Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
October 26, 2023 |Vol. 143 No. 43
Great Idaho Shakeout! On Thursday of last week, Malad participated in the Great Idaho ShakeOut! The exercise is a way for cities, counties, and emergency response networks to test their communications and response protocols for emergency situations, specifically an earthquake. While Idaho is not often known for frequent or intense earthquakes, they certainly do occur, including the noted earthquake that affected Oneida County in 1975. According to the Great Idaho Shakeout! organizers, “The mountains and valleys of southeastern Idaho lie within the Intermountain Seismic Belt and tectonic belts II and III of the Yellowstone Tectonic Parabola. This is one of the most earthquake prone regions of Idaho. Paris and the Bear Lake Valley experienced strong shaking and damage in 1884 from a magnitude 6 earthquake. In 1934, the largest historic Utah earthquake (Hansel Valley magnitude 6.6) occurred just 20 miles south of the Idaho border. In 1975, the second largest historic Idaho earthquake struck the Pocatello Valley west of Malad City. This magnitude 6.1 event damaged 520 homes.” During largescale disaster events such as earthquakes, the first problem municipalities are confronted with is the stability and performance of the communication network. As emergency workers and
NEWS IN BRIEF Israeli-Gaza war shows no signs of slowing
Since the surprise attack on Oct. 7, thousands on both sides of the conflict have died, and there seem to be no signs of slowing. Since the attack, dozens of countries have pledged aid to either side, and visits have been made by heads of state and dignitaries, including President Biden. Experts expect to see hostilities increase as it appears Israel is preparing for a large scale ground invasion into Gaza.
US House in third week without speaker
Brenda Daniels discusses the performance of her radio with Jim Mustos, Fred Clavell, and Don Daniels at last week's emergency preparedness drill.
mitigation teams work to respond to the needs of the situation, they are reliant on the ability to communicate with other agencies and retrieve information from those on the ground and in operation. As was recently seen during the wildfires in Hawaii, the loss of communications networks can result in a great deal of chaos, destruction of property and loss of life, especially during the initial hours of the emergency. As a result, the Great Idaho Shakeout! provides a means of dry-running and stress testing the critical response and communication systems
in an area to determine what needs to be improved upon or corrected. At the heart of the test was the local HAM Radio club, the RACOONs. Club President Wilfred Clavell was in place bright and early at the temporary communication center in the Search and Rescue building. As the “net controlller” for the drill, Clavell was responsible for establishing the “net” (or network of verified HAM operators) that defined the invisible borders of the communications zone. Members of the RACOON club and others spread out
across the valley at critical infrastructure points. Because this mock emergency involved an earthquake, the reservoirs, as well as the local schools and the freeway, were monitored. Communications with each of the designated areas was tested and the equipment run through its paces. As the morning wore on, members checked in from their assigned locations. Most of the check ins went fine, with no emergencies to report, though a damn breach was reported GREAT IDAHO SHAKEOUT On Page 3
Halloween Night at the Library
Local librarian Elizabeth Kent and bestselling author John Olsen returned to the Oneida County Library for a night of myths, legends, and potentially true stories. This year, the library decided to provide two separate events, one for the younger crowd and one for adults and older teens that allowed for a more open discussion of some of the scarier elements of the conversation. Elizabeth Kent began the evening’s event with a presentation for those up to age 14, which covered some of the origins of Halloween traditions. Her studies in Folklore at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland put her right in the heart of the origin of many of our modern Halloween traditions. Folkore, as she explains “is the story of what people have believed in the past, and sometimes still do.” She began with a discussion of the observance of “Samhain,” which is a Celtic name for “harvest” and marks the time when the familiar world is at its closest to the world of spirits, fairies, and other supernatural things. In recognition of this thin veil between the two worlds, Celtic people from hundreds of years ago observed a number of practices to help keep themselves safe, including
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With no clear frontrunner for the new Speaker of the House, the situation is looking dire once more. Having narrowly avoided a shutdown not long ago, Congress has less than a month to get the House in order before they risk a shutdown yet again. Nine house republicans have thrown their hats in the ring to be considered for Speaker of the House, but a decision is still likely far away.
SAG-AFTRA strike passes 100 day mark
Despite an agreement being reached with the Writer’s Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are still on strike. Much of the same causes that spurred the writer’s strike are still sticking points for SAG-AFRA, including royalties for streaming, the AI controversy, and the use of their appearance in perpetuity. As the strike drags on, the world of entertainment enters more and more uncharted territory.
Alaskan Airline flight lands safely after attempted takeover
An Alaskan Airline flight from Seattle to San Fransisco made an unscheduled landing in Portland on Sunday, Oct. 22. The cause was an off-duty pilot who attempted to take control of the aircraft, and apparently shut down the engines. The man was immediately subdued and removed from the cockpit, and arrested upon landing. The motive behind these actions is still under investigation, though the man is being charged heavily for interfering with the flight.
Utah Halloween display received national attention
Author John Olsen presents some of the stories from his new book "Stranger World".
wearing costumes and carving turnips. During ancient Samhain festivals, large bonfires were used to help keep the darkness at bay and people protected when “the goblins ghouls come out and walk in the world of the living. That’s why we wear costumes!” In order to fool the denizens of the other side, people dressed up like them so that they would not stand out and be taken away. Another modern HallowHALLOWEEN NIGHT On Page 8
Trunk or Treat on Halloween
Elizabeth Kent shares the origins of Halloween traditions with an eager group of kids at the library.
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE THIS WEEK City Council Candidates.......................Pg.2 Oneida County Ambulance.................Pg.4 Looking Back........................................Pg.5
A humorous and somewhat risqué Halloween display in Grantsville has received national attention and has been requested by the city to be removed. The display, which features a skeleton using a street sign like a pole dancer, with other skeletons watching, has been the source of consternation for many citizens in the area. Other citizens, however, have contributed, adding more skeletons to the scene as the days have passed.
Puzzles...............................................................Pg.6 Community Calendar...............................................Pg.8 Sports................................................................Pg.11-12
On October 31 at 6:00 p.m. Thomas Market will be hosting the annual city Truck or Treat. Free hot chocolate and and Donuts will be given out at the Pepsi of Logan trailer. Vehicles will begin lining up at 5:30 p.m. at the south end of the parking lot. Gift cards will be awarded for the Best Decorated Car, Truck, or Trailer. Anyone without a vehicle who wishes to participate can bring a bag of candy to the Pepsi trailer.