Magic Valley LIFE magazine 2016

2016 LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE & LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Gold in Snake River Canyon— Magic Valley’s Gold Rush Era pg. 14 CSI Celebrates Its First 50 Years— From humble beginnings to excellence pg. 48

Serving the Magic Valley Since 1917—

Learn more about what we can do for you on pg. 26

Come experience why we’re the #1 mortgage lender in the Magic Valley!

Mortgage Loans - Construction Loans First Time Homebuyers - Bare Lot Loans Refinancing - Reverse Mortgages Visit one of our branches and talk with a mortgage expert today, or apply for your loan online at www.firstfd.com

All credit products subject to approval. NMLS #402963

TA B L E O F

CONTENTS BUSINESS PROFILES Section A 18 22

Avery Law - Call a Specialist Rockstahl Law Office - Hit Rock Bottom? Call Joe Rockstahl

Section D 30 34 40

Idaho Milk Products - Shining Star Mark W. Wright DDS - Smile for the Wright Dentist Today’s Dental - From Average to Awesome

Section E 48

College of Southern Idaho

Section H 58 62

66 74

Miracle Ear - Happy Hearing Visions Home Health & Home Care, LLC and Hospice Visions, Inc. - Visions for the Future Steven S. Miller - One of a Kind Quality Truss & Lumber - The Quality Crew

Section O 86

Eastland Vision Clinic - A Shared Vision

Section P 90 92

Summer Brander Photography Advanced Foot & Ankle - Happy Feet

Section R 102 106 107

Summit Restoration - Sanity Restored Brickhouse - Tantalizing Tastes Elevation 486 - Dining Elevated

Section S 122

Extreme Staffing - Employment Power

Section V 136

Idaho State Veterans Hospital - Caring for America’s Heroes

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TA B L E O F

CONTENTS CONTENTS

24

DEPARTMENTS 7 8 10 42 104 142 146

20 Clerking for the County 24 Show and Shine

Editor’s Note

60

Calendar of Events

64 A Bowl of Inspiration

People & Places

80 A Nightmare in Reality

Downtown Guide

88 If Your Genes Could Talk

Restaurant Guide

94 Combating Cancer

Why I Love the Magic Valley

96 A Magic Valley Master

Where on Earth

115 Wine + Food =

Name that Tune

124 The Serenity of Downsizing 130 Talking Tires

68

116 M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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TA B L E O F

CONTENTS FEATURES 14 Gold in Snake River Canyon - The Snake River Mines took

26

36

51

55

68

in about a 50 mile stretch of canyon, from near present-day Murtaugh to Hagerman Valley.

Ballplayer to Banker - J.C. Hamilton was able to raise a family of baseball fans while creating a successful bank.

Gathering of Gifts - “So this grassroots fundraising event was created with the idea that it would be a fundraiser that would benefit multiple charities.”

Talent and Brains - “I also see being a student athlete as an opportunity for student leadership.”

Two Stones Equal Tons of Talent - “I tell a story ... and Gary draws chalk drawings to illustrate the stories while I talk.”

A (Children’s) Home that Love Built - “You have to understand the economics and how village people function and not take their power away from them.”

Stepping Up - “More than once she had to stand up to a man who thought they could pull something because she was ‘just’ a woman.”

76 82

98

14

36

Canine Encounters - Training police officers to deal with dogs benefits everyone

Standing on Terra Firma - “The values are up, and the appraisals are coming in right on target, and (the homes) are typically on the market for a short period of time.”

have a strong motivation to do well in school and are productive members of our community.”

after school.

116 Secluded Abundance - Rock Creek Park offers a trove of

natural and recreational abundance for discerning travelers.

126 Diamonds in the Rough - “We look for good athletes who

51

132 Living History - “I don’t know how many guys got killed but

there were at least 12 that I didn’t see anymore.”

138 Avoiding the Danger Zone - Providing a safe place for kids

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132

Editor’s note |

MAGIC VALLEY LIFE 2015 Idaho Life Publications PUBLISHER Karleigh Deeds MANAGING EDITOR IdahoLifeEditor@gmail.com Janie Budell CREATIVE DIRECTOR IdahoLifeDesign@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHER Summer Brander, Summer Brander Photography summer@summerbphotos.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amber Daley Bev Stone Jill Lambert Lisa Jensen Shelley McEuen Shar Brannam Cover photo courtesy of Anette Gregory, Beech Tree Photography We welcome your story ideas! Please submit your ideas to idaholifeeditor@gmail.com.

For advertising inquiries, please call 208.680.6713.

Magic Valley Life is published annually by IDAHO LIFE PUBLICATIONS, LLC 3270 East 17th St., Suite 213 Idaho Falls, ID 83406

Idaho Life Publications, LLC 2016. This issue of Magic Valley Life is copyrighted under the laws of the Unites States of America. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of the publisher is prohibited. For permission to use any portion of this publication email: smueller@idaholife.net.

All editorial and photographic submissions are accepted explicitly without risk to the publisher for loss or damage. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy in the information provided.

The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, changes or omissions.

Dear Readers,

W

hat is community? When you spend several months putting together a magazine about community, you get to find out just want makes a town a home. The technical definition according Merriam-Webster is “a group of people who live in the same area (such as a city, town, or neighborhood); a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.; a group of nations”. But with the expansive growth of the internet and social media, community has expanded beyond the physical boundaries of our towns, county, state and country. The communities to which we belong exist on micro and macro levels and are fluid, overlapping and constantly being redefined.

But at the core of a community are shared values—respect, honesty, freedom, a sense of taking care of each other—all things that the Magic Valley emulates.

Shelley McEuen explores the importance of reaching out to her neighbors in A Bowl of Inspiration, while we learn about the impact Tracy Hills has hand on a village in Africa in A Children’s Home that Love Built. Come find out where the best places are to grab a bite to eat by perusing our Restaurant Guide or discover the hottest musical act in town in Sing Along with Mr. Don. When the residents of the Magic Valley aren’t busy reaching out, they can be found honoring and exploring their past. Just ask Bev and Gary Stone. They’ve authored and illustrated several books, including Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail. Bev Stone tells us about the history of the valley in Gold in the Snake River Canyon, or you can read about the Bev and Gary in Two Stones Equals Tons of Talent. Danny Langdon shares memories of his mother in Stepping Up, and Pat Hamilton recalls how his grandfather’s love and baseball and banking has influenced generations of Hamilton’s in Ballplayer to Banker. Companies like Farmers National Bank, Quality Truss & Lumber, and Rockstahl Law Offices are finding ways to give back, too and share their stories with us as well.

As you read these pages, I hope you are inspired to think about what community means to you and how you can have an impact on it. As always, I hope you enjoy reading the following pages as much as my staff and I have enjoyed creating them. We’re always open to suggestions, comments, critiques and praises. If you have something to share, please contact me at IdahoLifeEditor@gmail.com. And thank you for being a part of this community. I love sharing your stories.

Happy Reading!

Karleigh Deeds Managing Editor

A SIDE NOTE If you’re inspired to stop by a business that you’ve learned about in this magazine, please tell them how you heard about their establishment. We can’t bring you this publication without the support of our advertisers.

Please consider supporting those that support us.

M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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2016 CALENDAR OF

EVENTS

ONGOING EVENTS Live music at Canyon Crest Dining & Event Center, Fridays and Saturdays Saturday Shoppe, Hagerman, Saturdays, January to Christmas Gooding Historical Museum, Saturdays April to October Laughing Daisy Neighborhood Market, Kimberly, Thursdays, May through September Filer Farmers Market, Fridays, May to October Twin Falls Farmers Market, Saturdays, May to October Gooding Farmers Market, Tuesdays, late-May to mid-Sept.

City Market at Glenns Ferry, Saturdays Memorial Day to Labor Day Farmers Market at the Crossroads Point, Jerome, Saturdays, June to October Crossroads Farmers Market, Shoshone, Saturdays, June to mid-Oct. Twin Falls Tonight, Wednesdays, June 22 to August 24 Twin Falls Market on Main, Wednesdays, June 22 to Sept. 28 West End Senior Center Farmers Market, Buhl, Wednesdays, July 11 to Sept. 24 Twin Falls Public Library Book Club, 2nd Tuesday of the month

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Photo by Summer Brander

FEBRUARY 2016 6

12

15 18

26

27

Arts on Tour presents Marie Josee Lord - CSI ICS Teacher In-service No School Presidents’ Day - No School Inside Inspirata + BFUG - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium Magic Valley Symphony Spring Concert - CSI Idaho State Championship Chariot Races - Minidoka County Fairgrounds

MARCH 2016 5 Cold Press Soap Making - CSI 8 Tricks to Looming & Bead

Weaving - CSI

Caricature Drawing - CSI 9 Manny Scott, motivational

speaker - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium 11 40th Annual CSI Intercollegiate

Rodeo - CSI Expo Center 12 The Whole Chicken: Knife &

Cooking Skills - Community Education

Birdwatching Billingsley

Creek - Community Education 17 100 Hours - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium

Parent/Teacher Conferences No School 18 No School 21 - 25 Spring Break - No School

APRIL 2016 1 Arts on Tour presents

Kahulanui - CSI 15 Arts on Tour presents The

Fab Four - CSI 21 UnCaged - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium 23 Open Night - Magic Valley Speedway

MAY 2016 1 Spring Sing - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium 3 CSI Symphonic Band Concert CSI Fine Arts Auditorium 4 BSU Twin Falls Graduation - CSI

Fine Arts Auditorium 6 An Evening of Dance - CSI Fine

Arts Auditorium

7

11

20

21

CSI Music Department Honors Recital - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium CSI Swing Band Concert - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium Grace Dance Academy Spring Recital - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium Whitewater Rafting: Snake River (Hagerman Section) Community Education

12 - 14

20 27

31

Twin Falls High School Reunion Class of 1966 Cycle Magic Valley - MaVTECH Hospice Visions 20th Annual Benefit Golf Tournament Clear Lake Country Club Twin Falls County Fair Opens All Star Monster Truck Tour Twin Falls County Fair

JUNE 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016

4 Mushroom Foraging: Wood River

Valley - Community Education

Nielson’s School of Dance

Spectacular - CSI

Inspirata Dance Project Collabo

ration - CSI Fine Arts Auditorium

Spirit of Magic Valley Half

Marathon - MaVTECH 7 Dancing with the Stars - CSI

Golden Girls 8 Legos Robotic Camp - Commu

nity Education 10 Gooding Relay for Life Yard Sale Gooding County Fairground 11 Richland Annual Outlaw Day 13 Music Fest! - CSI Fine Arts Center 18 Buhl Chamber of Commerce

Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament

Ageless Senior Center Breakfast

Fundraiser - Kimberly 20 -22 CSI Junior Theatre Camp Community Education

Superstars Starter Theatre Camp

- Community Education 23 - 26 Idaho British Car Club Summer

Tour - Canyon Crest Dining and

Event Center 27 CSI Jazz Camp - Community Education 27 - 31 CSI Theatre Camp - Community

Education

Snake River Scramble at Blue

Lakes Country Club, Mr. Gas

Annual Perrine Bridge Festival

Scramble for Books Golf Tourna

ment, Twin Falls Golf Club

Twin Falls Crop Hunger Walk 1 - 3 Magic Valley Stampede 1 - 5 Twin Falls County Fair 24 Canyon Rim Color Splash MaVTECH

Annual 911 Idaho.com Child

Safety Expo

JULY 2016

9 - 10 30

Buhl Sagebrush Days 4th of July Antique Show in McKercher Park Shoshone Arts in the Park Firecracker 5K - MaVTECH

AUGUST 2016 6

5th Annual Magic Valley Beer Festival - Twin Falls City Park

OCTOBER 2016

Magic Valley Symphony Concert Trailing of the Sheep Festival, Ketchum & Hailey Fall Home & Remodeling Expo, Radio Rondevoo Sun Valley Jazz Festival Trick or Treat on Bish’s street

NOVEMBER 2016

Annual Harvest Time Festival - CSI Festival of Trees at Oregon Trail

Rec Center, Burley

Magic Valley Symphony

performs at CSI

Precision Aviation 1st Step

to Pilot’s License - CSI

Thanksgiving Break - No School

26th Annual Christmas in the

Nighttime Sky - Kimberly Nurseries

DECEMBER 2016

CSI Symphonic Band Concert - CSI Percussion Ensemble Concert - CSI CSI Swing Band Concert - CSI Santa Run - MaVETC Choral Christmas Concert - CSI Magic Valley Choral Concert - CSI Christmas Break - No School Book Buffet - Twin Falls Public Library M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Canoeing on the Snake River

usand Springs Festival A beautiful day at Tho

People and Places

Painting in the park at Thousand Springs Festival

10 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

With nearly 186,000 people living in the Magic Valley there are a lot of faces to capture and there are a ton of events to attend too! Do you know any of the people or events in these photos? Want to see yourself or your friends and family in our magazine? Share your photos with us!

Submit your photos to smueller@idaholife.net by October 1, 2016. Be sure to include the names of the people in the photo and/or the event where the photo was taken. We love being a part of this community and we want to see your face in Magic Valley LIFE!

k Pizza at Centennial Par

Nick Ner vous playing at Thousand Springs Festival

Rigdon Hine at the Easter Egg hunt

Appreciation Shook Client

Night

Romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at the Rock Creek Restaurant

M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Paddle boarding near Ritter Island

ce Spro uts Marketpla

Oktoberfest Downtown 2015

12 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

Rachel Mueller, Hu ma ne Society fun d raiser

Don Johnson an Paxton shoppi d his gran dson ng at Lynwoo shopping cent ds er in Tw in Fa lls

People and Places |

Nez Perce County Sheriff Rodrigue Non Lethal Canine Enco unter Train z, Edith Williams from Idahoans for ing, after the Polar Plunge to raise mon and Lew iston Police Chief Ankney ey and awareness for officer training on dealing with dogs.

Fun in the Canyon

Hay Ri de!

Cash & Carry Grand Opening

M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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GOLD

in Snake River Canyon Take a step back in time and discover the history of the Magic Valley’s gold rush era.

T

By Bev Stone

he 1862 discovery of gold in Idaho actually changed transportation routes through the Snake River Plain of Southern Idaho. The Oregon Trail had been the only major route. Afterward, the sudden increase in travelers made it imperative to move not only people, but supplies to the mines.

14 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

Illustration by Gary Stone

Corrine, Utah became the passenger transfer point for Idaho mines. Ben Holladay received a mail contract from the U.S, Government in 1864 and used the opportunity to create a passenger stage line through southern Idaho to Boise, and on to the mines.

The route was mapped north, setting up relay stations every 15-20 miles, which was about the distance between most water sources. Every three or four stops, an “eating station” was provided to feed and lodge passengers overnight. Conditions were primitive at best, amounting to a plate of beans or stew, biscuits, and a place to lay out a blanket.

One such station was located at Rock Creek south of present-day Kimberly. It became an important supply point when a trader’s store was constructed only a year later, which still exists.

By 1869, when gold was discovered in Snake River canyon about 9 miles north, Rock Creek was a busy supply point for Oregon Trail pioneers, stagecoach passengers, and freight hauled in tandem wagons pulled by 16-20 oxen or mules. The railroad had just spanned the continent, and Kelton, Utah became the major freight supply point for the Boise and Snake River mines.

Relf Bledsoe was the first to find gold in Snake River Canyon, below the Little Falls, now known as Twin Falls.

Miners flocked to the site. There was no hard rock mining on Snake River. It was all panning or sluicing the vast amounts of sand and gravel deposited along the river banks. The Little Falls mining camp developed in the

canyon bottom, as Bledsoe and others worked feverishly to get the gold as quickly as they could.

By late September of 1870, an article in the Corrine, Utah Reporter stated “Men who have gone down from here with nothing but pick and pan are coming back with the dust to purchase (mining) rockers, tools, provisions, etc. Two dozen new rockers were made here last week for the new diggings and they are being made at the rate of a dozen a day. The bars and banks of the Snake are peculiarly adapted to this kind of hand washing, which is the best kind of washing for the mass of men.”

The influx of miners was so great, there was no place left to stake a claim, leaving many frustrated after their long journey, but willing to work for others if paid a wage they might have earned while working their own claim. The going rate in mining camps was four dollars per day per hand, but according to an April 1870 edition of the Idaho Statesman, “….it is said that claims average from six to forty dollars per day to the hand,” which some white men apparently expected to be paid for their services.

Chinese men, out of work after the railroad was joined at Promontory, Utah in 1869, heard of the gold strike and were eager to work. At that time, Chinese were not allowed to own property and could not legally

M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

| 15

Illustration by Gary Stone

stake a claim. They were quickly hired by white miners shrewd enough to see the skills of the Chinese workers.

They were extremely thorough, patient and exacting in gold recovery methods. While the white miner struggled to climb over and around the huge boulders in the canyon, Chinese took the trouble to fill in the cracks and holes with smaller rocks and stones creating paths that could be easily trod. They reached under every rock, into every crevice, using spoons and even sticks to bring out gold-bearing sands white men overlooked.

The 10th of July was the date fixed by laws of that mining district; Shoshone no. 2, for claims to be occupied and actively worked. I should add that any person of Asian descent was called Chinese merely due to lack of knowledge at the time. There were also Japanese and Korean miners in the U.S. searching for gold, but I’m not aware if any were in Snake River canyon.

As warm weather came, the water level in the river dropped, exposing new unclaimed shorelines. Men hurriedly staked claims, pretending they had been purchased from a previous owner who had already registered the boundaries at the county seat in Silver City, some 250 miles away, as required by law. They would then sell a claim or two for ready cash. Although not legal, the buyer had the option of paying the money and working the claim, or going to court to prove it wrong. It was one man’s word against another, and first come, first served. There was no law in the mining camps.

16 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

By the middle of August, 1870, Relf Bledsoe’s rocker yield had reached $167 in one week and $114 the next, according to Welle’s Gold Camps and Silver Cities.

Snake River miners were faced with the challenge of trying to retrieve a substance so fine and pure it had a tendency to “float” on the water, hence the name, flour gold. Panning

procedures that worked well in other areas weren’t suitable. Large amounts of fine gold escaped. Men quickly switched to rockers, so named because of their similarity to a baby’s cradle. It had a screen box on top through which sand was poured. Riffles made of various materials; wood strips, burlap, strips torn from clothing, were placed on the bottom layer where the baby’s bottom would be, the object being to catch gold when swished with water. Riffles were not permanently fastened, allowing for frequent and easy clean-up of gold.

Operation of the rocker required skill and a deft hand. It was placed near a water source and worked by a team of two.

As water ran, one shoveled gravel and sand, while the other moved the cradle back and forth with rhythmic motion, then stopped, causing just enough water to wash over the riffles to carry off the sand, leaving the gold. One miner said processing 400 buckets of sand was a day’s work.

But most of the light, pure gold was too difficult to catch with a rocker. Black sands, garnets and other heavy material packed the rocker bottom and the gold slid through. Miners switched to sluice boxes made of rough lumber to catch gold on the wood grain. Fir was plentiful in the nearby hills. Average sluice boxes were several feet long, tapered so boxes could be fit into one another, and sloped a six inch drop every 12 feet. The discharge end could be moved to the front to remain near the working area without moving the entire box. Riffles of small pieces of rough wood were set a few inches apart.

When the sluice was in place, miners poured sand and gravel into the trough, and ran water over it. Gold and black sands hung up on the rough lumber. Mercury, which amalgamates with gold, was placed in the riffles near sluice end. The gold formed into small BBs, which were retrieved. The mercury then had to be burned off.

When heated, mercury gives off toxic vapors which cause blindness and death if done improperly. For that reason, it was done outdoors over an open fire. Even so, there are many documented cases of mining deaths along the river due to mercury poisoning. Even recently, mercury BBs have been retrieved from the river.

The Snake River Mines took in about a 50 mile stretch of canyon, from near present-day Murtaugh to Hagerman Valley. Five major camps were located along the river, most of them nearly inaccessible due to the sheer canyon walls, but

nothing deters a gold seeker, and the obstacle was overcome by constructing hundreds of crude ladders to access areas they couldn’t climb. Some of those ladders remained in existence into the 1950s.

Evidence of several ferries to access both sides of the river has also been found.

Drytown was located near Murtaugh, Springtown was located under the Hansen Bridge, Little Falls was located below the Twin Falls, Jennings flat was located near the mouth of Rock Creek, Mudbarville was at the mouth of Mud Creek near present-day Buhl. There may have been others. These little camps contained at least one saloon, blacksmith shop and general store. As long as gold was being mined in any quantity, they existed to provide the “necessities” of the miner who preferred to spend his time mining, rather than going for supplies and risking the loss of his claim.

The businessmen in Corinne, Utah found their gold in the form of hauling freight and passengers to the Snake River Mines. Prominent ads in the Utah Daily Reporter displayed the phrase, “Ho! For Snake River Mines!” Freight was hauled for 2½ cents per pound. Stage fare was $15 one way, with as many as 15 stages per day. City Brewery, owned by James Tolan and M.E Campbell, advertised they had built a branch to their Pioneer Brewery at their saloon and outfitting headquarters on Dry Creek under the management of D.P. Stuvel, “who is provided with teams to deliver fresh beer every day through all the camps.” Nothing was too good for their customers, who imbibed freely.

The Reporter was eagerly read in the mining camps, copies of which were sold out within half an hour of arrival for one dollar. Because of limited supply, papers made the rounds from miner to miner indicated by a reporter who wrote “….I hand them to Thomas: he hands them to Clark; Clark to Taggart; Taggart to his friend and so on ad infinitum. One copy started, will go all around the entire camp and it is amusing to see the avidity with which the miners catch it up and read it.” That would indicate miners on Snake River were not illiterate, as is often claimed.

Many fortunes were made and lost as miners earned their gold, then lost it to gamblers in saloons doing their own type of “gold” mining. The gamblers, merchants, saloons and freight haulers were those guaranteed to make fortunes. Most gold miners went home with little or no money, if they made it home at all.

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Call a Specialist

Attorneys |

When your finances are in the dumps, Avery Law is there to help.

By Lisa Jensen Photo by Summer Brander

I

f you experience heart trouble, you make an appointment with a heart specialist, not a podiatrist.

Likewise, you should consult a specialist when faced with the possibility of filing bankruptcy. Though you might think finding a specialist is as easy as opening the yellow pages to “Attorneys” and scanning down to the bankruptcy section, John O. Avery of Avery Law points out that there is more to it than that.

“I’m the only Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney in Southern Idaho. That certification has some tough standards, and it’s important for me to keep up on it, to continue to gain knowledge as the system changes and progresses so I can continue to offer my clients a superior level of service,” says Avery.

The American Board of Certification credentials are what separate the specialists from the general practitioners. While a bankruptcy attorney may have studied law with an emphasis on bankruptcy law, experts like John O. Avery have gone the extra mile to receive and maintain their ABC certification. They are the ones who have

18 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

financial problems, there is a local specialist who is knowledgeable about the most current bankruptcy laws as well as recent changes to existing laws, procedures and court rules. Avery Law gives those between a financial rock and a hard spot a place to turn where they will receive expert advice based on extensive experience and continuing education. put in the additional time required to meet or exceed the rigorous, independent standards and requirements set down by the organization.

According to the American Board of Certification, attorneys who apply can only become certified after they have shown advanced knowledge in bankruptcy and/or creditors’ rights law. That process includes completing numerous hours (up to 60) of continuing education as well as an extensive written exam. The test phase takes an entire day and is designed to demonstrate the level of the applicant’s understanding and experience in legal matters such as general bankruptcy and creditors’ rights law and legal ethics.

Additionally, a substantial part of the exam is made up of questions in the specialty area—Consumer Bankruptcy, in Avery’s case. Through administering comprehensive and challenging tests, the American Board of Certification is looking for the attorneys who show extensive experience in specific legal issues, as well as significant dedication to their practice and their chosen area of expertise.

What that all means for clients in southern Idaho is that, when they find themselves facing bankruptcy as a possible solution to credit and

Another benefit Avery Law provides is an understanding and compassionate ear. Bankruptcy is a difficult choice to make. Often, just the thought of contacting a lawyer makes many people apprehensive. However, when clients come in for a consultation, they are pleasantly surprised at how approachable and supportive John O. Avery and his team are.

“Being sensitive to our clients shows them that we’re approachable and that we’re on their side,” says Avery. “We’re all on the same team.”

Having grown up on a farm in Eastern Idaho, Avery connects with those who come to him for help. Friendly and personable, he usually puts people at ease within the first few minutes of conversation. Time and again, clients express appreciation for the pleasant and respectful way in which they’re treated by the Avery Law team.

Most often, bankruptcy is a last hope solution that can make the difference between drowning in debt or getting control of it. When credit and financial problems become too overwhelming to deal with alone, it is encouraging to know that John O. Avery has the expertise to get you through the ordeal, and he is just a phone call away.

averybankruptcylaw.com 208-639-2969

208-232-3020

208-524-3020

MERIDIAN to the West

POCATELLO to the East

IDAHO FALLS to the North

3080 Gentry Way, Ste. 205 Meridian, ID 83642

410 Yellowstone Pocatello, ID 83201

770 S. Woodruff Ave. Idaho Falls, ID 83401

208-733-3030 TWIN FALLS 808 Eastland Dr. Ste B Twin Falls, ID 83301

M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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On the Right Side of the

LAW

By Shar Brannam Photo by Summer Brander

Clerks are the nearly invisible hand that keep courtrooms running smoothly.

S

helly Bartlett loves her job as an in-court clerk for Judge G. Richard Bevan of the 5th Judicial District Court. With 15 years of experience in the courthouse, seven in her current role, her journey to clerking for her own judge started in the docketing department doing data entry. After a stint working at the front counter and then advancing to working on the appellate cases, she finally landed a job with Judge Bevan. “That was always my goal,” says Bartlett.

“I love my job, I really enjoy doing it.”

20 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

A judge’s clerk has many tasks including managing his/her calendar and making sure that court hearings have the necessary behind-the-scenes preparation. It’s the clerk’s job to set up the audio recording equipment, set up exhibits to be used during trial, and swear in witnesses and defendants. But, the most important and challenging aspect of Barlett’s job is making her judge’s day run smoothly. “I just try to keep on top of everything for him, so we’re all on the same page,” explains Bartlett. It is important to

“My job is to make my judge look good.” communicate with him and to be able to anticipate his needs, though Bartlett conceded mind-reading might be a useful skill if she wants to be just one step ahead.

“My job is to make my judge look good.”

Working for the District Court makes Bartlett’s position both revered and often feared because many people don’t understand how the court works. Many defendants appearing in court often ask Bartlett what the judge is going to say or do, and while she’s able to explain the judge’s role, she’s not able to give legal advice. “I don’t practice law, that’s not part of my job,” says Bartlett. She’ll leave that to the lawyers and judges.

Bartlett has seen some pretty interesting felony cases during seven years of watching from her seat by the judge. She has developed a solid sense of appreciation for the freedoms she enjoys. Seeing what can be taken away from a person due to their poor choices makes her grateful she lives her life as a law-abiding citizen.

Outside of the courtroom Bartlett enjoys spending time with her many nieces and great nieces, who all adore her. She visits regularly with her parents who live across the street from her and she’s proud to be from the area, as many of us are. As a life-long resident of Twin Falls, she has a great love for the beauty of the landscape and the community as a whole.

While the day-to-day grind of work has its ups and downs, at the present moment the most challenging thing Bartlett is dealing with is the introduction of a new computer system, Odyssey.

Twin Falls is the first county in the state to implement Odyssey. If the pilot program succeeds here, it will be rolled out statewide over the next five years. It is up to Bartlett to learn every aspect of the new program and teach it to her judge.

Twin Falls is lucky to have such a dedicated clerk in Shelly Bartlett. Not only is she an asset to Judge Bevan, she’s an asset to the community. The work that she does benefits all who appear in Judge Bevan’s courtroom. Her organizational skills keep the court running smoothly so Judge Bevan can focus on making good judicial decisions.

Court Clerk Job Description According to criminaljusticeschoolinfo.com, the general court clerk job description is managing all of the administrative and clerical functions related to running a court. Although that may sound simple and straightforward, there are a lot of different tasks included in that general description.

Some of the broad topics included in a court clerk job description are:

• Managing court records • Trials • Customer service • Miscellaneous functions A court clerk plays a fundamental role in the judicial system. The fact is that a courtroom would not be able to operate without a highly competent court clerk to handle its day-to-day operations.

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Rockstahl Law Office is committed to helping clients win their legal battles.

By Shar Brannam Photos by Summer Brander

W

hat makes attorney Joe Rockstahl of Rockstahl Law Office so special? Genuine concern for his client’s well-being which doesn’t stop when the case is closed. With a busy schedule and an abundantly packed legal calendar, Rockstahl still finds time to make inquiry of individuals he has assisted. He has a compassionate interest in people and their continued well-being.

After practicing tax law in California, Rockstahl followed his heart back to Idaho where he could better focus his talents on family law, criminal defense, wills and estates, and especially personal injury cases. “Personal injury is better than tax law because I get to help people more,” says Rockstahl.

In addition to the genuine concern he has for his clients, Rockstahl has a fighting spirit and he isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with the big insurance companies. “A lot of people don’t know their insurance companies are all about money, until they get in a crash,” says Rockstahl. Taking these cases to trial is often required to get the best settlement possible. While it might be easier to avoid a court battle and take the first settlement offer from the insurance company, Joe Rockstahl doesn’t back away from the time and resource commitment it takes to bring a case to court. He enjoys the challenge of the courtroom and even more so, he likes to win.

One of Rockstahl’s clients attests to his prowess in a commercial based on an actual case. The scene depicts a young man riding his motorcycle when another vehicle causes him to crash. The driver of the car doesn’t stop, but merely slows down and proceeds to drive over the motorcyclist’s arm, crushing his elbow

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Attorneys |

and his upcoming career as an MMA cage fighter. In real life, the insurance company offered Rockstahl’s client a paltry $11,000. An outraged Rockstahl and his paralegal and wife, Patty had the matter tried in court, where they won a judgement 10 times the initial amount offered by the insurance company. THAT is the difference that having an attorney who is willing to go to trial makes.

Rockstahl’s practice thrives on justice being served.

Before going into practice for himself, Rockstahl served as a public defender in Jerome from 2004 to 2007. At first he defended over 1,000 misdemeanors a year before advancing to the criminal defense of individuals who, if convicted, most likely were headed to prison. Rockstahl was willing to help those charged with felonies and offered them a solid defense. “I still believe in the constitution,” says Rockstahl. “A person is innocent until proven guilty and it’s my job to make sure the accused has proper representation.”

Having an attorney who truly cares about your legal victory and handles all injury claims with the dedication and experience makes a major difference. Joe and Patty are extremely dedicated to their clients and it shows. A large percentage of Rockstahl’s business is built on a solid foundation of recommendations from satisfied clients who have told other family members and friends of the service they received at Rockstahl Law Office. Add in Joe’s competence in many facets of the law, and he often becomes the family’s most trusted advisor that they consult for all of their legal needs. That kind of

loyalty, given and received, speaks volumes about the competence and compassion Joe readily gives his clients, who quite often, become his friends.

Having served as a special ops force for the Army, Joe is dedicated to helping our veterans. He helped create the Veterans Track in Mental Health Court, which was implemented as a standalone Veteran’s Court in the fall of 2015. Joe also represents veterans with combat related problems who get in trouble with the law stateside. He helped a veteran who got into an argument at Walmart and was faced with criminal charges. With Joe’s help, the veteran was able to graduate from Mental Health Court and regain control of his life. A second veteran Joe helped is on track to graduate from the Veterans Track of Mental Health Court, too. Upon completion, his charges will be dismissed and his rights reinstated. The Army has taken notice of the work Joe has done. He was recently given awards of special thanks from the Gowen Field Memorial Park and 116th Special Troops Battalion at an Army National Guard Ball in Twin Falls.

So regardless if your case is big or small, you are rich or poor, a veteran or a civilian you can expect Rockstahl Law Office to go to battle for you. If you find yourself or a loved one charged with a serious crime or battling with an insurance company, you need to call Joe Rockstahl. He’ll provide you with fair, unbiased representation and personal dedication to your case.

ROCKSTAHL LAW OFFICE, Chtd.

510 Lincoln Street Twin Falls, ID

208.734.8810 Fax : 208-734-8820

ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW www.joerockstahl.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Show andShine The classics pop at Magic Valley car show.

By Lisa Jensen Photos Courtesy Pops Show

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very year, April until October, the Magic Valley Speedway hosts thrilling races and down and dirty mud drags. However, local racer Kris McKean felt there was room for an event that would interest the current racetrack crowd as well as a larger, more diverse range of people. It was a racing intermission tradition that inspired the idea of a classic car show.

“People would bring their classic cars out and cruise the track during intermission,” McKean explains. “They’d drive around for 5 minutes or so, but the crowd enjoyed seeing them.”

There is already an annual car show in the Magic Valley, and it’s a pretty big deal, but McKean didn’t want to bring an existing show to the Speedway. The idea was to start a show that would stand on its own, with its home and roots at the Magic Valley Speedway. It was an ambitious goal but, fortunately, Joe Skaug was willing to offer advice and share his expertise.

“It doesn’t hurt to have someone like Joe involved with the show,” McKean says. “He’s the one who started the most successful car show in Idaho. He has a lot of great ideas, and he knows what brings people out.”

Though many were skeptical, thinking it wouldn’t be as good as the other show, the Pops Show and Shine debuted at the Magic Valley Speedway in 2014 with nearly 70 entries and a respectable spectator turnout. McKean believes that the wide range of cars on display and the exciting and unique entertainment are what attract the crowds.

“The first year we had an antique racecar, it was absolutely beautiful. Ed Jones brought in his flame-throwing stagecoach, too. This year (2015) Douthit Motorsports brought in the Black Pearl jet funny car. They came out and put on a great show, and they loved it because the fans here treat them good.”

As for the entries, Pops Show and Shine takes all comers. Muscle cars, street cars, low riders, trucks, drag cars—McKean says if it has wheels, you can bring it out to the show. Pops Show and Shine is even open to adding

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classes to accommodate vehicles that don’t usually get to compete in a traditional car show.

“We added a mini-truck class last year because someone called who had seven or eight guys with mini-trucks, and they wanted to enter, but in most traditional classes they wouldn’t be eligible to win. So we added a category,” says McKean.

According to McKean, it is easy to underestimate what the owner has put into a car when you see it completely done. That is why Pops Show and Shine also has an award for the car with the most potential.

“Sometimes the owner may not have the thousands of dollars to put into it, but he’s working on it. The first year a young guy brought in a ‘57 Chevy in progress. You could tell that he is putting every penny he earns into it, and people need to see that.”

Enthusiasm is building for the Pop Show and Shine event. Spectator attendance was up in 2015 and there were 95 cars entered.

“The first few years are building time, but we’re getting there.

Power Plant Car Audio has really helped us out from day one,”

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2015 Best in Show winner, Tom Hogan says McKean. “The Magic Valley Racers Association helps get the word out for us. This year, Lee Family Broadcasting come on board as a sponsor, and they helped us out exponentially on the advertising. So it’s getting bigger each year.”

Even the prizes are getting bigger. So far, winners like Tom Hogan’s ‘32 Ford Coupe that took Best in Show in 2015, have taken home a huge 5-foot trophy along with a $500 cash prize. Next year, though, the award will be a guaranteed $1,000.

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“We just want to put on a great show that keeps growing,” McKean says. “There’s so much pride in these cars. We want to recognize the hard work that’s gone into them and show everyone a good time. And it’s been working. People bring in every type of car you want to see. This year was great, but we’re looking forward to next year.”

Pops Show and Shine usually happens the 3rd week in June.

It is free to watch and free to enter. All cars are welcome and everyone who enters a vehicle gets a ticket to the race following the show.

If you have a car, truck, motorcycle or any vehicle with wheels that you would like to enter, or if you would like to advertise with the show, contact Kris McKean at mvpskris@yahoo.com.

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Ballplayer to Banker One family’s dedication to both has been a fixture in the Magic Valley for generations.

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n a world where athletic ability typically opens the door to lucrative careers, it is difficult to imagine that a kid who showed a natural talent for baseball would not be encouraged to pursue his dream of playing ball for a living. Things were different in the early 1900s, however, and the Magic Valley would be worse off if John C. (J.C.) Hamilton had lived in an environment that encouraged his interest in baseball.

By Lisa Jensen Photos Courtesy Pat Hamilton

understanding how important baseball was to J.C. “Having come from St. Louis, Missouri, that was Cardinals territory, so my grandfather was a big Cardinals fan. As a kid, if you walked in front of the television while he was watching a Cardinals’ game, you got whacked with a cane real fast,” Pat remembers with a chuckle.

“Baseball was considered a ‘bums’ game by many,” J.C.’s grandson, Pat, says. “You didn’t get paid to play baseball, but in those days every town had a team and, if you were good enough and the town wanted you on their team, they would find a job for you.”

J.C. Hamilton’s path from baseball to banking was a winding one that began to unfold in 1903, after he attended Kansas City Business College in Shelbina, Missouri. For the next few years, Hamilton traveled throughout the Midwest and even as far north as Canada for work and baseball. He always had his baseball shoes and glove with him wherever he went.

Though the grandfather they knew was in the banking business, Pat’s generation of Hamilton children grew up

During that time, J.C. played for the Durant, Oklahoma, baseball team and was invited to try out for the Texas League.

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Due to mechanical problems his train to Whitewright, Texas, was late, though, causing him to miss the try-out. Being among those who felt that baseball was a game for “bums,” J.C.’s father took that opportunity to step in and convince J.C. to get a “real” job, the first bank position of several that would serve as his education in the business. Although J.C. would continue to enjoy playing ball as a leisure activity, he took to banking almost as naturally as he did baseball. In early 1918, J.C. came to Buhl to work at Farmers National Bank, which had just opened its doors in the fall of 1917. By 1919, J.C. Hamilton had assumed control of a majority stock interest in Farmers National Bank and embarked on raising a family of baseball fans while making a success of the bank.

The fact that there are six branches of Farmers National Bank in the Magic Valley today attest to how well J.C. did in building a firm foundation. There are, in fact, enough stories of J.C.’s accomplishments with the bank to fill a book, but two stand out as exceptionally notable.

He pointed out that it was safer in the bank, that she could get mugged if she simply walked out on the street with that much cash,” Pat explains.

J.C. succeeded in calming the ringleader and even talked her down to settling for a few hundred dollars rather than a few thousand. Once she had been pacified, everyone else settled down and tragedy was averted. The money was bundled up and taken back to Filer so that the bank there (which opened later in the morning than Farmers) could do the same thing. Both banks were able to keep their doors open.

As successful as he was in banking, J.C. Hamilton remained a devoted baseball fan for life. He was a fixture at the Semi-Pro Twin Falls Cowboys games and passed on his love of the game to his children. Some of the Hamilton children’s fondest childhood memories are associated with baseball in some form, from Pee Wee league to summer trips to play American Legion baseball.

First, when gangsters, including John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde, were robbing banks across the country, they made a run through the Northwest. Thanks to J.C. Hamilton, though, Farmers National was not among the banks to lose money to the gangsters.

“The local police were telling everyone to watch out because these gangsters were robbing banks up here,” Pat relates. “But my grandfather was a hunter, and he had a lot of hunting buddies. He knew who the crack shots were, so he hired his own security. He’d have two good old boys standing guard outside of the bank, holding their rifles and shotguns in plain view and Farmers never got hit.”

The second significant feat J.C. managed to accomplish was no less impressive. During the stock market crash of 1929, most banks were forced to shut down for at least two days to reorganize, and some ended up closing for good.

Farmers National Bank in Buhl, however, enjoys the distinction of being one of the two banks in Southern Idaho that were able to remain open during the crisis. Again, J.C. Hamilton’s shrewdness saved the day.

In George Bailey style (though the short story “The Greatest Gift” and the film it inspired, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” were not published or filmed until 1945 and 1946, respectively), J.C. calmed the panicked crowd that threatened a run on the bank. He had devised a plan with the manager at a bank in Filer the night before and had borrowed a box full of cash from that bank. He used the cash to show the customers proof that Farmers had their money.

“He singled out one of the most overbearing customers, a domineering woman who was demanding a large cash withdrawal and asked her what she needed the full amount for.

“For many years my dad (J.P. Hamilton) was instrumental in the American Legion baseball program,” Pat recalls.

“Every year his vacation was scheduled around the ball trips.

He loved it. He did everything from scheduling to arranging for buses and hotels. It was about more than playing games to him, though. He wanted to show the kids that there was more to the world than Twin Falls County and the state of Idaho.

We saw things like the World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington and rode the cable cars in San Francisco.”

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Batteries |

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“Dad was well-known for helping out with meals after the games, and sometimes he would make a deal with the players. If you won, he’d buy you steaks. If you lost, you got hot dogs. He wanted to instill having fun along with playing your best and winning.”

The Hamilton family’s dedication to baseball and involvement in Farmers Bank continues today.

Farmer’s sponsors a number of youth teams throughout the Magic Valley, and several Hamiltons serve as officers and directors of the bank.

Mike Hamilton is president and chairman of the board; Pat Hamilton, Jr. is Vice President and Chief Information Officer as well as a board member; Vince Hamilton is Vice President, Credit Officer, Buhl Branch Manager, and is on the board, too.

Mike and Pat played ball at the University of Idaho in Moscow, and both of them along with Vince participated in state championship teams.

The next generation has already joined the bank, and it goes without saying that they are ballplayers.

Matt Hamilton and Markus Lively both played baseball at College of Idaho along with their cousin Perry Hamilton. They, too, participated in championship teams along the way with their cousins Nick and Jack. Jack, Matt, and Markus have started working for the bank in the past two years.

Looking back over almost a century of banking and baseball, it is hard to imagine that J.C. Hamilton knowingly fashioned such a rich heritage combining two diverse elements to pass on to future generations. Pat describes his grandfather as “just a guy who loved baseball.”

He also happened to be a smart guy who was on the ball when it came to the business of banking.

Banks |

M M AG AG II C C VA VA LL LL EE Y Y L L II F FE E 2016 2016

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ShiningStar Idaho Milk Products sets the standard for industry and community.

By Shelley McEuen Photos by Summer Brander

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focus of giving back to the place it calls home. This dedicated vision of consistent quality and community involvement has quickly moved Idaho Milk Products into the role of international industry leader.

The first thing you should know about Idaho Milk Products? The company is deeply and passionately committed to its local community. The second thing you should know? The company doesn’t make cheese—it makes ingredients. This common misconception put to rest, this family-dairy-owned Jerome facility is dedicated to producing the highest quality, sustainable products while maintaining a strong local

Opening in 2009, Idaho Milk Products is the result of a vision of three prominent local dairy owners, all located within miles of each other in South Central Idaho. After carefully researching designs and working with builders of dairy processing plants, the visionaries developed a closed-loop process for engineering their dairy products, resulting in the freshest, most consistent ingredients ever produced. Each family-owned dairy is located within a 45-mile drive to the processing plant, ensuring the freshest, most consistent and regulated raw milk possible. “The close proximity, high quality milk and size of our owner dairies combine to make products with unique freshness and sustainability. You just can’t get any better

he stainless steel towers of Idaho Milk Products gleam like polished chrome, striking against the pastoral landscape of Southern Idaho which includes majestic mountain vistas and the rugged Snake River Canyon. Although the outer structure of the 220,000 square foot facility is impressive, it is the company’s adherence to corporate responsibility coupled with its dedication to the Magic Valley community that makes Idaho Milk Products’ story worth following.

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than that,” says General Manager, Kent Giddings.

Congruent with this commitment to excellence, Idaho Milk Products keeps their product line simple.

The ingredient company offers three products: Milk Protein Concentrate and Isolate, Milk Permeate Powder, and Pasteurized Cream. Purchased by food and nutrition companies, the ingredients are used for adult nutrition, sports nutrition, and meal replacement products as well as yogurt, cream cheese, butter, and ice cream.

Built to be among the most technologically advanced milk processing facilities in the world, Idaho Milk Products’ processing plant is impressive, inside and out. Constructed of tilt-up concrete, steel framing, and insulated metal, the Grade A facility also hosts warehouse space and offices for administrative support.

A technologically advanced facility was crucial to ensuring quality, explains Giddings, and with each

distinct processing step compartmentalized and kept separate from the other steps, the plant keeps with the newest, most up-to-date sanitary design. Even utility motor controls and milk delivery pipes are separate from the operating rooms, located in specially designed spaces above the processing area. This advanced design maintains separation between incoming raw milk and the finished product, resulting in the highest quality milk products available in the world today.

In addition to ensuring unparalleled products to consumers, Idaho Milk Products is taking the lead in environmental responsibility and sustainable practices, making these an integral part of their corporate business model. Beginning with the dairy farms themselves, these local farmers’ commitment to quality and safety ensures cows are treated with respect and care. These Magic Valley farm owners have implemented the National Dairy FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) to both demonstrate and verify a high level of animal care and quality assurance. Beyond the FARM program, the dairies ensure that the cows’ dietary intake and lactation scheduling is controlled and consistent, which means roughly the same number of cows are calving and lactating at all times.

With dairy herds averaging 3,300 milking cows per barn, this is no small task. All this extra effort results in minimal variation in the finished milk proteins, which again ensures the highest quality product to consumers and the best-tasting ingredients.

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The excellence continues with Idaho Milk Products’ proven dedication toward environmental awareness and green energy. The company has implemented numerous energy-saving methods, working with experts at Idaho Power to identify and implement state-of-the-art pumping and compression methods, sensor-controlled lighting, and cooling tower fans and boiler feed water pumps that run with maximum efficiency. Additionally, this progressive, industry-leading company recognizes the importance of smart water use, designing their facility and process in accordance with water conservation. Working with an environmental coordinator to reduce consumption and reuse water, the facility has reduced its amount of purchased city water by millions of gallons, while continually looking for ways to cut down on the amount of water used each day.

Clearly, Idaho Milk Products is a model of the highest in efficient industry standards and intelligent design.

These top-shelf standards continue with Idaho Milk Products’ employee culture, and the company works to foster an atmosphere of safety, wellness, and fulfillment.

Employees play an active role in shaping their own futures in this visionary company whose workforce has grown 34 percent since opening. “It’s been incredibly exciting to be a part of this tremendous growth,” says Jessica Henry, Marketing Manager. A member of the newly established safety association, Southern Idaho Manufacturing Safety and Health Association (SIMSHA),

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the company meets with other safety managers and coordinators once a month to share best practices, discussing ways to collectively improve safety and reduce injuries. The company is also 100 percent compliant with OSHA employee training requirements.

Beyond this safe working environment, Idaho Milk Products wants engaged, healthy, and fulfilled employees.

The Employee Wellness Program, Employee Development and Training, and Employee Tuition Reimbursement are tangible examples of this commitment to employee satisfaction, personal improvement, and overall health.

The company provides support through in-house and off-site training for employees in all departments, and it will pay up to 50 percent of expenses incurred while pursuing college degrees that enhance employees’ knowledge and skills. The company promotes staff participation in local events and organizations such as team sports, relays, and marathons. Ongoing opportunities for employees to improve overall well-being and encourage a productive, healthy workforce also include weight-loss incentives, education seminars, tobacco cessation programs, yearly wellness screenings, and a Wellness Watch newsletter.

Community wellness is also part of Idaho Milk Products’ core. Mention the company and it will most likely be associated with their deep and devoted commitment to community. Idaho Milk Products believes in

giving back to their home region, The Magic Valley. As Henry explains, “We are a large company, but being locally owned, it’s a little more family-like. We have so much more ability to do things locally because we aren’t corporatebased.” This local focus includes donations for local schools, with an emphasis on youth sports. “We know supporting education and sports are areas of community investment that are great ways to give back,” says Giddings. Coupled with this dedication to local schools is Idaho Milk Products’ effort to alleviate hunger with gifts to local charities and the adoption of families during the holidays.

Idaho Milk Products is clearly a story of success. From an idea hatched over 10 years ago to opening its doors in 2009, the company continues to grow and work hard to deliver on its promise to the Magic Valley Region to provide economic viability while maintaining a strong relationship with the community and its place within it. A perfect example of this is the company’s partnering with the College of Southern Idaho to advise with the Food Processing Technology Program. By continuing to hire local talent and work with regional vendors and institutions, the company serves as a shining example of Southern Idaho pride. As Henry explains, “The Magic Valley is becoming such a haven for food companies, and we are very proud to be a part of that.”

“We know supporting education and sports are areas of community investment that are great ways to give back,” — General Manager, Kent Giddings

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A Reason to Smile

Mark W. Wright, DDS is changing the face of dentistry in the Magic Valley and surrounding areas.

By Jill Lambert Photos by Summer Brander

Dental phobia affects millions of people nationwide. According to Peter Milgrom, DDS, the director of the Dental Fears Research Clinic at the University of Washington, between five and eight percent of Americans avoid dentists out of fear, and a much higher 20 percent experiences enough anxiety to prevent them from visiting the dentist unless absolutely necessary. Overcoming a fear of the dentist is a real challenge for many.

Dr. Wright is one of the few dentists in the area certified in IV sedation. This means his patients—especially those who struggle with anxiety—are able to enjoy comfortable and pain-free dental work. To date, he has performed over 7,000 successful cases of IV sedation.

At Dr. Mark Wright’s you can expect personalized attention. Rather than being seen by multiple providers in a large practice, treatment and visits are only performed by your dentist, Dr. Wright, or your hygienist, Valerie Steinmetz.

“Dr. Wright truly wants people to leave our office feeling better than when they came in,” says Breeana Steinagel, client relations representative. And his loyal following is evidence of Dr. Wright’s quality care. “He has patients from all over Idaho, some from out of state, and he receives consistent referrals,” adds Steinagel.

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Retired couple Ron and Marilyn Anfinson of Elko, Nevada, make the 400-mile round trip to Twin Falls to see Dr. Wright when they are in need of dental treatment. “At our age, we’ve been to a lot of dentists,” says Marilyn. “But Dr. Wright’s office came so highly recommended—everyone we talked to has been overwhelmed by their courtesy and efficiency.

They’re lovely people and the staff makes dentist visits as enjoyable as they possibly can.”

Dentist |

Dr. Mark W. Wright is trusted by the American Academy of Facial Esthetics to administer the trusted inoculation, Xeomin-Botox.

Patients receive Botox to look and feel younger and to alleviate pain or migraines from TMD Temporomandibular Disorder.

Dr. Wright loves giving back and has travelled to places like Vietnam and Russia to perform dental services on orphans, the homeless, and the underprivileged.

For more information about Dr. Wright’s practice or to book an appointment, call (208) 735-1345 or visit www.markwrightdds.com.

Whether a patient is in need of a routine dental cleaning or major dental work, Dr. Wright’s entire staff is committed to providing excellent customer service and attentive care. “They really are so gracious and they’ve been very nice to us,” says Anfinson. “It’s such a well-run office.”

Mark W. Wright D.D.S., P.A. 414 SHOUP AVE. W. STE. A TWIN FALLS, ID

208.735.1345 www.markwrightdds.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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A Gathering The Festival of Giving brings holiday magic to the Valley.

By Lisa Jensen Photos Courtesy Ann-PellRongen

T

he holidays are synonymous with giving. Each year, the holiday season ushers in an atmosphere of open hearts and increased generosity. The problem is, with so many in need, you cannot give to them all. The folks who started the Festival of Giving understood the dilemma, but saw a solution.

“Ken Ashley saw the need to assist local non-profits in the Magic Valley was overwhelming,” explains event coordinator Ann-Pell Rongen. “So this grass-roots fundraising event was created, the Festival of Giving, with the idea that it would be a fundraiser that would benefit multiple charities. By combining the participation into one event, we can literally touch thousands. “ Along with Southern Idaho Landscape Center, Farmer’s National Bank was the first to jump on board as a major sponsor when the four-day holiday event was launched in 2012. Pat Hamilton of Farmer’s National Bank says it was the prospect of supporting philanthropy locally that was attractive. “We’re a local community bank here in the Magic Valley, so it’s important to us to support our local charities. These aren’t national charities. The money stays local, so it all benefits the people of the Magic Valley,” says Hamilton.

Right out of the gate, the Festival of Giving was a tremendous success, paving the way for it to become an annual event that the entire Magic Valley looks forward to.

“The first year, we raised over $50,000 that was split among more than 25 local non-profits,” says Rongen. “It’s been increasing every year, though, and last year the Festival raised over $100,000. The great thing is that all of the expenses are paid for by the sponsors, so all of the proceeds go to the charities.”

That is a generous-sized pot to be divided among local non-profits across the Magic Valley, with all indications that it is just going to get bigger. Those in need from injured veterans to neglected children, homeless animals and more share in the donated funds. The cash is certainly welcome, but it is only one way the Festival of Giving benefits local charities. Thousands of pounds of food donations are made to the Idaho Foodbank, new winter coats plus numerous blankets are provided to CASA and the Salvation Army, and loads of new toys are donated to Toys for Tots throughout the Festival.

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of Gifts The Festival committee focuses on the importance of philanthropy, of giving but giving locally so that it benefits people in the Magic Valley—and it is a pretty big valley.

“We have a list of over 25 non-profits throughout the Valley. The dollars stay local, so people can feel good about supporting philanthropy in their own back yard,” Rongen says.

As one of the two major founding sponsors, Southern Idaho Landscape Center is dedicated 110 percent and essentially sets their business aside from October through December.

“They clear their space and transform it into a winter wonderland for the Festival,” says Rongen. “It takes them a whole week to wrap their ceiling beams in lights—that’s how many lights they use. The entire place is amazing once they get done with it, and it’s all for the Festival of Giving.”

The crew at Southern Idaho Landscape Center goes to the lengths they do for good reason. After all, it is where the entire Festival takes place from the Friday Night Gala on through the weekend to the final day on Monday. All of the entertainment, the auctions and the various events designed with something for everyone happens at Southern Idaho Landscape Center, and they make sure that the ambiance suitably matches the merry, celebratory mood of the holidays.

The Festival of Giving is always scheduled for the week before Thanksgiving, and it kicks the holiday season off right. Early in November, the non-profits and their sponsors begin planning the tree decorating. The sponsors pay for the tree and everything needed to decorate it. The decorated trees are put on display at Southern Idaho Landscape Center and are auctioned off during the fourday Festival.

“Admission into the general exhibition is $1, a food item or an unwrapped toy. Admission gets you a ticket, and you use your ticket to vote on the trees,” Rongen says. “The charity that gets the most votes by the end of the Festival gets an extra $500 as “People’s Choice” on top of their piece of the general fund.”

Festival-goers can even buy extra tickets from Santa’s helpers mingling in the crowd. Those additional tickets can be used to stuff the ballot boxes of favorite charities.

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The Gala is the Festival of Giving’s opening event, starting at 6 p.m. on the Friday before Thanksgiving. It is the only ticketed event, but the $50 tickets can be purchased at the door. The entire price of every ticket goes into the general fund for the non-profits. At the Gala, you’ll enjoy an evening of dinner, drinks and silent and regular auctions. Some of the trees are included in the live auction, but most trees, wreaths and centerpieces are part of the silent auction that continues throughout the General Exhibition, if minimum purchase prices are not reached on the night of the Gala.

In the past, those attending the Gala have been able to bid on items such as Cactus Pete getaways, sports packages, gourmet dinners for large parties and beautiful garden statuaries. Additionally, if you are feeling as lucky as you are generous, you can buy a balloon to pop, with the opportunity to win money with the Idaho Lottery. One year, an iPad Air was a surprise gift in the Balloon Pop. All of that, however, is just during the opening evening at the Gala. There are still three full days of events during the Festival of Giving starting with Breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.

“It’s a free breakfast and there are drawings for prizes. The kids can get their picture taken with Santa, too,” Rongen explains. “The YMCA is a huge supporter, and they do a lot of interactive activities with the children on Saturday morning.”

There is always something going on during the Festival of Giving to entertain. New performers on stage every half-hour while the doors are open.

According to Rongen, the Magic Valley’s got talent, and a wide range of entertainers always sign up to perform at the Festival.

“There are cheer squads, dance teams, theatre groups, choirs and bands.

There’s all kinds of entertainment going on the whole time.”

The Senior Social is typically scheduled on Monday, the final day of the Festival. Cookies, coffee and tea are served throughout the day, and school choirs and bands provide the entertainment with a different group taking the stage hourly.

The Festival of Giving sets the tone for residents of the Magic Valley to carry them through the holidays, and the timing couldn’t be better.

“Since the Festival is always the week before Thanksgiving, it kind of gets everyone in the mood for the holidays,” Rongen says. “Monday is the last day, then Thanksgiving is just a few days later and the following Monday tree delivery begins, so it just carries on through.”

Those who won tabletop trees or wreaths in the auction are welcome to take them home after the closing day of the Festival. The smaller trees that do not get picked up and the larger trees are wrapped up in cellophane to keep all the ornaments in place and are delivered the week after Thanksgiving.

The Festival of Giving has been such a success that Rongen says it has taken on a life of its own. The Festival currently has a waiting list of non-profits that would like to participate.

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Automotive |

“The first year we spent a lot of time calling around, trying to convince sponsors and non-profits to get involved, that it wasn’t one of those ‘too good to be true’ things. We spent a lot of time on it, but last year it grew and stood on its own legs. People see how successful it is and how many charities benefit.”

Businesses and corporate sponsors aren’t the only ones the Festival needs.

Anyone in the community from individuals to families to service groups or just a group of people who want to get together to help are welcome.

“Time, money, auction items. Whatever someone can donate is useful,” says Rongen. “People can volunteer their time during events, like manning the front door. We can always use as many big-ticket items as we can get for the live and silent auctions. If someone wants to give money, they can donate it as a Friend of the Festival. Whatever they give whether it’s $20 or $2,000, it all goes into the general fund to be dispersed back out to the charities.”

After a long weekend of holiday cheer, even Scrooge would be hard-pressed to hold onto a “bah, humbug” attitude. It doesn’t hurt that so many local charities are helped in the process. It is a win all the way around that gives Magic Valley residents the opportunity to support others in their community and have fun doing it. For her part, Ann-Pell Rongen is pleased that the Festival has been so well-received.

“The Festival of Giving is a very community-oriented, family-friendly event. The support from the community has been huge. It’s been awesome.

None of it would be possible without the business sponsors or the hard work of the non-profits, but the generosity we’ve seen from the Magic Valley shows that the spirit of philanthropy is alive and well.”

Festival Details: The Magic Valley Festival of Giving will kicks off the holiday season the Friday before Thanksgiving with the Gala of Giving. The General Exhibition follows with Santa’s Breakfast on Saturday, Family Day on Sunday and the Senior Social on Monday.

Individuals, businesses, civic groups and others who would like to participate as sponsors, volunteers or Friends of the Festival can contact Ann-Pell Rongen, Event Coordinator at 208-316-1903

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From Average to

Awesome

Today’s Dental is transforming lives one mouth at a time.

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smile speaks volumes without saying a word, but if you’re suffering from a less than perfect mouth, you may not be flashing a convincing grin. Some people choose to live for years with a smile that is less than desirable, but Dr. Don Wyatt, owner of Today’s Dental in Jerome, Idaho doesn’t believe that’s necessary. When a person invests in their smile, they’re making an investment in themselves. The staff at Today’s Dental can help you achieve a smile that will give you new-found confidence; you’ll find yourself smiling as if you’d just won the lottery.

Dr.Wyatt and his staff specialize in transforming smiles.

They perform a variety of dental procedures that can restore even the worst smiles into a beautiful and healthy mouth.

From crowns and implants to periodontics and restorative dentistry, they have a wide range of tools and tricks to make even the most dismal teeth beautiful, functional and healthy.

They also have the experience helping patients with dentophobia (fear of the dentist and dental procedures). “We often get people that are scared and it’s not just kids,” says Dr. Wyatt, “but the good thing is, we know how to help them.”

It is the goal of the staff to make the atmosphere at Today’s Dental one where patients are comfortable. With an anesthesiologist on board, a patient can be sedated, have their dental work done and wake up to a whole new mouth—pain and anxiety free.

The mission statement of Today’s Dental is “Make a difference in the lives of each and every patient.” Every member of the staff of Today’s Dental shares in this vision and wants to reach more people who are looking to find a dental home and who want to have an overall positive dental experience. Dr. Wyatt and his compassionate staff are dedicated to reaching out to people who have been avoiding the dentist, perhaps for fear of judgement due to the condition or appearance of their teeth. At Today’s Dental, they only want to help their patients obtain a healthy mouth.

Dr. Wyatt loves to perform comprehensive dentistry because of the transformative end results. Most dental procedures involve methods which take something away (i.e. extractions), but implants put something back. With comprehensive dentistry infection and decay are replaced by a beautiful, white smile—no more gaping holes, silver crowns or cracked teeth. “It’s fun to create something”, says Dr. Wyatt proudly.

Today’s Dental wants their patients involved with every step of their dental care. Upon the first visit, x-rays and

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By Shar Brannam Photos by Summer Brander

pictures of the patient’s smile are taken. Then patient and doctor confer over what results the patient desires and what the options are to achieve those results. “We’re very thorough in our discussion with our patients,” explains Dr. Wyatt. “Our goal is help the patient get the best smile they can and make them feel at ease while we work to that goal.” The only surprise the patient will experience is in how beautiful the final results turn out to be.

So if your smile is lacking shine, let the staff at Today’s Dental help return your confidence and sparkle to your pearly whites.

Automotive Dentist |

Today’s Dental offers a comprehensive list of dental care including: CEREC Same-day Crowns CEREC is the unique CAD/CAM system for all-ceramic restorations in one single appointment. It’s a quick and safe way to get the desired result for aesthetic restorations.

Cosmetic We have options to help you fix that one crooked tooth, dark spot by your gums, chipped or worn down teeth, or simply brighten your smile, and we can do it in just a few visits!

Implants A dental implant is a synthetic structure that is placed in the space once occupied by the root of the removed tooth. The implant fuses to the jaw and provides a stable platform for a replacement tooth. Implants provide an excellent treatment option that is not only more comfortable but longer lasting.

Migraine Therapy By using TruDenta we can give you relief from chronic headaches, tinnitus, vertigo and dizziness, and TMJ disorder.

Periodontics Periodontics deals with the supporting structures of the tooth, namely the gums and bone. When the gums are not cared for properly they can become inflamed which results in red, puffy gums that bleed easily.

We provide treatments to help keep your gums and bones healthy.

Restorative Dentistry Technically restorative dentistry is restoring your teeth to proper form and function. Basically this means that our dentists can fix you.

Well, at least he can fix your teeth. He has a whole bag of skills that enable him to take your teeth from average to awesome.

Today’s Dental Care 119 Country Lane Jerome, Idaho

208-324-9000 todaysdentalcarejerome.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Advantage Archery

DOWNTOWN ADVANTAGE ARCHERY 251 Main Ave. E. 208-735-9878 www.twinfallsarchery.com M - F 11 am to 8 pm; Sa. 10 am to 6 pm

Advantage Archery in Twin Falls, ID is your complete archery and hunting equipment, accessories, and instruction provider. We carry trusted brands such as Hoyt, Mathews, Prime Bows, Vortex Optics, Sitka Gear, Swarovski, First Lite, Optik, Badlands Packs, Blacks Creek Guide Gear, and G 5 Outdoors. Come check out our bow sales, service, and repair, archery accessories, camo clothing, and backpacks. Our trained professionals can help you with custom bows and arrows, too. With us, it’s quality products and services or nothing.

Magic Valley Bible Church

MAGIC VALLEY BIBLE CHURCH Pastor Bear Morton 204 Main Ave. N. 208-733-5248 mvbible.org/wordpress Sunday Service 9 am; Office M - F 9 am to 3 pm

“Built on God’s Word” is Magic Valley Bible Church’s logo. The Word of God is taught expositorily from the pulpit. We take a literal view”Built on God’s Word” is Magic Valley Bible Church’s motto. We take a literal view of Bible interpretation and believe the Bible is the authoritative source of all truth. We are a non-denominational, evangelical, and conservative church, with a focus on Christian education for the whole family, including an Awana program for children. We strive toward Christ-exalting worship.to help!

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Clearwater Power Equipment

CLEARWATER POWER EQUIPMENT 252 Washington St. 208-734-7767 www.clearwaterpowerequipment.com M - F 8 am to 5 pm; Sa. 9 am to 3 pm

Our team of service technicians and parts people are eager to help you get your equipment back into shape.

Our knowledgeable sales staff can help pick the right equipment for the job and more importantly the right equipment for you. It does not matter to us what brand of equipment you own or how old it might be. We are here to help!

Pro Image Body and Paint

PRO IMAGE BODY AND PAINT 712 Main Ave. S. 208-732-8712

Rumor Haz It Salon

RUMOR HAZ IT SALON 428 Main Ave. S. 208-944-9294 www.rumorhazitsalon.com Tu. - F 9 am to 5 pm, Sa. 9 am to 1 pm

In need of some repairs on your car or truck? You’ve come to the right place at Pro Image Body & Paint. We operate as an auto body collision shop and offer many related services and repairs. Beyond just our experience and service, we are backed by our great relationships with highly-trusted members of the automotive community.

We are a full service nail salon and eyelash extension lounge offering full body waxing, acrylic nail enhancements, pedicures and shellac all in a relaxing and fun filled environment. We have several beauty specialists for you to choose from, each specializing in all aspects of unique transformations.

Standard Printing

Stevens Pierce & Associates

STANDARD PRINTING SOLUTIONS 140 2nd Ave. N. 208-733-1449 standard@standardprt.com M - F 8 am to 5 pm

Standard Printing has been part of Twin Falls in the downtown area since 1918. As a full printing business, we provide statement processing which allows personalized printing for mailings, forms and all of your printing needs.

Home of the PERKS Coupon Book featuring local businesses.

STEVENS PIERCE & ASSOCIATES, CPAS 320 MAIN AVE. N. 208-734-8662 www.twinfallscpa.com M - F 8 am to 5 pm

Stevens Pierce & Associates, CPAs is a leading edge local accounting firm. We balance our big firm experience with friendly, caring and knowledgeable staff. Stevens Pierce & Associates, CPAs is committed to providing excellent service. We aim to exceed expectations. We take pride in our community through volunteer work and civic activities. Stevens Pierce & Associates, CPAs are your advocates and offer you timely, personal attention with honesty and integrity, effectively helping you achieve financial peace of mind.

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Gentry Floors

Head 2 Toe

GENTRY FLOORS 762 Main Ave. N. 208-293-8715 gentryfloorsonline.com M - F 8:30 am to 5 pm; Sa. by appointment

The Gentry name is a name people have come to trust for their flooring needs. It is a family owned business that has been a part of the Twin Falls community since April of 1974. Not only are they an aligned Shaw carpet and hard surface dealer but they also offer Armstrong, Emser tile, Mannington Laminate, Hardwood, Adura, and Vinyl. Gentry Floors has been a one stop shop for the Magic Valley for 40 years!

Poindexter’s Costume & Novelty shop

Brass Monkey

THE BRASS MONKEY 124 Main Ave. N. 208-944-9452 www.brassmonkeyclothing.com M - Sa. 10 am to 6 pm

Located in the heart of the Magic Valley, The Brass Monkey was established to provide the community with contemporary fashion trends from premium denim, fashion tops and accessories for women and men. The store’s number one goal is to provide quality service and stylish clothing at affordable prices.

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We are a full service salon specializing in hair color, cuts, and nail design. We have a relaxing, fun and unique atmosphere with over-the-top customer service. Let us assist you today in accentuating your beauty!

HEAD 2 TOE 346 Main Ave. S. 208-490-3900 M - Sa, 8 am to 5 pm

POINDEXTER’S COSTUME & NOVELTY SHOP 257 Main Ave W. 208-421-2316 www.shoppoindexterscostumes.com M - Th. 11 to 7 pm; F - Sa.11 am to 6 pm

Poindexter’s has been offering costumes of all sizes, as well as QUALITY WIGS, theater props, make-up and much more to the Twin Falls community since 1999. We specialize in our HUGE selection of gag gifts, as well as costumes for the entire family and our staff offers quality and reliable service that you can count on. So whether you need novelty items, costumes or clothing, you’ve got to come check out our huge selection. You can’t party without Poindexter’s!

The Repair Shop

Twin Falls Sewing Center

THE REPAIR SHOP 612 Main Ave. N. 208-731-0426 M - F 10 am to 5 pm; Sa. 12 to 5 pm

Ken at The Repair Shop has over 40 years of experience fixing electronics, tools, lamps, clocks, phonographs, antiques and many other household items. We have the lowest rates of most shops. Come see our unique sales floor too!

We also buy and trade.

Estate Sale Solutions

ESTATE SALE SOLUTIONS 561 Main Ave E. 208-733-5858 Hours vary by event

Magic Valley’s newest concept, “We are a bargain hunter’s oasis!”We take in quality merchandise on consignment and offer great bargains to all of our shoppers. Our store is always changing and is a ton of fun to shop. We have a pick-up and delivery service so if you need to clean out/de-clutter a garage, shed or storage unit, give us a call about putting your stuff on sale. Look us up on Facebook!

TWIN FALLS SEWING CENTER 157 Main Ave. W 208-733-3344 www.tfsewing.com M - F 9 am to 5:30 pm; Sa. 10 am to 4 pm

With all the new technology, sewing, quilting and embroidery are so easy.

Stop in for a demonstration and see for yourself how easy it can be! We are dedicated to seeing that you get the training required to be completely familiar with your new machine and all of its capabilities. In addition to the training that comes with your new machine we offer a variety of classes and clubs. Check them out!

We also have in-store scissor sharpening.

Nelson Realty LLC

NELSON REALTY LLC 200 Third Avenue East 208-734-3930 www.NelsonRealtyID.com Office: M - F 9 am to 12 pm; 1 to 5 pm Realtors available anytime

Nelson Realty is an independent locally owned and operated real estate firm established in 1986.

Each of our Realtors has 21+ years of real estate experience with a total combined 81 years. We have a vast knowledge covering residential, acreages, investments, vacant land, commercial, and farms/ranches.

Want a company that goes the extra mile for the most important purchase or sale in your life? Give us a call!

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From Humble Beginnings to Excellence College of Southern Idaho celebrates its first

50 years.

By Shelley McEuen Photos by Summer Brander

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ifty years isn’t very old, if you happen to be a tortoise or perhaps a giant sequoia. But considering the central, vibrant presence of the College of Southern Idaho in the Magic Valley, it becomes almost unfathomable to imagine the institution’s humble origins. Through a combination of strong community involvement and collaboration, CSI has transformed itself in a mere 50 years from a quaint campus on Kimberly Road into an abundant, 315 acre, full-service college serving approximately 9,000 students from the Magic Valley and beyond.

Looking back, the transformation has been remarkable. Where bold banners currently adorn campus light posts, announcing CSI’s celebration of its first 50 years, early aerial photographs of the college show the iconic center tower, built in 1967—just two years after classes began—towering over a strikingly flat terrain, once on the edge of town. Today’s impressive assemblage of buildings, extending across North College Road, mark a sharp contrast when compared with former campus photographs, providing a context for the immense progress and growth incurred in such a short time at the college.

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Education |

From its inception in 1965, the college focus was on meeting the needs of students and it remains so today.

After much discussion and several failed attempts, the Magic Valley community rallied to establish the College of Southern Idaho Junior College District in 1964, and began searching for a campus site immediately. After the first academic courses were held at Twin Falls High School and vocational courses held on Kimberly Road, the college’s current site was established. Two hundred forty initial acres were donated for the campus, which has grown to just over 300 expansive acres of today.

Historian and CSI Professor Emeritus Jim Gentry has completed a detailed history of the college, and his book, Meeting Needs, Developing Opportunities, was published in October 2015. Gentry credits the college with being at the center of social and technological change throughout its 50 years in the Magic Valley, from Viet Nam War protests in the 60s to its first implementation of email and microwave course offerings. According to Gentry, CSI has historically played the more obvious, important role in educating students but perhaps as importantly, the college has also promoted new technology to the businesses and community the college serves. “The community businesses have an incentive to acquire the current technology with which students are always becoming educated,” states Gentry, “and this makes for a fascinating interrelationship the college has between teaching and promoting.”

plaque on campus serving as homage to the donors and community supporters helping to build the college to what it is today. “The people on that plaque believed that an institution like this would better the region,” he says, gesturing to the grounds outside his office. “The Fine Arts was the first building on campus, and it was a collaboration between the community and the college. This collaboration continues today, and the college has truly become a focal point for the community.”

Interrelationships have always been core components of the institution, according to the current president, Dr. Jeff Fox. When reflecting on the institution’s first 50 years, President Fox immediately refers to the inscribed

CSI has undergone some recent changes on multiple levels: administrative, programmatic, and organizational.

This willingness to adapt to the ever-changing needs of a diverse student population and community is another M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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attribute of the institution, according to Debra Wilson, Executive Director of the CSI Foundation. “CSI has an openess,” says Wilson, “and the institution is always trying to find the best place to be relevant—both academically and as a workforce prep site.” The college’s goal of relevancy can be seen in its Student Success Initiative, which strives to streamline the entire process for students earning degrees, allowing them to move more quickly and easily into their desired goal, whether it be continuing to a four-year institution or leaving CSI with a marketable degree and desirable skills. Wilson, who started with the college in 1990, smiles as she describes the most rewarding aspect of her job, which is serving students. “The best part? Feeling you’re doing something bigger than yourself; the ability to change lives.”

CSI’s longest employee, Jan Goodman, a cataloguer in the library, looks back at the college’s first 50 years with a sense of pride. “It’s rather amazing to think back to the buildings that have been added and all the new programs.

The college is really an asset to the Magic Valley. I can’t imagine what the area would be like without it—students wouldn’t have had the opportunities.” Resource librarian

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Steve Poppino concurs. “If we weren’t here” says Poppino, stretching out his arms wide, “there wouldn’t be any higher education between Boise and Pocatello!”

The college has come a long way from its modest start—a former farm site off a dirt road on the Twin Falls fringe—and the administration, staff and faculty has grown to accommodate an expanding number of academic departments (currently 14) and programs.

Today, the college enjoys a fully integrated presence in the community. As President Fox says, “You can’t go too many places in town and not pass the college.” This presence, along with a keen eye for anticipating current and future needs of a changing community will undoubtedly be at work as CSI strives for excellence in its next 50 years.

Talent and Brains Successful CSI student athletes juggle academics and sports.

By Shelley McEuen Photos by Summer Brander

here’s no question, students at the College of Southern Idaho are a highly diverse group. Representing segments of this sundry population, are single parents, non-traditional students, just-graduated freshmen, and dual-enrollment students, to name just a few. These students come to the college with a shared goal—to achieve the education and skills necessary for success. Another group brings an additional aspect which contributes to CSI’s vibrant, energized campus. This group successfully meets the challenges of being both a student and an athlete, demonstrated by four of the college’s athletic teams recognized by the NJCAA as having outstanding academic teams. This balancing act of performing well in classes while attending practices, weight training sessions, and often a rigorous traveling schedule, requires two important aspects for success—dedication and time management.

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Abby Toller

student leadership. It comes with responsibility to represent success.” The communications major has aspirations for a career in journalism, with the hope of one day working as a sports broadcaster. “I feel like CSI has given me a chance to grow and be on my own, from doing my own laundry to studying, and doing all this without parents.”

Uchenna Iroegebu

Uchenna “UC” Iroegebu, a sophomore point guard from Sacramento, says planning is the most crucial aspect to his success. A business/finance major, Iroegebu also believes the combination of academic studies and athletics works to serve the other. “Personally, it’s easy to apply the focus on sports and that intensity to my academics,” he explains. Iroegebu transfers that mindset to the classroom where, “In class, I try to stay on the good side of my professors. I raise my hand and ask questions.

They need to know I’m invested.”

For many, this investment extends beyond the classroom, court, or field. Sophomore Women’s Basketball player Matti Ventling, enjoys being an RA (Resident Advisor) in the College of Southern Idaho dorms. “I love being involved,” Ventling explains.

“I also see being a student athlete as an opportunity for

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The juggling act of student and athletic success comes with built-in challenges, also. “The balance is sometimes hard with assignments, practice, games, etc,” says Abby Toller, a softball player from Ogden, Utah. “It does get tough sometimes,” says Toller, “but it helps to have Study Hall to make sure we’re on track. You definitely have to stay focused and keep your priorities straight.” Toller also believes, like Iroegebu, that the student athlete experience is preparing them in important ways. “Being a college athlete is beneficial because juggling better prepares us. We’re learning to balance our workload to manage what we have to do. Like real life.”

Head women’s softball coach Nick Baumert finds his role in working with student athletes personally fulfilling. “Coaching student athletes is a very rewarding experience. Being able to watch kids grow and mature with a few ups and downs along the way keeps us young,” he says. Baumert also concedes the challenges that can come with students having a dual role, “Student athletes need to be very conscientious about their time management. There isn’t a lot of down time for them.”

This lack of “down time” is countered by a keen understanding of personal responsibility—a common thread running through these successful student athlete’s stories. Harrison Ramey, a recently graduated CSI baseball player currently attending Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, speaks about achieving balance with routine and utilizing available resources.

“Studying, getting ahead in class, using tutors, working with other teammates—all the opportunities were there at CSI, it was just a matter of actually using them. They all contributed to my success,” he contends. Another aspect for many of these successful student athletes is how they were treated while at CSI. For Ramey, this was central. “I learned how to treat people,” he says. “At CSI and in Twin Falls, no matter what you do or where you come from, people are friendly, and they want to help you succeed.”

Harrison Ramey

Finals Rodeo in 2015 fueled Bartlome’s competitive spirit which, she says, transfers to her schoolwork.

Bailey Bartlome echoes Ramey in her opinion of CSI contributing to her success. The rodeo teammate from Kuna is working toward a RN degree at CSI with plans to continue on to Idaho State University. “I love CSI,” says Bartlome. “The college is full of opportunities for success with so many places to get help. Not every place is like that and the teachers are awesome.” Learning to give herself time to study involves “actually doing it” and “staying focused,” ensuring grades that keep Bartlome eligible to participate in breakaway roping, team roping and barrel racing. Participating in the College National

Another crucial aspect in this successful student athlete equation is how players are viewed and treated by their coaches. Head Men’s Basketball coach Jared Phay argues that coaching comes secondary to simply being there for students as Bailey Bartlome mentors. “We end up being their parent or big brother in many ways” says Phay. “It’s very rewarding to see them mature and become successful in life because we see the growing pains.”

The result of all this is a program with strong athletes, both academically as well as physically. For Joel Bate, CSI’s Athletic Director, the combination is a source of pride. “Our programs are much more than just the success seen in the arena or playing field.

Coming to CSI, students have the ability to find a balance in their lives both on and off the field that prepares them for the challenges of their next school, but most importantly, the challenges for life.”

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Financial Advisors |

WHY GO ANYWHERE ELSE? When it comes to meeting your financial goals, you really only need to see one person. At Edward Jones, we strive to meet all your financial services needs while providing exceptional personalized service.

Because we serve individual investors and business owners, all of our energy and resources are dedicated to helping you reach your long-term financial goals. That’s why we live and work in your community. We meet with you face to face to discuss the key steps to creating your financial strategy.

You talk, we listen, and we get to know you.

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TWO STONES

Equal Tons of Talent Local couple Gary and Bev Stone are leaving their mark on the world.

S

ometimes life has a plan for you that refuses to be denied, even if it takes a knock on the head to get your attention.

For Twin Falls artist Gary Stone, it was actually two broken legs from a skiing accident on Sun Valley’s Baldy Mountain in 1970 that was his turning point.

By Lisa Jensen Photos Courtesy the Stones

one of those pieces in 1975 and mentioned it on his syndicated radio program, Gary was catapulted into the national spotlight.

“My career mushroomed after getting national recognition,” he remembers. “My work was all over the country, in magazines and other periodicals. People from all over were requesting to display my work, and it was all so overwhelming. It kind of got out of hand, but it meant I’ve always had more than enough work.”

Gary and Bev have been married for 56 years, and it may have been the creative spark that drew them together in the first place. Having believed his paintings were good enough to adorn the hallways at Saint Luke’s in Sun Valley, she obviously supported his artistic endeavors. However, Bev herself is a talented writer and storyteller, and the Stones soon teamed up to use their respective talents together.

“We’ve done a program we call ‘Chalk and Talk’ for a lot of groups of all sizes like high school humanities classes, visiting dignitaries and conventions where we’ve addressed groups of thousands of people,” Bev explains.

“I tell a story, local history or a kids’ story and Gary draws chalk drawings to illustrate the stories while I talk.”

“Lying on my back all day, all I could do was paint, so I did,” he explains.

Gary’s wife, Bev, worked at the hospital at the time, and she started hanging his pieces in the hallways. Almost immediately Gary began selling his work as fast as he could paint it. The experience presented him with a fork in the road of his career, and he opted to take the creative path.

For the next five years, Stone’s creativity flowed, and he even developed a unique technique, woodcut painting, which involved carving images into wood and then painting them. Hailed as “paintings for the blind,” the method was instrumental in paving the way for mixedmedia art in the art world. When Paul Harvey obtained

With her natural talent, it may be a little easier for Bev Stone than for the average person on the street to come up with entertaining stories about history and a range of other topics off the cuff. She definitely has a knack for it, as her series of Santa Clause books prove. The collection includes The Secret of Santa Clause and Santa Plus Martha. Naturally, Gary did the illustrations.

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The Stones have collaborated on many projects over the years. Whenever one has an idea, they work together to make it happen. The mural at the Magic Valley Regional Airport (pictured above) is just one example.

“Bev got the idea in 1994 to do a mural on this big, blank wall at the airport depicting Magic Valley history,” Gary says.

“Within a year, I got started, did all of the carving and have been adding to it ever since. Right now it’s 40 feet long by 9 feet high—it even extends up onto the ceiling—and it’s still a work in progress.”

The mural is an attraction that draws attention from nearly everyone who passes through the airport on their travels, including some well-known people.

“I’ve been told that Bruce Willis spent hours studying it up close, and one day I was up on the ladder working on it and was surprised when Jamie Lee Curtis came up and started talking to me about it,” Gary recounts.

The mural is a project that’s close to Gary’s heart, and he knew it was the perfect type of work to honor a relative who gave his life in Iraq. Just around the corner from the Magic Valley mural, travelers can get a close-up view of “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” Gary’s tribute to Idaho troops and all the armed forces.

As immense an undertaking as the airport murals have been, they aren’t the Stones’ biggest project. As the final decade of the 20th Century dawned, Gary realized that the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail was coming up. He felt it was an opportunity Idaho could take advantage of, considering that the trail spans the entire southern part of the state from east to west.

“I was pretty frustrated because, no matter who I talked to, there didn’t seem to be much interest,” Gary remembers.

The Stones realized that if you want something done, you usually have to do it yourself but, with their talents, it’s likely they were fated to take on the project from the start. For years both have been members of numerous historic organizations including the Oregon-California Trails Association, the local historic commission and Friends of Stricker Ranch, which they helped start. Bev was a member of the historical preser-

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vation commission in Twin Falls and wrote a history column for the local newspaper for nine years. She had the ideal background to weave together excerpts from actual pioneer diaries to craft a true account of life on the Oregon Trail, told in the Pioneers’ own words. For his part, Gary wanted to do a book of paintings that illustrated the story, and the idea for Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail was born. The couple approached J.R. Simplot to fund the book, obtained copies of journals kept by the Oregon Trail pioneers and got to work.

“Gary did 44 paintings for ‘Stone by Stone,’ but he also made over 500 sketches in preparation for the project and many of them wound up in the book,” Bev says. “For each chapter, I would write an introduction to explain the diary entries that would follow, and a lot of those sketches perfectly depicted what was going on in the chapters. Many people have said that it’s like they were done by someone who had actually been there on the trail in 1843.”

The Oregon Trail book was a huge hit that garnered national attention and kept the Stones busy for most of the year.

“The paintings for the book were on display at the United States Capitol rotunda in Washington D.C. in 1993, making Gary the only living artist to ever show there,” Bev explains.

“We spent a week there in our Oregon Trail duds and gave a presentation to Congress that was broadcast on CSPAN. We were on talk shows and were interviewed by the media.

We participated in Oregon Trail documentaries and Gary joined the wagon train that traveled across the country on the Oregon Trail.”

Bev participated in the trek, too, driving a mule-drawn wagon on the Idaho leg of the trip. The Stones admit that it has all been quite an adventure, but it’s one that is far from over. With a constantly growing list of things they want to accomplish, the Stones are unlikely to retire at all, let alone anytime soon.

For one thing, inspired by their Oregon Trail project, Gary and Bev would like to start a wagon train attraction in the Magic Valley.

“Part of the (Oregon) Trail passes through the desert between Perrine Bridge and the Hansen Bridge, so we want to have a wagon train that goes back and forth between the two

Financial Consultants/Flooring | Capricorn Financial Strategies. Inc bridges. People could ride the trail and enjoy a Dutch oven dinner and music,” Bev details.

Additionally, it seems that there are more books in the Stones’ future. Bev has numerous Santa books in the works, and Gary already has notes to write a book about ancient life in the Snake River Canyon. That idea can be traced back to the 1970s when the Stones started buying pieces of the canyon from Shoshone Falls to Twin Falls.

Gary and Bev put up a teepee and cultivated their own private little park on their Canyon property, and have spent a lot of time down there with their two kids, six grandkids and seven great-grandkids. Over the years, they’ve come across a few interesting relics, including stone tools that are still sharp enough to cut with. The National Geographic Channel sent the show “Diggers” to film on Gary and Bev’s property, and two Mayan archaeologists from ISU have visited several times. “(The ISU archeologists) found that the civilization in the canyon was more like South American Indians than North American Indians,” Gary says. “They found some remarkable things down there that I didn’t even know to look for.”

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The archeologists’ findings and “Diggers” gave Gary the idea to do a book about the ancient civilization in the canyon, and he has already started on the illustrations.

With all those irons in the fire, Bev and Gary still make time to enjoy the Idaho lifestyle they love. Hunting, fishing and camping have always been favorite activities, and they often find themselves playing the part of outfitters for out-ofstate friends.

“Our life is pretty great,” Bev confesses.

“We both get to do what we love and we live in a place that people pay thousands of dollars to come and spend a week and do the things we do all the time. We could have gone anywhere in the world, but why should we when we’ve got all this?”

It’s true. Spending the days painting, writing and living just a “Stone’s” throw from the beautiful Snake River Canyon, the golden years are truly golden for Gary and Bev Stone.

carpet • vinyl • laminate • hardwood lvt • installation supplies sales and installation services free in-home estimates 2116 4th Ave E. Twin Falls, ID 208-944-9075 walkersflooring.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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HAPPY Hearing Miracle-Ear is bringing smiles back to the faces of people with hearing loss.

By Shelley McEuen Photos by Summer Brander

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bird’s song, the rise and fall of beautiful music, the lilt of a loved one’s laughter, all sounds many people enjoy without giving much thought. But what if it becomes a challenge to hear these things clearly? What if conversation in crowded environments and social situations becomes strained or difficult? The staff at Miracle-Ear is ready and eager to help.

Striving to be “the best hearing center in the valley,” Miracle-Ear, a comprehensive hearing aid center, located at 452 Cheney Drive, Suite 130, is owned and operated by Idaho native Ryan Neider. Upon entering the spacious and spotless Miracle-Ear lobby, clients are greeted with the enthusiastic smile of Eli Connell, the front office assistant and patient care coordinator. Moving to the current location in September 2014, the modern facility now sports a state-of-the art sound room used for testing hearing. In addition to the sound room, Neider provides clients a comprehensive health profile screening, ruling out any bigger issues such as tumors and infections that, although rare, need to be diagnosed. Then, Neider and the client can talk about solutions.

According to Neider, the biggest challenge with clients is sometimes they wait too long to seek help. “People come in and tell me they started experiencing hearing challenges two, three, even seven years prior to walking through the door,” says Neider. But he smiles,

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Hearing |

describing the positive results clients receive after finally making the decision to seek hearing assistance.

“I have heard we’ve helped save marriages and allowed people to hear their grandchildren again. I often hear people say they wish they would have come in sooner.” Waiting on hearing assistance can have unintended consequences, says Neider, who points to data indicating those with hearing loss are five times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia.

This is due to the brain losing a function that, when healthy and hearing, tends to keep these adverse conditions at bay.

The new Miracle-Ear Cheney Drive facility has been a positive move for Neider, who has operated the business since June 2014. The decision to move the business from its former Sears location was obvious. “I wanted to get out of the retail environment and be near the hospital. This location is much more conducive to what we do.” Neider wanted a quiet, easily accessible environment with plenty of parking. His new setting offers serenity and comfort for clients the moment they pass through the door.

Born and raised in Pocatello where he attended Highland High School, Neider made his way to San Francisco, earning a B.F.A in 3D modeling and animation.

After a 12-year career in visual effects, Neider sought more meaningful work. Having had a close friend and father with hearing loss, becoming a State Certified Hearing Specialist provided Neider the perfect job

452 Cheney Dr. W. Ste. 130 |

opportunity he was seeking. “The gratifying thing about helping people with their hearing is that you are contributing to their quality of life.” Clearly, Neider loves his work and serving clients. “We treat people like family,” he says, beaming. “We get to know the person, their history.

It’s an experience. I pride myself on the fact that people have the best experience possible.”

At Miracle-Ear, you won’t find your parent’s hearing aids. The hearing aids available from Neider provide zero feedback, common in earlier models.

The hearing aids available today have the option of Blue Tooth Technology, making it possible to answer phone calls and stream music through a smartphone to the hearing aids.

Increasingly, movie theaters and local churches have acquired technology enabling the performance or speaker to be directly streamed into hearing aids, also.

Audiologist, Dr. Alisa Vineyard Au. D., CCC-A, FAAA, joined Miracle-Ear in June 2015 to conduct all the pediatric testing, making the facility a truly comprehensive hearing center. Clearly, Miracle-Ear is prepared to meet the needs of anybody experiencing a difficulty with various levels of hearing loss, and Neider is proud to be serving his community. “I am an Idahoan proudly serving other Idahoans,” he says. With a deep dedication to client satisfaction combined with a keen sense of client needs, Ryan Neider and Miracle-Ear are well on their way to becoming the best hearing center in the Magic Valley.

208-733-3340 | www.miracle-ear-twinfalls.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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NAME THAT TUNE Don Ritchey will have you and your kids grinning, clapping, laughing and singing.

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t’s normal for a large crowd of small people to gather in the basement of the Twin Falls County Library every Monday at 4:00 p.m.

The attraction? Sing-along with Mr. Don, of course!

Children and their parents gather around guitar player/ singer Don Ritchey and happily sing classics such as “Old MacDonald”, “Wheels on the Bus”, and “Apples and Bananas”. The infectious enthusiasm of Mr. Don and the children have made this one of the most popular activities offered at the library.

The evolution of this library activity, which has been going on for the past four years, came unexpectedly for Ritchey. As a special education teacher, Ritchey didn’t consider himself a musician. He was simply tinkering with his guitar one day when a fel-

By Shar Brannam Photos by Summer Brander

low teacher requested he play some songs for the kids.

“I protested and told them I didn’t sing and I didn’t know any kids’ songs,” recalls Ritchey. But his colleague was persistent so Ritchey learned how to play “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” He was an instant hit with the kids!

Encouraged, Ritchey began learning more and more songs, building a repertoire which he eventually presented to the Twin Falls County Library Youth Services department head, Erica Littlefield. “We had never had anybody offer this to us before, but it seemed like a good idea to try,” says Littlefield. The program was originally

“The kids aren’t coming here just to go to the library; they’re coming here to see Mr.Don.” - Erica Littlefield

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Home Comfort |

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scheduled for once a month, but due to its immense popularity, quickly grew to twice a month. “We ended up having such a great response that we decided to do this every week,” says Littlefield.

Ritchey’s song list has evolved over the years, though he continues to play the classics.

Kids will often shout out suggestions of songs they want to hear. If Ritchey doesn’t know the song, he’ll learn it for the next week. “This is what has build my repertoire,” says Ritchey.

“It’s all about the kids.”

If you can’t catch Mr. Don at the library on Mondays, he does gig elsewhere. He performs sing-alongs on a weekly basis at three elementary schools in the Magic Valley, as well as at the library in Jerome. Once a month he gigs at the library in Gooding and at the Boise Public Library’s main branch. Plus, he’s produced a CD and four videos. He also does private events.

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Regardless of the growing performance schedule, Ritchey will always have a special place in his heart for the Twin Falls Public Library. “This one is the best,” says Ritchey fondly. “Sometimes it’s so packed in here that it’s wall to wall.”

And it’s obvious that the the patrons and the kids love the performance. “The kids aren’t coming here just to go to the library; they’re coming here to see Mr.Don,” says Littlefield.

“It’s been one of the best things to happen to our library. It’s good for the whole family.

You have something that little kids enjoy and the older kids enjoy it as well. It’s been really great, we so appreciate him coming in and doing this for us, it’s been wonderful.”

227 Second Ave. East, Twin Falls, ID

208•733•2624 M-F 8am - 6pm, Saturdays 10am - 3pm M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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VISIONS

for the Future

Long term or short, if a family member needs help you can find quality care at Visions Home Health & Visions Home Care, LLC and Hospice Visions, Inc.

By Jill Lambert Photos by Summer Brander

HOME HEALTH

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matter often overlooked throughout life is how to care for aging family members. We often think that as family we should be able to care for our aging generations, but the reality of the situation may prove overwhelming. This is where the unified establishment of Visions Home Health & Visions Home Care, LCC can help. Located at 1770 Parkview Drive, across from St. Luke’s—Magic Valley, their goal is to help facilitate daily tasks like hygiene care, housecleaning, or spiritual pursuits. They also locate services for advanced directives, medical power of attorney, and other needed services.

Director of Visions Home Health & Visions Home Care, LLC, Tammi Harr RN and her team have a definitive focus on the patient’s need to regain personal independence and control for either short term, intermediate, or long-term care planning needs. The team also combines an extensive amount of resources for community contacts. “Our disciplines in skilled nursing, occupational, speech, and physical therapies help ease restrictions from age, ability, surgery, or chronic and terminal illnesses,” explains Harr. “Things as simple as companionship are even considered in our family and friend-based business. We Tammi Harr RN believe laughter and support can be some of the best medicine for people. But, no matter the need, we want to help you navigate the medical system.”

As family members develop less capabilities of providing the most needed levels of care, then it is time to speak with their loved ones’ physician about bringing in some help like that provided by Visions Home Health & Visions Home Care, LLC. Professional at-home caregivers have a proven track record of significant reduction in hospital admissions. Visions Home Health & Visions Home Care, LLC designs lifestyle differences where patients continue to live at home—as people—and family members can focus on being a family.

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1770 PARK VIEW DR. TWIN FALLS, ID 208-735-0121

Home Health |

HOSPICE

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his all-inclusive building of end-of-life specialists contains the only locallyoperated, freestanding, non-profit hospice facility in the Magic Valley: Hospice Visions, Inc. Executive Director, Tami Slatter RN, BSN has deep running roots with hospice—she and her mother started the not-for-profit business in 1995. The team at Hospice Visions, Inc. is devoted to working with families to meet the needs of their loved ones end of life journey. “I don’t feel this is a business, it’s a higher calling to help families with very personal end-of-life needs and decisions,” says Slatter. “We know this calling participates in acts of selflessness.”

Slatter and the Hospice Visions, Inc. team are here to help as decisions to use hospice care arrive; once situations of curing diseases are no longer a possibility, and difficulties of medical treatments overshadow the benefits of care while in the comfort of home.

“The hospice system of palliative care is our compassionate way of delivering care wherever home may be with supportive services to those with a limited life expectancy,” explains Slatter. “Our attentions are aimed toward reducing intensities or severities of Tami Slatter RN, BSN diseases by controlling pains or other discomforting symptoms. We also provide this care on a basis of need, not an ability to pay.” Included, are the patient’s personal or hospice physician, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains or other spiritual counselors, trained volunteers, and other experiences like light touch massage, pet therapy and ‘We Honor Veterans’ program.

Hospice Visions, Inc. is dedicated to the Magic Valley—they’ve even reached partner level four in the ‘We Honor Veterans’ program. Level four is the highest available level in this notable program and not easily attained. They achieved this classification rating from persistent attention and determined care. The team topped the final level by providing veteran-centric education, attaining the structural capacity for quality veteran care, developing and strengthening relationships with VA medical organizations, and increasing access to improve quality of care for the Magic Valley community members.

These end-of-life specialists not only provide care and support for patrons, they also embrace employees and volunteers alike. The company’s teammates engage in a united and personally emotional friendship-bereavement wreath. This wreath contains cherished ribbons representing end-of-life friendships where employees choose to hand-tie different colored ribbons to honor their departed friends.

Hospice Visions, Inc. honors and cares for loved ones with end-of-life options provided in the home, assisted living centers, long-term care facilities, or their very own Hospice Home.

hospicevisions.org M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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A Bowl of Inspiration

How an invitation for a free bowl of soup and conversation helped unite neighbors.

By Shelley McEuen

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erhaps the idea of serving soup to neighbors doesn’t sound all that revolutionary. It may even sound odd to ask neighbors (some of them strangers up until the invite) to bring their own soup bowls and spoons to a gathering in my home. The idea for a soup night was inspired by Maggie Stuckey’s brilliant cookbook titled Soup Night: Recipes for Creating Community Around a Pot of Soup. The rules for a neighborhood soup night are simple.

Essentially, there are only two hard and fast provisions. First, somebody has to host and cook the soup. Secondly, you have to show up with a bowl and a utensil for eating the soup, making clean-up easier on the host. Although I set a window of time on my invitation (4-6 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon), the idea is to drop in, enjoy some soup, stay as long as one desires, and feel free to leave. In other words, soup night should not be a huge commitment.

I live in an older Twin Falls neighborhood, and, like so many of us, I am busy. Between parenting, a full-time teaching gig at the college, and working part-time on a graduate degree in Pocatello, I find myself with little time to engage with neighbors. In fact, I was embarrassed to realize there were many neighbors whose names I didn’t know, although we would share a wave as we pulled out of our respective driveways. I craved the community I saw as always elsewhere—in Oregon, perhaps, where my dear friends resided, or in the pages of Stuckey’s beautifully rendered book, filled with recipes and stories.

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It was an honest and dear friend who called my bluff. “Why don’t you have a soup night and invite your neighbors?” she suggested, as once again, I complained about the lack of connection on my street. I hadn’t heard of “soup night” and had not stopped to consider my own role in the neighborhood disconnect. After giving it some thought, I realized my friend was right.

I had a choice to continue living in a neighborhood I saw as disengaged or actually do something. The latter required action. How often had I not engaged? This was, I thought, truly about being the change one wished to see in the world. That famous quotation from the peaceful, iconic Gandhi was one I sensed needed embracing in this particular situation.

So I composed a heartfelt, homespun invite to a neighborhood soup night, making copies of the hand-written note to distribute up and down my street. I went door-to-door, again inspired by Stuckey’s advice to make a personal connection with each neighbor on my block, whether they were familiar or not. I was nervous about how I would be received. It took some gumption to head out that day, invites in hand, to knock on doors. Each time I smiled warmly, explaining what I was doing and why. All they had to do was show up. Yes, I was making soup. No, they didn’t need to contribute anything but themselves, a bowl, and a spoon. What most surprised me about going door-to-door was how wary my neighbors appeared with my initial presence on their front steps.

What was I selling? What was my motive? Perhaps their reticence spoke to a larger trend of allowing ourselves to disengage from one another, even in our own neighborhoods, where the stakes are relatively low. Most responded to the invite with initial caution, but just as quickly, their demeanor would soften to surprise and warmth.

I really did keep things simple, offering just two soups: chicken noodle and squash. My good friend several houses down offered to make homemade rolls, and I let her, (who says no to homemade rolls?) but other than this small exception, the rule to bring yourself, a bowl, and a spoon remained intact.

People came.

Within minutes of 4:00 p.m., my small kitchen was crackling with introductions and engagement. After some time, the little ones began playing and dancing in my living room. Second helpings were served, some folks helping themselves to the soup pot, which I saw as an indicator of comfort, and I took as high compliment. The rolls disappeared. As it turns out, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know their neighbors.

To speak of this small gathering as revolutionary would be a stretch, in terms of how the word is often used. But something took hold that afternoon on my street. There wasn’t 100 percent participation, and there are still people living near me that I don’t know, but I made a move toward community. I invited my neighbors, and they responded. How simple. How wonderful. I figured some neighbors would show up, but I didn’t expect such fresh enthusiasm for connection. Soup night might not be revolutionary, but founded on the simple principle of sharing a meal, it is moving my neighborhood in a direction of inspiration.

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One of a Kind Steven S. Miller Construction creates custom homes as individual as the owner.

Photos by Summer Brander

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here are custom homes, and then there is a Steve Miller home.

“If you can dream it, we can build it,” says Steve Miller, owner of Steven S. Miller Construction. Miller believes that a home should be as unique as its owner—with character and personality. Proof of his philosophy and craft is scattered across Magic Valley. It can be seen during the annual Parade of Homes, which Steven S. Miller Construction has won for three consecutive years.

A home built through Miller is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece—the manifestation of customers’ dreams combined with his superior workmanship. Choices aren’t limited to options on a showroom floor. Instead, Miller listens to what his clients request and delivers: fixtures, paint, cabinetry, flooring, even concrete work and landscaping. “We go pick out exactly what you want,” Miller says. With Steven S. Miller Construction, choice means having anything you can imagine, everything is truly custom. Every detail is attended to and perfected. There are no limits to what you can create. “I have never built the same home twice,” Miller says. “And I never will.”

Having a home built by someone who is as passionate about the project as the homeowner makes all the difference.

Miller works directly with each customer to ensure that their needs are met and budgets are followed. He communicates with them throughout the entire homebuilding process and guides them until the day they walk through the front door of the finished home.

Miller says it’s not uncommon for clients to share horror stories from prior experiences with subpar builders. “We’re not like that,” he adds. “When you know what you want and you want it done right the second time, I’ll be here.”

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Miller and his wife, Rachel, share their expertise with clients and educate them during every step of the building process. The Steven S. Miller Construction team wants customers involved with every step of planning and building process. They even want their customers to call with any concerns after they move in.

The job isn’t over just because the home is built, Steve Miller says. “I want to make sure you continue to be happy long after you walk through the door.”

A three-year warranty that comes standard with each home provides peace of mind for Miller’s customers. “That’s where we’re different,” Miller says. “You want a quality home? I’m going to guarantee it.”

Thrilled customers are spreading the word that Steve Miller homes are special. Consequently, Steven S. Miller Construction has seen major growth in the past year. Two new employees, Kasey Smith and Kallie Carney, are excited to be on board.

“We have expanded our team because we want to keep the building process as enjoyable as possible to everybody and still keep the quality top-notch,” Miller says. That said, he has no interest in growing to the point where he would lose the oneon one, personal involvement he has with every customer.

It is his commitment to his customers and being accessible for any and all of their concerns that makes Miller unique—and Steven Miller homes exceptional in every way.

Home Builder |

WHAT IS A CUSTOM HOME? A custom home is one that is designed and built entirely according to the homebuyer’s vision. The architect and builder work together to design and construct a home that is unique. The homebuyer can provide input on every detail—brand of doors, windows, fixtures; height of counters, depths of windowsills; type of cabinetry, hardware (knobs, outlet covers, vent registers, etc), flooring, tile type and design, paint, molding; outdoor space, the list goes on and on. The idea is that a custom home is truly one-of-a-kind.

1201 Falls Avenue East Twin Falls, ID

208-308-5435

stevensmillerhomes.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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A (Children’s) Home That Love Built

By Amber Daley Photos Courtesy Tracy Hills

McKallie ’s Home of Future and Hope provides orphaned and vulnerable children of Malawi with a brighter tomorrow.

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ntibacterial soap. A toothbrush. Toothpaste.

For many in developed lands, daily use of such personal hygiene products is the norm. And when these items run out, purchasing replacements isn’t an ordeal—a drug store or market is usually mere blocks away (and for longer trips, a bicycle or vehicle is typically available). However, for people in many parts of the world, these items are considered costly luxuries. And the most basic amenities—clean drinking water; food; warm, dry shelter; and clothing—are also hard to come by.

Take Malawi, Africa, for instance. Ranked among the top 10 poorest countries in the world, the country is home to 16.8 million people, 85 percent of whom live in rural areas, without easy access to clean water or affordable healthcare.

But even amidst severe poverty, Malawi is known for its friendly, hospitable people. The country is nicknamed “The Warm Heart of Africa”. And despite the potential for corruption, you can still find generous people and successful aid programs that make a long-term, sustainable impact in undeveloped countries.

McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope is one such place.

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The Magic Valley Meets “The Warm Heart of Africa” At McKallie’s Home in Malawi, the items listed at the outset fill the hygiene kits prepared for dozens of school age children.

The products, purchased with funds from the organization’s sponsorship program, are provided to village children who couldn’t otherwise obtain these resources. But these hygiene kits are just one of the many ways this children’s home is making a difference in South Central Africa.

It all began when Tracy Hills traveled to Malawi with a volunteer medical team. Less than two years later, she and her husband Jerre decided to build the non-denominational Christian children’s village in Africa: McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope. Owners of Quality Truss & Lumber in Filer, Idaho, they know all too well the challenges associated with the construction industry and with large-scale building projects. The undertaking would mean sourcing materials and labor that weren’t cost-prohibitive, as well as managing supplies and ensuring quality control. For even the most experienced builders and the most well-meaning humanitarians, embarking on such an endeavor

would be a daunting task—not to mention the complexity of doing so in a third-world country.

For one thing, the Hills had no land on which to build.

And even once they did have the land and the necessary supplies, the process would take much longer than they were used to in the Western world. (The fence alone would later take two years to build, since only hand labor— no machinery—contributed to the work.)

To further complicate the process, many close-knit African communities are often skeptical of Western relief efforts due to widespread corruption. Despite societal issues such as child labor and human trafficking, aid projects in Africa are rarely regulated by the government. So, to bring the project to fruition, the Hills’ would have to overcome the inevitable doubt and potential opposition amongst villagers—while ensuring fair and culturally appropriate payment for those employed by the school. The building of McKallie’s Home would require vision, patience, and dedication that far surpassed that required by projects closer to home, as well as a longterm commitment not previously seen in this particular territory of Malawi.

Building a Home, Growing a Family If anyone was fit to spearhead the building work ahead, it was Tracy Hills. Not only is she a mother to five children (two of whom were adopted during a time of what she refers to as “great vulnerability”), she has spent the majority of her career both writing medical policies and procedures as well as caring for those in need. At times, Tracy’s vocation meant traveling with a medical team to provide aid in third-world countries, experiences that helped her develop the courage, tenacity, and know-how that would later be helpful for bringing McKallie’s Home to life.

“That gave me a good idea of what works and what doesn’t—and how aid can be effective at the grassroots level,” she says.

Also crucial to the project’s success was the building of relationships with individuals in the village territories. From the

beginning, Tracy has been sensitive to the needs and the concerns of the local community. “You have to understand the economics and how village people function, and not take their power away from them,” she says. “If you don’t have that foundation, you don’t have the trust you need to work cooperatively with the people.”

Not only did she inquire as to which territory had the greatest need for a school for AIDS orphans, she understood the importance of administering aid “within the cultural context.”

Explains Tracy, “That’s the piece that’s missing in aid missions; we have these misconceptions from our world that may not be sustainable. If we create systems that will help longterm, those children can be raised in their own cultural families and can change countries from within. If well-meaning western people take the problem out of the country, it perpetuates. The McKallie’s Home model allows children to be raised by their own people, and that generation has the potential to change the country in the future.”

So, after receiving blessings from surrounding villagers, and a year after buying the land from local village chiefs, McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope broke ground. And, just another year later, the school was built and the Hills were dedicating the children’s village and the school to the surrounding territory.

McKallie’s Home: Then, Now, and Tomorrow As Tracy reflects on the events that led up to the building and subsequent flourishing of McKallie’s Home, she believes that she was divinely led to Malawi. After all, she was just 10 years old when she had what she calls “a heart’s desire to work in Africa”— the same age her future adopted daughter McKallie would be M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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during the dedication ceremony for the very children’s home that is her namesake.

Whatever the grander purpose, the Hills’ hard work has paid off. What began as bare land is now a 70-acre children’s village consisting of four children’s homes; classrooms for 120 children aged preschool to sixth grade; teacher housing; the guardhouse; enough agricultural land to produce food for the school, homes, and assist with outreach programs; and a large chapel—all facilities that serve hundreds of people in two village communities.

McKallie’s Home even provides space for a weekly women’s ministry program. Women in the village convene to draw water, share food, and study the bible—essentially meeting one another’s physical and emotional needs. A youth soccer program and girls’ net ball games are also held on the grounds.

McKallie’s Home has also become a boon to the local economy. From the local Malawian engineer who drew up the blueprints to the local contractor who also hired local workers, the entire grounds—the fence, school buildings, homes, etc.—were built by individuals from surrounding villages. And the property continues to be maintained by members of the local community. Weeds are pulled, grasses are cut, and the farm and orchard’s trees are watered by area grandmothers, widows, or high-risk, single mothers hired to help. “Whatever work we have, we put the word out and whoever wants to work is welcome to do so.”

“I haven’t brought a team of people to do something here that would take opportunity or jobs away from the local people who are already here,” says Tracy. “And we have no full-time western world presence.” Tracy explains her local-centric philosophy: “Many well-meaning Americans think they’re doing the right thing, but their help is really harmful and perpetuates the culture of corruption,” she says. “World aid has increased corruption in many African countries and I’ve gone to extreme lengths to fight it at all costs.” While Tracy acknowledges this approach “has sometimes meant doing things the hard way,” their efforts have paid off. “We deal with it very little if at all now.”

The community has benefited in other ways, too.

When it was determined that a well should be tapped on the property, a virtually unlimited resource of fresh water

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was discovered at the grounds. Tracy calls this a miraculous discovery—“because it’s dry everywhere around but our 70 acres.” Now, thanks to this free, abundant flow of water, hundreds of people from the community are no longer subjected to dirty river water or non-working wells, and they are welcome to access this resource via the property’s three wells. McKallie’s home can also use this water during the dry season to irrigate farmland and help supply water for the fish farms.

The property’s progressive developments include a small solar system, which currently provides light for two of the four homes, and a sophisticated fish farm, developed to address the problematic low-protein diet of many Malawians.

McKallie’s Home is able to feed its resident children with the tilapia raised in the property’s two large fish ponds, in addition to providing food for the school and outreach for widows in areas of severe poverty. What the school doesn’t use for a secure protein food source, they sell. The fish farms have been such a success that McKallie’s Home plans to add four to five more ponds in next year or two. Other changes on the horizon include a library—a suggestion from the head teacher—with the goal being to house media charged by solar energy; a junior high school building (currently under construction); a pig facility; and an animal farm.

The intent for the animal farm is twofold: to teach resident children how to care for animals on the grounds, and for the sale of a butchered animal to provide funding for its replacement as well as funds for students approaching college age. “I’m always trying to think of things within the cultural context that will teach responsibility, accountability, and work ethic—which I’m hoping will contribute to their overall maturity and well being—but will also offer college or trade school funding when they get to be that age.”

Tracy’s conscientious approach means changes at McKallie’s Home are never rushed—and are always based on the children’s needs. “I’ve slowly implemented each step, then we reevaluate how we can improve,” says Tracy.

For instance, one grade’s curriculum is added each year (a direct correlation to the school’s oldest student, who is

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THE MOST FUN YOU’LL HAVE LOOKING DOWN! currently 13 years old). Tracy also has plans to develop opportunities for students’ secular education and their life after McKallie’s Home. “This is their lifelong home. We wouldn’t say, ‘See you later!’ when a child turns 18, so we plan to send them to college or trade school so they’re prepared for independent living in the adult world.”

Measures are implemented that help equip staff to meet the unique needs of high-risk, high-need children, too. “A lot of our experience with our own [adopted] kids, such as attachment issues, has helped with dealing with abandoned children or children who find themselves orphaned due to the death of their mother. I’m concentrating on the ongoing education of our staff in the areas of attachment.”

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A “mercy fund” has been established to address miscellaneous needs such as transportation required to receive medical treatment.

“Throughout Africa, transport is through a series of minibuses,” says Tracy. “So even something as simple as getting to the clinic is a challenge.”

“To lift a people out of poverty, you need to invest in them, but that doesn’t always mean financially,” says Tracy. What it does mean is providing education, support, and assistance to the local community. To this end, McKallie’s Home dedicates significant resources to outreach efforts, including ongoing community education about child nutrition (as well as HIV/ AIDS and proper hygiene). McKallie’s Home dispatches its HIV team to provide practical HIV help and shares a message of hope in the local community. The organization also performs assessments on high-risk children to determine how to best assist parents with caring for their children’s basic safety and health needs, but they don’t interfere to the point that their efforts hinder parents or guardians.

With a family’s permission, children are enrolled in classes at McKallie’s Home. School is free to attend, and students are provided with a

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uniform, educational tools, supplies (backpack, paper, etc.), and one to two meals per day (depending on how long they’re on school grounds)— but always one nutritious meal with high protein, and basic healthcare services when needed.

Students are treated for parasites and worms every six months, and, since 47 percent of Malawi’s children are malnourished, students are weighed and monitored quarterly in line with the World Health Organization’s malnutrition protocol. Each child also receives a malaria net once a year.

Tracy recognizes that humanitarian work isn’t always easy. It can be time consuming; Tracy travels to Africa once every three months.

“For a lot of people, it’s devastating,” she says.

“It’s difficult to see the things I work with on a regular basis. But I believe change begins with one child at a time. If you go into a third-world country and you think you’re going to change the world, you’ll fail.” Hills believes that even small gestures count. “Whether it’s there or here in your own neighborhood, if you see a need, there’s a lot you can do about it. It’s about meeting needs of others wherever you are. And it doesn’t even have to be in big ways, it can be in little ways every day. We can help our own communities.”

Why the name “McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope”?

“The suffering of children looks the same, whether it’s in America or Africa,” says Tracy Hills. “And when I traveled [to Malawi] many years ago I saw the need and felt inspired to come back and do something about it. We experienced that same need within our own family when we adopted two children who needed new parents and a new family. So McKallie’s Home really represents the bridge of suffering children no matter what part of the world you come from.”

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McKallie, who is Jerre and Tracy Hills’ adopted daughter, visits the children’s home once a year. She says, “This place has impacted my life in so many ways. Here in Malawi I’ve witnessed a lot of suffering and a lot of heartache, [but] that’s the reason we’re here. I needed a new family.

McKallie’s Home means hope for me.”

How to Help Support for McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope has come in many forms over the years, from the village chief who allowed for the land to be sold for the children’s village to the many church groups, sponsors, and individuals who have believed in Hills’ vision and donated funds and materials. Even purchases made at Quality Truss & Lumber benefit McKallie’s Home, since Hills serves as a volunteer and covers her own travel and accommodation expenditures. “We’re incredibly grateful to those who have come together to help us serve the children of Malawi,” Tracy says, “as well as the customers who purchase their supplies at Quality Truss & Lumber.”

McKallie’s Home relies on monetary donations and funds from its child sponsorship program to sustain its resident children and the Malawian community members hired to work there. With funds from the child sponsorship program, the cost of a student’s uniform, education, food, and health needs are covered. This program is unique in that McKallie’s team develops close bonds with the children, occasionally serving as an intermediary between a sponsoring family and a child. “If I know a child is going through a difficult time,” says Tracy, “I can let their sponsor know to write a letter of encouragement.”

To learn more about McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope as well as sponsorship opportunities, visit the organization’s Facebook page. Donations can be accepted via the website at www.mckallieshome.org or the mailing address on the site.

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The QUALITY When you need materials or advice for your next construction project you can trust Quality Truss & Lumber to help you get the job done.

Q

uality Truss & Lumber’s name single-handedly reveals value in their intentions during any building, remodeling, or interior enhancement project.

“Construction can be unpredictable, and we thrive in unpredictability,” says owner, Jerre Hills. “Customers gain peace of mind with our prompt abilities to authorize decisions during the construction processes—there’s no middleman to go through. We maintain a variety of diversities in materials and labor, and we never sacrifice in quality…it’s in our name.”

These are comforting words when you’re confronted with questions about the cost of building a house or considering the amount of time a remodel project will take.

Hard work established the foundations in this business.

Over two decades ago, Hills recognized a potential opportunity for community growth, so he took his desire to go into business for himself and created Quality Truss & Lumber Inc. Their convenient location has plenty of space for project materials on the west edge of Filer by the corner of Stevens Street and Highway 30. The impressive lumber yard features Quality Truss & Lumber’s variety of local abilities and supplies. Alongside an essential hardware store, the property reveals an exclusive exterior/interior door and woodworking shop, a custom-tailored truss plant, and an exceptional metal-working division.

The hardware store carries all the essentials needed for indoor or outdoor construction projects. Professionals and DYI-ers alike can find a wide variety of outdoor project equipment for lawns and gardens, decking, windows, siding, or roofing. Indoor projects requiring insulation, drywall, millwork crown moldings, paints and supplies, and cabinets also present a vast selection. Mesmerizing selections of power tools, “nuts and bolts” supplies, door knobs and keys, and elements for electrical and plumbing to build, remodel, or modernize any home, make it feel like a “builder’s candy store.”

The Quality crew prides themselves on running an honest business because they have a lot of integrity. They’re extremely customer/contractor driven and hope to be someone’s first choice when looking to bid projects. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced contractor or novice do-it-yourselfer, the experts at Quality Truss & Lumber are here to help. Bring in a set of plans and the folks at Quality will help you determine the cost of your project. Their free project estimator separates wants from needs and lets the

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By Jill Lambert Photos by Summer Brander

customer know exactly what their building project could cost. Even if you don’t have a plan, Quality Truss & Lumber associates can give advice on how to make the project successful, affordable, and realistic.

The employees at Quality Truss & Lumber are a talented bunch with skill-sets matched to job-specific duties. “One job is never more important than another,” explains Hills. “Everyone has common and individual qualities, so I try and coordinate talents where someone thrives.” Each staff member has specialized skills and is capable of managing difficult and technical issues. There is a specialized machinist in the metal fabrication shop. The truss department has the ability to do take-offs. There are experts in the custom interior/exterior window and door shops. Even the sales staff is experienced in providing the right information for your building needs.

Crew “All employees are greatly valued and appreciated,” says Hills. “We couldn’t do it without them, they are an intricate part of the success of our business.”

Jerre Hills and the team at Quality Truss are dedicated to easing the building process and curing remodeling anxiety.

“Our versatilities offer decision making powers to expedite projects. In choosing Quality Truss & Lumber, customers avoid ‘project-waiting-games’ that sacrifice their time and experience.

We provide customers with pleasant building experiences,” explains Hills. Let Quality Truss & Lumber provide you a feeling of value and a taste of quality.

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A COMPANY THAT GIVES BACK When you make a purchase at Quality Truss & Lumber, you’re not just purchasing items from a store, you’re also giving back to those in need. “A large portion of our profits goes toward assisting Magic Valley’s programs like Jubilee and Valley Houses, Habitat for Humanity, Veteran housing, the Salvation Army, and numerous churches,” explains owner, Jerre Hills. Quality Truss & Lumber also extends contributions internationally.

“Over eight years ago, we started a small community named ‘McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope’ in Malawi, Africa. My family, along with the aid of Quality Truss & Lumber, helped to establish and develop a self-sustaining village with a school, a freshwater source, an orphanage, and farming,” says Hills. (You can read more about this project on page 68.)

208.326.3131 www.qualitytrussandlumber.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Stepping UP Having met challenges head-on and inspired her children and community, Marian Langdon is a Magic Valley icon.

By Lisa Jensen Photo Courtesy Danny Langdon

L

Bert Langdon (left) left behind a wife and eight children when he suddenly passed away in 1946. Pictured from left to right, top row: Buzz, Lorraine, Lucille; bottom row: “Mother” (Marian), Bertine, and Danny.

osing a spouse at any age is devastating. If you only happen to be 34 years old and have eight children to care for, you can add “overwhelmed” to devastation. Those are the circumstances Danny Langdon’s mother, Marian, found herself in, but factor in that her husband’s death instantly made her the owner of a scrap metal business and that the year was 1946, and you’ll understand how extraordinary the situation really was.

In 1946, women had been granted the right to vote only 26 years earlier. Although World War II had brought women into the workplace as laborers, many woman-owned businesses were home-based or rooted in the fashion industry, according to the National Women’s History Museum. It was unusual for a housewife and mother of eight to step in and take over the reins of a scrap metal business, but Danny Langdon’s mother Marian was the exceptional kind of woman who could successfully do it.

Danny’s father, Lambert “Bert” L. Langdon, had died by the time Danny was seven, and his memories of Bert are vague. What he does remember is an extraordinary person who stepped in to

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fill the role of both father and mother, provider and caregiver.

“The image I have is one of a man and woman rolled into one.

(Mother) went off to work early in the morning, all dressed up like a man wearing Levi’s, a bandana, a plaid shirt and cowboy boots. Then she’d come home at the end of the day, take a bath and get cleaned up and come out in a flowery dress.”

Marian took to the double life and additional responsibility naturally. Uprooted from her home in New York by her father when she was just a girl, she and her sister were essentially left on an aunt’s doorstep in Hailey, Idaho. She never saw her mother again, and her father came and went from their lives off and on, but was not a permanent fixture.

“She had to adjust early on, learn how to live in that new situation, figure out how to survive,” Danny explains. “I came to understand that, for most of her life, she was motivated by survival. When a difficult situation arose, she just figured out what needed to be done, and she did it.”

“For most of her life she was motivated by survival. When a difficult situation arose, she just figured out what needed to be done and she did it.” she could for polio patients, many of them children who were confined to iron lungs. Danny recalls going along with his mother to the hospital.

Marian Langdon took over her husband’s scrap metal business in 1946.

At the time, operating a torch was what needed to be done. Marian had to cut up metal whether it was farm machinery, cars or other large pieces from any source, because the steel mill would only buy scrap metal if it had been processed into smaller, manageable chunks. It was while watching his mother at work that Danny realized what an extraordinary person she was. No other mothers cut cars and tractors into small pieces, and they didn’t go head to head with men who thought it was a matter of good business to cheat a woman.

“More than once she had to stand up to a man who thought they could pull something because she was ‘just’ a woman,” Danny recalls with admiration. “She was an accurate judge of character, though, and smart as a whip. She never backed down. She had to deal with various people of all kinds, and I watched her interact with honest businessmen, too. I remember realizing that Mother was respected by men and women alike.”

At home, Marian was the mom on the block to whose house the entire neighborhood flocked. She loved people, especially kids, and welcomed everyone into her home. “She loved to play games, and if a kid brought in a piece of metal, she always paid them enough to buy ice cream,” Danny says with a smile.

Although Marian had her hands full running a business and taking care of a houseful of children, she always had time to help anyone in need.

“She had these hospital beds that she kept and would loan them out to people who needed a bed. She would take bags of groceries to people, any time of year, not just at the holidays.

She wouldn’t just buy a few things and take them over, though.

She would visit with them, really talk to them and get to know them and what they needed and then she’d bring it to them,” Danny says.

Marian taught her children by example and encouraged them to volunteer, too. She would often visit the hospital to do what

“She would say, ‘You are to be nice to them, help them in any way you can. We are here to make their life meaningful.’”

On top of it all, as busy as she was, Danny’s mother made time to help out at class picnics, too.

“She’d bring the sodas and ask the teacher what else was needed, how could she help, and then she’d do it,” Danny recalls.

Considering what she was faced with and what she accomplished, it’s not surprising that Marian was honored as the Idaho Mother of the Year, or that she was runner-up for the national title.

All of it has made Marian Langdon a bit of an icon in the Magic Valley. People still talk to the Langdon children about their mother, telling of their memories of her and admiration for her and reminiscing about seeing her dressed for work in Levi’s and boots. Many residents are aware of her story but, unless they’ve read the book Danny wrote about her life, My Mother Can Beat Up Your Father (available at the Twin Falls Library), they may not know everything.

For example, Marian had come to Twin Falls when she was 17 to care for Bert’s first wife, Myrtle, who was dying of cancer, and to help out with the house and Bert and Myrtle’s three children, the oldest of which was only two years younger than Marian. After Myrtle had passed away, being the practical businessman he was, Bert asked Marian if she would stay on, marry him and continue taking care of the house and the children.

It may have been a sensible and convenient match, but Bert and Marian were apparently well-suited. They went on to have five more children before Bert passed away. That is how Marian wound up a single mother of a troupe of children, the exact number of which Danny says was not known until his brother Archie’s funeral in 1993.

“When Archie passed away, his obituary said he was one of nine children, and half of us were saying, ‘No, it’s only eight,’ and the others were saying, ‘No, they’re right. It’s nine.’ The thing is, the four oldest children counted Louise, the first child Myrtle had with Bert. She died in infancy. Mother always spoke highly of M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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• Lambert (Buzz) was the Langdonwho stayed in Twin Falls, though he did leave for a time to attend the University of Missouri and earn a degree from the University of Utah.Having majored in Journalism, Buzz became the head of KMVT when it first came to Twin Falls. He also managed the newspaper chain in Jerome before becoming the head of the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce. He was instrumental in getting the first Visitor’s Center built, which was originally named the Buzz Langdon Visitor’s Center. When the new center was constructed, his name was dropped from the location’s title,though the new building displays the history inside, detailing Buzz’s contributions and efforts.

The Langdon family from left. Top Row: Lynn, Dorothy, Bertine, Archie, Bottom: Danny, Lorraine, “Mother”, Lucy.

Myrtle and considered all of the children to be her children.

There was no difference between any of us.”

With such an excellent role model, it’s little wonder that all eight of the surviving Langdon children went on to live successful lives in their own right.

• The oldest, Lynn, went into the scrap metal business in Buhl.

He later shifted to structural steel and opened a second plant in Twin Falls.

• Archie was extremely active in the Shriners. Dedicated to service and with a likable, outgoing personality, he achieved a high level of leadership in the organization. Archie worked for Marian initially, but eventually partnered with Lynn to run the Twin Falls plant.

• Dorothy Jane was a rugged Idaho girl through and through.

She loved horses and was an expert barrel racer. The talent landed her in the Idaho Cowboy Hall of Fame, with the distinction of being one of the first women ever inducted.

• Lucille was Marian and Bert’s first child together. She is an accomplished dancer and the first of the Langdon children to graduate from college. She studied drama and dance at UCLA and taught dance for over 40 years. Many people in Twin Falls make the proud claim that they studied dance with Lucille Langdon Townley at her studio.

• Bertine took the same nickname as her father and was known as “Bert.” She was a state champion bowler and competed nationally. Danny says Bert was the sibling most like their mother, so it’s not surprising that she was a community leader in New Plymouth, Idaho, where she lived for years, nor was it unexpected when she, like her mother, was honored as Idaho Mother of the Year. Bert also served on the Idaho State Board of Education.

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• Lyle Lorraine graduated from the University of Idaho. Preferring to go by her middle name, Lorraine and her husband, Jim, went into the ministry together. They didn’t opt to conduct Bible studies in a quaint Idaho church, but rather promoted leadership studies for college students. Lorraine’s husband is from a family of golfers, so it was only natural that they would join the ministerial team to the Professional Golfers Association. Though it’s not a formal relation with the PGA, Lorraine and Jim travel to many of the tour events, spreading the Good News to golfers everywhere.

• Danny is the baby of the family and is as accomplished as his siblings. He graduated from the University of Idaho and the University of Missouri. His work has made him an international expert on work and enterprise performance, a subject about which he’s written several books, case studies and articles, and he’s spoken at the White House on work productivity. Danny had the privilege of being in on the ground floor of the Peace Corps in 1962, serving two years in Ethiopia.

Influenced by his mother’s attitude of service, he continues to serve at the local Food Bank in Bellingham, Washington.

Marian’s children reaped the benefits of growing up with such an exceptional person. When she passed away in 1996 at the age of 85, however, Marian Langdon left a legacy to people of all ages who knew her. Her influence of kindness, compassion, tenacity and love of life still lives on today.

“She had to be successful for us,” Danny says. “She wanted to give her children a better life. She supported our education and encouraged us to help others in any way we could. She taught us to find beauty in everything. The whole community recognized that, and it’s wonderful to know how respected she was.”

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What to do when you become a victim of theft.

By Jill Lambert Photo Courtesy of Mikel Friedley

“I

’ll never forget how distraught I was when I woke up that morning,” exclaimed Magic Valley resident, Mikel Friedley. During the early morning hours in the spring of 2015, Friedley awoke to a phone call from a credit/ debit card service rep, alerting him of fraudulent activity on his account. He began to grasp the possibility that his wallet had been stolen.

“I worked a late shift the night before and was sound asleep, so when my phone rang at 6:00 a.m., I was in a haze when I answered. On the other line, my debit card’s customer service rep described confusing and startling news,” recalls Friedley. The rep repeated to Friedley that an irregular purchase amounting to $400.00 was made at a local retail company and asked if he had made the purchase. “I told the rep I was asleep at home and had NOT authorized or made any purchases! I flew out of bed and began searching for my wallet, hoping to prove the agent wrong. Sadly, I discovered it was gone…my stomach sank. I didn’t believe this was happening and couldn’t fathom how or why someone would do it to anyone.”

In the grips of his nightmarish, early-morning re“I owe much gratitude to my student’s debit ality, the customer service rep further described card company, the Magic Valley police force, to Friedley that while he slept, the perpetrators were out shopping at various locations with his our Idaho State Police, and the dedicated gas hard-earned money.

station attendants. Our community’s team

This horrific act was devastating to Friedley’s work in catching the offenders was beyond personal livelihood as an employed, full-time student living on a very limited income; an inamazing…thanks to everyone involved.” come he needed for upcoming bills. “If the agent - Mikel Friedley, theft victim representing my school-issued debit card hadn’t of called me as early as he had, I don’t know when I would’ve noticed my missing wallet or how much more they would’ve taken,” says Friedley. To make matters worse, Friedley realized that he didn’t have any of his credit card numbers or the card companies’ contact information. It was only 7:00 a.m. and local banks wouldn’t be open for hours—fear gripped him.

“At first, I panicked from not knowing what to do next; I felt ridiculously clueless.

No one should ever experience this nightmare, it’s unfair and vicious. It took me almost an hour—too precious an amount of time—to research and locate the necessary information, contact the appropriate companies, and arrange the closing of my accounts.”

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If you ever find yourself in a situation like Friedley’s, here’s what you should be prepared to do.

BE PREPARED - Write down account information, credit/debit card numbers and phone numbers for each company or bank.

Keep this information in a safe place—not in your wallet or purse.

CANCEL ALL OF YOUR ACCOUNTS Retrieve your account information and let each institution know that your card has been stolen and/or compromised.

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CONTACT LOCAL AUTHORITIES - Let the police know what has happened. They might not be able to return your stolen item, but they might be able to apprehend the criminal and prevent this from happening to another person. Filing a police report also shows diligence to the court, should a law proceeding come about.

CALL SOCIAL SECURITY AND CREDIT AUTHORITIES - Place alerts on your social security number by calling the Social Security Fraud Line at 1-800-269-0271.

Then call the national credit reporting agencies Equifax at 1-800-525-6285, Experian at 1-888-397-3742, and TransUnion at 1-800-680-7289.

CONTACT FTC - If further questions are needed about what to do if your identity or wallet has been lost or stolen, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-438-4338.

M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Canine Encounters Training Idaho’s police officers to deal with dogs

By Tasha Taylor can help save lives.

Photos courtesy Edith Williams

D

ogs are our companions, protectors, and family members. Many of us consider thesecanine pets to be our best friends. Unfortunately, our beloved dogs could be in danger from an unexpected police shooting. A new documentary, Of Dogs and Men, reveals that every 98 minutes a dog is shot by law enforcement.

Idaho has not been immune to these incidents. Chief Craig Kingsbury of Nampa Police Department says, “Every 18 to 24 months, a member of our department gets in a situation where they have to shoot a dog.”

Throughout Idaho there have been recent dog shootings in Filer, Coeur d’Alene, Nampa, Boise, and Lewiston that have garnered public attention. In all of the incidents, Idaho taxpayer money was wasted, families suffered tragic loss, and trust eroded between police and the people they serve.

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Idahoans for Non-Lethal Canine Encounter Training is a statewide group advocating for canine-specific police training to keep citizens, police officers, and dogs safe. The group wants new recruits as well as existing officers to complete the training. “Officers really aren’t prepared for a dog encounter,” says Edith Williams, Director of Idahoans for Non-Lethal Canine Encounter Training. “They are taught nothing [about it] in the academy. Whether or not they get canine training depends on that particular agency’s budget and policies.”

At this time, no mandated statewide training exists.

Advocates and some law enforcement officials believe lack of training contributes to well-meaning officers reacting out of fear. Often, the dogs they encounter are agitated or scared by their presence. An officer knowing how to properly defuse a situation without lethal force could potentially eliminate these deaths. “Knowledge

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“We train officers to not panic in hostage situations and shootouts. We mentally prepare them for that. We don’t prepare them for a dog encounter.”

–Edith Williams, Director of Idahoans for Non-Lethal Canine Encounter Training decreases anxiety,” says Victor McGraw, Division Administrator of the Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Academy. McGraw would like to see training on dog behaviors included in the academy and is currently in the process of including a video in the training program.

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“We’re not asking for law enforcement officers to second-guess themselves when they are in the heat of the situation,” says Williams. “What we are asking for is agency leaders to second-guess their policies and whether their officer training is adequate.”

208-735-1166 206 Martin St. Suite A, Twin Falls ID M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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ASSESSING THE SITUATION It is easy to confuse normal protective dog posture with a dangerous attack stance. Officers deserve to be armed with knowledge and techniques so that they can avoid unnecessary tragedy. Using deliberate body language and even non-lethal weapons like mace and batons will give the officer more command and control of the situation.

“For an agency to not properly prepare their officers for those encounters … is irresponsible,” says Williams.

“Just saying to shoot them if they feel threatened doesn’t serve the agency and it doesn’t serve the public.”

Williams is optimistic about Idaho’s law enforcement agencies, though. “I get a sense [that they are] willing to objectively look at it at least and make changes if they can.”

Proactive Idaho police departments are realizing the impact of this issue and are making changes to train their officers voluntarily. “I believe very strongly that the officers need training in this,” says Sheriff Lorin Nielsen of Bannock County. “We are becoming a society where we rely on these animals.”

Nielsen’s actions match his words. It was because of his support that Idaho POST Academy began amending their program to include canine encounter training. “As sheriff, I am ultimately responsible for my officers and their conduct. I want my officers to be trained about canines. I’m leaning toward having a program approved

by POST that is reinforced periodically. I feel strongly that a few hours of training repeated on a regular basis would really help the situation. I would like to have an in-house canine course that can be taken online. It would be less expensive than a three-day live course,” explains Nielsen.

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Nielsen believes that Idaho needs to create its own canine encounter training that works within our state’s combination of both rural and urban communities. “We have to be able to deal with feral dogs left to roam the country, neighborhood pets, and working dogs used to herd livestock,” says Nielsen.

SETTING THE STANDARD Chief Kingsbury of Nampa is also taking action to train his officers in dog encounters. After Kingsbury became aware of dogs shot by officers in Idaho, he saw a need for change, “We started to ask ourselves, ‘What can we do differently?’.” He mandated that every officer take the dog encounter training, which they developed specifically for their department. In addition to training, the department changed its policies. Now, dispatch verifies whether or not there are dogs at the scene before an officer arrives. If so, animal control is called to assist the officer. When a dog is injured on the scene, a contingency plan is in place to get the dog medical treatment.

Williams gives special recognition to the Nampa Police Department, “Their department is going above and beyond what I have seen nationwide in the almost two years I have been involved in this issue. They set the standard for Idaho at least.”

Some agencies cite budgetary concerns as reasons for delaying training, but Williams and her group have offered to sponsor training sessions for law enforcement agencies across Idaho. The Humane Society has proposed donating money to pay for officers to receive canine encounter training. Unfortunately, some agencies are still dragging their feet. “Nobody likes change. They are afraid of it. I know some sheriffs who have had to go through these incidents, and I can promise you they would say they wish they would have done the training before this happened. So, we will be pushing it,” says Nielsen.

Advocates want the public to be aware of these tragic incidents but also recognize that not all dog shootings by police are unnecessary. Williams and her group agree with an officer having to shoot a dog who is actually in attack mode. “We are not addressing situations of a no-knock warrant where there is a dog that is biting the officer or attacking a civilian. Those aren’t the cases we are focused on because there is a justification to defend the officer or bystanders from a dog that poses a real threat.”

CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT Williams has some suggestions for citizens who want to help make change, “Communication with law enforcement is important. People can approach officers and talk to them about their handling of dog encounters.”

She suggests being proactive but not confrontational.

“Residents should speak to their city council about local policies on dog encounters. These tragedies tear communities apart, and Idahoans should be proactive in making sure this doesn’t happen. Law enforcement can earn brownie points by showing compassion for animals.

They are doing kind things for animals each and every day. They should communicate it.” Chief Kingsbury expressed his support for the issue by posting on the Dogs Shot by Police Facebook page, “In Nampa, we serve all residents, two legged and four legged.“ Pet owners should also be responsible for their pets.

One thing people should do is put their animals away when police are on a call nearby. If a person is pulled over while driving, that person should secure their dog.

The dog should not be a concern to that officer. If a person is in a neighborhood, they can help secure their neighbors’ dogs when law enforcement is nearby. There are preventative measures the public can take to help keep everyone safe.

Whether you are an animal lover, a dog owner, a concerned citizen, or a law enforcement officer, it is within all of our interests to insist that officers are trained in canine encounters. “It all comes down to training and awareness. We train officers to not panic in hostage situations and shootouts. We mentally prepare them for that. We don’t prepare them for a dog encounter,” says Williams. “If we can get law enforcement and advocates to put their brains together and say how to make it better for everyone and keep our community safer, I think we can work it out. We may not need legislation as long as law enforcement is willing to agree that they are doing this for their officers as much as the puppy-lovers.”

Officers can encounter dogs during almost every kind of interaction with the public, from making traffic stops and serving warrants to interviewing suspects and witnesses. Statistically, officers have a 50 percent chance of encountering a dog when responding to a call or traffic stop. In the United States, there are more than 70 million dogs, roughly one for every four people. With Idaho ranking as one of the top 10 US states in dog ownership (62 percent of Idaho households own dogs), shootings are bound to continue until Idaho police officers are properly trained.

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A Shared Vision Doctors at Eastland Vision Clinic want to help Magic Valley residents see the light.

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ne morning, a worker calls his boss and says, “I’m not working today.” His boss inquires, “Why?” He answers, “I can’t see.” His boss demands, “What do you mean you can’t see!?” So, the worker clarifies, “Yeah, I can’t see myself working today.”

This employee needs to ‘see’ the eye doctors at Eastland Vision Clinic. Optometrists and members of Vision Source, Dr. Jared Walker and Dr. Rustin Hatch say they are dedicated to providing highly personalized services in a unique way.

“We don’t like the ‘wait’ in ‘waiting room’ and we don’t want our patients to wait for their personalized care,” explains Dr. Hatch. Without sacrificing values of oneon-one attention, the optometrists strive in avoiding long wait times so they don’t devalue possibilities of a doctor-patient connection.

Another ”unique custom”’ provided by Eastland Vision Clinic is the ability of the doctors to speak multiple languages. Dr. Hatch is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, while Dr. Walker is bilingual in English and German.

The doctors have more in common than their ability to speak multiple languages, though. The men met while attending Idaho State University and maintained their friendship after graduation. They are both fathers to twins and are passionate about the community’s eye care. After graduating from optometry school, Dr. Hatch went to work at a local ophthalmology practice while Dr. Walker returned to the Magic Valley to work with his father, respected optometrist Dr. Gary Walker. Years later, when Dr. Gary Walker looked to slow down his patient load, he chose Dr. Hatch to help take on new patients. Today, Dr. Gary Walker still sees patients, but the practice is mostly in the capable and caring hands of Dr. Jared Walker and Dr. Hatch.

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By Jill Lambert Photos by Summer Brander

Though Eastland Vision Clinic has been serving the Magic Valley since 1974, they’re far from outdated.

With a move into a new location to better serve their growing practice, patients can expect only the best equipment in a comfortable office. “We wanted a spacious office near the heart of our community with added privacy, great parking for our clients, and easy driving accessibility,” explains Dr. Walker. Inside this lovely location is an Eastland Vision Clinic one-ofa-kind camera that allows a more thorough retinal view. “We want our patients to know that they’re getting the best possible care,” states Dr. Walker, “and this camera helps us do that.” In addition to stateof-the-art equipment, the doctors can create custom eyewear for hunting or scuba-diving and they have access to the innovative Prevencia—eyewear tailored to eliminate glare from tablets, iPads, and computerized technology. They even perform emergency removal of foreign objects from eyes.

While optometrists Drs. Walker and Hatch perform with the latest technological advances, they can’t access x-ray vision glasses—yet. But don’t be surprised if futuristic eye exams come from one of their children— there’s been expressed interest in both the Walker and Hatch households to carry on the optometrist legacy.

In the meantime, Dr. Walker and Dr. Hatch hope to serve their patients and community to the best of their ability. “We just love seeing a smile cover a patient’s face as they notice an immediate effect,” says Dr. Hatch.

Even with 20/20 vision, eye exams are highly recommended and crucial. No one can afford to lose their vision, and with the help of Drs. Walker and Hatch, you don’t have to.

Optical |

Giving Back

Don’t Be ‘Lazy’ About Children’s Eyes Drs. Walker and Hatch want the community to be aware of a preventable disease hiding within children’s vision called, amblyopia (‘lazy eye’). Dr. Walker and Dr. Hatch are careful to educate parents and guardians about this sneaky, unapparent defect that weakens and darkens vision from not using both eyes in unison, causing the child’s weaker eye to become ignored from disuse. With comprehensive childhood eye exams, this vision loss culprit is preventable or reversible with prompt intervention. “Have children’s eyes examined before their first birthday and before starting kindergarten,” advises Dr. Walker. “School screenings are great, but they’re not enough.”

If someone already suffers from amblyopia, the optometrists at Eastland Vision Clinic look at the patient’s personal needs and explore options to help improve their vision.

With a devotion to the Magic Valley the doctors have humbly invested a collective 20 plus years in the Lions Club. “As volunteers in the Lions Club, we’ve spent thousands of hours providing care to preserve and safeguard vision,” explains Dr. Hatch.

Lions Club cares for disadvantaged people so they may care for their families, return to work, and participate in their communities.

“Anyone able to volunteer for Lions Club activities, please do so,” urges Dr. Walker.

Eastland Vision Clinic also collects unused eyewear on behalf of the Lions Club. If you have a spare pair of glasses, please donate them at 1067 Eastland Dr. in Twin Falls.

1067 Eastland Drive, Twin Falls, ID 83301 Office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am-5:00pm

www.eastlandvisionclinic.com

208-733-1944 M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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If Your Genes Could Talk Getting screened could prevent you from getting cancer.

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t has long been understood that if you are related to someone who has had cancer, your odds of developing any form of it are increased.

However, it was more than the fact that Angelina Jolie’s mother had died from breast cancer after a decade-long battle with the disease that lead to the actress’s highly-publicized decision to have a double mastectomy. What prompted the decision was when doctors put numbers to Jolie’s odds— 87 percent likelihood of developing breast cancer and 50 percent possibility of ovarian cancer.

It is the cutting-edge advances in medicine that have allowed doctors to determine the probability of the disease on such a specific level.

The genes that indicate breast cancer susceptibility were first isolated in 1994, and by 1996 a test was available that identifies certain chromosomes that indicate a higher than average tendency for breast cancer. Known by the acronym “BRCA,” (the name of the test stands for BReast CAncer) the tests actually identify a patient’s odds of a wide range of cancers. Today, clinics like the Pocatello Women’s Health Clinic offer screening procedures that detect melanoma as well as ovarian, colorectal, endometrial, pancreatic, gastric, and prostate cancers in addition to breast cancer. Clinic Administrator Jason Ormond says the revolutionary tests have allowed providers to help reduce negative outcomes.

By Lisa Jensen

Providers use a pre-screening questionnaire to determine whether BRCA testing is recommended.

The information focuses on family cancer history, and physicians know what red flags to look for. If a certain number of red flags are present, testing is advised. However, there are times when, even though on paper it would seem as if you should have a high risk for cancer, the test can come back with good news.

“Sometimes the testing indicates that patients with a lot of red flags actually aren’t genetically prone,” Ormond says. “So, instead of worrying that you might get cancer because it runs in your family, getting tested can be a way of putting your mind at ease.

Plus, insurances are willing to pay for it for people who have a family history because of the positive outcomes of managing care before cancer is an issue. The cost of a test is immensely less expensive than treating cancer once it hits.”

The test is very simple, and it is patient’s choice as to whether the DNA material is supplied through a saliva sample or a blood draw. The sample is then sent to Myriad, one of the molecular diagnostic companies that provides the test. Clinics report that it takes a couple of weeks for results to come back.

“The insurance company has to clear it first, but usually within two weeks of insurance approval a very detailed report explaining the risks and recommendations is available,” according to Myriad.

“BRCA testing creates ‘previvors’—people who don’t get cancer even though they have a much higher risk than the general population. That’s because when the tests present the numbers, we can take a different approach to managing the health care of those at high risk.”

With cancer looming out there somewhere like a predator waiting to strike, some prefer not to know what their odds are of developing the disease. However, it is hard to argue with Jason Ormond’s answer to the question, “Why would I want to know I’m likely to get cancer?”

Sometimes the conclusion may be to have a double mastectomy, but that decision does not have to be rushed into. Changes in diet and exercise and increasing mammograms, pap smears and other testing from once a year or less to semi-annually are pro-active steps that can move a patient from high-risk back down to general population risk.

“You research before you buy a computer. Why wouldn’t you research the issues that affect your health?

We want our patients to be educated on their own care, and to be as informed as possible. Our providers are always here to answer questions, help explain options, and manage care. Whatever the results of the test are, we make sure patients have a plan of where to go from there.”

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Pharmacy |

Cancer Facts • According to cancer.gov cancer is among the primary causes of death globally.

• It is estimated that 1,658,370 cancer diagnoses will be made in the U.S. in 2015.

• 589,430 cancer deaths are projected for 2015.

• Almost 40 percent of adults will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.

• Nationally, the cost of cancer care is predicted to reach $156 billion by 2020.

Considering the statistics and the fact that the BRCA test identifies over half of the 15 most common cancers listed on Cancer.org, filling out the family history questionnaire and taking the test if recommended is the sensible choice to make. According to Jason Ormond, the test is available to practitioners throughout the valley, and providers can refer patients to health centers such as the Pocatello Women’s Health Clinic if necessary. They will consult with the primary provider when results are available, and help formulate a plan for managing care.

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208-733-9242 www.kjspharmacy.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Happy F e e t Advanced Foot and Ankle has pleased patients tapping their toes.

S

tepping into Advanced Foot and Ankle, it’s easy to miss the little details—there are the embossed cushioned waiting seats, for example, and the toys and child-sized leather chairs, but one thing standing out from this comfortable, inviting décor is the warm, inviting smile of each staff member. Eager to greet and assist the wide range of ages represented in the waiting room, Dr. Matt Wettstein’s staff fronts a bustling, energetic practice, and after visiting, it is easy to see why.

“Our goal is great customer service. We really try hard to make sure people are pleased with their experience,” says the tall, 37-yearold Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, who refers to his entire office staff as “a bunch of great, happy people.” Wettstein acknowledges the crucial link between a satisfied staff and pleased patients. “It’s important that people enjoy coming to work. My staff will treat patients like I treat my staff. If they enjoy being here, my patients will enjoy being here.” Advanced Foot and Ankle is an established, clear choice in the Magic Valley for anyone seeking relief from painful feet.

Feet are foundational to overall health. Yet, feet often get little attention until they cause pain. Whether it’s blisters, heel spurs, ankle sprains, or even toenail issues, if it’s related to feet, Dr. Wettstein and staff will provide pain-relieving methods that will make your visit as comfortable as possible. Advanced Foot and Ankle’s current location, 476 Cheney Drive, #180 has an office equipped with state-of-the-art technology to make each patient’s visit as easy as possible. A clear, easily navigable website provides potential patients with detailed information about what to expect on their first visit, along with profiles of staff members and a map with directions to the practice location.

Equipped with ultrasound digital x-rays and x-ray guided injections Dr. Wettstein can quickly diagnose his patients to determine the best therapy methods or recommend surgery. “I teach people

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By Shelley McEuen Photos by Summer Brander

what is causing their pain, and I try to make it understandable. I want to help patients feel comfortable and confident while they are here and when they leave,” says Wettstein. Dr. Wettstein’s goal is a more comfortable patient upon leaving his office.

Graduating with a medical degree from Des Moines University in Iowa, Wettstein was eager to locate his practice in an area which reminds him so much of his hometown, a small town outside of Logan, Utah. After serving his medical residency in Salt Lake City, Wettstein felt “the hustle and bustle was more than we could manage” and his wife and family turned to Twin Falls, which, Wettstein says, “feels a lot like Logan—it just feels like home.” Locating his practice in Twin Falls felt more rural to Wettstein, a quality he likes and deliberately sought for his family and practice. “We got the experience of living in the big city, and we prefer smaller,” he says.

“It’s more common that people will say hello here.” The Magic Valley seems a natural fit for Advanced Foot and Ankle.

Specializing in sports medicine, arthritis of the foot and ankle, and diabetic foot care, Wettstein’s practice has built up an impressive library of materials available to patients with information on everything from everyday foot pain and concerns to warning signs of infection and more serious foot issues. Above all, Wettstein wants his patients to be informed and pleased with the care received in his practice. “I want to be good at what I do, but I want to make sure people are pleased with their experience,” he says, smiling.

The satisfaction of helping others is what matters most to Dr. Wettstein. He describes a good day as “a mix of people who have been in the office and are doing better physically. I can feel satisfied that I’m helping.” A father of four, Wettstein also appreciates a day when he gets home “at a reasonable hour, before the kids go to bed.”

A “compassionate podiatrist” Dr. Wettstein’s personal expertise along with an engaging and well-trained staff are ready and eager to assist with your feet.

Physicians |

476 Cheney Dr. W. #180 Twin Falls, ID

208.731.6321

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Combating Cancer

Despite having three different forms of cancer, this local lady remains positive.

Editor’s Note: The family depicted in this story has requested that their last name not be used.

“W

hen my doctor told me I had breast cancer for a second time, he disclosed the news reluctantly—he knew I would cry. I did cry, I cried in the hospital parking lot, on the way home, and especially when I walked into my home and told Steve, my husband of 39 years,” Pam recalls. According to American Cancer Society statistics, a U.S. woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes. During the fall of 2014, Pam faced her second cancers, an invasive stage III breast cancer called, HER2 neupositive and Paget’s disease. Pam—along with friends and family—were devastated, “Why did this happen to her!?” many asked. Pam is a wonderful wife, a caring mother and a cherished friend to several. She also served her country in the armed forces during the 1970s, where she met her husband, Steve.

Years after the military, she became a high school teacher.

This is how most of Magic Valley knows Pam—she has been an educator for nearly 30 years—17 of them in the Magic Valley. As a dedicated high school teacher, Pam always has others in mind and leads by great example. “Pam is amazing and a true role model, she’s selfless and always thinks of others first: students, teachers, and family,” says close friend and colleague Janis. “It’s hard watching her fight cancer; she’s depressed at times, but hardly shows it and always rallies back. Pam has fought her cancers with courage, determination, and strong faith. Pam’s not only a great teacher, but a wonderful person!”

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By Jill Lambert

During Pam’s 2010 summer, her first breast cancer—Stage I Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, a non-invasive breast cancer, was discovered during a mammogram. Pam remained strong while undergoing biopsies, a lumpectomy, and 33 radiation treatments, all while keeping work deadlines. “When I had cancer the first time, I kept busy and was proud to be part of programs like the Business Professionals of America. For decades, I’ve been honored to see students compete at national levels in business events and feel incredibly proud when they accomplish their goals,” says Pam, who never stopped teaching while undergoing treatment.

Beating her first bout of breast cancer and thankful for her new future, Pam was motivated to progress her students’ futures.

In 2011, Pam became certified in the PTE Math program to teach Financial Algebra—a fourth year math option for high school seniors. Finding a new stride and sustaining four cancer-free years, she decided to advise the Filer Key Club. The Key Club helps with community events like the Filer Easter Egg Hunt, Santa Bag giveaways, and celebrations for Veteran’s Day. “Watching my Key Club students set, meet, and/or exceed goals of service to our community is incredibly rewarding,” says Pam. As Pam’s new stride became comfortable, a dreadful discovery was realized during the fall of 2014.

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Pam faced not one, but two new forms of breast cancer—this time it was more serious.

She’s now defying HER2/neu positive and Paget’s disease, a rare type of areolar skin cancer. In less than five years, Pam has faced three types of unrelated breast cancers, yet she’s still positive. “One favorable thing about chemo: I haven’t had to wash my hair since I began the treatments!” Pam’s therapies include a radical mastectomy that removed both breasts (after discovering metastasized carcinoma in four of six auxiliary lymph nodes), chemo-therapy every three weeks for 18 weeks, a series of extenders for an upcoming reconstructive surgery, another 33 rounds of radiation, and multiple MUGA scans to monitor her heart while taking certain cancer medications.

“This time it’s very difficult, but I truly feel lucky. On my ‘bad’ days, I’m able to stay home, and keep out of the hospital. Sadly, some are less fortunate.” Pam wants those suffering from cancer to know, “It’s important to keep your faith and keep busy. If I’m stationary for too long, I become depressed. I work, go to movies, friends stop by for visits, and during chemo, family and friends bring dinners. Another great distraction was exploring the wigs at Magic Valley’s St. Luke’s MSTI Center with my friends!” The MSTI Center provides donated wigs from the American Cancer Society, and offers hats and scarves made and donated by local residents so cancer patients may enjoy them for free. Pam’s co-worker and friend, Karen says, “The selection and quality of items at MSTI was impressive—such a fun and cheery experience with Pam!” Pam knows it can be difficult for family and friends to know how they can help a loved one who’s battling cancer. “Be there to listen and console, but don’t forget about caring for yourself,” says Pam. “I feel so fortunate to have the family and friends I do. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for those with no family or friends to lean on. My positive outlook is due to my wonderful and caring husband, Steve. I love him so much and couldn’t have done any of this without him.”

Magic Valley Medicine is happy to announce we have expanded our services to better meet the needs of the Magic Valley.

While we previously/and still do specialize in non-surgical relief of back and neck pain, Dr. Sam Barker DC, NP-C has expanded his office to include family medicine.

Now the same place Dad goes to in order to get relief from his sciatic pain, Mom and the kids can come for treatment of sinus infections, strep throat and all the minor emergencies life will tend to throw at you. Dr. Sam Barker is the only chiropractor and nurse practitioner in the Magic Valley.

Bring the whole family over and meet our great staff.

We are happy and excited to help you get the care you need!

Voted best Chiropractor since 2009 and Best Family Practice in 2015!

WE TREAT: · Acute Care/Minor Emergencies · Family and Internal Medicine · Back Pain, Neck Pain, Chiropractic Care · Heart Disease/ High Blood Pressure · Ear, Nose and Throat Problems

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Herniated Discs Women’s Health Services Diabetes and Thyroid Care Minor Surgery (Stitches, Lacerations, Biopsy)

MAGIC VALLEY MEDICINE 844 North Washington Ste. 400 | Twin Falls, ID

208-734-0000

MagicValleyMedicine.com M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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A Magic Valley Master Artist Dave LaMure Jr. is sculpting his way into the heart of the art world.

P

icasso said that every child is an artist, but that remaining an artist into adulthood is the problem. For Dave LaMure Jr. of Twin Falls, the problem was never remaining an artist, but rather trying not to be one.

“My uncle Tom LaMure was an incredible sculptor, artist and an art teacher,” Dave LaMure Jr. recalls.

“When I was 12, he brought home a bag of water-based clay for me and my brothers and sister to work with.”

Dave, the only one who showed an interest in sculpting, molded an owl out of the clay and was hooked.

“We lived in New Mexico at the time, and I went right down to the local museum in Roswell and started taking a pottery class. I kept at it and took pottery all the way through college.”

At the University of Idaho, LaMure majored in business but got his creative fix through pottery and art classes. Though his talent in sculpting continued to improve, LaMure stuck with business and, in 1987, he graduated with a degree in business management. Offers of employment began coming in immediately from the likes of Sherwin Williams and Hagadone Resorts in Coeur d’ Alene, but the pull to remain an artist won out.

“I worked at a trout farm in Hagerman for a time, long enough to pay off my student loans,” LaMure says. “I continued to do artwork and art shows, though, and made a living at it.”

Nearly 30 years later, LaMure is still making a living doing what he loves, working with clay and pottery using unique methods. Inspired by the natural world, particularly northwest wildlife, much of LaMure’s exhibits are collections of sculptures and pottery that feature distinctive elements such as embedded antlers, 3-dimensional figures and his personal painting technique. One piece, in particular, is doubly significant because not only is it award-winning, but it was also a defining moment that provided a realization about his work.

In 1999, LaMure had entered an altered vessel in an art show in Albuquerque, New Mexico and it was 96 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

By Lisa Jensen Photos Courtesy Dave LaMure

chosen by a panel of judges as one of the five best pieces. LaMure was in impressive company, standing with the other finalists including Steve Hanks, B.C. Nolan and Amado Pena, waiting for Sophia Loren, who was the master of ceremonies, to choose one piece to be Best in Show.

“When Sophia Loren announced my piece, I thought she was announcing last place, but I was standing next to B.C. and he had to tell me to get up there, told me I’d won Best of Show,” LaMure chuckles at the memory. “She (Loren) is an artist herself, though, and that’s when I realized that you can do fine art in different mediums and real artists and real people will recognize that. Working with clay and ceramics, altering pieces, that type of medium hasn’t always been recognized as fine art, but the way I sculpt and alter clay takes more work and talent, even more so than the bronze work I do now.”

Although LaMure’s preference has long been to work with clay and pottery, he’s currently transitioning to do more oil painting, bronze sculpture and figure drawing.

“I find a lot of freedom in those mediums,” LaMure says.

“I’ve always worked with materials that are extremely difficult, but the materials I work with now are extremely easy, and they keep me in the mode.”

When you make your living as an artist, it’s good to have more than one iron in the fire, and that’s no problem for LaMure. He has commissions for painting, clay work and life-sized drawings, and he’s usually setting up for one art show or another throughout the West. Rather than overwhelming him, having so much on his plate feeds LaMure’s artistic personality.

“I like having several pieces going simultaneously,” LaMure explains. “I like to say ‘goodnight’ to one piece and ‘good morning’ to another. Especially when it comes to casting. I like to get a piece laid out and set it aside, let it rest before I cast it. Each one flows at a different pace, but that’s what I love. The inspiration and creativity and deciphering how it will work.”

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Twin Falls

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459 Locust St. N Suite 100

208-352-7833

• Vertigo A successful, award-winning artist, Dave LaMure Jr. still considers himself a continual work in progress. When asked where he sees his work headed in the future, LaMure quotes another celebrated artist.

“The last words Da Vinci uttered were these: ‘I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.’

The greatest artist in the world said that. All you can do is keep getting better, more seasoned. It’s good to realize that you never ‘arrive.’ You don’t realize a goal and stop. Life is a journey, and I’m excited to see what’s going to happen next because it keeps getting better.”

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Although LaMure’s subjects are largely wildlife, one of his recent sculptures is of a winged man, a nude standing on a rock and texting on an iPhone.

Currently on display in Sun Valley, Dave doesn’t consider this “hero,” as he calls him, that far of a departure from his typical theme.

“I love depicting wildlife in my work because I’m drawn to the natural world. As humans, though, we’re part of that natural world and part of today’s technological world, too.”

Titled “Messages,” the Wingman portrays an overlap of those two worlds, sparking contemplation and conversation as only truly great art can.

You can get in on the conversation and view some of Dave’s work on his Facebook page at facebook.com/davelamurejr?fref=ts.

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www.cprtherapy.org M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Standing on Terra Firma

Land value in the Magic Valley has its undulations, but could be considered a safe bet.

By Lisa Jensen

One of Mike Pickett’s properties in Hagerman.

E

ver since the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, people have been flocking to America with one common dream in mind: owning their own homes and land. The dream may be fueled by the desire for security, a place to call home for life, or buying property may be seen as an investment. Whatever the motivation, the American dream is alive and well in the Magic Valley today, thanks to the economic expansion that has been going on for several years. According to real estate agent Mark Jones, appreciation has been on the rise, taking prices up with them and generating an atmosphere that’s perfect for sellers.

“Prices and values go up, and they come back down,” says Jones. “The tide just turned this last year, though, and changed direction to a seller’s market. The values are up, and the appraisals are coming in right on target, and (the homes) are typically on the market for a short period of time. So more people are selling because the prices are higher and homes are being sold at full-price.”

Market data for single family residents in the Twin Falls area over a 17-year period show the ups and downs, with the lowest point hitting in 2011 when appreciation was down 8.2 percent. Even then, the average price for a single family residence in 2011 was $124,814, up over $30,000 from the 1997 price of $91,5231. In 2014, Twin Falls had more homes for sale than any of the previous years since 2007, and those properties were selling faster than ever, only spending an average of 82 days on the market.

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The top three factors that affect the real estate market are demographics, interest rates and the economy, according to Investopedia2. With all three elements in place, it is no surprise that home and land values are doing so well in the Magic Valley. However, expanding business and new industry aside, it is nice that this area of the state has backup for when the stock market goes south.

“We’re still 75 percent agriculture-based,” Mark Jones explains. “All of the businesses that have been brought in have been great for fueling the local economy, but many of them came here specifically because of the agricultural resources. On top of that, when our ag prices and farmlands are doing well, there’s a lot more circulating in the Magic Valley. There are a lot of things here that move the agricultural dollar around, so when the stock market dives, there’s still a bit of a protective layer here.”

Though many homeowners may sell to upgrade or build, Jones points out that the lending climate is favorable for first time home buyers.

“Most individuals haven’t purchased property in the past because they haven’t had enough for a down payment. Banks are loosening up, though. They’re offering low down payment programs, the interest rates are low and sellers can pay for closing costs now. Those financial aspects are making it so that any qualifying buyer can get into a home.”

Though homes are selling, the rental market in the Magic Valley has increased, too. With so many companies coming into Twin Falls, Burley, Jerome and the surrounding cities, the demand is high for rentals, but the supply is currently low. It is a situation that Mike Pickett did not take into consideration when he became an “accidental landlord,” but it is one that has still benefited him.

Three years ago, Pickett bought a triplex in Twin Falls to help out a family member who needed a place to live. The relative only stayed for a year and moved

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on, leaving Pickett, who splits his time between Boise and Hagerman, with a rental he did not really want.

“When (my relative) moved out, I didn’t want to be a long-distance landlord, but when I looked into putting the triplex back on the market, I found out that I couldn’t sell it for the price I needed,”says Pickett.

Only one of the units had been rentable when Picket first bought the triplex, so he had to put in time and money to fix up the other two units. Unable to recoup his investment, he decided to list the property for sale at his asking price on Craigslist, as well as list the three one bedroom, one bathroom units for rent, too. No one responded to the sale ad, but he was able to rent out all three units within a couple of days.

“I had so many people respond to the rental ad and had to turn most of them away,” Pickett says, incredulous. “I guess my rental fits the profile of what people want right now, and the price is right for them. Property values don’t seem to be catching up with rental demand so since I’m getting a good return now with the units rented out, I’ve decided to hold onto it for awhile.”

Positive cash flow is definitely a perk when it comes to rental property and, with the demand for rentals high, it is

one that Magic Valley landlords can count on for the foreseeable future. There are always two sides to a coin, though.

There are downfalls to buying investment property, the biggest being the time and money involved in keeping your property rentable and rented. Investment property owners have to make repairs or hire someone to do them. They have to find reliable renters, and that involves running background and credit checks. Plus, rent has to be collected from tenants. Some people hire a management company to take care of all of that for them, but that is an expenditure that can eat up profits.

Fortunately for Mike Pickett, the typical rental property downfalls have not been an issue.

“I’ve lucked out,” he says.

“I have had great renters so far. Everyone has paid on time, and I haven’t had to evict anyone. Also, I have a great tenant in one of the units now who helps out a lot with repairs and keeping an eye on the place.”

Accidental landlord, Mike Pickett

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Real Estate |

The one “con” Mike would put on the list of rental ownership would be the turnover in renters.

“Twin Falls is a college town, but there’s also a lot of people coming in temporarily for work, so they know they don’t want to buy because they’re only going to be there for a year or less. I’ve only had the triplex for about 3 years now, so I don’t know that I’ve had it long enough to know if the turnover is high. But it would be nice to get people in there who will stay for the long term.”

Overall, it appears that the real estate stars are aligned over the Magic Valley.

Rentals are doing extremely well for investment property owners. Lending rates and other factors make buying easier. Prices and motivated buyers facilitate selling. On the scale of ups and down, Twin Falls and the surrounding communities are riding a nice wave that is still on the rise.

Robert Jones Realty, Inc. provides a superior level of real estate services including residential, farms, ranches, dairies, recreational, commercial and vacant land to buyers and sellers in the Southern Idaho area.

Robert Realty, provides a level of services g

Jones Inc. superior real estate

1766 Addison Avenue East • Twin Falls, Idaho 83301 residential, farms, ranches, dairies, recreational, Phone: (208) 733‐0404 •Fax: (208) 733‐0408 commercial and vacant land to buyers and sellers in Email: info@rjrealty.com • www.rjrealty.com the Southern Idaho area.

Robert Jones, Broker 308‐6060 Mark E. Jones, Assoc. Broker 308‐3030 Robert Meyers 731‐2219 • Wayne Allen 431‐5916 Julie Griggs 731‐5139 • Myka Hayes 421‐0056 Julie Jones 404‐1106 • Edie Nunes 308‐5945 Jeri Henley 316‐2066

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SUMMIT RESTORATION When disaster strikes, Summit Restoration is there to restore your sanity.

T

he many thank you notes on the walls of Summit Restoration say it all. “Summit Restoration not only did a great job but made me feel like family, like I was their first priority.” “They took great care of my brother’s place. He had to have a new roof put on and he could not be happier and his place looks new again! Thank you Summit Restoration!” These are from real customers who actually took the time to send in handwritten notes and letters, expressing their gratitude for the heroes who went above and beyond when they were in distress. The notes are a testament to the excellent service provided by the team of professionals at Summit, and give you a glimpse of the kind of care you can expect should disaster turn your world upside down.

The experts at Summit are available 24/7, 365 days of the year for disaster cleanup and restoration in the Magic Valley area. There isn’t a job, big or small, that this company can’t handle. When fire, flood, or other natural disasters occur, more people turn to Summit Restoration to restore their property to whole and their lives back to normal.

“We’ve got the most experience by far in the industry,” says owner Murray Clark. Clark isn’t boasting about being the biggest disaster cleanup and restoration company in

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By Shar Brannam Photos by Summer Brander

the area, he’s merely stating a fact. He and his dedicated team still take the time to give personal, competent care to every job from every customer throughout the entire restoration process.

Summit Restoration serves both residential and business disasters. In their 15 years of business they have repaired and remodeled locations damaged by flood, fire, wind, and break-in’s. They’ve restored businesses or homes damaged by vehicles and repaired roofs that caved in due to too much snow. There isn’t a situation that fazes them.

“We’ve got the best equipment, we’ve got the best service, we’ve got the best people”, says Clark.

After the cleanup is done and the home or business is restored, Summit doesn’t just send you a bill. They help deal with insurance claims too, acting as the liaison between their client and the insurance companies. This helps assure that their client’s best interests are represented and a fair settlement is achieved.

And while most people don’t think about disaster restoration until after they’ve experienced it, they do know who they can call. “People don’t just wake up and say, ‘Oh, I think I’ll have a flood this morning’,” says Clark. “But nature happens. That’s why we’re here.”

Restoration |

ARE YOUR CARPETS A DISASTER? Summit also provides business and residential carpet cleaning. Carpets are cleaned with industrial equipment that most of the commercial carpet cleaning services just don’t have. With better equipment, the result is a superior cleaning that can’t be matched or beat. To schedule a cleaning, call 208-734-5311

SERVING THE MAGIC VALLEY

208.734.5311

SUMMITREST.COM MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E -2016

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Restau

A GUIDE TO SOME OF BEST PLAC

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urants

Restaurant |

F THE MAGIC VALLY’S CES TO EAT

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TANTALIZING TASTE TF Brickhouse blends flavors, fun, and old favorites to create a unique experience.

B

ringing a “Bite of the World” to the Magic Valley has always been the goal at the TF Brickhouse Restaurant. Owners Acy Maldonado-Acosta and Ed Sadia have traveled the globe in search of unique and tasty cuisine to serve at their historic Old Town restaurant.

“Ethnic fusion” is how Acy and Ed describe their food, having included such dishes as Green Chili Lasagna, Fresh’s Spring Tacos featuring ceviche and their own secret recipe Southern Jambalaya. With the world providing ample inspiration, Sadia and Maldonado-Acosta keep things fresh at the Brickhouse, and that doesn’t just apply to the quality of food they serve. The menu gets a makeover every three or four months to create a new bill of fare that changes with and compliments each season of the year.

Though each seasonal menu is essentially different from the last, there are a few chef and customer favorites that remain.

The Brickhouse got its start through Maldonado-Acosta’s catering business, and they still offer full-service catering, bringing the Brickhouse’s delicious cuisine to corporate meetings, receptions, weddings, parties and special events of any type.

You can enjoy live music in the restaurant on the weekends, but a newer development has created a clubbing scene within the four walls of the Brickhouse. Maldonado-Acosta and Sadia have transformed different areas of the building into three different clubs. With live DJs in each room, every weekend is a party at the Brickhouse from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Enjoy Top 40 in one club, Country in another or get your salsa on at the Latin Music Club. No worries if you like to club-hop; it’s easy because they’re all in one building. For lunch, dinner or a night out at the clubs, you’ll find it all at the Brickhouse.

By Lisa Jensen Photos by Summer Brander Photography

Ethnic Fusion

TF Brickhouse Restaurant

516 Hansen Street South 208-736-6264 tfbrickhouse.com M - Th. 11 am to 9 pm; F - Sa. 11 am to 1 am; Happy Hour 5 to 7 pm M - F

You Gotta Try This!

The Brickhouse has two dishes that are so delectable that they’re usually on the menu regardless of the season. The Malibu Salmon is a favorite of seafood lovers, pan-fried with Malibu Rum, pineapple and Jamaican seasoning. You get to pick your sides from a list of appetizing options, but this fish dish compliments well with a baked potato or wild rice.

The Brickhouse’s Brandy Tri-Tip is for those who prefer turf to surf. The 6-ounce tri-tip steak is marinated in brandy and house seasonings for 12 to 15 days before being cooked to order and served up ultra-tender. When choosing your sides, Maldonado-Acosta recommends garlic mashed potatoes or Cajun mac and cheese.

Taster Comment:

“Outstanding food and service. My husband and I went to the brick house for our anniversary dinner. The food was prepared to perfection. Our server offered the best dinner suggestions. If you are in the Twin Falls area put the Brickhouse on your list of places to visit.” — reviewed by RJPIdaho on TripAdvisor.com

Owner Says: “Our slogan is ‘Relax and Be Happy.’ You can go to any sports bar in town and watch TV but, for great food and a nice relaxing time, the Brickhouse is the place to unwind, take it easy and enjoy each other’s company.”

—Acy Maldonado-Acosta

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Dining

ELEVATED Elevation 486 ensures that the food, service and vibe are always as amazing as the view.

O

Steakhouse

Elevation 486

195 River Vista Plaza 208-737-0486 elevation486.com Open Daily Lunch: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; Bar Menu 2:30 to 4 pm; Happy Hour 4 to 6 pm; Dinner 5 pm to close

ffering exceptional food, a fun and friendly bar, and being located on the Canyon rim with a spectacular view of the Snake River, Elevation 486 is destination dining at its very best. Now, four years after opening, Magic Valley residents and visitors alike may come first to Elevation for the view, but they come back for the deliciously creative dishes and the welcoming atmosphere. Every element from the stone fireplace to the red brick walls of the interior to the immense patio overlooking the Canyon edge— one of the largest restaurant patios in Idaho, no less—beckons diners throughout the day to make themselves at home.

You’ll be pleased with any selection from the menu, but two In creating recipes for Elevation 486, chef/owner Tom Nickel dishes come to mind that you gotta try. Both are Elevation 486 has put an inspired twist on many recognizable lunch and dinner specialties starting with the Pan-Broiled Idaho Ruby Red standards to craft signature dishes such as Kobe Beef Meatloaf Trout. Finished with house-smoked roasted red pepper butter, enhanced with a touch of Italian sausage and served with savory it’s an incomparable meal that’s destined to become one of mushroom sauce, Pork Chops from Idaho’s own Salmon Creek Farms, your favorites. seasoned with a proprietary dry rub and fire-grilled to perfection, or The Fire-Grilled Oregon Quail is another dish that is highly the Pan Seared Prawns sautéed with an Asian-inspired cilantro, sake recommended. Basted with a wonderful bourbon, honey and and lime pesto. Even the lunch menu has that creative flair added jalapeno glaze, it’s an award-winning dish that epitomizes the to the foods you love, such as the delightful Ham and Havarti Sandexceptionally distinctive cuisine you’ll find at Elevation 486. wich on toasted herb-focaccia bread and the 486 Signature Burger featuring caramelized onions, grilled apple and Canadian bacon.

Taken as a whole, the fare at Elevation 486 has already become the standard for New-American cuisine in the region. And the prices at both lunch and dinner are extremely reasonable!

You Gotta Try This!

Year after year ever since opening in 2010, Elevation 486 has been recognized for excellence, garnering numerous Twin Falls Times News Reader’s Choice Awards. With extensive appetizer and lounge menus plus a full bar boasting 12 ice-cold craft brews on tap and stocked with numerous choices in Idaho and Northwest wine, it’s no surprise that Elevation 486 was voted to have the Best Happy Hour. Whatever the occasion, from cocktails to lunch, dinner, catered events and more, Elevation 486 always rises to the occasion and exceeds expectations.

Taster Comment:

“Stunning view, exceptional value! This is a great view restaurant overlooking the rugged Snake River gorge, with delicious food at very reasonable prices. Also, very friendly service. It’s the best place for dinner after shopping or appointments.”—Reviewed by 79Jane on TripAdvisor.com

Chef Says:

“We’re truly blessed with this one-in-a-million, world-class location and view. Our goal now is to make sure the food, service and overall experience are always as wonderful as the view. We work hard on this every single day.”—Tom Nickel M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Restaurant Guide

Let’s Eat!

Fire Up Your Taste Buds

The Magic Valley has a wide variety of food fare to curb just about any craving.

Check out a few of these fine restaurants and support the businesses that support Magic Valley LIFE! AMERICAN Happy Landing Restaurant Pub & Catering pg. 114 Idaho Joe’s pg. 113 BARBEQUE Coop’s Southern BBQ pg. 114 MEXICAN Janitzio Family Mexican Restaurant pg. 111 La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant pg. 112 PIZZA & PASTA Gertie’s Brick Oven Cookery pg. 113 Maxie’s Pizza & Pasta pg. 108 PUB & GRILL The Anchor Bistro pg. 112 Cactus Grill pg. 109 PressBox Bar & Grill pg. 111 The Pocket pg. 109 Scooter’s Chillin’ & Grillin’ pg. 110 STEAKHOUSE Rock Creek Restaurant pg. 110

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Pizza & Pasta

Maxie’s Pizza & Pasta Twin Falls, ID 208-733-3963 maxies pizza.com M - Th. 11 am to 9:30 pm; F - Sa. 11 am to 10 pm

S

ince 1956, Maxie’s has made its style of Italy popular within our wonderful Twin Falls area. We offer delicious homemade fire stone pizza and traditional pasta. Our recipes originated in the “Old World” and have been tailored to fit the taste of Magic Valley through the years. At Maxie’s, we make everything from the finest ingredients.

Prepared daily, within our kitchen and fixed just the way you like it.

Because we make all of our pizzas individually, don’t be afraid to ask for a custom pizza. We are always keeping our eyes open for our next specialty pizza.

Taster Comment

: “Love this pizza as much today as I did when I was kid! We always make sure to stop here everytime we visit Twin. DELISH!!! f” - Reviewed by Shawna on Facebook

Chef Says

: “We have seen many generations of families visit our restaurant and hope to continue to associate with your family. From the Maxie’s family to your family, we enjoy sharing our pizza, thanks for supporting us.”

Restaurant Guide

American

Grill/Pool

Cactus Grill

The Pocket

W

A

22349 Kimberly Street D Kimberly, ID 208-421-1517 M - Th. 11 am to 8 pm; F - Sa. 11 am to 9 pm

1532 Kimberly Rd. Twin Falls, ID 208-733-9676 twinfallspocket.com Daily 11 am to 1 am

hen you’re in the mood for excellent comfort food prepared with care, the Cactus Grill is the place to go.

We have what your taste buds have been craving from wraps and burgers to steaks and seafood. On Fridays and Saturdays enjoy delicious Prime Rib served with a perfectly cooked Idaho baked potato and a house salad with your choice of homemade dressing. We have great daily specials like Meatloaf, Coconut Shrimp, mouthwatering Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich or a juicy Mushroom, Onion and Swiss Burger. So take a break from the kitchen and let us serve you.

re you looking for a friendly atmosphere with delicious food, a fun billiard bar and a great pool hall? If so, stop by The Pocket located in the Twin Falls neighborhood off of Kimberly Road. For over 38 years, The Pocket has been providing local entertainment, as well as awesome menu options such as wraps and salads, Pocket specialty hamburgers, tacos and more.

Come in for a “break” at the Pocket!

Taster Says:

“The staff?

Amazing. The food and drinks and service and atmosphere was A+. The tables were clean and straight, I’m definitely returning!” - Reviewed by TJ on Facebook

Taster Comment

:“Best prime rib I have ever eaten.

Better than the Pioneer in Ketchum Idaho. Thank you for a great atmosphere and wonderful dinner.” Reviewed

by Lorraine on Facebook

Chef Says: We strive to serve only the best food comple-

mented by excellent service. If you only knew us a food truck you have to try out our “new” digs in Kimberly. You’ll be glad you did.

Chef Says

: “We have weekly specials, amazing staff and a great atmosphere. Come see why we’ve been rated the Best Place to Play Pool in the Magic Valley.”

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Restaurant Guide

Steakhouse

Rock Creek Restaurant

200 Addison Ave. West Twin Falls, ID 208-734-4154 www.rockcreektwinfalls.com Bar opens daily 4:30 pm; Happy Hour M - Sa. 4:30 to 6:30 pm; Dining M - Sa. 5:30 pm to close; Su. 5 pm to close

C

ome enjoy casual dining in a comfortable atmosphere. As Idaho’s classic dinner house since 1978, we know a thing or two about great food. Enjoy old fashioned bone-in Prime Rib, high Choice/Prime graded steaks and fresh seafood. We even have over 100 wines to choose from earning us Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” from 2001 to 2008. Have us host your next event in our banquet room with no room charge.

Grill & Pub

Scooter’s Chillin’ & Grillin 137 2nd Ave. East Twin Falls, ID 208-969-9940 Daily 11 am to Close

S

cooter’s is the Magic Valley’s best family friendly sports bar and grill located in the heart of downtown Twin Falls. Featuring an inviting atmosphere and friendly staff that prides itself in making your visit memorable. Locals come in for the Garlic Fries and ½ lb. Burger and stay for the 16 rotating beers on tap. Our ingredients are fresh and our daily specials are one of a kind. Happy hour is Monday thru Saturday 3 pm-6 pm. We look forward to seeing you!

Taster Comment

: “Great steaks and prime rib.

Fresh fish, some even local.

We’ve been here twice.

First was on our honeymoon and we decided to come back for more. Great service, great food, reasonable prices!” - Reviewed by Jeff P. on Yelp.com

Chef Says: “You can always count on exceptional food and outstanding service. We look forward to having you as our guest!”

Taster Comment:

“Thanks Scooters for an awesome date night. The atmosphere, service and especially the food are always excellent.”

- Reviewed by Renee A. on Yelp.com

Manager Says: “We think you’ll like our consistent food

and service as well as our reasonable prices.” - Paul Claasen, General Manager

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Restaurant Guide

Mexican Cuisine

Janitzio Family Mexican Restaurant 2096 Kimberly Road Twin Falls, ID 208-733-3855 www.janitziomexican.com

J

anitzio has been serving the Magic Valley for more than eight years. Our team is passionately committed to quality and excellent service. When you’re looking for great Mexican food, Janitzio is the place to be. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and your family and friends. Buen Provecho, Amigos!

Bar & Grill

PressBox Sports Bar & Grill 1749 Kimberly Road Twin Falls, ID 208-736-2427 www.pressboxsportsbarandgrill.com M - Sa. 11 am to 1 am

I

f you’re looking for a fun place to enjoy sports, good food and a great entertainment look no further.

Pressbox serves up lunch, appetizers, dinner, dancing and fun. From darts and pool to chicken wings and riblets you’re sure to enjoy yourself. Check out our daily lunch specials.

Taster Comment

: “The service was excellent right from the start and the chips and salsa were superb! Everything came very fast and hot! I wasn’t even in the mood for Mexican (my mom got her pick) but absolutely loved my dishes!

There was plenty of vegetarian options and the prices were very reasonable! Definitely recommend!!”

- Reviewed by Kayla S. on Yelp.com

ChefSays:

“You have to try our Carne Adobada! We marinate skirt steak in red adobo sauce, charbroil it to perfection and serve it with green onions and guacamole.”

Taster Says:

“I love that the food portions are larger than the typical places around for the price.

The new menu has a really good variety of items and the food tastes amazing!!! I love that I don’t have to sit around people smoking anymore and can really enjoy the tvs that are everywhere. If you love watching sports and eating good food I highly recommend taking your kids in with you too because they will love it!!” - Reviewed by lovetoeat76 on TripAdvisor.com

Chef Says:

“Come check out our new menu and smoke free atmosphere. We turn up the fun at night with Karaoke on Thursdays and live music over the weekends.”

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Restaurant Guide

Eclectic Pub & Grill

The Anchor Bistro & Bar

334 Blue Lakes Blvd.

Twin Falls, ID 208-733-6566 anchorbistro.com Daily 11 am to 10 pm, plus Bar hours

T

he Anchor Bistro & Bar is Twin Falls’ best locally owned fine food sports bar. Featuring 18 TVs, 16 beers on tap, a full bar, seasonal patio seating, live music and special events weekly makes The Anchor a must see spot when in the Twin Falls area.

Taster Comment:

“This place is a must stop!

Excellent sports bar atmosphere - big screen TV’s, bar with many different kinds of beer to choose from, excellent food! We ordered the blue burger and prime rib sliders. Both were awesome! The sweet potato fries were excellent as well. The service was top notch - friendly staff and seemed to check in at the right times during the meal. Prices were very reasonable as well.” - Reviewed by MtFlyer on TripAdvisor.com

General Manager Says:

“At The Anchor Bistro & Bar we strive to give our customers the best experience possible. We have a diverse menu, great cocktails, personable staff, and the best beer selection around. It doesn’t matter if you’re bringing your family in for lunch or catching a game with some friends, we want to make every experience memorable.”

- Chris Hengel, General Manager

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Mexican

La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

288 Blue Lakes Blvd.

Twin Falls, ID 208-734-0685 Su. - Th. 11 am to 10 pm; F. - Sa. 11 am to 11 pm

W

elcome to La Fiesta! Open since 2004, we serve authentic Mexican food and margaritas. Voted Best Mexican Food for multiple years. Watch the big game in our sports bar or enjoy the Idaho weather on our patio. Come experience our family friendly atmosphere and courteous staff. We’ll satisfy your craving and won’t break the bank.

Taster Comment

: “We always have a fun meal at La Fiesta.

Servers are cheerful & attentive. My kids love the sombrero & dessert they do for birthdays! I love the “cucaracha” shots ;) , Flautas & the Chicken a la Crema. It’s good food & fun environment!

Give it a try!” - Reviewed by OwnprivateIdaho7 on TripAdvisor.com

Chef Says:

“You’ve got to try our famous Sizzling Fajitas, mouth-watering Carne Asada, or our Carnitas Cancun. You and your tastebuds won’t be disappointed.”

American

Pizza/Burgers

Gertie’s Brick Oven Cookery

602 2nd Ave. South Twin Falls, ID 208-736-9110 gertiesboc.com Su. - Th. 11 am to 9 pm; F - Sa. 11 am to 10 pm

G

ertie’s is a locally owned family fun restaurant.

We have over 70 different kinds of pizzas. Enjoy our lunch menu available Monday through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring sandwiches and burgers, there is something for everyone! Great for family get togethers, special occasions, and school functions.

Idaho Joe’s

598 Blue Lakes Blvd.

Twin Falls, ID 208-734-9403 www.idahojoestwinfalls.com Su. - Th. 6 am to 11 pm; F - Sa. 6 am to midnight

A

t Locally owned and operated for over 15 years, Idaho Joe’s is a local favorite for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Come taste our homemade pies, biscuits, cornbread and more that are freshly baked daily in our in-house bakery. Breakfast buffet and crepe bar on Saturdays and an endless Sunday brunch never fail to please

Taster Comment

: “We stopped here as an afterthought and were glad we did. Hamburgers were really good, hand cut fries were excellent, fish sandwich was excellent, and the pies were excellent. I highly recommend this place.” Reviewed by Paladine5 on TripAdvisor.com

Taster Comment:

“Amazing food and Amazing service!! I was there tonight and oh my goodness!!

It’s wonderful!!!” Reviewed by Faith on Facebook

Owner Says:

“Since 1995 we have taken great pride in providing Southern Idaho one of the finest places to eat. We want to make sure your food is delicious and you enjoy your experience.”

Chef Says:

“Idaho Joe’s serves a wide range of American favorites in a casual,family-friendly atmosphere. Come taste our fresh pies, campfire steak and so much more.”

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Restaurant Guide

Barbeque

Coop’s Southern BBQ

1703 Addison Ave. E. Twin Falls, ID 208-736-7687 www.coopsbbqtf.com M - Th. 11 am to 8 pm; F - Sa. 11 am to 9 pm

A

re your tastebuds ready for something delicious? Come to Coop’s and enjoy our smoked, house-rubbed meat with delicious housemade sides like hushpuppies, tater balls, cornbread, baked beans and more. We feature 5 different homemade BBQ sauces to choose from and are proud to bring the flavor of the South to Idaho.

Diner

Happy Landing Restaurant, Pub & Catering Magic Valley Regional Airport Twin Falls, ID 208-736-3710 Daily 8 am to 7 pm

C

ome try the best kept secret in Twin Falls. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and have excellent specials. Try our homemade pies and pastries. You won’t regret the short drive to the Twin Falls Airport where we’re located inside the terminal.

Taster Comment:

Taster Comment

: “Stopped in for dinner tonight, was greeted promptly and seated.

The Pulled Pork was delicious! I have eaten BBQ in Texas and this place knows BBQ! Prices are great and staff is super friendly!” Reviewed by Kevin on Facebook

Chef Says:“You can always count on exceptional food and outstanding service. We look forward to having you as our guest!”

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“Always worth the drive! Awesome diner with quality food and a friendly staff!” - Reviewed

by Sam on Facebook

Owner Says: “Come

enjoy your favorite comfort foods in our clean, friendly environment. You won’t be disappointed.”

WINE + FOOD =

U

Enhance your meal with a well selected glass of wine.

Types of Wine Dessert

Sherry, Port, Ice Wine

Sparkling

Champagne, Prosecco, Sparkling Wine

Sparkling Dessert

nless you are a chef, sommelier, foodie or a wino selecting the best wine to balance out your meal may seem difficult. There are a lot of factors to consider: what you do and don’t like, cost, not to mention the complexity of the food being served. Regardless if you’re eating a fennel-crusted rack of lamb with grilled asparagus or a juicy burger with french fries, you should be able to find a suitable wine to go with your meal. Check out our diagram below to help you out.

Food Pairings

Dry White

Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, White Table Wine

Sweet White

Moscato, Riesling, Malvasia

Dry White

Sweet White

Rich White

Chardonnay, Marsanne, Roussanne

Rich White

Light Red

Pinot Noir, Gamay, St. Laurent

Medium Red

Merlot, Zinfandel, Red Table Wine

Bold Red

Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah

Light Red

Medium Red

Bold Red

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Secluded Abundance

Story and photos

by Shelley McEuen

C r k e c ek Offers U o R ’ s l l a F n i Tw rban

R

Adven

ture

unning through the heart of Twin Falls, Idaho, is a sweet, secluded secret. Familiar only to a small faction of RV enthusiasts, disc golfers, runners, and walkers, chances are that most people haven’t yet experienced the hidden riches of Rock Creek Park and its canyon trails. Containing three bridges, a well-equipped RV park and playground, multiple pavilions, a disc golf course, geocaching stations, and a four mile paved trail system, the park and canyon offer myriad opportunities for discovery, well worth a visit to the Southern Idaho community. Rock Creek is a rarity, an accessible urban canyon with mule deer, raccoons, northern flickers, western tanagers, mallards, teals, and yellow-bellied marmots calling it home. Rock Creek Park, which sits at the bottom of the canyon, is a delight for birders and recreationists alike, yet it remains largely a secret in this wild canyon.

The majority of visitors to the area—and many Twin Falls residents—have yet to experience this quiet little gem.

Rock Creek begins in the hills south of Twin Falls, skirting in its infancy multiple campgrounds in the Cassia Division of the Sawtooth National Forest (locally known as the South Hills). Making a 3,000 foot drop to the agricultural landscape southeast of Twin Falls, Rock Creek eventually cuts a rugged canyon swath, running northwest through the city to empty at the Snake River.

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Perhaps one reason Rock Creek Park remains a mystery is its seclusion. Before a friend suggested Rock Creek canyon as part of a morning run in 2003, I was unaware this place existed. I’d lived in Twin Falls over five years before ever visiting, and I can remember my pure amazement as the unassuming paved entrance dropped down, revealing a paved canyon trail system, remote and serene, with a vibrant, gurgling creek running alongside much of it. A canopy of Russian olive trees overhead, I could see and hear birds rather than the road noise and traffic just a quarter of a mile away, and I immediately became entranced. Rock Creek canyon enveloped me in natural surroundings, as yellow-bellied marmots or “rock chucks� peeped at me from the steep, jagged walls. I had been introduced to an extraordinary place, less than 1.5 miles from my home.

Over the years, I returned to Rock Creek canyon trails and park, again and again, to enjoy an unfolding mystery, learning about alternative en-

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trances in addition to the main gate to the RV Park on Addison Avenue. I have seen the remarkable canyon through all its seasonal scenery changes, and becoming acquainted with characteristics that have become as familiar as an old friend. My favorite entrance, the one starting from the Parks and Recreation parking lot on Maxwell Avenue off Shoshone Street South, invites seekers to follow the flat, paved trail under three bridges, two of them worth a closer inspection. The first, Old Towne Bridge, over which Shoshone Street passes, is one of only two viaduct-type bridges in the state. Old Towne Bridge is a span design with tall towers anchoring it to the canyon floor. Walkers, runners, and bikers are afforded an intimate view of the bridge from multiple perspectives, the trail passing directly underneath its formidable frame. Next, the railroad bridge looms. Distinct from the other two, the railroad bridge is a former deck truss bridge, still utilized by trains today. The steel trusses and tall framework echo an earlier vintage architecture, worthy of a photo op for those inclined. Third from this direction is Victory Bridge, a rather unremarkable concrete span serving Victory Avenue, marking another entrance beginning behind Columbia Electrical Supply on Washington Street South.

The bridges are only one visual delight along this canyon trail excursion. Birders will find plenty to captivate with sightings of western tanager, northern flicker, mallards, teal, nuthatch, and a nice assortment of corvids— raven, magpie, and jays. So will botanists: late spring and early summer see wax currant, elderberry, and wild chokecherry ripe for the picking, while the array of elm, ash, and olive trees provide a welcoming, woody retreat with generous areas of cooling shade during warmer summer months.

Some summertime visitors traveling in RVs are already in on Rock Creek’s secret. Although the park claims neither Wi-Fi nor showers, the overwhelmingly positive reviews of Rock Creek Park cite its hidden, off-the-beaten-path nature and canyon as part of its allure. With water and electrical hookups, the dog and family friendly RV campground also boasts a full-time summer host—who has retained the job for eight years—providing campers an assured quiet location with added security.

Spring and summer bring vibrancy to Rock Creek canyon and park, making it a challenge to visualize this natural setting as anything but pristine, but there was a time when Rock Creek canyon was less than beautiful. In fact, the original town site of Twin Falls used Rock Creek as a collective sewer up until the 1960s. After I.B. Perrine teamed with Frank Buhl, Stanley Milner, and Walter Filer to establish irrigation in the region, the Milner Dam was quick to follow, and the “greening of the desert” began, creating what is now The Magic Valley Region. The prosperity and population of Twin Falls grew, along with

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its waste, with millions of gallons of industrial and residential sewage dumped into Rock Creek each year. In 1960 a new wastewater treatment system was added along with a new community attitude. The park, established in 1974 as part of an organized cleanup effort, brought citizens together to haul out junked autos and defunct washing machines littering the canyon, which had been used as a garbage dump. Today, the canyon and park enjoy their trash-free environment thanks to these efforts, which are ongoing.

So, the secret is out—now you know. Just as treasure is often found when moving beyond the ordinary, Rock Creek Park and canyon offer a trove of natural and recreational abundance for discerning travelers knowing where to look. Whether a vacation campground destination or as a more casual site for relaxed exploration, the park and canyon trails offer the perfect family or solo getaway. This gem in Southern Idaho may just be the best non-secret around.

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Shipping |

3D Printing Now Available Discover 3D printing at The UPS Store. ® Ready to bring an idea to life?

We’re ready to help. Whether you’re prototyping your next big invention or just want to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art, The UPS Store is your solution for 3D printing.

148 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. Twin Falls, ID 83301

store3386@theupsstore.com

Small Business Solutions Professional Printing Graphic Design Black / White copies Color Copies Banners, indoor or outdoor

If you go:

Passing south toward Nevada through Twin Falls, follow Blue Lakes Boulevard to take a right on Addison Avenue (which becomes highway 30) and follow the road out of town ¼ mile where a sign with a large wagon wheel marks the park entrance. RV fees are $15 per night. Disc golf is free.

Business Cards and more!

8 am - 6 pm Mon - Fri 9 am to 5 pm Saturday Closed Sunday.

148 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. Twin Falls, ID 83301

theupsstore.com/3386 M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Employment POWER The “Extreme” solution for finding work and filling openings.

By Lisa Jensen Photos by Summer Brander

I

t is a puzzle how employers have a hard time finding reliable employees while at the same time those looking for work struggle with finding jobs. In the Magic Valley, Extreme Staffing is the solution to the dilemma on all sides.

In 2010, Derrick Hope launched Extreme Staffing after recognizing the important service a staffing agency could provide to small businesses by matching them up with people who were looking for work.

“We have a good system in place for recruiting and marketing,” Hope says. “Extreme Staffing saves employers time and money by doing everything from recruiting to background checks, drug testing and work verifications. We do the preliminary interview when people respond to the job postings we’ve placed or when they come in looking for work. So, when an employer has an opening, we send them only candidates who are qualified for the job and who would make a good fit for the company.”

Having been in business for over five years, Extreme Staffing has built up a database of more than 12,000 employees. Not every one of them is currently looking for work, but you never know when the perfect job will open up, and it’s nice to have Hope and his team looking out for you.

“Someone might have a job that they’re happy with for now, but maybe they’re looking for something in another field or higher pay scale. Those people aren’t considered to be actively seeking employment, but if I get a call from an employer who has an opening that fits that person’s skill set, I’ll give them a call to see if they’re interested,” Hope explains.

With such a large database of employees including a pool for on-call services, such as laborers, and contacts with over 100 different employers in the valley, Extreme Staffing takes on the task of filling open positions and placing employees from many angles.

“We usually fill openings for production or laborers the same day,” says Hope. “Jobs with more skilled needs can take a little longer, a few days or even weeks, but we get them filled as quickly as possible with qualified people.”

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Before opening his staffing company, Hope had been running his own concrete cutting business and had occasionally relied on a staffing company when he needed additional hands. The experience is what gave him the idea for Extreme Staffing.

“We started out providing staffing for construction, but we soon evolved to do production, warehouse, call centers, medical staffing, drivers, electricians, plumbers, steel workers—now we do a little bit of everything,” Hope says.

Soon, however, a bigger picture started to develop.

“As I got into staffing, I realized the value that could be added for employers and employees if we also provided payroll services,” Hope explains. “So after a few years we added Extreme Payroll Services. For an employer with few to several hundred employees, payroll is just a phone call, and they’re done. We calculate payroll, taxes, garnishments, workman’s comp, everything that goes into payroll and do the electronic transfers into the employees’ accounts. We even cut the

Staffing |

W2s, workman’s comp, unemployment, manage wage and labor disputes—Extreme can do it all, either through the staffing or payroll service.”

The payroll aspect saves money for the employers in more ways than the time and manpower they would spend doing payroll themselves. With the number of employees in their database, workman’s compensation modification rates payroll becomes affordable.

“Based on our (employee) database, we pay enough out in workman’s comp that one or two claims won’t affect the rates like it would a small business,” Hope says.

Additionally, the number of people employed in that way through Extreme Staffing and paid through Extreme Payroll’s service, has allowed Hope to be able to offer health insurance to everyone who works through them 30 hours a week or more.

“After a period of time, they can get on our health insurance that includes health, dental and vision, but we also offer 401Ks, and anyone employed through us can contribute to those from day one.”

With all this to offer both employers and employees, it’s clear that Extreme is far more than a temp agency. Extreme Staffing and Extreme Payroll are hybrids of sorts, combining the best elements of an employment agency with corporate human resources and payroll departments.

“We are a staffing company for large, small or any organization in any industry,” says Hope. “We customize every bid to fit the needs of the company to affordably provide the benefits of big corporate HR and payroll processing support. Employers retain control over hiring and scheduling; we just make the process much more efficient.”

Looking for a job? Extreme Staffing takes applications between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Just bring two forms of ID, your work history and a resume, if you have one.

Employers who have one or more positions that need to be filled can call Extreme Staffing directly or request a quote online at www.extremestaffingllc.com. Online requests are usually answered within one business day.

Any company that likes the idea of saving money on health insurance, workman’s comp and payroll services can make the switch to Extreme Payroll—call today!

621 Blue Lakes Boulevard North, Twin Falls, Idaho 208-733-5627 2235 E. 17th Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho 208-529-5627 4123 Yellowstone Avenue Suite B, Pocatello, Idaho 208-233-5627 1330 East Fairview Avenue, Meridian, Idaho 208-288-5627 5470 South 900 East, Murray, Utah 801-733-5627

www.extremestaffingllc.com

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By Jennifer Anderson

The Serenity of Downsizing Freeing up your space can free up your life.

D

ownsizing is often associated with the retiring generation who, after raising their children and tiring of them moving back in, has decided less is more. They get rid of their home, their yard, and the hassle and move into something low maintenance in a warmer climate, and wonder why they didn’t do it sooner. While it is true that sometimes downsizing becomes a necessity due to age, infirmity, or economy it does not forego the simple reality that downsizing is just a way of reordering your priorities. Putting higher emphasis on quality of living rather than stuff seems like a no brainer, but after spending years accumulating said stuff to keep up with the Jones’, it now becomes a source of anxiety.

There are some simple solutions to alleviate the stress of downsizing.

Begin now. Simply put, now is always better than later. It doesn’t matter if you are 16 or 60, learning what is important and what is not is a valuable skill. Questions you can ask yourself as you begin to declutter and get rid of years of life’s accumulations are 1) does it make me happy, 2) have I used it, worn it, touched it (other than to

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move it) in the last year, and 3) does it hold meaning or value to me? If you can answer “no” to some or all the questions above then your next choice involves the elimination process.

Economically and ecologically great ways to get rid of your stuff is repurposing or recycling. Sort items based on whether they are best suited to the trash, the thrift store (or someone you know personally who might need it), or to be sold at a garage sale or an online forum like Craigslist or Ebay. It may be difficult in the beginning, but as you practice it will become easier to distinguish what is important and what is not. If you are especially having a difficult time, invite a friend over to help you – they will be far more willing to part with your stuff than you.

Storage |

Frontier Moving and Storage / Allied Agent A caution about using online forums - be watchful of scams. There are always new scams popping up, targeting new users. Just remember to never accept money orders or cashier’s checks, try to deal locally and in cash when possible, try to meet in a public place or have someone else home with you if they are picking up at your home, and never give out personal bank information and as little personal information as possible. Don’t let these warnings dissuade you from using Craigslist or Ebay, they are very user friendly and a great way to get good money for your items, just use common sense.

Understanding and visualizing the space you have to work with may also help you in your quest to downsize. If you are moving to a much smaller home, think about the areas and storage you will have. Will the furniture you have fit? Consider a storage unit as an option for your extra items, just make sure you budget for the monthly fee.

If you are not moving, but just decluttering, imagine what you could do with the space you are freeing up.

Lastly, don’t get overwhelmed. Take it a bit at a time, enlist help when needed, start now not later, and make it a consistent pattern even after you feel like you are done. You will be amazed to find you have more time, space, and energy to live your life in a new and open way.

208-733-7371 Commercial and Household Storage Highly Competitive Rates!

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Diamonds in The Magic Valley’s CSI specializes in refining natural talent to turn out baseball players with a future.

By Lisa Jensen Photos Courtesy CSI

2015 CSI Eagles 126 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

the Rough Jake Boyd

A

merica’s Pastime might be falling in popularity, but the sport is still holding strong in the Magic Valley. Baseball still reigns supreme as the sport of choice for youth in the area, albeit if they only play a few years. There’s just something about the sounds, sites and overall experience of The Game that continues to captivate audiences, and the enthusiasm isn’t lost on the College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles who have had a good run over the years. Though the 2014 season ended on a rough note, overall the baseball program has been successful for more than four decades. Tenacious as they are talented, in 2015 the Golden Eagles reclaimed their previous history of winning at least 30 games each season, finishing fourth overall in the district tournament and finishing out the season 31-24.

with the discipline and demands of the program results in talented players with solid character.

“We look for good athletes who have a strong motivation to do well in school and be productive members of our community,” Coach Walker says.

An athlete who meets that criterion will be a good fit for CSI, the Golden Eagles and the Twin Falls Community. Considering the consistent success of the program, it is obviously a standard that works and, if it ain’t broke, you don’t need to fix it.

Demetriouss Mall

In addition to the team coming back strong with a largely winning season, several of the players were rewarded for their hard work when the 2015 season all-region teams were announced for Region 18. Two pitchers, Zack Draper and Mason Hilty, headed up first team, and infielder Harrison Ramey was voted onto second team. Four other Golden Eagles, Tyler Burdett, Body Cooper, Makay Nelson and Dugan Shirer garnered third team honors.

Coach Boomer Walker is proud of his players, and rightfully so. He credits the long-standing philosophy behind recruiting for the enduring stability the program has enjoyed for so many years. Mixing the students’ natural athletic abilities

“We’re not changing our model. It’s worked, and it’s what it takes for our athletes and the team to be successful,” Walker says.

CSI’s main recruiting base is close. It includes Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Washington and Oregon, but sometimes reaches as far as California or Canada. The solid program and success of the team as a whole has turned the College of Southern Idaho into a valuable stepping stone for athletes. At the end of the 2015 season, two Golden Eagles were drafted into the Major League. Isaac Anderson, who played for CSI in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fresh from the 2014 and 2015 seasons at CSI, Makay Nelson was picked up by the Houston Astros.

Turning out players who sign professional contracts is impressive, but Coach Walker says that is not the singular mission of the CSI baseball program.

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“Our program is designed for kids who want to keep playing baseball outside of junior college. Success comes on multiple levels. Playing professionally is great, but there are opportunities for our players other than pro ball. A lot of our kids go on to play for other colleges, and the scholarship money they get helps offset the expense of their education.

Plus, there’s the experience of being in a college athletic program. Some of those are the most memorable experiences for them. So, we consider both to be successes.”

If the yardstick Coach Walker and his staff use is making sure their players have a good foundation for success and are able to move to the next level, the CSI program hit a home run in 2015. In addition to the players who signed on in the Major League, the entire group of sophomores is moving on to play ball and continue their education.

According to Coach Walker:

Zack Draper signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Central Florida.

Mason Hilty and Tyler Burdett are headed south to play ball at Dixie State in Saint George, Utah.

Bodie Cooper and Cody Jenkins will play for Wayne State College in Nebraska.

Harrison Ramey plans to play for Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California.

Dugan Shirer and Damon Jones have signed on with Washington State University.

Mikey Ortega will be playing for Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

Seeing so many from his team depart on the road to their future is bitter and sweet for the coach.

“That’s the hard part,” Walker confides. “Half your team moves on each year. It’s great to see them have enough success to keep going forward, but it’s hard because you get attached to them.”

Jordan Freese

Cole Waters 128 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

{

{

“Half your team moves on each year. It’s

great to see them have enough success to keep going forward, but it’s hard because you get attached to them.”

Another difficulty is the partial rebuilding mode the team is in every season. The fact that Coach Walker and his staff are serious about recruiting kids who fit in with the program’s philosophy is an important factor in the team’s ongoing success. They carefully assemble a team of players who they feel will work together well, whose talents and strengths complement those of the other players. Training starts the same week school starts, typically in late August. The Golden Eagles play games throughout the fall semester though they do not count toward the team’s overall record, so the fall schedule is more like spring training according to Coach Walker. The actual season starts in February and runs through May. With the vacated positions filled and the season about to start, the Golden Eagles are poised and ready to soar. Encouraged by the 2015 season, Coach Walker and his staff have high expectations for 2016.

“With the recruiting class coming in, all indications are that they will fit in really good with the guys we have coming back. They’ve demonstrated hard work, and they’re good students who will mesh well with the group returning. The talent level is very high on the athletic side, so we’ll just see how much further they can go this year.”

Joey Rossi

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Talking Tires The tread on your tires tells a tale.

By MVL Staff

RECYCLED

TIRE AGE Trees have rings to tell you their age, 5 year olds have fingers, tires have a Tire Identification Number (TIN). The the four digit TIN is branded into the sidewall of your tire, but it’s a bit of code. The first two digits indicate the week the tire was produced, the last two indicating the year. For example, the number 3214 tells you that the tire was made in August of 2014.

Americans discard 280 million tires a year, 25 to 30 percent of which are retreaded or otherwise reused. Old tires can be turned into ground rubber “crumbs” and are added to asphalt for paving roads, running tracks, runaways, and playgrounds. This actually increased the pavement life by four to five years. Recycled rubber is also used in boat bumpers, carpet padding, and insulation.

TYPES OF TREAD

SIZE MATTERS

There are four types of tire tread, each serves a different purpose and is designed to handle different road conditions.

• Directional - This type of tread features a large V-shaped pattern with grooves designed to improve hydroplaning resistance at high speeds. They are ideal for performance and ultra-high performance uses.

• Symmetrical - Found on most passenger cars, this common type of tire tread is typically quiet and long lasting.

Look for the tread to have the same pattern or continuous grooves across the whole tire.

• Asymmetrical - Most commonly found on sports cars, this tread is a bit of hybrid. It combines a variety of tread patterns for maximum grip on both wet and dry roads.

Usually the inside and middle parts of the tire will be designed for wet and/or winter traction, while the outside of the tire will have large tread blocks for maximum cornering capability on dry surfaces.

• Directional/asymmetrical - The best of both worlds. With a V-shaped pattern of the directional tread for discharging water away from the tire and the dry weather traction of the asymmetrical tread, this tread has it all.

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The largest usable tire in the world is the Titan 63. It is approximately 14 feet tall and weighs nearly 12,500 pounds.

It’s used on machinery for mining applications. Cost per tires is about $40,000!

The World’s Largest Tire is in Allen Park, Michigan. The tire weighs 12 tons, is 80 feet tall tower, and was built to withstand hurricane-force winds. It served as a Ferris wheel at the 1964-1965 New York’s World Fair, but was moved to Allen Park in 1966.

Lego is the largest manufacturer of tires. The toy company produces 306 million of the little tires every year.

NASCAR TIRE FACTS •

During a race tires can heat up to 200*F which is why they’re filled with nitrogen instead of traditional air used in regular tires.

•

Each wheel weighs more than 50 pounds but can be exchanged in as little as seven seconds.

•

Goodyear is the only producer of NASCAR tires. They make 10,000 tires for all three race series in NASCAR.

•

The tires do not have tread on them, but do feature a Lifeguard Inner Liner Safety Spare. This tire within a tire creates a second envelope inside the main tire to prevent a full blowout, allowing the driver to return to pit road safely to change the flat.

•

Each car gets 8 to 10 sets of tires per race depending on the track.

Tires |

FREE WITH EVERY PASSENGER CAR AND LIGHT TRUCK TIRE PURCHASE

Free Peace of Mind Tire Protection Whatever the road throws at you — from potholes to nails — if your tire is damaged from any road hazard, we will replace the value of your tire.

• If your tire is damaged beyond repair we’ll replace its value • Our workmanship is guaranteed for the life of your tires • We offer free pre-trip safety checks

Free Lifetime Tire and Mileage Care To help you get more miles out of your tires and more miles per gallon of gas. We provide: • Free Flat Tire Repairs • Free Tire Rotations • Free Tire Rebalancing • Free Air Checks • Free Brake & Alignment Checks • Hundreds of Les Schwab Locations to Serve You

4 Magic Valley Locations to Serve You TWIN FALLS

421 Blue Lakes Blvd N. • 208-734-7555

TWIN FALLS NORTH

389 Pole Line Rd. • 208-733-1211

JEROME

1848 S. Lincoln Ave. • 208-324-8946

BUHL

1241 Burley Ave. • 208-543-4082

TIRES • WHEELS • BATTERIES • BRAKES • SHOCKS • ALIGNMENTS SUDDEN SERVICE • CONVENIENT CREDIT • WARRANTIES IN WRITING M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

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Living History A few residents of Idaho State Veterans Home open up about their time in service.

T

he veterans at the Idaho State Veteran’s Home in Pocatello have the distinction of not only witnessing history, but also being part of historical events. Even if you’re not a history or war buff, you’ll still find an afternoon spent talking with any of the veterans at the facility to be fascinating and educational.

The bonus of making a friend is the icing on the cake.

Prisoner of War Vern Byington has plenty of stories to share. He served as a Private, First Class in the Army in World War II and was a Prisoner Of War for almost eight months.

Still, he will greet you with a smile and an upbeat attitude, and is happy to relate accounts from his time of service.

Vern joined the Army in 1942 and was initially sent to Africa. His company didn’t spend much time there, however, before being sent to Italy, where they marched north through the country and saw plenty of action along the way. Some of it, unfortunately, was “friendly fire.”

“One time we got shelled by our own guys,” Byington recalls. “I remember one guy sailing up in the air like he’d been on a trampoline. The enemy was coming towards us with tanks, so they were really trying to get the tanks and they did with the next shell.”

The enemy had their sights on Byington’s company though, and was relentless with the attacks.

“I got shot at a lot. I would lay on the ground and shoot off two or three rounds, then I’d have to move because they would figure out where I was and start shooting back at me,” Byington says. “One time, before I realized I had to keep moving, I got shot in the foot.

Well, really, it was through my shoe, through the edge of the sole. That shot didn’t hurt me, but I was hit plenty with bomb fragments and still have shrapnel in my back.”

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By Lisa Jensen Photos by Brooke Richardson

Byington was fortunate enough to survive the trek northward, but not all of his fellow soldiers fared as well. One by one they would disappear and fresh troops would be sent in to restore the dwindling numbers.

“I don’t know how many got killed, but there were at least 12 guys that I didn’t see anymore, and then they’d send in new guys, but they were less and less experienced,” he remembers with a frown.

“Pretty soon, it got to where they didn’t even know what the enemy looked like or how to shoot a gun. That’s how we were captured.”

After evading the German troops across most of Italy, Byington’s company was cornered by the enemy in October of 1944. He tried to get the inexperienced soldiers around him to fight back and shoot their way out of the situation, but it was in vain.

“I was trying to get them to do something, anything, but they said they didn’t know how,” Byington says, incredulous.

Rather than using his experience to escape alone, he remained with the company and was captured, loaded onto a boxcar and sent to a prison camp. For the next several months, the prisoners were put to work, cleaning up streets, building railways and even laboring on civilian farms. Little attention was paid to the Geneva Convention’s guidelines at the time, and Byington and his fellow POWs went without proper heat, changes of clothing or laundry facilities and only got two meals each day.

“We got ‘barley coffee’ for breakfast, that was burned barley steeped in hot water. Sometimes you’d get a few kernels of barley floating in your coffee, and that was a bonus. For dinner, they’d give us a loaf of bread for six or seven guys, and

“We had to deal with the situation we were in.

Things would have been so much harder if we hadn’t kept our spirits up and tried to get fun out of everything as much as we could.”

—Vern Byington

Living at ISVH allows Vern Byington and other residents an opportunity to give back.

we’d each pull off a chunk and that was it.

I lost a few pounds as a prisoner,” Byington chuckles.

came through, dropped off some C-Rations and pushed on. Then they loaded us up and took us to France.”

It’s surprising that he can laugh about it now, but Byington reveals that a sense of humor was their secret to surviving the ordeal.

At a hospital in Le Havre, the soldiers were weaned back onto a regular diet and, happily, given fresh clothing before being shipped back home.

“We tried to make fun out of everything. We’d make a game of the clean-up jobs we were assigned, sorting trash into ‘good’ and ‘junk’ piles. One day one of the guys came out of the barracks showing off his uniform like he was wearing something new and said, ‘Like my new clothes?’ That’s how we got through the hard times.”

“We were so happy to get those new clothes,” Byington says. “After all those months, the others plumb wore out!”

Those hard times finally came to an end in May of 1945 when the Germans surrendered, and the war was declared over.

“The guards just dropped their weapons where they were and left the camp,” Byington recalls. “The American troops

Many soldiers understandably return from battle mentally and physically scarred. In Byington’s case, however, the appreciation for the good things in life, like clean things to wear and sufficient food, along with the value of a positive attitude are the souvenirs he keeps from WWII. “We had to deal with the situation we were in. Things would have been so much harder if we hadn’t kept our spirits up and tried to get fun out of everything as much as we could.”

ISVH residents know how to have fun.

Here are a few fishing.

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Building Bridges in North Korea and Viet Nam Albert “Bud” Osborne is the veteran to see if you’re interested in the Korean and Viet Nam wars. Friendly and thoughtful, Osborne will tell you that he doesn’t have much of an exciting story. Having served in the National Guard building roads to the front lines, though, his experiences are more interesting than he lets on.

Osborne joined the National Guard in Ashton when he was 18. The year was 1948, and it provided a job that paid well compared to the other work available in the area.

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made us engineers, and we started learning how to operate tractors and road graders, so I had experience with equipment in addition to the rifles,” Osborne remembers.

Understanding of engineering ended up serving the U.S. troops well, as Osborne was assigned to build roads when he was shipped overseas in 1951.

“Roads were needed to get people and equipment to the front lines, so we built roads in North Korea,” says Osborne.

“We graded them and had to repair bridges that had been blown up. We’d have to drive poles into the mud and rocks, and that’s what we started out with to put a bridge across a river.”

Decades later, at least one sample of Osborne’s handiwork is still standing.

“We built the Colonel Sorensen bridge, and one of the fellas that flew over there in the fall of 2013 said that he took a tour, and the bridge is still there,” Osborne modestly admits.

After a year in North Korea, just before the war was over, Osborne came home to Ashton. He remained in the National Guard, performing work that included operating a road grader for the Forest Service in Ashton. When an opening came up for a full-time job as a maintenance man in the National Guard, Osborne applied and got the job.

“We knew how to do our jobs, and I guess we did them right because some of that work is still there today.”—Albert “Bud” Osborne “That kept me in Ashton for a little while, but when personnel was being cut back in certain areas, I got transferred to the field maintenance shop in Boise.”

After three years, Osborne was transferred to Idaho Falls. He worked in the maintenance shop and continued to spend summer training at Fort Belvoir, where he received specialized training on road equipment and moved up to the rank of Sergeant First Class.

In 1969, the Viet Nam war broke out, and engineers and mechanics were needed near the front lines. Osborne was shipped overseas again and found himself once more on a road crew, but in a supervisory position this time.

“We were building roads, but I mostly stayed in the camp and supervised the boys as they did their maintenance on the tractors and graders,” Osborne recalls.

He may not have been traveling to the front lines, but the camp was close enough to the action that they had to deal with mortars frequently.

“One time mortars were being fired in and everyone was scrambling, trying to get into the shelter,” Osborne recounts.

“There were so many, so I just stood back and let others go in, but I knew I needed to find another place where I’d be safe. I was standing next to a jeep, trying to think where I could go, and a mortar hit on the other side of the vehicle. I still have shrapnel in my knee from it.”

The experience earned Osborne a purple heart and, when troops were being removed the following year, he was one of the lucky ones to be sent home. He stayed with the National Guard for awhile but opted to leave the service when a command change resulted in the loss of his job. He likely would have stayed if circumstances had been different, but Osborne is still proud of his time of service.

“We knew how to do our jobs, and I guess we did them right because some of that work is still there today.”

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Veterans Home |

Caring

for America’s Heroes

At Idaho State Veterans Home it is just as important to give as it is to receive.

“H “

By Lisa Jensen Photos by Brooke Richardson

ow do you define a hero?” asks Josiah Dahlstrom, Administrator of the Idaho State Veterans Home in Pocatello.

residents involved in volunteer work and service opportunities gives them the chance to do what they’ve done for much of their lives: serve their fellow citizens.

“A hero is somebody who has done something significant for you. My heroes may be different than yours, but we can agree that they appear to be larger than life,” says Dahlstrom. “Our home has the unique opportunity to care for America’s heroes and when you get to know these residents you quickly realize they have done some amazing things. These are individuals who have answered the call of duty and given much without the expectation of receiving something in return.”

“I’ve worked in nursing homes for over 10 years and there can be a lot of heartache and grief for the residents, their families, and the staff that care for them,” explains Dahlstrom. “The remedy to cope with these challenges can often come from giving service to others. The industry and its regulations have taught me to look at different coping methods. Often when we focus on someone else and their needs, we can regain a positive outlook on life and its trajectory.” Our Home offers numerous volunteer opportunities.”

Caring for America’s heroes is not just a motto for the staff at the Veterans Home; it’s a goal they focus on every day, for each and every resident. For Dahlstrom, “caring” extends beyond providing medical attention and physical comfort. It means enhancing their time at the home to give them the best quality of life possible, showing them that what they have done for our country is appreciated.

“We want to enrich the residents’ lives,” explains Dahlstrom. “I think we can accomplish this by allowing them opportunities to serve their peers, their care givers and their local community.”

What Dahlstrom is talking about is volunteerism and the two-way street it has become at the Pocatello Home.

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“[Veterans] have served their country well, and they continue to want to give back.”—Josiah Dahlstrom Carrie Leavitt, Activities/Volunteer Coordinator at the home, sees it the same way.

“Part of life, no matter what age we are, we love to help others. Our veterans here still love to do for other people.

They’ve made baby quilts for the hospital, to give to babies that might not have a blanket to go home in. They make baby doll quilts and cradles to give to Toys for Tots at Christmastime. Our residents even did a book drive to send books to the troops overseas, and included handmade bookmarks with each one.”

www.veterans.idaho.gov | 208-235-7838 | 1957 Alvin Ricken Drive, Pocatello, ID

Dahlstrom and Leavitt would like to expand the volunteer program to encompass more opportunities for the residents to get involved in the community.

As much as the residents of the Veterans Home in Pocatello enjoy serving the community, there is still a need for volunteers from the community to come in and help out.

“Sometimes you don’t think you have time to volunteer, but you don’t need to schedule a full day,” Leavitt says.

“It can be an hour or even less. People can volunteer as individuals, but organizations, businesses, students and families can also volunteer to come and visit with the residents, read to them, play games, do arts and crafts or even play music for them.”

previously?” We can also guarantee a history lesson that will rival any you have received in a classroom if you take the chance to sit one on one with any of our War Time veterans and allow them to share their stories.”

Favorite volunteer activities at the home include: · Attend a local ballgame · Visit the museum · Go to the local movie theater · Fishing in the outdoors · Attend outings at a local park · Listening to musical talent · Playing a favorite card game

When you volunteer at the Idaho State Veterans Home, you might set out to perform a charitable service.

Don’t be disappointed, though, if it ends up feeling as if you are the recipient of the goodwill. Dahlstrom has personally experienced the “return on investment” effect and is aware of the valuable impact the Veterans home residents can have.

“You may not feel like you have the resources, but if you have a little bit of time that is all that it takes. The smiles and respect you will gain from those who live in our home will certainly brighten your lives and beg the question “Why didn’t I do this

Volunteering at the Veterans Home The Idaho State Veterans Home in Pocatello welcomes volunteers on any scale: a couple times a year, a few times a month or even a few times a week. There are opportunities to work in the canteen, help with activities, visit with the residents, play cards, board games or even video games. If you have a special skill or interesting hobby, such as cake decorating or fly fishing, you could even present a one-time demonstration.

People who volunteer as often as once a week are required to fill out an application and undergo further screening and training but there is no cost.

If you would like to volunteer on any level please contact Carrie Leavitt at: 208-235-7800 or email her at carrie.leavitt@veterans.idaho.gov.

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AVOIDING THE

DANGER ZONE The Boys and Girls Club offers a safe haven for kids after school.

By Jill Lambert Photos Courtesy Lindsey Westburg

F

inding a fun, safe, affordable place for kids after school is a problem that many busy parents face.

Some parents anxiously wonder, “Did my kids make it home alright? Do they have homework? What kind of shenanigans are happening while I’m not home?” However, parents who are aware of the Boys and Girls Club don’t have to be that anxious. They know their children will be well cared for at either of two Magic Valley locations—one in Buhl and the other in Twin Falls.

“We are so much more than an inexpensive caretaker for children,” says Magic Valley Boys and Girls Club Executive Director, Lindsey Westburg. “The B and G Club provides opportunities, benefits, and preparation for kids’ futures. We care for each generation of upcoming community members, their development is essential, and we strive to strengthen that.”

Boys and Girls Clubs are designed for children, youths, and teens ranging from 5 to 18 years old. These kids are most susceptible to experiencing a lack of supervision, boredom or both as they transition from school and await the arrival of their parent(s) to get home from work. “The Danger Zone”—the time right after school to 7:00 p.m.—is a critical period for a child’s safety and development. While many kids might be mature enough to be on their own during this brief time, they may not being using their time wisely. This is where the BGC comes in. They offer programs to keep idle hands busy and have staff members to nurture 138 | MAG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016

kids’ friendship abilities and life experiences. “Our staff provides great interactions for kids of working parents, one-parent families, those needing activities for children, or parents helping teens plan for the future. A major goal of the BGC is to provide mentors and role models for kids who need it,” explains Stephanie Hudson, Director of Operations for Magic Valley BGC.

PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS Boys and Girls Club is a win-win for parents and kids.“My son loves going to the Club,” says one happy mom, Misty. “As working parents, they’re an immense help to our family. Membership is only $20 a year and allows our son to play from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. They have great programs, offer countless opportunities, provide meals and even arrange transportation.” The BGC offers breakfast for morning kids, lunch for kindergartners, two snacks, and transportation for Twin Falls and Buhl school districts. Plus, kindergarteners are brought to parents once they’re home from work. There’s

also help with homework, and if you have a kindergartener or younger child, a program called K-Netics is truly beneficial.

K-Netics complements school, reinforces primary skills, develops self-regulation qualities (sensory based play and open-ended projects), and incorporates physical activities like swim-lessons at the YMCA during the summer. For $25-$45 per week, kids enjoy 15-18 weekly morning and afternoon summer-camp programs.

Programs include: Photography, Sewing, Theatre, Sports & Fitness, Creative Leadership, Themed Robotics, Loving Literacy, Ewey Gooey (sensory-based), and much more.

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“To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.”

- Boys and Girls Club motto

YOUTH OF THE YEAR

THE ROLE OF SPONSORS

The Boys and Girls Clubs require sponsorships to help For ages 14-18, the Youth of the Year award is the highest honor Club members can receive. Sponsored by out their financially disadvantaged families. “We never the Edward L. Uhlig Foundation in Twin Falls, the award let a child miss out on occasions to flourish due to an recognizes a recipient’s outstanding contributions to their inability to pay. We don’t receive government funding family, school, community and BGC while overcoming or assistance, we’re solely funded by our advocates and significant personal challenges. A Magic Valley Club few grants, so we truly appreciate the sponsors we have,” member, 16-year-old Cassidy Littleton was the 2016 state says Westburg. “If experiencing financial dilemmas, we winner of the Youth of the Year Award. She’ll go on to work with parents on program rates and find sponsors to compete at the regional level in July for a chance to earn help. ICCP and other scholarships are available to each applicant, too,” $10,000 in scholarship money and advance to the National Champions like Gregg Middlekauf, Youth of the Year competition. owner of Middlekauf Ford, is a huge advocate National winners receive an adand a big voice for the Clubs. The sponsors ditional scholarship of $25,000, dedicated from the opening of the Club in renewable up to $100,000 for Twin Falls in 1994 include Rex Lytle, owner of four years. Part of the regional Lytle Signs; Rick White, Sr., owner of Wilson competition is based on writBates; and Dan Willie, owner of Oasis Stop ing a letter about the Boys and ‘N Go. Buhl’s Boys and Girls Club opened in Girls Club. “Obtaining the 2015 thanks to founder, Steve Kaatz, a retired award requires a letter of how Air Force officer. For 13 years Steve persisted the BGC affected the applicant. to get this establishment open. “Sponsors feel Letters habitually include staff great about providing kids with opportunities, having impressions on teens,” they know these kids are our community’s explains Westburg.

Cassidy Littleton, the 2016 state winner of future,” says Westburg.

“Youth of the Year has been the Youth of the Year Award an amazing experience. I’ve been able to share who I am and what I’m passionate about, and I know it hasn’t gone A SPACE FOR TEENS unheard,” says Littleton. “Being part of this competition The BGC in Twin Falls is actually located on the and organization has benefitted me in more ways than College of Southern Idaho’s campus. There are over 4,400 I can ever count. My Club has been such an amazing BGC in America and very few reside on college grounds. support system for me since the day I started attending, Being on campus provides a clear advantage to BGC and the love and encouragement only gets stronger. I’m participants.

The kids have access to trade school so thankful for the Boys and Girls Club of Magic Valscholarships, mechanics internships, Armed Forces ley. I know now more than ever that my future is bright, recruiters, and more.

Club programs prepare teens for so thank you to everyone who has been part of that. My careers and how to get one.

“CSI has been so wonderful goal is to attend U of I as a pre-med student in hopes of to us.

We really appreciate them,” comments Westburg. becoming a midwife.”

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In addition to being a great partner, CSI has also been a great landlord. They recently approved the Club’s 8,000 square foot addition which will offer teens their own private entrance, away from the younger kids. “Our attached addition provides extra classroom space, and more specifically, a teen center! Some [program] options [for the teens] include art, photography, Activ8, athletics, Life Hack and Robotics,” says Westerburg.

“The most coveted option is definitely our Robotics program—it caters to older kids and allows them to utilize computer programming to manipulate high-end mindstorm Legos to engage in robotic battles and other automations,” adds Hudson.

So whether your child is in need of after-school care or just wants to be involved in a positive program, the Boys and Girls Club can be their home-away-from home. With options that range from after school education and career programs, character and leadership development, to health and life skills, and a lot more, you’re children will love the time that they spend at BGC. Avoid the “Danger Zone” and let your child succeed by joining Boys and Girls Club.

ENROLLMENT AND DONATIONS Wishing for your child to attend the Boys & Girls Club programs, camps, and other beneficial groups? Visit their website at http://www.bgcmv.com. In Twin Falls, contact Stephanie Hudson at (208) 736-7011 ext. 112 or visit 999 Frontier Rd (on CSI’s campus). If you’re in Buhl, call 329-7000 or stop by 523 Sawtooth (by Buhl’s High school).

If donating, please visit the website listed above to view an Amazon Wish list.

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Why I Love The Magic Valley The Magic Valley LIFE staff took to the streets to find out why people love living in the Magic Valley. What’s your favorite reason for living here? Send your response and photo for our next issue of Magic Valley LIFE to smueller@idaholife.net.

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Shauna Villarreal Shelby

Just over four years ago my family and I moved to the Magic Valley. As a young child I used to come here when Poleline was a two lane road and Walmart and St. Lukes weren’t even a thought. So fast forward 25 + years my husband says to me he had a job offer in Twin Falls. I said no way. At the time we lived in Meridian. I came kicking and screaming and also pregnant with our 5th child. Little did I know I would absolutely fall in love with the “Magic Valley”. The area is not only gorgeous but the people are wonderful. We settled in right away and began to make amazing friends.

Our five kiddos who are now 15, 11, 10, 6 and 4 have loved it here and I can’t think of a better place to raise them. Small town feel with just enough big city to make it comfortable. We all love it here.Thank you for making it feel like home!

Mandi Riddle

I love the Magic Valley for so many reasons. But the one that stands out the most are the people. I was born and raised here and so it naturally feels like home, but I always hear how friendly our community is not only to residents but to visitors as well. Secondly the beauty that surrounds our valley is unlike any other. We have the beauty of the mountains, the unbelievable Snake River canyon surrounded by luscious green golf courses with the shadow of the Perrine bridge and the Shoshone Falls that bring people from near and far. Our quality of life is one that can’t be beat with all of the recreational adventures within minutes, a community college that ranks with the best and the agriculture culture.

I’m excited about the positive growth this amazing community is seeing.

Sara Otto

I was born and raised in the Magic Valley, left for college, moved to a big city, but something just wasn’t right and so I then decided to move home. The Magic Valley has so much to offer those who come for a visit or decide to relocate here. Outdoor activities, family fun, great restaurants, schools, and a little shopping all make the Magic Valley the place to live! I love being able to drive down the road to excellent healthcare facilities that will keep my loved ones safe, wave at the farmer moving equipment to the next field, and feel the strong sense of family and values when you walk into a local shop. It is not everyday that you can see a beautiful sunrise or sunset without a building in sight to mar the landscape! My parents chose the Magic Valley to raise their family, we chose the Magic Valley to raise our family, but mostly I feel the Magic Valley chose me!

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Shawnee Kyle

Growing up in Southeastern Idaho, I never pictured myself away from the mountains that were a huge part of my youth. The Magic Valley provided, well, a bit of a surprise when it comes to the unique beauty of the landscape here! We have come to love and appreciate the dynamic views our canyon and valley display. They are breathtaking all seasons of the year and it’s so easy to enjoy them with the array of access to biking, kayaking, swimming, hiking and winter sports. My family has plenty to choose from.

With all that being said, our favorite part of the Magic Valley would have to be the collection of kind, creative, community minded souls. You truly are what makes this place magical and it’s a pleasure to be among you! Thank you for helping this Southeastern girl and her family feel right at home!

Tia Standlee

We love the Magic Valley because there are so many different opportunities for a young family. My kids enjoy all the different beautiful places we can go. From riding their bikes to the park or taking hikes down in the canyon there is always something for little busy bodies to do. We can always look forward to every season here in the Magic Valley!

Kami Bleeker

I love the Magic Valley because there is so much to offer. We have beauty surrounding us and outdoor recreation within an arms reach. The Magic Valley still has that small town kindness and feel, yet, it’s booming with change.

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Nicole Veenendaal

Growing up in the Magic Valley, it was always a goal of mine to leave the area. I thought there was bigger and better out there. However, I’ve learned that while there are many exciting places in the world, there is no place like home. Especially when it comes to people: The people in the Magic Valley make it special – the sense of community is outstanding, there’s always a friendly smile and there is no place I would rather call home.

Rhonda Boisvert

I love the Valley because it’s Magic. The mountains surrounding this place are breathtaking.

The Magic Valley farms have so much “homespun” history. They fed all our families and pets for generations. I love when its late at night and I’m driving and look over to see a tractor with its headlights tilling the fields. Such a peaceful sight. Sunrises and sunsets are majestic with a new presentation every day. I feel so blessed to call the Magic Valley my home!

Lucy Wills

The best thing about living in Twin Falls is the people who live here. There is a sense of community and unity, whether you are walking downtown, or strolling along the various walking and bike trails, or if you are at a gathering at an event at the city park. There are always people that you know and there is a real sense of a hometown feeling and a feeling of belonging.

When you run into people and they ask how you are they are not just making small talk, they care. In addition to the beauty of the people in our town, there is also the immense and breathtaking natural beauty that exudes wide open invitations to become a part of the splendor of the nature that surrounds us. Twin Falls has everything that someone who enjoys nature can possibly imagine, from the majestic beauty of the canyon, the river and the falls, to the mountains and prairies and green alfalfa pastures that surround us. There are bursting sunsets and the magnificent south central Idaho sunrises. We have great schools, a community college who partners with the private and state universities, allowing for our children to obtain degrees from technical training to PhD’s. There are very few places that offer the friendliness, hospitality, beauty and adventures that living in Twin Falls has afforded me. I cannot imagine ever calling any other place home!

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Where on Earth?

You may have lived inthe Magic Valley your whole life, but how well do you really know the City? Email smueller@idaholife.net if you know where this photo was taken. All correct answers will be entered into a drawing for a free prize! Please be sure to include your name, address and t-shirt size. Submissions must be received by June 1, 2016.

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M AG I C VA L L E Y L I F E 2016 | 147 We Are A Debt Relief Agency Under Bankruptcy Code

“I’ve loved cars since I could walk and could name every car on the road since I was 4.”

That love of cars has won Gregg Middlekauff one of the automobile industries most prestigious and highly coveted honors: Idaho Time Dealer of the Year. 1 of 55 chosen from 17,000 across the nation, the dealers nominated for this award are dedicated business owners, auto lovers and most importantly, champions for their local communities, with a willingness to give back on a grand scale.

“We went from serving 100 kids to more than 1700 in a year and donations grew from a couple hundred thousand to more than a million dollars.”

Gregg Middlekauff donates to numerous clubs and organizations, but is particularly proud of the time spent as president for the last 6 years of the Magic Valley Boys and Girls Club.

“When you can change a child’s life for the better, you can actually change the world. I have a wonderful family and a purposeful life fueled by my automotive career, who could ask for anything more?”