The Courier
News
January 21
,2015
Volume 39 ~ Number 3 News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
CourierNews.webs.com
“Deficiency Free Survey” at Bennett Hills Sage Grouse staff. Besides evaluating Conservation how medical care is pro-
Healthcare is full of regulations at every level - hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. Meeting those requirements is a full-time occupation for the people who opperate and work in such facilities. On January 8th of this year, the folks at the Ben-
nett Hills Care Center in Gooding celebrated a “Deficiency-Free Survey” by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The survey is conducted by a team of registered nurses who spend five days looking at the facility and interviewing residents and
vided, the team also looks at the basic cleanliness of the facility, especially in the area of food handling. According to H&W spokesperson, Nikki Forbing-Orr, only one other Idaho facility has received a Deficiency-Free Survey in the last five years. The Bennett Hills building is over 50 years old, but over the last two year, Genesis HealthCare has been working hard to make it one of the best nursing facilities in Idaho. The results of this survey are a tesiment of the teamwork at Bennett Hills.
Idaho Giant Salamander: Student Driven Bill
After several years of diligent work, 8th grade student Ilah Hickman will present her bill to make the Idaho Giant Salamander our new state amphibian. Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking and Rep. Ilana Rubel (both of Boise) were proud co-sponsors of this bill which had a hearing on Monday, January 19th. “This is an example of what we want for Idaho’s children,” said Ward-Engelking. “We want them involved in Science, Technology, English and Math. Ilah Hickman has become an active participant in her education and has moved to the point where she is now a role-model for other young students.” Ward-Engelking noted that a 4th grade
class in Sandpoint is now involved in Ilah’s project to declare this salamander that is almost exclusive to Idaho as the state amphibian. “My children are around Ilah’s age and she is a great example for them,” Rubel said. “I believe that she is doing exactly what our young people should be doing: she is being an active, engaged citizen of Idaho.” Both Ward-Engelking and Rubel said that Ilah’s commitment to this issue—as well as the support and commitment of her mother Lori Hickman—is something that the Legislature should honor. Investing in education should not be solely about funding. It also means honoring parents and students and listening to them when they speak.
by Rep. Donna Pence
The people of Idaho along with the grazing and conservation communities, small towns and federal agents have a unique opportunity to build upon and coordinate the hundreds of hours of work thus far expended on the sage grouse issue. The recent federal appropriations bill prohibit spending money on listing the greater sage grouse, but it does not prohibit spending for ongoing voluntary conservation measures that are taking place throughout the West. Federal agencies were mandated by the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) to coordinate their plans, programs, and management activities with local governments. Idaho took advantage of this policy when Governor Otter created the sage grouse task force and developed a plan for Idaho to preserve the sage grouse. Right now, rural communities throughout the west have a great opportunity to partner with federal continued on page 8.....