Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
October 23, 2025 |Vol. 145 No. 43
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF
Family Heartbreakingly Celebrates “Last Christmas Together”
Heritage Square is an ideal location for a smaller, more focused Welsh Festival.
In fact, the entrance sign is already perfect to welcome in 2026 visitors to the Festival (“Welcome to the Heritage Square” is the literal meaning of the phrase).
Changes coming to Malad Valley’s Welsh Festival A time comes when changes are needed in order for traditions to continue into the future and to match the interests of younger audiences and participants. After 21 years, that time has arrived for the Malad Valley Welsh Festival. With the goal of “celebrating and preserving the Welsh heritage of Malad Valley,” the Festival began in 2005 with no budget, a dozen activities, and lots of volunteers. In 2025 the Festival was well funded with grants, donations, vendor fees, and sales at the Country Store. Nearly 40 events and activities took place over the two days with a fireside on Sunday. In addition to the 36 committee chairs, over 100 volunteers remained essential to the Festival’s success. The Festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and was just an adult poetry competition/reading done mostly over Zoom in 2021. Therefore, the 2025 Festival was touted as the 19th Malad Valley Welsh Festival because it has not been an annual event. Even before the 2025 Festival, some major committee chairs expressed their desire that this Festival be their last. With nearly half of the 36 committee chairs having worked
on various aspects of the Festival for 10-15 years (with some serving nearly 20 years), it became evident that this was the time to make some major changes. Luke Waldron has been part of the Festival from its beginning, mostly by offering activities at the Heritage Square in Samaria. His enthusiasm for Wales and Welsh pioneer heritage is well known throughout Malad Valley. Therefore, he was the natural choice to become the next chair of the Festival, replacing Jean Thomas, who has served as co-chair for 2 years and chair for 18 years. The Heritage Square Committee, chaired by Waldron, will take over all planning and organizing of the Festival once the transition is complete. As the founder of the Heritage Square, Luke naturally wanted the Festival to do more to promote the Square. Therefore, the Heritage Square Committee and the Welsh Festival Executive Committee determined that now was the time to move the Festival to the Heritage Square, even though that would mean major changes to the activities and events associated with the Welsh Festival. The official name of the Festival will be “Malad Valley Welsh Festival at
Heritage Square.” The combined committee members had a long discussion about the date for the Festival. The last weekend in June has been the date for the Festival since 2007, but there have been conflicts every year with church camps, scout camps, sports camps and games, and vacations. Therefore, other dates were considered. Owain Glyndr is a celebrated hero in Wales throughout the month of September. The committees determined that the third Saturday in September would become the new date for the Festival, recognizing that some flexibility will be needed because of potential conflicts with school activities. The Festival was a 3-day event for several years with a family history workshop and program on Thursday, followed by presentations, concerts, and other activities on Friday and Saturday. A fireside (presentation with musical numbers) or a concert has traditionally been held on Sunday evening throughout the history of the Festival. The Festival has been a 2-day event for the past 15 years with a Fireside on Sunday. WELSH FESTIVAL On Page 3
Oneida County shakes it out
Last week, Malad participated in the Great Idaho ShakeOut! The exercise is a way for cities, counties, and emergency response networks to test their communications and response protocols for emergency situations, specifically an earthquake. While Idaho is not often known for frequent or intense earthquakes, they certainly do occur, including the noted earthquake that affected Oneida County in 1975. According to the Great Idaho Shakeout! organizers, “The moun-
tains and valleys of southeastern Idaho lie within the Intermountain Seismic Belt and tectonic belts II and III of the Yellowstone Tectonic Parabola. This is one of the most earthquake prone regions of Idaho. Paris and the Bear Lake Valley experienced strong shaking and damage in 1884 from a magnitude 6 earthquake. In 1934, the largest historic Utah earthquake (Hansel Valley magnitude 6.6) occurred just 20 miles south of the Idaho border. In 1975, the second largest historic Idaho earthquake struck
RACOON members gather after the earthquake exercise last week to discuss the network test.
the Pocatello Valley west of Malad City. This magnitude 6.1 event damaged 520 homes.” The exercise involved the scenario of a large earthquake striking just north of the airport in the Salt Lake area. While much of the state is not affected, there are effects on Oneida county, including the “wrinkle” that Bill Drury added to the scenario—a fuel tanker that has crashed on I-15 and started a large vehicle fire. The participants in the event proceeded as if those conditions were in place, and worked to establish a “net” of radio users to coordinate information. During largescale disaster events such as earthquakes, the first problem municipalities are confronted with is the stability and performance of the communication network. As emergency workers and mitigation teams work to respond to the needs of the situation, they are reliant on the ability to communicate with other agencies and retrieve information from those on the ground and in operation. As was seen during the wildfires in Hawaii two years ago, or the recent floods in Texas, the loss of EARTHQUAKE On Page 4
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE Clear Reflections Arbon Valley............Pg. 2 Library Spooky Night...........................Pg. 4 Puzzles................................................Pg. 6
Looking Back.......................................Pg. 7 Obituary...............................................Pg. 9 Sports.......................................... .Pg. 11-12
Nine year old Brielle Bird whose fight with stage 4 cancer has been followed by nearly a million Instagram fans is experiencing both heartbreak and hope as her family staged an early Christmas. With her health rapidly declining, her mother, Kendra Bird, announced the decision to celebrate the holiday weeks ahead of schedule so Brie could enjoy the moment “as a family of six.” The festive home was decorated with lights, a tree, and stacked gifts under the fireplace, and a ‘bird’ backdrop for what may be the family’s final holiday together in this chapter. Outside support has poured in, including a surprise package from pop star Ariana Grande, who sent her a personalized “Wicked” themed care box in recognition of Brie’s courage. While the story is deeply emotional, it also highlights the power of community and kindness in the face of such a profound challenge.
Lava Hot Springs Hot Pools Close Temporarily for Renovations
Lava Hot Springs’ world-famous hot pools have closed temporarily for renovations, according to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. The closure began October 13 and is expected to last until early November. Crews are performing upgrades on the facility’s largest and hottest pool, a process that requires draining and refilling the naturally replenished mineral springs—a task officials describe as both delicate and essential. While the hot pools are unavailable, visitors can still enjoy the Indoor Aquatic Center and Kiddie Cove, which remain open to the public. Officials encourage guests to check the Lava Hot Springs website and social media pages for updates on reopening dates.
ISU Awards $1.2 Million in STEM Scholarships to Future Teachers
Idaho State University has announced $1.2 million in new STEM scholarships aimed at combating Idaho’s ongoing shortage of qualified math and science teachers. The funding comes through a five-year National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program grant, providing full tuition and living stipends for students pursuing STEM education degrees. Through the initiative, titled “Idaho Making Progress Against Critical Teacher Shortages in STEM,” participants will first earn an undergraduate degree in a STEM field before entering ISU’s master’s teaching program to gain certification. In its first year, ISU has selected three Noyce Scholars—two undergraduates and one graduate student—to launch the program. University officials say the investment will help strengthen Idaho’s K–12 education system by preparing a new generation of highly skilled STEM educators.