Celebrate Independence Day

On the 4th of July, 1776, 56 men from 13 colonies adopted the text of the Declaration of Independence, and United States of America was born. The official document wasn't signed until around the first of August due to the lengthy process of editing and producing a final handwritten copy with space for the signatures. Along with the 27 official grievances against King George III which stated why thirteen colonies were no longer subject to British colonial rule, there was a remarkable statement about who we are and our origins:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." While the last 250 years have been filled successes, failures, and political strife, we need to remember those words. Though they were written by imperfect men, who's words have often been twisted to mean something that was never intended, those words are nevertheless true. As we gather together in celebration, remember... the Declaration of Independence is a high and lofty idea that must be diligently pursued and protected by all of us.

This Friday, June 30th, the Hagerman Valley Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring an evening of Patriotic Themed music and Fireworks - Free of charge in the Hagerman City Park. The event will include food vendors, lots of fun activities, and a flag retirement Ceremony in the city park beginning at 6:30 p.m.

This Saturday, July 1st, Wendell is hosting a Independence Day Parade. Any and all entries are welcome (no fee) with the line-up starting at 3:30 at the Jim Prince Memorial Park. Beginning at 4:30, the parade will travel down South Boise Street to Main Street, then head to the high school for the Simerly’s Fireworks Extravaganza event. Live music, entertainment and food vendors will be on hand at 6:00 p.m. Fireworks will begin at dark.

On July 4th (Tuesday) the City of Bliss invites everyone to their celebration. There will be mud volleyball, vendors, events for kids, bounce houses, and a parade at 4 p.m. The Bliss Fire District will be hosting their annual barbecue and raffle at the fire station from 5-7:30 p.m. Fireworks will start at dusk.

In Fairfield, the Camas of Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 4th of July Fireworks show, thanks to generous community contributions from: City of Fairfield, American Legion Post #19, Iron Mountain Inn, Ann & Jamie Peterson, Darcy Fuglevand, Idaho Power, Simon Farms, Leonard & Celia Brown, The Wrangler, and the Camas Creek Country Store. There will also be a Community Potluck BBQ in the city park starting at 5:00 p.m. Please bring a side dish or dessert.

In Shoshone, the Lincoln County Chamber is hosting a Community Potluck at the Ballpark Pocket Park (S Carmen & C Street) at 6:00 p.m. Bring a side dish or dessert - hot dogs & hamburgers will be provided. And... be prepared for the Cake Auction at 7:00 p.m.

Where ever you are, look up and remember...

June

28,

Community Health Academy

Fourteen Idaho cities are participating in the Community Health Academy, a Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health program for mayors and city officials that helps them learn and understand the city’s important role in building healthy communities.

Community Health Academy is a five-month learning collaborative that brings together leaders from Idaho cities to learn from local and national experts, collaborate with each other, and activate a program or project that improves the health of their community. Each city will earn a $20,000 grant upon completion of the program.

The cities participating in the academy are Ammon, Blackfoot, Buhl, Dayton, Gooding, Hazelton, Lapwai, Mountain Home, Parma, Post Falls, Pocatello, Stanley, St. Anthony and Tetonia. This year’s academy is the largest cohort, and the expansion was made possible by a donation to the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health by national philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

The academy launched Friday and will include monthly sessions through October. The academy uses a hybrid model with sessions done in person and virtually. Topics covered include childcare, civility, early education, communications and branding, designing health communities, food systems, and housing.

“Community Health Academy is one of our most impactful programs because most mayors and elected officials learn how their actions can help build healthy communities,” said Courtney Frost, senior program officer for the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. “The academy includes grant funding, so cities will have the resources to launch a project or program that will improve the health of communities in Idaho.”

Community Health Academy has been offered by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health since 2017. There have been 24 Idaho communities that have attended the previous five cohorts of the academy.

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About the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health

We are a Great Nation!

Notices of Upcoming Events & Meetings

Shoshone Arts in the Park

Coming on July 8th and 9th... Vendors, Festival Food and family Fun! Live music with Buddy Devore, the Faded Cowboys, Michaela French, Tracy Morrison and Carson Hasher.

Richfield Ranch Rodeo

Grab your cowboy/cowgirl friends and put together a team for the Ranch Rodeo on July 8th. Registration is at 10 a.m. with events starting at noon. There will be team branding, muley roping, team doctoring, trailer loading, and open ranch broncs. A food booth and beer garden will be at the arena as well. Admission is free for spectators but the team fee is $600 (25 teams max). To sign up, call Vern Elison at 208-539-1205.

Buy Your Raffle Tickets!

On Fridays and Saturdays at the Gooding Museum and at the Gooding Farmers Market (until end of June), you can purchase raffle tickets to win a Custom Wood Tray or Candle Holders by Robert Morris, a cowboy print by Don Gill, or a handmade Sunbonnet Sue Quilt. Ticket are $3 or two for $5. The drawing will be August 19th at 5:00 p.m. at the fair.

Fairfield Museum Open for the Summer

The Fairfield Depot Museum open 11 to 3, Mon & Tue. Next dates are: July 3rd & 4th and July 17th & 18th

American Legion Baseball

American Legion baseball started its third year in Gooding under the leadership of coaches Cameron Knigge, Joel Gonzales, Codie Martin and Dennis Chandler. New this year is a second team which allows more opportunities for young athletes to play.

So far this year, the B team has played Declo, Buhl, Salmon, Kimberly, Wood River and Burley. The A team has played the Twin Falls Cowboys, Twin Falls Redhawks, Burley, Jerome, Mountain Home and Kimberly.

On June 8-10 the Legion A team participated in a wood bat tournament in Burley, and on July 7-10 they will compete in the Clancy Ellis Tournament at Harris Field (home of the NAIA World Series) at Lewis Clark State College (LCSC).

The Legion coaches are thankful to the program sponsor: Gooding American Legion Post #30, Perry Byam with James Woodward, the Post Adjutant.

Legion B Roster:

Coach: Dennis Chandler

Kyston Mittelstadt, Cason Page, Ezra Gillette, Hyrum Walker, Breyden Bunderson, Ike Scoffield, Noah Miller, Cougar Stockham, Jax Lopes, Evan Mendoza, Hayden Ward, Dan Morris, Collin Patterson & Riley Arnold.

Legion A Roster:

Coaches: Cameron Knigge

Joel Gonzales & Codie Martin

Cade Page, Xavier Huber, Eli Erickson, Braden Martin, Chase Patterson, Kaden Owens, Zander Gonzales, Wick "Ray Ray McCray" Church, Kayl McHenry, Butch Morris, Bryce Patterson & Cody Gallup.

Gooding Farmers Market

The Gooding Farmers Market is held every Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. at 13th and Main (in the park across from the LDS Church).

Shoshone Farmers Market

The Crossroads Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 2 to 6 on the Lincoln County Courthouse Lawn in Shoshone. They should run through mid-October.

Hagerman Farmers Market

The Fairfield Farmers Market is held every Sunday from noon til the last customer leaves. Come support your local small farmers.

401 Camas Avenue West ~ Fairfield, Idaho

Medical & dental care: 208-764-2611

PharMacy: 208-764-3312

APPOINTMENT HOURS:

Medical: Mon & Fri 8:30 to 3:30 / Wednesday 8:00 to 2:00

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

764-2611