Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
Coloring Contest Underway! It’s that time again, when the Event Center gets briefly turned into a madhouse, and everyone goes home with presents! The Merchants Coloring Contest has been a tradition in Malad for at least as long as it takes for Sherrie to have childhood memories of it. The hope is always to give back to the community, and make sure that everyone knows about the amazingly diverse businesses in the Malad Valley who help make the holidays special. And now, to address the true audience here: Kids—this is the last week to get your coloring pages finished! All the children ages 0 to 12 are invited to color as many pages as you wish using crayons, colored pencils, pens, markers, or paints. However, glue, or attached items such as glitter or cotton to your pages are not allowed. Take your finished pages to the stores whose names appear on the page – but first, be sure to fill in your name, your parents’ names, address, and telephone number on the back! The picture for the Oneida Pioneer Museum, Evans Well Drilling, BC Timbers, KW Equipment Services, and Malad Rock should be taken to the Idaho Enterprise. Deadline for returning your completed pictures is Monday, December 1. Only one entry per child for each participating merchant is allowed. Each merchant will judge entries in their store contest and winners will be notified of the day their photo will be taken at the store, Friday, December 5. Please be on time for your photo! Merchants will award their chosen winners on the day of the photos. The Grand Prizes Drawing conducted by The Idaho Enterprise will take place Thursday, December 11 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Events Center at the Oneida County Fairgrounds. Lots of prizes will be given away at the drawing, including a Nintendo Switch donated by Gary and Sherma Shepherd and Nicole Green of the Dude Ranch Café as well as bicycle’s, and TVs for the grand prizes. Other prizes will be games, art sets, baby dolls, and much more. Kids must
November 27, 2025 |Vol. 145 No. 48
NEWS IN BRIEF
House Cleaner shot to death on front porch after going to the wrong house in Indianapolis
Steele and Jax Price showing off just a few of the toys we will be giving away at the Coloring Contest Drawing on December 11th. We have many more toys to give away so don’t forget to turn your coloring pages in by December 1st!
be present to win. There will be hot dogs, walking tacos, crafts for the kids, and a special guest, SANTA! Thank you to all the sponsoring merchants; NAPA/Hess Truck Auto Ag, Oneida Pioneer Museum, Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital, Broulims, Malad Drive In, Hess Lumber, KC Oil, On the Run and Little Caesars, Allen Drug and Variety, Mountain States Insurance, Thomas Electric and Furniture, ATC Communications, Evans Well Drilling, Tiny Tots Daycare and Preschool, Malad City, Northern Title Company, Sinclair Central Service, Oneida Family Dental, Family Dollar, Farm Bureau Insurance, Edith’s Collective, Ireland Bank, Ward’s ACE & Country Store, Hess Pumice Products Inc., Bamma Wamma’s Pop and Swirl, Pizza Stop, BC Timbers, KW Equipment Services, Idaho Milling and Tree Services, Malad Rock, and The Idaho Enterprise.
A Busy and Wonderful Season! As the holiday season gets into high gear, there is a lot going on and a lot coming up. While most of these events are covered inside the paper, or will be soon, we want to make sure that some of the immediate things to put on your calendar are getting your front page attention. This weekend, the eighth annual Malad Volunteer Firemen’s Spirit of Christmas Light Parade will take place at 7:00pm on Saturday, Nov. 29. Parade line-up will start across from the Library at 6:45pm. It’s not too late to enter, and entries are encouraged from businesses, families, community groups and individuals. After the parade, things take a quick jaunt over to the fire station for donuts, hot chocolate, a blazing bonfire, Christmas music, and some surprises. The event is capped with Fireworks, which are just perfect against the snow. A second event will take place December 6 at the Event Center to support the Fire Department. The Fireman’s Ball will be held on December 6 at 8:00pm, and feature the music of Rough Stock. Grand Prizes from the event include an amazing bell creation by Doug Adams, Vortex binoculars, trips to Jackpot and Wendover and more. The Annual Hometown Christmas Festival will be held this year at the Event Center on November 28 and 29. It’s a good chance to buy local and get some of your Christmas shopping done early. The event will feature a wide range of items, as well as visits from Santa and the Grinch on Saturday, and crafts for kids on both days. The Light Show in the Park is in its 4th year, and will run nightly from 5:30 to 10:30pm. The light show has moved locations this year to the Southeast corner of the park. At-
tendees are asked to please enter the gravel parking lot from Highway 38, and tune to 91.1 to enjoy the show. The show has been set up by Brad and Melanie Coleman, JP and Justin Wittman, Thatcher Sweeten and ATC. Another amazing local tradition makes a return, with the Live Nativity Event Dec 1 at the Presbyterian Church, with programs running at 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30pm. Come celebrate the season against the amazing backdrop. Christmas music, and refreshments will be served! The 19th Annual Giving Tree is in place at Oneida County Long Term Care at the Nell J Redfield Memorial Hospital. Long Term Care will be accepting monetary donations until December 6 to purchase Christmas gifts for the residents. Donations can be mailed to Oneida County Long Term Care, Kathy Hubbard, 150 N. 200 W., Malad ID, 83252. Oneida Family Dental is supporting the Crisis Center this season with a donation box at its location, which will be up until December 22. Donations can also be made directly to the Crisis Center. Needs include warms clothes, socks, hats, gloves, etc., feminine hygiene products, laundry and dish soap, toilet paper and paper towels, hot cocoa, marshmallows, and kid friendly games. The Parade of homes will take place on Saturday, December 6, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. Tickets can be purchased from irondoorarts.org, CWC, Oneida County Library, Malad City Offices, Daily Hollow, and Edith’s Collective for $8.00. The Iron Door Theatre will also sell tickets on Dec 6. Featured homes this year include Jaime Olsen, Jason and Careen Hornecker, Gary and Carolee Cox, David and Chalae Teeples, and Lee and Peggy Olsen.
Santa always makes at least one appearance at the Light ...but most often he makes several! Parade...
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE Live Nativity.........................................Pg. 3 Grandparents Only..............................Pg. 5 Puzzles................................................Pg. 6
$1.50
Looking Back.......................................Pg. 7 School Board Report....................Pg. 10-11 Sports.......................................... .Pg. 11-12
An Indiana homeowner, Curt Andersen, 62, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter after allegedly fatally shooting a house cleaner who showed up at his door in the morning of Nov. 5. Prosecutors say Maria Florinda Rios Pérez de Velásquez, 32, a Guatemalan immigrant and mother of four, mistakenly arrived at Andersen’s home in Whitestown with her husband as part of a cleaning crew. According to a probable cause statement, Andersen fired a single shot through his front door without warning after hearing what he believed to be an attempted break-in. Investigators say there was no sign of forced entry, and no evidence the couple ever entered the house. Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood argues that Andersen’s actions were not justified under Indiana’s “castle doctrine” — a self-defense law affording broad protections — because deadly force was not reasonably necessary. If convicted, Andersen faces 10 to 30 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
LDS Church discontinues Saturday evening session of General Conference
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that, beginning in April 2026, the semiannual general conference will no longer include its traditional Saturday evening session. In a news release, church leaders explained the change reflects a renewed emphasis on the four daytime sessions held on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon. The decision marks a notable shift for the global broadcast, which has been translated into nearly 100 languages and watched by millions.
Idaho School District to pay out $7 million in sex abuse settlements
The Boise School District has agreed to pay $7 million to settle seven sexual-abuse claims involving former special-education assistant Gavin Snow. Snow, who worked at Cynthia Mann and Valley View elementary schools, died by suicide in January as officers attempted to arrest him on child-abuse charges. The tort claims filed by parents allege that Snow abused students in school bathrooms and sensory rooms and that repeated warning signs were overlooked by administrators. According to district officials, insurance will cover $2 million of the settlement, while the remaining $5 million will come from non-classroom district funds. Leaders emphasized that instructional services will not be affected, with financial impacts redirected to maintenance and facility budgets instead. The settlement aims to provide closure for affected families while prompting a broader review of safety practices, oversight procedures, and reporting protocols across the district to prevent future failures.