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Making it happen in Gem County In this issue: Introduction Cherry Festival Emmett Multi-Church Christmas Concert The Messenger Index newspaper Emmett Community Playhouse Scooter’s Youth Hunting Camp Gem County Fairgrounds Emmett Spring Race Meet Emmett High School graduation Walter Knox Memorial Hospital Health Fair Emmett’s Most Excellent Triathlon Festival of Lights The Gem/Boise County Fair Thoughts on meeting deadlines
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Making it happen in Gem County is the theme of the Messenger Index’s annual Scene magazine. What does it take to put on community events from the conception to the end result? Local Gem County writers will lead you through the process of events like Cherry Festival. Beginning in 1928, it has been the longest running festival event in the State of Idaho. Learn about the “nuts and bolts” of how volunteers get a project or program implemented. What is involved in making a horse race or a high school graduation happen? It takes a community to make these events happen. A community of volunteers donating their time, effort and money. A community that is so dedicated that they turn around and do it all over again the next year. Diana Baird, managing editor
The Messenger Index 120 N. Washington Ave., Emmett, Idaho, P.O. Box 577, Emmett, Idaho, 83617
An annual publication by the Messenger Index and Idaho Press Tribune Proudly reporting the news and events of Phone 208-365-6066; FAX 208-365-6068 Gem County and the surrounding area Online 24/7 at www.messenger-index.com since 1893. Celebrate family, friends and traditions with the Messenger Index.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Messenger Index file photo
The Cherry Festival parade has drawn the attention of everyone in the community for many years. Horses and the stage coach are a favorite among the children.
Cherry Festival the premier event By Janet Monti
As one can imagine, preparing for Idaho’s longest, continually running festival is not an easy task. Cherry Festival carries long-standing traditions as well as tremendous community involvement. The event got its start back in 1928 when Shorty Britton wanted to celebrate the close of the cherry harvest with a dance. From the humble beginning, the event now under the direction of the Gem County Chamber of Commerce draws over 40,000 people who use the ,week to celebrate family, friends and traditions. Back in the day, the actual harvest of cherries determined the dates of the festival. With the need to book a carnival and vendors from other areas, a consistent date was needed. Now, Cherry Festival is held the second full week in June.
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In January, the chamber staff updates all the forms needed as well as the website. A theme is chosen. The Grand Marshall is also chosen from the many people who have made an impact on the community. By March, applications are sent out to food and expo vendors, entertainment and parade participants. Sponsors help cover the costs of many favorites — the hospitality pavilion, cherry pie eating contest, cherry pit-spitting contest and more. Chamber staff works to get a current map of all the local u-pick fruit orchards. Electricity in the park is a “huge thing.” Spreadsheets are made to show the amount of electricity needed by each vendor. Tents are ordered for some booths. Sound people for the band shell are scheduled. Another spreadsheet is made to keep track of entertainment. Local officials are contacted for per-
mission to use the park and street. The weekend before Cherry Festival, vendors and trucks carrying carnival rides begin to arrive at the Emmett City Park. They need to wait to unload as the chamber maps out where everyone can set up. By Monday, the park is alive with activity. Children — eager to see if their favorite ride has returned — stand on the sidewalk to watch rides transform from semi trucks. Porta potties are brought in for the crowds. Two ATM machines are brought in so people can get cash. A company comes in to pick up the grease from the food vendors. A group is lined up to clean up the trash. There is some on-site parking — donations from parking cars help pay for community Christmas decorations. Ice requires another spreadsheet to tally how much each vendor uses.
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Security people walk the park all night long. Long before June, someone must find convertible cars for dignitaries in the main parade on Saturday. The day before, the parade route is marked with signs to remind people there is no vehicle parking along the route. Three water zones have become a popular addition. The minute the parade hits Main Street, a call to the carnival is made to stop all the rides, which can spook the parade horses. By noon on Sunday, everything is cleaned up. It takes another three weeks to get all the paperwork completed and filed. There are so many people who just show up to help; there is no way to know them all. Thanks for the memories.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Christmas music in July By Terry Gardner
It’s the middle of July and hot outside — but inside we’re listening to Christmas music. Choral music publishers have just released their latest holiday offerings and sent out preview packs — each release includes CDs we can listen to and a printed copy of each new arrangement. This means it’s time to get serious about planning this year’s Emmett’s Multi-Church Christmas Concert. There is much new music to hear, new ideas to consider and music from past years to re-consider. As a theme emerges, drama must be found to complement the music. And, as the music and drama ideas are coming together, it’s time to make sure rehearsal facilities are available, the rehearsal accompanist is ready and the participating churches are aware of the rehearsal schedule. The middle of September soon approaches and rehearsals begin, typically from 3:30 to 5:30 on Sunday afternoons. Soon, recordings must be made so the members can practice on their own, a drama director must be found, as well as a children’s choir director, choreographer and orchestra director. As these leaders are getting their groups together, there are multiple auditions going on — drama parts,
children’s parts and choir soloists all are chosen. The weeks rush by and the decisions mount. All costumes and props must be procured, decorating and staging must be decided and sound and lighting techs are chosen. Approximately three weeks prior to the performance, it is time to start putting the pieces together. The choreography team, children and drama find their places along with the adult choir. Arrangements are made for advertising, program printing, greeters and parking coordinators. Preparations are also made for a post-performance party for all of the participants. The party occurs on Sunday after the final performance. The Wednesday prior to the weekend performances is traditionally dress rehearsal. The hubbub of approximately 100 people finding their respective places and coordinating all the parts is a patiencebuilder for all involved. When the dress rehearsal concludes, the director goes home and crashes — then prays all will go smoothly at performance time. If you have never attended a performance of the Messenger Index file photo Multi-Church Choir and Orchestra Concert, make this your year to come ... it’s a new concert every Many hours are spent on rehearsals as members practice on their own for the big event. year!
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The Messenger Index printing press located in historical downtown Emmett.
GEM SUPPLY & BUILDING CO-OP, INC. 402 N. Washington
365-4444 Messenger Index file photo illustration
Paper takes pride in product By Kelly Taylor
It’s Monday afternoon and work has started on the Messenger Index edition that will be published in nine days. Managing Editor Diana Baird and reporters Janet Monti and Kelly Taylor have already thought about the next issue. It’s Tuesday, and the editorial staff is meeting this morning to discuss the next edition. At the same time, the current edition has arrived and the truck is unloaded. Circulation Assistant Shannon Chapman begins to sort the newspapers. In a short while, the MI’s 11 carriers start to deliver approximately 7,000 editions of the Messenger Index or Marketplace. For more than 117 years, the MI staff and its predecessors have brought news to Gem County and surrounding areas. Wednesday comes around and Diana realizes she will finish a feature article about a five-generation pioneer family. She has old photographs of the original house. General Manager Tonja Hyder meets with a client to discuss future advertising options. After entering the insertion order into the computer, she moves on to processing Circulation reports. Janet starts to move old photos and articles to the archive files when the police scanner goes off and she heads out to a single vehicle accident on Freezeout Hill. She calls back to the office to tell Kelly that it’s a non-injury, but the road will be closed for a couple of hours as emergency crews deal with the problems created.
Kelly posts the information on the MI website and Facebook, then sends out an e-mail blast to let people know they need to avoid that section of Highway 16. Thursday afternoon, Diana has a good idea what the front page will look like. Before she leaves for the afternoon, she forwards a sketch of the front page, the text and photos to the layout desk at the Idaho Press-Tribune. The front page will be done Thursday night. In addition, Tonja is done selling ads for the week. The more ads sold, the more space there is for news articles. Graphic Artist Joyce McMahon works to design the display ads. By Friday, Diana makes the final plan to fill the pages. Late Friday afternoon, she sends everything electronically to the Press-Tribune staff who work over the weekend on the pages. Pages will be ready to print and examine on Monday morning. Also on Friday, Tonja makes sure all the advertisers have proof read their ads. On Monday morning, the editorial staff arrives early to proof read the pages. By 11:30 a.m., Classified’s Brandi Deen is done with classified ads. By 12:30 p.m., the paper is done and corrected pages are sent back over to the Press-Tribune. By 2 p.m., the presses start to roll and Wednesday’s newspaper is printed. They’re bundled up and ready to load onto the truck for delivery to Emmett on Tuesday morning.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Lights, curtains, action on the stage By Tracey Houston
The theater doors open, the audience takes their seats, lights dim and the curtain opens as stage lights go up. Suddenly, the audience is transported to another world — a world in which people like to watch the written word become transformed into reality in front of their eyes. This new world doesn’t magically appear on stage opening night, with the Emmett Community Playhouse, this journey begins at least four months earlier. A production begins with a vision — a vision initially seen by the director when the play is read. For ECP director Sharron Hollingsworth, “The play must be compelling and worth telling. Only then can I begin to see the magic that makes it rise up from the page and come to life.” A director must get others to see this vision to create a logo. The design needs to be simple and catch the eye, yet represent the major theme and emotion of the play. The publicity team then uses the logo on all advertising, newspaper articles, tickets, posters and programs. Thanks to this community, the ECP is fortunate to have several venue options. Choosing the venue depends on availability and which stage and location will best showcase the play. Based on the venue and the director’s plan, the sets are then designed. A creative set designer results in a vision coming alive. Sets need to be light in weight, visually pleasing to the eye and frequently representational. Overall, sets enhance the play and allow actors to take the audience from the theater to the world created by the playwright. Auditions take place several weeks before rehearsal begins. Actors usually familiarize themselves with the characters, lines and overall background of the play. After auditions and cast selection, rehearsals can begin. Practice! Practice! Practice! The outcome of a play depends on the efforts of the cast and director during rehearsals. When an actor memorizes the lines early, more character understanding and development will happen — the character’s personality grows and develops. Blocking plans out the large and specific movements the actor/actors make on the stage. Usually, rehearsal schedules last six weeks; the process can be longer for musicals because of the singing and dancing. Early in the rehearsal process, the director talks to the sound and light technicians.
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Collaboratively, they will decide the best Above: “A Tale of Ignorance and Bliss” was the 2010 youth production. format to make sure the actors and sets are Below: “A Chicken Every Sunday” took place in the Frontier Cinema Theatre Messenger Index file photos seen, and the correct sound effects are used. in 2010. A good costumer is one who appreciates the play, sees the director’s vision and who accommodates the needs of the actors. The costumer has to please the director, the actors and the audience — it isn’t an easy job. Sometimes a costumer must do some research to create the correct costumes. Also, the costumer makes sure costumes match the character development. When the audience leaves and the theater door closes, everyone involved with the production usually takes a deep sigh of relief. Many months of dedication and hard work have resulted in a feeling of accomplishment and of giving to the community. People love live theater, and the Gem County community always comes together to make ECP productions a successful reality. Imagine a play without a costumer! Imagine a play without a set designer! Imagine a play without programs. Imagine a play without actors!
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Youth hunting: It’s all about the kids By Scott McGann
“Shooting for the Future” was added to the motto of Scooter’s Youth Hunting Camp a few years ago. The top priority for all of the volunteers is the kids. We are there to teach and build a desire for the outdoor lifestyle that is so openly available here in “God’s Country.” We try to make sure that each child not only physically takes something home but also takes home an unforgettable experience and memory. This coming May 7 will be the 10th anniversary of our camp. In the past nine years, there has been a little over 1,440 kids attend, and we have given out more than $30,000 worth of gear. So, you see, “Shooting for the Future” is more than a motto for the volunteers at this camp. We’ve all
Volunteer instructors assist young hunters at Scooter’s Youth Hunting Camp.
heard the professional hunters on SYHC, Inc. were doing just that TV make a comment like “Take — years before it was cool to say a kid hunting.” The volunteers at it on TV. We would rather “do
it” and let our actions speak the loudest. Our volunteers are second to none. We also have organizations to lend their assets. January: We have our first meeting for the year. We make plans to update the website, get flyers and begin collecting donations. February: Seminar presenters are contacted to confirm they can participate. Food is also planned. It takes a lot of food to feed close to 500 people — 300 hamburgers, 250 hotdogs, 100 pounds of finger steaks and 50 gallons of chili. March: Typically, there are almost 100 kids signed up for camp. Equipment includes 30 tables, 220 chairs, generators, shotguns, muzzleloaders, .22 rifles, bows, ammunition, targets, toilets, coolers and insurance.
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April: The volunteers have been out for the last four months gathering items for the kids. We have a great army of volunteers in this category. The last meeting this month is a complete run through of the camp schedule. May: Camp has arrived. We all pray hard the first week of May for Mother Nature to bless us with good weather. It is hunting, so we will be out there rain, snow or sunshine and have done all three. Most of the camp is set up Friday, with some volunteers camping out for the night. Usually the Monday after it is spent taking all the items back to the donors. June: The SYHC, Inc. makes it a very big point to personally thank all of their volunteers with a barbecue/trap shoot.
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The quarter horse futurity held in Gem County draws crowds every year.
Horse racing magic every year By Kathy Black
Every year during the last two weekends in April, the Gem County Fairgrounds holds the Emmett Spring Race Meet. It is a horse race meet for quarter horses, thoroughbreds, paints and appys. People begin arriving by noon to check out the racing program for that day. If they’re interested in betting on a horse they can do so at the pari-mutual windows. They can go to the concession stand and get something good to eat while they watch the races. Kids come with their parents and watch the amazing athletes of the equine world. It’s a great way to spend a spring afternoon with friends and family. Everyone has a good time and enjoys the fun. But have you ever wondered just how this all happens? Is it as simple as just advertising that there will be a race meet and everyone shows up? Nothing is ever that simple. Planning for the event starts the preceding September with applying to the State Racing Commission for race dates. Since there are two graded stakes races for quarter horses, nomination forms need to be printed, addressed, sorted and mailed by the first week in January. There are several hundred names on the mailing list, so this takes some time. During December and January the condition book (which is the listing of conditions
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for various races that horsemen enter) is written by the racing secretary, approved by the fair board and sent to the printer. When it is finished it is then mailed to several hundred horsemen – owners and trainers – in the hopes that they will have horses that qualify for the races written and will enter them in the races. January, February and March are spent registering the stakes nominations, selling advertising for the racing program and blanket sponsorships. The blankets are presented to the winner of each race and have the sponsor’ name embroidered on the blanket. During this time, there are also many horses training daily on the track in preparation for the horse racing season. The ground’s crew keeps the track in good running condition throughout the winter. A starting gate is set on the track so horses can become accustomed to its workings and so they can be timed coming out of the gate. The beginning of April sees a copious amount of activity in preparation for the approaching race meet. Buildings are set up for the pari-mutual windows, the racing office and the vet check area. The concession booth is cleaned and prepped. Numerous volunteers – without whom the race meet would be impossible – are lined up. There is a jockey room attendant, a clerk of the scales, valets, outrid-
ers, pony people, starters – to name just a few. The tote board and betting machines are set up and then inspected by the state. The entries are taken for the races and the horses’ positions are drawn. The riders are chosen. All of the information on the races being held and on the horses, including owner, trainer, breeder, jockey, etc. are compiled and put into the computer, thusly creating the racing program that you see. Horses that are coming from out of town or out of state start arriving on Thursday and Friday of race week. This gives them a chance to get a feel for the track before the races. On race day morning, horsemen come into the racing office to pay their fees and bring in the papers of the horses that will be running during the meet. The coffee is put on and the grill is fired up in the concession booth. Soon it’s noontime. The admission gates open and voila! The magic happens. The first post time is at 1:30 and the horses are off and running. But it doesn’t end there. After the last race of the meet is run and all is cleaned up and put away for another year, there’s still a lot of work to do. The horsemens’ accounts are balanced, the purse checks are written, the bills are paid, reports are filled out and filed with the state and breeder’s awards are figured.
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On top of all else, the horses that you see on race day have spent the last several months training for race day. And that is a whole other story. As with any large event, it takes plenty of planning and work to coordinate everything and get everything done so the event runs smoothly. It’s kind of like the duck “floating” on the water’s surface. He looks so calm and peaceful, but he’s paddling like crazy under the surface. But all of the planning and hard work before and after the race meet makes for three days of magic for horse racing fans – if it doesn’t rain!
Idaho 2011 horse race track schedule Gem County, April 16, 17 and 24 Pocatello Downs, nine days in May Sandy Downs, 12 days in June and July Rupert Downs, July 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 Jerome, June 11,12,19 Oneida County, Aug. 6, 7, 13, 14 Cassia County, Aug. 19, 20 Eastern Idaho, Sept. 4, 5, 9, 10 www.isp.idaho.gov, on the left, click on “other services.”
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Graduation takes an entire community By Joanne Anderson
Long before the end of May arrives, the groundwork for the current high school graduation is being arranged. Besides the years of hard work and study of the graduates, many people work together to make Emmett High School graduation a success. The venue is reserved almost a year ahead of time to make sure the date and time will work not only with the school, but with the location as well. Before school starts in the fall, counselors and teachers review student transcripts to make sure that each student is on track with credits and necessary courses. The fall is a busy time for seniors. This is the time they are getting senior pictures and getting their caps and gowns ordered. What several students don’t realize is that the tux and drape photo that is taken by the school is what is sent to the Messenger Index for the graduation edition. If a student ops out of getting their picture in tux and drape they won’t be featured in the edition, even though they are graduating. Another aspect of graduation that many fail to realize is the work of parents to make
Project Graduation a success for our graduates. Parents start the process in June before school is even being thought about. They apply for grants and will help raise money for seniors during their Project Graduation party. Anyone who has a student who will be a senior in the next few years is more than welcome to attend a few project graduation meetings. “It just helped to get an idea of how things go because there’s just so much you don’t think about,” said senior parent Nikki Carter. She attended meetings last year in preparation for this year’s project graduation team. Parents help organize several fund raising activities, as well as gather donated prizes for the seniors during their celebration. The week leading up to graduation is both exciting and full of work and logistics. Besides the work of the students to get their finals completed, many faculty and staff pitch in to make the event possible. Faculty and staff can be found volunteering their time folding programs and sorting diplomas as well as helping out with graduation practice and graduation itself. It truly takes an entire community to make high school graduation happen.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Community health and safety fair By Sue Vahlberg
Celebrating good health is fairly new to Gem County. In a study released this year, Gem County rated last of 42 Idaho participating counties in behavioral health. The annual health and safety fair is one way to improve that ranking. Walter Knox Memorial Hospital has hosted the annual health and safety fair in the spring for the last 17 years. The fair is a great collaboration of health care groups and local services that provide a variety of activities to all Gem County residents young and old. This free event offers more than 30 exhibits, including popular booths like “Ask A Doctor,” “Ask the Pharmacist” and over a dozen free health screenings. Each booth provides hands-on learning and an opportunity to become familiar with the many resources available for you and your family’s health, well-being and safety. One of the featured events for kids is the interactive Teddy Bear Hospital, where kids can dress up and play with actual hospital equipment. Fair planning typically begins in January by a small team of hospital and community members. To make each year better and flow smoothly, the first discussion reviews the “lessons learned” and survey suggestions from the previous year’s participants. A workbook holds the master spreadsheets for budgets, meeting agenda, responsibilities, event timeline, supply list, vendors, activities, sponsors, volunteer list, marketing, fair layout and comments. Team leaders are assigned to specific areas — advertising, communications, volunteers, sponsors and facilities. The goal of the health fair is to engage community residents with hands-on activities to make learning fun and memorable. Free health screenings are offered to encourage disease prevention
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Above: Many from the community come to the Health Fair for free screenings. Below right: Educational materials and free hand-out items are a big hit and great opportunities to learn.
and improve behavioral health. Activities for children and exposure to the hospital setting help encourage local children to pursue careers in health care. Initially, meetings are scheduled every two weeks, then weekly, as the event gets closer. When a theme is chosen, the marketing documents and signage are edited to the current theme. Vendor letters and applications are sent out in January. The team is always looking for new ideas to enlarge the event and options to invite more vendors. Many local health care groups participate with activities and health screenings to promote wellness to residents, even when they provide long-term care or disease management as their business. Groups such as hospice, extended care and rehabilitation providers assist in various aspects of the fair.
Emmett Rehabilitation has been involved for a number of years, as well as others. Utilizing these groups has strengthened the Gem County health care community in general. Coordination of activities spreads to local, as well as Treasure Valley areas. To showcase areas of the hospital, handson activities are provided by various departments and tours. The hospital’s auxiliary offers a bake sale. The WKMH employees activities committee supplies a barbecue and drinks to fair goers. The WKMH laboratory and business office staff coordinates the discount blood test draws which results in testing of hundreds of blood samples. Local emergency medical, fire, city, county police, sheriff and citizen groups add to the safety component of the fair.
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Health fair draws crowd A very popular recent addition was the drug drop off program, provided by the Gem County Juvenile Department, Emmett Police Department and local volunteers. Local physicians and staff — as well as resident physicians — join in education and activities. The Gem County Recreation District has supported a health walk around the perimeter of fair for several years. Families and groups are encouraged to walk laps and spin the wheel for prizes. Picnic tables are donated for use by the city. Larger health providers such as St. Lukes, St. Alphonsus Regional Medical centers and Elks Rehabilitation have provided events not offered locally, such as infant car seat checks, air flight information, balance testing and bone density screening. Routine visiting physicians to the WKMH specialty clinics offer free screenings such as skin cancer, hernia checks and orthopedic information. Social club involvement includes financial sponsorship for activities. The Gem Lions Club offers free vision and hearing tests to all fair participants in the long trailer parked at the fair. Local fit- Prescription drug collection was such a big hit last year ness centers offer a variety of that additional days were added to collect drug bottles and fun activities. The local anti- pills. drug coalition coordinates Southwest District Health nurses have with the police department to volunteered to provide screenings. offer information on illegal drug use. Volunteering is a huge part of the planSupport through donated funds or ning efforts for the fair. Volunteers are items for drawings for the fair comes from provided in a number of ways. The Gem local businesses of all types, from the County Citizen Emergency Response largest to the smallest. Names of sponsors Team (CERT) provides traffic control and are posted throughout the fair, on flyers, keeps the visitor and emergency room handouts and in newspaper articles. Major parking areas clear for patients. Youth sponsors are allowed to post larger bangroups assist with raising the huge tents. ners. Some businesses offer items for use They also help with games and activities such as a golf cart to distribute water to offered by Boy Scout troop members, walkers, helium for balloons, trailers and Emmett High School groups, nurses aid other items. Individual residents often class, the local theater group and the local supply items such as generators and jump group homes such as the Patriot Center. houses. Local school nurses, Treasure Valley Getting the word out to the community Community College nursing students and is the biggest challenge.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Come Worship with Us! Emmett Emmett
Church Church
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
of the
The Church on the Hill with the Cross Reaching out to the Gem Valley
219 E. 1st St. 365-2309
Sunday School 9:30 am Fellowship Time 10:30 am Worship 11:00 am Evening Service 6:00 pm Small Groups @ 6 & 7 pm
Year Round Hours
Wed: Eve Fellowship Dinner 6:00 pm Children Caravan & Youth Group 7:00 pm Adult Studies & Prayer Hour 7:00 pm
8:00 a.m. Eucharist Service 10:00 a.m. Eucharist Service Rev. Gretchen Downer, Rector D110915
Tuesday: Men’s Bible Study 6:30 am Tuesday: Ladies Bible Study 9:30 am Wednesday: Ladies Bible Study 10:00 am Thursday: Small Group 7:00 pm
Check out Emmett’s Local Places of Worship
Pastor: Jeff Doud
1144 N. Washington Emmett, ID 83617 • 365-2215
ABUNDANT LIFE INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
The ASSEMBLY OF GOD
HARVEST CHURCH
207 S. Washington Ave. • 365-2823 (So. of old Albertsons’ parking lot)
125 E. 2nd St. 398-7584 398-7548
. . . Where there is dynamic teaching of the Word each service! Sunday Worship Children's Church Wednesday Bible Study
Nazarene Nazarene
10:00 am 10:00 am 7:00 pm
Pastors Marvin & Reeta Huyser
First Presbyterian 212 E. 3rd St., Emmett 365-2360
SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am WORSHIP 11:00 am Rev. Elizabeth D. Beck
D99262
Lay Pastor Dorothy Hall
PASTORS LARRY & SHARON KINLEY The End of Your Search for a Friendly Church
Sunday School Worship Sunday Evening Tuesday Eveing Prayer Wednesday Evening Bible Study Adult & Youth
Thursday Ladies’ Prayer
10:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
October thru May 10:00 a.m. Thursday Evening Youth Praise & Worship w/ Mark Mowery 7:00 p.m. Saturday Evening Prayer 6:00 p.m. H110918
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Triathlon runners push it to the finish line By Kristen Sietz
The kids splash and dash went well Friday night and the August morning dawns for the triathlon. Things are going great. The triathletes gather and the cannons sound to start the race. We clean up the area and head to the finish line for the award ceremony. The last person just came through the finish line and it is time to tear down. Even though we are tired, the last thought of the day is, “When are the triathlons next year?” We start to talk with other race directors the week after the Olympic and sprint triathlons. We want to make sure our date does not conflict with other races. After we get the dates set for the Emmett’s Most Excellent Triathlon, we reserve Black Canyon Park where the triathlon races start and the Gem County Recreation District swimming pool, for the kids splash and dash. At this point we can now take it easy. December means we need to get letters to local officials. We ask to reserve Blaser Park, the trail around the Gem Island Sports Complex, the area around the GCRD swimming pool and close a few streets. In January, we reserve Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s parking lot for the busses. Online registration has been updated. Swim bags have been purchased and numbers are being added. Packet envelopes are also ordered along with labels that will be made out in August. Around March, we get USA Triathlon to sanction the events — the insurance. We also get the committee heads together to talk about what we would like to change or keep the same. Sponsors are solicited and we contact certain businesses to provide food. We can now order the medals and plaques. Starting in June, we meet each month with our key people
Triathlon bikers rush to transition for the running portion of the event. Participants come from all over the world.
Messenger Index file photo
— those who set up the kids’ triathlon, mark the Saturday course, man the intersections, man boats, work the aid stations, tear down after the big race and more. June also is the time to get the numbers and goody bag items ordered. July means we order shirts and watch the registration. July also brings advertising to make sure everyone is aware that the triathlon will happen. August is the fast paced time to get packets done and make sure the volunteers are ready. Finally, it is the week of the triathlons. The kids’ triathlon is
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
first with about 80 triathletes. The volunteers go around to the businesses and houses that will be affected by the road closures. Thursday is packet pickup. Friday afternoon, the timing is set up; roads are closed; the finish line arch is put up; and food court area set up. The athletes get their bikes put in the transition areas. At 4 p.m. the first racers are off. The next race will start at 5:30 p.m. After the award ceremonies, all is packed up and taken to the recreation center. The triathlon volunteers are finalizing close to 600 triath-
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lete packets and goody bags. On Thursday, there is a packet pickup in Boise and supplies are loaded in a truck and brought to the recreation center here in Emmett. Friday the truck is unloaded and boxes are condensed and there is a packet pickup again. Packets are condensed one more time and loaded into the truck. In addition, food is picked up. Saturday starts at 5:30 a.m. with volunteers setting up the finish line, packet pickup area, timing, swim start and food court areas. Around 6:30 a.m., triathletes start to pick up packets, get
their body marked, their chip for timing and their transition areas ready. At 8:30 a.m., the aid stations pick up their supplies. The Olympic race starts at 9 a.m. with the sprint at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers pack up what’s left and head down to Blaser Park to get ready for the award ceremony. While waiting for the award ceremony, triathletes can get a bite to eat while plaques and thank yous are given to key volunteer groups. It is then time to tear down and put everything away ... just in time to start thinking about next year.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Festival lights up local holidays By Abra Dodson
Festival of Lights is held on the first Friday in December and has been a Gem County tradition for years. The Gem County Recreation District (GCRD) starts planning the Festival of Lights in September with soliciting entertainment and getting design ideas. In 2010, the venue was changed from the Emmett Junior High School to the band shell in Emmett City Park. First — and most important — we had to contact the North Pole and make sure Santa and Mrs. Claus were able to attend. Because, as we all know, they get really busy in December. Next, we had to convince entertainers that it would be okay to perform outside at the beginning of December. The cold weather limited some of our entertainment options because most instruments do not do well in the cold weather, but we put a line up together that the crowd really enjoyed. It is always our goal to add a new act to the show — last year, “Guess When,” a Scottish band, and a few Scottish dancers. Mike Williams and Melissa McDaniel were perfect to host the show. We then touch base with Marta Henry, the owner of the Coffee Shop, and the Red Hat Ladies to see if they can provide the hot chocolate, apple cider and cookies. Each year we have to put the lights on the tree at the Courthouse. The November day we pick to do this always ends up being a very cold day. There are great volunteers who help. Peter Oxley has been in the bucket truck and his wife, Marianne, is always there. Commissioner Lan Smith added a wreath in the second floor window of the Courthouse and lights across the top. Before the show started, the Emmett Valley Friendship Coalition was asked to sell hot dogs and chips so families could come straight to the event without worrying about squeezing time in for dinner at home. This group has been a part of the Festival of Lights for the past three years in order to collect food and money for the Christmas Cheer Baskets. Last year, the Gem County Senior Center was asked to man the cookie and drink booth. Between the senior center and the friendship coalition, the community contributed several hundred dollars. It has been really great to add the service component to the show because it allows the community to
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Above: Lots of children come out to watch Mr. And Mrs. Claus who entertain them during the event. Below right: Mr. And Mrs. Santa Claus make it a point to visit the kids in Emmett every year during the Festival of Lights event.
help others while having a great time. Snow can add some complications to the event. The day of the event, it took us a lot more time to set up because we had to carry tables, canopies and decorations through the snow. The guys from the city were phenomenal that day! They came over and shoveled snow and put ice melt down so we would have access to the band shell door and safe sidewalks for those attending. The time came for the show to start and we had an awesome crowd. It was great for everyone to be able to mingle and chat with friends and family during the show. We were thrilled with the talent, audience and ambiance of the show. It was great to see all of our hard work, worry and anticipation turn into such a fantastic event. After an amazing show we light the tree at the Courthouse. The magic of the holiday season began.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Life’s not fair, but the fair is full of life By Melissa McDaniel
When asked “What do you do, besides the fair?” the volunteers and staff of the Gem County Fairboard and the Gem County Extension Office will grin, roll their eyes, and ask “How much time do you have?” The Gem/Boise County Fair is one of many, many events created, organized and held on the Gem County Fairgrounds. Educational seminars, rodeos, wedding receptions, horse racing, haunted barn fundraisers, horse shows, winter archery leagues, livestock jackpots, auctions and even birthday parties happen on the Gem County Fairgrounds. When the vision of a county fair floats into one’s mind, the image of healthy farm animals, children playing, bucking bulls and beautiful rodeo queens gather. The scent of carnival food and the chance to see an old friend mingles in the midway. The exposition building embraces everything from photography to luscious pies and quilts to glorious flower arrangements. All of this is deliberately staged through thousands of hours of networking through e-mails, phone calls and meetings. Before the dust even settles at high noon the day after the county fair closes, plans are being made to make next year’s Gem/ Boise County Fair even better.
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Year after year numerous volunteers ride their horses at the Gem/Boise County Fair events.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Food, fun, 4-H offered at the county fair While fruit is harvested in the valley, the 4-H leaders and FFA advisor are meeting to change what didn’t work into what will benefit the most children in the upcoming year. While gardeners sigh and resign to frost on the pumpkins, the fairboard is planning next year’s rodeo events, livestock market sale, vendors and entertainment for the fair of the future. The county fair is an annual steeplechase, circling round and round ... with hundreds of volunteers jumping old obstacles and grasping new opportunities in the process. It is often the fairs of past that make our volunteers want to help create memories for their children and grandchildren. Many adults return to Emmett to raise their children and enroll them in 4-H or FFA. They then enjoy the delighted expressions on our children’s faces when handed a trophy or ribbon for a job well done. Community members enter cakes, pies, jams and other homemade treats in hopes of being crowned “Queen or King of the Kitchen.” Summer of 2007 found the Gem/Boise County Fair and Rodeo without power for almost two hours. A total blackout with bull
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
riding in full swing and instantly, animals stressing from the heat. Within minutes, the Dodge Rodeo trucks provided rodeo by headlight and the Letha Fire Department arrived to hose down the livestock — and willing spectators. Wherever there are animals and humans, the unexpected is to be expected. The Gem/Boise County Fair is very “Norman Rockwell” and is proud to be one of the few fairs that receive thank you cards from judges, in awe of the spirit of sportsmanship shown by our competitors. Loose pigs, grumpy cattle and adults being dragged by sheep in the alumni showmanship class are always good for a lively laugh. Alumni showmanship and the animal costume class are new additions to the fair and suggestions to improve the fair are always welcome. When life gets you down and it just doesn’t seem fair, join up with a fair that’s full of life. Please contact the Gem County Fairboard at 365-6828 if you have suggestions or would like to be a part of the 2011 Gem/Boise Above: Food is one of the top events and everyone is ready to try new treats. County Fair. We’ve love to have you join us Below: Every year is a yield of hard earned ribbons congratulating their in the steeplechase. winners.
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Nobody asked me, but... In January, I received a letter, “Newspaper looking for help with annual Scene Magazine.” The flyer indicated the theme was titled “Making it happen.” When I read this, I broke into a cold sweat. I felt like I was in a room full of strangers and I stood up and said, “Hi, my name’s Dave and I am a procrastinator.” And the strangers in unison replied, “Hi Dave!” Of course the letter referred to the ominous “Drop Dead Date” of advising the paper what I want to write about and another “DDD” when my article was due. As I start, I am aware that it is the day before my article is due and I’ve only typed 148 words so far. My usual plan it to wait to the last minute and attempt to dazzle with brilliance – but I got nothing. Maybe it would help me to do a little KYTSE — Know Yourself Through Self Examination. Okay, I visited Doctor Internet — in
Dave Pratt Local contributor
psychology, procrastination refers to the act of replacing high-priority actions or tasks with low-priority actions, and thus putting off important tasks to a later time ... I feel so much better. Let’s see if I can put together an example of procrastination. Okay here goes. A psychologically needy relative is
Maybe I could take a test by circling the words that best matches my behavior when tasked to do something. It goes like this. Circle labels that fit you when given a task: Dally, dawdle, defer, delay, dilly-dally, dither, drag your feet, goldbrick, goof off, idle, lie around, linger, loaf, loiter, never do anything today that you can put off until tomorrow, plod, postpone, put off, shilly-shally, slow poke, wait, waste time, waver. Can I just say, “All of the above?”
coming to visit. I dread the thought, so I perform the most boring task I can think of to make time go by slowly by painting the crawl space under my house. Nah, that wasn’t procrastination. That was avoidance. I’m going to do something about my procrastinating — starting tomorrow. As I wind up, I see my life as one big project after another and I truly believe that all of us do the very best we can do with the tools we were issued. Oh well, I better sleep on this and see if I can sneak this past the Messenger Index staff, who are the complete opposite of a procrastinator. Editor’s note: None of the events in this issue would ever have happened without community volunteers who choose to be pro-active and not procrastinate.
Serving Gem County And Surrounding Area Families Since 1906
an edition of the Idaho Press-Tribune Established in 1893, proudly serving Gem County and the Valley of Plenty
“Accuracy with compassion” a consolidation and continuation of The Emmett Index, The Emmett Messenger and The Emmett Examiner
Matt davison President & Publisher 208-467-9251 mdavison@idahopress.com
vickie Holbrook supervising editor 208-465-8110 vholbrook@idahopress.com
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100+ Years of Service John L. Buck
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120 N. Washington Avenue, Emmett P.O. Box 577, Emmett, ID 83617 Telephone: 208-365-6066 Fax: 208-365-6068 www.messenger-index.com
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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