The Courier
News
Construction on New Firehouse
Located on a newly constructed section of Montana Street just north of Highway 26, most people probably haven’t noticed the constuction of the new Gooding Firehouse now in full swing. Three years ago the Gooding Rural Fire District and the Gooding Fire Department were consolidated. One of the main reason for doing this was to make it easier to build a new firehouse to replace the current firehouse built in 1937. The old firehouse has been remodeled multiple time, but the newer firetrucks are too tall fit inside. Fire Chief Brandon Covey said they expect construction of the 15,000 sq foot building to be completed sometime in October. Chief Covey also said that because of Covid-19, their annual BBQ fundraiser has been cancelled for this year. Because funds from this event are used to help provide scholarships for students and to help people recover from housefires, donations are needed to keep this program going. You can mail donations to the Gooding Fire District at 422 Idaho Street - Gooding, ID 83330. Photo: Deputy Chief Tim Rienstra, Fire Chief Brandon Covey, Board Chairman Joe Pavkov, and Fire Commissioners David Hults & Jim Brockman (Commissioner Chris Ward not in photo).
Memorial Day at Mountain View Cemetery
While many of us will be celebrating the end (or near end) of the Coronavirus Shutdown by enjoying the great outdoors this weekend, some of us will be taking a moment to remember those who gave their lives to protect our country and our freedoms. The American Legion, Elmer Miller Post #19, will hold a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25th, promptly at 11:00 a.m. at the Mountain View Cemetery north of Fairfield. Everyone is welcome to attend, but please be courtous of those trying to maintain a safe distance.
Camas Lilies are in Bloom
The annual bloom of Camas Lilies may be at their peak this weekend. There are many places to see these blue flowers, but one of the best places is the Camas Prairie’s Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area located 13 miles west of Fairfield (south of Hill City). This 3,100acre parcel of wetlands is home to some of Idaho’s most unique bird populations, and is well worth the drive to the Camas Prairie.
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
May 20, 2020
Vol 44 Num 21
Forest Campgrounds Begin to Open
The Sawtooth National Forest is preparing to gradually open campgrounds for forest visitors to enjoy the outdoors and are aligning with state orders and stages for reopening. A number of developed recreation sites will begin to open today, May 20, or this Friday, May 22. As weather warms and crews can safely access the sites, maintenance operations will commence. Hazard trees will be removed, water systems turned on and tested, campsites cleaned, and vault toilets pumped and cleaned. COVID‐19 has brought certain challenges the Forest is working to overcome. Challenges include procuring necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and obtaining an adequate amount of cleaning supplies. The Forest is targeting to have approximately 26 developed recreations site partially open or open and available for use by Memorial Day Weekend. The Forest is planning to open sites close to local communities or popular with local communities to encourage local travel. “More and more locations are opening across the forest as the weather warms,” said Jim DeMaagd, Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor. “We will monitor the conditions on the ground and re‐evaluate as new information becomes available.” Dispersed camping, hiking and trail use, and other dispersed activities are occurring all across the Forest. Trails and trailheads are open. Conditions at lower elevations are suitable to support vehicle traffic on many roads and some trails without causing resource damage. Users should stay on designated travel routes and use good judgment regarding travel on roads and trails not yet sufficiently dry to prevent resource damage. Avoid leaving ruts in the roads or trails and do not drive off‐road to avoid snowdrifts. Some maintenance services are limited at this time, so we ask everyone to practice Leave No Trace etiquette and adhere to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines: • Prepare for limited or no services, such as restroom facilities and garbage collection (pack it in pack it out) • Bears are emerging so remember to store food properly and carry bear spray • Avoid gathering with others in parking lots, trails, scenic overlooks, and other areas • Stay close to home to keep other communities safe continued on page 6...