EDUCATION NEWS
AGRICULTURE NEWS
Two Candidates One Choice PG 2
SUN VALLEY
KETCHUM
POLITICAL NEWS
Sheep Farm Gets Green PG 6
HAILEY
Eric Parker Draws Attention PG 4 BELLEVUE
PICABO
CAREY
WOOD RIVER WEEKLY
YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY
Free | January 13 - 26, 2021 | Vol. 1 - No. 29 | woodriverweekly.com
“ I h a v e d e c i d e d t o s t i c k w i t h l o v e . H a t e i s t o o g r e a t a b u r d e n t o b e a r. ” ~ M a r t i n L u t h e r K i n g J r.
A rare lift-line wait greeted skiers and boarders at the Warm Springs ski area on Tuesday, Jan. 5, when Mother Nature blanketed Baldy with nearly a foot of powder. Most in line felt it was “worth the wait!” Photo credit: Hunter Storey
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NEWS
Wood River Weekly
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January 13 - 26, 2021
TWO CANDIDATES, ONE TOWN HALL
EDUCATION
Foudy, Sanchez make their cases to be next BCSD superintendent
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By Eric Valentine
t will be five Blaine County school board trustees who get to cast votes, but a two-hour virtual town hall held Jan. 7 with both superintendent candidates figures to be one of the biggest influencers of that decision. The board’s search firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, hosted and moderated the forum wherein both finalists were given an hour to introduce themselves, deep-dive their past accomplishments and future goals, and take questions from the community regarding all things education. The finalists are James Foudy and Heather Sanchez. Foudy is superintendent of the McCall-Donnelly School District in McCall. Sanchez currently serves as executive director of schools of the Bellevue School District in Washington State. Candidates were asked to speak to four prompts and then take questions from the community. The prompts were: 1. Introduce yourself and share your story. 2. Say why you want to be BCSD’s next superintendent. 3. Highlight a few professional accomplishments. 4. Provide ideas and thoughts about what they could do to rebuild a culture of trust and respect that will benefit students, staff and the entire community. “The last prompt we thought was particularly important,” said Max McGee, president of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates. McGee, who hosted the session, had interviewed district stakeholders regarding their priorities for hiring a successor to once embattled and now resigned superintendent GwenCarol Holmes. Since the entire town hall can be viewed on the district’s website, we’ll focus on the candidates’ overall approach to the answers and their specific handling of prompt number 4. Finding Foudy Foudy acknowledged that a virtual environment where he could not look his audience in the eye was not
in his comfort zone. And, at times it showed. Yet Foudy was able to provide examples of impressive accomplishments, some of them from very recent years as the head of the McCall-Donnelly School District. “Everything I’ve been able to accomplish over the last 18 years over the course of my career has consistently been due to and part of a team effort,” Foudy said. Foudy also stressed the importance of family in his life and the importance of taking full responsibility when mistakes are made. “The greatest challenge to building a culture of trust and respect is that it takes thousands of actions and moments to get to that point, but it only takes one to fracture it,” Foudy said. Over the course of his presentation Foudy emphasized a willingness to take educated, healthy risks and a desire to create an environment of curiosity and passion for learning at all levels of the district. “We are in a business of teaching and learning,” Foudy said. “In thriving school districts, the students are not the only ones learning every day.”
late response. “It’s not enough to tolerate differences. We have to truly work toward being inclusive,” Sanchez said. “I believe that’s a moral imperative I have as an educator.” Sanchez demonstrated her understanding of inclusiveness early on in her presentation when she spent roughly a minute addressing the community in Spanish. Like Foudy, Sanchez was clear about her accomplishments being due to collaborative efforts from multiple stakeholders. And for BCSD, Sanchez emphasized her belief that the district is in a position to reach what she called “the next level”—one of the higher performing school districts in the nation. “Are we always going in the right direction? And are we going in the right direction at a good pace?” Sanchez said, regarding what the district has to ask itself each year. “And if not, what are we going to invest in to reach those goals?” Sanchez explained her belief in the importance of district culture and how BCSD’s is clearly in need of some “healing,” she said. While Sanchez showed she is wellversed and experienced in strategic planning and strategy support, she noted that it doesn’t work if there isn’t a comprehensive cultural buy-in. “Culture eats strategy for lunch,” Sanchez said.
James Foudy. Photo credit: Blaine County School District virtual meeting
Sanchez Says Sanchez, on the other hand, came across as someone who could give a how-to on virtual meeting etiquette. Her answers, even on a sensitive issue about her views on anti-racism education, was a thoughtful and articu-
Heather Sanchez. Photo credit: Blaine County School District virtual meeting
Let’s take care of each other. Times are stressful, but the only way through this is together. Watch out for each other. Check in on your friends and neighbors. Be there for those in need and listen with an open heart. Because these days, taking care of each other is more important than ever.
Wood River Weekly
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January 13 - 26, 2021
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WRW STAFF PUBLISHER Christopher Seldon (208) 788-4789 publisher@woodriverweekly.com MARKETING & SALES Mandi Iverson (208) 721-7588 mandi@woodriverweekly.com NEWS EDITOR Eric Valentine news@woodriverweekly.com ARTS & EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Dana DuGan dana@woodriverweekly.com
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE Dear Valley Residents, I am sure everyone will agree that 2020 was a difficult and challenging year. We at the Wood River Weekly are grateful and thankful to have survived the year, and we thank our clients, neighbors and friends for their support and encouragement. We look forward with hopeful optimism that 2021 will bring positive change and allow life to continue as near to normal as possible. Let us not forget how desperate and difficult these times are for our community. Many are suffering, businesses are struggling, and eviction and food insecurity is a genuine threat. Let us all be compassionate, understanding and seek to help each other out wherever we can. Take care, Chris & Mandi
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Wood River Weekly
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January 13 - 26, 2021
NEWS
POLITICAL
We build nest eggs.
Eric Parker ‘pounds the pavement’ on his bid to be elected to the Idaho State Legislature in 2020. Photo credit: Eric Parker
LOCAL 3%ER FIELDS MEDIA INQUIRIES Events of Jan. 6 put Eric Parker under media scrutiny
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By Eric Valentine
State Legislature seat for District 26. Parker added, “If anything, our group would physically defend a Capitol building.” Parker also stated that one of the leading domestic terrorist monitoring organizations did not have the Real 3%ers of Idaho on any risk assessment list.
hen the events of Jan. 6 unfolded and Americans saw their federal Capitol building overrun by their fellow countrymen, guess which local figure started getting calls from the national media. If you guessed the leader of the Real 3%ers Idaho, Eric Parker, you guessed right. Doubting The Donald In the days following what the country is still We asked Parker if he personally believes the collectively trying to wrap its head around, NPR, election was stolen from President Donald Trump. ABC, The Guardian, and a few other media out- His initial answer was that he saw no evidence lets contacted Parker to ask behind any of the claims made questions about the group he The Real 3%ers of by the Trump campaign and the leads and to get his perspective president himself. However, as Idaho had nothing the interview went on, Parker on—or his involvement in—the siege on the U.S. Capitol that led to do with Jan. 6, period. did acknowledge that he can’t to five deaths, a couple dozen We involve ourselves with say he’s seen definitive eviterrorism investigations, hundence that no election tamperdreds of arrests and counting, legislation. That’s the way ing occurred either. What’s fair and one nation with clearly two things have really changed.” and clear to say is that Parker different realities. holds no firm belief that the Eric Parker country is being stolen from Wood River Weekly contacted Parker, too. After all, he anyone nor that a constitutionis a sort of poster child for resistance against the al process like the counting of Electoral College government after pleading guilty to misdemeanor votes should be forcefully stopped. obstruction charges when he aimed his long rifle at federal agents during the Bundy Ranch standoff Facing Forward in 2014. What follows are overviews of Parker’s So, what’s the country to do now? Parker leans reactions and answers to a variety of topics we dis- toward the side of riding out the last days of the cussed with him in relation to the 2020 election Trump administration without invoking the 25th and the Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol. Amendment or launching a second round of impeachment. Insurrection Involvement “I think we need to be very careful because emoAlthough the Real 3%ers Idaho had made no of- tions are so high,” Parker said. “In times like these ficial public comment, Parker was 100% clear that it’s very quickly we pass laws like the Patriot Act.” the group he leads had 0% to do with the events Parker’s point is that the laws one side of the poof Jan. 6. litical spectrum may want now can be used against “The Real 3%ers Idaho had nothing to do with them later. Case in point: When Republican SenaJan. 6, period,” Parker said. tor Mitch McConnell would not hold a hearing for It does need to be addressed that 3%er flags did then-President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court show up at the Capitol building along with Con- nominee Merrick Garland because Obama was federate flags, Nazi flags, and more. However, as in the final year of his term, but did hold a hearpreviously reported, Parker says the local 3%er ing for Trump nominee Amy Coney Barrett just group has no formal connection to the national weeks before an election Trump ultimately lost. group. Americans can rest assured that at some point in “We involve ourselves with legislation. That’s the future that table will turn and Democrats will the way things have really changed,” said Parker, run that power play. who in the 2020 election ran for but lost the Idaho
NEWS
IN BRIEF
Ketchum Solicits Community Input On Transportation Plan
City leaders are seeking public input regarding the draft Master Transportation Plan—a long-term planning document identifying transportation needs in Ketchum. The community is invited to review the draft Master Transportation Plan and summary at www. ketchumidaho.org/projects and provide comments to participate@ketchumidaho.org. Comments will be accepted through Feb. 5. The goal of the plan is to provide safe and efficient travel on Ketchum’s transportation system now and in the future, including all modes of travel. The transportation system should serve a wide variety of users and offer alternatives for residents, visitors, and the workforce to travel safely and easily to their destinations. The plan will assist Ketchum policymakers and staff in making sound decisions for the city transportation system to promote a greater quality of life and provide a guide for future development.
Wood River Weekly
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NEWS
Mandatory Hunter Harvest Reports Due Jan. 31
Big game hunters have until Jan. 31 to submit mandatory harvest reports and fulfill a crucial role in the management of Idaho’s big game herds. Hunters can submit their mandatory hunter report online at license.gooutdoorsidaho.com, or by calling 1-877-268-9365. If you purchased a tag to hunt big game this year, whether you hunted and/ or harvested or not, you must fill out a mandatory harvest report by the Jan. 31 deadline. The harvest data provided by hunters is an important component of the season-setting process that will take place in February and March of 2021. Mandatory hunter harvest reporting allows Fish and Game to better manage big game herds throughout the state. Wildlife managers need population data to develop sustainable harvest regulations, including an idea of herd sizes, sex and age ratios, how many animals are likely to be born and survive each year, and how many are likely to die. To obtain most of that information, Idaho Fish and Game biologists spend countless hours in the field throughout the year conducting aerial population surveys, evaluating habitat quality, and capturing animals to fit them with tracking collars. They are constantly gathering data used to model big game populations. However, they can’t gather all of the information they need alone, and that’s where hunters come in. “It might seem like a hassle at the end of the season, but accurate and precise harvest reports enable us to better manage herds for this and future generations of hunters,” said Rick Ward, Deer/Elk Program Coordinator.
Fatal Ski Accident Victim Identified
Blaine County Coroner Russ Mikel has confirmed the identity of the skier who witnesses say forcefully crashed into a tree on Baldy’s Cut Off Ski Run Dec. 20, killing him despite paramedic efforts to save him. James “Jim” Brown, 53, of Deer Park, Ill., has been identified as the victim. Results from the autopsy and ski patrol report are still pending, Mikel said.
COVID Caller Scam Alert
The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning about an ongoing scam that may be headed to a phone call near you. “We have received information from another law enforcement agency regarding a potential scam. The way it works is a caller tells you they are with a local medical center or hospital and tells you they are calling to notify you of your recent COVID-19 exposure. They proceed to ask for personal information that can be used against you in various scams and identity theft,” the Sheriff’s Office said. As a reminder, never provide any personal information over the phone and be aware there are multiple fraudulent calls phishing for personal identifiers and financial information.
January 13 - 26, 2021
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IN BRIEF
St. Luke’s Widens Community Vaccinations
As the coronavirus vaccine continues to arrive in Idaho, and in alignment with the state and public health districts, St. Luke’s Health System announced Monday it will begin administering COVID-19 vaccine this week to broader groups of community members in the next high-risk group. People who qualify under the State’s “Group 1A” classification include high-risk non-St. Luke’s healthcare workers, emergency responders, and very specific essential workers. To be consistent with Idaho’s COVID-19 vaccine program, St. Luke’s developed a tiered approach to vaccinations starting with highest-risk healthcare personnel. For three weeks, St. Luke’s focused on vaccinating its qualifying employees and providers. St. Luke’s had administered approximately 8,000 vaccines by the end of Monday, St. Luke’s healthcare worker Taylor Slettum with the majority of those as firstperforms a vaccine draw. Photo credit: St. time doses. Luke’s St. Luke’s is now addressing the next prioritized group based on availability of the vaccine and recommendations from Idaho’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee. The state has divided the community into groups based on the risk of routine exposure to COVID-positive individuals and criteria for increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. To verify appropriate group placement, people will be required to provide proof of employment at their appointment. COVID vaccine will not be given if the patient does not have the proper proof of their job. Examples include a badge, pay stub or W2. After healthcare workers and first responders are vaccinated, the next priority groups include, in general, dentists, pharmacists, and long-term care facility workers and residents. St. Luke’s patients can schedule appointments online using myChart for the quickest access. People who have never used St. Luke’s services may set up a myChart account by calling (208) 381-9000. Those who cannot use myChart may call St. Luke’s Connect at (208) 381-9500 to set up an appointment.
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Contact Mandi at (208) 721-7588 or mandi@woodriverweekly.com
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Wood River Weekly
NEWS
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January 13 - 26, 2021
Green Acres
AGRICULTURE
Brian Bean (center, with cane) moves livestock on his Lava Lake Land & Livestock sheep farm. Photo credits: Phoebe Bean for Lava Lake Land & Livestock
Hailey-based sheep farm garners 2 eco-friendly certifications
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By Eric Valentine
he Valley famous for its trailing of the sheep festivities is also getting recognized for keeping its livestock happy and its farming practices green. That’s in part due to two recent certifications of Lava Lake Land & Livestock for the Hailey-based farm’s treatment of its sheep and its commitment to keeping its livestock grassfed. A Greener World—one of North America’s most trusted and transparent farm certifiers—announced last week it had certified Lava Lake Land & Livestock as Animal Welfare Approved and Grassfed. These certifications are, essentially, food labels that let consumers know the product has been raised outdoors on pasture or range in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the United States and Canada, using sustainable agriculture methods. Consumer Reports has rated A Greener World’s Animal Welfare Approved certification as the only “highly meaningful” label for farm animal welfare, outdoor access and sustainability—and the only animal welfare certification in which they have confidence. The certification is the first of its kind in Idaho for sheep farming. “It was a very detailed audit,” said Brian Bean, who along with his wife Kathleen own and operate Valley-area farmland primarily for raising sheep and some cattle. “We do a lot of (eco-friendly) things we like to get credit for. It’s always nice to be able to market the product so that the consumer knows it meets stringent requirements.” Lava Lake’s grassfed lambs range freely, grazing on the natural bounty of a vast and biologically diverse landscape, resulting in fit, healthy animals that make the most delicious, tender, nutrient-rich meat. The ranch uses rotational grazing practices and sustainable farming techniques, which results in lower environmental impact and a higher quality product. Betting the Farm A Greener World’s stringent requirements are something the Beans are used to. Outright, the Beans own 20,000 acres of land east of Carey but also operate more than 800,000 acres of adjoining farmland covering parts of three counties—Blaine, Butte and Custer. “A complex tapestry of public and private lands,” as Brian Bean describes it. That complex tapestry is due to Idaho being a so-called homestead state. The Homestead Acts allowed small farmers to acquire ownership of government land. The first of the acts, the Homestead Act of 1862, opened up millions of acres. Any adult who had never taken up arms against the federal government of the United States could apply. But that didn’t mean all the acreage got sold. So today, farmers like the Beans navigate through roughly 35 different federal, state and local agencies to deliver to market grassfed lamb and some beef raised within those 800,000-plus acres. Emily Moose (we swear we are not making up these last names) is the communications director for A Greener World. She describes her organization’s role to be one of making the U.S. food system as “more transparent and less opaque.” This is done by auditing a farm for everything from its soil quality to how it treats its animals and its workers. Once the farm earns certification, A Greener World then performs annual audits to ensure standards are still being met. “What we’re doing is making it possible for consumers to enact their values when they purchase their food,” Moose said.
Kathleen Bean enjoys the landscape of the eco-friendly sheep farm she owns and operates with her husband Brian Bean.
For Brian Bean, the challenge wasn’t so much making sure his farm met requirements. He says they’ve been operating essentially the same way since they started in 1999. The Beans have even been involved in additional environmental stewardship programs such as the non-lethal measures to control the wolf population. The bigger challenge, he says, is finding the slaughterhouses that also maintain standards that can be verified by A Greener World, as slaughtering and fabricating (cutting the meat into market-ready pieces) is part of the approval process. Meat Marketing Beyond issuing the certification labels that will get placed on the packaged meat, there are other services A Greener World provides farmers. The organization issues press releases upon certification and provides space on its website where farms can list their contact and sales information. This is especially helpful for the farm-to-farm sales that need to occur to bring enough meat to market that meets demand. A Greener World now issues five separate certifications. They are: Certified Animal Welfare Approved, Salmon Welfare Certified, Certified Grassfed, Certified Regenerative, and Certified Non-GMO. The nonprofit also provides information helpful to the general public to help people make informed food choices, including an Online Directory of certified farms and products and Food Labels Exposed—a guide to food label claims available in print and online. For more information, visit agreenerworld.org.
Wood River Weekly
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January 13 - 26, 2021
ADVERTORIALS BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS
ANNA & MICHELLE
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magine what happens when there is not a pre-listing inspection. The buyer contracts for the home with a provision for professional home inspection. When it is made, there could be things that the buyer didn’t expect or even anticipate. If it doesn’t trigger an action to terminate the contract, the buyer will inevitably ask the seller to make all the repairs. When presented with the buyer’s request, the seller may take the opposite position of not wanting to do any of the repairs. The buyer could accept the property in its “as is” condition or negotiate the repairs or a reduced price with the seller. Any experienced agent can tell you that sometimes a mutually agreed negotiation is reached, and other times an impasse is met that cannot be resolved. The contract is terminated, and the house has to go back on the market, but this time a disclosure has to be made to all parties looking at the home, which may deter showings. Taking a pro-active approach by obtaining a pre-listing inspection, the seller can find out about things that will probably show up in a buyer’s inspection. They can get them repaired before the home is shown and it will help the buyer feel more confident with the home. Another option would be to disclose them as not working and make a price adjustment; either way, the seller is in control and is taking a position of transparency with potential buyers. In some cases, the pre-listing inspection may show things in working order that the buyer’s inspection indicates as needing repair. With two disinterested parties having opposing opinions, negotiations have a more likely chance for a mutual agreement. Disclosing things that are not in working order can reduce liability in the future. Some deficiencies with the home are not discovered prior to the closing and the surprise issues could lead to liability. The pre-listing inspection by a professional combined with the seller disclosing it properly can reduce potential liability. For the small investment in the pre-listing inspection, the benefits are well worth the expense. You and potential buyers will have a better idea of the condition of your property and know what to expect. You can present the property in a transparent way that will build confidence with the buyer. You’ll avoid unpleasant surprises as well as possible delays. Pre-listing inspections can lead to faster sales and satisfaction for everyone involved.
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THE SENIOR CONNECTION
What To Do When A Senior Refuses To Bathe
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Pre-Listing Inspections
BY SHAWNA WASKO
had some articles sent to me by AgingCare on “What to Do When a Senior Refuses to Bathe and Change Their Clothes.” The article, written by Carol Bradley Bursack, stated that this issue is surprisingly common. It is not surprising to us caregivers of dementia. It is a problem I have with my mother and a big problem for caregivers. Bursack specified that one of the biggest reasons a dementia patient won’t bathe is depression. It is a good idea to have your loved one visit their doctor to see if they have a depression issue. Depression is treatable and treating it may make it easier for you to correct hygiene issues with your loved one. All people, no matter what, want respect and control over their lives. Being asked to bathe, or pointing out they have an awful odor, is embarrassing and shaming. Some seniors lose a lot of their sense of smell as they age or have become accustomed to the smell and don’t notice it. For some, it may be simply boredom; they may feel that they have nothing to do so why should they clean up. For some, it may just be they are too cold to shower. They may fear falling in the shower. For most, they don’t want any help bathing. It is too embarrassing. I remember a webinar I attended that talked about how to ease this embarrassment. They recommended that you sew a large poncho out of towels and cover your loved one in it before they enter the shower. You could then take their clothes off under the poncho. They explained that we should wet the poncho down with warm water and put liquid bath soap on the poncho and rub their bodies with the warm soap, then rinse the poncho down. They recommended we put a dry poncho on them after to help dry them off. You then put clothes on them under the poncho to help control embarrassment. This only works if you get agreement from your loved one, of course. One presentation I heard from a lady who had several long-term care facilities was that they discovered people with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease could not see the color white. A totally white shower that a person cannot see can be scary, especially if water then begins hitting their body. She had color sprayed on all the showers and replaced all toilet seats with red seats. She said it made a big difference for both her male and female residents with dementia. She also found that plates and napkins were white and changed all dinnerware and napkins with bright colors. Interesting. Bursack also stated that we can tell a person we care for that we are going out to a special dinner. This works with my mom, who has Alzheimer’s disease. She wants to take a bath and have me do her hair if she is going to go out. She likes me to help with picking out something pretty to wear. Even if we go to a Culver’s, she is excited. This also works if I invite her to go get yogurt or ice cream! If the battle to bathe becomes more than can be remedied, it may be time for long-term care. You can always call our office (208-7362122) and make an appointment with an ombudsman. Ombudsmen can advise you on which facilities take “memory-care patients.” Shawna Wasko, M.OLP Caregiver Support Group Facilitator CSI Office on Aging swasko@csi.edu
NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA
Through The Eyes Of A Youth
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OUR VOICE COUNTS
n Jan. 6, 2020, Donald Trump supporters filled the streets on Capitol Hill causing a moment of caution for many Democrats of what could come nearing the inauguration. But as seen from many clips, news articles and social media outlets, these pro-Trump protestors were not held as highly accountable as those who are part of the Black Lives Matter movement. Not only that, but for the first time in history the Confederate flag entered the Capitol building; this flag is a symbol of sociopolitical exclusion of people of color that have been enslaved. As an undocumented Hispanic student who continuously fantasized and tried to reach the American Dream, I realize how unrealistic that is when half of this country is clearly against social progression, against the Black Lives Matter movement, against DREAMers, against anything and/or anyone who isn’t for white surpremacy. Nevertheless, this situation can only bring more open conversation if we let each other speak and explain our
concerns. This is such an unfortunate event, so strive to work hard for our community of people of color, for those who feel betrayed by law enforcement, and for anyone struggling to find the words to say to someone who is frustrated and concerned.
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NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA
l 6 de enero de 2020, los partidarios de Donald Trump llenaron las calles en Capitol Hill causando un momento de precaución para muchos demócratas de lo que podría acercarse a la inauguración. Pero visto desde muchos videos, artículos de noticias y medios de comunicación sociales, estos manifestantes que votaron por Trump no fueron considerados tan altamente responsables como los que forman parte del Movimiento “Black Lives Matter.” No sólo eso, sino por primera vez en la historia, la bandera confederada entró en el edificio del Capitolio; esta bandera es un símbolo de exclusión sociopolítica de personas de color que han sido esclavadas. Como estudiante hispano indocumentado que contin-
uamente fantaseó y trató de alcanzar el Sueño Americano, me doy cuenta de lo poco realista que es cuando la mitad de este país está claramente en contra de la progresión social, contra el movimiento Black Lives Matter, contra DREAMers, contra cualquier cosa y/o cualquier persona que no sea para la surpremacia blanca. Sin embargo, esta situación sólo puede traer una conversación más abierta si nos dejamos hablar y explicar nuestras preocupaciones. Este es un evento tan desafortunado, así que esfuérzate por trabajar duro para nuestra comunidad de personas de color, para aquellos que se sienten traicionados por las fuerzas del orden, y para cualquiera que luche por encontrar las palabras para decirle a alguien que está frustrado y preocupado.
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COMM ENT ARY Wood River Weekly
Fishing R epoRt
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January 13 - 26, 2021
NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR JANUARY 13 - 26 FROM PICABO ANGLER
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ilver Creek has been “off” and “on” depending on conditions. If you’re fishing it during the right conditions (calm, overcast, mild days), the winter streamer bite can be quite good. A good rule of thumb to follow in regard to fly selection is “bright day, bright fly and dark day, dark fly.” Typically, fishing your streamers on a slow, steady swing will produce more action than actively stripping and moving your fly. That will come as the weather and water warms. Midge activity has been sporadic, but when conditions are right, there has been some excellent dry-fly fishing on the Creek. Remember, all of Silver Creek downstream of Highway 20 is open until the end of March, as is Kilpatrick Pond… if you’re crazy enough to get into a float tube! The Big Wood River has been fishing quite well during the warmest part of the day. No need to get on the water early—ski in the morning and fish in the afternoon. Nymphing with tiny midge pupa imitations, Prince Nymphs, Rubber Legs, Rainbow Warriors and Copper Johns is the way to go. Rainbows tend to pod up in the winter in slower, softer water; find a few of these winter holes and you can be into fish all day long. The South Fork of the Boise River has been fishing well for those willing to make the trek, with stable winter flows of 300 CFS. Before you go, check the road conditions and the weather; the road into the canyon can be treacherous during heavy snow, ice, and bad weather. Don’t forget your tire chains, survival kit, and extra food and water. Nymphing is the name of the game right now, and it’s hard to beat a big Stonefly nymph followed by your favorite midge pupa. A big, meaty streamer fished low and slow in some of the deeper holes can produce a big fish or two. General waterfowl hunting season closes on Jan. 31, and we are still doing guided duck and goose hunts. Give us a call if you’d like to get in on the action before the season closes. Happy fishing, everyone!
Hwy 20 in Picabo info@picaboangler.com (208)788.3536 www.picaboangler.com
Fake Service Dogs
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FRAN JEWELL
By Fran Jewell
ight now, I have a lovely black German shepherd guide dog that I trained for a blind woman four years ago. She is back to me to help her stop barking at other dogs. Why does she bark at other dogs? She was attacked by a pit bull in a grocery store about a year ago and now her blind owner can’t use her anymore. This isn’t a comment about pit bulls; it’s a tragic tale of how a fake service dog can destroy another, fully trained service dog in the flash of a second. Each dog was standing in two separate grocery store checkout lines. The pit bull lunged at Onyx (the dog I am working with) and pinned her to the ground while her blind owner stood stunned and not knowing how to cope. If this other dog had been screened carefully, and trained properly, there would have been no issues between it and the dog I am working with. I can say with utmost confidence that this dog was a pet someone put a vest on and pranced around as a service dog so they could take it into the grocery store on a hot Reno day. A fully trained dog with proper service-dog temperament would never have acted in such a manner. The guide skills Onyx has are remarkable. I took her out of my van for our first training together in 4fouryears. I said, “Left,” and she immediately turned left away from the van and then stopped at the street behind the van. She looked both ways, and then guided me across the street through a double row of parked cars. Then she stopped me at another street, going the opposite direction. She looked both ways and proceeded across that street through more parked cars to the curb where she indicated the curb to step up on so I wouldn’t trip. Her skills are astonishing and accurate. Anyone could walk behind her with their eyes blindfolded. Onyx guided me through the Ketchum Farmers’ Market, never taking me too close to any table. She didn’t sniff the food, or look for food on the ground, even when I had her stop. She walked around kids, coolers on the ground, people standing, while guiding me safely.
for focusing on me and ignoring the other dogs. We left as quickly as I could. The staff noticed how nervous Onyx was and came to talk to me. I told them what had happened to her and they were so lovely by asking a few of the other dog owners to wait for us to leave the store instead of walking by. The work to get Onyx through this fear will be enormous and, frankly, I am not sure I can change her mind about other dogs while she is in harness, working. She gets along fine with my dogs when not working. I wanted to share this story with everyone, especially those that think faking a service dog harms no one. It is devastating to someone whose dog has been through 300 to 400 hours of training and relies on his or her service dog for life-saving independence. For Onyx’s Then a sweet little mix breed on a leash appeared and Onyx owner, it may be a huge financial and emotional loss. Shame on anybarked and shook uncontrollably. I tried to refocus her with no luck. one who thinks faking their pet or poorly trained dog as a service Eventually, she calmed down and was able to pass three other dogs dog hurts no one. without incident, but I was careful not to take her too close to them. She could see them, however. Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NAYesterday, we went into PetSmart. At the first dog, Onyx barked DOI Certified Instructor and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Trainand tried to jump on me, desperately asking me for help and to re- ing, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com move her. I didn’t ask her to guide anymore, gave her lots of praise or call 208-578-1565.
SCIENCE OF PLACE
T
Spidey-Sense
BY HARRY WEEKES
here has been a lot of talk, especially over this last year, about how lucky we are to live in this place. The obvious list of reasons spills out—the small towns, our access to mountains, rivers, and just being outside and, more broadly, the way of life we get to live here. I want to add to this list a simple and often overlooked fact—that you can lie on the floor of your house at 4 a.m. without having to think too hard before you do, or while you’re doing it. One of the important lessons learned from leaving a place is appreciating what you like about it. I got to vacation in a part of Mexico where it is warm and sunny and dry, almost always. This is a place where “there are no doors” and “windows are always open” and “you’re nestled right into a jungle.” This is a place that turns on
HARRY WEEKES
a very ancient radar in me. One little guidebook said, “Be sure not to leave any food out, as tejones might come into your house.” Badgers? And in the next sentence, “Be sure to shake out your clothes and check your shoes before you put them on.” Needless to say, I spent an inconsiderable amount of time looking for beasties. And I say ‘inconsiderable’ because it took me all of 30 seconds to find a spider the size of a hand clinging to the doorframe. OK, so it was the size of a baby’s hand and it only had four legs, but it was larger than any spider I have seen in Idaho. She was, even with her missing limbs, a beautiful specimen—calico colored, with an elongated body and a dull shine. My truce was not to bother her as long as I knew where she was. And, thankfully, she stayed in a one-foot section of that door for as long as I was there. Now back to here. I am pretty sure I appreciate the beauty of little things because another wonderful aspect about living in the Wood River Valley is how benign our collection of beasties is. Sure, we have stingers and biters and irritators, but not nearly enough to keep one off the floor. Due to a longtime back injury, I start every morning with some simple exercises. I do these in the dark, lying on my back, in our closet. I can push my feet into a corner and not have to think about a scorpion. Or stretch my arms out and not have to worry about a snake. Or just lie there and not have to consider spiders crawling all over me. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am fascinated by all of the above, and, with the exception of scorpions, have been joined by each inside my house. We have had snakes slithering through the pantry and a whole catalogue of spiders in all of the various nooks and crannies. My spidey-sense, though, is one of “approach and appreciate.” I will get down and look at the spider scuttling behind the plant or walk right up to the snake that made it into the house. I appreciate this often times overlooked aspect of living here more and more. It is not just that there is a reduced risk. Actually, I think it’s the opposite—there is increased access. The natural world has always been accessible to me in some fundamental way. I started out learning that snakes were OK. That spiders were just a part of the indoor ecosystem. That I didn’t have to immediately worry about something crawling on me. I learned that I could first be fascinated. It is nice to remember this.
Wood River Weekly
MONEY MATTERS
•
January 13 - 26, 2021
KRISTIN HOVENCAMP
Investing In 5th Technology
9
INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART
DOVE
The Internet Of Things By Kristin Hovencamp
5
G, the fifth generation of cellular technology, will revolutionize how we interact with the digital world. The rollout of 5G wireless, video, and sensor networks will allow us to connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime. To understand 5G, think of 2020 as a myopic look into the future. We accessed 4G for everything from working and learning remotely to virtual medicine, online shopping, video communications, and continuous entertainment. Over 5G networks, imagine increased data speed, reduced lag time, and improved wireless service flexibility, explains US News and World Reports contributor Rebecca Lake. 5G is the technology of the future, yet there are still a lot of unknowns. Many technical challenges must be met to make this vision a reality, hazards Andrea Goldsmith, author of Wireless Communications and dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Princeton University. The long-term growth theme of 5G poses investment opportunities across asset classes. The following are examples of equity sectors impacted by 5G. • • • • •
New Year’s Resolution
H
A plethora of information technology companies is competing for the 5G market. The makers of fiber optics, artificial intelligence, driverless vehicles, new antenna and radio technologies, semiconductors, modems, and cellular networking are only the beginning. The communication sector includes 5G leaders in, among other things, e-commerce, media, internet, and wireless providers. The industrial sector will play an essential role in the growth of 5G due to increased demand for construction and engineering, capital goods, electronic systems and equipment, travel, and machinery. The healthcare sector includes companies facilitating in the technology surrounding remote, real-time diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and life-saving applications. Real estate investment trusts (REIT) offer exposure to wireless communication towers, infrastructure, and real estate, critical to the rollout of 5G.
5th-generation technology has enormous potential to change the world. As with any new investment, it is essential to diversify portfolio exposure through securities and vehicles while weighing the risks with the rewards. 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. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal amount invested. No investing strategy, including asset allocation, diversification, rebalancing or dollar cost averaging, can guarantee your objectives will be met. Rebalancing a non-retirement account could be a taxable event that may increase your tax liability. 675 Sun Valley Road, Suite J1 + J2 Ketchum, Idaho 83340 208.726.0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com
ON LIFE’S TERMS
appy New Year to each of you. I literally felt a sign of relief from the Universe as 2020 moved into the past. The year brought challenging situations to all of us, whether you were solving health issues, financial or relationship issues. No one got off for free. However, there is one issue I think needs to be looked at because, from my perspective, it is still the biggest issue to overcome, and that is the virus of fear that pervades the planet. I believe fear is an energy that is purposely energized by those who want to control humanity. I remember going through my greatest fear many years ago when all my issues seemed to be coming to the front and overflowing. Most of my issues were connected to “doing God the right way.” Religion had greatly confused me and did not help. I deeply believed in God but not the dogma connected to religion. I had no fear of death, but I thought there must be at least one Universal Truth that I could understand and peace would fill my soul. I could no longer try to find and follow all the “right” rules. In my state of confusion, I said to God, “You have to take my life or take the fear because I cannot live this way. I would rather die than live in fear.” With the surrendering of my fear, it was taken away. I became at peace. That peace that passes understanding filled my soul. I was no longer afraid of doing everything right and needing to please everyone. I got to choose my own path, the one that felt right to me. From that point on, my life smoothed out, abundance flowed, health was great, relationships at peace. So, my wish for you this year is to make a resolution to give up fear in its entirety. It is the most freeing thing you can do. Trust you will be in the right place at the right time. Practice listening to your intuition; it will guide you and it will always be kind. Do not let anything fill you with the energy of fear. Fear will always defeat you. Fear stresses your immune system and disrupts your ability to manifest that which you want. Look at your belief systems. Are you a slave to the system? Are your beliefs rooted in fear or are they “your truth?” Give up fear (False Evidence Appearing Real). Give yourself permission to be your authentic self and make the decision to enjoy your life. There is God in all of us. Connect to that part of yourself. Let this be your New Year’s resolution. Do your inside work! Lovingly, Dove
JOELLEN COLLINS
Small Sight Of Joy
Even with COVID-19 assaulting every corner of the world, one has to be awed by the speed with s my daughter was driving me to Twin Falls which scientists and medical experts have created this past Wednesday, January 6 (a day re- vaccines that will protect many of us soon enough membered in “infamy”), we listened non-stop to slow and maybe even stop the rapid march of this both coming and going to reports of the terror at our epidemic. nation’s Capitol. It was hard to think about anything Most of us do appreciate the doctors and nurses and else during my left-eye cataract proceother exhausted medical professionals dure, but the sweet nurses at the surgery grappling with the pandemic. I hope we facility helped me relax, and I began to don’t forget all the other times that their think about this medical process. dedication and intelligence and care for On the way home, with violence esothers have helped so many of us live calating in Washington, D.C., I thought longer and healthier lives. of the current society in which we live, Hearing of the possibility of triage my gratitude for the things I admit with at the arrival of too many ambulances some fear may be lost, and then about at currently overcrowded hospitals in the amazing procedure I had just expeSouthern California, I am reminded of rienced. I had been considering the gift my visit to a hospital highly regarded in modern medicine had given me already Africa. This facility is one of the prides with my right eye, where I had attributof Tanzania, regularly visited by sured my foggy vision to unclean glasses. geons from the U.S. When I was there, I don’t mind glasses; my grandchildren I noticed the open-air hallways and hardly recognize me without them and decks crowded with patients awaiting my short haircut, but now my vision is JoEllen Collins—a longtime care or suffering from treatments. At remarkably improved and I may only resident of the Wood River the time, I felt so fortunate to live in a have to occasionally don spectacles. So Valley— is an Idaho Press place where I could rely on excellent the prospect of better sight is attainable Club award-winning colum- medical care. I still count that as one of nist, a teacher, writer, fabric my blessings, but the specter of doctors and even covered by Medicare. I am overwhelmed by the discov- artist, choir member and having to make triage conditions for eries and practices of research and unabashedly proud grandma COVID-19 visits is daunting. medicine. The kind of cataract surgery known as “Bibi Jo.” I have to remember that staffs of our I had was first performed in 1972, too late for my medical facilities are working endlessly to facilitate mother to have enjoyed as she would have aged. She all the benefits and advancements that medical scidied of a heart condition in 1967 that was not avail- ence has created. Thanks to them all. I am reminded able for treatment at the relatively young age of her to also continue to do my part to decrease the spread death. Had it been, she would have been able to em- of this pandemic. brace her grandchildren.
A
BY DOVE
NEWS
IN BRIEF
COVID Risk Lowered As Many Await Vaccine
BY JOELLEN COLLINS
If you’re keeping score, Blaine County’s COVID-19 risk is currently considered high based on the most recent reports of positive cases here. On the bright side, that’s an improvement from the week before when the county was upgraded to the highest level of infection risk, the so-called “critical” rating. Meanwhile, the South Central Public Health District and St. Luke’s are both doing outreach to the general populace regarding when and how they can get vaccinated for the coronavirus which reached pandemic level in March of 2020. The health district said vaccine supply continues to be extremely limited in South Central Idaho. “We are working with our partners across our local healthcare delivery system to distribute the vaccine as quickly as possible, working through the priority populations identified by the State of Idaho. We are mandated to follow these priority groups as closely as possible,” the health district said. As more vaccine becomes available, the health district will do the following: • Employ public health nurse teams to vaccinate priority groups (such as clinics) • Schedule appointments for COVID vaccinations • Hold walk-in clinics for COVID vaccinations • Hold drive-through mass vaccination clinics St. Luke’s COVID-19 vaccine appointments are being scheduled through St. Luke’s myChart system. If patients do not already have a myChart account, they should sign up for one now. Those who cannot use myChart may call St. Luke’s Connect at 208-381-9500 to set up an appointment.
10
Wood River Weekly
•
January 13 - 26, 2021
OPINION
CAITLIN JOHNSTONE
MSM Already Using Capitol Hill Riot To Call For More Internet Censorship
T
by Caitlin Johnstone
he United States received a very small taste of its own medicine today as rioting Trump fanatics temporarily forced their way into the nation's Capitol building, and now the whole nation is freaking out. I am being generous when I say that America was given a very small taste of its own medicine; unlike the horrific coups and violent uprisings the US routinely orchestrates in noncompliant nations around the world, this one stood exactly zero chance of seizing control of the government, and only one person died. I am also being generous when I say the rioters "forced their way" in; DC chose not to increase its police presence in preparation for the protests despite knowing that they were planned, and there's footage of what appears to be cops actively letting them through a police barricade. There was some fighting between police and protesters, but contrasted with the militarized squadron which greeted Black Lives Matter demonstrators at the same building a few months prior it's fair to say the police response today was relatively gentle. Predictably, this entirely American disruption has blue-checkmarked commentariat shrieking about Vladimir Putin on social media. Future historian: “As right-wing mobs were terrorizing the Capitol, liberal truth-tellers kept their eyes on the real villain.” #BlueAnon pic.twitter.com/VNpLASbD1L — Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) January 6, 2021 Just as predictably, it's also got them calling for the censorship of social media. The New York Times has published two new articles titled "The storming of Capitol Hill was organized on social media" and "Violence on Capitol Hill Is a Day of Reckoning for Social Media", both arguing for more heavy-handed restrictions on speech from Silicon Valley tech giants. In the former, NYT's Sheera Frenkel writes "the violence Wednesday was the result of online movements operating in closed social media networks where people believed the claims of voter fraud and of the election being stolen from Mr. Trump," citing the expert analysis of think tank spinmeister Renee DiResta of "Tulsi Gabbard is a Russian asset" fame. As usual no mention is made of DiResta's involvement in the New Knowledge scandal in which a Russian interference "false flag" was staged for an Alabama Senate race. “These people are acting because they are convinced an election was stolen,” DiResta said. “This is a demonstration of the very real-world impact of echo chambers.” “This has been a striking repudiation of the idea that there is an online and an offline world and that what is said online is in some way kept online,” DiResta adds. The storming of the capital hill was organized on social media. Time to stop acting like things said online
COLUMN
don't translate into real-world action. https://t.co/tpEZZ2KfGZ — Sheera Frenkel (@sheeraf) January 6, 2021
This narrative which seeds the idea that unregulated communication on the internet will lead to violent uprisings is funny coming from Frankel, who, as a Twitter follower recently observed, wrote a piece in 2018 condemning the Iranian government for restricting protesters' social media access during the demonstrations at that time. "Social media and messaging apps have become crucial to antigovernment demonstrators around the world, as a means of both organizing and delivering messages to other citizens," Frankel wrote. "Not surprisingly, restricting access to such technology has become as important to government crackdowns as the physical presence of the police." In the other article, co-authored by Frankel, Mike Isaac and Kate Conger, the message is driven home even less subtly. "As pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday and halted the certification of Electoral College votes, the role of social media companies such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube in spreading misinformation and being a megaphone for Mr. Trump came under renewed criticism," reads the article, adding, "So when violence broke out in Washington on Wednesday, it was, in the minds of longtime critics, the day the chickens came home to roost for the social media companies." The article reports on the US president's temporary suspension of social media privileges for allegedly inciting violence with his posts, then discusses the various kinds of disinformation and violent ideation being circulated in Trump discussion forums. "Those alternative social media sites were rife with Trump supporters organizing and communicating on Wednesday," NYT tells us. "On Parler, one trending hashtag was #stormthecapitol. Many Trump supporters on the sites also appeared to believe a false rumor that Antifa, a left-wing movement, was responsible for committing violence at the protests." “We know the social media companies have been lackadaisical at best” at stopping extremism from growing on their platforms, Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League, told NYT. “Freedom of expression is not the freedom to incite violence. That is not protected speech.” Violence on Capitol Hill Is a Day of Reckoning for Social Media https://t.co/UqDuAWShfg — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) January 6, 2021 We will likely see many more such articles in the coming days, arguing for increased regulation of internet communication to prevent future incidents like today. In and of itself this won't sound terribly concerning to the average citizen. Nothing wrong with taking steps to prevent people from plotting violence and terrorism on
social media, right? But how do you predict what protests are going to be "violent"? How do you decide which protests and what political dissent need to be censored and which ones should be permitted to communicate freely? Do you just leave it up to Silicon Valley oligarchs to make the call? Or do you have them consult with the government like they've been doing? Are either of these institutions you'd trust to regulate what protests are worthy of being permitted to organize online? Because the actual power structures in the United States seem to be interested in simply censoring the internet to eliminate political dissent altogether. In 2017 top officials from Facebook, Twitter and Google were brought before the Senate Judiciary Committee and admonished to come up with policies that will "prevent the fomenting of discord" in the United States. Friendly reminder that last year representatives of Google/Youtube, Facebook and Twitter were instructed on the floor of the US Senate that it is their responsibility to "quell information rebellions" so as to "prevent the fomenting of discord.”https://t.co/X4Hc56fH0k — Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz) August 6, 2018 World Socialist Website reported the following in 2017. Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii demanded, for her part, that the companies adopt a “mission statement” expressing their commitment “to prevent the fomenting of discord.” The most substantial portion of the testimony took place in the second part of the hearing, during which most of the Senators had left and two representatives of the US intelligence agencies testified before a room of mostly empty chairs. Clint Watts, a former U.S. Army officer, former FBI agent, and member of the Alliance for Securing Democracy, made the following apocalyptic proclamation: “Civil wars don’t start with gunshots, they start with words. America’s war with itself has already begun. We all must act now on the social media battlefield to quell information rebellions that can quickly lead to violent confrontations and easily transform us into the Divided States of America.” He added, “Stopping the false information artillery barrage landing on social media users comes only when those outlets distributing bogus stories are silenced—silence the guns and the barrage will end.” That sounds an awful like government officials and operatives telling social media corporations that it's their job to censor communication which could facilitate any kind of unrest, no matter how justified. Do you trust these monopolistic megacorporations to decide whether or not people's dissident speech is acceptable? I don't.
4TH ESTATE
The Fourth Estate And The Fifth Dimension
L
By Eric Valentine
ast year, Wood River Weekly set out to run a regular column called Vision2020. The hope was to share insights on life hacks and new ways to look at things, to start off the decade with a clear vision on how to live, work and love better. We thought we could even tie it into something one of our advertisers were doing in the Valley, make it a sort of advertorial editorial. And then COVID hit. With the cancellation of many events and the struggles of many eateries, gyms and more, advertising decreased and so did the options for the Vision2020 column. It became a few inches of newspaper space I could use to share more personal things about myself and my life. I wrote about everything from kale caesar salad recipes to the love I still hold for my deceased wife. It was a pleasure to write. Now we’re in 2021 and it only took six days for the craziness of 2020 to look rather tame. And it has led me to the conclusion that this one nation under God is now one nation under two realities. We are all to blame. We are all a part of it. So it’s incumbent upon all of us to do an inventory of what our role is. Here, my role is something some call “the fourth estate.” No, this does not mean I keep a fourth vacation home. Not many journalists even keep one. The fourth estate is a phrase coined by British philosopher and politician Edmund Burke in the late 1700s, toward the tag end of the Age of Enlightenment. Burke
is regarded as the father of modern conservatism. His belief structure, how should we look at the other belief phrase refers to the idea that there are three branches of structures that laid siege on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6? When government. In America, they are the legislative branch, do we see that people with no more evidence of election the executive branch and the judicial branch. Built in with fraud than Buffalo Shaman Guy were ready to zip-tie at checks and balances, these three branches can still go best and hang at worst the Vice President of the United awry or work together to undermine the will of the peo- States who was only trying to count the Electoral College ple. So a fourth estate is needed to keep votes that by all verifiable evidence preguard, and that fourth estate is the media, sented declared Joe Biden the next presBurke said, pre-Twitter. ident? Sadly, we are at a point in our culturIn my interview with Eric Parker for a al evolution where a sort of fifth estate is story in this edition called “Local 3%er calling into question anything and everyFields Media Inquiries,” we discussed the thing the fourth estate does. And while it polarized nature of the country and how is understandable that a media run by—in people only seem to believe what they some instances—corporations with profit want to believe, and how when we reach motives, and—in other instances—govthat point, shared reality is no longer a reernment-friendly family foundations, it’s ality. We also discussed how what leads no wonder Americans don’t trust what Painting of Edmund Burke MP to the polarization is the lumping in we they read in the paper or see on TV. c.1767, studio of Joshua Reynolds all do. We see a BLM protest where a Some folks in the fifth estate claim to (1723–1792) Image credit: building gets destroyed and we lump all have insights into a fifth dimension. The Wikipedia BLM supporters into the anarchist group. Buffalo Shaman Guy whose image in We see the U.S. Capitol under siege and horns and furs and star spangled face paint has been seen we lump all Republicans who merely voted for Trump in everywhere now storming the U.S. Capitol is captured in with the group who shouted, “Hang Mike Pence!” And video explaining his Q-Anon belief system and how his the hatred just grows. third eye allows him to see into a higher reality that shows For now, I think some good advice is this. If you find him which politicians are the ones drinking the adrena- yourself in a crowd, exercising your First Amendment lyn-rich blood of tortured, sex-trafficked children. I’m not rights, look to the left, look to the right, and if it’s a Conmaking this up! federate and Nazi flag next to you, then if you’re truly an But he is. And while we can perhaps roll our eyes at his American, you’re on the wrong side of any dimension.
Wood River Weekly • November 18 - December 1, 2020 Wood River Weekly • Januar y 13 - 26, 2021
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CLASSIC SUDOKU CLASSIC answer fromSUDOKU page 16 answer from page 12
12
Wood River Weekly
CHAMBER CORNER
•
January 13 - 26, 2021
MIKE MCKENNA
Hard way Pipeline
Putting People First
Hailey welcomes new Fairfield by Marriott
M
By Mike McKenna
arriott is considered to be the world’s largest hotel company, which is pretty impressive considering its humble begin-
nings. The Marriott’s expansive portfolio now includes over 30 brands with more than 7,000 properties in 131 countries. The goal for all their properties is “to give people more ways to connect, experience and expand their world.” As of last Friday, Jan. 8, little old Hailey, Idaho, is now part of the places Marriot is inviting people to visit. The brand new Fairfield Inn and Suites Hailey/ Sun Valley offers 74 rooms right on Main Street. The hotel includes five different room styles, a fitness area, an indoor pool, outdoor hot tub and numerous fire pits with views of the surrounding mountains. The Fairfield is just a short walk to lots of restaurants and shopping as well as the river and the bike path. The lot also includes 11 townhomes on River Street, offering some much needed housing By all accounts, the Fairfield Inn and Suites is an ideal addition to Hailey. But it’s not just because its design blends in well with our small Western town or because it brings a well-respected, international chain to the largest town in the county. What really makes this Marriott property a great addition to Hailey is because the company behind it has our kind of attitude. The Marriott’s core philosophy is to put people first. The business actually began as a small rootbeer stand in Washington, D.C., in 1927. J. Willard Marriot and his wife Alice found success behind the simple idea of offering good service at a fair price. In 1957, they shifted into the hotel business and have been expanding ever since. The key to Marriott’s success is following its founder’s belief to “Take care of associates and they will take care of the customers.” More than 40 people attended The Chamber’s recent ribbon-cutting and grand opening event and
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Kelly Wardell 208-309-0916
How To Play Sudoku
everyone was impressed with the finished product and process of turning an old auto dealership into a hotel. “We’re thankful to the city for all they did to help make this happen. They really bent over backwards and we’re excited to have so many local investors in the project,” said Rusty Landon, the CEO of InnTrusted, the management company for Fairfield. Hailey-based architect and former Chamber board member Errin Bliss designed the property. “We’re incredibly pleased to have a hotel like this in Hailey,” said Hailey’s Community Development Director Lisa Horowitz. “They have been great to work with and we’re very pleased with the design—that it’s not just cookie cutter. This hotel helps with Hailey’s identity.” Matt Cook and Brandon Williams of Goode Motors are investors in the hotel. At the ribbon-cutting, Matt said they were big fans of the Marriott and were excited to see this idea of replacing the old auto dealership with a hotel come to fruition. It was a sentiment many Hailey locals agree with. “It’s neat to see 711 North Main Street live on,” Brandon said.
The Classic Sudoku is a number placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.
CLASSIC SUDOKU See answer on page 11
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THETRADER TRADER THE THE TRADER Consignment for the home
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Wednesday - Friday 11 to 6 Saturday 11 to 4
TRADER EADER TRADER
Always available by appointment and if we’re here.
Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 to 5:00 Always available by appointment and if we’re here.
ent for the 720-9206 or 788-0216 signment forhome the home
720-9206 or 788-0216 509 S. Main Street Bellevue, Idaho
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Wednesday through Saturday Thursday Wednesday - Friday Wednesday - Friday 11:00to to 5:00 ednesday - Friday 11 to 611 to 6 available by appointment 11 to 6AlwaysSaturday Saturday Saturday and if we’re here. Saturday 11 to 4 11 to 11 or to 788-0216 44 720-9206 11 to 4
Always available by appointment and if we’re here.
509 S. Main Street • Bellevue, Idaho Always available by le by appointment andappointment if we’re here. and if we’re here.
720-9206 or 788-0216 or S. 788-0216 -9206 or720-9206 788-0216 509 Main Street S. Main Street 09 S. Main509 Street Bellevue, Idaho Bellevue, Idaho Bellevue, Idaho
See answer on page 11
THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY 7-DAY WEATHER FORECAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
AM Rain/Snow 65%
high 37º
low 12º WEDNESDAY
Mostly Sunny 5%
high 31º low 14º THURSDAY
Partly Cloudy 20%
high 33º low 19º FRIDAY
Mostly Sunny 5%
high 32º low 17º SATURDAY
Partly Cloudy 5%
high 34º low 16º SUNDAY
Mostly Sunny 5%
high 32º low 18º MONDAY
Partly Cloudy 10%
high 34º low 17º TUESDAY
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