New clinic coming to Grace
At last week’s City Council meeting, the council was joined by Kent Loosle, CEO of the Caribou Medical Center, members of the CMC team, and a number of doctors living in Grace to announce the acquisition of land for a planned clinic coming to town sometime in the near future. “We’ve met with the architects. We want to design the facility through the winter, then begin construction when the weather changes in the spring,” Loosle said.
According to a press release, as well as comments made during the meeting, CMC anticipates holding a groundbreaking ceremony in early 2025. The current plan is to give the health-care providers living in Grace the spotlight at the groundbreaking. Loosle called attention to the benefits of having local residents provide the health care to patients. “I’ve been a lot of different places, and it’s not often that you get a chance to have your neighbors be the ones taking care of you. It’s also great that people will be able to stay here in town and have access to health care—to all the services that people need,” he said.
The clinic will be located just south of the city park in Grace,
where the old Blue Bell/Lunch Express restaurant was in the past.
The press release states: “The announcement of the new Grace Clinic comes at a time during which CMC is making positive changes to its organization and culture, which changes are reflected in the care of its patients and commitment to the communities of Caribou County as well as neighboring counties. As always, CMC is committed to providing healthcare and improving access to healthcare wherever possible.
CMC proudly offers care in the following service lines: 24/7 Emergency Room Services; Primary Care; Surgical Services including Orthopedic, Pain and Spine, Urology, Women’s Services, Inpatient Care, Swing Bed, Chemotherapy, Imaging, and Laboratory. We hope to expand these service lines in the future as the needs of Caribou County residents grow and change.
CMC is working hand in hand with local leaders, including Grace Mayor Jackie Barthlome, to make sure the building plans best encompass the needs of the community, including ensuring the walkways
and parking lots are safe for residents. Mayor Barthlome wants to keep Grace citizens’ best interest in mind throughout the project and has said she is ‘so excited to see the clinic brought to our community so we can bring care closer to home for our citizens.’
The entire team at CMC is excited to continue to serve the community of Grace with this new facility.”
During the meeting, Mayor Barthlome noted that there were at least 33 people living in the Grace area who worked at the hospital. Some of them would presumably be moving to the clinic, depending on how employee resources were allocated. Firm plans for the staffing and administration of the clinic have not been finalized or released at present.
Councilmember Curtis Toone, who also serves on the CMC board, stated that “the best thing we did as a board was to bring Kent Loosle on board. As many as 700 hospitals in towns our size have been shut down, but he is doing wonderful things here.”
Galen Wilson becomes licensed apprentice with Sims
Brad Horsley, Sims Funeral Home
We at Sims Funeral Home are happy to announce that after a year of working along side the other caring staff of the funeral home, Galen Wilson is now a licensed apprentice with us. Galen has been such a great addition to Sims Funeral Home. We are grateful to have such a wonderful person to help take care of the people of Caribou County and surrounding areas. Anyone that knows Galen knows that he loves his community and is always willing to serve.
Galen Wilson was born and raised in Soda Springs. He attended Soda Springs High School graduating in 1973. Galen was active in sports and enjoyed participating in student government. Galen began working at Monsanto in 1974 after a year of college at BYU. Galen was able to work in many positions and redesign teams during his 42 1/2 year career retiring in December 2016. Galen met his eternal companion, Joy Ellen Godfrey and was married in the Logan Temple in June 1976. They have lived in Soda Springs since then. Galen has enjoyed his opportunity to help Joy's
father and brother on their farm, driving trucks and taking Joy on some of the long hauls. They have four beautiful daughters that have given them 15 grandchildren with three granddaughters recently married. Galen is actively participating in the Caribou Historical Society, the Caribou Medical Center Foundation, the Caribou Development Foundation and is active in church. He has enjoyed following his grandchildren as they have
participated in sports and dance. Galen enjoys being outside, especially camping and helping his son-in-law with his Cross Country activities. It has given him the opportunity to be involved with a lot of great kids.
“I never thought that I would have the opportunity to work at a mortuary helping members of our community. It has been a wonderful experience and I have enjoyed helping wherever possible,” Wilson said.
Wildfire near Stanley almost doubled in size over the weekend
Evacuation orders remain in place as the Wapiti Fire in Custer County nearly doubled in size over the weekend. According to the National Interagency Fire Center and East Idaho News, the fire grew from 35,000 acres on Friday to 68,457 on Sunday with 0% containment. The fire started on July 24th when a lightning strike created sparks near Grandjean. Highway 21 was closed by county officials to allow for fire management. The Custer County Sheriff's Office evacuated residents near Stanley Lake on Friday, and encouraged other residents to prepare to leave if the conditions worsened.
At least 170 dead from weeks of flooding in Nigeria
After weeks of flooding in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, at least 170 are dead and more than 200,000 are displaced. According to the National Emergency Management Authority, Northern Nigeria has been hit the hardest by the floods. Other parts of the country are still at risk as the two largest rivers, the Niger and the Benue continue to rise. Nigeria is prone to floods during the rainy season, but this year floods have been reported in areas where flooding is considered rare. Poor drainage infrastructure has been partially blamed by environmentalists for causing the flooding. The recent flooding has injured 2,000 people and destroyed 100,000 hectares of farmland.
World’s oldest man celebrates 112th birthday John Alfred Tinniswood, who was born the same year the Titanic Sank and Arizona and New Mexico became U.S. States, celebrates his 112th birthday. Tinniswood is now the world’s oldest living man. According to Guinness World Records, Tinniswood is celebrating with friends and family at his care home in the Western English seaside town of Southport. According to a news release Tinniswood said, “I don’t feel that age, I don’t get excited over it. That’s probably why I’ve reached it. I just take it in my stride like anything else”. He is also the world’s oldest surviving World War II veteran. Tinniswood is four years away from being the oldest man ever.
14,000 trout being released by Fish and Game in Southeastern Idaho According to East Idaho News, personnel from Idaho Fish and Game’s hatcheries will be releasing over 14,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout at various locations in September. Some of these locations include: Bannock Reservoir - 1,000 rainbow trout, Bear River below Oneida dam - 1,500 rainbow trout, Crowthers Reservoir - 1,100 rainbow trout, Crystal Springs Pond- 1,000 rainbow trout, Devil Creek Reservoir - 5,150 rainbow trout, Deep Creek Reservoir - 500 rainbow trout, Edson Fisher Pond - 1,000 rainbow trout, Montpelier Reservoir - 1,200 rainbow trout.
The location of the clinic scheduled to begin construction in Grace next year. The location is just south of the City Park.
Galen Wilson and his family. Wilson is working with Sims Funeral Home as a licensed apprentice.
NEW CLINIC On Page 2
Soda Springs Youth Service Mission
Caribou Historical Society
On Thursday, August 15th, Bill Horsley and Galen Wilson from the Caribou Historical Society worked together with Elder and Sister Porter and their counselors, Elder and Sister Stringham, Elder and Sister Whitesides and Elder and Sister Portela and the Service Missionaries currently serving in the Soda Springs Youth Service Mission on a service project of cleaning up the Pioneer Cedar Cemetery in Soda Springs.
The project started with Bill and Galen telling them a little about the history of the cemetery. It is unknown why the settlers in Soda Springs determined that it would be a good location for a cemetery, especially with all the formation rock in the area and the distance it was from the center of Soda Springs. Bill explained how the cemetery was relocated to the current site of the Fairview Cemetery. The Service Missionaries then went to work on cleaning each of the many gravesites. They use lawn trimmers, shrub trimmers, rakes and brute strength in cutting the grass, weeds and branches at each gravesite. They were amazed at number of gravesites that were spread out around the cemetery. Some of the gravesites have had new headstones put in place by
the family marking the grave.
Some of the fenced off gravesites do not have any markers. It would be interesting to know the history of that site. It was a wonderful experience working with these youth and leaders helping to clean the cemetery making it more appealing for those that would like to walk through it. One of the Service Missionaries made the comment that it was his Ward Young Men group that made the large Pioneer Cemetery sign as you enter the cemetery. Sister Stringham wanted to know where the Hopkins family gravesite is located as it is part of her family. That made it even more personal to clean up the gravesites.
We are very thankful for these youths and the service that they provide for our area. The youth Elders and Sisters serving in the Soda Springs Youth Service Mission live in McCammon, Grace, Soda Springs, Star Valley, Montpelier and other surrounding communities. After they had completed the service project, they drove to Octagon Springs to have lunch and have a drink of the water. While they were eating, Galen told them more about the springs in the area and a little about the history of the geyser and Soda Springs. We look forward to working with them in the future on more service projects.
New clinic coming to Grace
continued from front page
Loosle demurred, stating, “It’s a whole team effort. Everyone here has helped get us to where we are. Not everyone has the understanding that a small hospital can provide very good care. I believe that when the care is more personalized, it’s better care. That’s why we want to support our local services as much as possible.”
The CMC has been conducting need surveys over the last years, gauging what kinds of service expansions make the most sense to local patients and clients. The expansion into Grace is in line with the CMC’s goals of creating a service environment that is responsive and localized to the needs of all the members of
its community. Kent Loosle said, “We plan to provide the same great care to all of the areas we serve. We are proud to serve our neighbors, our friends, our community every day as our healthcare needs evolve and change. This new chapter reflects our plans to grow and provide additional services.”
As the project moves forward, we will update readers on any changes to the specifics or calendar of the new clinic. A clinic is a vital service to any community, and along with the Event Center, which is beginning initial construction soon, Grace is rapidly adding to its infrastructure inventory.
GRACE SCHOOL DISTRICT #148 Early Childhood Screening for Children Ages 3-5 By Appointment
Screenings will be conducted in the areas of speech/ language/hearing, fine/ gross motor skills, social/ emotional development and pre-academic skills. Parents who are concerned about the development of their child between the ages of 3 and 5 are encouraged to have them screened. The screening is free of charge. Please contact Jasey Hagen at Grace Elementary, 307-680-0958, to schedule an appointment. Screenings will be conducted August- September by appointment.
Landscaping, general cleanup, and other tasks were performed at the cemetery.
The youth Elders and Sisters serving in the Soda Springs Youth Service Mission live in McCammon, Grace, Soda Springs, Star Valley, Montpelier and other surrounding communities.
Recently, Service Missionaries from the Soda Springs Youth Service Mission joined the Caribou Historical Society to clean the Pioneer Cedar Cemetery.
Kent Loosle, CMC CEO, spoke to the Grace City Council last week, when the clinic was officially announced.
SEICAA Golf Tournament raises funds for Home Heating Security
The annual Project Warmth Classic, a five-person golf scramble tournament held at the Oregon Trail Country Club, is SEICAA’s largest and longest-running effort to build an energy assistance fund and assist impoverished individuals with outstanding heating costs. While the tournament was not held during COVID, it has otherwise been a yearly event since its inception in 1993.
Entry fees of $50 per player ($250 per team) are used toward the energy assistance fund, and the prizes given out for the tournament are donated from a large number of local and regional businesses, organizations, and individuals.
While no one claimed the “Hole in One” prize, City of Soda Springs Team 3 (Hansen, Beardall and Beardall) came in first place, tied with the team from Bayer (J. Bartlome, S. Bartlome, N. Potter, Jesse A., and T. Allen). Teams from Intermountain Gas (J. Murphy, B. Lance, K. Crystal, A. Snyder, and J. Snyder) and Vaughan Smith Construction (P. Hillaker, G. Hillaker, R. Hadlock, L. Stringham, and T. Shurtliff) tied for third.
Project Warmth is an initiative that has been a part of the local
SEICAA effort for many years, and provides a considerable amount of the funding necessary to maintain the energy assistance program. The program allows those with limited financial means to apply for energy assistance to help with home heating costs, especially during Idaho’s long winters. The program has been enormously successful in the area, and has contributed to the quality of life for many Caribou County residents.
SEICAA serves seven counties in southeast Idaho—Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, and Power. With regard to its mission, the organization states, “SEICAA is dedicated to providing opportunity and support for individuals and communities to thrive and reach their fullest potential, promoting self-sufficiency and greater economic independence through services, education, affordable housing and training.”
SEICAA is one of the over a thousand Community Action Agencies across the country which work to support community members in similar ways.
Executive director Joe Borich was on site to draw names for the raffle, and announce the winners
of this year’s tournament. Joining him were SEICAA employees Erica Farnes and Patrick Perry.
“The wind was pretty harsh out there,” Joe Borich said. “But we didn’t get rained out, so that’s a win.” Indeed, gusts were fairly consistent throughout the morning and afternoon, making the play even more of a challenge than usual. Nonetheless, it’s very much worth it, according to Borich.
“Volunteer and support is literally amazing here in Caribou County,” he said.
“This money goes a long way to replenishing the warmth fund,” Patrick Perry added. “Every dollar raised through this stays here in Caribou.”
Every year is a different set of economic and other circumstances, but Borich, Perry, and Farnes anticipated that like most years, the amount raised would fall between 5 and ten thousand dollars for the program.
The City of Soda had two other teams represented. Other teams included Willard House, Sims, SEICAA, Team Owen, Shim -
mick, Cache Davids, Itafos, and A+ Contractors.
Ryan Farnes and Nikki Hansen won the longest drive honors. Kevin Fay was recognized for the longest putt. Justin Painter was given the closest to the pin award.
A large number of prizes and raffle items were donated by the community and other supporting parties. As participants gathered in the clubhouse following the tournament, prizes were given out by way of raffle. In addition to the cash prize, many gift certificates, items, services, and other valuables were raffled.
Pizza Pie Café, Vaughan Smith Construction, Quick Stop, Intermountain Gas, Rapid Car Wash, Star Physical Therapy, Lallatins,nGrease Monkey, Jiffy Lube, Buffalo Wild Wings, Soda Sip, Jeri Seelos, Caribou Medical Center, Soda Springs Floral, Mountain View Dental, Soda Smiles, Texas Roadhouse, Firehouse Subs, and others contributed to the raffle. Apologies to any sponsor left off the list accidentally.
CHILD FIND Thirkill
Elementary
August 29, 2024 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Child Find is a service that finds and screens preschool children's growth and development, and informs older students with delays of available services.
It is important to ask questions about your child's development when he/she is young, since that is the time of the greatest growth and development.
Preschool skills of thinking, moving, and talking form the foundation for later school success.
Does your child:
* have difficulty interacting appropriately with peers?
* have difficulty following/remembering directions?
* become restless or have an excessive activity level?
* have speech difficulties?
* have behavior which differs significantly from peers?
If these or other areas of behaviors concern you, contact Thirkill Elementary School at 208-547-4426 about our screening program and services available to those that quality for special education.
Tied for first in the Project Warmth tournament was Team Bayer.
Erica Farnes, Patrick Perry, and Joe Borich of SEICAA.
Some of the many raffle donations at the tournament over the weekend.
The Shaw and Golightly members of Soda Springs City Team #1.
While only a three person team, City Of Soda Team 3 (Hansen and Beardall) tied for the top spot.
SENIOR CITIZENS’ CORNER September 2024
Fall is just around the corner!
Many of us have enjoyed gardening this summer and now have an abundance of produce. Begin the canning/freezing process now to save both time and money. Doing so early can also help avoid any food waste. Can fruits and vegetables such as asparagus, peaches, pears, apples, etc. Quickly blanch, dry, and freeze batches of corn on the cob, carrots, vegetable mixes, peppers, etc. Fruits that require little work include berries. Wash them, pat dry, place in a freezer-safe storage bag, and freeze! Take out minutes before enjoying on top or mixed in a cake, yogurt, cottage cheese, or smoothie. Fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, mint, oregano, and basil can be rinsed, laid out to dry on a paper towel, crushed, and stored in an airtight container for months to be used at a later time. Get creative with your garden’s harvest and enjoy the fresh produce before the colder months start rolling in!
Perfect Portions
Did you know you can estimate portion sizes using just your hands? Learning about proper portion sizes can seem overwhelming, but if you can adopt the following visual to help you better understand portions, you’ll learn it’s easier than you think!
Fruits & Veggies: A serving of fruits and veggies is about 1 cup, or the size of your fist. This includes both cooked and fresh produce. Starchy veggies such as beans, legumes, corn, peas, and potatoes should be measured as a carbohydrate or grain (see below).
Starchy Veggies & Grains: A good portion size for starchy veggies and grains is about ½ cup, or one cupped handful. Nuts and seeds also fit into this category! Whole grains include brown rice, quinoa, barley, oatmeal, or cereal. The exception to this is all types of bread. Instead of using your hands to portion out bread, read the food label to see what the proper serving size is.
Protein: 4 ounces of protein is a good serving size and generally measures out to be 20-30 grams of protein per serving. A good visual of this is about the size of your palm. Chicken, beef, fish, eggs, pork, wild game, and other lean meat sources are all considered lean protein.
Fats/Oils: Most serving size recommendations for fats and oils (besides nuts and seeds) is about 1 teaspoon, which can visually be compared to the size of your finger tip. Butter and oils (olive, canola, peanut, etc) fit into this category.
Of course, not all foods are created equal. This tool is used as an estimate! Cheese, yogurt, and other dairy foods aren’t listed here, but equally have their own serving size recommendation. Reading food labels is the perfect way to determine proper serving size of foods if you’re ever in question!
Ingredients:
2 ripe avocados
September 16th is National Guacamole Day! Take advantage of your fresh harvest and add them to avocados for a fresh, inexpensive, protein-packed snack!
One avocado contains about 4 grams of protein, and is rich in fiber and vitamin C.
GUACAMOLE
2 roma tomatoes - minced
1 small onion (any color) - minced
1 pepper (jalapeno, serrano, anaheim, etc.)
- minced
1 lime - juiced
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro - minced Salt & pepper to taste
Directions: Peel and smash avocados in a large bowl. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix well, enjoy!
- Peppers can be deveined or seeds taken out to reduce heat
CARIBOU COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS' MENU
Every meal served with Juice/Milk/ Coffee
Aug. 30 - Beef Stroganoff, Beets, Pears, Potato Bread, Pistachio Cake
Sept. 4 - Meatloaf w/Baked Potato, Green Beans, Bananas, Potato Bread
Sept. 6 - Chicken Pot Pie, Apples, Jell-O Cake
Sept. 11 - Grilled Ham & Cheese w/ Tomato, Mandarins in Jell-O, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie
Sept. 13 - Chicken Noodle Casserole, Normandy Veggies, Apricots,
Oatmeal Bread, Birthday Cake & Ice Cream (In-House Only)
Sept. 18 - Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Applesauce, Dilly Bread, Pecan Cookie
Sept. 20 - Sloppy Joe's, Coleslaw, Orange, Banana Bars
Sept. 25 - Chicken Curry w/Rice, Pineapple, White Bread, Cooks Choice Dessert
Sept. 27 - Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Peaches, Sourdough Bread, Chocolate Sheetcake
Falls Prevention Awareness Month Strives to Increase Awareness and Reduce Falls in Idaho
Idaho Commission on Aging
The Falls Prevention Coalition of Idaho (FPC-ID), a program under Idaho Commission on Aging (ICOA), is celebrating Falls Prevention Awareness Month in September. FPC-ID strives to bring awareness and education to Idaho’s communities regarding the incidence and impact of falls, including the physical, emotional, social, and financial costs. By raising awareness, falls risk reduction strategies can be created and implemented to reduce falls in public and private spaces. Individuals can gain knowledge and skills, allowing them to make choices that reduce their risk of falling.
”Most of us know what a fall is. What we don’t realize is the extent to which a fall can impact everyone from the individual to entire communities,” said Erin Olsen, founder of the FPCID. “Falls can happen to everyone, of every age, and result in costs not only
financially but physically and socially that can last a lifetime. Fortunately, most falls are preventable, if we are aware of the risks and know strategies to prevent them,” she explained.
To address these issues, ICOA and the FPC-ID, its members and partners, are providing a variety of community outreach and educational events. Seven virtual seminars are being offered which are designed for families, caregivers, individuals, community partners, and healthcare professionals. Several in-person events are also occurring statewide. The seminar schedule and a resource library can be found at www.aging.idaho.gov/falls. Erin Olsen is available for comment and interviews.
“ICOA has a strong history of providing resources to assist Idahoans to age successfully, “Erin Olsen continued, “ We’re proud to coordinate Falls Prevention Awareness Month for the 5th year. We look forward to providing
the educational events and resources that will allow Idahoans to stay healthy, stay safe, and stay at home by remaining falls-free.”
The Falls Prevention Coalition of Idaho (FPC-ID) is a program under the Idaho Commission on Aging, dedicated to building a coalition of public and private organizations who share the vision of reducing falls for Idahoans. The coalition was founded in 2022 and currently has 86 members. It works on outreach, public and professional education, professional practice, trip hazard remediation, and research as they relate to falls and falls prevention.
The ICOA administers state and federally funded programs under the Older Americans Act OAA and the State Senior Services Act by contracting with six Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). The AAAs provide aOAA services as well as Idaho’s Ombudsman and Adult Protection programs. The National Council on Aging (NCOA)
is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. NCOA believes how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or zip code.
Working with thousands of national and local partners, NCOA provides resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, NCOA is the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more at ncoa.org and @NCOAging.
A virtual seminar, “Why Falls Matter and How to Prevent Them” will be held from 12:30-2:00 p.m. on September 3. Registration is free, but required at www.aging.idaho.gov/falls. This will be followed by seminars on related topic on Septmeber 10 (“Steps to Improve Balance and Prevent Falls”) and 13 (“Demonstrated & Described Yoga Improves Balance and Strength”).
Why Falls Matter in Idaho
Falls are #1 Cause of
Idaho 2020: EMS Falls Assistance Request Age 65+ Approx. 6,000
Falls are 2.5x more likely to cause injury than car crashes
Impaired Vision 2x Fall Risk
IFG and Cody Allen recognized with awards
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
At the recent Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) summer conference in Stevenson, Washington, both the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and an Idaho Fish and Game officer from southeast Idaho received awards for their outstanding service and dedication to Idaho’s wildlife resource.
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission was recognized as WAFWA’s Commission of the Year for 2024, and Southeast Regional Investigator Cody Allen received the PogueElms Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award.
Commission of the Year Award
Considering that there were commissions from 24 states and several Canadian provinces being considered for the Commission of the Year award, it is an incredible honor for Idaho’s Fish and Game Commission to be recognized in such a big way.
“This award was such a surprise— definitely did not see this coming,” says Southeast Region Fish and Game Commissioner Jordan Cheirrett who was at the WAFWA meeting where the award was announced. Cheirrett who resides in Soda Springs is one of the seven commissioners appointed by Idaho’s governor to administer the fish and game policy of the state.
According to WAFWA, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission was selected for this award in part for its “exceptional oversight and guidance through challenging wildlife management issues in 2023 and recent years. They’ve been required to make policy decisions on several complex and high-stake issues including chronic wasting disease, salmon and steelhead management, and wolf management.”
It was also in 2023 when Idaho had its first detection of quagga mussels in the Snake River, prompting an imme-
diate response from the commission to close hunting, fishing, and trapping in certain places in order to facilitate treatment and prevent spread to other waters.
WAFWA also touted the Fish and Game Commission’s “extraordinary commitment to serve, a passion for fish and wildlife, and a willingness to listen and learn from each other, the public, and staff. Civility and professionalism characterize the Commission. Every member is well informed and interested in wildlife conservation and restoration.”
The Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners serving during the 2023 time period for which the award was conferred were:
• Ron Davies of Clayton, Commission Chairman, representing the Salmon Region
• Dave Bobbitt of Coeur d’ Alene, representing the Panhandle Region
• Don Ebert of Weippe, representing the Clearwater Region
• Tim Murphy of Boise, representing the Southwest Region
• Greg Cameron of Rupert, representing the Magic Valley Region
• Jordon Cheirrett of Soda Springs, representing the Southeast Region
• Derick Attebury of Idaho Falls, representing the Upper Snake Region, who after serving the maximum of two terms has been recently replaced by Brody Harshbarger of Ashton.
“We do have a great group of commissioners who work together to ask the tough questions in order to get to the right answers,” Cheirrett added. “And, Idaho Fish and Game has been top notch-- setting us up to succeed in our efforts. We work as a team with them and the sportsmen of Idaho, and together we will have a lasting effect on Idaho’s wildlife.”
When asked about how he feels serving on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, Cheirrett enthusiastically responded, “This is hands down the
BRAIN TEASERS
best thing I have ever done professionally. My biggest reward is working with concerned sportsmen to resolve challenges. Sometimes we are successful, and that’s especially rewarding when that happens.”
Pogue-Elms Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award
Cody Allen has worked as a conservation officer in Idaho Fish and Game’s Southeast Region for 12 years. Since becoming the regional investigator in 2017, he has been an instrumental part of every major wildlife-related criminal investigation in southeast Idaho from doing initial undercover work to the filing of criminal charges.
The cases are often extensive, complicated investigations involving many search warrants, multiple felony indictments, misdemeanor charges, and sometimes coordination with other states’ wildlife agencies.
One recent noteworthy investigation he helped bring to completion was a multi-year, multi-state commercial wildlife trafficking case resulting in multiple felony charges and over one hundred thousand dollars in fines and restitution.
Allen is known for his outstanding investigative skills, specifically in regards to digital media. His peers remark that his ability to collect evidence from cell phone data, social media sites, and computer storage is second to none, and he is largely regarded as the state subject matter expert on cell phone investigations. He is also known for his willingness to work collaboratively with conservation officers in the Southeast Region as well as other regions when his special skills are needed.
Graduating from Utah State University in Logan with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Science and an advanced degree in Watershed Science, Allen says he chose an enforcement career with Idaho Fish and Game because it combined his love of wildlife with a desire to be challenged
in unique ways. Allen says,“I always felt drawn to work with wildlife in some aspect. I chose this career because it constantly offers new challenges and a high degree of variability. Each day brings something different allowing me to adapt and keep my work exciting,” You could say that Allen got what he asked for. It is no secret that the day in the life of a conservation officer is dynamic and unpredictable with no such thing as set “office hours”. Wildlife emergencies and wildlife crimes can happen during the middle of the night, on holidays, in inconvenient locations, and during the most inclement weather conditions, often interrupting an officer’s downtime and family life.
“My family deserves a special thanks,” comments Allen. “My beautiful wife and kids are the motivation for everything I do. They are all very patient with me, and they are my support system.”
The Pogue-Elms Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award honors Idaho Fish and Game officers Bill Pogue and Conley Elms who were killed in January 1981 while trying to arrest poacher Claude Dallas in the remote Owyhee River country of southwestern Idaho. The WAFWA website says that this award acknowledges “contributions to fish and wildlife law enforcement; exceptional leadership, skill, or ingenuity in the performance of their duty; contributions to areas of applied technology in fish and wildlife enforcement; and/or contributions that brought credit to their agency or the field of fish and wildlife enforcement that were unique or original.”
“I am extremely honored to be selected for this award,” Allen says. “The fact the award is named in the memory of Bill Pogue and Conley Elms is very humbling for me. They gave their lives for wildlife conservation, and all game wardens are doing the work to protect that legacy."
EVENT CALENDARS
SODA SPRINGS/ CARIBOU COUNTY
August 29 – Thursday
Catholic Daily Mass (6:30pm)
IDAN-HA Movie
VB @ Aberdeen (TMS)
XC @ Star Valley
August 30 – Friday
Caribou County Senior Dinner
Bridge @ The Senior Center
Catholic Daily Mass (9am)
IDAN-HA Movie
FB w/Ririe
August 31 – Saturday
IDAN-HA Movie
VB @ Ririe Tournament
September 1 – Sunday
Presbyterian Services
Caribou Bible Church Services
Catholic Mass (8:30am)
Open Arms Church Services
LDS Services
Hope Lutheran Church
September 2 – Monday
Labor Day!
Catholic Daily Mass (9am)
September 3 – Tuesday
Caribou Quilt Club (10am)
September 4 – Wednesday
Caribou County Senior Dinner
Pinochle @ The Senior Center
Catholic Daily Mass (9am)
Children Story Time @ Library
10:30am or 11:30am
IDAN-HA Movie
FB w/Aberdeen & Bear Lake (TMS)
VB @ Grace (TMS)
Back to School Night City Council (5pm)
September 5 – Thursday
Catholic Daily Mass (6:30pm)
IDAN-HA Movie
County P&Z (7pm)
VB @ Grace
GRACE
August 29 – Thursday
XC @ Malad JH VB @ MV w/West Side
August 30 – Friday VB @ Cokeville Tournament
FB @ Raft River
September 1 – Sunday
LDS Services
September 2 – Monday
Labor Day!
Preschool Story Hour @ Library 10:30am
September 4 – Wednesday
JH VB w/Soda Springs JH FB @ Westside City Council (6pm)
September 5 – Thursday VB w/Soda Springs JH VB @ American Falls
BANCROFT
August 29 – Thursday VB w/Challis
August 30 – Friday Booster Club Chili Cook Off (4pm)
August 31 – Saturday VB w/Hansen & Aberdeen
September 1 – Sunday LDS Services
September 3 – Tuesday
MS VB @ Rockland School Board Meeting (6:30pm)
September 4 – Wednesday MS FB w/Challis
BIRTHDAYS
Helen Rae Ridge, Aug. 4
Ruth Mayne, Aug. 4
Merna Christensen, Aug. 4
Randy Nelson, Aug. 5
KC Crump, Aug. 7
Robert Alleman, Aug. 8
Steve Somsen, Aug. 8
Kathy Martinsen, Aug. 9
Penni Kadel, Aug. 13
Gene Gummersall, Aug. 13
Bill Vandergriff, Aug. 14
Susan Bolton, Aug. 16
Chance Hawker, Aug. 16
Cheryl Thompson, Aug. 16
Gayla Godfrey, Aug. 20
Lynn Crossley, Aug. 22
Pete Petersen, Aug. 24
Judy Pabst, Aug. 26
Terry Anderson, Aug. 26
Larry Anderson, Aug. 26
Lori Peoples, Aug. 26
Diane Prahl, Aug. 28
Diana Koller, Aug. 31
If you would like to add yourself, your kids, loved one, friend or family member to our weekly birthday list, contact Sherrie at 208-766-4773 or email sherrie.w@idahoenterprise.com
LUNCH MENUS
Lunches
Tuesday, September 3
Chicken Strips, Chips, Fruit, Veggies
Wednesday, September 4
Soft Flour Taco, Beans, Fruit, Veggies
Tuesday, September 3
Mini Calzones, Sunshine Carrots, Apricots
Wednesday, September 4
Shepherd’s Pie w/Roll, Broccoli/ Cauliflower Bake, Aloha Smoothie
Lunches
Tuesday, September 3
BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Chips, Food Choices – Fresh Veggies or Mandarin Oranges
Wednesday, September 4
Super Nachos, Food Choices –Refried Beans, Green Salad or Pears
Thursday, September 5
French Toast Sticks, Fruit, Veggies
Thursday, September 5
Corn Dog or French Dip, French Fries, Carmel Apple Parfaits
Thursday, September 5
Grizz Burger, Fries, Food Choice – Refried Beans, Corn, Applesauce or Cookie
ON THIS DAY
1826 Michael Faraday demonstrates first electric transformer
1885 Gottlieb Daimler receives German patent for a motorcycle
1896 Chop suey invented in NYC by chef of visiting Chinese Ambassador
1898 The Goodyear tire company founded
1909 World’s first air race held in Rheims France. Glenn Curtiss (USA) wins
1929 Aviator Anne Morrow Lindbergh makes her first solo flight
1975 Star in Cygnus goes nova becoming the 4th brightest in the sky
1997 Netflix is founded by Marc
Randolph and Reed Hasting in Scotts Valley, California as an online DVD rental business
2005 Hurricane Katrina makes 2nd and 3rd landfall as a category 3 hurricane, devastating much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida Panhandle. Kills more than 1,836, causes over $115 billion in damage
2018 John McCain is only the third person to lie in state at the Arizona state capitol rotunda in Phoenix
2020 Elon Musk unveils a pig named Gertrude with coin-sized computer in her brain, part of his Nuralink start-up creating a brain-to-machine interface
2023 Parasite worm, alive and wriggling, found in a woman’s brain for the first time in Canberra, Australia
LOOKING BACK AT PAGES FROM THE PAST
The following stories are summarized from past issues of the Caribou County Sun over the last fifty plus years. The Enterprise thanks Mark Steele for permission to use the contents, and the Grace Public Library for access to the archives.
5 Years ago, 2019
Governor Brad Little’s next “Capital for a Day” event will be held in Grace on Tuesday, August 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gem Valley Performing Arts Center. Officials joining Governor Little include: Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra; Department of Water Resources Director Gary Spackman; Department of Environmental Quality Director John Tippets; Department of Labor Director Jan Revier; Division of Building Safety Administrator Chris Jensen; Division of Financial Management Administrator Alex Adams; Department of Fish and Fame Director Ed Schriever; Office of Energy and Mineral Resources Administrator John Chatburn; and others including Representative Marc Gibbs and Senator Mark Harris. “I look forward to spending some time with the good people of Grace and Caribou County as we discuss their questions and ideas about how the State of Idaho can best serve this rich agricultural area and border country,” Governor Little said.
The Tincup fire remains active and continues to consume dead and down fuel. High winds propelled the fire to 72-acres over the weekend of August 24-25, which spotted over the 444 trail to the east. Higher fuel moistures and significant live vegetation on the north facing slopes are slowing fire spread. South facing slopes are more susceptible to the fire’s spread and forest managers continue to anticipate smoldering and creeping with minor spotting and single/group tree torching in these areas. The slow surface fire is rejuvenating the forest. Firefighters are still actively implementing management strategies, including building fire line around private property and other public land values. No closures are in place, although the forest urges those recreating and hunting in the area to use caution due to fire hazards and potential falling trees.
Oregon has banned using commercial deer and elk urine next year in an effort to keep chronic wasting disease out of their state, according to the Mail Tribune in Oregon. An Aug. 12 article reported the ban against commercial scents from deer and elk was singed by Governor Kate Brown and Oregon now joins seven other states with similar bans. Mark Freeman of the Mail Tribune noted a 2017 study that shows elk, mule deer, and white tailed deer can “shed the prion protein causing CWD in urine, even though the animal showed no CWD symptoms.” Owners of the scent, or stores that sell the scent, which is banned beginning in January, can take them to an Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office where they will be incinerated at 1,800 degrees, hot enough to kill the prion. A department veterinarian asked owners not to pour the scent down the drain or otherwise discard the scent, as the prions can live for decades in the environment. While Oregon has not found CWD in its wildlife it has been found in 26 other states, including Wyoming and other western states. Freeman reported that the disease is untreatable and always fatal by damaging the brain of infected animals. It can be passed by body fluids and nose-to-nose contact from an infected animal.
10 Years ago, 2014
Superintendent Molly Stein and Clerk Jonathan Balls presented the first week of school enrollment numbers for the Soda Springs School District. The report indicated that the enrollment numbers for the district had declined by approximately 40 students. Much of the decline was stated to be due to families moving out of the area and state for job opportunities.
Jayson Lower, Caribou County Solid Waste Manager, announced that the landfill would be using a spray on technology that will reduce the need for importing dirt for daily cover and extend the life of the county landfill to well over 40 years, if they maintain the current rate of inbound mu-
nicipal solid waste. The savings that would come along were also seem as potentially quite significant. Approximately $75,000 a year for the next 40 years, a benefit of well over $3 million over the life of the landfill.
Mayor Jim Smith announced that Chief Joe Rice was retiring on Sept. 12. The mayor said that he would be appointing Lt. Jon Bunderson of the Soda Springs Police Department as the next chief of police. The council unanimously confirmed the mayor’s appointment. “There is always change,” Mayor Smith said. “I have absolute confidence in our new chief.”
Jeff Horsley was awarded the Super Hero award by the mayor during the same meeting. Horsley, who is the Soda Springs School District Cross Country head coach, has impacted the community greatly. Horsley has been running since high school, and still holds the third fastest time in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. “Any one of our coaches could be coaches anywhere,” coach Horsley said. He thanked the community for their support and for the great kids who go on to do better things.
Soda Springs city officials are seeking some information about what is called “the gun” in City Park facing Main Street. They are trying to find out where it came from and its historic significance—which has come out of a request by an Oregon deputy sheriff to purchase the twin Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun, which he said his father trained on at Camp Farragut in northern Idaho. David White of Scio, Oregon, approached the city would like the gun to refurbish for his father, David White, a chief gunner’s mate on the U.S. Navy’s Attack Transport USS Laurens. He ran a gun crew and saw heavy fighting in places like Leyte Gulf, Tacloban, and Okinawa. White’s father will be 90 in October and stated in a letter to the city that after training at the Naval Training Center at Farragut, one of the 40 mm guns he was training on 72 years ago was moved to Soda Springs. White offered $500 to $1,000 for the old gun, which is rusting and in disrepair. He will hire a crane and semi to haul it to Oregon, restore it, and hopefully give it to his father on his 90th birthday in October. Upon his father’s death, it will be placed on display at the Coos Bay Maritime Museum along Highway 101. History or pictures of the of the gun, a favorite site for kids to play on in the city park next to the library, are being sought by the city officials as they mull over the offer.
20 Years ago, 2004
Damage to a transformer at the Caribou Substation caused a power outage for a little over three hours to some 1,234 customers in the Soda Springs area, a Utah Power and Light Company spokesman said, including Monsanto Company’s Soda Springs plant next to the substation. UP&L officials believe it was a perching incident in which a hawk was the cause. Monsanto was restored to power at 10:42 p.m., but their kiln was down over 12 hours as it takes time to bring it back on line, Monsanto spokesman Trent Clark said Friday.
The National Weather Service was right on track in reporting possible heavy rains in the Gem Valley last Saturday. A concentrated cell moved over the City of Grace early Saturday afternoon and within a three to four-hour time frame dropped nearly three inches of rain. Southwest of Grace farmers experienced hail which caused extensive damage to both grain and potato crops.
Jackie Barthlome was sworn in as the new postmaster of the Grace Post Office on June 25. “I’, so excited to be back in the Grace Post Office where I began my career. I couldn’t have made it this far without help from the former postmasters, coworkers, and the support of my family—especially my husband Don,” Barthlome said. She started her career with the Post Office in the early 1980s as a Highway Contract Relief for Chloe Fowler. In September 1983 she became a rural carrier relief for Wayne Hansen and Ron Hegstrom. Jackie was promoted to Postmaster of the Lava Hot Springs Office in 1999, where she has also been helping the Spokane District and helped out on city route inspections.
The 11-12 year old Little League
All Star Team took 2nd in a tourney held in Soda Springs July 8, 9, and 10. Team members included Assistant Coach Gary Vorwaller, J.T. Stein, James Frankos, Payton Vornwaller, Taylor Swensen, Bradyn Bailey, Coach Sid Davis, Alex Davis, Tyson Cooper, Coach Randy Smith, Kaden Smith, David Bowles, Tyler Stephens, and Assistant Coach Ron Stein. Teams came from Jackson and Evanston, Wyoming, South Cache, Utah, Grace, Bear Lake, Marsh Valley, Blackfoot, Preston, and Rexburg, with 20 teams in all.
Credentials for two ER physicians, Ligeia Reinhardt, MD, and John Williams, MD, were reviewed. The two doctors were granted privileges to work in the hospital’s Emergency Room. The doctors come from Idaho State University’s family practice program. With the availability of Dr. Brian Anderson, the new family physician recruited by the hospital who started August 2, fewer of the out-oftown doctors will be needed, but the community is fortunate to have them available, CEO John Hoopes said. Anesthetist John Kezele, CRNA from Preston, was also recredentialled to fill in when Brad Strupp, CRNA is not available. In the monthly quality improvement report, Hoopes reported that the hospital had its regular inception by the State Health Division, which found few deficiencies.
Members of the Dean A. Larsen family met Monday through Thursday at the KOA campground in Garden City for a reunion, with planning and arrangements made by the family matriarch Helen Rae Ridge, who had recently turned 80.
Two men who started bicycling from the East Coast to the West Coast passed through Soda Springs Friday. Their trip may not be that unusual, except for the fact they were riding large heeled 1880s era bicycles. Gary Sanderson and Peter Matthews started their journey June 12 from the coast at New Jersey at Perth Amboy and had covered about 2,700 miles by the time they reached Soda Springs. Total length of the trip will be about 3,600 miles when they reach Newport, Oregon. The 60 day or so journey was done as a personal challenge. In 1884, a bike like the ones the men were riding made such a journey.
30 Years ago, 1994
Two fires in the Soda Springs Ranger District were looking pretty good Friday as winds had died down for two days and 160 fire personnel were on the scene. District Ranger Tony Varilone said crews had been on the fire in the South fork of Tincup Creek, about six miles up the drainage on the west side, for three days as of the end of last week and were smoking the edges of the fire to contain it with hand tools and backpack pumps. The larger fire near Browns Canyon was along Bacon Canyon Ridge and was about 300 acres. Varilone said it would be managed on a confined and contained strategy. The two fires had burned about 500 acres total. He also said there were no structures or private property threatened.
The old junior high school is coming down as Smith Paving and Construction workers were busy dismantling the building and hauling off the debris. The annex to the old junior high will still be used in conjunction with the new middle school that was completed this spring.
National forest rangelands in Southern Idaho are feeling the impacts of drought. According to Caribou National Forest Range staff officer Carol Lyle, water sources and vegetation are drying up quickly and the lack of recent moisture this year led to less available forage. National Forest Range Conservationists will be assessing the situation and working with each permittee to take their livestock off rangelands earlier than usual. “Most ranchers know that the forage isn’t out there,” added Lyle, “and they’re planning to bring the cows and sheep off early.”
The Clarence and Vivien Simmons home was one of six recipients of the “Golden Arrow Award” given by the Grace Mayor and City Council. Other home owners receiving recognition for helping to beautify Grace were Milo Rupp, Luther Wilson, Frank Stoddard, Virgil Roholt, and Craig
Wilker. Honorable mentions were awarded to Von Simonson, Milo Farnworth, Dallas Popa, Jay Turner, Kevin Smith, and Lynn Smith. Dr. Elliston, the Soda Pops director, is proud to announce the 1994-1995 Soda Pops Show Choir members: Bryan Hoopes, Danile Moldenhauer, Ryan Craner, Mike Harding, Ben Thompsen, Paul Campbell, Rob Brown, Bill Lish, Sarah Johnson, Nancy Pearson, Amanda Robbins, Danelle Dooley, Julie Conlin, Angela Norman, Camille Walters, Traci Sorensen, and accompanist Lindsay Childs.
60 years ago, 1964
Heavy frost hit the area last week leaving a wake of damaged grain and potatoes. The thermometer was reported to have hit as low as 22 degrees in some parts of the county Thursday morning. Cecil Alldaffer, County Extension Agent, stated that the area north of Soda Springs appeared to have been the hardest hit. He said that approximately 50 percent of the grain in the area was damaged. He said, however that the full extent of the damage won’t be known until the grain is harvested. Damage to potatoes and grain in Grace area was reported to be spotty.
The graduating class of Grace High School of 1949 held their 15 year class reunion, starting with a smorgasbord dinner at the Trail dining room in Soda Springs on Saturday evening. Orson Roper of Ogden, Utah was chairman of the event, with Florence Rasmussen Johnson as committee member. Present besides those mentioned were Emma Lou Weaver Almond, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Olorenshaw, Marjean Burton Combs, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Ellis, Beverly Smith Nelson, Howard Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Rasmussen, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Preece, and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Rasmussen. Recognition was given to Emma Lou Weaver Almond and Francis Preece for having the most children, and Jerry Ellis for traveling the farthest to attend.
Soda Springs, defending Fifth District football champions, will travel to West Side for their season opener Wednesday. The Cardinals will have ten returning lettermen back from last year’s championship squad and around 58 other hopefuls from which to pick a team to help defend their title. Nothing would make Coaches Percy Benedict and George Birger happier than to bring home another district title in their second year at Soda Springs High School, but according to Benedict, graduating senior from last year’s squad left a lot of shoes to be filled for the 1964 season. Returning lettermen are Tom Cynova, Alan Shuler, Dennis Godfrey, Norman Johnson, Bruce Thomas, Richard Stoor, Allen Ray Tigert, Tom Humphreys, Lonnie Johnston, and Lynn Sorensen.
The Junior and Senior King and Queen were Danny Hogan and LuAnn Miles. Attendants will be Evan McLain and Linda Budge. Junior King and Queen will be Kay Dean Smith, Toni Barthlome. Attendants will be Tami Beus, and Richard Lamb.
IDAN-HA THEATRE
Thursday, August 29
Friday, August 30 Saturday, August 31
It Ends With US (PG-13)
Lily Bloom moves to Boston to chase her lifelong dream of opening her own business.
A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid soon sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, she begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship.
Friday & Saturday 6:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
Saturday Matinee 2:00 p.m. (All seats $5)
Wednesday, September 4
6:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. (All seats $5)
208-547-3282
File No.: 667260 / Customer Ref No. Young/Tin Cup Development
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE
On Friday, December 6, 2024 at the hour of 10:30AM, of said day, in the office of Alliance Title & Escrow, LLC located at 71 E 1st S, Soda Springs, ID 83276,
Alliance Title & Escrow, LLC, as trustee, will sell at public auction, to the highest bidder, for cashiers check, certified check or tellers check, from a bank which has a branch in the community at the site of the sale (endorsed checks will not be accepted), State of Idaho check or local government check in lawful money of the United States, all payable at the same time of sale, the following described real property, situated in the County of Caribou, State of Idaho, and described as follows, to wit: Lot 34, Block 2, Grouse Creek Ranch Subdivision Third Amended Final Plat, according to the official plat thereof, recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Caribou County, Idaho, under recorder's Instrument No. 193440
THE TRUSTEE HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED REAL PROPERTY, BUT FOR PURPOSES OF COMPLIANCE WITH IDAHO CODE, SECTION 60-113, THE TRUSTEE HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THE STREET ADDRESS OF: NNA Bareground, Freedom, ID 83120, MAY SOMETIMES BE ASSOCIATED WITH SAID REAL PROPERTY. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EXACT LOCATION OF SUBJECT PROPERTY, PLEASE CONTACT ALLIANCE TITLE & ESCROW, LLC AT (208) 287-5108.
Said sale will be made without covenant or warranty regarding title, possession or encumbrances to satisfy the
obligation secured by and pursuant to the power of sale conferred in the deed of trust executed by Brett R Young, an unmarried man, as Grantor to Alliance Title & Escrow, LLC, as Trustee, for the benefit and security of Tin Cup Development Corporation, as Beneficiary, recorded April 20, 2022 as Instrument No. 209425, Mortgage records of Caribou County, Idaho. THE ABOVE GRANTORS ARE NAMED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 45-1506(4)(a), IDAHO CODE. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE THAT THEY ARE, OR ARE NOT, PRESENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OBLIGATION.
Said sale is a public auction for which the bid price must be paid immediately upon close of bidding by certified funds in the acceptable forms stated above. If the acting Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason whatsoever, the successful bidder’s exclusive and sole remedy shall be the return of actual monies paid to the acting Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse.
The default for which this sale is to be made is failure to:
1. Make principal and interest payments as set forth on said Deed of Trust and Promissory Note. The original loan amount was $103,200.00 together with interest thereon at the rate of 8% per annum, as evidenced in Promissory Note dated April 20, 2022. Payments are in default for the months of February 2024 through and including June 2024 in the amount of $871.21 per month and continuing each and every month thereafter until date of sale or reinstatement.
2. Pay, when due and before delinquency, the real property taxes for 2022 and 2023, plus penalties and interest.
The principal balance as of July 1, 2024 is $101,817.09 together with accrued and accruing interest thereon at the rate of 8% per annum. The per diem is $22.3161. In addition
to the above, there is also due any real property taxes that may become delinquent during this foreclosure; together with any late charges, advances, escrow collection fees, attorney fees, fees or costs associated with this foreclosure.
The balance owing as of this date on the obligation secured by said deed of trust is $101,817.09, excluding interest, costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligations thereunder or in this sale, as trustee’s fees and/or reasonable attorney’s fees as authorized in the promissory note secured by the aforementioned Deed of Trust.
Dated: August 6, 2024
Alliance Title & Escrow, LLC
By: Bobbi Dilley, Trust Officer
Phone: (208) 287-5108
This communication is on behalf of a debt collector and is an attempt to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
#1023-8-15-22-29-9-5-24-T4
"NOTICE IS HERE BY GIVEN by the Board of Directors of the Farmers land and Irrigation Canal Company, LTD, that the annual assessment for the shareholders of the Local Improvement District 20101 is now due on or before September 16, 2024, payable to the Farmers Land & Irrigation Company, care of secretary, Wade Olorenshaw, 1930 Ivins Road, Bancroft, Idaho 83217. Each L.I.D. Shareholder will receive an invoice detailing subtotals and total due for this year.
#1029-8-29-9-5-24-T2
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-4 AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2024, APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $8,412,643.00 TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES OF THE CITY OF GRACE, IDAHO FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR, AUTHORIZING A LEVY OF A SUFFICIENT TAX UPON THE TAXABLE PROPERTY AND SPECIFYING THE OBJECTS AND PURPOSES FOR WHICH SAID APPROPRIATION IS MADE. PROVIDING FOR THIS ORDINANCE TO TAKE EFFECT UPON ITS PASSAGE, APPROVAL AND PUBLICATION ACCORDING TO LAW, THE RULE REQUIRING THAT AN ORDINANCE BE READ ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS HAVING BEEN SUSPENDED. BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Grace, Caribou County, Idaho. Section 1: The sum of $8,412,643.00 be, and the same is appropriated to defray the necessary expenses and liabilities of the City of Grace, Caribou County, Idaho for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024.
Section 2: The objects and purposes for which such appropriation is made, and the amount of each object and purpose is as follows:
GENERAL FUND
Mayor and Council
$ 18,000.00
Administration
$ 253,600.00
Govt. Bldg. & Shop
$ 30,000.00
Animal Control
$ 4,000.00
Fire Protection
$ 58,750.00
Park Expense
$26,858.00
Street Expense
$1,402,600.00
Tort Expense
$26,858.00
Cont. Reserve/PY Balance
$ 216,785.00
TOTAL GENERAL FUND
$2,029,093.00
WATER FUND $ 403,550.00
SEWER FUND
$5,980,000.00
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS
$ 8,412,643.00
Ord. #2024-4
Section 3: That a general tax levy on all taxable property within the City of Grace be levied in an amount allowed by law for the general purposes for said City, for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024.
Section 4: All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed.
Section 5: The City Clerk of the City of Grace is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this Ordinance with the County Commissioners of Caribou County, Idaho in accordance with Idaho Code 63-803(3).
Section 6: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval upon which a roll call vote is taken, the rule requiring an ordinance to be read on three separate occasions having been suspended.
Section 7: This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force upon its passage, approval and publication in one issue of The Idaho Enterprise, a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Grace, and the official newspaper of said City.
Passed and approved by roll call vote at a convened meeting of the City of Grace City Council, Grace, Idaho, Caribou County, held on the 21st day of August, 2024.
Jackie Barthlome JACKIE BARTHLOME, MAYOR ATTEST: Shelly Rewes SHELLEY REEVES, CITY CLERK
#1030-8-29-24-T2
Concise Fair Results
Market Swine Grand: Tyelor Turner Reserve: Carson Reeves
Showmanship Swine Grad: Carson Reeves Reserve: Kaydree Andersen
Market Goat
Grand: Cady Johnson Reserve: Cashlee Smith
Showmanship Goat Grand: Kade Kimball Reserve: Jenna Wakefield
Market Sheep Grand: Rhett Crofts Reserve: Lydia Hamilton
Showmanship Sheep Grand: Lydia Hamilton Reserve: Bryson Andersen
Market Beef Grand: Brigham Mickelson Reserve: Tessica Jorgensen
Showmanship Beef
Grand: Holt Olenslager Reserve: Colt Chirstistensen
Round Robin Winner Lydia Hamilton
The Idaho Enterprise - Caribou County Edition P.O. Box 331 Soda Springs, Idaho 83276 (U.S.P.S. -- 090-560) ISSN: 2997-1004
The Idaho Enterprise - Caribou County Edition is published weekly at 76 South Main Street, Ste. 207, Soda Springs, Idaho. Postmaster, please mail address corrections to: The Idaho Enterprise, P.O. Box 331, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276.
Entered as “periodicals” at the Soda Springs, Idaho Post Office.
Subscription rates are strictly in advance -- $55.00 per year delivered in Caribou County, and $67.00 per year delivered outside of Caribou County within the United States.
The Idaho Enterprise reserves the right to refuse publication of any or all materials.
Brandon Hall
Editor
Phone: 208-766-4773 brandon.h@thecityjournals.com
Bryan Dean Scott Publisher
Phone: 208-766-2419 bryan.s@thecityjournals.com
Shelly Williams Advertising
Phone: 208-766-4773
shelly.w@thecityjournals.com www.cariboucountynews.com
Robert (Bob) Jack Taylor
December 11, 1932 ~ August 20, 2024
Robert (Bob) Jack Taylor passed away at the Idaho Veterans Home in Pocatello, Idaho, August 20, 2024, at the age of 91. He was born in Watts, Oklahoma, December 11, 1932, to Lester Lovell Taylor and Melva Eleanor Sullens Taylor. He was the oldest child followed by two siblings who are still living in California. His sister Lula Thomasson and brother Frank Taylor.
Bob met Doris Louise Portenier in Glendale, AZ and they married June 12, 1952. In 1969 their family was sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. Bob joined the Navy, and the newlywed couple moved to California. Three daughters were born to this union to complete their family. Deborah (Greg) Sievers of Lewisville, ID; Evelyn (Kevin) Grumbling of Kennewick, WA; and Brenda (Corey) Kunz of Soda Springs, ID. His descendants include 12 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wide Doris Louise Portenier Taylor and granddaughter Candace Hamilton. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a firm testimony of the Book of Mormon and loved to read 3 Nephi often. Bob's love for hunting and fishing motivated a move for his family to northern Idaho from California
and eventually moved to Montpelier, Idaho, where he and his wife opened Taylor's Sporting Goods store in 1974 until their retirement.
Bob was quoted as saying, "I'd rather hunt than fish; I'd rather fish than do anything else." That one line truly sums up Bob's favorite activity.
Funeral services will be on Friday, August 30, 2024. The viewing starts at 10:30 a.m. with funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at Schwab-Matthews Mortuary, 702 Clay St., Montpelier, Idaho.
DEATH NOTICE
Traci Lee Hall passed away on August 12, 2024, in Bakersfield, California.
Traci was born June 7, 1960, in Soda Springs, Idaho, the daughter of Howard Leo Thomas and Karen Ruth Corbett.
A graveside service will be held
Saturday, September 7th at 11:00 a.m. at the Grace City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Sims Funeral Home. Please share a favorite memory of Traci or offer condolences to the family at www.simsfh.com.
COMMUNITY NOTES
DMV Closed several days in September
The Soda Springs DMV will be closed for training on September 9 from 3-5, and September 10 and 11 All day. The DMV will re-open on Sept 12. Employees will be attending annual training for the Idaho Transportation Department in Boise.
Family Descendancy Who Comes Next?
A descendancy class will be taught by Dixie Valentine, a FamilySearch Consultant with many years of experience. Dixie asked, “How do you find descendants of your ancestors?”. Come and learn how to find cousins, aunts and uncles at the FamilySearch Center on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 3:00-4:00 p.m. All are welcome at the Soda Springs FamilySearch Center located on the northwest corner of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at 290 South 3rdWest. Come and enjoy a class with a new spin to help find your loved ones.
Community Emergency Channel
To facilitate an organized emergency community communications plan,
FRS-GMRS Radio Channel 20 with tone 8 has been designated as the county wide radio channel for citizen use in the event of an emergency, disaster, or loss of power which results in normal means of communications, such as 911, becoming inoperable. For Questions, contact EMS director Eric Hobson at 208-547-2583 or CARS Club Representative Paul Gritton at 208-221-1224.
Tickets for Cowboy Fan Baskets
To buy tickets for the chance to win a basket full of Cowboy Goodies at the NGBC Raffle, call Jamie Hill at 208-339-4319 or Mandy Frandsen at 208-705-7784. Baskets are still being filled, and the drawing will be held during halftime of the October 2 football game.
Chili Cookoff Aug 30
Join the North Gem Booster Club for the Chili Cookoff on Friday, August 30 at the pavilion following the homecoming game! North Gem will play Castleford at 4 p.m. Prizes will be given out for the top 3 chili winners. Chili, hot dogs, cookies, and water will be provided. Contact Jamie Hill for more information at 208-339-4316.
Here’s what could happen after the Fed meets in September
At the central bank’s annual retreat in Jackson Hole in August, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated plans to cut the federal funds rate when the Federal Open Market Committee meets next September 17-18. This will be the first rate cut in more than four years following a series of aggressive rate hikes — 11 over the span of a year and a half — aimed to tame inflation.
The last time rates fell was in March 2020 at the outset of the pandemic when the Fed held an emergency meeting, bringing rates near zero. The federal funds rate is currently set at a 23-year high of 5.25-5.5%.
As inflation has cooled, the effect of high rates has become more pronounced. The “real” federal funds rate, when adjusted for inflation, is the most restrictive it’s been in nearly two decades, raising fears that the Fed may be behind the curve in responding to a slowing economy, just as it was slow to raise rates in response to inflation.
The Federal Reserve is once again approaching a moment of truth. Can they stick the elusive “soft landing” in the economy — where growth slows but avoids a recession? Here’s what lowering rates might mean for the economy:
Borrowing will cost less. When the Fed lowers the federal funds rate, it becomes cheaper for banks to borrow, leading to a drop in interest rates across different loan types. Expect better deals on interest rates as lenders compete for low rates.
The housing market could improve. A silver lining of the recent market repricing is that mortgage rates are back to their lowest level since early 2023. Average rates on 30-year fixed rate mortgages have dropped more than 1% in the last few months, and some rates on 15-year fixed rate mortgages are back below 6%. A rate cut could help further thaw a housing market frozen by high mortgage rates and ease the burden on home buyers.
Spending may pick up. Retail sales grew 1% in July, the biggest monthly increase since early 2023. A monthly rebound in auto sales accounted for much of the jump but, even when excluding cars and gas, retail sales beat expectations. Lower interest rates may encourage consumers to finance big-ticket items like cars and homes, boosting demand for goods and services.
The job outlook remains uncertain.
The latest jobs report forced investors and analysts to revisit their assessments of the economy. In July, hiring fell sharply and the unemployment rate ticked up for the fourth consecutive month. While 4.3% unemployment is low compared to long-term levels, unemployment can increase quickly in a deteriorating economy. By lowering the benchmark rate, the Fed hopes to encourage businesses to grow and hire new workers, keeping the job market strong.
Some prices could remain sticky. Inflation fell below 3% in July for first time since 2021. Food and energy prices have been slowing, with motor fuel prices dropping 2.3% nationally and 6.7% regionally over the past year. But other price categories remain sticky. Housing price growth, while moderating, is still too high at 4.4%. And service sector prices continue to grow too fast, rising 4.9% over the last year. Impending rate cuts will do little to relieve this price stickiness, absent a recession.
The U.S. dollar may weaken. Traveling abroad may get more expensive following a rate cut. While rising interest rates generally strengthen the U.S. dollar, falling rates tend do the opposite. A weaker dollar means international travel will cost more.
The Fed will meet three times before the end of the year, but don’t expect to see interest rates drop to the historically low levels of recent years. While inflation is slowing, it remains above the Fed’s preferred rate of 2%. The debate is now whether the Fed should shift its focus from maintaining price stability to supporting the labor market.
City Council Report— Grace, August 5
This report is adapted from the official minutes recorded by City Clerk Shelley Reeves.
A regular meeting of the Grace City Council was held on August 5. After an invocation by Councilmember Toone and the Pledge, the meeting began, with Councilmember Tillotson being excused.
The minutes from the previous two meetings were approved.
Bills in the amount of $21,462.48 and payroll in the amount of $13,194.69 were reviewed and approved.
Fire Chief Peck reported that the concert had gone well. He stated that some adjustments to the process will be made by the Chamber of Commerce in the future. The council commended the Chamber of Commerce for doing a great job.
Fire Chief Peck reported that the fire department would have one truck in the kid parade for the fair, and three total in the Saturday night parade.
Superintendent Crookston presented the following permits, all of which were approved: 2024-18: Ron Marley—fence, shed, driveway 2024-17: Tyler and Amy Butikofer— chicken coop, fence 2024-16: City of Grace—Wastewater treatment plant upgrade
The budget for FY 2024-2025 in the mount of $8,412,643.00 was reviewed for tentative approval, with $2,029,093.00 of the budget for the general fund, $403,550.00 of the budget for the water fund and $5,980,000.00 of the budget for the sewer fund. Councilmember Allen moved to five tentative approval of the prepared FY
2024-2025 budget.
Councilmember Bingham seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. [The proposed budget was printed in the August 15, 2024 edition of the Enterprise in full.]
Councilmember Toone moved to approve a small animal permit for 5 chickens for Tyler and Amy Butikofer. The motion passed.
Councilmember Toone moved to approve a donation of $500.00 to be made to the Grace High School Athletic Department. The motion passed.
Superintendent Crookston reported that the county will be helping with the chip sealing on the 15th. They will be doing all of the 4th West and Burton Canyon Phase II. The sewer project and sidewalk project will both be starting on the 12th. Crookston met with the canal company, who told him that the water will be out of the canal on October 1, and the city can start on the culvert project. He also spoke with Jared at Keller and Associates. They weren’t expecting the water to be out so soon, but they will try to make some adjustments and get started on the construction as soon as possible. Superintendent Crookston, Jake Wright, Clerk Reeves, and Mayor Barthlome met with someone concerning the water adjudication last week. Superintendent Crookston is working on the paperwork to make sure that the city receives all the water that it is supposed to. Mayor Barthlome commended Superintendent Crookston on his hard work preparing for the meeting. Mayor Barthlome reminded the council to support the Fair during Fair week, and the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Robert Taylor
Robert Spendlove
NEWS OF RECORD
CARIBOU COUNTY SHERIFF
Kendal Clark Bitton, Grace, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Sharon Arrington Bolos, West Haven, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Rachel L Chambers, Pocatello, fail to register vehicle annually, $10.50, costs $56.50
Cody R Clayton, Torrington, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Wyatt L Couch, Shoshone, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Brittany Ann Crane, Lindon, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Daniel D Dockstader, Soda Springs, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Matthew Hayes Hammer, Las Vegas, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Garrett Jayson Hatch, Bancroft, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Raegan Lorraine Haws, Nampa, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Alexis Bolos Jackson, Washington Terrace, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Johanna Wilson Janislampi, Sandy, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Kenna Jenkins, Grover, fail to register vehicle annually, $10.50, costs $56.50
Jacob Leroy Jessop, Fort Collins, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50; fail to register vehicle annually, $10.50, costs $56.50 Wei Li, Pomona, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Harold Wayne Maupin, Tiline, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Brinley Mae Melle, Woods Cross, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Jezellya Mae Merritt, Newton, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Delene Moore, Soda Springs, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Sarah Anne Patton, Jackson, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Robert Spencer Pearce, Broken Arrow, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
Sydnee Grace Sanchez, Green River, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
Matthew James Scarpello, Bel -
Mohammed Sohail Shaik, Dallas, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Dallas Anthony Shults, Shelley, fail to register vehicle annually, $10.50, costs $56.50
Lahn Bart Simmons, Draper, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Gabriel J Tobias, Soda Springs, speeding $33.50, costs $56.50
Alberto L Vega Camarillo, Herriman, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
Barnard River White, Paradise, fail to register vehicle annually, $10.50, costs $56.50
SODA SPRINGS POLICE
Isadoro Alfaro-Ruiz, Mcallen, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Thomas Daniel Ball, Kaysville, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Bryan Anthony Cardwell, Ozark, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Elmirajane De Los Reyes Castillo, Torrance, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Diana Chinchilla Martinez, Hyrum, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
Linda Renea Colvin, Iona, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Nihanth Dara, Valencia, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs
$56.50
Kyle Anthony Gronenthal, Berthoud, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
William Campbell Hyde, Cypress, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
Jack E Lahn, Pelham, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs
$56.50
Chad J Lynn, Portsmouth, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
John Anthony Meha, Miami, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Yongjie Miao, Powell, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
April Camille Miller, Saratoga Springs, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50; fail to yield or stop upon approach of emergency or police vehicle, $33.50, costs $56.50
Li Ping, Smyrna, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Yolanda Ramos Ponce, Logan, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Shanea Marie Reynolds, North Ogden, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50; following too closely, $33.50, costs $56.50
Corey S Sherman, Soda Springs, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Cade M Silva, El Dorado Hills, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Wonpyeong Son, Mountain View, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Clara Faith Thorson, Salt Lake City, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Rajeev Tikka, Allen, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs
$56.50
Qiang Zang, Rowland Heights, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Wei Zhou, Jioogsu, China, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50; fail to yield or stop upon approach of emergency or police vehicle, $33.50, costs $56.50
IDAHO STATE POLICE
Hadley Brent Bennett, Malad, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Kaden Parley Hinkins, Orangeville, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
Jefferson Chandler Hyer, South Jordan, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
John E Madsen, Mountain Home AFB, speeding, $33.50, costs
$56.50
Drew A Miller, South Weber, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Amilia Mae Thomas, Montpelier, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Gabriel J Tobias, Soda Springs, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
MAGISTRATE COURT
Martha Alejandre, Ogden, reckless driving, $500.00, costs
$157.50, drivers license suspended 30 days – Agency: SSPD
Chun Wai Alexander Au, San Jose, inattentive or careless driving, $300.00, costs $157.50 –Agency: CCSO
Kio K Bornstein, Tremonton, first offence trespass - failure to depart, $500.00, costs $207.50, 24 months probation, use or possess drug paraphernalia with intent to use, $75.00, costs $197.50 – Agency: SSPD
Cameron George Joseph Cassidy, Seabrook, possession of controlled substance, $500.00, costs $247.50, 12 months probation – Agency: SSPD
Edwin De Leon Jr., Idaho Falls, driving without privileges, $250.00, costs $172.50 – Agency: ISP Benjamin Twiggs Hogen, Boise, driving under the influence, $600.00, costs $202.50, 180 days jail, 175 days jail suspended, 2 days credit time served, 120 days drivers license suspended, 36 months probation; consume or possess open container by driver, $200.00, costs $187.50, 30 days jail, 28 days jail suspended, 2 days credit time served; possession of marijuana, $500.00, costs $257.50, 180 days jail, 178 days jail suspended, 2 days credit time served – Agency: SSPD
Jared K Hopson, Blackfoot, operate vehicle without a current or valid class d/operators license, $150.00, costs $157.50 – Agency: ISP
Timothy M Liechty, Soda Springs, driving under the influence, $600.00, costs $443.50, 90 days drivers license suspended, 24 months probation – Agency: SSPD Anthony S Martinez, Soda Springs, operating vehicle without owner’s consent, $200.00, costs $157.50, 38 days jail, 8 days credit time served; driving under the influence (second offense), $800.00, costs $202.50, 69 days jail, 8 days credit time served, 365 days drivers license suspended – Agency: SSPD
Dillon Matthew Parker, Soda Springs, driving under the influence, $600.00, costs $202.50, 120 days jail, 118 days jail suspended, 2 days credit time served, 90 days drivers license suspended, 24 months probation – Agency: SSPD Anna Harz Swanson, Bancroft, driving under the influence, $600.00, costs $202.50, 90 days drivers license suspended, 24 months probation – Agency: CCSO Apichat Yodthang, Wheaton, inattentive or careless driving, $300.00, costs $157.50
Caribou County Commission meeting 8/26
The Caribou County Board of Commissioners met for their second regularly scheduled meeting of August.
After the bills payroll were approved, Tim Gaines was sworn in as a member of the Caribou County Planning and Zoning Commission by Chairman Mark Mathews.
Kevin McClain
McClain reported that the department was making good gravel in Chesterfield. They were waiting on weather to see where to put asphalt first. A number of subdivisions and roads are on the radar, “as long as the weather holds.”
Bids on a new backhoe were discussed. For a new machine, the range noted was $158K up to $300K. The current one is not suitable for a trade. International snowplow eventually will need a new chassis, but the current one is not in good shape.
The backhoe replacement will need to be ordered soon. State excess funds and capital outlay will be used to cover its cost.
A motion to approve the purchase of a new backhoe was passed for just over $158K from Western States Equipment.
J. Adam Mabey
Sheriff Mabey spoke to the commissioners about a number of items. The office received news that the jail facility had failed a fire nozzle test. State Fire is the company the county has been using. Getting them up to code will cost between $35K and $50K, according to early bids. As soon as the numbers are firm, the sheriff will present them.
One of the deputies in the office located a repeater, which will increase communication for law enforcement purposes. A 100 foot tower is available for locating the repeater, after which the coverage range of the system should be radically improved.
The project with the transport van is just about completed. Radios from an old patrol car will be used, and the project should save the county money. ARPA funds were used for some of the costs, as well as other projects in the county. A new training vehicle will be sought with some of the remaining funds.
The Sheriff discussed that the county’s body cams are in need of overhaul. Making them up to spec for the employees will cost around $99K. The importance of cameras within the law enforcement and judicial systems was stressed by the sheriff in his discussion. “This is a liability issue that will affect my house, your house.” The system can also be purchased straight out, or through a lease program. The sheriff requested that the commissioners take
a look at the system and consider purchasing it. There is no money specifically for the cameras in the proposed budget.
Bob Monk, Search and Rescue Coordinator, spoke to the council. The use of motorcycles in Search and Rescue has been discussed. There are some areas of the mountains that are inaccessible to ATVs, but can be reached by motorcycles. The existing bikes are planned to be sold, since they do not function well as SR bikes. A trade-in or auction were deemed to be the best bets for them. Bikes that will serve the SR purpose are being sought in order to find a good value. Monk feels that the vehicles are a need for the SR portfolio.
Monk is asking for funds to be made available to Search and Rescue to secure vehicles, including $18K from PILT funds to purchase bikes and upgrade the repeater.
A generator, solar panel, and battery are needed to make the portable repeater ready for use this fall for a total of $2,500. The materials have been ordered.
A portable repeater from Bayer will be located in a mobile trailer, which can allow for emergency placement.
Becky Johnson, Eric Freeman IFG
Eric Freeman and Becky Johnson made a presentation to the board on Caribou County Mule Deer. Eric Freeman is a wildlife biologist and Becky Johnson is a regional manager. In the early 1900s, market hunting and overexploitation of mule deer began to occur. In the mid 1900s, more scientific methods of regulation and ecological conditions created a larger population of mule deer from the 60s through the 80s.
The Southeast region of the Fish and Game Management Units includes Caribou County.
“Why haven’t we been able to maintain mule deer populations like we used to?” was a question presented by Freeman, who answered it with a variety of data—wide variation in habitat potential, most have older stage habitat types, existing shrub stands are old, vigor is low, etc. The old-growth conifer cover base has been drastically reduced over the last decades.
Current threats to the health of mule deer populations include modern habitat capacity issues, urban expansion, increases in vehicle collisions, barriers or impediments to migration. Eric presented data showing the movement patterns of populations of mule deer which have been wintering in the Soda Hills. Eric stated that roughly 2,000 deer move through Soda Springs over the course of the winter.
In 2018, Fish and Game placed trail
cameras on Bayer property, and found 1,500 deer moving through the area.
Data from the trail cameras are used to help inventory the age/gender/etc. of the local mule deer population.
Peaks for deer migration are during December and April during intense weather events.
Bayer was noted as having improved the Highway 34 crossing situation.
The topic is being raised as a matter of mutual importance for FG and Caribou County.
The future of the wintering mule deer population was mentioned as one that was important to the FG department. The presentation was given for general information purposes.
Competition between mule deer and elk was discussed as taking place in the shared habitat.
Rowdy Larkins
Larkins spoke to the county commissioners about change orders for the event center project. $50-55K in taxes will be saved as a result. $109K is the cost of the change order. The total cost of the project will likely reach $3 million by the time the process is completed. The original cost estimate was for $2.8 mill. Change order number 1 and 2 were amended to account for additional amount and better materials.
Melanie Rasmussen (snow removal)
The Rasmussens inquired about snow removal on less than a quarter mile of road on a street outside the city limits. Kevin McClain spoke to the couple, making sure that it was clear that the plowing was understood to carry a charge. A petition from all of the lot owners to dedicate the road in question to the county will need to be filed in order to allow for the process to move forward.
Eric Hobson
Hobson spoke to the commissioners about a number of issues. One of the sensors went out on a gas meter, and will be purchased by the department.
Two VHF repeaters were obtained for free. A $20K repair project was able to be taken care of for closer to $1K.
Fire danger signs for the roadside were quoted at about $1100 a piece. There have been 8 wildland fires so far in the county. All of the fires so far have been natural and not man-made.
Bailey Creek Hazard Reduction Program grant has been received. An inkind match will cover the county’s portion. Firebrakes around homes in the subdivision are among the initial goals.
All Hazard Mitigation Plan will kick off in September. EZEM from Rexburg has been brought on board. The plan is a five year strategic overview of
the county’s emergency response plans. Larry Weaver retired from the county recently, and a replacement for the position was discussed. Eric Hobson requested that the position be located under the Emergency Services Director’s office in the org chart. The position was part time, though Hobson requested that it be made a full time position. The position will need to be advertised and budgeted for if it becomes a full time position. Since the budget is already announced, the funds to cover the expanded position would need to come out of a general funding source. A number of options for finding funding sources for the position were discussed. There have been a couple people who have shown interest in the position, with a number of well-qualified applicants in the mix. The specifics will be discussed further down the road, but the commission authorized beginning the announcement/application process.
Budget Hearing
A budget hearing was opened at 11:33. The total expense budget proposed was printed in the paper last week.
The revenue amount is 7 mill plus; the total is 19 million plus. The total is up 1.3 mill. It includes the ITD grant. The core budget actually represents a decrease. The levy rate will decrease. The values of property are up. Cash forward 4 plus million. Levy capacity to take 7 million. A resolution was prepared which contains the numbers for the year, including the reserve of $215K. Motion to adopt the budget was passed. 2024-05 2024-06.
Jill Stoor
State liquor license for new Maverik was approved. The store anticipates being open by the end of the month. Stoor was not able to find any evidence that the county limits the number of Alcohol licenses. Store 746 had its license approved, and at present plans to keep both stores in town running. This year tax deed funds have been added to the unclaimed fund, to the tune of over thirty-thousand dollars. Sales tax has been used for some of the county departments and affiliates. Stoor would like departments to fill out the correct paperwork to ensure the county’s tax-free status. Stoor wanted to clarify the source of funds for the van discussed by the Sheriff’s Office. Some confusion about the ARPA funds was noted.
Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill is completing her bachelors degrees at ISU and is interning with Doug Wood during his senior year as she pursues her degree work.
Team Of The Week: North Gem Football
Jody Reeves
In the northwest corner of Caribou County sits a pristine patch of grass. That patch of grass is well maintained and cared for all summer long. In the background is one of the most beautiful sights you could imagine. Golden grain fields give way to dark green tree covered mountains. As breathtaking as that sight is, the thing that brings dozens of people to that patch of grass has very little to do with nature's scenery. Crossing back and forth across the grass are long white lines with a few small sets of bleachers on each side. On Friday afternoons in the fall this patch of grass will be surrounded by dozens of cars and trucks from all corners of the widespread North Gem community. They come to watch their beloved Cowboys play football. Head coach Corry Hatch has become a well known fixture on the Cowboy sideline and spoke about that community, “That's an interesting thing about our school. People come to the games, and I'm not saying they wouldn't come at seven o’clock but four o’clock is a unique time to play. We still get good support.”
Not only is the time of day they play and the layout of their field unique but the Cowboys became somewhat darlings of the eight man ranks last season. A year ago the Cowboys only dressed nine athletes for their eight man team. Those nine players embarked on a magical season that included a five game win streak and finished in a three way tie for second place in the conference. Unfortunately the Cowboys wouldn't
get their fairy tale ending when a little used tie breaker rule was used and the Cowboys missed out on the playoffs by the slimmest of margins.
This year's team will be looking to play the part of a sequel with a happier ending. Similar to last year's team the Cowboys have limited numbers with only eleven players on the roster. The good news is five of those players are seniors with lots of experience behind them. Coach Hatch has a lot of praise for those seniors, “The guys that we got back are good. They are going to lead us.” Assistant Coach Corta echoed Coach Hatch, “Our leadership is really good. We've got a group of boys that have been in the system for all four years and it takes a lot off the coaching staff. These guys understand where they are supposed to be. That leadership is something that will help us along the way this year.”
When you have limited numbers
every player has a crucial role on the team. I personally got to witness Coach Hatch emphasizing that point when I arrived at the end of the Cowboy’s practice. At that time the players were involved in some very rigorous conditioning. All the while Coach Hatch in a demanding voice was doing his best to inspire the team with phrases like “We’re only as strong as our weakest player” and “we have to be the stronger team in the fourth quarter.” All things that many coaches will say but when Coach Hatch is yelling them out like a drill sergeant you really get the feeling he stands behind his convictions and he truly believes that these boys will be the toughest 1A team in the state.
The Cowboys will get to test that theory on Friday when they take on a tough Castleford team that beat up on the Cowboys in last season's opening game. The Cowboys will definitely be looking to change that outcome as
not only is this the season home opener but it is also Homecoming week for North Gem.
So how will things be different in this season's match up? For starters even though they were on last year's team Rusty Hatch and Craig Yost had not yet rushed for over 1000 yards each. Joined by experienced seniors Ryver Hayden and Lukky Welker the Cowboys have some skill to work with. The list doesn't end there. Lineman Haydn Frandsen is joined by Hyrum Barnes to anchor a solid and physical line. With kids still being kids I asked some of the players what they were looking forward to the most with all of the homecoming festivities. Welker very quickly gave a short direct answer, “Football.” That one word answer shows how zeroed in these players are for this week's big game. Speaking beyond this week's game Rusty Hatch said that the goal for the year is, “Win the conference with a perfect regular season.” Fellow senior Ryver Hayden, with thoughts of last season still fresh in his mind added, “We want to go out on a high note.” Even with all of their focus on Friday’s game the boys still got to blow off a little steam after practice when they took part in a car bash for homecoming. There was plenty of fun and laughter but you can bet that when game time comes around the Cowboys will be ready to show their grit and leave everything out on the field. Friday’s game starts at 4 p.m. so come out and enjoy all of the festivities and watch a fabulous match up of two great teams.
North Gem students pose at the conclusion of the car bash. One of the many homecoming week activities.
Grizzlies Earn Redemption
Jody Reeves
Since joining the eight man football ranks fifteen years ago the Grizzlies have played the Oakley Hornets ten times prior to Friday nights game. Oakley has won all ten previous match-ups including a state title game two years ago. Friday night found the Grizzlies in unfamiliar territory as they were finally able to get that monkey off their back in a very big way.
Grace received the opening kickoff and put an impressive opening drive together that was capped off with a short touchdown pass from quarterback Gavin Draper to senior receiver Derek Hill. After the unsuccessful two point conversion both teams would settle down into a bit of a defensive battle over the next couple of possessions. Oakley got their first big break of the game when one of their wideouts got behind the Grace defender catching a long pass and running into the endzone. Oakley was successful on their conversion attempt and took the lead 8-6 but the Grizzlies would not stay down for long. After a big run by senior Braden Kimball that saw him dance
through several defenders, junior running back Chase Smith finished off the drive with a short run up the middle for another touchdown for Grace. Once again the Grizzlies failed to convert on the two point try but would regain the lead 12-8.
The Grizzly defense kept the pressure on and soon Grace had the ball back. The next big play for the Grizzlies came from junior Cooper Anderson who was able to break free from a tackle after a great hands catch and got the ball down inside the five yard line before being forced out of bounds. Chase Smith who had several big runs on the night once again found the end zone extending the Grace lead followed by the teams first successful conversion making the score now 20-8.
With time running out in the first half Oakley hit their big tight end over the middle with a pass and he got loose into the secondary. It looked like the Hornets would add another six points to their side but Braden Kimball made a big hit jarring the ball loose. Kimball was able to get on the ball giving the Grizzlies the ball back with a lit-
tle over three minutes left in the half. Yet another Grizzly got into the action when Bryant Moss was able to get open and blaze down the sideline for an apparent touchdown. Unfortunately for him Grace was called for a block in the back bringing the ball back out of the endzone. On the next play Oakley returned the favor when they were called for a personal foul of their own, setting the Grizzlies up with a first and goal from the seven yard line. Kimball would finally get his score in the game on the next play catching a pass from Draper and the Grizzlies headed to halftime leading 26-8.
Opening up the second half the Grace defense continued to make plays as it had done for most of the game. After forcing a three and out Grace marched down the field again and Bryant Moss caught a short three yard touchdown pass getting back the score he had called back in the first half.
With control of the game and the lead now at 34-8 the Grace offense made one of their only big mistakes on the night when Draper fumbled the ball on a quarterback run. Derek Hill finished his night off with two big
plays. First a huge sack of the quarterback forcing a turnover on downs followed by an impressive seventy yard catch and run between two defenders and scoring his second touchdown of the night. The third quarter came to a close with Grace now leading 42-8.
Starting in the fourth Coach Newby started working with some of the younger guys for some varsity reps. After some back and forth play by both teams senior Bryant Jensen came up with the Grizzlies final big defensive play when he intercepted a tipped pass and returned the ball deep into Hornet territory. Coach Newby then inserted the entire JV offense to run out the clock. On a bobbled snap and a broken play freshman quarterback Kade Kimball scored the game's final touchdown followed by a two point conversion pass to fellow freshman Colten Williams.
The Grizzlies ran away with an early season markee win with a score of 50-8. The Grizzlies will travel to Raft River this week before coming back home for their homecoming game against Murtaugh.
Cardinals Show Promise Despite Tough Loss
Jody Reeves
The Soda Springs football team kicks the season off with several new looks. Soda Springs is 3A now? Yes Soda is now considered 3A but so are the majority of last year's 2A schools. Head coach? They have two, co-head coaches Rod Worthington and Scott Gambles are joining forces to lead the team. Scheme? Yes it has changed to a new system that is being implemented by the new coaches. Even the helmets have a new look. Will all the new changes have an effect on results from the team? Well if you only look at the box score from Friday night's game against American Falls you may not hold out much hope. However for those that watched the game there was a lot of promise shown by this year's Cardinal team.
Taking on a bigger school both in classification as well as physical size can be a challenge for any team. That is exactly what the Cardinals faced last Friday. American Falls has not been considered a powerhouse in recent years but with a line averaging well over 200 lbs and a dynamic receiver they are no slouch this season. The Cardinals started the game on defense and looked aggressive
early in this one forcing a three and out in the first series. On their first offensive series the Cardinals started off moving the ball well, earning a first down and moving the ball effectively on the ground. The first hiccup for Soda came when American Falls would intercept a pass near midfield. On the very next play the defense broke down allowing the Beavers running back to go right up the middle for the game's first score. On the next series the Soda Springs offense settled in and once again began moving the ball well with Bensten and Garbett running straight into the teeth of the stout Beaver defense. However this drive would stall out around the thirty yard line and the quarter would end with Soda trailing 6-0.
On the first defensive series of the second quarter the Cardinals held strong again getting the ball back to their offense. The offense behind the dual quarterback system of Thompson and Harrison once again moved the ball well early before suffering some self-inflicted wounds. Penalties and miscues put an end to this drive as well leaving the Cardinals scoreless. With time winding down in the first half, American Falls would
mount a drive. At the conclusion of one play, some extracurricular activities after the whistle resulted in a personal foul being called, putting the Beavers in scoring position. The Cardinals would get some redemption when they sacked the quarterback making it third and goal from the thirteen yard line. On the next play the Beavers would commit a hold, backing themselves up even further.
The Cardinals were looking like they had dodged a bullet when the Beavers heaved a pass to the back of the endzone earning them a 12-0 lead going into the half.
The third quarter was Soda’s least productive on offense and the defense gave up two scores, one being a fifty-eight yard run up the gut. In the closing seconds of the third Soda was moving the ball well with their final play ending with a third and three near midfield.
After switching ends of the field to start the fourth, the officials made an unintentional error that went unnoticed placing the ball so that Soda now had a third and seven. After a five yard pick up that would have given the Cardinals a first down if the ball had been placed correctly Soda now faced a fourth and two and decided
North Gem Volleyball Preview
Last season the Lady Cowboys volleyball team finished in the middle of the pack in the Rocky Mountain Conference but under the direction of head coach Camille Yost and assistant Raini Hayden they will look to improve on that standing. Coach Yost commented, “We expect to do better than last year but we are still building.”
They will have their work cut out for them as the Cowboys only return five players from last year's team. North Gem has thirteen total girls out this year with six of them being new freshmen. With no seniors on the team coach Yost is hopeful that the girls will continue to get better with each week and improve each season, “Next year everyone should be a little worried about us.” Last season, conference foe Grace Lutheran dominated the league on their way to a district championship and will likely be favored to repeat going into the season. That being said, Coach Yost
sees the district as wide open. “I think we're going into the year with the trophy up for grabs. I don't see a team that scares me.”
When I asked the coaches which girls are standing out to them early in this season coach Yost answered, “They are all striving for the same goal. There is not one girl that would be the one to watch. They play as a team.”
The Lady Cowboys open up the season playing Challis on homecoming week. When asked why the public should come out and watch them play, Coach Yost responded, “This group of girls is giving everything they have and when they give everything that they have, good plays happen and wins are made.” Coach Hayden added, “Because Cowboys have grit.” There is no better way to describe the effort that this North Gem volleyball team will be putting in this season so come out and watch them play Thursday evening at home starting at 5:30.
to punt. After several more back and forths the Soda defense made one last stand, stopping an American Falls drive and turning the ball over on downs. With time winding down Harrison threw a bomb to Garbett to get the ball down to the thirty-five yard line. Three plays later Thompson bootlegged to the left side of the line and scampered in for the Cardinals' only score. The two point conversion was successful, but after the Beavers ran the clock out, the final score was 26-8.
Despite the multi-score loss there were several bright spots for the Cardinals. Bensten and Garbett made big plays on both sides of the ball. The two quarterback system also gave the Cardinals the ability to change up the plays keeping the defense on their toes. With three of the four American Falls scores coming on big plays Soda was just three plays from being in a shootout with the much larger Beaver team. All in all the Cardinals had some early season miscues that they will have to clean up but they seem to have the pieces to be a competitive team moving forward. Soda Springs will host Ririe Friday night with the JV starting at 4:30 followed by the varsity at 7.
Jody Reeves
The sun sets over last Friday's game in Grace.
Quarterback Gavin Draper sneaks this pass by the Oakley defender for another Grizzly completion.