Issuu

POLITICAL NEWS

EDUCATION NEWS

Senate Candidate ‘Label-Lynched’ PG 2 SUN VALLEY

KETCHUM

ARTS NEWS

BCSD Trustees Prep For Reopening PG 4

HAILEY

CoF Explores Future Without Dir. Palmer PG 5 BELLEVUE

PICABO

CAREY

WOOD RIVER WEEKLY YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

Free | Aug 26 - Sept 8, 2020 | Vol. 1 - No. 20 | woodriverweekly.com

“ To o m a n y p e o p l e m i s s t h e s i l v e r l i n i n g b e c a u s e t h e y a r e e x p e c t i n g g o l d . ” ~Maurice Setter

So Many People

An influx of residents, visitors pushes Valley to the brink

By Eric Valentine

e careful what you ask for. In a resort town, where strong tourism is critical for economic survival, a steady stream of visitors is a much welcomed occurrence. In fact, marketing efforts and dollars are used specifically toward that cause. But when a pandemic turns second-home owners into longer-term residents, and international vacationers into regional campers, and festival-goers into regular trail users, a small mountain enclave can be pushed to the brink. Here in the Wood River Valley, it just may be. “There’s definitely an uptick in tourists passing through and second homeowners staying longer,” said Mike McKenna, the executive director of The Chamber of Hailey and the Wood River Valley. Typically, regional tourists passing through may come to the Valley just once during the summer season. But without the option of, say, international travel or with the dearth of events going on in big cities nationwide, those visitors may be here multiple times now. Similarly for second-home owners, the weeks they may spend in the Valley are turning into months. The steady stream of folks in and out has turned into a reservoir of souls looking for something to do. And all of this has its pros and cons. The Pros & The Cons “The impact is being felt most in recreational activities,” said McKenna. “If you’re in (the business of ) recreation, you’re having a great summer. Rafting, fishing, they’re all doing really well.” McKenna, who is a camping enthusiast even in regular summers, noted that the amount of people at campsites and on the trails far outnumbers what he has seen in the past. “Highway 75 is always busy, but when you go off the beaten path a bit, you can really see the difference,” McKenna noted. A number of Valley residents have been vocal across social media and in other news outlets about the litter they’ve seen on trails and at campsites. And questions have been raised about whether people are recreating safely. On Sunday, Aug. 16, for instance, the Muldoon Fire 20 miles southwest of Mackay was spotted. Ironically, McKenna was nearby recreating and shared images on his personal social media page. According to a member of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but McKenna and others in the area who shared images online said there was no sign of a lightning strike. The litter, the potential fire hazards, the traffic, and even the noticeably longer lines in the grocery stores across the Valley are all reasons for efforts

Valley resident and Chamber of Commerce director Mike McKenna looks on as the Muldoon Fire breaks out in Copper Basin. Photo credit: Mike McKenna

There’s definitely an uptick in tourists passing through and second homeowners staying longer.” Mike McKenna, Executive Director of The Chamber of Hailey and the Wood River Valley like Recreate Responsibly McKenna is helping to spearhead. Recreate Responsibly was born from the consensus that as geography started to open up, there was going to be a lot of interest in getting outside, as it was seen as safe, and that land managers would be overwhelmed and would need help getting the message out about how to recreate responsibly.

The movement has a foothold in Washington State and California, and McKenna is hoping Idaho is the next state to join in. McKenna said he, as the Chamber’s executive director, has been in more political meetings the past few months than any time before. On Monday, he was meeting with staff from U.S. Senator Jim Risch’s office who had come in from Washington, D.C. The topics of discussion ranged from the status of PPP loans to industry-specific policies aimed at keeping the economy af loat. Meetings prior to that, McKenna said, involved both the federal and state labor departments. “The lack of events is the biggest drain on the economy here, but we’re doing what we can to help,” McKenna said. “People can be calling us really for any reason under the sun, and we’ll be here for them.”

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Wood River Weekly

•

August 26 - September 8, 2020

NEWS

POLITICS

Senate Candidate Says ‘I’ve Been Label-Lynched’ By Eric Valentine

hen Eric Parker’s campaign signage got delivered early last week, the District 26 senatorial candidate started working on a Facebook post asking his supporters to help him locate spots around the four-county political district to post them. Before he could hit “send,” the social media giant deleted him from its universe. “I have been label-lynched for seven years, and now one of the largest companies in the world just used that to interfere in a political election,” Parker said. Facebook has not commented on the particular matter or sent Parker any messages regarding the decision. However, the company, which has been under pressure by the United States Congress to bear down on violent and misleading information in recent weeks and months, has publicly acknowledged a sweeping disabling of pages it says are movements and organizations tied to violence. As previously reported, Parker ultimately pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction charges when, during the 2014 armed standoff with federal agents near the ranch of Nevada cattleman Cliven Bundy, the longtime Valley resident was photographed lying prostrate on a bridge pointing a rifle at agents below. What’s peculiar about Facebook’s move is that the company did not just remove Parker’s “Real 3%ers of Idaho” page, the company removed his political page, his personal page and his wife’s personal page, too. “It was a complete knockout,” Parker said. “Every photo. Every memory. It’s all gone.” Adding to Parker’s frustration is that he has taken strides to make it clear his organization does not advocate for violence or any sort of government overthrow. “I’ve literally removed people from the organization simply for going to Portland,” Parker said. “The fact that I’m one of the only broader patriot groups that’s not advocating for violence and I’m the one that gets banned, pisses me off.” Parkers says he has come across a number of pages where violence is being justified but they remain untouched by Facebook. “There’s a page where people are literally calling themselves U.S. militia and it’s still up,” Parker said. “I just happen to be the one running for political office, and I

Senatorial candidate Eric Parker on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol. Photo credit: Eric Parker

actually have a chance to win.” Parker said he is trying to up those chances by continuing to campaign without the aid of social media. On Sept. 17 in Hailey, he will take part in a debate hosted by Central Idaho for Liberty (CI4L) and his website, parkerforidaho.com, is still up and running. He continues to make phone calls, send emails and meet personally with constituents whenever he can.

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Wood River Weekly

WRW STAFF PUBLISHER Christopher Seldon (208) 788-4789 publisher@woodriverweekly.com

• August 26 - September 8, 2020

FLY SUN

2020 SUN SUMMER/FALL FLIGHTS

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 COPY EDITOR Patty Healey PRODUCTION & DESIGN Mandi Iverson mandi@woodriverweekly.com Christopher Seldon chris@woodriverweekly.com

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Dear Valley residents, As we move along in 2020, no doubt a most confusing and controversial year, Wood River Weekly will continue to publish every second week, with a target of going back to the regular weekly schedule when the economic and pandemic environment improves. We will continue to follow important local news, feature candidates in our local elections and provide interesting and entertaining content. Thank you to the community for your continued support. Stay safe, stay strong, Chris & Mandi

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•

August 26 - September 8, 2020

NEWS

EDUCATION

Wood River High School sports fans can get special notifications to stay informed about which games are scheduled or postponed. Image credit: Wood River High School

Two Weeks ’Til Reopening School board holds special session to tie up COVID loose ends

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By Eric Valentine

laine County School District is just two weeks away from reopening campuses to in-person learning, albeit a hybrid at least for now where kids will learn in classrooms two days a week and at home three days a week. The process has been anything but simple for everyone from district families to district teachers staff. On Monday, Aug. 24, trustees held a special session to handle some outstanding COVID-impacted matters. Here’s a rundown of what they discussed and the actions they took. Nursing It Along Trustees unanimously agreed to spend up to $200,000 of reserve funds to bring additional nurses on board for the school year. The positions would be part-time and each nurse would serve no more than two campuses at a time. Although the board approved using its own emergency funds to cover the new costs, BCSD Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes confirmed the district will apply for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) monies. “There’s no promises (from FEMA), but we’re going to give it a try,” Holmes said. Good Sports As things stand now, sports programs this school year are a go. And according to Wood River High School athletic director Kevin Stilling, so far so good. “We’ve had very few symptomatic kids. Every test we’ve done on athletes so far has come back negative except for one test an athlete took the week before they came back,” said Stilling. But with league play fast approaching, BCSD athletes will soon be exposed to kids from areas outside the Wood River Valley who may or may not be following the COVID-prevention guidelines promoted by health officials and who may be in so-called higher risk areas around the state. And, given the nature of particular sports, health officials have rated some sports as lower-risk (like swimming), moderate-risk (like soccer), and higher-risk (like football). All this means trustees have to decide whether to proceed with particular sports activities—using parental waivers and adherence to health guidelines, of course—or to cancel participation in sports programs, at least to some degree, indefinitely. Trustee Amber Larna pressed hardest for finding a way to move forward with the programs, assuming waivers and guidelines were in place. The first-year trustee advocated for limiting spectators, requiring mask usage by opposing teams, and other control measures. Dr. John Hatzenbuehler, a health district point person, cautioned trustees, noting that 56 colleges have pulled out of the fall football season and this weekend alone there were four COVID-19 cases from Carey during his time at the hospital. “There was one young person, three older, and one of the older patients was infected by a grandkid,” Hatzenbuehler said. Ultimately, trustees decided 3–1 with Larna dissenting to adopt a sort of case-by-case decision protocol where games against schools in lower-risk areas would go forward and games against schools in higher-risk areas would not. The protocol would also allow coaches to pull their teams from a competition if the opposing team was not adhering to particular safety guidelines. Calling All Teachers Trustees also considered two COVID-prevention-related issues impacting teachers. One was whether teachers should be required to be on campus on Fridays, the so-called online learning days when students are for the most part not on campus. The other was whether teachers should be allowed to bring their children with them if they are expected to be on campus on Fridays. Principals have been leaning strongly toward having teachers on campus on those virtual learning Fridays. They say that having teachers in one spot during these unprecedented times makes it easier to coordinate plans and share best practices. Trustees ultimately decided to let the principals carry on with their policies and to take a look at the matter again at the end of September to see if anything needs tweaking. “We’re all in a continuous learning environment here,” Trustee Dan Turner remarked. “What we don’t know this week we may know next week.”

NEWS

IN BRIEF

SV Wellness Festival Speaker Wins Carl Sagan Award

If you were looking for one more good reason to attend this year’s Sun Valley Wellness Festival, here it is. UC Berkeley sleep researcher Matthew Walker, author of the international bestseller, Why We Sleep, and numerous breakthrough studies that explore what happens to the brain as we slumber, has won the 2020 Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization, the university announced. Walker will be a key speaker at the Sun Valley Wellness Virtual event, held online Aug. 22-23. His presentation, Sleep is Your Superpower, will provide a deep dive into the science of slumber and the cutting-edge of findings related to sleep and how sleep directly relates to human health and disease, including the COVID-19 virus. According to the university, “The prize is awarded by Wonderfest, a San Francisco Bay Area-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting scientific curiosity and discovery. It was launched in 1997, shortly after the death of American astronomer Carl Sagan. The annual prize recognizes researchers who have contributed to the public understanding and appreciation of science.”

Wood River Weekly

NEWS

•

August 26 - September 8, 2020

ARTS

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Former producing artistic director for Company of Fools, Scott Palmer. Photo credit: Sun Valley Museum of Art / Kirsten Shultz

Theater Company To Explore Future Amid COVID, Without Director

By Eric Valentine

cott Palmer, who assumed leadership of Company of Fools (CoF) as producing artistic director of the 25-year-old theater company in October of 2018, has officially vacated the position, effective last Friday, Aug. 21. With the 2020 season cancelled due to COVID restrictions, the Sun Valley Museum of Art (the theater’s parent organization) hasn’t filled the empty slot with an interim director but says it’s ready to explore a wide range of options for the 26th annual season and beyond, including discussions with the Valley’s theater community. “Although we are sad to see Scott go, it is understandable given the circumstances we are facing,” said Ellen Gillespie, SVMoA’s board president. “We brought Scott to the Valley to be an active and creative leader for the theater. Now, with the cancellation of the season, the Fools are in something of a holding pattern.” Gillespie was optimistic, too, noting that Palmer’s departing advice and suggestions will help Company of Fools to continue bringing high-quality, professional theater to residents and visitors here. “What that looks like will be informed by deep conversations with CoF staff, artists, donors, and theater colleagues in the broader community,” Gillespie said. Director’s Direction So where does Palmer go from here? Palmer announced that he has accepted a position as the executive director of the Crested Butte Center for the Arts in Crested Butte, Colorado. He will be bringing to the Centennial State a full career of experience that in less than three years in Hailey was buttriced even more. During his tenure as producing artistic director for CoF, Palmer programmed a season of work that included a combination of American theater classics such as Crimes of the Heart, along with contemporary work like Cry It Out, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, and The Niceties. In addition, Palmer’s programming included a rehearsed reading series, the creation of CoF’s Intensives theater education workshops, and the expansion of CoF’s accessibility programming that saw dedicated parent and baby performances and performances for audiences with sensory disabilities. CoF also joined the National New Play Network and the National Autism Theater network, both of which helped expand access to CoF’s shows and created a focus on new theater work. “In light of the cancellation of CoF’s 25th Season, and the ongoing pressures applied to professional theaters across the world from COVID-19, I felt that it was time for me to explore new challenges and help shape and influence the future programming of the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. I have loved my time with the artists and staff of the Fools, and know that the future of the Fools is bright,” Palmer said in a statement to the press. “Given what is happening to professional theaters in the United States, this is a natural time for SVMoA and the CoF staff to do a deep dive into the future of the theater,” said Palmer. “There are a lot of challenges ahead, including how to produce theater when we aren’t able to gather audiences in the Liberty Theatre, how to address Actors Equity Association issues around contracts for union-represented artists, and how to embrace a more equitable and inclusive way of making theater.” The Crested Butte Center for the Arts is the largest cultural nonprofit in the tourist destination of Crested Butte. Having recently completed a nearly $20 million capital campaign, and completed construction on a state-of-the-art performing and visual arts facility, Palmer will lead a small, dedicated staff as they explore how to address arts and culture programming with the challenges of COVID-19. Community members who are interested in participating in conversations with the SVMoA board about the future of Company of Fools should contact the museum at information@svmoa.org.

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NEWS

Hailey Names Permanent Library Director

IN BRIEF

The Hailey Public Library Board has selected Lyn Drewien as its new library director. A 30-year resident of the Valley, Drewien brings many years of experience and volunteerism to her new position. Monday, Aug. 31, will be Drewin’s first day as Hailey Public Library director. Drewien’s library career spans more than a decade, including time at both the Hailey Public Library and The Community Library in Ketchum. In 2016, she earned her Master of Library and Information Science degree from San Jose State University. Drewien will leave her position at Blaine County where she has worked for the past two years as their Grants and Procurement Specialist. Drewien replaces LeAnn Gelskey who served as library director from 2010 until April of this year. Gelskey left the Hailey Public Library for a position with the Idaho Commission for Libraries as their Talking Book Service Program Supervisor. Laura Primrose has served as interim director since Gelskey left in April.

Wood River Weekly

•

August 26 - September 8, 2020

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NEWS

It’s Showtime At Ketchum Theater

Magic Lantern Cinemas has announced its reopening for Friday, Aug. 28, w two new films, the thriller Unhinged starring Russell Crowe and the comedy B and Ted Face the Music with original castmates Keanu Reeves and Alex Winte A special showing of the 1961 Academy Award-winning musical, West Side ry, will also be presented, perhaps the final opportunity to see this timeless fi the big screen, as it was meant to be seen. “The Magic Lantern is offering discounted tickets of $5 for these movies Fr Saturday and Sunday only, as an expression of gratitude to our community fo words and support during our closure,” the theater said. The Magic Lantern has implemented reduced seating capacity to accomm social distancing and there is a “No Mask-No Entry” policy, although moviego are allowed to lower their masks once seated.

Supporting MSCL House Gets Tasty

For the entire month of September, Men’s Second Chance Living (MSCL Ho will partner with Power House restaurant in Hailey to bring attention to the strength and courage of those impacted by addiction, celebrate their recover and capture the hope, comfort, and spirit of our supportive community. Power House created a signature “Power Burger” that’s available only dur the month of September. A portion of the proceeds from each Power Burger sale will directly benefit MSCL House. Then, to participate in the Recover Stro Challenge, order a Power Burger dine in or take out, take a selfie with your Po Burger and the “Recover Strong” sign, post the selfie on social media with th #recoverstrong hashtag, tag your friends and tag us @msclhouse. A generous sponsor has offered to donate $1 for every LIKE your post rece up to $10,000.

7-Year-Old Hospitalized With New COVID Complica

St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital says it started treating last week what is belie to be Idaho’s first young patient with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. The patient is seven years old an currently being cared for in the St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital Pediatric ICU in The child had no known prior health conditions. Although there is only this one particular case, it raises alarm bells for som cause schools have started opening up this month and it is widely understoo children are less susceptible to the novel virus that causes COVID-19. MIS-C is a newly recognized and potentially serious illness in children. For MIS-C appears to be a delayed complication of the coronavirus infection, typ occurring about four weeks after a child’s initial exposure. The condition so f very rare, but children with MIS-C are sick enough to be admitted to the hosp Symptoms vary but tend to affect several organs and systems in the body. So symptoms resemble toxic shock syndrome or Kawasaki disease, in which bloo vessels, including the coronary arteries, enlarge or form aneurysms. Some M patients also have signs of impaired cardiac function, gastrointestinal sympto kidney damage or neurologic symptoms.

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Registration for Blaine County Recreation District’s Youth Soccer league is now through Sept. 7. Open to boys and girls in first through sixth grade, the season runs from Sept. 14 through Oct.17. The kindergarten clinic will not be offered this yea “We have altered our Youth Soccer season to accommodate the many cha that come with safely operating programs in a COVID-19 world,” explained Je Vagias, BCRD Director of Recreation. Some of the COVID-19 related changes in Youth Soccer include: hand hygie stations will be set up on each field, BCRD will provide face coverings to all pl and coaches to be worn when players can’t maintain physical distancing duri practice, and a self-screening health questionnaire is required for players, co and officials before each practice and game. Rather than all games played on urday mornings, games will be spread out over multiple locations on Fridays Saturdays to prevent congregation. Information on these protocols and other program details can be found at org or by contacting Ellie Punnett, Youth Sports Coordinator, at (208) 578-227 epunnett@bcrd.org. Volunteer coaches are essential to this program’s success, the district said Therefore, the registration fee is waived for coaches’ children. If you are inte ed in coaching, contact BCRD prior to registering your child(ren) for more info tion. Team sponsorship opportunities are also available, and sponsors receive business name on team jerseys, as well as other acknowledgements.

Botanical Garden’s Fall Plans Now In Bloom

Smaller fundraising events and the cancellation of one popular event will mark the plans for fall 2020 at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden. Garden leadership unveiled its strategy for a season that will be impacted by COVID guidelines. Specifically, smaller fundraising events will replace the The Walk & Wine event is one of the B Gimlets in the Garden gala fund- ical Garden’s key fundraising events. Im raiser, and the Bug Zoo, which credit: Sawtooth Botanical Garden was previously postponed, has been formally cancelled. The Bug Zoo, SBG’s annual display of creatures and critters from near and was postponed following closure of area schools in the spring. The program i typically held in late April/early May. “Because of the uncertainty regarding in-school activities this fall, we felt to hold the Bug Zoo again when safety protocols have been lifted or drastical adjusted,” said SBG Executive Director Jen Smith. “We held an incredibly safe and successful Garden Tour in July where our 5 plus attendees were physically distanced and wearing masks according to Bla

Wood River Weekly

•

August 26 - September 8, 2020

IN BRIEF

County COVID guidelines,” Smith continued. “We hope to build on that success with two smaller, more intimate, yet still physically-distanced fundraisers that offer both with in-person and virtual philanthropic opportunities to support the region’s public Bill botanical garden.” er. “Walk & Wine” is a wine-tasting and tapas affair with six separate stations for e Sto- wine tasting and raffle prizes. Participants are encouraged to arrive any time befilm on tween 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The event concludes at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at sbgarden.org. riday, or kind

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A similar event called “Gimlets in the Garden… With A Twist” will be scheduled for early October. The two events will occur entirely outdoors with COVID safety measures in place. Additionally, the Sawtooth Botanical Garden is planning to continue its “New Moon Dinners” on new moon evenings in November, December, January and February. The catered events showcase the Central Idaho Dark Sky Preserve with representative astronomy experts on the darkest nights of the year.

Text (up to 25 words): $5 Additional Text: 20¢ per word Photos: $5 per image • Logo: $10 Deadline: Monday at 1 p.m Space reservations: classifieds@woodriverweekly.com

HOUSEKEEPING

Responsible, experienced & great references, housekeeper now accepting new clients. Free estimates available for: homes, condos & offices. beatrizq2003@hotmail.com, (208) 720-5973

CLASSIC SUDOKU answer from page 12

COMM ENT ARY Wood River Weekly

Fishing R epoRt

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August 26 - September 8, 2020

NO BONES ABOUT IT

Is There Such A Thing As The Untrainable Dog?

THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 8 FROM PICABO ANGLER

he end of this week brings a respite from the summer heat, and the Valley will see mild daytime temperatures and cool, crisp nights. With the change in the weather, we should see good fishing on all of our local waters. Terrestrials are still prevalent on Silver Creek, the Big Wood and the Big Lost system. While we haven’t seen the same numbers of hoppers this season as years past, fish still key in on the big bug and will eat a well-presented hopper pattern at all of your favorite haunts. Beetles and ants continue to be productive, and flying ants should appear at any time on Silver Creek and the Big Wood. Mornings on Silver Creek have been quite good, with BWOs and Tricos the main players. Look for good emergences and spinner falls of BWOs, as well as an abundance of Trico spinners. Both bugs are small (size 20 – 24), and require long, light leaders to make delicate presentations. Callibaetis are still found on the Creek during the late morning and early afternoon, and select days have seen good damsel activity. Afternoons on the Creek are dominated by terrestrials. With the water temps dropping, fish will spread throughout the Creek. On the Big Wood River, we are still seeing some Trico activity in the morning, and standard small attractor dries fished in the heads of riffles are taking plenty of fish. Afternoon fishing is made for the hopper-dropper technique. While the river is quite low, it remains productive. Cooler temps will be helpful on the Big Wood as we head into fall. The lower Big Lost River is still running high at about 480 CFS, so wading and access remains challenging. Tricos, Craneflies and Hoppers can be found on the river, and nymph droppers are particularly effective. The upper Big Lost River system is low, and to find success, anglers must cover a good bit of water and fish the choicest locations. Look for deeper riffles, undercut banks and shaded water. A grasshopper or hopper-dropper rig is the way to go. The South Fork Boise River has dropped to 800 CFS, allowing wading anglers excellent access on the river’s many riffles, runs and pools. Look for Pink Alberts, Flavs, Caddis and Hoppers to be your dry-fly offerings on the South Fork, and nymph fishing continues to produce fish. Happy fishing, everyone!

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

FRAN JEWELL

By Fran Jewell

bsolutely! Although I refuse to tell anyone that their dog cannot be trained. What makes a dog untrainable? Free access to furniture, sleeping areas that belong to others, food, height, affection, and any resources the dog has claimed as its own. Notice the key words here are FREE ACCESS. When a dog has free access any time to the things that are important to him, then he will no longer have any respect for his owner or others, including people and other dogs. He will have no interest in learning or working. There is a simple term for this—it’s called “spoiled.” Spoiled dogs have no need to work, to learn or do anything because everything important to them comes free. Dogs are opportunists. They are fully capable of determining what is easiest to get and what they want. So, if there is nothing valuable to “work for,” then it is impossible to train them. It is my belief that when someone comes to me with a difficult dog to train, a huge portion of the training becomes “unspoiling” the dog, or making the dog work for anything that is important to it. This is called “LEADERSHIP.” It is further my belief that almost every problem a dog has stems from lack of lead-

ership IN A MANNER THAT THE DOG UNDERSTANDS. In very, very unusual cases, there are dogs that are so fearful they cannot get through the fear to trust someone to make learning possible. Studies are now showing that fearful temperament is mostly genetic. Environment does play a part, but not as much as genetics do. There are dogs that have been extremely abused and come out smelling like a rose as if the abuse never happened. Then there are dogs that act as though they were abused but were not, and can only process slight learning outside of their fear. And there are cases of dogs that have grown up feral that never learned HOW to learn. These dogs usually spend all their time operating from a place of total instinct because it is the only way they know how to survive. So, are there dogs that are untrainable? I still contend that all dogs can be trained and can learn, but ONLY if the owner is willing to NOT spoil the dog in the first place, or “unspoil” the dog that is already spoiled. Sadly, if the owner is not willing to do what All dogs can be as great as Lassie! Photo credit: is necessary to train the dog then, yes, the Fran Jewell dog will most likely be untrainable. Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog information, visit positivepuppy.com or call Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified In- 208-578-1565. structor and the owner of Positive Puppy

SCIENCE OF PLACE

HARRY WEEKES

An Impossibility Of Red-Taileds

BY HARRY WEEKES

n early August I received a text: “Have you actually figured out how to ID raptors?” My response: “No. Still a total failure. I just say ‘red-tailed hawk.’” Then, about a week later, I got into a conversation about raptors in the Sawtooth Valley, specifically that there were, all of a sudden, a bunch of raptors out Pole Creek Road. There were some big raptors (maybe immature golden eagles?), some others with heavily barred tails and faces (maybe Peregrine falcons?), and then just “more than a normal amount of raptors” (maybe some special, late-summer, Tolkien-esque bird summit?). This led to my usual verbal field trips— where I ask anyone who will listen about the topic in which I am interested. There are always surprises in these conversations in that, invariably, someone will light up and say, “Are you talking about those huge birds circling around?” Or, “Yeah, I saw a frog at the Indian Creek pond.” Or, “I saw a rabbit all stretched out, too.” In other words, no matter what I ask, I find someone who has caught a glimpse of what I am talking about. Mostly these are adults, and the exchange is always filled with a kind of wonder and sense of the conspiratorial—“We are in this together.” When I get enough hits on these verbal field trips, a physical one usual emerges. “Well, if everyone is telling me there are ‘like, 40,000 Sandhill cranes’ in the Triangle, I am heading to the Triangle. If there is a little group of bucks in velvet that seem to sneak out of a hidden canyon in Indian Creek and wade into the alfalfa, but only at a certain light, I am going to make sure to drive home at that time. So, texts were sent, times were discussed, and one Sunday morning I was riding shotgun, creeping along a jeep trail with binoculars, a spotting scope, two field guides, and a “Hawks in Flight” book. Birds are known by many collective nouns. A group of golden eagles is called a convo-

The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a bird of prey that breeds throughout most of North America. Photo credit: Peter K Burian, accessed via wikipedia.

cation. A group of Peregrine falcons is called a bazaar. A group of red-tailed hawks could be called a frustration. Or a confusion. Or a “These can’t all be red-taileds, can they?” The first thing you notice about red-tailed hawks when you are flipping through “Sibley Birds West” is that they occupy two pages, not one. This is because there are light morphs, dark morphs, Krider’s, Harlan’s, partial albinos, and about every possible color combination of brown, reddish and white. Throw in the fact that the adults and juveniles look different and here is the picture that developed. The Peregrine falcon? An immature red-tailed with a heavily barred tail, spending most of its time in the burned trees. The immature golden eagles? Mature

adult red-taileds, with poorly filled-in wings, making them look like immature birds. As with so many things, I ended at the beginning. “Have you actually figured out how to ID raptors?” Nope. But I can tell you where there are a bunch of red-tailed hawks. And if you want to go there, it is worth every minute. Harry Weekes is the founder and head of school at The Sage School in Hailey. This is his 48th 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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August 26 - September 8, 2020

SUZANNE HAZLETT

Second Opinion

By Suzanne Hazlett, MBA, CIMA®, CFP®

ealth. Politics. World events. Investments. It is a crucial time to have an understanding of these diverse aspects of our lives. With so much happening around us, now is the time to be engaged in obtaining financial clarity. A financial wellness checkup, perhaps a second opinion, might be just what you need to prepare better to navigate market uncertainty. I have long felt there are parallels between health care and wealth care. My earlier career was in direct patient care. I communicated with patients, documented their medical history, and performed diagnostics that served as the basis for their resulting diagnoses and prognoses. Within the medical realm, when patients pursue a second opinion, they consult with another physician to confirm a diagnosis. They may also seek different treatment choices. A second opinion can provide us with additional confidence that we are doing the best thing for ourselves and those we love who depend on us. In guiding clients with their financial wellness for more than 23 years, I see similarities in medical and financial services every day. As advisors, we first analyze an investor’s current experience. Based upon thorough examination, we define a course to customize and tailor an investment and planning

THE WAY I SEE IT

approach that is most suitable—not for the masses—but the unique bundle of financial symptoms presented. Then, together with our clients’ engagement, we implement those steps and strategies for their betterment. As with medicine, financial wellness checkups are an ongoing and essential part of a successful wealth management process. With personal finance, there are five instances when it may be warranted to seek a second opinion. • • • • •

When the recommendations you are receiving are ambiguous There is a lot at stake When you are presented with controversial recommendations Your current plan is falling short of your objectives When you lack confidence in your advisor

For yourself, and those you care about, seeking a financial second opinion is a prudent exercise that may offer peace of mind with current strategies, or may provide the motivation to find an alternative route. Suzanne Hazlett, MBA, CIMA®, CFP®, is a Certified Investment Management Analyst® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM. HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC 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. 675 Sun Valley Road Ketchum, Idaho, 208.726.0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com

‘Buh-Bye’

CHRIS MILLSPAUGH

GUEST COMMENTARY

DANA DUGAN

What Is The Clean Energy Resolution? By Dana DuGan

ho are we, really, those us who reside full time in the Wood River Valley? We’re skiers and anglers, actors and musicians, bankers and gardeners, cooks, waiters and bartenders. We’re also doctors and lawyers, realtors and retirees, nurses, clerks, writers, artists, boarders and bikers. In other words, we do it all. We are not one-dimensional. We’re not all rich, and we’re not all struggling. But without one very important thing, none of us would be here at all, no matter who we are. That one element is water. Anglers and skiers know this already and work with such organizations as Trout Unlimited and Protect Our Winters. But everything comes down to water, our access to it and the health-giving properties of it. If climate continues apace, we will have limited water here in the high alpine desert, and our enviable way of life will be no more. No snow means no snowpack. And no snowpack means no water. Droughts and wildfires will be the norm. In order to combat climate change, and create jobs in solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy, the Climate Action Coalition of the Wood River Valley recently launched a new campaign. Its mission is to encourage the cities of Hailey, Ketchum, Bellevue, Carey and Sun Valley to join more than 190 other cities and towns around the United States in committing to using 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2035. “Climate change threatens both the regional economy and the quality of life in the Wood River Valley,” said science teacher Scott Runkel, one of the organizers of the campaign. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, most of Idaho is gradually warming due to an increase in the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air. “It’s past time our towns and county commit themselves to a clean energy future, the first step in creating a road map to get to 100 percent renewable energy,” Runkel said. The Climate Action Coalition partnered with the Conservation Voters of Idaho and the Sierra Club to write a petition expressing support of the 100% Clean Energy Resolution. You can sign the petition at https://www.haileycac. org. Hit the green “Petition Pledge” button. For more information about efforts in the Valley to slow and eventually halt climate change, visit the Climate Action Coalition at https://www.haileycac.org.

ON LIFE’S TERMS

JOELLEN COLLINS

Silence Is Complicity

BY CHRIS MILLSPAUGH

or the last two weeks, in honor of the presidential election, I binge-watched the old TV series, “The West Wing,” about a U.S. President and his staff, their times in America, and how they directed the nation. Although the series started over 20 years ago, I could identify with all the characters. Led by Martin Sheen as the President, Jed Bartlett, there was also Leo, the chief of staff, Josh, the political adviser, Toby and Sam, the speech writers, C.J., the press secretary, the First Lady, Mrs. Bartlett, their three daughters, the Secret Servicemen, the Joint Chief of Staff and the generals, plus the rest of the administration staff of the fictional White House. Oh could that only be reality today, I would be a happy camper. However, as I viewed the Democratic Convention presented in an entirely new format because of the coronavirus pandemic, I found myself stirring anew. What was this feeling of pride I was feeling in my country? What was this excitement I felt from all the speeches and backstories? What was this renewed interest I was feeling as I received the closer look at the voters of the nation and its territories? Could this be the start of something new? As age 80 hovers around the corner, I must, at last, admit to being a dyed-in-the-wool, yellow-dog, bleeding-heart liberal Democrat. There, I said it. Now, if the Republican fans of this column care to stop reading, I will understand. I love you, as well. But, now, in the twilight years, I must admit that there are quite a few characters that I will never regret seeing for the rest of my life. Let’s see... who’s first? I know—Donald J. Trump, who without a doubt is the worst President I have ever witnessed in my long life. The worst leader of the free world, this vain, egotistical, petty man has managed to tell more fact-checked lies to us than has ever been before. Secondly, I must confess that I won’t miss the Trump children, Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka, Tiffany and their mates at all. They have all thrived incessantly in their father’s reign of darkness and ridicule of the Constitution of the United States and lowered the standards of American families far and wide. Thirdly, I won’t shed a tear if I never hear of the members of the Republican Party leader such as Lindsay Graham, Mitch McCormick, Jim Jordan and their ilk again. Fourth, to the press secretaries who have fashioned Trump’s actions and decisions and tried to make them plausible, I happily say, “Buh-bye!” Fifth, the My Pillow guy. I hope he gets swallowed up in a sofa bed demonstration and is never heard of again. I’d rather rest my head on a doily. Sixth, the Trump Cabinets (I say plural because of the many firings and hirings that have occurred), led by good ol’ Bill Barr and his suspect rule of law covering “The Orange One’s” posterior. And, let’s never forget Steve Bannon, Roger Stone (who looks like he has just stuck his finger into an electric socket) and Paul Manafort and the rest of the administration now doing time or being pardoned. Seventh, Fox News and their sycophant commentators Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham. Let them continue to complain in vain without me. Finally, I would prefer to omit from my life Rush Limbaugh and talk radio pundits. I shall turn them off forever. In addition, a warm adieu to the Trump base of blind followers. I long for honest, soft-spoken folks of decency and grace whom I may admire and silently nod my head in agreement and approval. I don’t wish to ever hear again a golf story of a President picking up his ball 20 feet off the green and declaring to his playing partners, “That was a gimmee. I make that shot every time.” I also don’t want to hear “I alone can fix it” and “I know more about science than anybody.” And, I will be happy never to hear “Mexico will pay for the wall!” Let the historians speak now and report and judge the times this country was led by a reality show host bent upon enhancing his own image and making us the laughing stock of the planet. Too harsh? Nice talking to you.

By JoEllen Collins

n a time of increasing and, at times almost unbearably negative, rhetoric, how do we employ our own means of communication to best express our views and also react to the kind of racist issues that make many of us desire change? As I have grown older, and as a former public speaker and teacher, I grapple with my need to just shut up sometimes and not insert my stories of similar situations I experienced or react to comments I thought required my response. I never would have dreamed I would embody the nightmare of being a “garrulous old lady.” Maybe I do. This is a toughie for me as, while I like to share some of the amazing experiences I have known, I am trying to listen more and speak less. I am working with several wonderful people on examining and trying to improve our relationships with minorities. Our gatherings to explore those roles were in reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement, but we realized that our heritage requires that we be inclusive to all the unrewarded, disenfranchised or disrespected peoples we live among. We have been reading many books and articles that might help us heal the wounds inflicted by “whites.” (Do we all “purely” belong to any racial JoEllen Collins—a longtime group: does that appellation even hold truth in our resident of the Wood River very mixed society?) Valley— is an Idaho Press The other day I was planning to attend a meet- Club award-winning columing of people from different backgrounds than I, nist, a teacher, writer, fabric and I was told by a friend that I might not be wel- artist, choir member and come there. I thought that shocking, as someone unabashedly proud grandma who has always been able to attend almost any known as “Bibi Jo.” gathering without fear. Nevertheless, I needed to go out of my comfort zone, even if the warning was valid. I realized something that I had never once thought of before. As an empowered white woman, I had never experienced that trepidation, something so many minorities have. Right now, in the midst of all my learning and self-discovery about the truths I never realized about others in America, I still have trouble speaking up to racist comments. Last night, Joe Biden quoted the term “Silence is Complicity” when we fail to admonish demeaning, hateful words and actions. It applies to me. I leave you with one example of a situation exemplifying the challenges to concerned citizens. What would I do or say if, as a friend witnessed, I was walking behind some young people who passed by a bus stop seating Black and Hispanic kids and yelled ugly racist terms at them? Would I have followed and admonished the bigotry of the passing gang? Would that have changed anything? Would my jumping in as the “white” savior have been fruitless or condescending, or an acknowledgement that maybe I shouldn’t “rescue” people who can help themselves, especially if I don’t even know them? Is there some way that a meaningful conversation could have developed? I don’t know what I would have done. What would you do? What can we do, here and now?

Wood River Weekly

COFFEE CHATS WITH KIKI

KIKI TIDWELL

Electric Trucks

s I walk neighborhoods listening to neighbors’ concerns and thoughts, I am often struck by how dominant the highway noise has become in a lot of places. As well, I tried to have a business meeting on main street Hailey Photo credit: Peterbilt outside a coffee shop, and it was almost impossible over the truck noise. However, this noise pollution may be gone within 10 years; the future is coming much faster than many realize. Electric buses, garbage trucks, and regional haul trucks are already here now.

“The switch to electric trucks will make a significant contribution to those efforts by cutting down on engine noise. Electric vehicles do not idle when stopped or parked, and they make far less noise than diesel engines while on the move.” 1 “There were just over 2,000 electric trucks on U.S. roads at the end of 2019. This stock is expected to grow to over 54,000 by 2025, according to a new analysis from Wood Mackenzie.” 2 Traditional truck manufacturers are rapidly rolling out models, especially in the regional haul market, where the average 300 electric range matches routes. “Peterbilt is leading the charge when it comes to commercial vehicle electrification featuring a full lineup of EV models, with over 30 out collecting real world miles,” said Jason Skoog, Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president. “With the addition of the Model 220EV to our SmartSpec sales tool, Peterbilt dealers can easily spec and quote exactly what customers have been asking for in a zero-emission, medium-duty truck.” 3 My all-electric passenger car in Idaho is estimated to save me $632 annually in fuel costs, according to Idaho Power’s website, https://www.idahopower.com/energy-environment/green-choices/electric-vehicles/. Over 10 years, that would add up to $6,320 in savings in fuel, not to mention no oil change costs! Idaho has some of the cheapest electricity rates in the nation, but electric trucks nationwide are still estimated to have lower fuel and maintenance costs. “Over an expected 12-year lifetime (without a battery replacement), the e-truck’s fuel costs are estimated to be 37 percent lower and maintenance costs 46 percent lower than a diesel truck driving the same distance.” 4 People wondered if electric trucks would be up to heavy-duty tasks, but, “That concern has been put to rest by the waste management firm Republic Services. The company has just inked a deal with the startup Nikola Corp. for up to 5,000 battery-operated waste hauling and recycling collection trucks. … Nikola states that its Tre electric drive platform will deliver instant torque along with three times more horsepower than diesel or natural gas engines. In particular, the new electric trucks will be capable of traveling uphill with full loads, a feat that can be problematic for compressed natural gas engines. Republic will not have to pay extra for the improved performance. In fact, the company anticipates saving money on maintenance costs.” I have been to investor conferences where speakers proclaim that my 27-year-old daughter’s children won’t have driver’s licenses as they won’t need them, as all the cars will be autonomous driven in 14-16 years. I am not too sure about that prediction, but I do think that anyone with fleet vehicles should look into electric vehicles now, as it will save operating costs, especially in Idaho. Sheriff? County appraisers and land use? Clear Creek Disposal? The county’s rapid electric vehicle charger at the County Annex is almost open for business! 1

https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/electric-truck-waste-hauling/121191

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/woodmac-the-us-will-have54000-electric-trucks-by-2025

3 https://www.fleetowner.com/running-green/article/21139554/peterbilt-220ev-now-available-for-customer-orders

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/woodmac-the-us-will-have54000-electric-trucks-by-2025

https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/electric-truck-waste-hauling/121191

Blaine County Commissioner Candidate

www.tidwellcommissionercampaign.com twitter: @kikitidwell

K i ki Ti d wel l

Paid For By Citizens For Kiki Tidwell, Cindy Mann Treasurer.

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August 26 - September 8, 2020

ADVERTORIALS BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS

ANNA & MICHELLE

Forbearance is Not Forgiveness

orbearance is a temporary postponement of mortgage payments. The lender can grant this option to a borrower instead of forcing the property into foreclosure. The CARES Act provides protections for homeowners with mortgages that are federally or Government Sponsored Enterprise backed or funded such as FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A mortgage holder should contact the lender to explain the temporary difficulty they are having making payments and ask for relief under forbearance or other options. Once the lender grants approval, it is important for the borrower to get the terms of the forbearance agreement in writing to be clear about when the payments will resume and how the missed payments will be recovered. Generally speaking, homeowners in a forbearance plan will not incur late fees and it should not adversely affect their credit. Unfortunately, borrowers must be vigilant to see that the lender is protecting them from delinquent credit marks according to their agreement. Forbearance is easy to receive but not so easy to recover from. Free credit reports can be obtained on a weekly basis until April 21, 2021 at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Reports are available from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. This will allow borrowers to monitor whether the lender has inadvertently reported items inaccurately. Prior to the end of the forbearance period, borrowers should contact their loan servicer, the company that accepts their payments. Review the terms of the forbearance plan and expectations for repayment. Verify the unpaid balance and that there are not any payments marked as late or delinquent during the forbearance period. One more item to discuss with the loan servicer is the payment of the property taxes and insurance. Since multiple mortgage payments may have been missed and most payments include 1/12 of the annual amounts for these items, there may not be enough to pay for them when they become due. Since it is estimated that there are over 4 million

borrowers in forbearance currently, it may be difficult to talk to the servicer but starting the process early and being persistent will be helpful. At the end of forbearance, the borrower needs to resume regular payments and establish a plan with the lender to repay the missed payments. The terms are negotiated between the borrower and the lender. One way is through a loan modification which can restructure the loan. In some cases, it would add the missed payments to the loan balance and recalculate the payments for the remainder of the term. A borrower could pay the forbearance money in cash but the practicality of that is not realistic. If the person couldn’t make the payments during forbearance, they probably don’t have the liquidity to pay them afterward. This option is entirely at the buyer’s election. Forbearance is a temporary way to postpone the mortgage payments with the understanding that you will be able to resume repaying the loan. If the circumstances that caused the issue initially become permanent, then other remedies must be considered. If there is equity in the property, selling the home may be the way to materialize it for the homeowner. Please contact us if you need to know what your home is worth and how long it would take to sell it. We’re happy to provide this information as a service without obligation so you can be aware of your options.

BLAINE BUG CREW

WEED OF THE WEEK

The Sticky Truth About Houndstongue

By Blaine Bug Crew

icture a bright sunny morning with you and your dog out on a hike. Along the sides of the trail are plants that have beautiful reddish-purple flowers. Your dog brushes against them several times and so do you. As you get back to your car, you and your dog both have prickly seeds all over you that are stuck to you like Velcro. You just came into contact with a noxious weed, houndstongue. Houndstongue is a biennial, or short-lived perennial, which reproduces by barbed seeds that readily adhere to fur, hair and wool. The first year, the plant develops a rosette with hairy, linear leaves that range from 10-30 cm in length. Plants typically grow from 35-140 cm tall the second year. The reddish-purple, five-lobed flowers bloom June through August. Each plant produces an average of 500 seeds which are composed of four prickly nutlets, each approximately 1 cm in length. Houndstongue’s ability to spread has created serious problems on rangeland and pastures where the plant quickly colonized disturbed sites and heavily grazed areas in riparian zones. Houndstongue contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, making it poisonous to livestock and horses. Fortunately, we are preparing for the arrival of a seed-feeding weevil that helps prevent houndstongue. Mogulones borraginis is a seed-feeding weevil that eats houndstongue seeds. Like other seedhead feeders, this predator reduces the number of seeds produced by the plant each year. However, until these insects are readily available and proliferated throughout the state, it is landowners, land managers and the public that need to prevent the spread of this noxious weed. Dogs and livestock are carriers of this noxious weed because the seeds stick to their fur like Velcro. If you notice an infestation of this noxious weed in your travels, please call Kay Draper at the Blaine County Weed Department at (208) 788-5543 to help keep Blaine County native.

Wood River Weekly

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August 26 - September 8, 2020

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

Take CARE Of Our CLIMATE Y Nuestra ComUNIDAD!!!

OUR VOICE COUNTS

s our climate grows warmer, so does our concern for the environment. At the same time, we have become more aware of the social injustices of past environmental decisions and the need for inclusivity in our natural environment’s offerings and environmental activism. A partnership between the Hailey Climate Action Coalition (HCAC) and the high school’s W.A.T.E.R. environmental club hopes to raise awareness of these issues with their creation of a mural in downtown Hailey to represent these joint concerns of “intersectional environmentalism.” We hope that the mural will depict the unity of cultures in our Valley and the beautiful local environment and global climate that needs our protection. The original design was created by two student artists, Lella Aicher and Kim Aranda, and further developed with assistance from muralist Bobby Gaytan. Jane Drussel has offered to provide the south back wall of Jane’s Artifacts for the finished piece (the other side from the wonderful Hailey owl mural and facing The Mint). Neighbors Helping Neighbors has joined us in helping collect donations to produce the art. Painting will take place during the long Labor Day weekend and, to further our community-building efforts, will be partially painted by our student activists as well as our lead muralist and student artists. Project members will be present to share their inspiration and message with interested community residents from 5-8 p.m. each evening during the painting. For donations or more information, email HCAC2031@gmail.com. NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA The Climate is Changing Y Tambien Nosotros

ientras que nuestro clima se pone más caliente, tan nuestra preocupación por el ambiente. Al mismo tiempo, nos hemos hecho más conscientes de las injusticias sociales de decisiones ambientales pasadas y la necesidad de inclusivity en ofrecimientos de nuestro medio ambiente natural y activismo ambiental. Una asociación entre la Hailey Climate Action Coalition (HCAC) y el club ambiental W.A.T.E.R. de la escuela secundaria espera crear conciencia sobre estos problemas con la creación de un mu-

HEALTH BEAT

ST. LUKE’S WOOD RIVER

Coping With Colds, Flu And COVID

By Kenny Bramwell, M.D. St. Luke’s Health System Medical Director, Children’s Hospital & Service Line Rotating Chairman, Medical Technical Committee, Incident Command, St. Luke’s Health System

S Photo credit: Rob Lonning

ral en el centro de Hailey para representar estas preocupaciones conjuntas de “ambientalismo interseccional.” Esperamos que el mural represente la unidad de las culturas en nuestro valle y el hermoso entorno local y el clima global que necesita nuestra protección. El diseño original fue creado por dos artistas estudiantiles, Lella Aicher y Kim Aranda, y adelante desarrollado con la ayuda de muralist Bobby Gaytan. Jane Drussel ha ofrecido proporcionar la pared trasera del sur de Jane’s Artifacts para la pieza terminada (el otro lado de la maravillosa pintura mural de Hailey owl y forro de The Mint). Vecinos Apoyando Vecinos nos han acompañado en la ayuda coleccionan donaciones para producir el arte. La pintura ocurrirá durante el fin de semana del Día del Trabajo largo y, a adelante nuestros esfuerzos que construyen a la comunidad, será parcialmente pintada por nuestros activistas estudiantiles así como nuestra ventaja muralista y artistas estudiantiles. Los miembros de proyecto estarán presentes para compartir su inspiración y mensaje con residentes de la comunidad interesados de 5-8 p.m. cada tarde durante que esten pintando. Para donaciones o más información, puede mandar un correo electrónico al HCAC2031-gmail.com

COLUMN

By Eric Valentine

“Everything’s cancelled, there’s nothing to do.” That may be a common sentence in the arts and entertainment world during these COVID times. In the world of professional sports, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, we have to watch it on TV and not in person. And, yes, I am annoyed by the fake crowd noise as much as the next sports fan. But COVID-shortened or not, professional sports is pretty incredible right now. Playoff Payoff Normally, by August, the NBA Finals champion has been named and baseball is one’s only professional sports option. Since the pandemic hit in spring, the last 20 games of the NBA season didn’t happen until midsummer. That means the playoffs are just under way now. Held in the so-called “bubble” in Florida, where no one outside the league is allowed to enter, the NBA has done a remarkable job of keeping its players and staffs COVID-19 free. It has also put an amazing product on the court. You see, in any sport, home-field/court advantage can be impactful. In basketball, it’s especially so. Smaller arenas mean fans are more tightly connected to players, but there’s no known reason for the impact. What is known is this: “Of the four major American sports, home-court advantage is most meaningful in the NBA, with teams consistently winning around 60 percent of their regular season games in their home arenas,” according to The Bleacher Report. And during the playoffs, the advantage

ending kids off to school is often a time to feel a bit nervous, excited, or even sad. Concerns over COVID may complicate these emotions. Whether it is kindergarten or college, we all want our kids to be healthy and happy and to feel safe in their surroundings. Given an uncertain environment where we are all learning more about COVID-19, social media may offer lots of opinions, some sound, some not. It is best to look for up-to-date information from our most trusted sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), www.cdc. gov, South Central Public Health District, or with your primary care provider. St. Luke’s website also contains a great deal of information and a symptom checker via myChart: https://www.stlukesonline.org/symptom-checker. You or your child may have the sniffles that could turn out to be a common cold, influenza, or COVID-19, and it will be hard to tell at the early onset of symptoms. It is safest to assume it is COVID and take protection measures such as staying home, quarantining, and isolating from others. Historically, we might take some cold medicine and push through in order to avoid missing work or school. It may even be the culture that has been ingrained in us from our parents, teachers or employers. Now, we must all make a shift in our thinking and err on the side of caution, thinking of the “we” versus “me.” We likely all know someone in our circle that can become very sick if they contract the virus, young as well as old. We must adjust our thinking to consider the downside of us not staying home if we are sick, coughing into our sleeve or elbow and practicing the three Ws: Watch your distance, Wash your hands and Wear a mask. So many accounts start with “I never thought I could get so sick” or “I didn’t take it seriously until I or someone close to me became ill…” However, we must not feel ashamed or make others feel bad if we do contract COVID. We were never going to stop this in its tracks, it is highly contagious, it can be spread before we exhibit symptoms and, therefore, it is possible to get COVID even if you do the right things. Prevention and protection do equate to mitigation, which buys us time to learn more, not overwhelm our healthcare system, and to hopefully not shut down our economy another time. Our way of life has definitely been disrupted, but we can slow COVID down if we shift our mindset and culture to giving ourselves the grace to stay home when symptomatic. After all, that may be the best way of taking care of each other.

It’s your life, we help you live it!

Good Sports* only goes up. In the bubble, no one has home-court advantage. And it shows. Both Los Angeles teams, each of whom was expected to win the championship this year, are in tough battles against lower-ranked opponents. On Sunday night, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Clippers in overtime on a last-second shot by a 6-foot, 7-inch point guard from Ljubljana (it’s in the southwest part of Slovenia, which is southwest of Hungary). It was his 43rd point of the night. And he’s just 21. Meanwhile, the top-ranked Lakers are being pushed by the eighth-seed Portland Trail Blazers. The underdogs took game 1 from LeBron James’ team.

America’s Pastime And then there’s baseball, which should be well past halfway through a 162-game season by now. Instead, a handful of teams have now played 30 games out of the 60 planned. Only a handful because baseball went bubble-less and some teams have been hit by positive COVID-19 tests. Nonetheless, once you get past the cardboard cutout fans and that annoying fake crowd noise, the game is in great shape. Also on Sunday, another Los Angeles team (no, not the Angels), the Dodgers, hit seven home runs against the Colorado Rockies. It’s common to hit a lot of home runs against the Rockies. Not because they don’t pitch well, but because they play in the high altitude and thin air of Denver. However, this dinger foray happened in Chavez Ravine, the mini-valley where Dodger Stadium got carved into back in the late 1950s. Fly balls go to die

VISION2020 / LIFESTYLE

there, but even the Rockies added three home runs that day to the total. Asking About Asterisks What’s also interesting about these COVID-impacted seasons is how history will look at them. Most commentators and fans accept the idea of an asterisk—literal or figurative—being placed on any titles won, statistics reached, etc. It’s understandable. For better or worse, a shooting percentage in a neutral arena or a batting average in a shortened season are not equivalent to their normal-times counterpart. But in some ways, the asterisk for me will mean the team or player accomplished something even better. Imagine being a basketball player in midseason form and then not being able to practice or play with your team for two months, and then travelling to Florida where for the next 45 days you cannot be with your family and you have to play to empty arenas. Win that championship and I’ll give you an asterisk to denote extra value, not less. In baseball, there’s a reason for a 162-game season (besides money). The sport favors the pitcher so much that when a hitter fails seven out of 10 times, he usually makes the All-Star team. Simply put, you statistically need a ton of games to determine which team is actually best. So in this shortened season, is the champ really the best? Perhaps not in normal times, but in abnormal times, I say yes. Not with an asterisk, but with an exclamation point.

Wood River Weekly

CHAMBER CORNER

•

August 26 - September 8, 2020

MIKE MCKENNA

Hard way Pipeline

#WeAre1WoodRiver

Nonprofits bring our community together By Mike McKenna

ow, what a ride! No one could have predicted what was coming in 2020 and, as you know, our Valley was struck hard in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. Because of our dedication to work together, we have come forward stronger than ever. The definition of resilience “is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties,” and the Wood River Valley is more resilient than ever. We have seen community partners come together to provide community resources with Blaine County Recovery tool www. blainerecovery.org, which was the first in the state. We have seen our community and nonprofits working together to keep our citizens and businesses safe and healthy. A large number of nonprofits in the Wood River Valley are among the many things that set us apart. We have dozens of nonprofit members in The Chamber. According to Idaho Nonprofit Center, these organizations statewide generate $3 billion a year in revenue and represent the sixth largest employment segment in Idaho. Our community and businesses not only support these nonprofits by donating, but they also provide valuable volunteer hours. Idaho ranks fifth in the nation for volunteer contributions per capita, which means that 34 percent of Idaho residents volunteer their time for a cause. Nonprofits provide many services here in our Valley but also lead the charge for many activities that draw visitors from around the world. Trail maintenance, theater, arts, ballet, symphony, recreational activities, and basic human needs are just a few of the services that are due in part to our nonprofits. We are all in this together, now more than ever. You know nonprofits are essential to our community, both socially and economically, when our Chamber president is the executive director of NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness], and the vice president is the founding director of the Giving Guide. A majority of our board members serve various nonprofits throughout the Valley and The Chamber is even a nonprofit as well.

Steel Fencing

Kelly Wardell 208-309-0916

How To Play Sudoku

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.

We recognize that mental health and wellbeing is vital to ensuring the resiliency in the Wood River Valley and that mental health conversations are critical to have in the workplace. How can you, as an employer, support your employees? How can you, as an employee, support your customers? Reach out, connect; you are not alone. So, join us and enjoy the recreation, shopping, restaurants, and the beautiful scenery our Valley has to offer. Still, we hope you get to meet the people of our Valley while you’re here also. We are all in this together! Welcome to our slice of heaven. #WeAre1WoodRiver

CLASSIC SUDOKU See answer on page 7

Thanks for your support, Christina Cernansky President, Chamber of the Wood River Valley Executive Director, NAMI Wood River Valley Jenni Riley Vice President, Chamber of the Wood River Valley Hazlett Wealth Management, LLC Giving Guide of the Wood River Valley

CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY

THETRADER TRADER THE THE TRADER Consignment for the home

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ent for the 720-9206 or 788-0216 signment forhome the home

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the home

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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

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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 7

THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY 7-DAY WEATHER FORECAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Mostly Sunny 20%

high 84º

low 54º WEDNESDAY

Mostly Sunny 20%

high 83º low 52º THURSDAY

Sunny 0%

high 84º low 52º FRIDAY

Sunny 0%

high 84º low 50º SATURDAY

Sunny 0%

high 78º low 45º SUNDAY

Partly Cloudy 20%

high 67º low 43º MONDAY

Mostly Sunny 10%

high 73º low 46º TUESDAY

SKI. BIKE. LIVE!

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