13 March 2019

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

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MARCH 13 - 19, 2019 | V O L . 1 2 - N O . 1 1 | W W W . T H E W E E K L Y S U N . C O M

Lifestyle News Chelsea Handler To Speak At Coffee Talk

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Health News Student Immunization Rates Are Below Idaho Average

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City News Emergency Services Merger: SV Reacts To Ketchum’s ‘No’

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” ~Nelson Mandela

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HAILEY TOWN HALL MEETING What’s Your Vision of Hailey?

From left to right: Jasmine Smiley, Dylan Smiley and Bria Smiley show off the brands of their racing skis (just like the Olympians) during the Papoose Club’s 63rd annual Monday, 18,on2019, 5:30 PMThomas – Community Campus Minnie Moore Kindercup ski races… For more information about this photo, seeMarch “On The Cover” page 3. Photo credit: Smiley (www.smileysmtphoto.com)

HAILEY TOWN HALL MEETING What is your vision of Hailey?

Monday, March 18, 2019, 5:30 PM - Community Campus Minnie Moore Room

Room

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • M A R C H 1 3 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 9

NEWS IN BRIEF It takes only a few inches of water to cause thousands of dollars in property damage.

That’s the message the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) is trying to get out to residents in the Wood River Valley and other high snowfall areas.

As spring temperatures begin to rise, so does the potential for area flooding. So the DOI is urging consumers to protect their homes and families by securing flood insurance long before area snowpack begins to melt and seasonal rains occur.

Consumers should be aware that only flood insurance covers flood damage, while most standard homeowner’s policies do not. Also, flood policies typically mandate a 30-day waiting period before coverage becomes effective.

“Many consumers remain unprotected, but you don’t have to live in a flood zone or high-risk area to suffer major flood damage,” said DOI Director Dean Cameron.

“Don’t get caught off guard. Meet with a licensed agent to discuss and review your coverage now.”

For information on flood insurance policies, visit the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or call (800) 427-4661.

Senator Shoots Down Concealed Firearms Bill

The firearms bill that would have allowed special concealed-carry permit holders to bring their hidden weapons into schools unannounced got silenced by Sen. Fred Martin (D-Boise) last week. In February, the bill garnered enough committee support to move to the full House. But the public hearing required to take place in the Senate was nixed by Martin last week.

Proponents of the controversial bill derided Martin’s decision, calling it reprehensible and a veto of a group of elected lawmakers’ votes by, essentially, one person.

Up Next: Conceal Carry Permits For 18-year-olds

On Tuesday morning, legislation that would allow 18-year-olds to conceal carry guns passed in the House State Affairs committee. The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote. Under current law, someone must be 21 or older to be allowed to conceal carry. Representatives Brooke Green (D-Boise) and John Gannon (D-Boise) led the opposition to the bill in committee. Rep. Gannon explained his genuine concerns if the legislation became law.

“There is no requirement of any training or experience with weapons in the bill and some kind of minimal familiarity with them is something we should expect and require before they carry concealed handguns, period,” Gannon explained.

“In Idaho, most 18-year-olds are still in high school,” Green said. “Kids this age will often hang out with 15- or 16-year-old children. And, it terrifies me to think of a group

of kids playing video games, running around the park, or riding bikes while one of the them is holding onto a gun. It’s impossible to guarantee that younger kids will not grab at the gun and potentially cause an accident.”

Legislature Hopes New Laws Can Catch Up To E-bikes

Legislation regarding e-bikes passed on the Senate floor with a unanimous vote taken last week. The bill now heads to the governor where it is expected to be signed into law.

The legislation clarifies Idaho code with regard to a new category of bicycles commonly known as e-bikes. These bicycles use a small electric motor to give a boost to the rider when extra speed is desirable but current law does not correctly address these technological advances. Specifically, the bill incorporates three basic categories of e-bikes into the definition of an e-bike, agreed upon by bicycle manufacturers. This will help cities, counties, and the state to better regulate their use.

Fatal Crash Occurs On US 30 Near Buhl

On March 5, 2019, at 5:21 p.m., Idaho State Police investigated a two-vehicle fatality crash on US 30 at milepost 195.4, near Buhl. Robin Parry, 37, of Hollister, was driving a 2006 Subaru Impreza westbound on US 30. Dennis Norwood, 62, of Buhl, was driving a 2013 Toyota Tacoma pickup eastbound on US 30 at milepost 195.4. Parry drifted over the centerline and collided with Norwood head-on. Norwood went off the right shoulder of the road. Parry’s vehicle came to rest in the eastbound lanes of travel.

Parry succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the crash. Derek Haas, 50, of Hagerman, was a passenger in Parry’s vehicle. Haas and Norwood were transported by air ambulance to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Parry and Haas were wearing seatbelts. Norwood was not wearing a seatbelt.

Fireworks Bill Hopes To Prevent Fires

A bill aimed at preventing fires caused by Fourth of July celebrations passed in committee last week and now heads to the Senate floor. The legislation will align Idaho’s code on state lands with federal lands law to ban “exploding targets” during the designated fire season. According to officials, the flammable targets have been one of the biggest culprits of human-caused blazes.

“Every year, an increasing number of fires in Idaho are caused by exploding targets,” bill sponsor Sen. Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) said. “In July alone, fire officials said that at least eight wildfires were caused by exploding targets in southern Idaho, burning tens of thousands of acres.”

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • M A R C H 1 3 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 9

THE WEEKLY SUN CONTENTS

I HAVE TOO MANY CARS!

MUST SELL 2016 Highlander Limited Edition

“Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” will be the subject of a Sun Valley Center for the Arts talk. For a story, see page 12.

Photo credit: Sun Valley Center for the Arts

THIS WEEK

Loaded With Extras Mint Condition 26,000 Miles

M A R C H 1 3 - 1 9 , 2019 | VOL. 12 NO. 11

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Environment News

Homes, Businesses Deal With Snow Pros & Cons

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Commentary

12

Calendar

Award Winning Columns, Student Spotlight

Stay In The Loop On Where To Be

ON THE COVER

Continued from Page 1: …on Sunday, March 10, on Dollar Mountain in Sun Valley. About 250 racers, ages 3-12, participated in this year’s event and earned commemorative pins. For full results and more photos, visit tinyurl.com/tws-kindercup2019.

Photo credit: Thomas Smiley (www.smileysmtphoto.com)

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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 Eric Valentine • news@theweeklysun.com ARTS & EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Dana DuGan • calendar@theweeklysun.com COPY EDITOR Patty Healey STAFF REPORTERS • Aimée Durand • Hayden Seder • Emilee Struss news@theweeklysun.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Mandi Iverson • 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 •

jane’s artifacts

MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

NEWS LIFESTYLE

arts / / crafts / / papers / / office / / party

ST PAT’S PARTY SUPPLIES FUN! STUFF!

Comedian Chelsea Handler. Photo credit: Chelsea Handler

CHELSEA HANDLER IS COMING TO SUN VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL

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Contact: Brennan at 208.720.1295 or brennan@theweeklysun.com

BY HAYDEN SEDER

omedian, author, TV host and activist … those are the titles Chelsea Handler is known for, but it’s a lesser known description that clinched her participation in the 2019 Sun Valley Film Festival: Chelsea Handler, avid skier.

“I love skiing and I love working, so anytime I can combine the two is a great opportunity,” Handler said.

Handler will be doing the work part of that combo at her Coffee Talk, held at The Arygros in Ketchum, 10 a.m., Thursday, March 14. Handler said she plans to talk about her book as well as her new Netflix documentary on white privilege.

The full festival runs from today through Sunday, complete with film screenings, parties, and the popular Coffee Talks, which give audiences an intimate session with famous celebrities.

Handler is best known for her role in the talk-show circuit. She hosted the late-night show “Chelsea Lately” from 2007 to 2014 and hosted the show “Chelsea” on Netflix from 2016 to 2017. But she has also authored five books, the latest of which will be released on April 9. Titled “Life Will be the Death of Me,” the book is a departure from the laughable topics of her previous books, like “My Horizontal Life,” which described the one-night stands she has experienced in her life, or “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea,” which was a collection of humorous essays.

This newest book is the true story of a year of self-discovery that Handler embarked on after Hillary Clinton lost the election to Donald Trump and the feelings that the experience brought up for her.

“After the election, I started going to a psychiatrist that I had interviewed on my Netflix show,” Handler said. “I started my first three sessions bitching about Donald Trump for $600 an hour but what I thought was my outrage at the election was actually more personal.”

Handler began to delve intoCOLOR) some serious issues like her childhood RATES (INCLUDING FULL and her brother dying at the age of 9. The experience was so cathartic, she decided to write about it, an experience that for many might be too personal or an area too vulnerable to share but is something much more natural for the comedian who has made a profession out of oversharing.

“It’s about being willing to be very honest—that part isn’t hard for me to share with strangers,” Handler said. “But it’s also something that we may feel at times we’re the only ones going through but the fact of the matter is, we all have problems like this and we all could benefit from talking about it a bit more.”

At her Coffee Talk, Handler plans to talk about her book as well as her new Netflix documentary on white privilege. Handler was excited to be invited to the Sun Valley Film Festival since it combines her two passions of working and skiing, a hobby she spends as much time doing as she can.

“I go anywhere and everywhere—Whistler, Park City, anywhere I can,” Handler said. “I just read the book ‘Essentialism,’ which is about being good at two things in your life instead of eight, so what I care about are writing and skiing.”

Joining Handler at this year’s festival is a slew of Idahoans ready to represent their state. Festival Pioneer Award honoree and actor Aaron Paul, who grew up in Emmett and Boise, will be in attendance. He will do a Q&A after the world premiere screening of his new film, “The Parts You Lose.” Filmmaker A.J. Eaton, who grew up in Ketchum, directed the documentary, which was produced by Cameron Crowe, “Remember My Name: The David Crosby Story,” which is also the opening film of the festival. Eaton will also do a Q&A after the film screening.

Short films by Idaho filmmakers include “The Hole Truth,” “Accidents,” “Mar: Episode 1,” “About Andy,” “Wallace,” “Sawtooth,” “Undamned,” “LIVE,” “Draw,” "Paulette,” and “For Us,” which is part of the Future Filmmakers Forum.

For more information on the Sun Valley Film Festival, visit sunvalleyfilmfestival.org. tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

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MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

NEWS COMMUNITY

Image credit: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

VACCINATION RATES RISE, BUT STILL FALL SHORT OF STATE GOALS

Times-News

Sunday, February 25, 2018 |

A11

Times-News

Sunday, February 25, 2018 |

A11

Kindergarten to Graduation IN 9 WEEKS! Kindergarten to Graduation IN 9 WEEKS! • No Food treats • No Food treats • No shock collars • No shock collars • No whistles • No whistles • No clickers • No clickers • No paNic • No paNic • No leashes • (after No leashes week 6 of 9)

82% of Blaine County kids are fully vaccinated

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BY ERIC VALENTINE

eport cards came out last week, but they weren’t directed to students. These came from the state and they evaluated efforts by school districts across Idaho to get 95 percent of students fully vaccinated. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare gave Blaine County School District a B-.

Letter grades were not specifically used in the report, but state data shows that only 81.2 percent of students in the district are fully immunized and fully recorded—13 percent off the mark of the state’s goal and more than 5 percent off the state average.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra penned a letter to the school district regarding the reporting program and reminding them that Idaho law allows them to exclude students from school activities if they do not have proof of immunization.

“If fewer than 94 percent of your students are immunized, some of them could be at risk of contracting potentially serious diseases,” Ybarra wrote.

The 94 and 95 percent marks are derived from an idea called “herd immunity.” Specifically, health authorities say that if vaccination rates in a population are 94 percent or more, outbreaks of certain contagious diseases will be prevented. Other diseases, such as polio, are less contagious and only need to hit an 80 percent mark or better.

The school district lauded its recent efforts, since its current 81.2 percent trumps last year’s 78.4 percent and betters the 2013-14 school year score of 65.7 percent.

“We’re making progress!” the school district newsletter read.

With the recent outbreak of measles around the

nation, including a large-scale one in nearby Washington State, scrutiny is being placed on parents who choose not to immunize their children. From social media opinion to medical doctors on TV, it’s not hard to find someone blaming the outbreaks on so-called anti-vaxxers—people who do not believe that vaccination is necessary to prevent disease and/ or believe that the way vaccines are produced and administered can cause far more harm than good.

“The people making the decision not to vaccinate their kids are well informed, and more informed than the average person and even most doctors,” said parent and anti-vaccine advocate Leslie Manookian.

In 2011, Manookian produced a documentary on the subject called “A Greater Good.” And she has chosen the no-vaccine policy for her family, including when it comes to measles. Manookian said she encourages, and wants to be part of, public debate on the matter.

“With respect to measles, I do not fear my child would catch the disease,” Manookian said. “In fact, I would welcome it as we are well nourished and measles is not a dangerous disease in well-nourished people. Those who are deficient in vitamin A are known to suffer complications from measles, such as brain inflammation, but this is due to the underlying nutritional status of the individual, not the disease per se.”

Idaho law allows parents to object to immunization on religious or other grounds. However, with government health institutions holding firm on the need for vaccines, the district will have to convince the 4.6 percent of families like the Manookians to reconsider. Across the state, 7.7 percent of families opt out of the vaccine protocol. The state goal is to have only 2 percent of children unvaccinated. tws

(after week 6 of 9)

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How obedient is your dog?

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• Nursery obeys for School food treats?

Level Nursery School Levelto, • obeys when he wants • or obeys he wants to, afterwhen repeated commands? or after repeated commands?

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NEWS CITY

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

SMALL DETAILS DERAIL BIG MERGER FOR KETCHUM AND SUN VALLEY

Neighboring city councils fail to find formula for merging fire and police departments

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BY ERIC VALENTINE

fforts to merge the fire and police departments of Ketchum and Sun Valley fell far short last week, but left a number of officials from both cities feeling they are closer than ever to this long-sought union.

At its meeting on Monday, March 4, Ketchum City Council voted 4–0 to reject a proposal that would have joined forces with Sun Valley when it comes to delivering fire services and police protection here. At its Thursday, March 7, meeting, Sun Valley City Council let the proposal it spearheaded die, but not before city officials and members of the public held an hour of lively discussion and debate.

Meanwhile, Ketchum’s unanimous vote to not unify emergency services with Sun Valley leaves the smaller of the two cities with more than one option for its goal of improving public safety while saving on costs. Sun Valley Director of Public Safety Walt Femling told his city council that 24 hours after the Ketchum merger, he was given a request for proposal (RFP) by the Ketchum Rural Fire District asking Sun Valley to bid on providing the management of its fire protection services.

“They see we are a state-of-the-art facility in Elkhorn.

They see that we have apparatus in all of our bays that are top-of-the-line equipment,” Femling said. “They also have said to me numerous times how impressed they are with our young chief, Taan Robrahn.”

Femling spent several more minutes lauding the rural fire department’s facilities, equipment and personnel, and how Sun Valley is in a strong position to take over the contract the City of Ketchum has managed since 1957.

A contract between Sun Valley and the rural fire district could spell the following challenges for Ketchum: • The city would be left with only one fire truck (a 2004 model) to serve its residents.

• The city would have to find a new way to fund 3.5

full-time firefighter positions.

The city would have to pay Sun Valley for any mutual aid or so-called “shared apparatus” agreements.

“So this is a big deal,” Femling said.

•

All Talk, No Action City officials from Sun Valley made it clear that taking action on the merger proposal with Ketchum was a moot point given the bigger city’s rejection. And, ultimately, they declined to make a motion that would have called for a vote. However, it didn’t stop them from addressing the matter in detail and opening the floor to public comment.

“They have made a judgment in my opinion that will come back and haunt them for a long, long time because (their situation) is just not sustainable,” Sun Valley Mayor Peter Hendricks said.

Blaine County Commissioner Dick Fosbury encouraged city officials to not be detered by the flop. He expressed a desire at the county level to see a merger take place.

“We feel confident that some type of consolidation would be the right thing. We believe there are solutions to this,” Fosbury said. “A little more work would be worthwhile in the long run.”

Size Matters Remarks made at the Ketchum council meeting days

before about Sun Valley being the smaller city that should potentially dissolve its first-responder services into the larger city’s were returned with some tension.

However, public comment from Ketchum-based officials seemed to quell the contentiousness some.

Ketchum firefighter Coleen Quinlan told Sun Valley officials that the issue of dissolving an entire fire department is no small matter, and that asking the question about which department should dissolve should be asked. She stressed that Ketchum and Sun Valley firefighting personnel have a strong, professional respect for one another and that anti-merger folks simply had issues with the way the contract for services proposal was written.

In phone interviews with The Weekly Sun, both mayors said the Ketchum city council members seemed more comfortable entering into a so-called joint powers agreement (JPA) rather than a contract for services.

A JPA is when all existing departments are kept intact and—in this case, for the purpose of fire and police protection—a new, defacto government body is created.

Without a JPA, the Ketchum fire department would have to be dissolved and the City of Ketchum would enter into a contract that would guarantee certain services at certain costs.

For now, giving up that degree of control hasn’t passed muster with the Ketchum city council. And it’s leaving Sun Valley’s mayor feeling the ball now is in Ketchum’s court.

“I think we put our best efforts forward and we’ll wait to see what their proposition would be,” Hendricks said.

Nonetheless, Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw told his Sun Valley counterparts he’d keep pressing on to find some way to bring what he called “unified services” to their mutual parts of the Valley.

“I’m committed to being a good neighbor and I’m committed to providing our fair share to any partnership in the future,” Bradshaw said. tws

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T H E W E E K LY S U N •

NEWS COMMUNITY

7

MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

The Weekly Sun’s summer + fall 2019

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A house in west Ketchum after snow was removed from the roof. Photo credit: Susan Seder

HEAVY SNOWFALL: HELPING OR HINDERING BUDGETS?

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things to do

Day Trips | Free Fun | Family Friendly | Start Your Story Here...

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BY HAYDEN SEDER THE Insider’s Guide To The Best Kept Secrets Of The Wood River Valley & Beyond Explore: Bellevue, Carey, Hailey, Ketchum, Stanley, Sun Valley & Unincorporated 5B

hen the first big storms of the season came, they were met with complete enthusiasm and stoke. Thoughts of waist-deep powder runs, backcountry excursions, and ways to thank the snow gods were on everyone’s minds.

But then the snow kept coming, and coming. Problems with the mass amounts of snow began to accumulate: icy roadways, snow-laden rooftops, cancelled or deterred travel plans. For small-business owners, homeowners, and homeowners’ associations (HOAs), this record-setting snowfall has made quite an impact budget-wise as everyone attempted to keep up with the onslaught. Here are some of their stories.

The Wilsons “As of early February, our plowing was already twice what it cost last year,” said Alaina Wilson, who lives with her husband Ashton in their home of one-and-a-half years in Triumph. “Otherwise, we’ve been pretty lucky. We haven’t had any major repairs and we also had a new roommate move in in January with a snowblower just in time.”

The Seders Not all homeowners have been as lucky, as expenses like snow removal and plowing, and non-monetary setbacks like getting cars out of driveways, getting frozen garage doors unstuck, and more, have created a winter of woes. Eric and Susan Seder own a house in west Ketchum. They were presented with an onslaught of budget-breaking setbacks due to snow. While out of town for the first two weeks of February, the driveway-heating system for the house failed, which led to the accumulation of snow for weeks on end.

“We didn’t know what was happening, so the snow piled up in the driveway and on the sides,” Susan Seder said. “We don’t usually pay someone to plow our driveway in the winter because the heated pavers work.”

Once they paid to have the heating system fixed, they still had to pay someone to plow the sides of the driveway where snow had piled up to roughly 10 feet. The couple also had to have snow removed from their roof, which damaged the landscaping of the house, including the garden featured within the Garden Tour last year.

“We’ve only had to remove the snow from our roof once before, in 2017, and when it melted that spring, we had to spend thousands of dollars repairing the landscape it ruined,” Susan Seder said.

The Condo Folks For those living in condominiums, they can rest assured that their property management/HOA will take care of things. But for those property managers, this year’s snow has been a real budget breaker.

Sheri Thomas, owner of Boulder Mountain Property Management, has being doing HOAs since 1991 and has 15 to date that she manages.

“Due to the scenario in 2017, I consistently use the larger dollar figure for the budget amount,” Thomas said. “The fact that it started out looking like a drought season, I was hopeful to have extra money at the end of the snow season, but that is not the case now.”

Thomas points out quite a few of the difficulties that she sees as a property manager, such as the lack of snow storage that developers failed to plan for in their developments that were built during drought years.

“Snow hauling was a big expense, as well as roof shoveling for complexes built prior to proper building codes for snow loads,” Thomas said.

Thomas also says that those with radiant-heated paver systems saw an increase in gas and electric usage from last year. Another unexpected expense Thomas sees is larger temperature gradients, which have increased ice dams and leaks in roofs.

The Good News The snow hasn’t been bad for all budgets, though, as some businesses thrived during the unexpected heavy snow. With more tourists coming to ski in a period of the year that is usually quiet, hotels, restaurants, equipment rental shops and more have all seen an uptick in business. Privately-owned snow removal businesses can’t keep up with the demand, some working 60-hour weeks just to make sure all customers are attended to.

No matter the situation, Wood River Valley residents know that the story doesn’t end in March. The next plot twist in the story of snow: What will we do when it melts? tws

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Second City To Make Second Trip To Sun Valley

After two sellout performances by The Second City in 2018, the Sun Valley Center for the Arts is bringing back Chicago’s legendary comedy company to perform their newest touring show, “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” at the Sun Valley Opera House for two performances Saturday, April 6, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m.

The Second City on Tour features comics performing a diverse array of sketches and songs, as well as off-the-cuff improvisation. The company’s latest laughter-inducing undertaking, “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” takes direct aim at love, heartbreak, missed connections and the messy mire of human relationships.

“It’s possible that my stomach is still sore from the belly laughing at last year’s show,” said Kristine Bretall, The Center’s Director of Performing Arts. “They are simply the gold standard for improv, so be prepared to laugh—and maybe even be a participant.”

The Second City’s formula is deceptively simple: five actors, joined by a musical accompanist and a sound and lighting director. They perform a two-act revue featuring sketch comedy, songs and improvisation.

Preschool and Kindergarten Open Houses and Tours

Registration for all-day kindergarten, dual immersion kindergarten and preschool will take place the week of April 8. Prior to registration, tours for prospective kindergarten parents are scheduled at Hailey Elementary and are available by appointment at other schools.

Tours at Hailey Elementary are available on Friday, March 15 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. or by calling the school to make an appointment. In addition, Hailey Elementary will hold an open house for kindergarten on Wednesday, March 13 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The open house offers parents a chance to see Kkndergarten classes in action and learn more about the instruction and curriculum.

Tours at Alturas Elementary, Bellevue Elementary and Ernest Hemingway STEAM School are available by appointment.

All-day kindergarten options include a dual immersion program in which students learn in and through two languages. The goals are bilingualism, biliteracy, and high academic achievement in both English and Spanish for all students. Different versions of the program are offered at Hemingway Elementary and Alturas Elementary.

Students entering kindergarten must be age 5 on or before Sept. 1, 2019. Students entering preschool must be age 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2019.

Prospective parents can contact any of the elementary schools to schedule a tour. School contact information is: • • • •

Alturas Elementary, (208) 578-5090, Secretary Andrea Jost, Principal, Brad Henson Bellevue Elementary, (208) 578-5080, Secretary Sharon Boyle, Principal, Mark Sauvageau Hailey Elementary, (208) 578-5070, Secretary Nancy Sutton, Principal, Thad Biggers Ernest Hemingway STEAM School, (208) 578-5050, Secretary Michelle Dion, Principal, Tish Short

sun T H E W E E K LY 8

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

the weekly

A sign of protest against the shooting of an elk along Highway 75 north of Hailey was placed roadside where the incident took place. A Department of Fish and Game officer killed the elk, stating it was a serious traffic hazard. However, onlookers say the elk was not in the middle of traffic when it was shot and that drivers were proceeding slowly. Photo credit: Sherry Kraay

Work crews from the Idaho Transport historic number of slides. Photo credi

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ketchum Hires Interim Fire Chief

The City of Ketchum has hired Tom Bowman, a current volunteer for the Ketchum Fire Department, to serve as Interim Fire Chief.

A long-time Blaine County resident, Bowman has spent much of his time in public service.

He was a Blaine County Commissioner, Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commissioner and Ketchum Rural Fire District Commissioner. Bowman has also served as a volunteer firefighter since 1984.

“I’m very excited that Tom has joined our team,” said Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “His experience and relationship with our volunteer and full-time firefighters will be good for the city.”

Lawmakers Want Property Tax Hikes To ‘Take A Hike’

A Senate committee voted unanimously last week to address the unforeseen negative impacts associated with a 2016 law that caps homeowners’ property tax exemption at $100,000.

The bill will now have a full hearing before heading to the House floor.

In 2016, the legislature capped the property tax exemption at $100,000 and, since then, increases in property values have resulted in massive increases in property taxes for many homeowners. Property tax exemptions allow homeowners to reduce the tax burden associated with the home in which they reside. It does not impact second homes or rental properties.

“When the exemption was capped, no one could have anticipated the incredible rise in taxable values,” Sen. Maryanne Jordan (D-Boise) said. “Now (homeowners) have been blindsided by enormous tax bills they could not have seen coming.”

The cap, combined with increased property values, has disproportionately shifted the tax burden to homeowners over commercial properties. Restoring the index will bring fairness back to property tax levels and align better with federal tax laws, proponents say.”

Child Thrown From Snowmobile

The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a snowmobile crash Sunday out Croy Creek Road west of Hailey.

Jesus Gilberto Munoz Jimenez, 35, of Bellevue, reported he was riding a snowmobile with a 5-year-old male passenger sitting in front. The child accidentally grabbed onto and fully depressed the throttle, launching the snowmobile airborne from a snowbank on the north side of the road and impacting a snowbank on the south side of the road. Both passengers were ejected and sustained injuries. They were transported by ground ambulance to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. Jimenez was treated and released for minor injuries. The child was flown to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Neither rider was wearing a helmet, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Solar Bill Sees Light Of Day

On Monday, the Homeowner Solar Rights bill, sponsored by Representatives Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) and Randy Armstrong (R-Inkom), passed unanimously in Senate State Affairs. The legislation now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. The bill has already passed overwhelmingly in the House, so the Senate floor will be the final hurdle before going to Governor Little to be signed into law. Rep. Rubel expressed the importance of passing the legislation.

“After working closely with HOAs and industry, we have developed legislation that restores homeowners’ rights to make their own decisions about solar panels. I am extremely encouraged by the overwhelming support the legislation has seen in the House and Senate, so far. I hope that the Senate floor will prioritize homeowners’ rights in the same way other legislators have,” Rubel said.

High School Grads Could See Financial Help At College

Senator Grant Burgoyne (D-Boise) unveiled draft legislation to provide “last dolla support to Idaho students seeking education and training beyond high school. He al nounced that, over the next several months, he will discuss the proposed legislation stakeholder groups including K-12 and post-secondary educators and administrator nonprofit agencies, business leaders and the general public.

“For many Idaho students, the gap between the financial resources they have and al cost of attending college or workforce training is just too wide,” Burgoyne told me the press gathered at the Capitol. “This legislation will help fill that gap, improve en and completion rates in Idaho’s public post-secondary programs and, thereby, jump state’s workforce readiness.”

The legislation would be available to students of all ages and incomes and target wish to enroll in one-year certificate and two-year associate degree programs. Unde lation, institutions would be tasked with providing participating students pre- and p rollment mentors and other supports needed for student success and program com A required community service component would allow students to give back for the they receive. The approach is intended to maximize the return on investment for bo student and the state.

Although there is more work to be done on cost estimates, a preliminary analysis a possible cost in the $18 million range, but there are several factors that would imm mitigate this cost estimate.

Helping The Children Of Haiti

A Haiti Relief Team from St. Thomas Episcopal Church, along with students and te from Sun Valley Community School and Ernest Hemingway STEAM School, are hosti Micah Project Community Dinner fundraiser April 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The even upstairs in the Big Room of the Middle School Building at the Sun Valley Community campus. Tickets are $40 adults, $20 children. Proceeds go to efforts that, among oth sponsor individual children, providing funds to secure their most basic needs of foo shelter, clothing, medical care and education.

There will be a buffet-style Haitian dinner with juices and dessert. Videos and pic the group’s recent April 2018 trip will be on displa

Fish and Game Seeks Volunteer Planting Help This S

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is looking for volunteers to assist in plan brush and bitterbrush seedlings this spring.

These native shrub communities provide food and shelter to a variety of wildlife mule deer, elk, sage grouse and other upland birds, as well as songbirds and small m Native shrub communities at lower elevations provide critical wintering habitat for b but wildfires have burned thousands of acres of winter range in the Magic Valley reg plantings are an effort to restore wildlife habitat that has burned during recent wild Over the past nine years, volunteers have planted 300,000 seedlings during resto efforts in the Magic Valley region.

Planting dates and locations are below: March 16 – Walker Reservoir north of King Hill March 23 – Connor Fire south of Malta April 6 – Dog Creek Fire north of Gooding Planting tools and materials will be provided at the site.

For more information regarding the planting projects or to get signed up as a volu please contact Brandon Tycz or TanaRae Alberti at (208) 324-4359 or brandon.tycz@

SCENE

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

tation Department clear the avalanche aftermath from Idaho Highway 21 between Lowman and Stanley following an it: Idaho Transportation Department

ar” financial lso ann with key rs, state and

ho.gov or tanarae.alberti@idfg.idaho.gov. Maps defining the gathering site will be emailed to each volunteer after signing up to help plant.”

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The City of Hailey and Wood River Fire Protection District is currently seeking interested parties to fill a position on its board.

The board consists of two Wood River Fire Protection District commissioners, two Hailey City Council members and a fifth member-at-large position. All appointments expire at the end of each calendar year, with appointees being eligible for reappointment following the advertisement and consideration of all interested candidates. Anyone who has resided within the City of Hailey or the Wood River Fire Protection District for at least two years may apply for the member-at-large board position.

A letter of interest and resume should be directed to either organization, on or before April 1, 2019. The appointment will beconsidered by the board during their first meeting in April.

Please send letter of interest and resume to City Clerk, 115 South Main Street, Suite H, Hailey ID 83333 or HFD@haileycityhall.org or blassman@wrfr.com.

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Hailey and Wood River Fire Board to Appoint Member-at-Large

Hailey To Play Host To Gymnastics Championships

Hailey’s Spirit ‘n Motion Athletic School (SMAS) is set to host the Idaho State Xcel Gymnastics Championships. The two-day event will take place March 23-24 at the Wood River High School gymnasium. Around 350 athletes from all over Idaho are registered to compete. Everyone from the community is invited to attend.

“We are super excited that SMAS got the bid to host the USA Gymnastics Idaho State Xcel Championships this year, and are thrilled to invite all the athletes that have qualified around the state to the final competition of our season,” said Amanda Wilson, SMAS head coach.

To learn more about Spirit n’ Motion and its upcoming gymnastics meets, visit www.spiritnmotion.com.No Joke: Company Of Fools Fool’s Day Event To Promote New Season “The Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Company of Fools (COF) will be hosting their annual Fool’s Day celebration, Monday, April 1, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. The event is free and open to the public.

No Joke: Company Of Fools Fool’s Day Event To Promote New Season

The Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Company of Fools (COF) will be hosting their annual Fool’s Day celebration, Monday, April 1, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey.

The event is free and open to the public.

Every year, Fool’s Day brings together The Center, COF and members of the community to celebrate the new season. Attendees can look forward to sneak peeks of upcoming programming, including an announcement of COF’s 24th season and The Center’s 2019–2020 BIG IDEA projects, concerts, films, lectures and more. Guests will enjoy homemade desserts, refreshments and festivities, as well as chances to win tickets for COF’s 24th season and fun schwag from The Center.

“I am so excited to begin my work as the new producing artistic director of Company of Fools,” said Scott Palmer, who begins his new position at COF this March. “We hope to bring laughter, love, and provocative questions to our audiences in a season that features classics of American drama, new visions of beloved stories, and cutting-edge new works. It will be a season to remember, I promise.

9

SPONSORED FEATURE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

CALVIN GEISSLER Focused on the fast and furious future

BY EMILEE MAE STRUSS

W

ood River High School junior Calvin Geissler is a young entrepreneur. He was born and raised in the Wood River Valley and grew up watching his father as a mechanic. When one customer asked for car detailing, Geissler took on the project himself.

“After that one vehicle, I realized I could make pretty good money if I made this a business,” Geissler said.

Geissler started that business when he was in eighth grade and it continues to this day. He enjoys the time it takes—around five hours—to complete one vehicle, because it allows him time to enjoy his favorite music. Geissler estimates that he has detailed over 150 vehicles since he started this business. That’s a lot of songs.

Working with cars is something Geissler hopes to continue in the future and with the future in mind. He has his sights set on semiautonomous (self-driving) vehicles, which is an expanding industry of computer-piloted cars. His ultimate dream is to become a software engineer for Tesla, a car company that specializes in electric car manufacturing.

Geissler said his favorite car that Tesla currently makes is the Model S P100D (Performance 100 Drive), which is a luxury electric car that accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.6 seconds.

“I have two passions: cars and computers,” Geissler said. “So I’m wondering what I can do to bring those together.”

Beyond cars, computers and running his own business, Geissler stays involved at WRHS with many different clubs. He is president of the Key Club, which is a student-led club that encourages leadership through serving others.

He is also president of the Business Professionals of America, which is a club at WRHS that teaches students about the skills and tools used in business, such as profit-and-loss spreadsheets, interviewing for jobs, and more.

The BPA doesn’t shy away from competition, and neither does Geissler. He joined BPA his freshman year and has attended competitions at the state level three times and the national level once. Geissler competed at nationals in Advanced Spreadsheet Applications and Structured Query Language—a

Calvin Geissler is a junior at Wood River High School, interested in the future of cars and the software behind computer-generated vehicles.

Photo credit: Ciarra Love

computer language for storing and retrieving data. He plans to compete again at this year’s nationals, which will take place at Disneyland in California, a place Geissler is very excited to visit.

“I’ve always been good with numbers,” Geissler said. “And not many people choose to compete in SQL, so I think I’ll have a good chance at making it to state or nationals.”

Geissler enjoys life in the Valley but hopes to continue his education, post-graduation, at Princeton University in New Jersey.

“That would be like the dream school,” Geissler said.

Geissler is currently enrolled in Advanced Placement Computer Science, Advanced Placement Economics, college chemistry and precalculus. He has a 3.9 GPA and continues to grow in his interest for numbers.

Geissler is a student ahead of the curve, with his mind set on futuristic ideas while also catering to the current demands of the economy. Geissler commented on a few German companies that are already releasing semiautonomous cars that have an autopilot setting with radar technology to guide cars down the road. He hopes to have a part in making such vehicles safe.

“There’s always an opportunity for error because technology isn’t perfect but, then again, neither are we as humans,” Geissler said. tws 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 Emilee Struss at emilee.struss@ gmail.com.

COMME N TA RY

10

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

Fishing R epoRt

MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

COLUMN NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR MARCH 13 - 19, FROM PICABO ANGLER

F

ebruary brought a dose of much-needed precipitation to the Valley, and snowpacks throughout our watersheds are healthy.

Silver Creek north of Highway 20, along with Kilpatrick Pond, remains open until March 31.

Streamer fishing continues to be the most productive technique and will entice some of the Creek’s largest browns and rainbows. Midge activity should increase daily, offering anglers a chance for some incredible late-winter dry-fly fishing on Silver Creek.

The Big Lost River below Mackay Dam will become one of the area’s better fisheries this month. Midge activity has been on the increase and will only get better as March progresses. In addition, spring Blue-Winged Olives will hatch throughout the river system toward the end of the month, providing some exceptional dry-fly fishing in the afternoons. Look for surface-feeding fish along foam lines, current seams, and in the slower tailouts of pools.

A good selection of Griffith Gnats, Trailing Shuck Midges, Tie-Down Midges, Film Critic BWOs, Parachute BWOs, Last Chance BWO Cripples, and RS2s in sizes 18-22 will take rising rainbows on the Lost. Nymphing remains an excellent technique, and don’t be caught on the Lost without black and red Zebra Midges in sizes 16-20! Other effective patterns include San Juan Worms, Copper Johns, Rainbow Warriors, Cranefly Larva, and black Rubberlegs. Flows out of the dam are at approximately 200 CFS; with a healthy snowpack and Mackay Reservoir near capacity, flows could increase at any time. Give a call to the shop or check the USGS websites for current flow information before you make the drive.

Fishing on the Big Wood River remains productive. Anglers are having success nymphing, fishing midge dries, and throwing sculpin patterns for the river’s biggest fish. Look for the best midge activity to occur during the afternoons. Griffiths 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.

Please keep in mind that many rainbows begin to spawn at the end of the month, so keep an eye out for redds and let spawners do their thing.

Happy fishing, everyone!

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

THE NATURE OF DOG LEARNING

M

BY FRAN JEWELL

other Nature has provided all animals with the necessary tools to learn how to survive and thrive. She uses her environment and gives elders the ability to give baby wildlife important information for their growth and ultimately survival of the species. At first, the mother and/or father provide food for their young, from birds to bears, squirrels to skunks. As the babies mature, they learn important lessons about hunting and foraging. If they hunt for prey that is improper—say, the fox hunts for the skunk and the skunk sprays the fox—this is a definitive consequence for hunting the wrong prey. If foraging animals forage near predators, they lose their lives.

Some lessons are harder to learn than others, and so, the survival of the species. Those animals that are quick learners and can understand their environment are the ones that survive and thrive. The coyote that can successfully hunt and capture a squirrel has a great meal—the ultimate positive reinforcement. Mother Nature is full of positive reinforcement as well as consequences. In order to survive, every creature must have both to learn and survive and thrive.

How does this apply to training your dog? Many New Age methodologies have abolished all forms of consequences, forsaking the natural order of things. There is lots of thought now that when one dog snarls at another for inappropriate behavior, the snarling dog is labeled “aggressive.” One trainer I listened to recently felt that if his dog did not perform whatever activity he was teaching through positive reinforcement only, that he had failed the dog. The fact of the matter is, when we provide only positive reinforcement for the desired behavior, the dog has less information to learn from, and if we are honest, this form of learning can actually be more stressful than providing thoughtful consequences along with the positive reinforcement.

The other thought in dog training is to completely “control the environment.” This is so that we can control that the dog only receives positive reinforcement. While we have some capability to do that with such things as fences and leashes, I ask, does Mother Nature only provide positive reinforcement? If our dog chases the porcupine and bites the porcupine, the dog’s face and mouth become filled with quills, which, ultimately, can even be deadly. Is it feasible for us to ever completely control the environment so the dog never has a bad experience with anything from the environment? Can I keep my dog in a vacuum to protect him from ever receiving a natural consequence from the environment, such as the skunk that might decide to make its den under my deck?

When we consider training with our dogs, we must understand

Dogs will discipline each other, fairly and firmly. They don’t fear political correctness. Photo credit: Fran Jewell

nature and the “nature of learning.” The key in natural learning for our beloved dogs is understanding that not only must dogs have “yes!”, but they must also have “thoughtful” consequences that are meaningful to the dog so the dog will consider no longer pursuing that behavior, yet also delight in performing the desired behavior.

Thoughtful consequences depend on the dog and his/her responses.

Some consequences might need to be firmer or more definitive—especially where life and death is involved, like car chasing or potential injury to the owner. Mother Nature would also provide varying degrees of consequence much the same way.

Following Mother Nature and her wisdom in our training can assure that we indeed have a healthy, respectful, and happy relationship with our dogs.

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

THE QUIETUDE BETWEEN THE NOISE

I

BY LESLIE REGO

n today’s world, it seems that the spaces between the silences are becoming more persistent, longer, and louder. By “silence” I am referring to peacefulness, not noiselessness. How often have you been in a natural setting and a group comes along talking about work, travel, politics, or a multitude of other subjects? Long before the group arrives, one can hear snippets of conversation focusing on many subjects, but rarely on the immediate environment. It is so easy to walk, run, or ski through the woods so engrossed in our daily world that we notice little of our surroundings.

One can think of silence as uninhabited space, but I choose to think of it as the music. By “silence,” I refer to any sounds that are not manmade. The creaks of tree trunks, the sway of branches, the trills of the birds are all part of the tranquility of the woods.

By listening to the quietude, our involvement deepens.

It can be really difficult to turn our busy, chattering minds off when we are in the wilderness. I find it helpful to search for the spaces between the trees or between the landmarks. I observe how wide or narrow they are and create a rhythm. Wide-open views allow for a long buildup, and then, much like Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and his crescendo notes, my thoughts compose strong highlights for the trees. I pivot my head from side to side, forming my own symphony, alighting on major elements or simmering on surrounding melodies.

Sigurd Olson (1899–1982), an American author, environmentalist, and advocate for

Leslie Rego, “The Quietude between the Trees,” charcoal and pastel.

the protection of wilderness, wrote, “Simplicity in all things is the secret of the wilderness and one of its most valuable lessons.

It is what we leave behind that is important.

I think the matter of simplicity goes further than just food, equipment and unnecessary gadgets; it goes into the matter of thoughts and objectives, as well. When in the wilds, we must not carry our problems with us or the joy is lost.”

The music is in the quietude. The longer the stillness lingers, the calmer one feels. Let go of the clatter of the outside world and enter the hush environment of the forest. Create a symphony of the spaces between the noise.

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 •

MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

GUEST OPINION NEIL BRADSHAW

The Cost Of Doing Nothing

Ketchum faces an imminent capital need of $2 million to buy firefighting apparatus. Without the purchase, we face the risk that our ISO safety rating will be downgraded, leading to a substantial increase in the insurance premiums for Ketchum residents and businesses.

The proposed contract for emergency services with Sun Valley, if approved, would unify the emergency services of north Blaine County. Combining the assets and expertise of Ketchum Fire, Ketchum Rural and Sun Valley would avoid the need to purchase the apparatus immediately and would leave our ISO rating intact. (I will leave the police side out of this opinion piece.)

Without attributing blame, over the last 15 years the City of Ketchum has chronically underfunded its fire operations, leaving us with a “deplorable” fire station, unsatisfactory working conditions, one fire truck and one semi-operable ladder truck. It has also left the firefighters with a culture of mistrust and a resistance to change. With such underfunding, who can blame them?

We now face the prospect of having to bond for approximately $15 million, rather than $8 million, to build a new facility and replenish our fire department’s assets. I have no appetite for a $15 million bond, and I am sure many voters feel the same.

Two main issues surfaced during our consolidation process that led to an initial lack of support for the proposal.

First, under the proposal, the current professional firefighters’ union Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) would no longer exist. The CBA protects employee rights to negotiate annual contracts. In addition to pay, working conditions, etc., the CBA contains a prescribed work schedule and overtime requirements.

Disbanding the Ketchum fire department, and therefore the CBA, would remove those scheduling requirements. The work schedule adopted by the Sun Valley fire department (and many other fire departments) saves substantial amounts of taxpayers’ dollars compared to Ketchum’s.

It is impossible to merge best practices if encumbered by the limiting effect of the CBA. Additionally, any type of Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) also eliminates the flexibility to make changes, as the CBA would still remain in place.

The second issue was the perception that “big” Ketchum was giving up control to “little” Sun Valley. It is worth pointing out that “big” Blaine County contracts with “little” Ketchum to provide emergency medical service—they do that because Ketchum has the expertise to do so using the county’s ambulances. A contract for service does not hand over control; it simply assigns responsibilities for delivering the service. If contracts are not working, then elected officials should take action or face the consequences at the next election cycle.

While Sun Valley may be smaller in population, they have a superior fire station and apparatus. That is why Ketchum Rural Fire Department is now looking to contract with Sun Valley instead of Ketchum. If this happens, Ketchum can no longer use Ketchum Rural’s fire engines and an ISO downgrade would follow.

If we can have complete flexibility to correctly structure a unified fire department, then we can make our community safer in a financially prudent manner. I am confident our professional firefighters and volunteers will do a great job for the entire Valley, no matter what badge they are wearing on their uniform.

I don’t want this setback in the consolidation process to derail what I believe to be a fundamentally good idea with substantial benefits. Make no mistake, there is a cost of doing nothing and, in the short term, it could lead to an increase in all of our insurance premiums.

Neil Bradshaw is mayor of Ketchum

GUEST OPINION BURGOYNE & HENSCHEID

Idaho Should Remove Barriers To Education

Last year, nearly 10,000 Idaho high school seniors applied for admission to our state’s public post-secondary institutions. That fall, 2,600 recent graduates did not show up. That is why we have drafted legislation known as Idaho Promise to remove the barriers that prevent Idahoans from obtaining the training and education they want and need.

Idaho Promise would provide “last dollar” scholarships to students seeking certificates and associate degrees at Idaho’s community colleges, regardless of age or income. This will fast track more Idahoans to good paying careers in fields our state needs most. It will also help provide a foundation for students who choose to continue toward a bachelor’s degree. To receive Idaho Promise scholarships, students would first need to seek other available financial aid and provide community service as investments in their own futures.

Some states learned the hard way that scholarships are not enough and that students must have additional support to succeed. Over time, many of these states added support services, resulting in increased enrollment and Jean M. Henscheid, completion rates. From the beginning, Idaho Promise would provide the Ph.D support students require.

Over the past three years, high school counselors throughout the state have told us that most students are willing and interested in completing training or education after high school, but that they need consistent guidance as they transition from high school, and some financial assistance.

A preliminary analysis suggests that the scholarships and extra supports would be around $18 million per year. Several factors would immediately mitigate this cost. For example, 2018 figures show more than half of Idaho’s community college students are eligible for Pell Grants, with an average award of close to $4,000 per year. These grants will substantially reduce the “last dollar” contribution made by Idaho Promise. Idaho Opportunity scholarships are already available, with awards between $3,400 and $3,500 per year, again significantly reducing the cost of Idaho Promise. Finally, Idaho students enrolled in nearly 58,000 dual-credit courses in 2018, shaving off the number of post-secondary courses they needed to complete after high school graduation.

Over the next several months, we will work with educators, advocacy groups, business leaders, state agencies, and the general public to refine Idaho Promise. We already have ample evidence that states that invest in education like this realize a wide range of benefits. Every additional year Senator Grant Burof training or education results in a 7 to 10 percent jump in a student’s goyne earning capacity, higher state tax revenues, and decreased use of social services. These increased tax revenues are substantially higher than the cost of post-secondary training or education.

By law, Idaho promises to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools. It is time to add to that promise and fund a proven approach toward increasing post-secondary attainment.

Senator Grant Burgoyne represents District 16 (Garden City and parts of Boise) in the Idaho Legislature.

Jean M. Henscheid, Ph.D., is an education policy analyst and fellow at the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

11

COLUMN SCIENCE OF PLACE

Male Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon.) Photo credit: Kevin Cole, public domain photo, accessed via Wikipedia

THE KINGFISHER

BY HARRY WEEKES

Part II

O

ne thing I have learned as a teacher is that I really have no idea what will stick in students’ minds. Despite many years crafting what I thought was nothing short of the most elegant unit on photosynthesis, much fanfare and arm waving in the delivery of this masterpiece, and take-home taglines like, “This is why you are alive, people!”, students I would see years later were much more likely to reference something obscure: “Remember how my ribosomes were chocolate chips in that edible cell project?” or “Remember that lab on island biogeography? I really liked the bird one.” This particular memory always interested me because I did remember: it was a lab about getting birds to populate an island. And when I say “birds,” I mean little colored pixels that were literally one step improved, graphically, from the game Pong. Yet, somehow, students remembered this. Vividly.

And because I have no idea what anyone will remember, I take every chance I get to narrate the landscape around me, especially if it is a morning as beautiful as Feb. 16 was, and especially if I have a captive audience, which is exactly what the two 13-year-olds in the car probably felt like.

I turned the car around because something caught my eye. In birding, they talk a lot about your first impression, what is called GISS: General Impression of Size and Shape. “Was it a robin or a goose?” “Was it colorful or drab?” “Flying or hopping?” Or, in this case, there was just something different than expected.

I was searching for a blackbird and instead scanned across something that looked as much like carved ice as it did a living thing. It was just a moment—probably a few fractions of a moment that registered in that cartoon way things enter our perception. Shape. Animal. Bird. It was enough.

“Why are we turning around?”

“We’ve got time.” I added, “There was something… ” as I slowed the car to a creep. “Right… there.”

Kingfishers are one of those birds people seem to know, even if we don’t see them that often. And they are distinct. The slate blue of this one was the same color as the shadowed contours of the snow, and its shaggy crest broke up its profile in a way that made it look like it was part of the crystallized water vapor clinging to the willow branches it was sitting on. She was sitting on.

In belted kingfishers, the female wears the colors—in this case, what looked like a rufous vest peeking out of a blue jacket. She turned her head slowly and flexed her feathers, opening and then closing them. In the realm of birds, kingfishers have certain characteristics that make them seem a bit more prehistoric: a big, blocky head; a thick, chiseled bill; and eyes whose depth and darkness somehow seem more ancient.

She turned a big eye toward us, taking us in sleepily, like some kind of miniature avian whale, seemingly indifferent to the red-winged blackbird shuffling through the branches to her right.

“A female belted kingfisher and a male red-winged blackbird,” I cooed as we started to pick up speed. “And look at the light and those shadows. What do you think those two are thinking?” I gestured toward the birds. The blackbird and the kingfisher could have asked the same question about my two in-car companions.

It may be decades before we ever really know.

Harry Weekes is the founder and head of school at The Sage School in Hailey. This is his 47th year in the Wood River Valley, where he lives with his wife Hilary and their three kids—Georgia, Penelope and Simon—a nice little flock.

12

T H E W E E K LY S U N • M A R C H 1 3 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 9

SPONSORED BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS

SUN CALENDAR THE WEEKLY

EVENT FEATURE

WHY AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN WILL NOT CRUSH REAL ESTATE THIS TIME

L

ast week, the National Association for Business Economics released their February 2019 Economic Policy Survey (www. tinyurl.com/tws-eps). The survey revealed that a majority of the panel believe an economic slowdown is in the near future: “While only 10 percent of panelists expect a recession in 2019, 42 percent say a recession will happen in 2020, and 25 percent expect one in 2021.”

Their findings coincide with three previous surveys calling for a slowdown sometime in the next two years: 1: The Pulsenomics Survey of Market Analysts (www.tinyurl.com/tws-pulse) 2: The Wall Street Journal Survey of Economists (www.tinyurl.com/tws-wall) 3: The Duke University Survey of American CFOs (www.tinyurl.com/tws-duke) That raises the question: Will the real estate market be impacted like it was during the last recession?

A recession does not equal a housing crisis. According to the dictionary definition, a recession is: “A period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters.”

During the last recession, prices fell dramatically because the housing collapse caused the recession. However, if we look at the previous four recessions, we can see that home values weren’t negatively impacted: • January 1980 to July 1980: Home values rose 4.5 percent • July 1981 to November 1982: Home values rose 1.9 percent • July 1990 to March 1991: Home values fell less than 1 percent • March 2001 to November 2001: Home values rose 4.8 percent Most experts agree with Ralph McLaughlin, CoreLogic’s deputy chief economist, who recently explained (www.tinyurl.com/ tws-cooling): “There’s no reason to panic right now, even if we may be headed for a recession. We’re seeing a cooling of the housing market, but nothing that indicates a crash.”

The housing market is just “normalizing.” Inventory is starting to increase and home prices are finally stabilizing. This is a good thing for both buyers and sellers as we move forward.

Bottom Line If there is an economic slowdown in our near future, there is no need for fear to set in. As renowned financial analyst Morgan Housel recently tweeted (www.tinyurl.com/tws-housel): “An interesting thing is the widespread assumption that the next recession will be as bad as 2008. Natural to think that way, but, statistically, highly unlikely. Could be over before you realized it began.”

ANNA MATHIEU

Realtor®, Associate Broker, GRI, MBA 2018 Best of the Valley 1st Place Gold; Best Realtor.

Windermere Real Estate/SV, LLC (208) 309-1329 AnnaMathieu@Windermere.com 5b-realestate.com To subscribe to the Better Homeowners newsletter: tinyurl.com/y8koftym

David Grann is a New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning staff writer at The New Yorker magazine. Photo credit: Sun Valley Center for the Arts

HISTORY AS WE NEVER KNEW IT Author David Grann will speak in Ketchum

BY DANA DUGAN

D

uring the Sun Valley Center’s new BIG IDEA Project, “Unraveling: Reimagining the Colonization of the Americas,” various lectures, films and events will be held.

It’s a subject rife with possibilities. On Thursday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m., acclaimed nonfiction author David Grann will speak at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood, 100 Saddle Road, in Ketchum.

Grann’s most recent book, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” documented one of the most sinister crimes and racial injustices in American history. Described by Dave Eggers in The New York Times Book Review as a “riveting” work that will “sear your soul,” Grann’s book was a finalist for the National Book Award and a winner of the Edgar Allen Poe Award for best true crime book, a Spur Award for best work of historical nonfiction, and an Indies Choice Award for best adult nonfiction book of the year.

According to The Center, this BIG IDEA Project will offer up a variety of perspectives on the colonization of the continent.

The European conquest is the most oft told, but many indigenous cultures already existed.

These are the stories to which “Unraveling” will give voice.

Grann’s book, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” falls into this idea of alternative perspectives.

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian nation. The Osage, a large tribe that had many separate factions, were forced off their land in Missouri when the U.S. government opened the area up to settlers, despite a treaty. Once displaced on a reservation in Oklahoma, oil was discovered on their new land. The Osage were soon living life as they thought befitted wealthy people: they rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, had servants, and sent their children to study in Europe.

The federal government, seeking to quash this outrageous behavior—though perfectly happy to allow white men to flaunt wealth and go broke with alacrity—appointed white guardians to monitor many of the tribe’s spending habits. Even minute purchases had to be authorized; corruption was inherent. A government study estimated that by 1924, nearly 600 guardians had swindled some $8 million in Osage oil funds.

Then things got worse. Tribe members were brutally murdered with no known motive. In 1923, the fledgling and untested FBI came in to investigate, and actually charged the tribe with the cost to do so. Now a national story, it came to be known as the Osage reign of terror.

A conspiracy was eventually revealed, with one man sen-

tenced for just one murder out of many dozens. He was eventually paroled, and in 1965 was granted a full pardon by Oklahoma’s then governor.

Grann’s book takes the first serious, hard look at this notorious piece of American history.

In doing so, he reveals how the U.S. government implemented destructive policies and behaved toward native people with overt racism. It is a story of the evil men can do to each other. It’s a story of America, the one we live in still.

Grann has been a writer for The New Yorker since 2003. Before joining The New Yorker, he was a senior editor at The New Republic and executive editor of The Hill. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic and The Washington Post.

Grann’s upcoming book, “The White Darkness,” which will be published in October, is a true story of adventure and obsession in the Antarctic.

Other events in the project will include “The Consequences of Colonialism,” a free lecture on Tuesday, March 19, with Gay Bawa Odmark; a free evening exhibition tour on Thursday, March 21; and the screening of the film “Dawson City: Frozen Time” on Thursday, March 21, at the Magic Lantern Cinemas.

For more information and tickets to any event, visit sunvalleycenter.org or call (208) 7269491. tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N • M A R C H 1 3 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 9

EVENTS CALENDAR, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ‘UNRAVELING’ WEEKDAYS MAR 13-22 9AM-5PM / THE CENTER / KETCHUM

The Sun Valley Center for the Arts’ new visual arts exhibition for “Unraveling: Reimagining Colonization in the Americas,” is on view through March 22. Admission to The Center’s museum is always free, and the public is invited to visit the exhibition during The Center’s open hours, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, visit sunvalleycenter.org or call (208) 726-9491.

STORY TIME WED MAR 13 & FRI MAR 15

10:30-11:30AM / HAILEY PUBLIC LIBRARY Story Time is held weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Hailey Public Library. All ages are welcome. Parents should plan on staying with their children. For more information, call (208) 788-2036.

SUN VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL WED MAR 13 & SUN MAR 17 ALL DAY / VARIOUS / KETCHUM AND SUN VALLEY

Presented by Ford, the 8th annual Sun Valley Film Festival will present lectures, gatherings, panels, live music, a rail jam, special awards, coffee talks and several new independent movies.

Comic Chelsea Handler will attend the festival as a special guest and participate in the festival’s Coffee Talk on Thursday, March 14. Alex Ross Perry, who will receive the festival’s Rising Star Award for directing, will participate in a Coffee Talk on Saturday, March 16. Perry’s movie “Her Smell” will play Friday, March 15, at The Argyros.

Among the films screened will be “David Crosby: Remember My Name”; “Indian Horse,” an adaptation of Ojibway writer Richard Wagamese’s award-winning novel; “Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love,” a special sneak preview about Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse Marianne Ihlen; and “Before The Flood,” a documentary directed by Fisher Stevens and produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

There are several types of passes with varying levels of access. All passholders receive priority access over individual ticketholders. For more information, a schedule and tickets, visit sunvalleyfilmfestival. org.

DIGGING DEEPER SERIES WED MAR 13

SPONSORED HEALTH BEAT

WHAT DO WOMEN NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MENOPAUSE?

BY JENNY STIREMAN, MSN ARNP, NCMP ST. LUKE’S CLINIC – OB/GYN

A

ll women experience menopause. It is a normal physiological event that is confirmed after a woman has had no menstruation for at least one year.

The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 51 to 52 years of age. That said, many women experience a variety of physical changes during the time period “around menopause,” known as “perimenopause.”

Perimenopause, the time during which a woman’s body makes its natural transition from reproductive years toward permanent infertility, or “menopause,” is a profound time for a woman, both physically and psychologically.

A range of symptoms experienced during perimenopause and menopause that are considered normal are often described as being “mild” and “slightly annoying” to “vexing, disruptive and even painful.”

Although highly individualized, the most common complaints are hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and irregular bleeding.

It should be noted that, once a woman is considered menopausal, any vaginal bleeding is considered abnormal, and should be evaluated by a provider.

During the normal aging process and menopausal transition, bone density drops, metabolism slows, and muscle mass will decrease. It is im-

6:30PM/ ELEPHANT’S PERCH/ KETCHUM

STORM SPOTTER CLASS WED MAR 13

7-8:30PM / COMMUNITY CAMPUS / HAILEY

KETCHUM COMMUNITY DINNERS WED MAR 13

6-7PM / CHURCH OF THE BIG WOOD / KETCHUM Free hot dinners are provided weekly to everyone. Find Ketchum Community Dinners on Facebook for more information and weekly menu updates.

LINE DANCING WED MAR 13

6-7PM / THE MINT / HAILEY

Dust off your boots and join Vicki Aberbach for a line dancing lesson. The fee is $10. There will be an open dance afterwards to practice getting those boots movin’.

portant for women to exercise regularly, specifically participating in resistant type exercise such as Pilates, yoga and weight lifting, which helps to lower body fat ratio and prevent osteoporosis.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be very helpful for women who are experiencing menopausal symptoms. It is important for women to talk to their healthcare provider to determine what treatment options would be best for them. Based on certain medical conditions, such as estrogen-dependent cancers, some women are not candidates for HRT. For these women, there are still several other options available that can be considered for treating symptoms. Some of these treatment options include acupuncture and herbal supplements, as well as other medications.

Dr. Rhonda Robbins, Dr. Aaron Moos and myself recognize that every woman is unique and will experience the menopausal transition in her own unique way. At St Luke’s OB/GYN, we treat the whole woman and individualize choices best for her.

To make an appointment, call St. Luke’s Clinic – OB/ Gyn at (208) 727-8600. For additional information, visit stlukesonline.org.

It’s your life.

We help you live it.

Submit A Pet Obituary

Chris Lundy, a forecaster from the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, will discuss “Avalanche Hazard and Ski Mountaineering.” This discussion will touch on the delicate balance of big mountain ski objectives and avalanche hazard. These discussions are always free and open to all. The Elephant’s Perch is located at 280 East Ave., in Ketchum.

For more information, contact ethan@sawtoothavalanche.com.

Across eastern Idaho, more than 850 volunteer weather spotters and cooperative observers have provided valuable weather reports, which are fundamental in helping the National Weather Service. Forecasts are often based on observer data, and warnings for severe weather have been issued based on timely, reliable information received from trained volunteer spotters.

Everyone is invited to this training session, especially current weather spotters, firefighters, law enforcement specialists, land management employees, emergency services technicians, transportation operators, outdoor recreationalists, or just purely a weather enthusiast.

For more information, visit skywarn.org.

13

“Frankie” — 2003-2018

Brand New For 2019: Honor the memory of your pet in The Weekly Sun. This year, we’re offering 20% OFF our regular obituary rate for pet obituaries. Pet obituaries cost just 16¢ per word and include a large color photo.

To reserve space for an obituary or pet obituary, call Brennan at (208) 720-1295.

14

T H E W E E K LY S U N • M A R C H 1 3 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 9

EVENTS CALENDAR, CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE BIG AIR RAIL JAM WED MAR 13 6:30-10PM / TOWN SQUARE/ KETCHUM

GALENA LOPPET SUN MAR 17 ALL DAY / GALENA LODGE / GALENA

East Avenue will be closed for music, movies and a onesie contest with prizes, along with the rail jam, also with prizes. There will be local food and drink for purchase. This new event is collectively presented by the City of Ketchum, Sun Valley Film Festival, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Stellar Media, Lunceford Excavation and a whole bunch of enthusiastic local ramp builders.

Galena Lodge will host a fun, free, perimeter ski tour around the Galena Lodge trails.

Kickoff is at 10 a.m. and there will be doughnuts and goodies along the trail. Skate or classic skiing is fine and costumes are always welcome. Participants must have a trail pass for this event.

TRIVIA & COCKTAILS WED MAR 13 7-9PM / HOTEL KETCHUM / KETCHUM There will be two trivia games every Wednesday night through the season, along with drink specials and prizes for place winners. There is no entry free. Bring yourself and your friends, because you deserve a night of games and specialty cocktails!

Hotel Ketchum is located at 151 Main St. South.

SOUPER SUPPER MON MAR 18 5:30-6:30PM / ST. CHARLES CHURCH / HAILEY Weekly free hot dinners are provided to anyone who wishes to join. St. Charles Catholic Church is located at 313 1st Ave. S., in Hailey.

WRV CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM THU MAR 14 9AM-4PM / COMMUNITY LIBRARY / KETCHUM

‘NOSTALGIA’ LECTURE MON MAR 18 4:30PM / HAILEY PUBLIC LIBRARY / HAILEY

The Community Library and Idaho Conservation League will host an exploration of Idaho’s wild salmon and steelhead through science, history and policy of Idaho’s wild fish, through the eyes of Idaho conservationists. Speakers, panelists and storytellers will include Russ Thurow, Rocky Barker, Pat Ford, Jim Norton, Ed Cannady and ICL executive director Rick Johnson.

To register for the symposium, visit comlib.org and click on events.

The Hailey Public Library will host a free talk by Susan Swetnam on “Nostalgia and Social Change: Food in Contemporary America.” Her visit is part of the library’s yearlong Centennial Celebration. Swetnam taught in Idaho State University’s Department of English and Philosophy from 1979 until her retirement in 2013. She is the author of seven books and received the Idaho Library Association’s 2002 Idaho Book of the Year award. In addition, she has served as a consultant and grant reviewer for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, call (208) 7882036 or visit haileypubliclibrary.org.

THEATRE & FILM SCHOOL AUDITIONS THU MAR 14 3-5PM / BALLET & ARTS CENTER / HAILEY The Sun Valley Ballet & Arts Center will hold open auditions for its Children’s Theater and Film School, every Thursday from 3–5 p.m. or call for appointment. The Sun Valley Ballet & Arts Center is located 111 N. 1st Ave., in Hailey.

For more information, contact (208) 366-4008 or svbartsdirector@gmail.com.

LECTURE: DAVID GRANN THU MAR 14 6:30PM / CHURCH OF THE BIG WOOD / KETCHUM David Grann, author of “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” will speak at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood as part of The Center’s BIG IDEA project, “Unraveling: Reimagining the Colonization of the Americas.”

For more, see story on page 12.

GAY BAWA ODMARK & PARTITION TUES MAR 19 6-7PM / COMMUNITY LIBRARY /KETCHUM Presented by the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, whose spring project “Unraveling” considers alternative histories of the colonization of the Americas. Gay Bawa Odmark will discuss living through India’s 1947 India and Pakistan Partition and the upheaval created by the British colonial administration’s decisions as they withdrew from the region following nearly a century of colonial rule.

The free talk will include photographs from Odmark’s family albums as well as images of artwork she has made in response to her memories of her life in India.

APRÈS-SKI LIVE MUSIC FRI MAR 15-SUN MAR 17 2:30-5PM / RIVER RUN LODGE & WARM SPRINGS LODGE On Friday, the Swiveltones will play at River Run. Then the action switches to Warm Springs Lodge for the Pisten Bullies on Saturday, and Britnee Kellog on Sunday.

SV CENTER APRÈS ART FRI MAR 15 3-5PM / YMCA / KETCHUM Designed for families with kids who are 5–12 years of age, Après Art classes will be offered Fridays through March 22. Participants and their adult caregivers can drop in anytime between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to warm up with a mug of hot chocolate after a day on the slopes and make a winter art project to take home.

For more information about family arts programming at The Center, visit sunvalleycenter.org or call (208) 726-9491.

SAWTOOTH TRIVIA TUES MAR 19 7:30PM / SAWTOOTH BREWERY / KETCHUM Sawtooth Brewery presents free trivia games for the season. Games start at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday and all ages are welcome. Sawtooth Brewery Public House is located at 631 Warm Springs Road.

LIVE MUSIC THU MAR 14-MON MAR 18 6PM / THE LIMELIGHT/ KETCHUM

UPBEAT WITH ALASDAIR WED MAR 20 6:30PM / COMMUNITY LIBRARY / KETCHUM

Free live music is held at the Limelight Lounge every Thursday through Monday night through the season. Food is available and children are welcome as there are lots of games and fun to be had.

Sun Valley Summer Symphony Music Director Alasdair Neale will host the free lecture series, Upbeat with Alasdair, titled “Meet Mason Bates, Musical America’s Composer of the Year.” The conversation between Neale and Bates will provide an overview of Bates’s work, including three pieces the Symphony will feature during Bates’s residency this summer. Bates is the most-performed composer of his generation and serves as composer-in-residence at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

LIVE MUSIC FRI MAR 15 9:30PM / SILVER DOLLAR / BELLEVUE The Voltz will play at the iconic Bellevue saloon. There’s never a cover and patrons have access to a free shuttle home if needed.

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T H E W E E K LY S U N • M A R C H 1 3 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 9

SPONSORED CHAMBER CORNER

BLAINE COUNTY ROBOTICS KEEPS RAISING THE BAR

Sudoku Is Sponsored by

15

Hard way Pipeline

BY MIKE MCKENNA

Steel Fencing

T

he Wood River Robotics team has two problems. The first is that they’ve run out of room to put all their trophies. The second is something we can help with. They need our assistance to send them to the World Championships next month in Kentucky.

“We’re really excited to represent our school at Worlds,” sophomore Tate Pearce said. “Now we have to figure out how to pay for it, so we’re holding a raffle for a cool bike from Power House (Pub) and a fly-fishing reel from Waterworks-Lamson, and we even have a GoFundMe page.” (See below for more details.)

The BCB Bots, as the program is called for short, was created in 2009. That’s when Kevin Lupton, who has been teaching engineering and architecture at Wood River High since 1994, was invited to enter a team in a Vex Robotics contest at his alma mater, Utah State University. Despite not knowing much about robotics contests, Mr. Lupton rallied a few students together and followed the advice of his master’s thesis professor, who had offered the invitation: “If you wait until you’re ready, you never will be.”

By 2012, Wood River High School was hosting the first robotics contest in the state. And our community of impassioned students and dedicated teachers have been setting the robotics bar high in the Gem State ever since.

“You just jump in feet first and learn while you go. That’s a lot of what robotics is,” Mr. Lupton said, explaining that robotics is “for students who are driven. For engineering students who want more. It’s a competitive team and it’s their winter sport.”

Sophomore Elizabeth Baledge is a member of one of the four high school and middle school teams. There are also teams at both Hailey and Bellevue elementary schools. Each season the teams take on problems developed by Vex Robotics and then compete at a handful of tournaments before, hopefully, qualifying to compete against the best of the other roughly 9,000 robotics teams worldwide.

“It’s a mental challenge, but there’s so much more to it than just calculus, algebra or geometry,”

Kelly Wardell 208-309-0916

The BCB Bots add to their collection of awards. Photo credit: Blaine County School District

Elizabeth explained. “You can get an idea and bring it to life. A lot of people in robotics have pretty open minds and are willing to work together.”

Being able to work as a team is key to the success of the BCB Bots program. Intelligence and effort alone won’t get a team to the World Championships four years in a row or allow it to win the Excellence Award at every tournament so far this year.

“We help each other and push each other to do better,” Elizabeth said.

Both Wood River High School and Wood River Middle School will be sending teams to the World Championships in Kentucky on back-to-back weekends in April. To help keep their inspiring story going, please visit their fundraising webpage at www.tinyurl.com/tws-bots or contact Coach Lupton at (208) 578-5020, ext. 2224.

The BCB Bots will be selling raffle tickets and putting on a demonstration at The Chamber’s Business After Hours this month at Mountain Humane on Thursday, March 21, from 5-7 p.m. As usual, the “BAH” is free and the public is welcome.

How To Play Sudoku

The Classic Sudoku is a number placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

CLASSIC SUDOKU See answer on page 2

Mike McKenna is the executive director of The Chamber – Hailey & The Wood River Valley. He can be reached at Mike@ValleyChamber.org or by calling (208) 788-3484.

CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY

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THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY 7-DAY WEATHER FORECAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Partly Cloudy 10%

high 34º

low 30º WEDNESDAY

Mostly Sunny 60%

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low 13º THURSDAY

Partly Cloudy 0%

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high 42º low 21º SATURDAY

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16

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

MARCH 13 - 19, 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

BCRD Youth Spring Sports Registration Now Open

Registration for the Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) youth spring sports leagues is now open. BCRD spring sports, for boys and girls ages 5 to 12, include track and field, t-ball, machine-pitch baseball, player-pitch baseball, and player/ coach-pitch softball. These popular programs emphasize skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork and fun.

Volunteer coaches are vital to these programs. The registration fee is waived for children of coaches. Team sponsorship opportunities are also available, and sponsors receive their business name on team jerseys, as well as other acknowledgements.

For full program, coaching, and sponsorship information, please visit www.bcrd. org, or contact Dave Keir, Associate Director—Youth Programs, at (208) 578-2273 or dkeir@bcrd.org.

Medicare Workshops To Be Offered In Burley

A pair of Medicare workshops for individuals turning 65 and those approaching Medicare eligibility will be held Monday, March 18, at the Burley Public Library, 1300 Miller Ave., Burley. The first of the two free sessions will run from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by an evening workshop from 5 to 7 p.m. Caregivers, those interested in learning how Medicare works, and individuals not eligible for Medicare are encouraged to attend and learn about other health plan options from a local enrollment counselor.

The Medicare workshops will be led by Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA), a unit of the Idaho Department of Insurance. SHIBA presenters will introduce the various parts of Medicare and explain some of the vocabulary associated with the program. To register for either workshop, please contact the SHIBA Helpline at 1 (800) 247-4422. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Local Middle Schoolers Win State Robotics Tournament, Headed To Worlds

The sixth- and seventh-grade robotics team from Wood River Middle School won the Idaho VEX IQ Robotics Competition held at Syringa Middle School in Caldwell.

They were two of the 21 teams from throughout Idaho that participated in the event that qualified winners for the upcoming world tournament.

The team consisted of Kameron Perron, Preston Kendall, Finn Wolfrom, Dylan Benson, Johny Blacker, Charles Rollins, Orrie DeShields, Jonah Pettinger, and McKay Wilson. In addition, the seventh-grade team of Perron, Kendall, Wolfrom, and Benson brought home the Tournament Champions trophy, Robot Skills Trophy, and the AMAZE award. The sixth-grade team of Blacker, Rollins, DeShields, Pettinger and Wilson brought home the Tournament Champions trophy as well as the Excellence Award. The mixed-grade-level team of Isaiah Garrison, Chase Schwartz and Luke Miller placed fourth in Robot Skills and eighth in overall qualifying rounds.

Now entering its 12th year, VEX IQ Robotics will bring together the top student-led robotics teams from around the world to Louisville, Kentucky, on April 28 to May 1. Wood River Middle School’s teams will be two of 400 teams from around the world that have qualified to attend this event.

Jeremy Silvis, teacher and robotics coach from Wood River Middle School, said, “These kids have worked extremely hard and put in many, many hours before school to get where they are. Their hard work paid off and they are now the top middle school VEX IQ Robotics teams in the state.”

The Blaine County School District’s K-12 robotics program (known at BCB Bots) was the first of its kind in the state of Idaho. Now in its 10th year at Wood River High School (WRHS), and its seventh year at Wood River Middle School (WRMS), BCB Bots has participants from elementary to high school.

Students are fundraising for travel expenses and donations can be made through Go Fund Me: www.gofundme.com/wrmsrobotics2019.

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