Search For Missing Hiker Suspended, Family Offers Reward
Blaine County Sheriff Search and Rescue are suspending the search for the lost hiker, Fern L. Baird.
The decision was made after one last major search was conducted on Friday, Oct. 30. BCSAR airlifted seven K9 teams into the search area, ranging from 7,100 – 9,200 feet, along with teams of ground searchers, with no results.
“Unfortunately, despite everyone’s best efforts, Fern has not been found,” said Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins. “This is not the outcome that we were hoping for, but after 10 days of searching, we have exhausted our resources. We will continue to investigate any leads we gather.”
Baird, age 62 of Park City, Utah, signed in at the Prairie Creek Trailhead, north of Ketchum, Idaho on Monday, Oct. 19. Blaine County Sheriff Search and Rescue members (BCSAR) and BCSO deputies began a search for Baird on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 22, after being notified she was missing.
If anyone saw Baird or has any information about her, please contact BCSO Lt. Mike Abaid at (208) 578-3371 or sheriff@co.blaine.id.us Baird’s family is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to her return. Fern Baird is 5’5” tall and weighs 115 lbs. Baird was last seen wearing a grey jacket, black pants, and carrying a black fanny pack.
Deer Hunters Have More Chances To Notch Tags
For many Idaho hunters, “deer season” is seen as two or three weeks in October, particularly if they’re targeting mule deer in central Idaho. But there are many other opportunities available for those who haven’t notched a tag and want to keep deer hunting, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said.
Here are some hunts worthy of your attention:
Whitetail hunts—But wait, you might say, don’t I need a whitetail deer tag for those? In some units for November hunts, yes. But in others, your regular deer tag is still valid, particularly hunts in the far-north Panhandle units. If you have a whitetail tag, there’s also a long list of hunts available in November and December.
Archery hunts—Look down the list of units offering general archery deer seasons and you will see archery hunts around the state that stretch into November and December. If you’re primarily a rifle hunter, make sure you get an archery permit, and you’re ready to go.
Muzzleloader/short-range weapons hunts—These two are two different types of hunts, so make sure you know the rules for each. In short, you’re limited to muzzleloaders in those hunts, but you can also use muzzleloaders in short-range weapon hunts, along with archery, shotguns, handguns, crossbows and air rifles.
New Orthopedic Surgeon At St. Luke’s
St. Luke’s Wood River has added Derek Ipsen, D.O., to the team of orthopedic surgeons serving the Valley. Dr. Ipsen specializes in hand surgery. He recently retired as a colonel in the United States Army.
Dr. Ipsen did his first hand rotation during his residency and decided to focus on this form of surgery.
“I wanted to learn how to fix the tiny, intricate structures that made up the hand since it is so important to people’s occupation, livelihood and everyday life,” Dr. Ipsen said.
Ipsen’s military education and career took him around the world, taking care of people in all kinds of settings, including field trauma such as gunshot wounds and burns incurred in combat. He often handled orthopedic issues and surgeries and became engrossed in upper-extremity trauma. When things slowed down, he returned to focusing on elbow and hand surgery, most recently at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Happy to return to civilian life and his Idaho roots, Dr. Ipsen and his family are looking forward to getting to know the community. They enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing and skiing.
St. Luke’s Issues COVID Testing Guidelines, Reminders
As COVID-19 cases surge once again in Idaho, St. Luke’s Health System is reminding people to not use emergency departments for the sole purpose of COVID-19 testing without severe illness. COVID-19 tests are only available by appointment and at certain clinics.
St. Luke’s provides COVID-19 tests for symptomatic patients in select primary care clinics by appointment. At this time most locations have same-day tests available and results are back within one to two days. St. Luke’s is unable to accept walk-ins.
For patients with COVID-19 symptoms, the first step is to use St. Luke’s self-triage tool in myChart; it will help determine what to do next. MyChart accounts can be created online. St. Luke’s offers asymptomatic COVID-19 testing only for patients who have an upcoming planned surgery or specific procedures that involve increased exposure to a patient’s breath and/or airway. The test will be part of the pre-surgery process, as ordered by a provider, and done by appointment. Asymptomatic testing at St. Luke’s is also done before a patient is discharged or transferred from a St. Luke’s hospital to a long-term care or skilled nursing facility.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. Go to the nearest hospital right away if you are experiencing symptoms of any life-threatening illness. Do not ignore your body’s warning signs.
Symptoms that may indicate you have a life-threatening emergency include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
- Sudden dizziness, weakness or fainting
- Sudden change to vision
- Confusion or sudden change in your mental status
- Sudden or severe pain
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Vomiting or coughing blood
- Difficulty speaking
A COVID-19 hotline offers instructions or assistance at (208) 381-9500.
Bull, Cow Moose Poaching Marks Fifth Incident This Month
Idaho Fish and Game is asking the public for information regarding two moose that were recently poached and left to waste on the border of Unit 32 and Unit 32A west of Banks.
This case marks the fifth incident where moose were illegally shot at, and the fourth and fifth moose that were illegally killed in Fish and Game’s Southwest Region in October. Here is more information about the other cases.
Fish and Game conservation officers received a call from the Citizens Against Poaching hotline on Oct. 18 regarding a cow moose that was shot and left to waste near Dry Buck Road, about three miles west of Banks.
When officers arrived and investigated, an officer’s dog located another bull calf moose that was shot and left just a few yards away from the cow. Officers gathered and processed evidence from the scene, and believe that the two animals were shot sometime between Oct. 14 and Oct. 18.
Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) is offering a reward for information and callers can remain anonymous. Call the CAP hotline at 1-800-632-5999, available 24 hours a day. People can also report online at idfg.idaho.gov/poacher. In addition to CAP, persons with information regarding this case may also contact Officer Josh Leal at (208) 989-9321.