The Courier
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Camas Pioneer Picnic ~ July 16, 2017
from Marshall Ralph History repeats itself again! Again! And again! To infinity, I guess! The West’s greatest historic outdoor potluck picnic! Free! For the 104th annual Pioneer Picnic, the Camas Pioneer Picnic Association will celebrate our County’s independence as a sovereign county! Camas County split away from Blaine County in 1917! Do the math! The program will include a progress report on the ongoing replacement of the beloved but missing relief carving by George Carrico formerly located at the Johnson Hill scenic overlook. Other activities will include musical performances of the national anthem and some appropriate songs, all performed by actual humans! The Picnic will also feature the big Camas history timeline exhibit, an update on digital republishing of the now-scarce Camas Legacy Book, and other celebratory things!!! And food! The first Camas Pioneer Picnic was held in 1913 in the then-bustling town of Soldier, Idaho, just two miles north of today’s bustling town of Fairfield, now the Camas County seat. Since then, the Camas Pioneer Picnic, organized by the Camas Pioneer Picnic Association, has taken place every summer, in foul weather and (mostly) fair, to celebrate the first inhabitants of the Camas Prairie and their
contemporary successors in a big community potluck! 104 years of potluck picnic perfection, an unbroken chain of three-bean salads, roast beef, startling gelatinous dishes, brownies, cookies, green salads, mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, etc., reaching back to the young years of the 20th Century! Imagine! Think about it! The Camas Pioneer Picnic has survived annually from the age of horse and buggies and steam tractors, through the age of the automobile, to the space age, into the computer age, and into whatever age comes next! Over all that time, the Camas picnickers have seen good harvests and lean, peace and war, bounty and depressions, birth and loss, industries go, and industries arrive. The Pioneer Picnic has survived, giving Camas Pioneers old and young a summer afternoon dedicated to honoring together those have come, and who have passed, in our high Idaho valley beneath the sun. The picnic is free, and all are heartily invited. Chicken, beef and drinks will be provided, and picnickers are requested to bring a salad, dessert or side dish for the big table. Picnickers may wish to bring chairs or stumps or something to sit on, though a fair amount of seating will be on site in the park. See you at the picnic on July 16th in Fairfield!
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is accepting applications to help agricultural producers rehabilitate private land affected by severe flooding across the state. Severe winter storms and melting of record snowfall created substantial widespread flooding across Idaho, which has caused significant damage to pri-
vate property as well as public infrastructure. NRCS Idaho will set aside funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for private land flood recovery efforts. The funds can be used to help address damage to agricultural infrastructure as well as streambank erosion and landslides. continued on page 6 .....
NRCS Idaho - Flood Recovery Funds
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
July 12, 2017
Volume 41 ~ Number 28
Range Fire South of Shoshone
As of Tuesday morning, the Antelope Fire located approximately 5 miles south of Shoshone, was mapped out at just under 30,000 acres. Windy conditions with 25 mph gusts have made this a very fast growing fire. Highways 93 and 24 were closed for part of Monday due to visibility, but are currently open. Travelers should still avoid the area if possible. The east and south flanks of the fire are still very active. Firefighters are working to secure the northern fire perimeter near Shoshone.
Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame Tough Enough To Wear Pink Event
The IRHF is holding their 3rd Annual Cowboy and Cowgirl Boots and Spurs Reunion in conjunction with their 1st Annual Tough Enough To Wear Pink Event with St Lukes Foundation at the Canyon Crest Event Center, 330 Canyon Crest Drive in Twin Falls on July 28th. The Coors and Canyon Springs Event Center sponsored event is from 5 to 8 in the lounge and on the patio with a social and Meet & Greet the 2017 and past Inductees. $10 admittance entitles the attendee to an engraved beer glass and free beer, discounted soft drinks, appetizers, live entertainment, door prize, free prize drawings, table favors and a live and silent auction. Tickets can be purchased at the Canyon Crest Event Center or by mailing a check to IRHF, P.O. Box 562, Gooding, ID 83330.