WRW 25 January 2023

Fishing R epoRt

“WEEKLY”

REPORT FOR JANUARY 25 - FEBRUARY 7 FROM PICABO ANGLER

WOOD RIVER WEEKLY

“I tried to catch some fog, but I mist.” – Pinterest

February and March can provide some incredible fishing opportunities on area waters. Silver Creek, the Big Wood, Big Lost, and South Fork Boise will see excellent streamer, nymph, and dry-fly angling over the next couple of months. In order to take full advantage of these fishing opportunities, anglers need to be comfortable and warm when on the water. Here are a few tips to make the most of your winter fishing.

DEMAND FOR CPR CLASSES SOARS

Concentrate your fishing efforts during the warmest part of the day and in river areas that see a bit of afternoon sun. Fish

CPR training will involve specialty mannequins and automated external defibrillators. Photo

Local fire department responds

March. Skinny water on the Big Wood and Big Lost will require anglers to use long, light leaders and a stealthy approach (use your Silver Creek techniques) to have consistent success.

By WRW STAFF

January has been an unprecedented month for interest in learning CPR in the Wood River Valley. Keller Gibson, fire inspector and public education coordinator for the Ketchum Fire Department, said the demand for classes is higher than she has ever seen.

“We have always offered CPR certification classes to people who need to learn it for specific jobs, like day care or government workers,” Keller explained. “That number is pretty static, as many jobs require recertification every two years.” What is new, however, is the number of people in the county who work outside jobs that are the ‘usual suspects’ who are seeking both the more structured certification courses and basic community courses. Gibson said lately she has had “what feels like every building job foreman in the Valley,” as well as many builders coming in for CPR and stop-the-bleed training in addition to just everyday citizens who may have a new baby, an aging parent or spouse, or an active lifestyle that takes them away from access to quick medical care.

Gibson has seen an interesting growth trend with members of the outdoor community. “People who backcountry ski and recreate in the mountains have been signing up for classes,” she said. “They have done avalanche training and realize that it makes sense to follow up with CPR training. Once you’ve dug someone out, you may have to help rescue them in additional ways.”

Much recent interest, Gibson said, can also be attributed to one person: Damar Hamlin. When the young, super-fit Buffalo Bills defensive back collapsed on the field in cardiac arrest during a game on January 2, people took notice. Maureen Brown, an active and avid skier and pickleball player, signed up for a community class this month, and heard many of her fellow attendees

cite Hamlin’s terrifying collapse as the main reason they wanted to acquire a solid understanding of how to administer CPR. Gibson concurred, “The incident at the Buffalo Bills game sparked a lot of interest.” Brown’s decision to attend a 1.5-hour community class at the Ketchum Fire Department was not based on this incident, however, but another frightening episode that happened while she was in the desert in November to play pickleball. “The place we play is very busy with a lot of courts. One day we were there, and we hear screaming and yelling and people calling for a doctor,” Brown recalled. “Everyone had gathered around a man who had been watching his wife play and fell out of his chair. He didn’t have a pulse. Thankfully a nurse was also playing nearby, and she started aggressive CPR on him.” Brown said she was shocked by her inability to assist in any way and was determined to not be the person waiting for the EMT to arrive. When she saw the listing for free CPR classes in the City of Ketchum newsletter, she phoned, signed up for a spot, and got the training soon thereafter.

What surprised Brown most about CPR, and another reason she recommends as many people as possible learn the skill, is just how exhausting it is to perform. “You have to have someone show you how to do it effectively, and ideally you need someone to switch off with to have a break,” Brown said. “My takeaway is how important it is, if you’re doing it, even if you stop for five seconds, you can undo the work you did. It’s very physical. I had taken a CPR class a long time ago and the memory definitely came back but I needed the refresher since things change.” She said it was a great experience and Gibson was very knowledgeable.

Gibson agreed that the science does change and that the training many people may have gotten years ago is now outdated. One major change is that mouth-to-mouth

Anglers making the drive to the South Fork Boise have had some very good nymph fishing, and like other area waters, the dry-fly fishing will improve as we move into spring.

resuscitation is now optional and not taught as part of basic, life-saving CPR. Brown said this change made her more comfortable with jumping in to help someone, a reaction Gibson said many people have.

Brown said after the course she feels much more confident of her ability to help in an emergency. She also appreciated that basic Heimlich maneuver information was also included in the course. “I left thinking if something happens, I’m going to be calm, confident, and maybe save someone’s life,” she said.

Silver Creek is still productive, with small leeches and baitfish imitations fished on a slow swing picking up fish. As the creek’s flows become a tad off-color during late winter, streamer fishing will be highly effective. Our custom Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow is a must-have pattern!

Happy fishing, everyone!

Brown is one of many Valley denizens who should be feeling more confident and ready to help after training. The community classes offered by the Ketchum Fire Department have proved wildly popular and Gibson said by the end of January, she estimates she will have taught 100 people CPR.

The fire department also continues to offer the more formalized certification classes in addition to community classes. The American Heart Association Heart Saver course is a three-hour class where attendees must hit certain benchmarks and show proficiency. These classes are smaller and more personalized, but again, they are free aside from the cost of the Heart Saver class card, which is about $25.

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

www.picaboangler.com

Gibson said in her position of public education coordinator for the fire department she is so glad to see the interest in these classes. “During Covid, it was really hard as St. Luke’s had to stop doing classes and there was a real need building up,” she said. And she has no plans to stop teaching life-saving classes anytime soon. “I am putting dates on the calendar right now for next month and they will be posted in both the Ketchum city newsletter and online on their website,” she explained. “These classes really are open to everyone; anyone is welcome. And if you can’t come when a class is scheduled, I can make a class for a minimum of three people.”

credit: Adobe Stock

STRING QUARTET BROOKLYN RIDER & FEMALE VOCALIST MAGOS HERRERA PLAY ARGYROS

By HAYDEN SEDER

The string quartet Brooklyn Rider, along with female jazz vocalist Magos Herrera and percussionist Mathias Kunzli, will make their Ketchum debut with a performance at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum on Friday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. Known for pushing the boundaries of classical music and making it more accessible (their performance has been compared to that of rock stars jamming on guitars), Brooklyn Rider often collaborates with different vocalists to create new projects and sounds. For this performance, attendees will hear music from the collaborative project and album Dreamers, an idea originating with Latin American jazz singer and Mexican-born songstress Herrera, for a journey through the Latin American songbook.

Comprised of violinists Johnny Gandelsman and Colin Jacobsen, viola player Nicholas Cords, and cellist Michael Nicolas, Brooklyn Rider is a string quartet at its core, representing “an idea that the string quartet is a medium with deep historical roots and endless possibility for invention,” says cellist Nicolas. Whether you consider yourself a fan of classical music or not, Brooklyn Rider’s sound appeals to many, with rave reviews from classical, world, and rock critics alike over the years. “Our audience is any music lover with a curious spirit,” says Nicolas. “Whether it be an old masterwork from the past or a brand-new piece by an emerging composer, we approach all our work as a blank canvas, searching for meaning and expression that can reverberate for anyone who is looking to be moved.”

In addition to a lengthy discography from the course of the band’s 15-plus-year career, Brooklyn Rider has had career highs that include playing at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, being nominated for several Grammys (including the 2023 awards), and being the only classical performers to be invited to play at the SXSW festival.

A major component of Brooklyn Rider’s evolving, eclectic sound is collaborating with new artists, particularly vocalists. “The artists we collaborate with have that same boundary-blurring ethos, all of us rooted in our respective traditions, yet using it as a starting point to create something new,” said the Brooklyn Rider’s. Whether due to a collaborator, a specific performance, or a theme for an album, the band has reinvented itself many times, finding inspiration from Beethoven to American roots music to Persian classical, and illuminating those works while bringing their own take to this malleable genre.

Throughout their career, Brooklyn Rider has collaborated with vocalists such as Aoife O’Donovan, Rhiannon Giddens, Suzanne Vega, Anne Sofie von Otter, Christina Courtin, and notably tenor Nicholas Phan, with whom their collaborative album is currently nominated for a Grammy.

The band’s collaboration with renowned jazz singer Herrera started in 2018 when she approached them with the idea that would become Dreamers. The resulting album explores the artistry of Latin American poets and songwriters like Violeta Parra, Federico Garcia Lorca, and Gilberto Gil, who used their craft and their essen -

tial role in society as dreamers as a political act during times shaped by repressive regimes that prevailed in much of Latin America and Spain in the 20th century. For the album, Brooklyn Rider, along with Herrera and Kunzli, reinterpreted classics from Mexican, Cuban, Peruvian, Chilean, Brazilian, Argentinian, and Spanish artists. Nicolas says Friday’s performance will feature “poets and songwriters from the Ibero-American diaspora during times of great political upheaval and repression, whose voices nevertheless came through to express the triumphant power of art and beauty even in the darkest of times, a testament to the strength and spirit of their fellow citizens.” The Dreamers album was nominated for a Grammy for best arrangement and voted one of 2018’s best classical albums by NPR Music as well as The Boston Globe Tickets to Brooklyn Rider’s performance can be purchased through the Argyros website and range from $25–$65.

Photo courtesy: Brooklyn Rider

WRW STAFF

PUBLISHER

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

MARKETING & SALES

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

NEWS EDITOR news@woodriverweekly.com

CALENDAR calendar@woodriverweekly.com

COPY EDITOR Patty Healey

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

Mandi Iverson mandi@woodriverweekly.com

Christopher Seldon chris@woodriverweekly.com

ACCOUNTING accounting@woodriverweekly.com

DEADLINES

Display & Classified Ads, Monday 5 p.m.

Calendar Submissions — Friday 5 p.m.

CONTACT

Wood River Weekly

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

By Claudia Mohr

In the past year, Blaine County has experienced an influx of Peruvian families, many of whom have roots in Idaho that go back four decades as a workforce in sheepherding, dairy and service industries. With the long history of Peruvians in the Wood River Valley, it is no accident that the region is a destination for families currently seeking refuge. Families are fleeing Peru due to a recent coup. The resulting civil unrest, danger from terrorists, and corruption, and the desire to live in a safe environment are what many cite as reasons for immigrating to the United States to seek amnesty.

For years, the local Peruvian population has been a mainstay of the local workforce, particularly in service industries, and many recent newcomers are finding work within weeks of their arrival. However, things are not easy for immigrants and the community has rallied to support newcomers even when the national dialogue about immigrants is divisive. There are many support services available for those in need and community nonprofits are on the frontline of addressing the concerns of homeless Peruvian families for housing, hunger, and other essential services.

“What local families are up against is devastating, but knowing that our community is full of caring, compassionate folks who, time and again, rise to the needs of the people, gives us hope,” says Kristin McMahon, communications manager for The Hunger Coalition. According to the organization, The Hunger Coalition has seen a 47 percent rise in families with food insecurities, a rise that is at least partially attributable to the recent increase in Central and South American migrants seeking refuge in the community.

The Bloom Community Food Center and The Hunger Coalition’s new 13,000-square-foot facility at 110 Honeysuckle Street in Bellevue, complete with two greenhouses, a meeting room, a café and a community kitchen, effectively feeds more than a thousand people every week. On Thursdays, from 12 to 2 p.m., the café serves free meals to the public. Free food distribution is Mondays and Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m. Ketchum distribution food boxes are available from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Hemingway Elementary School at 111 Eighth Street West in Ketchum. There is no qualifying documentation required for The Hunger Coalition services. They have also created an online ordering system allowing families to specify their needs and pick up their food boxes three times a week at the above designated locations. Call (208) 788-0121 for further information.

St. Luke’s Center for Community Health, located at 100 Hospital Drive in Hailey, connects people in need of help navigating a new country and culture with appropriate nonprofits according to their particular situation. They work in partnership with local organizations to improve the mental and physical outcomes of the people in

Mother and daughter settling in their new home, in Ketchum. Photo credit: Herbert Romero

Seeking safety

Continued from Previous Page

the community. They provide transportation, medical services, mental health counseling, and help navigating community resources.

Herbert Romero is another resource for newcomers. Romero founded Neighbors Helping Neighbors in 2017 to reach out to community members in need. He has recently coordinated with local churches, charities, nonprofits, community leaders and private donors, bringing hope and help to our neighbors with an outstretched hand.

Many in the nonprofit world find the reward of the work far outweighs the work itself. “We are proud to work alongside Carissa Connelly, housing director for the City of Ketchum, the Blaine County Charitable Fund, The Alliance of Idaho, St. Luke’s Center for Community Health and others to rally emergency solutions to the housing crisis now, while advocating for more long-term solutions for our workforce,” says Kristin McMahon.

In 2017, the Ketchum City Council unanimously approved and certified Ketchum as a Welcoming City. A Welcoming City welcomes all people, including refugees and immigrants. In 2018, Boise followed suit.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Blaine County Education Foundation is busy!

Blaine County Education Foundation (BCEF) focuses community resources and raises funds for the students of Blaine County School District (BCSD), promoting academic excellence, equitable education, and a healthy and sustainable student environment. Since the start of the year, BCEF has been busy working to meet the needs of students and families in Blaine County.

Many students and families in the Blaine County School District (BCSD) do not qualify for free or reduced school meals, yet struggle financially due to the high cost of living in our resort community. To help ensure these students are nourished during the day, BCEF, in partnership with generous supporters and BCSD, has established a critical fund to help offset the cost of school meals for these students and families. Local generous donors (including Benjamin Frank and Marie Gallo, 100 Men Who Care, 5B Engine Works, The Nancy Eccles and Homer M. Hayward Family Foundation, the Sanders Family and the CHM Fund via Spur Community Foundation, St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation, along with many other members of the Wood River Valley) have helped BCEF raise over $80,000 toward school meals. BCEF has set a goal of raising $225,000 over 3 years to ensure the fund can continue to help students into the future.

On January 4th BCEF hosted its annual Scholarship Fair at the Community Campus Gymnasium. Over 40 local scholarships were represented, all helping students afford post-secondary education and summer programs. More than 350 students and parents attended the Scholarship Fair to learn about the numerous local scholarship opportunities available.

Also, BCEF is hiring a new Executive Director to lead the organization. The Executive Director will have overall responsibility for the operations, programs, and fundraising of the Foundation. This role has significant potential for growth. The new Executive Director will engage the Board of Directors and the community in strategic planning with a long-term vision of how the Foundation can best serve Blaine County. The position is full-time with a flexible schedule and hybrid (office/home) work model.

To apply for the open position, learn more about the programs and initiatives of BCEF or to get involved, visit www.supportbcef.org.

Nathan Welch, M.D.

Evan Allan, M.D.

Michael K. Taylor, M.D.

James M. Coombs, M.D.

Kyle N. Klingler, M.D.

Jeffery Stevens, M.D.

Jason T. Halverson, M.D.

Dear Friends of The Liberty Theatre Company,

As many of you know, the Sun Valley Museum of Art generously offered to gift the Liberty Theatre to TLTC and having received our nonprofit designation in February 2021, we set out to gather the funding needed for structural repairs to the building. Through consultation with contractors and design professionals we determined $1,700,000 was needed to complete the work. So many wonderful people stepped up to help support our desire to restore the theater and keep it with the company. Sadly, despite our best efforts, and the generosity of more than 400 donors, we were unable to raise the full amount needed for TLTC to responsibly take ownership of the Liberty Theater by the December 31, 2022, deadline.

In early January the TLTC Board voted not to accept SVMoA’s gracious offer of the building. The Board felt that there was too much risk to TLTC to move forward without the total funding in hand. In addition, the Board felt that, as a new organization, our primary responsibility is to advance our mission: as a company of storytellers, to harness the art of live performance for the community.

I am pleased to report that, as part of our overall fundraising efforts, we have successfully raised the full budget necessary to fund our performance activities for the 2022-23 season. While we had hoped to live out our mission at the Liberty Theater, we feel confident that we are making the right decision – to focus our time and talents on producing live theater that delights, challenges and entertains our community.

TLTC is extremely grateful to the SVMoA for all their generous support as TLTC launched its new organization. Without their financial contributions during our first year, as well as gifting TLTC an abundance of theatre assets, it would have been a tough start, especially since we began during the pandemic!

Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the many friends who supported our Relight The Liberty campaign. Your championing our cause will bolster us up, even as we move ahead without the building. For those who gave cash gifts, TLTC board and staff will be communicating with each donor to learn how they would like us to proceed with their gift. TLTC has not spent any of the donations earmarked for the building and will be able to return their funds, or, if you would like, redirect your donation to operations and productions. For those whom TLTC has a Pledge Agreement, the agreement will be void because we did not meet our stated goal, and paperwork can be returned to donors if they wish.

TLTC is especially grateful for all the community support we received from the Rotary Club of Hailey, 100 Men Who Care, Spur Community Foundation and the Hailey City Council.

T hank you for believing in this new company and for your willingness to support the Relight the Liberty campaign. We are so grateful to have such a dynamic and committed community of supporters, and we look forward to sharing many thrilling theater experiences with you in the weeks, months and years to come. We are excited that our 2023/24 Season Planning is underway. We hope you will join us for our last two performances of this season: a reading of “I Take Your Hand in Mine” Feb 14, 17 and 18 at The Mint in Hailey, and a full production of “Red” March 9 – 19 at the Community School Theater in Sun Valley.

With Deepest Appreciation, The Liberty Theatre Company Board

Documentary ‘Facing Fear’ to screen in Sun Valley

Facing Fear is a film that details one man’s global search to find ways to handle his fear.

After receiving some devastating news, Australian film director Bill Bennett sought out some of the world’s leading experts in fear management. He wanted to understand how fear worked, and how to best manage it.

The film features such luminaries as Dr Joe Dispenza, Dr Bruce Lipton, Caroline Myss, Paul Selig, Lee Carroll (Kryon), James Van Praagh, Foster Gamble, Sister Jenna and Dr Dean Radin, amongst many others. It examines fear from the perspectives of scientifically, biologically, emotionally, culturally and spiritually.

But it’s also a deeply personal film too. As Bill Bennett says: “I started my journey choked with fear. Now I’m no longer afraid.”

The film features stunning footage of Tasmania, depicting scenes that are both rugged and beautiful in equal measure, reflecting the often-misunderstood subject matter of fear.

Facing Fear is the sequel to Bill Bennett’s highly acclaimed film on intuition, PGS – Intuition is your Personal Guidance System, which screened to sell-out audiences in Idaho five years ago.

St. Luke’s Supports Youth Mental Health And Other Health Issues Through Community Health Improvement Fund (CHIF) Grants

By Joy Prudek

Outside of clinical settings, one major way St. Luke’s carries out its mission - to improve the health of people in the communities we serveis through the Community Health Improvement Fund, which provides financial support to many of our community partners.

This year, 75 non-profit organizations across the Treasure Valley, West Treasure Valley, Elmore County, McCall and the Wood River regions received more than $550,000 in CHIF grants. St. Luke’s will invest an additional $325,000 in Magic Valley nonprofits this year.

When choosing how to distribute the grants, St. Luke’s gave special consideration to organizations whose proposals target needs identified through St. Luke’s Community Health Needs Assessment. Because the assessment is both quantitative and qualitative, it takes into consideration the voice of local experts and community members to identify needs from their lived experience.

The CHNA’s top priorities are:

• Nutrition Programs, Education and Opportunities

• Substance Use Disorder Services and Programs

• Availability of Mental and Behavioral Health Services

• Housing Stability

• Services for Families Experiencing Adversity

• Accessible Modes of Transportation

• Healthy Air and Water Quality

In the Wood River Valley, five organizations were awarded CHIF grants:, Family Health Services, Higher Ground, Idaho BaseCamp, I Have a Dream Foundation, and Men’s Second Chance Living.

Sarah Seppa, St. Luke’s Wood River’s Director of Community Engagement spoke to the meaningful impact these organizations and their programs can have, “Our community partners are all doing amazing work that address improving the health of people throughout our Valley. I am always impressed with the thoughtfulness and thoroughness that go into providing programs and services that work to prevent and/or help individuals overcome obstacles to physical and mental health.

They often dedicate their heart, their skills, their time and other resources, going above and beyond, to make a difference. It’s rewarding to be able to assist with a CHIF grant to further the work that they do.”

Higher Ground offers many programs throughout our community, including the year-round Higher Ground (HG) Adventure Club program which is a unique opportunity for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and/or blind/visually impaired to partake in recreational activities in a safe, learning- and language-rich environment throughout Idaho. Executive Director, Kate Dobbie said, “With St. Luke's support, Higher Ground will be able to provide highly individualized recreation opportunities. The skills gained through this multi-seasonal program will help all participants gain self-confidence while recreating, empowerment in social settings, and independence in all facets of life’s daily challenges.”

I Have a Dream Foundation (IHDF)–Idaho is committed to helping under-resourced children in our community change their lives through the power of education, social-emotional support, and long-term, consistent relationships. Laura Rose-Lewis, Executive Director, expressed her gratitude, “St. Luke’s Community Health Improvement Fund (CHIF) grant is invaluable because it supports one of the key components of our programs-social-emotional learning. This year, we applied, and were awarded, a CHIF grant to fund the purchase of a social-emotional learning curriculum, “Wayfinder,” that provides our teachers, mentors, and volunteers with age-appropriate, hands-on social emotional activities delivered through a workbook provided to each child.”

For the past 25 years, Idaho BaseCamp (IBC) has been committed to cultivating the leaders of today and tomorrow through individual and community development and creating a connection to nature. Whitney McNees, Program Director, Idaho BaseCamp commented, “IBC is so grateful to be recipients of the CHIF grant this year. Between Covid setbacks, social media, and the tech world we live in, our youth are in great danger as far as mental health is concerned. Research has proven time and time again that being outdoors and connecting with our natural surroundings is perhaps one of the best remedies for someone with mental health struggles. The direct impact of these outdoor experiences builds

self-confidence and positive mental attitude amongst students throughout southern Idaho.”

Men’s Second Chance Living (MSCL) House provides safe and sober living to adult men in early recovery from substance use disorder. Sonya Wilander, Executive Director, explains, “Our programs provide wraparound support and skills necessary for residents to reintegrate, becoming independent and engaged community members.” Programs include the safe and sober living house; funding for counseling, preventative dental and medical care and crisis care; financial education classes; matched savings accounts; education costs; and nutrition assistance. “Through our programs, MSCL House addresses four of the top-ranking community health needs identified by St. Luke’s 2022 CHNA. We address nutrition program and education by connecting our new residents with the Hunger Coalition (food pantry), conducting group meals in the house, and teaching residents how to eat healthy meals on a budget,” commented Wilander. The St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation also provided a generous grant to MSCL.

Last January, Family Health Services, opened a medical, dental, and behavioral health clinic, with pharmacy services in the city of Bellevue to serve the uninsured and under-insured in Blaine County. A $1 million grant from the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation (SLWRF) helped to make the clinic a reality. The 2023 CHIF grant award will help with gas cards for patients with transportation barriers as well as to provide part-time assistance of a bilingual outreach coordinator from St. Luke’s Wood River’s Center for Community Health.

St. Luke’s begins accepting CHIF grant applications from non-profit organizations every summer. In the Treasure Valley, McCall and Wood River applications open in August and close Sept. 30. Magic Valley accepts applications two times a year, in February and in July.

Each application is reviewed by multiple committees, expert volunteers and St. Luke’s leaders. As part of the grant award, receiving organizations must submit an ‘Activation Report’ by October 1, outlining how the grant dollars were used and where the impact was made.

Find program application forms on the Community Health Improvement Fund Grants page.

RATES (includes Full Color)

Quarter

Quarter

Quarter (5.78” x 7.875”) ..................................$325

Half Page (9.75” x 7.875”) ..............................$575

Full Page (9.75” x 16”) ...................................$925

THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR JANUARY 25 - FEBRUARY 7 FROM PICABO ANGLER

February and March can provide some incredible fishing opportunities on area waters. Silver Creek, the Big Wood, Big Lost, and South Fork Boise will see excellent streamer, nymph, and dry-fly angling over the next couple of months. In order to take full advantage of these fishing opportunities, anglers need to be comfortable and warm when on the water. Here are a few tips to make the most of your winter fishing.

Concentrate your fishing efforts during the warmest part of the day and in river areas that see a bit of afternoon sun. Fish and bugs will become much more active when the water warms up just a few degrees. Consider carrying two rods when fishing during the winter. When fishing tailwaters and freestones, have one rod rigged up with your favorite nymph rig, and another rod ready to go for dry-fly activity (midges and/ or BWOs). On Silver Creek, go with a dry-fly setup, and another rod rigged with a small leech or streamer.

Dress appropriately. Wear layers, and make sure you have a good wind- and waterproof shell. A knit hat, good socks, and gloves are essential gear during winter fishing.

Stay hydrated with water and eat high-energy snacks.

Carry a small hand towel. Wet hands equal cold hands. Always dry your hands off thoroughly after getting them wet; this will go a long way toward keeping you warm.

Be prepared. During the winter, it pays to have basic, essential survival items in your vehicle when going on an outing, particularly if you venture farther down the road.

Fishing on area waters generally remains good. Look for midge and BWO activity to pick up as we enter into February and March. Skinny water on the Big Wood and Big Lost will require anglers to use long, light leaders and a stealthy approach (use your Silver Creek techniques) to have consistent success.

Anglers making the drive to the South Fork Boise have had some very good nymph fishing, and like other area waters, the dry-fly fishing will improve as we move into spring.

Silver Creek is still productive, with small leeches and baitfish imitations fished on a slow swing picking up fish. As the creek’s flows become a tad off-color during late winter, streamer fishing will be highly effective. Our custom Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow is a must-have pattern!

Happy fishing, everyone!

COMMENTARY WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

By Fran Jewell

Recently, I have been so dismayed by the lack of EARLY dog training with puppies. I am not sure where this is coming from, but early training and socialization is imperative to have a dog you can live with.

What do I mean by EARLY? Before 16 weeks of age! Not AFTER they have finished their shots. By then, puppies have missed a critical imprinting period that helps them to live comfortably in our world. If puppies are not socialized with people, other dogs and new places during this period, they may fear them the rest of their lives. A fearful dog is NOT easy to live with and can eventually become fear aggressive.

When I talk about socializing with people, I mean both adults and children. Include people that are disabled and maybe in a wheelchair, on crutches, or using a walker. If dogs are not introduced to all of these things before that 16-week period is over, it can creates a plethora of problems later on.

These experiences must be positive ones, which mean you have to take the responsibility to provide SAFE socialization. It does NOT mean taking your puppy to the DOG PARK and letting other dogs run up to your puppy and terrorize or bully him. It means letting your puppy have safe experiences with fair, friendly and healthy dogs that belong to your friends in a virus-free environment such as a fenced-in backyard. It also means asking your friends with dog-experienced children to help provide positive experiences with youngsters. Borrow a wheelchair, walker, cane or crutches from someone to let your pup see. Put pieces of food on them so the pup will go up, sniff the equipment and get rewarded for it. Wear silly hats, dark glasses and floppy clothes, or Halloween costumes, so your pup understands it’s alright and not something to bark at or shy away from. Have a puppy party, where you ask all your friends

to come over in 10-minute intervals to have a cracker-and-cheese party, where you can have your puppy sit nicely for treats upon each person’s arrival. Be sure you invite everyone — male, female, and children. Leave other dogs home for another time.

As for training, the more you can teach your dog before the 16 weeks is up, the easier it is to work with your dog as s/he hits his/her “teenage years,” meaning from six months to a year old.

ALL dogs go through this period where they test you and what you are going to do about everything — whether they really have to come when they are called, or if they HAVE to sit by the door instead of bolting out into the street. Imprinting behaviors like

“leave it” and “come” are critical at this time, as well as how to walk nicely on a leash. THE LONGER YOU WAIT TO TRAIN, THE HARDER IT IS because you have to UNDO all the bad behaviors your dog learns during that 16-week period to replace them with the good behaviors. TRAINING TAKES LONGER THE LONGER YOU WAIT. Just like human babies, give your pup the BEST start in life.

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.

EXPERIENCING WINTER

BY HANNES THUM

Winter is terrifying. I try to remember that, even though it takes some effort to do so.

It’s not easy to strip away the warmth of this house, the artificial insulation in the clothes I wear, or the imported calories that sustain me (I ate a banana from Ecuador this morning!). It’s not easy to separate out the joys of winter, such as a ski on a beautiful morning, that my human existence allows me.

It’s not easy to imagine the true meaning of being a local creature and surviving the full force of winter. I’m far too removed from it.

To truly understand winter is to understand the inevitable darkness as it overtakes the light, and to understand that death is an inextricable part of life. But, we don’t often have cause to see it that way (let us be grateful that we don’t).

Fair enough. We’ve created systems and societies that can exist in winter while being largely impacted by it. That is part of our history as a species. Yet, it’s important to remember that this is mostly a very recent part of our history.

Sometimes, I try to stretch my perspective back in time a bit, beyond my own lifetime — I try to think about Homo sapiens more generally and to include a greater chunk of the story of our species than this current age. In other words, I am asking myself, “What has winter been like for humans throughout our story?”

My hunch is that we wouldn’t have to go

far back into our past to see winter as an enormously significant and frightening experience. To see it as something laced with danger and hardship, infused with harrowing mysteries and with fear of the unknown.

Without much imagination, I can begin to feel a tightening in my chest at the thought of darkness descending upon the landscape and of the cold moving into my core.

What kind of patience does it take to survive winter in its true experience? To be the elk hunkered down in their meager beds, catching a few photons of the sun’s warmth and a few dried-up strands of grass a day, exposed to every wind? To be a small mouse dashing across the surface of the snow in

the face of the fathomless dark maw of the night sky before descending once more into a sparse subnivean tunnel to shiver once more? To be any creature trying to survive the ruthless economy of winter: can you scrape together enough to get by until spring?

Of course, more thoughtful and philosophical minds than my own can explore how lightness and darkness can coexist, and how the polarity of life and death can lead to a greater understanding of the nature of things.

But that understanding yet eludes me. It eludes me as much as the true nature of winter does. To what extreme would one have to go to experience it as our local animals do?

SAFE socialization with other dogs, people and places is IMPERATIVE for puppies under 16 weeks of age. Here, my puppy Steel is playing with a new friend in a safe yard. We combined both obedience and playtime! Photo credit: Fran Jewell

ARE YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW IF NOBODY KNOWS?

By Jenni Riley, MBA, FPQP TM

Most of us are aware we can take specific steps in managing our financial affairs to ensure our loved ones are well cared for and to ease their experience in stewarding our estate when we’re gone. We may draw up a will, acquire life insurance policies, we may even layout our wishes for our funeral services. If you have an estate planning attorney, that expert can maintain your documents for you and guide your chosen executor through their responsibilities. But what if you do not have your documents secured with an attorney? Do your heirs know where to locate this information when the time comes? I am not sure my husband even knew where our household checkbook was kept until just recently. That is why it is essential to create a financial binder with all the pertinent information your loved ones might need in the event of your incapacity or passing.

Here are some sections to consider including:

• Legal Documents: Power of attorney, living will, healthcare directives, and will.

• I nsurance: Life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, long-term care (LTC), and accidental death policy information. It can be helpful to include a summary page that contains contact information, policy numbers, and relevant information they may need.

• Contact Information: Sheet with contacts they may need to reach, including financial advisors, insurance agents, employers, and close friends to contact.

• Bills that may need to be transferred or paid: Utilities, mortgages, credit cards, auto loans. By including at least one statement from each, they can access account numbers to reference.

• Online login usernames and passwords: So much of our lives are digital nowadays, providing access to information can be significant for your family.

• Your final wishes: If you have strong feelings about your own funeral service, such as cremation versus burial, consider documenting your wishes. You may have had these conversations, but in a moment of stress, your loved ones may not recall.

• Secure the binder: It is crucial to keep the binder in a location that it cannot fall into the wrong person’s hands. Inform those whom you want to access it, where it is, and the codes to any safe you may put it in.

I want my family to feel comforted in knowing there is a plan they can follow so I can alleviate any burden of the unknown. This organized information could help relieve your loved ones of this burden as well.

HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC 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. 675 Sun Valley Road, Suites J1 + J2 Ketchum, Idaho 83340. 208.726.0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com

INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART DOVE

THE GIFT OF LOVING YOURSELF

BY DOVE

You have heard that you really can’t love someone until you love yourself first. I am not sure that is my truth. So many people I know find it easy to love others outside of themselves because they are not constantly critiquing others’ behavior. We often just accept them as they are without the constant evaluation. We are often not so kind to ourselves as we replay our words or behavior and then judge our results.

THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

Most of us have experienced odd bits of forgetting names or walking into a room and not remembering why you headed that way. As one grows older, these kinds of forgetfulness are often more prevalent and disturbing than ever.

I am reminded when I blank out on names, dates, titles of books or movies that I have always been thought of as not paying attention to these words when first heard, possibly not repeating them as soon as spoken.

I especially hate this because I think of myself as someone who cares about others. I am a people person. Raised in a very loving adoptive family in big cities and with numerous loving relatives, I always enjoyed the company of others and was ashamed of myself when I couldn’t call up a friend’s name in an introduction. My mother’s nickname for me was “the absent-minded professor.”

I have continued to have dreams about examples of this flaw. At UCLA I took a history class with a noted professor who often walked from his office for our 9 a.m. session in his fluffy slippers. We would roll our eyes at the image, but we still respected him as the brilliant scholar he was.

For all of my teaching years I have had early-term nightmares that I had to hide behind the door when the bell rang for first period in order to change out of my p.j.s or bathrobe in time to greet students. One day, in East L.A., my early-morning lit-class students kept whispering and giggling. On her way out, one of my brave girls told me that I had put my dress on backwards. It was a loose, simple dress, a “shift,” but I still should have noticed that the hip pockets adorned my backside instead of my front.

I’m afraid that unhappy part of my communications has always been lying semi-dormant, ready to embarrass me. A typical “JoEllen” situation I recall is being with two young daughters at Disneyland. In the late afternoon a thunderstorm interrupted our progress to the next attraction. I stopped, aghast that I had forgotten my umbrella. I told the girls I was upset that they were getting wet, but if we hurried to a nearby building, we would not be soaked. My youngest pulled on my coat and said, “But Mommy, you already have the umbrella up.” Yep, we three were already sheltered by the protection of my bright yellow bumbershoot. It has gotten worse. I am currently in Newport Beach to share a celebratory dinner honoring a mutual friend. I had only met a couple of the guests, so I wrote their names down, to recall them accurately. The hosts’ first name initials were “D” and “G,” so I created a mental reminder, thinking of my brother, Doug Gifford. Later, when I voiced my congratulations, I said, “Aren’t we lucky to know Diane and George?” Not their names, of course. I now refer to myself as the “absent-minded professor EMERITUS!”

WRANGLER’S RECKLESS WRITINGSBRYCE ANGELL

ONE TOUGH COWBOY

Fred and my father were best friends since childhood. They nicknamed each other Fred and Jack, after two local conservative brothers.

My father’s friend Fred was an avid horseman and I believe the toughest cowboy I ever met. He was also very competent in working with pack horses or mules.

Fred worked for my father every summer and fall and was by far a top hand even though he walked with a gimp from an injury he received on a naval ship, 25 years earlier.

ME

We are so much harsher on ourselves than we ever are on other people. To me, that says we are capable of loving others even with their faults, but we never give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. When you constantly are concerned about what others think of you, you have just put yourself in the prison of “I am never enough, or worthy, or smart, or physically beautiful.”

We condemn ourselves without ever giving ourselves the GRACE of just being okay with our actions, or words, or form. We usually give that GRACE to others without thinking because that is truly how we would want to be treated. We are asking to be understood not only by others but by our own souls. I suggest we start to love ourselves as we freely love others.

If you are not criticizing others, then don’t do that to yourself. Give yourself the same forgiveness you give others and be gentle. Give up second-guessing what someone might think of you. Develop your own level of confidence that allows you to be authentically you.

At this point in my game of life, I am pretty much me. I don’t need to change myself to please others. I love them as they are and when you put out the energy of acceptance, you receive it in return. Treat your own little ego with as much compassion as you give to others. See how that changes your experience of life.

I have come to know that source, or GOD, loves me as I am and worrying about the parts of me that are not accepted by others is just a message for them to look at where they don’t love themselves. Step out of judgment of yourself and others. Move into the acceptance of self and that gift will surround you with those that are also self-accepting.

It is wonderful to be around people who are comfortable with who they are. They are happy in their own skin. It is easy to love ourselves and others when we choose to accept who we are. Let go of all the projections the world says are important; your heart knows what is important to you. Be that, and life will flow joyfully.

Rid yourself of past emotions that keep you trapped in old patterns. You are not a victim of anyone’s thoughts but your own. Declare, “This is who I love to be!” and become that person. You are only stuck if you make no effort to change. To the new you. Many blessings, Dove

The season was late fall and they were finishing up on a contract with the Forest Service. Fred was leading a string of four pack horses. He was riding a mare who was known to be, let’s just say, a little on the rank side. All the hands called the mare “Peterson,” and then would chuckle a little. I never learned the connection but could only assume she was named after someone with a nasty disposition.

Fred was about 45 minutes away from camp when Mother Nature called. He climbed down and was about to take care of business when Peterson decided to kick in his direction. Fred couldn’t get out of the way. He said he felt his femur snap.

It was getting close to dark and the temperature was already below freezing. Fred realized the seriousness of his situation and immediately tied a tree limb to his leg for a splint. He contemplated building a fire and staying put, but wasn’t sure if he would be able to crawl around to collect firewood.

Fred said he hopped on his good leg over to Peterson, grabbed the saddle horn with his left hand and the back of the saddle with his right and pulled himself up on the saddle. (Try doing that next time you climb on your horse. It takes incredible upper-body strength.) Fred said he almost passed out from pain when he swung his leg over the saddle.

He grabbed the pack horse’s lead rope and headed for camp. By now it was darker than the inside of a cat. So Fred gave Peterson her head, knowing she would take them back to camp.

Fred said it seemed like hours, but it was only a few minutes when Jack, holding a flashlight, came riding up on Shortcut, a bay he’d ridden for years. Fred knew if anyone came to find him it would be Jack. Jack fired three emergency shots in the air with his .308 rifle. Other workers came running with lanterns and flashlights to help Fred get back to camp. A makeshift ambulance in the backseat of a car provided a bumpy ride to the hospital. No Life Flight.

All of this in a cowboy’s day. He didn’t ride off into the sunset, which is so romantically portrayed on television.

Fred once again healed over and was back in the saddle, leading a pack string the next year. He wasn’t riding Peterson, as she wasn’t available to ride anymore, but was doing a great job of gluing papers together.

Fred passed away years ago. The world lost a true cowboy. In the end, did he get to ride off into the sunset? I just want to say, if he did, he darned well earned it.

Bryce Angell - The outdoors has always been a large part of my life. My father was an outfitter and guide for 35 years and I was there to shoe and care for the horses and help him do the cooking. We took many great trips into the Yellowstone area. Even now that I’m older, we still ride into the Tetons, Yellowstone and surrounding areas. My poems are mostly of personal experience. I am now retired and enjoying life to the fullest. I plan to do more riding and writing.

JoEllen Collins—a longtime resident of the Wood River Valley— is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, a teacher, writer, fabric artist, choir member and unabashedly proud grandma known as “Bibi Jo.”

Jenni Riley, MBA, FPQP™ is Director of Operations and a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ with Hazlett Wealth Management.

St. ThomaSharing Joy!

BY CALYSTA PHILLIPS

OUR VOICE COUNTS

A group of children wearing paper crowns gathers around a table where three giant “Rosca de Reyes,” or Three Kings’ Day breads, are laid out, festively adorned with colors, sprinkles, and fruits by Don David, who made them. The childrens’ eyes grow wide as Herbert Romero hands them the knife to cut their own slice, hoping their piece will contain the plastic figurine of Baby Jesus hidden inside. Parents linger at nearby tables, enjoying tamales and champurrado, a Mexican hot chocolate, made by a couple in Shoshone who brought them up in a snowstorm for this cozy evening in the St. Thomas Church Parish Hall.

Their daughter helps serve up platters of steaming tamales to people waiting in the buffet line. A student from Wood River High School has brought Salvadorian pupusas that her mother made. The volunteers gathered earlier in the kitchen, gleefully wolfing them down before the guests arrived, while also leaving some for the guests. A volunteer escorts a group of children to a back room where three tables are laden with wrapped presents. Some kids take the first gift they see. Others shake and lift and squeeze to see what might be inside. Christmas carols serenade them in Spanish.

This evening is so much more than just a bilingual church service. It is a convergence of many different people in our community, coming together to honor and celebrate both an important religious and cultural event: Epiphany, in English, and El Día de los Reyes Magos, or Epifanía, in Spanish. There are parishioners and staff from St. Thomas Church, volunteers from Sun Valley Community School, Wood River High School, The Community Table/La Mesa Comunitaria, Neighbors Helping Neighbors/Vecinos Apoyando Vecinos and the larger community.

As the evening winds down, a family of guests starts stacking chairs and breaking down tables. They had prepared the tamales at last year’s event, and they are glad to contribute in some way this year. The two lieutenants from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office pick up brooms and start sweeping the floors. There is laughter, teasing, photographs of volunteers with volunteers, volunteers with guests, new friends and old.

Out in the snowy parking lot, Father Jonah asks a group as they exit, “You’re already done cleaning up in there?” “Many hands make light work,” responds one of the volunteers. The snow drifts quietly to the ground, and people return to their cars with full bellies and warm hearts.

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

Un grupo de niños con coronas de papel se reúne alrededor de una mesa donde se colocan tres gigantes “Rosca de Reyes”, adornados festivamente con colores, chispas y frutas por Don David, quien los preparó. Los ojos de los niños se agrandan cuando Romero les entrega el cuchillo para cortar su propia rebanada, con la esperanza de que su pieza contenga la figura de plástico del Niño Jesús escondida en su interior. Los padres se demoran en las mesas cercanas, disfrutando de tamales y champurrado, un chocolate caliente mexicano, preparado por una pareja de Shoshone que los trajo durante una tormenta de nieve para esta agradable velada en el Salón Parroquial de St. Thomas Church.

Su hija ayuda a servir bandejas de humeantes tamales a las personas que esperan en la fila del buffet. Una estudiante de Wood River High School ha traído pupusas salvadoreñas que hizo su madre. Los voluntarios se reunieron antes en la cocina, devorándolos alegremente antes de que llegaran los invitados, y dejando también algunos para los invitados. Un voluntario acompaña a un grupo de niños a una habitación trasera donde hay tres mesas repletas de regalos envueltos. Algunos niños toman el primer regalo que ven. Otros los sacuden, levantan y aprietan para ver qué podría haber dentro. Los villancicos les dan una serenata en español.

Esta noche es mucho más que un servicio religioso bilingüe. Es una convergencia de muchas personas diferentes en nuestra comunidad, que se unen para honrar y celebrar un importante evento religioso y cultural: Epiphany, en inglés, y El Día de los Reyes Magos, o Epifanía, en español. Hay feligreses y personal de St. Thomas Church, voluntarios de Sun Valley Community School, Wood River High School, The Community Table/La Mesa Comunitaria, Neighbors Helping Neighbors/Vecinos Apoyando Vecinos y la comunidad en general.

A medida que cae la noche, una familia de invitados

comienza a apilar sillas y desarmar mesas. Ellos habían preparado los tamales en el evento del año pasado y están contentos de contribuir de alguna manera este año. Los dos tenientes del Departamento del Sheriff del condado de Blaine recogen escobas y comienzan a barrer los pisos. Hay risas, bromas, fotografías de voluntarios con voluntarios, voluntarios con invitados, nuevos amigos y viejos.

Afuera, en el estacionamiento nevado, el padre Jonah le pregunta a un grupo cuando salen: “¿Ya terminaron de limpiar?” “Muchas manos aligeran el trabajo”, responde uno de los voluntarios. La nieve cae silenciosamente al suelo y la gente regresa a sus autos con el estómago lleno y el corazón feliz.

HOME-BUYING TIPS TO GET YOU BACK IN THE GAME

BY ANNA & MICHELLE

If you’re on the sidelines to buy a home, there are things you can do to be ready when you do get back in the game.

Improve your credit score to qualify for the best mortgage rate available, which is reserved for those with the highest scores. Get a copy of your current credit reports from all three of the main credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. You can get them at AnnualCreditReport.com without paying for them.

While you won’t see a credit score on these reports, you will see a history of your available credit accounts. According to the Federal Trade Commission, one in five people has at least one error on one of their credit reports, which can lower your score or increase the cost or likelihood of receiving new credit. Identify and correct these mistakes.

Explain in writing the error in the report and include copies of documents that support your dispute. Both the credit bureau and the business that supplied the information must correct the information that is in error. There will not be a fee to correct it. You can get specific info for the process on each credit reporting company’s website and from the FTC Consumer Advice.

There is a term call “credit utilization” which describes how much of your available credit on each revolving account is currently being used. If the limit on one card was $10,000 and you had a $5,000 balance, the utilization ratio is 50%. A mounts above 30% can negatively impact your credit score even if you do pay the balance each month.

Any delinquent items that may appear on your credit report need to be cleared up. Regardless of whether there is a legitimate reason, it needs to be explained to the credit bureau. reported on consumer credit reports.

value require mortgage insurance, which increases the monthly payment.

tion to the rule is for VA loans, which do not require it. The cost of mortgage insurance could add 0.5% to 2% or more to the payment.

Lower your debt-to-income ratio by paying off installment loans for cars, boats, and other things.

While there are legitimate credit repair services available, you may be able to get excellent advice from a trusted mortgage professional. You’ll eventually want to be Your real estate agent can make a recommendation to connect you with someone who will get you ready to get back into

Children look in anticipation of a tasty slice of giant “Rosca de Reyes,” or Three Kings’ Day breads. Photo courtesy of Herbert Romero

Deputies Stop

Residential Burglary in Progress

On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at approximately 9:05 p.m., Blaine County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence in Ketchum.

Deputies were able to locate the suspect in his vehicle at the residence. Upon investigation, it was determined the suspect’s vehicle contained seven bottles of alcohol with a value of $750$1,000 each, which had been removed from the residence. During a search incident to arrest, a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia were located.

Jacob Reed Russell, age 19 of Ketchum, was arrested and charged with two felonies, Burglary, I.C. 18-1401, and Grand Theft, I.C. 18-2407, and two misdemeanors, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana Less Than Three Ounces, I.C. 37-2732(C)3, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, I.C. 37-2734A(1).

Russell is in the custody of the Blaine County Detention Center pending arraignment in Magistrate Court on Thursday afternoon.

Single Vehicle Rollover Crash

On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at approximately 8:59 a.m., Blaine County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash on State Highway 75 near milepost 149, south of Galena Lodge.

Deputies discovered a white 1993 Toyota single-cab pickup truck lying on its side in the middle of the highway blocking the northbound lane. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as a 17-year-old male from Fairfield.

Crash scene investigation determined that the driver was traveling northbound on Hwy 75 and lost control of the vehicle after traveling over a patch of ice in the roadway. The truck hit the northbound snowbank and rolled onto its roof before coming to a stop on its passenger side.

The driver was transported via ground ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. The vehicle sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene.

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

Custom Cabinetry • Interior Finish

• Kitchen • Baths CAD Cabinetry Design Mike @ (208) 720-7250

Photo credit: Wood River Weekly

by MIKE MCKENNA

The great thing about our community is that it’s full of heroes. No, they don’t all wear capes or leap over tall buildings. They’re usually donned in puffy jackets and bluejeans, and their acts often seem relatively small.

But those acts, like saving furniture that someone could really use from going to the landfill or answering phone calls from people in distress, are certainly mighty.

Former Bellevue City Councilor, Tammy Davis, is a member of our local League of Legends. Her most recent heroic acts include reopening the beloved Building Materials Thrift (BMT) store and using the proceeds to support local nonprofits like The Crisis Hotline (where she also serves as executive director) and Men’s Second Chance Living.

“It was instantly a success,” Tammy said about reopening the BMT in Bellevue in 2020. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback that this resource was really needed and people are happy that we reestablished it.”

The BMT offers a wide variety of ever-changing items. You can find everything from appliances to cabinets, dining room sets to tiles, raw materials and more.

“We’re open to donations every day and we’ll take just about anything in good shape, except clothing,” Tammy said.

To help increase their impact and improve their outreach, BMT is also excited to announce two new expansions.

There is now a second BMT location on Highway 75 in Lincoln County—across from Johnny’s Country Store. A new diversion program has also been created at the Ohio Gulch Transfer Station, a.k.a. “the dump,” so donations can be made there instead of having to be brought down to Bellevue. It’s the first time that this type of public/private partnership has been created with the Southern Idaho Solid Waste District.

“We want to keep things out of the landfill and make sure that what gets donated stays alive and gets used. We work hard to keep our overhead down so we can keep our prices low,” Tammy said.

THE TRADER

Besides the benefits of cutting down on waste and allowing folks to get items they need at affordable prices, the revenue BMT generates goes toward helping the community in other important ways.

“The BMT serves to not only mitigate the impacts of construction waste going to the transfer station, the funds it raises are reinvested back to benefit the social and emotional health of our community, supporting causes like The Crisis Hotline, NAMI, 5B Suicide Alliance and Wood River Baseball, to name a few,” Tammy said.

She explained that the mission of BMT really aligns with those of so many local nonprofits, which is why they offer a Partner Program for them to use the BMT as a way to increase revenue and visibility.

“People call into The Crisis Hotline and feel like they have no value or purpose in life and that nobody cares about them,” Tammy said. “The BMT aligns with this because we’re able to give new life and new meaning to those things that would otherwise be disposed of.”

The Building Materials Thrift store is located at 213 North Main Street in Bellevue and is open Monday through Saturday. Find out more by calling (208) 788-0014

THE TRADER

Wednesday - Friday 11 to 6

11 to 4

Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

720-9206 or 788-0216

509 S. Main Street Bellevue, Idaho

Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 to 5:00

Wednesday - Friday 11 to 6 Saturday 11 to 4

Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

Always available by appointment and if we’re here. 720-9206 or 788-0216 509 S. Main Street • Bellevue, Idaho

See answer on page 11