Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
May 23, 2024 |Vol. 144 No. 21
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF
Iranian president dies in helicopter crash
Oneida County Search and Rescue divers work to recover a vehicle sighted in Weston Reservoir.
Tragic Discovery at Weston Reservoir
On Thursday, the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, along with Oneida County Search and Rescue and Oneida County Ambulance recovered a car from Weston Reservoir near the border with Franklin County. West Bountiful police confirmed later that the car contained Kay Prince Vest, who had been reported missing on April 8. The car had been spotted by a local fisherman, according to Detective Jenny Hawkes who headed up the investigation for the Sheriff’s Office. The same fisherman had reported a break in the fence line near the area several weeks ago, but had not seen any evidence of a vehicle or damage to the landscape and presumably assumed that it was the result of a hit and run from which the vehicle had fled the scene. The fisherman repaired the fence at the time, and had not mentioned it until spotting what he thought might be a vehicle and alerting authorities. The specific area where the car left the road is in such a position that the water where the vehicle ultimately
came to rest is difficult to see from the road. Detective Hawkes explained that the car traveled some distance, some of it in the air, before entering the water in what must have been a confusing and disorienting situation. The time of day during which the accident happened is not known, though it was reported that Vest may have asked for directions to Bountiful along the frontage road in the Downey area the day of or before the incident. EMS, the Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue and volunteers spent time driving around the area after Vest was reported missing from her West Bountiful home by neighbors. It was reported that she may have been in a confused state at the time she was reported missing, though no specific details in that area were available. No foul play is suspected in the incident. The Oneida County Sheriff's office expressed their sincere condolences to the family of Kay Vest. Detective Jenny Hawkes, Chief of Detectives Doug Williams, and Sheriff Arne
Elections held Tuesday; Results Wednesday
The primary season is finally over, barring any extremely unlikely ties or run-off elections. Due to both the election and the printing schedules, however, the Enterprise will not be able to print the results of Tuesday’s election in the main print section of the paper until official results have been canvassed next Monday. In lieu of that, we will include an insert in this week’s edition with the unofficial results posted by the clerk’s office on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, which you will find inside today’s paper. Bear in mind that the results are not fully official until the Board of County Commissioners has officially accepted them at their next scheduled meeting, which, again, is next Monday. In preparation for the election, Oneida County’s Central Republican Committee hosted the Lincoln Day Dinner for the third year in a row, returning after a several year hiatus. This year’s event gave candidates for state offices, county commission seats, and precinct committeeperson positions a chance to introduce themselves to the Republican voters in attendance, as well as support the efforts of the Central Committee through an auction which will help fund efforts to send delegates to the state convention. In addition to the candidate introductions, which saw every candidate in attendance get a chance to present their positions and plans for the future to the crowd, the event featured the re-
marks of Idaho State GOP Chair Dorothy Moon, event emcee Sterling Smith, and featured speaker Jim Noorlander. Noorlander closed the event with a discussion of what he saw as the difference between “freedom” and “liberty,” which he essentially defined as the difference between license and morality, encouraging the audience to pursue a moral path in life and in politics. The event was catered by the IronDoor Smokehouse, which provided pork with a number of sides. The Boy Scouts provided the flag ceremony for the evening, which also featured a musical number by the Christine Snow and Marie Addis, accompanied by Jean Thomas on the Event Center’s newly acquired piano. While some of the tension between the two wings of the current GOP—one of which is more firmly aligned with MAGA movement politics and the other is not—was evident during the evening’s dinner, this was largely the case at the statewide level, rather than locally. In terms of local candidates, politeness and mutual respect seemed to be the ruling ethos and were in fact mentioned by a number of the candidates in their presentations. Shared concerns about issues such as growth, the impact of immigration on the local economy, and protection of land and gun rights were expressed by many of the candidates, but it was clear that there was a shared belief in protecting the rural, small-town culture which defines the
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE
Community Events.............................. Pg. 2 MES Goals.......................................... Pg. 4 Puzzles................................................ Pg. 6
Kay Prince Vest
Jones responded to the initial call, and expressed their thanks to everyone else who was involved in the recovery, including the Search and Rescue Divers, and Albert’s Service for towing assistance.
Keynote speaker Jim Noorlander spoke to a full room at this year's Republican dinner.
Malad valley, while allowing business and private industry to flourish as well. With Oneida County generally voting over 85% Republican in general elections, the primary essentially has stood in for the general election for several decades. Although one can never predict how things may change down the road (both Oneida county and Idaho itself have had periods characterized by iconic Democratic leaders like Frank Church and Cecil Andrus), it is likely that the primary results will also stand in for the general election results. In both cases, the vast majority of votes will be for the GOP, but it will be interesting to see which direction, if such a thing can be said to exist in local election results, the county seems to be leaning heading toward November.
Looking Back.......................................Pg. 8 School Board Report.........................Pg. 10 Sports...........................................Pg. 11-12
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with a number of other high-ranking government officials, died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, according to official sources. Raisi was an ultraconservative cleric who was seen by many as the natural successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The Islamic Republic is currently experiencing a period of increased regional tension as the result of the war underway in Gaza and simmering conflicts. Domestic politics are also in a period of discontent, as more progressive forces are straining against the ultraconservative religious state’s policies in a number of areas.
Housing meeting planned for June 5
The City is working with Molly Beseris at 4-CASI and AARP for a public meeting on missing housing in Malad and Oneida County. AARP has hired an expert to help identify what that looks like in Malad. The meeting is scheduled for June 5 at the Fire Station at 6 p.m. The primary focus of the meeting will be to discuss planning for housing that is accessible for residents of all ages, but with a focus on retirement age issues as they relate to housing needs. Residents, family members, developers, planners, contractors, and anyone else involved with issues related to accessible housing are encouraged to attend.
Interfaith Council Mother’s Day Event
Oneida County Interfaith Council celebrated Mother’s Day early on May 11th, 2024 at Thomas Market from 10 AM to 2 PM. A free drawing for Hanging Flower Baskets and $25.00 Gift Certificates at Thomas Market was entered by 101 lovely ladies! The six Flower baskets were donated by Interfaith Council, Edith’s Collective and Daisy Hollow and were won by Catie Fesler, Tracy Ward, Mandi Ward, Carol Rabuck, Diana Carter and Patsy Sherman. The Gift Certificate winners were JoLyn Trick, Teresa Stromberg, Joan Nielsen and Annessa Gibbs. Interfaith Council will be celebrating Father’s Day on Saturday, June 15th at Hess Lumber from 10 AM to 2 PM. Hot Dogs sponsored by Hess Lumber will be served and many free raffle items will be given away. Drop by for “dogs and deals” and fun!
American Legion Plans Memorial Services
The American Legion Ernest W. Jones Post #65 and the American Legion Auxiliary is sponsoring this year’s Memorial Day program Monday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m. at the Malad City Cemetery. The program will feature the MHS Band playing the National Anthem, County Commissioner Brian Jeppsen as the guest speaker, the Three Volley Salute and ringing of the Gold Star Bell, and the official opening of the Million Broken Hearts Monument by Jill Vanderwood. The three volley salute will then be performed around the valley at many locations: Snowville at 9 a.m., Holbrook at 9:30 a.m., St. John at 10:15 a.m., Pleasantview at 12:15 p.m., Samaria at 12:30 p.m., Portage at 1:15 p.m., Washakie at 1:30 p.m., Plymouth at 1:50 p.m., and Cherry Creek at 2:10 p.m. All members of the Post are invited to participate in the services, and all county residents are encouraged to attend the services.