Caribou County Caribou County, Idaho
July 10, 2025 | Vol. 2 No. 28
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF
Authorities Search for Murder Suspect Travis Decker in Idaho
Fireworks bring the night to a close at Kelly Park in Soda Springs.
Caribou County Celebrates Independence!
Independence Day is one of the biggest days of the year for Caribou County, and as it always is, this year’s celebration was packed with events. Kicking off with the Book and Plant sales at the Library, and the Foam Party in City Park on the 3rd, the holiday weekend was a busy few days that were as active as they were leisurely. Downtown Soda Springs was the place to be for those who love food, sports, parades, and seeing people you haven’t seen for a while. Weather for the weekend looked to be an issue going in, and that turned out to be the case, with clouds, rain, and wind making things a little more difficult than they otherwise might have been. Of course, as a result the temperatures stayed lower than usual, and the sun wasn’t quite as glaring. The heart of the holiday is of course the parade, which managed to stay on the right side of the rain long enough to see the dignitaries and participants make their way along the route laid out by the city and the Rotary Club, who organizes the parade and other events every year. The parade was its usual raucous, candy-filled affair, with floats featuring local businesses, organizations, groups, individuals, and “file under miscellaneous” entries. We have attempted to include as many pictures from the parade as humanly possible in the space we have, and there are quite a few pictures in this issue. Obviously, however, there are plenty of other pictures we could not fit, and we will put overflow pictures on our Facebook page as the week goes on. What was heartening to see—at least from my perspective—was how protective the community is of each other. Kids love to run after candy, and it was rare that any kid got very far before they were pulled back by at least one adult, with countless more looking on and ready to jump into action. All along the parade route, and the events that were held throughout the day were familiar faces of people who, in addition to their day jobs, also volunteer for any number of different clubs and organizations. Is your favorite bank employee also a Rotary club official, watermelon slicer, and candy thrower? Is your County EMS director also a sometimes uniformed traffic cop and then fireworks monitor? (The answer is yes, by the way.) It’s
always touching to me to see so many people fill so many different and community-minded roles. After the parade, the sports tournaments at the City Park kept the crowd busy, while vendors, live music, bounce houses, train rides, and all kinds of distractions took place in the park. Jessica Thurman and Cohlee Winward supervised three concurrent tournaments—volleyball, basketball, and cornhole— and the event went off very well, despite some anxiety expressed about this being their first time overseeing it. The vendors were organized by the Soda Springs Chamber of Commerce, and other than the rain, they did good business in the shade. Live music at the Pavillion was provided by Anderson Freedom Rockers and Good Godfreys. Later in the day, rain almost became an issue for the concert and Fireworks out at Kelly Park, where Alex Sharpe entertained the crowd with a mix of pop and traditional songs. It was a bit touch and go, as an intense squall descended on the park a half hour before the scheduled start. Luckily, it was more bark than bite, and things were dry enough to get going...except for the power, which was out. A generator was brought in to power the concert and fireworks show, and things get back underway. Between the rain and the mosquito abatement earlier in the week, it was a mostly bug free event! As always, the fireworks show was amazing, and a host of vendors helped to keep the crowd fed and hydrated as they waited. July 3rd was filled with its own annual activities, including a number of events at the library, and the biggest Foam party west of the Mississippi. That may not be true, but what the heck-it was pretty big! Plants at the library were given individual names, which was a major selling point, as was the cotton candy made by former Library Director Cindy Erickson, re-joining the fun, and Friends of the Library Chair Beth Cheirett. Check out this issue of the paper for a lot more information about 4th of July festivities and many, many pictures!
The U.S. Marshals Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force is seeking public help to locate Travis Decker, a 32-year-old wanted on three counts of murder and three counts of kidnapping in connection with the May 30 deaths of his daughters Paityn (5), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (9) in Chelan County, Washington. A recent sighting was reported on July 5 in the Bear Creek area of the Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho. A family described seeing a man matching Decker’s description: white male, 5′8″–5′10″, overgrown beard, ponytail, dressed in black and cream, and carrying a black JanSport backpack. The man avoided eye contact and did not respond when spoken to. Decker is known to have military training and wilderness survival skills, and has previously lived off-grid. This is the second sighting in Idaho; a prior report in McCall in June was ruled out. Officials are investigating this new lead and urge anyone with information to contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-800-336-0102.
Devastating Floods in Central Texas Claim Over 100 Lives
Central Texas is mourning the loss of at least 109 lives after catastrophic flash flooding struck the Guadalupe River region late last week. The disaster has particularly impacted Kerr County, northwest of San Antonio, where Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, was overwhelmed by the rising waters. Among the confirmed dead are 27 children and camp counselors. Authorities report that ten girls and one counselor remain missing. Search and rescue teams continue to work tirelessly despite difficult terrain and the threat of additional rainfall. Local officials have described the scene as one of heartbreak and devastation. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said crews are navigating dangerous conditions to search for survivors and recover those lost. “This will be a rough week,” he said during a press conference Monday. “We need your prayers.” One of the most tragic losses was Dick Eastland, 70, who had co-directed Camp Mystic for decades with his wife. He was reportedly swept away while trying to rescue campers. With more rain forecasted and rescue efforts ongoing, communities across Texas are bracing for continued challenges, and holding onto hope.
Triple-Digit Heat Returns to ID
The concert at Kelly Park was timed just right to miss the rain.
The Lions Club burgers had a line long enough to tell you they must have been delicious. (They were!)
IN THIS EDITION Fundraiser for Gillian Redman.............Pg. 2 Parade pictures....................................Pg. 3 Community Notes.................................Pg. 4
Puzzles................................................Pg. 5 Sports...........................................Pg. 10-11 Images from the 4th..........................Pg. 12
Southern Idaho is facing dangerously hot and dry conditions this week, prompting weather alerts: A Heat Advisory is in effect for the Treasure Valley from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, with temperatures reaching up to 106°F in areas like Emmett and Ontario. The heat poses risks to children, the elderly, pets, and anyone spending time outdoors. People are urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity, avoid leaving people or pets in vehicles.