Three-Car Crash Near Gimlet
On Monday, June 22, at approximately 5:53 p.m., deputies from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a multiple-vehicle crash on State Highway 75 near Gimlet.
The three-vehicle collision occurred approximately three miles south of Ketchum. Crash scene investigation determined that Milton L. Woolf, age 30, of Hailey, was driving southbound on Highway 75 in a 1999 white Chevy 4500 truck when he glanced to see a herd of sheep to the west of the highway. When he looked back to the roadway he noticed vehicles braking in front of him, but was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision. Woolf struck Joseph Scott Manson, age 38, of Hailey, from the rear in a 2019 black Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The impact of the collision forced Manson’s vehicle forward, striking a red 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Martin Quispe, age 79, of Bellevue, and spun Manson’s vehicle around facing the opposite direction in the lane of travel. Prior to impact, Quispe had slowed to pull off the road into a dirt turnout. As a result of being struck in the rear, Quispe’s vehicle struck a power pole adjacent to the highway.
Quispe was transported for medical evaluation of minor injuries to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. Woolf and Manson were not injured in the collision. All three drivers were wearing seatbelts.
Idaho Power assessed the power pole and determined there was no significant damage. All three vehicles received significant damage and were towed from the scene.
Woolf will be issued a citation for Following Too Closely, the Sheriff’s Office said.
County Tallies Mail-In Election Ballots
Nearly 30 percent of Blaine County voters turned out for the May 2020 primary election by turning in mail-in ballots on or before May 19 this year. It was a slight uptick in voter participation despite the election being held entirely via mail.
Results from the primary have now set the matchups to be determined in November. Among them are:
For U.S. Senator, Democrat Paulette Jordan will try to oust incumbent GOP Sen. Jim Risch after she defeated Jim Vandermaas. For the U.S. House of Representatives, C. Aaron Swisher will go against incumbent Mike Simpson, a Republican who holds down Idaho’s District 2 seat.
At the state level, Sen. Michelle Stennett, a Democrat representing Legislative District 26, which covers the Wood River Valley, will be challenged by Republican nominee Eric Parker. Rep. Muffy Davis, an incumbent Democrat who barely defeated Sally Toone in the primary, will take on William Thorpe, the Republican nominee.
In uncontested Blaine County races, Dick Fosbury and Jacob Greenberg retained their commissioner seats and Steve Harkins was reelected to sheriff.
Single Vehicle Rollover Crash At Timmerman Junction
On Sunday, June 14, at approximately 1:51 a.m., Blaine County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a single-vehicle rollover at the State Highway 75 and U.S. Highway 20 junction south of Bellevue.
Crash scene investigation determined that Monserrat Garcia Castillo, age 20, of Hailey, was driving a 2018 black Buick Enclave in the northbound lane when her vehicle went off the right shoulder, started to turn sideways, impacted a delineator post and an embankment, went up into the air and came to rest of its roof, facing south.
Castillo, who was wearing a seatbelt, was transported by ground ambulance to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center for medical evaluation but did not appear to have significant injuries. The vehicle sustained substantial damages and was towed from the scene.
Alcohol is not considered a factor in the crash.
ERC To Hold Summer Birding Series
This summer, the Environmental Resource Center (ERC) will host a series of Summer Bird Walks led by longtime ERC volunteer Poo Wright-Pulliam. The first walk of the series will take place on Thursday, June 25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Poo Wright-Pulliam is an artist and birder extraordinaire with a special talent for sharing her passion for and knowledge of birding with both novice and expert birders.
There are many exciting, diverse, and colorful species of birds that inhabit Ketchum in the summer months. The ERC reminds participants to bring water, binoculars if you have them, a mask if folks need to gather closer than 6 feet apart to see an exciting bird, and your curiosity. For each program, there is a suggested donation of $10/ERC members and $20/nonmembers.
Space is limited and pre-registration is required. The exact meeting location for the bird walk will be shared with participants upon registration. This first walk of the series will be taking place in Ketchum. For more information or to register: (208) 726-4333; alisa@ercsv.org; www.ercsv.org.
The next two bird walks of the series will take place on Thursday, July 23, and Thursday, Aug. 20.