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FIRE NEWS Arsonist Arrested PG 2

The Airbnb Problem PGS 4-5

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Spotted Knapweed PG 8

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WOOD RIVER WEEKLY

YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

Free | July 28 - August 10, 2021 | Vol. 2 - No. 15 | woodriverweekly.com

“Happiness is the highest form of health.” ~Dalai Lama

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

The future site of Family Health Services in Bellevue . Photo credit: Wood River Weekly

$1 million grant from St. Luke’s brings clinic for uninsured, underinsured to Bellevue

By Eric Valentine

amily Health Services has confirmed plans to open a medical, dental, and behavioral health clinic, with pharmacy services in the city of Bellevue to serve the uninsured and underinsured in Blaine County thanks to a $1 million grant from the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation. A date for a grand opening has not yet been set, but a November or December launch was probable, Family Health Services CEO Aaron Houston said. “I believe this is one of the most impactful efforts that (the foundation) and the hospital have undertaken,” said Megan Tanous, the foundation’s chief development officer. Creating Health The foundation says that financial situations have prevented many Blaine County patients from accessing healthcare and that more than 700 Valley residents have had to travel to Family Health Services clinics in Jerome or Fairfield just last year. All services for the uninsured will be significantly discounted based on a patient’s Federal Poverty Level (200% or below). Family Health Services also sees a high number of Medicaid patients, specifically in need of dental and behavioral healthcare. Many Blaine County behavioral health providers and dentists do not accept

Medicaid. Family Health Services works to reach people who may be reluctant to access care or who may not be aware of how to access care. Often, those managing chronic disease fall into this category and end up needing urgent or emergency care that may have been preventable. Adding a location in Bellevue removes the barrier of missing work and/or school as well as incurring additional expenses related to transportation to receive services outside of Blaine County. Creating Jobs Some potentially new Valley folks won’t be needing government help covering healthcare costs. That’s because Family Health Services will also be a job creator here, with most of those positions typically covered with health benefits. The organization is working to hire: • 2 full-time nurse practitioners • 1 full-time dentist • 1 part-time hygienist • 1 full-time licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) counselor • 1 full-time pharmacist • Bilingual support staff

Creating Space Family Health Services has secured a lease for a 4,136-square-foot building in Bellevue. The building needs a remodel to accommodate the proposed services. The grant from the SLWR Foundation will assist with the remodel and start-up costs including equipment, as well as financial support for the five-year lease. The clinic is slated to open in the fall of 2021. Typically, these types of clinics can secure government grants to fund start-up costs. These government grants are based on median income and health statistics. But Blaine County’s median income is too high, and its health statistics are too good to qualify for a start-up grant. Without the foundation’s support, Family Health Services would not be able to provide these important and needed services to patients in Blaine County. Carmen Jacobsen, chief operating officer/CNO, SLWR, concluded, “We are pleased to welcome Family Health Services and look forward to partnering with them to help improve access to care and to further deliver on our mission of improving the health of everyone in the communities we serve.” To support this project, contact Megan Tanous, (208) 727-8444 or www.slwrf.org. For information about Family Health Services employment opportunities or services, visit www.fhsid.org.

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Beyond Wildfire

J U LY 28 - A U G U S T 10, 2021

FIRE

Arson, union contracts keep fire officials busy

By Eric Valentine

ocal firefighting officials are keeping busy handling non-wildfire-related matters, too. In recent days, authorities have arrested a Hailey man for arson, continued educating—warning, really—about severe weather conditions all over the region, and in Ketchum signed an unprecedented three-year union deal.

Arson Very early morning on Sunday, July 25— roughly 1:30 a.m.—officers arrived at the Hailey residence of Stanton Pavlicek, 29, which was being overcome by flames. By 3 a.m. the same morning, firefighters had the blaze knocked down after it already engulfed two rooms of the 330 Pocahontas Drive dwelling, and by 5 a.m. police were booking Pavlicek for arson in the second degree. Sergeant Todd Peck of the Hailey Police Department said investigators gathered a variety of burned items and suspect accelerant was doused onto at least one couch cushion, causing the blaze. The remaining items are being analyzed to determine if they contain accelerants and, if so, which type, Peck said. The arson event is the Stanton Pavlicek of Hailey second incident in Hai- is accused of arson. Pholey in recent months. In to credit: Blaine County March, the commercial Sheriff’s Office building at the corner of River and Croy streets, known as Croy Street Exchange, was totally destroyed by flames. Calls to the state fire marshal leading that investigation were not returned before press deadline Tuesday,

but Peck said no connection was known. “At this time we haven’t found any tie or connection to the Croy building fire,” Peck said. Architectural renderings for workforce housing there were slated for an April presentation to the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission. The building was empty at the time of the arson, as previous tenants there had been given lease termination notices back in November of 2020. A $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest is still being offered by state and federal officials. As for Pavlicek, he posted his $7,500 bond on Monday and has a preliminary hearing date set for Aug. 9 at 4:30 p.m. in Blaine County felony magistrate court with Judge Jennifer Haemmerle presiding. On Monday, Haemmerle denied Pavlicek’s request for a public defender. Union Meanwhile, in Ketchum, the city’s 11 full-time firefighters will be getting a raise. The City of Ketchum and the Local 4758 union of the International Association of Fire Fighters agreed earlier this month on a three-year collective bargaining agreement. The new deal runs from October through Sept. 30, 2024. Typically, the agreements would be renewed annually. Officials have said that the pay increase closes what was in some cases a 20% difference between Ketchum personnel and other Valley firefighters.

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NEWS

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A map by Airdna, a leading vacation rental data aggregator, shows rental units along the Valley. Image credit: Airdna

As Valley housing crisis escalates, so do the numbers of Airbnbs

By Eric Valentine

hen former Valley resident Mark Oliver announced he’d be closing down his Ketchum-based hotel and entertainment venue known as the Hot Water Inn, he left a massive Facebook post that was largely positive and grateful. But the post from April 2019 also contained a sincere warning: “This leads me to the lack of housing, VRBO, AirBnB and Homeaway,” Oliver wrote in his Dear John. “If you own a rental and currently do this, I don’t fault you for doing so, but know doing this is killing this town.” While it’s a stretch to call Oliver’s words prophetic—every resort town has for years been dealing with similar affordability issues when it comes to housing its working class—it’s not a stretch to say the Valley’s housing challenges have become the Valley’s housing crisis. Mayors and other leaders here are making regional and national news for considering “tent cities” as a band-aid to the issue. A July issue of “The Wall Street Journal” had this headline and underride: “Ketchum, Idaho, Has Plenty of Available Jobs, but Workers Can’t Afford Housing: Businesses in the town, near the Sun Valley ski resort, can’t fill openings as applicants are unable find a place to live; mayor proposed letting workers pitch tents in a park.” Tell us something we don’t know While the WSJ article does what WSJ articles do—craft a perfectly told journalistic story—it may not have covered the whole story. The article points out the age-old market-driven issue of how the nature of resort communities makes them expensive to reside in and how the workers who make those communities run have trouble finding affordable places to live. It even deep-dived a bit to tell the plight of Ketchum city council member Michael David, a ski shop worker, who explained that he has been staying at friends’ and relatives’ vacation homes in recent years. What it didn’t do was dive into the issue of temporary housing apps like the ones Oliver noted; specifically, how badly has the industry impacted housing availability. Although there’s no comprehensive or perfect metric, common sense dictates that when one residential property is put into the vacation rental market, it’s being taken out of the residential rental market. Assuming most working-class people can’t afford to live alone, and since some working-class people actually have a spouse and children, it seems 3 is a safe number to use in the following math/logic. According to Airdna, a leading vacation rental data aggregator, the Valley has a total of 943 active units on apps like Airbnb, and almost all of them are entire homes, not single rooms. Multiply that by the number 3 and you get 2,829—a tad more than the total population of Ketchum. Since 3 may be a factor too high, multiply the active units on Airbnb-type apps by 2 and you get 1,886—about 500 more people than the population of Sun Valley. Incidentally, several of those housing units not available to residents are owned by Ketchum city council member Jim Slanetz, who acknowledges “the buzz on the street” about his dabbling in Airbnb is not thought of positively. Slanetz explains that he is empathetic to renters and the challenges they face, but says, overall, he has actually added to the local housing supply. “I’ve created more housing than I’ve taken,” explains Slanetz. That’s in part because Slanetz has built single-family dwellings that he says he rents out long-term to residents. And attached to his personal residence are two additional dwelling units that are also rented out long-term to residents. “I basically live in a triplex where everyone renting here lives here,” Slanetz said. Continued NO VACANCY Nest Page

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J U LY 28 - A U G U S T 10, 2021

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Ketchum city council member and Airbnb operator Jim Slanetz. Photo credit: City of Ketchum

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Housing Crisis Escalates Continued from Previous Page

Interestingly, two of Slanetz’s Airbnbs today are not standard dwelling units anyway. They are treehouses, which were built almost a decade ago, Slanetz said, so that the rental income from them made it possible for him to make a life in the Valley pencil out. “I invested in this town. I didn’t have a ton of money coming here but I took a chance and it worked out,” Slanetz said. As for the traditional residential units of his that are off the residential market and on the Airbnb active list, Slanetz said those are all in the community core, which is zoned to be commercial or residential and in a resort town is understood to be largely short-term vacation spots, not working-class housing solutions. “I could turn those into a bar” or some other kind of establishment, Slanetz points out, but instead he is providing places to stay for people who end up frequenting businesses here. The math spells a big problem Nonetheless, the dilemma is still real. And it leads to the question: What can a city do about it? Just last week, Ketchum officials met with city leaders from Vail, Colorado, who faced—and got one step ahead of, at least—the same housing problem. They enacted and funded a law that paid residential homeowners to place deed restrictions on their units so only people in the local workforce would be allowed to live there. But it’s not clear if that would pass muster in Idaho. “The problem lies at the state level,” Slanetz said. “Pressure needs to be placed there.” Slanetz is referring to the 2017 Idaho law on land use planning that prohibited local jurisdictions from denying people the right to list on Airbnb. “Neither a county nor a city may enact or enforce any ordinance that has the express or practical effect of prohibiting short-term rentals or vacation rentals in the county or city,” the law states. It adds, “Neither a county nor a city can regulate the operation of a short-term rental marketplace.” But it hasn’t stopped Ketchum from taking action. “I am delighted that the council supported our proposal to permit recreational vehicles (RVs) to be used as temporary housing on private land,” wrote Ketchum mayor Neil Bradshaw. Permits will be required for qualified workers to live in an RV. The council also supported looking into regulation of short-term rentals by focusing on the health and safety of the community. That 2017 state law has a caveat to it: a county or city can restrict short-term rentals if they pose a clear health or safety risk. A draft ordinance will be available for public comment at the Aug. 2 city council meeting, the mayor said. Depending on how Ketchum—or any Valley city, for that matter—moves forward, the problem may one day lie at the Supreme Court of the state.

No Vacancy

A look at each Valley city’s number of active rentals on Airbnb and other temporary housing apps: Sun Valley:........................................... 351 Ketchum: ............................................ 482 Hailey: ................................................ 82 Bellevue: ............................................ 20 Fairfield: ............................................. 8 Carey and Picabo data unavailable. Source: Airdna

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W O O D R I V E R W E E K L Y • J U L Y 2 8 - A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 2 1

NEWS

IN BRIEF

19 Wagon Days Posters Up For Bid, For Charity

For more information about the Wagon Days poster collection, please contact Anna Mathieu at (208) 309-1329. The full collection can also be viewed online at www.papooseclub.org/wagon-days-fundraiser.

Since 1977, the Wagon Days Pancake Breakfast has been a community tradition and an important fundraiser for the Papoose Club, a local nonprofit supporting Valley youth programs. Because of COVID-19, the club has decided to put the Pancake Breakfast on hold for another year. While cancellation of the event is a blow to the organization’s fundraising efforts—the two-day breakfast typically nets more than $10,000— the Papoose Club has a unique opportunity this year to recoup the funds. Wood River Valley locals David and Renae Spaulding recently donated to the Papoose Club a 19-piece original framed collection of Wagon Days posters. The group plans to sell this magnificent collection and use funds from the sale to make up for the lost revenue of the Pancake Breakfast. David Spaulding, who passed away earlier this year, was a pilot—a “yellow coat” with Sun Valley Company—and a fly-fishing guide. His wife, Renae, was a longtime member of the Papoose Club. The organization said it is grateful for the Spauldings’ timely donation and the opportunity to place the art collection with a special collector and aficionado of Wagon Days. Two of 19 Wagon Days The collection contains 19 framed commemorative commemorative posters are Wagon Days posters, a number of which have been on sale to help raise funds signed by the artist. With posters from as far back as thelost due to cancellation of 1976 Bicentennial celebration, the collection is a lucky the nonprofit Papoose Club’s annual pancake breakfast. find for someone who wants to own a piece of local history and support the Papoose Club’s philanthropic Photo credit: Papoose Club efforts at the same time.

Deer Collision Causes Vehicle Fire

On Tuesday, July 20, at approximately 10:23 p.m., Blaine County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a vehicle fire on Highway 75 near mile marker 103 approximately one mile north of the U.S. Highway 20 junction. Upon investigation, it was determined that Howard B. Wong, age 59, of Bellevue, Wash., and a passenger were traveling northbound on Hwy. 75 in a red 1999 Volkswagen Eurovan when they collided with a deer crossing the highway from the northbound shoulder. The impact created a fire that fully engulfed the vehicle and closed both lanes of Hwy. 75. Both of the occupants were wearing seatbelts and received only minor injuries. The van, which was completely burned inside and out, was towed from the scene. The deer scampered away from the scene prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. “We want to remind people that wildlife is a significant road hazard in rural counties such as ours and to remain alert while driving,” stated Sheriff Harkins. “We are seeing more wildlife traveling down into the Wood River Valley from the backcountry because of drought conditions. Hitting an animal can cause significant vehicle damage or injuries to the occupants. Please use extreme caution while driving in the early mornings or evenings.” Fire crews extinguish flames from a vehicle after a collision with a deer on Hwy. 75. Photo credits: Blaine County Sheriff’s Office

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ADVERTORIALS BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS

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Centaurea stoebe (Centaurea maculosa) produces a bloom of purplish flowering heads that are each delimited by an array of ornate bracts. photo credit: Matt Lavin, accessed via wikipedia

Can You Spot Spotted Knapweed?

By Blaine Bug Crew

daho offers a variety of options when trying to identify this noxious invader. There is meadow, squarrose, spotted, diffuse and Russian, to name a few. Today we will be highlighting spotted knapweed in the Wood River Valley. This weed tends to be at higher elevations, while diffuse knapweed is on the hotter, drier floor. Some identifying characteristics set spotted knapweed apart from its cousins. Spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa, is an herbaceous, short-lived perennial that reproduces entirely by seed. A plant may produce up to 25,000 seeds. Seeds are brown to black in color, smooth, and less than 0.25 inches long, and can remain viable in the soil for eight years. Flowers range in color from pink to light purple and bloom from July to October. The flower head bracts are black-tipped, giving the plant its characteristic “spotted” appearance. Stems are typically 2 to 4 feet tall, with lower leaves that are deeply lobed and upper leaves more linear. Spotted knapweed ranges from moist rangeland habitats to abandoned areas. Thirteen biological control agents have been approved for release for the knapweed complex, which includes spotted knapweed. Cyphocleonus achates is a robust biological control agent that can attack spotted (preferred host) and diffuse knapweeds. Cyphocleonus achates overwinter as larvae in roots, where they mine the vascular tissue and reduce knapweed density. Cyphocleonus achates adults emerge from June to mid-September and feed on knapweed leaves. The adults are 0.5 to 0.6 inches long and generally live 8 to 15 weeks. Each female deposits more than 100 eggs during her lifetime. Eggs hatch in 10 to 12 days, and larvae begin feeding on roots. As you know, spotted knapweed is noxious and is easily spread. They all have different colors, but all have insect predators and can be stopped. While you are on a hike or walk and see the knapweed described here, please inform us by calling Kay Draper at (208) 727-7221. The Blaine Bug Crew would be pleased if you informed us.

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“Frankie” — 2003-2018

Honor the memory of your pet in The Wood River Weekly. This year, we’re offering 20% OFF our regular obituary rate for pet obituaries. Pet obituaries cost just 16¢ per word and include a large color photo.

To reserve space for an obituary or pet obituary, call Mandi at (208) 721-7588

For many people, their home is their largest asset and their best performing investment. The equity in a home is the difference in what it is worth and what is owed. Two dynamics, appreciation and unpaid balance, work in concert to make homeowner’s equity grow. It can be said that you appreciate the fact that your home is your best financial investment. It is also ironic that the appreciation, the increase in value, is what causes it to be your best financial investment. In a one-year period, the increase in value divided by the beginning value will determine the rate of appreciation for the year. News stories and articles frequently report statistics on appreciation for the month, the year or longer. In many cases, a national appreciation is mentioned but the local appreciation is more reflective of an individual property. The National Association of REALTORS® reports, “The median existing-home price2 for all housing types in June was $363,300, up 23.4% from June 2020 ($294,400), as every region recorded price jumps. This marks 112 straight months of year-overyear gains.” The low inventory being experienced nationwide has caused some significant appreciation that has increased homeowners’ equity. According to Black Knight, a mortgage technology and research firm, at the end of 2020, roughly 46 million homeowners held a total of $7.3 trillion in equity. If a homeowner has a mortgage on their home, while the home is appreciating, the unpaid balance is declining. An increasing portion of each payment is applied, when the payment is made, to the principal balance to retire the debt based on the term of the loan.

HEALTH BEAT

Each month the equity in the home becomes larger because the home is worth more due to appreciation and the unpaid balance is less due to amortization. Once a homeowner has sufficient equity in their home, they can borrow against it and take cash out of their home. Most lenders require that the homeowner maintain at least 20% equity position. This means that owners can borrow up to 80% of the appraised value less the amount that is currently owed on the property. The options include a cash-out refinance mortgage or a home equity line of credit, HELOC. While some institutions have stopped offering HELOCs, they are still available. The HELOC is a line of credit that is established for usually 10 years. The owner is approved, and the money is available to draw out as needed. The interest is calculated daily. Like a credit card, when the balance is paid down, the unused portion of the available credit is available again. Your real estate agent may be able to offer some lender suggestions.

ST. LUKE’S WOOD RIVER

Staying Cool And Keeping Safe On The Water W By Dr. Victoria Kincaid, St. Luke’s Resident Physician

ith the extremely high temperatures we have been experiencing, it is no surprise that people have been flocking to the water to cool down. From backyard pools to mountain lakes, the best way to enjoy these hot days is splashing around in the cool water. As enticing and fun as the water escape can be, it is also important to remember good safety practices in and around water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranks drowning as the No. 2 cause of death in children ages 1-4, and the No. 2 cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1-14. And kids are not the only ones at risk, with an estimated 11 people dying from drowning injuries per day! The water can be a dangerous place, so it is important we stay safe and know what to do in the case of an emergency on the water. Here are some tips from the CDC: • One of the most important safety precautions you can take for you and your family is to make sure that everyone has learned how to swim. The Blaine County Recreation District and Wood River Community YMCA offer swim lessons and there are private swim instructors in our community, as well. • Anyone who cannot safely swim should always be supervised and wear an approved flotation device while in deeper water. • Make swimming and water activities a social

event: always take a friend or partner. • Make sure you wear a life jacket when you are on a boat or water ski. • Protect your children from the water: make sure they are never near water unsupervised and put up a fence or gate around your home’s pool so your loved one can’t fall in accidentally. • Watch for currents! While rivers, like the Snake River, may look calm, there are strong undercurrents, so make sure you are always close to your boat or have a life jacket on. • Don’t be in or near the water in a thunderstorm. Watch for dark stormy clouds and get out of the water if there are any signs of thunder or lightning. • If you see someone struggling in the water, call for help and look for a flotation device you can throw to the person. DO NOT jump in after them. We don’t want to make two victims out of one. Keep these tips in mind and enjoy the water this summer, safely.

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W O O D R I V E R W E E K L Y • J U L Y 2 8 - A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 2 1

Fishing R epoRt

COMM ENT ARY

NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR JULY 28 - AUGUST 10 FROM PICABO ANGLER

few cooler days and nights, with some added haze and cloud cover also coupled with a reduced amount of irrigation, has left Silver Creek in much better shape this week. The headwaters of both the Lost and the Big Wood are super-cold in the mornings and things seem to be looking up everywhere. Silver Creek continues to have wonderful Trico spinner falls in the morning mixed with some small Baetis. The fish in the open areas downstream of Highway 20 are grouping up in the a.m. and eating with abandon for several hours. The fishing isn’t easy, but the visual reward is spectacular, and when you do get a fish to eat, it is a rewarding feeling! If you fish the Trico, be on the water early and try to be off the river as things are winding down around 10 or 10:30. With water temps at 60 degrees in the Preserve this morning, we hope to see this fishery open back up again soon. There is great fishing to be had on the upper Big Wood and the upper Lost rivers as well. Small attractor flies are the way to go. Little nymphs, like Copper Johns and Pheasant Tails, are also great to use as a dropper fly. The water stays cool throughout the day and anglers can continuously move up through the system searching for the right conditions. This is a great time of year to move up into some small stream systems. Check out the North Fork Big Wood, East Fork Big Wood, North Fork Lost River, Warm Springs Creek, Trail Creek, and any beaver ponds you find along the way! If you fish these little rivers, just take your dry-fly box. A simple Parachute Adams or Elk-Hair Caddis will bring these little river denizens to the top. Conditions are improving but we ask that everyone continue to take great care of the fish, like you have so far this summer. Kudos to this angling community for acting according to the conditions and keeping our wonderful fisheries intact. With all of that said, Hopper season is upon us and it is a great opportunity to catch fish with heavy rods as well as heavy leaders and tippets. You can land these fish quickly with a Hopper setup and turn them loose without a prolonged fight. Enjoy yourself on the water! Be kind and stay kind! Happy fishing, everyone!

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

FRAN JEWELL

When Dogs Abuse People

By Fran Jewell

very day I am approached by dog owners whose dogs have practically pulled their arm out of the socket, or jumped on them and knocked them down, or stolen an expensive turkey off the counter. In one incident, years ago, I had a client whose dog actually pulled him over and broke his face, requiring three reconstructive surgeries! Then the dog pulled over his wife, who ended up having to go to physical therapy for six months for her back! This was the epitome of the worst case I have ever seen. The work to make this dog safe was on the highest level of difficulty because the puppy was not taught respect and leadership early on. Usually, we think of a dangerous dog as one that is likely to bite or threatens someone. A dangerous dog is also one that threatens someone’s health or is a danger to the dog itself. When I see these things happening, I have to make it perfectly clear to the owner that this is not acceptable and must be changed. It is not just a phase a young dog is going through that he will grow out of. It is the dog’s lack of respect for its owner that we have actually taught him, perhaps inadvertently. The answers are not always simple. First and foremost, the dog owner must believe that these behaviors are indeed dangerous to himself and the dog. There are many ways to approach dangerous behaviors. Prevention is always the best cure, in my book. That means when you bring a puppy home, you start training the minute the puppy comes in the door. Think-

ing a puppy should be given special privileges because they are young is very old-school thinking. Some still believe that obedience training should not start until the puppy is SIX MONTHS OLD! We know that puppies are learning machines and that there is a critical imprinting period up to 16 weeks old. What you allow is teaching them behavior that they will do for the rest of their lives. My tiny puppies learn how to “sit,” “down,” their name, “leave it,” “off,” wait for their meal and sit at the door to go out, and how to “watch me” before they go to their new homes. This means how young you start a dog in training is no longer restricted to half-a-year old! In many cases, allowing or encouraging jumping and pulling on the leash at a tender age is a life sentence to living with a disrespectful, dangerous dog as he gets older, bigger and stronger. It is very difficult behavior to stop once a puppy practices it for several months. When trying to work with an older dog that is unruly, it is imperative to try different methods of training to determine which one works best for that dog and for you. One training method, as you might find on the Internet, may not fit your dog and stop unruly behaviors. One of my most disliked online training recommendations is to see jumping as “attention seeking,” then recommending turning your back to the dog to ignore it. It is not attention seeking. It is the dog or puppy exploring to see who you are as a leader. In the dog world, the higher you are [in stature], the higher you are in social status. Turning your back on the dog is actually YOU submitting to the dog, who is seeking to know social status. Walking into the dog reclaims your personal space and is usually much

SCIENCE OF PLACE

It is such a delight to live with a well-behaved dog! Photo credit: Fran Jewell

more effective. The point here is that first you must see unruly behaviors as dangerous to your own health, especially when winter comes and you add ice to the mixture. It is dangerous for the dog that might get pancreatitis from eating inappropriate food or running into the street in front of a car. Focus on prevention early on if you have a puppy. If you have an older rescue, explore ALL the training methods or a seek a trainer experienced in many methods to help determine what will work best to help everyone stay happy and healthy. It is such a delight to live with a well-behaved dog! 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

A Night Without Bats

BY HARRY WEEKES

magine this: You are a biology nerd and over the course of your 53 laps around the sun you have rubbed shoulders (and, occasionally, hands and heads) with our friends, the chiroptera—the bats. On one hand, the reason is simple—bats make up almost 20% of all mammals, which means that as the second most speciose group of fur-covered fuzzballs outside of the rodents, it is hard not to hear about and otherwise come in contact with them. This brings us to the other hand, which highlights bats because of the way they have flitted, dodged and dipped their way into our culture, from their malevolent association with vampires to their benevolent association with crimefighter Bruce Wayne. So, when someone asks, “Are you up for going to Austin, Texas, to see Willie Nelson?” the thoughts that dart across your mind have less to do with Country-Western crooning than with something about a bridge and a whole lot of bats. The answer, of course, is “Yes.” And so it was that I found myself standing on the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, about 30 minutes before sunset, right smack in the dab of “the season,” with a growing throng of folks getting ready to be wowed by bats. Several hundred thousand bats. Several hundred thousand Mexican free-tailed bats that find the undersides of the bridge the perfect place to roost and have their babies. Nightly, there’s a one- to two-hour window when the show happens, when great columns of bats shoot out into the darkening skies to eat something like 30,000 pounds of insects. This major ecosystem service bats provide, and the spectacle of miles of bats streaming into Texas sunset skies, turned a perceived nuisance and public hazard into a welcome and celebrated showcase, now embraced and promoted. On our way across the bridge, a film crew was interviewing a kindred spirit—an older man in what can only be called a “biology outfit,” complete with notebook in his pocket and camera around his neck. While I stood off to the side with Georgia (we’re the shy biological types), my wife and Georgia’s boyfriend Connor (the not-shy biological types) got closer, then demanded we come over to meet none other than Dr. Merlin Tuttle, quite literally the Batman of biology nerds. And so it was that I stood shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Tuttle and a Bolivian film crew and watched… the sun set, and darkness fall, and no bats emerge. Dr. Tuttle’s reasoning for one of the “worst nights he’s seen”—simple, it had been wet, there were lots of bugs, and the bats weren’t hungry enough to come out before it was totally dark, when they could emerge more safely (they are preyed upon by raptors). And maybe, Dr. Tuttle added, as necessary micro-meteorologists, the bats somehow

Emergence of the bats of the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, at dusk. Photo credit: Peter Potrowl, accessed via Wikimedia

knew that the weather fronts that push the insects they eat into the air were not going to be best until later, so they just waited. Hmmmm. Think about that knowledge. There were some apologies to me as we shuffled off the bridge, mostly because it felt like the viewing was a bust. In terms of bats seen, that was certainly the case. But there is something important in appreciating what we didn’t see, something that cuts across all of my usual observations: the power of mystery, how not being able to predict things is an important lesson in everything from productive wonder to humility, that despite so much of our desire to the contrary, Nature, the big ‘N,’ actually works on her own rhythms, not ours. Sometimes, many times, you go out filled with expectation and hope, and you hit pause. They tell me there are Mexican free-tailed bats in Austin. Of the million or so clinging to the concrete within twenty feet of my shoes, I did not see a single one. And it was awesome. Harry Weekes is the founder and head of school at The Sage School in Hailey. This is his 50th year in the Wood River Valley, where he lives with Hilary and one of their three baby adults—Simon. The other members of the flock, Georgia and Penelope, are currently fledging at Davidson College in North Carolina and Middlebury College in Vermont, respectively.

W O O D R I V E R W E E K LY

MONEY MATTERS

KRISTIN HOVENCAMP

Don’t Sell Yourself Short By Kristin Hovencamp

raditionally, short selling, or shorting stock, was once thought to be a trading strategy employed only by professional traders and hedge fund managers. Today, retail traders have increased their short stock interest. Short selling as a tactic is used to profit from a decline in a security’s price and is the opposite of buying a long position and betting that the price will go up in value. A short sale occurs when a seller borrows shares of a security from a broker-dealer. The borrowed shares are immediately sold to buyers willing to pay market price. A short seller is anticipating they will be able to repurchase and replace the borrowed shares in the future at a lower cost. The borrowed shares must be returned to the lender by a specified date. The difference between the stock sell price and the buyback price is the short seller’s profit or loss. Seller beware. The risk of loss on a short sell is unlimited because, in theory, a stock’s price can rise as high as the market is willing to pay, whereas when you buy a security, the most you can lose is the cost of your investment. Short sellers must place trades using a margin Kristin Hovencamp is an Investaccount. Margin allows you to buy and sell secu- ment executive and director rities by borrowing money from a broker-dealer. of business development with HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEBecause you are investing with borrowed mon- MENT, LLC. ey, you are using leverage, increasing the potential profit or loss of your investment. Capitalizing on falling asset prices has gained momentum amongst retail traders and is no longer a strategy limited to professional short sellers. To persevere in the high-stakes arena of short selling, one must have a bearish view of the market or a particular security. That said, “You don’t see any Fifth Avenue mansions built by bears.” –James R. Keene. Kristin Hovencamp is an Investment Executive at RJFS, and Director of Business Development with HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC, which is independent of Raymond James and is not a registered broker/dealer. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Some strategies may not be appropriate for all investors. Contact a qualified professional regarding your situation before making any investments. 675 Sun Valley Road, Suite J1 + J2 Ketchum, Idaho 83340 208.726.0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com

INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART

What Are You Holding In?

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J U LY 28 - A U G U S T 10, 2021

ON LIFE’S TERMS

JOELLEN COLLINS

The Year Of The Woman By JoEllen Collins

hen I listened to Admiral James Stavridis at the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, I noticed nodding heads during much of his presentation. He is the author of the novel “2034: A Novel of the Next World War.” In the question time, he was asked, if he might label future years with titles like “The Year of China,” what would he assign this current year. He answered quickly, “The Year of the Woman.” More nods of agreement. I thought about this comment as I worked on the final days of a poetry reading at the Reinheimer Ranch this past Saturday, a benefit for The Senior Connection titled “The Beauty of Brilliance.” It featured local (and extraordinary) women actors reading selections of poems by female poets whose works ranged from the 19th and mid-20th centuries to a mélange of women who were able to find their voices and publish after World War II. We highlighted traditional poets like Emily Dickinson and Edna St. Vincent Millay, and then women as varied as Sharon Olds, Naomi Shihab Nye, Maya Angelou, Linda Pastan and Margaret Atwood (who most know from other genres). I found their poems more meaningful than I ever imagined as I pored over so many I loved and taught in high schools and colleges. My talented readers gave spectacular interpretations: each seemed to embody the spirit and essence of each poem and poet. This smaller audience also occasionally nodded in recognition of the commonality of emotion. There were several moments of laughter and a few with tears. In conclusion, the six presenters and I read the many sections of Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb.” We realized how relevant the poem was for a combination of different ages and styles of the readers and JoEllen Collins—a longtime the audience. Miss Gorman’s words inspired all of us to resident of the Wood River honor the promise of our country, and thus we are grateful Valley— is an Idaho Press that this new generation can be heard by a larger audience, Club award-winning columas was not the case with our beloved Emily Dickinson, nist, a teacher, writer, fabric who only published seven poems in her life but composed artist, choir member and unabashedly proud grandma over 1700. known as “Bibi Jo.” I was proud of the unity of the concerns and lives of women so beautifully revealed. However, when asked why I didn’t choose men to read men’s works, I responded with the first caveat. I am not disrespectful of men. I like my men friends, and men in general: as a “senior” I have dealt with many fascinating gentlemen in my life. This time, I narrowed it to women because we could not possibly spend one evening sharing all the fabulous male poets I have adored through my life, along with the women I try to emulate by writing, speaking, and using words in a positive way. For example, I could spend hours just reading and listening to Irish poets. In short, it is difficult to choose from genius. If there is a man out there who would like to have the same experience, an exhibit of male poetry, concepts and talent, I’d be happy to help.

DOVE

BY DOVE

had the opportunity to listen to one of the Sun Valley Wellness Festival speakers, Milagros Phillips. She is called the race healer and I thought the education would be of value. She made an opening statement: “Don’t die with your colors inside of you.” Among many other things, Milagros is an amazing artist. What this statement says to me is, don’t let all your creative juices sit idle within you and you pass without ever expressing them in some way. You don’t have to be a painter or a singer or a writer, but it will be of great value for you to discover where your passions lie. The Universe wants you to express your gifts and put them out there. Do you know what your gifts are? Maybe you have the gift of compassion, or cooking, or gardening. The gift is important, but more important is the expression of the gifts you carry. Put them out there not just for yourself, but you will be surprised because your gift will be just what someone needs at that moment in time. How do you know what your gifts are? Go back to the time when you were a child and became so engrossed in what you were doing that you lost all track of time. That is the moment you were practicing one of your gifts. Think now of your life and do you give yourself the gift of focus. What so takes your focus that you lose yourself in the endeavor? I know have I many choices as to what I want to create. I try to make time for them every week but I have this point of discipline in me that says you must finish a project before you begin another. I am not sure if that is good or bad and I know it goes back to my childhood because you could not play until your chores were done. I have many things I love to do.

Take time with yourself and talk to your heart. What do you really love to do? What takes all of your focus? Make a list and place it on your refrigerator of 10 things that fill your soul and be sure and give yourself something off of the list every day. Your soul will so appreciate the time you give your passion. It will fill you with love for self. If you do not have love for self, you don’t have true love to give anyone else. Take a moment to love yourself, even just a little bit each day. “Don’t let your colors die inside of you.” Put them out there for you to see and you can say to yourself, “I added this to the Universe today and that is good.” What joyful thing are you going to add to the Universe today? What fills your soul? Much love, Dove. P.S. The corn is growing and the bushes are filled with lots of green raspberries.

COWBOY POETRY

BRYCE ANGELL

Your Neighbor’s Water

his time of year, when water’s scarce, and nerves are frazzled bare, I hear ‘em pray for moisture that’s been buildin’ up somewhere. The dictionary claims that moisture is a small amount. So why not pray a deluge or some inches we can count. Some years ago our irrigation ditch went dang near dry. My father didn’t say a word and never questioned why. So, I walked upstream, discovered that our neighbor dammed the ditch. I’m sure he must have thought he’d pulled it off without a hitch. He’d placed a board across the check, which backed the water flow. I guess he didn’t care he robbed the farmers down below. I called the watermaster. He was fair as I could tell. I knew he would remove the board come heaven or come hell. Well, sure enough, the watermaster pulled the extra board. The neighbor was then furious and drew a little “sword.” The watermaster chuckled. He’d been down that road before. He said, “You better move or get a bloody nose for sure!” The neighbor wouldn’t have it and he didn’t step aside. So he had to practice swimmin’; lost the “sword” and all his pride. But, stealin’ water’s when you take more water than your share. I guess he hadn’t prayed for rain or didn’t even care. Taking a neighbor’s water is like causin’ him to bleed. His crops won’t grow if there ain’t precious water that they need. I heard one ticked-off cowboy swearin’ ‘bout his water plight. “Whiskey is for drinkin’ but our water’s why we fight!” I understand the cowboy’s word ‘bout whiskey and their fight. He said, “You steal my water, you’re a doggone parasite!” — 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.

W O O D R I V E R W E E K L Y • J U L Y 2 8 - A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 2 1

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

COLUMN

er help. Where do you think the water in the coffee comes from? Billionaires like Branson and Bezos and wo billionaires who fly into space within two Musk have plenty of money and other resources to weeks of one another during a pandemic while fund things like cancer research, world food distribufires ravage North America and tion, micro loans, et al., while still fundfloods kill western Europeans and folks ing their rocket-ship enterprises. Somein central China are easy targets for critone paid $28 million to be on that first icism. This holds especially true for the Bezos flight; and he had so much money left-leaning, semi-anti-capitalist conthat when he had a scheduling conflict, sciousness out there, where social media he gave the ticket to his 18-year-old relmemes, for instance, depict a man seeing ative. The money is out there to solve two choices—“end world hunger” and big issues and fly privately to space at “fly into space”—inferring that before bilthe same time, there just needs to be the lionaires Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos moral will to do both. were building their rocket ships, they • Small Time Frame—Sometimes it’s could have spent their time and money hard for human beings to understand doing something that would have helped their place in history. We live 100 years everyone, right away. Another viral post Billionaire Richard Branson. or less. And although we study ancient shows a screenshot of a news broadcast Photo credit: John Mathew civilizations, it’s only the ones on record, about Bezos’s trip while the lower third of Smith/Flickr which start showing up in any sort of rethe screen scrolls news about how many corded history about 6,000 years ago. So, Americans cannot afford their next housing payment. to understand how something done now is necessary Let me be very clear: I am firmly on the side of “bilfor something else to happen 10,000 years from now lionaires need to pay more taxes”—if making only $500 is outside our normal mental capacity. But to imagine million isn’t enough incentive to get out Earth 10,000 years from now as not havof bed in the morning, you need to quit ing established space travel to at least a your day job and choose another line of space station outside the planet’s orbit is work. And whereas I see the value in into not imagine clearly at all. Bezos has creasing the estate tax—sorry, folks, it’s said that his desire to do his rocket ride not a death tax; it’s a tax on people who is—at least in part—to establish a roadinherit wealth not a tax on people who map for space travel future generations are dying—I haven’t jumped on the antican build on. He has even gone as far space-ride frenzy most left-leaning folks as to say one day Earth will be the resihave seemed to do. dentially zoned place and space is where Here’s why: polluted industry can happen. In other • False Choice—One of my pet peeves words, whether you agree or disagree with socio-political and economic diswith that approach, this is the visionary cussion is when we are given a false Billionaire Jeff Bezos. Photo acumen of explorers like Columbus and credit: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr choice. For instance, “government Vasco da Gama and Balboa, et al. And handouts” versus “self-reliance”—the this time, there are no natives to call savtwo are not mutually exclusive! Even Howard Shultz, age, just a tiny blue rock we may just be able to salvage. the CEO of Starbucks, needed government/taxpay-

T LATINX COMMUNITY & LIBRARY HOLD DISCUSSIONS By: Monica Carrillo

OUR VOICE COUNTS The Hailey Public Library hosted two different discussions this summer for all community members to support expansion of Spanish-speaking books, resources and activities. Kristin Fletcher, Programs & Engagement coordinatorr for the Hailey Public Library, was present at both these meetings, trying to help and reunite the Hispanic/Latinx community to better their resources. After an hour or so of discussion with different community members, Kristin got more than three pages full of ideas of how the library can expand resources and Spanish books at the library. Being an active library user at the Hailey Public Library, it was eye opening for me to hear the different ideas coming from others in the community. One individual said she would love to have more book choices at the library while I thought a movie week (all movies would be in Spanish) at Kiwanis Park [Balmoral] to connect with this group of community members would create a sense of presence and even get these individuals and families to feel more comfortable attending their activities, discussions and overall going in to their library. I hope to continue to help with this discussion with the Hailey Public Library as I see it as a definite improvement for their resources. I have been an active reader at the Hailey Public Library for more than a decade and am glad to be able to work alongside them for this discussion. If you are an avid reader and want more information about the Hailey Public Library, make sure to check out the following link: https://haileypubliclibrary.org/ NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA La Biblioteca Pública de Hailey organizó dos discusiones diferentes este verano para que todos los miembros de la comunidad apoyen la expansión de los libros, recursos y actividades de habla Hispana. Kristen Fletcher, Gerente de Programas y Participación de la Biblioteca Pública de Hailey, estuvo presente en estas dos reuniones tratando de ayudar y reunir a la comunidad hispana/latinx para mejorar sus recursos. Después de una hora más o menos de discutir con diferentes miembros de la comunidad, obtuvo más de 3 páginas llenas de ideas de cómo pueden expandir los recursos y los libros en español en la biblioteca. Al ser un usuario activo de la biblioteca en la Biblioteca Pública de Hailey, fue una apertura para escuchar las diferentes ideas que vienen de mí y de otros en la comunidad. Una persona dijo que le encantaría tener más opciones de libros en la biblioteca, mientras que pensé que una semana de cine (todas las películas estarían en español) en el Parque Kiwanis [Balmoral] para conectarse con este grupo de miembros de la comunidad, crearía un sentido de presencia e incluso haría que estas personas y familias se sintieran más cómodas asistiendo a sus actividades. , discusiones y en general ir a su biblioteca. Espero continuar ayudando con esta discusión con la Biblioteca Pública de Hailey, ya que la veo como una mejora definitiva para sus recursos. He sido un lector activo en la Biblioteca Pública de Hailey durante más de una década y me complace poder trabajar junto a ellos para esta discusión. Si usted es un ávido lector y quiere más información sobre la Biblioteca Pública de Hailey, asegúrese de revisar el siguiente enlace: https://haileypubliclibrary. org/

Flights Of Fancy

4TH ESTATE

NEWS

By Eric Valentine

Experts To Give Talk On Wolves, Livestock Conflicts

IN BRIEF

The Hailey Public Library will host “A Day in the Life of the Wood River Wolf Project,” a virtual talk with field manager Logan Miller and assistant Nate Redon on Thursday, July 29, at 5:30 p.m. They will share new techniques and challenges as project leaders work collaboratively to minimize conflicts between livestock and wolves. “Wolves are large, charismatic predators and local sheep ranchers need to make a living,” said Kristin Fletcher, the library’s program manager. “This dynamic can sometimes lead to multiple layers of conflict.” Miller and Redon will share what their typical work day might look like, new tools and techniques for protecting sheep, and touch on the potential impact of recently passed legislation which greatly expands efforts to reduce wolf numbers. Miller has a B.S. in agricultural sustainability and is in his second year as field manager for the Wood River Wolf Project. A transplant from Tucson, he grew up spending summers in the Wood River Valley visiting family. He has long-term experience with wolf conservation efforts in the Mexican wolf recovery region and has also worked on human rights campaigns in Mexico City, solar-energy initiatives in Arizona, as well as with the U.S. Forest Service. Wolves and hunting laws are Redon, who is the newest addition to the project team, is a graduate the subject of much controversy as groups prepare to battle it out in of the University of Washington with a degree in environmental scicourt. Photo credit: Hailey Public ence and resource management with a focus on wildlife conservation. Library-Wood River Wolf Project His extensive field experience ranges from fisher camera studies in the Cascades to coexistence work with Gelata monkeys and wolves in the highlands of Ethiopia. He recently finished a pronghorn study in Wyoming. The Wood River Wolf Project is a collaborative, community-led project composed of community members, livestock producers, wildlife NGOs, and county, state and federal agencies working together to use proactive, nonlethal deterrents to minimize conflicts between livestock and wolves. Over the past 14 years, the project has developed a wide variety of nonlethal tools alongside our ranching partners, ranging from flashing lights and air horns to human presence, in order to keep sheep and wolves safe here in the Wood River Valley. Those interested in the sessions should RSVP to kristin.fletcher@haileypubliclibrary.org.

911, Sheriff’s At The Ready For Valley’s Vulnerable

The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office is introducing a new program to help the Valley’s citizens with special needs. The so-called Vulnerable Population Registry allows people to register a family member or friend living in Blaine County who is part of a vulnerable population, such as those who suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mental illness, those with autism diagnosis, or other special needs. Specifically, individuals will be registered with the Sheriff’s 911 Communications Record Management System and the information will be stored in a database maintained by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and Blaine County Emergency Communications. If there is a call for service, the Vulnerable Population Registry provides vital information to police, fire, and paramedics as to the specific needs of those on the registry. “If a first responder needs to interact with the registered individual, having detailed information can greatly impact finding people who are lost or having difficulties, and getting them the assistance they need or returning them home in a timely and safe manner,” said Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins. The registry is voluntary and all information is confidential. To register, visit the Public Safety page at www. blainesheriff.com.

W O O D R I V E R W E E K LY

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J U LY 28 - A U G U S T 10, 2021

SCOTT MILEY ROOFING

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Retirement horse boarding for geldings. Limited vacancy. Small family farm environment with excellent facilities. Experienced geriatric care. Veterinarian references. Text or call (208) 720-7252

HELP WANTED

Harrison Insurance & Financials LTD. of Hailey, Idaho, one of the fastest growing insurance agencies in the Wood River Valley, is seeking an experienced Licensed Account Manager to join our team. We offer a friendly, supportive work environment that allows our staff the opportunity to grow and develop their careers in our industry. Wages are competitive based on experience and credentials. Benefits include paid holidays; paid vacation time; medical insurance, and continuing education funding. This position is customer facing and is assisted by other employees. A thorough knowledge of property, casualty, life, and health insurance forms, underwriting practices and claims handling is necessary for this position. The suitable candidate will also be experienced with basic computer skills. agency automation systems, Acord forms, and Microsoft office. Having or obtaining an Idaho Producer license is required.

PRICING

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CLASSIFIEDS

Wood River Weekly Classifieds

Mandi 208.721.7588

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

CLASSIC SUDOKU answer from page 12

CROSSWORD

answer from page 12

If you are looking for a long term, stable employment opportunity with an established and respected business, you will find it here. We are dedicated to building longlasting relationships with our clients and each other. Resumes are being accepted via email to nathan@harrisonins.com.

Classifieds (Buy Stuff, Sell Stuff, Odds & Ends, Whatever): Up To 25 Words $5, Each Additional Word 20¢, Image $5, Logo $10

W O O D R I V E R W E E K L Y • J U L Y 2 8 - A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 2 1

CHAMBER CORNER

Cowboy Up!

MIKE MCKENNA

Hard way Pipeline

The Coors Showdown is coming to Hailey By Mike McKenna

ailey has always been a rodeo kind of town. With rugged Old West roots, the first informal rodeos were held in the new Wertheimer Park in 1913. That’s about the same time famous rodeos in places like Pendleton, Ore., and Calgary, Alberta, Canada, got started. In 1948, Ted Uhrig and the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club wrangled up some help from throughout the community to build the first official rodeo grounds. The circular wooden rodeo grounds became home to the “Wood River Roundup,” the star of the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration. In the early 1960s, the Independence Day rodeo changed its name to its current title, the “Days of the Old West Rodeo.” In 2013, locals approved a bond to remodel the rodeo grounds and add an ice sheet in the winter. Dirt from hooves and boots started flying soon thereafter. The tradition continues on August 7 when the Coors Showdown comes to town. The Vision Quest Events (VQE) team will put on the Coors Showdown, which is an expanded version of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Classic they have brought to Hailey over the past decade. In addition to the usual stock of surly bulls and (slightly crazy but seriously tough) bull riders, the Coors Showdown will feature some of the finest cowboys and cowgirls in the West competing in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and women’s breakaway roping—one of the fastest growing events in rodeo. There will also be a concert after the rodeo starring country music up-and-comers Luke Kaufman and Matt Borden. “This is professional rodeo at its finest,” said Judd Mortensen, of VQE. And Judd should know—he not only helps put on the Coors Showdown each summer, but he also spent years on the pro rodeo circuit as a cowboy himself. Judd knows all about the meaning of the term “cowboy up.” When things get tough, you’ve got to get back up, dust yourself off and get back in the saddle— “cowboy up” for short. It’s the type of attitude you need to make it in rodeo and to be successful in this post-pandemic world. After missing out on coming to Hailey last year because of COVID restrictions, Judd and his posse are happy to be getting back in the saddle and bringing rodeo home to one of its Idaho roots. “This is a great town with a real rodeo tradition and we’re really glad to be coming back,” Judd said. “We’re working hard to make sure we can bring the best rodeo possible to Hailey. We hope all the local rodeo fans will come out to see some of the top bucking bulls, cowboys and cowgirls compete for cash and buckles.”

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.

CLASSIC SUDOKU See answer on page 11

The Coors Showdown will take place Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, at the Hailey rodeo grounds. Festivities kick off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 each. Kids 6 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the Hailey Welcome Center, at any Atkinsons’ Market location or online at VisionQuestEvents.RodeoTicket.com. For more information, call The Chamber at (208) 788-3484.

CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY

THETRADER TRADER THE THE TRADER Consignment for the home

Consignment for the home

Wednesday - Friday 11 to 6 Saturday 11 to 4

TRADER EADER TRADER

Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 to 5:00 Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

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

720-9206 or 788-0216 509 S. Main Street Bellevue, Idaho

the home

509 S. Main Street • Bellevue, Idaho

Wednesday through Saturday Thursday Wednesday - Friday Wednesday - Friday 11:00to to 5:00 ednesday - Friday 11 to 611 to 6 available by appointment 11 to 6AlwaysSaturday Saturday Saturday and if we’re here. Saturday 11 to 4 11 to 11 or to 788-0216 44 720-9206 11 to 4

Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

509 S. Main Street • Bellevue, Idaho Always available by le by appointment andappointment if we’re here. and if we’re here.

720-9206 or 788-0216 or S. 788-0216 -9206 or720-9206 788-0216 509 Main Street S. Main Street 09 S. Main509 Street Bellevue, Idaho Bellevue, Idaho Bellevue, Idaho

See answer on page 11

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

Partly Coudy 20%

high 86º

low 60º WEDNESDAY

Partly Coudy 22%

high 85º low 60º THURSDAY

Partly Coudy 24%

high 83º low 58º FRIDAY

PM Thunderstorms 37%

high 77º low 56º SATURDAY

Scattered T-storms 46%

high 72º low 54º SUNDAY

Isolated T-storms 35%

high 77º low 53º MONDAY

Partly Coudy 22%

high 79º low 52º TUESDAY

SKI. BIKE. LIVE!

Elevate your experience. 340 N Main Street in Ketchum sturtevants-sv.com • 726-4501