24 January 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 | JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018 | V O L . 1 1 - N O . 4 | W W W . T H E W E E K L Y S U N . C O M

Community News Ketchum Fire Department Captain Takes A Breather

Education News School District Wants To Shift Funds Through New Levy

Sports News Bonspiel To Curl Its Way Into Stanley

“Nature rewards cooperation. Nature banks on diversity. Nature demands local expertise. Nature curbs excesses from within. Nature taps the power of limits.” ~Janine M. Benyus

Olympic hopeful and Hailey resident Chase Josey focuses down the hill before dropping into the halfpipe at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain, Calif., on Saturday,… For more information about this photo, see “On The Cover” on page 3. Courtesy photo by Stellar Media, Spencer Cordovano

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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018

NEWS COMMUNITY

THIRTY YEARS ON THE JOB, MCLEAN RETIRES AS CAPTAIN

BY DANA DUGAN

om McLean, Ketchum Fire Department captain, is one of those upstanding guys who does his job diligently, is committed to his colleagues, and loves his wife. For the past 30 years, McLean, 53, has served the community as a dedicated firefighter and paramedic. Named Firefighter of the Year in 2017, he retired a week ago, somewhat reluctantly, but with plans percolating about his future. McLean’s story follows an accepted path for many. From the Seattle area, he came to Sun Valley to ski with the University of Washington Ski Club, returned to college, and then realized this was where he wanted to be. “I hated city life,” McLean said, while sitting in his standalone workshop at his home in the mid-Valley. “It wasn’t for me. I moved back here, skied and sold skis and boots.” Eventually, McLean joined the Ketchum Fire Department as a paid on call firefighter and was one of the first firefighters, along with Tony Davis, to live at the Greenhorn fire station. “As a resident, you have regular jobs when you live at the station,” he said. “You pay no rent, but you maintain vehicles, you’re on call, and you act as a two-person station. We did that for three to four years.” Then, on Feb. 13, 1991, McLean was hired full time. Bye-bye to boot selling. He had found his path. “You change jobs to do that,” he said. “Get the full-time job and commit to it. The idea at first is that it’s exciting. But the truth is, that wears off. There’s a lot more to it than car wrecks and fires. It has a nurturing feel to it. I want

to make sure this person gets home.” McLean said that some accident victims and people in distress just can’t cope with “what’s going on,” and responders have to be able to stay calm and help them as best they can. For instance, someone might call with a report of a gassy smell in their house. After a search of the ducts, it might be just a dead rat that’s creating the smell. But this is what the City of Ketchum, the Ketchum Rural Fire District and the Blaine County Ambulance District pay for. Established in 1883, the fire department is a combination of career and paid on call members who provide fire protection, technical rescue and emergency medical services. There are 34 volunteers (paid on call) and 13 paid career personnel. For the past six to eight years, McLean has been a part of an engine company that includes Lt. John Rathfon, Lt. Keith Potter and Lt. Greg Martin. These are his brothers. They spent their 24-hour shifts entirely together, living in the apartment at the firehouse in Ketchum, working together, taking calls and hanging out. “Aside from my brothers on my shift, there is a brother and sisterhood with the full-time staff,” McLean said. Indeed, one of the most moving moments of my time spent with McLean is when he took from his wallet a long, worn piece of paper. It was an EKG readout that he keeps with him at all times. “This was the saddest call, and of deep importance to me,” he said, referring to the suicide last fall of one of his colleagues, Ashley Yagla. “Lara (his wife) and I were the first high-ranking officers on the scene. She was very special as an individual.

We don’t have children and she was like a daughter. I love thinking of her; she was such a great young lady. This reminds me of how important everyone on the department is to me.” Despite the dangers on the job, it’s rare that tragedy hits so close to home. Rather, the work they do is focused on helping others, and improving their own leadership skills. “We see a lot more trauma on the job now,” McLean said. “People here travel and play fast. There’s a kinetic energy that changes things and turns things over.” McLean started as an EMT and said once the support was offered to further medical training, he and about four others went to paramedic school. “Community needs surfaced,” he said. “It was a big change. There are now 20 paramedics on staff. Within five years there will be potential for more retirements; some may stay, but some will ‘time out.’ The struggle right now is to demonstrate need, but the city will see a change if something isn’t done [about funding further education]. We have advanced skills that have helped the community in a lot of circumstances, like with cardiac arrests, where we can administer treatment while making people’s injury experience better because of medication we can now offer.” The Ketchum firefighters unionized almost a decade ago as Local 4758, AFL-CIO-CLC. McLean hopes to stay in by paying dues. He also intends— after a three-month required break—to go back to being a paid on call volunteer, though he acknowledges that might be a distraction. “When I started—I was an excellent student, and sat in on management classes—I had a ton of ideas about how

Standing in front of their engine are, from left to right, Lieutenant Keith Potter, Lieutenant Greg Martin, Captain Tom McLean and Senior Lieutenant John Rathfon. Photo courtesy of Tom McLean

to manage and make things happen,” he said. “As a new, young volunteer, you don’t have the opportunities until you get older. I wanted to help my peers, try out command structure. Oftentimes, you can’t do that unless you get out of the way. I feel I’ve laid the groundwork, and showed that autonomy and purpose should be something meaningful. I want people to take their own better path.” By all accounts, McLean is a leader who brought experience and a sharp intellect to the job. He recognizes the need for honesty and communication and points to a picture of him with his engine company brothers. “I have been surrounded by exceptional people who are into the job and are looking to get better. I like to think of them as the group that moves the dial.” The ability to think critically puts McLean in good stead to stay involved, something that is of vital importance to him. He is active in community service in a myriad of ways. Through the Union, the members each choose a charity or groups of

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charities to work for. “We commit to put in 800 hours,” McLean said. “We all have our favorites.” In the meantime, McLean is thinking about how to “change his stripes.” He lives in an old stable he’s rebuilt with recovered beams and pieces from historic buildings in the Valley, and elsewhere, with his wife, Paramedic Lt. Lara McLean, who he refers to as an “exceptional paramedic in every respect.” He also built a two-story workshop where he makes and rebuilds furniture. The couple also has chickens and organic gardens and plenty of land to maintain. “I started planning three to four years ago where my career is going,” McLean said. “It’s had impact. But I have always admired my wife’s ability to change stripes. “As you retire, you start to lose relevance. I want to help people find theirs as I lose mine.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

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Parker Receives Applause From Idaho Legislature Eric Parker, of Hailey, who pleaded guilty to one charge of obstruction of a court order in a 2014 confrontation with Bureau of Land Management agents near a ranch owned by Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, received applause from Idaho lawmakers when introduced on the House floor a week ago. Republican Rep. Dorothy Moon, of Stanley, introduced Parker. Moon was the lead author on a letter sent last fall to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking him to get Nevada federal prosecutors to relax their pursuit of four Idahoans charged or convicted in connection with the 2014 Bunkerville standoff in Nevada. Cliven Bundy and two of his sons were recently released from jail after it was revealed the prosecuting attorneys in the case withheld evidence of wrongdoing by federal agents during two previous trials, one of which ended in a mistrial. House Speaker Scott Bedke, of Oakley, eventually used his gavel to stop the applause and asked the chamber to maintain order.

T H E W E E K LY S U N • J A N U A R Y 24 - 30, 2018

THE WEEKLY SUN CONTENTS

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Company of Fools will present a new adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28. For a story, see page 12. Courtesy photo by Company of Fools

THIS WEEK J A N U A R Y 2 4 - 3 0 , 2018 | VOL. 11 NO. 4

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We are working with community representatives on a new power line to provide resiliency in the north Wood River Valley. The line will provide a second source of energy from Hailey to our substation facilities in Sun Valley. Communities this size typically have an alternate transmission line for reliability in case of events like damaging weather or wildfire. This power line will promote the safety and economy of the Wood River Valley, while still providing you reliable, fair-cost service. We continue to collaborate with all stakeholders. Please share your thoughts with Idaho Power, Blaine County, City of Ketchum, City of Sun Valley and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

Student Spotlight And Award-Winning Columns Stay In The Loop On Where To Be Classic Sudoku, Crossword, Sell Your Stuff & Weather

ON THE COVER Continued from page 1: ...which he won. For more information about and photos from the event, see pages 8-9. Courtesy photo by Stellar Media, Spencer Cordovano 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).

THE WEEKLY SUN STAFF 13 W. Carbonate St. • P.O. Box 2711 Hailey, Idaho 83333 Phone: 208.928.7186 Fax: 208.928.7187 AD SALES Brennan Rego • 208.720.1295 • brennan@theweeklysun.com NEWS EDITOR Dana DuGan • news@theweeklysun.com CALENDAR EDITOR Yanna Lantz • calendar@theweeklysun.com COPY EDITOR Patty Healey STAFF REPORTERS • JoEllen Collins • Dick Dorworth • Kelly Eisenbarger news@theweeklysun.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Mandi Iverson • 208.721.7588 • mandi@theweeklysun.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN Chris Seldon • production@theweeklysun.com ACCOUNTING Shirley Spinelli • 208.928.7186 • accounting@theweeklysun.com PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brennan Rego • 208.720.1295 • publisher@theweeklysun.com DEADLINES Display & Community Bulletin Board Ads — Monday @ 1pm brennan@theweeklysun.com • bulletin@theweeklysun.com Calendar Submissions — Friday @ 5pm calendar@theweeklysun.com www.TheWeeklySun.com Published by Idaho Sunshine Media, LLC

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T H E W E E K LY S U N •

JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018

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NEWS EDUCATION

SAGE SCHOOL SENIORS SET INDEPENDENT TRIMESTERS IN MOTION BY FAYE PREKEGES INTERN AT THE WEEKLY SUN

he Sage School’s mission is to “honor adolescence as a critical developmental window for learning essential academic, cognitive, social, and emotional skills.” Founded in 2009, and located in Hailey, The Sage School works to maintain a “thriving environment for students through a challenging, authentic curriculum centered on human ecology and engaging experiences designed specifically to promote self-awareness, community responsibility, and a sense of place.” Seniors at The Sage School have embarked on planning their independent trimesters. Also known as “I Tris,” these projects constitute the entire spring trimester. The school created independent trimesters to give seniors the opportunity to dive deeply into a topic of interest. In the winter trimester, seniors begin to develop their topics. Each student must prove to the school that their idea connects to The Sage School’s mission of human ecology, or one of the three “pillars” of the school: sense of place, sense of self, and community responsibility. Once the faculty approves topics, students move into a fourweek research phase where they produce a “senior thesis.” These are written with help from a personal project advisor and two independent trimester advisors, assistant head of schools Chris McAvoy and 12th-grade human ecology and mathematics teacher Drew Harrison. Each thesis must be a minimum of 3,000 words and include at least 12 sources. McAvoy believes this process

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helps prepare students for college because they are capable of such intense research and writing. After students have completed their theses, they complete a thesis defense with two-three faculty members. The goal of the thesis defense is for students to demonstrate a certain depth of understanding on individual topics. The next phase is the field study. For five weeks, seniors complete 175 hours of fieldwork for their projects. Projects can vary from entirely service based to students producing a product by the end. During field study, students work with a community sponsor who they developed a relationship with during the research phase. Each community sponsor provides expertise and works with the student throughout the project. What sets The Sage School’s independent trimesters apart from their counterparts is scope and connection to the school. Sage School seniors have a massive undertaking in planning their own unique curriculum for an entire trimester and 175 hours of hands-on work. “I think, fundamentally, it’s about the purpose of it, and the fact it’s connected to our mission and big themes makes it a full capstone to their entire career here,” said McAvoy. “For me, the benefit [of independent trimesters] is the development of student voice caused by sending them out in the world, having them pick up the phone and contact people, facing all the rejection they will face, and picking up the phone to try again,” said McAvoy. The completed senior projects will be presented at the annual “I Tri Faire,” Friday, May 18, in Sun Valley. tws

Idaho Volunteers Recognized At Brightest Stars Awards Ceremony

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Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little honored 79 outstanding volunteers from throughout the state as stars last Wednesday at Idaho’s Brightest Stars awards ceremony in Boise, through Serve Idaho. “Volunteerism is a gift that benefits citizens and addresses needs in communities throughout our state,” Little said. “These men and women are not seeking recognition, but it is important to acknowledge these Brightest Star recipients and their generous commitment to giving to others and ensuring a bright future for all citizens.” The volunteers were nominated by fellow Idahoans for their contributions in seven categories. All nominees were recognized as stars in their communities, and one Brightest Star Volunteer of the Year was chosen in each category. A review panel of citizens throughout the state selected each Brightest Star. • Business: Molina Medicaid Solutions of Idaho, Boise • Individual: Catherine Riddle, Idaho Falls • Individual 55+: Bette Stone, Craigmont • Nonprofit/Public Organization: Camp Rainbow Gold, Boise • Student: Graham Elder, Boise • Teacher/Professor: Ashton Elementary Teachers, Ashton • Veteran: Truman Stewart, Boise The Serve Idaho Commission is funded in part by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Idaho Department of Labor. Visit serveidaho.gov for more information and to see a list of all of the nominees.

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018

NEWS ARTS 5TH ANNUAL

inter festival

Diversity dancers kick up their heels in new demonstration performances. Courtesy photo by Aubrey Stephens/Manon Gaudreau

DANCERS WILL TALK WITH THEIR HEARTS

Footlight Dance Centre To Present Annual School Visits

BY DANA DUGAN

ootlight Dance Company, under the artistic direction of Hilarie Neely, will present “Diversity – Talking with our Hearts” to run from Friday, Jan. 26, to Friday, Feb. 9. Performances will be presented at all nine schools in Blaine County. The public is invited to attend any of these shows if they call the specific school ahead of time for permission. This show was conceived as a way to demonstrate concert dance forms of ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, and tap as part of a larger discussion about diversity: social, cultural, environmental. “We hope these performances will inspire and initiate discussions about the diversity in our Valley, state and nationally, and how important it is to listen first and talk with human dignity from our hearts,” Neely said. “We have collaborated with Flourish Foundation and Wow-Students to bring memento cards to each student that will encourage conversation at home and school.” Advanced ballet students collaborated with Mason Corkutt, a sophomore at Silver Creek High School, to make a soundscape of their thoughts on diversity. The dancers will dance to this layered music with a solo cello by professional musician and teacher Ellen Sanders. Accompanying the performances will be narration about how the arts bring diversity and provide us with a forum to discuss issues with a creative voice, Neely said. The performances will take place at Carey School, at 9:30

a.m. Friday, Jan. 26; The Sage School, Silver Creek High School and Syringa Mountain School will see the performance at Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater, 9:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29. Wood River High School will have its own show at the Performing Arts Theater, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30. The dancers will head to Alturas Elementary School at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30; Hailey Elementary School, 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5; Bellevue Elementary School, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7; Community School, 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8; and Hemingway STEAM School, 8:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9. The company’s 13 dancers are students at three of the Valley’s high schools: WRHS, The Sage School and Community School. Seniors Anika Lyon and Dylan Porth will participate in their final year of performances. Neely explained that by the time the dancers have become advanced, they train as athletes who take five to six classes every week and are required to study Pilates conditioning. They rehearse weekends for six weeks prior to the performances, which brings their performance level to pre-professional. These performances are always a highlight for the Company dancers, as they assume the life of a touring professional but still keep up their class load at school. It is a wonderful experience to perform for their peers and younger students as they discover dance as an art form.

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T H E W E E K LY S U N •

JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018

NEWS EDUCATION

SCHOOL BOARD WANTS TO SHIFT FUNDS FROM BUILDINGS TO INSTRUCTION

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BY DANA DUGAN

he Blaine County School District Board of Trustees want to reallocate property tax money that’s already collected for schools from buildings to education. “Total property taxes collected by the district would remain the same,” Board Chair Shawn Bennion said. Trustees unanimously approved the ballot measure on Tuesday Jan.16. The school district now collects property taxes totaling almost $6 million a year which is earmarked for buildings and technology. The levy, known as the Plant Facilities Levy, was passed in 2009 when the district anticipated needing an additional elementary school. Since that time, enrollment has grown less than expected and a new school is not currently needed. In order to reallocate the money, voters will be asked to approve the ballot measure by majority vote. It would reduce the Plant Facilities Levy from nearly $6 million a year to $2.99 million a year. A Supplemental Levy totaling $2.99 million a year would be added. Supplemental levies are in effect in 93 of Idaho’s 115 school districts. In a memo to the school board, Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes said the Supplemental Levy would be used to “maintain elementary and secondary school class offerings that exceed the state requirement,” including smaller class sizes, preschool, all-day kindergarten, athletics, art, drama, choir, band, orchestra, career technical education and world languages. It would also “accelerate the district’s effort to close achievement gaps among students. Students living in families with incomes below the poverty line, learning English as a second language and identified with learning disabilities are lagging in meeting state standards of achievement. The ballot measure will provide continued funding of programs to help all students meet state standards.” Additional the levy would call for a “modest salary increase to retain and recruit the best staff.” Salary negotiations for the 2018-19 academic year will begin this May. The supplemental levy would also tackle several unfunded objectives from the 2015 Strategic Plan. This includes programs such as the community request for outdoor education for middle school students.

Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes. Photo courtesy of Blaine County School District

During the past two years, the school district cut $2.5 million from district and school departments, reducing district-level staffing, and implementing voluntary and mandatory salary cuts for yearround administrative staff. Holmes said there were a few elements that the district would not do even if the levy passes, including restoring positions eliminated in previous years. The district would also not increase staff or class offerings without savings in other areas and would be unable to allow salary schedules to be fully adjusted for inflation. A reduced Plant Facilities Levy of $2.99 million annually for the next two years is expected to cover the costs of building maintenance, technology purchases and replacement, and debt payments. It already has funded improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at aging schools, as well as additions and improvements at schools throughout the district. The Board of Trustees will hold a community forum on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 6-7 p.m. at Carey School. Further meetings will be announced by the school district at a later date. For more information, go to blaineschools.org or call (208) 578-5005.

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A newly formed group, Put Kids First, has formed a ballot committee to advocate for the passage of a two-year supplemental levy that the Blaine County School District’s Board of Trustees placed on the ballot for a countywide vote on March 13. The ballot concerns the approval of a supplemental levy, and would require the School District to reduce the Plant Facilities Levy the District currently collects by an equal amount. “It’s up to our community to step up to fill the funding gap and put education and children first,” Committee member Len Harlig said. “The Plant Facilities Levy cannot be spent on instruction. The supplemental levy will prevent more budget cuts that will seriously impact the quality of the education our kids receive. This is a good step forward to Put Kids First in our schools.” Lee Dabney joined the committee when she learned that state and federal funding will not be enough to keep up with the rising costs of a quality education. “Lack of funding from the state is an Idaho problem but it’s also a nationwide problem,” Dabney said. “It’s now up to our community to keep educational opportunities like full day Kindergarten, world languages, music, art, and AP classes. The levy will enable the school district to continue these offerings, while seeking more cost savings and looking for ways to continue to streamline the budget going forward.” Harlig, Dabney and the rest of the committee also stand ready to inform voters about the need for more supplemental levies in the future, unless the Idaho legislature approves adequate funding for education. When the levy passes, Blaine County will join 93 out of 115 school districts that now have supplemental levies. The committee is also concerned about funding cuts because quality public schools make Blaine County an attractive place to live and locate a business and play an integral role in protecting property values. Put Kids First also includes Joan Davies, Danni Dean, Lyman Drake, Darlene Dyer, Laura Gvozdas, Irene Healy, Sandy Shaw and Lara Stone. For more information or to get involved, visit putkidsfirst.net.

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018

NEWS SPORTS A free educational class conducted by NAMI Wood River Valley, for family members, partners, and friends of anyone living with a mental illness. This nationally-acclaimed course is taught by trained NAMI family-member volunteers, who have a loved one living with a mental health condition. The class teaches knowledge and skills to support you and your loved one.

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“There are only a few outdoor competitions in all of North America, and this is the only one I know of in the western United States,” said Jared Belsher, chairman of the Outdoor Bonspiel Committee. Courtesy photo by Rachaelle Grimsrud

SWEEPING STANLEY

oise Curling Club will host the sixth annual Sawtooth Outdoor Bonspiel, Friday through Sunday, Jan. 26-28, on the outdoor ice rink in Stanley. A 16-team, three-day open bonspiel, the S.O.B. will begin with opening ceremonies at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and end at noon on Sunday. “Because this is an outdoor bonspiel, it’s a really unique event,” said Jared Belsher, chairman of the Outdoor Bonspiel Committee. “There are only a few outdoor competitions in all of North America, and this is the only one I know of in the western United States. The event emulates how curling got started in Scotland in the late 1500s, when they were curling outdoors on the lake ice there.” As many as five curling matches will play simultaneously in a series of two-hour “draws.” Games will take place Friday from 5-7 p.m. and from 7:159:15 p.m. The competition will continue on Saturday with games at 7-9 a.m., 9-11 a.m., 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. “We play when we know it’s going to be cold enough, so we don’t play in the afternoons when the sun might be out and melt the ice,” Belsher said. Final matches will take place on Sunday from 7-9 a.m. and 9-11 a.m. Each of the 16 teams will play at least three games during the weekend. “This event gets more popular every year, and we have teams from all over the country,” Belsher said. Curling teams from the District of Columbia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Washington, Montana and Utah will travel to Stanley to compete in this year’s S.O.B. Spectators are welcome to come and watch the

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sexual Assault Tracking Report Released

Boise Curling Club To Host Sixth Annual S.O.B. BY YANNA LANTZ

Thank you to St. Luke’s Wood River for their financial contribution to this program.

bonspiel for free. There will be a free “Learn to Curl” class on Saturday at noon for those who want to learn how to curl. “We usually get quite a few local and regional people showing up for this class,” Belsher said. “It depends on the weather if we are able to do it; if it gets too warm (above 32 degrees) or if it’s snowing too much, we won’t be able to do it, but next weekend’s forecast is looking pretty good and it should happen.” Traditionally, there is a banquet associated with a bonspiel, and S.O.B. will have a banquet for the curlers from 4-5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Stanley Community Center. The afternoon event will feature food, drinks and a silent auction to raise money for Boise Curling Club. Spectators are asked to bring warm clothing, chairs, and their own food and drinks to the competition, although coffee will be available onsite. A 20-foot-by-40-foot warming tent will be located next to the rink to help curlers and spectators warm up. “This event is great because the whole town of Stanley really gets behind this weekend to support what we are doing,” Belsher said. “In general, curlers are really friendly, like to drink a lot of beer and like to make friends. We hope to see a lot of new faces this year.” To learn more about the sixth annual Sawtooth Outdoor Bonspiel, and to see a bracket and full schedule, visit sobidaho.com. Stanley’s outdoor ice rink is located just south of downtown Stanley—walk south on Wall Street from downtown Stanley. Wall Street will turn into Airport Road and the ice rink will be on the left. tws

As required by Idaho code, Idaho State Police Forensic Services provided the annual Idaho Sexual Assault Kit report to the Idaho Legislature on Friday, Jan. 19. This report contains statistics related to collection, laboratory processing, and law enforcement storage of sexual assault kits in Idaho last year. In January 2017, Idaho became the first state to fully implement a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system. “This tracking system provides more public accountability and transparency, allows victims to see the state taking this issue seriously, provides better direction and tools to law enforcement, provides more resources to the state forensic laboratory and ultimately provides a better criminal justice system,” said Matthew Gamette, Idaho State Police Forensic Services Laboratory System director. The tracking software used by medical facilities, law enforcement, the forensic laboratory and prosecutors is nationally renowned and acclaimed, according to the Idaho State Police. Throughout the state, there were 456 sexual assault kits collected by medical providers, 509 kits submitted to the Idaho State Police Forensic Services lab for testing (due to new and previously un-submitted kits being submitted) and 316 kits were completed by the forensic lab. While great progress was made in 2017 testing previously un-submitted kits identified in the statewide audit, all sexual assault kits meeting the state statutory requirements will be submitted to either ISPFS or the FBI lab by the end of 2018, according to Gamette. “All indications are that the destruction of sexual assault kits in Idaho has stopped and the new state law is being followed,” he said. The report also commends the work of the Idaho Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (ISAKI) working group. ISAKI is a highly productive group of subject matter experts (to include a prosecutor, a judge, medical personnel and others) working together to solve sexual assault kit issues in Idaho. The report concludes that more training and resources are needed for law enforcement and nurses, including a statewide sexual assault response trainer/ coordinator. Gamette said that while new scientists and process improvements are helping, more scientists are needed at the state lab to deal with the astronomical increases in biology/DNA case submissions. The state lab had a 107 percent increase in DNA submissions in 2017.

Hailey Hires New City Works Director

Curling teams from the District of Columbia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Washington, Montana and Utah will travel to Stanley to compete in this year’s S.O.B.Courtesy photo by Rachaelle Grimsrud

Hailey Mayor Fritz Haemmerle recently concluded a selection process for a new public works director. Brian Yeager, of Galena Engineering, was directly recruited for the position as City of Hailey Public Works Director/City Engineer/City Land Surveyor. His employment with the City of Hailey will start on Monday, Feb. 5. Haemmerle said that promoting from within or hiring locally is a high consideration in the selection of a new employee. “We have seen Brian perform brilliantly as an engineer for us and for private-sector development,” he said. “His experience in managing a small local business through robust development as well as economic downturn will lend itself well to his management of the Hailey Public Works Department.” Yeager has served Hailey and the Wood River Valley for decades through his business, Galena Engineering. He brings well-established relationships and knowledge of Hailey’s infrastructure, both public and private, to the job. Yeager served as Hailey’s city engineer on a contractual basis through Galena Engineering since 2014. Yeager will close out his ownership interest in Galena Engineering before he begins working as a City of Hailey employee. Galena Engineering will continue serving the community under the leadership of current owner Sean Flynn and its existing staff. Yeager will enter into an employment contract. The Hailey City Council considered and adopted the proposed contract during the Hailey City Council meeting of Jan. 22.

T H E W E E K LY S U N • J A N U A R Y 24 - 30, 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

Paw ’N‘ Pole Registration Is Open

The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley will hold its 32nd Annual Paw ’n‘ Pole event starting at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Sun Valley Gun Club. Costumes are encouraged to dance the afternoon away with this year’s disco theme. Registration is $15 for adults and $12 for kids 12 and under and includes lunch, beverages, and entitles you and your dog (or dogs) to participate in any or all activities. Events include a 1k cross-country ski race, family-friendly 1k snowshoe stroll, 3k canine skijor, silly pet-trick contest, costume contest, and a dog agility course. Awards will be given in all categories. Participants who want to ski with a shelter dog should make a reservation online or call the shelter at (208) 788-4351 in advance. Representatives from Subaru of Twin Falls will join the party showcasing dog-friendly vehicles, doggie care packages, and a pair of skis (along with bindings, boot bag and ski bag) for one lucky person who preregisters for this event. For more information and to preregister, visit animalshelterwrv.org. Along with Subaru of Twin Falls, Thunderpaws Pet Shoppe, Sun Valley Company and Baldy Biscuit Company will sponsor the event.

Balukoff Calls On Lawmakers To Repeal Idaho’s Sales Tax On Groceries

Democratic gubernatorial candidate A.J. Balukoff called on Idaho state lawmakers today to introduce legislation to repeal Idaho’s sales tax on groceries. • “The state is balancing its budget on the backs of working Idahoans every time they go to the grocery store and it’s time that stopped,” he said. “We should not be taxing people for putting food on the table.” • Balukoff’s statement echoes what he has been telling reporters all over the state since kicking off his campaign last week. His stance is also consistent with the view of the vast majority of Idahoans who favor repealing the grocery sales tax over lowering income taxes, according to the latest Boise State University Public Policy Survey. • “I would urge all lawmakers in the State Legislature to vote in favor of legislation that repeals the grocery sales tax and puts more money in the pockets of our state’s working men and women.” In 2017, legislation to remove the sales tax on groceries passed but was vetoed by Gov. Butch Otter; the Idaho Supreme Court upheld the veto. Idaho offers a refundable income tax credit of $100 per person each year to help offset the sales taxes Idahoans pay on groceries. Meanwhile, Republican candidates for governor, Rep. Raul Labrador, real estate developer Tommy Ahlquist, and Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little, have also indicated they would repeal the grocery tax.

Executive Director Of Botanical Garden To Leave; Search For New Director Is Underway

Kat Vanden Heuvel, the executive director of the Sawtooth Botanical Garden, will step down from her position on Feb. 28. A search committee, chaired by Laurie Ahern, is conducting a national search for her replacement. The full-time position is charged with the overall direction and operation of the Garden. Major responsibilities include fundraising, site development, strategic planning, and overall administration. The Garden seeks an independently motivated person who can juggle many responsibilities and work well leading a team. Vanden Heuvel said the busiest time of year is summertime, which is when her husband Dan, a science teacher at Wood River High School, and their two children are available to travel and to enjoy outdoor activities together. “It was a difficult decision due to the wonderful relationships I’ve built here and the faith that people put in my abilities,” Vanden Heuvel said. “Being able to guide the Garden through this important stage of growth has been incredibly fulfilling.” Vanden Heuvel, who came to the Sawtooth Botanical Garden three years ago and who has a background in nonprofit work and strategic planning, applied her skills in organizational development to refocus the Garden’s energies on being a community space that encourages and enhances people’s connection with nature. “Kat has expanded donor and site development, as well as the Garden’s community outreach and educational programs,” said board chair Susan Flynt. “During her directorship, the Garden has elevated its role as an important community resource. We wish Kat all the best in her future endeavors. We will miss her leadership, exuberance and ever-ready smile. She will be greatly missed by the board, staff, members and community partners.” Vanden Heuvel will remain in the Valley and explore other opportunities. Meanwhile, she will assist the SBG search committee to choose her successor and ensure a smooth transition. “This is a really exciting time to be involved with the Garden,” she said. “Enthusiasm is high, we have incredible staff and supporters, and there are some fun decisions coming down the pike. The next executive director will have the opportunity to put his or her stamp on the organization. I’m leaving on a high note.” Résumés and a cover letter along with contact information for four references should be sent to info@sbgarden.org. Deadline for applications for the position will be by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9.

St. Luke’s Wood River Community Board Welcomes New Members, Praises Outgoing

The Community Board for St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center bids farewell to two board members while welcoming three new members. Those departing the board are Terry Ring, owner of Silver Creek Outfitters, and Vicki Riedel, who practiced physical therapy for 42 years and was a staff member at St. Thomas Episcopal Church for 30 years. During Riedel’s 12 years on the board, she served on the Quality Committee of the board, and the Planning Committee. She served on numerous boards in the Wood River Valley, including Hospice and the Moritz Community Hospital Auxiliary Board. Ring acted as chair of the Planning Committee until it evolved into a Regional Committee. He served on the Development Committee and the System External Relations Committee. Ring was appointed to St. Luke’s East Region Board of Directors on which he still sits. New board members are attorney Erin Clark, a partner with Lawson, Laski, Clark & Pogue;

nurse and educator Susan Parslow; and Garry Pearson, who has served on the board partment of Surgery at UCLA Medical Center and on the board of the Department of at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Parslow has taught at Boise State Univ for 17 years and is on the SLWR Volunteer Board and the boards of the Sawtooth Bot Garden and Expedition Inspiration. These community members join existing board members, chair Peter Becker, vice Jeff Smith, Dr. Tracy Busby, Sheila Fryberger, Ben Holmes, George Kirk, Cody Langbeh thia Murphy, Keith Perry, Roger Sanger, Alex Stoll, Eric Thomas and Mary Williams.

ERC To Hold Two More Bird-Watching Workshops

Join the Environmental Resource Center and birding expert and artist Poo Wright-Pulliam, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, for Winter Birds of Silver Creek Preserve. • This program will begin at The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve Visitors Center with an introduction to the preserve and local birds. Participants will then head out on a walk (snowshoes, if needed) around the preserve to investigate the winter birds. • Silver Creek Preserve had more than 61 bird species spotted during the Audubon Society’s Annual Christmas Bird Count ea this month. • The final ERC Winter Bird Walk of the season, with Poo Wright-Pulliam, will be he from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 10 at the Draper Wood River Preserve in Hai • Participants should bring water, lunch, warm clothes, and curiosity. There is a sug donation of $10/ERC members and $20/nonmembers. Space is limited, so preregi is encouraged. For more information or to register, call (208) 726-4333 or email al ercsv.org; www.ercsv.org.

Camp Rainbow Gold Will Continue Search For Permanent Home

After a denial by the Blaine County Board of Commissioners of its appeal for a Con Use Permit, Camp Rainbow Gold’s board of directors voted not to file for reconsidera decision not to pursue reconsideration marks the end of a long and highly politicized working toward this property for Camp Rainbow Gold’s permanent home. The deadli file for reconsideration passed on Jan. 16. Reconsideration would have been the next step (prior to a court appeal) in the pursuit of the Conditional Use Permit for the 260 under escrow at 708 East Fork Road. Instead, the board will re-launch a search for a property for a permanent home to its programs. Camp Rainbow Gold programs (including family, teen and youth camps, round teen support groups and college scholarship programs) are unchanged and wil ue normally at Cathedral Pines, north of Ketchum. Supporters are asking how they can help and continue to be involved. The commu is invited to attend Camp Rainbow Gold’s annual fundraiser, the “Share Your Heart Ba Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Sun Valley. Friends and supporters of Camp Rainbow Gold will lea about camp and its programs and enjoy a fun “camp”-inspired evening with dinner, d and a spirited live auction.

Community School To Host Talk On Kids In The Digital Age

The director of Educational Programs for Common Sense Education, Brisa Ayub, will a free public talk, “Plugged-In Parents: Keeping Kids Safe, Happy, and Healthy in the Dig Age,” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29 at the Community School Theatre. The discussion will cover technology use across all ages and address questions suc How do we use media in balance as a family? How do we find quality content? How d expectations around healthy use to prevent conflict? How can we raise media-savvy ers and creators? Ayub, a Wood River High School graduate, is passionate about creative curriculum velopment that pushes our youth to reflect and develop cultural and emotional awar around digital use and citizenship. As the director of Educational Programs, Ayub rese and develops the programs and content utilized in more than 100,000 schools worldw through Common Sense’s Digital Citizenship and Literacy Program. Her graduate wor psychology, studying addictive behaviors, communications, and development, helps t her understanding of technology use and its effects among youth. For more information about Common Sense Media, visit commonsensemedia.org/edu

Hemingway STEAM School Students Excel In Winter Reading Challenge

One hundred and sixty-nine staff and students at Hemingway STEAM School partic in a Winter Reading Challenge. Staff and students tracked the number of minutes the over the winter break. The final tally was 78,916 minutes of reading. “Students’ reading scores often dip during the vacation because they do not practi reading,” said Dori Madsen, a reading teacher. “Our school wanted to create an incen students to continue to practice their reading over the break.” Sarah Mazzocchi’s fifth-grade class read the most, at 6,620 minutes during the win vacation. Also from the same class, Sarah Leidecker had the most reading time. The s with the highest number of minutes in each class will receive a special lunch with Prin Tish Short. One of the focus areas for the 2017-18 school year will be to improve elementary r ing. The goal is that all students will read at grade level or above as they leave elemen school. Currently, about 63 percent of students read at grade level before leaving ele school. For more information, go to blaineschools.org or call (208) 578-5005.

Car Crash Occurs On Sun Valley Road

On Thursday, Jan. 18, at 2:39 p.m., Elizabeth Gray, 72, of Ketchum, driving a blue 20 Toyota Land Cruiser, hit several cars parked legally on Sun Valley Road. The accident, in front of 649 East Sun Valley Road, occurred when Gray turned eas Sun Valley Road, crossed the centerline and sideswiped one parked car, then crashed on into another, which then created a chain reaction with the other two vehicles. Grey was cited for inattentive driving, a misdemeanor, and refused ambulance tran

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • J A N U A R Y 24 - 30, 2018

sun T H E W E E K LY S CE N E the weekly

SPONSORED FEATURE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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Olympic hopeful and Hailey resident Chase Josey, 22, holds a custom skateboard “medal” at the top of the podium at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain, Calif., on Saturday. Josey achieved his first-ever grand prix win with a score of 94.5 out of 100 possible points, dominating the field. The victory could be enough to earn Josey the last remaining of four spots on the U.S. Olympic men’s halfpipe team. Whether he makes the cut for PyeongChang will be announced next week, according to teamusa.org. Courtesy photo by Stellar Media, Spencer Cordovano

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Andy Gilbert, U.S. snowboard rookie team coach and Blaine County resident, celebrates Josey’s grand prix victory with Kris Josey, the athlete’s mother, at the event. The athlete’s father, Bill Josey, was also present but is not pictured. Courtesy photo by Stellar Media, Spencer Cordovano

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EMMA FLOLO

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

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Emma Flolo. Photo courtesy of Anne Marie Deffe

Josey is interviewed by NBC Sports after winning the grand prix, the second major victory of his career and the final qualifying event for this year’s Olympic Winter Games. Courtesy photo by Stellar Media, Spencer Cordovano

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ood River High School senior Emma Flolo is finding that her life is full of exciting learning experiences despite her heavy academic load. “I am taking several AP classes,” Flolo said. “I love AP Psychology and AP Government, but my favorite course was AP U.S. History. We read history from varied perspectives and acknowledged different viewpoints in an analytical manner. Classes like this require a lot of energy; they are stressful but doable. Now I aim to teach history. “I hope eventually to teach overseas, and so would learn how to teach English as a Second Language,” she said. “I like the idea of traveling and immersing myself in other cultures.” Flolo enjoys other school activities, which require her dedication and energy. She won a scholarship from the Sun Valley Summer Symphony to receive voice lessons for three years. She is a section leader of the girls’ voice ensemble, Colla Voce, which won gold and first place and best overall group last year at the World Heritage Festival in Anaheim, Calif. “I credit Mr. Stimac, the Colla Voce teacher, coach, and my mentor since the sixth grade, with encouraging me and the other singers to do our best, making this my most important activity,” she said. “I have experienced the joy of singing with others and also the close relationships this gives me,” Flolo said. “This past semester we were devastated by the sudden passing of one of our former members, Mr. Stimac’s daughter, Ollie, and yet we were able to gather together with a very loving and positive response. Ollie had been such

an inspiration to us all. While we mourned together, we also realized that we had been lucky to have the gift of Ollie’s beauty and friendship. “Close ties to others are essential to dealing with such grief, so seeing Mr. Stimac and the family carry on through this horrible tragedy with courage and strength was an example for the rest of my life.” Flolo also finds strength in participating in sports and volunteer work. “I love basketball,” she said. “I have the position of a post on Wood River’s 4A girls’ team; we haven’t had a really strong year yet, but I feel we are improving. At a Christmas tournament we won two of three games, losing the first by only one point in the last few seconds, and recently we won a game against Kimberly High School.” Last summer Flolo was employed at the Blaine County Recreation District Kids’ Camp at the Community Campus. “I worked with all ages, especially first to fourth graders,” she said. “We went to parks, on field trips and to places like Craters of the Moon. It was fun.” Flolo has three older brothers and a younger sister in the seventh grade. “Perhaps the best recent event in my life was becoming an auntie to two fraternal twin boys,” she said. “As preemies, they spent 65 days at Saint Alphonsus [Regional Medical Center in Boise]. But all is well now, and we are all enjoying our time together.” 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

This Student Spotlight brought to you by the Blaine County School District

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Our mission is to inspire, engage, educate, and empower every student.

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A pair of trumpeter swans practice some synchronized skimming at Harriman State Park in eastern Idaho earlier this month. Courtesy photo by Ernie Patricelli

BLAINESCHOOLS.ORG

COMME N TA RY

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

Fishing R epoRt

JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018

PET COLUMN NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR JANUARY 24 - 30, FROM PICABO ANGLER

here is the winter?? Picabo received its first significant snowfall from the recent storm last week, but overall this winter has been mild and dry. Some precipitation is in the forecast for the next week, so think about fishing during the upcoming low-pressure system. Flows on the Big Lost River below Mackay Dam have come down to about 200 CFS, allowing for easier wading and concentrating fish in winter holding areas. Nymph fishing on the river should be productive provided that flows remain relatively stable, and midges will appear on select afternoons. When nymphing, concentrate your efforts on slower pockets and runs. Effective flies include Rainbow Warriors, Copper Johns, Zebra Midges and San Juan Worms. Hint – a bit of orange or red on your nymphs is a very good idea. Baetis activity in the afternoons will ramp up in late February, extending through April. This can be some of the finest angling of the year on the lower Lost. Trail Creek Road is closed for the winter, but fishing the lower Lost in February and March is well worth the longer drive. Keep in mind that as March approaches, there will be significant spawning activity on the river; be aware of fish on redds and let them do their thing! Given the mild weather we’ve had this winter, Silver Creek continues to fish well, particularly with streamers. The old adage of “bright day, bright fly; dark day, dark fly” is a great rule of thumb to follow when streamer fishing the Creek in the winter. Flies need not be large or gaudy; small buggers, zonkers, and leech patterns are among the most productive. Remember, Silver Creek is open north of Highway 20 until the end of February, and duck hunting season remains open until Jan. 26. Fishing on the Big Wood River generally remains good. Lots of productive water is accessible, and anglers are having success nymphing and fishing sculpin patterns. Look for midge activity to pick up during snow events. Griffith’s Gnats, Trailing Shuck Midges, Sprout Midges and Zebra Midges should all be in your Big Wood winter fly box. The South Fork of the Boise continues to fish fairly well with stable flows. Flies used on the Big Lost and Big Wood are equally as effective on the South Fork. Be prepared for any weather if you make the drive. Happy fishing, everyone!

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

BRINGING ANOTHER DOG INTO YOUR HOUSEHOLD

BY FRAN JEWELL

ere are a few things I think of when I decide to bring a new dog into the household. Only you can answer these questions. 1. Remember that on the other end, during their elder years, if dogs are close together in age, they may die close together, which can be very difficult on you. I like to put about three years between dogs, although I had two dogs that were six years apart and they died on the same day. It was horrible. Even the best-laid plans don’t always work. 2. Is the oldest dog going to be a good mentor—meaning, do you have the oldest dog in a good place with good manners, coming when called, no jumping, and so on? Puppies will follow the lead of the other dog in the family. Bringing another dog into the home to help the first dog to have better behavior is a fallacy. It doesn’t work. So many times I hear, “My dog needs a playmate!” You should be your dog’s world or your dog’s playmate. If you do not have the time to be the world to your dog, then maybe having a dog is not a wise thing for you at this point in your life. 3. Bringing a new dog into the family means a couple of things. The new dog will need

time away from the first dog (or other dogs) to develop its own personality without becoming dependent upon the first dog for direction. The puppy should have alone time from the first dog(s). The new puppy or dog should have its own crate and sleep by itself. The new dog will need to be taught that the existing dog has preference, because the first dog will be the high-ranking dog, not the new dog. So, frequently, the first dog should get to go to the store while the new dog stays home in a crate. Don’t think “equal.” In the dog world, there is no equality. Think pack social hierarchy. Give the first dog preference. Help the new dog to see this and help the pup or new dog to develop independence, not dependence. That doesn’t mean they can’t spend lots of time together, but that time should be highly determined by you. If you feel you can do that, then another dog could be a good thing for you and your family. 4. I would always consider the opposite sex when bringing a new dog into the household. Bitch fights are brutal and non-forgiving. It’s true. 5. Looks should not be a consideration in determining another dog. Cute pictures should not determine your decision on a new addition. Along that same line,

Individual time spent with a new addition is one of the best things you can do to help “blend” your new dog into your home. Photo by Fran Jewell

educate yourself on the breed or breeds that will fit well into your household. A high-drive herding dog may not be well suited to a home with small children or other small dogs. A herding dog will become intrigued with chasing and nipping other dogs, cats and sometimes children; it is not aggression, but their instinctual prey drive. Do some research about breeds before you choose another dog or puppy to blend in with your household. 6. Be prepared to train, train, train. Just because a dog may be young is not an excuse for not training. The sooner you begin training, the easier life will be.

If you don’t have time to devote to significant training, you might wait until you do have time. Bringing a new dog into a household with an existing dog can be so much fun. But, it can be a disaster, too, if there is no consideration for harmony and how that comes about. 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.

ACTIVE ART COLUMN SKETCHBOOK HIKING

RESIDENT GREAT BLUE HERON

BY LESLIE REGO

e all love to sun ourselves on a cold winter day and the great blue heron is no different. I have been writing Sketchbook Hiking for almost three years and have written twice about the resident heron that lives around Penny Lake. This week marks the third time. I love this blue heron. He epitomizes serenity. I have seen him along the shore of Penny Lake. I have seen him deep in the waterways forged by the beavers behind Penny Lake and I have seen him on the edge of our own ponds. Every time I see the bird he is serene and composed. Last Saturday I caught a sight of the heron in the outlet on the far side of Penny Lake. I watched for a long time. The bird never moved. The water in the lake was so still that the reflection also never wavered. Such poise, I thought. Such patience. The sun was warm and I was comfortable standing and watching, so I found my patience equal to his. The deep blue coloring of the heron matched the winter surroundings. The bird blended in almost perfectly. The vertical line of the bird’s body mimicked the surrounding grass and trees. I would have missed him, but I caught a glimpse of the elongated beak and then I noticed the gentle curve of the heron’s torso. Minutes flew by, the bird standing patiently and I watching patiently, and then suddenly the heron took flight. The

Leslie Rego, “Serenity,” nib pen and ink, watercolor.

flight of a heron is a marvelous thing to behold. The bird stands around 3 feet tall and the wingspan is 6-8 feet. Just before taking off, the long neck scrunches down into the body. Then, with a thrust forward, the great blue heron lifts off. The wings float up and down, propelling the bird forward. In flight, the her-

on folds its neck back over its shoulders in an S-shape. The rest of the body and the long thin legs stretch way out. Counter to that stretch is the span of the wings. Too soon the flight was over and the heron landed softly in another waterway beyond Penny Lake. Serenity re-imposed

itself. Patience once again took over. The blue heron became quiet and continued to soak in the winter sun. 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 •

JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018

COLUMN ON LIFE’S TERMS

ANNE FRANK’S MESSAGE TODAY

children whose parents imprisoned them. How will these children grasp a freedom as unfamiliar his past weekend I was fortunate to sit in to them as normal motherhood was to the Holoon a discussion of Anne Frank and her diary caust survivor? from the time of the Nazi Holocaust. The When I visited Anne Frank’s hideaway in AmWood River Jewish Community and St. Thomas sterdam, where she and seven others existed for Episcopal Church co-sponsored the preview of over two years, I was struck by the darkness and the staged reading of the play, The Diary of Anne claustrophobia of such a small, isolated place; inFrank, scheduled Jan. 27-28 at the deed, a prison of fearful reality. Liberty Theatre in Hailey. I always In my summer school course for appreciate the cooperative instincts high school juniors and seniors, of varied faiths: this presentation we read the stories of immigrant signaled a long and shared history of writers in America. The final asfriendship and respect between the signment is to write about what two congregations. they would experience if they Many of us read The Diary of a were sent to another culture withYoung Girl as young people. Howout hope of returning to America. ever, it is timeless and worth re-exMuch of their inspiration is based amining as the hatred between on the recollections of the authors some religions has not waned. The they studied in class, but the real names and faces may have changed, meaning of the assignment is that but underlying fears and prejudice today’s fortunate (and brilliant, JoEllen Collins—a longtime are still rampant. caring and hardworking) teenagI fail to understand why people resident of the Wood River ers can now imagine themselves in spend any of the precious minutes Valley— is an Idaho Press those circumstances. Club award-winning columof life in hatred and violence. Of nist, a teacher, writer, fabric Ideally, this work results in crecourse, I understand the historical artist, choir member and ative and exciting writing, but I and cultural bases of long-held re- unabashedly proud grandma hope, more importantly, that it ensentments and an atavistic instinct known as “Bibi Jo.” hances empathy for those different for vengeance, but I still wonder from us, those who have emigrated why we can’t stress positive feelings, forgiveness, from other countries and contributed to our rich and love. heritage of diversity. Our gathering heard one Holocaust story that If each of us could spend even a short time exseemed especially relevant: when a child in a con- periencing the peril Anne Frank faced, then percentration camp lost a mother, she gained another haps we could avoid some of the hateful prejuwoman who cared for her. This pattern continued dices and murderous minds we seem to retain. In through the years of her survival. She assumed the meantime, reading about this sensitive girl or that this is what mothers did, that children natu- going to the theatrical work about her may help us rally experienced serial parents. Eventually, she avoid subjecting others to the tragedies we condid find a “forever” mother. tinue to mourn. Through empathy we protect our It is hard to read in recent news about the 13 humanity.

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

COLUMN SCIENCE OF PLACE

BY HARRY WEEKES

o sooner do the birds themselves bring me back than the press jumps onboard with a bit of convergence—in January, National Geographic (along with the National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) kicked off a year of birds in honor of the centenary of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, displaying a secretary bird peering around the headline, “Why Birds Matter.” Suffice to say, I’m in. This statement relates to a question I am often asked: “Why do you teach birds?” I didn’t start out teaching birds, or even about birds. Birds, you could say, found me. There are some simple and terrifying facts. One that I came across early in my career is that the vast majority of our population’s first and last biology class was in either ninth or 10th grade of high school. Meaning that the majority of people’s understanding of biological systems is based on a foundation built when they were 14. In a century when these systems will be severely tested, there is a major gulp factor in knowing that our last formal discussions of biology were talking about the Krebs cycle, Punnett squares, and photosynthesis while simultaneously trying to figure out how much Easy Cheese we could eat during lunch. So, early on, I was tasked with a paradoxical problem: What can I teach that connects people to and reinforces their understanding of biology when they are never going to take biology again? Well, learning is repetition. As I mentioned once before, birds are

ON BIRDS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR CLARK SHAFER

Kids Are Counting On Us To Step Up For Education

At their last board meeting, the Blaine County School District’s Board of Trustees recently put a two-year levy on the ballot for voters’ consideration on March 13. As I understand it, the school district receives a fixed amount of public funding to cover operating expenses. This revenue has remained fixed for years, while our expenses to cover the cost of providing choices and quality education for our children increase each year. State and federal dollars provide a much smaller portion of the revenue and it falls short, as well. I am opposed to cutting any more programs or staff resources. In fact, I would prefer to see staff and programs added to make class sizes smaller and provide more choices for kids. Kids are our future and we need to ensure they have the education to be productive and successful in life. Until the state and federal legislature make funding public schools a priority, it is up to our community to bridge the funding gap. Based on the information that I have learned, the most reliable way to balance the budget is to request a supplemental levy. I support this supplemental levy. The levy is not a band-aid or a stopgap. This is the future of Idaho’s schools. Unless we have enough public funds from the state to cover our costs, we will need to vote on a supplemental levy every two years to ensure our kids continue to receive the quality education we know they need. Clark Shafer Hailey resident

LETTER TO THE EDITOR LEE DABNEY

Support Our Students

Quality public education makes our county an attractive place to live, locate a business and raise a family. Without good schools, we will lose our ability to attract new businesses and jobs, and to keep the good companies we still have. Likewise, a strong public education system also has a real impact on maintaining property values. I appreciate the school board for being willing to address the longterm financial health of the school district. Their decision to make cuts over the last three years was prudent, but given the magnitude of the funding shortage, major cuts are not sustainable as an ongoing solution. Idaho is dead last in the U.S. in per-student school funding. Its minimum requirements are extremely basic. Idaho does not require athletics, full-day kindergarten, small class sizes, or AP classes. It does not require outdoor, career, or technical education. It does not require the number of elementary reading specialists, social workers, English as a Second Language specialists, and guidance counselors that we know is necessary to help so many of our students graduate from high school and later succeed in life. School districts all over Idaho and the nation are underfunded, and it has only gotten worse since the Great Recession; 93 out of 115 school districts in Idaho have supplemental levies, versus 60 a decade ago. Blaine County voters have long supported our students because we know our kids deserve better than dead last. Running this first of many supplemental levies to preserve the educational opportunities and services in our schools is a responsible first step toward addressing our funding shortfall. Lee Dabney Hailey resident

Geese flocking overhead. Photo by Corey Douglas, public domain photo accessed via Creative Commons

the wild animal we see the most often. Voila. Teach the topic of birds well, and the birds will do the work. They will find students immediately after school on the soccer field. In a potential career in New York City. Or walking along the beach on some long-distant holiday. And by incremental steps of exposure, what starts as a thin thread will grow into something like a trail. For the most casual and passive, this will be like a lightly used game trail—faint, but there. For even the mildly active, this trail will grow into a path, well-worn and familiar. And like all paths, there will be connection. We live in a wobbly world. Cyclical rhythms, both daily and seasonal, mark our passage through the universe. On the grandiose level, birds connect us to that, their appearance and disappearance often determined by the great arc of our ellipse around the sun. At the opposite extreme, they daily reinforce that we live in a wild world. As a group, they

have done with 10,000 species what we have done with one— they have colonized the planet, or our parts of it—the primarily terrestrial ones, where we inhabit the air and skim across the surface of the oceans. Unlike humans, though, who are master manipulators of the environment, birds, as a group, are master adapters. There is something utterly fundamental in the difference of this relationship to the natural world. Birds are like a billion feathered mirrors arranged in 10,000 species that are both reflective of and gateways to the thin biofilm we call life. Humans, unfortunately, tend to be less reflective. Even more reason, then, to either snuggle up or bundle up, and from your kitchen widow or the edge of a frozen pond, get your bird on. Harry Weekes is the founder and head of school at The Sage School in Hailey. He has lived in the Wood River Valley and within five miles of the same mountain for the last 46 years.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

School Board Renews Superintendent’s Contract After Evaluation

The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees renewed Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes’ contract for an additional three years starting July 1, 2018 and concluding June 30, 2021. The motion passed unanimously, 4-0. Trustee Kevin Garrison left the meeting before the vote. The board of trustees completed a thorough evaluation of Holmes’ performance over the past year, said board chair Shawn Bennion. “We are grateful that Dr. Holmes is willing to begin her new contract at the same salary in recognition of the district’s current financial situation,” Bennion continued in a statement. “Under Dr. Holmes’ leadership, the district has improved graduation rates, balanced revenues and expenditures, and is addressing the achievement gap relentlessly. We look forward to the next three years under Dr. Holmes’ leadership in positioning Blaine County School District toward becoming the highest performing district in the state of Idaho.” For more information, go to www.blaineschools.org or call (208) 578-5005.

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

JANUARY 24 - 30, 2018