9 October 2019 by The Weekly Sun

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

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OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2019 | V O L . 1 2 - N O . 4 1 | W W W . T H E W E E K L Y S U N . C O M

News In Brief Sheriff’s Detectives Catch Alleged Valley House Burglar

Hailey News Historic Forest Service Building Faces Demolition

Nonprofit News Hunger Coalition Eyes Larger Building, Bigger Plans

“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” ~unknown

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

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T H E W E E K LY S U N •

NEWS IN BRIEF

Nordic Ski Passes On Sale Now

Blaine County Recreation District Nordic trail system 2019–20 season passes go on sale Monday, October 7. Season passes are $215 for adults during the pre-season sale. Skiers save $50 by purchasing passes online by Sunday, November 24 ($265 after November 24). Children 17 and under ski and snowshoe free with passes ordered online. A season pass for dogs to use approved Nordic trails is $49. A Nordic skier enjoys the trail system. Photo credit: Snowshoe-only season passes Blaine County Recreation District are available for $65. A BCRD/ Sun Valley Combo Nordic season pass is also available on the BCRD website for a discounted price during the pre-season sale. Once again, Mountain Rides will offer the “Ride ’n’ Glide” bus route from Ketchum to North Valley Trails and Galena Lodge, which allows skiers public transportation to multiple points north of Ketchum. Visit bcrd.org to see the bus schedule and to purchase a “Ride ’n’ Glide” season pass for only $19. The 160-kilometer BCRD Nordic trail system is one of the largest in the United States and offers a grooming season that typically operates from Thanksgiving to mid-April. BCRD has also expanded offerings in the Quigley Trails system, providing the community with over 14 kilometers of groomed terrain in the south Valley.

ITD Seeks Public Input On Multiple Projects

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is seeking early input from the public regarding plans to rehabilitate Idaho Highway 75 (Main Street) in Hailey between Fox Acres Road and Cobblestone Lane. ITD is inviting the public to weigh in on construction plans at a public meeting on Oct. 17 in the Minnie Moore Room at the Community Campus, 1050 Fox Acres Road, in Hailey. The meeting will be held in an open-house format between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., giving participants the opportunity to attend anytime within the two-hour time frame. The project will rehabilitate the pavement and upgrade pedestrian crossings to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, which is important to Hailey’s economy. Fixing the deteriorated pavement in 2021 will extend the life of the roadway for many years. Similarly, ITD is seeking input on its plans to rebuild, in 2024, the Interstate 84/ Idaho Highway 50 interchange. The interchange is a key agricultural and industrial route for accessing the Magic Valley along ID-50. As the area grows and more commercial and residential development occurs, the interchange will become even

OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2019 more critical to the safe movement of people and goods. ITD will display five proposed designs, including the no-build option, at a public open house on Oct. 15, 2019, at the Rock Creek Fire Department, 1159 Main St. N., in Kimberly. The meeting will be held in an open-house format between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., giving participants an opportunity to attend anytime within the two-hour time frame. Project team members will be available to discuss the project and answer questions about proposed designs.

Fairfield Man Charged With Felony Burglary

On Thursday, Oct. 3, a Fairfield man was charged with two felony counts of Burglary after an investigation into a string of recent Valley burglaries, from Sun Valley to Bellevue. Blaine County Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested Zackariah Levi Kandler, age 31. Kandler reportedly entered or attempted to enter at least five homes using unlocked back doors. Kandler was arraigned on Oct. 4 in Blaine County Magistrate Court. Bond was set at $50,000. He remains in custody of the Blaine County Detention Center. Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins wants to remind all residents that a simple way to avoid becoming a victim is to lock their homes and vehicles.

Zackariah Kandler of Fairfield. Photo credit: Blaine County Sheriff’s Office

St. Luke’s Rehab Clinic Hires Spine Care Specialist

John Frey, Doctor of Physical Therapy, has been named the new manager of the St. Luke’s rehab clinic. Frey began working for St. Luke’s Health System in Boise just over six years ago, treating within orthopedics, sports, and spine care while managing the St. Luke’s Rehabilitation East Boise Clinic. Frey received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Luke’s is welcoming the Frey family from the Pacific in 2007. He worked for Providence Health System in Portland, Boise. Photo credit: St. Luke’s Ore., and Anchorage, Alaska, for five years in outpatient orthopedic, sports, and spine rehabilitation. Frey works with all general orthopedic conditions with an emphasis and interest in spine care. Over the past several years, he worked closely with St. Luke’s Center for Spine Wellness, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Spine Program for ongoing education and standardization, and St. Luke’s Urgent Care clinics for early access to rehabilitation.

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T H E W E E K LY S U N •

OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2019

THE WEEKLY SUN CONTENTS

cOMe in nOw TO PuT iTeMS On yOur wiSh LiST! The 23rd annual—and internationally famous—Trailing of the Sheep Festival will take place Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 9-13. For a story, see page 8. Photo credit: Trailing of the Sheep Festival

THIS WEEK

O C T O B E R 9 - 1 5 , 2019 | VOL. 12 NO. 41

News In Brief

Commentary

Calendar

BCRD Nordic Ski Passes Now On Sale Award Winning Columns, Student Spotlight, Fishing Report Stay In The Loop On Where To Be

ON THE COVER

Fall foliage radiates myriad colors on Saturday morning, Oct. 5, out Indian Creek, near The Valley Club. Photo credit: Michael Edminster

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).

Save The DaTeS ThurSDay, OcT. 10 ~ 10 aM TO 6 PM 40% OFF FriDay, OcT. 11 ~ 10 aM TO 6 PM 50% OFF SaTurDay, OcT. 12 ~ 10 aM TO 6 PM 60% OFF 120 North main, Hailey • (208) 788-1123

HELP US BUILD OUR FUTURE

AYÚDANOS A CONSTRUIR NUESTRO FUTURO

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 • Jesse Cole • Hayden Seder 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

Blaine County School District #61

BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT INVITES PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FACILITIES RECOMMENDATION EL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DEL CONDADO DE BLAINE INVITA AL PÚBLICO A COMPARTIR SU OPINIÓN EN RELACIÓN A LA RECOMENDACIÓN DEL COMITÉ DE FINANZAS ACERCA LAS INSTALACIONES

The Board of Trustees will hold Public Meetings on: La Junta Directiva llevará a cabo reuniones públicas en las siguientes fechas: October 15 at 6:00-7:30 p.m., Hailey Elementary – Primaria Hailey October 17 at 6:00-7:30 p.m., Ernest Hemingway STEAM School – Escuela STEAM Ernest Hemingway October 23 at 6:00-7:30 p.m., Carey School – Escuela Carey If you are unable to attend the public meetings and would like to provide comments, please go to www.blaineschools.org to provide your comments via a Finance Committee Survey. Meetings are in English and Spanish interpretation is provided. Si no tiene la posibilidad de asistir a las reuniones públicas y desea hacer comentarios, por favor visite www.blaineschools.org para proporcionar sus comentarios a través de la Encuesta del Comité de Finanzas. Las reuniones son en inglés y se proporciona interpretación en español.

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2019

NEWS HAILEY

NEWS IN BRIEF

State Reminds Seniors To Review Medicare Coverage

Medicare health and prescription drug plan costs and coverage can change every year. SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) highly recommends people with Medicare review their coverage before the enrollment period ends. Failing to compare and review coverage plan options increases the risk of spending more money on unnecessary healthcare costs down the road. In addition, with coverage changes, medications and services may no longer be covered by a previous year’s health plan. The Medicare Annual Enrollment period begins October 15 and ends December 7. Beginning the first week of October, certified Medicare counselors from the Department of Insurance’s SHIBA program will be available across the state. Medicare beneficiaries will have the opportunity to meet one on one with a trained Medicare counselor to compare and review their current Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug plans, and new options available in 2020. In short, SHIBA counselors help people make informed decisions about their specific health insurance needs. SHIBA counselors will be available in these Idaho cities: Boise, Jerome, Mountain Home, Nampa, Parma, Fairfield, Cambridge, McCall, Gooding, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Preston, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Kellogg, St. Maries, Lewiston, Sandpoint and Post Falls. To make an appointment with a SHIBA Medicare counselor near you, call 1-800-247-4422.

Hailey Man Arrested For Felony DUI

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, at approximately 6:52 p.m., a Blaine County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a citizen report of a possible intoxicated driver southbound on Highway 75 north of Hailey. Once the vehicle was located, the deputy observed the driver commit a driving infraction and initiated a traffic stop on McKercher Boulevard. Scott D. Campbell, age 57, of Hailey, was identified as the driver and sole occupant of the grey 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser. After conducting an investigation, Campbell was arrested for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. During booking, it was discovered Campbell had two previous DUI convictions in 2013 and 2014 in the state of Washington, making this his third DUI in 10 years. Campbell was charged with felony Driving Under the Influence. Campbell was arraigned before Blaine County Magistrate Court, Thursday. Bond was set at $7,500.

Injury Crash On Highway 75 South Of Ketchum

On Friday, Oct. 4, at approximately 5:39 p.m., deputies from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision with injuries on Highway 75 and Cold Springs Drive, south of Ketchum. Daniel Paul Casali, age 72, of Ketchum, was driving a black 1998 Audi A4 southbound. Casali report- A head-on collision sent one man to the hospital with ed that he had slowed and entered Ketchum serious injuries. Photo credit: the left-turn lane in preparation Blaine County Sheriff’s Office for turning onto Cold Springs Road when the collision occurred with Ned Raymond Flanagan, age 36, of Ketchum. Flanagan was traveling northbound on Highway 75 in the inside lane in a silver 2005 GMC Sierra. Crash scene investigation determined that for unknown reasons Flanagan’s vehicle drifted into the left-hand turn lane and impacted Casali’s vehicle headon in the center left-turn lane. As a result of the impact, Casali’s vehicle rotated approximately 180 degrees, coming to a rest facing northbound. Casali received serious injuries and was transported to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. Casali was later flown by air ambulance to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Flanagan reported only minor injuries. Flanagan was cited for Failing to Maintain his Lane. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. Both vehicles sustained severe damage and were towed from the scene. There were no passengers in the vehicles.

The need for additional commercial parking could raze one of Hailey’s historic buildings, the former Sawtooth Forest Service headquarters. Photo credit: Mandi Iverson

CITIZENS PRESS CITY OF HAILEY TO SAVE HISTORIC SITE Alternative parking lot plans could keep old Forest Service headquarters from demolition

BY ERIC VALENTINE

slew of Hailey residents mindful of the past made it very clear Monday night they expect a commercial parking lot solution for the Village at Hailey Center that does not include demolition of the historic—and former—Sawtooth Forest Service headquarters on River Street. Currently, the building houses the Wood River Sustainability Center and is owned by FAPO Holdings Idaho LLC, which has a 2007 development agreement with the city that allows them to demolish any of the four buildings at River, Pine and Main streets in Hailey. “There’s nothing in Hailey that says you can’t demolish a building,” explained Hailey Community Development Director Lisa Horowitz. “These buildings were eligible to be on the (National Register of Historic Places) list, but never got on.” The Future News about the potential razing of the warehouse structure went viral locally on social media with the result being dozens of citizens speaking out on Facebook for several days and at the city’s Planning & Zoning meeting Monday night. Planning & Zoning commissioners, who are charged with reviewing plans for the parking lot design only, neither approved nor denied the demolition request. Instead, they elected to hear more parking lot options from the developers at their next session, Oct. 28. In the meantime, on Oct. 16, the Hailey City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss the matter. The council has jurisdiction over the entire development agreement,

not just the parking lot design. That session takes place at 5:30 p.m. inside Hailey City Hall. Although everything remains up in the air for now, plenty of ideas were tossed around online and at Monday’s meeting. Potential solutions developers, residents and commissioners discussed included extreme measures like relocating the historic buildings elsewhere and demolishing other structures nearby to less extreme measures like reconfiguring underutilized space for the entire block and making the parking spaces near the Village at Hailey Center exclusive to that building. The Past The historic block was developed in 1933 as part of a special works program signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. “From 1903 to 1933, the Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor’s Office was located on the second floor of a private office building in the town of Hailey. By 1933, however, the Forest Service had outgrown this site and needed more adequate office space as well as garage and warehouse space. Therefore, in 1933, the Forest Service purchased property for an administrative site in Hailey,” an excerpt from a U.S. Forest Service report called the Administrative Facilities of the Sawtooth National Forest Historic Overview (1891-1960) explains. “I’m deeply sorry to hear this,” said Wood River Valley resident Nancy Adams on a Facebook local group page. “I can’t believe with all the money in the Valley that this building cannot be moved or saved.”

A bird’s-eye view of the historic block at River and Pine streets in Hailey. Photo credit: Google Images

tws

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2019

NEWS NONPROFIT

LAST WEEK of PERFORMANCES

WED–SAT, OCT 9–12 DON’T MISS IT!

The Clearwater Landscaping building could be the next location of The Hunger Coalition in Bellevue. Photo credit: Mandi Iverson

WINTER IS COMING

Seasons are changing, and so are The Hunger Coalition’s future plans

BY ERIC VALENTINE

inter comes early in mountain towns, so a key source in feeding the Valley’s working/struggling families is focused on more than just keeping its pantry stocked with food. The Hunger Coalition is requesting the City of Bellevue grant it a building permit to remodel and add on 1,000 extra square feet to the already 13,000-square-foot building currently home to Clearwater Landscaping. According to Bellevue associate planner Ashley Dyer, the We’re eighth highest city is ready to OK the permit at in food costs across an Oct. 21 planning and zoning the country and we have meeting. “It’s still in the infant stage,” the ninth greatest income said Kristin McMahon, com- disparity in the nation. munications and development Those are just some of the supervisor for the coalition. factors that make the work “Board approval, funding, all of we do that much more that still needs to happen.” vital.” The Weekly Sun plans to feature the nonprofit’s development Kristin McMahon efforts as the project progresses, The Hunger Coalition but for now the move across the Communications & street from its current spot at Development Supervisor 121 Honeysuckle Street couldn’t come soon enough for the people who use The Hunger Coalition’s services that go far beyond its Monday and Thursday food distribution. “We’re feeding 20 percent of the population of Blaine County,” said McMahon. “Yet, according to United Way, 38 percent of Blaine County considers itself ‘food insecure.’” So what about that 18 percent gap? That, many across the food pantry industry believe, is the stigma factor. People simply don’t want to ask—or be seen asking—for help when it comes to food. People instinctively want to work for their food, McMahon points out. “We have a significant amount of people volunteering at our gardens, exchanging time for food,” McMahon said.

Ending the Stigma McMahon says the coalition is making progress at closing that gap. Although formal numbers are not available, community response to programs such as the snack pantries placed by the coalition inside Valley schools is strong. The snack pantry program makes free, healthy snacks available to kids who are taking part in The Community Library’s reading clubs. “That way kids can get a healthy snack while they’re going about their usual school day. We’re bringing the fun and the food to them,” said McMahon. Another stigma reduction program, at least in part, is the Veggie Rx program done in conjunction with St. Luke’s. A St. Luke’s nutritionist can give his or her patients a “prescription” for certain healthy produce that would have a positive impact on their particular condition, say diabetes or high cholesterol. The patient can then present that prescription and get a special basket of healthy produce at the food pantry. With Thanksgiving not that far off, McMahon wants to remind the community that they should apply now for their Thanksgiving baskets. Application deadline is Nov. 14. Applications can be filled out online at thehungercoalition.org or in person at the current Hunger Coalition site on Honeysuckle. tws

Cry It Out is generously sponsored by St. Luke’s Wood River

24th SEASON SPONSORS: Anonymous (3), Arrow R. Storage, Linda & Bob Edwards, Carol & Len Harlig,

Dan & Jodie Hunt—Roy A. Hunt Foundation, Kenneth Lewis, Marcia & Don Liebich, Jane Rosen & Scott Miley—Scott Miley Roofing, The Shubert Foundation, Richard Smooke & Family in Loving Memory of Judith Smooke, Mary Ann & John Underwood, Maryanne & Gerald Whitcomb, Jeri L. Wolfson Foundation, Barbara & Stanley Zax, housing sponsor The Wood River Inn & Suites, media sponsor The Weekly Sun, and wine sponsor Stanton Barrett & Barrett Family Wines.

Lees Gulch Road Validation Public Hearing and Consideration The Blaine County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing upstairs in the Old County Courthouse located at 206 First Ave. So. in Hailey, on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. to consider the validation of a portion of Lees Gulch Road west of Bellevue from the intersection with Townsend Gulch Road westward. The validation proceeding will address only the portion of Lees Gulch Road crossing private property, not the portion on BLM land. Materials are posted on the County’s website at the following link: www.co.blaine.id.us/199/County-Commissioner-Hearing-Application- The public is encouraged to attend. Public comment may also be mailed to 219 1st Ave. South Ste. 208, Hailey, ID 83333 or emailed to pzcounter@co.blaine.id.us. For questions, call 208-788-5570.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Forest Management To Launch Survey, Seeks Public Cooperation

The National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey is being conducted on the Sawtooth National Forest, beginning in October, and will go through Sept. 30, 2020. The public will encounter University of Utah employees working on the Sawtooth National Forest in developed and dispersed recreation sites and along Forest Service roads. They will be out in all types of weather conditions, wearing bright orange vests and be near a sign that says “Traffic Survey Ahead.” The information gathered is useful for forest planning as well as local community tourism planning. It provides National Forest managers with an estimate of how many people actually recreate on the National Forest, what activities they engage in while there and how satisfied people were with their visit. Economic impact to the local economy is also captured in the survey. The survey gathers basic visitor information. Surveys are voluntary and all responses are confidential; names are not included. Interviews last about 10 minutes. Questions asked include: where you recreated on the Forest, how many people traveled with you, how long you were on the Forest, what other recreation sites you visited while on the Forest, and how satisfied you are with the facilities and services provided. About a third of the visitors will be asked to complete a confidential survey on recreation spending during their trip. “Although the survey is entirely voluntary, participation is extremely important so we can assess visitor experiences on the Forest and strive to make it a better place to visit,” said Bernadette Barthelenghi, Forest Recreation staff officer on the Sawtooth National Forest.

COMME N TA RY

T H E W E E K LY S U N •

Fishing R epoRt

OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2019

COLUMN NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR OCTOBER 9 - 15, FROM PICABO ANGLER

ilver Creek has been in a bit of a funk with the cold weather we’ve had here recently. Over the last few days we have seen things settle into more normal fall fishing. Expect to see plenty of Baetis, some Mahogany Duns, along with October Caddis. The fish will target October Caddis in some areas more than others. Look for areas that have streamside vegetation, as the adults tend to congregate in these areas. We’re seeing little sign of spawning activity starting yet, but still be cautious of areas with cleaned gravel, and if you see any fish spawning, let them be! The Big Wood River is fishing fantastic! The river has been seeing big Baetis hatches, some Red Quills, and even still seeing a few Trico hatches on the lower river on the right day. During non-hatch times, covering water with a Red Quill imitation or a dry dropper rig can produce great results. Nymphing some of the deeper water can also be very productive. The Lower Lost is fishing well; the Baetis have been good in the afternoons and there are some Mahogany Duns around, as well. Look for rising fish in the tailouts, approach cautiously, and fish longer, lighter leaders to increase your success. Nymphing with small Mayfly and Midge patterns can also be successful during non-hatch times. The Upper Lost has been fishing OK. Focus your time on the warmest part of the day and fish the deeper water. Fishing Red Quill imitations with a small Nymph below it can produce success. Also fishing a streamer through the deep holes can produce a really nice fish. The South Fork of the Boise is starting to fish really well. The fish have settled into the winter flows and are eating well. The fall fishing on this river can be outstanding, with hatches of Baetis, Mahogany Duns and October Caddis. Nymphing small Mayfly and Midge patterns is very successful when the fish aren’t looking up. Swinging streamers like sculpin or leech patterns can also produce a very quality fish when not much else is going on. Happy fishing, everyone!

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

THE LASSIE PILL

BY FRAN JEWELL

e all want a dog that is friendly, outgoing, comes when it is called, and one that we don’t have to worry about if we leave it outside Starbucks while we go get a cup of coffee or chat on our cellphone. The reality is that a good dog takes effort. There is simply no way to have a wonderful dog unless you, as its owner, put time and energy into it. That doesn’t mean just taking your dog for walks. Today, more and more people have dogs, and most of the time they have more than one dog. That means more dogs, and a bigger “city” of dogs. Just like in the larger cities, there is more crime simply because there has to be with a larger population. As there are more dogs (and, let’s face it, the Wood River Valley is a dog-overload community), there will be more and more dogs that won’t get along with each other. For us to believe it is dog Utopia is, unfortunately, a fallacy. Not only are larger populations

of dogs to blame for the increased aggression and spats among their species, but we humans enable those distasteful and dangerous behaviors when we feel the need to let our dogs “be free!” The simple reality is that if we are not proactive about teaching our dogs how to behave, dogs will revert to what they know, or “feral” behavior. Domestication has not taken that away. Dogs will resolve disputes with aggression, just as they would naturally. Polite behavior is not the nature of most, if not all, dogs. I realize that is a strong statement to make, but even humans must be taught how to behave in our society. So, why would we think that a dog simply will fit in with all dogs and all people, with love and smiles? Many people also think they can send a dog off to a trainer and the dog will come back perfect. As the title to this column implies, “There is no such thing as a Lassie pill.” There is simply no way to have a trusting, respectful relationship with a dog, or expect

a dog to have the same with others, if you, as its owner, are not taking the lead to show that dog how. We are all trainers, 24/7! What many people do not understand is that dogs want and need our direction. They want to fit into our society. I cannot tell you how many times I have felt so strongly that aggressive or disrespectful, obnoxious behavior could have been avoided by positive direction given by the dog’s owner. What most people don’t realize, too, is that aggression is almost always directly related to a dog feeling insecure or anxious. Very seldom is aggression or other obnoxious, disrespectful behaviors the result of a dog being “alpha” or dominant. Alpha dogs don’t need to fight or be aggressive because every dog knows this without having to attack that dog. In order to have a wonderful dog to live with, it takes time, knowledge and commitment on your part. There are no Lassie pills to make it happen overnight. If you don’t have the knowledge,

A Lassie dog takes work. Training is not instant. It takes time, effort and commitment every day. Photo credit: Fran Jewell

you seek help. Max von Stephanitz, founder of the German shepherd breed, said, “A dog is a reflection of its owner.” That says it all, regardless of what breed you own. 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

Leslie Rego, “Boulder Lake,” watercolor, pen and ink.

A PAINTER’S JOURNEY

BY LESLIE REGO

t was a sunny 42-degree morning. My husband and I were hiking to Boulder Lake, which sits in a small basin 9,534 feet in elevation amidst the grandeur of the Pioneer Mountains. The first order of business was to wade across Wildhorse Creek to capture the trail on the other side. We had brought a second pair of shoes in anticipation of the water being too deep to traverse by hopping stones. On this frigid morning, the water up to my calves, by the time I was two-thirds of the way across, I was groaning in pain. After a quick change of shoes, we were on our way. The scenery reminded me of an Albert Bierstadt painting. Bierstadt (1830-1902) was an American artist famous for his large canvasses idealizing the American West. He presented each scene as if one were in a chapel reflecting on the sanctity of the landscape. As we wended our way through a mountain meadow, with the face of Devil’s Bedstead soaring above us, I felt as though I were a character walking through one of Bierstadt’s settings. Yet, in my mind’s eye,

I remembered the artist’s light as luminous, sometimes stormy, but seldom truly Western. Today, at 8,000 feet, the air was brisk and exhilarating, the sky was deep blue, and the surroundings were rugged. The light was so clear it seemed as though it sliced through the rocky surroundings. This was our Western light, not the light of the romanticized European mountains Bierstadt emulated. Albert Bierstadt made several harrowing journeys west to paint the majestic spaces. He crossed the desert between Salt Lake City and Virginia City, Nevada, by stagecoach, the wheels mired in sand, as the horses strained and pulled, guns ready, striving to outrun the Goshutes, who were on the warpath. Surviving this danger, Bierstadt continued the journey, roping his supplies onto the back of pack mules. Bierstadt struggled to balance his paintbox on the pommel of the saddle, as his horse balanced on the verge of precipices. The artist painted from dawn to dusk, cataloguing all the mountains and valleys he encountered along the way. I cannot say that our journey to Boulder Lake was nearly as disquieting, but the last

one-half mile of the route is primitive. I scrambled over boulders climbing up a steep face attempting to follow the poorly marked trail. I grasped the rocks, discovering small holds as I clambered through an avalanche chute. Finally, we arrived at the basin, alpine firs surrounding us. The lake was an ice-blue color. The stones were a hard-grey color with snow settled into the dents and grooves. The sun was on the far side of the shore, beaming down on the granite walls, casting long shadows. My painting was small, just a page in my sketchbook. I did not have to balance my paintbox on the saddle of a horse, but rather my wonderful husband lugged it up on his back. But I was feeling the journey that day. I had to calm myself down and breathe deep to relax enough to take out my watercolors and record my triumphal arrival to this pristine glacial lake. 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 •

OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2019

GUEST COMMENTARY BROOKE GREEN

Urgent Action Is Needed For Vaping Epidemic In the last few weeks, it has become increasingly clear that we need to take immediate action on vaping in Idaho. Earlier this month, numerous Idaho legislators attended an informational session put on by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network with Stanford professor Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher. She is an expert in the vaping phenomenon and traveled all the way to Idaho to give us the most recent updates and research on the issue. What we learned was shocking. Vaping and e-cigarette companies are targeting our most vulnerable audience: Idaho’s children. These companies rely on social media campaigns that display vaping as stylish and cool to lure in a young audience. Thousands of vaping flavors, like cotton candy, buttered popcorn, birthday cake batter, and blue raspberry, are used to entice young kids into trying nicotine for the first time. In fact, there are over 15,500 different nicotine flavors that are used to target youth. Money isn’t spent on traditional media outlets but rather millions on hiring influencers on social media platforms that are popular among our youth. Sleek packaging in bright colors hides the vaping juice so that it can be put in your pocket like a fancy pen. Most of these tobacco products are significantly cheaper than a pack of cigarettes and are easily accessible through one of thousands of stores specifically designed to sell e-cigarettes. All this marketing has increased high school students’ use of e-cigarettes by 78 percent (that’s one in five high school students currently using e-cigarettes). Even more concerning, it has increased middle school students’ use by over 48 percent (one in 20 students). Clearly, marketing toward young people is profitable for the vaping industry. Idaho’s youth are now doing things like sneaking into the bathroom during classes to vape because it has become such a big part of their daily lives. All of that advertising is used to hide the terrifying truth behind vaping and e-cigarettes. This powerful drug is marketed as the most trendy thing that a kid can do, instead of a deadly drug that can cause life-threatening impacts. Many of these vapes are using salt-based nicotine that deliver, at the very least, two packs of cigarettes’ worth of nicotine! Salt-based nicotine feels less harsh on the throat so it is easier to use much more, which highly increases the chances of addiction. What impact does all that nicotine have on Idaho’s children? When you are using nicotine, especially in such high quantities, it impacts your whole body. It changes and rewires parts of the brain. You have trouble breathing because your lungs are becoming damaged. Your heart will beat faster because your body is stuck in fight-or-flight mode. In the long term, you run a higher risk of life-threatening illnesses like respiratory failure and cancer. Our youth are under attack by the vaping industry and our laws need to be updated to reflect the current threat we are facing. Idahoans are being targeted with misinformation and enticing marketing to use products that are extremely damaging to their immediate and long-term health. After hearing some of the most recent research on vaping, it is clear that we must take immediate action to protect Idaho’s youth. Brooke Green Idaho State Representative (D-Boise)

COLUMN SCIENCE OF PLACE

GHOST SPOOR

BY HARRY WEEKES

here is an old saying, “The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.” Lately, I’ve been mildly obsessed with what amounts to the opposite—what can we learn when there is evidence, but also absence. This is all the tracks, scents, trails, droppings and general clues left by animals I never see. Collectively, these vestiges of beasties are called spoor, an Afrikaans word for all of the trace evidence animals leave in our world. And spoor is, literally, all around us, in all sorts of ways and at all sorts of scales. Here are my four recent examples. Number one. Oscar, my oldest dachshund, left the house midmorning and returned about 20 minutes later covered in his own blood, sporting five big gouges on his body. This is probably the most direct kind of spoor I can imagine. But who did it? We have great horned owls in our area, so did Oscar jump a young one in the bushes only to come away with battle scars? Could this have been one of the nesting harriers? Did a larger bird stoop on him from on high? Or maybe it was something more landlocked, like a badger, whose claws would definitely leave a similar impression and who Oscar might go after, as he does come from a lineage of dogs bred to do just this—attack badgers (dachs is German for badger, and dachshund means, you guessed it, badger dog). Number two. If I were to stand you in front of the sagebrush at the corner of our driveway, you would say, “What? What am I looking at?” If you were a dachshund, you would gallop to this corner, then get still, then walk in a straight line to an otherwise nondescript bush, sniff it up and down, then back away slowly. You would not leave any of your own spoor. I am thinking this is a coyote signpost—one of the bushes coyote’s use to leave signals to others of their kind. This is a kind of phantom scent spoor beyond my ability to decipher. Number three. There is a basin in the Tetons out of Leigh Creek where I just spent five days with our seniors hunkered down in tents enjoying early September snow, sleet, graupel, hail, rain, thunder… and you get the point. There were also an unusual number of raptors—red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, and Cooper’s hawks. And they were just hanging out in the trees. Hmmm, what were they eating? I saw a lot of holes, but no little

Spoor is a trace or a set of footprints by which the progress of someone or something may be followed. Spoor may include tracks, scents, droppings or broken foliage. Spoor is useful for discovering or surveying what types of animals live in an area, or in animal tracking. Photo credit: The Weekly Sun

furries above ground. This is that interesting kind of association spoor where you know something has got to be there because everything that relies on it is in the neighborhood. Number four. Have you ever spooked a pronghorn? And then watched it run over 40 miles an hour for a ridiculous and outsized amount of time? Why would the pronghorn do this? This is a question that has befuddled biologists for a while, with one of the best ideas being that there used to be something that chased pronghorns that is no longer on the landscape. This kind of ancestral spoor is baked into the genes and behaviors of certain creatures, leaving us to guess about ancient environments. These ghosts swirl about, leaving their clues throughout our world. As I am no Sherlock Holmes, I stick with the dogs. And when that ridge of hair stands up on their backs, I do my best to keep the fear spoor to a minimum. 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.