Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
December 18, 2025 |Vol. 145 No. 51
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF
Former Idaho Inmate Alleges Staff Sexual Abuse Ignored as IDOC Reviews Safety Policies
[Left] MHS Chamber Choir, led by Foster Garrett. [Above] Mike Brignone, Lorna Brignone, Lamona Bennett, Kathryn Fossum, Anne Crowther, Carlean Tubbs, Jean Thomas.
Community joins together in Christmas harmony The interdenominational Community Christmas Sing-Along on Sunday evening, December 14, 2025, showed how the Christmas spirit is infusing Malad Valley. The joy of Christmas carols resounded from the crowd of nearly 200 people in the holiday-themed decorated chapel of the 2nd Ward building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lorna Brignone organized the event under the direction of David Jensen, Malad Stake President. Jason Sperry of the Malad Stake Presidency presided at the singalong. President Jensen gave opening remarks, citing how important music is to the celebration of Christ-
mas. Prayers were offered by David Nielsen of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-Kingdom of God and Larry Thomas of the Malad City Council. Mike Brignone gave a short narration about the carols prior to each group of two being sung enthusiastically by the entire audience. Organists for the program were Lamona Bennett, Jean Thomas, and Carlean Tubbs with Kathryn Fossum and Anne Crowther as choristers. Favorite carols included “Joy to the World,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” “What Child Is This?” “Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains,” and “Good Chris-
tian Men, Rejoice.” An instrumental duet version of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” was performed by Lorna Brignone on piano and Maggie Lund on organ. The evening ended with the Malad High School Chamber Choir performing “Remembering Decembers,” bringing back memories of past holidays, and “O Holy Night.” The entire audience joyfully joined the Chamber Choir, led by Foster Garrett, in the third verse of this favorite Christmas carol. Refreshments in the cultural hall ended an evening of song and joy to lead into the Christmas holiday in Malad Valley.
Hess Pumice employees donate to school district for lunch program Last week, Hess Pumice representatives Jake Hess and Mike Hess Jr presented a check for just over six thousand dollars to Oneida School District #351 Superintendent Dallan Rupp, joined by the district’s principals, Sarah McIntyre, Josh Smith, and Robert Hannah. The check, totaling exactly $6,060.16, represented the charitable donations of Hess Pumice employees, as well as a 100% match from Hess Pumice. “What happens is, every year we go to the employees and ask for a charitable donation for the community. So, whatever the employees donate, we match it. The employees donated just over three thousand dollars. We also ask them where they want the money to go. ‘you guys—it’s your money, you tell us where you want your money to go. This year, several of them came in again and said we’d like to donate to the school system. A couple of them have spouses that work in the school system, and of course a lot of them have kids in the schools. Their kids have come home and mentioned that ‘hey, we’d really to help the kids have a warm lunch.’ The goal was to grant enough money to have every kid in the schools have a warm lunch for at least two months. We think this will help
the kids a lot,” Mike Hess, Jr. said. Superintendent Dallan Rupp explained, “It’s tricky to determine who has a need for it. Normally the way we do it, is they fill out a form for free and reduced lunch. But we do have a lot of people who are right on the edge of that cutoff that can sometimes have a hard time paying. This money will help families that are struggling to pay bills right now, and help their kids have a hot lunch.” “We have been given enough money here to apply them to the overdue charges that exist. No student will have overdue charges from this point back. They’ve really taken a big burden off the community and the students who are in that situation right now. From here going forward, we’re going to look at using the remaining funds to apply to the overdue charges for students that have applied for free and reduced lunches, whether they qualify or not, so no student will have to receive a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” To put a point on it, the extra funds will go to pay overages as they occur, but only in the case of students who have applied (again, whether the application has been accepted or not) for free and reduced lunches. Those funds, however, are not likely to out-
pace the need more than a few months at the most optimistic. School lunch funds have been an issue across the country throughout the existence of public schooling. Changes in food preparation guidelines, health recommendations, food suppliers, medical and scientific evidence, and many other aspects of “hot lunch” have made each generation’s school lunch experience somewhat unique. Compound that by adding in the regional dietary attitudes and flavor profiles of each geographic area, and it can be more inconsistent than you might immediately think. One thing that is a common thread, however, is the need to fund those lunches. The adage “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” is ultimately more true than ever in the school lunch world. The National School Lunch Program was created in 1946 as a way to stabilize farm prices by providing a ready market for surplus farm product, and to provide meals to America’s children, many of whom had inconsistent access to a full range of dietary necessities. The direct connection to farm economics is not as central as it initially was, but the need for healthy HESS DONATION On Page 9
At the Hess Pumice Christmas Party, the employees posed as a whole group with the check for the school lunch program for Oneida #351
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE Hospital Employee Party.....................Pg. 2 Deck the Halls.....................................Pg. 3 Coloring Contest..................................Pg. 4
Puzzles................................................Pg. 6 Obituaries............................................Pg. 9 Sports........................................... Pg. 11-12
A former Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) inmate says her repeated reports of sexual abuse by prison staff were dismissed for years, spotlighting potential gaps in the system as state officials review policies on prisoner safety and misconduct reporting. Andrea Weiskircher, 43, who spent decades in state custody, told reporters she and other incarcerated women endured harassment and coercion by correctional officers — often in areas without surveillance — and that formal complaints were frequently marked “unfounded” or received minimal investigation. The allegations are part of a wider InvestigateWest series that found systemic failures to properly investigate or hold staff accountable. In response, IDOC Director Bree Derrick said the department is reviewing sexual misconduct policies, public records practices, and inmate education on rights. Lawmakers are also discussing strengthening state law to better criminalize abuse by staff. Advocates say more must be done to protect people in custody and ensure accountability.
Illinois Candidate Shares Painful Memory Behind His Run for Governor
An Illinois gubernatorial candidate is sharing the most painful moment of his life as he opens up about the tragedy that reshaped his family. Marcus Ellery, a former state senator now running for governor, recalled the heartbreaking day he had to tell his eight-year-old grandson, Liam, that the boy’s parents and two younger siblings had died in a helicopter crash during a weekend trip in Colorado. Ellery said he waited until Liam was safely surrounded by relatives before breaking the news. “There’s no way to prepare a child for something like that,” he said. “His world changed in a sentence.” The loss, Ellery added, has strengthened his resolve to advocate for improved aviation safety and expanded family support services across Illinois.
Charges Dropped Against BYU-Idaho Student Accused in Costco Baby Incident
Prosecutors have dropped felony kidnapping charges against a 24-year-old BYU-Idaho student accused of taking a shopping cart with a baby inside at the Idaho Falls Costco on Nov. 24. Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal announced Thursday that new surveillance footage did not clearly show criminal intent, and the evidence no longer met the legal standard required to proceed. The student, identified as Michael Garrison Raine, had been charged after the baby’s mother reported her four-week-old infant missing. Investigators initially had limited camera views, but additional angles showed Raine had his own cart and did not appear to leave the store or act suspiciously. Authorities said charges could be reconsidered if new evidence emerges.