Enterprise The Idaho
Caribou County
Caribou County's Newspaper Since 2024
Caribou County, Idaho
February 26, 2026 | Vol. 3 No. 9
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF
Unrest following cartel operation
Front: Becky Peterson (Friends Liaison), Victoria Smith (librarian), Telisha Hayes (librarian), Dorajo Messerly (Children's librarian) Back: Drew Erickson (contractor), Grey Cheirrett, Beth Cheirrett (Friends President), Paul Gritton (Mayor & Presenting Sponsor), Dan Squires (Director of City Services, Paige Byram (City Council Member), I'll get the names of the Kunz kids. They were representing Soda Smiles.
Work Starts on Soda Library "Refresh" The Friends of the Soda Springs Library spoke with the city council earlier in the month about a project that has been brewing for a little while. Here at the end of the month, that project is well underway. The broad outline of the project is a “refresh” for the upper floor of the building, which is the most heavily used, according to library staff. “One of the things people have asked about most is some sort of quiet study and test taking area. We’ve also had people looking for a conference or meeting room,” Library Director Hope Hansen said. The library’s current open floor plan on the top floor makes using it for a quiet room largely unfeasible. The refresh will wall off a portion of the upper floor, and soundproof it so that it can serve some of those functions. The project is conceived of in four phases, with phases one and two being started this week, once the city had been informed and agreed to provide assistance if and as needed. Phase one is the acquisition of new, sturdier furniture for the upstairs area, which is being sought while Phase two begins. Phase two involves the aforementioned meeting room space remodel. The bulk of the project is being funded with Friends of the Library funds, which are separate from city funds used for the library. The Friends are the 501c3 fundraising entity established to support the library. The largest fundraiser of the year is the Festival of Trees, which was held at the Enders Hotel this past Christmas season, and raised enough money to initiate this project. The “kickoff sponsors” for the project, by virtue of the Festival of Trees contributions are Grittons, Soda Smiles, Lookout Credit Union, and Caribou Medical Center. Drew Erickson was selected as the contractor (Woodeye Industries) for the project, and was on scene early this week to begin the work, lining out the eventual wall areas, removing fixtures, and prepping to the work to come over the next few weeks. President of the Friends of the Library Beth Cheirrett stated that “we would like to make sure everyone knows that anyone who has supported events such as the Festival
of Trees over the last couple years has made this happen!” She also notes that “other parts of the library have received ‘love’ - obviously, the addition of the children's room 10-ish years ago was the first. New bookshelves were placed on the main floor years ago. The Friends paid for the remodel of the kitchen in the downstairs a few years ago, so it's the upper floor's turn!” Anyone is interested in contributing financially to the project can mail donations to: Friends of the Soda Springs Library, c/o Beth Cheirrett; 149 S. Main St. Soda Springs, ID 83276. Cash and venmo are also accepted.
Reiner pleads not guilty
Plans for what the completed first two phases will look like are in the library foyer.
Fatal Accident at Rasmussen Valley Project Site Frank Julian Johnson, 55, of Chubbuck, died during an incident at the Rasmussen Valley Reclamation Project outside of Soda Springs last Tuesday at around 2:15 p.m. The Caribou County Sheriff’s Office, as well as county emergency and onsite response units, were quickly on the scene of the incident. Frank Johnson was working for Western States on Kiewit Mining Group equipment at the time of the incident. We reached out to the Western States following the accident, and were given the following statement: “We are deeply saddened by a workplace incident that resulted in the loss of a team member. On behalf of Western States Equipment Company, our hearts are with the employee’s family, loved ones and coworkers during this very difficult time.” “Our focus right now is on supporting those affected and cooperating
fully with the appropriate authorities,” the statement continues. “Out of respect for the family, we will share additional information only as it is confirmed and appropriate. We appreciate your understanding and compassion in this difficult time.” Kiewit Mining Group is the Itafos contractor for the Rasmussen Valley Reclamation Project. The reclamation site is not involved in ongoing mining operations, and work conducted there is performed in order to clean up and restore land affected by previous mining. The end goal is to return it to usable habitat, agricultural land, and natural terrain. Caribou County Coroner Casey Batterton officially responded to the call, and you will find words from him inside the paper on page 3 expressing the large and respectful coordinated response on the part of all those involved. In a community like Caribou Coun-
ty, which is both tightly knit and very much tied to the mining industry, news of the accident began to reach people by later in the day on which it occurred. Due to both privacy concerns as well as the investigative process that was kicked into motion immediately, official news took some time to be released. As the process continues, we will keep you informed on what is being done as a result of the tragedy. Johnson’s arrangements are under the care of Cornelison Funeral Home in Pocatello. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb 27, followed by the funeral at 1:00 p.m. Cornelison is located at 431 N. 15th Ave in Pocatello. The Cornelison website has been gathering tributes to Johnson on his memorial page there, many of them from co-workers past and present. Condolences can also be sent to the family through the site.
IN THIS EDITION Leaders are Readers............................Pg. 2 Legislative Updates..............................Pg. 3 The Excellent Misti Newby...................Pg. 4
A Mexican military operation in Tapalpa, in the western coastal state of Jalisco, has triggered widespread unrest across parts of the country, following the death of Oseguera Cervantes and a number of other high level cartel members. Oseguera, who formed and led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), had been considered Mexico’s most powerful cartel boss since Sinaloa kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán was arrested last decade. Mexican authorities were aided by US intelligence support. Twenty-five members of Mexico’s National Guard died during attacks in the state of Jalisco. The killing sparked unrest in the aftermath, with suspected gang members torching buses and businesses while clashing with security forces. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said “peace, security and normalcy” are being maintained across the country. The US State Department urged American nationals in parts of Mexico to “seek shelter and remain in residences or hotels.” The department is also running a crisis phone line for US citizens impacted by the unrest. Other tourists were stranded after several US carriers suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta.
Puzzles................................................Pg. 5 Obituary...............................................Pg. 9 Sports...........................................Pg. 11-12
Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of first-degree murder more than two months after their deaths, denying for the first time that he fatally stabbed his parents. Nick Reiner has been held without bail since his arrest hours after his parents were found dead on Dec. 14 at their home in the upscale Brentwood section of Los Angeles. Reiner was not wearing the suicide prevention smock he wore in his first court appearance in December days after his parent’s killings. It was the third time he had been set to enter a plea, but issues surrounding the high-stakes, closely watched case, including a surprising change in defense lawyers, kept it from happening until Monday. Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, died from “multiple sharp force injuries,” the LA County Medical Examiner said in initial findings. Authorities said they were killed hours before the bodies were discovered. A court order has prevented the public release of more details.
Gas prices edging up
Idaho gas prices moved closer to the $3 mark this week, with crude oil prices applying upward pressure on state and national pump prices. According to AAA, Monday’s average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $2.97, which is three cents more than a week ago and 18 cents more than a month ago. The national average currently sits at $2.94 per gallon – a penny more than a week ago and eight cents per gallon more than a month ago, but about 21 cents cheaper than a year ago. Idaho remains out of the top ten at 13th in the country for the most expensive fuel, with today’s highest prices in California at $4.63 per gallon and the lowest in Oklahoma at $2.34 per gallon.