Inside this Issue
ISU Reaches out to Rural Students | Page 3
To Buy or Not to Buy | Page 4
Plans for New Pocatello Trailhead | Page 6
The Bengal
isubengal.com 8 April 2021
Volume 46 Issue 27
The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910
KISU’s “Sustainable Idaho” on the Pocatello Aquifer Contamination Jack Sherlock Reporter The university-partnered National Public Radio station, KISU, provides access to an array of informative channels for the Bengal community and surrounding areas to tune in to. Out of the twenty-two unique programs broadcasted, there is one program, in particular, that is confronting the ever-evolving challenges and subjects within the pillars of our state’s sustainability. In partnership with ISU’s Sustainability Club and the Portneuf Resource Council, KISU presents “Sustainable Idaho”, a program that seeks to provide insight into the roles of economy, society, and environment Idaho sustainability measures. In late March, the hosts of “Sustainable Idaho” Scott Greeves and Rachel McGovern, resurface a conservation issue regarding the Portneuf Aquifer, and what has happened below the visible surface of our community has brought forth means for investigation. The Fort Hall Mine Landfill is located south of Pocatello near the Gap and has been in operations since 1943. The long-established landfill has provided waste management services to residents of Bannock County with a thoughtful mission in mind, to “dispose of items that might decompose and harm our aquifer” per Bannock County testimony. For those of you unfamiliar, an aquifer is a body of underground permeable rock that transmits groundwater. Greeves expands this into layman’s terms by saying “it’s possi-
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ble to think of the Portneuf aquifer as an underground river.” This “underground river” and others like it across the country is where we as Americans source the water for an average of 37% of our daily operations, like brushing our teeth, flushing the toilet, running the tap, etc. according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Greeves goes on to explain the issues of contamination and how we would be affected by saying “Pocatello and Chubbuck are downstream of the point source pollution” -- in other words, we are the direct recipients of any consequence that comes to tampering or contamination with the normal productive function of our county aquifer. Now, back to the functions of our aquifer here in Bannock County. We would like to assume those in the community have always had the citizens’ best interests in mind, but how falsely secure we are in that assumption. Back in the 1940s, shortly after the establishment of the Fort Hall Mine Landfill, this site was the home dumping grounds for some harmful chemicals of the day. The result of this dump? Chemicals burrowing and seeping their way into our groundwater source. To get more info on this incident, Greeves and McGovern probe David Goings’s mind, a Senior Hydrogeologist for the Department of Environmental Quality. Continued on Page 2
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The Bengal at Idaho State University
8 April 2021 • Page 2
NEWS
Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
Passed, Proposed and Failed Bills of the 2021 Idaho Legislation
Andrea Diaz Reporter The Idaho Legislature has discussed, voted on, then passed or failed many bills during the 2021 legislative session. Some of these bills include a bill that would prohibit the teachings of sexist
and racist concepts, a guns-in-schools bill, the banning of mask mandates, a fetal heartbeat bill, a bill that would give disabled veterans the ability to transfer reduced property taxes when they move and a conversion therapy bill. The bills that have been passed by both the senate and the house include the
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fetal heartbeat bill and the bill that lets disabled veterans transfer their reduced property tax and homestead exemption if they move. After much debate, the fetal heartbeat bill was passed by the Idaho Senate. The bill would make any abortion after a heartbeat has been detected, illegal; with the exception of rape and incest. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Patti Anne Lodge (R-Huston), said, “We are given the opportunity to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that includes everyone – including the pre-born babies.” Physicians debated against the bill saying it was based on medical misinformation. “This dangerous bill uses medically inaccurate information to jeopardize our right to bodily autonomy,” said Family Medicine Specialist, Rachel Chisausky. A bill that has so far been only passed by the House is the guns-in-schools bill. According to IDEDnews.org, this bill would allow school employees with a concealed carry license to carry a gun on school grounds without the local trustee’s permission. There was also much debate about this bill with the people supporting it saying law enforcement usually will not be at the school in time to stop a possible school shooter, while people against the bill say that schools should address the problem in other ways, such as hiring more school counselors and school resource officers. Some proposed bills that have yet to be passed by the house or the senate include a bill prohibiting the teachings of racist or sexist concepts in schools, the banning of mask mandates, and a conversion therapy bill. When the bill banning the teachings of racist or sexist comments was introduced, Rep. Steve Berch (D-Boise) took issue with it due to its message and purpose. “The whole idea of this bill, from what I can tell, is to intimidate teachers and school boards from touching on any subject that might be controversial,...You can’t teach American history without touching upon issues that deal with racism and sexism, like the Civil War, reconstruction [and] genocide of Native Americans,” Berch said. When the banning of mask mandates
bill was proposed, Republican Rep. Karey Hanks said, “When people wear face masks, they tend to not social distance as much, not tend to wash their hands, take other safety precautions because they feel that they’re just taken care of because of the mask.” However many health officials have said the wearing of masks slows the spread of the disease. Governor Little has never instilled a mask mandate, however, he does wear a mask and encourages others to do so as well. The conversion therapy bill that has been proposed would ban the practice of conversion therapy for minors in Idaho in certain instances. The bill defines conversion therapy as, “Any practice or treatment that seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a patient or client, including mental health therapy that seeks to change, eliminate or reduce behaviors, expressions, attractions or feelings related to a patient’s or client’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” The bill details that therapy directed to assist a patient undergoing gender transition is neutral and respectful to sexuality and gender identity, helps diminish possible harmful coping skills and building up helpful coping skills, with respect the sexuality and gender identity is acceptable and not considered conversion therapy. Students have the opportunity to engage in legislation and know the process. “I always encourage students to understand the legislative process and regardless of their political views, get in touch with their elected representatives. All students should know their representatives in the Idaho Legislature and know how to contact them in support or in opposition of legislation,” said Idaho State University political science professor, Mark McBeth. Citizens that want to become more engaged in government and politics are obligated to know how the government operates and engage in voting, protest, or any other form of political activism. “Understanding the mechanics of politics is essential for citizens who want to have a voice in government,” McBeth said.
KISU’s “Sustaianable Idaho,” Continued from Page 1 Goings has been at the forefront of the investigation into this issue and was able to explain the details of the incident as well as the after-effects of the choices made by dumpers in the 1940s. Goings started the conversation with Greeves and McGovern by emphasizing that this was not necessarily new information to the general public. It has been known for decades that this landfill was a prominent dumping ground for large quantities of toxic solvents, specifically things like trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and vinyl chloride. These harmful toxins were often dumped into what is called “Cell 1” of the landfill, and the direct consequence of dumping here has resulted in a contaminated aquifer, and it took until 1991 for it to be declared as such. Perhaps the most important and interesting part of reviewing this investigation is what was done about the contaminated groundwater source following its declaration of toxicity. The first attempt was made by Bannock County, and they partnered with the Department of Environmental Quality to develop a remediation strategy that involved something called an air stripper. The air stripper would essentially draw up water from the ground, remove the contaminants and then source the water back into the ground as a filtered and safe groundwater source.
Unfortunately, Goings continues to explain that this approach did not work, and the initial research that was conducted to contextualize and identify the characteristics of the pollutants for their attempted removal was wrong to begin with -- a faulty blueprint outlining the complex nature of these present toxins led researchers back to square one. Goings reassured listeners by stating that Bannock County and the Department of Environmental Quality is continuing its efforts into the present day and that researchers are developing new approaches to resolve the contamination issue and bring remedy to our groundwater system. This is just scratching the surface of what is to come with our local aquifer and what we can expect from our county officials and researchers at the DEQ. Part 2 of this investigative report is on the KISU - “Sustainable Idaho” website, where you can tune in to hear Greeves and McGovern dive into a discussion with Dr. Tamzen MacBeth, who has been hired through CDM Smith, a private engineering and construction firm, to assist the county in resolving the ongoing issue with the Pocatello Aquifer contamination. To drink or not to drink (the tap)? To stay informed of this developing story from KISU’s “Sustainable Idaho”, visit https:// www.kisu.org/post/fort-hall-mine-landfillgroundwater-pollution-part-2.
Page 3 • 8 April 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
ISU Reaches Out to Rural Students
NEWS
Photo Courtesy of Holly Kartchner Featured: Rich Ballou Logan Ramsey News Editor Idaho State University has received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to install distance learning classrooms in rural Southeast Idaho high schools. The grant is worth $320,000 and will provide nearly 11,000 students in 16 counties with access to college classes. High School students and adults will be able to attend classes at their local high school and participate with video conferencing technology. In 2020, ISU had to update all of their classrooms to accommodate video learning, so this program takes the extra steps in providing access to rural students. ISU has already opened classes in Butte County, Malad, Marsh Valley, North Fremont, Ririe, Rockland, ShoshoneBannock, Soda Springs and South Fremont high schools and the Blackfoot Outreach Center. With this new grant,
they’re expected to expand to even more rural communities. “I think opportunity changes lives and this grant provides the opportunity for people to choose to take the courses that they need to, and go where they want to go and do what they want to do,” said Holly Kartchner, the College of Arts & Letters Director of Outreach and Retention. They were initially working with private donors to set up this program before a professor in the College of Arts & Letters recommended that they apply for a USDA grant. After doing some research, they determined it would be perfect for what they’re trying to accomplish. They started writing the grant in April of 2020 and finished by the middle of July. Kartchner believes that this grant will lead to a significant impact. “It’s not just the impact it could have on high school students but the impact it could have for a community in general, because rural schools just do not have what Pocatello has,” Kartchner said. “So
adults or non traditional students want to continue their education, it’s pretty seamless for them to do so.” Kartchner said they already had a surprising instance where a father and son decided to take a class together. The issue for many people in rural areas is that they don’t have access to or the ability to work on a college degree or learn a trade. Another issue is that many parts of the rural country don’t have access to the internet, or have poor service. While someone might not be able to attend classes on a laptop at home, they can go to the local high school where the equipment is provided. This could also provide teachers with the opportunity to stay at their home institution and attend Masters courses. While Kartchner said this wasn’t the main goal of the program, it could move in that direction. Kartchner said this program will positively impact people like her, who grew up in the rural country.
“I’m from rural Southeast Idaho. My kids all graduated from rural Southeast Idaho schools, and we have some incredibly gifted kids who want to take advantage of courses like computer classes or language classes or advanced math and english classes, and they just simply do not have the opportunity because school districts can’t afford to hire a teacher for one or two students,” Kartchner said. While there may be a tendency for people who live in the city to paint rural students with a broad brush, Kartchner said that they just need opportunities to succeed. “They’re held back not by their own ability or lack of ability, but by their lack of opportunity and I think the same is true for a lot of adults who I hope end up in the centers. There is an opportunity for our rural population to really shine. They just need accessibility,” Kartchner said. Kartchner is excited for rural students to build a relationship with ISU professors, who she said are the best in the west.
The Bengal at Idaho State University
8 April 2021• Page 4
LIFE
Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
To Buy or Not to Buy: First-Time Homebuying
Lesley Brey Reporter Looking to buy a house after graduating? You may want to wait. In a year marked by extreme economic turbulence, one of the few markets showing consistent growth has been housing. However it’s coming at a hefty cost: low inventory, high competition and overvaluation. According to Norada Real Estate Investments (NAR), 5.64 million homes were sold in 2020, the highest number since the
great recession of 2008. Furthermore, the trend shows no sign of slowing as increasing numbers of millennials enter the housing market. This could prove problematic for first-time buyers for a number of reasons. The first major issue is the lack of buyable homes. There are not enough homes on the market to meet the demand of consumers, however it’s not as simple as there just being a low number of sellers. Houses are being snatched up at alarming rates; in 2020 the average home in the North-
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western U.S. spent only 25 days on the market according to Zillow.com. Very few first-time buyers would be in the financial situation to build a custom home, leaving them with scant other options. The next issue buyers face is competition. Buyers are bidding against other buyers for houses that would normally not be as sought after. Some buyers are trying to gain a leg up by offering more than the asking price, offering more cash up front and even going so far as to waive certain types of inspections and pre-sale repairs, all for the chance to own property according to Marketwatch.com. BusinessInsider. com found that a lot of the competition is being driven by new-money millennials jockeying with recently retired baby boomers looking to downsize. Both groups have access to better credit and more immediate funding than your average recent college graduate. These two issues combined result in the last, but arguably most problematic, issue: massive overvaluation. Supply vs demand is basic economics, however its effects could not be seen more clearly than in the current housing market. With so many buyers and not enough inventory, what houses are available are appreciating in value like it’s going out of style. Zillow Economic Research predicts that annual home value growth will rise as high as 13.5% by mid-2021 and for home values to end 2021 up 10.5% from their current levels. Put in other terms, people are paying more for significantly less. So, no matter which way you split hairs, the options are looking bleak. Until either new construction ramps up or housing demand lessens, the market is projected to stay on this trend says the NAR. However, if you are determined to buy a house immediately out of college, there are still ways to make it happen. Investopedia recommends starting to save as soon as possible. While this may sound next to impossible if you’re still in school, try reserving a set percentage of every paycheck for a down payment fund. Many banks and credit unions offer higher interest rates for certain types of accounts, such as house, car and medical savings accounts. The downside being that you will
likely not be able to withdraw that money in an emergency without facing steep penalties. When it comes to how much you’ll need saved, 20% is required to avoid paying extra mortgage insurance fees, according to Investopedia. Another important step, according to Moneyunder30.com, is to build your credit score. Having good credit can make a world of difference in which financial institutions will be willing to lend to you, along with how much they will offer. The age of your oldest credit account is a decently big factor in calculating your credit score, so the sooner you can get a card the better. To avoid running into trouble, reserve your credit card for routine monthly purchases, such as gas or rent, and pay off your card in full every single month. Another thing to consider is location. While housing costs are rising across the country, they are not doing so equally. Even within individual cities, the cost of similar houses can vary widely depending on which neighborhood they are in. Zillow. com recommends shopping in smaller cities, looking at older houses and older neighborhoods to find houses that may not be as in demand. You’ll have a better shot of having your offer accepted if you can find a way to avoid the competition more popular locations entail. Finally, look for loan programs for firsttime buyers specific to the region you’re shopping in. Two entities that may be able to offer you a lower interest loan include the Department of Housing and Development (HUD) which often offers state or city loans, and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) which can on occasion offer loans for a much larger portion of the total cost, thusly requiring less of a down payment, says Moneyunder30.com. Needless to say, the process of buying a home is very complicated. If you’re still in the middle of your degree, it may be worth it to take Personal Finance next fall semester as it covers these topics and more in greater detail. If this is your last semester, consider working with a knowledgeable realtor to help deal with the nitty gritty. With any luck, you may soon find a home of your very own.
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Page 5 •8 April 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
Are ISU Students Getting Vaccinated? Chloe Reid Reporter Within the past few months, COVID-19 vaccine distributions have been in full swing. With the recent news of vaccines being available to anyone 16 years of age and older in the state of Idaho, the ability to be vaccinated is available to a much larger demographic in comparison to past months. With a vast majority of Idaho State students being within this age group, anyone and everyone willing is now available to get vaccinated. According to current statistics based on interviewed students, several students plan to do just that. According to a poll conducted on The Bengal Instagram page, out of 45 student responses, 23 responses (51%) reported having already gotten the vaccine, and 22 responses (49%) had not. Out of 28 responses in a secondary poll, for those who hadn’t received the vaccine yet, 21 responses (75%), voted to plan to get the vaccine in the future, compared to 7 responses (25%) who do not plan to. Despite being the lower population, those who don’t plan to get the vaccine all have underlying reasoning. While getting vaccinated comes with several likely benefits, the vaccine has come with several doubts for many people. From the fear of getting it due to its relative newness in comparison to other vaccines to potential side effects, population control rumors, and many other reasons, not everyone is absolutely on board with the idea of receiving a vaccine. “I’ve heard a lot say that they’re scared the vaccine will kill us all and they’re using it for population control, but I don’t feel like they would be distributing the vaccines all over the world if it truly was for that reason,” said Maquella Chacon, a junior majoring in communications. However, some students welcome the vaccine with open arms. Despite the previously mentioned doubts of getting it, students view the vaccine as a big opportunity for many reasons, such as once again returning to a normal life, assistance
towards higher-risk individuals or even as an open demonstration of maintaining public health. “I haven’t gotten the vaccine yet but I plan to. I just want to do my part in getting the world back to normal,” said Anika Auman, a freshman theater major. Some students chose to get the vaccine for other reasons, such as matters regarding personal protection. “I got the vaccine to help protect my body. I used to be anemic as well as anorexic so my immune system and body aren’t as strong as healthy people. I just don’t want to take a risk as it might affect me more than others who might get it,” said Monique Navarro, a freshman majoring in sociology. According to Healthline, experts have decided that 70 to 90 percent of people may need to be immune to the virus in order to achieve herd immunity. While this statistic is varying, a fair amount of people will still need to get the vaccine regardless in order for the general public to consider reopening. According to Our World in Data, the current data supplier for vaccine statistics on Google, 308,000 (17.5%) Idahoans, and 58 million (17.7%) US residents in total have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Within only two months, Idaho is within nearly 1/5 of the goal within the state and is extremely similar to the nationwide statistic. Within a majority of students planning to get it at some point, it can be hoped that that number will soon rise within Idaho, and specifically the Idaho State University campus. How many vaccinations will be needed exactly for Idaho State to start seeing direct changes is unknown. For those who are planning to get vaccinated, but are unsure where or when to start, several local pharmacies have started offering the vaccine to scheduled and eligible patients, such as Albertsons, Shaver Pharmacy, Fred Meyer and Smith’s Pharmacy. For more information about the current amount of vaccinations being offered and released, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus and click on the “Vaccines” tab.
LIFE
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The Bengal at Idaho State University
8 April 2021 • Page 6
SPORTS
Trevor Delaney | Sports Editor Contact: bgsports@isu.edu
ISU Ties with Weber State 1-1, Bengals Take 3-1 Loss Trevor Delaney Sports Editor
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics
The Idaho State University women’s soccer team played two tough games this past weekend in Pocatello against the Weber State Wildcats, with Friday’s game ending in a 1-1 draw and Saturday’s game culminating with a 3-1 victory for Weber State. Idaho State grad student Michaela Didericksen led Friday’s game in shots, with three shots at the goal. Idaho State University player, senior Lauren McGahie, scored the single goal for the Bengals in both Friday and Saturday’s games. We went down early on, and they scored two goals back to back. We responded from that by scoring ourselves just a few minutes later,” said Coach Debs Brereton in an interview after Saturday’s game.
“The Big Sky is a tough conference, and on any day, anyone can beat any one of the teams. I think today was a really important lesson, credit for them to take the lead and progress on that lead so quickly, but our players responded big time. It’s a tough lesson, but we never doubt the players. We never doubt their ability to play the game. It just takes time. It takes time to build and I’m really happy that they’ve laid it all out there today. They worked very hard, but it just wasn’t our day today at all.” The Bengals will play their last two games in Cedar City, Utah this Fri. April 9, and Sun., April 11, taking on the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.
Plans for New Pocatello Trailhead Draw Excitement and Criticism Trevor Delaney Sports Editor The City of Pocatello and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are coming together with plans for a future trailhead on the city’s East Bench, providing greater public access to over twenty miles of an existing trail system on over 1300 acres of public land. These trails are currently difficult to effectively access for most trail users with no official parking area at an established trailhead, leading many to simply not use the land due to limited access or confusion over the legal status of the land itself. With the plans for establishing a trailhead on land currently owned by Pocatello on Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello area residents and visitors to the region will be gaining substantially
more access for hiking, horseback riding, biking and some limited ATV trails. With most of the popular hiking trails like Gibson Jack, City Creek and the Mink Creek trail system being located on Pocatello’s West Bench or south of town, the current trailhead plans will open up access on the West Bench to all where only a select few have enjoyed its use before. The plan is several years in the making, starting when Pocatello resident and current Regional Administrator for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Bruce Olenick, presented the initial plan to the city council to attempt to provide access to “orphaned” public lands in the Pocatello area. These tracts of so-called “orphaned” lands are simply parcels of public land that have limited access to the public or no public access whatsoever. The reasons for this informal
“orphaned” status are varied, from individual lots of public land being boxed in by private land without providing an easement across the land, or solely by a lack of public parking for recreationists to actually access the site from. Federal guidelines for the use of public land also encourage local governments and municipalities to provide and encourage access to public lands in order to benefit the recreation community through the use and enjoyment of their public land. On a local Facebook group discussing the proposed trailhead, Pocatello area resident Trina Hall voiced her concerns over potential harms that could be caused by a new trailhead. “I think a trail system is great, but I fear we will be like City Creek. Tent cities, graffiti, vandalism, littering, etc,” said Hall. “I know I may live up the road more but my back acreage runs close to this and is only a second thought on an undesignated trail to begin trespassing. I get enough of that without full access.” “I can relate to Trina’s concerns,” said local Karen Knowlton. “We get enough police chases up here as it is granted, that
is (so far) a whole different demographic than non-motorized trail users. On the other hand, with a trailhead that close to us, we might be more likely to get out there ourselves.” Other local residents are happy to see the increased access to trails on the East Bench and see the abuses to the trail system as a symptom of the land not being taken care of from a lack of users who value it. Another Pocatello Creek neighbor, Pat Butler Hill, says he “would love to see this happen.” Hill’s son and family are members of the Pocatello Pioneers, who are as Hill describes, “an awesome family-oriented biking group”. “Nothing has motors”, states Hill, “It is a wholesome group.” Another Pocatello area resident who wished to remain anonymous sympathizes with those residents who feel this might add to an already frustrating situation. “I can definitely understand the frustration of having people park up by our mailbox to hike up Camelback. I think having a designated parking spot and trails might help alleviate some of that.”
Brandon Oram | Photo Editor
Page 7 • 8 April 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
Trevor Delaney | Sports Editor Contact: bgsports@isu.edu
Safety Concerns Behind Local Trail Closure Trevor Delaney Sports Editor One local trail has become a battleground for competing interests, challenging the idea enshrined in the multiple-use policy that governs our public lands. Recently, those hikers and other trail users who enjoy using the Lead Draw trail south of Pocatello were surprised to find that their popular recreation destination had been closed, albeit temporarily. The reasoning behind the Forest Service’s issuance of the temporary closure came down to one thing, concern over the potential for dangerous conflicts between target shooters and trail users. “With the number of reports we’ve heard regarding near-misses between target shooters and hikers, I could not in good conscience keep the trail open as it currently sits,” said Kim Obele, Westside District ranger. “It was only a matter of time until we had a tragedy and someone was
seriously injured.” “It seems like with more people recreating and more new users coming out, there are more conflicts happening with that area,” said Sheila Larsen, recreation manager at the Westside Ranger District. “We don’t want to wait for an accident to do something. This time we don’t have a plan that we’re trying to sell to the public. We’re asking people to be part of the conversation to help us figure out what is the solution. Is it rerouting the trail? Is it closing it to shooting? Is it something else? People have gone there and had an incident there, and they don’t go back. It’s the new users that go because they’re not aware that it is an unofficial shooting area.” While the temporary trail closure ends on July 31, many recreationists feel that this temporary closure is unfair to the majority of the public and only caters to the target shooters whose irresponsible behavior caused the issue in the first place. Local hiker and target shooter Devin Hil-
SPORTS
lam chimed in about the closure, “For transparency purposes, it is important for trail users to understand the baseline decisions that were made before we can comment on solutions moving forward. To suggest that because there are lots of trails in the area, as was done on the USFS page, ignores the fact that Lead Draw offers new hikers or those with less abilities a chance to hike a trail and not have steep inclines and ignores the fact that Lead Draw is a great trail during winter due to its lower snowpack. Furthermore, to suggest that there are minimal shooting opportunities in the NF is also myopic and ignores other good areas with access, the vast amounts of BLM land near Pocatello, and the local shooting range.” “This is kind of non-conventional to close the trail and keep the shooting,” Larsen said. “But looking at all the opportunities for hiking around Pocatello, there’s so many and there’s not a lot of safe opportunities for safe shooting.”
Local outdoorsman Brian Gard added, “No one in their right mind would hike up there as long as target shooters shoot in the bottom of the draw.” Gard also mentioned the problem as being that “almost all shooters want to shoot by their vehicle and in the Mink Creek area during seasonal closures this is right at the trailhead and parking areas - often in the narrows of the mouth of tributary canyons where people and activity is concentrated.” Officially, the Lead Draw Trail is closed from the trailhead to the confluence of Walker Creek and Crestline Trails. Lead Draw area remains open to cross-country travel for individuals to walk and ride horses, as well for activities like target practicing, though Forest Service officials urge caution and suggest recreationists visit other local trails while this closure remains in place.
Bengals Hoist the Black Flag, 24-22 Victory over Vandals Trevor Delaney Sports Editor With nearly 2800 fans filling the Holt Arena with their cheers, the Idaho State University football team secured a hometurf victory Saturday afternoon against the University of Idaho Vandals in the Battle of the Domes. In their last home game of the season, the Bengals gave it their all to win. Coming out of halftime with 14 points, the Bengals led the game by eight points over the Vandals’ six points on the scoreboard. With the U of I team taking the lead by a single point in the third quarter, ISU came back with a vengeance in the fourth quarter of the game. The Bengals took their Black Flag Week motto seriously and never surrendered. The Bengals took the win against the Vandals, with the final score for the game coming out at 24 points for ISU, over U of I’s 22 points.
When asked in a post-game interview how he felt about the announcement that the next season will be played with a full capacity of fans in the stands, Coach Rob Phenicie replied, “It’s the way it should be right now, I don’t see why it isn’t. We should have a full house today.” When asked about the respect his team earned this game, Phenicie responded “Well you know, Idaho State, we have to fight, scratch, claw, bite, anything, to get an inch of respect out of people. They don’t realize how good of a program we are. They just see the record. They don’t see the 3127 game, they don’t see the 46-42, all they see is ‘Eastern Washington – win, Idaho State – lose’. So, you know, I don’t think people give us the amount of respect that we need. We need to go above and beyond what Montana or Montana State or Weber State does in order to garner votes.” ISU junior Tyler Vander Waal said in a postgame interview on beating the
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics
Vandals, “It’s an unreal feeling, just the rivalry that is there. And I think this game means more than just a rivalry game. You know, there’s kinda bad blood in the water between both teams, and to come out on top, it’s incredible. Nothing beats winning, but winning against your rival? Nothing can top that. It was just a surreal moment.” Vander Waal added “It was pretty trippy for the most part. I mean, excuse my language, but they were talking a lot of shit. So I think that just makes the win more bitter-sweet. But yeah, you could definitely tell, just the atmosphere of the game, there were high stakes.” “Honestly I didn’t really know what the
‘black flag’ meant until Coach Phen told us on Monday,” said Vander Waal. “It’s just having that mentality that you don’t lose, you won’t come off that field unless you have a win. And I think it showed during practice.” Vander Waal added “Like Coach Phen said, ‘Surrender or die’, is kinda what it is. We’re not going to surrender, so we either win or give everything we’ve got out on the field. It’s really just a mindset, and my first Black Flag Week coming out with a victory 1-0 against these guys, there’s no better feeling than that.”
The Bengal at Idaho State University
8 April 2021 • Page 8
OPINION
Jacob Gutridge | Editor-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu
There’s Something Strange in our Skies Logan Ramsey News Editor This column contains mature language. Reader discretion is advised. Less than a month ago, I read some news that made my blood curdle, and not for the reasons you may expect. This wasn’t about genocide or a totalitarian dictator, but about technology that is currently beyond the public’s understanding. What scared me about this news had nothing to do with the incident itself, and everything to do with what it means for the future of the world. In July of 2019 over the course of multiple days, six different unidentified drones swarmed over United States Navy Destroyers. According to Adam Kehoe and Marc Cecotti, the aircraft were, “...described as flying for prolonged periods in low-visibility conditions, and performing brazen maneuvers over the Navy warships near a sensitive military training range less than 100 miles off Los Angeles.” Drones getting so close to military vessels would’ve been strange enough, if not for how they were described by the sailors. The ship log described the aircrafts as, “white lights,” and on the first night of the sightings, one drone was able to hover over the deck of the destroyer and keep a pace of 16 knots. You read that right, the drone was able to hold a hover over a moving battleship. Even stranger, this happened in low visibility conditions, at night, and lasted for over 90 minutes. There was an investigation launched that involved the Navy, Coast Guard and FBI, and as far as we know they were not able to determine the source of the aircraft. I can’t go into every detail of this story, so I highly recommend you read it for yourself. The Drive, who published the investigation, is still working on it and I hope we get to read more soon. This news dropped at a time when sightings of unidentified aircrafts are increasing, not among kooky tin-foil hat wearers, but in the ranks of the military. This has prompted the Navy to formalize their process for reporting Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) which is the new term they use instead of UFO. It appears that the military is becoming increasingly comfortable with divulging the details of UAP sightings with the general public, although they still seem rather cagey. Three different videos were officially released by the Pentagon in 2020, named FLIR, GIMBAL and GOFAST. All three of the videos show radar footage of aircraft flying at unusually fast speeds, with purplexted
pilots discussing the object. I think the most chilling moment of these three videos takes place in GIMBAL, when the two pilots exchange, “That’s a fucking drone, bro,” the second replying, “There’s a whole fleet of them, look on the SA.” Not dissimilar to the unidentified drones that could hold a hover over a rapidly moving military vessel from June 2019. Even stranger, one of the pilots points out that the UAP is flying against the wind. After watching in awe for a moment, the aircraft begins to visibly rotate, and then the radar footage cuts. These videos had been previously leaked and reported on before the Pentagon released them, but if you’re anything like me you didn’t see the footage until months after quarantine. The military formally recognizing these videos as real also signals a possible shift in the public discussion of UAP sightings. And it’s not just radar video; pilots have reported a near miss with an unidentified aircraft before. In 2014, two pilots were flying about a hundred feet apart in tandem over the Atlantic, east of Virginia Beach, when something very weird flew right in between them. They described it as a sphere encasing a cube. Pilots in the area saw aircraft like this multiple times, catching them on video in some instances (this is where the GIMBAL and GOFAST videos were taken). The pilots described, “that the video showed objects accelerating to hypersonic speed, making sudden stops and instantaneous turns — something beyond the physical limits of a human crew.” We’re about two months away from re-
ceiving a massive report from the Pentagon on the UFO phenomenon thanks to the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal 2021. The military has until June to release a comprehensive report of what they know about UAPs. Needless to say, I’m sitting on pins and needles waiting for this report, considering the public will be able to access most of it, besides a classified supplement. As for what will actually be in this report, I suspect that it will raise more questions than answers. I think we’ll learn a great amount from it, but we could be left to draw our own conclusions, which wouldn’t be a smart move on the part of the military. If we don’t receive solid answers in the report, then it just leaves us to wildly speculate. In the meantime, why don’t we indulge in some speculation? My head has been spinning with ideas for what these unidentified aircraft are, and currently I believe the most likely answer is that they belong to our own government, and that the witness pilots don’t have the security clearance to know about these highly advanced aircraft. Although, pilots who have seen these aircraft disagree with me. The pilots who nearly collided with an unidentified aircraft told this story to their squadron, and it convinced them these didn’t belong to the military, because they would’ve known not to interfere with their mission. My first theory was that another major superpower, like China or Russia, was using this technology. I still think that’s a possibility, but Air Force spokesman Maj. Bryan Lewis said, “While there is a pro-
liferation of UAV technology across the globe, we are not concerned that China or Russia have developed a long-range capability about which we are not aware.” So if it’s not those two options, then where the fuck are these things coming from? At the moment, my money is still on either the United States or another superpower, but I think we’d be foolish to not at least consider the possibility that they’re of extraterrestrial origin. Is this likely? Of course not, because there’s a difference between a possibility and probability. Extraterrestrial visitors coming to Earth is the least probable answer to the mystery of what’s in our skies, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. I would also contend that it could be our best case scenario. Look at the time period preceding World War I. There’s a lot of reasons why it happened, and one of them is that major governments had just developed tons of never before seen advanced weaponry, and they wanted to test out their new toys. The result was unprecedented destruction and calamity. What if these unidentified aircraft belong to the major government superpowers of today? What else can they do when they’re not taking surveillance? If history has taught us anything, our leaders will use the power for destruction, and treat the common people as cannon fodder. At least with extraterrestrials, there’s a chance they use this technology more responsibly than us. We don’t know that, but we know what our government will do with it. I’ll take my chances with the aliens.
Photo Courtesy of The Drive
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