The Courier
NEWS
Professional Bull Riders Come to Gooding
25 years ago, a group of entrepreneurial bull riders formed the Professional Bull Riders with a vision of creating a sport for themselves and future generations. Today, the PBR is an international phenomenon - The Toughest Sport on Dirt - embodied in a contemporary sports entertainment experience appealing to all those who seek action, excitement, and an all-around good time. This Saturday, September 26th starting at 7:30 p.m., the Gooding Rodeo arena will be filled up with the world’s best bull riding athletes competing for a chance to ride at the PBR World Championship and its $10 million in prizes. But first, they’ll have to battle the toughest animal athletes on the planet in an 8-second man versus beast duel. It all sound simple enough until you strap a tough and determined 159-pound cowboy to the back of a temperamental 2,000-pound bull. The result is unparalleled action where danger, drama and heroic accomplishments are just a part of the game. The PBR has more than 600 bull riders from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. They compete in more than 300 bull riding events each year on either the nationally-televised Unleash The Beast, the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, or the Touring Pro Division. There are also tours in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. The ultimate goal is to qualify for the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, the richest bull riding event on the planet. Tickets are available at Valley Wide Coop in Gooding, at the gate, or online at www.pbr.com or www.visionquestevents.net
Groundbreaking at Thousand Springs State Park Visitor Center
This Thursday, September 24th, construction of a $2.5 million visitors center will begin with representatives of Idaho State Parks, the National Park Service, and officials from the City of Hagerman and Gooding County turning some ceremonial dirt. The event starts the clock on a 12-month construction project for a new center that will serve as the heart of Thousand Springs State Park and the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, locating rangers and resources in a single location to better serve the public. The public is invited, but attendees are asked to wear masks and observe physical distancing. Refreshments will be served. Thousand Springs State Park Visitor Center Groundbreaking Thursday, September 24, at 1 p.m. Billingsley Creek Unit of the Park, just off U.S. Highway 30, north of Hagerman, south of the Exit 141 from Interstate 84 (look for balloons and yellow arrows)
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
September 23, 2020
Vol 44 Num 39
Mask or No Mask?
It may be obvious, but most of you have decided not to wear a mask. Most of you haven’t worn a mask even once throughout this whole pandemic. And you’re not alone. A recent study estimates that about 95% of Americans are not wearing masks. Clearly, if this number is true, going “maskless” cut across all demographics: age, sex, skin color and... political affiliation. Aside from political grandstanding, neither Republicans nor Democrats are wearing masks. Going maskless is truly a bipartisan activity (something we all agree on). The main reason for this is we simply do not believe the media hype or the politicians trying to used Covid-19 as a tool to win votes. And yet, the Coronavirus is still a real issue for government and health officials to deal with. During this last week, more than a dozen students tested positive for Covid-19 in Camas County prompting a shutdown, not only of the school, but also at least one business that was staffed by high school students. On Monday, the City of Fairfield issued an emergency resolution regarding face coverings. “Every person shall, when in any indoor or out door public place, completely cover their nose and mouth when members of the public are physically present for otherwise unprotected social interaction.” While there is no penalty for violating this order, it is the hope of City Officials that everyone will take the responsibility upon themselves to wear a mask when needed. Exemptions to this order include: children under 5, medical & hearing impairment, law enforcement, eating or drinking at a restaurant, and outdoor location where people can socially distance. Is all of this overkill? Many of us believe it is, either because of inconsistent and misleading information, or because we simply don’t want the government telling us what to do. For several months, we have had groups of individuals protesting against the rule of law. Rather than letting the law determine the guilt or innocence of police officers accused of crimes, they insist that these individuals are automatically guilty because of their skin color - White. The strength of this presupposition is such that they feel no compunction regarding looting and burning businesses, or assaulting people trying to protect their property. All of this brings us to a question: Is a small piece of cloth or paper across your face worth rebelling against government authority or ignoring a request from a local businesses?