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WOOD RIVER WEEKLY

YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

Free | May 5 - 18, 2021 | Vol. 2 - No. 9 | woodriverweekly.com

“March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.”

SHEEP MONUMENT COMING TO HWY. 75 ~English Proverb

Existing sculptures in Hagerman, Idaho, that will be replicated for the Hailey project. Photo credit: Danny Edwards

Festival celebrating 25th anniversary, seeking donors

By Eric Valentine

lans are under way for The Trailing of the Sheep Festival’s new permanent monument which honors the sheep industry, ranchers, herders and their 150-year of history in the Wood River Valley and Idaho. The Festival’s board of directors plans to unveil and dedicate The Good Shepherd monument in Hailey, on Saturday, Oct. 9, during the Festival’s milestone 25th anniversary event that runs Oct. 6-10. By Twin Falls sculptor Danny D. Edwards, of Danny Edwards Bronzes, will be installed on the landscape strip at Roberta McKercher Park facing Highway 75 in Hailey. “We have dreamed of bringing something like this to the community for many years,” said John Peavey, Festival co-founder and board president. The Sculptor Edwards said his latest sculpture will be

similar to a work he created for Hagerman, Idaho, years ago. It comprises 11 life-sized bronze sculptures, featuring eight sheep, a sheepherder, horse, and a dog. “I’m thankful to create art that has a lot of meaning and to have a lot of these life-size sculptures around the country,” Edwards said. “Monuments go through a lot of planning. They’re given a lot of thought and emotion and understanding of a place.” Edwards has been a sculptor for 31 years, creating work for collectors all over the world. His sculptures can be found in the halls of presidents and dignitaries, including the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and corporations, banks, universities and private collections. His 17-foottall “Elk Monument” and 32-foot-long “Elk and Bear Monument” are famous Jackson Hole, Wyoming, landmarks. “Since God didn’t create any junk, we can find beauty everywhere, if we will look for it,” Edwards said.

The Fundraiser The tribute is being made possible, in part, due to a generous gift from the estate of Patricia Lane. But the majority of the monument costs will be covered through fundraising efforts that are now under way that include engraved pavers and sponsorships. “We encourage all those who love sheep to contribute to this lasting legacy,” Peavey said. Monument pavers, which are engraved with the donor’s personalized text, range in price from $125 to $1,500, depending on size. The first round of pavers, to be installed for the monument unveiling this year, need to be ordered by May 31. Monument sponsorships for individuals and businesses are available at levels from $2,500 to $10,000, although gifts of any amount are welcome. For more information, visit www.trailSculptor Danny Edwards. Photo credit: Danny ingofthesheep.org. Edwards

Wood River Weekly

NEWS

BCSD Looks To Fill Two Critical Positions

Blaine County School District is seeking new folks to fill two major roles within the district. The district said a hiring effort for a new district transportation supervisor and principal of Wood River High School are under way. The supervisor role oversees transportation activities across the district and its schools. The incoming supervisor will fill the role previously held by Lance Doby, who is moving into a position in the private sector. “We want to thank Lance for his work over his time in our district to bring new technologies to the transportation services for all our students,” said Fritz Peters, interim superintendent of BCSD. “We commend him for his work during a number of transitions the department had to make over the last half decade. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.” The next WRHS principal will replace John Pearce, who served in the role for the past five years. Pearce has stepped down as principal to pursue new career opportunities. “We would like to thank John for his leadership and dedication to the students, staff and families of Wood River High School. Mr. Pearce worked daily to bring equity to all students at WRHS. We wish him the very best as he moves on to the next stage in his educational career,” Peters said. “Now, we are turning our attention to finding and hiring the next principal at the school. We look forward to engaging in this process over the coming days and weeks.”

Library, Seniors Organizations Launch New Lunch, Literature Program

The Senior Connection and The Community Library have teamed up to provide nutritious meals, social connection, and cerebral stimulation to elders in the north Valley. On Thursdays, beginning May 6, takeout meals will be available at the Cimino Plaza on the corner of 4th and Walnut Street, at the Children’s Library entrance. Lunch will be distributed between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. “We have been wanting to have more of a visible presence in the north Valley for several years now,” said Teresa Beahen Lipman, executive director at the Senior Connection. “The Community Library is a great resource to let seniors know the resources we have available.” The Senior Connection will be providing meals at a cost of $5 for adults 60 and better and $8 for those under 60 years of age. Kids are $4. Scholarships are available if cost is a barrier. Reservations are required and need to be made by Mondays at noon by calling the Senior Connection 208-788-3468 or emailing stephanie@seniorconnectionidaho.org. The menu is available by calling the Senior Connection to be put on their newsletter mailing list or online at www.seniorconnectionidaho.org/ menu. Participants are encouraged to bring their own reusable bag for their lunch. The Community Library will be providing a reading each week and, beginning in June, as the COVID situation permits, takeout diners are encouraged to linger and enjoy lunch in their wonderful outdoor space. Wi-Fi is available and people can engage with each other while following social distancing protocols. “Over lunch, with the elders of our community, we can connect with each other

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May 5 - 18, 2021

IN BRIEF through casual conversation, things we’ve read, and news we’ve heard—right in the heart of downtown Ketchum,” said Jenny Emery Davidson, executive director at The Community Library. “This is how community happens.”

Seniors To Help Botanical Garden Bloom

The Senior Connection and Sawtooth Botanical Garden are teaming up to make the Wood River Valley bloom. In the fall of 2021, these two organizations will plant 10,000 daffodil bulbs at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden. Those flowers will be destined to bloom in the spring of 2022, kicking off an annual festival celebrating spring, our seniors and the appeal of our community’s public botanical garden. This spring and summer, the two organizations will be raising funds by selling daffodil bulbs for their fall planting. Next spring will offer viewing parties and a celebratory event. “This project will last for decades,” said Marty Lyon, Daffodil Festival committee chair. “We intend to help it grow each year to become an event that will boost our local economy.” Proceeds from the Daffodil Festival will be equally shared between these two community nonprofits, allowing them to prolong quality of life for our seniors and allow residents and visitors to explore the unique beauty and diversity of the Sawtooth Botanical Garden.

Pedestrian-Friendly Traffic Light Set For Downtown Ketchum

On May 3, the Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency (KURA) in cooperation with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) began construction on a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) system at 4th and Main Street. The scramble is a redesign of the traffic signal that stops all vehicular traffic movements, thereby creating a pedestrian-only phase (or time) for pedestrians to cross the intersection in any direction, including diagonally, at the same time. This redesign eliminates the right turn on red that is allowed at most intersections, but enhances the safety of pedestrians in that no vehicles move through the intersection while pedestrians cross. The HAWK signal will synchronize with the signal at Sun Valley Road and Main Street, where the ITD will be converting the stop light to a “pedestrian scramble” stop light. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of June. HAWK signals are pedestrian-activated traffic control devices that create more spacing between pedestrians and drivers. The system works similar to other pedestrian crossings at signals. Pressing crossing buttons activates flashing lights, signalizing vehicles to stop and allowing pedestrians to cross safely. For a driver, the HAWK signal appears differently than other stop lights. At rest, HAWKs remain dark and drivers continue en route. Once triggered, it will then go through a series of yellow and red sequences requiring motorists to slow down and stop. When the pedestrian phase is complete, the HAWK will go dark again, allowing motorists to continue through the intersection.

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Wood River Weekly

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May 5 - 18, 2021

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 COPY EDITOR Patty Healey PRODUCTION & DESIGN Mandi Iverson mandi@woodriverweekly.com Christopher Seldon chris@woodriverweekly.com ACCOUNTING accounting@woodriverweekly.com DEADLINES Display & Classified Ads, Monday 5 p.m. Calendar Submissions — Friday 5 p.m.

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WOOD RIVER WEEKLY SUMMER + FALL 2021

PUBLISHER’S NOTE Dear Valley Residents, Spring is here, with summer right around the corner. Hopefully, the change of seasons gives us optimism and hope for this year to be better than the last. With any luck, combined with vaccinations and precautions, life this summer will resume its normal hectic schedule of events, activities and the general summer mayhem we all are accustomed to. Wood River Weekly will still publish every other week, until such time that it becomes practical to resume our normal weekly schedule. We look forward to this day.

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101 things to do s u m m er + au tu m n 2 0 1 9

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101 things to do summer + autumn 2019

THE Insider’s Guide To The Best Kept Secrets Of The Wood River Valley & Beyond Explore: Bellevue, Carey, Hailey, Ketchum, Stanley, Sun Valley & Everything 5B

It goes without saying that the past and present ramifications of COVID-19 will continue to be felt by our friends and neighbors, so let us keep up the effort to be compassionate and understanding. Take care, Chris & Mandi

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May 5 - 18, 2021

NEWS

EDUCATION

DEFUND THE… SCHOOLS? Trustees to examine what new anti-racism law means to BCSD

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By Eric Valentine

he new state law proponents say is aimed at “stopping the spread of anti-white racist ideology being taught to the youth in our Idaho public education institutions” will become the topic of discussion at future school board meetings, Blaine County School District board president Keith Roark said. The bill, which Governor Brad Little signed into law last week, does not outright ban the teaching of what’s known as Critical Race Theory. But it does outlaw what the legal text describes as “certain tenets” of the controversial theory, which can “exacerbate and inflame divisions on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or other criteria in ways contrary to the unity of the nation and the well-being of the state of Idaho and its citizens.” The text of the bill does not state what those tenets are. Roark said the topic will likely be discussed at the May and/or June school board meetings, but that consultations with and from administrative staff, department heads, and the district’s attorney need to take place next, before any formal recommendation can be brought to the board. “This bill is a solution in search of a problem,” Roark said regarding the new law. Roark expressed frustration that the CRT matter took focus away from other educational matters lawmakers were slated to address and even held up legislation on teacher pay. “It’s no wonder why we’re so far down the list” when it comes Idaho State Representative Priscilla to educational funding, Roark Giddings was a proponent of the added. new state law aimed at abolishing The new law, however, figures Critical Race Theory in schools. to be greeted more warmly for Photo credit: Idaho State Legislasome. On April 27, the Blaine ture County Republican Women held its general meeting where the featured speaker was Idaho State Representative Priscilla Giddings, a major proponent of the bill. A press release for the meeting read as follows: “As part of the legislature crafting higher education budgets, Idaho State Representative Priscilla Giddings recently raised concern with progressive indoctrination efforts in Idaho schools. She is on the frontlines of stopping this curriculum from being put into Idaho’s education system. She has proposed cutting college and university budgets by more than $18 million to defund such efforts. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to Representative Giddings on her efforts to Expose and Defund Critical Race Theory in all levels of Idaho’s schools.” A Race To Nowhere According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Critical race theory (CRT) was officially organized in 1989, at the first annual Workshop on Critical Race Theory, though its intellectual origins go back much farther, to the 1960s and ’70s. Its immediate precursor was the critical legal studies (CLS) movement, which dedicated itself to examining how the law and legal institutions serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the poor and marginalized.” But what’s the theory? Again, according to Britannica, it is an “intellectual movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category …” And, if you think about characteristics and categories germaine to the continuation of a species, that’s objectively correct. To put it bluntly: If you can procreate with it, you’re the same as it. But here’s where CRT triggers sensitivities … Britannica goes on to say that race categories are “used to oppress and exploit people of colour.” And then here’s where CRT begins to burn the flag in some people’s eyes … “Critical race theorists hold that the law and legal institutions in the United States are inherently racist insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially African Americans.” From the Source How each person—from teacher and staff to student and parent— feel about the new law and react to the new law remains to be seen. What’s set in stone, however, are the actual words of the actual law, which can be read here: https://tinyurl.com/zr783xkz

Wood River Weekly

NEWS

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May 5 - 18, 2021

BELLEVUE

A TikTok Jackpot

We build nest eggs.

Bellevue Deputy Marshal Nate Silvester thanks his supporters in a recent video posted online. Photo credit: GoFundMe

Bellevue deputy marshal facing scrutiny for LeBron James video sees GoFundMe windfall

By Eric Valentine

ellevue Deputy Marshal Nate Silvester’s viral TikTok video, wherein he pretends to ask for LeBron James’ advice on how to handle an altercation between a black male attacking another black male with a knife, made national news and controversy last week. But this week it’s making him a lot of money, too. As with many controversial matters wherein someone could lose their job, supporters have been contributing to a GoFundMe page launched late last week by Gannon Ward of Sandy City, Utah. Ward, who states that Silvester is his “best friend in the world,” has set a goal of raising $500,000 for the deputy marshal. “He’s still got his job for now, but apparently the town where he polices didn’t find his TikTok as amazingly comical, and accurate, as the 4.5 million viewers did, including some major news networks,” wrote Ward on the GoFundMe page. “The future is uncertain. I just don’t want to see my friend lose out on any money for this, when it was meant to be satirical, and to point out an obvious flaw in LeBron’s logic.” What is certain is this: As of press deadline Tuesday, the effort had garnered $438,000 To be clear, the City of Bellevue has not confirmed Silvester’s suspension without pay. “He has not been terminated. He was disciplined within the department, and that’s an internal personnel issue, so there won’t be any further comment beyond that,” Bellevue Mayor Ned Burns said. More To The Story It should also be noted that at least one GoFundMe page related to the Silvester matter has been taken down. It was launched by an organizer by the name of Eric Smallwood and it was asking for donations toward giving better radios to officers. Meanwhile, another online effort is gaining steam, a Change.org petition that wants to see the deputy marshal’s GoFundMe earnings taken away. According to the petitioners, Silvester has a longer history of controversial videos done while in uniform. Specifically, they cite the following from Silvester’s account: ● Silvester defends Kim Potter, a former Minnesota police officer who was charged with second-degree manslaughter after the death of Daunte Wright. Potter said she confused her gun with her taser. ● Silvester ignores an imaginary fight occurring outside of his patrol car, with the phrase “when a pedophile is about to get his a** beat” visible on the screen. ● According to a report from Newsweek, an Instagram account that appeared to belong to Silvester featured a video showing people lying in a street before depicting the inside of a car going over multiple bumps. The caption reportedly said “Me and the boys on our way to the (former Pres-

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A GoFundMe effort in support of Nate Silvester broke the $438,000 mark by Tuesday afternoon. Photo credit: GoFundMe

ident Donald) Trump rally.” The petition, which as of press deadline Tuesday had 2,725 signatures, claims the fundraising effort violates GoFundMe’s transparency requirements and that the campaign is “out of synch with the company’s own pledge” to support justice and equality made in the weeks following George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police. Whether the campaign violates GoFundMe’s terms of service is not entirely clear. As funds came pouring in, Silvester made a thank-you video and said a portion of the funds will go toward a charity. In addition, the GoFundMe page lists the First Responders Children’s Foundation as potential recipients. Ward confirmed that 100% of the funds will go to Silvester’s personal bank account, and from there he can donate as he wishes. According to the foundation’s website, its mission is to provide “financial support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty as well as families enduring significant financial hardship due to tragic circumstances.” First Responders Children’s Foundation also supports, promotes and facilitates educational activities and programs created and operated by first-responder organizations whose purpose is to benefit children or the community at large, the organization says. And There’s This … According to “Newsweek” and several other media reports, Silvester was one of four Twins Falls police officers involved in a fatal shooting of Randy J. Holler, Jr., in 2009. Holler was armed and struggled with the officers. He did not fire his pistol but the police said he was “sweeping” and pointing his gun at them. They shot him 17 times. All the officers were cleared of any wrongdoing after being put on administrative leave and going through psychological evaluations. It should also be noted that the Change.org petition describes Holler as black. According to Ward, Holler was caucasion. None of the media reports state Holler’s race.

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Wood River Weekly

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

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May 5 - 18, 2021

ADVERTORIALS BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS

ANNA & MICHEL

Writing a Successful Offer in a Low Inventory Market

W AALIYAH ROJAS. Photo credit: Michelle Sewell

CÉSAR LEGACY CONTINUES!! BY AALIYAH ROJAS

OUR VOICE COUNTS

am a student at Wood River High School and co-president of Nosotros United, a club with a mission to promote the blending of cultures and ambitious dreams for all. Recently, we organized an event at our school that I’m incredibly proud of and believe we should see more of in our schools. We brought the film, “Hailing César,” a documentary about labor rights leader, César Chávez, to our English and history classes. Many students, including myself, were touched by the documentary because it connected to our families. Growing up, I heard very little about him in school, and if it weren’t for my interest and research, I would probably not know much. The Latinx community makes up 42% of WRHS students. Many parents, grandparents, uncles and cousins came to the United States as migrant workers. Talking about migrant work and immigration has become a delicate topic in today’s world and is often avoided. I, for one, am beyond thankful for Eduardo Chávez (César Chávez’s grandson and director of the film) for letting us show this special film and talking with us afterward. This event will always be memorable for me as it has opened my eyes to the injustices that can occur to those who feel invisible. I was one of those individuals who believed they did not have a voice; however, over the years, I found it. I’m grateful for my teachers, school, and community members for including this as part of our curriculum. I hope it continues.

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

oy estudiante en Wood River High School y co-presidente de Nosotros United, un club con la misión de promover la mezcla de culturas y sueños ambiciosos para todos. Recientemente, organizamos un evento en nuestra escuela del que estoy increíblemente orgullosa y de la que creo que deberíamos ver más en nuestras escuelas. Trajimos él documental “Hailing César,” a nuestras clases de inglés e historia. Este documental es sobre el líder de los derechos laborales, César Chávez, y el impacto que dejó en muchos individuos. Muchos estudiantes, incluyéndome a mí, se sintieron conmovidos por el documental porque se relacionaba con nuestras familias. Al crecer, escuché muy poco sobre él en la escuela, y si no fuera por mi interés e investigación, probablemente no sabría mucho. La comunidad latina representa el 42% de los estudiantes de WRHS. Muchos padres, abuelos, tíos y primos llegaron a los Estados Unidos como trabajadores migrantes. Hablar sobre el trabajo migratorio y la inmigración se ha convertido en un tema delicado en el mundo actual y a menudo se evita. Yo por uno estoy más que agradecida por Eduardo Chávez (nieto de César Chávez y director de la película) por permitirnos mostrar este documental especial y hablar con nosotros después. Este evento siempre será memorable ya que ha abierto mis ojos a las injusticias que pueden ocurrir a aquellos que se sienten invisibles. Estoy agradecido por la ayuda que recibimos para incluir esto como parte de nuestro currículo. Espero que continúe.

BY ANNA & MICHELLE

ith at least 40% less homes on the market currently than there were a year ago, serious buyers have probably experienced the disappointment of losing a home they wanted to buy from increased competition. Today’s buyers are looking for ways to improve their odds of being the best contract without having to use the purchase price as their only tool. Buyers should reconsider, rethink, and re-evaluate their “must-have” features and amenities. It is probably unrealistic in a normal market to think you can have the perfect home at the price you want, but in today’s market it is less possible. List the things you must have and the things you would like to have and prioritize them. Try to identify the critical from the convenient. The next step is to put together your “home” team. You are the captain of this process, but it is essential to have a strong first officer and that is your real estate agent. This professional will oversee the process, advise you on current market conditions and normal procedures. Your agent will even help you assemble the rest of the team, like mortgage officer, title, insurance, warranty, inspectors and can recommend service providers. Your agent can advocate your cause personally to the listing agent by personally delivering the offer and expounding on your strong points to lobby your position. Obviously, your agent will not share anything that you do not expressly give them permission to. Even before you write the offer, your agent can inquire with the listing agent about any preferences of the seller not mentioned in the listing agreement as well as to use the proper contract forms and addendums. The following list of suggestions are provided for your consideration realizing that some may not be appropriate for your individual financial situation or comfort level. • Get pre-approved from a local lender and include documentation with offer to purchase. • Have lender phone and email listing agent to expound on pre-approval. • Increase the amount of earnest money.

THE SENIOR CONNECTION

• Acknowledge flexibility on closing and occupancy da • Eliminate unnecessary contingencies. • Waive the appraisal and have proof of funds to mee difference in the purchase price. • Avoid concessions like asking the seller to pay the bu closing costs or points. • Avoid including personal property to go with the sale less specified in listing agreement. • Purchase “as is” with right of quick inspection to ca contract if condition is unacceptable. • Shorten time frames on necessary contingencies. • Attach proof of funds for down payment or full purc price if cash. • Arrange bridge financing to be able to pay cash. • Buyer should pay their own normal closing costs. • Write a personal note to the seller explaining why you and want their home. Some listing agents are advi sellers to not accept them due to potential discrimina liability. • Escalation clause ... offer to pay $X,000 more than hig acceptable offer up to a limit. • If you physically sign the offer, use a contrasting colo to add a personal touch. If using a digital contract, ch the font and color to distinguish the signature. • Make your best offer first because they may not ma counteroffer. When a new listing hits the market, it is commonplac there to be a rush of interested buyers that result in mul offers. It is prudent for you to research and consider whic these ideas you can implement before you find the home; much better to have more time to make these decisions, e cially, if it involves a mortgage officer or an attorney. Your real estate professional will be able to tell you if th suggestions are viable and may be able to offer additional recommendations. If you do not have an agent, contact m or LuxuryinSunValley@Windermere.com to discuss a pla craft your offer in the most favorable way possible.

My Parents

SHAWNA WASKO, M.O

BY SHAWNA WASKO, M.OLP

ince last month, when I wrote to all of you, some things have changed. It was a very difficult month, as things got worse and worse for my parents and my caregiving journey. Mom’s Alzheimer’s disease got worse and so did my dad’s COPD. They needed care every day. It became overwhelming for everyone. I went over to their house last Sunday. I had received a frantic call from Dad that Mom was being very combative and was very scared. She suddenly became obsessed with the knowledge that Dad could not care for her, and as he tried harder and harder to do so, he was exhausted, and the stress was taking him closer to death. Quite a realization for Mom, given Alzheimer’s disease and all that goes with it. Mom told me, “Shawna, I have to go to a facility. I am killing Dad, and you, too.” I spoke with Dad and he agreed. Finally. No joy do I feel, but I do feel relief and sadness—sad that they both have given up the fight, relief that they will get the 24 hours of care they need. Dad wants Mom to go first while he “tidies up the business he has to do.” I said OK and I will visit the facility tomorrow that she will go to live out her life. Our Ombudsman Program here at the Office on Aging has been invaluable to me. Ombudsmen advocate for the rights of people in long-term care. They provided me with a list of all facilities in our eight counties that do assisted living. This list told me if the facility will take Medicaid, pets, or do secured memory care. If you have loved ones, like me, who are needing more care than you can provide, please call our Ombudsman Program: 1-208-736-2122. The end of the journey I feel is unfolding now. I hope to be there to help my parents as they face the ends of their lives, however long it takes. I am a big believer in hospice and plan to bring them in when it is time. Dylan Thomas wrote, “Rage,

rage against the dying of the light… do not go gentle into good night.” My parents have fought a good fight, espec Dad. His doctor told me for years and years that this would be his last. The first time he told me that was e years ago. The Kübler-Ross model of grief describes five primary sponses to loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and nally, acceptance. We are all entering into acceptance no acceptance that we have come to terms emotionally with situation. There is nothing we can do to change it. Grief is a normal internal feeling that we experience in reaction to a loss, while mourning is what we do on the outside: cry, ask why, why me, journaling, praying, etc. Mourning is often called “grief gone public.” Mourning is what gets us through the loss. Please be patient with me as I mourn, and with all others who go through this process. Shawna Wasko, M.OLP CSI Office on Aging 208.736.2122 swasko@csi.edu

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Wood River Weekly

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May 5 - 18, 2021

OPINION

WILLIAM F. HUGHES

HALT AIRPORT EXPANSION AND RESUME RELOCATION

riends and neighbors in Hailey and Bellevue, and those in the north valley willing to consider the interests of the working class. It is spring! It is time to rise from your Covid-era coma and apply that newfound energy into changing a valley with a ‘new normal’ recently posited by my favorite local poet. “A new normal of division, waste and deception, selfishness, discord and greed? Neglect, ambivalence and apathy?” Yo Badger! Way too depressing, get off the pity pot. It is time to shake up a self-serving and self-dealing valley establishment! I need everyone to step up hard, and step up now! From recent reporting (IME 4/9) regarding the remote tower element of rapidly accelerating airport expansion efforts - “allowing controllers to view live flight activity side-by-side with air traffic radar on a panel of monitors.” Many residents of Hailey and Bellevue have the capacity to closely “view live flight activity” out their kitchen windows, soon with much greater frequency as demand for both commercial and private air service will increase exponentially with the large influx of wealthy Covid refugees, vacation travel a priority for the affluent. Then there are all the family and friends visiting from the places they departed. An airport established in 1932 was never intended for the current level of air traffic, much less the inevitable tsunami on the immediate horizon. To anyone suggesting I am simply projecting, mostly unregulated capitalism assures that if there is money to be made, supply will always be created to meet demand, a lesson clearly learned from the perpetual war on drugs. To the idiots who will say I shouldn’t have bought a home near the airport in a narrow valley, please, just shut up! If you live in the north valley or out Indian Creek, or elsewhere your lives are not directly impacted by all the noise and fumes, your opinion has very limited value. For almost thirty years former Friedman Manager Rick Baird, and every County Commissioner and Hailey City Council Member serving on the FMAA Board, provided assurances and PROMISED citizens larger aircraft would NEVER be allowed to fly into Friedman, indicating the runway would not accommodate the weight of larger aircraft. So, if all of these officials are not to be made into liars, the only alternative would be to increase dramatically the number of flights. Citizens of Hailey and Bellevue do not want the surging population of billionaires further tightening the screws of the torture rack of noise and toxic Jet-A fuel stench from Friedman they are currently suffering under. The black residue on everyone’s window blinds is also accumulating in the lungs of all the children in Hailey and Bellevue. I strongly believe the pending purchase of the Eccles’ property to the south to accommodate expansion at Friedman, is simply the beginning of an evolving agenda ultimately concluding in the extension and hardening of the runway, resulting in even more flights, with larger planes no longer prohibited, literally in the backyards of citizens of Hailey and Bellevue, entirely unacceptable. The wealthy and powerful always get their way, 20 to 30 minutes additional ground travel not a sacrifice they will be willing to make, perfectly acceptable to throw the underclass under the bus once again, as they have been doing for forty years, destroying the quality of life for those who have worked hard to earn their place here. In the summer of 2008, site selection for moving the airport was in its final stages, focused on BLM lands south of Timmerman with considerable room for parking both aircraft and vehicles, negotiations with the Sho-Ban over archeological considerations on the upcoming agenda. Considerable documentation and minutes from meetings produced by this process compiled by the FAA and FMAA would be readily available to provide a starting point to resume relocation efforts. This effort was derailed by The Great Recession, an event clearly exposing a completely corrupted economic paradigm of parasitic capitalism, aggressively engineering the upward redistribution of wealth, manifested in mortgage securities fraud committed with complete impunity, devastating the nation’s economy. An economic system for four decades about nothing but the extraction and accumulation of unearned investment wealth for the economic aristocracy. Subsequently, Dick Fuld of Lehman Brothers making news in the local press. The decision has already been made to move the airport, an objective only abandoned as a result of economic realities. NOW is the time to resume the process of moving the airport! I believe Sarah Michael resigned as Blaine County Commissioner as a result of the abuse she received from north valley interests for her conscientious support for moving Friedman, clearly understanding the health and safety and also quality of life concerns of residents of Hailey and Bellevue. Such genuine compassion as exhibited by Sarah will apparently never prevail over greed in the octagon of human motivation. The real estate industry, resort interests, and wealthy residents and second homeowners drive the local agenda. “We, the people” are irrelevant, absent representation, systematically pushed south, with many pushed completely out of the valley. No one in my neighborhood and beyond has ever been stupid enough to buy into the SVED “what is best for business is best for everyone” BS, trickle-down lies, conveniently ignoring realities which have further widened the separation of socioeconomic stratification in the valley, real estate interests and north valley businesses flourishing while small businesses in the south valley fall like dominoes. Officials have made decisions promoting malignant growth predicated on personal relationships, cravenly butchering municipal statute, to force working taxpayers to pay all the future costs of impact mitigation and infrastructure upgrades for the projects of wealthy, connected developers, profit privatized, risk socialized. With a large transmission line running overhead down the bike path just outside my back gate, I have been forced to pay to bury a redundant line to the north valley to accommodate the sensibilities of the economic aristocracy, when informed, credible sources, have identified that line as completely unnecessary. I strongly support workforce housing efforts, but in the past when they could have easily afforded a place in Woodside, as a struggling homeowner I have had to subsidize affordable houses much nicer than mine for people with significantly more income than me, who were enjoying international travel, new vehicles, season passes, and often dining out. I am responsible for paying the National Guard

to provide security for a conference of multi-billionaires. And then there are the minimum revenue guarantees to the airlines which subsidize $100 seats not just for visitors, but for wealthy second homeowners who could easily afford market-rate tickets. Yeah, life can be difficult, and life isn’t fair or means-tested, I get it, but these intentionally engineered economic inequities appear absolutely absurd in a valley filled with many ‘players’ and elected officials deceitfully identifying as liberal and progressive (D). In the arena of social injustice “classism” apparently gets a pass, simply because it is not based on the color of the skin and ancestry of the affected and oppressed. There will be massive resistance to moving the airport by the wealthy and powerful. “No, wealth isn’t created at the top. It is merely devoured there.” - Rutger Bregman It will be argued that the money isn’t available to move the airport when there are a couple of dozen individuals with palaces in this valley who could pay to move the airport by themselves without even noticing any discernible diminution of their mountains of unearned investment wealth in an era of avaricious tax avoidance by the economic aristocracy, the “Elite Charade” of philanthropy simply an attempted distraction from institutionalized economic injustice. Money is cheap to borrow right now, and revenue from an infrastructure bill perhaps available from the feds. Adding costs to airline tickets and additional fees to private aircraft at a new airport would pay for the move over time, that is how healthy capitalism works. The parasitic, profit privatized, risk socialized variety of capitalism practiced over the past four decades, and on steroids in this valley, has half the population of this country circling the drain. “Trickle-down” that drain, baby! Past dreams of a fair and just society, along with environmental idealism as a priority, were summarily tossed in the toilet by the best and brightest, self-absorbed boomers, who sold out completely, now the natural systems of our planet perhaps moving past potential recovery, destroyed for mountains of unearned investment wealth delivered by unfettered greed to a tiny minority. The true value of working citizens in the low-paying, often seasonal, service employment of a mountain resort, is finally being realized after kicking the can of affordable, workforce housing down the road for two decades. Local officials have been frustrated by the attorneys of wealthy NIMBYs and the conservative courts of a private-property state, a situation exacerbated by their mindless accommodation of and subservience to the real estate industry, common in western resort areas. The powers that be should embrace the objective of moving the airport after watching the elephant of gentrification rampaging down the valley for over twenty years. There is a golden opportunity in doing so. Rather than wasting so much time and energy lamenting, fighting about, and defending lawsuits over the issue of workforce housing, after the airport is moved the powers that be could then provide 100-year leases on lots at the airport for one dollar, to incentivize businesses willing to build housing for their employees, for once relieving me from having to pay for benefits to those with way more money than I will ever have. Similar to what the Forest Service has done in the past for cabins constructed on public lands they administer. Get loud people! Do it NOW! With the statistical probability of an aircraft pancaking Hailey Elementary to soon increase significantly if the airport is not moved, keep calling the following public servants until a ‘Stop Work Order’ is issued for expansion efforts at Friedman. • FMAA (mgr. 208-788- 4956 ext. 106). • FAA (1-866-835-5322). • County Commissioners (Jacob FMAA Board Chair 208-788- 5500 ext. 1176, Angenie FMAA Vice-Chair ext. 1173, Dick who I gave a heads-up on this 208-481- 0259). • State Reps (Muffy 208-806-1895, Sally 208-934-8114, Michelle 208-7268106). • Idaho’s congressional delegation (Crapo 202-224-6142 & 208-734-2515, Risch 202-224-2752, Simpson 202- 225-5531 & 208-734-7219). • USDOT (Secretary Pete Buttigieg 202-366-4000). • White House (202- 456-1111 & 202-456-6213). Use a stamp and WRITE LETTERS every month to the USDOT and FAA, addresses online, and of course President Joe Biden at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Keep calling ALL numbers EVERY week and be extremely polite, saying something like “Airport expansion efforts at Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho, must be stopped immediately. The Federal Aviation Administration must resume relocation efforts abandoned in 2008.” Leave a voicemail if no one takes your call. Keep calling and calling and writing until the FAA and FMAA announce they have stopped expansion at Friedman to reengage the relocation effort, even if it takes a couple of years. “Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up!” People, we can do this. I believe it is time to finally stop trashing the lives of so many for the convenience and financial interests of the few, when there is an ideal airport site twenty or thirty minutes south. With all the wealth, power, and privilege the economic aristocracy and their minions in local government possess, they will aggressively fight against moving the airport away from Hailey, using BS, trickle-down propaganda about not biting the hand that feeds you, and the wisdom and reward of bending the knee to the Lords of Mammon in their Gulfstreams...know your place! NO MORE CAKE FOR YOU, NEXT! https://hartmannreport.com/p/why-the-reagan-revolution-scheme William F. Hughes Hailey

COMM ENT ARY Wood River Weekly

Fishing R epoRt

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May 5 - 18, 2021

NO BONES ABOUT IT

Creating A Dominant Or Aggressive Dog

THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR MAY 5 - 18 FROM PICABO ANGLER

pring has sprung in the Sun Valley area! Opening Day is a few weeks away, but there is still some fun to be had with a fly rod right now. Several rivers and reservoirs remain open for fishing and this can be a fantastic time of the year to fish them. The reservoirs are fishing well right now, with anglers concentrating on the inflows. This is where the pre-spawn rainbow trout will be stacked up and moving through. If you want to target brown trout, brook trout and bass in many of the reservoirs, try fishing the opposite ends of the reservoirs. Bank fishing has been good at Magic and Fish Creek reservoirs, and the Little Wood Reservoir has some great hikes and bank fishing, especially on the backside. Small streamers and even nymphs fished under an indicator will work well off the banks. Float tubing is another option, but always be aware of the cold water and the high winds that can kick up at any time. Anglers have also been launching small boats to cover more area, as well. If you are more interested in river fishing, the Little Wood and Lost rivers are both open for catch-and-release fishing. There have been strong baetis hatches on the Lower Lost River and the nymphing is almost always good. Do be prepared to see a lot of spawning fish and the redds that they make to spawn in. Redds are areas of clean gravel and they are full of trout eggs. Do not step on them! Also, please avoid fishing to fish that are actively using them. Practice fair chase. The Little Wood River is closer to home and is a fun place to spend a day. Although anglers won’t catch a plethora of fish, you will see a really cool river. There is a salmonfly hatch on the Little Wood’s desert stretch and some of those bugs could show up on the upcoming warm days. The upper stretches of the Little Wood are also decent fishing for smaller fish. This is a great time of the season to go through fly boxes and gear bags, repair waders, buy new flies and make sure you are ready for the opener on May 29! We will be once again hosting a small gathering here at the fly shop the evening of May 28.. It will be outside and will give anglers a chance to mingle.

By Fran Jewell

any people don’t even believe in dog “dominance.” It has now become an evil word if you are a modern dog-training enthusiast. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines dominance as “more important, powerful, or successful than most or all others.” I watch dog behavior day after day and see one dog that pushes another around, or one that controls all the interactions. Social hierarchy is EXTREMELY important to dogs, even though it might not be how we humans like to view our sweet, adorable companions. Every day my dogs will see who can get out the door first or the fastest. Every day I see dogs using height to determine who is higher in status by doing things as simple as laying on the back of the sofa, or sleeping at the top of the stairs. Some dogs will roll over, exposing themselves to other dogs, while some dogs will stand erect, tail high and hackles raised, to display who they are to other dogs. Some breeds are more dominant by nature than others. Terriers tend to be more aggressive in nature than hunting dogs. Of course, this is a general rule and not certain of every dog of that breed. And every litter of puppies will have a pup more dominant than another. What is hard for our human culture to understand is how a young puppy, sweet and innocent, could possibly become dominant and/or aggressive. It is their “cuteness” and their sweetness that lures us into treating them as we would a stuffed animal, with endless cuddles, free food and treats, and no consequences for bad behavior, and send our

SCIENCE OF PLACE

At my house, Cloud is a status seeker. Here he is on the sofa next to me. You can almost see him saying to me, “Well, are you going to make me get off?” Yes, I did. Photo credit: Fran Jewell

Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified Instructor and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.

HARRY WEEKES

The Voice Of The Loon

bY HARRY WEEKES

ometimes the natural world makes you sit up and pay attention. Sometimes it slips in the back door. Both things happened in the last week of April, when we woke up to fresh snow blanketing the valley, and a common loon showed up at the Indian Creek pond. The snow is not uncommon; rather, it is that annual reminder that we live in the Rockies and that the weather can change quickly. The hours around when people woke up and got to work were a magical blend of awe and attention. “What about this snow?” “Did you see the light over the mountains?” “Everything was so calm and white.” We took the morning and paid closer attention to everything that was around us. One of the things I did was stop at the Indian Creek pond in hopes

Happy fishing, everyone!

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

beloved pet to the dark side. What is the “dark side?” Examples are growling if you come near the food bowl; so-called protecting us from others; demand barking for treats, walks or other valuable items; guarding favorite places such as a special chair, a bed or even YOUR bed; dragging you down the street when put on a leash; refusing to allow you to hold their collar or chewing on their leash. Sometimes a dominant dog will not allow you to touch their feet by growling. One of my favorites is a dog that rolls over on his back to keep from doing whatever it is that you want him to do or mouthing you. Dominant dogs get what they want because they have learned ways to make that happen. Dominance can turn into aggression. Then, the dark side has become the “black side.” So, what do we do? Prevention is always the best. An ounce of prevention is truly better than a pound of cure. Start teaching rules as puppies or the second an adoptee comes home. Love, love, love, but only when your dog works for it by doing sit, down, come. Remember, the higher a dog is, the higher he is in social status. Allowing dogs access to higher places, such as the back of the sofa, sitting on a window ledge, or standing at the top of the stairs, can signal to your dog that he is higher in social status than you are. While not all dogs have dominant tendencies, it is entirely possible to take a dog that came to you without those tendencies and create a monster impossible or dangerous to live with. With forethought and care enough to provide direction and boundaries, our sweet dogs can remain a glimmer of light in our world.

FRAN JEWELL

Photo credit: Aaron Hill

of confirming a text I received on Sunday with several pictures and a simple message: “I spotted a loon on Indian Creek pond….” I trudged through the snow, binoculars in hand, wondering how hard I would have to look, and there she or he was—slowly moving back and forth, its heavy body held tight to the water, its head up and then down, patrolling the pond beneath. Unmistakable—a loon; yes, a common loon, but the very first one I have ever seen here. At some point over the last two days the State Bird of Minnesota had slipped into our valley, almost unnoticed and with very little fanfare. And there she was, perhaps fueling up while she waited out the storm before heading off to her summer haunts. My mother grew up spending her summers on a lake in northern Minnesota. As kids, we would go visit her parents there. There were, of course, loons. And if you have ever spent a night as a kid on a sleeping porch in the great North Woods and heard the tremulo of a loon echoing across a lake, you will know that that sound never leaves you. The first time you hear the call, something is etched into your psyche. The voice of a loon is indelible, and has the wonderful capability of capturing everything around it so that you remember those things, too. My memories were intense. The smells of a forest in summer. Thick wool blankets pulled up around my ears. Days spent catching frogs and toads and crayfish. Great leeches the size of luggage straps. Snapping turtles and camp robbers and black bears. Wading out into Pine Creek. Seining for minnows and then standing listening to the drum of the tiny fish on the tin sides of the minnow bucket. I often listen to birds and wonder, “How much can be contained in a call?” The arrival of the loon made me realize something: “What if birds have the ability to capture an entire ecosystem in a few moments of song?” If the loon can draw this out in me, how does another bird, one that understands and speaks the language, think and feel? Both the snow and the loon are familiar to me. The snow brought a pleasant surprise but was not entirely unexpected. I am still sorting out what the loon brought in. Harry Weekes is the founder and head of school at The Sage School in Hailey. This is his 49th year in the Wood River Valley, where he lives with Hilary and two of their three baby adults—Penelope and Simon. The other member of the flock, Georgia, is currently fledging at Davidson College in North Carolina.

Wood River Weekly

MONEY MATTERS

KRISTIN HOVENCAMP

Fear Of Missing Out BY KRISTIN HOVENCAMP

1st Quarter Hindsight Fear Of Missing Out, or FOMO, is a term describing the anxiety of missing a perceived opportunity. FOMO can influence investors to act against their best interests by investing in unsuitable securities that others believe will make money. Investors would be wise to avoid seeking emotional security by blindly following the same strategy as the masses. While the first part of 2021 is more favorable than last year, investment hazards remain abundant. Intra-Year Declines If you are putting cash to work, devise a plan and take your time. Outlining your schedule and dollar investment commitments will help you avoid the pressures of FOMO. Even during bull markets, intra-year declines create healthy market contractions of 5-10 percent with an average recovery time of approximately one month. Typically, the market experiences three to four pullbacks per year. For patient investors, price drops present entry points.

May 5 - 18, 2021

Kristin Hovencamp, Director of Business Development at HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC

Selective Equities As we begin the bull market’s second year, we place a heightened degree of importance on investment selectivity at the individual security level. Even with the market’s current elevated valuation, opportunities exist for further upside potential within the favored sectors. Eye on the Ball While we delight in the comparatively halcyon days of 2021 in contrast to last year, the importance of adhering to your unique aspirations and risk mitigation strategies should remain a priority. We continue to focus on the investor and the key elements that drive individualized portfolio development: liquidity needs, risk tolerance, diversification, and long-term investment goals. Kristin Hovencamp is Director of Business Development at HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC and an Investment Executive with RJFS. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC is independent of Raymond James and is not a registered broker/dealer. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit of loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.675 Sun Valley Road, Suite J1 + J2, Ketchum, Idaho, 83340 208.726.0605 HazlettWealthManagement.com

ON LIFE’S TERMS

ow intensely to do you love yourself? Not from an egoic standpoint, but a point of working to truly know who you are. To truly love yourself means to honor your heartfelt thoughts. Your true desires are honored by you, for you. Or, do you adjust your desires to make others more comfortable? Do you bend to their opinions? I have watched my thoughts lately to determine how often I am controlled by the opinion of others. Now, here is an example. I love to wear my Tevas. They make my feet happy and comfortable. They are my footwear of choice. I put them on as soon as the weather permits and don’t usually take them off until the snow is almost ready to fall. This can be a bit of a problem, especially when it is cold outside because “fashion” protocol says you should never wear socks with Tevas. Well, I love my shoe of choice so much, and it was cold out, so I put socks on with my desired footwear. My feet were so happy, I was happy and I didn’t give a rip what the fashion police might think. That goes right along with not wearing white pants after Labor Day. I have decided to fire the fashion industry for the sake of loving my comfort. How often do we make choices because of the opinions of others? It is time we all start to become aware of the freedoms we give away just to please some imaginary set of rules that don’t make your

JOELLEN COLLINS

Autos, Anonymity And Angst

Most complaints I hear from residents of the Wood River Valley, other than COVID related, are about speed or its lack on Highway 75. Having learned how to drive on the Hollywood freeway, but now afraid to navigate that same spot and no longer choosing to drive when I visit friends in Southern California, I understand the frustrations. Nonetheless, having traveled in almost unbearable traffic for the many years I taught English in Southern California, I still think we have it easy here. However, I have noticed recently an increased volume of hostility and anger at those who either drive too slowly or too rapidly down our central road. Recently, when I upped my speed to a tad above 55 mph, a truck behind me kept honking and coming closer to me—a danger, as I couldn’t navigate to the slower lane JoEllen Collins—a longtime without cutting in front of another car. Anger in this resident of the Wood River case often results in posing harm to others. I admit to Valley— is an Idaho Press sounding “like a stevedore,” as my mother used to no- Club award-winning columtice, in my frustration at traffic or others’ poor driving, nist, a teacher, writer, fabric my use of words I never uttered in public within the artist, choir member and interior sanctuary of my car. I still often mutter “for- unabashedly proud grandma known as “Bibi Jo.” bidden” words if alone in the bubble of my old Ford. Shouts, gestures and honking are signs of our frustration because we often feel OK about reacting negatively inside of our protective shell, the automobile. However, the “safety” of anonymous negativity on the screen of our private space on the computer has also contributed to an unhappy release of nastiness. As we sit in anonymity behind the screens of our devices, we may forget that our release of nasty rhetoric is not truly hidden from others than the intended recipient. Words do hurt, as the victims of cyber bullying well understand. I know of cases of children who, in the supposed sanctity of their classroom, sit next to another child who has released hateful texts to him or her just the night before. The behavior of the bully is rewarded because, like the automobile, the computer seems like just another machine in which we can express ideas we might not utter in person. Big Brother is here more than we may wish. There is no anonymity today, much to the dismay of people who cherish the concept of privacy. Institutions and governments are grappling with the issues of communication for all while maintaining privacy for those who choose to preserve their own space and histories. I certainly don’t have an answer. I try, in my own writings and conversations, to remember Disney’s little Jiminy Cricket of my childhood who “sat on my shoulder” to remind my conscience to think carefully before any destructive or hateful behavior. There have been times where I have not listened to those little warnings, and I regret my actions as unhappy and negative, like gossip about someone else that is indirect but still unfair. I hope Jiminy is still sitting with me even in my bubbles.

DOVE

How Intensely Do You Love Yourself? BY DOVE

By JoEllen Collins

Sector Focus While others may be distracted by chasing the next shiny thing, gain some grounding in your understanding of equity sectors. Our favored equity sectors include Information Technology, Communication Services, Financials, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary. We view these sectors opportunistically, as they are leveraged to the economy in the near term and have long-term growth potential due to the increased consumption of e-commerce, streaming, advertising, broadband expansion, and fintech.

INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART

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life better or happier. Klaus Obermeyer just turned 101 years of age. He still downhill skis with grace. He states that the secret to his long-lasting vitality is the following: “If you are not active, you are usually not alive, so I believe in continuously staying active,” and consistency is the key. Klaus eats healthfully, avoids sugar and drinks lots of water and, most importantly, he tells people “always to be happy and enjoy life.” Do you know yourself well enough to know what makes you happy, or is your life the same old rut that you have been doing because it is familiar? Really take an assessment of how you use your energy. Why do you spend your time the way you do? Is your mind deeply engaged in what you do? Does time pass without you being aware because you are so engrossed in your creations? That is the way to truly live abundantly. It is never about money. It is about where your focus goes. Be brave enough to shake your life up. Give yourself permission to change your ways. Be there for yourself just once in a while. Work on letting your dreams come true. Give them energy and you will be amazed at the freedom you will feel. Go ahead, wear your sandals with socks! Be happy!!! The little things you give yourself will blossom into bigger things and your freedom to be will expand. Sing out loud while you walk the Bow Bridge trail. Nature will love it. Happiness is but a decision away. Dove

COWBOY POETRY

BRYCE ANGELL

Two Count Auctioneer On Tuesdays, while growing up, we’d head to the cattle sale. I’d sit next to my father, back behind the cable rail. And being young and curious, like boys at eight years old, I quickly learned the breed of cows while they were being sold. I soon discovered black and whites were dairy in their make. And steers with bawley faces soon would be a T-bone steak. But most of all the time I spent while at the cattle sale, was listening to the auctioneers. Their voice could sing a tale. No auctioneer would sound the same. They rattled out their style. My mind would wander from the cows. Just listening was worthwhile. I could not rightly figure how they auctioneered so fast. And hollered out the numbers, not a one to be outclassed. Well, that was sixty years ago, still vivid in my brain. To be an auctioneer might yet be something to attain. So, I opened up the Internet and watched a video. The auctioneer was rattling and now I know I’m too danged slow. ‘Cuz I couldn’t wrap my tongue around my worn-out crooked teeth. My doubt was taking over, causing me some disbelief. But then I found an auction chant just right for this old kid. It goes, “I’m bid one dollar, now two, now two dollar bid.” I practiced that one-liner for a week or maybe two. And came to realize I’m introducing something new. My family won’t believe their ears. An auctioneer I’ll be. Who knows, I might be famous. I’ll sign autographs for free! So, if you need an auctioneer who only counts to two. Then, pardner, I’m your man. I’ll auctioneer until I’m blue. — Bryce Angell Bryce Angell - The outdoors has always been a large part of my life. My father was an outfitter and guide for 35 years and I was there to shoe and care for the horses and help him do the cooking. We took many great trips into the Yellowstone area. Even now that I’m older, we still ride into the Tetons, Yellowstone and surrounding areas. My poems are mostly of personal experience. I am now retired and enjoying life to the fullest. I plan to do more riding and writing.

Wood River Weekly

4TH ESTATE

By Eric Valentine

n last week’s 4th Estate column, guest writer Ken Stokes took a look at the blend of political correctness and honest merit when it comes to doling out Oscars to actors, directors and producers of films. (For the record, it’s now PC to only use the term “actor” not “actress”—in most cases). This last week another, and very different, example showed how organizations play the PC game to keep a diverse range of people happy enough to keep their industry profitable. Enter: The NFL Draft—a three-day mardi gras of hero worship and team devotion wherein every National Football League franchise selects a handful of 20-year-olds who everyone expects to turn their loser team into a winner or their winning team into a dynasty. It’s as close to delusional as you can get in public, and it’s fantastic. I’m a lifelong football fan and even though my team, which will remain nameless—and no, it’s not the literally nameless team from Washington— didn’t have a first-round pick, I was glued to all three hours of the festivities. Apparent during those three hours of TV were a handful of gestures by the NFL to address the redresses the league has taken on in recent years, from concussion

NEWS

May 5 - 18, 2021

NFL So PC

dangers and players’ domestic and sexual abuse records all the way up to the worst travesty the nation has ever endured, the taking of a knee during the National Anthem. While the concussion and criminal stuff got mostly pushed aside, the NFL made it clear they love the American flag. A bit of it is even in their logo! After a drafted player’s name got called this year, the normal rundown of who the kid is and why he’s going to make millions was explained, just like every year. But in 2021, whenever a player had ties to the U.S Armed Forces, out came the special graphics and family photos of dad and grandpa serving in Vietnam, World War II, etc. It wasn’t every player, not even close. So it didn’t feel inappropriate; rather, it just felt patronizing. If it’s the price we pay for letting players exercise their First Amendment rights, then cheers to compromise. But it only makes the question “Why do we perform the National Anthem during sports events, anyway?” that much more legitimate. Can you imagine that being done before every movie you ever watch? Then there was the big leather lounge chair brought on stage. It was literally the chair unpopular NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sat in as he hosted last year’s pandemic-plundered celebration

Sun Valley Firefighter Of The Year 2020

Firefighter and EMT Isaac Blundell was voted Sun Valley Firefighter of the Year for 2020. Isaac is flanked by Fire Chief Taan Robrahn (left) and Assistant Chief Rich Bauer. Photo credit: Wood River Weekly.

NEWS

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$5,000 Reward For Arson Info

If you have information that helps investigators find the arsonist behind the Croy Street Exchange building in Hailey, you may also have a big check waiting for you. Authorities made it official last week that they will be offering a $5,000 reward for information that destroyed one of Hailey’s most prominent downtown business buildings March 16, which was slated to become workforce housing soon. Idaho State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl is leading the investigation, along with federal fire investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Anybody with information regarding the fire can use the state’s arson number at 1-877-75-ARSON to provide details.

St. Luke’s Garners Top 15 Healthcare Status

Idaho and eastern Oregon may be among the most remote locations in the country, but people here have access to some of the best healthcare. That’s according to IBM Watson Health, which has again included St. Luke’s on its list of the nation’s Top 15 health systems. This is the eighth straight year the Idaho-based not-for-profit healthcare organization has received the prestigious national recognition. St. Luke’s is one of the youngest health systems on the Top 15 list, which includes such renowned healthcare systems as Mayo Clinic and Saint Alphonsus Health System. “This award validates what we already know to be true, that St. Luke’s dedicated and skilled team is committed to providing the highest quality and safest care possible,” Dr. Bart Hill, St. Luke’s vice president and chief quality officer, said. “Every

in his home. NFL fans—well, some NFL fans—were offended by last year’s scaled-back event and inability to watch games in person next to other fans they don’t know. (More than 577,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, if you’re keeping score.) So Goodell appeased those fans (or, he at least tried to) by letting one lucky fan per team sit in that chair as their team announced who it was selecting next. At first it seemed a pathetic consolation prize, like a participation trophy for kids sans the participation. Until you saw the fans who sat in the chair. They could not have been more appeased, or pleased. All of them in full team regalia, and many with personalized wardrobe combinations that tipped their hat to their favorite pro wrestler. But then there were some saving graces, the players. Sure, some of the players not old enough to drink legally had diamond-clad suits they were sporting weeks before their contracts will be signed. But, forget about that display of unnecessary decadence. Instead, focus on Alabama running back Najee Harris, who is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers after being drafted by them in round 1. Harris held his draft party at the homeless shelter where he spent much of his youth.

ERIC VALENTINE

Members of the Washington Football Team take a knee during a recent playing of the National Anthem. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Oh, and upon his arrival there, he and his mom brought the residents boxes of food. When you’re feeling bombarded by all the PC stuff, coming from the right or the left, take a look at the video on YouTube at tinyurl.com/42h9vned. It’s not political, it’s just correct.

PHOTOBOX

Meet And Greet For Idaho Lieutenant Governor

A private event was held for our lieutenant governor, Janice McGeachin, in Hailey, Idaho. In attendance was Eric Parker, who ran for state senator; State Senator Christy Zito; and special guest Nate Silvester. Over 40 people attended the event. From left: State Senator Christy Zito, Bonnie McGough, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, Leigh Wiseman. Photo credit: Steve Crosser

BRIEFS single member of our frontline staff is a true hero for what they’ve done this year in the face of increased personal risk.” The 2021 15 Top Health Systems report evaluated 324 U.S. health systems and the 2,522 hospitals that make up those health systems. Using specific clinical and administrative performance metrics, IBM Watson Health concentrated on metrics like how well patients recovered, whether they were satisfied with their care, how long they were in the hospital, what that treatment cost, any complications that may have occurred, and the number of lives ultimately saved.

St. Luke’s Welcomes Vaccine Walk-Ins

In an effort to eliminate barriers that prevent people from getting the protection against COVID-19, St. Luke’s has opened for no-appointment-necessary vaccine delivery. The state also announced this week that people are no longer required to live or work in Idaho to get the vaccine here. This means that anyone who comes to a St. Luke’s vaccination site will be vaccinated. And, it will cost patients nothing. Teens 16 and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine, which is available at St. Luke’s sites in Nampa, Meridian, Boise and Twin Falls. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to provide consent at the time of the walk-in appointment. If the parent or guardian is not present, written or verbal consent will be needed. Patients should note that COVID-19 vaccination days and hours vary by site and can change. Walk-ins are only accepted on designated vaccine days and times. Call 208-381-9500 for details. Scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination is also still an option. Patients can use myChart or call 208-381-9500 to make an appointment.

Wood River Weekly

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May 5 - 18, 2021

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Wood River Weekly

CHAMBER CORNER

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May 5 - 18, 2021

MIKE MCKENNA

Hard way Pipeline

The Hunger Coalition Fulfills A Dream

Bloom Community Food Center readies to open Steel Fencing

Kelly Wardell 208-309-0916

By Mike McKenna

here’s an old saying that we should “bloom where we are planted.” For well over a decade, The Hunger Coalition did just that. They made the most out of their imperfect building on the southern edge of Bellevue. The space was too small to do everything our local food bank needed to do. So they adapted and scrambled to meet a steadily growing need for food assistance in Blaine County—a need that has been dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Despite the challenges that the coronavirus pandemic has created, The Hunger Coalition has recently fulfilled a dream they had worked on for a decade. They have moved into a newly remodeled facility on the other side of Honeysuckle Drive. “This is absolutely a dream come true,” Jeanne Liston, The Hunger Coalition’s executive director, said about the new facility. The 14,000-square-foot building and four-acre property that used to house Clearwater Landscaping and Power Equipment is now home to the Bloom Community Food Center (BCFC). The BCFC houses offices for their 19 staff members, a partner room for other nonprofits to use, a commercial kitchen, a huge increase in cold and dry storage, and two large greenhouses. Adding a commercial kitchen is the biggest change from their old facility. It will be used for education classes, to allow them to process some of the foods they grow at their Bellevue location, as well as at both the Bloom Community Farm and Hope Garden in Hailey. “Our goal is to be a community resource and to be as sustainable as we can. This facility allows us to be more efficient. We can buy and store more food at better costs and we can continue to grow and produce healthy foods,” said Brooke Pace McKenna, who serves as the director of operations for The Hunger

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Coalition. “This new facility makes a positive change in the lives of people in our community.” Founded in 2005, The Hunger Coalition had been seeing a steady growth in the needs for their services well before COVID hit. They knew they needed more space and had been fundraising for the project for several years. They are happy to report that the BCFC was not only completed on time, but it came in under budget. While the facility has yet to open to the public because of the ongoing pandemic, they are hoping to do a ribbon cutting in June. “We want to eliminate food insecurity in Blaine County and you can only do that by trying to solve all the issues that create it,” Brooke said. “This new facility isn’t about us or just for us. It benefits everybody.”

CLASSIC SUDOKU See answer on page 11

For more information about The Hunger Coalition, go to TheHungerCoalition.org or call 208-788-0121.

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