11 April 2018 by The Weekly Sun

THE WEEKLY SUN RESPONSIBLE LOCAL JOURNALISM. • BELLEVUE • CAREY • HAILEY • KETCHUM • PICABO • SUN VALLEY • WHAT TO KNOW. WHERE TO BE.

F R E E | APRIL 11 - 17, 2018 | V O L . 1 1 - N O . 1 5 | W W W . T H E W E E K L Y S U N . C O M

Community News Fire Training Facility To Go Up In Ketchum

Community News 82nd Ski Season Set To End On Sunday

Business News The Chamber Hires New Executive Director

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Wood River High School students and staff members display their newly pruned heads after participating in ‘Brave The Shave With Isabelle Phillips’ to raise funds… For more information about this photo, see “On The Cover” on page 3. Photo courtesy of Blaine County School District

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • A P R I L 11 - 17, 2018

IN BRIEF

Mountain Rides Names New Director

After four months, Mountain Rides will have a new executive director in Blaine County resident Wallace E. Morgus. On Wednesday, April 4, the nonprofit Mountain Rides Transportation Authority board voted to appoint Morgus to the job. He will begin work Monday, April 23. Morgus served as executive director of the Blaine County Recreation District from 2002 to 2007. Since leaving BCRD, Morgus has served in leadership roles in the real estate and consulting industries; most recently with his own firm, Touchstone 2KX, which specializes in public-sector consulting. Morgus holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth University, and an MBA from the University of Chicago. “I am driven by a fervor and respect for public amenities done well, along with a passion for undertakings that make our community a better place for those who enjoy it now and for generations to come,” Morgus said. “I look forward to serving as executive director of Mountain Rides and supporting and advancing its mission.” Since former executive director Jason Miller’s departure in January, the Mountain Rides board has engaged in a nationwide search for his replacement. The board, with Miller’s assistance, reviewed résumés submitted by candidates, including several from Blaine County. Five candidates were selected for initial interviews and a short-list of three was selected for final interviews. After interviewing the finalists, the board selected Morgus based on his knowledge of Blaine County, experience as a management consultant, and the vision for Mountain Rides. “We are excited to have Wally join the team at Mountain Rides,” said board chair Kristin Derrig. “He will bring great vision and leadership to our already successful organization.”

Fundraising Help Sought For Senior Bash

All-Star Traveling Team Baseball Tryouts To Be Held The Wood River Baseball and Softball Association will hold tryouts for baseball players 10 and under for this year’s 10U Traveling All-Star Baseball Team. Tryouts will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, at Lions Park in Hailey. The season will run from spring through midsummer and includes home practices midweek, with travel to regional tournaments most weekends. To fill out a tryout application, please go to wrbsazone.com. For more information, email gcarter@silvercreeksupply.com or check out the WRBSA’s Facebook page.

Sage Students To Hold Farm-To-Table Feast The Sage School students will present a Farm-to-Table Feast at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden. During the school year, all 10th- and 11th-grade students have studied the local food systems and will be involved in cooking. There will be a silent auction with all proceeds going to The Sage School scholarship fund, while proceeds from the feast will go to The Hunger Coalition. Tickets will cost $80 and are available at sageschoolfeast@gmail.com. People can also register and donate at thesageschool.org.

The annual Senior Bash is a safe and sober graduation party for all Blaine County School District graduating seniors, including those from Carey High School, The Sage School, Silver Creek High School, Wood River High School, and Community School. Held at the Community Campus in Hailey, the event begins immediately following the Wood River High School graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 7. In order to help pay for the cost of the event, and help with scholarships, additional donations are being sought from businesses and individuals. According to the organizers, there are at least 50 students in need of scholarships. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are provided throughout the night. A car raffle is the penultimate highlight of the evening and is presented to a student who has passed the swab test for alcohol. The event this year will cost about $40,000. Students purchase a ticket for $35 (though no student is turned away due to scholarships); however, the actual cost per student is about $150. To help raise funds, the annual Senior Bash Garage Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the Community Campus. There will also be a Mother’s Day raffle held in May. For more information and to donate funds and goods for the garage sale, contact Debbie Bothwell (208) 3090569 or email bdbothwell@msn.com.

Learn Steps For Irrigation Efficiency Just in time for spring garden prep, folks can learn DIY Steps for Irrigation Efficiency from an irrigation expert from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at Hailey City Hall. Travis McBride, from Silver Creek Supply, will address uniformity, soil, pressure, drip installation, and smart technologies. McBride has trained both homeowners and industry professionals and is an expert on Hunter, Rainbird, Baseline and other systems. The talk is free, and is part of the Resilient Landscapes for Resilient Communities series hosted by the Wood River Land Trust and Sawtooth Botanical Garden. For more information, contact Ryan at rsanto@ woodriverlandtrust.org or call (208) 788-3947.

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • A P R I L 11 - 17, 2018

THE WEEKLY SUN CONTENTS

Don’t Get Caught Floating Without Flood Insurance!

The 2018 Fiddlers of Idaho State Championship Fiddle Contest will take place Friday and Saturday, April 13-14. For a story, see page 12. Photo courtesy of Fiddlers of Idaho

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ON THE COVER Continued from page 1: …in partnership with Community School for the family of a 6th-grade Community School student recently diagnosed with cancer. For more information and photos, see page 8. Photo courtesy of Blaine County School District Local artists & photographers interested in seeing their art on our cover page should email submissions to: mandi@ theweeklysun.com (photos should be high resolution and include caption info such as who or what is in the photo, date and location).

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A new fire training facility will be erected on Lewis Street in Ketchum this summer. Rendering courtesy of Ketchum Sun Valley Volunteer Association

STRUCTURE TO BE ERECTED FOR FIRE TRAINING PURPOSES

The Ketchum/Sun Valley Volunteer Association purchases facility

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Fiddlers Of Idaho Entertainment Night Concert Friday, April 13, 7-8:30 p.m., Doors Open At 6:30 p.m. Community Campus Performing Arts Theater 1050 Fox Acres Road, Hailey Tickets On Sale At The Door: Adults $12 (18-59) • Seniors $10 (60 And Over) Youth $7 (7-17) • Kids No Charge (6 And Under) For More Information, visit www.fiddlersofidaho.org

NEWS IN BRIEF

ERC To Host Pollinator Pop-Up With The Center

The Environmental Resource Center and Sun Valley Center for the Arts will host a Pollinator Pop-Up in celebration of Earth Day at the ERC’s office at 471 Washington Ave. in Ketchum, from 5-7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 20. The ERC and Webb Landscape will host a variety of hands-on projects that promote healthy pollinator populations. Roadbars, a specialty beverage bar, will serve four delicious signature cocktails with pollinator-dependent ingredients, highlighting the vital role pollinators play in some of our favorite indulgences. A portion of proceeds from cocktail sales will be donated back to the ERC and The Center. The Center will be open concurrently with its new BIG IDEA Project, “Bees,” on display. Grab a drink, move between the ERC and The Center, and become better-informed stewards of our planet this Earth Day. All ages are welcome.

BY DANA DUGAN

irefighters will tell you—there’s no substitute for live training. But in the Wood River Valley, there’s a dearth of possibilities for effective, on-site training. Many old homes, which once were donated to the fire departments, have been torn down. And, fortunately, there just aren’t that many structure fires in the Valley, according to Tom Bowman, president of the Ketchum Sun Valley Volunteer Association. “I joined the fire department in 1984,” Bowman said. “We had lots of donated houses to practice on and we had fires back then. We had hands-on experience. Now we do a lot of pretending. We pull hose lines to a make-believe fire. We black out our masks to simulate not being able to see. We train on City Hall (where the Ketchum Fire Station is located), but we’ve really beat that building up. We try to make it as close to a situation as possible to being in a real fire. We’re always training; like in the military, you might never be deployed, but you still have to be ready to get out there and do your best.” A change is afoot, however. In a joint venture between the Ketchum and Sun Valley volunteer firefighters, a state-of-the-art fire training facility will be built on the west side of Lewis Street in Ketchum’s light industrial area this summer. The lot, where the building will be erected, is city owned and with another adjacent lot is currently used by Ketchum’s street department for gravel storage and impounded vehicles. The prefab steel structures were purchased from Fire Training Structures in Phoenix, Ariz. The three full-size shipping containers—at 40 feet long, plus a half-sized container—will be shipped to Ketchum in June. Stacked up, the structure will be the equivalent of a three-story building, Bowman said. It should be usable for training by mid-August, in the midst of what is traditionally fire season in the Mountain West. The use of containers for fire training purposes is widely used in the fire service industry, as shown in the National Fire Protection Association’s “Guide to Building Fire Service Training Centers.” Though the KSVVA is purchasing the con-

tainers, it will donate the structure to the City of Ketchum and be made available by any department in the Valley for training purposes. Ketchum Fire Chief Mike Elle will handle scheduling of the facility. In order to fund the project, the nonprofit KSVVA squirrelled away enough money from donations and fundraising over the years to afford the $500,000 price tag. “We’re trying to raise the last of the money needed,” Bowman said. “It will raid our training and burn-out funds. In the past, we’ve sent firefighters to training schools back East for five days. We won’t be able to fund that this year, due to the cost of the structure. We’re doing a direct-mail fundraiser, and people can also contact me, or the Ketchum Fire Department, to donate.” The site will be used primarily by fire departments, but law enforcement will also be able to make use of it. There will be a burn chamber where there can be Class A fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles—which produce white smoke only—and a rappel tower, among other amenities. “We’ve already done preliminary design review with P&Z,” Bowman said. “(Then) Mayor Nina Jonas suggested we notify neighbors of at least 1,500 feet around the area. We had a couple comments from people concerned about smoke but they were thinking of the black smoke, which can be toxic. The direct neighbors in the Light Industrial area have been fine with it.” There is a fair amount of site preparation to be done in anticipation. There will be two drains with filter socks over them to catch any debris, underground propane, and electrical for inside the structure. As well, there will be a separate shed that will be used for storage and to view demo videos, for instance. An irrigation system will be installed along with landscaping of trees between the lots. Poster Construction is the contractor of record. Brian Poster is a squad leader with the Ketchum Fire Department, and part of the four-person training facility team. The team also includes Sun Valley Firefighter David Lister, Ketchum Fire Department Lt. Keith Potter, Sun Valley Assistant Chief Taan Robrahn, and Bowman. tws For more information, visit ksvva.org.

T H E W E E K LY S U N • A P R I L 11 - 17, 2018

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SKI SEASON WILL END WITH PARTIES AT WARM SPRINGS

BY KELLY EISENBARGER

here are only days left to enjoy some spring skiing at Sun Valley Co. Sun Valley will end its 82nd winter season on Sunday, April 15, with the last day of skiing and boarding on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain. The last weekend includes music, a barbeque, costumes and cocktails at the Baldy Bash. Despite a rocky, and sagebrushy, beginning to the season, there was one great storm, a handful of powder days and the always-reliable, state-of-the-art snowmaking guns. Kelsey Sue, who works at River Run Lodge, only heard positive reports from guests. “The snow outside might not have been great all year, but our snowmakers have done a wonderful job of keeping the mountain covered,” Sue said. The season accumulation was 116 inches of total snowfall in only 37 days of snow. Compared to 359 total inches over 79 days of snow during the 2016-17 season, it was an impressive feat to keep the mountain consistent. The end of the year is always a festive time; spring is at hand, but Baldy remains a draw. Festivities will start in Sun Valley on Friday, April 13, with Larry Harshbarger tickling the ivories at The Ram restaurant from 6–9 p.m., and Spare Change playing at the Duchin Lounge from 7–10 p.m. At noon on Saturday, April 14, Clicquot in the Snow will offer champagne by the glass or bottle at the base of Warm Springs. And then, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., celebrants can dance to the music of Life During Wartime out on the deck. Later that evening, singer-songwriter Michaela French will perform at the Duchin Lounge from 7–10 p.m. Saturday and again on Sunday. On Sunday, for the Baldy Bash Closing Day Celebration, the Emily Stanton Band will play from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Warm Springs Lodge. There will be an array of costumes, food and drink specials, and lots of good fun. Lounge on Fire will play Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Hot Water Inn at the base of Bald Moun-

Skiers, snowboarders and friends gather to celebrate the season at the base of Warm Springs every year. Photo courtesy of Sun Valley Co.

tain, and Emily Stanton will take the stage at Whiskey Jacques', at 9 p.m. On both the last two days the Resort will offer a 40 percent discount to all other resort season-pass holders, no matter what mountain that pass holder hails. The Mountain Rides Corn Shuttle between the River

Run and Warm Springs parking lots will run through Sunday, April 15. River Run shuttles start at 8:45 a.m. with the last bus at 4:45 p.m. Warm Springs shuttles begin at 9 a.m. with the last bus at 4:30 p.m. For a bus schedule, you can download the app: RouteShout 2.0. tws

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VALLEY YOUTH SETS SIGHTS ON PARALYMPICS 2022 Jesse Keefe takes on challenges with aplomb

BY EMILEE MAE STRUSS

esse Keefe, an eighth grader at Wood River Middle School, recently competed in a finals ski race at Snowbasin, in Utah, in a field of 102 other boys. “I missed one gate but felt good about the race,” he said. Keefe has been skiing since he was 2 years old and competed in the Kindercup, in Sun Valley, as a child. It all seems pretty average for a kid growing up in the Wood River Valley. But there’s one thing about Keefe that’s very different from the other skiers: he has a prosthetic leg. Keefe’s parents, Matt Keefe and Krista Gehrke, who also have a 3-year-old daughter, Samantha, are longtime residents of the Wood River Valley. Gerhke was born and raised here. Matt Keefe owns and operates River Air Duct Cleaning. Jesse is a member of the U-14 Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation team. A competitive kid, he likes speed— something that’s satisfied by alpine skiing. But it’s his prosthetic leg that sets him apart from other 14-year-olds. Jesse was born with a malformation on his right leg, necessitating an amputation soon after he was born. “It was a very scary experience,” Gehrke said. “The nurses tell you that you don’t have a normal child growing in your belly, and then when he was born, there were a lot of rushing people and he was immediately sent to an orthopedic and had an amputation, put on a prosthetic after it healed and then he just started walking on it.”

Jesse Keefe races at the 2018 Janss Pro-Am race. Photo by Glen Allison, courtesy of Krista Gehrke

Twin Falls-based Coyote Designs built Jesse’s first leg. Dale Perkins founded Coyote Designs, and his son Matt is now the president. The Perkinses—who are also amputees—have been helpful in the process. Matt is an abovethe-knee amputee and also a Paralympian who skis on one leg with the assistance of two outlier skis that support him, like crutches. “They were speaking from self-experience and that made the situation much more comfortable,” Gehrke said. Although alpine skiing is Jesse’s favorite, it is not the only sport that he participates in. He also plays soccer, baseball, goes rock climbing and competes in mountain biking as a member the WRMS’s Mountain Biking Club. “I don’t feel more challenged or like these sports are difficult,” Jesse said. “Actually, they are pretty simple and it’s easy for me to be an athlete.” Gehrke and Jesse now travel to Shriners Hospitals in Salt Lake City every three months, instead of Coyote Designs, due to insurance reasons, to be fitted for a new leg as Jesse continues to grow. Having to switch medical care has only given them more advocates and friends. “Shriners is a really big supporter and Coyote Designs is always there for me,” said Keefe. There is a long list of local supporters, including Dr. Donald Levin, the Gehrkes’ doctor of more than 40 years; Marc Mast, with the Wood River Ability Program, and the folks at Higher Ground Sun Valley. Both of these programs seek to give individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience the outdoors and recreation without limitations. “What really sets Jesse apart is his love for skiing,” Mast said. “I’ve never seen a kid with a prosthetic leg hit angles the way that Jesse can.” Chilean Paralympian Santiago Vega is another mentor and friend, who also receives care from Shriners. Vega and Jesse met at Camp Un-Limb-ited, hosted by Shriners Hospitals, a camp that helps young adults better understand how to use their prosthetics in sports and activities. Vega was born with the same malformation as Keefe and the two have skied together several times. They were recently featured on “The Today Show” on NBC following the Paralympics in PyeongChang, South Korea; Vega as

Jesse Keefe races with the Wood River Middle School Mountain Biking Club at Galena. Photo courtesy of Krista Gehrke

a current Paralympian and Jesse as a potential Paralympian. Besides his medical care team and professional mentors, Jesse has a large support of family in the Valley. Gehrke works at Ketchum Grill and once served as board president for the Hailey Chamber of Commerce. Her parents, Bill and Barbara Gehrke, moved to the Wood River Valley separately from California in 1970 and met in Ketchum. Bill is a retired ski patroller and avid skier. Jesse’s paternal grandmother, Ann Keefe—also a big supporter—lives in the Valley, as well. “Our family was raised that way,” Gehrke said. “You learn to ski as soon as you can walk.” Keefe wants to become a pilot one day. But for now, he enjoys things such as math, world history, and just being a 14-year-old boy. tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N • A P R I L 11 - 17, 2018

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Mary Austin Crofts stands in a field of lupine. Photo by Carol Waller, courtesy of Mary Austin Crofts

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Build The Guild

Onsen Farm and Desert Springs Co-op will host a five-day permaculture convergence with a myriad of speakers, teachers and mentors, called Build the Guild, starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 3, and running through Friday, June 9, at Banbury Hot Springs, along with neighboring farms, in Hagerman. One of the main focus points will be how to implement sociocracy, an organizational approach that can kindle creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit; maximize effectiveness and decision-making; and increase individual and collective engagement, commitment and empowerment. “There will be hands-on projects, local organic food, camaraderie and soaks in the natural hot springs baths,” said James Reed, owner of Onsen Farm. “It’s a wonderful social event.” For more information about the schedule and to register, visit onsenfarm.com/events. Camping will be available at Banbury Hot Springs. Reserve a camping or RV site at miraclehotspring.com/banbury-accommodations. Space is limited, so reserve early. A list of local motels and rental houses is also available through Onsen Farms.

Hailey Physician Recognized At Annual Conference

Dr. Richard Paris, of Hailey, was recently awarded the 2018 Idaho Academy of Physician Assistants Supervising Physician of the Year Award at a reception held during the IAPA Annual Meeting and Continuing Medical Education Conference, last week in Sun Valley. The award recognizes a physician who demonstrates great mentorship of his or her physician assistants and fosters the unique relationship of trust, collegiality, and mutual respect essential for any great physician/PA team. The physician for this award displays evidence of collaboration allowing both the physician and the PA to provide greater medical service to their patients and community than either one would be able to do alone. Paris has been a champion of Idaho PAs for more than 20 years. He was cited for his collaborative practice and mentorship in encouraging the PAs he supervises to practice to the full extent of their skills and knowledge. Paris practices full-time at the St. Luke’s Family Medicine Clinic in Hailey, where he has been the supervising physician for Emily Karassik, PA-C, for 19 years. He has also been the medical director and supervising physician for Amy Klingler, PA-C, at the Salmon River Clinic in Stanley for more than a decade, and the supervising physician for three other PAs at the Challis Area Community Health Center in Challis. Both Stanley and Challis, which have no full-time physicians, are located in Custer County. Since travel to the clinics from Hailey is extensive and at times restricted by extreme weather, rather than spending time driving, Paris often flies his own plane so he can be in the clinics for a greater part of the day seeing patients, performing administrative duties, answering questions, and reviewing patient charts.

BY DANA DUGAN

n the Wood River Valley, Mary Austin Crofts is considered something of a miracle worker. As the newly named executive director of The Chamber of Hailey and the Wood River Valley, Crofts has a large undertaking in front of her. But the longtime Valley resident brings a wealth of experience with nonprofits, business marketing and community activism and, of course, that ability to work miracles. For the past year, Crofts has served as the director of development for the Crisis Hotline and is part of the Suicide Prevention Task Force, held in association with St. Luke’s Wood River. Concurrently, she worked as the director of communications, PR and media planning of DMS Marketing in Los Angeles, and as president of Sun Valley Soul Adventures. For nearly seven years, Crofts was executive director of The Trailing of the Sheep Festival, and for 20 years before that she was executive director of the Blaine County Recreation District. While with the BCRD, she was directly responsible for major fundraising and the development of the Wood River Trail System, the North Valley Trails, Galena Lodge, public access and hundreds of programs for children and families. Crofts just began work at The Chamber two weeks ago and laughed when asked about her plans for the future. “It’s early days still,” she said. “But there is incredible community support for this Chamber and from its 355 members. I’ve had very positive reactions from people.” As she wades through the minutiae of The Chamber, which serves not just Hailey but the entire Wood River Valley, Crofts said she’s looking for “partnerships and collaboration,” and plans on meeting with all the organizations that work also in economic and business development. Ramping up local spending and support is foremost on her mind, especially during the slow months. “That’s my goal,” she said. “All small communities and businesses deal with the times, but we’re unique because we’re a resort community. It’s because of the calendar; July and August

are busy, but the off-season— slack—is hard. Today, it’s even more of a challenge due to the Internet and Amazon.” One of Crofts’s first campaigns will be “around the idea of encouraging people to understand how important it is to shop locally,” she said. “It has to be in the forefront of our minds. It’s a big thing for communities.” Crofts is a true proponent of the idea that what you give is what you get. “Local businesses do so much to give back to the community in terms of sponsoring events, donating prizes, volunteering to help others,” she said. “I realized long ago how much people like the Atkinsons give back to the community. Thirty years ago I said I am not going to shop out of town if I can get it here. That’s my priority. “This is how we make sure people have work, can pay their rents, and put food on the tables,” she continued. “We have so many wonderful resources here, like The Hunger Coalition, for times when it’s hard to make ends meet for people, but at the same time there’s so much we can do as individuals.” Though The Chamber is funded by the City of Hailey, Crofts said its growth spurt Valley-wide is encouraging. “It’s doing a lot to support the community and the board hopes to continue to support nonprofits,” she said. “Businesses in Bellevue and Ketchum are signing up as members, and we’re holding Wake-Up gatherings in each town now because people miss having a chamber that networks locally.” When the Ketchum/Sun Valley Chamber and Visitors Bureau folded nearly a decade ago, the business of marketing the north Valley went to the newly formed Sun Valley Marketing Alliance, known as Visit Sun Valley, which handles destination marketing and is run by executive director Scott Fortner. “Visit Sun Valley is doing a great job, but people need to have a voice, too,” Crofts said. “It’s a different mission. So we’re really still focused on Hailey events.” The Chamber, located at 781 South Main Street in Hailey, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N • A P R I L 11 - 17, 2018

NEWS ARTS

'INSIDE, OUTSIDE, UPSIDE DOWN!' Commissioned mini-musical to debut

BY YANNA LANTZ

ompany of Fools’ 22nd season will conclude with a production of “Inside, Outside, Upside Down!” at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. There will be two free public performances at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Both showings will be followed by a unique interactive workshop. Commissioned by Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts as part of its new BIG IDEA project, “Bees,” this mini-musical was created for young audiences by award-winning theatre writers Maggie-Kate Coleman and Erato A. Kremmyda and is directed by Ilana Becker. “I jumped at the opportunity to commission Maggie-Kate and Erato because their work is so dynamic, so unique to their perspectives and to their remarkable skill for research and gut-rooted material,” said Becker. “In fact, they had already been researching bees—entirely coincidentally—prior to the commission. Their work is playful, vibrant, thoughtful, and treats its young audiences as the intuitive people they are. Maggie-Kate and

Erato’s work never talks down to its young audiences— it sincerely invites them along for the ride.” “Inside, Outside, Upside Down!” follows Kimi, a young adventurer, on a musical journey through her ecosystem as she meets and interacts with local pollinators. “The piece is about connectivity and the ecosystem,” Becker said. “Everything is connected and we’re all in this together—that’s what pings at this story’s core. We came to it with the question, ‘How is it all connected? And what can we each do about it when we feel like we’re in a discordant world?’ We also wanted it to feel locally tethered, to make us laugh, and to remind us of what we loved about theatre-going when we first saw things at the same age as our audiences.” The short musical is geared toward children and was inspired by the visual artwork in The Center’s BIG IDEA project, “Bees.” In addition to the free public performances on April 21 and 22, The Center will offer student matinees for elementary school students on April 19 and 20. “We hope to spark their curiosities about the role pollination plays in our lives and empower them to positive-

ly address humans’ impact on the world,” Becker said. “We hope they’ll feel even just a little more connected to their ecosystem and to encourage them to consider what they might be able to do about it as part of a community and on a local level. This is the one planet we have and they are the next generation to care for it.” The production will feature Melodie Taylor-Mauldin as numerous pollinators and Annabelle Lewis as Kimi, with stage management by Chris Henderson. Following performances, the creative team and education staff will engage younger audience members in interactive activities to reinforce the information shared during this new work. While not required, audience members will be encouraged to stay and participate. Tickets for the April 21 and April 22 public performances of “Inside, Outside, Upside Down!” are free, but a $10 donation is suggested. Advance seat reservations are recommended. Patrons may reserve seats online at sunvalleycenter.org, by calling (208) 578-9122 or by visiting the Liberty Theatre box office at 110 N. Main Street in Hailey, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tws

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SPONSORED FEATURE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

‘Brave The Shave’ Raises Funds For 6th Grader With Cancer

Wood River High School Leadership Teacher and Bellevue Mayor Chris Koch gets shorn.

ophomore Emma Madsen sacrifices her long hair for the

e years, the report has helped spur oval of outdated dams, the protecdesignations, and the prevention of . s most endangered in past years ver (2017), the Smith River (2015, and Lochsa rivers (2014).

cation Foundation ‘Shakespearance’

contemporary gear, jeans, leather eakers, which caught the attention n, Blaine County Education Founrelease. rote. “Caesar was portrayed as a

ors worked with 30 students to oup workshops. lt of a BCEF Innovating Grant Idea, eek High School teacher. Berry n of Shakespeare to her students. r seen a live performance and this them,” Berry said in the grant

Carey High School, Wood River High ool to the two performances, thus rama and voice students. ndation is a nonprofit organiza-

n Wednesday, April 4, students and staff members at Wood River High School and Community School held assemblies to raise money and awareness for Isabelle Phillips, a 6thgrade Community School student who was diagnosed in December with a rare form of cancer. At Wood River High School, about 60 people had their heads shaved to show their solidarity with Isabelle, according to Leadership Teacher Chris Koch. At Community School, about 50 people got shorn, said Communications Director Diana Price. Third Floor Salon in Hailey and Precision Haircuts in Ketchum donated equipment and time to ensure the events ran smoothly. The two schools’ combined fundraising efforts– including a YouCaring crowdfunding page set up by Wood River High School Athletics Director Kevin Stilling–had reached more than $10,000 by press deadline on Tuesday. Phillips’ mother, Calysta Phillips, is an Upper School French and Spanish teacher at Community School; her father, Matt Phillips, is a science teacher at Wood River High School. The family, including Isabelle’s brother Sebastian, has moved to Seattle to battle the cancer–a malignant bone tumor called an osteosarcoma–at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Some Blaine County residents and others have also helped the family by donating unknown amounts to Seattle Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, according to spokespeople from Wood River High School and Community School. Those interested in making a donation should contact Seattle Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or donate directly to the Phillips family at www.youcaring.com/thephillipsfamily-1116606. Photos courtesy of Blaine County School District, Community School, Erin Kehrer, Bill Petzke and Fionna Selleck

tion that raises funds to benefit students in the Blaine County School District, promoting academic excellence, equitable education and a sustainable student environment. To support Blaine County Education Foundation or for more information, contact Heitzman at (208) 578-5449.

Otter Recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter officially kicked off National Crime Victims’ Rights Week on Monday by honoring crime victims and bringing attention to the challenges facing victims of all ages across the state. Victims, victim advocates like Marsy’s Law for Idaho, and leaders across the state are taking part in events this week to raise awareness and make the case that victims deserve equal constitutional rights in our justice system. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2018 runs through Saturday, April 14. “Victims who believe they have a voice, empathy and support are more likely to disclose their victimization, seek services, overcome the sense of isolation and distrust and participate in the justice system,” said Otter in reading the proclamation during a ceremony in his office. “The State of Idaho is dedicated to supporting and strengthening victims and survivors in the aftermath of crime, building resilience in our communities and our victim responders, and working for justice for all victims and survivors.” Later Monday, the Idaho State Capitol was lit up in purple light to honor victims. Mayors across the state were issuing similar proclamations designed to raise awareness and acknowledging the work done by victim advocates, law enforcement and others on behalf of victims. “We must stop turning our heads on victims,” said State Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, a Democrat from Boise and supporter of Marsy’s Law for Idaho. “Victims represent every single demographic in our society, and the numbers are staggering. We have a responsibility to provide victims of every crime the ability to move forward with their lives.” National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has been celebrated every April since 1981 when President Ronald Reagan signed the first proclamation honoring crime victims.

Dane Thompson. Courtesy photo by Ann D’Angelo

DANE THOMPSON

Mixing Academics With Music And Sports

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

ane Thompson, a senior at Wood River High School, carries a GPA of 4.263. He received an AP Scholar of Distinction Award, and is a member of National Honor Society. “I am taking four AP classes: AP Physics 2, AP Calculus, AP Biology, and AP Psychology, a challenge in work terms but terrific because the teachers are the best, and I like them all,” Thompson said. Thompson also has a full schedule of extracurricular activities. “I volunteer for the Flourish Foundation as a Compassionate Leader and last year went on a service trip with them to Mexico,” he said. “We worked with two different nonprofits. Tierra Roja is a place that provides education to kids who work during the day, and Angeles de Amour helps to teach disabled young people over 18. Then, last year, I worked with Higher Ground, teaching skiing to children with special needs. It was an amazing experience.” Actually, Thompson’s love of the outdoors and skiing is foremost in his appreciation of the Wood River Valley. “Our family moved here, now in Hailey, because Dad used to ski Baldy in his youth,” Thompson said. “Our whole family loves the outdoors. My parents have always been athletic. They both were runners and skiers in college. My mother preferred cross-country, and I followed her interest in being on the Nordic ski team from third grade to my junior year. My family, including a younger brother now in high school, and my sister, in college in Bellingham, Wash-

ington, hiked and camped a lot in the summer, and so we appreciate the actual place in which we live and play. “We love the attainability in Idaho for the fresh air, clear skies, and the beauty in places like the Sawtooths. Being in these mountains gives you a spectacular outdoor life and also a feeling of serenity and peace—time out from pressures. That is unique.” Thompson admits that he can over-talk his love of the environment. “My friends laugh at how much I expound on backpacking, but I can’t help it,” he said. “That’s part of my joy in sports; I want to share my enthusiasm with others.” Thompson enjoys music, too, and joined the school’s B-Tones men’s singing group last year. “I have always liked music, but being with this group is special,” he said. “This year the Anaheim Heritage Festival awarded the B-Tones a gold rating—their highest. Then a friend talked me into performing in ‘Across the Universe,’ at The Spot. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.” Thompson said he has three criteria for his future. “I want to enjoy the outdoors, deal with people in positive ways, and face new challenges every day,” he said. “Maybe something like emergency medicine or search and rescue will be the way to go.” Editor’s Note: Anyone who would like to recommend a Blaine County School District student for The Weekly Sun’s “Student Spotlight” feature should contact JoEllen Collins at joellencollins1@gmail.com. tws

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • A P R I L 11 - 17, 2018

Fishing R epoRt

COLUMN NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR APRIL 11 - 17, FROM PICABO ANGLER

nowpack levels in the Wood River Valley and adjacent drainages continue to hover around 100 percent of normal. Current snowpack levels are: Big Wood River – 97 percent, Little Wood River – 94 percent, Big Lost River – 104 percent, and Salmon River – 109 percent. Coupled with good base flows and carryover from 2017, the outlook for water flows on our local rivers remains promising. Silver Creek, the Big Wood River and the South Fork of the Boise River below Anderson Ranch Dam are closed and will re-open on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Steelhead season is in full swing, and our guides have been plying the waters of the Salmon River upstream of Challis. Fish are spread out along the river system. To date, approximately 250 steelhead have been trapped at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery in Stanley. Flows on the Salmon are a bit higher than normal (1,360 CFS below Yankee Fork), and steelhead are on the move. Anglers have had success swinging black, blue, and purple spey flies, streamers, and egg-sucking leeches on medium-weight sink tips and drifting large stonefly or egg patterns. The steelhead have not been fussy when it comes to fly pattern; the key to a successful outing is covering water and finding fish. When fishing closer to Stanley, avoid spawning steelhead and look for more active fish in pockets, riffles and runs. Fishing on the Big Lost River below Mackay Dam remains excellent. The river’s rainbows have completed spawning and are actively feeding throughout the river. Both midge and BlueWinged Olive activity has been excellent. Look for midges to start late morning or early afternoon, with BWOs following for the remainder of the day. Don’t fish the lower Lost without TieDown Midges (20-22), Baetis Film Critics (18-20), and red and black Zebra Midges (18-20)! The countdown to Opening Day at Silver Creek is at 48 days! It will be here before you know it, so now is the time to prep your gear and get the right flies for the early hatches on the Creek. Stop by the shop or give us a call, and we’ll get you set up with the right PMD, BlueWinged Olive, and Brown Drake patterns that you’ll need for the upcoming season. Keep tuned in to our blog and social media for upcoming information on Opening Day festivities at Picabo Angler. This year will be bigger and better than ever! Happy fishing, everyone!

Hwy 20 in Picabo info@picaboangler.com (208)788.3536 www.picaboangler.com

CLOUD’S PUPPY DIARY

BY FRAN JEWELL

loud is now almost 11 weeks old. He is the last puppy from my litter and will continue to stay with me and learn until he goes to his new home. We have worked on house training by using a marker method and food to let him know that going outside is what I want. He has also learned that sitting by the door is how I open it. Now, when he has to go, he immediately goes and sits by the door. All of his brothers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Detroit and Utah are doing excellent in their crate and house training. Right now, Cloud is not allowed to run free through the house unless I am just watching him or playing with him. When he is in the house, he is on a leash next to my chair whether I am watching TV or working on my computer. If I cannot watch him, he is either in his crate (where he gets all his food and other treats), or in an exercise pen I have in the living room. If he is awake in the house, I take him outside to potty about every 20–30 minutes, especially when he is playing with his mother, Mariah. He has been sitting for his food. He gets Kong toys filled with cream cheese, hard cheese, or canned food. Since he loves his food, sometimes I freeze the Kong already stuffed so it takes him longer to eat it. Now he is chewing on me less and less. Every day we work on “leave it” where I wait until he backs his mouth away from my hand with a treat in it. When he backs away, he gets the treat and I say “leave it.” Now he learns that taking his mouth off my hand is rewarded. I have spent lots of time just watching him and when he does something I want, like “down,” I say “down” and give him a click/ treat on the floor in front of him. I do this all the time while he is on the leash tied to my chair at the computer. I have been taking him everywhere in the car, in a crate. I don’t want him finding any joy in chewing up my van. I get him out on a leash for even 5 minutes at new places, and ask him to practice the essentials of “watch,” “sit” and “down.” We go to the store, at my lessons, everywhere. When people want to pet him, I always let them, but I stand on his leash so he cannot jump up on anyone. Now he gets pets from strangers and doesn’t get any positive reinforcement for jumping. He just gets lots of treats for meeting new people and sitting. My goal right now is for him to meet at least three new people every day. Last week, Cloud went with me to my grandson’s daycare and met all the children. What a fabulous experience for him. I kept him in my arms while the kiddos got to pet and love on him. If you

Cloud is so much like his father, Kalidor! Photo by Fran Jewell

see my van parked and I am around, come and visit Cloud! Fran Jewell is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.

COLUMN SKETCHBOOK HIKING

BY LESLIE REGO

BECOMING ‘SAGEICAL’

was reading a bit of Muir the other day when I came across this sentence from one of his journals: “I’m in the woods, woods, woods, and they are in me-ee-ee.” And here is another passage: “I wish I was so drunk & Sequoical.” John Muir transformed the Sequoia noun into an adjective. Muir often shouted his adoration of the natural world from a mountaintop. He was known to jump about and sing to the glory of Nature. Once, when hiking with a staid Easterner who was the director of Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum, Muir asked him to join in his revelry of Nature. The man replied, coolly, “I don’t wear my heart upon my sleeve.” But what if we all wore our hearts on our sleeves when enjoying the greater outdoors? Sometimes I do open my arms wide and make a circle, encompassing all that I see. I bring my arms in tight to hug myself as if I could bring all the mountains, the forests, the trees into my soul. I don’t shout out, but maybe I should. The outer branches of the trees in direct sunlight are just beginning to turn a bit yellow, awakening from their long winter sleep. The willows are turning bright red. The light during the day is very different from the low

Leslie Rego, “Mountain Scene,” nib pen and ink, watercolor, pencil.

light of the winter months. Muir wrote, “The snow is melting into music.” Was Muir both seeing and listening to the music? Sight and sound are often interchangeable—a condition known as taste, etc. But surely one can hear melting snow as well as see the receding snowline. And this brings me to one of my favorite John Muir quotes: “Climb the mountains and get

their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature’s sources never fail.” As this winter season creeps inexorably to an end, let us all

climb to a high point, throw our arms wide, “shout out our love & become sageical.” Leslie Rego is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, artist and Blaine County resident. To view more of Rego’s art, visit leslierego.com

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

APRIL 11 - 17, 2018

COLUMN LIVING WELL UI-BLAINE EXTENSION TIPS

SOIL PREPARATION

BY UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO EXTENSION – IDAHO LANDSCAPES & GARDENS

he ideal garden soil is deep, friable, well-drained and high in organic matter. Proper soil preparation provides the basis for good seed germination and subsequent growth of plants. Managing soils for optimal plant growth is an ongoing process that consists of proper tillage, adding amendments, and proper fertilization and irrigation. Soils in Idaho vary widely due to topography, climate, and origin. In southern Idaho, most soils have a high pH (alkaline) and contain very little organic matter. These soils may need extra applications of phosphorus and micronutrient fertilizers and should never be amended with lime or wood ash. Soils can vary in texture from sand to clay. The pH of soil is important in determining which nutrients will be readily available to plants (see illustration). Sandy soils need the constant addition of organic matter, frequent and light applications of water, and constant fertilization. Clay soils may need to be amended with organic matter and/or soil amendments to improve water penetration. It is important to know the characteristics of your soil in order to design an appropriate management plan. Regardless of soil type, careful use of various amendments can improve soil and provide the best possible starting situation for your plants. The best amendments provide organic matter and

consist of manures, composts, peat moss, crop residues, grass clippings, green manures, bark, wood chips, straw, or any number of other materials. The type of amendment chosen is dictated by availability and cost. Before fertilizing or tilling, it is best to get the soil tested for nutrients, pH and organic matter. Several labs will test your soil for a fee. It is important to understand that most plants’ nutritional needs are supplied by the soil. Consequently, proper soil preparation will go a long way toward achieving a successful garden. For more information on soil preparation, see the brief, but excellent, Utah State University publication, “Preparing Garden

Soil.” Washington State University provides a comprehensive guide to soil management. For more information contact the University of Idaho’s Blaine County Extension office or visit extension.uidaho.edu/blaine or call (208) 788-5585.

Private Property Trespass Bill, H658

Idaho voters deserve the truth about the private property trespass bill, H658, that the Legislature approved this year. House Bill 658 is a consolidation of several sections of Idaho code into one location more clearly defining trespass, property boundary recognition, trespass exemptions and resulting damages and penalties. Put simply, it protects private property rights. The attack ad said that this law would “loosen requirements for private landowners to mark their property boundaries.” This is false. It actually raises the standard for signs or marking “in a manner that a reasonable person would recognize as delineating a property boundary.” It was stated that this law would turn “public land users into criminals.” Again, false. This law requires land-owners to mark unfenced boundaries between public and private land. It further requires that unfenced and uncultivated property must be “posted with conspicuous ‘no trespassing’ signs or bright orange or fluorescent paint.” It was stated that the law would be crime if a person crossed “an unmarked property line to fetch your dog or Frisbee.” This statement is false under existing law and will continue to be false under the new law. Trespass exemptions are more clearly defined in the new law than they are under current law. It has been stated that the law would criminalize “Girl Scouts and nuns” who went to the door of a house, which is an over-the-top, ridiculous scenario. If the property is posted with clear “No Trespassing” or “No Solicitation” signs, then the wishes of the property owner must be respected. It was stated that “This law makes it hard to know if you’re trespassing.” The definition of trespass depends on what a reasonable person would recognize as a property boundary. By the very definition and legal standard of “reasonable,” then, it would have to be self-evident to the average person that they are trespassing. Penalties have increased. Under the current law, civil and criminal trespass is a misdemeanor and starts at a $50 fine. H658 makes civil trespass a fine of $500. Criminal trespass without damage is an infraction with a fine of $300. Criminal trespass with damage is a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,500 to $5,000. H658 may be viewed at https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2018/ legislation/H0658E1.pdf. I’m proud to serve the voters of Legislative District 26 and Idaho with honesty and integrity. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to set the record straight.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR WRHS CLIMBING CLUB

THE NAME THAT FITS

GUEST COMMENTARY STEVE MILLER

Steve Miller Idaho State Representative, District 26

COLUMN SCIENCE OF PLACE

BY HANNES THUM

n the 1700s, a Swedish man named Carl Linnaeus created the foundation for the systematic naming and classification of all life on Earth. The most well-known result of the structure he created (which is still the standard today) was the formal process of giving every species a so-called “Latin binomial name.” I chose to ignore, sidestep, or duck these “official” scientific names for most of my life. The Latin names associated with different species were intimidating to me when I first started to see them as a kid—I couldn’t get my head around the concept that, for instance, a rainbow trout was actually supposed to be called something as unwieldy as Oncorhynchus mykiss. I cared about the creatures, but my brain wouldn’t connect with or memorize their more formal names. As I got older, the rift between me and Linnaeus’ way of documenting, sorting, and naming species grew larger and I began to resent the Latin names as something dreamt up by nerdy biologists as a way of documenting and sorting and discriminating between biologists and non-biologists. The Latin names, to me, seemed somewhat pretentious and unnecessary. In the same way that I preferred nicknames amongst friends to the full name that I had to write on government documents, I felt like I had no use for snooty formality when it came to getting to know the species around me. But, then, I became fascinated by them. Many of the Latin names are beautifully illustrative descriptions of the creature in question, or of the history of their interaction with people. They are like tiny, two-word poems. Sometimes, the name distills the creature into a useful identifier: lodgepole pine is Pinus contorta, which helps one identify the tree by the way its needles contort and twist as they grow; sagebrush is Artemisia tridentata, and the leaves have three (“tri”) teeth (“dentata”); the Latin word “falx” means curved blade, and all falcons have the first

Individual clonal colonies of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) can be discerned during the autumn, as seen on this mountainside. Photograph used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

name Falco, which conjures up the image of their distinctive talons. Sometimes, the names tell a story. Polar bears were dubbed Ursus maritimus because Arctic explorers, maritime travelers themselves, saw the bear more often than not out on the frozen sea. Grizzly bears, who get three names because they are a subspecies of the brown bear, earned the name Ursus arctos horribilis because, well, Meriwether Lewis was almost killed by one—he described it as a terrifying beast. A favorite name is one I like to think about a lot at this time of year. As the buds are beginning to appear on our local aspen trees, I find myself imagining watching the leaves move in the wind as only aspen leaves move. Their Latin name is Populus tremuloides after the way the leaves tremble in the wind. Hannes Thum is a Wood River Valley native and has spent most of his life exploring what our local ecosystems have to offer. He currently teaches science at Community School.

Thank You Limelight Ketchum Community Fund!

Upon introducing students to rock climbing at Wood River High School’s climbing wall, the camaraderie is undeniable. The sport encourages growth through mental and physical fatigue that is unparalleled in several aspects of life; the most vital parts are the seeded relationships. Encouragement initiates in the climbing room, but extends to life inside the classroom and, even more importantly, outside. With the support of the Limelight Ketchum Community Fund, the Wood River Climbing Club will be able obtain new gear. This gear includes climbing ropes, overnight backpacks, and other gear that is needed to enable students to transition skills from conversation to practical use. The Wood River Climbing Club is a supportive group that introduces young adults to positive outdoor pursuits and hobbies within the greater Wood River Valley, which they can utilize for the rest of their life regardless of their location. The introduction of outdoor skills is beneficial for an individual’s mental health, regardless of age; simultaneously, the individual must be taught specific skills to ensure safety. The club is humbled to accept a grant from the Limelight Ketchum Community Fund to empower our students to enjoy nature without having to experience the financial burden. The members can move from the conveyor belt of high school hallways to self-propelled heights on a vertical wall where their only restraint is a harness supplied by the Limelight Ketchum Community Fund. Wood River High School Climbing Club Hailey

Correction An advertisement advocating against Idaho State Rep. Steve Miller, R-Fairfield, published in the April 4 issue of The Weekly Sun, did not include a disclaimer communicating who paid for the ad. The ad was paid for by Idaho Opportunity Project.

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

APRIL 11 - 17, 2018