Caribou County Caribou County, Idaho
July 18, 2024 | Vol. 1 No. 24
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF Attempted assassination of former President Trump
Main Street construction officially began on Monday, on the west side of the street.
While the plan is to disrupt businesses as little as possible, there will obviously be a certain amount of inconvenience for patrons and owners.
Main Street Construction Begins After months of lead up, planning, discussion, and preparation the long-anticipated Main Street project got underway officially on Monday, as crews began taking up concrete on the west side of the street. The project will involve the replacement/ addition of curb and gutter along both sides of the street, new sewer and water line hookups, and other improvements to both the look and infrastructure of the downtown area. Many of the services have not been replaced in decades, and this project should bring an efficient, unified, and coherent undergirding to the steet. The project of course is not without its costs. Businesses are obliged to pay for the hookups from the main line into their places of business, which has caused some concern among those along the street. While the businesses themselves will not
have to be closed during the construction (outside of a few predicted limited times when services will briefly interrupted), the confusion resulting from parking and access issues is certain to depress foot traffic, at the very least. The city and the Chamber of Commerce are encouraging people to make sure they patronize the downtown shops as much as possible to help mitigate the disruption, and individual retailers and businesses should know ahead of time when they should expect closures. Parking is encouraged around the city park area, though drivers should be aware that the construction vehicles will be staging in the area as well, and caution is advised. During its most recent meeting, City Council stressed the need for pedestrians, and especially kids, to use caution in the construction area.
The Southeastern Idaho Public Health Department is one of the many organizations that have raised concerns about health and safety during the hottest months of the year. From now until the beginning of September, the National Weather Service has advised residents that temperatures are likely to remain high and dry. Last week, the NWS issued Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories for the majority of Southeast Idaho. While this has many implications, such as the potential for wildfires, the effect on summer crops and water availability and evaporation, scheduled outdoor event precautions, pet care, and so on, the immediate concern is to the public’s exposure to heat. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the two most common heat-related conditions that occur during weather in the sustained high range at or near the century mark of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Last week, unofficially recorded temperatures across southeast Idaho met and exceeded that mark, with official weather reports within a degree in many towns. According to the SIPH (Southeastern Idaho Public Health) “During excessively high temperatures, health risks associated with heat-related illness are significantly heightened, particularly for infants and children under age 5, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory issues. Residents are encouraged to check in on the well-being of any vulnerable relatives, friends, and neighbors during times of extreme heat.” As a result of concern, “Effective immediately, Southeastern Idaho Public Health (SIPH) has launched a Cooling Center during the area’s heatwave at their Pocatello location at 1901 Alvin Ricken Drive. The National Weather Service has issued Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories for
much of southeast Idaho. The Cooling Center is free and open to the public during normal business hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. People are welcome to come in and get out of the heat. The Cooling Center will provide air conditioning, water, snacks, basic activities (coloring books, games, etc.), bathrooms, seating and the ability to charge cell phones. SIPH has plans to open its doors as a Cooling Center during the summer anytime the temperature is above 90 degrees.” SIPH Director, Maggie Mann says, “Historically, this weather is SIPH's Jessica Fueschel will be happy not typical for southeast Idaho. We to help you cool down at the Caribou have a lot of housing without air County office location conditioning, which is a concern for all people, and in particular, our most vulnerable populations. We are offering up our facility as a Cooling Center as a safe space to prevent the effects of extreme weather conditions.” While anyone is invited to the Pocatello Cooling Center, it is clear that an hour plus long bus ride to sit in a cool room is not an especially efficient means of combatting heat. Luckily, local branches of the SIPH are also opening their doors to local residents to cool down if they need to. All of the member SIPH advises people to make sure they counties will open their doors to are hydrated, and avoid extended perithe public for cooling down, grab- ods of time in the direct heat. bing some water, and lowering their core temperatures to safe lev(such as libraries, public city and counels. Franklin, Oneida, Caribou, ty buildings, and so on) can also be Bear Lake, and Bingham counties sought for relief from the heat during will all provide space and amenities, excessively hot days. For more inthough what is available beyond a formation, you can contact your local cool environment varies from location SIPH office, or Tracy Reed at the main to location. office at (208) 239-5250. In most cases, other public buildings
Discussions about what kind of safety precautions to put in place were underway, and likely to be calibrated at Wednesday’s meeting, which should include an update on progress and a revised schedule for completion. So far, the construction plan has not hit any major snags, and should proceed as planned for the balance of the summer. The construction was delayed until after the 4th of July holiday in order to allow the annual event to proceed in the same manner as usual. According to city officials, the plan is to minimize the need for water and sewer disruptions, and to work as quickly as possible on each individual location. Concerns can be addressed to the City Council during public input sessions at the biweekly meetings, or by calling the office.
Summer Heat raises concerns; Cooling Centers open
IN THIS EDITION Ben Beckstead Art Show.Pg. 2 Hornet Canyon area closed....................................................Pg. 3 Puzzles..........................................................Pg. 6
Looking Back................................................Pg. 7 Olympic Preview.......................................Pg. 11 Fair Events................................................ Pg. 12
On July 13, 2024, during Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman fired at Trump resulting in a shot to his right ear. Trump was seen grabbing his ear with blood going down his face. He was able to be escorted by the Secret Service off the stage. Two spectators were injured, and one was pronounced deceased. The two injured were David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, from Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The deceased victim was identified as 50-year-old Corey Comperatore. The shooter was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks was killed by the Secret Service moments after the shots were fired. The Secret Service is now facing serious questions about the handling of security over the rally. The FBI is leading the investigation and the site is now an active crime scene.
Semi catches fire and blocks lane on I-15
A tractor-trailer caught fire Sunday south of the Shelly 108 exit on I-15. On social media platform X, Idaho State Police confirmed a “vehicle fire and two vehicle crash on southbound I-15 at milepost 102”. They also said, “Southbound I-15 at exit 108 has been closed. Prepare to stop, slow down or have alternate route available.” A fire was ignited in the sagebrush from the burning trailer. The Bureau of Land Management was handling the fire and they got it under control.
Car drives into geyser pool in Yellowstone National Park
On Thursday, July 11, 2024, a car drove off the road and into a Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal pool in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming. Five people were in the car and all got out on their own and were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Law enforcement rangers closed the road to safely get the car out of the geyser. The vehicle was about 9 feet under water. The roadway was reopened and the incident is now under investigation.
Actress Shannen Doherty dead at 53
After a nine year battle with breast cancer, the beloved actress from “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed”, Shannen Doherty, has died. Shannen’s publicist said, “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease”. Doherty was first diagnosed in 2015 and was in remission two years later. In 2020 she had announced the cancer had returned and was now stage 4. In June of 2023 she shared the cancer had spread to her brain. Doherty had appeared in many movies and T.V. shows, some of these include “Father Murphy”, “Little House on the Prairie”, “Our House”, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, and “Heathers”.