Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
August 10, 2023 |Vol. 143 No. 32
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF Massive storm affects east coast
More than 300,000 homes and businesses were still in the dark Tuesday morning after massive storms pummeled much of the east coast leaving two people dead, homes without roofs and drivers stranded for hours. One person is reported to have died in Alabama as the result of a lightning strike, and a 15 year old in South Carolina was killed when a tree fell on him due to high winds. Many areas of the eastern seaboard experienced hours of power outages during the event. The storms that hammered Philadelphia all the way down to Atlanta on Monday have tapered off. But, when considering all levels of risk, 40 million people in the Plains, the Southeast and New England are now at risk for severe weather Tuesday.
Report claims breast cancer overdiagnoses
An aerial image from the current front of Malad Elementary, showing the footings for the new building.
School construction makes significant progress One common feature of the summer break is repair/upgrading of the school facilities in the district. The empty campuses provide a clear working environment for construction crews and maintenance workers who otherwise might create chaos during the school year. This summer, construction is even busier than usual, as the new elementary school project is fully underway, and several improvements to existing structures have also been needed. School District 351 Superintendent Jon Abrams is overall quite happy with the progress made so far on the many ongoing projects. According to Abrams, they will be pouring footings
at the elementary school this week, which will clearly signal the forward momentum of the building project. In addition to the building itself, they are also installing the newer playground equipment for the current elementary behind the school. As Abrams notes, “It feels like a slow process, but they are making great strides.” The school is slated for construction during the upcoming school year, but the hope is that the disruption to the attending students will be able to be minimized. Abrams has acknowledged all along, however, that the year itself will come with a certain amount of unavoidable chaos as the construction will take place quite literally right
outside the windows of the current school. The high school has also had some changes over the summer. “We have a new bus drop-off /pick-up between the middle school and the high school. This will alleviate the congestion in the front of the school before and after school,” Abrams said. The project has been on the burner for some time, and he expressed excitement at having that particular project completed. The resulting improved traffic flow should help during the normal end of schoolday operations, as well as those times when athletic events overlap with open SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION On Page 3
Races Canceled due to wet conditions After months of anticipation, the first weekend’s pari-mutuel races were canceled after the racing commission track inspector determined that the underlying track conditions were still too wet to allow for safe races on Sunday. A similar decision was made Saturday by Todd Thomas, though it was clear early in the morning that such was likely to be the case. Rainfall had created a number of holes and some areas of uneven ground on the track, which poses a danger to the horses and jockeys. Regardless of the inconvenience to those who had been hoping for a day of racing, safety always has to come first in a sport RACES CANCELED On Page 3
In the US, about 240,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women every year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. Health care providers and patients alike are usually inclined to pursue treatment to stop the disease. But some experts say that it isn’t always necessary to treat breast cancer in older women with aggressive therapy. The report does not state that breast cancer cases are mistaken but it states that many of the diagnoses are of cancers that would not become medically dangerous but are treated anyway. Experts believe that more refined tests, which are in development, will help mitigate the overdiagnoses in the future, though they advise women to continue to be screened.
Moscow murder suspect suggests possible defense
Lawyers for Brian Kohberger, arrested on suspicion of having killed four University of Idaho students in November of 2022, have indicated that they plan to present evidence that the defendant was “on a solo drive” at the time of the murders. Camera footage of a car matching Kohberger’s, as well as cell phone pings, place him in the area of the murders. Familial DNA also links Kohberger to a knife sheath found at the murder scene.
Stickers aim to improve teen driving
An Idaho company called “How’s My Teen Driver?’ has launched, with the intention of increasing the safety of teen drivers on the road. The company provides parents with a sticker for the rear of the car. The sticker includes a phone number and QR code which other drivers can use to report the behavior of teen drivers, both positive and negative. While the company representatives explained that teen drivers have been resistant to the stickers, parents have reported positive changes in their teens’ driving behavior.
Idaho Fish and Game will be holding Learn to Hunt and Fish day camps
The racetrack conditions were deemed too dangerous to allow races over the weekend
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE THIS WEEK Pickleball Court.....................................Pg.2 Fair Schedule........................................Pg.3 Puzzles..................................................Pg.5
Looking Back......................................................Pg.6 New Athletic Director...............................................Pg.9 Sports Calendar.....................................................Pg.12
The classes will run from August 14 to the 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Cedar Hills Gun Club in Blackfoot. Fish and Game will be offering live fire mentorship for both .22 rifles and compound bows, certifying hunter and bowhunter education, and teaching casting. Students must attend all portions of the class in order to pass their certifications. To register visit the Idaho Fish and Game website at idfg.idaho.gov.