The Idaho Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
March 26, 2026 | Vol. 146 No. 13
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF
Accident at LaGuardia runway claims 2 lives
Robyn Gamble was one of the many participants of this year's Emergency Preparedness Fair. Gamble spoke with visitors about food storage and foraging local plants for various uses, among other things.
Emergency Preparedness Fair Over the weekend, the Oneida County Event Center hosted the second annual Emergency Preparedness Fair, which was the place to be for information about a variety of emergency preparation and health and safety topics, as well as a number of useful demonstrations. This year’s event saw an even larger turnout than last year’s, with scores of visitors at the numerous booths, tables, and presentations that filled the building on Saturday. A number of local and regional individuals, groups and organizations like the Southeastern Idaho Public Health District joined familiar local faces to provide a range of information on all manner of topics related to the concept of emergency preparedness. From practical demonstrations of First Aid and emergency response techniques from Oneida County EMTs to the spiritual preparedness advocated by Pastor Jack Harwell, to amateur radio setups, and a variety of cultivation, canning, storage and food preparation booths, the Fair had a great deal of interesting and useful information. Over the course of the event, visitors made their way in an out of the conference room where a series of presentations were made. An overview of water purification information and products was very well-attended,
with a lot of questions from visitors about the specifics of keeping a sterile water supply. Proper use of storage containers and water purification practices was of great interest to attendees. As presenter Connie Getz reminded the audience, there are a lot of things you can make do without, but clean water is not one of them. Members of the Oneida County EMS crew gave a presentation on first aid strategies for stopping bleeding while waiting for emergency workers to arrive, as well as a number of other critical first aid and immediate response issues that it is always good to be up to speed on. Hypothermia, heat stroke, abrasions, and the Boy Scout manual staples joined newer first aid issues like opioid overdose response as essential areas of knowledge. The application of tourniquets for controlling emergency bleeding was demonstrated by the Trissa Nesbit, Candy Broadus, and Bayli Nesbit. Once again, there were a lot of questions from the audience, and there was a lot of information shared. Matt Johnson took attendees through an explanation PREPAREDNESS On Page 8
An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck on the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport when while landing. The aircraft, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, had arrived from Montreal carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. The collision killed both the pilot and co-pilot, as the front section of the aircraft was severely damaged. Dozens of passengers and several others, including emergency responders in the vehicle, were injured, with some requiring hospitalization. The fire truck had been responding to a separate incident involving another aircraft, and early reports suggest that miscommunication in air traffic control may have allowed both the plane and the vehicle onto the same runway at the same time. Audio recordings indicate attempts were made to stop the vehicle before impact, but they were unsuccessful. The crash led to the temporary closure of LaGuardia Airport, causing widespread flight cancellations and delays. Authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, launched an investigation to determine the exact cause and assess safety procedures.
March Madness
The 2026 Men’s March Madness Sweet 16 features a competitive mix of powerhouse programs and emerging contenders. The teams include the Michigan Wolverines, Arizona Wildcats, Duke Blue Devils, Purdue Boilermakers, Houston Cougars, Illinois Fighting Illini, St. John’s Red Storm, and UConn Huskies. They are joined by the Texas Longhorns, Iowa Hawkeyes, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Alabama Crimson Tide, Iowa State Cyclones, Michigan State Spartans, and Auburn Tigers. Texas and Iowa are the closest teams this year to Cinderella teams, in case you are interested.
Medicaid Work Bill
Larry Oja demonstrated techniques for using a downspout for hydroponics, as well as microgreens.
Brian Jeppsen showed a range of emergency kits for various lengths of time.
Cowboy Poetry this weekend!
The Cowboy Poetry and Western Music Festival is coming to town this weekend, and will be held at the Iron Door Playhouse in downtown Malad. The afternoon sessions are held at no charge, and give the performers a chance to try out new material, practice their craft, or speak or sing in front of a smaller, less formal audience. The afternoon sessions are Friday from 1-5 p.m. and Saturday from 11-5 p.m. The Evening sessions have a scheduled program, and carry a cover charge of $15 to support to artists and groups involved, including the Iron Door. Both evening sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the International Western Music Association, and will feature the music of Saddle
Strings, as well as Many Strings. The Cowboy Poets of Idaho and the International Western Music Association have been a part of the much anticipated poetry and music event at the Iron Door Playhouse for a number of years, during which they have brought out members to share their love of poetry, humor, music, and the history. The weekend of cowboy poetry generally brings together a group of performers of many types—some more serious, some less so. Younger, older, married, still thinking about it, and just ornery. A full weekend usually offers up a range of moods from the fanciful and comic to the serious and reflective, with a number of personal stories shared and songs with deeply personal messages shared.
In the past, fans have come into town from around the valley as well as farther flung places, and spent a leisurely morning and afternoon streaming in and out during the free session—though most who come in tend to end up staying more often than not. The Iron Door Playhouse is one of Malad’s most cherished historic locations, and is a perfect spot for the performance. If you have never attended in the past, you’ll see what I mean. Put the weekend on your calendar and plan to make it downtown for some, if not all, of the yearly treat of the poetic flavor. Given the roster of performers, there is bound to be something that catches your interest and edifies your soul. OR at least makes you laugh, which is its own good.
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE Evening of the Arts..............................Pg. 2 Local Champions.................................Pg. 3 Puzzles................................................Pg. 6
Looking Back.......................................Pg. 7 Obituaries............................................Pg. 9 Sports..........................................Pgs. 11-12
Idaho lawmakers are advancing a bill that would require certain Medicaid recipients to work or meet activity requirements starting in 2027. The proposal, House Bill 913, has cleared a House committee and is headed to the full Idaho House for consideration. The bill aims to apply work requirements to able-bodied adults enrolled in Medicaid expansion, which currently covers tens of thousands of Idahoans. Supporters argue the policy would promote self-sufficiency and reduce long-term government spending. The plan includes a phased rollout, with early reviews to give enrollees time to meet requirements before enforcement begins. Under the proposal, participants would need to complete at least 80 hours per month of work, education, or community service, with exemptions for groups such as pregnant individuals, caregivers, students, and people with disabilities. Those unable to demonstrate compliance could lose coverage. Opponents argue the policy could create bureaucratic hurdles and lead to eligible people losing health coverage due to paperwork issues rather than lack of work. Estimates suggest thousands of Idahoans could be removed from Medicaid if the bill becomes law.