The Courier
NEWS
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
February 10, 2021
Vol 45 Num 6
Idaho Power Gives a Helping Hand New Bridge to Ritter Island
Idaho Power continues to step up its community giving efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional Manager Joe Kendall recently joined energy advisors Chris Bell and Angela Miller in delivering donations to several worthy causes in the Magic Valley. Pandemic relief was a priority, as the contributions went toward meals, educational resources and medical research. Photo: Hagerman Mayor Alan Jay and volunteers Ilda Arizmendi and Leona Hill accept an Idaho Power donation on behalf of Community Helping Hands, which provides meals to families in Hagerman and other small Magic Valley communities. To learn more about Idaho Power’s community work, visit .idahopower.com/community.
Half-Staff Flag Directive in Honor of Three Guardsmen Killed
Governor Brad Little has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the three Idaho Army National Guard pilots killed in a helicopter crash near Boise last Tuesday, February 2nd. "Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the loss of three brave and talented pilots killed during service to our state and nation. Their tragic deaths leave an emptiness in the lives of their families and loved ones, the entire National Guard community, and all of us. Our women and men in the Idaho National Guard bravely take on the inherent dangers of their work to serve the people of Idaho and the United States whenever called upon. As Idahoans, let's quiet ourselves and reflect on their courage and sacrifice. Please join me in prayer for the heroes we lost and seek to comfort all the lives they touched,” Governor Little said. The full text of the Governor's flag directive follows: Please be advised that flags should be lowered to half-staff starting Wednesday, February 3, 2021, for the tragic loss of three Idaho Army National Guard personnel who lost their lives during a training flight. The flags will be at half-staff Wednesday, February 3, 2021, until the day following the final memorial service, per Idaho Code 67-820. The Governor's Office will send out an additional notification and update the web site at https://gov.idaho.gov/flag-status/ when the date of the final memorial service is identified. Directive: American flags and State of Idaho flags shall be flown at half-staff from Wednesday, February 3, 2021, until the day following the final memorial service.
In September, construction began on a 3,400 square-foot visitors center to serve the Thousand Springs State Park and the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. The center, located just north of Hagerman, is scheduled to be completed at the end of this year. Concurrently, constuction on a new bridge to Ritter Island began to provide better and safer access for visitors to this popular site which is used for multiple events thoughout the year. The $460,000 bridge was completed and a dedication celebration was held on January 29th. These projects, as well as the new 50 unit campground at Billingsley Creek which will begin construction a year from now, are part of the effort to consolidate access to the seven units of Thousand Springs State Park – Malad Gorge, Kelton Trail, Billingsley Creek, Ritter Island, Crystal Springs, Niagara Springs, and the Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve.
State Parks Smash Records
More people visited Idaho State Parks in 2020 than in any year before – by a margin of more than 1.2 million guests. A staggering 7,671,582 people frequented the parks last year, obliterating the prior record set in 2019. “It’s a mind-boggling number,” said Brian Beckley, chairman of the Idaho Parks and Recreation Board, which oversees the department. “Never before have we had so many people come out to our parks. But with the pandemic keeping people indoors and isolated, outdoor recreation became one of the few things people could do responsibly to beat COVID cabin fever.” The numbers show the parks were most heavily used for day visits (7 million) but also host a large number of campers (647,743). The camping figure was below the 2019 number (due to the two-month campground closure early in the year) but the slight dip was more than offset by the rush of day visitors. No park experienced the visitation crush more than Lucky Peak State Park, which hosted one million visitors for the first time. “We have an amazing staff that got us through it,” said Gary Shelley, manager of Lucky Peak and Eagle Island state parks. “I’m also proud of our visitors and our community for being so generally understanding and cooperative with the need for COVID-19 precautions. It could have gone badly, but they came out, stayed safe and had a good time.”