18 December 2019 by The Weekly Sun

WEEKLY SUN

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

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DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019 | V O L . 1 2 - N O . 5 1 | W W W . T H E W E E K L Y S U N . C O M

Bellevue News There’s A Brand New Book Club In Town

National News Census Consensus? Counting You Counts

Accident News 17 Cattle Die Due To US20 Wreck

“ To a p p r e c i a t e t h e b e a u t y o f a s n o w f l a k e i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o s t a n d o u t i n t h e c o l d . ” ~Aristotle

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For information about this photo, see “On The Cover” on page 3. Photo credit: Andrea Christensen

W E E K LY S U N D O G •

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

Jane’s Holiday House To Host Chamber Event

The Chamber of Hailey and the Wood River Valley is inviting businesses and the public to attend this month’s special holiday-themed Business After Hours (BAH) event at Jane’s Holiday House, 12 E. Bullion St., in Hailey. The event runs from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19. For those looking for some last-minute holiday gifts or decorations, Jane’s Holiday House will graciously offer 30 percent off everything in the store during the BAH. Food and beverages will be provided, a special guest from the North Pole is expected, and don’t forget to bring your business cards to enter in the BAH raffle. All of The Chamber’s monthly BAHs are free and open to everyone. We hope you will join us for some holiday cheer. For more information, please contact The Chamber at Mike@ValleyChamber.org, visit ValleyChamber.org or haileyidaho.com, or call (208) 788-3484.

Carey School Garners Multiple 1st-Place Awards In Business Competition

In a Business Professionals of America competition last week at Minico High School, Carey School representatives landed a number of top awards. Winners were: • Brigham Parke – first place in Business Law as well as a first place in Legal Office Procedures • Felicity Black – first place in both Desktop Publishing and Digital Design • Marika Versis – first place in Medical Office • Chase Bennion – a pair of second places in Extemp Speech and Fundamentals of Spreadsheets • Anna Warthen – a second place in Fundamental Word Processing • Vanessa Alvarez – a second place in Legal Office Procedures • Marcus Richcreek – a third place in PC Servicing and Troubleshooting • Kirsten Porter – a third place in Presentation Management and second place in Advanced Word Processing • Hunter Smith – a second place in Financial Math and a third place in Banking and Finance • Dallin Parke – second place in Banking and Finance • Carl Andrews – first place in Financial Math • Franco Ocampo – a pair of third places in Advanced Word Processing and Fundamental Spreadsheets • Kourtney Black – third place in Digital Publishing • Adrian Gonzalez — third place in Business Law “A pretty good showing considering that we compete against Burley, Declo, Mini-

co, Cassia Tech Center, Mt. Harrison, Raft River, Richfield, Valley and Wood River,” Carey School Principal John M. Peck said. The kids all will be competing at state in March for the opportunity to go to nationals in Washington, D.C.

Pedestrian Hit By SUV In Bellevue

On Sunday, Dec. 15, at approximately 10:24 a.m., deputies from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash on Baseline Road in Bellevue. The crash scene investigation determined that Manuel A. Chavez-Silva, age 72, of Bellevue, was hit by a silver 2006 Ford Explorer driven by Sergio Vallepasillas, age 22, of Bellevue. Vallepasillas was traveling west on Baseline Road. As the Explorer approached a tractor and hay trailer parked on the south side of the road facing east, Chavez-Silva jumped off the trailer and attempted to cross the road to open a gate. Vallepasillas was unable to stop in time due to ice on the roadway and struck Chavez-Silva in the face with his driver’s-side mirror. Chavez-Silva, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, was transported to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center in Ketchum and later flown to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. The Explorer sustained damages estimated to be less than $1500 and was able to be driven from the scene. Vallepasillas and his passengers were all wearing seatbelts and were uninjured in the collision. No citations were issued.

John Kerry To Speak At Several Events

The Community Library and the Hailey Climate Action Coalition will host two associated events with former Secretary of State John Kerry, prior to his presentation at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum on Thursday, Dec. 26. Kerry, and others, including fellow Wood River Valley resident and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, recently formed World War Zero, a new organization formed to tackle Climate Change globally. This bipartisan coalition—world leaders, scientists, CEOs, military leaders, activists, artists, and so many others from all walks of life and every part of the political spectrum—is committed to addressing the climate crisis. The organization plans on reaching out to millions of people through 2020 to activate them around a clear mission: mobilizing to respond to the climate crisis the same way we mobilized to win World War II. At The Community Library in Ketchum, Kerry will meet with youth climate activists at 3 p.m. The discussion will be moderated by Sun Valley Community School teacher Scott Runkel. This will be followed with Kerry speaking to the community in a “Town Hall”-like setting from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. For more information, contact comlib.org.

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W E E K LY S U N D O G •

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

WEEKLY SUNDOG CONTENTS

MATINEE PERFORMANCE

SUN, DEC 22, 3PM

‘A Christmas Carol’ and other holiday events are on tap all this week. See story on page 12.

THIS WEEK

D E C E M B E R 1 8 - 2 4 , 2019 | VOL. 12 NO. 51

Ketchum News

Ketchum Rural Election Result To Be Contested

Commentary

Calendar

Award-Winning Columns, Student Spotlight, Fishing Report Stay In The Loop On Where To Be

ON THE COVER

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!

Photo credit: Andrea Christensen Local artists & photographers interested in seeing their art on our cover page should email submissions to: mandi@ theweeklysun.com (photos should be high resolution and include caption info such as who or what is in the photo, date and location).

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W E E K LY S U N D O G •

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

NEWS COMMUNITY

BELLEVUE LIBRARY IS GIVING YOU SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT Book club to begin Jan. 9

BY ERIC VALENTINE

hat’s better than curling up with a good book? Curling up with a good book and then having interested readers talk about it with you. And what’s better than that? Having scholars deep-dive those works of art for you, in person. Well, that’s the book-club-on-steroids type of program the Bellevue Public Library will be offering early next year when it hosts its first Idaho “Let’s Talk About It” (LTAI) series of book discussions, starting Thursday, Jan. 9. “Bellevue is so excited to host this library program for the first time in the south Valley,” said Kristin Gearhart, Bellevue library director. “We encourage everyone and anyone to stop by and pick up a copy of the books as they become available.” Books in the series will follow the theme of American Classics. “In a world threatened by rapid change, with even reading being threatened, the classics still have a great deal to say to us,” Gearhart added. Readers will focus on difficult questions and themes and, with the help of the specific scholar for each book, will discuss that book in a group setting at the Bellevue library. LTAI furnishes the books. “The presentation by and interaction with a program scholar is what sets these discussions apart from traditional book clubs and discussions,” Gearhart explained. The books and the scholars, along with their credentials, are as follows: • • • • •

January 9: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Scholar: Florence Blanchard, local freelance writer, research historian and avid reader. February 13: Walden; Or, Life in the Woods. Scholar: Tom Klein, Professor of English, Idaho State University. March 12: Catcher in the Rye. Scholar: Clark Draney, Professor of English and writing program administrator at the College of Southern Idaho. April 9: Little Women. Scholar: Sue Bailey, former CSI instructor with a master’s degree in creative writing and English literature from the University of New Hampshire. March 14: Pudd’nhead Wilson. Scholar: Kim Madsen-Dill, instructor of writing and literature at the College of Southern Idaho since 2003.

LTAI is funded by a grant from the Idaho Commission for Libraries with support from the Idaho Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and sponsored locally by Joe Bump’s Treasure Chest and Ketchum Computers. The Bellevue Public Library is located at 117 E. Pine St., next to City Hall. Programs are scheduled on Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For further information, contact Kristin Gearhart, library director, at (208) 788-4503.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Faith Groups And Nonprofits Blast New Federal Regulations

The federal government finalized sweeping regulations last week that would cut off food assistance for 700,000 people nationwide, including hundreds living in rural Idaho. And a slew of faith groups and nonprofits—including The Hunger Coalition—are responding in unison to speak out against it. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides basic food assistance for Idaho children, working families with low wages, seniors, and people with disabilities. SNAP food assistance is our state’s most effective program at combating hunger. The federal rule change would restrict Idaho’s ability to waive SNAP food assistance time limits for people living in areas that face high unemployment rates (i.e., counties with 20 percent higher than average unemployment rates). The change is set to take effect on April 1, 2020, unless it is stopped by court action. The federal rule undermines the ability of SNAP food assistance to respond to worsening economic conditions, one of the program’s core strengths, opponents say. Under the final rule, a state with rapidly rising unemployment may not qualify for a waiver. When there’s a national recession, as we experienced in 2010, states with very high unemployment rates—even as high as 9.9 percent—may not qualify for a waiver because their unemployment rates do not exceed the national average by a large enough margin.

W E E K LY S U N D O G •

NEWS FIRST RESPONDERS

GRAY WON’T GO AWAY

Fire commissioner is readying for court battle

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

We truly wouldn’t be able to help so many students and families in need if it weren’t for the support of the Wood River Insurance team — and their commitment to our community! – Kristy Heitzman, Blaine County Education Foundation

BY ERIC VALENTINE

he forthcoming lawsuit that had been described as a friendly option for resolving the one-vote difference that stands between the Ketchum Rural Fire District’s two candidates for one more open commissioner’s seat may be significantly more contentious than that. Incumbent commissioner Jed Gray—who, as of now, is the re-elected commissioner by beating Gray Ottley by a single vote in the November election—said before he left the country earlier this month, he had met with Ottley and it seemed he was all but ready to concede. “I was totally shell-shocked and blindsided by this,” Gray Ketchum Rural Fire District commissaid. “I still haven’t been sum- sioner Jed Gray. Photo credit: Sun moned (for the lawsuit), but my Valley Associates response is ready and I’m going to wait until then to say any more.” A judge will now determine if there is enough evidence to have the court weigh in. And the judge would have options, Gray explained. He could let the election stand, he could call in the six people who received the wrong ballots from the county during the early election period and let them vote, or the judge could call for a new election. “The county acknowledged there were anomalies, so any of those things could happen,” Gray said. Campaigning is now over, but Gray made it clear an Ottley victory could be problematic for the district. Ottley is a firefighter for the City of Ketchum, which means he’d be in a position to recuse himself from certain voting due to potential conflicts of interest. For instance, voting on anything having to do with the consolidation of the Valley’s first-responder services. “If he recused himself, that would lead to situations with only two commissioners voting, so voting on certain issues could end up in ties,” Gray said.

Community. Compassion. Commitment.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sun Valley Institute Founder Named IBR ‘Woman Of The Year’ Aimée Christensen has been named a 2020 Woman of the Year by the Idaho Business Review. Christensen has been described as a thought leader; she is founder and executive director of the Sun Valley Institute, Center for Resilience, and chief executive officer of Christensen Global Strategies. She also is the founder and curator of TEDxSunValley. She has over 25 years of experience in policy, law, investment, philanthropy and business, including with Google, World Christy Anna Gerber, executive director of the Ketchum Bank, Baker & McKenzie, and the Innovation Center. Photo credit: U.S. Department of Energy. Ketchum Innovation Center. According to the IBR, its panel scored applicants based on four criteria: • Excellence in leadership • Professional accomplishment • Mentorship • Community involvement “Not only the caliber of the nominees but their breadth of experience and depth of professionalism was exemplary,” said Cherie Buckner-Webb, a member of the panel and the 2019 Woman of the Year. IBR stated, “Competition was fierce, and the panel noted great difficulty in choosing just 50 women to recognize. The honorees come from all industries and professions, from education and health care to science, government and fine arts.” “I am grateful to be able to work each day to progress a better future here in Blaine County, across Idaho, and around the world,” said Christensen.

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W E E K LY S U N D O G •

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

NEWS NATIONAL

DO YOU COUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY? 2020 Census ‘complete count’ effort faces challenges

BY ERIC VALENTINE

Answer these questions. What could go wrong? • How are you related to “Person 1”? • Is this person of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin? • What is this person’s race? Probably nothing, but factor in cyber-insecurity, immigration tension, and an inherent American distrust of government, getting the answers to those and other questions on the 2020 U.S. Census figures to be a chal-

lenging exercise that will have to combine a professional and volunteer effort by all levels of government and all types of the regular folks they are trying to count. “Success of the census depends on community involvement at every level. The U.S. Census Bureau cannot conduct the 2020 Census alone,” says the official government statement of the United States Census Bureau—the arm of the government created by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. It mandates a headcount every 10 years of everyone residing in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas of the United States. The population totals determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives and can be used to redraw legislative and school districts, too. And then there’s funding. Approximately $675 billion in federal funding is at stake for city and county jurisdictions.

Success of the census depends on community involvement at every level. The U.S. Census Bureau cannot conduct the 2020 Census alone.” United States Census Bureau

A page from the 2020 Census asking about race, ethnicity and relationships. Image credit: U.S. Census Bureau

“Transportation grants, for example, are divided into rural, small urban and large urban categories. And certain federal mandates, such as stormwater system requirements, are affected by population,” explained Heather Dawson, Hailey’s city administrator. “Hailey will be participating in the CCC (Complete Count Committees) as local efforts ramp up.” CCCs are volunteer committees established by community leaders or organizations to increase awareness and motivate residents to respond to the 2020 Census. They are the state and local “census ambassadors” and play an integral part in ensuring a complete and accurate count of the community in the 2020 Census.

Complete Count Committees will be formed to help communities send accurate data to the federal government. Image credit: U.S. Census Bureau

For a city like Hailey, which is the most populous jurisdiction in the Valley and which sits between rural and resort communities, a complete count is vital and more challenging. According to the state, the 2010 Census had only a 76 percent response rate by Idahoans. Dawson said this will be addressed when the new mayor and city council take office, but because there was no census during the current mayor’s term, there is no current policy for promoting awareness of the census or processing the census data once it comes back. The U.S. Census Bureau is by law required to turn in its findings to the President by Dec. 31, 2020. What follows are some important things to know about the census and how you can take an active part in a complete count: • Census forms are anonymous—sorry, deep-state conspiracy theorists. Sizeable fines are in place should data be used illegally. • There is no “citizenship” question on the form. But it will ask if you are in a same-sex marriage. • You will be able to respond online, by phone, or by mail. • You can get hired to be a census taker. Visit 2020census.gov/en/jobs online to learn more. wsd

W E E K LY S U N D O G •

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

NEWS ACCIDENT

SEMI-TRUCK OVERTURNS: 17 CATTLE KILLED BY ERIC VALENTINE

n otherwise routine delivery of livestock turned tragic early last week in the south Valley. On Monday, Dec. 9, at approximately 12:40 p.m., Blaine County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a cattle truck crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Gannett Road in southern Blaine County. The driver and sole occupant of a red 2002 Kenworth semi-truck tractor with a TSI livestock trailer was Juan C. Deleon Alvarado, age 31, of Idaho Falls. The crash scene investigation determined that Deleon Alvarado was traveling south on Gannett Road and failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection with U.S. Highway 20. The vehicle skidded through the turn until the trailer lost contact with the pavement and tipped over. Deleon Alvarado was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured in the crash. Fifteen cattle died as a result of the crash and two additional cows were euthanized later due to injuries sustained in the crash. The value of the lost cattle is estimated to be $15,000. Deleon Alvarado was cited for Reckless Driving and the vehicle sustained serious damage.

A livestock trailer overturns on Highway 20 with cattle on board. Photo credit: Blaine County Sheriff’s Office

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W E E K LY S U N D O G •

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

Hailey Main Street Tree Lights Maintenance In Progress

The City of Hailey tree lights in the three-block area between the Windermere building and the U.S. Bank building, along the east side of Hailey’s Main Street, have been lit only intermittently this past week. The lack of lights is due to an electrical short or broken wire in the underground electrical system that provides power to the tree lights. Last weekend, a short occurred in the underground electrical system, causing the breaker to trip for a three-block area. Repeated visits by the electrician have temporarily fixed the problem, but the breaker trip has continued to recur, leaving a portion of Hailey’s Main Street in the dark. The underground system consists of underground wires and outlets to each tree, some or all of which could be impacted by water, tree roots, shifting ground in thaw/freeze conditions, and pinched wire or conduit. The city tree light program is one that Mayor Fritz Haemmerle identified as a top priority through local business owner Jane Drussel, who operates Jane’s Artifacts on Hailey’s Main Street and is a leader within Hailey’s business community. Drussel urged the mayor to implement lights using local option tax funds. The city followed that suggestion with a community survey, and the results from the 2012 survey identified lights as one of the community’s top priorities. The city began budgeting funds to follow this clearly expressed priority. As one survey comment stated, “Without lights, Hailey looks like a Tim Burton film in the winter.” This year, the city extended the tree lighting program southward to include the trees at the corner of Main and Pine at CK’s restaurant, and west of Main Street on Croy along the length of the former Hailey Hotel (originally The Rialto), which is now Mountain Humane’s The Barkin’ thrift store. The window lights of Hailey City Hall were extended to all windows along Main and Croy, and several businesses have followed suit by lighting their own properties more extensively.

State Dems Elect New Leadership

The leadership shakeup triggered by the Dec. 6 resignation of Representative Mat Erpelding (D-Boise) from the Idaho House of Representatives has now settled, the minority party has announced. Representative Ilana Rubel (D-Boise), the Assistant House Democratic Leader at the time, ran for the position of House Democratic Leader. With Rep. Rubel’s leadership position vacant, Representative John McCrostie (D-Boise) ran for the Assistant Leader position. On Dec. 10, the Idaho House Democrats held a House Leadership election. Rep. Ilana Rubel ran unopposed. Rep. McCrostie ran against Representative Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise) and won the election. The leadership is now as follows: • Representative Ilana Rubel, Idaho House Democratic Leader • Representative John McCrostie, Idaho Assistant House Democratic Leader • Representative Elaine Smith, Idaho House Democratic Caucus Chair “Our diverse backgrounds from different careers, education, and experience make all of us highly qualified to advocate for Idaho values in the legislature,” the new Idaho House Democratic Leadership said. “The Idaho House Democratic Leadership is looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the next session. Every session, House Democrats push forward progressive policies that will contribute to Idaho’s success, and we fight legislation that threatens our future prosperity. We expect the 2020 session to be no different.”

KIC Launches Programs To Help Businesses Kick Off 2020 Right

Voted “Best Asian Cuisine”

The Ketchum Innovation Center will be launching several new programs in the new year that could help some entrepreneurs with their business-focused resolutions for 2020. The programs include a small group business coaching program and a scholarship program in the organization’s co-work space. Small group coaching is a supportive environment that provides opportunities to share wins and challenges with fellow business owners/entrepreneurs while being led, supported and mentored by a professional business coach. “In the coming months, we will be rolling out more information and an application process for this exciting new KIC program,” Christy Anna Gerber, executive director, said. Scholarships for the co-work space have been made possible by a generous donation from an anonymous individual who understands that businesses and ideas need incubation and support to get moving, Gerber added. KIC will have an application live on its website Jan. 13 for two six-month scholarships.

Ketchum Hosts Third Annual Winter Solstice Celebration

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The City of Ketchum is inviting residents and visitors to join in celebrating the longest night of the year under some of Idaho’s darkest skies. On Saturday, Dec. 21, the city is gearing up to toast the winter solstice and celebrate Ketchum’s designation as an International Dark Sky Community and its partnership in the nation’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. The event gets underway in Town Square at 5 p.m. with music by Tylor and the Train Robbers. Stay warm by the fire pits with hot cocoa, compliments of the City of Ketchum. Local food and beverage will be available for purchase. In addition to the live music, there will be plenty of activities for everyone’s entertainment. They include a photo booth, face painting in the igloo, and planetarium shows inside City Hall. Shows are scheduled for 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with limited seating. Space is filling up quickly, organizers say, so reserve your spot by emailing participate@ketchumidaho. org. Following the live performance by Tylor and the Train Robbers, you can hear music by the Grateful Dead in Teton Gravity Research’s 25-minute film, “Fire on the Mountain.” Watch the “stars” shred and surf under the moonlight on the big screen at Town Square. “I’m looking forward to seeing all of our residents and holiday visitors on Saturday to celebrate our dark skies,” said Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “There will be lots going on in Town Square and I welcome everyone to come out, look up and connect under the stars.” Ketchum was designated an International Dark Sky Community in October 2017 by the International Dark-Sky Association, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting dark skies and working with government leaders to manage urban light pollution across the globe. Ketchum is the first Idaho city to earn the distinction. The city is also part of the International Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, which was also approved in 2017.

Winter Elk Range Closure By Ketchum Ranger District

The Ketchum Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest is instituting an area closure in the Warm Springs drainage to protect wintering elk and deer beginning Dec. 18. All National Forest lands from the West Fork of Warm Springs east to Ketchum and north of the Warm Springs road within the Warm Springs drainage will be closed. The area closure will be posted with signs at normal access points. This is a yearly closure that is routinely implemented when the presence of wintering big game animals and snow depth indicate that the protection is warranted. The closure keeps the animals from expending energy in trying to avoid humans. As much as possible, if visitors see any wintering animals in the backcountry, they should keep their distance and allow the animals a wide berth.

W E E K LY S U N D O G •

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

Happy Holidays

NEWS IN BRIEF

WRHS Drama Students Advance To State Semis

At the state drama competition held in Idaho Falls Dec. 6–7, it was Wood River High School that managed to get two of its productions to score well enough to move on to the semi-finals. A total of eight productions moved on to state from the district competition hosted at WRHS in November. Madi Flannigan, Piper Kolb and Mykelti Blackburn advanced with the Original Humorous piece, Hardcore Parkour, and Max Gardenswartz, Ramsey Marquis, Madi Fortner and Sarah Feltman also advanced with their Humorous Ensemble from Get Smart! Sarah Feltman originally placed well enough with her Radium Girls prop event to move on to the semi-finals round, but, due to a time violation, was dropped just enough to prevent her from going. Bella Sandefer and Ramsey Marquis both placed in the top 20 out of 50 in Serius Solo. Madi Fortner broke into the semis with her group in Get Smart! and also competed in the solo audition event. Frankie Duke and Sarah Feltman rounded out the competition with an Original Humorous solo piece.

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WRHS drama students pose after a strong showing at state. Photo credit: Wood River High School

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COMME N TA RY

W E E K LY S U N D O G •

Fishing R epoRt

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

COLUMN NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR DECEMBER 18 - 24 FROM PICABO ANGLER

here’s good news and bad news for this week’s fishing report. First, the bad news. Fishing over the next several days will be slow with the arrival of this frigid weather. As nighttime temperatures dip into the single digits, it takes a considerable amount of time for local waters to warm up a few degrees and for fish to become active. Any fishing will be limited to sunny days during the mid-afternoon. If you decide to brave the cold and hit the water, be careful out there. A spill in the river this time of year can potentially be serious. Use caution when wading—and don’t take chances! The good news is that recent snows have helped bump up our snowpack, and we’re off to a good start. Current snowpack levels in area watersheds are at 65-80 percent. With several months of winter left, we can hope for an above-average snowpack and continued excellent water flows during the summer. Our local rivers have had great water the last few years, and the excellent fishing has reflected that. As temps rise toward the end of the week, look to the Big Wood River and Silver Creek. Fishing subsurface will be the ticket. On Silver Creek, small black leeches fished very slowly are a good way to produce fish. Swing these bugs along undercut banks and through deeper water. On the Big Wood River, the lower Big Lost River and the South Fork of the Boise, tandem nymph rigs fished through typical winter holding water (slow runs, pools, and glides) will take fish. For the lead fly, use something that gets the attention of sluggish trout; large rubber legs, girdle bugs, yuk bugs, princes, and San Juan worms are all good choices. Downsize dropper nymphs to size 18–24 zebra midges, brassies, copper johns, and rainbow warriors. Any surface activity will be limited to midges during the afternoons, so look for feeding fish along foam lines and slower eddies. During the coldest part of winter, it pays to take a look at your gear and determine what needs to be repaired, replaced, or rejected! If you take care of your gear, it will take care of you. Stay safe and warm out there! Happy fishing, everyone!

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

INSTINCTUAL DOG BEHAVIORS

BY FRAN JEWELL

am approached daily by dog owners wanting to eliminate behaviors in their dogs that are “instinctual.” An instinctual behavior is one that comes hard-wired in the dog when they are born. The behavior is inherited from the dog’s parents and ancestors. All dogs possess what is called “prey drive.” This is instinctual behavior passed along from wolves for survival. In a very basic description, prey drive occurs when the wolf smells or sees game, then follows either the scent or vision, attacks the game, shakes it, kills it, and eats it with the pack. What makes dogs different from wolves is that we humans have “domesticated” dogs from wolves by selecting certain aspects of that “prey drive” and then breeding the dogs that possessed those specific aspects in an effort to use them for human benefit. For example, our beloved Labrador retriever has been bred for his scenting or “hunting” behaviors, then his interest in returning the bird (prey) to his owner (pack). Other breeds, such as sight hounds, use their eyes to chase the prey for food for their human. Then there are the herding breeds, such as Aussies and border collies, that will chase the livestock (prey) to assist the owner in moving the sheep or cattle to a desired location. When we have mixed-breed dogs whose heredity is unknown, we don’t always know what degree of that instinctual “prey drive” they possess until they mature. When we select a dog for our family, careful evaluation should be made to select a dog with the appropriate “drive” for our family. For instance, a herding dog that chases small objects and rounds them up may not be the best choice if you have small children. Those dogs may chase and nip children simply because of their instinctual behaviors. Each dog is an individual, even within a

Prey drive is bred into the German shepherd to move sheep (yes, German shepherds were originally bred as herding dogs). Some German shepherds have more prey drive than others. This can be measured at a very early age with some accuracy to help you in selection of a puppy. Photo credit: Fran Jewell

specific breed, and may possess a greater or lesser degree of instinctual behavior than others. How many Labrador retrievers do you know that have no interest in hunting? When we have a dog with a stronger degree of these behaviors, we must understand that this is INSTINCTUAL and may be able to be CONTROLLED with extensive training, but can never be eliminated. Choosing a dog because of his color, hair length, or cute floppy ears is not usually the best way to choose a dog for your family. Understanding what his potential instinctual behaviors are and if those will fit for your family is truly

at the heart of the matter. If you find yourself with a dog with instinctual behaviors that are difficult to live with, extensive training may be your best assurance to control it. Fran Jewell is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.

COLUMN SKETCHBOOK HIKING

BY LESLIE REGO

t is two o’clock in the early hours of the morning. I am wide awake. The last full moon of the decade has me captivated. The December full moon, also known as the “Cold Moon” or the “Long Night Moon,” is high in the sky overlooking the snowy landscape. Stars surround the glowing disk. As I watch, I am witnessing grandeur. The moment is part homey, since I am snug in my house, and part awe. The snow has a green cast. Navy-blue shadows starting at the base of the trees undulate over the terrain. Many people love to read a book in bed, but some books require a certain posture, perhaps curled up in an armchair, or from time to time sitting straight at a desk. The poet Shelley wrote, “my custom is to undress, and sit on the rocks, reading Herodotus, until the perspiration has expired.” Marguerite Duras, a French novelist, confessed that she seldom read on a beach or in a garden. She goes on to say, “you can’t read by two lights at once, the light of day and the light of the book. You should read by electric light, the room in shadow, and only the page lit up.” My only light tonight is from this radiant orb. The room is in

MOON-LIT NIGHT

Leslie Rego, “Moon-lit Night,” charcoal.

shadow and my world in front of me is lit up. My “moon” is asking me to sit on the floor by the window with a blanket wrapped tight around my body. When we read, we become mesmerized by the story. Time becomes motionless. Reading allows for an eternal conversation across centuries and space.

Readers that devoured a book hundreds of years ago converse with us as we pour over the identical book in present time. I am in a cocoon, conversing with the moon, having the same conversation that many have had millennia before me. I am held within the caress of the luminous sphere, an embrace that is as old

as time itself. 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.

W E E K LY S U N D O G •

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2019

COLUMN ON LIFE’S TERMS

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD)

BY STEPHANIE HERALD, LCSW, CADC

Editor’s Note: In our Dec. 11 issue, we ran a story on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that we hope served an important community service. We were unable to make contact with professionals at St. Luke’s before that issue’s press deadline. What follows is further insight about SAD from Stephanie Herald, LCSW, CADC, who is the clinic manager at St. Luke’s Mental Health Clinic. “I wanted to start by stating that the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of mental health disorders no longer acknowledges Seasonal Affective Disorder as a stand-alone diagnosis. It is now either Major Depressive Disorder with seasonal pattern or Bipolar Disorder with Seasonal Pattern. “There are consistent reports of people feeling sad during the winter, which we are finding are normal feelings with the decrease in daylight and people choosing to stay inside more often. When this seasonal pattern of sadness becomes a mental health diagnosis is when it is actually impacting functional impairment. Meaning, they are finding that they are no longer able to meet their role obligations at school, work, in the community, or at home.

“There are a few things that could be helpful to explore when feeling this seasonal sadness or seasonal depression. First, assess any changes the person has made in their life as winter has approached. Maybe they are no longer getting active, eating differently, isolating more, or even spending more time on social media, which we are finding does not enhance emotional health. Secondly, it could be helpful to make small changes back to more helpful behaviors that improve mood, such as getting more active, changing diet as needed, and interacting with peers, family, and/or the community. “If those small changes have been made, and the person is finding continuous sadness or functional impairment in any area of their life, we have a number of amazing providers throughout our Valley and at St. Luke’s that can support through therapy/counseling and psychiatry or medication management. There are a number of resources available and I encourage people to reach out to the St. Luke’s Center for Community Health in order to explore what resources could be available to them. We do not have to go through these struggles alone and research tells us that community and support is a large factor in why people feel well.”

COLUMN SCIENCE OF PLACE

GLASS SHRIMP & SAND CRABS

BY HARRY WEEKES

ne summer, I took a “Botany and Creative Writing” class in Maine. One of our field trips was to a bog, for a day of plant identification and creative inspiration. The group piled out of our rented minivan looking like we were going to be gone for weeks. I think we went precisely 32 feet from the car. All day. Such is the life of a botanist. When I stepped onto the beach over Thanksgiving, I had aspirations. I had my binoculars. I had a hat. I had sunglasses. I had something like 400 miles of white sand in front of me, and had only one question to answer: Do I start left and head toward Guatemala, keeping the great expanse of the Pacific on my right, or do I turn right and head toward California? I chose Guatemala. The sun was just coming up as I cruised through the intertidal zone. The waves hustled up the shore on the end of each crash and whispered away, invariably leaving behind a variety of beasts, scurrying, digging, scuttling or bubbling their way back into the ocean or the sand. Suddenly, there was a shrimp in front of me. My knowledge of the ocean is about as developed as my knowledge of a Maine bog. I looked down and thought, “shrimp.” At which point a distant phylogenetic cousin of said shrimp shot down the incline of the beach, even more interested than I was in the shrimp. “Crab.” Only in hindsight would I modify those names, simply adding what I thought they looked like, or where they were physically: glass shrimp and sand crab. I honestly have no idea if that is what either of them is called. And while the number of crabs zipping around the beach was around a jillion, up until that point I never had any luck

Emerita talpoida, known generally as the Atlantic mole crab or Atlantic sand crab, is a species of mole crab in the family Hippidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and Mexico. Public domin photo, accessed via wikipedia.

catching one. In regards to this, it is probably because I never tried that hard. To me, sand crabs cross some speed threshold with which I am not totally comfortable. I’ll pick up a big mantis, mostly because they are slow. But a sand crab darts, kind of like the fast zombies of the arthropods. This one, though, converged on me (another zombie technique). Or rather, converged on food temporarily washed to land that was next to me. So I watched. The scuttling marauder, eyestalks out, came right up and grabbed the shrimp. The shrimp snapped hard once, literally flipping the crab up the beach. The crab shot back as the next wave crashed and immediately the two crustaceans were in water. When the wave came, it brought with it swirling and pelting sand, not to mention a heavy mixture of froth, turbulence, and pure force. I imagined an analogous scene at my scale. It would look like me running down the beach to grab a seal. Then having a 30foot wave, mixed with a sandstorm, crash over me as I moved from running and breathing on

land to swimming and fighting in water. The wave disappeared. The crab shot back up the shore and into the lip of a hole it had dug, its periscopic eyes surveying the beach. I looked up. I had walked a total of about 40 yards. The world unfolds in fantastic moments of wonder and awe. The rest of my “walk” was spent marveling at the edge of the sea, in a world of unknown and even unfathomable biology, physics, chemistry, and geology. When I returned, Simon was awake. “Do you want to go bodysurfing?” he asked. “Yes. Yes, I do.” Harry Weekes is the founder and head of school at The Sage School in Hailey. This is his 48th year in the Wood River Valley, where he lives with Hilary and two of their three baby adults—Penelope and Simon. The other member of the flock, Georgia, is currently fledging at Davidson College in North Carolina.