Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
October 9, 2025 |Vol. 145 No. 41
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF
Human Remains in Washington Identified as Travis Decker
Gordon Von and Sydney Stephan “dueled” for the enjoyment of the audience at the Oneida Crisis Center’s fundraising dinner last Friday. The fundraiser takes over for the Gala, which had been held every spring.
Oneida Crisis Center Fundraiser writes a new verse The Oneida Crisis Center held its annual fundraising event last Friday, and the organizers decided to try something a bit different. In the past, the Gala has featured a dinner and auction, along with speeches and recognition for the staff and community. This year, the Center envisioned something more audience-oriented, and brought in a high-energy pair of musicians for a “Dueling Piano” concert that generated megawatts of entertainment for everyone who attended. New Crisis Center Director Malena Jimenez, along with former Director Holly Llewellyn, Jade Curtis, Emily Nelson, and many current and past board members were on hand at the event for a night of food, friends, and music. Raffle item baskets were put together by a large number of amazing sponsors for the event, and included things such as an eBike, mountain bikes, Jazz tickets, theatre and concert tickets, tools, clothing items and blankets, zoo passes, a pizza oven, and too many more things to list out. The range and quality of the donations demonstrated the strong support for the Crisis Center in the community, and resulted in some heavily raffled items. A taco bar was set up to feed the masses prior to the event. The show itself was put on by Rock It, Man entertainment, featuring accomplished players Sydney Stephan and Gordon Von. Not only is Sydney from Idaho (“I love being an Idaho girl!” she said), but her mother was able to accompany her from her home in Eagle, just outside of Boise. The musicians in the Dueling Pianos group are from all over the United States, and play in a variety of professional engagements throughout the year, including cruise ships,
Government Shutdown and No End in Sight
Jade Curtis, Holly Llewellyn, Malena Jimenez, and Emily Nelson greeted attendees at the doors to the show.
corporate events, and other gatherings. In order to be able to perform the way that they do, the musicians have to be quick on their toes, and have a wide range of musical styles at their disposal. During the performance, Sydney and Gordon asked audience members to fill out request slips containing any song or artist they wanted to hear, and turning it in with a donation. Due to the nature of the evening, the donations were DUELING PIANOS On Page 2
Kathy Kent awarded Lifetime Achievement honors by ILA During last week’s conference of the Idaho Library Association, recently retired Oneida County Library director Kathy Kent was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the closing evening banquet. Kathy joined three other Lifetime Achievement recipients, which constituted the first class of the newly created award. Kathy was joined by her family, as well as recent Trustee of the Year Award winner Lois Willie, and Board member Tracy Ward. Tracy Ward introduced Kathy prior to her award, by stating “My dear friend Kathy deserves this award so much. She started at the library in high school, and has worked at the library since high school. She has turned our library in Malad, Idaho into an amazing resource for all ages in our community. She services mothers that are having new babies. She services the preschool storytime. She does our teen STEM work, and her daughter now works with us there in the library. She has treated the board fantastically. She does outreach to all the schools in Malad. She’s done classes for adults, she’s got reading clubs—I took an art class at the library! I’m learning to watercolor after I retire. There’s just something for everybody. There is no reason to be bored in Malad, Idaho—just come to the library! Kathy is also the master at writing grants, as I’m sure some of you know. And because of that, the resources are fantastic. I love Kathy, and she’s just made our library a gem in Malad. So thank you, Kathy.”
A government shutdown has officially taken hold, throwing federal agencies into disarray and leaving millions of Americans uncertain about what comes next. With no resolution in sight, essential services are being stretched thin while thousands of federal workers face unpaid furloughs. The longer the shutdown drags on, the greater the risk of mass layoffs across industries that rely on government contracts and funding. Air travel, food safety inspections, and public health programs are already feeling the strain. Economists warn that if the standoff continues, ripple effects will hit local businesses, contractors, and families nationwide. Federal employees, many living paycheck to paycheck, are bracing for financial hardship. Despite mounting pressure from the public and private sectors, lawmakers remain gridlocked. Until an agreement is reached, uncertainty dominates Washington, and the shutdown threatens to deepen its impact on the economy, national security, and the daily lives of Americans.
Drug Task Force Seizes Record-Breaking 1 Million Pounds of Cocaine
Kathy Kent was one of the first recipients of the ILA Lifetime Achievement Award. Here with Tracy Ward.
Kathy Kent then took the podium. “Where do you start? Our library was in the basement of the courthouse—a creepy place—and I first discovered it when I was in first grade. I’d ride my bike there and hide out in the corner where Dr. Suess was. No chairs, so I’d just sit on the cold tile and read my heart out. When I was a freshman in High School, I pestered the librarian until she finally gave me a job out of desperation, and I loved it. I took a brief hiatus to go to school KATHY KENT On Page 2
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE Homecoming Week.............................Pg. 3 Faith News..........................................Pg. 4 Puzzles................................................Pg. 6
Authorities have confirmed that human remains discovered earlier this month in a remote area of central Washington belong to Travis Decker, the man accused of killing his three daughters. Decker, 32, had been wanted since June, when his daughters Paityn, (9), Evelyn, (8), and Olivia, (5) were found dead near a campground following a court-ordered visitation. Autopsies revealed the three girls had been suffocated. Search teams located remains less than a mile from where the children’s bodies were discovered. Investigators said DNA testing confirmed the identity of remains, as well as clothing found nearby. Authorities are still investigating circumstances surrounding Decker’s death, but say no suspects are being sought. “This brings a measure of closure to a deeply tragic case,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said in a statement.
Looking Back.......................................Pg. 7 City Rec Soccer................................. Pg. 11 Sports............................................... .Pg. 12
FLORIDA- In a historic operation, a multi-agency drug task force has seized more than 1 million pounds of cocaine, cutting off an estimated $11 billion in revenue from cartels and narco-terrorist organizations. Authorities described the bust as the largest single cocaine seizure ever recorded, significantly disrupting international trafficking networks. Officials said the massive haul was the result of months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and coordinated raids across multiple jurisdictions. The operation not only prevented billions of dollars from fueling cartel violence but also disrupted supply chains that reach communities nationwide. Law enforcement leaders hailed the success as a major victory, while pledging continued vigilance against transnational crime. “This is a turning point,” one official stated, “but the fight is far from over.”