Lantern 2025-07 by Hillsdale Lantern

EDEN • HAZELTON A Beacon of Light on the First Segregation MURTAUGH

4.7

2025

NEW HILLSDALE BRIDGES NEAR COMPLETION

THE END OF (EXISTING) CONSTRUCTION DETOURS IS IN SIGHT

The Brunes of Airport Road will be much relieved

Motorists in Hillsdale will be pleased to know the bridge replacements initiated last fall are nearly complete. The Lantern was pleased to blow by the “Road Closed” sign and catch up with Cannon Builders’ James Gunkel; Gunkel has been supervising construction of the new bridges on Murtaugh Road and 990 south.

At press time, Gunkel’s crew was still hauling gravel in preparation for a generous layer of asphalt, which Gunkel says is scheduled to be laid on both bridges July 10. After that he expects another week of tidying up before the crossings open to traffic.

When that happens, the good folks of Hillsdale should be pleased with the new infrastructure. The massive two-lane bridges feature 12’ shoulders, which will accommodate today’s giant farm implements quite nicely.

Alert readers will recall that these bridges are two of the handful of bridges Hillsdale Highway Chief Keith Mills is working to replace (Lantern, 10/2024). Plans are in the works to replace bridges at the eastern and western gateways to Hunt, as well as a bridge on Tipperary Road at 1400 East. ITD has funding for the $2.8 million eastern Hunt (Gergen) bridge penciled in for 2028.

(left) The new Murtaugh Road bridge as it nears completion; (right, photo courtesy Jim Louder) the bridge earlier in the construction process just after the voided slab decks were nestled into place.

Hillsdale Lantern

S.C. Huettig, Editor editor@hillsdalelantern.com

The Dim Bulb

The Dim Bulb shined into the details of a scheme to devolve to the private sector millions of federal acres in the western US.

The details: Up to 1 million acres in each western state (except California!) would be eligible. Developers would identify potential tracts to the states, which would then recommend the tracts to the federal government, which would segregate the tracts from its vast landholdings. States would then contract with the developers to build at their expense the necessary infrastructure. The developers would recover their cost by selling the tracts and access to the infrastructure to the public. Only when buyers put the land to use (no speculating!) would title transfer from FedGov. (There are other caveats, but that is the gist of the program.)

Seems to the DB like an efficient way make otherwise idle federal land useful and get it into the people’s hands, all at minimal cost to the taxpayers.

Outraged? Ready to write your member of Congress? Well, don’t bother. The Carey Act has been the law of the land since 1894. Only about 1 million acres of farmland were developed with irrigation, mostly in Idaho and Wyoming.

It’s a good thing the kEEp PuBLiC lANd pUbLiC crowd wasn’t around 120 years ago, or southern Idaho might still be the dusty wasteland the pioneers cursed.

NEWS FLASHES

ANDERSON CAMP RESTORES FUEL SERVICE AFTER FIRE

After a six-month hiatus following a December fire, the fuel pumps at Anderson Camp near Tipperary Corner are online.

The fire gutted the store at the campground and forced the closure of the pumps. Co-owner

Gas and diesel prices are once again on display at the Anderson Camp.

EDEN TRIVIA WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Fairgoers at the Eden-Hazelton Celebration were treated to a History of Eden contest by Keith Huettig. Those who could answer questions like “What was the Eden Eagle?” won prizes from various Eden businesses. Joyce Dollar took top honors, followed by Lindsay Wirfs and Steven Huettig.

Keith Huettig is leading the charge to establish a veterans’ memorial in Eden city park (Lantern, 7/2024).

H

AZELTON CEMETERY CLASSES

UP NEIGHBORHOOD WITH NEW FENCE

From the Archives of the

July 27, 1922

Patrons of the Hazelton Cemetery District were greeted by a new fence this Memorial Day. The handsome iron fence recently replaced a lesscharming chain-link example. Butte Fence did the initial install, and Hillsdale welder Chancy Lewis put the finishing touches on the fence and gates.

BROUGHT IN UNDER A MOONSHINE CHARGE

Last Friday Deputy Sheriff John L. Cox, of Eden, arrested a man named M. W. Senn, charged with violation of the prohibition laws in that he was operating an illicit still. When arraigned before Probate Judge J. R. Keenan, Mr. Senn pleaded not guilty. The preliminary hearing has been set for today and meantime the defendant gave a $350 appearance bond and is at liberty.

The Eden Eagle last Friday has the following story concerning the arrest:

Deputy Sheriff Cox was over on the south side yesterday, attending to official duties. Returning by way of Murtaugh and the gravel pit, he came in sight of an automobile whose driver seem anxious to avoid meeting him. Cox became suspicious and started to follow him. A farm wagon delayed Cox’s auto on the grade until when he finally reached the summit the suspect had disappeared from view. But Cox is a good trailer. He followed the [illegible] of the vanished auto and soon discovered evidence of his taking to the sage. Cox followed until he came to where the runaway had stopped and then turned. Cox soon discovered foot prints that led to the bank of the canal and on the bank of the canal he picked up a gunny sack containing packages holding two gallons of booze. He took possession of it and set chase for the escaping auto. After a wild chase of about 8 miles he came within shooting distance. As he was about to shoot a tire the fugitive stopped. Cox found M. W. Senn and Clyde Cozier in the car. He took them into custody and brought them to town.

This (Friday) morning he took his prisoners to Jerome and turned them over to the Prosecuting Attorney for examination. Senn was remanded to jail. Cozier made oath that he was merely a passenger and knows nothing of Senn’s operations. Senn corroborates Cozier’s statement and Cozier was released. Trial of the case was set for tomorrow.