WRW July 29 2020

VISION 2020

POLITICAL NEWS

Idaho Cuisine: Is That A Thing? PG 6 SUN VALLEY

KETCHUM

COVID NEWS

State Senator Seeks 5th Term PG 4

HAILEY

National Uptick Impacts Valley PG 5 BELLEVUE

PICABO

CAREY

WOOD RIVER WEEKLY YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

Free | July 29- Aug 11, 2020 | Vol. 1 - No. 18 | woodriverweekly.com

“ I f y o u t h i n k t h e s u m m e r s u n i s t o o h o t , j u s t r e m e m b e r, a t l e a s t y o u d o n ’ t h a v e t o s h o v e l i t . ” ~Bob Dylan

Wood River High School and all other BCSD campuses will remain student-less until at least Sept. 8—three weeks later than normal. Photo credit: Blaine County School District

School Start Date Pushed To Sept. 8

T

By Eric Valentine

here’s no telling how big an impact the coronavirus pandemic will have on the 2020–21 school year, but now students and parents will have three additional weeks to plan for it. Blaine County School District trustees unanimously approved a motion put forth by trustee Lara Stone last Thursday to delay the start of the school year, pushing the opening date from Aug. 17 to Sept. 8. Teachers will arrive roughly two weeks prior to students, as usual, on Aug. 26. In a separate decision, trustees elected to keep the starting date as-is for principals and secretaries who arrived on campuses Monday to what Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes indicated would be a deluge of phone calls from parents trying to figure out what’s going on. The move is not without added cost to an already-depleted BCSD budget. Setting the calendar back three weeks but having principals and secretaries arrive at their normal time adds 10 days to their work schedule and salary. It wasn’t clear how much that will cost the district as of press deadline Tuesday, but estimates were in the $100,000 range. The decision Thursday followed a Tuesday board meeting in which there was a lengthy and “not pretty” discussion—as board president Keith Roark described it—about the difficult process of reopening amid

COVID-19 concerns and restrictions. “We absolutely have to have the cooperation of our administration as we move forward into what may be and probably is the most important school year this school district has ever encountered. In criticizing the plan that we have so far, we are not criticizing the people who put it together,” Roark said. “We have not adequately provided a meaningful voice to our teachers in the planning for this coming year. Teachers need to have a seat at the table, and they need to have that seat before the table is set and the food is served.” Roark directed his fellow trustees Tuesday to come back 48 hours later with specific motions the board could discuss and vote on. Ay, There’s The Rub Trustee Stone came back with several ideas to put on the table. The most pressing one called for the Sept. 8 opening, which would push the last day of school into June, but would be as least disruptive as possible to existing calendar dates, such as holidays and spring break. In addition, it would make both the first and second semesters an equal amount of days, 86. The first-term trustee said she ran the proposal by a number of stakeholders across the district. “There was overwhelming support, but it wasn’t everybody,” she acknowledged.

Stone noted that the major downfall of the late opening is the impact it could have on certain students. For instance, kids enrolled in Advanced Placement courses will have three less weeks to learn and study content before taking those rigorous exams, which allow students to earn college credit if they perform well. Stone told her fellow trustees that since COVID is impacting all schools nationwide, she was hopeful the A.P. exam schedule would follow suit. “I hope to see the testing times change, too,” Stone said. Three-Plan Plan South Central Public Health District officials still must OK the BCSD reopening plans. And, ultimately, the plans must align with anything Governor Brad Little and the Idaho State Board of Education have to say. Idaho is currently in the most lenient phase of the reopening process, but with recent surges in COVID-19 infections, that could still change. Right now BCSD’s reentry includes three potential scenarios: • Plan A, in which in-person learning resumes as Continued BLAINER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Page 2

jane’s artifacts arts / / crafts / / papers / / office / / party

BACK TO SCHOOL

JANE’S will do your shopping for you! SEE PAGE 4

2

Wood River Weekly

NEWS Continued from Page 1

usual with social distancing and enhanced sanitation practices in place • Plan B, in which in-person learning resumes but is staggered so that only a portion of students are physically in schools at one time • Plan C, in which all learning takes place virtually Plan C triggered its own motion Thursday night.

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

EDUCATION

Trustees voted to establish an online learning committee that would be chaired by trustee Dan Turner. The committee is charged with developing best practices for virtual learning and ensuring that all students have equitable access to virtual learning across the district. In an attempt to expedite board decisions while still providing a broad range of stakeholder input, trustees also voted to launch a vetting committee for all re-entry matters. The committee will be chaired by Stone but made up of a broad cross-section of district stakeholders from staff to residents. The committee is charged with

making sure input from all potentially impacted stakeholders has been heard before presenting a policy to be voted on by the school board. Play Ball! The school board also approved a plan by the district athletics department to resume practice and conditioning for sports teams starting Aug. 10, barring something unforeseen. The re-opening plan is limited, however, to in-squad practices. Scrimmages and games against teams from other school districts is still to be determined.

YOU CAN FIND IT IN BLAINE!

GREAT GARDENS

SUN VALLEY 3D PHOTO 3D Virtual Tours Real Estate Interior Design Vacation Rentals Architecture SCAN FOR 3D VIRTUAL TOUR

Looking for a fun, creative & experienced gardener? • Spring Cleanup • Composting • Mulching • Edging • Planting • Design

WWW.SUNVALLEY3DPHOTO.COM sales@sunvalley3dphoto.com

Call Christopher 720-5127

SCOTT MILEY ROOFING

208.720.0252

From Your Roof to Your Rain Gutter, We’ve Got You Covered!

208.788.5362

Housekeeper now accepting new clients.

responsible, experienced and great references. Free estimates available for: Homes, condos, offices. beatrizq2003@hotmail.com

fully insured & guaranteed

Airport West | Hailey, Idaho 83333

208.720.5973

Marc Longley

Advertise on this page for ONLY $35/week! (includes full color & free ad design)! Space is limited, call today!

americansealcoating5b@gmail.com

• • • •

SEAL COATING CRACK FILLING STRIPING POTHOLE REPAIR

Call Mandi 208.721.7588 (includes full color & free ad design)

Shop Local

CLASSIFIEDS FINE FINISH CARPENTRY

RETIREMENT HORSE BOARDING

Custom Cabinetry • Interior Finish Remodeling • Kitchen • Baths CAD Cabinetry Design Mike @ (208) 720-7250 Check out our Facebook page www.ffcid.com

Retirement horse boarding for geldings. Limited vacancy. Small family farm environment with excellent facilities. Experienced geriatric care. Veterinarian references. Text or call (208) 720-7252

HANDYMAN

answer from page 12

Jack of all trades. Reliable, insured, clean. Small jobs to large remodel projects, or the “honey-do” list. Call Mark, (208) 573-1784

HELP WANTED

Sawtooth Brewery Experienced Line Cooks PT/FT $16/hr in Hailey & Ketchum. Bartenders- PT Production Assistant- PT/FT Brewer- FT

CROSSWORD

Mandi 208.721.7588

PRICING

Advertise on this page for ONLY $35/week.

Text (up to 25 words): $5 Additional Text: 20¢ per word Photos: $5 per image • Logo: $10 Deadline: Monday at 1 p.m Space reservations: classifieds@woodriverweekly.com

HOUSEKEEPING

Responsible, experienced & great references, housekeeper now accepting new clients. Free estimates available for: homes, condos & offices. beatrizq2003@hotmail.com, (208) 720-5973

CLASSIC SUDOKU answer from page 12

Wood River Weekly

WRW STAFF PUBLISHER Christopher Seldon (208) 788-4789 publisher@woodriverweekly.com

3

tidwellcommissionercampaign.com (208) 578-7769 • twitter: @kikitidwell You: Want to enjoy quality of life here in the beautiful Wood River Valley with its blue skies and clean air. You value being safe here. You want local government to have plans to keep you safe in wildfires, pandemics, and climate change extreme weather events.

NEWS EDITOR Eric Valentine news@woodriverweekly.com

Me: Have been an effective renewable energy advocate in Idaho for almost 20 years. My winning shareholder initiative with Idaho Power in 2009 helped to change the company's direction from building more coal-fired power plants, one slated to be built at the time, to 100% renewable power by 2045. Even though I wasn't popular with the power company at the time, I spoke truth to power, and it has actually worked out well for the power company and Idaho. Due to coal-fired power plants subsequently being retired early, ratepayers received a $17.5 million rebate from Idaho Power last year. Along with many others in this state, I have working hard with my time, talents, and personal funds to keep Idaho's skies blue and our air healthy.

ARTS & EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Dana DuGan dana@woodriverweekly.com COPY EDITOR Patty Healey PRODUCTION & DESIGN Mandi Iverson mandi@woodriverweekly.com Christopher Seldon chris@woodriverweekly.com

You: You don't want to worry about what local governments are doing. You want your elected officials to be fiscally responsible with government funds and to not get us into financial straits.

ACCOUNTING accounting@woodriverweekly.com DEADLINES Display & Classified Ads, Monday 5 p.m. Calendar Submissions — Friday 5 p.m.

Me: Willing to take the heat to challenge government's wasteful spending down of its cash reserves and giving away of its land assets. I understand complex financial reporting and, through much analysis of County budgets, know exactly how Idaho state statutes impact our

CONTACT Wood River Weekly P.O. Box 3483 Hailey, Idaho 83333 (208) 788-4789 woodriverweekly.com

Dear Valley residents,

K i kGr i Ti d w e l l

July 29 - August 11, 2020

Blaine County Commissioner Candidate

MARKETING & SALES Mandi Iverson (208) 721-7588 mandi@woodriverweekly.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

•

County and what levers in the County budget really affect long term outcomes. I think that the commissioners' increasing their own salaries by 68% over the last 8 years is unconscionable and would put a halt to that.

O fu

You: Have so many concerns right now, you don't want to have to go to County meetings and write emails to Commissioners. You want "adult supervision" at the County.

Me: Have been regularly attending Blaine County Commissioner meetings over the past year 15 months and am up to speed on County issues. Through extensive questions and digging into the County budgets, I found that expenses have gone up $10 million in the past 9 years. Commissioners didn't realize that they had spent over $250,000 in outside attorney fees on just two cases 20182019 until I brought it to their attention. Their Administrator's salary had increased 88% in 8 years to $181,885, along with benefits estimated at $57,000.

G

You: Just need to do one action: vote Nov 3rd for Kiki Tidwell for Blaine County Commissioner

Me: As a County Commissioner, I will focus on building a future of safety for all residents, with: • Reliable backup power • Proactive contact tracing & testing health measures to keep us from shutting down again • Economic survival for all residents • Prioritization of spending scarce County dollars on vital county services

Paid for by Citizens for Kiki Tidwell, Cynthia Mann Treasurer

O Gravity Training Camp Gravity 2020 2020 Training Camp fu Gravity 2020 Training C Series for Kids Series for Kids Series Kids Gravity 2020 Trainingfor Camp

As we move through the rest of the summer, we all continue to face the economic impact of COVID-19, with much uncertainty going forward. Here at the Wood River Weekly, we will continue to publish alternate weeks, until some semblance of normalcy returns. Thanks to all for your patience and support, Chris & Mandi

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

2020 Performance for Kids GRAVITY IS TOCamps BE OFFERING GRAVITY ISEXCITED EXCITED TO BE OFFERING

C

Series for Kids

GRAVITY IS EXCITED TO BE OFFERING SIX WEEKS OF CAMPS THIS SUMMER! SIX WEEKS OF CAMPS THIS SUMMER! SIX WEEKS OF CAMPS THIS SUMMER!

Our camps are designed to train kids ages 6-14 to be better athletes while having All activities will focustoon improving the Mind and We willathletes split kids while up Our fun! camps are designed train kids ages 6-14 toBody. be better having by age and rotate them around the following activities: Our camps are designed to train kids ages 6-14 to be better athletes fun! All activities will focus on improving the Mind and Body. We will split kids up

fun! All activities will focus on improving the Mind and Body. We will GRAVITY ISrotate EXCITED BEfollowing OFFERING byStretching age and them around the activities: & Breathing •TO Strength Training by age and rotate them around the following activities: Cardio • Plyometrics • Tennis • Martial Arts SIX WEEKS OF SUMMER! Stretching & CAMPS BreathingTHIS • Strength Training Archery • Contests/Games • Brain Reaction Time Training Stretching & Breathing • Strength Training

Our camps are designed to• train kids ages 6-14 to be •better athletes Cardio Plyometrics • Tennis Martial Artswhile having Special Guest Instructors Cardio Offering Bonus Activities • and Plyometrics • Tennis • kids Martial fun! All activities will focus on improving the Mind Body. We will split up Arts *No two camp days will be the same, and each week will be progressive from day 1 –Training 4 Archery • Contests/Games • Brain Reaction Time Archery • Contests/Games • Brain Reaction Time Tra by age and rotate them around the following activities:

Special Guest Instructors Bonus Activities SpecialOffering Guest Instructors Offering Bonus Activit

THREEKIDS CAMP SERIES: AUGUST CAMP Camp Series #1: June 1 – 4 & JuneSERIES 8 – 11, 2020

*No two camp days will& be Breathing the same, and each week will be Training progressive from day 1 – 4 Stretching Strength *No two camp•days will be the same, and each week will be progressive from

Cardio •Series Plyometrics • Martial Arts Camp July 6 •–Tennis 9 & JulySeries 13 – 16, of 2020 There is still room in#2: the last Camp the Summer. THREE SERIES: Archery • Contests/Games •3 Brain Reaction Time Camp Series #3: AugCAMP – 6 & August 10 – 13, 2020Training THREE CAMP SERIES: Camp Series #1: June 1 – 4 & June 8 – 11, 2020 Camps 8 – 4Camp Monday – Thursday Series #1: JuneActivities 1 – 4 & June 8 – 11, 2020 ENROLL NOW! Special Guest All Instructors Offering Bonus Series #2: and July 6- –$100 9Series &(8 July 13July – 16, 2020 *No two campCamp days will be theOne-Day same, each week will be progressive – 4 – 16, 2020 Camp #2: 6 –from 9 & day July1 13 Camp hrs) August 3 6 & August 10 13, 2020 Camp Series #3: Aug 3- –$325 6Series &(32 August 10 3––13, One-Week Camp hrs) Camp #3: Aug 6 &2020 August 10 – 13, 202 Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. 4 p.m. - $600 (64 hrs) AllTwo-Week Camps 8Camp – 4 Monday – Thursday All Camps 8 – 4 Monday – Thursday

THREE CAMP SERIES: *We offer sibling discounts

Camp Series #1: 1 June 2020 CAOne-Day M PJune PRICIN G–/ 4 INF R M AT I O8 N – 11, Camp -&O$100 (8 hrs) One-Day Camp - $100 (8 hrs) Contact TashaSeries Seig for Registration Oliver for-more Camp #2: July 6Camp – 9 &Contact July 13 –hrs) 16, 2020 One-Week - $325 (32Whitcomb One-Week Camp $325information: (32 hrs) (208) 727-7014 (c) (208) 720-6088 Two-Week Camp $600 (64 hrs) Two-Week $600 (64 hrs)– Camp Series #3: Aug 3Camp – 6 &- August 10 13, -2020 tlseig@gmail.com mundonim@gmail.com *We offer sibling discounts *We sibling discounts All Camps 8 – offer 4tness-tennis.com Monday – Thursday gravity

P RI O I CN I N G / I N F O R M AT I O N CA M P P R I C I N G / I N FCA O RMMPAT

One-Day Camp - $100 (8 hrs)Oliver Whitcomb Contact Tasha Seig for Registration Contact Oliverinformation Whitcomb fo Contact Tasha Seig for Registration Contact for more C (208) 727-7014 (c) (208) 720-6 One-Week Camp - $325 (32 hrs) (208) 727-7014 (c) (208) 720-6088 tlseig@gmail.com mundonim@gm tlseig@gmail.com mundonim@gmail.com Two-Week Camp - $600 (64 hrs)

gravity tness-tennis.com *We offer sibling discounts gravitytness-tennis.com

CA M P P R I C I N G / I N F O R M AT I O N

Contact Tasha Seig for Registration

Contact Oliver Whitcomb for more information:

4

Wood River Weekly

NEWS

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

Stennett Stakes Her Claim

POLITICS

Longtime Valley resident seeks fifth term as state senator

She worked in a hunting/fishing lodge in Alaska before moving to Idaho, then was employed with Horizon Airn any election, but especially in legislatures, incum- lines and the fixed-based operator for private aircraft, bents historically hold a distinct advantage over their Sun Valley Aviation. Her “working class” jobs covered opponents. But 2020 is a year unlike any in recent many restaurants and catering companies, including Pihistory, which means Idaho State Senator Michelle Sten- oneer Saloon, and she managed community-based pronett knows she can’t take this campaign season or her grams with philanthropic organizations, before working at a veterinary hospital and selling ads for a local cable underdog opponent lightly. Stennett has held the District 26 seat, which encom- station. Stennett is aware that anything can happen in an elecpasses Blaine, Camas, Gooding and Lincoln counties, since 2010, and is seeking reelection for a fifth consecu- tion during a pandemic, even though more than 60 pertive term. She is the minority leader in the Idaho Senate cent of Wood River Valley voters are registered Demand was the minority caucus chair prior. And in Novem- ocrats. District 26, Stennett notes, goes beyond Blaine ber, Stennett will be challenged by Republican candi- County into Camas, Gooding and Lincoln counties, date Eric Parker, who was similarly featured in a Wood which are fortified Republican. “I’m not shying away from the fact that I’m a DemRiver Weekly article earlier this month. ocrat,” said Stennett. Parker said he But, “My philosophy didn’t like the idea Yes, there’s a D placed after my name a lot. But is I work for everyof a Senate seat gowhen a constituent calls me with an issue they body. Yes, you’ll see ing unopposed and he didn’t like the idea need addressed, I’m asking them what the problem a D placed after my name. But when a of not having enough is, not whether they’re Republican or Democrat.” constituent calls me working-class poliwith an issue they ticians in office. For Idaho State Sen. Michelle Stennett need addressed, I’m Stennett, her nearasking them what ly 10 years in office the problem is, not doesn’t make her a whether they’re Republican or Democrat.” professional politician. With four terms under her belt, Stennett now serves “We only make $17,000 a year holding this seat, so we’re not in it for the career,” Stennett pointed out. “I on a myriad of committees and interim committees focome from the working class. I’ve held working class cusing on natural resources, public lands access, fisherjobs. I’ve been a restaurant worker. I have a messy ré- ies, water issues, workforce development, and ethics in politics. She is co-chair of the Tourism Committee for sumé and I’m proud of it.” the Pacific Northwest Economic Region and co-chair of the Canadian Relations Committee for the Council of A Proud Past Stennett’s résumé is as impressive as it is “messy.” State Governments-West. She also sits on the State AfIt includes a bachelor’s degree in international relations fairs and Resources & Environment committees. and environmental studies, as well as a bachelor’s dePolitical Priorities gree in Latin, and a minor in business from the UniWith four terms under her belt as part of the political versity of Oregon. She holds a Certificat d’Etudes from the Universite de Poitiers, France, and a Legislative En- minority, Stennett can also speak in length to all the iniergy Horizon Institute certificate from the University tiatives she wishes she could have pushed further up the of Idaho. After college, the 35-year Wood River Val- legislative ladder. However, three in particular stood out ley resident worked in developing countries on disaster during this recent interview. Minimum Wage—If you want to talk about respectand famine relief and on water and sanitation projects. ing the working class to Stennett, you need to talk about

I

By Eric Valentine

District 26 State Sen. Michelle Stennett. Photo credit: Michelle Stennett

increasing the state’s minimum wage, which sits at the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. “I have fought for legislation but my colleagues keep rejecting it,” Stennett said. “I’ll keep trying though.” Tourism Funding—Tourism dollars, which are vital to the Valley, rank third highest in the amount of money the state sees filtered through its economy. With its relatively low costs and wide variety of activities across all seasons, Stennett feels tourism can fare even better. Stennett is pushing for a more rigorous tourism campaign for the state. “It’s underfunded right now. We need to invest,” Stennett said. Broadband—Stennett is concerned about the gaps that will only broaden between rural and urban regions when it comes to high-tech infrastructure. As the fastest growing state in the nation, Idaho’s gap will only broaden, Stennett says. The senator said she is pushing legislators to develop five- and 10-year plans that set benchmarks for infrastructure spending related to growth.

jane’s artifacts arts / / crafts / / papers / / office / / party

BACK TO SCHOOL SCHOOL SUPPLIES

now available at JANE’S at Great Prices Express Curbside Shopping WE HAVE THE CLASSROOM SUPPLY LIST JANE’S will do your shopping for you! 106 S. MAIN, HAILEY • 208.788.0848 • JANESARTIFACTS@COX.NET

Wood River Weekly

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

KNEELAND COVID: Silver Linings, Red Flags GALLERY

NEWS

COVID

29TH ANNUAL PLEIN AIR EXHIBITION

Don’t let the decrease in COVID-19 cases fool you, say health officials. Labs are overwhelmed and testing results have been delayed since July 13. Image credit: South Central Public Health District

Business, healthcare find new normals in abnormal times

W

By Eric Valentine

ith “mask up” orders Valleywide and re-opening guidelines still at their most lenient phase, healthcare providers, businesses and ordinary residents are trying to find what a new normal looks and feels like day to day. A combination of caution and optimism seems to be taking place, from a school district that plans to reopen in-person classes but three weeks late to a hospital that is back to performing elective procedures and operations but on a case-by-case basis only. What follows is a look into business impacts from COVID and the current status of the healthcare infrastructure.

Pandemic Economics A recent survey of more than 120 local Wood River Valley businesses, completed by Sun Valley Economic Development (SVED) on behalf of the Blaine Recovery Committee, assessed changes in the business environment brought about by the COVID pandemic. “The loss of sales, the wearing of masks, the shift of traditional visitors to longer-term potential residents, and lack of workforce housing are just a few of the concerns shared with us,” said Harry Griffith, executive director of SVED. “Responses indicate that while businesses are doing their best to adapt to a difficult economic environment, significant uncertainty as to the future exists.” Specifically, the survey indicates that 67 percent of respondents are currently operating normally, with the remainder either operating with reduced space (17 percent) or reduced hours (15 percent). Nearly all (95 percent) are using recommended safety and hygiene protocols such as masks for employees (73 percent), entry sanitization procedures (71 percent), and masks for customers (48 percent). This June survey was done in partnership with Visit Sun Valley, The Chamber of Hailey and the Wood River Valley, Fly Sun Valley Alliance, Sun Valley Institute and several other community organizations. The majority of businesses responding (over 50 percent) were in the retail/restaurant/ lodging sector, 25 percent in the professional services sector and the remaining 25 percent in a variety of other industries. The impacts to June revenues (versus prior year) were varied, with 61 percent of respondents reporting reduced sales while 23 percent reported increased sales. Forward projections for the summer are likewise varied, with 50 percent expecting a 15 percent or greater decline in revenue, 12 percent expecting revenue increases and the balance no change or too early to assess. Longer term, concerns were expressed about reduced customer traffic (55 percent), lost work opportunities (41 percent), reductions in air service (40 percent) and long-term business viability (11 percent). When asked about marketing to help attract customers, more than 60 percent indicated destination marketing for this summer was important, with 34 percent stating it was a critical need. When asked about the priority of target markets important in the near term, 75 percent supported marketing outreach to Boise/Twin Falls drive markets, 66 percent to second homeowners, 61 percent to other regional drive markets like Utah, Washington and

California, 55 percent to SUN air route markets. Healthcare Infrastructure Let’s start with the good news. The early onslaught of COVID-19 cases that impacted Blaine County worse than any other county statewide has subsided. And St. Luke’s Wood River has restarted performing elective surgeries and other procedures. “Our operations are as close to normal as you can be right now,” said St. Luke’s spokesperson Joy Prudek. “People are having surgeries. Babies are being born.” But Prudek is cautioning the public that this is a new normal, not normal normal. For instance, elective surgeries and other procedures are being scheduled but when that surgery or procedure takes place is determined by a physician on a caseby-case basis. “We have to keep some flexibility in case there is another surge of COVID here,” Prudek explained. The hospital is also testing patients pre-operatively for COVID, and if someone tests positive, they’ll likely be denied an elective procedure until a later date. “If you have COVID, we just don’t know how your body will do. We have to err on the side of caution,” Prudek said. Among the challenges facing the healthcare infrastructure is the two-week delay in test results. Since July 13, labs have been overwhelmed with tests and results have been few in coming. This is a problem in two ways, Prudek points out. First, there is the issue of whether we’re in the midst of an uptick like many places around the country and we just don’t know it yet. Such a surge would mean reverting back to the way things were early on in the pandemic when St. Luke’s Wood River essentially closed up shop for anything other than emergencies and COVID care. Second is the issue of a false sense of security even if cases right now are headed downward. If people see charts showing huge drop-offs in new cases, some folks may start being less vigilant in their disease prevention efforts. “We’re a little bit concerned because of this backlog (of tests),” Prudek said. Tally Tales A number of Valley residents have been asking about the “true number” of cases here since some people who test positive for COVID are not fulltime residents here. Prudek acknowledged that a person who lives part-time in Idaho and part-time in another state will be counted as a COVID case for whichever state they declared on their intake form. In other words, there could be significantly more or significantly less COVID cases given the high number of seasonal residents in the Valley. “This is why contact tracing is so important,” said Prudek. People who may have crossed paths with an infected person would be notified by a contact tracing team regardless of how someone penned their address on a form. Prudek said that research done by South Central Public Health District suggests that the number of cases present in the Valley that are not recorded as Valley cases are in the single digits. “We know it’s an issue and we’re looking at ways of improving the reporting,” Prudek said.

Robert Moore, “Desert View”, oil, 24” x 48”

Featuring: Steven Lee Adams, Ovanes Berberian, Jack Braman John Horejs, Shanna Kunz, Lori McNee, Caleb Meyer Silas Thompson, Robert Moore & Bart Walker Wednesday August 5th Artists paint at Murdock Creek in the SNRA, 10am-4pm Thursday August 6th Artists paint at the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens, 10am-4pm Friday August 7th Still Life demonstration by Ovanes Berberian in the Kneeland Gallery Courtyard at 2.30pm Artists’ Reception 5-8pm

271 First Ave N, Ketchum, ID 83340 PO Box 2070, Sun Valley, ID 83353 • 208.726.5512 email: art@kneelandgallery.com website: www.kneelandgallery.com

5

6

Wood River Weekly

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

COLUMN

Harrison Insurance

VISION 20

an authorized select independent agency “For All Your Insurance Needs!” One-stop shopping for Business, Commercial, Home, Auto, Umbrella, Life, Health and Medigap insurance policies 208.788.3255 - nathan@harrisonins.com 101 E. Bullion Ste. 2A Hailey, ID

Gnocchi is pasta made from potatoes, but it’s not always a menu item in Idaho.

The Idaho Menu— More Than Just Potatoes

I

JOBS PRESERVED

Behind every number is a story.

FOR A BANK THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDS BUSINESS Zions Bank is for you. If banking were all about numbers, Zions Bank would be just another bank. But to us, banking is obviously much more than that. Because behind every single number are real business owners who were able to keep their doors open thanks to their recent Paycheck Protection Program Loan. And for The Elephant’s Perch, it’s been one heck of a story. We believe that offering this level of attention doesn’t just make good financial sense — but it’s a smarter way for us to help our clients make better business decisions. The numbers don’t lie. And the real truth is, we’re ready to keep doing it. Like we’ve done in the past. And how we will in the future. We’re thankful to businesses and others that are a daily inspiration to us. Visit: www.zionsbank.com/stories to see the full story.

A division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC © 2020 Zions Bancorporation, N.A. *Numbers referenced are from Zions Bancorporation as of 6/25/2020.

NEWS

By Eric Valentine

’m a foodie and a pretty darned good home cook. But I’m not a chef, nor I a connoisseur—not even close. So when two of my more esteemed culi expert friends both asked me, “What’s fry sauce?” I realized Idaho may be to contribute to world gastronomy more than we currently imagine. The state has been banking on potatoes for over a century. According to Idaho Potato Museum, July 22, 1847, to be exact. Pioneers entered the Salt L Valley on July 22, 1847. On July 24, a five-acre potato patch was plowed and potatoes planted. Enter J.R. Simplot, who figured out how to not just grow th but how to slice them, freeze them and distribute them, and boom, Idaho is kn for a crop that can grow just fine just about anywhere the sun is full and the is cool. So, if I were to ever become an Idaho restaurateur (I will not), here’s what ode to the Idaho menu would include.

MEALS Gnocchi pasta with morels—Gnocchi is a pasta made with potato rather flour. It can be found on menus in Idaho here and there, but it has always surpr me it’s not everywhere. It pairs well with tomato marinara or basil pesto, but in Idaho we could pair it with a morel mushroom sauce that would knock peo socks off.

Game meat stew—I never had eaten elk meat until I moved to Idaho. An the winter, nothing is better than a homemade rustic stew with root vegetables tubers.

Trout—Growing up on the coast, salmon and halibut and shellfish were my to seafoods. Now, after 16 years here, Idaho trout is by far my first choice when craving those omega-3s. Milder than salmon, more intense than cod, a good t seems to be the perfect fish for light fare or hearty eats.

Finger steaks—This is another treat my culinary friends never experien until they visited me here. It’s not necessarily a traditional meal, but it shoul an appetizer at least on any menu declaring itself to be Idaho-inspired.

DESSERTS Huckleberry cheesecake—The Idaho mountains are huckleberry heaven. Idaho plains are dairy dreams. Put those two together and a robust cheesec with huckleberry sauce and fresh berries makes the perfect Gem State des treasure.

DRINKS The Hemingway—Papa’s time in Cuba and Spain made him a fan of r There’s a little-known drink out there called the Hemingway, a daiquiri blen spiced or white rum with fresh grapefruit juice and a splash of lime juice and m aschino liqueur. What better way to begin a meal or cap off a night?

IN BRIE

Cleanup Crew Wants You

Left to right, Judy Stoltzfus, Heidi Bynum, Glen Olson and Katja Casson cut or pulled most of the knapweed on the gravel road leading up to Water Gulch in Woodside on Friday, July 24, as part of the volunteer effort called Woodside Weed Warriors. They meet Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to cut as much knapweed in Woodside as possible before it sends out millions of seeds this season. All residents are welcome to join them to cut weeds and/or help hold the bags open. Wednesday, July 29 and Aug. 5 are the next two meetups. Meet just off Woodside Boulevard south of Alturas Elementary School on the dirt road leading to Water Gulch Canyon July 29. On Aug. 5, meet in the parking lot of POWER Engineers near the Mountain Rides bus shelter. Please wear gloves and long sleeves and bring a facemask. If you have questions, contact: Katja Casson (208) 954-0937, Heidi Bynum (208) 788-1212 or Judy Stoltzfus judyarts@gmail.com

020

r am inary able

o the Lake seed hem, nown e soil

t my

than rised here ople’s

Wood River Weekly

NEWS

Ketchum Police Chief To Retire

Ketchum Police Chief Dave Kassner is retiring after 34 years on the job. His retirement will go into effect on Aug. 31, the City of Ketchum announced Tuesday. Kassner began his law enforcement career with the Ketchum Police Department in 1986. He became a member of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office in 2009, when the City of Ketchum contracted with Blaine County for law enforcement services. Kassner was promoted to Chief of Police in 2014 and is a member of the Ketchum Traffic Authority. “Dave has built trusted relationships with Ketchum residents and visitors,” said Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “His demeanor and approach to difficult situations has earned him a great deal of respect in the community. I’m happy I’ve had the opportunity to work with him.” Sheriff Steve Harkins added, “I want to thank Dave for his service to our community and we wish him a long and happy retirement.” In reflecting on his career, Kassner said that “it has been a tremendous honor to work alongside the dedicated men and women in the Ketchum Police Department and to serve the City of Ketchum community. I will miss working with the staff, but will see them around town or on the hill.” Kassner’s future will include more time with family, traveling, skiing and volunteering for The Hunger Coalition. The City of Ketchum invites the community to Ketchum Town Square at noon on Thursday, July 30, to wish him well.

Bellevue Wants You, To Plan Parks

The City of Bellevue is looking for two people interested in serving on its parks committee. The purpose of the committee is to enhance the beauty, vitality and sense of community of the City of Bellevue by providing a variety of parks and recreational opportunities. The Bellevue Parks Committee is a citizen’s advisory group that assists the mayor and city council by providing recommendations on matters relating to parks within the city, including policies, procedures, operations, maintenance, permits and budgeting. Upcoming projects include engaging the community on a conceptual plan for Memorial Park. The mayor and council shall appoint members to represent the broad interests of the people of the city with-

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

IN BRIEF

out regard to sex, age, race, nationality, religion, disability or political affiliation. Members may be residents of the city or within a six-mile radius of the city limits. The initial appointment is for two years. Meetings are held no more than once per month and there is no compensation for serving. If you are interested, please submit a letter or email to the city that includes a brief statement of interest and qualifications by Aug. 10. Please contact the City Clerk/ Treasurer at (208) 788-2128, ext. 2, or at bellevueparkcommittee@bellevueidaho.us with any questions.

2020 Wellness Festival Goes Full Virtual

The world’s longest-running wellness festival will still run this COVID-impacted year, but it will be doing so online. The Sun Valley Wellness Festival & Conference has announced that the 23rd annual event, which had already been rescheduled to Aug. 21–24, will now take place virtually. One thing that will not change, organizers say, is the outstanding lineup of renowned speakers addressing COVID-19 and other timely wellness topics. Speakers include keynoter and sleep expert Matthew Walker, Ph.D., and featured speaker from the frontlines of COVID-19, University of Washington Director of Infectious Disease Medicine, Seth Cohen, M.D., MSc. Other featured speakers include Dr. Eben Alexander, Dr. Zach Bush, Nora McInerny, Dr. Sasha Heinz, and others. Walker and McInerny’s TED Talks were in the top five most popular Talks viewed in 2019. “It’s a surreal time for our world and if ever there was a time for wellness, it’s now,” said Andria Friesen, SVWellness board president. Friesen noted that the roster of speakers is unprecedented for SVWellness, and a number of them will directly address the pandemic crisis at hand. The 2020 SVWellness Virtual will feature content-rich programming with over 20 virtual online presentations including several guided meditation sessions and an array of movement classes all facilitated by top wellness experts addressing various aspects of body, mind, spirit, and environmental wellness. The SVWFC Experience Park, which was planned to be held outdoors in Forest Service Park, will not take place this year. SVWellness Virtual Passes are now on sale at www.sunvalleywellness.org.

NEWS

7

ART

John Horejs, “Valley Creek-Stanley”, oil, 36” x 48”

29th Annual Plein-Air Exhibition

E

ach summer Kneeland Gallery invites its own group of plein-air painters to participate in an artistic celebration featuring gatherings and events throughout the week. Paint-outs, demonstrations and a plein-air workshop all feature in the event and spectators, fellow artists and collectors can enjoy the finished paintings at the culminating reception on the final day. The participating artists this year are Steven Lee Adams, Ovanes Berberian, Jack Braman, John Horejs, Shanna Kunz, Lori McNee, Caleb Meyer, Robert Moore, Silas Thompson and Bart Walker. The schedule is as follows: on Wednesday, August 5, the 10 artists paint at Murdock Creek in the SNRA. Spectators are invited to watch them at work and learn from their different techniques while observing a respectful 6-foot distance from them and each other. On Thursday, August 6, the group will all paint at the scenic Sawtooth Botanical Gardens in Ketchum. There is a $5 charge to enter the gardens. On Friday, August 7, Ovanes Berberian will give a still-life painting demonstration in the Kneeland Gallery Courtyard at 2:30 p.m. Limited seating will be provided with social distancing maintained. A reception will follow at 5 p.m. where the works from the week will be on display.

nd in s and

y gon I’m trout

nced ld be

The cake ssert

rum. nding mar-

EF

HEROES WEAR MASKS Not all heroes wear capes, but heroes do wear masks. It’s safe, it’s simple, and it saves lives. Be a hero in your community. Wear a mask.

8

COMM ENT ARY Wood River Weekly

Fishing R epoRt

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR JULY 29 - AUGUST 11 FROM PICABO ANGLER

T

he heat of summer is upon us and it’s time to fish accordingly. This means set your alarm for the early-morning hours and be ready to stay up late. With the heat coming up, and the water temperatures as well, the best fishing will be found in the early-morning hours. Plan on the morning activity, like the Trico Spinner Falls, to be a constant the next few weeks, with Baetis on the tail end. The wind is the determining factor on how voracious the fish will act on any given morning. The Trico is generally showing up around 8:00 to 8:30 most mornings. This is not to say that there are not earlier bugs on Silver Creek. Finding Callibaetis and Trico Duns on the water before the sun hits the ground is not uncommon. In the afternoons, look for Damselflies and Callibaetis on the water when the wind is down. Look for slow-moving water and weed beds to find these bugs. If the wind is ramping up for the afternoon, try fishing Hoppers; pink and yellow seem to be the dominant colors this season. Evenings on the Creek are a constant smorgasbord of Callibaetis, Baetis, PMD and Caddis. A Rusty Spinner in several sizes will cover most of the evening rise. Hoppers and Streamers are also a great choice in the evening. The Big Wood and Upper Lost rivers are seeing plenty of anglers—yet another reason to get on the water early. With the low water conditions and the heat coming up, the fishing should become more difficult in coming days and weeks. This means move slower, observe the water longer, make your fishing decisions more deliberate. In the mornings, look for fish eating Tricos in the slowest, flattest water. In the evenings, be ready for Caddis hatches. These hatches should really begin to grow in size as we enter the month of August. The afternoons are all about Hopper Droppers and even some Cicada patterns. The South Fork of the Boise is in Pink Albert and Hopper season. Fish both of these in the middle of the day. The Hopper fishing continues to improve as you approach the low-light hours. If you’re fishing the Pinks, fish the shallowest riffles. You may be surprised at how shallow the fish will move for this insect. It’s busy out there, so everyone please be kind and respectful of one another and it will be a great day. Happy fishing, everyone!

Hwy 20 in Picabo info@picaboangler.com (208)788.3536 www.picaboangler.com

FRAN JEWELL

‘Balance’ In All Things Dog

T

By Fran Jewell

hese days, if you do an Internet search about dog training, you will find extremes from one end of the spectrum to the other. I read an article the other day that talked about “the state of your dog’s mind” in how it relates to the dog responding to a simple command like “sit.” It was encouraging that we consider what the dog was feeling before we ask a dog to do something. My thoughts about this came quickly. What happens in an emergency situation where you need the dog to “come!” because there is a moose on the trail? Do I stop and ask myself, “How is my dog’s state of mind?” before I tell him to “come”? The new trend is “force-free and intimidation-free” training. In another incident, I saw an advertisement for only positive gun dog training. I just can’t imagine how one can use only positive reinforcement with a dog whose hunt drive is stronger than his toy or food drive. Maybe I am not being creative enough. A dog’s life is not dependent upon whether he feels like doing something. This would be the same as a spoiled child that decides to spit on someone’s food in a restaurant. (This indeed DID happen to me with a 6-year-old boy whose parents never even apologized!). I guess he felt like spitting but there were no consequences for his actions. When this boy grows up, his life is not going to be fun when he decides to commit some crime because he feels like it! While I don’t encourage folks to treat their dogs like their babies, there are many similarities to child rearing. When we fail to provide some sort of consequence for unacceptable behavior, we are not giving the dog the entire picture. In real life, there are consequences. If a dog bites a porcupine, he gets a snout full of quills. If a dog offends another dog, the other dog will respond with a consequence—a growl or a raised lip, or more. The consequence depends entirely on the dog and if it makes sense to him as a dog. While I cannot sit here and give a list of consequences for every incident, I can say that consequences should be quick, confident and FAIR, and in line with the infraction. Just like in our own lives, jail sentences strive to reflect the severity of the crime. The day of brutal consequences is over. But, the extreme of no consequences has infiltrated to such a point that now many dogs

SCIENCE OF PLACE

I

“A dog is a reflection of his master.” – Max von Stephanitz. Photo credit: Fran Jewell

abuse their owners. Yes, DOGS CAN ABUSE THEIR OWNERS! A dog with no manners can pull someone over and hurt them seriously. I had a friend whose 110-pound dog pulled her over and BROKE HER FACE! Yes, she had to have several reconstructive surgeries. However, she and her husband had been told they could only use a flat collar or a harness on Brutus AND were also told they should never say “no” or raise their voice to their dog. If they did, it would be cruel to the dog. Truly, who was cruel to whom in this scenario? In all things, there is a time and a place. Our job is to be reasonable, fair and “balanced.” It sure can be hard if you don’t have experience. It is imperative that we know what is acceptable for dogs to do, and we need to know what is effective to help the dog learn the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified Instructor and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.

Training Flights

HARRY WEEKES

BY HARRY WEEKES

am writing this in the middle of July, on the downside of training flight season in the world of birds. My journey started in Idaho, with our familiar magpies, robins and kestrels. Currently, I am on the opposite coast of our country, isolating myself with a different suite of birds on Long Island Sound: common terns, American oystercatchers, and osprey. The script is always similar; there is a gangly, not-quite-completely-feathered fledgling whose world very recently expanded from a nice, secure cup on a branch, or protected hole in a tree, or some other type of nest, to “everything else.” I am feeling an empathy with these baby birds and wondering exactly where the lessons lie. Is it in the first fledged robin I find, invariably a speckle-chested and totally disoriented youngster standing, stupefied, somewhere on the lawn? Is it in the kestrels, who poke their heads out of the nestboxes, and then, based on some magic I can only guess at, simply explode into the world of flight? Is it in the terns, who chatter above the water, whose early flights display an enviable elegance? What must it be like to emerge into the world with what appears to be a total mastery of the wind? More often, I feel like the oystercatchers— whose parents yell just as much as the babies scream. Their beginning flights coalesce around urgent conversations and squabbles, shrill avian discussions to get going, that something important and dire is afoot. Mostly, though, I have identified with the reluctant baby osprey, who grow, in the nest, to the size of their parents, something that takes them deep into July. This is when the chirping begins in earnest—high, piercing, parental whistles that draw the baby’s attention. In a series of steps, food is gradually removed, first to the edge of the nest, then

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) prepare to mate on their nest. Photo credit: Matt Edmonds, accessed via wikipedia.

to a nearby tree, then entirely. Eventually, a combination of hunger, persistent and insistent chortling, and a dawning “I can do this” becomes “I am doing this,” and the bird steps into the world in a great flapping of wings. The lessons then take to the air, guided by more whistles and chirps, and a growing and intense back and forth transfer between the parents being in charge to the child being in charge. The independence of flight provides freedom and all of the responsibilities that come with it. It is calm up here. There is a cost to this perspective, though. For osprey, this is directed toward a terrific plunge into the water; all distant gazing focused into one moment. For me, this is riding an air of un-

certainty. A new pandemic landscape, one nefarious element of which is a thousand fleeting shimmers in the waters below. I feel something instinctive, which must be something birds also know—you only get so many plunges. Choose wisely. In many ways, it is easy to describe these thoughts, especially in the presence of so many avian examples. What is harder to find is balance. The balance and effortlessness between riding on the wind and then drawing your attention to a specific focus. How best to discriminate amongst all of the distractions and choose those most important ones, the ones that nourish you? Needless to say, I am still in training. Birds, though, continue to be wonderful teachers.

Wood River Weekly

MONEY MATTERS

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

KRISTIN HOVENCAMP

9

INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART

DOVE

Love Letter To ESSENTIAL COPING Mother Earth STRATEGIES DURING IRRATIONAL MARKETS I T BY DOVE

By Kristin Hovencamp

wentieth-century economist John Maynard Keynes observed, “Markets can remain irrational for longer than you can remain solvent.” In 1996, then-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan suggested: “irrational exuberance” affects asset values. Today’s markets have rallied and tumbled, reminding investors that we cannot “talk markets down,” nor can we accurately time them. Whether you are growing your wealth or preserving it, here are practical investor coping strategies for today’s market environment. • Remind yourself why you decided on your current financial plan and investment portfolio. • Take a deep breath and wait until the market calms down. • Market timing is a low-percentage winner. You cannot pick the market bottom. • Stop looking at your portfolio and second-guessing yourself. • This, too, shall pass. • If you feel like you absolutely must do something, consider these steps: • Review the holdings in your entire portfolio. • Ensure you can meet your current liquidity needs and implications of future cash flows. • Perform an ongoing assessment of investment weightings and risk exposure. • If you are inclined to increase your financial knowledge, create a stock wish list based on what you know best, and conduct your own fundamental research on the potential holdings. Former Magellan portfolio manager Peter Lynch explains his investment philosophy: “The best way to invest is to use your specialized knowledge to home in on stocks you can analyze, study them, and then decide if they are worth owning.” • Once market volatility subsides, be prepared to make rational, goals-based decisions about your portfolio’s future diversification of risk.

have been having the feeling that we need to let Mother Earth know how much we appreciate this wonderful planet. Maybe we need to apologize to Mother Earth for any mistreatment we have done, for any lack of respect we have committed to the planet. Possibly all of the disruption we are currently experiencing is due to a lack of respect we have participated in over the centuries, with no regard for the living organism that is the Earth. I love the beauty that we find here. The flowers, waters, wildlife are simply breathtaking, but how often do we take time during the day to tell the water we appreciate it for all that is does. How often do we thank the land for providing us food and shelter. The Earth continues to give to us on a daily basis everything that we need. Maybe it’s time to only use that which we need, to keep things simple. Use as few resources as possible. Pray for the water to be abundant enough for all. Pray for truth and kindness to fill your soul and that of all others. Pray for peace to touch this planet as never before. Let those who need power and control let go and just enjoy the simplicity of life. My dad came back into his body as he was passing to let us know that the only thing you get to take with you is the love you have filled yourself and others with—no need to spend time acquiring stuff your children will have to dispose of. Let us start focusing on love—love for each other, love for our differences, love for our similarities. And, especially, love for Mother Earth. This is my prayer: “Bless this sacred place that gives so much that I may exist. May I be a blessing to the planet and all others. May my energy be peaceful in all things. May I correct my thinking so that I radiate joy. May I be of service to all others and especially to the Earth. This day and every day may I not take for granted everything that the Earth provides. Let all destructive thought forms be neutralized. God bless the Earth, humanity, nature and bring all existence into balance in myself and on this Earth. I love you.” Life is a gift. The purpose is joy. Find yours.

THE WAY I SEE IT

Play Ball!

Think of this time as a learning moment and be proactive in shaping your portfolio’s future asset allocation and investment lineup. Having a long-term financial plan in place will give you reassurance, no matter how irrational the markets behave. Kristin Hovencamp is an investment executive and director of business development with HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC, which is independent of Raymond James and is not a registered broker/dealer. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal amount invested. No investing strategy, including rebalancing or dollar-cost averaging, can guarantee your objectives will be met. 675 Sun Valley Road, Ketchum, Idaho, (208) 726-0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com

ON LIFE’S TERMS

JOELLEN COLLINS

I Want To Teach

taught debate and honors English and loved the surroundings, salary, and excellence that hen my favorite teacher, Mrs. The- wealth could buy. Having come from my beodosia Wilkinson, died a few years loved Santa Monica High, a school composed ago, I wrote a column honoring her. of all varieties of racial, religious, financial Years after I experienced her brilliant style of and academic levels, I grew convinced that all teaching, I substituted in my high school and schools should have equivalent amenities for went to the lounge where, to teachers and students. my shock, Ms. W. was smokIn short, I miss teaching. I ing! (“She’s really human,” I like kids. I miss the moments thought). She said, “Oh, my when someone unexpected endear JoEllen, please come and joys a book, “gets” a metaphor sit by me, and, of course, you or image—those times when may call me Theodosia.” That teacher and students share molast request I never could honor. ments of connection that are I fell in love with American unique and why we are in classliterature because of her. When rooms. this tiny, white-haired lady, All of this came to me when dressed in proper navy blue I attended The Communiwith a lace collar, began to inty Library’s presentation by tone Poe’s “The Bells,” she let JoEllen Collins—a longtime renowned local teacher Phil her mellifluous voice soar with resident of the Wood River Huss. He shared his just-pubthe rings of different bells. Then Valley— is an Idaho Press lished book, Hemingway’s Sun she brought to class a scarab Club award-winning colum- Valley. Phil possesses what the found on a trip to Egypt and nist, a teacher, writer, fabric best teaches have: intellect, a used it to stimulate interest in artist, choir member and passion for his subject, energy, one of Poe’s stories. It was the unabashedly proud grandma and a dedication to encouragknown as “Bibi Jo.” proudest “A” I ever received. ing his students to hone their My passion for teaching reacademic skills in tough but exally began with Theodosia, and some of my citing studies of literature and language. Phil most prized life memories are of teaching, my believes that every school should have equivastudents, and the fellow instructors I knew in lent salaries, facilities and teacher and student so many different schools. I still think that, amenities. I’m sure he also likes kids. I admire other than with my family and closest friends, and respect him immensely. I enjoy most being around teachers. I once put I could list here the names of dozens of a rubber band around my wrist so that I would amazing teachers who have taught me and remember not to gossip at our lunch tables. At with whom I have worked (three “Bobs” pop Beverly Hills High, the teachers’ cafeteria was up). But thank you, my teaching friends, for filled with round tables so we would talk in being in my life, telling me stories I can never ideal groups, and we certainly did. I was hired forget, and always helping me in my positive there to teach ESL to 175 Iranian students fol- and happy time being a teacher. I miss my stulowing the Ayatollah’s new regime, but also dents and you all.

W

By JoEllen Collins

CHRIS MILLSPAUGH

2

BY CHRIS MILLSPAUGH

020 Major League Baseball has begun. This abbreviated season will have only 60 games, but it’s back, baby, it’s back! And, what do we expect from our heroes this time around? Well, I’m here to tell ya! To me, it looks like the New York Yankees will battle the Washington Nationals for the American League title with the Houston Astros vying with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League nod. I predict the N.Y. Yankees and the L.A. Dodgers will meet in the World Series, renewing their longtime rivalry in October. Everything else is up for grabs as the players continue to increase their career records. (Bob Uecker: “In 1965, my baseball card came out with no picture.”) Because of the coronavirus pandemic, there won’t be any spectators in the ballparks this year but you can have your picture taken, enlarged and glued onto a lifelike piece of cardboard and placed in one of the stadium seats. Price, again, will favor where your cutout image will be set. Crowd noises will be piped into the park’s sound system featuring boos, hisses and strings of profanity-laced epitaphs right there on the sound track. Players must wear masks, wash their hands constantly and take a mandatory six-foot lead off base. This year, instead of the traditional opening pitch thrown by politicians and/or celebrities, President Donald Trump will be tossed out of the upper deck in (far) left field. (I’m just reporting the rules, Republican fans). Veep Pence will be noticed warming up in the bullpen after being set on fire by the opposing team’s relief pitching antifa corps. (I swear to God I’m not making this up!) If the starting pitcher for the home team is rattled by the heightened volume of the crowd noises emanating from the loudspeaker system, he’ll be awarded four more pitches, and then booked into the local insane asylum free of charge for a month’s stay (it’s true!) Base runners caught stealing a base will be sent to “lockup” in San Quentin. Batters called out after three strikes will be carted off to Leavenworth for the rest of the season (this is not “Fake News!”). If a pitcher hits a batter, he will be immediately shot. If a fielder makes an error, his hands will be subsequently bronzed (literally). And, if a batter hits a home run, he will get to rendezvous with a porn star in November (what thrills await.) Finally, the team with the most players alive or not incarcerated at the end of the season will be allowed to vote by absentee ballot in the coming presidential election. (Hey, once again, I don’t make the rules—just report them.) Rainouts, hurricanes and tsunamis that cause the cancellation of a game will be made up in a twinight doubleheader on Labor Day. (I used to date a gal named Sue Nami in the Pacific or, specifically, the Atlantic, in 1985). Sure, the season might play a little rough this year (participants in bench-clearing brawls may be heavily armed after the seventh-inning stretch) but at least the national pastime with all its “rhubarbs,” cheating and sexual assaults will be, at last, back (#MeToo movement notified). Thank you, Jesus! (that’s Jesus Gonzalez, infielder in the Dominican Republic league). And remember, sports fans, “Baseball Lives Matter!” Nice talking to you.

10

Wood River Weekly

COFFEE CHATS WITH KIKI

KIKI TIDWELL

Let Renewables Pick Up More Of The Load!

I

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

ADVERTORIALS BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS

ANNA & MICHELLE

By Kiki Tidwell

t wasn’t too long ago that critics said that renewable energy couldn’t contribute more than a token percentage of the total energy supply. But look at what is happening all over the globe; not only is it supplying record amounts of the energy load, in the U.S. it is now supplying more than coal generation is. “In April, almost 40% of the electricity supply was made up of power generated at area wind farms” in New Mexico and Texas, Xcel Energy reported. “Area wind plants not only have helped us meet high demand on hot days, but they’re saving customers money because we don’t have to purchase fuel to operate the turbines—we simply take the energy from the region’s abundant supply of wind,” says Xcel’s president.1 “On April 12, wind energy set a daily record when it accounted for more than 64% of that day’s electricity supply.” 2 “Renewable energy broke another record for the European electricity mix in the first quarter of 2020, reaching a 40% share, the highest quarterly figure on record. At the same time, the electricity generated by fossil fuels fell from 38% in the first quarter of 2019 to 33% during the same period this year” 3

W MAY 28, 2020. U.S. renewable energy consumption surpasses coal for the first time in over 130 years

Berkshire Hathaway’s PacifiCorp provides Eastern Idaho’s power as well as power to parts of five other states. It apparently understands that renewables are now able to supply a good portion of the generation load; PacifiCorp made news in early July when it opened up bidding for 4.3 more gigawatts of solar, wind and battery storage projects to be operational by 2024. 1 gigawatt = 1000 megawatts. Idaho has great naturally occurring wind. In contrast, Idaho Power’s preferred plan is to only add 300 more megawatts of wind energy in 2038 at the earliest and the next 40 megawatts of solar in 2029 (beyond its current Jackpot solar plant coming online in 2022). Traditionally, a lot of our energy was generated a long ways away from us from coal plants in the middle of Nevada, Wyoming and Oregon. We can follow these examples in other states and countries by allowing renewables to generate a greater share of the electricity generation mix in Idaho right now. (Here’s a very cool site to see all the power generation in the Northwest: https://www.nwcouncil.org/energy/energy-topics/ power-supply/map-of-power-generation-in-the-northwest see the big orange circles of coal plants -located far from us!) https://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/business/20200710/ wind-energy-hits-record-high-marks-this-spring 2 Ibid https://www.nwcouncil.org/energy/energy-topics/power-supply/map-of-power-generation-in-the-northwest 3 https://www.energylivenews.com/2020/07/14/renewables-smash-new-record-providing-40-of-european-electricity/ 4 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=43895 1

Blaine County Commissioner Candidate

www.tidwellcommissionercampaign.com twitter: @kikitidwell

K i ki Ti d wel l

Paid For By Citizens For Kiki Tidwell, Cindy Mann Treasurer.

Do You Like To Negotiate?

hether you like to or not, buying and selling a home involves negotiation at all stages of the process. It is not like the retail world where once you decide to purchase, you pay the price. It is easily the most expensive purchase or sale that most people experience and emotions get involved that could affect the negotiations adversely. The word “home” by itself conjures up emotions and selling a home you’ve lived in for a while could even complicate things more. A real estate professional can separate their emotions from the process to be able to help the one they are representing. The price of the home, the type of financing and concessions, closing costs, personal property, closing dates and possession are just a few of the many things that can be negotiated in a contract. Since the seller wants to get the most for their house and

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

the buyer wants to pay the least, their objectives are diametrically opposed. Even after the contract is signed, removing the contingencies can cause considerable negotiations. The appraisal, the inspections or the repairs could be a source of reevaluating the terms and provisions of the contract. Negotiating the sale or purchase of a home is a competition; for one person to get something, someone has to give something up. If you don’t feel comfortable with this, it is important to work with an agent who can bring their skills to the table on your behalf. As your advocate, they can champion your position. I’d like to share how my skills, training and experience can benefit you in a sale or purchase. Call me at (208) 309-1329.

DAN GILLISON

NAMIDAHO4HISPAN@S! By Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

OUR VOICE COUNTS The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has the goal of raising awareness about mental health care in underrepresented communities. Our culture, beliefs, sexual identity, values, race and language all affect how we perceive and experience mental health conditions. In fact, cultural differences can influence what treatments, coping mechanisms and supports work for us. It is essential for culture and identity to be a part of the conversation about mental health care. In 2008, July was designated as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month by the U.S. House of Representatives in honor of the leading African American novelist and journalist who sought to eliminate stigma among diverse communities. In the wake of both the pandemic and racial violence, there is the potential for an increase in the number of people impacted by mental health conditions. NAMI’s Statement on Racism emphasizes that the effect of racism and racial trauma on mental health is real. While anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness, regardless

of their background, facing racial discrimination can significantly worsen symptoms. Additionally, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment much more difficult. Racism is a public health crisis, and we stand with all the families, friends and communities who have lost loved ones and experienced trauma. “We want to raise awareness about disparities in the mental health system— and what we can do about them,” said Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO of NAMI. “Mental health conditions don’t discriminate, and neither should our mental health system. We are calling for systematic change and improved access to culturally competent care, so no one feels alone in their journey.” The NAMI community is here to help and provide resources. Together, we can help people from underrepresented populations get the mental health care they need. Please join NAMI-Wood River Valley (NAMI-WRV) in these important conversations for Mental Health Awareness Month by going to NAMIWRV.org/espanol for more information on resources to help our community.

Wood River Weekly

HEALTH BEAT

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

ST. LUKE’S WOOD RIVER

Caring For Kids During The COVID Pandemic By Katie Quayle, M.D. St. Luke’s Clinic – Family Medicine

B

aby’s first steps, taking the training wheels off the bike and so many other milestones are all so exciting and cause to celebrate. As we adapt our world to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, these moments are still joyous, although they may be a little different in how we share them or how we interact with others. Throughout it all, keeping your child healthy and safe is always a top priority for you and for your healthcare team. While people of all ages can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, children do not seem to be as vulnerable as adults. Despite this, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge effect on children’s health and wellbeing. One major issue for children right now is that parents are postponing well-child checkups and vaccines to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. This puts children at risk for many vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as meningitis and measles. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a report indicating that vaccine rates have dropped dramatically in children in the U.S. As children increase their interactions, children behind on vaccines will be left unprotected and vulnerable to these diseases, many of which are likely to be more serious for them than COVID-19. We recommend children come in for their well-child checks, especially if they are due for vaccines. The concern is that if booster shots are missed—for diseases like measles, mumps and rubella for 4- and 5-year-olds, and tetanus and whooping cough for 11-year-olds—immunity will begin to wane and outbreaks of disease could be possible. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), immunization saves 2-3 millions of lives every year and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions. Just as we hope for a vaccine to protect us from the coronavirus, we must not forget to use the vaccines we already have in place to protect our children from serious diseases. Even if your child is not due for vaccines, wellchild checks are also essential to determine if children are meeting developmental milestones, growing appropriately, and thriving. During checkups,

WEED OF THE WEEK

doctors screen children’s development; if they spot a delay, they are able to refer the child and family to appropriate services to help keep kids progressing. If children miss their regular checkup, delays can go undetected and children will miss out on key services. We know that acting early to recognize delays can help kids catch up and thrive. Well-child checks can also be a good time to discuss with your child’s doctor how your child and family is coping during the pandemic. We all are finding ourselves in the midst of a great deal of uncertainty, which can be stressful to kids as well as adults. It is critical to find a way to discuss the virus with children and listen to their concerns and worries. Often kids feel better after they are able to talk to a trusted adult, friend or doctor about their fears. This makes kids feel less alone, and often what they are worried about becomes less scary. Checkups can also be a good time to bring up questions you might have about safer ways for getting together, participating in sports and having kids wear masks. Social distancing can be hard to explain to kids and even harder for kids to follow, but generally children love to help out and make things better, so if you are able to frame social distancing as a way for them to protect the people they love and keep everyone safe, this might help. Consider explaining that they can be a “super-hero for health” if they wear their mask and stay six feet apart. St. Luke’s is here to help you through this challenging time. Contact your provider with questions or concerns about wellness, mental health, injuries or illness via myChart, telephone or through the St. Luke’s Center for Community Health. If you are struggling financially, physically or emotionally, there are resources available throughout our community. We are all in this together. Katie Quayle, M.D., is a pediatrician with St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine. In addition to seeing patients at the clinic in Hailey, Dr. Quayle now sees patients on Thursdays in Ketchum at the Physician Office Annex, 100 Hospital Drive, Suite 109. To schedule an appointment in Ketchum or Hailey, visit stlukesonline.org or call (208) 7883434.

11

SUN VALLEY INSTITUTE

$5 For Farmers Is About Community

T

BY SUN VALLEY INSTITUTE

he Sun Valley Institute’s Food and Farm program, known as Local Food Alliance, is on a mission to get every Blaine County resident buying local food throughout the year. We initiated the $5 for Farmers Pledge to make spending at least $5 a week on local products a habit. The potential impact of this small act is huge! If everyone spends just $5 each week, our regional food economy will grow by $5.7 million annually, ensuring the future of family farms and an ample supply of nourishing food for our community. Commit to spending at least $5 a week on food produced in our regional foodshed by taking the $5 for Farmers Pledge at bit. ly/5forFarmers! “Investing in regional farms has never been more crucial,” says Lexie Praggastis, executive director of Sun Valley Institute, parent organization to Local Food Alliance. “Here in Blaine County, we are at high risk for global supply chain disruptions like those experienced during COVID-19. The vast majority of the food consumed locally is trucked. While long industrial supply chains have experienced disruptions, our independent regional food producers have shown creativity and resilience while meeting the needs of our community.” Spending $5 a week on local food is surprisingly easy! You can discover where to purchase regionally produced foods through our Locally Grown Guide, available online at www.localfoodalliance. org/food-guide and on magazine stands around the Wood River Valley. Simply purchase one of the following items from: • A dozen eggs • A gallon of milk • A bag of locally grown lettuce greens • A few bunches of root crops • Three pounds of potatoes • One pound of ground beef The $5 for Farmers campaign is generously sponsored by Nordic skiing legend and local food champion Muffy Ritz. Questions? Check out www.5forfarmers.org and www.localfoodalliance.org.

It’s your life, we help you live it! BLAINE BUG CREW

Look For The Spots

W

BY BLAINE BUG CREW

hen I was a kid, we milked 75 cows on our family dairy. Each cow had its own name and definitely its own personality. My friends would sometimes come over to watch us milk. As they observed, my brothers and I called each cow by name and handled each cow differently. They would often ask in an exasperated voice, “How can you tell these cows apart—they all look the same!” To most Idahoans, the same thing can be said about noxious weeds. However, after close inspection, each weed has its own unique characteristics, much as our cows did. Today, we will more closely examine spotted knapweed. Spotted knapweed is an herbaceous, short-lived perennial reproducing entirely by seed. Producing up to 25,000 seeds per plant, the seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to eight years. Flowers range in color from pink to light- purple and bloom from July to October. The bracts of the flower heads are black-tipped, giving the plant its characteristic “spotted” appearance. Seeds are brown to black in color, smooth, and less than 0.25-inch long. Stems are typically 2 to 4 feet tall, with lower leaves that are deeply lobed and upper leaves that are more linear. Spotted knapweed prefers moist rangeland habitats, but is common in waste areas, along roadsides, and in pastures. This plant, luckily, has a biological enemy. Larinus Minutus is an abundant biological control agent that can utilize spotted, diffuse, and squarrose knapweeds. LA overwinters as an adult. Adults emerge in the spring when they begin to feed on knapweed foliage. Females produce be-

Centaurea stoebe (Centaurea maculosa) produces a bloom of purplish flowering heads that are each delimited by an array of ornate bracts. Photo credit: Matt Lavin, accessed via wikipedia.

tween 28 and 30 eggs that they lay in clusters in open flowers. Eggs hatch and larvae feed on seeds and receptacle tissue for about a month. Larvae construct cocoons within the seed heads using pappus hairs and pupate. Emerging adults chew a characteristic round hole in the top of the cocoon that is visible when viewed from above. So, the next time someone tells you “a weed is a weed is a weed,” you can set them straight. If you see this noxious weed, do your part to keep Blaine County native by contacting the Blaine County Weed Department by calling (208) 788-5574.

Small Business Administration FORGIVENESS APPLICATION Form 3508

Ask Me How greg@cpastrust.org www.cpastrust.org

208-720-4926

12

Wood River Weekly

CHAMBER CORNER

•

July 29 - August 11, 2020

MIKE MCKENNA

Hard way Pipeline

#RecreateResponsibly

Mindfulness in the mountains spreads the message By Mike McKenna

T

here is one undeniable impact of the coronavirus—getting outside has never been more popular. From local trails to city parks to America’s expansive backcountry, more and more people are getting outdoors. While the benefits of spending time outside are obvious for people, the impacts on open space are often overlooked. Thankfully, leaders from across the country, as well as right here in the Wood River Valley, are trying to help make folks aware of their impacts. The #RecreateResponsibly coalition was sparked by the coronavirus pandemic to help protect yourself, to protect others and to protect the outdoors. “Recreate Responsibly was born from the consensus that as geography started to open up, there was going to be a lot of interest in getting outside, as it was seen as safe,” explained Mason Smith. And the consensus has been accurate. Campgrounds, hiking trails and fisheries across the country are seeing record usage this summer. Many land managers are overwhelmed and need help getting the message out about how to recreate responsibly. Mason is the head of government and community relations for HipCamp and part of the team behind the #RecreateResponsibly movement in Washington State and California. Idaho is the next state that will hopefully join in. The mission of #RecreateResponsibly is to share best practices for outdoor uses, especially during this time of increased users, and to help educate new users to the recreation world. “The simple guidelines are designed to span boundaries and to help us use our lands and water in responsible ways that are safe for ourselves and others,” Mason explained. The #RecreateResponsibly movement offers seven tenets that help combat the increase in outdoor users: Know Before You Go; Practice Physical Distancing; Plan Ahead; Play It Safe; Explore Locally; Leave No Trace; Build an Inclusive Outdoors. The #RecreateResponsibly movement is in tune with the Mindfulness in the Mountains messaging The Chamber and Visit Sun Valley created this

Steel Fencing

Kelly Wardell 208-309-0916

How To Play Sudoku

The Classic Sudoku is a number placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

CLASSIC SUDOKU See answer on page 2 spring. Our local movement is meant to remind visitors and locals alike to “rise to the occasion” of the coronavirus challenges and be respectful to one another and to our blessed natural surroundings. The yellow Mindfulness in the Mountains flyers can be found throughout the Wood River Valley and remind everyone to: wear face coverings in public places; observe social distancing; cover coughs and sneezes; wash hands often; stay at home when you’re sick; leave it better than you found it. The pandemic is impacting everyone differently and we all deserve to be treated with respect. It is also the responsibly of all of us to treat the great outdoors with respect and appreciation, as well. To find out more, go to RecreateResponsibly. org. For more about Mindfulness in the Mountains, please go to VisitSunValley.com.

CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY

THETRADER TRADER THE THE TRADER Consignment for the home

Consignment for the home

Consignment for the home

Wednesday - Friday 11 to 6 Saturday 11 to 4

TRADER EADER TRADER

Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 to 5:00 Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

ent for the 720-9206 or 788-0216 signment forhome the home

720-9206 or 788-0216 509 S. Main Street Bellevue, Idaho

the home

509 S. Main Street • Bellevue, Idaho

Wednesday through Saturday Thursday Wednesday - Friday Wednesday - Friday 11:00to to 5:00 ednesday - Friday 11 to 611 to 6 available by appointment 11 to 6AlwaysSaturday Saturday Saturday and if we’re here. Saturday 11 to 4 11 to 11 or to 788-0216 44 720-9206 11 to 4

Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

509 S. Main Street • Bellevue, Idaho Always available by le by appointment andappointment if we’re here. and if we’re here.

720-9206 or 788-0216 or S. 788-0216 -9206 or720-9206 788-0216 509 Main Street S. Main Street 09 S. Main509 Street Bellevue, Idaho Bellevue, Idaho Bellevue, Idaho

See answer on page 2

THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY 7-DAY WEATHER FORECAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Mostly Sunny 10%

high 87º

low 55º WEDNESDAY

Sunny 0%

high 92º low 59º THURSDAY

Mostly Sunny 0%

high 94º low 59º FRIDAY

Sunny 0%

high 91º low 56º SATURDAY

Sunny 0%

high 91º low 58º SUNDAY

Sunny 0%

high 92º low 57º MONDAY

Sunny 0%

high 86º low 52º TUESDAY

SKI. BIKE. LIVE!

Elevate your experience. 340 N Main Street in Ketchum sturtevants-sv.com • 726-4501