The Courier
NEWS
Dietrich & Hagerman Semifinal Football
The Hagerman Pirates defeated Valley last weekend 56 ot 42 sending them to the 2A Semifinal game at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. They will face off with #1 Butte County for a chance to play the State Championship game. The #2 Dietrich Blue Devils crushed Cascade 72 to 12 last weekend in the 1A quarterfinal game. They will be at the ICCU Dome this Friday, November 15th, to play Tri-Valley at 5:30 p.m. in the 1A Semifinal game.
5K Turkey Trot
Next Friday, November 22, the Shoshone High School Student Council will host a 5K run at the Community Center from 10 to 12. Registration fee is $25 and is due on Monday, November 18th (includes a T-shirt). Sign up at the High School Office, online, or send an email to: victoria.stearns@shoshonesc.org.
Changes for the Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project?
From the Mountain States Policy Center Federal government priorities have recently collided with the Lava Ridge energy project as the pursuit of green energy initiatives conflicts with the preservation of historical sites. Last month the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) notified the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that they “cannot ensure the project won’t cause damage to the nearby Minidoka National Historic Site.” This is a difficult hurdle for the Biden administration which has been trying to force the Gem State to align with their green energy efforts that burden Idaho while benefiting California. It seems to have given frustrated Idaho officials and communities, a much-needed respite in its conflict with the Bureau of Land Management. The additional reality of Trump winning the 2024 election is set to drastically change the future of Lava Ridge Energy and many other government overreach schemes. Here is a brief history of the Lava Ridge project. The Lava Ridge wind energy project was submitted to the Bureau of Land Management in 2020, with plans that massively outgrew most other wind energy sites in the United States. Almost 200,000 acres of federal, state, and privately owned land would be occupied by 400 wind turbines taller than the Seattle Space Needle. The local outrage was understandable. Public comments, frustrated citizens, and legislation opposing the project all ensued, but the project continued forward. The federal government obstinately ignored the protests of locally af-
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
November 13, 2024
Vol 48 Num 46
2024 Election Results
Former President Donald Trump won a historical second term as President. He is only the second individual to win nonconsecutive terms as U.S. President. President Trump won 312 Electorial Votes (only needed 270) and 31 states. He also won the popular vote by about 4 million votes. Republicans gained 3 seats in the Senate to take the majority with 52 seats. The House is expected to remain in the hands of the Republicans, but a few of races are yet to be fully counted. Here in Idaho, Republicans gained 3 seats in the legislature with the defeat of Senator Rick Just (D-Boise) and Representative Nate Roberts (D-Pocatello). District 26 Representative Ned Burns (D-Bellevue) was also defeated by Mike Pohanka (R) with 51% of the votes (just over 500 votes). Jack Nelsen held on to his seat with the same amount of votes. Laurie Lickley (R) was unable to unseat Senator Ron Taylor (D) - 44% to 46% - and Independent candidate Kala Tate took 10% of the votes. District 24 stayed all Republican. Idaho voters (and voters in five other states) decisively rejected ballot measures that would have brought ranked choice voting to future elections. Proposition 1 (the so call "Open Primary" proposition) received just 30% yes votes state wide (about 80% of voters in Gooding, Camas & Lincoln voted against Proposition 1). Meanwhile, the Constitutional ammendment to prevent non-citizens from voting in Idaho elections passed with a nearly 2/3 majority. In local elections, Camas County passed two supplemental school levies with over 60% approval. Voters in Gooding and Lincoln counties voted in favor of the Gooding Jt. SD #231 Levy (61%), but voted against the Jerome Jt. SD #261 Levy (60%). This levy passed in Jerome County with 54% support. fected communities and citizens. In June, the BLM announced it would still move forward with the project, on a smaller scale, reduced by almost 50%, despite the concerns of Idahoans. The case for the Lava Ridge wind energy project may have finally met its match, as the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 section 106 comes into play. Section 106 requires federal agencies “to consider the effects on historic properties of projects.” If a project affects historic properties a Section 106 continued on page 6... review is required, giving...