January 2020 Middleton Gazette

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID

MIDDLETON, ID 83644 PERMIT NO. 5

LOCAL PATRON ECRWSS

Middleton, Idaho

Volume 3, Edition Eight

January 2020

Middleton IT Help Desk Ninjas Page 9 and 10

Understanding Local Business Page 3

Tips and tricks for savory slow-cooked meals Page 15

Changing Of The Guard

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n January 2nd, the official changing of leadership took place.

Mayor Taylor led the city council meeting on a few action items, then watched as the

new leadership was sworn in.

Council members Huggins, O’Meara, and Garner were administered the oath of office together. Then separately Steve Rule was sworn in as Mayor and officially took the helm. Both in coming and out going gave comments that were well received by the audience. Then mayor Rule was immediately put into decision making mode, having to appointment city officials and

work on filling vacant positions, with council agreement.

No major changes in personnel.

Note:

Planning and Zoning Appointments– Janet

Gregory, Ray Waltmate, Bill Deaver, Jackie Hutchinson, Whitney Springston were confirmed.

Impact advisory Committee– Chris

Yorgason, Tyler Ashton, Jim Taylor, Kelley Case, Doug Critchfield, Brett Bishop, Mike Graefe, were confirmed.

Building Board of Appeals– Jon Yorgason,

Tyler Ashton, Chaney Stotts were acknowledged. ~Scott Brock

Drivers Should Direct Questions About the New Proof Of Insurance Law to the Idaho Transportation Department

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aldwell, ID – The Canyon County Assessor’s Office is reminding drivers to please direct all questions related to the new proof of insurance law to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) through the department’s dedicated “Drive Insured” phone number, email address, or webpage.

Phone: (208) 334-8075 Email: Driveinsured@itd.

idaho.gov Website: itd.idaho.gov/ DriveIdaho ITD’s announcement of the new HB179 going into effect in January has led to a flood of phone calls to the Assessor’s Motor Vehicle and Title Registration Office in recent weeks. This program is maintained solely by the Idaho Transporation Department, and the Motor Vehicle staff

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Please direct all questions regarding HB179 to the Idaho Transportation Department.

Additional info about the new law

The law (Idaho Code Section 49-1234) was passed during the 2019 Idaho legislative session and goes into effect in January 2020. It requires

the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Motor Vehicles to determine monthly whether the owner of a vehicle has insurance.

The law applies only to noncommercial vehicles and excludes trailers and off-highway vehicles.

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provide proof of insurance or obtain an exemption before their registration is suspended.

To reinstate a suspended registration, owners will need to provide proof of insurance and pay a fee of $75.

For more information, please visit itd.idaho.gov/ DriveIdaho. ~Press Release, December 13, 2019, Canyon County Assessor

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Page 2 • Middleton Gazette

January 2020

F&G asks for public's help to combat illegal dumping at access sites Dumping is illegal and costs hunters' and anglers' money to clean up

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ittering is a serious problem on many Idaho Fish and Game

properties, and Fish and Game staff has noticed an uptick in people dumping trash at access sites around the state.

The department is asking people to report anyone who is dumping or damaging access sites by calling any local law

enforcement agency as soon as possible. Write down a vehicle license plate number, physical description of the violator and their vehicle, and note the location, day and time of the activity.

These access sites are maintained for public use and paid

for with funding from hunters and anglers, so not only are the sites degraded, it costs money that could be better spent on other things.

In some cases, literal truckloads of trash were left at Fish and Game access sites. In the

past 10 months in Southwest Idaho alone, there have been more than a dozen such instances of illegal dumping, which has left mounds of trash including construction supplies, pallets, furniture, animal remains, nails, asphalt, tires and more. Some access sites

have seen multiple incidents in that span.

“Every region deals with it to some degree, but we see it the most in the Southwest Region,” said John Cassinelli, regional fisheries manager.

“Most of our problems are on

the Snake River access sites, and we’ve had some repeat offenders.”

Cleaning up these illegal dumps is costly, and Fish and Game staff are forced to spend time and money hauling litter and trash.

“That money could be better spent improving these access sites for our hunters and anglers,” said Curt Creson, Recreation Site Maintenance Foreman for Idaho Fish and Game.

In some cases, the poor choices of a few are also impacting access for sportsmen.

“At a couple of these sites where dumping has occurred, we have placed large boulders to block off vehicle access in areas where it was historically allowed,” Creson said.

That means everyone may pay the price of reduced access because of the disrespectful actions of a few.

Those actions aren’t just disrespectful — they are illegal. Littering on public or private property within the State of Idaho is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine up to $1,000, with the possibility

of eight to 40 hours of litter cleanup. ~by Brian Pearson, Conservation Public Information Specialist, Idaho Department of Fish & Game, Southwest Region

The “Middleton Gazette”

Is a locally owned and operated community newspaper published by Gunfighter Publishing LLC. Our address is: P.O. Box 1099 Middleton, ID 83644 208-963-0030 middletonexpress1@ gmail.com Scott Brock Publisher/ Content Manager Brenda Uselton Design & Layout Zoe Gallegos Staff Photographer Deanna Brock Accounting

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January 2020

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ver the next year we here at the Gazette will try to spotlight some of our local businesses.

Showing what services, they provide, their staff, and how long they have been serving our community. I think it is very import for those of you who are new here to know who they are, and what they do. Most people who have recently moved to Middleton, came here from a town or city much larger. You wanted to live in a nice small town and have the “Mayberry” lifestyle.

That small-town feel comes from having a small, cozy downtown area full of small mom and pop shops. I admit its one of my favorite parts of Middleton. However, there are economic ramifications for a small town that has too many or too few local small businesses. I have seen many of them fail. What I want to show you is how you can make a difference and show what these businesses mean to Middleton.

We all know that most of our disposable income is spent in Nampa, Caldwell, Boise, and lately Star. The big box stores have the clothing, food, and bulk shopping we want.

In order to have a big box in Middleton there needs to be more homes. Those businesses survey the area and have a proven method of population estimation that equates into profitability. Our newest

Page 3 • Middleton Gazette

Understanding Local Businesses

“big box” or corporation is Tractor Supply. TS surveyed the cost to build, they projected increase in population, and potential tax abatements to decide to move into a community. Frankly I did not think we had the numbers for a TS, but I guess I was wrong. Having the

it doesn’t happen, but in most cases the work force drives in.

Hiring local, hopefully means that the circle of money will stay within the city. Local people, spending their money at least partially local, instead of in Caldwell, or Nampa where they live. That keeps the local

big box is great, but in most cases, they do little in the community beyond their tax money. What do I mean by that?

Most of the larger businesses bring in people to run their locations, and rarely hire locally unless part of the tax incentives they get are earmarked with concessions for a percentage of local hires. Not to say

stores in business.

WE are all interconnected.

How is that? Well let me give you one example. We have one of the largest and best 4th of July celebrations in the valley. It is epic. Ever wonder who does all the work to put that celebration on? Well I can tell you. It is hosted by the Chamber but is usually ran by

a very small handful of people and their families. Those people are all small businesses who donate their time… and a lot of it… to plan and conduct those festivities. They don’t ask for recognition or praise; they just do the work because it’s a great thing to do. We rarely get corporation participation in the form of hands on work to make the day go well.

It’s the small business owners who get it done. Eagle Land Surveying and family, Kardia Real Estate Team, Home Helpers, my wife and I and my kids, along with our great police and fire departments make that event happen. It is literally 5 to 6 people if we are lucky. That dedication to the city should not go unnoticed, and for far too long it has. The fireworks have been done by Don Spratley and GMPRD for years. They bust their butt to give us a good display. Don recently shut the doors on his small business, Jim's Pawn Shop. Sad. That is just one event of the many that happen here in town, that makes us the “Mayberry” everyone wants to live in. Supporting those small business in any way completes the circle. Sure, I could drive to Nampa for a haircut, but I won’t, I shop local. I buy my dog food local, my gas mostly local, a large portion of my

food local. I eat out local, I donate local. If given the choice between having a large corporate company to do yard work, tractor work, etc. I always choose a local company.

That money tends to stay local and complete the circle. We must make it possible for more small businesses to WANT to move to Middleton and believe they can survive. More businesses will help lower the tax burden over time we each pay.

So when you are looking to sell your home, build a home, put a fence around a home, survey the land, take care of an aging parent, buy insurance, shop for food, buy dog food, get gas, have your well pump serviced, go to the dentist, get health care, get glasses, eat out, get your back popped, have your taxes done, get your hair cut, your nails done, your yard cut, your yard fertilized, your Christmas lights hung, well I think you get the point the point. Just about every service job you could need done is here in town. I own four businesses here in Middleton and do everything I can to spend my money here also. We have it pretty good here… let’s try to keep it that way. Thanks Middleton. ~Scott Brock

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Page 4 • Middleton Gazette

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re you under 65 and paying a high premium?

If you are not receiving a Tax Credit and feel you are paying too much for your health insurance, Blue Cross is offering a brand-new lower cost health plan program called Blue Cross of Idaho Access plans. They are broken down into three levels of

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January 2020

Health Insurance – NEWS

coverage. They are claiming the rates will be up to 40% less than Idaho Exchange rates.

Access plans are designed for those who want a more affordable health insurance plan that offers access to Blue Cross of Idaho’s statewide PPO provider network.

These plans are each underwritten, with a rate assigned to each person on the plan. Blue Cross of Idaho Underwriting Department assigns rates

based on: Height and weight, Tobacco use, Health history listed on the application, Blue Cross of Idaho claims history, if applicable and Prescription history… Prescription drug history may be accessed from a national database.

Who is Eligible?

Access plans are available to any Idaho resident or dependent of an Idaho resident who: • Is younger than 65, is not eligible for coverage under a

group health plan, for Part A or Part B of Medicare or for Medicaid, and who does not have other health insurance coverage.

Or • Is a federally eligible individual under the federal law known as HIPAA (1996 Public Law 104-191).

Access plans available:

Access Safeguard™–

Access Protector™–

“Self-Care means never pouring from an empty cup.”

ave you heard this phrase before? I wouldn’t be surprised if you have. It is a vital part of life that many do not take seriously and some even feel they cannot afford it. Cancer parents (as I am one) are especially prone to suffer this deficiency. As they care for their warrior child, it is all too easy

for them to put themselves on the back burner… if on the stove at all.

Self-care does not have to be an added expense. It does not have to mean a day at the spa or a trip to the Mexican Riviera. It can be as simple as giving yourself 10 minutes to read a few pages in a book you’ve been wanting to read. It can be allowing yourself the time to take a longer shower and actually blow dry your hair instead

of throwing it up in a ponytail still dripping wet. It can also be as simple as choosing the bigger cup of coffee (whether at home or at your favorite coffee spot). Self-care is all about yourSELF. It doesn’t mean you forget about your responsibilities… it means that you make yourself a priority. Afterall, if you are not healthy, how in the world can you successfully continue to care for your child?

For my fellow cancer parents, community is a key element of self-care. If you are in need of a community, please reach out to Reimagine Healing and get plugged in.

This plan is ideal for anyone who wants a health insurance plan that covers basic services such as check-ups, emergency room access and prescription drug coverage. It has an in-network medical deductible of $10,000 for individuals or $20,000 for families and an out-of-pocket maximum of $25,000 or $50,000, respectively.

To be around like-lifed people is extremely powerful and encouraging. The simple acknowledgement from those who get it goes a long way and knowing you are not alone can be just the thing you need to make it through the next fifteen minutes.

Reimagine Healing is here for you and with you! You are not alone! You are seen. You are valued. ~Coral Kenagy, Founder & CEO of Reimagine Healing ReimagineHealing.com 562-646-7757

This is the mid-level Access plan with lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum and coinsurance levels. It has an in-network medical deductible of $5,000 for individual or $10,000 for families and an out-of-pocket maximum of $20,000 or $40,000, respectively.

Access Secure™–

This option offers the best coverage levels and lowest deductibles for those who want a little more protection. It has an in-network medical deductible of $2,500 for individual or $5,000 for families and an out-of-pocket maximum of $15,000 or $30,000, respectively. ~Bob Arnett, Licensed Agent, 208 570 8390 www.alisprotect.com

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Page 5 • Middleton Gazette

Small Business Spotlight: Kassa Hartley Insurance LLC

y name is Kassa Hartley and my business here in Middleton is Kassa Hartley

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Insurance LLC. I started my insurance journey back in 2007 when I was offered a job at Dahlinger & Company Insurance in Nampa. I worked there for three years and found myself at Farmers Insurance in Star which was closer to home.

After working there, a year, I decided I wanted to open my own business and I did in 2010.

I met my husband Joe, who is a Middleton graduate back in 2001 and was married by 2003. We were able to purchase my Grandmother’s land here in Middleton that’s been in the family since 1950. We have three beautiful children

14, 11 and 9.

I’m involved with the Middleton Chamber, I am a sponsor for the Middleton Athletic teams, the Middleton Fireworks and Middleton Fire Department stair climb team every year. I have strong ties to this community and can’t wait to see what the future holds for my town, my community, my business and my family.

My business provides insurance for your home, auto, flood, commercial, small business, workers compensation, recreational vehicles, boat and life. I am currently serving all of Idaho, Oregon, Utah and

California. I have two awesome employee’s, Kaci Jachim who is a producer/agent and Leah Schroeder that is a customer

service representative. ~Kassa Hartley, Pacific Crest Insurance

The Benefits of a Regular Lawn and Tree Care Program

here are benefits to having a professional and regular care program for your lawn, trees, and shrubs. If you are one that loves your lawn you most definitely know how much ongoing care and attention lawns and landscapes require in order to remain healthy and strong. Staying ahead and on top of the health and care of your lawn, trees, and shrubs is more cost efficient than having to recover from the negative results of a neglected landscape. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Lawn care is labor intensive. By having a regular lawn and tree care program you will help prevent weeds, disease and insects while providing yourself with a great looking landscape. The less damage disease and insects will do the

less time and money you will have to invest in order to treat and remove them. Proper care and nutrients can protect your landscape from these invasions and will help it withstand the changes in climate conditions throughout the year.

Hiring a professional can save you time and money.

Unless you have all the equipment and other products required to properly treat and care for your lawn and trees just lying around, it may be cheaper and more efficient to hire a professional who is knowledgeable and fully equipped to do the job. Professionals can also reduce the effects of ineffective lawn treatments. They can help you avoid wasting money on products that don't work or even cause damage.

Having a regular care program for your landscape will

help it have the consistent care it requires. Most busy homeowners find it hard to establish and stay on top of a regular lawn care routine. Professional services show up on a regular basis and stay on top of weeds, insects and disease so they don't get out of hand.

Investing in a professional lawn and tree care program can pay off by increasing the value of your home. If you plan to sell your home at some point, a well-kept front and backyard will boost your home's curb appeal. The lawn is one of the first things potential buyers will notice when they show up to look at your home. Having a well-cared for landscape also increases the value and appearance of your neighborhood as well. Besides, who doesn't like to come home to a beautiful yard?

If you are interested in signing up for our lawn, tree or shrub care programs just give

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Page 6 • Middleton Gazette

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either sleet nor snow nor icy roads should keep you from driving safely in the cold weather.

Steve’s Auto Care has some ideas to minimize the season’s hazards.

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• Prevent Car Problems

As temperatures drop, tires deflate, batteries lose capacity and the strain on your vehicle increases. Start the season with a thorough tune up.

Then, as the winter progresses, top off fluids, check your tires, and keep your gas tank at least

January 2020

Stay Safe on Winter Drives

half full to prevent fuel lines from freezing.

• Make A Kit

Keep these items in your car: a small shovel, a traction mat, tire chains, flashlight, booster cables, warning flare or triangles, an ice scraper, a small bag of sand, and a charged cell phone. Blankets, water and energy bars can also be life savers.

• Keep In Touch

If you must travel during inclement weather, map your route out and share your plans with others before setting off.

When the forecast is especially nasty, consider postponing your trip.

• Mind The Brakes

On slippery roads, press steadily on the brake if your car has an anti-lock braking system, but pump the brakes if your car doesn’t have ABS. Avoid using your emergency brake to stop or slow down.

• Take It Slow

In wet and icy conditions, stopping can require two or three times the distance it takes in fair weather. Reduce speed and leave extra space between your car and others. Winter conditions also require more focus. Rest up before you get behind the wheel and take a break every few hours.

• Stay Put

If your car breaks down, remain inside it and turn on your flashers for visibility.

To prevent carbon monoxide

poisoning, run the engine only for short periods — just long enough to keep yourself warm.

And as always if you’re going on a long trip, Steve at Steve’s Auto Care offers a free brake inspection, a top off of your fluids and a tire pressure check at no extra charge.

And like always, please remember our location is across the street from the Star Mercantile.

We always offer a 12 month, 12,000 Mile Nationwide Warranty.

We’re bringing service back into Star. So stop by and have us check and top off your fluids, check and adjust your tire pressure, and check your brakes at no charge.

Have a wonderful New

Year!

~Steve Green Steve’s Auto Care Starautocare@msn.com (208)863-2748

The Middleton Gazette

Submission Deadline for the February 2020 issue is January 25th.

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January 2020

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Page 7 • Middleton Gazette

Purple Sage Elementary

urple Sage 5th graders have been attending STARBASE at Gowen Field. STARBASE is a 5 week experience funded by the DoD that provides STEM experiences and equipment that we normally would not have the ability to expose our students to. Our students have been exploring new technologies such as computer aided design (CAD) and robotics, as well as concepts of physics and

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chemistry while relating them to math, inquiry and the engineering process. This is what some of our 5th graders are saying about their experience at STARBASE: • What I learned at Star Base was how to make chemical reactions so the rocket would shoot up.

• I will always remember how to launch a rocket.

• I learned the four states of matter. I also learned that

when a flood comes I know what to do. The worst part is that we had to leave. I will always remember the four states of matter. I want to learn more about static electricity. ~Middleton School District

Happenings At Heights Elementary

e were busy this month at Heights.

Our fifth grade leadership team worked with our third grade teachers to hold our annual food drive at Heights. It was a contest between grade levels to see which grade level could bring the most food items to donate. Both Kindergarten and fifth grade brought in over 300 items of food. Our school collected 1,321 pounds of food for the Middleton Foodbank. We are so thankful for the support we received from our Heights families!

Luke Baker a fifth-grade student in Ms. Larsen’s class has completed his 4th marathon, which totals 104.8 miles.

We are so proud of his drive to keep running!

It has been wonderful to see families stopping by our giving tree to support those in need from Heights. Within three days of putting the tree up, we ran out of gift options and needed to request another family to support! We have purchased gifts for three families. Our families are so generous. Thank you again!

Our PBIS team has continued to revamp our PBIS system at Heights. Our students earned their first school-wide reward for collecting 1,500 SOAR tickets during the month of November. We celebrated this success by wearing our pajamas to school!

We have collected another 2,000 SOAR tickets so far in December, earning another school-wide award in January.

We are so proud of our students for demonstrating their SOAR behavior at school!

During the month of November, Mr. Sims worked with each class to develop an understanding of cooperation which can lead to an inclusive classroom setting.

Our students worked together to complete a challenge using a hula-hoop during this lesson. Our character trait for December is Honesty. ~Middleton School District

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A Word From The Superintendent

know I say this every year, but truly, where does the time go? It seems as if the first day of school was only last week! But, alas, as the holiday break approaches, I want to thank our community for all you do in support of our schools. Throughout our school district I have noticed everyone going above and beyond to help create a season that all of our students, staff and families will enjoy. I have seen and heard of food drives, adopt-a-family, food baskets and more in the spirit of giving and taking care of each other.

Thank you for thinking about and caring for our students,

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~Learning Together, Dr. Reberry

From Special Services

his has been an exciting and productive semester for the Special Services Department.

We have initiated incredible partnerships to support our students and staff. This semester, Teresa Brown, the district’s Social Worker has been extremely inundated with requests as our district and community continues to grow.

She is an incredible asset as she understands the needs of our students and is willing to do what it takes to meet those needs. She has aligned our district with Purposity; an organization that assists in finding donations and providing for the needs of our students.

Teresa needed 200 followers in order to launch the program.

She is incredibly thankful to those who have already downloaded the app and helped the

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staff and families! You are each appreciated for your kindness and thoughtfulness.

Thank you for ALL you do!

district quickly meet that goal.

If you have not yet downloaded the App (on either iPhone or other) please do so and follow Middleton School District.

Student needs will begin to be uploaded in the coming weeks.

If you are interested in learning more about Purposity, please visit: https://youtube/ yGX3zSwEW0c. Additionally, Teresa has spent the past six weeks collecting donations which will be used to grant Christmas miracles to many of our families. The district is currently supporting 100 families this Christmas season.

This annual tradition could not continue to be supported without the generosity of our community and district staff.

Happy New Year! ~Sharlea Watkins Director of Special Services

Middleton Academy

iddleton Academy Student Council enjoyed participating in the annual Middleton Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade again this year. The theme was "A Christmas Carol," and we created a scene of kids in pajamas sitting around a fire listening to the

story. Our students love participating in community events, and this year was another fun parade — complete with a dusting of snow! ~Middleton School District

Page 8 • Middleton Gazette

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ill Creek students started the holiday season giving back to the community. They have been busy collecting canned

food for the Middleton Food Bank. Mill Creek families brought in over 3800 pounds of food.

PBIS Shine Ticket winners had the opportunity to “Pie a Teacher” as a reward. Students and teachers had a lot of laughs during this weekly reward.

PBIS Shine Ticket winners also had the opportunity to build and decorate a candy snowman. Students had a blast building with marshmallows,

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January 2020

Mill Creek Elementary

kisses, pretzels, and decorating gel.

Mill Creek's 25 cent books sale inspires giving and offers a way for students to buy presents for family and friends during the christmas season.

Not only do the students give to others, but your generous donations of gently used books helps this tradition continue and spreads holiday cheer.

Thanks to all those wonderful families that have donated books in the past. We are really blessed a Mill Creek.

Our art teacher Mrs. Brenner created the “Gift of Kindness”. Students are encouraged daily to spread a different act of kindness throughout the building. Mrs. Brenner also does an amazing job teaching and displaying the art throughout our building.

Each month Mill Creek awards the top running class in each grade level with Gatorade. The classes listed below are the winners for November with the number of miles for the class.

• 1st Grade– Mrs. Walrath ran 59.67 Miles • 2nd Grade– Mrs. Wiggins ran 16.67 Miles • 3rd Grade– Mrs. Maxwell ran 138.67 Miles • 4th Grade– Mrs. Butler ran

163.3 Miles • 5th Grade– Mr. Myers ran 104.49 Miles Jackson Carver leads all students with 40.67 miles, Dallas Walker is 2nd with 36.00 miles, Lauren Butler is 3rd with 32.67 miles, Mason Fowler is 4th with 32.33, and 5th is Bradley Bergquist with 31.33. As a school we have ran 2894.72 miles this year.

Students used inquiry and the scientific method to test which liquids would cause a candy cane to dissolve the fastest. They tested oil, vinegar, hot water and cold water.

After making a prediction, recording observations, and testing out a hypothesis, they were surprised by the end results!

(No spoilers here.)

Mrs. Campbell's class had the opportunity to share their animal report slideshows with Mrs. Patterson's 1st grade class.

Mrs. Hedberg and Mrs. McNulty's 2nd grade reading group put their "Fab 4" reading strategies to work. These strategies include predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing nonfiction text.

Students worked cooperatively in pairs to read articles of their choice from National Geographic Kid's magazine

and wrote reports. The written reports were then made into Google Slides by the students and presented for parents, teachers, and other second grade classes at Mill Creek. Many reading, writing, and speaking and listening standards were met with high engagement and enthusiasm.

Everyone was proud of their

accomplishments!

During December Mill Creek families supported over 10 families with our Angel Tree. Thank you so much for the support. ~Middleton School District

Middleton Middle School News

he MMS Lego Robotics team took the Top Prize out of 12 teams, at last weekend's 2019 Lego League Tournament. They now qualify for the 2020 South Idaho Championships to be held in Twin Falls on January 11, 2020.

Thanks to Coach Susan Hawke for her hours of devotion to this team!

Purchase a license plate cover and support our VIKES program. This program works to instill our Vikes Values into

each student every day. Value Education, integrity, kindness, excellence and service!

Covers are $10 each and can be purchased in our front office.

MMS by the Numbers

• Students and families spent $5,243.07 at our book fair.

• The bookfair sold 604 books which equals 108,720 minutes of reading!

• Students and families brought in 295 pounds of food to donate to the food bank.

• MMS has 989 students.

• Kindness Spies saw 185 random acts of kindness in 10 school days.

• 151 band students and 6 parents marched in the Middleton Christmas Parade.

• Over 560 gifts were purchased, wrapped and given to over 93 district families at Christmas by the Middleton Community.

Did you know that our

7th grade math teacher is also Miss Treasure Valley?

Congratulations to Miss Sarah Jensen for her recent win as Miss Treasure Valley. She is an incredible math teacher and part of the Middleton Middle School Team! ~Middleton School District

To advertise or to submit a story, please call Scott at (208) 963-0030 or email us at middletonexpress1@gmail.com. Deadline: January 25th

January 2020

M

iddleton High School had a busy December!

The first semester wrapped up, finals were taken, winter sports heated up, and students participated in a variety of holiday activities!

ASB Vice President, Braelen Lowell provided an update on the MHS Food Drive/ Rock-A-Thon and the Wish Assembly.

Every year MHS Leadership hosts a Christmas Drive in which we hold fundraisers including the rocka-thon and food drive. Not only does this project get the leadership class involved, but also the entire student body through the food drive. With the money raised during the rock-a-thon, leadership students get to go shopping to buy gifts. With both gifts and the food donations, we are able

N

ote from the MSD IT Help Desk Programs:

Want to meet an incredible group of students contributing

to the learning environment in the Middleton School District?

Then come meet the IT Help Desk Ninjas at Middleton High School (MHS) and Middleton Middle School (MMS). The IT Help Desk program began 7 years ago at MHS and has trickled down to MMS which is now in its 3rd year. The students, or Ninjas as they are called, involved in both programs have the task of running the student led Help Desks.

The IT Ninjas are returning for the fourth time to present at the February Idaho Education Technology Association Conference (IETA) held in downtown Boise. They have also been invited to present for a second time at the Northwest Council for Computer Education Conference in

Page 9 • Middleton Gazette

Middleton High School Update

to provide Christmas and support for families in need in our community.

Participating in this project has opened my eyes to the needs in my own community and I am very grateful to be a part of something so special.

There is nothing like being able to provide Christmas for those who have fallen on hard times The Wish Assembly gives me a similar feeling. For those who haven’t heard of the Wish Assembly, this is where each student and staff member at the high school are given a chance to make one wish. The student council then does everything in their power to grant as many wishes as possible. This year, with the help of many generous donations from community members and businesses, we granted more than 300 wishes at MHS. Before joining student council, it was exciting to see

what kind of fun things would be going on. Being a part of the assembly is another story.

It takes a lot of thought and time to go through and pick which wishes would be granted, but the expressions on the faces of the students make it all worth it. I love this event because it has brought our school together and gives the students something to look forward to. This year some of the big wishes that were granted include: a trampoline, a college laptop, a camera for an aspiring photographer, and

concert tickets. Some of the other fun wishes granted include: waxing eyebrows, a student’s first kiss, and a student/ teacher 1v1 basketball competition. Not everyone gets a big wish but even the little ones can go a long way to make someone’s day. We even had KTVB come and do a story on our Wish Assembly! This was a great way for MHS to get into the holiday giving spirit!

Signing Day

MHS also had the chance to take part in signing day on December

18th.

Gaard Memalaar (University of Washington Football), Macy Short (Snow College Volleyball), Tyler Robinett (College of Idaho Basketball), Gracie Guerra (Walla Walla Softball), and Ashley Campbell (Northwest Nazarene University Track) all signed their letters of intent in front of friends, family, coaches, and teachers at Middleton High. Good luck to these Vikings as they compete at the next level! ~Middleton School District

Middleton IT Help Desk Ninjas Seattle the first week in March. Administrators, technology directors, teachers and instructional coaches from all over the state schedule visits to view the Middleton student

led help desks in action. They hope to gain insight into the workings of the program so they can create a similar program in their own school districts. Please read the Ninja student perspectives below to learn about the opportunities for technology at MSD. If you want to see the Ninjas in action go to http://bit.ly/35zIHwi

From Mike Cozakos, Director of Instructional Technology

I can’t begin to express what our 1:1 IT Help Desk student Ninja program has done for Middleton School District as a whole. These student Ninja’s, starting back in 2014, have completely changed the landscape of our 1:1 laptop program and school district

professional development of staff and students. As you read through their testaments, hopefully you will truly understand the impact they are having on our schools and staff. From all of us here at MSD, we want to thank our parents and community supporters for believing in our programs that truly impact our children's lives. I especially want to thank Mrs. Allison Kershaw (MHS 1:1 Help Desk Coordinator), Mrs. Sherry Oswald (MMS 1:1 Help Desk Coordinator), Mrs. Sarah Thompson (1:1 Advisor/ Instructional Specialist) and all those that have come before them in helping make this 1:1 program a true success within MSD! Go Vikes!

Technology For All: The Gears In The Machine

By Daisy Elliott (Senior at MHS) Imagine students, in an entire school district, who have access to every assignment, no matter where they are. It’s a teacher and administator’s dream. In Middleton School District 134, it’s a reality. Every student at the Middle and High School have the opportunity to utilize a laptop that they are welcome to take home and maintain 24/7. Students in the three elementary schools have laptops that they use at school.

This 1:1 laptop program allows students to take their work with them, encouraging learning beyond the classroom walls. Strangely enough, this program isn’t run by teachers or certified technicians. Sure,

these people oversee daily tasks, but the 1:1 laptop program is truly run by someone else; a group of students called the Ninjas.

The Ninjas are a team of students brought together to integrate technology in their schools. These Ninjas meet in a specially designed classroom labeled with a sign that says ‘IT Help Desk’.

The general populous at Middleton High and Middle School knows the IT Help Desk to mean a welcoming atmosphere, kind and familiar faces, and assistance they may need.

The Ninjas focus on both studying technology and customer service to be the most effective support technicians possible. They checkout laptops to students who opt out of taking them home, repair broken laptops, and help students with various web based programs and browser extensions. Without them, the 1:1 program could not run; they are the gears that move the machine.

The Ninjas work on special projects alongside everyday operations. Technology conferences are an integral part of the Help Desk. The Ninjas study web based programs and

extensions to teach technology workshops and classes.

They teach apps to the teachers in their school at events such as new teacher trainings and an annual professional development event called

‘Teach-tober Fest’. Ninjas prepare presentations about their daily Help Desk tasks and on Google systems to present at Idaho Educational Technology Association (IETA) in February. The IT Ninjas are the only student group who present at IETA and yet they are invited back every year.

I have been a part of the Ninja program for two years now and it has helped me monumentally. I have learned exceptional customer service and problem solving skills which have landed me a job and helped me in school. (continued on page 10)

Page 10 • Middleton Gazette

January 2020

Middleton IT Help Desk Ninjas (continued from page 9) This program has also given me real-life job experience; I want to go into computer science as a career. I plan to use the skills and experience I have gained here to leverage a job at my college’s IT Help Desk next year. I am confident that the soft skills I have learned here will stick with me through my entire life and career.

The Middleton School District Ninjas

By Ainsley Iwersen (Senior at MHS) In the Norse Hallway of Middleton High School lies the IT Help Desk, a hub where students come for help with their laptops. The 1:1 laptop program began in 2014, and has since become an integral part of learning for the students of Middleton High School.

The IT Help Desk at the high school proved successful, and as a result, was then expanded to Middleton Middle School.

A few years ago, all of our homework was done on paper, and all of our textbooks had to be crammed in our backpacks. Now, all students need is the occasional notebook and textbook. This is because since the 1:1 laptop program began, our learning materials can be accessed electronically. With the 1:1 laptop program, there are limitless learning opportunities available to Middleton School District students.

The Ninjas are a group of students who are dedicated to making the 1:1 laptop program possible. The Ninjas are not the classic group of computer geeks with thick glasses, hidden in the basement. We have students ranging from a

The

football player, a band kid, and a self-proclaimed science nerd.

On a daily basis, we repair broken laptops that students have brought in, help them with various Google applications, and return the laptops that we have repaired. Our daily routines can vary from day-today, so we have to learn how to be highly adaptable. One day, a teacher may ask Ninjas to help teach their class how to use a Google application last minute, and the next day, may be returning repaired laptops to students. Another day may be spent reviewing an application with peers, but then five students come in with various laptop issues. Though we have set activities to do throughout the week, they vary from dayto-day depending on what the students that come to us need.

The IT Help Desk Ninjas are thoroughly active throughout our district and the Treasure Valley, from teaching MSD classrooms how to use various programs such as WeVideo and Canva, to teaching Google applications at technology conferences. The new applications that the IT Help Desk teach and promote are becoming much more prominent in students’ daily classes. For example, the year I began teaching WeVideo for the IT Help Desk was the same year my economics teacher introduced a WeVideo project. I also use other applications for school projects, such as Canva, a webbased program, used to make posters. The IT Help Desk has helped teachers integrate invaluable applications into their classrooms for students to use and improve their assignments.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Great Food, Fresh and Cooked to Order!

We use Google Drive to write and store our assignments and Google Classroom to turn those assignments in. I honestly do not know how I would complete my schoolwork without access to these applications. The IT Help Desk aids learning outside of the district by having the Ninjas present at technology conferences.

Each year, the Ninjas teach a Google Bootcamp at TeachTober Fest and present annually at the Idaho Education Technology Association (IETA). The Teach-Tober Fest Google Bootcamp allows us to teach our teachers, and help them implement new ways to learn within their classrooms.

The IETA Google Bootcamp enables the IT Help Desk Ninjas to reach teachers from all across Idaho, and influence education on a larger scale.

When I came to the IT Help Desk, I was a very shy student who was hesitant to talk to anyone. Now, I actively teach at various technology conferences throughout the Treasure Valley, and interact daily with students I have never talked to before. By working in the IT Help Desk, I have learned valuable employability skills including collaboration, organization, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.

In the IT Help Desk, ideas are constantly shared and evaluated by our peers, in order to improve them. We also learn to stay organized, because if we are not organized, our jobs become increasingly difficult.

As mentioned earlier, students who work in the IT Help Desk have to be highly adaptable, because we may be repairing a laptop one moment, and teaching a class how to use WeVideo the next. We never know what the next laptop issue is going to be, and have to be prepared to handle a multitude of issues and requests. Oftentimes, we have to trouble-shoot, and are able to find the solution by doing so. Overall, the skills I have gained in the IT Help Desk will prove invaluable in my future endeavors. After high school, I plan on attending Boise State University and working in their IT Help Desk using the skills I gained from my time as a Ninja.

Middleton Ninjas at Work Open Monday thru Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.* Closed Sundays *Summer: Close at 10 p.m.

208-585-3097 • 308 W. Main Street, Middleton

By Nathan Henderson (Sophomore at MHS) Have you ever wondered how a school might function with the ability to use the tech of today in class as a tool instead of a distraction? Here in the Middleton District, a program known as the 1:1

program is available for all students in grades 4-12. This program is designed to give students access to laptops for

school purposes, opening up an incredible amount of opportunities to our school district.

With this program, teachers are able to improve learning for the entire class or return student’s work digitally after it is graded which saves time and offers students immediate feedback. Students can also use this technology to further pursue and research information online to compile for presentations and essays. Overall, the 1:1 program is designed to not just give our schools the devices, but also to have them integrated into the learning program to better help the students and teachers. Of course, laptops can break, or have bugs, or even other issues, and we need someone who can fix these issues on the spot for our students. This is where the IT Ninjas come into play in the 1:1 program.

IT Ninjas are students who take a class period of their day and spend it in the hub of the 1:1 program, known as the Help Desk. It is here where the Ninjas are constantly helping and uplifting their fellow students by fixing issues they may have with their laptops.

The Ninjas become extremely adaptable to situations, whether they come into the Help Desk and spend time fixing laptops or deal with a sudden wave of students that have laptop issues. Throughout their time spent in the Help Desk, the Ninjas are learning new things, spanning from fixing a laptop to customer service skills. The beauty of the Help Desk is that its a class you don’t just go to, take notes or a test, and walk out. The Ninja

program is very hands on for students who participate in it, as they take on problems very similar to that of an actual job.

There is a set schedule, but a Ninja needs to be able to shift from situation to situation with ease as their job constantly changes depending on a student’s issue.

The Ninjas of the 1:1 program not only work as a maintenance station for laptops and students, but also as a way to teach the teachers themselves how to use all of these new tools that are now at their fingertips.

The Ninja’s participate in two different conferences in Idaho where they spend a day teaching teachers how to use the Google Suite, which is an array of applications made to help in certain aspects. During this time Ninja’s learn about the importance of teamwork on projects, as they tackle creating a lesson for the teachers, usually working in pairs. Throughout this time the Ninja’s get familiar with a large array of apps themselves, having the ability to teach a new lesson on a different app at each event. These apps they learn how to use and teach to others span from Google Drive, a simple storage application, to WeVideo, a live video editing program.

With these new abilities, the Ninja’s can also make daily assistance available to the teachers, being able to help with any issues they may have with an application.

Overall, the Ninja Program teaches a student adaptability, teamwork, and initiative as they tackle the constant barrage of projects given to them with a smile on their face.

Personally as a Ninja I have learned that a program for laptops isn’t just about knowing how to work with tech, but also how to work with other people in a positive way to bring out the best in projects.

With these abilities under my belt I am confident that whether it be fixing a piece of hardware to working in a team on a project I will be ready for the challenge. ~Middleton School District

To advertise or to submit a story, please call Scott at (208) 963-0030 or email us at middletonexpress1@gmail.com. Deadline: January 25th

January 2020

I

am so happy to report that the Gingerbread House building event conducted by the Middleton Library and sponsored by the Friends was a huge success. In fact, there had to be some limitations on the distribution of the kits as there were not enough for each individual to have their own kit and some had to be done by “teams.” At any rate, you can probably look for this to happen again in 2020, and there should be enough kits to have one for every person – man, woman and child – who wants to build a gingerbread house to have their own kit!

All of our quilted items that we were raffling have been awarded. The winners are pictured here in the article. In addition to the photos found herein, another winner, Jackie Walsh, of whom we failed to get a photo, won the two Halloween-themed table toppers.

We have “book bags.”

Come in to the bookstore and purchase a bag for $5 and fill it up. Then bring it back next time you come shopping for books, and fill it for half price. We have a variety of fabrics and designs, some with

Page 11 • Middleton Gazette

Middleton Friends of the Library Happenings

pockets on the outside, some with long straps so you can sling them over your shoulder, etc. And thanks Sharon for making and donating these bags to the bookstore!!

Do you have excess books in good shape that you’ve been wanting to get rid of?

If so, please consider bring-

them to the bookstore on any Thursday, Friday or Saturday during our open hours. If you need one, we can issue you a receipt. Thanks!

H-E-L-P ! ! ! The Friends organization is desperately in need of volunteers. Please consider joining the Friends so we can take on all the projects we

Elena with her new Christmasthemed bed-size quilt

ing them to the Cover2Cover bookstore in the LAB so we can add them to our inventory. You can bring them by anytime and drop them in the book drop next to the sidewalk behind the LAB, or bring

SUPPORT MIDDLETON’S FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Middleton Friends of the Library is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhance, promote and increase appreciation of the Middleton Library.

Membership Levels: *Participating Membership......................................................................... $5 annually Supporting Membership......................................................................... $10+ annually Community Partner................................................................................. $25+ annually True Friend...................................................................................$50 or more annually NAME: ______________________________________

DATE: ______________

MAILING ADDRESS: _______________________________________________ CITY: _________________________ STATE: __________ ZIP: ______________

PHONE: _____________________ EMAIL: ______________________________ MEMBERSHP LEVEL: ______________________ AMOUNT: $ _____________ (Participating members attend monthly meetings, work at bookstore and other projects; all other levels are welcome to do all of the above but are neither required nor expected to do so) Drop this form at the Cover2Cover Bookstore with your payment, or mail to: Middleton Friends of the Library, 6 N Dewey St, Ste 4, Middleton, ID 83644

COVER2COVER BOOKSTORE January SPECIALS!

Science Fiction

25¢ EA Travel

10¢ EA Winter time is a welcome time for indoors and reading!

Store Hours:

10:15 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. (Thurs & Fri) 10:15 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. (Saturday)

Middleton Friends of the Library

6 N Dewey, Ste. 4 in The LAB Middleton, Idaho 83644

Robert Staack picked up the table runners won by his mom, Donna Staack

would like to do. In addition to running the Cover2Cover bookstore in the LAB three days a week, we want to branch out and do some other things as well. For instance, we had the Read to a Dog event during the Fall Harvest Festival, and it was a great success. We want to do a bake sale, have more raffles, and perhaps even take on running the annual Car Show in the park on July 4. All these activities require people, and our current numbers are stretched very thin. If you would be able to join the Friends, please fill out the registration form that is paired with this article, mail it with your check to one of the addresses on the bottom or drop it by the bookstore on open days or by the Library on other days. We meet on the first Monday of every month at the Sunrise Café, in the “back room.” Drop in anytime and check us out. Thanks so much for considering this!

Come by to check out our monthly specials. And don’t forget, if you shop on Amazon, if you’ll designate the Middleton Friends of the Library as your favorite charity, we will get a teensy-weensy portion of your purchase price. It costs you nothing and is good for us! You can do this by visiting the Amazon Smiles program and following the link at https://smile.amazon. com/ch27-3921514.

We have two piles or bundles of books that someone came in and wanted to buy, but didn’t have the money at the time, and they asked us to hold

them until “next Saturday.”

Several “next Saturdays” have come and gone and we still have the books. If you are the person who wanted these books, please come by and pick them up asap. Once this

article has come out in the Gazette, we will wait only a couple days before we put them back on the shelves for another purchase. Thank You!!

Till next time… ~M. Jody Taylor, President

It's An Exciting Time at the Middleton Food Bank!

W

hat a exciting time at the Middleton Food Bank!

Thanks to all of you. As many of you know, we had our Food Drive this year. It was over the top thanks to all of your generosity.

Many of our schools were involved in the food drive. The kids did amazing this year. We don't know how they did it. Hats off to all the teachers who created the excitement in their students. We thank you so much along with the families who received the food boxes.

Your hard worked paid off.

We are able to provide help to 150 families for 3 months or longer.

With that being said, we are still in need of a place to better serve our community. If anyone has a piece of property that we could put a building on please let Joe know. He can be reached at 208-860-3413.

Merry Christmas from all of at that Middleton Food Bank. Everyone have a safe holiday! ~ Stephenie Buttars, Middleton Food Bank

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Page 12 • Middleton Gazette

L

ast month we reprinted an article by Diane Freeman from 1994 celebrating the 100th issue of the Middleton Gazette.

To continue our look at the Gazette, we move to June, 1995, the last issue published

by Freeman. Here are excerpts from two articles in her final issue: “I am pleased to leave the Gazette in the hands of three qualified women who are so well-acquainted with this community. Please encourage them also, as they learn this business. I am confident we will make a smooth transition.”

“Three sisters who have lived in Middleton nearly all of

A New Look At Old Middleton

their lives have purchased the Middleton Gazette. Debbie Davis, Becky O’Meara, and Cheri Hess will take possession of the business on July 1.

They are the daughters of Dick and Janie Foote.”

All three graduated from Middleton High School and are the great-granddaughters of S. S. Foote, one of Middleton’s founders and earliest business leaders. The Gazette continued on in very good hands, continuing Diane Freeman’s commitment to local events and positive news.

For the next 20 years, these women continued published the Middleton Gazette every month, with Becky O’Meara carrying most of the publishing

duties. Middleton lost a treasured community resource

going for several more months.

Current owner and pub-

New publishers: Debbie Davis, Becky O’Meara, Cheri Hess

with the passing of Becky in May, 2016. Dedicated family and friends kept the Gazette

lisher Scott Brock issued his first edition of the Middleton Gazette in April, 2017.

As we begin a new year, we recognize the hard work and dedication of each publisher who has kept the Middleton Gazette going for over 30 years.

(As a side-note, the Freemans had been an active part of Middleton life for over 30 years. Diane and her husband Jim farmed, and both taught at the high school. In 1983, Jim became Principal there; in 1989 Diane took over as Gazette publisher. But 1995 brought new opportunities for them as Jim accepted the position of Superintendent of Nez Perce School District.) ~ by Dennis and Claudia Moberly

News From The Historical Society Of Middleton

T

he Lee Moberly Museum opened on December 7th with Christmas decorations, yummy treats, and a Toys for Tots donation box.

Thank you to the generous visitors who made contributions that will help children in our area have a merrier Christmas. Visitors enjoyed Christmas music and goodies, warmed up from playing in the Park, remembered

M

ES

OF I D A

H O

HO

January 2020

Christmas At The Museum

Pearl Harbor, and used their safe-cracking skills to open the vault door.

The Historical Society Board is excited to be compiling a slate of officers for 2020 which will be presented at our annual meeting in February.

Membership renewal forms will soon be mailed to current members. If you are interested in joining us to support the development of the Museum and allow us to offer more programming, please contact us at historicalsocietyofmiddleton@gmail.

Now Accepting New Patients in Middleton!

Direct Doctor Care is designed with you in mind.

We practice traditional family medicine in an innovative way. Our clinic provides unrushed appointments, individualized care, cost transparency, and restores trust to primary care. fee Registration ose th r fo waived g in er st gi re ry 1st. before Februa

(208) 668-2080

info@directdoctorcare.org Available by appointment only. www.directdoctorcare.org 509 S Middleton Road Suite 105 Middleton, ID 83644

com. A membership form is also printed in this month’s Gazette.

program is presented in cooperation with the Idaho Humanities Council and is free to the the public. Please join us to learn some U. S. history, and to hear about the

accomplishments and dreams of the Historical Society. ~by Claudia Moberly

Membership Form

Historical Society of Middleton

Amelia Bloomer (as portrayed by Janet Worthington) will be our speaker at the Annual Meeting, Saturday, February 15th at 2:00 p.m. in the Trolley Station. One hundred years ago (August, 1920) the 19th Amendment was ratified, extending to women the right to vote. Amelia Bloomer was active in this campaign, and she is eager to help us understand the hard work required by so many people to enact this legislation. The

Mail form and check to: Historical Society of Middleton 6 N. Dewey #3 Middleton, ID 83644 Annual Membership type (Please check one) _____ Individual $20.00 _____ Family $30.00 (Immediate household) _____ Organization $50.00 _____ Contributing Patron $100.00 Organization: ____________________________ Member Name 1: __________________________ Member Name 2: __________________________ Member Name 3: __________________________ Member Name 4: __________________________ Member Name 5: __________________________

Roger Wyatt, MD

Member Name 6: __________________________ Address: ________________________________ City: _________________ State: ____ Zip: _____ Business/Home Phone: ______________________ Cell Phone: _____________________ Text:Yes/No Email: __________________________________

To advertise or to submit a story, please call Scott at (208) 963-0030 or email us at middletonexpress1@gmail.com. Deadline: January 25th

January 2020

Page 13 • Middleton Gazette

A

generation ago many families who did not have indoor bathroom facilities owned white enamel pots with lids, to slip under the beds. Our family was one of those. I suppose each family had their own household rules governing use of these containers. Our rules were: 1. Various family members had to take their turn at emptying them in the morning, though it was not a pleasant task.

2. We could use them only in the night and only for one purpose. If we had to do anything of a more serious nature, we had to go to the outhouse regardless of the weather and in spite of our fear of the dark.

Are most little children afraid of the dark? Wanda and I were! We didn't even like to get out of bed on to the floor

because something could be under the bed and grab us!

But even worse was when we had to go outside into the dark.

There was surely something

there that could get us!

Wanda and I shared the same 30-inch-wide bed most of our growing years. If one of us had to go to the toilet in the

JOIN US!

Open the First Saturday of Every Month 10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.

If you would like to visit the Museum with a group, email us at historicalsocietyofmiddleton@gmail.com or call Claudia Moberly at 208-284-8675 to arrange a tour.

Living History In Middleton The Historical Society of Middleton invites you to an afternoon with Amelia Jenks Bloomer (portrayed by Janet Worthington), American suffragist, author, trailblazer, and temperance advocate.

In celebration of the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, this historical presentation will entertain, inform, and inspire.

Please join us Saturday, February 15, 2:00 p.m. at Trolley Station. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

Sponsored by:

This program is funded in part by the Idaho Humanities Council, a nonprofit organization that serves as the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The views and opinions expressed by the speaker do not necessarily reflect those of the Idaho Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

A Night Out

night, we would wake the other one to go with us. It was never pleasant to be woke up for this purpose, but we willingly, although with no eagerness, accompanied each other. We both had a fear of the dark and felt safer with someone else with us even though it was just another child.

One summer night in Colorado, we two girls had to go on one of those journeys in the middle of the night. I was five or six years old.

Wanda was twenty months younger. The room where we and our three older sisters slept across the room had an outside door. Our bed was closest to the door. Wanda and I got out of bed, slipped on our shoes in the dark without waking our older sisters and went out into the very dark night with

T

our pajamas on. Mother and Daddy slept in the living room so were not aware that we were out of the house.

The tall poplar trees in our yard were rustling in the breeze and the hoot owls in them were making their eerie sounds. As usual, coyotes were howling in the distance and we could see the silhouette of one yipping coyote with his nose in the air on the hill not far from us. The night was plain scary to two little girls! I whispered to Wanda to not talk out loud for fear that something would hear us and grab us in the dark.

We hurried quietly to the toilet, shut the door and turned the knob to keep it shut. We felt safer there even though it was very dark inside. We kept our voices to a whisper as we were afraid to talk out loud.

We did have a problem though. Our journey was only half complete. We still had to return to the house. The coyotes were really howling that night and seemed so close! We

had seen the one not far away.

We tried many times to get the courage to open the door and go back to the house, but we just couldn’t do it. We spent the rest of the night in the toilet peeking through the cracks to see how close the coyotes were. It was only when there was enough daylight so that we could see that none were in sight that we had the courage to go back to the house and crawl back under the safety of our warm quilts. ~by Margaret (Breach) Crill My family homesteaded in remote northwestern Colorado in the 1920’s and 1930’s and moved to Greenleaf, Idaho in 1940.

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Free boating safety course is January 15-16 in Caldwell

he Canyon County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Section and Idaho Parks & Recreation are hosting a free boating safety course on January 15-16, 2020, at the Canyon County Emergency Operations Center in Caldwell. The two-day course will be held in a classroom setting with an experienced instructor. It is designed to be an introductory course to meet the boater education needs of recreational boaters.

Attendees will learn general information about boats and maintenance, information to make their boating experience safer, and tips on how to be a more courteous boat operator.

Boaters will also learn about Idaho laws and regulations associated with owning and operating a boat.

The course is open to all

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Middleton Gazette Please call (208) 963-0030 $25 Per Year

(Or pick up a FREE copy in Middleton at the Burger Den, Ridley’s, Gem Stop, Jackson’s or the box at Homes of Idaho– 106 W. Main)

boaters, regardless of experience. Attendees must attend both days to successfully complete the course and receive their boater education card.

People can register for the course by visiting the Idaho Parks & Recreation website or emailing Lt. Ben Keyes at bkeyes@canyonco.org. Please note that pre-registration is encouraged but not required.

Walk-ins are welcome.

What: Free “Boat Idaho” Boating Safety Course When: January 15-16, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Where: Canyon County Emergency Operations Center 1323 E Chicago St Caldwell, ID 83605

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Page 14 • Middleton Gazette

B

ecoming more organized is a popular resolution each new year.

However, like many resolutions, people’s commitment to being more organized tends to wane as February draws near.

January 25th, 2020 12:00 p.m.

Middleton Communtiy Center Hosted by the Middleton Area Optimist Club

January 2020

7 ways to start getting organized

Being unorganized can adversely affect productivity, state of mind, motivation, and even happiness. Sixty-seven percent of people surveyed in an Alpha Phi Quarterly study believed they could save up to 30 minutes a day if they were more organized. And a Huffington Post survey determined worrying a home isn’t clean enough or organized enough is the fifth most common stress trigger for Americans.

Getting and staying organized requires commitment.

Having some handy tips at the ready to facilitate the process can make things go more smoothly.

1. Determine what or- 4. Create ganization means to deadlines you. Being organized might for yourself. mean one thing to you and something else entirely to someone else. Some may put form before function. Others may be interested in the aesthetics of a neat-looking space.

Once you have a handle on what being organized entails to you, you can get to work.

2. Start with what motivates you most.

SUNDAY: 10:30 AM TUESDAYS 6 PM "PURSUING HIS PRESENCE PRAYER" 303 South Hawthorne, Middleton • 208-412-8778 MiddletonChurch.com • TerrysDevotions.com

Middleton United Methodist Church 104 East Main St. (State Hwy 44) Or, as we like to say, in “The Heart of Middleton” We’ve been here since 1896 with programs for all ages.

Sundays: worship service at 11:00 a.m. with Sunday school at 10:00 a.m.

Our office phone number is 208-585-6621 email: MiddletonMethodist@outlook.com website: www.middleton-umc.org

ALL ARE WELCOME! “WE FEED PEOPLE BODY AND SOUL”

turning hourglass or spinning color wheel icon when it’s stuck on a process. Every application stalls because the computer cannot do everything at once. The same thing can happen in the brain.

Sit down and make a to-do list of what’s on your mind. Then start prioritizing tasks. This will do wonders to clear your head.

Perhaps this is a room in the home that has become overrun with clutter. Or maybe it’s getting finances organized so you can save for a dream vacation. When you accomplish your biggest goal, the seemingly smaller ones may seem less difficult.

An open-

ended timeline to get things done may promote procrastination. Deadlines may provide motivation.

5. Avoid distractions.

Try to remove as many distractions as possible. When working on a chore, hire a babysitter to look after the children or step away from social media so you can focus on the task at hand. Interruptions only slow you down.

6. Think before you acquire. Once you are orga-

nized you may have challenges fitting new items into the mix.

7. Be accountable to another. Having help getting organized can mean delegating certain tasks or enlisting someone to check in with you to see if you’re on target.

Embrace this system of checks and balances.

Becoming organized is a process, but once you get the hang of it, it can be easy to stay organized. ~Associated Press

Would you like to advertise in the

3. Declutter your mind. Think of a busy mind

as a computer that has that

Middleton Gazette??

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Get the word out about your business, item or event! $20 per month for 3 months.

Up to 9 Lines of Text or 25 Words Depending Upon Fit, Including Title Black & White No Logos or Pictures Borders and placement vary and are solely at newspaper staff discretion.

If you’re getting ready to purchase something new, carefully consider its usefulnesss and determine in advance where it will go, and whether or not you have the space.

Submission Deadline: January 25th

FACE

the Winter life-changing SKINCARE RODAN+FIELDS

Reserve Your Spot Today for the February 2020 Issue!

Call or email the Middleton Gazette at: (208) 963-0030 or

middletonexpress1@gmail. com

Deadline is January 25th.

Deanna Brock • 512-826-9611

RODAN & FIELDS Executive Consultant

To advertise or to submit a story, please call Scott at (208) 963-0030 or email us at middletonexpress1@gmail.com. Deadline: January 25th

January 2020

Page 15 • Middleton Gazette

Garbonzo’s Pizza Puzzle

Tips and tricks for savory slow-cooked meals

K

itchen gadgets come and go, but one mainstay continues to deliver tasty meals with ease.

The Crock-Pot®, dubbed the original slow cooker, was invented in 1940 by Irving Nachumsohn. This slow cooker was created to cook a traditional stew eaten on the Jewish sabbath. Because faithful Jews are forbidden from cooking on the sabbath, Nachumsohn found the stew could easily be prepared prior and allowed to cook unattended, then carried to dinner, meeting the sabbath requirements. It was another 30 years before the slow cooker garnered widespread acclaim.

That newfound popularity developed when more women entered the workforce and needed convenient ways to prepare meals at home without affecting their work schedules.

While slow cookers can make for successful meals, knowing how to use them to their fullest potential can increase the propensity for delicious, easy dishes. Here are some tips and tricks.

• Prepare ingredients the night before. By handling the mise en place for recipes the evening prior, you’ll have everything you need ready to put in the slow cooker and set to cook for the day.

• Preheat the cooker. Add ingredients to a slow cooker that is already warmed up for best results.

• Arrange for easy cleanup.

Specially designed slow cooker liners can cut washing time

dramatically and help prolong the surface of the internal crock.

• Don’t add dairy until the meal is almost finished cooking. Cooking dairy products for long periods of time can cause them to curdle. Save them for the last steps when using a slow cooker.

• Exercise caution with tender veggies. The same waituntil-later approach should also apply to vegetables, beans and pastas, which can lose their integrity and become mushy if cooked for hours.

Leave them for last.

• Inexpensive cuts of meat are fine. Inexpensive cuts are often high in fat or connective tissue, which will break down during long, moist cooking. Consider browning meat before putting it in the cooker for even more flavor.

• Layer ingredients appropriately. Place hard ingredients like potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables at the bottom of the cooker where they will cook more readily.

• Stick to the low setting.

As much as possible, cook using the low setting to allow for slow, gentle heat to bring out the flavors. Ginny Thomas, a training manager for CrockPot®, says she has been sticking with this advice for over a decade as a key tip.

Many traditionally prepared meals can be converted to slow cooker recipes.

Utilize cookbooks and online resources to make delicious, slow-cooked meals. ~Associated Press

CLUES ACROSS

5. Smile 6. One who examines closely 1. Database management 7. Lethal dose system 8. Denotes past 5. Soft blue-gray mineral 9. “This Is Us” actor Fitch 11. Algerian coastal city 10. Dabbling ducks 12. A healthy redness 13. Polish beer 16. El __, border town 14. A type of cat 17. Part of the mind 15. Shows respect for 18. Female body part 20. Of I 19. Atrocities 21. Commercial 24. You can call Paul Simon 22. Chai and chamomile are this two 25. Copyread 23. Lodging option 26. Large integers 27. Geological times 27. Large, flightless bird 29. Unit of electrical 28. Bread and whiskey are inductance (abbr.) two 30. Where G-men work 29. Indicate pain or 31. Hot beverage discomfort 32. One of the six noble gases 30. Worry 33. Southern constellation 31. Wild goats 34. South American nation 33. Belittle 35. Suitable for use as food 34. More supernatural 36. The back 38. Wakes up 37. I (German) 39. Intestinal pouches 38. Blood group 40. Fit to stand trial 40. Popular dance 41. Praise excessively 43. American state 42. Female’s title 44. CSI actor 45. Having a keen enthusiasm 44. EU predecessor 45. Acutely insightful and wise for 46. Disguised 49. Swiss river 47. Improved the appearance 50. Restaurant item of 51. Intense unhappiness 48. Generator 53. Unit of loudness

54. Increase in velocity 56. Mesoamerican religion 58. Early multimedia 59. Forearm bone 60. An unprincipled person 63. Swarming with 64. Shellfish 65. Root of taro plant

Solution to December's Puzzle

CLUES DOWN

1. More silly 2. Adult beverage 3. Iron used for lofting 4. Noses

Your monthly puzzle is sponsored by Garbonzo’s Pizza.

50. The real __, the genuine article 51. Male’s title 52. Home of the Hawkeyes 54. About aviation 55. At all times 57. Military peace officer 61. College degree 62. Indicates position

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January 2020

Page 16 • Middleton Gazette

Over 30 years

Walk-Ins Welcome

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To advertise or to submit a story, please call Scott at (208) 963-0030 or email us at middletonexpress1@gmail.com. Deadline: January 25th