Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
February 5, 2026 | Vol. 146 No. 6
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF Partial Reopening of
Gaza’s Rafah Border Crossing
More than 50 students were in the cast of this weekend’s MIssoula Chidlren’s Theatre production of “Red Riding Hood”
Missoula Children’s Theatre returns to Malad On Saturday, more the fifty local students (which means hundreds of people, all told) took in an afternoon of dramatic storytelling at Malad Elementary School. On the one hand, the ostensible story was an adaptation of the fairytale “Little Red Riding Hood,” which had been expanded to make room for a literal cast of dozens. On the other hand, the real story of the week was the rare educational opportunity provided to MES students by the PTO, Hess Pumice, and the Missoula Children’s Theatre. In last week’s paper, we ran a complete list of the cast for the play, which was composed of students from all grade levels and acting experience. In this week’s paper, we talk with the MCT representatives. Amanda Fielding and Emma Walther who were the play’s directors, costumers, workshop leaders, and all-around arts gurus over the course of the week. One addition from last week is Daisy Huckaby, who was recruited at the last minute to fill in as accompanist, and did an amazing job! Amanda Fielding explained that MCT has been a part of her life for a long time, and something that she loves. “I grew up doing MCT shows in my town back in Pennsylvania,”
she stated. “In each town we get to work with so many talented kids and inspire them to step outside their comfort zone. And who knows, maybe inspire some to want work for MCT. Working with MCT is wild. You’re like this magical mystery person who shows up for a week, teaches the kids a show and maybe do some theatre workshops with the school, and then you’re gone and off to the next town to do it all again. The mission statement of MCT is “To empower children and adults, develop lifelong skills, and enrich communities worldwide through theater education and performance.” And that’s what we do. We go to communities all over the world, a lot that might not get much arts education. Sometimes we’re the only opportunity for the arts that kids get.” Amanda’s cohort Emma Walther, who played the Big Bad Wolf and served as the on-stage support for the student actors, agreed. “It’s been very rewarding! Every week is something different. Traveling from town to town and getting to know the community and seeing their passion for theatre throughout the process of putting on the show each week is very fulfilling. And it makes me happy to see the kids light up when
getting the chance to perform. But it also feels bittersweet to have to say goodbye at the end of each week. I’d describe MCT’s mission as spreading the love of theatre to kids far and wide that might not otherwise be exposed to it.” For those who haven’t had a student participate in the program, the MCT members arrive at a town like Malad, armed with costumes and a script, and immediately hold auditions to cast the parts. They then spend the week rehearsing, while holding workshops for all the students of the school. “We start auditions on Monday and cast everyone by the end of the day,” Walther said. “Then we do rehearsals until Friday or Saturday. Also at some point during the week, we’ll be making calls to our next two future tour stops prepping for our arrival as well as doing the laundry for the costumes. The set is also typically put up on either Thursday evening or Friday morning. After the last show, we then take the set down, collect costumes and scripts pack everything in our truck, and prep for heading to our next tour stop. “Most of the time we have sixish days to put the show together.” THEATRE On Page 4
Keynote speaker announced for Lincoln Day Dinner While the groundhog suggests there will be six more weeks of winter, that means spring should be here one way of the other by mid-March. Even if it doesn’t, the county’s Event Center provides an excellent, weatherproof location for events from small to large. Between now and April, some important activities you might mark on your calendar will be landing at the Event Center, including the FFA Auction and Dinner, Lincoln Day Dinner, and Emergency Preparedness Fair. The Annual FFA Alumni and Supporters Live Auction and Dinner will take place on February 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and will include ham and potatoes served by the FFA members. A silent auction will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Live Auction starting at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is by donation, and all money raised during the event will be used to support the many activities undertaken by MHS’ very active FFA program.
In past years, the dinner and auction have been fantastic, well-attended events with a lot of amazing things up for bid, often created by the FFA students themselves. Another annual Event Center tradition is the Republican Lincoln Day Event, which will take place on March 14 at 6:00 p.m. The dinner is a chance for candidates, office holders, supporters, and interested members of the public to meet and discuss issues of importance to themselves and the Grand Old Party. In the past, guests and speakers have included state representatives and senators, members of the governor’s administration, state education and policy officials, and an interesting array of speakers. This year’s keynote speaker has been announced as Major General Brian L. Tarbet. Tarbet, now retired, assumed duties as the Adjutant General, Utah National Guard on October 1, 2000. Starting in September of 2001, General Tarbet directed mobilization, deploy-
ment, and redeployment of virtually all units of the Utah Army and Air National Guard in support of the global war on terrorism. More information on the event specifics will be coming soon. The following week on March 21, the Event Center will host the second annual Oneida County Emergency Preparedness Fair. Booths and presentations on Back-up power options, outdoor cooking, 72 hour kits, gardening, using food storage, first responders, county and state resources, radio communications, and more will be hosted throughout the day from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Presentations on Water Purification from Connie Getz, First Responders from Trissa Nesbitt, and Automobile Preparation from Matt Johnson will take place with one each hour of the event. The event is free to everyone. We’ll bring you more information on these events as it becomes available.
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE America 250........................................Pg. 2 FCCLA.................................................Pg. 3 Puzzles................................................Pg. 6
Looking Back.......................................Pg. 7 Obituaries............................................Pg. 9 Sports........................................... Pg. 11-12
On February 2, 2026, Israel partially reopened the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for the first time in nearly two years, allowing limited pedestrian movement under strict conditions as part of the ceasefire arrangements following the prolonged Israel-Hamas war. The crossing had been closed since mid-2024. During the pilot phase, up to roughly 150 people per day were expected to leave Gaza and 50 to return, with strict Israeli security screening and lists prepared in advance by Egyptian authorities and EU monitors coordinating the process. However, humanitarian aid trucks remain barred from entering through Rafah, a key concern for relief agencies given the ongoing food, medical and fuel shortages in the enclave after years of conflict and blockade. The limited reopening has drawn cautious international response — some governments and organizations welcomed the step as a humanitarian corridor, while others criticized the restrictions and warned that continued blocking of commercial aid undermines the ceasefire and exile options for civilians.
Savannah Guthrie’s mother missing
As of the evening of Monday, February 2, 2026, Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, is reported missing and the case remains active. Nancy, who lives in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona, was last seen on the evening of Saturday, January 31. Family members became concerned when she could not be reached and failed to attend church the following morning, prompting a missing-person report on Sunday, February 1. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation and has classified her as a vulnerable adult due to physical health issues and limited mobility, though authorities have said she is mentally alert. Investigators have emphasized that she requires daily medication, increasing concern for her safety. Law enforcement has treated her home as a potential crime scene after finding evidence suggesting she may not have left voluntarily, and homicide detectives have been brought in alongside searchand-rescue teams using dogs, drones, and ground searches. As of Monday evening, Nancy Guthrie had not been located. Savannah Guthrie was absent from the Today show and released a brief statement thanking the public for support and asking anyone with information to contact authorities, underscoring that the family’s focus is on Nancy’s safe return.
NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission Delay Due to Weather
In space exploration news, NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission to orbit the Moon, the first such flight with astronauts since the Apollo era, has experienced schedule delays due to unusually cold weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida that disrupted critical pre-launch testing (“wet dress rehearsal”). The launch, originally targeted for early February, is now expected no earlier than Sunday, February 8, pending completion of tests and favorable weather conditions. The mission will carry four astronauts — including historically significant milestones such as the first woman and first person of color to travel that far beyond Earth orbit — on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.