Monday
Monday, December 14, 2015 • A1 www.magicvalley.com • $1.50
• December 14, 2015
Hundreds Left Without Power after Crash Shears off Power Pole in TF • A2
TF Council to Hold Hearing on Liquor Sales NATHAN BROWN nbrown@magicvalley.com
STEPHEN REISS, TIMES-NEWS
Leo Martins at his home at the intersection of 1702 E 4200 N, the site of an accident in September that killed a 16-yearold girl, on Friday in Buhl.
Deadly Intersection Buhl Residents Want 4-Way Stop ALEX RIGGINS
If You Go
ariggins@magicvalley.com
UHL • Leo Martins can’t forget the B words Rachael Sosa spoke to him shortly before she died in September. “She was halfway conscious,” Martins said of their brief encounter. “She said, ‘I’m hurting real bad, can you please help me?’ That’s what bothered me right there, I couldn’t help her. I just told her, ‘help is on the way.’” Martins lives on the northeast corner of 1700 East and 4200 North, and in more than five decades has had to “cover up” five people killed in crashes at the intersection, he said. But none have had the sting of the Sep. 22 crash that killed Rachael. “She ended up here just 20 feet from my house,” Martins recalled last week. “I went out, because when you hear the sound, you know right then there’s a bad one out there. I went out there and got up to her.” The driver of the car, Rachael’s sister Candice Sosa-Redd, ran the stop sign while heading east on 4200 North, a sheriff’s report said. A semi driving north on 1700 East, which doesn’t have a stop sign at that intersection, hit the car on the passenger side where Rachael was sitting. The vehicle came to a rest in Martins’ yard near an apricot tree. Rachael was flown to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise where she died. “She was 16 years old, a junior in
What: Buhl Highway District Board Meeting Where: 1410 Main St, Buhl When: Monday, 2 p.m. high school,” Martins said. “That’s her prime.” But the crash that killed Rachael was just the latest deadly crash at the intersection. In May 2014, 20-year-old John Henry Towns Jr. failed to stop at the stop sign while heading west and crashed into Anthony Paul Madalena, 60, of Filer who was pronounced dead at the scene. With two deadly crashes within 17 months at the intersection, and decades of memories of other fatal crashes, Martins and others from the Buhl community are finally urging the city to act. “There are about five or six of us that are going to the Buhl Highway District board meeting Monday,” said Dorothy Morris, a member of Buhl’s Northview Ladies Club. “The club’s purpose is a little social club,” Morris said. “But we do things to help the community, usually it’s just financially, but occasionally it’s something like this.” Please see STOP, A5
Please see COUNCIL, A5
STEPHEN REISS, TIMES-NEWS
Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Capt. Tim Miller teaches Buhl High School students defensive driving as part of the ‘Alive at 25’ program on Saturday in Buhl.
County Creates Driving Awareness Campaign MYCHEL MATTHEWS mmatthews@magicvalley.com
WIN FALLS • An alarming number of crashes occur at T country crossroads and the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office wants the trend stopped. The sheriff’s office is working on a campaign to raise drivers’ awareness of the road danger. “We’ve been concerned about the number of crashes at intersections and the highway department also expressed their concerns about needless deaths,” spokeswoman Lori Stewart said. “People need to slow down and pay Please see CAMPAIGN, A5
12 Days of Christmas Songs: ‘Star of Wonder, Star of Night’ MYCHEL MATTHEWS mmatthews@magicvalley.com
TWIN FALLS • Astronomers still debate the explanation of the “yonder star” that led those three kings of Orient to a manger in Bethlehem. Three Magi, according to Matthew in the New Testament, saw a star in the East that signaled the birth of a new king. Could the “Star of Bethlehem” have been a star, meteor, comet or supernova? “There is no universally a g re e d - u p o n a s t ro n o m i cal explanation for the Star of Bethlehem,” said Chris Anderson, coordinator of the Centennial Observatory at the College of Southern Idaho, “although there are a couple of perennial
candidates — both planetary conjunctions — that are frequently cited.” One of these candidates was a series of conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 B.C. Another — Anderson’s favorite explanation — was an incredibly close conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in 2 B.C. Several thousand years ago, astronomy and astrology were one and the same. Man depended on the skies to tell when to plant crops and when to harvest. Man also used signs in the nighttime sky to interpret events. The conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in 2 B.C., Anderson said, was surrounded by astrological symbolism and would have been Please see SONGS, A5
WIN FALLS • The City Council is T scheduled to hold a hearing Monday on whether to let bars stay open until 2 a.m. and whether to allow bars and restaurants serve liquor by the drink on Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and Election Day. Idaho bans the sale of alcohol on those days but lets cities and counties vote to allow it. Currently, patrons can order beer and wine at a restaurant or bar on those days, but not liquor. The latest closing time permitted under state law is 2 a.m., but some cities, including Twin Falls, have laws setting it at 1 a.m. The change would also allow gas stations and other stores to sell alcohol until 2 a.m. The agenda for the regular meeting, which comes before the public hearing, has only a few items but some weighty ones, including discussing the process of electing the mayor, renewing the city’s sanitation contract with PSI Environmental Systems and an update on the Main Avenue redesign. Now, City Council chooses the mayor from among its members. Mayor Don Hall’s term is up at the end of the year, and he has told the Times-News he doesn’t plan to seek another term. Last month, the Council decided to discuss the selection of the next mayor. It floated the idea of switching to a system where the mayor is chosen by the voters. Councilwoman Rebecca Mills Sojka, who narrowly lost her re-election bid,
3 Ways to Interact with ‘El Nuevo Jerome’ Join the conversation about “El Nuevo Jerome,” the special reporting project that concluded Sunday in the Times-News. POST COMMENTS: Find all the stories and photos at Magicvalley. com/jerome, where you can log on to post comments on the stories. The webpage also features the series’ first three installments, which published Aug. 30, Oct. 4 and Nov. 8. LIVE CHAT: From 11:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Magicvalley.com will host a live chat, where you can ask questions for reporters Nathan Brown and Julie Wootton, give your feedback and chat with other readers about the project. Participate in the web chat for free at the top of the Magicvalley.com homepage. SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with the Times-News and its readers at Facebook.com/thetimesnews, or follow @twinfallstn on Twitter.
IF YOU DO ONE THING TODAY …
Buhl Schools’ music department presents its annual enchilada dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. at Buhl High School. Admission: $8 adults, $5 students. THE FORECAST
High Low
33° 22°
Snow Likely. Details on page B3.
THE INDEX DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS
Chris Anderson, Centennial Observatory coordinator at the College of Southern Idaho, on Wednesday runs a computer simulation of a 2 B.C. planetary conjunction, where Venus slipped out of sight behind Jupiter.
Bridge B6 Comics A6 Sudoku B8 Crossword B7 Dear Abby B5 Jumble B5 Obituaries A4
Opinion A7
Monday, December 14, 2015 • A5
Calendar Continued from A1
Hagerman Valley Senior and Community Center
140 E. Lake, Hagerman. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors 60 and older; $7, non-seniors; $3 for children. All take-outs, $6. 208-837-6120. To d ay : S h e p h e rd ’s beef pie Wednesday: Spaghetti F r i d a y : Chicken parmesan Today: Blood draws, 8-10:30 a.m. Thrift Store, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bridge Club We d n e s d ay : Thrift Store, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday: Thrift Store, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Foot clinic Bingo ****
Jerome Senior Center 5 2 0 N. L i n c o l n S t . , Jerome . 208-324-5642. Salad bar at 11:30 a.m.; lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4, seniors (age 60 and older); $5, nonseniors. Today: Lemon chicken over brown rice Tuesday: Lasagna
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attention.” Within the next few months, drivers will be seeing electronic reader boards at targeted crossroads, pointing out upcoming dangers. “We looks at trends and where the crashes are occurring and try to concentrate on those areas,”
Wednesday: Potato bar with chili Thursday: Pepper steak over noodles Friday: Pork chops To d ay : Muscular strength and range o f m ove m e n t c l a ss, 10:30 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. Music by Ricki Lee, 11:30 a.m. Bridge, 12:30 p.m. Bunco, 12:45 p.m. T u e s d ay : Muscular strength and ra n ge o f m ove m e n t class, 10:30 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Wednesday: Breakfast, 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. M u sc u l a r s t re n g t h and range of movement class, 10:30 a.m. Country Boys Band, 11:30 a.m. Women’s pool, 1 p.m. Stitch in Time, 1 p.m. Pinochle, 7 p.m. T h u r s d a y : Yo g a Stretch, 10:30 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Hand and foot, 1 p.m. M u sc u l a r s t re n g t h and range of movement class, 5:20 p.m. Women’s pool, 7 p.m. F r i d ay : Muscular strength and ra n ge o f m ove m e n t class, 10:30 a.m. Pinochle, 1 p.m. Bingo, 6 p.m., doors open at 5 p.m. Sunday: Dance and potluck, 2-5 p.m.; music by Melody Masters ****
Silver and Gold Senior Center 210 E. Wilson, Eden. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4.50, seniors (age 60 and older); $6, nonseniors; $3.50, children 3 to 10. 208-825-5662. Tuesday: Coffee, 7 a.m. Spaghetti We d n e s d ay : Bible study, 7 a.m. Breakfast, 8 a.m. Coffee and visit with Jerome County Sheriff’s Department, 8 a.m. Thursday: Coffee, 7 a.m. Ham with trimmings (Christmas, birthday and anniversary dinner) ****
Richfield Senior Center 130 S. Main, Richfield. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4, seniors; $5.50, under 60. Today: Tuna casserole Thursday: Hamburger with sliced cheese ****
Golden Years Senior Citizens Inc. 218 N. Rail St. W., Shoshone. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4, seniors 60 and older; $5.50, nonseniors. 208-886-2369. Tuesday: Beef stew Wednesday: Sausage
“Teenagers have this sense of invincibility. They think they know everything. But we learn more the longer we drive.” Capt. Tim Miller, Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office
Capt. Tim Miller said. Hot spots for crashes are in the area between Filer and Buhl, and north of Kimberly. “The campaign to raise awareness is in its infancy,” Stewart said. But one element of the campaign
— a driving safety course for inexperienced drivers — has begun. Once a month, Miller teaches a course for young drivers called “Alive at 25.” “Teenagers have this sense of invincibility,” he
gravy and biscuit Friday: Ham Today: Quilting, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. T u e s d a y : Pinochle, 1 p.m. Friday: Pinochle, 1 p.m. ****
Camas County Senior Center 129 Willow Ave. W., Fairfield. Breakfast, 7:30-11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $4, seniors 60 and older; $5, non-seniors; $2.50, children 10 and younger. 208764-2226. Tuesday: Chicken strips We d n e s d a y : H a m and beans Friday: Ham dinner T u e s d ay : Exercise class, 9 a.m. Quilting, 10 a.m. Preschool carolers Cards after lunch Wednesday: Exercise class, 9 a.m. Blood pressure clinic, 11:30 a.m. Cards after lunch T h u r s d ay : Art class, 10 a.m. Friday: Exercise, 9 a.m. Quilting, 10 a.m. Music by Old Time Fiddlers Cards after lunch ****
Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors; $7, non-seniors. 208-7883468. Today: Baked potato bar T u e s d ay : M u s ta rd crusted pork roast W e d n e s d a y : Beef fajitas Thursday: Turkey Friday: Fish and chips To d ay : Fit and Fall Proof exercise, 11 a.m. C o n n e c t i o n Club, 11 a.m. Trip to Hunger Coalition, 1 p.m. Tuesday: Connection Club, 11 a.m. Bingo, 1 p.m. We d n e s d ay : Board meeting, 8:30 a.m. Fit and Fall Proof, 11 a.m. K i w a n i s lunch, 11:30 a.m. Thursday: Connection Club, 11 a.m. Card games, 1 p.m. Fr iday: Connection Club, 11 a.m. Fit and Fall Proof, 11 a.m. ****
Swiss steak Thursday: Pork chops Friday: Roast beef T h u r s d a y : Pinochle, 6 p.m. Friday: Bingo, 7 p.m. ****
Golden Heritage Senior Center 2421 Overland Ave., Burley. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors and children 12 and younger; $6, non-seniors.208-878-8646. Today: Pork chops Tuesday: Chili Wednesday: Roast beef T h u r s d ay : Malibu chicken Friday: Meatloaf Today: Chair yoga, 1 p.m. Tuesday: AA meeting, 1 p.m. Bingo, 6:45 p.m. We d n e s d ay : Chair yoga, 1 p.m. T h u r s d ay : Art class, 1 p.m. AA meeting, 1 p.m. ****
Minidoka Albion Senior County Senior Citizens Center Center
721 Third Ave. S., Hailey.
702 11th St., Rupert. Lunch at noon. Suggested donation: $5, seniors; $6, non-seniors; $3, children 10 and younger; $4.50, home delivery. 208-436-9107. Today: Malibu chicken T u e s d ay : Tips and noodles W e d n e s d a y :
424 Market St., Albion. Open Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m .; lunch at noon. Suggested donation, $5 seniors, $5 non-seniors. Take-out available ($8.50), call by 11:30 a.m. 208-6736210. Wednesday: Christmas dinner
said. “They think they know everything. But we learn more the longer we drive.” The first year for a newly licensed teenage driver is the most dangerous, with more than one in five involved in crashes, according to national statistics. In Twin Falls County, the course is free, and participation is often court ordered. But anyone between the ages of 15 and 24 can take the course.
Designed by the National Safety Council, the 4½ hour driver’s awareness course includes defensivedriving, decision-making and responsibility-taking skills. But experienced drivers can cause crashes too. “I see a lot of complacency in drivers,” Miller said. “We become used to seeing the same thing over and over, and our awareness diminishes. We pull
up to a stop sign and look without seeing, then roll on through.” In 2014, 729 crashes occurred in the county and 368 in Twin Falls. Of the total, 518 were injury crashes. And of 14 total fatalities, 11 were on country roads where speed limits are higher. “Even if they don’t have a stop sign, drivers should look both ways,” Stewart said. “And slow down.”
Blaine County Senior Center
STEPHEN REISS, TIMES-NEWS
The intersection of 1702 E 4200 N, the site of an accident in September that killed a 16-yearold girl, on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, in Buhl.
STEPHEN REISS, TIMES-NEWS
Leo Martins at his home at the intersection of 1702 E 4200 N, the site of an accident in September that killed a 16-year-old girl, on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, in Buhl. Martins found the girl’s vehicle by the apricot tree in his yard.
Stop
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What the ladies club and Martins are lobbying for is to make the intersection a four-way stop instead of just a stop for vehicles traveling east and west. With 50 mph speed limits on both roads, and poor visibility when there are tall crops growing, Martins and Morris say the intersection is particularly dangerous. “It’s really gotten bad the last two years,” Martins said. “People use this road to get to work in Twin Falls. From 6 to 10 in the morning it’s extremely bad.”
Songs Continued from A1
closely watched by the Magi — Zoroastrian priests of ancient Persia. The sight of the planetary conjunction would have been far less impressive visually than typically portrayed, he said, as Jupiter disappeared behind
Council Continued from A1
said on Newsradio 1310 last month that she supports direct election of the mayor and wants to push for that in her last days in office. The current city contract with PSI expires at the end
John Zamora, the director of the Buhl Highway District, said he’s listening to the community’s concerns and has ordered a safety audit that will take into consideration the intersection’s traffic volume, sight distance and five-year crash data. “For the time being, we’ve installed advanced warning signs and larger stop signs while we perform the safety audit,” Zamora said. T h e l a rge , ye l l ow advanced warning signs are about 100 yards from the intersection and warn drivers on both sides of 4200 North that a stop sign
is upcoming. There is no timetable set for when the safety audit will be complete, but Zamora said an outside government organization will be brought in to determine the intersection’s traffic volume and sight distance. That evaluation will take just a day, but a final analysis and decision will take longer as results of the crash data is considered. “We’ve had those two deaths, so we take that very seriously,” Zamora said. “We’ll take into account the particulars, the details of each accident, and then make a decision.”
Venus. The event would not have been something many people would have noticed, except for the Anderson Magi, who were knowledgeable astronomers. With the aid of an astronomy software program,
Anderson reproduced the night sky exactly as it was at one point in 2 B.C. In the simulation, Jupiter, “King of the Planets,” slips behind Venus, “the Mother” near Regulus, “King of the Stars,” in the constellation of Leo, “King of the Beasts.” “It couldn’t be shouting ‘King’ more loudly,” he said. Thus, the “King of Kings” was born.
of the year, and city staff is recommending the Council accept an addendum to continue services through next September to give the city and PSI time to investigate and propose service options to include in a 10-year contract. The regular Council meeting is scheduled to
start at 5 p.m. and the hearings at 6 p.m. Before the hearing on liquor laws, there will be one on a proposed zoning change to allow for commercial/office development on a parcel on Addison Avenue East. The meeting agenda and related materials are available online at tfid.org.
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