Caribou County, Idaho
May 9, 2024 | Vol. 1 No. 14
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF Tornadoes kill one in Oklahoma; threaten Midwest
The plains states were covered by tornado activity on Monday, generating hail, strong winds, and at least one deadly tornado touchdown in Osage County, Oklahoma. At least one person was reported dead as a result of the storm.
American soldier detained in Russia
1st Alternate Cate Walker, 2nd Alternate Rachel Hansen, DYW 2025 Kate Williams, and 3rd Alternate India Galloway.
Kate Williams Named Caribou County Distinguished Young Woman 2025 Caribou County Distinguished Young Women held their annual program last Saturday night. Supporters enjoyed watching twelve wonderful young women from our county showcase their physical fitness, talent, poise, and public speaking skills. Emcees for the evening were Dr. Matt Kunz and the 2024 Distinguished Young Woman, Genevieve Fullmer.
Kate Williams was named Caribou County DYW 2025 on Saturday.
Preliminary award winners were: Light It Up Award: The recipients of this award were given a $200 scholarship. They were Rebekah Evans, Samantha Lowry, Brynlee Hemmert, Lilly Gilbert, Breanna Heer, Kate Williams, India Galloway, and Elizabeth Beutler. Be Your Best Self Award: This award was chosen by the committee. The recipients of this award were given a $500 scholarship. They were Rachel Hansen and Lilly Gilbert. Spirit of Distinguished Young Women: This award was selected by the participants. The recipients of this award were given a $450 scholarship. The awards went to Samantha Lowry and Kate Williams. Fitness Award: The fitness portion comprised 15% of the overall score. The recipients received a $500 scholarship. They were Brynlee Hemmert and India Galloway. Self-Expression Award: This category comprised 15% of the overall score. The recipients of this award received a $500 scholarship. They were Brynlee Hemmert and Kate Williams. Talent Award: Talent comprised 20% of the overall score. The recipients of this award received a $550 scholarship.
The awards went to Kate Williams and Cate Walker. Scholastic Achievement Award: This category comprised 25% of the overall score. The recipients received a $650 scholarship. Elizabeth Beutler and Rebekah Evans were the recipients of those awards. Interview Award: The interview was 25% of the overall score. The recipients of this award received a $650 scholarship. The awards went to Cate Walker and Kate Williams. The 3rd runner up received an $800 scholarship. The winner was India Galloway. The 2nd runner up received a $900 scholarship. The winner was Rachel Hansen. The 1st runner up received a $1000 scholarship. The winner was Cate Walker. The Caribou County Distinguished Young Woman title went to Miss Kate Williams. She received a $1200 scholarship and will have the opportunity to represent Caribou County in the state Distinguished Young Women program held in Idaho Falls in October. If named DYW On Page 3
County Event Center coming to Grace
Board of County Commission Chairman Mark Meadows expressed the sentiment that it will be nice to have “something physical to show for the ARPA money” that the county was awarded during the COVID budgeting years. APRA funds were used to help local and state governments through the period of massive economic disruption, and were primary used by counties across Idaho for needed infrastructure, communication, and support service upgrades. An event center was seen as a good destination for the some of those remaining funds, in combination with other grant funds that were currently available. The total price tag is around $3.8 million, with the majority of that coming from external funds. The event center will be constructed at the County Fairground location in Grace, on the site sitting the block south of the main fair facilities.
The site of the planned Event Center, on the south side of the Fairgrounds in Grace.
While several trees may have to be removed, the building will otherwise not impact the existing facilities, and provide a modern, well-equipped location for both needed county
services, as well as event rentals and hosting. EVENT CENTER On Page 3
INSIDE Mother's Day Spotlight..................................Pg. 2 Obituaries.......................................................Pg. 4 Puzzles...........................................................Pg. 6
Real Estate Series........................................Pg. 8 New city attorney....................................... Pg. 10 Sports.................................................... Pg. 11-12
Staff Sgt. Gordon Black has been detained in Vladivostok, Russia on suspicion of theft, according to reports from Russian media. The story is somewhat unclear, as Black was not authorized by the Defense Department to travel to Russia, and did not request official clearance before leaving his station in Korea for leave before a planned return to the US to be stationed in Texas. The Russian Foreign Ministry told the Russian news agency TASS that the arrest was “not related to politics or espionage.” The theft was of the property of a private citizen, and the matter was considered to be one of a domestic nature, though it was unclear how the soldier was involved in the incident. There are several US citizens who have been declared wrongly detained in Russia, and the State Department is keeping an eye on the situation.
Gas prices remain volatile across Idaho
A report for AAA on Monday states that gas prices have posted a decrease across the state for the first time since February, falling to an average of $3.88, which is one cent cheaper than last week, although it is still four cents more than last month at this time, and eleven cents more than it was last year. Although a notable decrease in process occurred over the winter months, the “summer driving season” is generally seen as starting on Memorial Day weekend, and lasts through the fall. The falling cost of oil internationally might potentially help cushion the expected summer increase, according to analysts.
Caribou County Coroner Appointed after removal of Fullmer
Dr. Jonathan Housley has been named the interim coroner for Caribou County following the removal from office of previous acting coroner Jacob Fullmer after a judgement was entered against him in magistrate court for misuse of public funds or misrepresentation of a financial transaction. Housley was previously named as the interim coroner after the death of Darrin Sims, while the Republican Committee worked to nominate a replacement. The same process will happen again, although the timing of the appointment is complicated by the upcoming primary election on May 21, which includes a race for the coroner’s office. The Republican Committee has fifteen days from Housley’s appointment to name a slate of possible replacements, after which the Board of Commissioners has fifteen days to approve one to serve in the position. It is likely that no action will be taken by the board until after the election to fill the position, which will be filled by the appointed coroner until the swearing in next January of the elected coroner. Housley was appointed quickly because several laws require an acting coroner to be named by the District judge.