Legislative Update from Both Sides of the Aisle

Attacks on Trans Youth

from District 26 Representative Ned Burns

It was a tough week in the House this last week.

We had some difficult subject matter and some bills that never should have seen the light of day. On Tuesday, the House heard HB 71, which was disguised as a child protection bill, but is pretty clearly an attack on trans kids, medical providers, and parents.

HB 71 would make it a felony for guardians and doctors to provide gender-affirming care for minors. House Democrats debated passionately against passing this bill, but the bill passed — with only one Republican "no" vote.

In a state where parental rights are treated as sacrosanct, the House voted on a near party line vote to take rights away from trans kids and their medical providers. The bill now passes over to the Senate, which has not taken it up yet. Now we wait to see if HB 71 will get a hearing in the Senate or if it will be held in committee.

Who is Really Protecting Idaho’s Children?

from IDGOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon

Gender dysphoria is a controversial mental health condition that has seen a recent spike in diagnoses. While there are many contributors to this spike, some experts believe that growing levels of childhood and adolescent depression are contributing to this spike.

Whatever its cause, Idaho’s legislators are right to craft legislation that protects minors from irreversible surgeries or hormone treatments that can lead to infertility, anatomical mutilation, and increased rates of suicidal ideation.

Unfortunately, our legislators’ efforts are facing an onslaught of special interest groups funded by, and supportive of, the radical Left.

One such group, Idaho Children Are Primary, has lobbied the Idaho Legislature through direct communication to oppose efforts to protect Idaho’s children.

Idaho Children Are Primary claims to be a bipartisan nonprofit. And yet their list of policy positions mirror those of the Biden Administration: advocacy for the continued use of Federal COVID monies here in Idaho; adoption of so-called Social Emotional Learning curriculum in Idaho schools; and support for taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgeries for children.

Idaho Children Are Primary is like a lot of third-party advocacy groups operating in our state: they have a noble mission; many esteemed or respected community members on their board or staff; and they claim a mantle of policy neutrality or “bipartisanship.”

And like many other lobbying groups, their advocacy and efforts to guide the direction of legislation and policy largely operate outside of the public eye. With politically connected board members and donors, groups like Idaho Children Are Primary can kill legislation with just a few phone calls or well-placed emails.

Part of the job of a political party is to remind citizens of the principles at stake in any policy discussion. For example, with sex reassignment surgery: Should children be allowed — encouraged even — to engage in life-altering activities, including medical procedures, before they are capable of understanding the full implications of their choices? To have a full-throated debate about the real cost of certain policies we need advocacy groups to stop claiming neutrality and instead make plain what outcomes they really want to see established in our law.

Any interested Idahoan can visit our state party’s website at idgop. org and learn, in plain English, what our party stands for and what principles animate and inform our policy positions. We should expect the same transparency and fair dealing from groups like Idaho Children Are Primary.

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Shoshone Richfield

886–2369 (218 N Rail St. W) 487–2722 130 S Main Street

Lunch: $2 (2-9) $5.50 (10-59) $4 over 60 (suggested)

Thursday, Feb 23 (Rich) Grilled Cheese w/ Soup & Pie

Friday, Feb 24 (Sho) Chicken & Rice

Monday, Feb 27 (Rich) Baked Potato Bar

Tuesday, Feb 28 (Sho) Something Gooooood!

Wed, Feb 29 (Sho) Sandwich w/ Soup & Pie

Fairfield 764-2226 (129 Willow Avenue West)

Lunch: 60+ $5 (suggested) 11-59 $6 / 5-10 $2 / under 5 free

Friday, Feb 24 Meatloaf w/ Taters

Tuesday, Feb 28 Cheddar Chowder w/ Rolls

Wednesday, Feb 29 Four Years Before the Mast

Gooding 934-5504 (308 Senior Avenue)

Breakfast every First Saturday 7:30-9:30..... $5.00

Thursday, Feb 23 Chicken Strips

Monday, Feb 27 Sloppy Joes w/ Tots

Tuesday, Feb 28 Stir Fried Chicken

Wednesday, Feb 29 Once Every Four Years

Hagerman 837-6120 (140 East Lake Street)

Lunch is served every Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

Friday, Feb 24... Rodeo Burger

Monday, Feb 27... Chicken Stuffing Casserole

Wednesday, Feb 29... Invisible Dinner

Wendell 536-9951 (380 East 1st Street)

Lunch is served every Monday & Friday at Noon.

Friday, Feb 24... Tater Tot Casserole

Monday, Feb 27... Chicken Salad Sandwich

Obituary

James Lawrence Cisco

James Lawrence Cisco, 85, a resident of Gooding, passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at his loving son's home in Twin Falls. He was born on November 21, 1937 in Capps, Arkansas to Robert and Odie Warren Cisco.

James Lawrence Cisco went by a few names, many knew him as Lawrence or as Cisco. He was a true American Cowboy and legend through and through. He couldn't go anywhere without running into someone he knew and stopping to talk or tell a story about the good ol' days. He has been over the country whether it was rodeoing, driving truck or ranching. He had a stern, loving voice and hand when it came to his children and in raising them. He worked hard to see them achieve their goals and never gave up on any of them. He was always able to light up a room he walked into. He loved his wife Karen all his life, they were meant to be. He worked from a very young age to and old age. Always providing for loved ones. He loved his grandchildren so much and would do anything for them. In his eyes they could hardly do any wrong. At the end of the day Lawrence Cisco was the Rock or should I say the Mountain that held the family together. His strength, his wisdom, his way of loving never foundered, never gave way. He was and is a hero and a legend to us all. Not only family, but to friends as well.

He had skin cancer at the end and had treatment to do. We believe the treatments took their toll on him, but it was old age that took him. He passed as peacefully as possible.

He leaves behind his wife – Karen Earlene Cisco; daughter – Key Elizabeth Cisco; son – James Robert (Crisa Kim) Cisco; daughter – Honey Jo (Shane) Jensen; daughter – Toya (Steve) Cotton; son – Earl Ray (Jenny) Cisco; daughter – Brenda (Michael) Sliman; and son – Dan (Brandi) Carver.

His grandchildren include – Dyllan Jensen, Colt Cisco, Hailey Holland, Tyler Holland, Riliegh Cotton, Ceci Cotton, Kayla Worth, Faith Evans, Jaycee Charlton, Duke Sliman, Rebecca Pereira, Lesley Nuemeyer and Joe Romo.

He is also survived by his brothers – Lonnie (Sue) Cisco, Donnie Cisco, Delbert (Terri-Meth) Cisco; as well as numerous nieces and nephews; and so many loving friends, both old and young.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters – Barbara and Darlene; and a nephew – Jay Cisco.

He will forever be loved, missed and treasured. Such a teacher he was.

Rest in peace – James Lawrence Cisco

A Celebration of Life will be held in June 2023 at the Fir Grove Ranch.

Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel. Condolences, memories and photos can be shared with the family by following the obituary link at www.demarayfuneralservice.com

death & service notices

Mary Ellen Williamson, 72, passed away on Monday, February 13, 2023. A Celebration of Life for Mary will be held on Sunday, February 26, at 3:00 p.m. at the Iron Horse Saloon in Shoshone. Funeral arrangements are pending under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service - Wendell Chapel.

Patricia Mary Voloshen

Patricia Mary Voloshen "Meme" went home to our Lord on February 11, 2023, at the age of 82, surrounded by family. She was born in Hollywood, CA to Lloyd George Davies and Mary Margaret Davies on October 23, 1940. After graduating high school, Patricia went on to have two sons - Dean and Michael.

Patricia spent many years working as a lunch lady for the Dietrich School. She was beloved by staff and students and was known for making the most delicious gourmet lunches! She put love into everything she made and was even known for carrying grandchildren on her back while working in the cafeteria. Her love for cooking followed her home where she would spend hours making spaghetti and homemade French bread for her picky grandchildren. When she wasn't putting love into her food, Meme was pouring her heart into raising and spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren. Whether it was renting movies, doing crafts, having ice cream parties, or picking asparagus, she devoted herself to her family and loved unconditionally. Science fairs, school projects or last-minute bake sales were never too much of an ask. Saying no wasn't her in vocabulary, which sometimes meant creating extravagant art projects or making homemade piñatas.

Patricia was also a talented writer and spent countless hours tapping away on her typewriter, creating beautiful poems and short stories. She believed that writing was the highest form of thinking and reading was the passport to countless adventures. Rainy days were reserved for indoor tents and reading with her grandchildren for hours on end. Whether it was getting Goosebumps with R.L. Stine, feeding our souls with chicken soup, or floating with Stephen King, the hours disappeared quickly as we traversed the secret worlds of our favorite authors.

Although Meme reserved much of her time for grandchildren and great grandchildren, she was fortuitous later in life when she found her true love - Ron Burk. Their shared love of adventure, and his pilot's license, meant many years of traveling, discovering new experiences and making incredible memories.

Throughout her lifetime, Patricia touched the heart of nearly anyone she met. She truly believed there was enough love to go around and was there for anyone who needed her. Her absence will leave an unfillable void in the hearts of many.

"We'll love you forever, we'll like your for always, as long as we're living, our Meme you'll be."

Patricia was preceded in death by: Lloyd Davies – Father; Mary Davies – Mother; Bronwyn Joanne Mytrysak – Sister; Michael Grissom – Son; and Ron Burk - Partner.

Patricia is survived by: her son - Dean Grissom; brother - Lloyd (Linda) Davies; granddaughter - Megan (Josh) Hettenbach, granddaughter - Marisa Garcia; and great grandchildren - Amara Dains, Hadrea Dains, Surf Hettenbach, Swayzee Hettenbach, Isaiah Garcia and Meilani Garcia. A Celebration of Life to be announced at a future date.

Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Shoshone Chapel. Share condolences, memories and photos at www.demarayfuneralservice.com

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P.O. Box 339 - Fairfield, Idaho 83327 or... 122 5th Avenue West ~ Gooding Idaho 83330

401 Camas Avenue West 208-764-2611

Medical & Dental Care

208-764-3312

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APPOINTMENT HOURS:

Medical: Monday & Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Dental: Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Pharmacy: Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dr. Levin, MD • Dean Rodemack, PA-C • Bryce Bennion, Pharm.D (Sliding Scale fees available)

Apartments for Rent

D&G Apartments in Fairfield has clean, attractive apartments available from time to time. These federally assisted affordable housing units offer rental assistance with rent adjusted to your income - ranging from $0 to $600 per month - water, sewer and trash are paid. For more information, contact Gordon Schmidt at 208-421-6723. For the hearing impaired, contact: TTY 1-800-833-6388.

Equal Housing Opportunity.

We Are An Equal Opportunity Provider

Gooding Senior Housing

Rent based on income.

Must be 62 years or older

Handicapped or Disabled (any age)

USDA Rural Development subsidy

One Bedroom Apartments Available Periodically. Call 208 934-8050 for application.

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We Are Here For You

Free and confidential support for survivors of abuse 24 hours a day

 Emotional support and advocacy

 Safety Planning

 Information and Referral

 Shelter and Housing Options

 Financial Education & Assistance

 Job and Life Skills Training

 Legal Assistance

 Adult and Youth Prevention Education

If you need help or want to help a friend or family member Call 208-788-4191 or info@theadvocatesorg.org

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF GOODING, IDAHO

Pursuant to established procedure, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the City Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Gooding, Idaho, that a public hearing will be held on the 16th day of March, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Gooding Municipal Building located at 308 5th Ave West, Gooding, Idaho, to hear a request made by Dustin Vincent, property owner of 202 Texas Street also known as Lots 11 and 12 in Block 75 of Gooding Townsite, to approve a variance that would allow a 4-Plex to be built 10 feet into the City setbacks on the north side of the property.

Written comments must be received by 5:30 pm Wednesday, March 15, 2022 at Gooding City Hall, 308 5th Ave W., Gooding, ID 83330. You may also email a response to hpeterson@goodingidaho.org. Verbal and written comments will be heard during the public hearing. Any person(s) requiring special accommodations should call City Hall 5 days prior to the public hearing at (208) 934-5669.

Notice Of Public Hearing

Pursuant to Idaho Code 67-6509 & 67-6511, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Camas County Planning and zoning Commissioners will hold a public hearing at the Camas County Annex, 517 Soldier Rd., Fairfield, ID 83327 on the 7th day of March, 2023 at 7:05pm or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

The purpose of this hearing is for the Planning and Zoning Commissioners and the public to consider recommended changes to the requirements for Minor Subdivisions found in the Subdivision Ordinance.

Written comments will be received by the Planning and Zoning Administrator until 5:00 pm March 6th, 2023 at P.O. Box 430, Fairfield, Id 83327 or email via ccpz@rtci.net. Public comment will be limited to 5 minutes at the public hearing. Services for persons with disabilities may be made available by calling the office of the Planning and Zoning Administrator at 208-764-2046 three (3) days in advance of the hearing.

Notice Of Public Hearing

Pursuant to Idaho Code 67-6509 & 67-6511, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Camas County Planning and zoning Commissioners will hold a public hearing at the Camas County Annex, 517 Soldier Rd., Fairfield, ID 83327 on the 7th day of March, 2023 at 7:10pm or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

The purpose of this hearing is for the Planning and Zoning Commissioners and the public to consider adding gravel pits to Conditional uses in the Industrial district.

Written comments will be received by the Planning and Zoning Administrator until 5:00 pm March 6th, 2023 at P.O. Box 430, Fairfield, Id 83327 or email via ccpz@rtci.net. Public comment will be limited to 5 minutes at the public hearing. Services for persons with disabilities may be made available by calling the office of the Planning and Zoning Administrator at 208-764-2046 three (3) days in advance of the hearing.

F&G Southeast Region Big Game Measuring Day

Measuring for Boone & Crockett (rifle/pistol), Pope & Young (archery), and Longhunter Society (muzzleloader) will be conducted by certified measurers for entry into the big game record books.

It’s time again to see how your latest trophy animal measures up! Idaho Fish and Game is hosting its annual Big Game Measuring Day on Wednesday, March 8 at the Southeast Regional Office located at 1345 Barton Road in Pocatello. Measuring for Boone & Crockett (rifle/pistol), Pope & Young (archery) and Longhunter Society (muzzleloader) will be conducted by certified measurers for entry into the big game record books. The service is free.

Interested members of the public may bring their antlers, horns and/or skulls to the regional office in Pocatello on Tuesday, March 7, by 5 p.m. but no later than 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8. Items brought for measuring must be free of flesh and skin, and must have been air-dried for 60 days. Please note that air-drying is not the same as freezer storage.

Information required at the time of drop-off includes:

Hunter name

Date of harvest

Location of harvest, including game unit, county and state

Owner name, address and telephone number

Guide’s name and address, if applicable

All items must be picked up sometime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, unless special arrangements are made to pick up items at a different time. Not sure your item is record worthy? Bring it on by anyway!

For more information, please contact the Southeast Region Fish and Game office in Pocatello at 208-232-4703.

Eligible Homeowners Can Now Apply Online For Property Tax Relief

You might qualify for some property tax relief. Idaho's Property Tax Reduction program reduces property taxes on an eligible homeowner's primary Idaho residence and up to one acre of land by as much as $1,500.

New this year, you can apply for the program online at tax.idaho.gov/proptaxrelief. You'll need an email address. You also can get a paper application on the Tax Commission's website at tax. idaho.gov or from your county assessor. Apply online or mail an application to your county assessor by Tuesday, April 18. Applicants must apply every year.

"The new online application gives taxpayers more flexibility, especially if it's difficult to get to their county assessor's office," said Pam Waters, administrator of Idaho's Property Tax Reduction program. "In addition, they can apply online for our other property tax relief options including property tax deferral and the disabled veterans benefit."

You might qualify for a property tax reduction if all of these are true:

 You're an Idaho resident.

 You own and occupy your home or mobile home, and the value doesn't exceed a limit set by law that will be calculated in June 2023.

 Your total 2022 income, after deducting medical expenses, was $33,870 or less.

 You're any of the following as of January 1, 2023:

65 or older Former POW or hostage Motherless or fatherless child under 18

Blind Widow(er)

Disabled

Note: Property tax reduction benefits won't reduce special fees that government entities charge. For more information:

Contact your county assessor's office in Idaho

Call the Tax Commission at (208) 334-7736 in the Boise area or toll free at (800) 972-7660, ext. 7736 or visit tax.idaho.gov

John Wesley Kootstra

John Wesley Kootstra, 67, a resident of Twin Falls, passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Twin Falls. John was born on January 3, 1956 in Bellflower, California, the son of John and Hilda Kootstra.

He was raised in Ontario, California, where he attended Ontario Christian, before moving to Idaho as a young adult. He followed his parents into the dairy business early on; he had a love for cows and the dairy industry that was known by everyone that truly knew him, and he took pride in his role in that industry as a hoof trimmer.

He married Janet Goedhart on January 3, 1981 in Wendell, Idaho, when they combined their families and continued to grow as a family through the rest of his life. This, he felt, was the achievement of his life. Spending time with his family, watching his grandchildren play, and seeing them become members of the church was where he found his peace.

In 1997, John and Janet faced one of the greatest hurdles in their lives together, leading to a kidney transplant in early 1998. John often reflected on this as one of the greatest blessings of his life, as it gave him the opportunity to watch his children grow into adulthood. Later, in 2014 he received the gift of a second transplant, which then gave him the opportunity to watch his grandkids continue to grow.

As we celebrate his life, we feel tremendous gratitude to all of his friends and family that have reached out in support, and know this support would have brought him great joy.

John is survived by: his wife - Janet Kootstra, his son - John H. Kootstra, three daughters –Tori (Jason) Torgrimson, Helen (Chris) Ordner and Michelle Kootstra, all of Twin Falls; three sisters – Rita Kootstra of Jerome, Marla Oosten Martinez of Lake Havasu, Arizona and Heidi Larsen of Twin Falls; and seven grandchildren – Tana, Libby and Luke Torgrimson, Skylar and Johnny Kootstra and Eli and Oliver Ordner.

He was preceded in death by: his parents – John and Hilda Kootstra; and his older brother –Harold Kootstra.

A Celebration of Life for John will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 11:00 am at the New Life Community Church in Wendell. A private family burial will be held at the Wendell Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Twin Falls Reformed Church Deacons Fund or to the American Kidney Foundation.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Wendell Chapel.