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NEW SCHOLARSHIP HONORS LEGENDARY BUD PURDY

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A familiar sight was to see Bud Purdy with a horse. Hailey Rotary has a new scholarship in Purdy’s name to honor the longtime Valley resident. Courtesy photo by David Stoecklein

Hailey Rotary creates new fund for students pursuing careers in agriculture

BY MARIA PREKEGES

Hailey Rotary has created the new “Bud Purdy Farm and Ranch Scholarship” for its scholarship program to help local youth and to honor longtime Blaine County farmer and rancher, the late Bud Purdy.

The Bud Purdy Scholarship will go to graduating high school students who are intent on pursuing training in the agricultural sciences field. Any Blaine County senior wishing to pursue a secondary education leading to work in agriculture or related fields is eligible.

The scholarship honors Purdy, who is recognized as a leader and legend in the ranching and farming community of not only Blaine County but also the state of Idaho. Purdy’s legacy as a farmer and rancher goes back to 1928 when he began working on the family ranch at Picabo. After graduating from Washington State University with a business degree in 1938, Purdy returned to the ranch. Eventually, he acquired the ranch from his family and it is now known as Picabo Land and Livestock Company.

Purdy was known as a strong advocate of education. His son, Scott Purdy, commented on what his father might have thought about a scholarship being created in his name.

“He was a big supporter of education and of the livestock industry,” Scott Purdy said. “The two really fit together and I know he’d be very pleased about this scholarship. Dad was a big supporter of CSI and the University of Idaho and I want to continue his legacy, so it’s great to have this scholarship.”

Wendell Cayton, a member of the board of directors of Hailey Rotary and a resident of south Blaine County, spearheaded creation of the scholarship and explained how it came about:

“Last year I was raising money for Rotary and, being fairly new to the area, I thought I should talk to south-county residents for their participation and donating money,” Cayton said. “In the course of doing this, I had conversations with a number of south-county residents and they wanted to help out with kids that want to study agriculture and the trades. I took this idea to the Rotary club in Hailey and contacted Nick Purdy and he was very supportive of the idea and naming the scholarship after his dad.”

Hailey Rotary introduced the scholarship to Blaine County high schools in January.

“They were very responsive,” Cayton said. “We didn’t have much time, and scholarship applications came in quickly, as we had a deadline. We were fortunate to have four really good applicants apply.”

This year, Hailey Rotary has funding for one Bud Purdy scholarship. The scholarship has been awarded to a student but a public announcement has not yet been made.

Cayton said he continues with fundraising and building an endowment fund so Hailey Rotary has permanent money for the scholarship.

JANELLE MEYERS

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Aspires to be an athletic trainer

BY JONATHAN KANE

Future athletic trainer Janelle Meyers. Courtesy photo by Drew Kaminsky
Future athletic trainer Janelle Meyers. Courtesy photo by Drew Kaminsky

Wood River High School senior Janelle Meyers wants to pursue a future in athletics as a trainer. A standout pitcher on the Wood River softball team, Meyers is currently studying college algebra, American government, economics and college English, and takes part in the zero-hour workout class.

But, she says her real passion is being down on the field doing what a trainer does – assessing injuries, taping and re-taping ankles and wrists, cleaning up blood and checking the athletes when they go down on the field.

“I watch and study the team trainer,” said Meyers, who has worked as a trainer for two football seasons. “I’m not allowed to do rehab. At Wood River, I’ve taken two years of athletic training from David Allred – the school’s trainer.

“In that class we studied anatomy and learned how to assess injuries,” Meyers said. “Basically, there are different tests for different body parts to see what is wrong. Then we learned the different rehab exercises for each part. Anatomy really comes into play in this part, which helps in on-field assessments. If you hurt your head or neck, you need to know how to precisely put them [the injured] on a stretcher or backboard.”

“Once we played a team that didn’t have a trainer and one of their players went down with a concussion,” Meyers said. “We then had to see what the issue was and get him off the field.

“A lot of things come into play with a possible concussion. First, you need to check if they are responsive. Then you check their eyes, which can get super big with a concussion. Then you see if they can follow your finger when you move it in front of their eyes, and then a memory test, where you ask them to repeat four numbers. Also, nausea is a sign.

“Of course, we take concussions very seriously and we take them [the player] out of the game until we can administer an impact test,” Meyers said. “At the beginning of the year, everyone takes a baseline test for your memory reaction and then when you have a concussion you take it again. If you go below the baseline, you have a problem. The first time I dealt with a concussion I had only been doing it for two weeks, so it was pretty scary.”

Meyers said she finds working football games the most interesting aspect of being a trainer.

“I like being on the sideline and re-taping and bandaging,” she said. “If you roll your ankle, it’s really prone to happen again, so taping is really important. There is a system so joints won’t move from side to side, which is also important for wrists.

“I love sports and helping people, so this gives me a chance to do both,” Meyers said. “Also, I really enjoy being close to the games, and because it was physical, the whole thing just clicked for me.”

Editor’s note: Anyone who would like to recommend a local student for The Weekly Sun’s “Student Spotlight” feature should contact Jonathan Kane at jkjonkane@gmail.com.

THE JUNGLE BOOK

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Kipling Comes Alive

BY JONATHAN KANE

The Walt Disney Company has another monster hit on its hands with its outstanding live-action remake of their 1967 animated classic “The Jungle Book,” based faithfully on Rudyard Kipling’s stories. Unlike the lightheartedness of the 1967 movie, this one has some bite, literally, and frankly seems to be too scary and intense for young audiences, but it also has great humor that will make it endearing to everyone.

This latest ‘Jungle Book’ also may be the best computer-generated animation film ever made and a lot of the credit goes to director Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”) and two digital companies, MPC and Weta Digital, that made it all happen. Just imagine the amazing digital bear of “The Revenant” and extend it to two hours of talking animals and a realistic jungle. It makes you optimistic for the future of a medium that until now we have been saddled with.

The story is a classic and Favreau has woven in timeless themes of protecting the planet and the child’s journey to adulthood. The lead character, a young boy, Mowgli, played passably by Neel Sethi (although, to be fair, he plays the whole movie to a green screen), has been raised by wolves. His father was killed by the Bengal tiger that rules the jungle, but who was also disfigured by the man wielding fire. That tiger now wants the boy for revenge.

So begins his journey out of the jungle with the panther that saved him as a baby. Of course, things don’t go well and there are a lot of adventures afoot, culminating in the finale showdown between the boy and tiger.

The voice work and casting are what make the movie truly special – especially Bill Murray, who absolutely steals the movie, playing Baloo, the con-artist bear that befriends the child. Murray sets the tone and it’s a winning one.

HOW DOES MY GARDEN GROW?

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BY JOELLEN COLLINS

How tasty were the green beans from our Victory Garden when my mother and most households grew our own food to save resources for the “boys’’ fighting in WWII! We would pick them from the plot near our clothesline, cook and cool them and then snack on the fresh treats.

My mother was an inveterate gardener: when we moved from relative affluence in San Francisco to a small tract house in Burbank, Calif., she spent weeks converting a dirt and weed-filled backyard into a sanctuary. Next to a terraced stretch filled with roses, Birds of Paradise, elephant ears, morning glories, gardenias and jasmine, my parents constructed a covered outdoor space with creeping vines, lounge chairs and a flagstone floor meant to be used as a retreat for our family. Our annual Mother’s Day gift for her was invariably a new rose bush.

I have tried to be the gardener she was, without success. I planted layers of vegetables on a hill in Malibu, only to have my neighbor’s terrific little boy pull up the plants thinking he was helping me weed. I harvested only a plethora of zucchinis and pumpkins.

A few years ago I looked at houses in Hailey, hoping for a fenced yard for doggie pleasure and the prospect of a small plot for my own garden. I finally found a place in Ketchum I didn’t imagine buying at first. My new condo not only didn’t have a yard, but the outdoor area consisted of a very small deck. I remember being sad that I couldn’t test my green thumb as I had hoped.

One of the lessons I have learned with maturity is that often things we think we need may not be necessary. In my case, the massive banks of flowers and the succulent vegetables I hoped to grow have instead translated into the very small but inordinately pleasing spot that I fill in summer with as many flowers as I can, leaving just enough space for a deck chair and a barbecue. My hours spent reading among the blaze of flowers is sufficient for my summer joy.

I have realized that I can be very comfortable in this small space and actually have time left over to tackle my book list instead of acquire sore knees bending over the vegetables I crave. In “retirement” I seem to have less time for this hobby, so my transition is appropriate. Besides, my friends don’t want to eat versions of zucchini soup, bread and other permutations of the excessive fruits of my efforts.

Sometimes life provides us the gift of smaller places and new challenges. I occupy less space anyway, as I no longer have needs for the areas children occupy. At least I can still smell the flowers blooming by Highway 75 in my special nook. I may try for a pot of tomatoes if I can find the space. Even Mom would approve!

ONE YEAR THIS WEEK!

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BY LESLIE REGO

A year ago, when I wrote my first Sketchbook Hiking article for The Weekly Sun, I thought I might do a few articles during the summer and that would most likely be the extent of what I had to say. The summer flowed into the autumn and I still had lots of ideas and lots of sketches to do. I thought surely autumn would be the end and then I would take a break. But autumn stretched right into winter and here I am again in the spring, still sketching and writing!

The other night my husband, my son and I were witness to an unusual event suffered by a female mallard duck. She had some kind of trauma and was lying belly up on the ground outside our house. Her male partner was swimming in the pond nearby, confused, as the female quacked weakly from her prone position. We wondered if we should do something, but decided to give the duck a bit of time, as she seemed to be recovering.

The three of us checked on her every so often. Somehow she managed to turn over, and took a few hesitant steps. Then the duck came to a rest, sitting placidly in the grass, as her partner forlornly continued to paddle in the pond.

Eventually, the two reunited. The female mallard seemed to be able to paddle and swim without problem. The next day she was walking about, getting into and out of the pond with ease.

When I started the Sketchbook Hiking column, I was worried I would not be able to write something fresh every week. I thought I might go “belly up” sooner, rather than later. But time proved me wrong and, with hesitant step after hesitant step, I have come to be able to see an ever-expanding vision of the world.

I am in awe of the mundane detail as well as the vast vistas. My drawing has improved. I sit down and write more easily. Most importantly, I seem to always see something exciting to be able to share with my readers.

Leslie Rego is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, artist and Blaine County resident. To view more of Rego’s art, visit www.leslierego.com.

TEACHING YOUR DOG TO ‘COME’

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When we are out on walks, I practice “come” with Kalidor at least 20 times. It’s a fun game for him and the other dogs! Photo by Fran Jewell

BY FRAN JEWELL

“Come” is probably the most difficult of all commands to teach a dog. Many of us expect a dog to understand the command with little or no training. Some of us use the word “come” for almost anything – get in the car, get out of the car, eat dinner, walk with me, to leave something, and so on. We understand the ambiguousness of the word, but dogs don’t. So for them, it becomes this convoluted word.

Dogs must have a specific behavior attached to one command. When I teach my clients about the command “come,” it has ONE meaning only; that meaning is “wherever you are at, turn around and come sit in front of me.” It doesn’t mean drive-by, or come to the general vicinity. It doesn’t mean get in the car. It doesn’t mean leave it. It means SIT IN FRONT OF ME.

When dogs are first learning the command, “come” must be used as a description. Whenever the dog is in the process of coming toward you, saying “come” helps the dog to understand. If we use the command BEFORE the dog is coming, he will associate it with whatever behavior he is doing, even if it is playing with another dog. Of course, when the dog comes, he must be rewarded with something meaningful to him. That is another long discussion.

Once the dog will do the behavior frequently, we can begin using it as a command in low-distraction areas, like in your house. Gradually, increase the distractions by then going to the backyard and practicing. Once your dog is reliable in low-distraction environments, gradually go to higher-distraction environments like on a long line walking down a little used road or trail.

One of the hardest things is to not let the dog fail at performing his command. If he fails because he was distracted by another dog or a bunny running, then the distraction now becomes the reward for NOT coming when he is called.

So, once you begin using the word “come” as a command, you must set the dog up for success and be able to control the environment, or control the dog with a long leash (30 feet or longer), so he always succeeds.

“Come” should never be the end of a good time for the dog. Always practice “come” while on walks or hikes. You should aim for 20 times during a hike. Call your dog, reward him, and then let him go play again. If you wait until the end of your walk to call the dog to get in the car, soon the dog knows that “come” means the end of a good time. If you do the same thing while he is in play with another dog and end the play, soon he also learns “come” means the end of a good time. Instead, let him play. Call him, then let him go back to play. Do this multiple times each time he sees another dog.

The hardest thing for humans to understand is that dogs are controlled by “drive.” If a dog’s prey drive is higher than his food drive, you could hang a steak around your neck and the dog won’t come if he is chasing a bunny. Understanding who your dog is and what his “drives” are (there are at least five) will help you to understand how to best train your dog to “come.”

Teaching “come” is a life-saving tool. Each dog learns differently and is motivated by his drives. Understanding your particular dog and being intently clear about what your definition of “come” is is critical to teaching this life-saving command.

Fran Jewell is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.

NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION TAKE-BACK DAY & FACTS FOR EVERY DAY

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BY AMBER LARNA, THE DRUG COALITION

Unused or expired prescription medications are a safety issue in our community. Use of prescription medications without a doctor’s recommendation can be just as dangerous as using illegal drugs and can have serious health effects, including poisoning, addiction and overdose. According to the Drug Enforcement Association’s website, www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com, 46 people die each day from an overdose of prescription painkillers.

Unfortunately, many teens are using opioid pain relievers and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to get high. Opioid or narcotic pain relievers include Vicodin, OxyContin, Opana, and Methadone. Teens often obtain these drugs in their homes or from friends. Many teens believe incorrectly that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs because:

  • They are medicines
  • They can be obtained from doctors, dentists, friends, or family members

According to a 2014 survey conducted in Idaho, 15 percent of Blaine County 12th-graders reported getting pills from friends and 5 percent from home, as did 6 percent and 5 percent of 10th-graders, respectively. (2014 Idaho Prevention Survey).  Furthermore, 30 percent of 11th-graders that reported obtaining prescription drugs not prescribed for them obtained them from home. (Junior Class survey, October, 2014).

As a parent or caregiver, it is important to keep track of your medicines:

  • Keep your medicines safe and secure in a locked medicine cabinet
  • Avoid keeping prescription painkillers or sedatives around “just in case”
  • Do not sell or share prescription drugs
  • Dispose of old or expired medicines or unused prescription drugs safely

The Blaine County Drug Coalition is partnering with local pharmacies, law enforcement and St. Luke’s Wood River to make it easy to safely and properly dispose of your medications year-round. Throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet is not a good solution as it may harm the environment and could be stolen from the trash.

Drop box locations include:

  • Blaine County Sheriff’s Department
  • City of Hailey Police Department
  • City of Ketchum Police Department
  • Luke’s Pharmacy
  • St. Luke’s Wood River (Physician Office Annex, 1st floor)
  • ‘The’ Drug Store – to be installed
  • Valley Apothecary

This Saturday, April 30th, is National Take-Back Day. The Drug Coalition and the Blaine County Sheriff’s Department will be at the following locations for you to dispose of your prescription medications. It’s free, anonymous, no questions asked and helps to make our community safer!

  • Carey City Hall: 9–10 a.m.
  • Bellevue City Hall: 10:45–11:45 a.m.
  • Hailey City Hall: 12–1 p.m.
  • Ketchum Town Square: 1:30–2:30 p.m.

For more information, visit thedrugcoaltion.org or call (208) 578-5466.

It’s your life. We help you live it.

APRIL IS THE MONTH TO STOCK UP… ON FISH, THAT IS

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Tanker trucks from the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery have been hauling loads of steelhead smolts through the Wood River Valley for stocking, as shown here, in the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. Courtesy photo from Hagerman National Fish Hatchery

State and federal fish stocking in full swing

BY MARIA PREKEGES

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Steelhead trout are raised at the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery to help offset fish loss from dams on the lower Snake River in Washington State. Courtesy photo from Hagerman National Fish Hatchery

Fishing is a sport enjoyed by many in the Wood River Valley as well as statewide. There are many choices and places to fish, and federal and state trout-stocking programs are now underway to make sure there are adequate stocks for the area’s anglers.

April is a busy time for the fish-stocking programs, and tanker trucks loaded with trout have been  passing through the Wood River Valley to stock ponds, streams, lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

Some trucks are from the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery, while others are from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. These two programs vary from what they stock, to where and when.

Trucks bearing the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery logo have been passing through the valley throughout April, and hatchery manager Craig Eaton told The Weekly Sun that the program is intended to shore up steelhead populations in the region.

“They are releasing steelhead trout into the Salmon River below the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery near Stanley, Idaho,” Eaton explained in a written statement. “This federal program is part of the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) to mitigate for fish and wildlife losses caused by the construction of four dams on the lower Snake River.

“These fish migrate to the ocean and, after two to three years, return as adults to spawn near where they are released, in our case below another LSRCP hatchery called Sawtooth Fish Hatchery.

“The adults will return there and that hatchery crew will spawn the adults and Hagerman NFH will receive the eggs once they eye up,” Eaton stated. “Hagerman NFH has been doing this annually since the mid-’80s.”

With spring runoff comes high and murky waters, which some might think would delay the federal stocking program, but Eaton explained that murky water is not a hindrance.

“Murky water does not delay stocking; in fact, it’s better for the fish because piscivorous-eating predators are less likely to see them swimming in the river,” Eaton stated. “Spring runoff helps move steelhead downriver, expending less energy than if they had to swim the entire way.”

The federal program differs from the state program in that trout stocked by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) stay in the area and do not migrate to the ocean.

“We request an early stocking with a condition that says check water conditions first,” said Doug Megargle, IDFG regional fisheries manager. “They’ll hold out until water levels are more appropriate for stocking. The runoff comes plus or minus four weeks. We’re poised to stock early, in case the runoff comes off early so we have the fish in the water for folks, so we’re prepared.”

Information on local trout stocking is available from the department at its website at fishandgame.idaho.gov.

“The historical stocking dates are pretty close to when we will stock again this year,” Megargle said.

Most of the rainbow trout stocked in the area come from the Hayspur Fish Hatchery near Picabo. Megargle said stocked fish are typically about 10 inches long and are released in what the department refers to as “put and take management.”

“We put them, and they take them,” he said, referring to anglers who like to keep fish for eating. “We put them out with the goal that anglers will catch them, and put them in areas that are high use.”

KIWANIS HOME & GARDEN SHOW FINDS A NEW HOME AT HAILEY ICE

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BY JEFF BACON

For Lorna Hazelton, this year’s Kiwanis Home and Garden Show, happening this Saturday and Sunday, is the perfect way to kick off springtime in the Wood River Valley.

Now in its third year, the Home and Garden Show will be moving from its previous location at the National Guard Armory, on South 3rd Avenue in Hailey, to the Campion Ice House, at 771 Main Street South, Hailey.

“Now that the ice has been melted at the Ice House, they are able to rent the space for events and shows,” explained Hazelton. “The Kiwanis Home and Garden Show will be the first event to be held in the new arena since the ice was melted off earlier this month.”

As event coordinator, Hazelton has been working with the many vendors that will be on hand at this year’s event.

“We really do have a great number of different vendors this year,” Hazelton notes. “We’ll have experts to talk about native landscaping options or building fences to jewelry makers and designer crafts. The main thread through all the vendors is about things for the home or garden.”

Like previous years, this year’s event will also include several different options for food, as well.

“Fire Pie Pizza will be here this year to bake personal pizzas in a woodstove and The Wicked Spud is teaming up with the Hailey Fire Department to offer a good old-fashioned barbecue,” Hazelton explains. “Personally, I’m really looking forward to the vendor that has told me he blows up voles. I’m interested to see what the process is because we are having such a terrible problem with them this year.”

Also this year, the Kiwanis Key Club will be holding their bike rodeo for young kids that have started riding bicycles.

“Our Key Club will help small children learn about bicycle safety as they take them through a series of tasks designed to help them navigate safely on a bicycle,” Hazelton said. “Bicycling is such an important aspect of life in the Valley. It’s important that we impart good bicycle etiquette and knowledge of safe riding skills to our young folk.”

This year’s Kiwanis Home and Garden Show will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Campion Ice House in Hailey. Admission is free.

“Programs like the Home and Garden Show help Kiwanis raise money for many of the projects we work on to improve our community,” explains Hazelton. “We’ve built play structures in local parks, supported The Senior Bash and sports teams at the high school and even buy books for students in the Head Start program.

“I really like the Home and Garden Show because it’s something that the community can enjoy and it helps us do a lot of great work, as well. It really is a win-win.”

Jeff Bacon is the Hailey Chamber of Commerce’s membership director. For more information, visit haileyidaho.com or call the Chamber at 208.788.3484.

SPOTTED KNAPWEED (CENTAUREA STOEBE SSP.MICRANTHOS)

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BY ANDREA WALTON

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Spotted Knapweed

Spotted knapweed is a biennial that produces up to 25,000 seeds that may remain in the soil for up to eight years. It is a native plant of Europe and was brought to North America in the 1800s. Mature plants may grow to 3 feet in height. Flowering heads are pink to purple and appear from midsummer to fall.

Spotted knapweed produces a natural herbicide called “catechin” that eradicates plants around it. Early detection and rapid response are key elements in eradicating spotted knapweed. This noxious weed can be found on rangelands and roadsides, and in dry meadows, pastures, upland rocky areas and sandy or gravelly flooded plains of streams and rivers. Approximately 100,000 acres currently infest Idaho.

Warnings about noxious weeds may seem trivial until you look at their damages based on numbers: $300 million annually in loses to our economy; $20 million to fight noxious weeds on the ground; and more than 8 million acres of land and water infested by noxious weeds. (Resource: Idaho Weed Awareness.org).

Noxious weeds are a serious matter and you can help us fight them. The Blaine County Noxious Weed Department, along with the Blaine County Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), would like to assist you in identifying the 67 noxious weeds in the state of Idaho.

The Blaine County Noxious Weed Department is a great resource for property owners (remember, property owners are obligated by law to control all noxious weeds on their property) and can assist with weed identification, management plans, tools, and general information. For more information, call (208) 788-5543 or visit www.blainecounty.org.

Andrea Walton is an administrative specialist with Blaine County.

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