Caribou County | March 5, 2026

Enterprise The Idaho

Grace & Soda headed to State

Last week, both the Grace and Soda Springs Boys Basketball teams officially punched their cards for a trip to the State Tournament in the Treasure Valley. Both teams had amazing seasons on the way to where they are , but will certainly start the tournament as underdogs. Grace and Soda will both start play on Thursday, and from there progress through the tournament based on performance. Grace plays at Valley View in Caldwell, and Soda will play

at Meridian High school. Both teams had a good run last years, with Grace taking third overall, and Soda winning the consolation championship. If possible, of course, the teams and players would love to have as much support as they can on hand, though both games should be streaming as well through NFHS (NFHSnetwork.com) and other sources. Full reports on the games that got them through can be found on pages 11 and 12. On page 11, you will

also find a report on the State wrestling tournament, where Elijah Dilworth ended his high school wrestling career with a state title. Several other Caribou County wrestlers made the podium as well. Next week, we'll recap what happened in basketball at State, and start looking forward to golf, track and field, and the many other activities and sports that are still to come this school year. Congratulations to the Cardinals and the Grizzlies on their State berths!

K-9s and their handlers go to school in Grace

After scheduling conflicts kicked them out of several other locations in Caribou County, K-9 drug dog handlers representing several law enforcement agencies were relocated to Black Canyon Elementary in Grace for training.

Trainer Mark Rispoli, a world-renowned dog handler and law enforcement officer with 46 years of experience in the field, ran the dogs—and their owners—through the paces over the course of several hours. The dogs undergoing

training were drug dogs (which are trained to alert to minute quantities of illicit substances), as opposed to “bite dogs,” whose name probably speaks for itself.

Over the course of the several day session, Rispoli took the dogs and handlers through a variety of environments, exposing them to the various situations that they would need to know how to navigate as K-9 handlers, including vehicles, residences, and buildings.

Joining Mark at the school were

Sheriff Adam Mabey, Deputy Greg Kemp from Sublette County, Wyoming and his dog Gus, Caribou County Deputy Kolby Call and Penny, Bear Lake Officer Sam Wallentine and Dina, and Carson Steele and Birka.

The purchase of Caribou County’s dog was partially funded through a donation from N.A. Degerstrom, and Penny will make a great addition to the capabilities of the Cari-

War with Iran underway

Although there are a number of events and situations in motion across the world, international focus is fixed on the weekend’s first rounds of fighting between the U.S./Israel and Iran. The launch of strikes into Iran comes within the context of the last year’s tactical strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, which the Trump administration stated had been completed destroyed. It also comes after a tentative ceasefire which has been holding in Gaza. How the new actions against Iran will affect U.S. and Israeli relations across the middle east—with a complex web of economic and social dynamics underlying governments across the region—remains to be seen in the coming weeks. Some elements of the Iranian government, most significantly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been confirmed to have died in the strike. Other senior members of the administration had been reported to have not been affected by military action. Celebration over the death of the leader was reported across Iran, but the celebrations were noted to contain equal parts anti-US and anti-Israeli sentiment. The situation is obviously developing on an hourly basis.

Measles numbers rising

More than 1,300 new measles cases have been reported across the U.S., which is a significant escalation of the disease that had been largely contained by active vaccination programs. Since the relaxing of the child vaccination programs across the country, West Texas has become the primary hotbed for measles infections though occurrences are increasing rapidly over recent days. Measles is highly contagious, and can move quickly from location to location through human travel. Researchers and epidemiologists suggest that the disease requires a 95% vaccination rate to provide herd immunity, a number which is not met in many U.S. locations. Children under 5 are the most vulnerable to measles (as well as whooping cough, rubella, mumps, and other commonly vaccinated diseases), and suffer the most negative medical outcomes. Measles affects the immune system, and its most serious risk is of potentially fatal encephalitis. Whooping cough cases are increasing in Southeast Idaho in recent months, as well.

Gas Prices in spotlight

There is no consensus yet on how extensive the impact on fuel prices will be as a result of the war with Iran. On Monday, average fuel prices in the U.S. (and in southeast Idaho, which for a change wasn’t higher than average) were around $3.00/gallon on Monday. Some analysts predicted on Tuesday morning that prices are likely to see increases of 5 to 10 cents a day as the wholesalers attempt to prevent a massive, singular increase in pricing. Increases of 25 cents a gallon were reported already on Monday, with the spring/summer driving season not too far off and adding to the potential for a painful, protracted return to extreme fuel pricing across the globe.

As Mothers, we feel represented by Rep.

Veile

BY RAINI HAYDEN AND SALLY JENSEN

As two moms raising our families in rural Idaho, we come from different walks of life — but we share the same hope: that our children will be safe, supported, and given every opportunity to thrive right here at home.

One of us is raising a child with special needs. The other works as a nurse. We both sit on school boards in rural Idaho while caring for students whose families often have limited access to specialized services. Both of us understand how deeply state policy affects real children in real classrooms.

That’s why we’re grateful to be represented by Mike Veile.

In rural communities, resources are often stretched thin. When you have a child with special needs, you quickly learn how critical it is that funding decisions are thoughtful and sustainable. Services like speech therapy, behavioral supports, and specialized instruction aren’t “extras” — they are lifelines. Mike understands that. From the perspective of a nurse, the stakes are just as high. He listens carefully, asks questions, and considers how policies will impact students who need the most support, not just the loudest voices in the room.

In our very small districts, you don’t have layers of administrators or large budgets to absorb new mandates. Every new requirement can mean fewer resources for direct student care. Mike consistently supports local control, recognizing that rural communities know our students best. That trust

matters. It allows schools to respond to the unique health, safety, and academic needs of their communities without unnecessary interference from afar.

What stands out most about Rep. Veile is that he is measured and reasoned. He doesn’t chase headlines. He studies issues carefully and thinks through how they will affect families like ours — families balancing medical appointments, IEP meetings, long bus rides, tight budgets, and busy work schedules.

He understands rural Idaho because he has lived it and served in it. He knows what it means to stretch limited dollars. He knows that small districts operate differently than large urban systems. And he knows that when government overreaches, it’s rural families who often feel the strain first.

Most importantly, he remembers who this is all about: our kids.

Whether it’s protecting taxpayer dollars, defending local decision-making, or supporting policies that strengthen schools, Mike Veile has demonstrated that he sees the full picture — children, families, educators, and communities.

As two moms who experience these policies not as talking points but as daily realities, we feel heard and represented.

And in rural Idaho, that means everything.

Raini Hayden is the Board Chair of the North Gem School District Board of Trustees and resides in Bancroft.

Sally Jensen is the Vice Chair of the Soda Springs Board of Trustees and resides in Soda Springs.

I Support Mike Veile

As a community leader and someone deeply invested in the future of rural Idaho, I value elected officials who approach their role with thoughtfulness, discipline, and a clear understanding of how policy decisions affect real people. That’s why I support Representative Mike Veile.

Rep. Veile brings a rare combination of experience and perspective to the Idaho Legislature. As an engineer, he is trained to analyze problems, evaluate data, and think through long-term consequences. As a former school board member, he understands firsthand how policy decisions impact students, families, educators, and taxpayers at the local level. As a representative of rural Idaho, he knows our communities face different challenges than urban areas and deserve solutions tailored to those realities.

One of Mike’s greatest strengths is his reasoned approach to governing. He doesn’t hastily react; he evaluates first. He doesn’t posture; he listens. In today’s political arena where noise & irrationality is often rewarded, his steady, rational decision-making stands out. Whether the issue is focusing on our students’ education, red tape reduction, or protecting local decision making, he approaches each vote with discipline and integrity.

He consistently sides with children and families. Strong schools are foundational to strong communities, and Mike understands that solid education and workforce readiness are directly tied to our long-term economic sustainability. His background in local school governance gives him a grounded perspective on what districts need, and what they don’t. He recognizes

that effective policy supports students without burying schools in unnecessary mandates.

At the same time, he has been a clear voice for limited government interference and strong local control. Rural communities function best when decisions are made as close as possible to the people affected by them, and Rep. Veile respects that principle. He understands that regulatory overreach can strain small-town budgets and create unintended consequences for local businesses and schools alike.

His focus on preventing wasteful spending is equally important. Taxpayer dollars are not merely numbers; rather, they represent the hard work of Idaho families and employers. Mike scrutinizes proposals carefully and asks whether they are effective and truly necessary. That discipline mirrors the way responsible businesses and school boards must operate every day through balanced budgets and long-term strategic planning.

Rural Idaho needs leaders who understand that education, economic growth, and responsible governance are interconnected. When we invest wisely in our children, support local businesses, protect local decision-making, and guard against unnecessary government expansion, our communities thrive.

No one is better suited to represent rural Idaho than someone who has balanced a school budget, built a career solving complex problems as an engineer, and demonstrated a consistent commitment to principled, practical leadership.

Representative Mike Veile embodies that kind of leadership, and District 35 is stronger because of it.

Ben Goode

Lincoln Day Event comes to Caribou County

Caribou County officials, candidates, and voters met at the event center on Saturday morning for a Lincoln Day breakfast and gathering.

In attendance were State Controller Brandon Woolf, Senator Mark Harris, Representative Mike Veile, candidate Chad Christensen, county commissioners Bryce Somsen and Mark Mathews, County Clerk Jill Stoor, and former State Senator Steven Thayne, as well as a number of other county officials. Representatives from the offices of James Risch, Mike Crapo, and Mike Simpson were also on site.

During the morning, the crowd was treated to comments by many of the above, who spoke about their commitment to southeast Idaho values and the things they would like to accomplish in the future.

Mike Veile, who was appointed by the governor to serve as D35 Representative after Kevin Andrus accepted a position with the Trump administration, spoke was one of the speaker who has announced his candidacy for this year, and will be on the ballot in November.

Many of the other speakers had been through a number of campaigns in their careers, including Steven Thayne, Brandon Woolf, and

the other Caribou County officials. Chad Christensen has served in the legislature previously as well, but this cycle announced his candidacy for the D35 seat.

There is not enough space here to recount what the candidates talked about, but Representative Veile caught the shared mood, when he said “I have loved living in Soda Springs. Working at the plant over the years, they want you to move to other places at times,” he said, leading into a discussion of how while working on a project in Iowa, he had never once looked out the window and seen a bull elk. “So I stayed in Idaho,” he laughed. “And I love it here. This is where I belong. I think the success of our country really started with a good education system. That, mixed with our freedoms, really made us strong. Education is still the cornerstone of our society.”

The pro-Idaho sentiment was universal to the candidates who spoke throughout the morning, as was the staking out of a specific major topic that spoke to them. As the campaign season begins to pick up, we will take a look at what the candidates are looking forward to speaking to voters at large about.

Legislative Updates - Week Seven

Senator Mark Harris, LD35

I would like to congratulate the Bear Lake High school girls’ basketball team for their wellearned state championship title. They did an amazing job! The Short-Term Rental (STR) issue came to a head this week in the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee. Efforts to reach a compromise before the hearing date on the two bills fell short, but not from lack of trying. I facilitated three meetings between the sponsors of the legislation as well as lobbyists from the different parties. No agreement could be made. On Thursday, both Senate Bill 1263 (S 1263) and House Bill 583 (H 583) were up for a

hearing at the same time per direction of the Committee Chair Dan Forman (LD-6). After about an hour of testimony, the committee voted to hold S 1263 in committee and voted to send H 583 to the Senate Floor for debate. House Bill 583 removes most local authority over STRs, treats all STRs the same as residences, regardless of size, and prohibits registration and bans cities and counties from collecting contact information. House Bill 583 also prohibits business licensing and occupancy and duration numbers. We will see how the bill fares when it comes up for a vote on the Senate Floor in the next couple of weeks.

An E-Verify bill, Senate Bill 1247 (S 1247), passed the Senate this past week and is now in the House waiting for a hearing. S 1247, called the Idaho E-Verify Act, requires all

Representative Josh Wheeler

Week six brought meaningful progress on several fronts, particularly in the healthcare space.

First, my bill regarding epinephrine dosing made it to the Senate floor this week. I’m grateful for the thoughtful discussion it has received and remain hopeful it will continue moving forward. Ensuring that students have safe, appropriate emergency response protocols in place is a straightforward but important step.

In addition, both of my bills dealing with prior authorization reform and continuing to incentivize medical preceptorships advanced through the legislative process this week. I’ve been encouraged by the quality of debate and the seriousness of the conversations in that space. There is real recognition that Idaho must reduce administrative burdens where possible while maintaining quality safeguards, and that strengthening our medical workforce pipeline—especially in rural communities—is essential to longterm stability in healthcare delivery.

Earlier this week, I also had a learning experience in my role as Vice Chairman of the Business Committee when we encountered a disruptive testifier. Managing hearings requires both firmness and fairness, and moments like that remind me how important it is to maintain order while still respecting the public’s first amendment right to be heard. Every week brings opportunities to grow in that responsibility.

On the regulatory reform front, I was excited to see my MEP inspection shot clock bill move unanimously out of the Business Com -

mittee. This proposal is aimed at streamlining inspection timelines and bringing greater predictability to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing projects. It’s a practical step toward reducing unnecessary delays while maintaining safety standards.

Budget discussions continue to move slowly through the JFAC process. A significant reason for that pace is serious disagreement about across-the-board cuts versus a more strategic approach. Many of us are advocating for thoughtful use of Idaho’s budget stabilization funds to avoid blunt reductions that could unintentionally harm critical services. The goal should be precision—protecting essential programs while keeping our long-term fiscal health strong.

There is an energy in the building this week as filing deadlines approach and candidates determine whether they will have opponents in the May 19th primary. Campaign season always adds a layer of intensity to the Capitol. I would encourage everyone to mark May 19th on your calendar—and bring three friends to vote. Showing up at the ballot box remains the BEST way for your voice to be heard.

Finally, thank you to the many constituents who have reached out in recent weeks. I’ve heard clearly your priorities: smart budgeting, maintaining critical services across the state, protecting foster children, and improving healthcare access in Idaho. Your engagement makes a difference, and it directly informs the work happening here.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve and will continue to keep you updated as the session progresses.

Josh Wheeler

Idaho State Representative

state and local government agencies, as well as large private contractors to use the federal E-Verify system to verify employment eligibility of new hires. This would create a uniform verification standard across all Idaho public agencies. It would also leverage existing federal E-Verify infrastructure rather than create a new state bureaucracy. I am skeptical that the House will hear the bill since they have drafted their own bill that is much more strenuous. House Bill 704 (H 704) requires all employers to use E-Verify. This means all employers from the largest to the smallest, including the kid that gets hired to mow lawns would have to be E- Verified. Federal requirements include I-9s and 13-page MOUs for every employee along with federal requirements of signage, training and notification requirements. We will

see soon if this bill passes the House. One other bill that was introduced this week is Senate Bill 1340 (S 1340) that requires vehicles to be driven on the right-hand side of multilane highways with some exceptions and certain circumstances. The purpose of this legislation is to enhance roadway safety and optimize traffic flow. The bill states “no vehicle traveling in the left- hand lane shall be driven at a speed slower than any vehicle traveling to its right on the same roadway.” Some of the exceptions include preparing for a left hand turn into an intersection or private driveway when the road is congested, or when no one else is around. This idea was brought to me by constituents concerned about road safety and problems trying to pass on the right-hand side of the road. We will see how far this bill goes in the Legislature.

Representative Mike Veile

I am pleased to be sponsoring, along with Representative Pickett, HB 712 – State Seal of Excellence in Civics. This bill provides for special recognition on a high school graduate’s diploma to honor achievement and excellence in civics education.

Students earning the Seal must demonstrate:

• Focused coursework in civics

• A qualifying GPA

• A score of 90% or higher on the Idaho Civics Assessment

• Completion of a civics-oriented research project

• Documented volunteerism

This Seal offers an additional post-graduation credential that highlights a student’s commitment to civic knowledge and engagement. It reinforces the importance of understanding our government, our history, and the remarkable foundation of our nation. Encouraging civic excellence is one more tool in preparing educated citizens who can become tomorrow’s leaders.

Education Committee Update

We had several contentious bills before the Education Committee this week.

One proposal would have mandated reading from the King James Bible in public schools. I am an uncompromising supporter of the separation of church and state, while also recognizing the moral and historical influence of Christian texts in our nation’s founding. However, mandating Bible reading in public schools would invite immediate legal challenges and ultimately threaten the free exercise of religion. The bill was stopped in committee.

Another proposal sought to require schools to collect students’ immigra-

tion status and report aggregate data to the state. I cannot support adding another investigatory responsibility to our school districts. Schools should be focused on educating students — not investigating them. This is not within a school’s lane. I do support law enforcement or government agencies that provide direct financial assistance verifying eligibility as part of their existing processes. But I will continue advocating for reduced regulatory burdens on schools, not increased ones. This proposal was also stopped in committee.

Immigration Legislation on the House Floor

I cast split votes on two immigration-related bills this week.

I supported legislation requiring employers to use E-Verify when hiring employees to ensure they are legally authorized to work in the United States. This adds a clear step in the hiring process to address employment eligibility upfront.

However, I did not support a separate bill that would criminalize employers under certain circumstances. While the bill was intended to align with E-Verify requirements, it raised significant concerns about constitutionality and about holding employers liable if an employee later loses legal status — something outside the employer’s control. In my view, the E-Verify requirement sufficiently addresses concerns about unauthorized hiring without exposing employers to undue legal risk.

Both bills passed the House, though the employer criminalization bill passed very narrowly. They must now pass the Senate and be signed by the Governor before becoming law.

Looking Ahead

Debate is intensifying as we move deeper into the session. The most significant legislation — the state budget bills — has not yet reached the House floor. When those arrive, it will indeed be quite a rodeo. Stay Tuned!

Office Manager for The Idaho Enterprise!

Do you know & love our community? We are looking for an organized & reliable person with great interpersonal skills. You would be the face & voice of our paper in Caribou County ! Daily responsibilities:

Talking to Our Community: Be the main point of contact for local businesses who advertise with us; and reach out to those not advertising with us.

• Subscriptions: Maintaining current & new subscriptions.

Running the Office: Files, invoices, deposits, paper runs, mail, etc.

• Computer Skills: GSuite, Docs, spreadsheets (a love of writing would be a plus)

Email your resume & pay requirements to: People@TheCityJournals.com

ITD Road Safety Audit meeting

Last week, the Idaho Transportation Department conducted a Road Safety Audit on the city of Soda Springs. Mayor Gritton, who initiated the study, was joined by public officials and community representatives for the presentation of the audit by ITD’s Kelley Campbell.

On Tuesday, representatives of various groups within the city, including city officials and law enforcement, kicked off the meeting by sharing their general concerns and observations about the roads in town.

This was followed by a field review and examination of various data connected to road safety, such as crashes, speed studies, ADT, turning movements, etc.

A nighttime field review was conducted to observe the conditions in the dark.

On Wednesday, ITD held what was essentially a debrief and findings presentation. Officials from the prior day gathered in the council room for the presentation.

Kelly Campbell was joined by a team from ITD, as well as Sicog.

Campbell noted that it was “great that you asked for the survey,” as she indicated she would like to see more cities do the same.

The audit was conducted around the main arteries of the downtown area for the most part, and looked for compliance to existing laws and factors that contribute to or detract from safety on the roadways.

The audit noted the following as positive: A majority of the signs were in good shape, lighting along the highways was adequate, crosswalks were marked, sidewalks were in place on the overpass, buckle up signs under many stop signs were observed, RRFB (flashing lights) on some crosswalks were positives, flashing signal ahead sign was a good measure, “watch for pedestrian” signs on 34 were helpful, as were flashing school crossing signs and crossing guards at elementary.

Some of the issues that could be improved included: Snow piled up on sidewalks, especially when it’s on a path to the school; ADA ramps that did not go directly to the crosswalk; a warning signal ahead sign was not visible at night; lane markings that are hard to see in both day and night conditions; lack of fog line/edge delineation; no indication if street parking is allowed; no arrows in TWLT (left turn in intersection) lanes; the No U turn signs are all faded; trash cans are kept on sidewalk; overall lack of sidewalks; lack of bike symbols in bike lane; potential mismatched speed on highway through town.

ITD then went through a virtual “tour” of the town, noting some of the issues that had stood out to the audit group in specific locations, such as 3rd East and US 30 (where sidewalk issues were noted, as were faded

lane markings, issues with the lights flashing consistently, missing School Zone signs, etc.).

At US 30 and Main St, the push button not working easily was noted as was the pilot light not staying on as it should. The sidewalk was also noted to be broken up, and the pole in the way of pedestrian ramp.

At US 30 and 1st E, it was noted that the RRFB does not flash long enough for walking across street, and the light indicator is not coming on to show pedestrians that the signal is on.

At US 34 Hooper and 3rd E, the arms for traffic light don’t line with the lanes, and there are no sidewalks. The crest of hill blocks view of crosswalk, and there are no sidewalks on some of the side streets, meaning children were walking in road because of snowy sidewalks.

ITD presented a number of short term ideas for the city to consider for safety improvement, including restripe roadways, evaluating and replacing non-retroreflective signs (no Uturn, center lane turn sign, etc), add TWLT arrows at intersections, adjusting RRFB flashing time to meet the guidance, establishing MOUs or Cooperative agreement with businesses for snow removal, enhancing patrols during school drop off and pickup times, checking all push buttons on signals to ensure they are working properly and that the pilot light are staying on during walk indicators.

Campbel recommended potentially adding a bike line and striping for on-street parking, and using high visibility crosswalk markings. “You can never not improve things when it comes to safety, and to prevent things in the future,” she said.

As has been mentioned in several discussions around the county, she noted that “When you come into Lava they have radar feedback signs, and we think it might be a good idea to do that here. A lot of people just don’t realize what speed they are going. When I see a sign like this, it instantly reminds me.” The Sheriff’s office has signs of that nature, and one has been used coming into Bancroft to good effect, at least anecdotally.

After complimenting the lunch at Main Street, she recommended replacing the RRFB by stop sign on E 2st Street. “We noticed this when we came out of Main Street Diner—two days in a row because the food was so good. I was really impressed with them. But we recommend that you check the signal timings on all the crossing flashers.”

She noted that the School Zone signs need to be updated to the most current ones.

On a longer timeline, ITD recommended evaluating vision and sight triangles at all intersections, establishing no parking zones at the intersections based on results of study, conducting a study to determine

lane marking, and other concerns.

placement of school zone signs for middle and elementary, re-evaluating the location of activities at park so people are more willing to park in lot and not street.

In the long term, ITD recommended establishing a truck route to remove most commercial truck traffic through town, finding ways to reroute traffic out of the town. Campbell noted that the percentage of Commercial crashes is higher than the state averages.

She also suggested a study to determine if HAWKs should be installed at uncontrolled intersections or at mid block. A HAWK is a mandatory red light that is triggered by a ped-They would have to trench across the roadway to lay conduits.

Campbell then discussed some of the grant and funding possibilities for the city, and thanked the officials for their efforts.

“I wanted to specifically thank the mayor for getting this started, Chief Golightly—thanks for those stats— and the principal, Rod Worthington—you’re lucky to have him over there. He was very helpful.”

Asked what the city should focus on, Campbell said “I don’t know if I could personally say one thing— overall, you’re doing a good job. There’s just some things that could be even better. Your crash data doesn’t indicate that you have a very serious problem either. Kudos to you guys. You’re doing a very good job, but you could still do better.”

Reminder: It’s Almost Time to “Putt across the USA”

The indoor putting challenge at the Library is scheduled for March 9th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. inside the building. The major sponsor again this year is Ireland Bank, who made last year a fantastic event.

Admission will not specifically be charged, but will be taken “by do-

nation” at the door. Attendees are strongly encouraged by the organizers to sign up for a tee time in advance at sslibraryfriends.com/minigolf. Additional information can be found at sslibraryfriends.com/minigolf or by calling the library at (208) 547-2606.

Liquor Store accident

Monday afternoon, the State Liquor Store in Soda Springs experienced an unexpected break-in, though not of the kind you might expect.

According to the Soda Springs Police Department and others who responded to the incident, an elderly driver experienced a vehicle malfunction that caused their car to drive through the front of the store.

According to a source on the scene, there was a lot of very quick help to clean up and seal the building, which came from Bassett Building, Lott Builders, and Perks Electric.

“Wonderful,” the store’s owner stated. “Fabulous employees and customers too.”

The driver was not intoxicated, and there was no criminal intention suspected during the incident, which was simply an unfortunate accident.

Not long after, things were at least put back in order enough to hold for repairs.

Direct to consumer sales aren’t the whole answer

AGDIRECT TO CONSUMER SALES AREN.DOCX

The beef industry operates under a packing sector dominated by a few large companies, a conglomeration that all too often dictates the terms of the industry's market. From plant closures and line slowdowns to reduced participation in negotiated cash trade and tighter slaughter schedules, packer decisions directly shape cattle prices, market access, and risk throughout the beef industry. The most recent Tyson Foods plant closure in late January highlighted how decisions made at the top affect producers throughout the system.

Finding solutions to the challenges created by the dominance of meat packers is nearly as difficult as navigating the system itself. Commonly suggested remedies include bypassing packers entirely, expanding regional processing capacity, increasing market transparency, and enforcing antitrust laws with real teeth. Among these ideas, the loudest call is often for consumers to buy directly from beef producers. On the surface, this seems like a simple and even appealing fix. Direct sales certainly support farmers and ranchers in a tangible way, but unfortunately, the reality is far more complicated—and for the majority of operations, it simply isn’t a feasible long-term solution.

On paper, the logic seems straightforward. When plants operated by companies like Tyson Foods close, and roughly 83% of beef processing is controlled by just four major packers, it feels intuitive to imagine a world where consumers bypass the system entirely. If people could just purchase beef straight from the farm, the thinking goes, the indus -

try could sidestep the influence of these large companies and producers could retain more control over their livelihoods. But while the idea is appealing in theory, it collapses when faced with the realities of how the beef industry actually operates.

Our operation, like thousands of others across the country, is a cowcalf operation. We focus on raising healthy calves, managing genetics, regenerating rangelands, and weaning calves each season before starting the cycle again. This is where our expertise lies. This is where our infrastructure, labor, and capital are invested. What we are not equipped to do is retain ownership of calves for another year or more, background them, manage finishing rations, absorb feed and weather risk, coordinate slaughter schedules, ensure USDA inspection compliance, or handle cold storage and distribution. That is why feedlots exist. That is why processors exist. This is not a flaw in the system—it is specialization, a division of labor designed to create efficiency and ensure the safe and reliable production of beef at a scale that feeds millions.

Direct-to-consumer beef absolutely has a role in the marketplace. It works well for smaller, diversified operations, for producers who wish to vertically integrate, and for niche markets such as freezer beef programs, grass-fed operations, or specialty products. For these operations, direct sales can be profitable and meaningful, allowing producers to capture more of the retail value of their product. But these models are not scalable in a way that could meaningfully replace the broader beef supply chain. They are not a realistic alternative for the majority of cow-calf producers. Suggest -

BRAIN TEASERS

ing that direct sales are the solution quietly shifts enormous financial and logistical risk onto producers who are already operating on tight margins. It also ignores the economic and biological efficiencies that come from a segmented supply chain, where each step—from ranch to feedlot to processor—is optimized for scale and expertise.

The real challenge in the industry is not that ranchers are failing to sell directly to consumers. The issue is market power concentration, with too few companies holding too much control and not enough competitive pressure to ensure fair pricing. A more honest conversation about solutions would focus on expanding regional processing capacity, enforcing antitrust laws that actually carry consequences, improving price discovery and transparency, and protecting access to multiple marketing channels for producers of all sizes. These are structural issues that, if addressed, could meaningfully reduce risk and provide long-term stability for cattle producers across the country.

Direct-to-consumer beef is a lane—it can coexist within the system and provide value for certain operations—but it is not the highway. If we are serious about finding solutions, we need to stop pretending that boutique models can replace a system built to feed millions of Americans. Instead, we need to confront the structural realities of market concentration and work toward solutions that ensure the long-term viability and resilience of the American beef industry. Only then can we create an environment where producers are not forced to navigate an unfair system, but are empowered to thrive within it.

Renewal Notice Reminder

We are extremely grateful to all of our subscribers as we approach our second anniversary of serving Caribou County. As that time draws closer, many of you should be receiving a white mail envelope containing a renewal notice. The envelope is sent out by a third party, and is labeled “Newspaper Management Services” rather than “Idaho Enterprise,” but inside should contain accurate address and subscription information for your account. Before you toss any incoming mail out, take a second to check for our renewal notice (which can get mistaken for mass mailing). If you think you should have received a renewal and haven’t, don’t hesitate to call 208-766-4773 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and ask about your subscription status. If you would like to start a new subscription, the same number at the same times will work!

EVENT CALENDARS

GRACE

March 6 – Friday BB State Tournament

March

State Parent Teacher Conferences

March 7 – Saturday BBB State

March 8 – Sunday

Presbyterian Services

Caribou Bible Church Services

Catholic Mass (8:30am)

Open Arms Church Services

LDS Services Hope Lutheran Church

March 9 – Monday

March 10 – Tuesday

Planning & Zoning Meeting 5 PM

March 11 – Wednesday

BB @ North Fremont

SB @ North Fremont

FCCLA State

March 12 – Thursday

BB vs West Jefferson

SB vs West Jefferson

FCCLA State

March 8 – Sunday LDS Services

March 11 – Wednesday Grace School District Board Meeting 7 PM

BANCROFT

March 8 – Sunday LDS Services

March 9 – Monday City Council Meeting

CARIBOU COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS' MENU

Every meal served with Juice/Milk/Coffee

March 6 - French Dip Sandwich, Chips, Broccoli Salad, Juice, Banana Bars

BIRTHDAYS

Gay Scott, March 4

Fay Anderson, March 5

Sidney Thompson, March 6

Helen Christensen, March 8

Glenna Rasmussen, March 9

Charlie Gentry, March 10

Terre Lakey, March 10

Tom Scott, March 13

Merlyn Painter, March 14

St. Patricks Day, March 17

Carol Steffensen, March 17

SueAnn Turner, March 21

Matt Swope, March 22

Ann Hamm, March 23

Wendy Lewis, March 23

Tanae Kole Crump, March 24

March 11 - Chicken Noodle Casserole, Asparagus, Grapes/Strawberries, Wheat Bread, Orange Zest Cake

LUNCH MENUS

SODA SPRINGS LUNCH MENU

Lunches served with Fruit, Veggies & Milk

Monday, March 9

Hot Dog, Chips, Fruit, Veggies

Tuesday, March 10

Chicken Pasta Bake, Fruit, Veggies

Wednesday, March 11

Breakfast Sandwich, hash Brown

Patty, Fruit, Veggies

Thursday, March 12

Cheeseburger, Fries, Fruit, Veggies

NORTH GEM LUNCH MENU

Milk and Choice of Bar Each Day

Monday, March 2

Pizza Kits, Sloppy Joes, Deli Bar, Sweet Corn, Fresh Apple Slices

Tuesday, March 10

BBQ Pork Sliders, Deli Bar, Roasted Squash, Peach Parfaits

Wednesday, March 11

Super Nachos, Deli Bar, Seasoned Black Beans, Pineapple

Tidbits

Thursday, March 12

1st Grade Lunch Pick - Spaghetti w/Meatballs, Deli Bar, Tossed Caesar Salad, Fruit Jello Cups

GRACE LUNCH MENU

Monday, March 2

Lunches served with Milk

Hamburger, Tots, Food ChoicesFresh Veggies, Applesauce

Tuesday, March 10

Pepperoni Cheese Bread, Food Choices - Sald, Pears

Wednesday, March 11

Chicken Tenders, Potatoes & Gravy, Breadstick, Food Choices - Corn, Peaches

Thursday, March 12

Chili, Cinnamon Roll, Food Choices - Roasted Broccoli, Mandarin Oranges

ON THIS DAY

1770 The Boston Massacre –British soldiers kill five men in a crowd throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks at them. African American Crispus Attucks is the first to die and is later held up as an early Black martyr. The Boston Massacre or Incident on King Street galvanizes anti-British feelings

1836 Samuel Colt's Patent Arms Manufacturing Company manufactures first pistol, 36-caliber "Texas" model, in Paterson, New Jersey

2013 Willco announces the world's smallest mobile phone, weighing 32 grams

2019 Kylie Jenner is the world's youngest-ever billionaire at 21, according to Forbes

2019 Second-ever person "cured of HIV after stem cell transplant treatment in London, England results published in "Nature"

Gayle Powell, March 26

Robbie Lamarr, March 26

Peggy Gould, March 28

Ila Ray VanVleet, March 28

Jerry Bush, March 29

Carolyn Hunsaker, March 30

Charles Fryar, March 30

Kacelyn Kole Crump, March 31

Dorothy Cox, March 31

If you would like to add yourself, your kids, loved one, friend or family member to our weekly birthday list, contact Sherrie at 208-766-4773 or email sherrie.w@idahoenterprise.com

1853 Piano company Steinway & Sons is founded by Heinrich Steinweg (later Henry Steinway) in New York City

1994 Largest milkshake made: 1,955 gallons of chocolate in Nelspruit, South Africa

2002 American reality TV program "The Osbournes" premieres on MTV, featuring the family of rock singer Ozzy Osbourne

2006 Nature documentary "Planet Earth" narrated by David Attenborough premieres in the BBC

2022 Explorer Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance, which sank in 1915, is rediscovered after 107 years in excellent condition in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

2024 Shirt worn by (a very wet) Colin Firth in 1995 BBC-TV adaption of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" sell for $32,000 at a charity auction in London

2025 Manufacture of bone tools by ancient humans is pushed back a million years by the discovery of a 1.5 million year old cache of bone tools in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

ORDINANCE NO.312

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BANCROFT IDAHO, GRANTING TO INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY A 10-YEAR EXTENSION TO ITS FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE A GAS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM; PROⅥDING FOR THE USE OF STREETS AND ALLEYS, AND RULES GOVERNING THE SAME, SUBJECTING THE GRANTEE TO ALL POWERS OF THE CITY SETTING FORTH THE RULES OF THE FRANCHISE AND GRANT; PROVIDING FOR THE RIGHT OFINSPECTION BY THE CITY OF GRANTEE'S PLANS,ACCOUNTS, AND BOOKS; REQUIRING GRANTEE TO FURNISH CERTAIN MAPS; SETTING FORTH THE QUARTERLY PAYMENT TO THE CITY AND THE FILING OF ANNUAL REPORTS WITH THE CITY REQUIRING GRANTEE TO INDEMNIFY CITY AND FILE EVIDENCE OFINSURANCE; REQUIRING COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY REGULATIONS; SETTING FORTH AN AGREEMENT NOT TO COMPETE, RESERVING POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN; PROVIDING FOR SURRENDER OF FRANCHISE; GRANTING RIGHT TO SALVAGE; REQUIRING WRITTEN ACCEPTANCE; PROVIDING FOR CONSENT TO SALE, ASSIGNMENT OR LEASE;PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT OF PUBLICATION COST; SETTING FORTH PENALTIES AND FORFEITURES, SEPARABILITY AND REPEAL. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF BANCROFT IDAHO;

Section 1: Grant of Authority.

There is hereby granted to Intermountain Gas Company, a corporation, its successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Grantee") a 10-year extension to the right and authority to construct, install, maintain and operate a gas transmission and distribution system, including mains, pipes, conduits, services and other necessary structures and appliances appertaining in, under, upon, over, across and along the streets, alleys, bridges and public places within the present and future corporate limits of the City of Bancroft, Idaho (hereinafter referred to as "City") for the furnishing, transmission, distribution and sale of gas, whether artificial, natural, mixed or otherwise, for heating, domestic, industrial and other purposes and for transmitting gas into, through and beyond said City. The City represents that it has the sole power and authority to make this grant of authority and agrees to notify Grantee in writing if the City should cease to have this power.

Section 2: Use of Streets and Rules Governing the Same. Grantee shall secure a permit for any opening it shall make in the streets, alleys and public places in the City and shall be subject to all applicable ordinances, but no fee shall be required of Grantee for any such permit. Grantee may, however, open or disturb the streets, alleys, and public places without a permit if an emergency exists requiring the immediate repair of facilities. The location or relocation of all facilities shall be made under the supervision and with the approval of such representatives as the governing body of the city may designate for such purpose, but not so as unreasonably to interfere with the proper operating of Grantee's facilities and service. Whenever the City shall pave or repave any street or shall change the grade or line of any street or public place or shall construct or reconstruct any conduit, water main, sewer or water connection or other city public works or city utility, it shall be the duty of the Grantee when so ordered by the city to change its mains, services and other property in the streets or public places at its own expense so as to conform to the established grade or line of such street or public place and so as not to interfere with the conduits, sewers and other mains of the City as constructed or reconstructed; however, the Grantee shall not be required to relocate pipes, mains and appurtenances when the street, alley or public ground in which they are located is vacated for the convenience of abutting property owners and not as an incident to the public improvement, unless the reasonable cost of such relocation and the loss and expenses resulting

therefrom is first paid to Grantee. The City will avoid the need for such moving or changing whenever possible. In the event Federal, State or other funds are available in whole or in part for utility relocating purposes, the city shall apply for such funds and the Grantee will be reimbursed to the extent any such funds are actually obtained.

Section 3 : Grantee Subject to All Powers of City Rules Governing Repair and Reconstruction of Streets. The exercise of privileges herein granted shall be subject at all times to all of the powers of the City and all regulatory ordinances adopted pursuant thereto. The Grantee shal1 not unnecessarily or unreasonably obstruct the use of or damage any street or alley and shall within a reasonable time and as early as practicable upon completion of any construction or repair work, restore all City streets and alleys to the same order and condition as they were before the excavation was made insofar as reasonably possible. The Grantee shall maintain, repair and keep in good condition for a period of one year all portions of streets and alleys disturbed by it or its agents. The Grantee shall be responsible for any obstruction in any street, alley or other public place caused by it in the operation and maintenance of its properties occurring at any time and shall promptly remove such obstruction. Any such obstruction which, after proper notice to Grantee demanding removal is not promptly removed by the Grantee may be taken care of by the City and the costs thereof shall be charged against Grantee. For purposes of this Section, Grantee's above-ground facilities or temporary construction materials and equipment shall not be considered an "obstruction”.

Section 4: Term of Franchise and Grant.

Such right and authority, permission and power is hereby granted for a term of 10 years from and after the date of the final acceptance of this Ordinance by the Company, herein referred to as the primary term. This franchise will automatically renew for successive periods of ten (10) years unless cancelled at the end of a term by either party by written notice to the other party no less than 180 calendar days prior to the end of the primary term or the then current successive term.

Section 5: City Right to Inspection of Grantee's Plans, Accounts and Books - Grantee to Furnish Certain Maps Upon reasonable advance notice, the City shall have access to Grantee's records to the extent necessary to verify the accuracy of the Franchise fee payments required herein during the normal business hours of Grantee. The Grantee shall furnish, upon request, the city with a complete set of maps, including plans and profile of the distribution system of the Grantee and any future extensions. The City shall make every reasonable effort to maintain the confidentiality of any trade secrets or other proprietary information (such as proprietary maps and other mapping information) provided pursuant to this Section, including execution of a data sharing agreement with Grantee. Any map supplied shall not be used for locating gas facilities with the intent of excavating prior to excavating, the City shall request line locates per the requirements of Idaho Statutes Title 55 Chapter 22 Underground Facilities Damage Prevention.

Section 6: Payment To City And Filing Of Annual Written Report With The City As consideration for this franchise and grant said Grantee, its successors and assigns, during the franchise period, shall pay to the city three percent (3%) of the gross receipts received from all sales of gas by Grantee within the corporate limits of the City through use, operation or possession of this franchise and grant. Such payments shall be made on a quarterly basis and shall be in lieu of any and all other fees, charges, licenses or taxes (other than ad valorem taxes) related to easements, franchises, rights-of way, utility lines and equipment installation, maintenance and removal during the term of the public service providers' franchise with the City which the City may impose for the rights and privileges herein granted or for the privilege of doing business within the City. The Grantee shall file 30 days after the

end of each calendar quarter with the City a report for the preceding calendar quarter, which report shall contain a statement of all the gross receipts arising from all sales of gas by said Grantee within the City for the calendar quarter preceding such report, and at the same time the Grantee shall pay to the city the stipulated percentage of the gross quarterly receipts due for the calendar quarter which said report is made and filed.

Section 7 : Grantee LiabilityIndemnification

It is expressly understood and agreed by and between the Grantee and the city that the Grantee shall save the City harmless from all loss sustained by the City on account of any suit, judgment, execution, claim or demand whatsoever, resulting from negligence on the part of the Grantee in the construction, operation or maintenance of its gas system in the city. The city shall notify the grantee's representative in the city within ten (i0) days after the presentation of any claim or demand, either by suit or otherwise, made against the city on account of any negligence as aforesaid on the part of the Grantee. Nothing herein shall require Grantee to save and hold the city harmless to the extent any loss sustained by the City is caused by the acts, omissions, or negligence of the city its agents, representatives, contractors, officers, directors, employees, or other parties subject to its direction or control.

Section 8: Insurance

Upon acceptance of this franchise by Grantee and before Grantee shall have any rights hereunder, Grantee shall file with the City Clerk a certificate evidencing the insurance of the Grantee against property damage in an amount not less than $500,000.00 and bodily injury with limits of not less than $500,000.00 per person and $1,000,000.00 total for each occurrence. Provided, however, the minimum limits of insurance as set forth herein shall be automatically increased at any time the liability limits oft he city are increased pursuant to the Idaho Tort claims Act (Idaho code Section 6-901 et. seq.) or any similar legislation.

Section 9 : Safety Regulation Compliance Grantee shall comply with and conform to all safety regulations promulgated by the United States, State of Idaho, or any regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof.

Section 10 : Agreement Not to Compete - Reserve to City Power of Eminent Domain ln consideration of Grantee's undertaking hereunder as evidenced by its acceptance hereof. the City agrees not to engage in the business of distributing and selling gas during the life of this franchise or any extension thereof in competition with the Grantee, its successor and assigns; but nothing herein contained shall be construed or deemed to prevent the City from exercising at any time any power of eminent domain granted to it under the laws of the State of Idaho.

Section 11: Surrender of Franchise

In the event natural gas at any time shall cease to be available to Grantee for the distribution and sale hereunder, Grantee reserves the right to surrender this franchise and in the event of such surrender prior to any expiration or termination of this franchise, or in any of such events, Granter reserves the right to salvage all of its plant, works and facilities, and will restore City's streets and alleys damaged by such salvage operation.

Section 12: Written Acceptance

The Grantee shall within thirty (30) days after the passage and publication of this ordinance, file with the city clerk its acceptance of this franchise in writing signed by its proper officers and attested by its corporate seal.

Section 13: Publication Costs

The Grantee shall assume the cost of publication of this franchise as such publication is required by law.

Section 14: Forfeiture

Any material violation by the Grantee, its vendee, lessee or successors of the provisions of this ordinance, franchise and grant or any material portions thereof or the failure promptly to perform any of the provisions thereof

shall be cause for the forfeiture of this franchise and grant and all rights hereunder should Grantee fail to cure such violation within sixty (60) calendar days of City's providing Grantee written notice, which shall be served upon Grantee by registered mail to its Region Director at 12584 W Tyhee Road, Pocatello, Idaho 83202, or if not reasonably capable of being cured within sixty (60) calendar days, within such other reasonable period of time as the parties may agree. This provision shall not prevent the Grantee from submitting such question of forfeiture to proper court determination.

Section 15 : Separability If any part or parts of this ordinance shall be adjudged by the courts to be unconstitutional or Invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of any other part or parts hereof which can be given effect without the part or parts adjudged to be unconstitutional or invalid. The city declares that it would have passed the remaining parts of this ordinance if it had been known that such other part or parts thereof would be declared unconstitutional or invalid'

Section 16: Repeal All ordinances and parts or ordinances of city in conflict herewith shall be, and the same are hereby repealed.

Section 17: Notifications

Whenever this Franchise calls for notice to or notification by any party, the same (unless otherwise specially provided) shall be in writing and directed to the recipient at the address set forth in this Section unless written notice of change of address is provided to the other party. If the date for making any payment or performing any act is a legal holiday, payment may be made, or the act performed on the next succeeding business day which is not a legal holiday. Notices shall be directed to the parties as follows:

To the City: City Clerk City of Bancroft PO Box 39 Bancroft, Idaho 83217

To IGC:

Region Director

Intermountain Gas Company 12584 W Tyhee Road Pocatello, Idaho 83202

This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force on February 9,2026, following its passage, approval, and publication as required by law, and the execution of the "Acceptance and Consent" by Grantee.

DATED this 9th day of February 2026 CITY OF BANCROFT Joseph D. Perry, Mayor

ATTEST: Debbie Swenson, City Clerk

ACCEPTANCEA ND CONSENT INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY, as the franchisee and 'Grantee' in the ordinance set forth above, accepts the franchise set forth therein at the time of Grantee's execution, and agrees to abide by the terms and conditions thereof. Specifically (and pursuant to I.c. g 50-329A), IGC consents to the three percent (3%) franchise fee assessed by the City pursuant to this ordinance. On this day of February, 2026

By: Eric Martuscelli Its: VP, Field Operations & Customer Experience

IDAN-HA THEATRE

-INDOORThursday, March 5

Friday, March 6

Saturday, March 7

Hoppers (PG)

When scientists discover a way to transform human consciousness into robotic animals, Mabel uses the new technology to uncover mysteries of the animal world that are beyond anything she could have ever imagined.

Thursday & Friday 6:00 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.

Saturday Matinee 2:00, 6:00 & 8:15 p.m. (All seats $5)

Wednesday, March 11 6:00 p.m. & 8:15 p.m. (All seats $5)

208-547-3282

NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Filing Deadline

PURSUANT TO I.C. 34-1405

THE FILING PERIOD FOR THE MAY 19 AND NOVEMBER 3, 2026

PRIMARY and GENERAL ELECTIONS IN CARIBOU

COUNTY IS FROM MARCH 2, 2026 THROUGH MARCH 13, 2026 UNTIL 5:00 PM

FILING WILL BE ONLINE WITH INFORMATION AND THE DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY FORMS

AVAILABLE ON THE

WEBSITE: VoteIdaho.gov

Local-level candidate filing information is also available at the Caribou County Clerk’s Office at 159 S. Main, Soda Springs, ID.

PURSUANT TO I.C. 34-1407

MARCH 20, 2026, IS THE LAST DAY UNTIL 5:00 P.M. FOR FILING DECLARATION OF INTENT FOR WRITE IN CANDIDATES.

COUNTY POSITIONS TO BE VOTED ON ARE:

County Commissioner District

#1 (4 – year term)

County Commissioner District

#2 (2 – year term)

Clerk of the District Court (4 – year term)

County Treasurer (4 – year term)

County Assessor (4 – year term)

County Coroner (4 - year term)

County Precinct Committee Person (2 – year term)

*Please note all legislative and statewide filing shall be filed in the Secretary of State’s Office in Boise Idaho.

Jill Stoor

Caribou County Clerk Caribou County Idaho #1202

LEGAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that IDAWY Solid Waste District (District) has submitted to the Southeastern Idaho Public Health (SIPH) and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) an Operating Plan for the IDAWY Regional Landfill Facility (Facility) located at 348 Diamond Gulch, Georgetown, ID 83239 (42° 34' 59.6" N, 111° 28' 43.8'' W). The purpose of this submission is to provide an operating plan for a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facility. This public notice is made pursuant to IDAPA 58.01.06.013, and as determined in Section 31-819 of Idaho Code. This application may be reviewed at the District office located at 241 S Main, Suite #3 Lower Left, Soda Springs, ID 83276, (208) 417-1625. Office hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, except holidays. An electronic copy can also be downloaded at: https:// swti.org/regops. The public is invited to comment on the operating plan. The 30-day comment period commences with the first publication of this announcement starting the week of February 23, 2026. Written comments will be accepted during the public comment period and should be directed to SIPH at: The Southeastern Idaho Public Health, Attn: Mike Reas, 1901 Alvin Ricken Dr, Pocatello, ID 83201.

#1203-03-05-12-19-26-0402-26-T5

NEWS OF RECORD

CARIBOU COUNTY SHERIFF

Craig James Atkinson, Grace, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50

Rosario Bencomo Marquez, Espanola, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

Yiru Chen, Santa Clara, speeding, $33.50, costs

$56.50

Carter Ray DEance, Idaho Falls, speeding, $33.50, costs

$56.50

David Michael Davis, Villa Rica, speeding, $33.50, costs

$56.50

Bryce Charles Johnson, Ammon, fail to register annually, $10.50, costs $56.50

Daniel John McEwen, Sandy, speeding, $33.50, costs

$56.50

Kawak Miranda, Sandy, speeding, $33.50, costs

$56.50

Jeffery C Stokes, Mountain Green, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

SODA SPRINGS POLICE

Sam L Angell, Rexburg, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

Jeniel Marie Byers, Fruit Heights, speeding $33.50,

costs $56.50

Ricardo Rios Lule, Amer ican Falls, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

Danny Dean Rollins, Po catello, speeding, $33.50, costs $55.50

Conner Stiles Simmons, Di amondville, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

Gabriel J Tobias, Soda Springs fail to turn on head lights or use when required, $10.50, costs $56.50

Kinzie Deziray Williams, Arbon, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50 IDAHO STATE POLICE

Joshue Raudel Jurado, Windsor, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50

Keith Peter Lambert, Port land, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

Renae Lynch, Soda Springs, operate vehicle when un safe or improperly equipped, $10.50, costs $56.50

Kevin Heaath Mays, Kuna, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50

Jesus Jose Ortega Camacho, Craig, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

We Will Deliver Caribou County’s News To You! All For $55 yr. (in Caribou County) $67 per year outside of Caribou County. P.O. Box 331, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276

Call or Email Us Today. 208-766-4773 or sherrie.w@idahoenterprise.com

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Mayor and City Council of the City of Soda Springs will hold a PUBLIC HEARING at the City Council Mee8ng on March 18, 2026, at 5:05 pm in the City Hall, 9 West 2nd South, Soda Springs, Idaho.

The Public Hearing will be held to receive public comments on proposed new fees for Building Permit Fees for ResidenCal and Commercial, and addiCons and revisions to City Equipment Rentals Fees.

Building Permit Fee Schedule (Residen8al)

Total Valua8on Fee

$1.00 - $500.00

$501.00 - $2,000.00

$2,001.00 - $25,000.00

$25,001.00 - $50,000.00

$50,001.00 - $100,000.00

$100,001.00 - $500,000.00

$500,001.00 - $1,000,000.00

$1,000,001.00 +

$25.00

$25.00 for the first $500.00 plus $2.00 for each addi8onal $100.00

$48.50 for the first $2,000.00 plus $10.00 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$274.00 for the first $25,000.00 plus $7.00 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$450.50 for the first $50,000.00 plus $5.00 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$695.50 for the first $100,000.00 plus $4.00 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$2,263.50 for the first $500,000.00 plus $3.50 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$3,926.00 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $2.50 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

Building Permit Fee Schedule (Commercial)

Total Valua8on Fee

$1.00 - $500.00

$501.00 - $2,000.00

$2,001.00 - $25,000.00

$25,001.00 - $50,000.00

$50,001.00 - $100,000.00

$100,001.00 - $500,000.00

$500,001.00 - $1,000,000.00

$30.00

$30.00 for the first $500.00 plus $2.40 for each addi8onal $100.00

$58.20 for the first $2,000.00 plus $12.00 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$328.80 for the first $25,000.00 plus $8.40 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$540.60 for the first $50,000.00 plus $6.00 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$834.60 for the first $100,000.00 plus $4.80 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

$2,716.20 for the first $500,000.00 plus $4.20 for each addi8onal $1,000.00

Jay Compton Allred

June 21, 1929 ~ February 24, 2026

Jay Compton Allred was born on June 21,1929 to Rich and Vivian Allred in Paris, Idaho. He passed away on February 24, 2026, at the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital.

Jay attended and graduated from Fielding high School in Paris Idaho in 1948. He attended a Christmas dance in 1950, where he met Lorraine Hayes, who he would later marry. Jay was drafted into the US army on February 6, 1951. After basic training he returned home on leave and married Lorraine on August 8, 1951, in the Idaho Falls LDS temple. He was honorably discharged from the army on February 6, 1953.

Jay and Lorraine then moved to Soda Springs Idaho where they built their home and Jay started working for the Monsanto company. They had three children, Diane, Teresa, and Chad. They lived in Soda Springs where they raised their children and Jay retired from Monsanto in 1989.

In their first year of retirement Jay and Lorraine went to Parker Arizona and joined the Colorado River Adventure campground. They traveled with this group and enjoyed it immensely. Jay and Lorraine then moved over to Yuma Lakes campground and started taking square dance lessons in 1993. They then began traveling to square dance festivals all over the western United States. When Lorraine passed away in 2005, Jay continued square dancing until 2019. Through this hobby they met friends from all over that they looked forward to seeing every year in Yuma. One of the highlights of Jay's life is when his oldest daughter, Diane and son-in-law Charlie started spending Winters in Yuma in 2018. He was ecstatic to have them there to spend quality time with.

In spring of 2025 when Jay came home for the summer, he developed a foot injury that prevented him from

going to Arizona again. Due to this injury Jay made the decision to go and live at the skilled nursing center in Montpelier Idaho in June of 2025

He absolutely loved his life at the nursing center. He also had the added bonus of his next-door neighbor being his grandson Jared carver. They spent much time together in activities movies and celebrations. The outstanding care he received was greatly appreciated by him and his family.

Jay leaves behind Diane and Charlie Prahl, Teresa Beck, daughter-inlaw Sandra Allred, all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a multitude of friends. He was proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Lorraine, his son Chad, and his grandson Darin.

A graveside service with military rites was held Monday, March 2, 2026, at 12 noon. A viewing was held at Sims Funeral Home from 1112. Friends and family were invited to attend a luncheon afterward at the Stake Center at 290 3rd West in Soda Springs.

The family would like to thank all of the healthcare workers in both Soda Springs and Montpelier for their care and kindness.

Tommy Ray Teuscher

June 2, 1938 ~ February 25, 2026

Tommy Ray Teuscher was born June 2, 1938, to Raymond and Willetta.

Tommy was raised in Cokeville, Wyoming and Geneva, Idaho. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard USS York Town, 1955-1959. He also served in Vietnam for 13 months. He worked for MK and FMC in the mining industry. Golf was Tom's passion. He played every chance he could with his great golfing companions.

He was preceded in death by a son in 1960 and a grandson in 2022. He is survived by his two daughters, Cherie Hicken (Roger) and Leslie Finley, 3 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson.

A graveside service will be held, Thursday March 5th at 11:00 a.m. at the Montpelier Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Sims Funeral Home.

CARIBOU COUNTY OBITUARY SUBMISSION INFO

Frank Julian Johnson

July 10, 1970 ~ February 17, 2026

Frank Julian Johsnon, born July 10, 1970, to Patty Johnson of Pocatello, stepped into eternity on February 17, 2026, at 55.

Frank was strength in human form. Broad-shouldered. Steady. Protective beyond measure. He is and will always be his family's Man of Steel.

For his entire career, Frank dedicated himself as a field technician proudly servicing the mining industry he loved. Known by many as "The Cat Man," he built more than engines, he built respect. He mentored coworkers, friends, and family, teaching not only skill, but grit, loyalty, and integrity. He led by example, and the lessons he passed down will continue to guide those who learned from him.

Frank loves hunting and fishing, finding peace outdoors. He loves laughter. He loves being the goofy trickster just to see his family smile. Though he looks like steel on the outside, his heart is pure gold. Gentle, affectionate, and deeply devoted.

His greatest work, his life's true masterpiece, is his family.

Frank is the devoted husband of Natalie Johnson, his greatest pride and living legacy. Frank's strength wraps around his son like armor. The lessons he taught, the example he set, the integrity he modeled daily. To Kolton, his dad is not a memory. He is a presence. A guide. A standard of what it means to be strong.

As a grandfather, his heart expanded even wider. His grandbaby carries a piece of his gentleness, his protection, his quiet strength. Those big, calloused hands built from years of hard work remain a symbol of safety and love that will be felt for generations.

Frank is cherished by his mother, Patty Johnson, his wife Natalie Johnson, his son Kolton (Addison) and Harper Johnson, his siblings; Harvey Lee Adams, Quana (Trista) Plank, and Levi (Amber) Bradshaw. In-Laws; Frank (Sheila) Nichols, Brother-in-law Bill (heather) Nichols. His nephews Dalton (ShaiLyn Stone) Plank, John and James Adam,

Preston (Breeawn) Nichols. Nieces JaceLyn Wakley, StarLynn Quintana, and Sydney Nichols and a large extended family who love him fiercely. If you are his, you are protected and that protection does not end.

Frank is welcomed with open arms by his grandfather Frank L. Johnson; Grandmother, Loretta Johnson; and Uncle Frank (Frankie) W. Johnson. Though he has stepped beyond this life his spirit remains woven into the hearts, homes, and lives of all who love him.

His physical absence is heavy. The quiet moments feel different. But his spirit remains woven into the walls of his home, into the strength of his family, into every story told and every laugh shared.

Frank is not just remembered. He is felt. He is present. He is guiding. He is protecting. His is their rock. Their foundation. Their safe place. Their Man of Steel yesterday, today, and always.

"Until we meet again, our Man of Steel stands watch"

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison Funeral Home, 431 N. 15th Ave., Pocatello. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.cornelisonfh.com 208-232-0542

e Idaho Enterprise - Caribou County Edition P.O. Box 331 Soda Springs, Idaho 83276 (U.S.P.S. -- 090-560) ISSN: 2997-1004

The Idaho Enterprise - Caribou County Edition is published weekly at 76 South Main Street, Ste. 207, Soda Springs, Idaho. Postmaster, please mail address corrections to: The Idaho Enterprise, P.O. Box 331, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276. Entered as “periodicals” at the Soda Springs, Idaho Post Office.

bou County Sheriff’s Office, which sees a large number of vehicle stops along Highways 30 and 34, along with regular patrols.

Mark Rispoli and Sheriff Mabey ended up finding out that they had more in common than careers in law enforcement, as Mabey has also trained dogs. “It’s been a long time since I worked my dog,” Mabey said. “Every time I see Kolby with his dog, I just look at him and say, ‘have fun!’” he laughed.

Rispoli agreed. “I’m fortunate that I’ve lived vicariously through handlers. Every time they get a find—and I’ve been doing this 46 years—I still get excited, every time.”

Rispoli and Mabey also agreed that the best way to use a dog is to use as a tool.

“The best K-9 guys are the ones finding dope without a dog,” Rispoli said. “The

ones where the dog stays in the car. It’s another tool, another layer to help you get what you want. It’s a flashlight in the dark.”

Using miniscule amounts of drugs in filter paper that had done nothing more than sat inside a container with a small amount of contraband in it, Rispoli sectioned the paper and folded it into nearly invisible scraps, which he then hid in various locations around rooms, lockers, and other areas of the school.

The training was both for the dogs and their handlers, as they practiced what to look for in their dogs’ behavior, how to work with them as a team, and how to calibrate the line between patience and vigilance to get the right results.

“We haven’t had a dog for something like 20 years in Montpelier,” Officer Sam Wallentine said. “I think it’ll be nice to bring them back.”

Soda Springs School District Awarded

$7.9

Million for Major Facility Improvements

FROM SUPERINTENDENT MUIR, SSSD 150

The Soda Springs School District has received a significant boost to its longterm infrastructure plans following the approval of its application to the Public-School Facilities Cooperative Funding Program. On January 7, 2026, the state’s review panel formally approved $7,941,343.00 in funding to address several highpriority facility concerns. This money can only be used for facility improvements.

District officials were notified that the award will support improvements in the following areas:

Soda Springs High School will receive:

• Roofing repairs and replacements

• Electrical system improvements

• HVAC modernization

• Parking lot repairs and safety enhancements

• Exterior doors replacement

• Thirkill Elementary School will receive:

• Physical education facility safety addition

• Exterior lighting

• Parking lot repairs and safety enhancements

• Exterior doors replacement

How the Funding Works

The cooperative funding program provides upfront state financing for major school facility repairs, but districts are responsible for repayment over time. For Soda Springs, repayment will be supported through changes enacted under House Bill 292 and House Bill 338, which reshaped how Idaho funds for school facilities statewide.

H292 created a new statewide School District Facilities Fund and shifted certain property tax levies off local taxpayers. Under this structure, a portion of statedistributed funds can be used to help districts meet facility obligations, including repayment of cooperative funding loans.

H338 further refined the system by establishing a new waterfall of allowable uses for the School District Facilities Fund (Idaho Code 33911).

This waterfall prioritizes how state funds must be applied, including:

• Payment of any bond passed & issued prior to July 1, 2025

• Repayment of H338 Facilities Cooperative Fund projects

• Payment of bonds issued after July 1, 2025

• Payment of supplemental school levies

• Payment of plant facility levies

• New construction, maintenance, renovation, or reserve fund for facilities

Because of these changes, the district will be able to use its stateallocated Facilities Fund dollars—distributed annually—to help meet repayment requirements for the $7.9 million award. This reduces the burden on local taxpayers while ensuring that essential facility improvements can move forward without delay.

This funding marks a major milestone for the district, which has worked for years to address aging infrastructure and ensure safe, functional learning environments for students and staff. The approval recognizes both the district’s demonstrated need and the persistence of local leaders who have advocated for these improvements.

In the announcement, state officials emphasized the significance of the award, noting the district’s effort and determination in navigating the rigorous application process. The investment is expected to reduce longterm maintenance costs, improve safety, and support the district’s ability to provide quality educational spaces for years to come.

Superintendent and school board leaders are expected to outline next steps in the coming weeks, including project timelines and community updates as planning moves forward.

If you have any questions please call or visit with any Principal, Board Member or call the district office to talk with Mr. Muir at 208-547-3371.

The District thanks you for your support of our students and staff, and we look forward to these improvements to address the needs of our students and facilities.

Why Recall Training Is Failing Most Dog Owners

BY EISA’BEL CURRAN, DOG TRAINER

Local dog trainer explains the common mistakes putting pets at risk

In parks, neighborhoods, and hiking trails across communities, one issue continues to stand out: dogs that simply don’t come when called.

While many owners believe their dog “knows” recall, real-world situations often tell a different story. According to professional dog trainers, unreliable recall is one of the most common — and most dangerous — training gaps.

Recall Isn’t Just a Command — It’s a Lifeline

Recall, or teaching a dog to come when called, is more than a basic trick. It’s a safety behavior that can prevent dogs from running into traffic, approaching aggressive animals, or getting lost.

“Most people don’t realize recall can save their dog’s life,” says Bels Dog Training. “But they train it in a way that never holds up outside.”

The Biggest Reason Recall Fails

The most common issue isn’t stubborn dogs — it’s inconsistent training.

Many owners practice recall inside the home or in low-distraction environments, then expect the same response in high-stimulation settings like parks or around other dogs.

Dogs don’t generalize behavior well. A “come” in the living room does not automatically translate to a “come” at full speed in an open field.

Repeating Commands (And Being Ignored)

Another major mistake is repeating cues.

Owners often call their dog multiple times — “come, come, come!” — while the dog continues to ignore them. Over time, the dog learns that recall is optional. When a command is not consistently enforced, it loses meaning.

Poor Reinforcement Choices Recall needs to compete with the environment.

If a dog is choosing between chasing a squirrel or coming back for a low-value treat, the outcome is predictable. Many owners unintentionally set their dogs up to fail by not making themselves more rewarding than the distraction.

Only Calling When It Ends the Fun Dogs quickly learn patterns.

If “come” always means the leash goes on, playtime ends, or they’re leaving the park, they begin to avoid returning altogether. This creates hesitation — or complete refusal — over time.

“If my chances of a dog coming back is lower than 95%, I will not take that dog off leash, it’s too big of a risk and could put that dog or others in danger” says Bels Dog Training.

What Effective Recall Training Looks Like

Reliable recall is built through:

• Gradual exposure to distractions

• Consistent follow-through

• High-value rewards

• Clear communication

Long lines, structured practice, and intentional setups help bridge the gap between controlled environments and real-life situations.

“A leash is your first line of communication, it’s what’s completely preventing your dog from running away and creating habits you don’t want” says Bels Dog Training.

The Bottom Line Recall isn’t failing because dogs can’t learn it — it’s failing because of how it’s being taught.

With the right approach, consistency, and realistic expectations, most dogs can develop a reliable recall that holds up when it matters most.

And in those critical moments, that training can make all the difference.

Bels Dog Training  Belsdog.training 801-589-2735

Dilworth Ends Career With State Title

BY JODY REEVES

The Idaho state wrestling championships took place last weekend at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. Several local wrestlers qualified to participate in the state tournament with a few ending their year on the podium.

Every wrestler that qualifies for state has dreams of pulling off upsets and running the table while walking away with a state championship. In one of the toughest sports that a high school athlete can compete in only a few can actually accomplish such a feat. For those that do they leave a legacy and their mark on their school and sport. For one local wrestler the dream of earning a state championship became a reality last weekend.

Elijah Dilworth’s journey to the top of the awards stand started long before he arrived at the Ford Idaho Center last Saturday. Dilworth has dreamed of winning a state title for years and has accomplished a lot along the way. Dilworth is a four time district champion and has racked up more than one hundred and fifty high school career wins. Those accomplishments alone would be enough to be considered among the best Soda Springs wrestlers of all time. It was not enough for Dilworth. Elijah wanted a state championship and was willing to put in the work and sacrifice to get there. In fact Dilworth nearly accomplished the task a year ago. Dilworth had made it all the way to the title match his sophomore and junior seasons but came up short in those matches and had to settle for second place. Elijah began his season with one mission in mind. Meet after meet and tournament after tournament Dilworth dominated his competition finishing the regular season with just one loss that came against a 6A wrestler in the Rolie Lane tournament. As Dilworth's state tournament run began his domination continued. Dilworth picked up wins in his first two matches by way of technical fall. His third match was the semi final match. In that match Dilworth earned a win by pinning his opponent in under one minute. In his championship match Dilworth once again controlled his opponent throughout, winning by major decision and finally earning his state championship. Dilworth was not the only local wrestler with dreams of a state championship going into last weekend's state tournament. Grace’s Carter Kimball was also among the favorites to win a state

title. Kimball had already accomplished the feat early in his high school career. Then last year disaster struck as Kimball suffered a season ending injury at districts ending his hopes of being a four time state champ. As he returned for his senior season Carter was determined to once again make it to the top. Kimball did have a successful season winning the district championship and reaching one hundred and fifty wins himself. As often happens with sports not all dreams come true. Kimball began his state tournament with a pair of wins making it to the semi finals. Unfortunately Kimball came up short in the semi finals and was sent to the consolation side of the bracket ending his chances of a state title. Kimball bounced back and won his next match putting him in position to secure a third place finish. Once again however things don't always turn out the way you would hope. Fighting a small illness Kimball fell in that third place match and would have to settle for fourth place.

Kimball’s teammate Cael Newby comes from wrestling royalty in Grace. Both of his older siblings have earned podium spots in their high school careers. Newby started his state tournament with a tough loss and headed straight to the consolation bracket. Once there Newby went back to work and went on a four match tear. At the end of those four tough matches Newby found himself wrestling for third place. That third place match was a real battle. As the match concluded the score was tied forcing the two combatants to go extra time. In that extra time Newby wound up winning by way of sudden victory.

Grizzlies Punch Ticket To State

BY JODY REEVES

The Grizzlies boys basketball team capped off a wild district tournament last Thursday with a narrow win over the Butte County Pirates. The Grizzlies facing off with the Pirates for a spot in the state tournament has become as common occurrence in February as President’s Day. In several cases the games are very competitive and entertaining to watch for fans of the two teams but this year's tournament was especially close. In game one of the best of three format the Pirates grabbed the win by just a single point. During game two the Grizzlies answered back with a one point victory of their own. That set up a winner take all district championship game that took place last Thursday. The game took place on the neutral court in Aberdeen. Each school brought dozens of fans with full student sections and cheerleaders with the Grizzlies also featuring their class leading pep band. The stage was set so all that was left was for the players to take the floor for thirty-two minutes of battle that would end in either glory or crushing defeat. The game was as expected very close right from the get go. The teams traded baskets in the early going with the Pirates eventually gaining a slight advantage. Then sophomore standout Carter Mecham entered the game for the Grizzlies. In just two quick possessions Mecham took the Grizzlies from three points down to up three points. With the momentum on their side the

Grizzlies held a four point lead as the first quarter came to a close. As the second got underway the Grizzlies continued to ride that momentum building the lead to eight points. As it always seems to do when these two teams meet the momentum shifted and the Pirates came flying back into the game. Even though the Pirates got the better of them in the quarter the Grizzlies still held the lead at the half but it had been cut to just a single point. The same difference that the first two games of the series came down to. As the second half got going it only took a little over a minute for the Pirates to tie the game up. For the next several minutes the score would bounce back and forth from the Grizzlies leading back to tie and so on. Grace was able to stave off the Pirates for much of the quarter but with a little more than two minutes left in the third Butte County took their first lead since very early in the first quarter. As the quarter closed out the point differential was once again just one single point. This time however it was the Pirates leading by one. It would take the Grizzlies nearly half of the fourth quarter to overcome that one point deficit and retake the lead. Grace did not hang on to the lead for long as the score bounced back and forth with several lead changes. In the end this game came down to foul shots. Neither team had shot particularly well on the night but in the fourth quarter the Grizzlies grabbed a slight edge in that category. In the fourth quarter alone the Grizzlies as a team went

Only two other local boys wrestlers made it to the podium. Grace’s Mack Jorgensen gave up a ton of size as he moved up to the 285 lb. weight class during the season. The move paid off for Jorgensen as he won a district title then went on to place sixth at state. Likewise Soda Spring’s Kellen Garbett wrestled his way to the fifth place match at state where he came up just short and finished in sixth place on the podium.

In addition to the boys wrestlers success there were also local girls competing at state. Grace’s Bella Eddins has been putting up solid performances ever since she decided to take up the sport. Eddins earned wins in her first two matches at state before losing in the semi finals. From there Bella was able to battle back to the third place match but unfortunately she came up short in that match and finished with a fourth place finish.

Last but not least Soda Spring’s Brooklyn Dodge is another one of these wrestlers that has wrestling in her blood. Brooklyn was the lone Lady Cardinal to qualify for state. Brooklyn’s state tournament started with a loss but she was not finished. Dodge won her next three matches in dominating fashion. Those three wins advanced her far enough in the tournament to secure her a spot on the podium. Unfortunately she did lose her final two matches and had to settle for sixth place. While she would have liked to finish higher, Brooklyn has earned the distinction of being the first Soda Springs girls wrestler to win a state match and the first to ever place at state. Brooklyn will have her name cemented in the record books for those accomplishments.

four out of seven from the charity stripe while the Pirates could only muster two made foul shots out of nine attempts. After the Pirates were able to cut the lead to just two points with one and a half seconds left in the game the Grizzlies just needed to get the ball inbounds to run the clock out. Grace lobbed the ball out to halfcourt where it was tipped and for a split second was up for grabs. Grace was able to secure the loose ball and the buzzer sounded handing the Grizzlies the district championship and a ticket to state. Despite their win over a solid Pirate team the Grizzlies tumultuous season resulted in a low maxprep ranking which in turn will see Grace

enter the state tournament as the bottom seed in their bracket. This means they will face top seeded Kendrick for their opening game. Taking down the Tigers will be a tall order for the Grizzlies. They will need to play near perfect to accomplish that feat but stranger things have happened when it comes to the high school version of March Madness. That opening game will take place on Thursday at noon inside Vallivue High School in Caldwell.

Cardinals Claim First District Title In Over A Decade

BY JODY REEVES

Last Thursday night inside Soda Springs high school a game took place that was every bit as thrilling and entertaining as any high school sports movie that has ever come out of Hollywood. You could not have scripted a better conclusion to an incredible district tournament for the Soda Springs Cardinals and their fans. After knocking off the number two seeded West Side Pirates the week before the Cardinals fully expected to be traveling to Wendell to face the number one seeded Trojans but that did not happen. Just as Soda Springs had pulled off the upset against West Side, Declo upset Wendell, setting up a district championship between the Cardinals and Hornets. And the cherry on top was the fact that the Cardinals would host the championship in front of their home crowd. The last time that the Cardinals had won a district title was back in 2015 and the last time that Soda Springs qualified for state in back to back seasons was 2015 and 2016.

The atmosphere in last week's title game is what fans and players dream about. The gym was packed. Declo had brought a large contingency of fans. Not to be outdone the Soda Springs fans along with the Cardinal Crazies were in full throat. All game long both fan bases cheered and jeered as the student sections chanted back and forth. As entertaining as the fans were, the game was even better. The two teams battled right down to the end and wound up needing extra time to determine a champion.

The last time these two teams met in Soda Springs the Hornets flat out bullied the Cardinals and had their way with them. This time around the normally offensive geared Cardinals would end up relying on aggressive defense to stay in the game. The aggressive play was featured by both teams with several players making their way to the foul line. In the first quarter the Cardinals shot eleven foul

shots but were only able to connect on five of those shots. The Hornets meanwhile made four of six shots from the line. Despite the struggles from the foul line the Cardinals quick hands and speed down the floor resulted in Soda Springs earning a two point lead. In the second quarter of play the Cardinals were able to briefly get some breathing room taking the lead out to six points on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately the slim lead would not last as the Hornets battled back and tied the game up. A late put back by Hansen once again gave the Cardinals a two point lead going into the halftime break. The third quarter saw the Cardinals offense sputter. Shots would not fall for anyone except Thompson. Cooper would wind up being the only Cardinal to score in the quarter. Meanwhile the Hornets were able to put enough shots in to take over the lead. As the quarter ended the Hornets now held a three point lead over the Cardinals. So it seemed as though it would all come down to this final quarter of the

game. The whole fourth quarter was a dog fight. The physical play continued by each team and each team saw a starter foul out. In that final quarter the Cardinals would have to lean on their big three for their scoring. Thompson, Hansen and McWilliams combined for nine points in the quarter. With just two and a half minutes remaining in the game the Hornets took a two point lead. Over the last two minutes the only score would come from a put back by McWilliams and as the final buzzer sounded the score was all tied up. The game would go to overtime. After struggling for much of the game at the charity stripe the Cardinals would need to knock down some freebies to get the win. The Cardinals would not score a single field goal in the overtime period but would go to the foul line for sixteen shots. The Cardinals ended up making eleven of those shots which was enough to outscore the Hornets by four. As the final buzzer sounded a decade of frustration evaporated as the Cardinals were finally once again able to hoist the

district championship trophy. As the trophy was handed over to the players the student body rushed the floor as the whole school celebrated in unison. After the loss Declo was forced to go play in Wendell in a loser out game where the Hornets did lose and were eliminated from making it to state. As for the Cardinals despite a solid season and a district title they will enter the state tournament as the seventh seeded team and will face the aforementioned Wendell Trojans in the first round. Wendell is the two seed in the tournament and defeated the Cardinals in their only match up this season. Soda Springs has the tools to pull off the upset but will have to play clean and precise. That game will take place on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Meridian High School. Cardinals

Grace Cheerleaders Bring Home Hardware

BY JODY REEVES

The Grace Grizzlies cheerleading squad entered a new era at the start of the school year with two new coaches. Shelli Welch and Diane Windley took over as coaches and right away went to work getting the squad in tip top form. Welch and Windley had worked together previously operating mini cheer classes that some of the current cheerleaders had participated in when they were younger. The Grace cheer squad ended their season with just seven girls on the team. Despite their small numbers they continued to work and set goals to compete at districts and qualify for state. The seven member team powered forward putting in several hours of hard work as they took on the mantra of Small but Mighty. When districts finally rolled around the girls were ready and confident in their routine. They had decided due to their small numbers and desire to perfect their routine that they would only compete in one out of the three divisions. They choose to focus on a pom routine. After they had completed their routine at districts they knew they had turned in a performance deserving of a state qualification. After the scores were tallied they had secured third place and qualified to go to state. The state competition took place last weekend and the girls were once again focused and ready to take their performance to the floor. Their motto of Small but Mighty was never more true as they were one of the smallest teams from one of the smallest schools in the competition. They were up against eighteen other squads from around the state and like other sports such as wrestling and golf cheerleading state combines 1A-3A in one group. This meant that the majority of their competition came from 3A schools with over a dozen girls per team. After turning in another well executed routine the Lady Grizzlies awaited the results. After the dust had settled and the scores were read the little team

The Grace cheerleaders lived up to their season motto "Small but Mighty" by bringing home a third place finish with thier pom routine.

from Grace had pulled off a third place finish earning the school's first ever state award for cheerleading. The coaches could not have been more proud and the girls could not have been more thrilled with the finish.

With just one senior on the team and a large group of incoming freshmen Grace hopes to build on this success and continue to grow the program. Watch for them to make another run next year as they will be hungry to improve on this year's finish.