The Idaho Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
April 9, 2026 | Vol. 146 No. 15
The Easter Egg hunt was moved to the west field this year due to the installation of the new playground. The change did not effect turnout!
Oneida County Welcomes Easter
Over the Easter weekend, a range of events took place in Oneida County, both devotional and candy-based. It was a busy weekend with something for everyone, from the youngest toddlers to the more well-seasoned adults. Spring Break Friday saw the Teenage Scavenger Hunt, which ultimately sent dozens of teenagers out into the community in groups both large and small to find all of the mystery locations in order to win prizes. Many local businesses and groups were involved, and participation increased over last year, even with Spring Break as factor. Kids ran around the downtown area all afternoon filling out their sheets, including trying to track down the “Where’s Waldo?” vehicle that moved from location to location throughout the day. On Saturday, the large scale Easter Egg hunt was held at the City Park in Malad, and while less muddy and snowy than some years, it was still a bit chilly as kids raced around looking for eggs, meeting the Easter bunny, and taking some time to play on the new playground equipment. Bright and early Sunday, the Interfaith Council hosted a Sunrise Easter service. Members of Malad’s many faith communities came out to the packed event under the pavilion,
which featured devotional readings as well as Easter music. Taylor Smith provided music throughout the service. Ron Fesler served as the moderator for the event. An opening prayer was led by Tina Fesler, followed by the singing of the hymn “In the Garden” with the congregation. Bishop Jason Kimberling provided the scripture and inspiration, as did Pastor Jack Harwell, and Bishop Ben Naylor. Fred Clavell read from John 20, recounting the events of the empty tomb and the meeting with Mary Magdalene. Emily Christiansen, Carrie Ann Jensen, and Pennie Wolf sang the special musical number “I Know My Redeemer Lives.” Special music was also provided by The Malad Valley Community Chirus, who performed “Beautiful Savior” under the direction of Ralph Bennett, accompanied by Maggi Lund. Taylor Smith and Aaliyah Smith performed “O Lord, My Redeemer.” The congregation joined in singing “Christ the Lord Risen Today!”, followed by a closing prayer by Brian Jeppsen. Following the sunrise service, members of the public were invited to a
The Malad Valley Community Chorus performed "Beautiful Savior"
potluck community breakfast at the Victory Baptist Church. While last week’s weather was cloudy and cold, the sun rose brilliantly and warmly on Easter morning. (Though heaters were on site at the pavilion to help the warming process!) Church services were held at various locations across the valley, with General Conference also taking place over the weekend. A report on conference by Allison Eliason is also included in this edition of the paper. From all of us at the Enterprise to you, Happy Easter, and Happy Spring! EASTER On Page 10
New playground open at City Park
For many grandparents visiting town for last week’s Grandparents Day at Malad Elementary School, the sight of the new playground at the City Park must have been quite a surprise. Even for those who live near the park in Malad, the speed with which the project went from initial construction to complete park was impressive. The Playground committee and the city have been discussing an official ribbon cutting in the weeks leading up to last Thursday, but nothing had been finalized by that point. Local youth groups assisted with the placement of the bark-substitute ground material last Wednesday evening, and while there are still a few odd and ends to complete—including the large sign that will list the names of supporters, donors, and all those who contributed to the development and installation of the playground—there is no denying that the playground is a big, impressive structure. With grandparents day the day following the playground’s more or less complete installation there was no chance that it would stay uninhabited until official word was given. Late Wednesday evening word had already spread, and by Thursday morning the playground was already swarmed with kids who had been waiting months to see what the new facility would be like. Based on the level of excitement and activity the playground has generated in the week since its unofficial opening, it’s safe to say that it has been an enormous hit so far. The older playground equipment (which is now fenced off at the western end of the park’s walking path) had reached a point where it was no longer capable of being easily restored, and had not been used very frequently by visitors to the park anymore. A quick trip over to the new playground after school hours will quickly demonstrate that such is no longer that case. The new equipment takes its place just in time for a number of spring and summer events, where it will un-
The new playground at the City Park in Malad has been teeming with kids ever since it was finished last week.
doubtedly be a huge hit. The recreation department has already mentioned the idea of potentially expanding the Little League tournament to bring in more teams—there is little doubt that the new playground is a major asset in selling those types of events to visitors. Events like the tournament bring in whole families, most of whom have young kids in tow. A location like the playground makes for an excellent draw for families in that situation. The Fourth of July, Summer Reading program, family gatherings, pickleball tournaments, and many more events will be aided by the new playground. And of course, Malad and Oneida County residents themselves will likely experience a re-awakened appreciation of the park as a central location in town, especially those with young kids. As word of a date and time for an official ribbon-cutting or opening event is made available, we will make sure to present that information in our pages.
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE Hall of Fame announcement...............Pg. 3 FFA News............................................Pg. 4 Puzzles................................................Pg. 6
Looking Back.......................................Pg. 7 Rebel at Westminster........................Pg. 10 Young Producer Scholarships.....Pgs. 11-12
$1.50
NEWS INBondi BRIEF ousted
In an extremely busy and consequential week, President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after roughly 14 months in the position, ending a controversial tenure closely aligned with the stated Trump agenda. Bondi aggressively reshaped the Department of Justice, including removing career officials and pursuing cases against Trump’s political opponents. However, reports indicate Trump grew frustrated with her performance, particularly her failure to secure major prosecutions against rivals and her handling of sensitive issues such as the Jeffrey Epstein files. Despite publicly praising her as a loyal ally, Trump replaced her with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting head of the department. Bondi’s tenure drew criticism from both parties, with opponents accusing her of politicizing the Justice Department, while some supporters believed she had not gone far enough in advancing Trump’s priorities. In the last roughly two-week period, several other administration officials were removed or departed. Home Land Security’s Kristi Noem had already been dismissed weeks earlier, marking a first major cabinet-level change. Within the military, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth oversaw the removal or forced departure of senior officers including Randy George, along with David Hodne and William Green. Other changes have included the brief tenure and exit of Katie Zacharia and the departure of Corey Lewandowski from the Department of Homeland Security.
Airman rescued
On April 5, 2026, a U.S. airman was successfully rescued after a dramatic, high-risk mission deep inside Iran during the ongoing conflict. The airman, a weapons systems officer aboard an F-15E fighter jet, had ejected when the aircraft was shot down by Iranian forces. Injured and alone, he survived for roughly 36 hours in mountainous terrain, hiding from search parties and reportedly evading capture while armed with only a handgun. U.S. forces launched a complex rescue involving special operations units, helicopters, and drones, along with intelligence support and deceptive tactics to mislead Iranian forces. The mission included intense combat conditions, with aircraft taking fire and some equipment losses reported. Despite these challenges, the airman was extracted safely and transported for medical treatment. The operation was widely described as one of the most daring U.S. search-and-rescue missions in recent history.
UCLA over South Carolina 79-51
In the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, the UCLA Bruins women's basketball faced the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball in a highly competitive final. South Carolina entered as a dominant, defense-focused team, while UCLA relied on balanced scoring and perimeter play. The game was tightly contested through the first half, with multiple lead changes. In the second half, South Carolina’s physical defense and rebounding created separation, limiting UCLA’s scoring opportunities. Key performances from South Carolina’s starters helped them pull ahead late, ultimately securing the national title. UCLA remained competitive but struggled to overcome turnovers and second-chance points.