The Courier

News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding

July 12, 2023

New Playground for Bliss

Over the last several year, federal monies have been distributed throughout out communities as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). While many of these funds were used to help employers keep employees on payroll during various shutdowns, $350 billion was earmarked for state and local governments.

In Gooding County, over $350,000 in ARPA funds was distributed to four cities (Wendell, Gooding, Hagerman & Bliss) to help fund special projects.

Most communities have used these funds for public health, economic needs, and educational programs such as 4H. Bliss used $90,000 to construct a new playground next to the city building. In Gooding, funds were used for an exercise court, and Hagerman used the money to help make their walking path ADA compliant.

F&G Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Sage-Grouse Hunting Seasons

Idaho Fish and Game officials are asking hunters and other interested parties to review and comment on proposed sage-grouse hunting seasons and tag proposals for 2023-24. Deadline to comment is July 19. Tag quotas have been increased in 7 of the 12 zones.

The sage-grouse tag system is designed to limit harvest to no more than a maximum of 10% of the estimated fall population in each 12 reporting zones. In each zone, fall populations were estimated based on spring 2023 lek counts and recruitment estimates derived from juvenile: adult ratios observed in the harvest.

To generate proposed tag numbers for each zone, Department staff first determined allowable harvest (targeting 8% of the estimated fall population in most zones during 2023), then assumed a 75% success rate.

City of Wendell Receives City Achievement Award

The Association of Idaho Cities (AIC) recognized the City of Wendell with a Garret Nancolas City Achievement Award at the June 22nd banquet during the 76th AIC Annual Conference in Boise held June 21-23, 2023.

Creativity, innovation, and solutions-oriented leadership define Idaho city officials. The Garret Nancolas City Achievement Awards recognize the work of cities around Idaho that have implemented pioneering approaches to improve quality of life, address community challenges, and enhance service delivery in cost-effective ways. This year, awards were given in six categories: Community Engagement, Economic & Community Development, Parks & Recreation, Public Safety, Public Works & Transportation, and Youth & Youth Council.

The City of Wendell was recognized with a City Achievement Award in the Community Engagement Category for its project Community Spring Cleanup. The city provided dumpsters at city hall to encourage citizens to dispose of unwanted items. The city also picks up old furniture and larger things that are harder to take to the landfill. The program also provides an easy way to dispose of spring yard waste. Public Works also recycles old appliances and tires.

The Association of Idaho Cities was formed in 1947 and is a non partisan, nonprofit corporation organized to serve Idaho’s 199 incorporated cities. AIC influences policies and provides education, training and technical assistance to strengthen

120 310

Number of tags in Camas Prairie Zone should have been 280 and number of tags in Craters Zone should have been 220 (error in formula that calculated minimum population size in 2022). Firearm Season is September 16 - October 31, 2023. Falconry Season is August 15, 2023March 15, 2024

RED, WHITE & YOU

This Thursday, July 13th, the Gooding Community Women's Group will meet at the Gooding Fire Station (2155 Montana). You are invited to celebrate the Independence of our Good'ol US of A with potluck food from "sea to shining sea". Pick your favorite food from your favorite state, and bring a friend. This group is a great way to meet new people. Fun begins at 6:30 p.m.

Gooding Senator Reunion

Its time to reunite! Senators are gathering at the Elks Lodge on July 21 & 22. Friday is alum/faculty open house at 7 with no-host bar and light appies. Saturday is Class of 78 catered dinner at 7 p.m. - $30 per person. Contact Shannon Tucker (208-297-0305) to reserve for Saturday and spread the word for alum night!

Lincoln County Fair & Rodeo

The 2023 Lincoln County Fair will be held July 24 thru 29, but there are lots of activities leading up the main events. 4-H portfolios and record books are due this Friday, July 14th. Cleanup and decorating the fairgrounds will begin next Wednesday.

On Saturday, July 22nd, the Ardis Swan Memorial Jr. Rodeo will be held at the arena beginning at 9 a.m. Entry forms are available at: lincolncountyfairandrodeo. Food booths will be open from 8:30 to 2:30.

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 17th & 18th and August 4th (Friday Fair)

The Amazing Race! July 19 & 20 at Manard Hall

Come and discover the various types of wood and how to use them. Learn woodworking skills through fun activities and get to participate in a Pinewood Derby! To register, get a sign-up sheet from the Camas County Extension Office. Registration Deadline: July 18, 2023.

Time: 2 to 4 p.m. Cost: FREE Youth Ages: 8-18

Manard Hall is located at 231 Ponderosa Ave E. in Fairfield (near Camas County School)

Pinewood Derby Woodworking

Skill Challenges  Learning & Fun

University of Idaho Extension, Camas County

517 Soldier Rd. Fairfield, ID 83327 - 208-764-2230 - camas@uidaho.edu

Courthouse Renovations Begin

Lincoln County has started moving forward with Courthouse Renovation, and has announced temporary locations for county offices which moved on Tuesday, July 11th.

Offices for the Clerk, Assessor, Treasurer, Planning & Zoning, and the Prosecutor are now located in the 1st Baptist Church (205 5th Street East) in Shoshone.

The Board of County Commissioners will also be located at the 1st Baptist Church until further notice. They may relocate to the old Wells Fargo Bank Building at 103 South Birch Street in Shoshone.

The Probation Office is located at 117 West A Street next to the Lincoln County Sheriff's office.

On July 25th & 26th, the Lincoln County Courts will be closed while they relocate to the old Wells Fargo Bank Building at 103 South Birch Street.

The renovation work may take as long as six months with a completion date in the first part of 2024. The county commissioners thanks the community for their patcense and are looking forward to a grand re-opening when the work is complete.

If you have any questions, please call the clerks office at 208-886-7641.

Dealing with Deffused

by Camas Bug Crew

Diffuse knapweed is one of the most common invasive species in Camas county. When sheep were imported to the US from the Mediterranean, they brought knapweed seed heads in their wool, but neglected to bring knapweed insect predatory insects. The Camas Bug Crew is working hard to re-introduce this noxious weed to its insect biological control insects. But, first, a little bio on this weed.

Diffuse knapweed is a biennial or short-lived, perennial reproducing entirely by seed and producing up to 18,00 seeds per plant. Flowers occur singly or in clusters, bloom from July to September and may be white, pink or lavender. The bracts of the flower heads are tipped with a long, slender spine frigid with smaller spines. Seeds are blackish-brown with vertical brown and gray stripes and about 0.1 inch long. Stems are typically 6 inches to 2 feet tall with deeply divided leaves. Diffuse knapweed prefers well-drained, light textures soils and is intolerant of shade. This plant is common along roadside, at disturbed sites, and in abandoned areas. To date, thirteen biological control agents have been approved for release for the knapweed complex, which includes diffuse knapweed. Now let me introduce you to an amazing insect predator.

Knapweed Seed Head Weevils including Larinus minutus are abundant biological control agents that can utilize spotted, diffuse, and squarrose knapweed. Larinus overwinter as adults which emerge in the spring when they begin to feed on knapweed foliage. Females produce between 28 and 130 eggs which they lay in clusters in open flowers. Eggs hatch into larvae which feed on seeds and receptacle tissue for about a month. Larvae construct concoons within the seedheads' wedding pappus hairs and pupate. Emerging adults chew a characteristic round hole in the top of the cocoon that is visible when viewed from above.

As you can see, diffuse knapweed is a pretty robust plant. It prefers dry, arid climates which is why it does so well in Camas County. If you have a concern about an infestation of diffuse knapweed please contact Terry Lee at (208-764-3512)

Facelift in Gooding

Operation Facelift is an annual region-wide community revitalization program sponsored by Southern Idaho Economic Development. Projects can involve community art, helping small businesses beautify their buildings, and placemaking (creating unique public space).

Thanks to generous donations from Glanbia Nutritionals and Tom Woodland, the City of Gooding and the Gooding Chamber of Commerce have received full sponsorship of their Operation Facelift project! Great things happen when communities come together. Keep your eyes open for new flower baskets along Main Street.

The Sound of Freedom

When mainstream media bends over backwards to denigrate the #3 movie of the Fourth of July weekend, it is very likely a movie you should see.

The “Sound of Freedom” is a relatively lowbudget film from independent Angel Studios and is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a former Department of Homeland Security agent, and his quest to stop child sex traffickers.

The surprising part of this story is not the movie itself, but that the movie has managed to gross nearly as much as the latest Indiana Jones movie at a third fewer theaters. Also surprising is this film was major studio project produced nearly 5 years ago by 20th Century Fox. However, despite being completed and ready for distribution, the new owners of Fox - the Walt Disney Company - refused to release the movie.

Why does the media hate this movie so much? Partly because it talks about the child sex trafficking going on at the U.S. Mexican border, but also because it is a faith-based film. Even so, Critics at Rotten Tomatoes (a popular movie rating website) give it a 76% rating and audiences give it a 99% rating.

While the Sound of Freedom may not be a movie you "enjoy" or want to see more than once, it is important to understand that child trafficking is not some delusional conspiracy theory. Over a million children are trafficked every year worldwide, with nearly 20,000 in the United States. Many of these children are used as cover by the drug cartels to cross international borders and then sold to the highest bidder.

America may be deeply divided in its political opinions, but child trafficking should be one place where we all agree - this is a heinous crime against humanity.

This Week’s Sudoku Puzzle Answers

Puzzle #1 - Easy Puzzle #2 - Hard