When a daughter disappears

TIMES-NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017 |

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TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

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magicvalley.com

What you need to know about Election Day JULIE WOOTTON

jwootton@magicvalley.com

DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS

Melissa Belt talks about her missing daughter, Tiffani Streling, on Thursday, west of Burley.

When a daughter disappears On 2-year anniversary of Tiffani Streling’s disappearance, her family and police aren’t giving up hope

TWIN FALLS — It’s Election Day once again.

Across south-central Idaho, polling places are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Most ballot measures are to elect school board trustees. An election isn’t held when there’s only one candidate for a seat.

But if you live in a zone with a contested race — meaning, there are two or more candidates vying for one seat — you can cast a ballot.

Once elected, school trustees serve four-year terms. They play a key role in overseeing public schools, including managing a budget.

A handful of other measures will also be on ballots Tuesday, including highway district commissioners, a Rock Creek Rural Fire Protection District levy, a Burley Public Library override levy and renewal requests for 1 percent local option sales tax in three Blaine County cities.

To determine whether you can vote for any of Tuesday’s ballot measures, you’ll need to know which precinct you live in. Call your county clerk or visit idahovotes.gov.

If you’re not registered to vote, you can do so on Election Day with a photo identification and proof of residence.

LAURIE WELCH

lwelch@magicvalley.com

BURLEY —May 16 marks two years since Tiffani Streling’s family last saw her.

Tiffani’s absence isn’t the result of a joyous mission for a church, trek to college or a move across the country to start her Streling own family.

Instead, her family suspects foul play — but so far, their questions remain unanswered.

The vibrant 22-year-old stood 5’4” tall, weighed 130 pounds and had chunky blond highlights in her chin-length-brown hair. She loved the color pink and talking on the phone.

For those that loved her, she just ceased to exist.

The family held vigils, sold shirts, posted fliers and billboards searching for someone with clues. They even hired a private detective to find out what happened to their daughter.

“It drives you nuts. It’s an emotional rollercoaster,” Tiffani’s father, William Streling,

Please see ELECTION, Page A7

 More Online: See a map and

description of Twin Falls school trustee zone 3 at Magicvalley.com.

DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS

Community members attend a vigil for Tiffani Streling Dec. 16, 2015, on Overland Avenue in Burley.

DEB RIECHMANN

said about getting up every day to face another round of the same unanswered questions. “It’s a good thing that we tend to have our roller coaster days on separate days.”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information about Islamic State militants to Russian officials during a meeting last week, The Washington Post reported Monday, prompting strong condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.

Three White House officials who were in the May 10 meeting strongly denounced the story, saying no intelligence sources and methods were discussed — but they didn’t deny that classified information was disclosed.

Citing current and former U.S. officials, the Post said Trump shared details about an Islamic State terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak.

The anonymous officials told the Post that the information Trump relayed during the Oval Office meeting had been provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement. They said it was considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government.

“I was in the room, it didn’t happen,” H.R. McMaster,

their home to get her belongings so she could move in with her new boyfriend, James McLaws.

As a young woman, Tiffani struggled to find her place in life.

She’d had some minor scrapes with the law but she was holdMay 16, 2015 ing down a job, despite suffering The last family members to see from bouts of anxiety and deTiffani were her father and step- pression. mother, Stephanie Albert. Tiffani was living with them and went to Please see DISAPPEARANCE, Page A7

Associated Press

Have information on Tiffani?

Anyone with information on the disappearance of Tiffani Streling should contact the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office at 208-878-2251.

CSI board debates possible tuition increase The topic will come back to the board in July.

Harmon told trustees it was their decision whether to increase tuition for this fall or spring 2018.

He recommended the board allow CSI administrators to review fall semester enrollment and have the authority to decide later whether it’s necessary to raise tuition for the spring semester.

But Michelle Schutt, associate vice president of student services, told the board she had PAT SUTPHIN, TIMES-NEWS FILE PHOTO concerns about that recommendation.

Student ambassador Shakalah-le Brown, left, talks to high school students as she gives a tour of campus in February 2017 at the College Please see TUITION, Page A7 of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

JULIE WOOTTON

jwootton@magicvalley.com

TWIN FALLS — There’s good news and bad news for College of Southern Idaho students.

The good: Tuition will remain the same for this fall. The bad: There’s a chance it may go up for the spring 2018 semester.

A final decision hasn’t been made. CSI trustees debated a proposal during a Monday meeting to raise tuition $5 per credit — from $130 to $135. That’s a 4 percent increase.

College officials say it would help provide additional revenue needed for the general fund. But some students are worried about yearly tuition increases that have creases to 10 percent each year. vice president of administration.  More Online: See a College become commonplace.

“This would be substantially beCSI trustees decided Monday of Southern Idaho board meeting Idaho Code limits tuition in- low that,” said Jeff Harmon, CSI’s to hold off on making a decision. packet at Magicvalley.com.  If you do one thing: The “Reptile Revue” program will be held

at 6 p.m. in College of Southern Idaho’s Herrett Center for Arts and Science in Twin Falls. Free.

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Election From A1

Here are details about who’s running and where you can vote:

Twin Falls County‌ More information: Twin Falls County Clerk’s Office, 208-736-4004 Twin Falls school board (zone 3) Candidates: Incumbent Liyah Babayan is a write-in candidate and faces challenger Todd Hubbard.

Polling places: Twin Falls precinct 4: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 667 Harrison St. Twin Falls precinct 16: Twin Falls County West, 630 Addison Ave. W. Twin Falls precincts 17 and 18: Church of the Nazarene, 1231 Washington St. N. Twin Falls precincts 19-21: Twin Falls Reformed Church, 1631 Grandview Drive N. *Not all voters in precincts 4 and 16 are eligible to vote in this election — just those who live within the boundaries of school board zone three. Visit Magicvalley.com to see a zone map and description.

Kimberly school board (zone 2) Candidates: Incumbent Dane Higdem faces challenger Zachary Kelsey.

Polling places: Kimberly precincts 1, 3: Crossroads United Methodist Church, 131 Syringa Ave. Mail ballot for Twin Falls precinct 12: Twin Falls County West, 630 Addison Ave. W. Buhl school board (zones 1 and 2) Candidates: Incumbent Mike Hamilton faces challenger Mary A. Scott in zone 1. Incumbent Janet Smutny faces challenger Jacob S. Higley in zone 2.

Polling places: Buhl precincts 1-2: Buhl Moose Hall, 1101 Main St. Buhl precincts 3, 5: First Christian Church, 1005 Poplar St. Deep Creek precinct: Buhl Fire Department Station No. 2, 19266A Highway 30 Mail ballot for precinct Wendell 5: Gooding County Courthouse, 624 Main St. in Gooding Castleford school board (zone 5) Candidates: Incumbent Lisa Knudson faces challenger Kimberly A. Taylor.

Polling places: Mail ballot for Castleford: Twin Falls County West, 630 Addison Ave. W. in Twin Falls Murtaugh school board (zone 4) Candidates: Incumbent Dayn Roseborough faces challenger Chad Young.

Polling places: Murtaugh: Murtaugh City Hall, 106 Fourth St. Mail ballot for Parsons: Cassia County Courthouse, 1459 Overland Ave. in Burley Murtaugh Highway District Commissioners, sub-districts 1 and 2 Candidates: Incumbent Roger Duffin faces challenger Kip Wilkins in sub-district one. Candidate Duane Turner is running in sub-district two.

Polling places: Murtaugh: Murtaugh City Hall, 106 Fourth St. Hansen: Hansen Assembly of God Church, 319 Second St. E., Hansen Mail ballot for Parsons: Cassia County Courthouse, 1459 Overland Ave. in Burley Rock Creek Rural Fire Protection District: $538,000 per year permanent levy Polling places: Hansen precinct: Hansen Assembly of God Church, 319 Second St. E. Kimberly precincts 1, 3: Cross-

Tuition From A1

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“I feel like we should be up front with students as early as we can,” Schutt said. Plus, she added, having early notice would help CSI’s financial aid employees.

Students start registering in November for spring semester classes.

President Jeff Fox said he agreed fully with Schutt’s comments about students needing notice far in advance.

CSI officials would like to keep the tuition cost down, he said, but the college still has the lowest community college tuition in Idaho “by a fair amount.”

CSI’s Student Senate voted 8-2 earlier this month to support a board decision to raise tuition, if it was necessary. Two students abstained from voting and two were absent.

Student Senate talked about the proposal in length, dean of students Jason Ostrowski said. They were concerned CSI administrators seem to come to them every year with a proposed tuition increase.

During a public comment period at Monday’s CSI board meeting,

roads United Methodist Church, 131 Syringa Ave. Kimberly precincts 2, 4: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 222 Birch St. Murtaugh precinct: Murtaugh City Hall, 106 Fourth St. Mail ballot for Twin Falls precinct 12: Twin Falls County West, 630 Addison Ave. W. in Twin Falls Mail ballot for Parsons: Cassia County Courthouse, 1459 Overland Ave. in Burley Filer Highway District: Two-year, $250,000 annual override levy Polling places: Filer precincts 1-3 and Maroa: Filer Middle School, 299 Highway 30 Mail ballot for Twin Falls precinct 26: Twin Falls County West, 630 Addison Ave. W. in Twin Falls

Cassia County‌ More information: Cassia County Clerk’s Office, 208-878-5240 Cassia County school board (zone 3) Candidates: Incumbent Linda Petersen will face challenger Darin Moon.

Polling places: Burley precinct 1: VFW Hall, 554 Highland Ave. Burley precinct 5: Burley United Methodist Church, 450 E. 27th St. Burley precinct 6: City of Burley council room, 1401 Overland Ave. Burley Grandview precinct: Truth Tabernacle Church, 2459 Hiland Ave. Burley Unity precinct: Unity LDS Church, 275 S. 250 E. Burley absentee: Cassia County Courthouse, 1459 Overland Ave., room 105 Cassia County school board (zone 4) Candidates: Incumbent Kathryn Millar faces five challengers: Adam Brower, Kristina Haymore, Robert Silcock, Bruce B. Thompson and Randy W. Winn.

Polling places: Burley precinct 2: Crossroads Bible Church, 1550 Parke Ave. Burley precinct 4: Presbyterian Church, 2100 Burton Ave. Burley precinct 5: Burley United Methodist Church, 450 E. 27th St. Burley precinct 6: City of Burley council room, 1401 Overland Ave. Burley Grandview precinct: Truth Tabernacle Church, 2459 Hiland Ave Pella precinct: Pella LDS Church, 160 W. 400 S. Springdale precinct: Springdale LDS Church, 517 E. 200 S. Starrh’s Ferry precinct: Star 1st & 2nd LDS Church, 100 S. 200 W. Burley Unity precinct: Unity LDS Church, 275 S. 250 E. Burley absentee: Cassia County Courthouse, 1459 Overland Ave., room 105 City of Burley: $261,000 override levy to fund the Burley Public Library Polling places: Burley precinct 1: VFW Hall, 554 Highland Ave. Burley precincts 2-3: Crossroads Bible Church, 1550 Parke Ave. Burley precinct 4: Presbyterian Church, 2100 Burton Ave. Burley precinct 5: United Methodist Church, 450 E. 27th St. Burley precinct 6: City of Burley council room, 1401 Overland Ave. Grandview precinct: Truth Tabernacle, 2459 Hiland Ave. Burley early voting/absentee: Cassia County Courthouse, 1459 Overland Ave. Minidoka County precinct 2 — Emerson: Vote by mail Minidoka County absentee/election day: Minidoka County Courthouse, 715 G St., Rupert

one speaker asked the board why it is not considering an increase for out-of-state tuition.

CSI is trying to recruit out-ofstate and international students, Harmon told her, and believes raising tuition beyond the existing $280 per credit would hamper recruitment efforts.

Plus, it costs the same amount of money to educate a student from Elko, Nev., or Ontario, Ore., for example, as a student who lives in Twin Falls, he said.

With nearly half of CSI’s student body made up of high schoolers taking dual credit classes, trustee Jan Mittleider said she’d like to see state movement toward increasing the $65 per credit cost.

That amount hasn’t increased in a decade, she said, and she wants to see all CSI students sharing the load in tuition increases.

Trustee Jack Nelsen said he doesn’t think the board can “slice things that thin.” The college can’t have a budget deficit, he added, or be irresponsible with setting a budget.

Under state statute, the dual credit fee could be raised up to $75 per credit, Fox said, and approval would be needed from the Idaho Board of Education.

The board set dual credit fees in

Valley Vu of Malta Cemetery District: Two-year, $9,538.30 annual levy Polling places: Bridge precinct: Vote by mail Malta precinct: Malta Raft River Electric, 155 N. Main St. Sublett: Vote by mail Absentee/election day: Cassia County Courthouse, 1459 Overland Ave.

Camas County (Fairfield)‌ More information: Camas County Clerk’s Office, 208-764-2242 Camas County school board (zone 3) Candidates: Incumbent Marianne Kramer faces challenger Travis Martin.

Polling place: Camas County Public Library, 607 Soldier Road in Fairfield

Blaine County‌ More information: Blaine County Clerk’s Office, 208-788-5505 Blaine County school board (zone 2) Candidates: Incumbent Cami Bustos faces challengers Kelly Green and Laurie Kaufman.

Polling places: Precincts 6, 10, 11: Community Campus, 1050 Fox Acres Road in Hailey Precincts 12-13: Bellevue Elementary School, 305 N. Fifth St. in Bellevue Precinct 15: Silver Creek Convenience Store, 18918 Highway 20 in Picabo Blaine County school board (zone 4) Candidates: Incumbent Rob Clayton faces challenger John Galgano.

Polling places: Precincts, 1, 3 and 4: Ernest Hemingway Elementary School, 111 Eighth St. W. in Ketchum Precincts 5, 6, 7 and 9: Community Campus, 1050 Fox Acres Road in Hailey City of Hailey: Renewal of the 1 percent local option sales tax on lodging and vehicle rentals City of Ketchum: Renewal of the 1 percent local option sales tax City of Sun Valley: Renewal of the 1 percent local option sales tax

Gooding County‌ More information: Gooding County Clerk’s Office, 208-934-4841 Hagerman School District: Twoyear, $150,000 annual levy Polling place: Precinct 7: American Legion Hall, 281 State S. N. in Hagerman

Jerome County‌ More information: Jerome County Clerk’s Office, 208-644-2715 Valley School District: Five-year, $300,000 annual levy Polling places: Eden precinct: First Segregation Fire District,, 235 E. Wilson Ave. Hazelton precinct: Hazelton City Hall, 246 Main St. Hazelton: Annexation of a parcel of land into the Hazelton Cemetery Maintenance District Polling places: Voters who live between 900 East and 1400 East can vote for this ballot measure.

Eden precinct: First Segregation Fire District, 235 E. Wilson Ave. Hazelton precinct: Hazelton City Hall, 246 Main St.

Minidoka County‌ More information: Minidoka County Clerk’s Office, 208-436-9511 Rupert: $3.96 million in bonds for infrastructure improvements, to be repaid over up to 30 years Polling places: Rupert precincts 7-10: Rupert Civic Center, Seventh and F streets

April for the upcoming school year.

If CSI requested a dual credit fee increase, it would have to show it would provide enhanced services to those students using the $10 per credit increase, said Todd Schwarz, CSI’s executive vice president.

During their Monday meeting, trustees also: Approved fiscal year 2018 employee contracts.

Approved a continuing budget resolution for July and August.

The start of a new fiscal year is July 1. The resolution allows CSI to continue operating under this current year’s budget for an additional two months until officials can receive more accurate revenue and expense projections.

Granted permission to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Magic Valley to fence a 14,800-square-foot playground area at the Twin Falls club. Special permission was needed because the club leases its land from CSI. Voted to make a few changes to in-state residency requirements to align with state policy.

Heard presentations from a GNED 101 class that focused on hands-on anthropology and biology, and about the college’s summer bridge program for first-time, full-time, at-risk students.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 | A7

Disappearance From A1

The depression had set in after the death of her 1-month-old daughter, Saphire, in November 2013.

Tiffani and her baby’s father, Jordan Defilippis, had broken up but remained emotionally close.

That day as she gathered her things at her father’s home, Tiffani found Defilippis hiding in her closet where she kept Saphire’s belongings.

“It was odd that he was in the closet,” Albert said about Defilippis, who had dated Tiffani for several years and was well-known by the family. “But, we’d never known him to have a temper, and there was never any physical fighting between the two.”

Neither McLaws nor Defilippis could be reached for comment by the Times-News.

McLaws asked William Streling if he wanted him to “handle” Defilippis that day.

But Defilippis left peacefully, walking away from the home.

When Tiffani and McLaws left the house at 3:30 p.m. she told Steling and Albert that she and McLaws would be back at 5:30 p.m. for dinner.

“No one could get a hold of her after that,” Albert said.

At 10:30 p.m. McLaws came back to their house upset and said Tiffani was missing.

He said Defilippis had followed him and Tiffani to his house and Defilippis confronted him. He said Tiffani told the two men to work it out, and she went to take a shower. McLaws said he and Defilippis drove to a boat dock on Bedke Boulevard where they talked about Tiffani’s relationship with Defilippis. McClaws said he then dropped Defilippis off at Storybook Park.

At the Streling’s home that night, McLaws told them “I didn’t mean to hurt her,” Albert said, and that Tiffani had left his home to walk a few blocks to her best friend’s house.

“If she really walked a couple blocks to Ashley’s house, how come nobody saw her?” Albert said.

Streling and Albert went to the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office the next day to report Tiffani missing but were told that McLaws had already reported her missing within hours after her disappearance.

“There were a lot of holes in the story and the times were messed up,” Tiffani’s mother, Melissa Belt, said.

Afterward, Belt and Tiffani’s stepfather, Don Belt, asked McLaws to their home for dinner so they could question him about their daughter’s disappearance.

We were scared of him, Don Belt said, and they kept a gun close by when McLaws came to their home.

“He over-explained himself,” Melissa Belt said about McLaws’s rendition of events that occurred during his drive with Defilippis to the boat docks.

“He told us the exact route they drove including the street names,” Belt said.

Defilippis told the Belts that during the drive McLaws kept asking him questions, like whether he was sleeping with Tiffani.

“Every time James would ask a question, he would turn the stereo up like he didn’t want to hear Jordan’s answer,” Belt said.

At one point, McLaws’s former attorney Dave Haley said McLaws was considered “a person of interest,” in Tiffani’s disappearance, but George Warrell, Cassia

Trump From A1

Trump’s national security adviser, told reporters outside the White House late Monday.

“The president and the foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries including threats to civil aviation,” McMaster said.

“At no time, at no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed and the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known.”

He said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Dina Powell, deputy national security adviser for strategy, remember the meeting the same way. “Their on-the-record accounts should outweigh those of anonymous sources” in the news report, he said.

Tillerson said Trump discussed a range of subjects, including “common efforts and threats regarding counter-terrorism.” He said that during that exchange the nature of specific threats were discussed, but they

County undersheriff, said no suspects can be named at this point in the investigation.

“We are actively working this case,” Warrell said. “We realize this is somebody’s daughter and without a doubt we are following up every lead.”

Warrell said investigators “have worked every day on this case,” since her disappearance.

Often, he said, it’s frustrating for officers not to be able to tell family members everything they know about a case.

“Hopefully, it will pay off down the road,” he said.

Warrell said the case was investigated “for the worst possible scenario,” and pieces of evidence that were collected will be used when an arrest is made.

In cases where an adult is reported missing, it can sometimes be difficult for investigators to determine whether a crime has occurred, he said. But Tiffani’s disappearance prompted immediate action from the office and was investigated from the beginning as foul play.

Bring Tiffani home‌

Tiffani and her cousin Miranda Thomas were close growing up.

“She loved music and hanging out with her friends. She was funny and she was always looking for the latest fashions,” Thomas said.

Tiffani also enjoyed being outdoors.

“She was family-oriented,” Thomas said. “Her family meant a lot to her. We miss her dearly.”

Tiffani’s sister, Christina Tolman, said it is hard some days to force a smile to her lips and face the world.

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking about her,” Tolman said.

For Tiffani’s father, the memories and sadness also visit daily.

His eyes reflect a moment of despair when his thoughts turn to a small stuffed Peanuts “Snoopy” dog — pink, her favorite color — that sits on his headboard. Tiffani chose the stuffed animal as the final resting place for her small daughter’s cremains after her death.

For Streling, it reminds him morning and night of a daughter he misses and what could have been.

In Melissa Belt’s quiet moments watching television, the wall of family photos is out of her direct view — and that’s a good thing, because the photos remind her that her family is incomplete.

Tiffani’s old bedroom, painted a pale pink, is now a playroom where grandchildren romp, the sights and sounds offering a momentary relief.

Belt does not keep in touch with family or friends on social media sites and was shocked when she Googled her daughter’s name, and all kinds of information popped up.

Everyone has a theory, she said.

Tiffani just walked away or that she was murdered and by whom.

Her daughter, Belt said, would not have simply walked away, never contacting family members or friends again.

Tiffani had hopes and dreams for the future. She was learning to bake and would get recipes on her phone and take pictures of food.

Belt chuckled at the memory of one photo she saw of Tiffani’s efforts at baking cookies, which had melted together.

Just as quickly as the happy memory flows a darker thought replaces it. The thoughts about what may have happened to her daughter never leave her alone, Belt said.

“They’re always there,” she said. “There is no peace.”

did not discuss sources, methods or military operations.

Powell said: “This story is false. The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced.”

The Post story — which was later confirmed by The New York Times and BuzzFeed News — does not claim that Trump revealed any specific information about how the intelligence was gathered. Still, it will only heighten Trump’s strained relations with intelligence workers and former officials, who view Russia as an adversary.

Even before he was inaugurated, intelligence professionals worried about sharing classified information with Trump, who often shoots from the hip.

If true, the breach was illtimed, coming a day after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election.

Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was fired after he misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations he had with Kisylak.