what resources are available for help.
On Saturday, May 18, groups and individuals can get involved by joining the Biking for Mental Wellness, a StigmaFree Ride event. This family-friendly bike ride is a great way to come together and show support for those in the community who are impacted by mental health conditions. NAMI encourages business, faith, government, and nonprofit leaders to utilize this ride as a way to communicate with members of their organization the importance of creating a culture free of stigma, and organized with procedures protecting and helping those with mental health needs. The ride is also a great team-building opportunity to start the conversation, show you care and build a safer, more open community.
The ride starts with check-in at either the YMCA in Ketchum or Blaine County Recreation District in Hailey from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The bike route follows the BCRD trail, with suggested stops at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden, the City of Hailey ArborFest at Roberta McKercher Park, and the Home & Garden Show at Campion Ice House.
Forest Service Proposes To Realign
Deer Creek Road, Relocate Bridge
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to relocate a road bridge and realign a section of Deer Creek Road near mile marker 9.3 on the Ketchum Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest. The purpose of the proposed work is to mitigate flood risks, reduce long-term road maintenance costs, and improve floodplain and riparian conditions, the USFS said.
The project would involve removing an existing undersized bridge, relocating the road crossing downstream to a more sustainable location, and constructing a new 35-foot span timber bridge. The project will also realign approximately 1,200 linear feet of road out of the floodplain into an upland location.
The USFS received funding to complete the proposed work through the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads program from Federal Highways. The project is the next phase in post-fire restoration and recreation access enhancements in the Deer Creek drainage, and is located immediately downstream from the road and floodplain restoration projects completed in 2017-2018.
Comments regarding this proposal will be most useful if received by May 29, 2019. Additional information may be obtained from the Ketchum Ranger District Office, located at 206 Sun Valley Road in Ketchum, or by calling (208) 622-0090. Comments may also be emailed to comments-intermtn-sawtooth-ketchum@fs.fed.us.
Redundant Powerline Project Charges Up Controversy
A grassroots effort to stop construction of an above-ground backup powerline along the Blaine County Scenic Corridor is getting more serious. A group called Protect The Wood River Valley has started an ad campaign and online petition opposing Idaho Power’s plans to add 65-foot high-voltage transmission lines along Buttercup Road and Highway 75 between Hailey and Ketchum. The group says Blaine County should require the utility company to put the backup line underground instead.
“By signing this petition we will let the (Blaine County) commissioners know the community supports burial of the entire high-voltage transmission line and that protecting Hailey and the mid-Valley is just as crucial as burial in Ketchum,” the group says. The group’s full statement and petition can be found on change.org by searching “Burial of Wood River Valley 2nd High Voltage Transmission Line.”
Time will tell if the community supports financing what could be a $30 million project. In the meantime, the Blaine County commissioners will be meeting May 6, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the County Annex Building to hear two formal appeals to their earlier decision regarding Idaho Power’s plan.
Public Invited To A Trashy Competition
The Environmental Resource Center (ERC) is hosting its longest-running program, Clean Sweep—a trash-collecting team effort where businesses get awarded points based on how many bags of trash they collect around town. Winning businesses will be announced and highlighted on the ERC’s website.
The event happens Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Memorial Park in Bellevue. Trash collection runs until noon. After that, Mahoney’s restaurant and Atkinsons’ supermarket will provide participants with a free lunch.
If you are interested in becoming a 2019 Clean Sweep sponsor, email hadly@ercsv.or or call (208) 726-4333.
Ketchum Woman Drives To Sheriff’s Office Under Influence Of Alcohol
A drive to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office in Hailey resulted in the arrest of a Ketchum woman with a history of drunk-driving offenses.
On Thursday, April 25, at approximately 5 p.m., Christine Obeline Cordeau, age 35, was arrested for felony Driving Under the Influence at the Blaine County Public Safety Facility. Deputies determined that Cordeau had driven to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office under the influence.
A review of Cordeau’s criminal history during booking indicated she had prior convictions for DUI in 2012 and 2017. Cordeau was also charged with Driving without Privileges, Open Container of Alcohol, and Failure to Obtain Liability Insurance.
Cordeau was arraigned on Friday, April 26, and later released from the Blaine County Detention Center on a $7,500 bond.
You Can Guide Sawtooth National Recreation Area On Guide Permit Proposal
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is proposing to renew 16 outfitter and guide permits that are expiring at the end of April 2019.
Outfitters and guides provide a valuable service to the public and benefit the local economy. Their specialized knowledge, skills, and experience provide opportunities for people to recreate on national forest lands regardless of their skill level or prior experience.
Comments regarding this proposal will be most useful if received before May 17. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Tom Winter at the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters office at 5 North Fork Canyon Road in Ketchum or by phone at (208) 727-5000. Comments may also be emailed to: TWinter@usda.gov
Services provided by these outfitters are primarily land based and include overnight pack trips, horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, fishing, mountain biking, skiing, backcountry hut rentals, mountaineering, snowmobiling, and hunting. The majority of use occurs in the spring, summer and fall. Winter use is primarily backcountry skiing with some snowmobiling and lion hunting. The new permits would reflect the types of activities, number of service days, and operating areas as currently authorized.
TEDxSunValley Seeks Speakers With Ideas Worth Spreading
The application process is now open for the fourth annual TEDxSunValley with the theme “Beyond the Summit.” The event will take place Sept. 21 at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum. This independently organized event, licensed by TED and organized by the TEDxSunValley committee of volunteers, seeks speakers to share their ideas worth spreading. Organizers especially encourage speaker applicants from the Sun Valley area and from those with connections to Sun Valley, but also welcome applicants from beyond.
“The theme this year, Beyond the Summit, hearkens to ambition, insight and vision, and we welcome inspiring ideas worth spreading from those with depth of expertise and experience,” said Aimée Christensen, TEDxSunValley founder and co-organizer with Kim and Andy Castellano. “Speaking at TEDxSunValley is an opportunity to reach the world through the TED platform, with Jody Stanislaw’s 2017 talk already with over a million views, and climbing.”
Applications should be filled out online and submitted by June 1 on the TEDxSunValley website at tedxsunvalley.com/application.
Gooding Couple Killed In Head-On Collision
On Monday, April 29, at 3:52 p.m., Idaho State Police responded to a crash on State Highway 46 at milepost 106, between Wendell and Gooding.
Melvin Brooks, 87, of Gooding, was driving northbound on State Highway 46 in a 2003 Mercury Marquis. Jaime Perez-Aguilar, 41, of Jerome, was driving southbound on State Highway 46 in a 2019 Peterbilt semi-tractor hauling a milk tanker. Brooks drove over the center line into oncoming traffic and struck Perez-Aguilar head on.
Brooks and passenger Nacoma Brooks, 87, of Gooding, succumbed to their injuries at the scene of the crash. Perez-Aguilar was wearing a seatbelt.
The highway was blocked for approximately 4.5 hours while crews worked to clear the scene. Idaho State Police was assisted by Gooding County Sheriff’s Office, Wendell Police Department, Gooding County EMS, Gooding County Fire Department, Gooding County Coroner’s Office and Idaho Transportation Department.
The crash is under investigation by Idaho State Police.
Female-friendly Film Festival Says Farewell, But Not For Long
The Family of Woman Film Festival, a 12-year-old week-long event featuring films about women and by women, has been put on pause. Founder Peggy Elliott Goldwyn said this year’s event would be the last edition in its current format. She cited “other obligations” of hers and staff’s as the main factor behind the decision.
A bright spot? Goldwyn said she is working on presenting the festival in a new format in both Boise and Sun Valley, and at a time of year where unreliable weather won’t dim the festivities.
“In the interim, because the festival was founded to support the work of UNFPA, the United Nations agency for reproductive health and rights, please sign up to receive updates on the critical work of UNFPA through friendsofunfpa.org,” Goldwyn said.
Traffic Stop Leads To Felony Drug Arrest Of 19-year-old Woman
On Monday, April 29, 2019, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a deputy from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for excessive speed on Highway 75 near milepost 93, just north of the Lincoln County line.
The driver of the vehicle, Marisol Perez Gamino, age 19, of Gannett, was arrested for Driving without Privileges, I.C. 18-8001, a misdemeanor.
During a search of her vehicle, deputies discovered a small bag containing a controlled substance. Perez Gamino was additionally charged with felony Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and misdemeanor Possession of Paraphernalia.
Perez Gamino remains in custody at the Blaine County Detention Center pending arraignment.
Charities Prepare To Get From Idaho Gives
The Gem State’s largest one-day fundraising endeavor kicks off Thursday, May 2. Idaho Gives—an online giving event run by the Idaho Nonprofit Center—represents more than 6,000 registered nonprofits across the state. Since its inception, Idaho Gives has raised over $5 million for charities here. This year’s goal is to raise $1.7 million, which represents $1 for every resident.
“What I love about Idaho Gives is that donors can choose exactly where their funds go, plus it’s a wonderful example of Idaho’s nonprofits coming together in collaboration and community,” Amy Little, Idaho Nonprofit Center president and CEO, said.
Additional details and events may be viewed at IdahoGives.org/info/events. Donors, supporters and nonprofits are encouraged to post photos and talk about their favorite causes across social media using the hashtag #IdahoGives.
