WRW 7 April 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

HISTORY NEWS Valley’s Red Light District PG 2

Keeping An Eye Out PG 5

SUN VALLEY

KETCHUM

HEALTH NEWS

HAILEY

Valley Endures 3 Suicides PG 4 BELLEVUE

PICABO

CAREY

WOOD RIVER WEEKLY

YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

Free | April 7 - 20, 2021 | Vol. 2 - No. 7 | woodriverweekly.com

“ I f o p p o r t u n i t y d o e s n ’ t k n o c k , b u i l d a d o o r. ” ~Milton Berle

A still snow-covered Bald Mountain looms grandly in the background as this small herd of elk relaxes in the warmth of an early spring day along Sun Valley Road in Sun Valley. Photo credit: Loren Wood

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Wood River Weekly

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April 7 - 20, 2021

THE PAINTED LADIES OF THE WEST

HISTORY

The lives and legacies of the Valley’s first ‘working girls’ By Karen Crowson

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n the West, mining camps could be lonely worlds, abundant with harsh conditions and scarce with females. The dearth brought men to hand over their hard-earned money for just a view or touch of a woman’s undergarment, even if the undergarment was alone without a woman. Social mores were tenuous for married men on the frontier—it was considered rude if a man didn’t bring his wife to social functions so that other men could dance with her. This Western terrain wasn’t appealing to the ladies back East, but as mining towns popped up in the West, so did brothels. Economics often drives morality, so houses of ill fame took root. Primitive and unregulated, they ranged anywhere from a tent, a shed, or a shanty, to a building, rooms above a saloon, and homes. The women surrounding the industry of sex were known, by dictionary definitions, as prostitutes or whores, but other titles included: Nymphs of the Prairie, Soiled Doves, Frail Sisters, Painted Ladies, Filles de Joie, and Fallen Angels. Epidemic OG Style By 1865, a hospital report out of Idaho City revealed that one out of every seven people (both men and women) were contracting sexually transmitted diseases and by 1869 a prostitution tax was enforced as a means of combatting prostitition. By 1873, Native Americans were complaining about “worthless white men associated with bad Indian women, prostituting them, and leaving such women and their children a burden upon the Indians.” Just a year later it was estimated that one out of 17 people in the United States suffered with syphilis. And by 1875, Congress passed the first federal restrictive immigration statute, the Page Law. It banned the immigration of women who had entered into contracts for “lewd and immoral purposes” and made it a felony to import women into the United States for purposes of prostitution. It included enforcement mechanisms specifically targeting women of Chinese origin and descent. Some of the wealthiest women in the United States were prostitutes during the 19th century but wages that led to wealth were determined by the prostitute’s race and appearance. Women with red hair, as well as Native American women, were believed to be exotic or amorous and were priced higher than their blonde and brunette counterparts. These working women could be as young as 15 (coined Fallen Angels), with the oldest being in their 50s. The majority of the Chinese females were abused by their madams and masters and were not allowed to reject drunk, abusive, or venereal-disease-ridden men, and because of this, many of these women committed suicide during the terms of their contracts. A Chinese prostitute had an average career and life expectancy of no more than five years. Pregnancy posed many problems for these women, who were given the name Soiled Doves, as it could also put them out of work for months at a time. Complicating matters was ignorance about ovulation and that any books pertaining to the subject of birth control were considered obscene. Toward the end of the 19th century, a physician could be subject to arrest if found writing on the subject of ovulation and birth control. And, although some things we consider contraceptives (like condoms) today were used back then, other methods of contraception included: • Spitting three times into a frog’s mouth • Taking something to initiate sneezing • Wearing special necklaces or amulets that could control the power of conception • Jumping backwards seven times after intercourse

There Goes the Neighborhood The first established community in the Wood River Valley was Galena, and in 1879 it had a population of 800. Two of the 800 were women known only as Enid and Emma, who were known for “entertaining the miners” but eventually were asked to leave town. Wendolyn Spence Holland, author of “Sun Valley: An Extraordinary History,” wrote that the pair supposedly retreated up nearby gulches that were later named after them. In the book, “For Wood River or Bust: Idaho’s Silver Boom of the 1880s,” author

This building, at 19 West Bullion Street in Hailey, was once a bordello owned by madam Peggy Palmer and known as the Palace of Sin. The building was sold to the Inchausti family in 1941 and is now the office of Sun Valley Real Estate. Photo credit: Wood River Weekly

Clark C. Spence writes, “Every town had its thriving ‘sporting district’ conveniently located on a live-and-let-live basis, like that of Hailey on River Street. The girls were beyond the pale of respectability and legally or implicitly limited to specific areas. Some worked in fancy houses, some out of rooms in the dance halls, and some in squalid cribs just off the sidewalks.” Located on Main Street in Hailey was the J.C. Fox store. This store sold lotions, jewelry, and dresses, and owner Fox would open his back door to the prostitutes after hours for them to shop, since these women were not exactly honorable patrons in the eyes of the public. Painted Ladies would also receive gifts from their customers, and the majority of garters worn were gifts from their most loyal customers. By the mid 1880s, Bellevue had three brothels. In “Bellevue Bustled in the 1880s,” an article by John Kelley, he wrote that one man fell so hard for a Bellevue belle that he shot himself in the heart in Hailey’s old Mint Saloon, unable to bear the thought that she was in the company of other men. In Ketchum, brothels and houses of ill repute were located on the west side of Washington Avenue between Third and Fourth streets as well as the southeast corner of Main and Fifth streets. In one of the bordellos, Jenny Hardy would hang red curtains from her window as a means of covert advertisement. In Hailey, brothels, parlors, cribs, and the like lined River Street between Bullion and Galena streets. Among the like was the Palace of Sin, allegedly owned by Madam Peggy Palmer, who allegedly was in a relationship with the sheriff. Many brothel madams during this time would give a portion of their earnings to local law enforcement as a means of law enforcement turning their heads to the establishments. By 1941, Palmer’s bordello, still standing today at 19 West Bullion Street and originally built by Palmer and bootlegger Jack Turner, sold the two-story house to David and Epi Inchausti for around $2,000. The Inchausti family owned and operated the Gem Bar across the street just south of the home. Customers flocked to the Gem for Epi’s cooking, including Gary Cooper, Colonel Sanders, Ernest Hemingway, Bing Crosby, and Janet Leigh, to note a few. The following year, in 1942, Sun Valley received a naval hospital and any remaining Painted Ladies were asked to leave by the community. An unknown local merchant was quoted to have allegedly said, “There goes the mainstay of Hailey’s business. They always paid in cash.” It was in 1972 that the State of Idaho deemed cities were no longer allowed to legalize prostitition. In 2001, Jann Wenner won the right to keep coins found on his property by former handyman Greg Corliss while digging a driveway at Wenner’s Sun Valley ranch. Estimates of the coins’ value ranged from $30,000 to $1 million. The Painted Ladies of the West may be no more, but these women have left their mark on the canvas of local history.

NEWS

Available Soon COVID Testing, Vaccine For Minors

St. Luke’s Health System will begin offering asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for certain groups starting later this week. Asymptomatic nasopharyngeal swab testing will be available through St. Luke’s locations in Baker City, Boise, Fruitland, Jerome, Ketchum, McCall, Meridian, Mountain Home, Nampa and Twin Falls. • People who can make an appointment starting April 8 include those with: • A known exposure to someone with coronavirus at school or work • Exposures identified in high-density or communal living Other close-contact exposures meeting CDC recommendations for testing • • Pre- and post-travel testing needs Asymptomatic testing appointments can be scheduled through myChart accounts for one of the designated clinic locations. People can also call St. Luke’s COVID-19 hotline for instructions or assistance at (208) 381-9500. Anyone seeking a test must have an appointment, as St. Luke’s is unable to accept walk-ins. Asymptomatic testing results will be returned to patients via myChart. St. Luke’s will also pilot a saliva-test workflow with employers who have existing agreements with its occupational health team to test workers following exposures within their facilities. Vaccine For Minors The Pfizer vaccine is now available to all Idahoans, including those 16 and 17 years old, and there is important information families should know when scheduling an appointment. Minors cannot consent for a COVID vaccine. They must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to provide consent at the time of the appointment. Written or verbal consent will need to be provided by a parent or legal guardian, if not present at the time of the appointment. Minors also cannot schedule their own appointments in myChart. Parents or legal guardians with teen proxy access can schedule an appointment for the minor. To get teen proxy access, the teen will need to grant teen proxy access to their parent or legal

IN BRIEF guardian through their own myChart account. Parents can schedule an appointment for their child without proxy access by calling (208) 381-9500. Minors can schedule their own vaccine appointment by calling that same number, but they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to provide consent at the time of the appointment or provide written or verbal consent of a parent or legal guardian, if not present at the time of the appointment. St. Luke’s offers the Pfizer vaccine at sites in Nampa, Meridian, Boise and Twin Falls.

New Bus Route To Twin, For Free

Mountain Rides’ pilot bus route to Twin Falls has begun. The route, which launched April 5, will operate three days per week—on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—offering people a 10:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. window in Twin Falls or a 12 to 1:30 p.m. window in the Wood River Valley. A recent grant award from the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation will enable Mountain Rides to extend the pilot period an additional seven months and operate the service through the end of 2021. Mountain Rides continues to seek additional funds to extend the pilot through October 2022, for a continuous pilot period of one and a half years. The new route is designed to meet the non-emergency medical transportation needs of people in the Wood River Valley and surrounding rural communities. However, anyone can ride the bus. Like all of Mountain Rides’ other fixed-route bus services, it will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, be wheelchair accessible, and fare-free. You can find the schedule on Mountain Rides’ website, Facebook, and buses; also, at Atkinsons’ and St. Luke’s locations. The bus to Twin Falls will stop in the Valley at: • Dollar Circle in Sun Valley • Main & 1st in Ketchum • St. Luke’s Wood River Hospital • River & Bullion Park n’ Ride in Hailey • Main & Spruce in Bellevue • Timmerman Junction for Picabo/Carey and Fairfield connections

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April 7 - 20, 2021

HEALTH

Slings And Arrows

Valley reels from 3 high-profile suicides in just 6 months

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By Eric Valentine

t’s one of those things during the pandemic that health experts have also been warning us about. As we isolate to try to protect ourselves against a potentially deadly novel virus, do we open ourselves up to other epidemics at times equally fatal; specifically, issues like domestic violence and suicide, which in isolation can fester and sometimes even intertwine. In just the last six months, Valley residents have witnessed three higher-profile suicide incidents. In October of last year, Jared Murphy—a former Hailey police officer and mayoral candidate—allegedly shot and killed a former girlfriend before ending his own life inside the Bellevue coffee shop where she worked. The Blaine County Prosecutor released Idaho State Police investigators’ findings last week declaring the incident was murder-suicide. And then, within one two-day period at the end of last month, two more suicides sent Valley residents emotionally reeling. Stephen Begley, 64, of Hailey, had struck Sarah Cardella, 42, of Boise, with his Subaru Outback when she was walking westbound in the south crosswalk with her husband and dog, March 25. Begley exited his vehicle, observed what happened, and then sat back down in the driver’s seat and took his own life by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Hailey Police Chief Steve England confirmed in a statement. Cardella was transported to the Wood River St. Luke’s hospital by ambulance, and the injuries she sustained are non-life-threatening. Cardella’s husband and dog did not sustain any physical injury. “We know Begley was talking on his cellular phone at the time of the collision and the case is still pending Begley’s toxicology results,” England said. On March 26, Johnny Richard Hood, 50, apparently took his own life. Hood was known by friends and family as “Rico” and was a popular musician around town, performing solo, in bands, and while hosting open mic nights in Bellevue and Hailey, too. “Rico was a good friend, open and supportive. His contribution to the musical cul-

ture in our valley was profound. I’m personally devastated by his passing and shall miss him greatly,” wrote Bellevue resident John Marsh on Hood’s memory wall on the Wood River Chapel website. “Post-vention” While it may feel like the stories just described are over, Tammy Davis is trying to raise awareness that after suicide is when certain work begins. Davis is the executive director of the Crisis Hotline Idaho. She explained that suicide prevention needs to occur before someone takes their life and after, so that a community can heal and learn everything from new coping mechanisms to how to spot a potential mental health issue in friends, family and other loved ones. Across the country, there are awareness campaigns focused on knowing the five signs of emotional pain. They are: • Personality changes • Uncharacteristically angry, anxious, agitated, or moody • Withdrawal or isolation from other people • Neglect of self-care and engagement in risky behavior • Being overcome with hopelessness and overwhelmed by circumstances “We can’t take the approach that we don’t know everything or it’s not our business or there’s nothing we can do about it,” explained Davis. “We can do something about it. There are many resources out there people don’t even know about.” Specifically, Davis points to organizations like NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), St. Luke’s, and the South Central Public Health District who team up to offer funding for therapy, support groups, and programs like Recovery In Motion which provides peer support for people in between therapy sessions and/or support group meetings. “It’s important to have support during those in-between times, when things might not be OK,” Davis said. Davis said that compared to 2018-19, calls into her helpline have gone up 200% and are still climbing. “That shows us the community can be aware and they want to do something,” Davis said.

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Alternative Paths Kathryn Grohusky is the executive director of The Sawtooth Society, which several years ago began a program inspired by Austin Kraal and his family. Kraal ended his life in 2011 at the age of 26. His legacy lives on through his parents’ support and funding of The Sawtooth Society’s Austin Kraal Memorial Volunteer Program. Every summer, important on-the-ground projects like trail maintenance and restoration are completed in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Individuals, schools, businesses, and religious organizations who want to volunteer can help maintain 150 miles of roads and trails alongside professional Project Leaders. To date, the program has accomplished a great deal, having logged over 10,500 volunteer hours. Since the program first began in 2013, youth, ages 10 to 18, have been a key component in reaching those goals. It is estimated that over 500 youth have assisted with various Austin Kraal memorial projects throughout the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. “This outdoor program can create a positive outcome for someone else experiencing anxiety or other mental health challenges while supporting the land Austin loved so much,” said Kevin Kraal, Austin’s father. “That’s what we want for our son’s legacy: for others to get outdoors, to help take care of trails, and to feel the restorative power of nature. It can heal you.” For Grohusky, time spent earlier in her career in Colorado has come full circle. For several years when she worked for the coroner’s office there, Grohusky was involved with survivor support for those affected by suicide. Her biggest takeaway from that experience was how many ways people can offer support, but don’t know how. “Offer ways you can actually help someone,” Grohusky said. For instance, don’t tell someone who is grieving a loss, “Just let me know what I can do.” Instead, offer them something specific, such as, “Let me bring dinner to you tomorrow night. Will you be home?” “Just offer that nonjudgmental support you would if someone died from a heart attack,” Grohusky said. “Bereavement is bereavement.”

A CIRCLE OF HELP National Suicide Prevention Hotline ​24/7, free and confidential support 800-273-TALK (8255) Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline Crisis intervention, emotional support, problem solving and referrals to local resources Call or Text: 208-398-4357 Crisis Text Line Free, 24/7, confidential. Text “HOME” to 741741 Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN) of Idaho SPAN’s mission is to reduce suicide in Idaho through statewide advocacy, collaboration and education www.spanidaho.org American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Understanding and preventing suicide through research, education, and advocacy www.afsp.com

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April 7 - 20, 2021

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HazlettWealthManagement.com Walter Elias, 20, of Hailey, takes a rest during a long walk with his newly acquired guide dog, Frommer. Photo credit: Walter Elias

KEEPING AN EYE OUT

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Frommer the dog guides young Hailey man’s life

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By Eric Valentine

n one of Raymond Carver’s most famous short stories, “Cathedral,” a man who’s blind asks a man with sight to describe for him a cathedral. But he doesn’t have the words. So he draws it, with the blind man’s hand grasping his. As the drawing is completed, the man with sight closes his eyes: “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything. ‘It’s really something,’ I said.” It’s a remarkable story about the difference between the physical act of looking and the mental reality of seeing. And it’s a lesson one day Hailey’s Walter Elias, 20, might be helping folks understand. “I know I want to travel and I’m not sure exactly what I’ll be doing as a career, but I know I want to be doing outreach in some way,” Elias said. The idea of travel is fast becoming a whole new reality for Elias, who is blind. That’s because of a 2-year-old black Lab named—appropriately—Frommer, who has been serving as Elias’ guide dog since March 1. Frommer is named after the famous brand of travel guidebooks. “Walking around is easier, safer, and faster,” Elias said. Elias explains that’s because, prior to Frommer in his life, he’d use a cane to make his way around. While canes are useful for finding obstacles, dogs are able to just move their person around those obstacles. “I’m able to get around so much faster now,” Elias said. One of the things Elias does more often now is go on long hikes. A challenge to navigate alone before, trails are becoming a place for Elias to take in nature. Not by looking at it, but by experiencing it. “I love just listening to nature, the quiet of it, the wind through the trees, the sound of all the birds,” Elias observed. Frommer also allows Elias to go about his everyday life inside his home with less dependence on people. “I don’t need to rely so much on people telling me where stuff is,” Elias said. Elias got connected to Frommer thanks to John Turner, a family friend back in Texas who also uses a guide dog. Turner, 85, said the confidence and independence he gained after bringing a guide dog into

his life years ago is immeasurable. But some metrics after eight guide dogs include having been to 48 states, 40 countries and serving on the Texas Commission for the Blind for six governors. “From day one I’ve just felt more dignity walking around with a dog than with a darn stick in my hand,” Turner said. “These dogs are so helpful sometimes people think that you can see.” Although assimilating into regular community life is the goal for anyone with a disability, Elias does hope Valley residents are aware of certain things. For instance, interacting with Frommer is a natural tendency for dog lovers. People, Elias said, see his dog and want to pet him right away. But Frommer is not a regular pet dog. Frommer is particularly trained to look out for Elias. “If someone is approaching me that he doesn’t know, it can be stressful for him,” Elias explained. “It’s best if people ask me first for permission.” Elias also wants to eventually advocate for more accessibility around town. Specifically, he said sidewalks should be more consistently maintained to promote easier access. “Sidewalks in the Valley are not always super accessible for everybody,” Elias said. Elias also said it would be helpful for people to know that guide dogs are trained to stay on the left side of a roadway or walkway. “Most people have no way of knowing that, so people are not looking out for it,” Elias said. And for folks seeking a guide dog for themselves or a loved one, Elias has advice, too. “These are dogs that can really get into things and need supervision. They also need exercise. So you have to be mobile. They’re not just dogs for inside the home,” Elias explained. As for Frommer, he’s not only getting plenty of exercise outdoors these days, he’s also been keeping out of things he’s not supposed to get into inside the home. “He’s super super mellow,” Elias said. “He just pays attention to me and what I need. He doesn’t get into trouble.” “I’ve wanted to get a guide dog ever since I was little and I can’t believe I actually have one now. And I feel super lucky to have Frommer, he’s the best dog in the world,” Elias said. And it’s really something.

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Wood River Weekly

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April 7 - 20, 2021

NEWS

IN BRIEF

School Board Ditches ‘Interim’ For Principal

Blaine County School District has named Robert Ditch as the next principal of Wood River Middle School. Ditch had been serving as the interim principal of WRMS, and before that he served as vice principal for 11 years. Incoming Superintendent Jim Foudy played an integral role in the hiring process as he works to build a new leadership team for BCSD. Ditch will serve as a key member of that team. “Mr. Ditch brings a wealth of experience and knowledge specific to the school and is eager to support the staff and students as we move forward together into the 2021-22 school Robert Ditch year,” said Foudy. At WRMS, Ditch has overseen building operations, emergency planning, academic interventions, student behavior systems and staff supervision, evaluation and hiring. He has also co-facilitated the school’s study abroad program and helped develop a sister school program with Gredos San Diego Cooperativo of Madrid, Spain. In addition to his experience as a principal and vice principal, Ditch has served as a coordinator for student success, dean of students, athletic director and activity coordinator. He began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Central Kitsap Junior High School in Silverdale, Washington. He was also an elementary school principal in the state of Washington. Ditch holds a master of education degree in educational technology from City University of Seattle and a bachelor’s degree in English from Central Washington University. He also holds an education specialist degree from Boise State University.

Tour de Force Planning ‘Modified’ Event

Sun Valley Tour de Force organizers will be hosting a live, modified event this summer, July 22–24 due to the pandemic, and planning will continue to adjust. “We are having conversations with Ketchum's chief of police, local event organizers, and the city council on allowable crowd sizes and restrictions. Currently, the State of Idaho has a restriction of 50-people gatherings, but we are doing everything we can to host our car show this summer,” the organization said. SVTdF won't be officially hosting spectators on Phantom Hill this year. However, as always, this is a public Sawtooth National Recreation Area and anyone can recreate in the area at a safe distance from the road. “Sponsors have been coming out of the woodwork and we are on the cusp of announcing some very cool partnerships,” the organization said.

Airport: Calling All Artists

The SUN Airport Art Committee (SAAC) is inviting artists to submit two-dimensional artwork for the next exhibition in the airport's public spaces. The exhibition will feature 30 or more works of art on display beginning June 9. An independent jury of representatives of the airport, the Hailey and Ketchum art commissions, local gallery owners, and art advocates will select the artwork. The up-

coming show will be the 10th SUN Art exhibit installed at Friedman Memorial Airport. The project is open to artists residing in Blaine County, Idaho, as well as all artists who create artwork inspired by Idaho. There is no fee to apply, nor will an honorarium be awarded. The application deadline is April 30. Jury review begins May 17 with selections announced May 26. Removal date is still to be determined but expected in the fall.

Main Street Maples Deemed ‘Heritage’ Trees

The Hailey Tree Committee has reviewed and confirmed a nomination of six trees to its Heritage Tree Program. The nomination, made by Ralph Harris, are of public trees in the sidewalk adjacent to his Main Street property. The maples were planted when the adjacent Harris apartments were constructed. Five of the six trees are about the same age, planted circa 1940. The sixth maple was replaced after a highway resurfacing project damaged the original tree. Harris described the uniqueness of these trees in his application: “Some twenty years ago, an arborist from Oregon stopped each fall to collect maple seeds from these trees. He was impressed that this variety had survived at this elevation with the low annual rainfall, particularly since minimal and inconsistent hand watering was the norm. He wanted to grow and transplant this variety in other locations. When, in 1967, I returned from Cal State in Long Beach, there were discussions underway at the Hailey Chamber of Commerce of ways to improve the look of Main Street. These maples were one of the major considerations to increase tree development along Main Street.” Main Street trees increased in importance again in 1994, when the city installed sidewalks the full length of Main Street and included dozens of trees in every block. The Harris apartments maple trees became the standard by which the other trees were designed within the sidewalk space. These trees dynamically characterize our town with their natural beauty and spirited winter lights.

COVID Weighs In On Sun Valley, BCSD Leaders’ Decisions

Valley decision-making bodies continue to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blaine County's average new case rate trended upward again last week and the positive rate has also jumped. That, along with COVID-19 variants being detected and confirmed in Idaho, means the risk level here officially ranks “high.” That’s one reason at least the Sun Valley City Council voted to extend its mask-wearing mandate through June. There are a number of exemptions to the mandate, but violations bring with them a $100 fine. Meanwhile, Blaine County School District trustees—on a split 3–2 vote—opted to not return to the five-day, in-person school week any time soon for its high- and middle-schoolers. Elementary schools will return to fully in-person learning April 12. Trustees weighed the benefits of the resources offered on Fridays versus the benefits of a traditional classroom structure. In the end, trustees Lara Stone, Dan Turner and Gretchen Gorham decided one less change in a year of changes was for the best, especially considering the high number of students taking advantage of one-on-one instruction offered on Fridays.

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Valley’s Red Light District PG 2

Keeping An Eye Out PG 5

HAILEY

Valley Endures 3 Suicides PG 4 BELLEVUE

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WOOD RIVER WEEKLY

YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

Free | April 7 - 20, 2021 | Vol. 2 - No. 7 | woodriverweekly.com

“ I f o p p o r t u n i t y d o e s n ’ t k n o c k , b u i l d a d o o r. ” ~Milton Berle

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A still snow-covered Bald Mountain looms grandly in the background as this small herd of elk relaxes in the warmth of an early spring day along Sun Valley Road in Sun Valley. Photo credit: Loren Wood

Wood River Weekly

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

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April 7 - 20, 2021

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ADVERTORIALS BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS

ANNA & MICHELLE

Optimize Your Sales Price D BY ANNA & MICHELLE

ACLU advocacy fellow, Rosseli Guerrero, tapes paper butterfly’s to a storefront as part of the Butterfly Migration Project. Photo credit: Fredy Juarez

BUTTERFLY IS OUT OF THE HISPANICommunity! By Monica Carillo

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OUR VOICE COUNTS

ith the American Dream and Promise Act being a possibility to gain citizenship in the undocumented community, Rosseli Guerrero, ACLU advocacy fellow, resumed her project called the Butterfly Migration Project in order to urge Congress to pass the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 that would provide a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented individuals. With 40 states already participating in this project (Idaho being one of them), we are hoping to get all 50 states to participate by sending in their butterflies and writing a message on the importance of new immigration reform through an online form and/or through mail, if possible. The deadline for the Butterfly Migration Project will be April 12, in which then the butterflies will make their way to Washington, D.C., to be put up downtown and near the White House. As a present committee member for this project, we want all—documented and undocumented—families and individuals to send in their butterflies to show their support. Make sure to check out this link right here for more information: https://www.acluidaho.org/en/campaigns/butterfly-migration-project

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NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

on el American Dream and Promise Act como una posibilidad de obtener la ciudadanía en la comunidad indocumentada, Rosseli Guerrero, miembro de defensa de la ACLU, reanudó su proyecto llamado Butterfly Migration Project con el fin de instar al Congreso a aprobar la Ley de Ciudadanía de estados Unidos de 2021 que proporciona un camino a la ciudadanía para 11 millones de indocumentados. Con 40 estados que ya participan en este proyecto (Idaho es uno de ellos), esperamos que los 50 estados participen enviando sus mariposas y escribiendo un mensaje sobre la importancia de una nueva reforma migratoria a través de un formulario en línea y/o por correo si es posible. La fecha límite para el proyecto de migración de Mariposas será el 12th de abril, en el que las mariposas se pondrán en camino a Washington, D.C., para ser puestas en el centro y cerca de la Casa Blanca. Como miembro actual del Comité para este proyecto, queremos que todas las familias e individuos—documentados e indocumentados—envíen sus mariposas para mostrar su apoyo. Asegúrese de consultar este enlace aquí para obtener más información. https://www.acluidaho.org/en/campaigns/butterfly-migration-project

oing a lot of work to a car before you trade or sell it to a dealer is not generally a good idea. In most cases, you won’t recapture the cost of the repairs. They can do the repairs for less than you can. Not to mention, you are selling to a wholesaler who needs to sell it again to the end user and still make a profit. A home sale is totally different. The owner is selling the home to an end user. Since the buyer, in many cases, is using their available funds for the down payment and purchase costs, they don’t have money to spend on repairs or decorating the home. They would need to live in it “as is” for a while, which may not be as appealing as finding a home that is refurbished, up to date, and ready to move into. Even if the buyer would be willing to get a home improvement loan after the sale, it would be a separate loan at a higher interest rate, making their payment higher than financing it all in one mortgage at the lower first mortgage rates. The seller may experience some inconvenience going through the remodeling process, but it will, most likely, result in a higher sales price in less time. Occasionally, sellers say they’ll let the buyer choose their own colors but not all people have the imagination to know what something will look like after it is finished. It is better to go ahead and get the work done before putting it on the market. The bathrooms and kitchen are the most important rooms to update. If the finish on the cabinets is bad, have them painted. New countertops and appliances can make a world of difference. Paint, countertops, and fixtures in the bath give the home a great feel. In addition to the repairs, a major cleaning and de-cluttering can make a home look and feel better than the competition.

THE SENIOR CONNECTION

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The first step is to go through the home and pack up or get rid of things you don’t need or things that detract from the home, like excess furniture, exercise equipment, personal artwork, etc. Now, do the same with the closets and cabinets. By getting rid of things, there will be more room and they’ll look larger. Next, walk across the street from your house and give it a critical look. How is the drive-up appeal? Would you want to go inside to see the rest if you were a buyer? Are the trees and shrubs trimmed? Yard cleaned up? Do you have blooming flowers in the beds? Does the front door and mailbox need a new coat of paint? Do you need to power wash the outside of the home and the sidewalks and driveway? Do the windows need washing? Buyers are visual people and beauty is always rewarded. Restaurants know that people eat with their eyes first and they go to a lot of effort to plate the food so it is visually appealing. The same approach works for selling a home. Ask your agent if they have ever taken a buyer to a home that refused to go inside because they didn’t like the looks from the street. Your real estate professional can make specific recommendations and assist you in finding someone to do the work. This is what they do. TRUST THEM!

SHAUNA WASKO

If I Had Known

om is in the hospital today for the fourth time in less than two weeks. Her Alzheimer’s disease is progressing and, at 86, she is just going downhill. Yesterday, she crawled to the door and yelled for the neighbors to help her. She screamed, “I am dying! Help me! Get my daughter, ShaUna!” Dad called me and said that he told Mom he was not going to call an ambulance because she got out of the hospital the day before. I told him to call an ambulance and I would be right there. When we got to the hospital, Mom was in a-fib; she had a heart rate of 65-135. Her heart was jumping up and down. She is in stable condition now, and calm. But the world around us, and the world for all other caregivers and their families, is not. Caregiving for most is a feeling of ‘when will the next shoe drop!’ The anxiety is unbearable. My dad is at end-stage COPD. He is frail and can no longer stand for long periods of time, as his back is killing him (he broke it a few years ago). I have tried for over five years to get them to go to an assisted living facility. I not so affectionately call Dad ‘my elephant in the room.’ I can’t move him, I can’t convince him to go and, as the caregiver, I am so burned out I can barely function. The hospital wants Mom to go to a facility for at least 15 days. They will begin the process of trying to convince my dad that she needs to stay in a facility, as her needs far outweigh his and my ability to care for her. My parents never helped their parents when their parents got older. I don’t say this to insult them. Many of our elderly parents never helped their parents, as their parents died at younger ages. My parents’ parents where cared for by the unfortunate siblings that they were given to. No help from other siblings was provided. This was often the case then and is often the case in the modern world we live in now. My parents, and many other parents, expect their children to do what they themselves refused to do—quit their jobs and take total care of them. Mom wants Dad to go with her to live in a facility. He refuses. He does not want to go to a facility, and he does not want Mom to go, either. He does not want to go on Medicaid. I don’t blame him, but Dad’s and

Mom’s and my quality of life is nonexistent. There are many options our office can help provide them. They want to stay in their own home, so I am trying to convince “the elephant” to get Medicaid in the home. He refuses. So, what do we do? I have so much information in the Office on Aging to help them make good decisions. It is all available for free from our office, and to the public. The case manager at the hospital hopes to talk with my parents and explain that this situation has to change. All of us know that kids, when they’re young, won’t listen to their parents. And I have found—and the hundreds of other caregivers I work with have found—that your elderly parents won’t listen to their children, either. What goes around comes around! Dr. Einstein stated that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” I have tried for years to help, and I feel, as many caregivers do, that I failed miserably each time. Mom and Dad are very dignified people, going through a very undignified situation. They have been loving and wonderful parents to me and my siblings. Old age strips us of so much. I can safely say I have never been as depressed as I am now—depressed for them and myself. I will do my best to comfort them during this time. It is the best we can do. There is a poem I have always loved by Mary Carolyn Davies. It is about regrets and I want to share it with all my caregivers and soon-to-be caregivers: If I Had Known If I had known what trouble you were bearing… What griefs were in the silence of your face… I would have been more gentle and more caring… And tried to give you gladness for a space… If I had known. If I had known what thoughts despairing drew you… Why do we never understand? I would have lent a little friendship to you… And slipped my hand within your lonely hand… And made your stay more pleasant in the land. If I had known. —Mary Carolyn Davies

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COMM ENT ARY Wood River Weekly

Fishing R epoRt

NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR APRIL 7- 20 FROM PICABO ANGLER

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hile Silver Creek, the Big Wood River and the South Fork Boise River all remain closed to fishing until Saturday, May 29, we do have some excellent fishing opportunities on a few local waters. The lower Big Lost River below Mackay Reservoir is top on the list. This fishery is open year-round, and good fishing can be had while flows remain below 300 CFS (flows are presently at 108 CFS). The river is seeing good hatches of midges and BWOs (Baetis) on most afternoons, and nymphing consistently produces fish. A bit of red or orange on your nymphs is a good idea this time of year (Copper Johns, Rainbow Warriors, Brassies, Zebra Midges) as the fish are seeing plenty of eggs throughout the river system. Please keep an eye out for spawning redds and avoid actively spawning fish. The river seems to be getting a bit more angler traffic than usual, so practice good etiquette and give each other a bit of space. Here at Picabo Angler we’ve got everything you need to prepare you for a great day on the Big Lost! Area lakes and reservoirs really come into their own during April and May. As the ice recedes and water opens up, these fish become more active and are on the hunt for food. Streamer and leech patterns are go-to flies on area lakes and reservoirs. Sink-tip or Intermediate fly lines are game changers when fishing these patterns on area stillwaters. Small midge pupa and chironomid patterns under an indicator will also take plenty of fish. Concentrate efforts on any visible edges or seams (ice shelf/open water, dirty water/ clean water, etc.), rocky points, and drop-offs. Magic Reservoir, Mackay Reservoir, Little Wood Reservoir, Mormon Reservoir and Carey Lake all provide great fishing opportunities during the next two months. Steelhead fishing on the Salmon River is picking up with warmer weather and increased flows. Fish are being caught throughout the upper river system. When fishing near Stanley, indicator nymphing likely pocket water is most productive. Have a good supply of egg patterns, large Prince nymphs and gaudy Stonefly nymphs. For fishing larger water near Challis, use egg-sucking leeches, bunny leeches, and traditional steelhead patterns such as the GreenButt Skunk, Polar Shrimp, and Skykomish Sunrise. Cover lots of water and enjoy the scenery as well! Happy fishing, everyone!

Hwy 20 in Picabo info@picaboangler.com (208)788.3536 www.picaboangler.com

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April 7 - 20, 2021

The Lassie Pill

By Fran Jewell

o, you thought this week’s article would be about dog training? Well, in essence, it is, but I am sharing with you a personal experience to help reveal what it’s all about. A few years ago my favorite little character, Kalidor, and I traveled to Hamilton, Montana, to perform before an AKC judge the AKC Tracking Dog Test to earn his certification that would allow him to compete in AKC tracking performance events. In the glory of rolling, grass-covered pastures under black dramatic skies and high winds and drizzle, Kalidor shined in all his glory, tracking a person to the finish—a dark, cotton glove with cut-off fingers hidden in the deep grass. Had he not followed the correct pathway of hidden footsteps and found that inconspicuous glove, he would not have passed the certification. As many of you know, I started tracking Kalidor when he was but 9 weeks old, imprinting him with looking for scent on the ground that followed footsteps of a specific person in any direction. That was over six years ago! Kalidor began his man-tracking career the minute he came home to me. Learning to search for scent on the ground, finding every footstep someone makes, is a painstaking process. We started with a short “track” about 25 feet long with every closely laid footstep filled with food. As Kalidor learned to connect food with the scent of a person, I gradually took food out of the footsteps. First, there would be food in every three or four footsteps, and then I increased that to every 10 to 15 footsteps, and so on, until eventually he no longer needed any food in the footsteps at all. Then we changed the people he was looking for. Eventually, Kalidor would find food at an article left behind by the person he was tracking. Articles can be gloves, a wallet, cellphone, or any object someone might typically carry with them on a walk. At each article, Kalidor learned to “indicate” that he found an article. His indication was to lie down at the article and wait for me to approach him. When I approached, he would earn a VERY yummy reward for staying down until his command to track was given again. After months of practicing and gradually increasing the difficulty in the track with less and less food, more difficult terrain (everything we could think of—dry, wet snow, long grass, short grass, dirt, pavement, etc.), we added distractions like barking dogs, horses, wild animal scat, strong winds that blew the scent away, and time making the scent less and less on the footprints. This is called “proofing.”

SCIENCE OF PLACE

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FRAN JEWELL

Kalidor, very happy to find his glove. So was the judge! Photo credit: Fran Jewell

Once Kalidor learned the behavior, we gradually increased difficulty with distractions. Essentially, it took us 18 months of training to get to this point where Kalidor could successfully perform the requirements of his certification. Now, Kalidor is a seasoned tracking dog with honored AKC tracking titles behind his name. Driving home the point of this article, training—ANY training— is not something that happens in four lessons, or one class, or even in two or three months. You don’t have to have a competitive dog to have a great dog. It takes TIME, COMMITMENT, CONSISTENCY and a GOAL in order to have the dog YOU want to live with. There is no such thing as a Lassie Pill. Nothing is instant. If there were, I wish I had invented it!!! The second point of this article is to update so many people that ask me weekly how Kalidor is doing. He is one FANTASTIC dog and a joy to live with! Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified Instructor and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.

The Towhee Moon

HARRY WEEKES

BY HARRY WEEKES

uper Worm Moon. “What?” It’s one of those names you don’t quite hear correctly even when you hear it correctly. “Did you say ‘warm’ moon?” Nope, Worm Moon. The last Sunday of March was the Super Worm Moon, a reference to the fact that it is during this time that the ground gets warm enough for earthworms to start working their magic. Or, continue working their magic, rather. Interestingly, it is also called the Wind Strong Moon. Interesting because it was that same Sunday night that I was told the next day was when we’d have “60-mile-an-hour winds all day.” Needless to say, I went to bed all sorts of excited—the moon was out, it was full, and the whole valley was bathed in its light. It didn’t take long in terms of sleep time before the first heavy wind whistled through the canyon and pushed into the house. Something happens to the air pressure between outside and inside during high winds. There is enough of a change that you can feel the wind, even protected by windows, house, and two mini-Dachshunds. By the time the moon gave way to the sun, the wind had worked itself into a fervor—gusting and pulsing and buffeting. But this isn’t a story of moon or wind, though both invariably play a part. This is a story about the only member of the sparrows I can actually identify—the spotted towhee. In particular, the spotted towhee that was sitting on the exposed grass of my lawn, tucked against a rock wall, with a look on its face that read, “Did I come back too early?” I pulled open the door, walked over to where the bird was, and gently pushed my hand under her. She accepted my offer by hopping onto my finger, while also staying fluffed up and tucked up. As soon as the wind hit us, she opened her beak a little bit. Realizing the error of my ways, I set her back down against the rock, where she stayed until some unknown convergence of variables caused her to fly off. OK, obviously, I repeated the whole scene to get the above picture, which somehow made the moment more poignant. Here was this little bird, freshly returned to the neighborhood, knowing full well that she made the right choice for a whole suite of reasons—the full moon, the strong winds, the exposed grass and sage and seeds, the amount of light, the other birds singing in the area. In her birdscape, I doubt I even registered as anything other than some transitory tree with really warm fingers that might not even

The spotted towhee is a large New World sparrow, roughly the same size as a robin. Photo credit: Harry Weekes

have registered in her leathery toes. For her part, this little fluffball changed the entire landscape for me. You know that full moon in March, the one accompanied by the strong winds and the first of the bare ground? Yep, that’s the Towhee Moon. Harry Weekes is the founder and head of school at The Sage School in Hailey. This is his 49th year in the Wood River Valley, where he lives with Hilary and two of their three baby adults—Penelope and Simon. The other member of the flock, Georgia, is currently fledging at Davidson College in North Carolina.

Wood River Weekly

MONEY MATTERS

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April 7 - 20, 2021

KRISTIN HOVENCAMP

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ON LIFE’S TERMS

JOELLEN COLLINS

THE WINDS OF CHANGE OKLAHOMA, O.K. As the economy stabilizes, should you invest in growth or value? I By JoEllen Collins

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By Kristin Hovencamp

he debate between growth and value investment styles is heating up again. Growth stocks took center stage as they rose from last year’s recession, benefiting significantly from notable increases in our use of technology and communication services and tools. Increasingly this year, investors are returning to value companies. How do investors decipher between the two styles? Growth investing focuses on purchasing stocks that may exhibit positive earnings momentum or the potential to outpace the performance of equity sectors or the overall market. Investors are attracted to the possibility of high valuations and the prospect of accelerated growth. Growth Stocks: • Typically excel in bull markets and periods of economic expansion. • Tend to represent newer or high-growth companies in industries that demonstrate considerable expansion and future profitability. • Earnings are expected to offer above-average rates of return. • Benefit from loose monetary conditions and low-interest rates. • The potential for high returns is paired with higher risks. • Typically reinvest their earnings and do not pay dividends to shareholders. Value investing focuses on companies believed to be currently trading below what they are worth, potentially providing a positive return once the market price matches the stock’s underlying value. Value Stocks: • Tend to fare better during an economic recession and outperform early as the economy reheats. • Lag growth stocks in a bull market. • Usually perform better in a rising interest rate environment. • Represent established companies with current revenue flows. • While they are often characterized by more traditional equity sectors such as energy, financials, and industrials, deep-value stocks can be found across all market sectors. • Commonly pay dividends to shareholders. Investors seeking a less volatile investment experience may favor a value strategy. If you have a longer investment time horizon and are comfortable taking on more risk, you may consider positioning your portfolio to take advantage of growth stocks. Regardless of your investment goals, it is prudent to take a risk-adjusted, balanced approach to investing. Kristin Hovencamp is an Investment Executive and Director of Business Development with HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC, which is independent of Raymond James and is not a registered broker/dealer. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Additional risks are associated with investing in specific securities, including limited diversification. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/ SIPC. 675 Sun Valley Road, Suite J1 + J2 Ketchum, Idaho 83340 208.726.0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com

INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART

Angels, Bikes And Who We Really Are

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BY DOVE

his last Sunday I had the opportunity to experience humanity at its finest. This is who we really are as a people. We are not the agenda that the news tries to tell us we are. It was 51 degrees outside, the sun was shining, and I knew I had to grab “Gracie,” my e-bike, and go for a ride. About a mile into the ride, I threw my front chain ring, coming to a screeching halt. I hollered at my husband, who was in front of me, to come help. He turned around and we laid my bike over on its side, trying to unstick the front chain ring. It couldn’t be done, thus requiring that we remove the chain guard in order to fix the problem. What we now needed was a 5 mm Allen wrench, which we didn’t have. Along comes my neighbor on his e-bike and asks what our problem is. We explain the situation and he produces a 5 mm Allen wrench from his bike bag, gets down on his hands and knees, and proceeds to help take the chain guard off. However, the Allen wrench is too short and we need a longer version. My husband jumps on his bike and heads back to the house for the proper tool. However, along comes another angel in biker’s clothing and he just happens to have the right kind of Allen wrench. Angel number 1 and angel number 2 proceed to put my bike back in working order before my hus-

left San Francisco yesterday on my way home to Idaho via Oklahoma City, where my “new” brother lives. I will be home early next week, but now have the joy of visiting my family found three years ago through 23 and Me. Most of you know my story from this forum, a place to share my amazing experience with my readers, so I will not repeat the details behind this late-life adventure. This visit is vastly different from my first one here, due to the pandemic. Air travel is in the flux of change, naturally. When I boarded a plane on Valentine’s Day, seats were spaced for safe distancing and the concourses almost empty. Even McDonald’s was closed. Yesterday, with sanctions eased, more people vaccinated, and a swell of spring family visits in progress, it seemed eerily like the old days of crowded air travel. I was sandwiched between two people, but I had received the vaccine, and everybody wore masks at all times. United deboards passengers by exiting passengers five rows at a time, front to back. Being in the rear of the plane (with only a 35-minute layover), I was almost late for my second flight, from Houston to Oklahoma City. Only those who have tried to get from one end to another of one terminal in this Texas-sized airport will appreciate my tension. I just made it. JoEllen Collins—a longtime Now I am happily ensconced in my resident of the Wood River brother’s beautiful home, ready to relax, Valley— is an Idaho Press laugh and HUG (a pandemic no-no) my Club award-winning columbrother, my vibrant sister-in law, my new nist, a teacher, writer, fabric nieces and their families, including their artist, choir member and sons (my great-nephews). What a treat for unabashedly proud grandma one whose adoptive family is almost en- known as “Bibi Jo.” tirely deceased. I did visit three precious women cousins who live near SF, a priceless time of memory and affection. The three of us have lived full and productive lives, albeit quite different from the ones we expected or planned. We’ve been teachers, caregivers, parents, and active community members. We shared how lucky we are to have lived when we have and to have survived a fair amount of personal tragedy and disappointment but also to have experienced lasting friendships, beauty, love, and adventure. In my case, I have seen a world I never expected when I first traveled to Ecuador via prop plane as a volunteer building playground equipment at small schools 11,000 feet in the Andes. Now I get to jet from California to Oklahoma in a fraction of the time it took to fly from L.A. to Miami and then on to Quito. So the huge world I began to see at 19 now includes a wider family for me. I have always felt loved, and the only real wish I have had is that I could earn enough money and have enough time to be with those I love, wherever they may be. Because of frequent flier miles and a generous family, even though I am by no means wealthy, I feel richly blessed. Quite a trip, this life!

DOVE

band gets back. Such patience, perseverance and kindness is given. In the meantime, the man who lives across the street from our group on the bike path comes and asks if he can help. Numerous bikers all stop to see if we need anything. People driving by ask if we need them to call 911. At least a dozen people offered to help. This is who humanity is. No one cared about my age, my gender, my sexual preference, my religion, my financial status, my political stance, my color. Everyone was just being of service. This is the way humanity treats one another when some agenda is not forced upon them by a few with an agenda. Let’s all try and emulate this kindness. If you are using technology that tells you that you must be separated because of race, gender or something else, turn it off. We are people, period. We care for one another, we love animals, we love the Earth and nature. We are blessed to live here where the sky is blue and we have space to be. Please, for the sake of our future, don’t buy into the false narrative that we are all separated by so many factors. I love humanity, I love this Earth and all of nature. Let’s look for the truth of our being in everything we do. After all, if you believe in reincarnation, we have all been every race, every gender, every religion. We are the sum total of all the energy we have ever been. Love yourself, love your neighbor and take care of the Earth. Thank you, angels—and cookies for everyone! Love, Dove

COWBOY POETRY

BRYCE ANGELL

Cowboy Pocketknife

I opened up my pocketknife and cut a piece of cheese. The blade was sharp enough to shave and sliced the cheese with ease. My good wife asked me, “Have you ever washed your knife with soap?” I slightly hesitated, then I answered with a “Nope!” And then she said, “I wonder what your knife’s been in today?” I had to think a minute, but as far as I could say, “Well, Old Cyruss had a nasty sore that oozed a bit of pus. So I sliced it with my pocketknife. Now there ain’t no need to fuss. “Cuz I wiped the blade across my shirt between the spurts of goo. That sore had built up pressure, squirted out from here to you. “I cut a month of cockleburs right off the mane and tail. Whoa, you better take a load off, hon. You’re lookin’ mighty pale. “The sliver that was festerin’ alongside my big toe, well, I dug it with my pocketknife. There ain’t much left to show. “And talk about my toe, I got a nasty case of gout. But still opened up my pocketknife and cleaned my toenails out.” I’d have to say in my lifetime ain’t found a better tool. And if you’ve never had a knife, well maybe you’re the fool. My father gave me my first knife when I turned eight years old. The finest gift I’d ever had, meant more to me than gold. I never leave the house without my pocketknife at hand. To me it’s more than just a knife. No need to understand. So, don’t you fret none ’bout my knife. I know you think it’s rank. I soaked it deep in alcohol. The brand your uncle drank. And if you’re wonderin’ did I throw your uncle’s booze away? Well, I did one even better, chugged the last drop down today. —Bryce Angell Bryce Angell - The outdoors has always been a large part of my life. My father was an outfitter and guide for 35 years and I was there to shoe and care for the horses and help him do the cooking. We took many great trips into the Yellowstone area. Even now that I’m older, we still ride into the Tetons, Yellowstone and surrounding areas. My poems are mostly of personal experience. I am now retired and enjoying life to the fullest. I plan to do more riding and writing.

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Wood River Weekly

4TH ESTATE

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April 7 - 20, 2021

ERIC VALENTINE

Mixed Messages Part 1

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nation on Earth.

By Eric Valentine

here are a few stories driving headlines and opinions these last several days. What each has in common is a mixed message. In some cases it’s subtext and nuance, in others it may be straight-up hypocrisy. What follows is a matter-of-fact look at each situation and the spin—intended or otherwise—that may be straight-up hypocrisy.

Mass Shootings They’re back. As COVID restrictions lighten and crowds begin to re-form, we’ve seen the other epidemic in our country— men who use their guns to kill a whole lot of people all at once. The messages on this one are many, but two need more, better and deeper analysis in the media. • Taking away guns from law-abiding citizens just makes it The Border Crisis easier for criminals to use guns. A.k.a., criminals don’t folThe bigoted president is gone. Mr. Nice Guy takes his place. low laws. And all of a sudden we have a crisis at the border. That’s the • The Second Amendment says the right to bear arms shall knee-jerk read of the situation down south where U.S. Customs not be infringed. and Border Protection reported a 28% increase in people atThe biggest problem with argument number one is that it tempting to cross the border from January to Febdoesn’t take into account people who are not ruary 2021. Making it even harder to swallow is known criminals or are not presenting a mental the ones who aren’t sent back are still being held in health condition prior to purchasing their guns. the “cages” and sleeping under tinfoil “blankets.” As we’ve seen in our own community recently, But this from “The Washington Post”: “During good people can take drastically bad turns in life fiscal year 2019, under the Trump administration, for themselves and for others. total apprehensions increased 31 percent during The biggest problem with argument number the same period, a bigger jump than we’re seeing two is that it doesn’t take into account the full text now. We’re comparing fiscal year 2021 to 2019 beof the Second Amendment, the part that says, “A cause the pandemic changed the pattern in 2020. well-regulated militia being necessary to the seIn 2018, the increase is about 25 percent from President Joe Biden’s “plain curity of a free State.” So, one has to read what February to March—somewhat smaller but still speak” and “nice guy” image James Madison and Alexander Hamilton had to pronounced.” may be sending a mixed mes- say about the matter when they were marketing So it’s not the Biden administration approach sage. Photo credit: Flickr the Constitution. Essentially, state-regulated milito immigration that’s causing the surge? Well, it tias were the only reasonable check on the power depends on who you ask. Listening to various reports over the of a federal standing army. And now those militias (the National past several days there seems to be plenty of anecdotal evidence Guard) are effectively federal in nature, since the president can where parents are sending their children to the border because override what governors do with it. they know parentless kids won’t get turned away. To believe that the ownership of an AR-15 is going to protect Even Biden acknowledged that wrench in his narrative, but your family against the invasion of a 101st Airborne is delusionnoted those “kids” are mostly teens, not toddlers. Does it matter? al. So, where is the check on federal power then? It’s probably What should matter is this: “Give me your tired, your poor, unanswerable at this point in history and technology. And that Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched means we can’t keep up with the diversionary tactic of the Secrefuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tem- ond Amendment when it comes to solving or improving our mass pest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Those are killing problem. The Constitution allows for restrictions on firethe words of American poet Emma Lazarus on the French-gifted arms. It’s time we implement some. Statue of Liberty. It’s not political law, but it is the moral one Next issue: The mixed message about Georgia’s new election many patriotic Americans have used to claim this the greatest laws. Stay tuned.

OPINION

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Welcome To Your Library

When did you last visit your local library? Did you know you can visit it digitally as well as physically? More than 200 years after Benjamin Franklin introduced the first lending library, libraries remain enduring and cherished community resources. Today’s libraries are not the quiet places you remember—they are dynamic and energetic places where the whole community is able to come together. You can still find a quiet nook to connect with a favorite novel or magazine. And your children can delight in read-aloud story time and hands-on activities that encourage literacy. Young adults enjoy gaming with their peers or collaborating on a school project. Internet access is available to everyone. The library is the rare institution that offers opportunity for people of all ages and all backgrounds. As our world has changed, libraries have adapted. This year, April 4th through 10th is National Library Week. The theme is “Welcome to YOUR Library.” Take a moment this week to thank your librarians for the essential services they provide and to remind our (public/school/campus/government officials) that libraries provide a vital resource in our society. Advocate, support, celebrate! There are infinite ways you can be a part of continuing the legacy of community libraries, whether it be volunteering your time or donating funds to enhance the collections, services and programs they offer us, at little or no charge. And if you haven’t been lately, we invite you to come see what’s new at your local library! Friends of the Hailey Public Library

CAITLIN JOHNSTONE

What We’re Really Seeing With All These Anti-China Narratives by Caitlin Johnstone

here’s a good viral thread being shared around Twitter right now by China Daily’s Ian Goodrum compiling a small selection of anti-China mainstream media headlines in answer to the New York Times question “Why has there been a spike in anti-Asian hate”? Goodrum confronts one with the possibility that the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans cannot be comfortably filed away as merely the result of Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric while in office, but arises at least partially from a virulent propaganda campaign against the US empire’s leading opponent of which the liberal media have been enthusiastic participants. “We are being bombarded with anti-China hate for a reason and it has nothing to do with human rights,” journalist Rania Khalek commented while sharing Goodrum’s thread. “This is just a tiny fraction of it. At the same time anyone who questions the state department narrative is being accused of loving tyrants and defending genocide. Sound familiar?” It’s great so many oppose anti-Asian racism in the wake of a potential uptick in hate crimes, but like how rising islamophobia was a consequence of the war on terror, the hate is a result of anti-China demonization by a US national security state escalating a Cold War. See thread https://t.co/5lA9Fxs5nx — Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) March 18, 2021 We’re being constantly smashed in the face with anti-China narratives from the western media, and it’s important to think critically about why we are seeing these narratives as much as we think about whether those narratives are true. Why are we being told that China is dangerous over and over again day in and day out all of a sudden, while, for example, Israel’s constant bombing of Syria gets nary a mention? The quantity of the reporting tells you as much as the quality. Even if a foreign nation actually is doing something bad, is it really something we need to be told about over and over again while far worse acts are perpetrated by our own government and its allies with scarcely any

mention? Who benefits from this arrangement? We need to think about these questions. Negative mass media coverage of targeted governments always far exceeds negative coverage of aligned governments on the same issues, like nonstop coverage of protests in Hong Kong while ignoring protests in France, Gaza, Chile, Haiti, Ecuador etc which were occurring at the same time. The repetition of these negative stories has more of an effect than the contents of the stories themselves because of something called the illusory truth effect, an odd glitch in human cognition which leads our minds to mistake info we’ve heard repeatedly for fact. Just by repeating something over and over again, our minds can be tricked into believing that what we have heard is a verified fact and not a completely unconfirmed assertion. This is due to the fact that the familiar feeling we experience when hearing something we’ve heard before feels very similar to our experience of knowing that something is true. When we hear a familiar idea, its familiarity provides us with something called cognitive ease, which is the relaxed, unlabored state we experience when our minds aren’t working hard at something. We also experience cognitive ease when we are presented with a statement that we know to be true. We have a tendency to select for cognitive ease, which is also why confirmation bias is a thing; believing ideas which don’t cause cognitive strain or dissonance gives us more cognitive ease than doing otherwise. This is why more and more people are accepting the narrative that China is a “genocidal regime”, for example. There’s no more proof of the claim that China is committing genocide than there was a year ago (in fact the claim is far more discredited now), but because the mass media have been repeating it endlessly you’re hearing far more people bleating that claim. Not only does the US empire have every motive in the world to lie about China as it prepares to surpass the American economy in a few years, it has every motive in the world to lie about Xinjiang specifically due to its unique role in China’s rise and the easily exploited divisions there. It is not a coincidence that the US removed the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a Uyghur group that’s been doing horrific things in Syria, from its

designated terrorist group list just as it’s ramping up its campaign against China. This will be used to advance imperialist agendas. After the fall of the USSR the neoconservative notion that the US must maintain unipolar planetary hegemony at all cost became the prevailing mainstream orthodoxy at the heart of the empire. China is the ultimate threat to this hegemony. As Michael Parenti has written: The PNAC plan envisions a strategic confrontation with China, and a still greater permanent military presence in every corner of the world. The objective is not just power for its own sake but power to control the world’s natural resources and markets, power to privatize and deregulate the economies of every nation in the world, and power to hoist upon the backs of peoples everywhere-including North America-the blessings of an untrammeled global “ free market.” The end goal is to ensure not merely the supremacy of global capitalism as such, but the supremacy of American global capitalism by preventing the emergence of any other potentially competing superpower. Because hot conflict is taken off the table in cold war confrontations between nuclear powers, planetary-scale propaganda campaigns take on a much more prominent role to pave the way for each new escalation. That’s what we’re seeing in all this recent promotion of anti-China hysteria. You can understand the establishment China narratives by grasping just two points: 1. We are in a slow-motion third world war between the US and its allies and the nations which have resisted absorption into this alliance. 2. Propaganda is used to move this slow-motion war along. Understand these two points and you can understand the entirety of why the western political/media class is behaving in the way that it is when it comes to international news. With China, and with all nations which have resisted absorption into the imperial blob.

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Hard way Pipeline

East Fork Landscape goes robotic By Mike McKenna

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he future of lawn care has arrived in the Wood River Valley. East Fork Landscape is now offering robotic lawn mowing services that are not only better for the environment, but are much quieter and less intrusive than traditional lawn mowers. “We have the technology to do this, to take care of lawns in a better way,” said Derek Hagberg, owner of East Fork Landscape Management. “Robotic lawn care is big in Europe and we’re just starting to come around to it in America. We may be the only place in Idaho doing this commercially right now, but we have a lot of confidence in this product. It’s the future of lawn care.” Derek has a horticultural degree from Iowa State and has been running East Fork Landscape for 12 years. His wife and business partner, Stephanie Cook, is an arborist and also has a degree in landscape construction from Ohio State. In 2017, they decided to step into the future of lawn care and invested in their first robotic lawn mower. They were quickly hooked on the benefits and have been adding to their fleet of robots ever since. “There are lots of benefits to using robotic mowers and we found that they really meet the needs of our clients,” Derek explained. “They offer more privacy. They’re quiet. They’re consistent. They’re safer. They’re as cost effective, if not cheaper, than regular mowing and they’re more environmentally friendly. They allow us to transition from fuel consumption to battery usage.” East Fork Landscape has gone primarily to battery usage in everything they do, which cuts down on their fossil fuel needs, emissions and noise pollution. Battery-operated equipment also tends to be quieter—except for leaf blowers, of course. While robotic lawn care does cut down on the amount of time people need to be working on the property, it doesn’t completely eliminate human-powered help. It just changes the roles. The process for robotic lawn care follows this format: A robotic lawn mower and its housing are assigned to a property. The lawn is then mapped us-

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ing GPS and the mower is left there for the season. A schedule is created that works best with the client’s wishes. Robotic mowers cut less off the grass, but mow more often. The smaller, regular cuts from the robotic mower create better mulching for the lawn and help battle weeds from getting established. Since they are so quiet, they can run anytime, including the middle of the night. A crew then comes by on a regular schedule to do other work, like weed whacking and mower maintenance. The robotic mowers only weigh a fraction of regular mowers as well, so there’s less compaction. “The upside of this is huge,” Derek said about the robotic mowing movement. “It’s a lot less intrusive and impactful. It fights weeds better. It causes less compaction, which means the grass is softer and healthier. The end result is a better overall lawn.”

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