Malad | April 16, 2026

Evening of the Arts returns to raise funds for Nell J Redfield

The 13th annual Evening of the Arts fundraiser for Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital was held last week, and brought many supporters out to enjoy fine art, the artists who made it, music, and auctions of the “live” and “silent” varieties. The auction tables were overflowing with auction baskets, and the live auction portion of the evening featured competitive bidding for some unique items by local donors and artists.

Throughout the night, friends, family, providers, board members, artists, and interested members of the community mingled and spent a warm evening together supporting local artists and the hospital.

Over the last decade-plus, the Evening of the Arts has provided an opportunity for local artists to showcase their talents. This year, the focus was on Krystal Tavoian Fonnesbeck (drawing and painting), Nathan Maughan (metal work), Lloyd Bush (turquoise jewelry), Katie Tapp (oil painting), and Lisa Willie (photography). The artists were all present to talk about their art with the attendees, and many of them donated auction items for the evening as well.

Artwork from a variety of students throughout the valley was also displayed during the evening.

In addition to artwork, students were also involved in the form of the Consumer Science Class at Malad High School, who made the refresh-

ments, and the Malad High School Chamber Choir, who performed four numbers, “She’s Like a Swallow,” “Come to the Music,” Aloha ‘Oe,” and “Wayfaring Stranger” under the direction of Foster Garrett.

The Evening of the Arts is the major fund raiser sponsored by the Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the community was out in force in support. Silent auction tables buzzed all night long until the final bell, and after placing a bid the only option was to get back in line to make a new bid, since the first one would almost always have been beaten by the time you made it around again.

Hospital CEO John Williams performed auctioneer duties, and kept the bidding lively, as bidders competed for original artwork including Dianne Adams paintings “Red Rock,” and “Sugar Pine,” a one of a kind bell crafted by artist Doug Adams, Jerry Camp’s painting “Solitude and Majesty,” Katie Tapp’s painting “The Barn,” Krystal Fonnesbeck’s “Lion” colored pencil work, a Blackstone Griddle from Ward’s Ace, a Camp Chef Smokepro from Hess Lumber, a Camp Chef Woodwind Pro Pellet Grill from Maddox Family Farms, and a Carbon fishing rod from Wasatch Rod Works.

Members of the Foundation Board are Lynn Moore, Chair, Kallie Blaisdell, Bonnie John, Paula Davis, Deb-

bie Bean, Brandon Ekstrom, Jody Farr, Elvin Hill, Kathy Hubbard, Krista Karn, Grant Steed, John Williams, and Jean Thomas (ex officio).

Hospital Board members are Shellee Daniels, Lance Bird, Susan Hill Krista Karn, Dan Bastian, Von Bean, Mary Lyndon, John Williams, and Bill Lewis.

The following is a list of donors and sponsors of the event’s auction items:

Agrisource, Allen Drug & Sue Evans, Bamma Wamma's, Basic American Foods, Black Swan, Boyer Welding - Parker Boyer, Brady's Plant Ranch, Broulim's, Burbidge Custom Timbers, City of Malad, Country ChemDry, CP Build, CWC, Daisy Hollow Floral & Gifts, Dan & Susan Williams, Davis Sod, Defend Pest & Lawn, Double or Nothing Wholesale, Edith's Collective, Emily Christiansen, Firth Cattle Company, Ganache Pastry & Gelato, Hair By Lisa, Haven Home Furnishings, Preston ID, Heather Phillips, Hess Lumber, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, InReach Lab Partners, J Peak Propane, John Wms. Properties, Kanine Korner, Krista Karn & Shelley Blaisdell, Kristi Christophersen, Lava Hot Springs, Legrande Aqua Plunge, Little Giant Ladder, Lloyd Bush, Malad Bowl, Malad Valley Dental Clinic, Minky

Firth joins City Council for first full meeting

City Councilmember Jaime Olsen attended her last city council meeting last month. Due to moving outside of the city limits, Olsen resigned from her position on the council, which she has held since 2022. Melissa Firth’s name was presented to the council for approval to complete Olsen’s term of office. Firth was approved unanimously, and after being sworn in began her duties as a councilmember. She joins Councilmember John Williams, who took his seat at the beginning of the year, as well as Tyrell Neal and Lance Tripp. For Firth it was something of a trial by fire, as the meeting was what some folks might call a barn-burner, but everyone could agree was nothing short of five hours.

Judicial Confirmation

The city held an informational meeting and hearing with the public several weeks ago to take input on the possibility of proceeding with the judicial

confirmation process in lieu of a bond election to create the funding for a water project that will upgrade elements of the water system in order to create greater longevity for the infrastructure, reduce water loss, prevent catastrophic failure, and anticipate weather years like the present one seems to be. Krys-

tal Denney from SICOG spoke to the council regarding the decision to proceed with judicial confirmation for the water project, which would allow the city to pursue those goals while locking in a $1.1 million grant to reduce overall costs.

Councilmember Neal noted that the questions at the meeting had been thoughtful, and that he felt that the opposition expressed was to the process rather than the goal. He reiterated the position that was was paramount was to provide “clean, safe drinking water to our residents.”

Mayor Hawkins and the council noted that not many people attended the meeting, despite Facebook, website, newspaper, and other promotional announcements.

A resolution to seek judicial confirmation passed a vote by the council.

CITY COUNCIL

On Page 4

Iran Update

Since last Thursday, the war involving Iran has rapidly escalated again after a brief attempt at de-escalation failed. A twoweek ceasefire agreed to last week quickly unraveled amid continued airstrikes and disputes over its scope, especially near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Over the weekend, negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed, primarily over disagreements about nuclear issues and control of regional shipping routes. In response, the United States initiated a major naval blockade targeting Iranian ports and maritime traffic, marking a significant escalation toward direct confrontation. The Hormuz crisis has intensified, threatening a key global oil chokepoint. Economic repercussions have followed immediately, with oil prices surging above $100 per barrel and global markets destabilizing. The United Nations warns the conflict could push tens of millions into poverty, underscoring the widening global impact.

Artemis returns to Earth

The Artemis II mission, completed over the weekend, marked humanity’s first crewed journey around the Moon since Apollo 17. Four astronauts traveled aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft on a roughly 10-day mission, covering about 694,000 miles and reaching a record distance of over 250,000 miles from Earth. The spacecraft performed a lunar flyby, passing within a few thousand miles of the Moon and looping around its far side using a free-return trajectory. During the mission, the crew conducted scientific observations, captured detailed images, and tested critical systems such as navigation, life support, and the heat shield for reentry. Communication briefly blacked out while passing behind the Moon, as expected. The mission concluded with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Artemis II demonstrated that NASA can safely send humans into deep space, paving the way for future lunar landings.

Resignations add to chaotic election picture

Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales have recently resigned from their positions in the U.S. House of Representatives before completing their terms. Swalwell, a longtime representative from California, announced his resignation after a period of sustained public attention and scrutiny related to prior controversies connected to his tenure. Gonzales, who represented a large Texas district, stepped down following ongoing criticism and tensions tied to his legislative decisions and voting record. Both resignations trigger formal processes to fill their vacant seats, typically through special elections governed by state law. Until replacements are chosen, their districts remain without voting representation in the House. These departures mark notable shifts in congressional membership and come during a period of heightened political pressure and visibility for elected officials at the national level, underscoring the challenges associated with maintaining public office in a closely scrutinized environment.

Specialty Crops Acreage Reporting Deadline for 2025 is Now April 24

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the agency is reopening the 2025 crop acreage reporting period required for specialty crop producers who want to apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. Announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on Feb. 13, the ASCF program is designed to help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports. Specialty crop producers now have until April 24, 2026, to report 2025 acres to FSA.

The ASCF program is authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act.

Eligible Specialty Crops ASCF-eligible specialty crops include: (A) Almond, Apple, Apricot, Aronia berry, Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado (B) Banana, Bean (Snap or green; Lima; Dry edible), Beet (Table), Blackberry, Blueberry, Breadfruit, Broccoli (including Broccoli

Raab), Brussels Sprouts (C) Cabbage (including Chinese), Cacao, Carrot, Cashew, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cherimoya, Cherry, Chestnut (for Nuts), Chive, Citrus, Coconut, Coffee, Collards (including Kale), Cranberry, Cucumber, Currant (D) Date, (E) Eggplant, Endive (F) Feijou, Fig, Filbert (Hazelnut) (G) Garlic, Gooseberry, Grape (including Raisin), Guava (H) Horseradish (K) Kiwi, Kohlrabi (L) Leek, Lettuce, Litchi (M) Macadamia, Mango, Melon (All Types), Mushroom (Cultivated), Mustard and Other Greens (N) Nectarine (O) Okra, Olive, Onion, (P) Papaya, Parsley, Parsnip, Passion Fruit, Pea (Garden; English or Edible Pod; Dry edible), Peach, Pear, Pecan, Pepper, Persimmon, Pineapple, Pistachio, Plum (including Prune), Pomegranate, Potato, Pumpkin (Q) Quince (R) Radish (All Types), Raspberry, Rhubarb, Rutabaga (S) Salsify, Spinach, Squash (Summer and Winter), Strawberry, Suriname Cherry, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard (T) Taro,

Tomato (including Tomatillo), Tur-

nip (W) Walnut, Watermelon

*Dry edible beans and peas covered by the Farmer Bridge Assistance program will not be eligible for ASCF. Commodities covered by FBA will not be eligible for ASCF.

Program Participation ASCF payments are based on reported 2025 planted acres. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by Friday, April 24, 2026. USDA will release commodity-specific payment rates soon after the acreage reporting deadline.

Following completion of acreage reporting, producers are encouraged to prepare for the eventual announcement of the ASCF program application period by creating a Login.gov account. Doing so ensures that once FSA starts taking ASCF program applications, those producers who wish to apply online will experience an expedited application and payment process. Assistance will also be available through local FSA county offices.

Login.gov is the public’s one account for government engagement. Producers can use one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies, including FSA. Begin the Login.gov process by visiting fsa.usda.gov/fba to create a Login.gov account. Producers who have an existing Login.gov account can work with FSA using their existing account. For assistance creating a login.gov account, visit https://login.gov/help/. Crop insurance linkage will not be required for the ASCF program. However, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) risk management tools to best protect against price risk and volatility in the future.

More information on ASCF is available online at https://www.fsa. usda.gov/fba. Producers can contact their local FSA county office to make an appointment to complete their 2025 crop acreage report.

Water Supply Outlook Report for 2026 provides warnings

A recently released report from the NRSC (Natural Resources Conservation Science) stated that Idaho’s snowpack peaked nearly three weeks early on March 17 and was one of the lowest on record since they began snowpack measurements in the 1930s, according to Erin Whorton, Water Supply Specialist for NRCS Idaho. “Every Idahoan will feel the impacts of this low snow year. With the snowpack rapidly melting at even the highest elevations, streamflow will likely peak earlier and at much lower levels than normal. Changes in timing and amount of runoff pose significant water supply challenges for agricultural producers, the outdoor recreation, and energy sectors. With very little snow left in the mountains to sustain streamflow into the dry summer months, our rivers could reach record low flow conditions.”

Given the historically low snowpack conditions, NRCS encourages water users to consider the ‘drier scenario’, this year, in addition to the midrange forecast to reduce their risk.

Whorton added, “the Western U.S. is experiencing an unprecedented snow drought and with the rapid melt off, the opportunity for wildfires to start is longer. Even if the fire season isn’t bad in Idaho, it’s likely we’ll see impacts from smoke from neighboring states.”

Current snowpack and precipitation conditions for each basin can be accessed via https://nwcc-apps.sc.egov. usda.gov/imap

The issues of drought and wildfire are perennial concerns for southeast Idaho, for economic reasons among many others. Wildfire affects weather patterns which affect agriculture directly and indirectly. Tourism and recreation are also heavily impacted

by drought and fire. Resource needs for financial, material, and economic emergency responses also escalate during those conditions.

The 2025 wildfire season in southeastern Idaho was busy (though less severe than the record-setting 2024 season). This year has the potential to be much more extreme.

Last year, Fire activity began early and peaked between July and September, with lightning as the primary ignition source. As a result of the reduced moisture content over the winter, the fire window is likely to creep earlier into the summer.

Several fires in central Idaho wilderness areas, including the Big Bear and Rush fires, grew to thousands of acres and led to evacuations, closures, and smoke impacts across southeastern Idaho communities in 2025. Rugged terrain and clustered lightning strikes challenged firefighting efforts and stretched resources at times.

Overall, the 2025 season saw persistent wildfire risk driven by fuel buildup and climate conditions, even in a comparatively moderate year.

The 2026 wildfire season in southeastern Idaho is forecast to be potentially severe, driven by a combination of low snowpack, early heat, and ongoing drought conditions. Much of the Mountain West, including southern Idaho, entered the year with a significant “snow drought,” with some areas reporting snowpack as low as about 20% of normal, which can lead to earlier drying of vegetation and increased susceptibility to ignition. Warmer-than-normal spring temperatures and limited precipitation are expected to accelerate this further, drying fuels and potentially lengthening the fire season.

National outlooks indicate gener-

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ally normal fire potential through late spring, followed by a likely increase into summer as conditions become hotter and drier. Experts from a variety of agencies also warn that widespread drought and early-season heat across the western U.S. could lead to an earlier start and heightened fire activity overall. 2026 is expected to bring elevated wildfire risk, especially if dry, warm conditions persist into summer. If fire conditions equal or exceed those of 2024, significant resources are likely to be required to combat fire throughout the state and region.

As another problem, if the 2026 wildfire outlook for southeastern Idaho plays out as forecast—early snowmelt, low snowpack, warmer-than-normal spring temperatures, and an earlier, longer fire season—the ag sector will almost certainly face a mix of water stress, growing-season pressure, and smoke-related impacts.

The biggest concern would be water availability for irrigation, since Idaho ag depends heavily on snowpack-fed river systems. Low snowpack typically reduces late-summer streamflows in basins like the Snake River and Bear River systems, which can lead to earlier irrigation restrictions, reduced water allocations, or tighter reservoir management. This can directly affect yields for key crops such as hay, alfalfa, barley, potatoes, and sugar beets, especially in southeastern Idaho where

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irrigation is essential.

Hotter, drier conditions will also increase crop stress and soil moisture loss, raising irrigation demand just as water supplies become more limited. Livestock producers could face reduced forage quality and pasture availability, increasing feed costs.

Wildfire smoke could intermittently reduce sunlight and air quality, potentially slowing crop growth and affecting worker safety during harvest periods. Additionally, increased wildfire activity raises risks to rangelands, fencing, and rural infrastructure, adding recovery and insurance costs.

Overall, the forecast conditions suggest higher production risk, increased water competition, and greater variability in yields, even if total acreage planted remains stable.

There is little chance that late spring precipitation will provide enough of a bulwark against the small snowpack. Even if late rains become abundant, the streamflow is likely to be very low by the end of summer in any case.

It’s not something that anyone wants to hear, but concern about the weather year and moisture conditions have certainly been rumbling through producers ever since mid-winter.

On the municipal side of the equation, water restrictions will most likely be in effect by necessity as the overall availability of water resources becomes scarcer.

DIABETES EDUCATION GROUP Next meeting will be April 23 @ 1:30 p.m. Contact Pamela Mills RD, LD, CDCES 208-766-2231 or email pamela.mills@oneidahospital.com

EOTA

Couture, Mountain Momma's Paw Spa, NAPA Hess Truck, Auto, Ag #1, Newswander Apiaries, On The Run, Oneida County EMS, Oneida Crisis Center, Oneida Family Dental, Photo Shoot with Lisa Willie, Pizza Stop/ Las Fiestas, Malad Drive-In & Idaho Enterprise, Pizza Stop, The Pines, Rocking A Ranch Russell & Wendy Boyer, Ron Keller Tire, Skyway Golf & Country Club & Krista Karn, The Butcher Farm Store, The Gym, The Sharper Edge, Thomas Electric & Furniture, Tiny Tots Daycare & Preschool, Verlene Williams, Wildflower Salon, Wishing Willow Treats, Dianne Adams, Doug Adams, Jerry Camp, Krystal Fonnesbeck, Wasatch Rod Works, Ward's Ace & Country Store, Katie Tapp, Oxford Packing, Albert's Service, ATC Communications, Chivaroli & Associates, InReach Lab Partners, Mountain States Insurance Group, Northern Title, PT Solutions-Greg Compton

The Legislative session and Ag

BY ALLISON ELIASON

The heart of the agriculture industry can be found in the fields and on the range where farmers and ranchers grow their products. Between the calving, planting, branding, fixing things (and fixing them again), and everything in between, there isn’t a lot of time to stay up to date with what Idaho’s legislation is doing to keep its farmers and ranchers in business. Regardless of keeping up with what’s happening at the capitol, there’s a lot happening out there that will have an impact, direct or otherwise, on Idaho’s producers.

One of those is a new allowance for wolf trappers to check traps remotely using transmitting cameras. If you’ve ever known someone who checks traps (or have done it yourself), you know it’s not exactly a quick trip down the lane. This gives trappers a way to monitor things without covering quite so many miles, while still doing the job responsibly.

Another one hits a little closer to

home for just about anyone who’s ever hauled equipment down a public road. There’s now clearer language giving farmers and ranchers the ability to use reasonable judgment when pulling over slow-moving equipment to let traffic pass.

Which is helpful… because most of us have been in that situation where you would pull over—if there was actually a safe place to do it. It’s a small shift, but one that better reflects the reality of moving equipment that wasn’t exactly designed with highway shoulders in mind.

There were also a couple of wins on the marketing side of agriculture. One bill focuses on labeling alternative proteins, ensuring products that aren’t traditional meat are clearly identified as such. In plain terms: if it didn’t come from livestock, it shouldn’t be marketed like it did. That helps protect both producers and consumers, and keeps things honest in a marketplace that’s getting more crowded and more creative by the day.

Another piece of legislation opens

the door wider for direct-to-consumer sales. For ranchers who sell beef straight to families, this is a meaningful shift. It supports the idea that the person raising the animal should have a clearer, simpler path to selling it—without jumping through so many hoops along the way.

Ongoing funding for rangeland improvement projects got a little push from congress, a bonus that could help even our local ranchers. These are the kinds of efforts that improve water access, maintain fences, and help keep grazing ground productive. It’s not something most people think about day-to-day, but it plays a big role for those using the rangelands and in the sustainability of ranching over time.

There were also several changes aimed at how Idaho manages its natural resources at a higher level, including combining offices that deal with species conservation, minerals, and energy into one coordinated group. The idea is to streamline communication and decision-making.

Then there are the parts of legislation that don’t get much attention but you’d notice pretty quickly if they disappeared. Budget bills that keep the Brand Board running. Funding for the Department of Agriculture. Support for equipment, personnel, and the day-to-day systems that keep the wheels turning. Not exciting— but absolutely necessary. There was also movement aimed at supporting veterinary students, particularly those who may go on to serve rural areas. And if you’ve ever tried to find a large-animal vet in a pinch, you know that’s not just a future issue—it’s a right now issue. Idaho’s legislation session is officially over for the year and producers have to be grateful that the ag industry was on the minds of congress. Even little decisions for greater efficiency and sustainability can make a big difference across the state for farmers and ranchers. We might not understand all the bills and their legal jargon, but we can hope and pray that the decisions made can actually make a positive impact.

C

City Council

Senior Center

Commissioner Brian Jeppsen spoke to the city council about the senior center building. He explained that the city and the county both own the building. The county is happy to deed it to the city, but the city felt that it would be better to deed it to the county.

Director Dave Colton had raised the issue, as it came up during discussions of selling a car that was used by the senior center.

City Attorney Brett Evanson noted that the main issue is that both the council and commissioners need to approve actions to the building, which can make the process slow.

Councilmember (CM) Neal agreed that it served everyone, and he liked the way that the project needs both entities to be involved.

CM Tripp noted that sharing expenses is also a nice feature.

Brian Jeppsen added that they are both vested if something comes up.

“It might be an extra meeting to get something done, but at least we will all be aware of what is happening,” CM Neal said.

Molly Besaris

Besaris spoke to the council about an issue that had been presented to her. She has had two businesses contact her about Malad being an “EV charging desert.” This is a designation that applies if there isn’t a charging station within a 50 mile gap. McCammon and Snowville both have them, which creates a 65 mile gap between. Several local business owners, according to Besaris, have visitors come through without places to charge, and have at times hooked people to generators for up to 12 hours.

Local gas stations have people ask all the time. She talked to Tesla and others to help, but has not had luck with that approach.

She located a department of Gems and Minerals $50K grant that would fund a study to determine needs and create a path forward. It’s for public partnerships. The grant was approved to Malad for $42K. It is 100% covered, if the council accepts it.

The study would only determine the viability and plan for bringing charging stations to town, it would not determine whether such a thing was done, where it would be done, or by whom.

Clerk Wittman noted that a similar study about hotel viability had been very useful in the past.

The grant was accepted and the study will begin soon.

Forsgren

Camille Miller joined the meeting via zoom. Mayor Hawkins informed the council that an agreement needed to be singed for professional services from Forsgren for Bannock Street work. “We are going to do all the inspections, construction admin, ITD paperwork, material testing for QA. All of that is built into the contract,” she said.

Camille then spoke about the project on 1000 N road. Attorney Evanson has talked to the county’s Attorney Lyle Fuller about it. They received another grant to take

the Bannock street project to 1000 N, which is partly in county property.

The county could also vacate the road, which would then be annexed into the city. If the county wants to keep the road, would they want to be involved in the design process.

Evanson proposed an MOU authorizing the city to do the work, or turn it over, or annex it. Fuller didn’t foresee any issues with an MOU.

CM Neal said he would rather use the grant to update the road, but let the county keep it. “I would rather them keep ownership of the road and we’ll upgrade it.”

CM Tripp noted that it is an area that is highly likely to be annexed in the next 10 years.

Mayor Hawkins said that if the county keeps the road they should be involved.

The second issue for Forsgren involved trees at the Park. There are a couple of trees in the way of where the outflow pipe area is. They will have to be removed or relocated. Trevor Robbins could move the two small trees with forest service maintenance funds. The other five, the contractor has agreed to take them out, should they need to. Three are quite small, and Trevor thinks he can move them. One is a very large tree that they might be able to remove with the right equipment. The cost should fall under the Forest Service money. Robbins thinks he would move them as close as possible to where they currently are.

“I understand the value we’ve put in these trees, but if we’ve got to get a pipe through there to stop people from flooding their basements, so be it,” CM Neal said.

“Time is of the essence,” Miller said, noting that the trench will be started on April 20.

A Disc golf tournament is scheduled for the 25th in the same area.

The pipe should be installed by the end of August. FEMA will need to complete the pipe to create the overflow.

Tyler Webster noted that there will be flooding on Bannock and 1st without the overflow.

Candy Broadus and Trissa Nesbit

The two spoke to the council about 4th of July celebration plans. Malad’s Got Talent is back on for both nights. All the songs that people play will be patriotic.

Last year they had a hypnotist came, but this year they have an open slot. They asked for ideas from the council. The band costs $4000. The HS band is too hard to get together for the July 4, due to scheduling.

The issue of potentially moving the location of the fireworks was discussed.

April 11-17 is the Week of the Young Child

A proclamation to that effect was signed in support of education from birth through age 8.

Cemetery Saturday Pay

It costs $200 extra to have a Saturday burial, due to city resources, primarily manpower. Digging requires 2 people, because 6 feet exceeds OSHA. The backfill-only portion can be done

NOW HIRING

MAINTENANCE CREW MEMBER

The City of Malad is currently accepting applications for a Maintenance Crew position. This role involves general maintenance, repairs, and upkeep of city facilities, streets, and public areas. Applicants should be dependable, hardworking, and able to work in a variety of weather conditions.

Requirements may include:

• Valid driver’s license

• Ability to operate equipment and tools

• Strong work ethic and reliability

Apply at: Malad City Hall

The City of Malad is an equal opportunity employer.

by one person. The time is not clocked in, but based on the set pay rate. According to Superintendent Webster, most of the crew do not want to do it on Saturday, so there is not a lot of competition for the job. The question was whether the pay was per person, or per burial. In other words, was it pay for $100 for each person for a total of $200, or would it be $200 for a person who did it alone in a situation where it was considered safe. CM Tripp motioned to divide the $200 Saturday fee between the number of people who do the work, which passed.

Sheriff Williams DW Incident reports went from 100 to nearly double, same with the city. Speeding tickets are up.

Park activity. CM Tripp has looked at cameras from 8pm-11pm, and he sees that there are teenagers at the park in that time he worries are going to break the new playground equipment. There is some concern about safety and liability.

Williams said that the police don’t have a lot of time to patrol everywhere, but they do sweeps through the parking lot, and check on the park often.

The park ordinance has been published and is in the code, but it is felt that they need to put up a sign and address the fact that curfew is earlier than the listed park hours.

Sheriff Williams said that in person visits are a good deterrent.

There are concerns about increased problems after school’s out for summer.

Williams relayed his concerns about staffing. “It is getting better,” he said. But he noted that there was another issue, which was that “If I get fully staffed tomorrow, that leaves us with 70% inexperienced staff, and two that know their stuff.” While he believes that “You have to have a mix between experience and inexperience” he noted that the new hires will take 9-10 months before they can finish the Post Academy .

The city contract requires the city and the county to have a $500K policy for liability. “One single lawsuit— civil rights or force—the average payout is millions,” Williams noted. The concern was in reference to the high percentage of less experienced employees.

“I’m working my tail off, and have been finding out a lot of interesting stuff budget-wise. I’m looking for ways to keep and retain good officers. It’s not just the incidents, it’s the mental stuff. The trauma you see from the families. That’s why I’m fighting so hard,” he said.

Shelly Williams

There was a discussion about how ordinances can be enforced in the county. CM Tripp noted that they have been improved in the city thanks to John Christophersen. There are several properties potentially in violation of the animal ordinance, with pigs, goats, etc. “That’s something to look into” Christophersen said.

The council reiterated that they need to enforce ordinances when there are complaints.

Recreation

Because Melissa Firth joined the

council, she will be stepping down from Rec Board.

The Howells and Director Scott Ray did an inventory of the baseball/softball equipment. There is a lot of stuff that needs to be replaced or purchased. Ray asked the council for approval to purchase equipment.

CM Neal suggested that they spend as needed on equipment and keep the kids in good supply.

Money from registration fees goes into the department’s account, and the council noted the “The reason we have those fees is so we can keep up with this stuff.”

CM Tripp suggested $2000 each for softball and for baseball.

Atty Evanson talked to Ray about liability as it applies to people who come in to play at the court. He will create a city waiver for tournaments, etc. to try to limit liability.

Can they bring in an electrician to make the lights work better? Mayor Hawkins said Ray should get an estimate for doing it. They will look at options.

Playground

Members of the Playground Committee gave an overview of the playground project. There is money still coming in. They have raised $230K so far. Installation went very well. The City crew and Doug Crowther were thanked. “There was just tons of in-kind donations,” Nicole Daniels said. Malad High Athletics came in to spread mulch. They are ready for a ribbon cutting, and discussed ideas with the city.

They had a simple idea of just a ribbon cutting, as well as more involved possibilities. They have a variety of ideas. A lowkey plan with popsicles and a simple ribbon cutting was tentatively agreed to.

There is still money trickling in, so they want to wait before they put the donor plaque in to move forward with it.

CM Tripp noted, “I wanted to say, it’s been amazing working with this committee on this. That this can happen in a year is just crazy.”

Tyler Webster

They are starting the cemetery prep. They are raising graves right now. Webster talked about leak detection. He ran into an engineer from Burley with an ultrasound/ultrasonic technology that can provide training for $28K to use this equipment, which can be used to find leaks.

John Christophersen

“I’ve been busy with dogs. Had a few in the pound. Sent out letters. Talked with Prosecutor about pursuing misdemeanors,” Christophersen said. He would like to work on a dog pound. He thinks they could do something for under $20K. He would like to put up a fence around the current spot to keep cows out.

He is going to ticket more aggressively as far as watering violations this year, especially for open hoses.

If you are on a timer, you can water at night, but have to be reasonable.

Superintendent Webster wants to push conservancy and education.

Tuesday April 21, 2026 7:00 p.m. Courthouse

BY GRAMMA DOT

Grandparents Only

Not recommended for parents or kids...

Elle and I have been slothful in reading together lately. What with dance, volleyball, basketball, piano, spring vacation and just being a kid, we have tons of excuses. But when I saw her last reading summary and the growth line wasn’t as steep as I thought it should be, I knew we needed to get back to business. So, last week we got “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH” out and settled in for a 20-minute nightly commitment. We had been at it for just two nights when I got a text from Lara Goeckeritz, who heads up Friends of the Library. wondering if I could put in a plug for their current read-a-thon. The woman has great timing. I asked her to send me some details which she did. Folks, I love to read and I am so glad we have a great library. I know anything I can do to help my grand-

kids create a lasting friendship with books will benefit them and the world. And get this, the library is giving away some great prizes to participants. I’m seriously thinking about signing up myself. I wonder if Grandma Red will sponsor me!

So, here is what you can do: sponsor a kid and encourage him/her to read every day and/or sign up yourself. Then, get creative with sponsors. I can see some good money being raised based on pickleball scores! Drop by the library and pick up a reading log or grab their flyer and scan the QR code. Elle got signed up early in the week and we have been consistent. In fact, on Sunday we read between 7th ward church and 3rd ward church times, it pays to be consistent. In our reading Mrs. Frisby is just getting ready to visit the Rats of NIMH and that is exciting! Life is so Good!

ON THIS DAY

1789 George Washington heads to his first presidential inauguration

1912 Harriet Quimby becomes the first female pilot to fly across English Channel

1922 Annie Oakley sets women's record by breaking 100 clay targets in a row

1929 Cleveland Indians becomes the first MLB team to permanently feature numbers on the backs of uniforms; numbers correspond to the position in the batting order

1932 Short film "The Music Box" is released in the US, starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (1932 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film)

1935 40-year-old future Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Babe Ruth debuts in the NL with a homerun and single in Boston Braves 4-2 win over the NY Giants in Boston

1943 Swiss scientist Dr. Albert Hofmann discovers the psychedelic effects of LSD

BIRTHDAYS

Griffin Green, April 17

Cinniman Allen, April 17

Meg Sorensen, April 17

Denver Sweeten, April 17

Wes Tapp, April 17

Melinda Udy, April 17

Teresa Valentine, April 17

Emery Thomas, April 17

Dell Timothy, April 17

Carolyn Barnes, April 18

Flossie Madson, April 18

Reilly Perry, April 18

Rachel Love, April 19

Geri Potter, April 19

Steven Ward, April 19

Shayla Winder, April 19

Cody Hoskins, April 20

Natalie Ogden, April 20

1947 Fire aboard French-flagged cargo ship SS Grandchamp, docked at Port of Texas City, Texas and loaded with 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate causes massive explosion and spreads to nearby ships and oil facilities; deadliest industrial accident in US history kills 581, including all but one member of the city's fire departments

1962 Walter Cronkite begins anchoring CBS Evening News

2018 Kendrick Lamar is the first rapper and non-classical or jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for music with his album "Damn"

2019 Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history with a 4-year $140M extension including record $65M signing bonus

2025 A juvenile colossal squid is filmed in its natural environment at 1,968 feet deep for the first time since its discovery in 1925 near the South Sandwich Island in the South Atlantic Ocean

SCHOOL MENU

Malad Elementary BreakfastServed with Fruit, Choice of Juice or Milk

Monday, April 20 - Cereal Assortment, English Muffin

Sandwich

Tuesday, April 21 - Cereal Assortment, Max Pancake

Wednesday, April 22 - Cereal Assortment, Ham Egg & Cheese

Breakfast Bar

Thursday, April 23 - Cereal Assortment, Mini Waffle

Malad Elementary LunchServed with Fruit, Choice of Juice or Milk

Monday, April 20 - Mini Calzones, Garlic Bread, Food ChoiceCorn or Applesauce

Tuesday, April 21 - Chicken Fries, Tater Tots, Food ChoiceGreen Beans or Pineapple

Wednesday, April 22 - Sloppy Joe, Mac & Cheese, Food ChoiceCelery Sticks or Fruit Cocktail

Thursday, April 23 - Ham & Cheese Pocket, Chips, Food Choice - Carrot Sticks or Orange

Malad Middle & High School

Breakfast - Served with Fruit, Choice of Juice or Milk

Monday, April 20 - Cereal Assortment, Ham Egg & Cheese

Breakfast Bar

Tuesday, April 21 - Cereal Assortment, Morning Round

Wednesday, April 22 - Cereal Assortment, Breakfast on a Stick

Thursday, April 23 - Cereal Assortment, Muffins/Yogurt

Malad Middle & High School

Lunch - Served with Fruit, Choice of Juice or Milk

Monday, April 20 - Quesadilla, Cheesy Refried Beans, Salad Bar, Food Choice - Carrot Sticks or Applesauce

Tuesday, April 21 - Turkey Noodle Bake, Breadstick, Salad Bar, Food Choice - Corn or Orange

Wednesday, April 22 - Hamburger Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Roll, Salad Bar, Food Choice - Green Beans or Fruit Cocktail

Thursday, April 23 - Chicken Tenders, Mac & Cheese, Salad Bar, Food Choice - Celery Sticks or Pears

Kamas Reel, April 20

Joan Hawkins, April 20

Sondra Ekstrom, April 21

Shelia Hawkins, April 21

Marla McCellan, April 21

Charles Moon, Sr., April 22

Hayden Schwartz, April 22

Darren Tapp, April 22

Judy Vaughan, April 22

Diane Anderson, April 23

Gloria Timothy, April 23

Kelly Wakley, April 23

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

CLASSIFIEDS

MAIELI’S THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE – Neck or Whiplash Issues or for just a great massage. Call Maieli Murray (626) 337 - 0772 (1-52)

ANNOUNCEMENTS, MALAD

AA/NA MEETINGS, Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, 7:00 p.m., Call: Rick M. 208-7663584; Gary B. 435-230-3734; Jack H. 208-830-7371; or Kirk S. 208241-2297; or AA Hotline 208-2351444. (1-52)

ANNOUNCEMENTS, MALAD ALANON - We are only a phone call away. For information on meetings, call 208-220-5295 or 208251-9808. (1-52)

For Sale: White Classic Metal Detector - $175; White SuperLock Surger with Lots of Thread - $200; 1995 Bayliner Cuddy Boat - $5,500; 2011 36 Foot 4-Slide 5th Wheel Camper - $11,750. Text: 208-766-3939 (16-17)

Curlew Senior Citizens’ Menu

Every meal served with Juice/ Milk/Coffee & Salad Bar April 21 - Fried Chicken, Rice, Veggies, Fruit, Dessert April 23 - Chicken Cordon Blue, Veggies, Fruit, WG Rolls, Dessert

Malad Senior Citizens’ Menu

Every meal served with Juice/ Milk/Coffee April 17 - Chicken Bowls, Yogurt w/Berries, Dessert April 22 - Steak St. Louis, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Rolls, Dessert

NEWS OF RECORD

ONEIDA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Brent Calvin Clark, Albion, operate vehicle without a current or valid class d/operators license, $150.00, costs

$159.50

William Richardson, Malad, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50 Steven Sandberg, Malad, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

Sparro Scott, Goose Creek, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50

MALAD CITY

Riot Titus, Malad, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

Makenna Schow Workman, Preston, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

IDAHO STATE POLICE

Jordan Bush, Magna, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

Juston Lane Kowalski, Preston, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50; operation of motor vehicle while operating mobile device, $75.00, costs $56.50

Martiniano Rivera Donjuan, Idaho Falls, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50; vehicle safety restraint - child 6 years or younger is not properly secured and meets requirements, $27.50, costs

$56.50

Veronica Stefanie Marie Rivera, Magna, fail to use safety restraint, $10.00

Carl Nieman Roloff, Carlsbad, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50

MAGISTRATE COURT

Hunter M Dunn, Malad, reckless driving, $192.50, costs $150.50, 30 days jail, 30 days suspended, 30 days drivers license suspended, 12 months probation – Agency: OCSO RECORDED LIST April 3, 2026

Warranty Deed - Grantor: Travis S Miller, Jon R Miller; Grantee: Misty Hortin, Dan'l Wing

Deed of Trust - Grantor: Misty Horton, Dan'l Wing; Grantee: First Colony Mortgage Corporation

Warranty Deed - Grantor: Richard D Werner, Laurie Morrison; Grantee: Eric Martin

April 6, 2026

Deed of Trust - Grantor: RBH LLC; Grantee: Guimont Capital LLC

Quit Claim Deed - Grantor: Kade H Martin, Samantha Nicole Martin; Grantee: Kade H Martin, Samantha Nicole Martin

Warranty Deed - Grantor: Tracy's Rentals Ranch, Tracy's Rentals Ranch LLC; Grantee: Kenneth W Ward LLC April 7, 2026

Warranty Deed - Grantor: ML Destinations LLC; Grantee: ML Destinations LLC

Warranty Deed - Grantor: ML Destinations LLC, Steven K Atkinson, Anneleise Dredge Atkinson; Grantee: ML Destinations LLC, Steven K Atkinson, Anneleise Dredge Atkinson Deed of Trust - Grantor: DR Heating Looking INC an Idaho Corporation; Grantee: Driscoll Investments LLC, Tanner Vollmer, Krystle Vollmer Deed of Reconveyance - Grantor: Northern Title Company of Idaho, Driscoll Investments LLC; Grantee: Matthew Winn

Affidavit to Terminate Life Estate

- Grantor: Travis Dale Whipple, Donna Rice Whipple; Grantee: Estate of Deanna Rice (deceased)

Affidavit to Terminate Life Estate

- Grantor: Travis Dale Whipple, Donna Rice Whipple; Grantee: Estate of Odell Windsor Rice (deceased) April 8, 2026

Warranty Deed - Grantor: ML Destinations LLC; Grantee: Randy S Archibald Trustee, Vickie Archibald Trustee, Randy and Vickey Archibald Family Trust

LOOKING BACK

10 YEARS AGO (2016)

The Malad Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) committee will be presenting “Dare to Dream”, on Saturday evening, April 30, 2016. On that night, one girl will be chosen as Malad’s Distinguished Young Woman for 2017. The program will be held at the Malad Elementary School Auditorium and will begin at 7:00 p.m. Six girls who are presently juniors at Malad High School will be vying for the title. Participants are Naomi Corbridge, Kassy Love, Mackenzie Walton, Mady Ward, Sydney Webster and Sami Williams.

Deep Creek Irrigation banned all boats/floatation devices at the reservoir due to threat of quagga mussels. Kirk Corbridge of the Deep Creek Irrigation Company informed commissioners on Monday, April 11, that the company’s board and stockholders have approved closure of the Deep Creek Reservoir to boats, flotation devices and waders. The reservoir will be open for bank fishing only.

An Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on April 21, 2016 for the new Malad High School Auto Shop building. Youngsters in Oneida County need to get their bikes ready for the annual South-Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency (SEICAA) Bike-a-thon. This will be the 19th year for this fundraiser, designed for elementary age children, giving them an opportunity to serve their community.

15 YEARS AGO (2011)

Five junior girls at Malad High School are gearing up for the Malad Distinguished Young Woman program (formerly Malad Junior Miss), slated for April 30 in the Malad Elementary auditorium. This year’s theme will be “Heroes”. The following young women are vying for the title: Allison Gunter, Hope Murray, Moriah Ihler, Mariah Snyder and Carlie Stewart.

For the second time in a row, Melanie Hodgkin has achieved dean’s list status at Idaho State University and the College of Education.

The Malad High School FFA chapter had 12 members participate in the recent State Leadership Conference. Those representing Malad included April Tapp, Paige Daniels, Carrie Ann Christiansen, Matt Williams, Nicole Hubbard, Kiely Davis, Shannon Williams, Tyler Ogden, Meaghan Brown, Olivia Sands, Darin Evans and Natalie Felter.

The group from Malad traveling to the historic sites in the eastern United States with Visions stopped for a picture in front of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry the night “The Star Spangled Banner” was written. Pictured are Advisor Dennis Evans, Moriah Ihler, Debra Evans, Emma Mizrahi, Katie Neal, Amber Neal, Allison Gunter, Elaine Gunter, Jaren Thomas, Clint Thomas, Irene Alder and Erin Neal.

Coach McKay Young, Malad High School’s head football coach, will be leaving the school at the end of the current school year. He has accepted a position to teach in Star Valley, Wyoming, beginning in August.

20 YEARS AGO (2006)

Eleven junior girls at Malad High School are gearing up for the Malad Junior Miss Program, slated for April 22 in the Malad Elementary Auditorium. The theme for 2006 is “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble.” Emceeing the evening will be Andrea Finch, named as America’s Junior Miss 2003 and representing California. Vying for the title are Miya Alger, Brittany Buehler, Mary Coakley, Shannon Crowther, Tabitha Garrett, Brittney Hess, Sundi

Mills, Cynthia Moss, Louise Peterson, Kristy Thomas and Katie Wray.

The Oneida County Commissioners announced Monday that Mandy Blaisdell will be the new County Probation Officer. She will begin her work with the county on Monday, April 24.

Top Scholars have been selected from the Junior Class. These students are currently the Top 10 percent of the class. They include Mary Coakley, Tayja Grote, Tabitha Garrett, Brittany Buehler, Miya Alger, Ammon Treasure, Jonathan Jensen, Devin Plowman and Dustin Larsen.

At the state competition, Malad FFA members earned various awards. These members included Toni Finder, Kiersten Cordingly, Shane Price, Kathy Evans, Jentry Fridedli, Logan Alder, Jonathan Jensen, T.J. Daniels, Kamas Reel and J.C. Corbridge.

30 YEARS AGO (1996)

With eighteen of Malad High School’s Junior girls getting ready for the 1996 Junior Miss Scholarship Program, it will be the biggest field of candidates the event has produced in its 15-year history. The program, slated for April 27th, is entitled “Let’s Take A Sea Cruise,” and will feature Evan Howe as emcee. Heidi Hess, Malad’s 1995 Junior Miss, will join with 1st and 2nd attendants, Shante’ Sweeten and Rochelle Panting, as hostesses for the evening. The junior girls participating are Jessica Jones, Hilarie Daniels, Tori Lynn Bowen, Shelly Nalder, Tiffany D. Isaacson, Amanda Marie Dredge, Kami Barker, Brooks Bastian, Amy Blaisdell, Mary Clark, Maleah Hogan, Jamie Hubbard, Charlotte Firth, Cindy Rindisbacher, Ashley Vanderwood, Misty Wakley, Catherine Ward and Lorraine Ward.

Elder Arthur Jason Ward, son of Owen and Jane Ann Ward has accepted a call to the Guayaquil Ecuador Mission. He will enter the Missionary Training Center on April 24th.

A National Eagle Court of Honor was held April 6, in honor of Robert Owen Ward. He is a member of Post #455 with Dan Boel serving as Scoutmaster. For his Eagle project, Robert organized and helped with the construction of floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets at the Iron Door Playhouse. Gene Caldwell was project supervisor. Robert is the son of Owen and Jane Ann Ward.

40 YEARS AGO (1986)

It’s called Four Points - the new convenience store and gas station now open for business at the corner of 1st West and Bannock – and former Malad resident, Troy Williams, has been hired as manager.

Nine-year-old Bethany Dredge placed in the top ten and received Honorable Mention in the elementary division of the Utah State University Piano Festival, a competition which draws young musicians from all over the Intermountain area.

The Oneida County Farm Bureau is pleased to announce this year’s “Farm Wife” of 1986. Chosen to represent Oneida County is Julie Jones. She was crowned by last year’s “Farm Wife” Dixie Bush at a luncheon in the High School Commons.

The Malad Junior Miss Charm School officially opened last Monday evening when fifteen hopeful Junior Miss contestants assembled in the Malad High School Commons for the annual Hostess Dinner. Those participating are Dori Hilden, Stephanie Cottle, Alina Marble, Paula Madsen, Shannon Hyer, Lori Thomas, Kellie Hendricks, Staci Baker, Heather Ward, Vicky Jenson, Marlo Willie, Karen Jones, Heather Davis, Karen Vaughan and Tricia Hill.

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise with the trophies that they brought home from the Gutter Gussey Invitational are Ren’s Chev Team, Fran Williams, Gaylene Willie, Janice Goddard and Sheila Clark.

50 YEARS AGO (1976)

Malad High School hosted around 2,000 students Friday and 400 students Saturday at the Fifth District Music Festival held here for the first time in over 25 years. The students, instructors and parents came from 15 Southeastern Idaho schools to be rated on their music selections.

Members of the Oneida County Free Library Board will let go of the pencil they have grasped for almost 20 years in exchange for a shovel as they host groundbreaking ceremonies for the new library building on Friday. Library efforts in Oneida date back to 1914, when the Malad Public Library Association was formed.

To spark interest in their annual 4-H enrollment drive, the County Home extension office hosted “how many pennies are in the jar?” contest at the Elementary School. Making the closest guess - just 8 cents off – was Rex Williams. Rex guessed 1,350 pennies when there were actually 1,342 copper coins. The young statistician was awarded a $10 check by Maureen Bingham, home economist, and Lyn Merrick, agricultural agent.

A farewell testimonial for Gary Ward, son of Mr. and Mrs. George P. Ward, will be held at the Cherry Creek Ward Chapel. Elder Ward will serve in the LDS Louisville Kentucky Mission. He will enter the Mission Home May 1.

Robert Neil Price, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Price, has been called to serve in the California Anaheim Mission. He will enter the Mission Home May 8.

60 YEARS AGO (1966)

Louis Dredge, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jess R. Dredge has been elected to serve as president of the Intercollegiate Knights, a national honorary service fraternity at BYU, where he formerly served as secretary for the organization.

Boyd Baker, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Baker, has been placed on Dean David D. Kendrick’s scholastic honor list at the University of Idaho. Boyd is studying business administration at the University.

Chosen by the American Legion Auxiliary as delegates to the annual Idaho Girls State are Miss Sheila Williams and Miss DayOnna Bowen.

Alternates are Camille Jones, Debbie Jones, and Janet Thomson.

The Preston High School Essex Band under the direction of J. Golden Ward, won a 1st place rating at the 5th Annual Stage Band Festival in Reno, Nevada. There were approximately 40 bands participating. The Essex Band, receive a large trophy and six members of the group were chosen members of the All-Star Band. Accompanying her brother and the Essex Band to Reno was Carol Dawn Ward. Linda Servoss, 13, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Servoss, is the winner of a fourth place prize in a national cartoon coloring contest conducted by the Post Cereal Co. Linda was awarded a “V-Rooom-Hot Rodder Engine” which is most likely to be taken over by her brother, Johnny. Very much interested in drawing, Linda is an artist for Dragon Tales, Malad Junior High newspaper.

70 YEARS AGO (1956)

On April 17th, Henry E. Thomas, vice president and director of the First National Bank, will mark his fortieth year with the firm. Beginning in April 1916 as a bookkeeper, Mr. Thomas was elected as assistant cashier the same year. During April 1918, he was elected to cashier and then advanced to vice president and director in 1945. Mr. Thomas was a member of the local school board for 25 years and served as chairman of the board for 21 years.

Lt. Dan Anderson left Tuesday for Parks Air Force Base, California prior to being transferred to Japan.

The pencil-neck hater Professor Roy Shire of New York City is scheduled to wrestle Vern Taft of Salt Lake City in the Malad High School gymnasium on April 16th, under the auspices of the Ernest W. Jones Post of the American Legion. Roughly speaking, a pencil neck in the Professor’s book is any jerk that lives west of the Mississippi River. He professes a big hate for one and all in the West and takes a devilish delight in pinning one of them during a wrestling match because he claims that’s exactly where he likes to see a westerner, “on his back”. Wrestling in various intermountain communities during the past few months, the Professor has had nothing good to say about anything here, including the people, climate, scenery or towns, which he claims need deodorizing. The eastern “bully boy” has been very successful in the ring and has wrestled to questionable decision with rugged Vern Taft in several meetings. The match should be an interesting one and every person attending will be well pleased with the entertainment.

80 YEARS AGO (1946)

First Sgt. Berthel Crowther, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crowther, returned to Malad the forepart of the week following his discharge from the army April 6 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Sgt. Crowther entered the army August 10, 1943 and served eight months in the South Pacific. He is authorized to wear the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon, the American theater ribbon, good conduct medal and the Victory-ribbon.

#5824-04-16-26-T1

County Commission Report 3/23

Endorsement

The Board of County Commissioners approved a letter of support for a grant application to fund the remounting of existing extrication equipment onto a rescue truck.

2026 Property Tax Exemptions

Property tax exemption applications from the following community organizations were received and reviewed by the Board of County Commissioners:

• American Legion Post 65

• First United Presbyterian Church

• Iron Door Arts and Theater

• Malad Lodge #51 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Idaho

• Oneida Crisis Center, Inc.

• Oneida Pioneer Museum

• Malad Valley Heritage Square/Samaria Community Foundation

• St. Paul Catholic Mission/ Faithful Followers of Fatima

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

#5828-04-16-26-T1

NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PUBLIC HEARING ONEIDA COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

Legal notice is hereby given that the ONEIDA PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on May 6, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. at Oneida County Event Center to consider the following: APPLICATION #: 260018 for a Conditional Use Permit APPLICATION BY : Darren

PROJECT SUMMARY: Daren Allred is seeking a Conditional Use Permit to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit. The property is located, at 448 Cattlemans Rd, Malad Id 83252. The Allreds have built a Primary dwelling and now would like to build an accessory dwelling located on the property in a manner that meets the standards of an Accessory Dwelling Unit.

PROJECT LOCATION: 448 Cattlemans Rd. Malad Summit You are invited to attend the public hearing and offer comments for consideration.

Legal notice is hereby given that the ONEIDA PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on May 6, 2026, at 7:45 P.M. at Oneida County Event Center to consider the following:

APPLICATION #: 260014 for a Conditional Use Permit

APPLICATION BY: Ken Probst

PROJECT SUMMARY: Ken

Probst is seeking a Conditional Use Permit to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit. The property is located, at 3141 W Samaria Rd, Malad Id 83252. The Probst’s have built a Primary dwelling and now would like to build an accessory dwelling located on the property in a manner that meets the standards of an Accessory Dwelling Unit.

PROJECT LOCATION: 3141 W Samaria Rd You are invited to attend the public hearing and offer comments for consideration.

WRITTEN COMMENTS regarding this application must be received by the Oneida County Planning and Zoning office, no later than five (5) business days prior to the public hearing, April 29th, 2026. #5827-04-16-23-26-T2

WRITTEN COMMENTS regarding this application must be received by the Oneida County Planning and Zoning office, no later than five (5) business days prior to the public hearing, April 29th, 2026. #5825-04-16-23-26-T2 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ONEIDA COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

plained that in recent years the department has received approximately $800,000 in additional state funding beyond its regular budget allocations. This funding was not provided this year, and it is unknown whether it will be reinstated in future years, creating uncertainty for long-term obligations.

Notice is hereby given that the Oneida County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on May 6, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. at the Oneida County Event Center to consider the following matter: Application #: 26-0030 Applicant : Oneida County Planning and Zoning Commission

• Added penalties for violations, enforcement procedures including notices, stopwork orders, and compliance timelines, authorized the Planning and Zoning Administrator to enforce the ordinance and withhold permits, and established a schedule of fees and civil penalties. (Chapters 7-8, 7-9, 7-10)

• Implemented minor organizational, editorial, and section-heading changes for clarity and consistency.

Airport Hangar Lease

The State of Idaho requires updates to the Airport Hangar Lease Agreement for the Oneida County Airport to remain eligible for future grant funding. After discussing several points in the draft agreement with County Legal Counsel, the Commissioners agreed to have Chairman Lewis request that the item be placed on the next Airport Board agenda for review and consideration of the suggested changes. No action was taken today.

R&B - Sale of Truck and Purchase of Replacement Truck

The Road & Bridge Department’s 2001 Chevrolet 1500 4x4 ½-ton pickup truck was

• Victory Baptist Church Approval of Development Code6th Amendment Amendments to the Development Code (Oneida County Ordinance No. 2022-08-01) were approved by the Planning and consistency. (Formerly Chapter 4A-8)

C M

up truck for up to $33,000. Seconded by Commissioner Jeppsen.

R&B – Road Safety Grant for Old Highways 191 & 37 - Rumble Strips

Following the decision to withdraw from the Road Safety Grant, it was noted that a letter on county letterhead is required to complete the process. Brian Wright with the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) informed Road and Bridge (R&B) Supervisor Dianna Dredge that the letter should be drafted to formalize the grant turn-back.

Commissioner - Outcome of Road Safety Grant for Old Highways 191 & 37 –Rumble Strips

The Board shared the results of a special meeting held on March 12, 2026, regarding the Road Safety Grant for Old Highways 191 and 37, which was initiated in 2023 and includes rumble strips. The meeting followed the public hearing held on March 5, 2026, and was held in advance of the March 23 regular meeting.

During the March 12 special meeting, Road and Bridge (R&B) Supervisor Dianna Dredge noted that the project would require ongoing R&B maintenance. She also ex-

The Board noted that approximately $41,000 of the $150,000 engineering budget remained and agreed to withdraw from the grant project in its entirety, paying the accrued engineering fees.

Stone Generator Installation Update

A generator donated to Oneida County by Bannock County is being installed at the Stone Elementary building in the western part of the county to provide backup power during outages. Bids are being sought for the electrical hookup, concrete pad, and fencing. Oneida County Building Inspector and Maintenance Manager Tory Richardson is still working to locate a diesel tank; a potential donation is pending further information. A roof will eventually be placed over the generator, with footings installed when the concrete is poured to allow the roof to accommodate potential future movement of the generator for repairs. Mr. Richardson suggested waiting until school is out before finalizing the project. No funds have been expended, and the full scope of the project will not be known until all bids have been received and reviewed. No decisions were made pending further information.

Project Summary: The Oneida County Planning and Zoning Commission is proposing amendments to the Oneida County Development Code; Welding Shop, adding Fees pertaining to Violations and update to current Planning & Zoning Fee Schedule. The proposed updates include revisions to multiple sections to ensure alignment with current Idaho Code. Amendments may include, but are not limited to, Definitions, Districts established, purposes and restrictions, and conditions for CUP process.

Public Participation: Members of the public are invited to attend and provide oral testimony during the hearing.

Written Comments: Written comments must be submitted to the Oneida County Planning and Zoning Office no later than April 26, 2026 (ten [10] calendar days prior to the hearing). Comments may be delivered to:

Oneida County Planning and Zoning 30 North 100 West Malad City, Idaho 83252 or emailed to Rneal@oneidaid.us For additional information, please contact the Planning and Zoning Office during regular business hours.

#5826-04-16-23-26-T2

Oneida County Deputies hear from Sheriff Williams

The Oneida County Deputies met for an informal discussion with Sheriff Doug Williams on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The Oneida County Deputies organization is a group of citizens who support the mission of law enforcement in the county, and work to bring awareness to the community. Last year, the Deputies initiated an impromptu show of support and gratitude for local law enforcement following the murder of members of law enforcement in Garland, Utah. The event, which was called “Paint the Town Blue,” included local students and community members decorating location throughout

the town—including the courthouse, schools, and local businesses. The event was capped with an evening meeting of the Deputies.

Last week, thirteen members of the organization met for this impromptu meeting that concentrated on the problems the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office is facing.

Using a game show format called “The Evidence Is in the Answer,” Sheriff Williams informed the group about the difficulty he is facing in retaining and recruiting officers. The major obstacles to resolving the problem are low wages, lack of family benefits, and lack of housing.

Sample Ballots Now Available Ahead of May 19 Primary From Idaho Secretary of State Office

(Boise, Idaho) – Ahead of the Idaho primary election on Tuesday, May 19, personalized sample ballots are now available for all registered voters at VoteIdaho.gov.

Sample ballots list all candidate races and measures that will appear on a voter’s specific ballot, so voters can make informed decisions before casting their ballot. In Idaho’s primary election, a voter’s party affiliation determines which ballot they are eligible to receive.

“With the May primary election approaching, I encourage Idaho voters to review their sample ballot and take advantage of the resources available at VoteIdaho.gov,” said Secretary of State Phil McGrane. “Taking a few minutes now to make a plan can help ensure a smooth and confident voting experience on May 19.”

Voters can access a personalized sample ballot in three easy steps:

1. Click “Find Your Sample Ballot” 2. Enter your voter information 3. View, save, or print your sample ballot Notable Upcoming Dates

• Monday, April 27-May 15: Early Voting (Early voting schedule & availability varies by county. Check with your county clerk for details.)

• Friday, May 8 at 5:00 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot and to preregister to vote

• Note: Eligible voters may register on Election Day

• Tuesday, May 19: Election Day & deadline for absentee ballots to be received by county clerks. Polls are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Learn more about the upcoming election and access information on voting in Idaho at VoteIdaho.gov.

Currently, there are only five deputies providing law enforcement services for both the County and the City. The Sheriff’s Office has not been fully staffed for three years, leading to no patrol during some hours of every day. Malad is not immune to much-publicized legal problems, such as drug use, pornography, child abuse, and domestic violence. Lengthy discussions of the County Justice Fund and the Sheriff’s Office’s contract with the City ensued.

President Jerry Thomas announced that the next regular meeting of the Oneida County Deputies will be held during the summer.

Oneida County Department Updates & Highlights

Road & Bridge

The Road & Bridge Department has begun dust control and blading for the season, with bridge paving planned for this summer. Traffic will be redirected due to the Portage bridge removal, and Depot Road will serve as a detour during the city’s paving of Bannock Street. The open winter allowed hauling gravel on several roads, although some temporarily became muddy. Upcoming work includes chip sealing, patching, grading, ditching, and culvert maintenance, with a focus on restoring road crowns.

Employees Kellum and Williams are progressing on the Road Master program; Kellum has completed the Road Scholar program, and Williams has one class remaining, with completion expected by June. The department is awaiting completion of the Transportation Plan and learned that the Local Highway and Rural Improvement Program (LRHIP) grant application for the culvert near the old St. John Church was not approved due to significant competition. Despite budget reductions, chip sealing remains a priority, and the new grizzly screen will support gravel hauling. Proposed purchases include an additional water truck and a new grader wing, with primary expenditures focused on patching, gravel, and oil.

The department is exploring ways to increase public awareness of its activities, including a possible Road & Bridge–only informational Face-

book page and using the Busy-Busy app to generate task reports when workers clock in.

Emergency Services

The county submitted a refund request to the Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM) for $1,175.81 paid for preparedness pamphlets; reimbursement through the 2024 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funds is expected. All 2023 SHSP grant funds have been fully expended, and approximately $14,454.45 remains in the 2024 SHSP allocation, including roughly $2,000 for the Sheriff’s portion. Due to partial government defunding of FEMA and Homeland Security, grant disbursements and payments are temporarily on hold.

Upcoming events include a National Weather Service presentation on March 12 at 7:00 PM at the Oneida County Recreation Center and the Spring Preparedness Fair on March 21 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, also at the Recreation Center. The recent emergency preparedness fair was well attended, with over 250 participants, nearly double last year’s turnout, and presentations were well received. The IAC Regional Spring Officials Institute is scheduled for April 8 in Downey. IOEM will require the county to pay vendors upfront in the future and submit for reimbursement.

Probation

Juvenile Corrections District 6 Li-

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aison Stace Gearhart was present, along with Oneida County Probation Officer Gabe Jimenez. Mr. Gearhart recently received notification regarding the three-year compliance review conducted by the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC) to ensure adherence to evidence-based practices and program standards. Oneida County is scheduled for review on September 21. Mr. Jimenez has updated and finalized policies and procedures in preparation for this review. At the last review, there were three items identified for Mr. Jimenez to address, and those items have since been completed, including updates to required certificates. The Idaho Criminal Risk/Needs Assessment and Case Management (ICRIMP) team has completed their assessment and incorporated all necessary revisions. An Oneida County Probation manual was submitted to the Board for review, with a request for suggestions over the next few months.

Regarding the current caseload, there are three juveniles currently placed with the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC). Arrangements are in progress for their transition from placement, with planning underway to ensure appropriate supervision and support upon release. These cases involve coordination with family, school, and other support systems to promote successful outcomes, with individuals expected to complete the terms of their probation under appropriate supervision.

Probation staff assist with informational tables at local schools on topics such as safety, bullying, and mental health awareness to help students become familiar with their role in the community. Information, treats, and small prizes are sometimes provided. Additionally, Mr. Gearhart noted that the IDJC facility and team-building course are available for tours by county officials, and he can assist in coordinating tours for anyone interested.

Weeds Oneida County Weed Supervisor Cody Clyde forwarded his report to the Board. The department is preparing for a busy season addressing noxious weeds throughout the county. Focus will be on common species, including thistles, morning glory (field bindweed), black henbane, and rush skeleton weed, with efforts to identify new infestations early. The department is hopeful the cost-share chemical program can be offered again this year to support landowners in managing noxious weeds.

The department received a grant from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and will coordinate with the Forest Service to cover additional acres and address problem areas proactively. Mr. Clyde expressed appreciation to the Board of Commissioners for their support and to the landowners who cooperate with the department, noting that their efforts help maintain control of noxious weeds across the county.

ONEIDA COUNTY WEEKLY EVENTS

Oneida County Hall of Fame Inductee—Dotty Evanson

The 15th Oneida County Hall of Fame banquet will be on Saturday, May 9, at the Event Center, beginning with a dinner catered by Marla Jones at 6:00. Inductees to the Hall of Fame this year are Dotty Evanson, Griff Jenkins, and DelMar Williams. (Information about Griff Jenkins and Del Williams will be in future editions of The Idaho Enterprise.)

Dotty Thorpe Evanson will be inducted to the Hall of Fame for her service to education and the community. A familiar face in Malad, Dotty was born and raised here and has devoted most of her life to serving students, community members, and her church in her hometown.

Dotty was born in 1953, the oldest child of Blair and Sharon Thorpe. She attended Malad schools, graduating in the Malad High School class of 1971. She went to BYU, majoring in elementary education, and graduated in 1975. She received her master’s degree in education administration from Idaho State University in 1988.

In 1977 Dotty married Brent Evanson, whom she met on a blind date. They have four sons (Brett, Brandon, Boe, and Brad), six granddaughters, and one grandson. Her long career of serving young

students spanned 20 years, beginning as an elementary school teacher in Firth, then Spanish Fork, and finally back in Malad. In 1992 she became the principal of Malad Elementary School, and after retirement, she continued as a Capacity Builder for the Idaho Department of Education, working primarily with Stone Elementary School.

While working with hundreds of school students each year, Dotty found time to serve on many local committees and boards and was named the Boy Scouts of America Malad District Community Hero in 2019. She served on the Oneida Education Foundation Board when that board was getting organized in 1988. She was on the inaugural Oneida County Hall of Fame Committee for six years and served on the Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital Board for five years. She was on the Malad Junior Miss Committee for ten years, serving as chair for one year.

As the chair of the Co-op Cleanup Committee, she oversaw the removal of decades of old, outdated items from the store and cleaning out all levels of the building of dust and debris. For her efforts, she was named the 2022 Volunteer of the Year along with Roxanne Albretsen

and Carla Williams.

As a driving force on the local Pickleball Committee, Dotty celebrated when the new pickleball courts were built in City Park; she continues to be one of the main users of the courts. As a long-time member of the Oneida Pioneer Museum Board, she oversees the creation of window décor and rotation of displays in the Museum.

Library Readathon underway

The Oneida County Library is hosting a Readathon during the month of April, which is open to kids and adults throughout the valley. Sign up at oneidacountylibrary.org. The readathon is a fundraiser to support library operations, and all participants are gathering pledges for the books they read. Prizes will be given out to winners in various categories, and all participants are invited to a party at the end of the event.

As part of the reading challenge underway, I read the book “The Anxious Generation,” which is extremely timely, and relevant to everyone with kids, and even those without.

“The Anxious Generation,” a nonfiction book by Jonathan Haidt, was published in 2024. It is available in multiple formats, including hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook. In it, Haidt argues that a dramatic rise in anxiety, depression, and mental health disorders among young people—especially since the early 2010s—is closely tied to a fundamental shift in childhood: the move from a “play-based childhood” to a “phone-based childhood.”

Haidt’s central thesis is that children today are overprotected in the real world but underprotected in the digital world. In earlier generations, kids spent more time in unstructured, unsupervised play—exploring neighborhoods, getting into trouble, problem solving, and taking small risks. While this has become a meme used by Boomers, GenX, and Millenials to criticize the experiences of younger people, the underlying claim is that these experiences were crucial for developing resilience, social skills,

and emotional regulation. However, as parental fears increased (despite declining crime rates), opportunities for independent play shrank.

At the same time, smartphones, social media, and constant internet access rapidly filled the gap. Around 2010–2015, widespread adoption of platforms like Instagram and Snapchat coincided with sharp increases in teen mental health issues. Haidt argues this is not coincidence but causation, driven by several harmful mechanisms.

First, social media intensifies social comparison. Adolescents, especially girls, are exposed to idealized images and curated lives of celebrities and their own peers, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Second, these platforms exploit psychological vulnerabilities through features like “likes,” comments, and “doom scrolling,” creating addictive feedback loops. Third, online environments increase exposure to cyberbullying, public shaming, and social exclusion, which can feel inescapable compared to offline conflicts. Almost everyone with kids old enough to use the internet has been confronted with a heartbreaking reaction to something similar from those kids.

factor. Constant access to phones disrupts sleep patterns, and poor sleep is strongly linked to anxiety and depression. Additionally, time spent online displaces face-to-face interaction, weakening the development of empathy and real-world social competence.

Haidt also highlights gender differences: girls are more affected by social media’s relational dynamics, while boys are more vulnerable to gaming addiction and social withdrawal. However, both groups suffer from reduced independence and increased screen dependency.

A crucial concept in the book is “antifragility”—the idea that children need manageable stress and challenges to grow stronger. By removing real-world risks while exposing kids to intense online pressures, society has reversed healthy development conditions.

She was instrumental to the organization of the Malad Valley Welsh Festival, serving on the Board and as emcee for the presentations from 2010 to the present. After her original poem led to her being named the 2018 Bard of the Welsh Festival, she organized the Bard’s Circle that includes all past Festival Bards; these poets recite their poems written to match the Festival poetry theme each year.

Dotty has always been involved in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With four boys, she naturally found time to be a Cub Scout leader. She has served in the Primary and Relief Society Presidencies of her ward and served as Stake Relief Society President. She also served in Young Women Presidencies at the ward and stake levels. From 2005-2008, she served with her husband Brent when he was president of the Georgia Macon Mission.

Everyone is invited to the Hall of Fame dinner to honor this year’s inductees. Tickets for the dinner are $35 and can be obtained from Susan Wittman (208-709-6888) or at the Malad City Office. Only limited tickets will be available at the door so please get tickets ahead of the date.

tech companies.

Ultimately, The Anxious Generation frames the youth mental health crisis as a systemic problem rather than an individual failing. It argues that modern technology, combined with cultural shifts in parenting and education, has reshaped childhood in ways that undermine psychological well-being. Reversing these trends requires collective action to rebalance children’s lives.

Technology has always disrupted the psychological lives of the cultures who develop them, with accompanying anxiety about the effects. I certainly remember the panic about video games in the early 80s, the internet in the 90s and 2000s, and smart phones in the 20 teens. Precursor analogs can be found in concern over the telephone, film, radio, cars, electricity, magazines, novels, and so on to the beginning of human experience.

Sleep deprivation is another key

To address the crisis, Haidt proposes several solutions. He advocates delaying smartphone access until at least high school, limiting or banning social media for younger teens, and implementing phone-free schools. He also encourages restoring playbased childhoods by allowing more independence, outdoor activity, and peer interaction. On a societal level, he calls for stronger regulations on

While those anxieties always accompany technological change, the rate at which changes are now occurring, which is faster than the relevant experience of parents and generational elders can be accrued, makes the “phone screen age” different in its impact and ability to impact psychology before those impacts can even be observed or understood.

It’s an eye-opening read, but rather than just diagnosing the problem, Haidt suggests strategies for moving cultural forces as a whole to understand and actively deal with the changes that are too late to prevent from happening, but not too late to manage intelligently.

Track Results

4x400 Relay

3. Beckston Green, Levi Angell, Jeremiah Peterson, & Braun Nalder

3:47.46

4. Bastian Miller, Brecken Price, Joseph Angell, & Dawson Beutler

4:12.20

SMR 1600m 2. Brex Martinsen, Parker Price, Jeremiah Peterson, & Boston Burbidge

3:49.04

Shot Put - 12lb

3. Mordecai Charles 41’ 6”PB

9. Rhone Gleckler 34’ 5.5”SB

Discus

7. Mordecai Charles 95’ 10”

High Jump

3. Justin Toone 5’ 10”

Pole Vault

1. Braun Nalder 14’ 2”PB

Long Jump 7. Jaxton Price 18’ 2”

Triple Jump 1. Braun Nalder 41’ 10”PB

Womens Results

100 Meters

3. Halie Palmer 13.23 SB 6. Kenadee Howe 13.68 PB 10. Karlee Williams 13.88 PB

200 Meters

1. Halie Palmer 26.92

8. Annika Wright 29.37 PB

400 Meters

1. Brielle Bastian 1:04.58

800 Meters

5. Ellie Angell 2:45.68

9. Somerli Nalder 2:54.77

1600 Meters

2. Aezlyn Summers 5:59.58

3. Ellie Angell 6:22.85

3200 Meters 1. Aezlyn Summers 13:03.74

100m Hurdles - 33”

2. Kaycee Venable 15.34 PB

3. Karlee Williams 16.93 PB

4. Samantha Schrenk 17.48 PB

300m Hurdles - 30”

1. Kaycee Venable 50.37

4. Samantha Schrenk 55.47

4x100 Relay

4. Annika Wright, Karlee Williams, Kenadee Howe, & Kendrey Bywater 54.99

5. Haislee Barlow, Litzy Flores, Somerli Nalder, & Sophie Ward 57.20

7. Jette Nelson, Bella Burbidge, Tenlee Sweeten, & Brynnlee Jones 1:01.15

4x200 Relay Varsity - Finals

1. Brielle Bastian, Annika Wright, Kenadee Howe, & Halie Palmer 1:50.34

3. Kallee Talbot, Litzy Flores, Haislee Barlow, & Bella Burbidge 2:05.50

4x400 Relay

2. Jenna Talbot, Somerli Nalder, Kaycee Venable, & Samantha Schrenk 4:51.22

SMR 800m

1. Annika Wright, Karlee Williams, Brielle Bastian, & Halie Palmer 1:54.03

Shot Put

10. Purity Miller 26’ 9.5”PB

Discus

6. Izzy Haycock 81’ 4”PB

7. Tylee Wright 75’ 4.5”

High Jump

4. Brynnlee Jones 4’ 4”SB

5. Sophie Ward 4’ 4”PB

6. Tenlee Sweeten 4’ 2”

7. Juliette Nelson 4’ 2”

Pole Vault

3. Kaycee Venable 9’ 0”PB

Long Jump

5. Somerli Nalder 14’ 9.5”PB 9. Haislee Barlow 14’ 1.5”PB

Triple Jump 2. Brielle Bastian 32’ 8.25”

Juliette

4. Leif Allen, DJ Crowther, Caden Jeppson, & Zach Reiss 50.16

6. Brex Martinsen, Parker Price, Chase Martin, & Jeremiah Peterson 51.79

7. Cameron Allen, Levi Balapa, Rylinn Beck, & Joe Kimberling 52.28 4x200 Relay

3. Parker Price, Brex Martinsen, Matt Briscoe, & Evan Colton 1:40.06

5. Kendon Ward, Dayton Bird, Tyce Thomas, & Mason Eliason 1:57.61

Lady Dragons go 4-1 in busy week

BY ALLISON ELIASON

The Lady Dragon softball team came off their spring break for a big week of games, playing five games in four days. The team dominated conference opponent the West Side Pirates in an 18-0 victory before competing in the annual Glenns Ferry Tournament where they went 3-1 over the weekend.

After just a couple of practices following their break, the MHS team had no problem getting back into the game as they had their first contest of the week. Malad opened the game against the Pirates in a big way, putting up eight runs in the opening inning.

Liddia Gonzalez, Stella Merja, Sarah Toone, Harley Maddox, Aubrey Shulz, Kialey Pickett and Aspen Bingham worked together to contribute to the Lady Dragons score as they played through the top of the first inning. It wasn’t just their stellar hitting that led to such dominating, but their keen base running and watchful eye at the plate. Taking advantage of wild pitches, Pirate errors, and moments of indecision, the MHS team aggressively made their way around the bases.

The second inning unfortunately saw multiple hits go straight into the hands of the West Side defense, lending to only two runs for the inning. But that luck was short-lived as they once again scored eight runs in the third inning. With West Side unable to answer Malad’s play in the bottom

of the inning, the game was called after just the three innings.

The conference game was just the warm up the Lady Dragons needed before they competed in the annual Glenns Ferry tournament where they saw teams they will likely compete against in the post season games. The tournament served a second purpose as it allowed them to play Nampa Christian, the reigning state champion team.

Coach Aysha Maddox shared, “The primary reason for our trip to Glenns Ferry this weekend was for a rematch of last year’s state championship game against Nampa Christian, and that game certainly did not disappoint. The teams battled back and forth through the early innings before we took a 4-3 lead and held it until the sixth inning.

“Unfortunately, Nampa Christian strung together several hits in the sixth inning and scored five runs to take control. We fought back and added a few more runs of our own, but ultimately came up just short.

She concluded her thoughts on the game saying, “It was a fantastic game and a great opportunity for our team to prove what we can do. We finished with nine hits to their ten, proving that the game could have gone either way! Hopefully we will have another opportunity to face them in the state championship, and next time the outcome will be different.”

The loss against Nampa Christian was the only loss the Lady Dragons suffered at the tournament, complete-

ly dominating the remainder of their games. In their second game the afternoon of Friday, April 10, the MHS team took on the Grangeville Bulldogs. The game took some time to get rolling as both teams went scoreless through the first three innings.

Merja got the scoring going for Malad, using the well played bunt by Toone to her advantage. Logan Maroney followed with a line drive to center field to bat in Toone for their two runs of the inning.

The MHS team broke the game wide open in the fifth inning as they scored seven runs to take a commanding lead. The scoring streak was given a big boost by the double hit from Maroney and the triple bagger from Bingham.

The Lady Dragons finished the game in a flawless manner as they not only held the Bulldogs scoreless through the final innings, but as they scored nine additional runs to end the game up 18-0. In total, Malad accumulated 20 hits in the game. Merja and Maddox each collected four hits. Maroney, Merja, and Bingham each drove in three runs, while Shulz, Toone, and Pickett each collected multiple hits.

The Lady Dragons earned two more wins Saturday, winning each game with an amazing 22 runs. In their first game of the day against Glenns Ferry, Malad had a powerful presence at the plate. The team tallied four double hits by Shulz, Maddox, Pickett, and Merja in addition to multiple triple hits by Maroney and Toone.

Coupled with their powerful hitting was a strong base running game, led by Shulz who had two stolen bases, with Pickett and Toone each with a stolen base.

The MHS team closed out the weekend with another big win, against the Wilder Wildcats. Up to bat in the bottom of the first, the Lady Dragons exploded with 11 scored runs in the inning. Getting up early in the game, the coaching staff made some changes to the teams’ positions. Using it as an opportunity for players to work on new positions, the highlight of the mixup was putting senior catcher Maroney in the pitcher’s circle instead of behind the plate. Coach Maddox shared, “Logan had the opportunity to pitch a few innings and performed very well. Logan saw some time in the circle during her freshman year but has had limited action on the mound since then, making it a special moment for her and the team.”

While the team’s offense really was quite impressive as they collected a total of 67 runs on 57 hits over the tournament weekend, Coach Maddox praised the team’s defense as well. Allowing just 6 runs on 13 hits against four teams, including the returning state championship team, speaks volumes to the strong defense the Lady Dragon team has played.

The Lady Dragons will return home for a big week as they not only take on the Soda Springs Cardinals Wednesday, April 15 but as they also host their annual Scott Ray Invitational Tournament over the weekend.

Dragons have a busy 5-1 week

BY ALLISON ELIASON

After going 14 days without a game, the Dragon baseball team took the field again on Tuesday, April 7 in Marsh Valley to take on the Eagles. With only one day of rest, the MHS stacked the remainder of the week with a home game against the Firth Cougars before traveling to Glenns Ferry to compete in the annual tournament where they went undefeated against teams from Wells, Kendrick, Grangeville, and Challis, ending the week with a 5-1 record.

The matchup against Marsh Valley proved to be more of a challenge than the MHS team anticipated. Coming off a long break, it took some time for the team to fall back into their team rhythm. Marsh Valley jumped to a quick lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Slowly but steadily, the Eagles continued to pull away as they added runs in the third and fourth innings while the Dragons remained scoreless.

Finally in the fifth inning, Easton Green managed the only Malad score of the game, stealing home while Braxden Kaufman stood at the plate to bat. But without any additional runs, throughout the game, the Dragons fell 1-6.

Head Coach Chad Maroney shared, “I think the long spring break affected us. We had a fourteen day span without a game then started with Marsh Valley. Thankfully we will see them again next week at home. We had a slow start after the break, almost a reset on the work we had done with pitching and hitting.”

Feeling the sting of the loss, the Dragons went to work both in their practices and in their following games to tighten up those things Coach Maroney noticed had slipped. It was easy to see improvement throughout the week after the defeat, beginning with their win over Firth as they hosted them Thursday afternoon.

The scoring began early for the MHS team, tallying their first run in the opening inning from Dawsyn Peterson as Carter Carey singled on a ground ball to center field. Carey had another big hit in the third inning to collect another RBI, hitting a triple to punch in Cale Briggs. Two batters down the lineup, Ethan Horsley hit a sacrifice bunt to finish sending Carey around to give Malad 3 runs to Firth’s 1. With Braxden Kaufman on second, Kurt Ward then stepped up to the plate to drive a home run to left field to expand their lead to 5-1.

With momentum on their side, the Dragons continued to outpace the Cougars on the scoreboard, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With another scoreless inning for Firth, the game was called at the half of the fifth inning, Malad claiming the 12-1 victory.

The Dragons carried that win into the weekend and multiplied it by four. As they played through each game, their hitting, defense, base running and all around awareness improved to help them not only collect four more wins, but to completely dominate in each game.

The tournament began with a matchup against Wells High School. Malad consistently scored runs in each inning beginning in the first with Green stealing home and Peterson running in off a triple hit from Carey. In the bottom of the second, Green and Briggs added to more runs as Peterson hit a fly ball to left field.

The top of the third inning saw Wells punch in two runs, but the Dragons were quick to rebut with a score from Holdyn Higley off a hit by Ky Willie to left field. Willie finished his lap around the bases on a ground hit by Briggs late in the inning. Ward had another big hit in the fourth, doubling on a line drive to left field to send Ethan Horsley in for the Dragon’s seventh run of the game. Ward and Hudson Daniels tallied two additional runs to end the inning.

The momentum carried on through the final two innings as the Dragons scored five more runs in contrast to the two scored by Wells. Malad played a solid defensive game, led by two pitchers who split the time on the mound. Higley opened the game, allowing 2 runs on 1 hit, walking 3 and striking out 3. Daniels finished the game, also allowing 2 runs on 1 hit, walking 1 and striking out 6.

Later the same day, the MHS team defeated the Kendrick Tigers with a defiant win of 10-2. The Dragon defense held the team scoreless until the fifth inning where the Tigers put their only two runs across the plate. Peterson, at short stop, had four putouts on four opportunities, including a double in the sixth inning. With one out and one runner on first base, the Tiger batter popped the hit up to second base territory for Peterson to snag out of the air. In kick succession he fired off the ball to get the final out as the runner on first attempted to advance to second.

From the mound, Daniels opened the game, not allowing a single hit or walk while striking out 16 batters. Horsley came in to relief pitch in the fifth inning, striking out 5 batters while allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, walking 2.

Saturday saw two more wins for the Dragons, as they defeated the Grangeville Bulldogs in a shutout game and Challis in a high scoring win. Despite tallying just six hits against the Bulldogs, Malad made them count, capitalizing on opportunities and keeping pressure on the basepaths. Green led the way at the plate, going 2-for-4 and crossing the plate three times. In addition, Peterson and Brooks

Blaisdell each drove in multiple runs, helping fuel the big third inning that ultimately put the game out of reach.

On the mound, Peterson threw a complete game, allowing only one hit while striking out seven and walking two. The hurler was backed up by a solid fielding defense, the remaining put outs scattered across the team including Daniels, Blaisdell, Briggs, and Higley.

The MHS team put their runs up early in their final game of the weekend as the played Challis. By the third inning, the team had already collected 13 runs while only allowing 4 to their opponent. The coaching staff used the lead as an opportunity to shake things up, moving players around and bringing in new hitters for the team. The game proved not only a great team win but also an opportunity to share experience around to multiple players.

After the conclusion of the weekend games, Coach Maroney shared, “This weekend in Glenn’s ferry we got back on track and are ready to finish strong. Our lineup is hitting great again. We have a deep pitching rotation. It has been hard to get everyone in the game to pitch.”

Pleased with the progress the team made over the week, Coach Maroney and his team look forward to their next games in Preston on Tuesday, April 14 before hosting Soda Springs the following day. Thursday the team will play in Firth before traveling to Soda Springs on Friday for a second matchup.