Chime In On After-School Needs
A group of after-school program providers is working together to identify the needs of children during after-school hours in Blaine County. An ad-hoc committee comprised of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Wood River Community YMCA, Blaine County Recreation District, City of Ketchum Recreation Department, Sun Valley Music Festival and Blaine County School District have created a short survey inviting all Blaine County parents to provide input on after-school program needs for their children.
All information provided is confidential and will be used to best assess future programming needs and collaboration as it relates to after-school care and programming. Deadline is June 3. Visit tinyurl.com/y28bnrdl to take the survey.
Hailey Voters Say Yes To Better Streets, Higher Power Bills
It was a low voter turnout, but enough of Hailey’s registered voters said they were OK with increasing their power bills by 2 percent now if it meant better streetscaping and other infrastructure down the road. Nearly 68 percent of voters approved a change from 1 percent to 3 percent on the so-called franchise fee Idaho Power ratepayers are charged on their utility bills.
The city figures to see an additional $120,000 of revenue to add to its coffers earmarked for streetscape improvements, from pothole filling to sidewalk construction.
The city’s budget hearings will determine how the money is specifically spent. Those sessions begin on June 24 and continue through Sept. 17. The public is welcomed to chime in.
Homicide Suspect Jonathan Llana Apprehended
A manhunt for a murder suspect ended Friday afternoon, May 24, when Jonathan Llana was taken into custody by law enforcement officers from a joint task force consisting of Idaho and Utah agencies, including Idaho State Police and Idaho Fish and Game.
Details of the arrest are not fully available at this time, but Llana was taken into custody within the initial search area, in the vicinity of the intersection of I-86 and Raft River/Yale Road. No injuries to any civilians or law enforcement officers resulted from this manhunt, Idaho State Police said.
On May 22, Llana allegedly shot a person in Utah, on I-84 in northern Utah (Rattlesnake Pass). The victim died immediately. The suspect fled north to Idaho and was stopped by Cassia County deputies and the Idaho State Police. The suspect fled from law enforcement in his vehicle, and crashed into a field near I-86, in Cassia County, the vicinity of Raft River/Yale Road intersection with I-86.
Two Women Tie For Annual Nursing Honor
Nurses at St. Luke’s couldn’t select one among them to receive a prestigious honor awarded each year by the hospital. That’s because they felt both nurses Brittany McFarland and Donna Wright deserved the recognition this year.
The St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation’s Board of Directors and the Harvey Gray Family recently awarded the 2019 Carl A. Gray Memorial Award for nursing excellence at a May 8 celebration held at the Wood River Sustainability Center.
Each year the entire hospital staff nominates nurses who exemplify excellence in their nursing practice. The nursing staff then votes on the colleague whom they believe is most deserving of recognition. This year there was a tie between Brittany McFarland and Donna Wright.
“It’s my favorite night of the year as it is an opportunity to honor the work that our nurses do each and every day,” said Megan Tanous, St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation chief development officer. “Our nurses exhibit integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence in everything they do at St. Luke’s Wood River.”
McFarland is a lead nurse in the Emergency Department. Her colleagues described her as “a true ER nurse to the core, always ready for the unexpected.” She was described by many as compassionate, thoughtful and mindful of her interactions while being able to lead in tough situations. She is always there to answer questions and step in when needed, “a nurse you want on your team,” one nominator said.
Wright is a nurse in the Mother/Baby unit and has dedicated her life to patient care and to sharing her gifts with many who live in this Valley. Her colleagues commented that she is able to attend to her patients with prescribed treatments while offering a personal bedside manner.
“From delivering fresh homemade bread to patients each morning to her meticulous care of our Wood River newborns, she never overlooks the details which make each patient’s experience special from the minute they arrive in Mother & Baby. She is a wonderful team player and is helpful in every way. Her patients love her and, simply put, she is an outstanding nurse,” one nominator said.
The Gray Family established the annual award in the Foundation to honor Carl. A Gray, who was an active Sun Valley Ski Club member.
Awards of distinction were also given in specific areas of the St. Luke’s core values. The honorees included Jason Lyman in surgical services, recognized for integrity. Angela Brady, nursing manager, was recognized for accountability. Sue Henry, who just celebrated 40 years of service with St. Luke’s, was recognized for respect.
Idaho’s Senators Introduce Water Sustainability Bill
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) introduced the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act—legislation aimed at improving aquifer levels in Idaho and across western states by expanding the ability for aquifer recharge through federal lands and facilities. The bill will fortify efforts to recharge Idaho’s vast Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and others to healthy levels for sustainable long-term use by the state’s farmers, ranchers, and communities.
“The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer sustains millions of irrigated acres in the Snake River Basin with the water needed for Idaho’s agriculture industry to thrive,” Risch said. “This legislation will remove bureaucratic barriers to effective aquifer recharge and will help restore the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, one of the biggest in the world, back to healthy levels for decades to come.”
“Water is the life blood, not only for our agricultural sector, but also for our entire state,” Fulcher said. “Idaho is fortunate to have a state-wide plan and coordination for management of this critical resource. This legislation will complement our ongoing efforts for aquifer recharge and sustainability by facilitating federal land access and cooperation.”
I-84 Is Site Of Another Injury Accident
On Thursday, May 23, at approximately 1:06 p.m., Idaho State Police investigated a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 at mile marker 171, between Jerome and Twin Falls.
Kathryn Campbell, 21, of Farmington, Utah, was driving a 2003 Nissan 350z east on I-84 when she struck the rear end of a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Karla Diaz Saucedo, 27, of Gooding.
Saucedo lost control of the truck and the vehicle rolled, coming to rest on its top. Campbell’s Nissan continued east, where she lost control of the vehicle, went through a fence and across the on-ramp of the rest area, where it crashed into another fence.
Campbell and one person from Diaz Saucedo’s vehicle were transported to St. Luke’s hospital in Twin Falls. All occupants were wearing seatbelts. Alcohol is believed to be involved in this crash.
POWER CEO Hands Board Torch To Carrington
POWER Engineers has been in transition since 2016, when Wood River Valley resident and former CEO Jack Hand stepped down. While Hand remained at the helm of the POWER board for several years, he has now passed the mantle to longtime board member Ron Carrington.
Ron is an award-winning civil engineer who originally joined POWER in 1990. POWER Engineers, Incorporated (POWER), took the next step in its executive leadership transition plan last week, appointing award-winning transmission line expert Ron Carrington as chairman of the board of directors.
Carrington, POWER’s power delivery project management business unit director, has served on the board since 2012. He originally joined POWER in 1990 and quickly developed a reputation for managing large capital-expenditure programs and portfolios for some of the largest utilities in the U.S.
In 2017, Carrington was given the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Gene Wilhoite Award for his contributions to the advancement of transmission line engineering. He holds a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Carrington will succeed current board chairman and former CEO Jack Hand. Hand will remain on POWER’s board to assist with the leadership transition.
Gov. Little Gives Ketchum’s Senator A Big Role
Gov. Brad Little is placing Sen. Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) on the newly created Idaho Broadband Future Task Force. The task force will work to ensure everyone in Idaho has access to quality broadband resources needed to succeed in our increasingly digital world.
“In the past, rural Idaho has not always had adequate broadband access. I am excited to work with the broadband task force to give rural Idahoans the broadband tools they need to be competitive and cyber secure,” Sen. Stennett said.
The task force is comprised of high-speed internet providers (large, regional, satellite, and cellular providers), industry representatives, government representatives, and various experts. They plan to meet several times before the next legislative session to deliver a final report to the legislature and the Governor.
St. Luke’s Receives Award For Exceeding Immunization Goals
The St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine clinic received awards in three categories for meeting or exceeding the immunization goals of Healthy People 2020, an arm of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
The awards received include:
87% immunization rate of 2nd dose of Hep A for 2018
93% for 4th dose of Dtap (90% has been a system goal)
93% for the 4:3:1:3:3:1:4- (4 Dtap, 3Polio, 1 MMR, 3 HIB, 3 Hep B, 1 VAR, 4 PCV)
The clinic attributed the success to a number of outreach efforts, including pre-visit planning sessions with patients.
For additional information about immunizations and vaccines, including schedules and safety for children and adults, visit cdc.gov/vaccines or ask your provider at St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine, (208) 788-3434.
Risch, Crapo Support Bill Allowing Mill Residue To Be ‘Renewable’
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) signed on to bipartisan legislation to allow biomass collected from certain federal lands to be considered renewable, including biomass derived from residual materials from timber processing and from areas needing fire prevention or ecological restoration.
Current law does not allow the use of federal biomass in the making of renewable fuels as defined by the Renewable Fuel Standard. The legislation eliminates that exclusion and:
Ensures that all mill residuals—like sawdust and shavings—can be used for biofuels
Incentivizes projects to thin out unhealthy trees and maintain forests at risk of fire and disease
Provides timber producers with expanded options of what to do with their waste and residuals.
“Biomass is an excellent renewable resource to help address our energy needs, yet, under current law, we cannot maximize its rich energy potential,” Risch said. “In Idaho, where nearly two-thirds of our land is owned by the federal government, it is responsible policymaking to revise current standards to classify biomass materials obtained on federal lands as renewable. This legislation helps achieve that goal, while providing further value to our forest products industry and incentive to manage forests for fire and disease.”
“The use of renewable energy sources reduces risks to the environment and promotes a strong domestic energy sector,” Crapo said. “This legislation is common sense to a state where the federal government owns over 60 percent of our land. Allowing the collection of biomass energy from federally-owned lands in Idaho will ensure greater energy security and healthier forests for generations to come.”
Girls On The Run Race Will Be June 1
The Color Me Fearless 5k fun run will be back again this year to benefit Girls on the Run, a nonprofit program for girls in the third through eighth grade. Their mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.
The 5k course winds through the neighborhood of Della View and Draper Preserve in Hailey, beginning and ending at Hop Porter Park. Miles will be marked with paint-throwing stations. Runners, walkers, and strollers are invited to come enjoy the beautiful course and get colored with us while supporting the Girls on the Run organization.
There are over 120 girls in the spring Girls on the Run program representing elementary schools in Blaine County, Twin Falls, and Fairfield. Participants from the Blaine County programs are completing the race as the culmination to their 10-week program of uplifting lessons and relationship-building experiences. The event is made possible by our Girl Power sponsors St. Luke’s Wood River and Gravity Fitness.
Registration is open until the day of the event. Register online at colormefearless.com through Friday, May 31, or stop by the registration party at KB’s Burritos in Hailey from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 31, or race morning at Hop Porter Park. Receive $5 off if you register four or more participants.
TSA Preè Enrollment Center Coming To Friedman Memorial Airport In June
Blaine County residents will have the opportunity to enroll in TSA Preè at Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) for five days starting Monday, June 24. This is the first time SUN has hosted a TSA Preè enrollment opportunity.
The temporary TSA Preè enrollment center will be open Monday, June 24, through Friday, June 28. It will be located in the airport terminal conference room. The hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. The address is 1616 Airport Circle in Hailey.
Across the country, travelers eligible for TSA Preè screening can leave their shoes, light outerwear and belt on hen going through the security checkpoint. In dedicated TSA Preè lanes, travelers can leave their laptops, electronics larger than a cellphone and travel-size liquids in their carry-on luggage during the security checkpoint screening process. At key times during the day, TSA is now operating a dedicated TSA Preè lane at SUN.
“We are excited to host this TSA Pre√® enrollment center as a service to our local community and airport customers,” said Chris Pomeroy, SUN airport manager. “We have listened to the customers and in partnership with TSA, we are pleased that travelers departing SUN are able to experience the full TSA Pre√® screening experience.”
The Transportation Security Administration is predicting summer 2019 will be the busiest summer on record, so now is an excellent time to enroll in TSA Preè. Recent statistics show
that 92 percent of TSA Preè-eligible passengers waited less than five minutes to be screened through security checkpoints nationwide. Another benefit of the program is that children 12 and under are permitted to use the TSA Preè lane when traveling with an eligible parent or guardian.
An in-person visit to the enrollment center is required to complete the application process. Applicants must bring a current U.S. passport or driver’s license and a certified copy of a birth certificate. Fingerprints will be collected at the enrollment office. The enrollment fee is $85, which covers a five-year period. The fee must be paid at the time of enrollment by credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier’s check.
While walk-ins are accepted, people are strongly encouraged to begin the enrollment process online and make an appointment for the in-person visit. Start by visiting www.tsa.gov/precheck and select “Apply Now.” Follow the online prompts, enter the requested information and select “Friedman Memorial Airport” as the enrollment location.
Sixty-seven airlines, including domestic and international carriers, participate in TSA Preè, giving travelers even more options and reasons to enroll in the program. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, all of which serve SUN, participate in TSA Preè.
Hershey, Chobani To Kick Off Junior Chef Program
On June 9, the Sun Valley Culinary Institute will host a Junior Chef’s program to explore the worlds of chocolate desserts and Italian pastas. This program, the first offered by the Institute, will be open for children aged 11 to 14.
The Institute’s dean, chef Chris Koetke, will be joined by the head chefs of Chobani Yogurt and The Hershey Co. to guide participants through a hands-on culinary experience at the Elkhorn Inn, 97 Badeyana, in Sun Valley. The program will start at 12 p.m. and wrap up at 4 p.m.
Hands-on cooking, tastings, locally sourced ingredients, and an update on the Institute’s future plans will make for a unique and engaging afternoon. The Institute recommends a contribution of $75 for the four-hour course to cover the costs of supplies. Space is limited to 20 students, so pre-registration for this program is required.
Families interested in participating can sign up by sending an email to sunvalleyculinary@gmail.com or calling Karl Uri at (208) 309-2700 to register or for more information.
The Sun Valley Culinary Institute seeks to transform lives through the culinary arts. With a focus on education, the not-for-profit Institute will start offering regular cooking classes in Fall 2019, and professional programs in Fall 2020.
Speeding Leads To Felony DUI Arrest
On Sunday, May 26, at approximately 10:47 p.m., Salvador Gomez-Cruz, age 58, of Wendell, was arrested and charged with felony Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, I.C. 18-8004(C), by deputies of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office.
Gomez-Cruz was stopped for traveling in excess of the posted speed on Highway 75 near the intersection of Highway 20 in southern Blaine County. Gomez-Cruz was subsequently arrested for suspicion of Driving under the Influence. During booking, it was discovered he had prior DUI convictions in 2011 and 2012, making this his third in 10 years. Gomez-Cruz was also charged with misdemeanor Open Container of Alcohol, I.C. 23-505.
Gomez-Cruz remains in the custody of the Blaine County Detention Center pending arraignment.
5B Father’s Day Bash & Chili Cook-Off To Return In June
Who makes the best chili around? That’s the question the Hailey and Wood River Valley chamber of commerce will try to answer on June 16.
The annual 5B Father’s Day Bash and Chili Cook-Off will be held Sunday, June 16, from noon to 4 p.m. in downtown Hailey on Carbonate Street, next to Sun Valley Brewing Co.
Live music, fresh local beer, kids’ entertainment and the best darned chili around can all be
enjoyed at this fundraiser for the Hailey Fourth of July celebration and the Hailey Fire Department.
There are a variety of categories for chili, including General Public, Restaurant and Public Safety. Since so many contestants have run out of chili during this popular event, this year the fee to enter the contest is being waived so contestants can spend that money on making more mouth-watering chili, organizers said.
To enter or for more questions, please visit ValleyChamber.org or HaileyIdaho.com, visit the Welcome Center in Hailey or call (208) 788-3484.
Hailey Library To Be Subject Of Next Chamber Event
The Chamber of Hailey and The Wood River Valley would like to invite businesses and the public to attend this month’s Wake Up with The Chamber at the Hailey Public Library. The event will be held Tuesday, June 4, from 9 to 10 a.m.
The Hailey Public Library will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this July and the community is invited to attend the free monthly Wake Up event to find out more about the festivities and their 5B Reads program as well as catch up on Chamber-related news and events throughout our community. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information, please contact The Chamber at Info@ValleyChamber.org, visit ValleyChamber.org or haileyidaho.com, or call (208) 788-3484.
Fatal Vehicle Versus Pedestrian Crash In Twin Falls
On Saturday, May 25, at approximately 10:45 p.m., the Idaho State Police investigated a vehicle-versus-pedestrian fatality crash at 427 Shoshone St. N., in Twin Falls.
Lavere J. Larson, 72, of Twin Falls, was driving southbound on Shoshone St. N. when he struck a pedestrian that was standing in the middle of the roadway. The pedestrian succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The pedestrian has been identified as Frankie Godwin, 56, of Twin Falls. Notification has been made to next of kin.
The lanes were blocked for approximately two hours and 45 minutes.