The Courier
NEWS
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
June 21, 2023
Vol 47 Num 25
Lincoln County's Neher Park Opens Local Banker Selected For
On Saturday members of the Lincoln County community gathered to celebrate the opening of Neher Park east of Shoshone. Originally owned by Doctor Neher and his wife Juanita, the little piece of land located just 2 miles east of Shoshone was given to the Wood River Land Trust with the intent of
creating a public park & preserve. Several years passed and nothing happened except weeds. Then, in 2019 Lincoln County aquired the property and started work on a Master Plan for the park. With the help of local landscape architect Nathan Schutte, the Neher Park Advisory Group, and the University of Idaho landscape architecture program, a design emerged to create ADA accessable trails, restore & preserve the natural features and aesthetics of the property, and provide a place for outdoor education. Four years later, the property nestled between the old railroad and the Little Wood River is a completely different place. New pathways, several wooden bridges over an old irrigation ditch, and a metal bridge over the Little Wood have transformed over 16 acres (includes 6 acres of BLM) into a great place for fishing, picnics, swimming, or a quiet nature walk. Lincoln County Commissioner, Rebecca Wood, said this is just phase one of the overall project. They hope to add natural play features for kids as well as more tables and benches. Commissioner Wood said the project was a group effort between public organization and private individuals - all of them deserve a big thank you for their hard work in bring Neher Park to life. Of course, the biggest thanks goes to the Neher family for sharing this little bit of heaven with the rest of us. Special guests, Deborah Kristal and Chazz Neher (the Children of Doc Royal Neher and Juanita Neher) were on hand to do the official ribbon cutting for the park. Now it's up to the rest of us to keep it clean and beautiful for many generations to come. Neher Park is open Dawn to Dusk only, closed at night for wildlife. During the day, however, come and enjoy! The river is stocked with fish and the bathrooms are functional and clean! Dogs are welcome but must be on leash and be sure to pick up after them.
Under 40 Award
Aaron Geurts of Zions Bank was selected as an Idaho Business Review "Accomplished Under 40" honoree and was recognized at a special event in Boise on June 15. Geurts, vice president and Gooding branch manager, was one of 40 selected to receive the award, which recognizes Idaho business and professional leaders who have achieved success before the age of 40. At the event, Geurts was recognized for his leadership in helping the Gooding branch significantly increase its market share, client deposits and return on equity. Geurts serves his community as a board member of his local Rotary International Club and Gooding Chamber of Commerce and as a trustee for Friends of North Canyon Network of Care, Philanthropy Board.
Don't Shooting Protected Birds or Protected Ground Squirrels
It’s a shooter’s responsibility to know the law, and a good rule of thumb is to shoot targets instead of wildlife unless you know exactly what you’re shooting at and you’re doing it legally. Temperatures are starting to climb and the days are long, and that’s good news for recreational shooters looking to get out of city limits to shoot guns. Summer is a popular season for recreational shooters across the state, but it’s also a critical time of year for some nongame bird species that nest in, or are commonly found in, popular shooting areas. While the majority of hunters and recreational shooters follow the law, Fish and Game law enforcement officials remind shooters they are likely to encounter protected nongame wildlife, and there’s a heavy price to pay for pulling the trigger on a protected species. In 2022, two men pleaded guilty to... continued on page 4...