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OPINION

COUNTY NEWS

War On The Press PG 10

SUN VALLEY

KETCHUM

STATE NEWS

Hwy. 75 Power Line Uproar PG 5

HAILEY

Lawmakers Stir Up Voter Angst PG 2 BELLEVUE

PICABO

CAREY

WOOD RIVER WEEKLY

YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY Free | February 24 - March 9, 2021 | Vol. 2 - No. 4 | woodriverweekly.com “Whistleblowers often take very significant efforts to bring us material and often at very significant risks.” ~Julian Assange

Health & We

This badger, seen in a snowy field north of Hailey, was digging through the snow in an attempt to excavate a food source below ground such as a mouse, vole, ground squirrel or rabbit. The American badger has most of the general characteristics common to badgers, with stocky, low-slung bodies with short, powerful legs. They are identifiable by their huge foreclaws (measuring up to 5 cm in length) and distinctive head markings. Badgers do not hibernate and are active year-round. Photo credit: Carol Waller

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Wood River Weekly

NEWS

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

EDUCATION

No Child Left At Home

Middle, high school students to return to class March 8

By Eric Valentine

ith COVID-19 case numbers dropping—yet still in the health district’s most severe “critical” range—Blaine County School District high schoolers and middle schoolers will be coming back to class full-time. At its Feb. 16 meeting, the Blaine County School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to resume inclass learning to all schools in the district. As a result, all students in grades 6–12 (and 7–12 at Carey Secondary School) will move forward with in-person learning four days a week, beginning Monday, March 8. Along with vaccine distribution, in-person learning is one of the most critical benchmarks for any community’s “returnto-normal-life” efforts. It’s a relief for many folks, such as working parents, and a cause for concern for others, such as some school staff and those worried we are moving toward normal life too soon during a pandemic that has now reached half a million deaths nationwide. “It’s kind of like calling a snow day,” observed interim superintendent Fritz Peters. “Some people are going to love you for it, and some people are not.” According to Peters, less than 50% of high school students surveyed in the district said they wanted to return to full-time in-class learning. A number of students, he said, have shared with him their appreciation for the intimacy of smaller group learning and the added flex-

ibility they have in some cases. However, a much higher percentage of elementary school students’ parents and a moderately higher percentage of middle school parents said they were in favor of full-time in-class learning. Moreover, pushing the district to open fully sooner than later are the students’ low test standardized test scores. The district has not shared specific scores, but Peters described them as “really poor.” “Some numbers I have never seen before as a principal,” Peters said. “There’s also concern at the high school level of credit loss.” Peters and interim principal at Wood River Middle School, Robert Ditch, both reported that district stakeholders who’ve been in touch with them show folks are polarized on the issue of bringing students back fulltime. Ditch said among the polarized are his staff. “I’ve got several who are ready to have students back four days a week,” Ditch said. “But the largest group by far is the group who has trepidation about the ability to maintain safety systems within our school. But they’re also seeing exactly the same need when it comes to test scores and students who are falling out. Not dropping out, but just not participating to the degree we’d like to see them participating.”

and well-being of students and staff. For instance, all students and staff will continue to wear masks, and frequent hand-washing will be encouraged throughout the day. Yet, with more students in buildings, the district’s ability to maintain a constant 6 feet of distance between individuals at all times becomes essentially null and void. “Now you really have to say goodbye to it,” Peters said. “But the masks are strictly enforced as is the washing of hands. Many of the classrooms still have plexiglass (around school desks).” The district said its experience with the same model at its elementary levels “has not appeared to have a significant effect on the spread of the virus.” The Board of Trustees said it will be closely monitoring the district’s quarantine numbers. If community transmission rates and quarantine numbers drop consistently, the board will consider moving ahead with full in-person learning, five days a week. On the other hand, if transmission and quarantine numbers increase significantly, the district may need to move back to a hybrid model. Meanwhile, at all BCSD schools, Fridays will be reserved for interventions, at least for now. “I think you could look at increasing Fridays,” said Peters. “But I would say that probably at this time the teacher response to that—in terms of being in favor of that—would be Pulling It Off low.” BCSD says it will continue to follow sound protocols Teachers have been using these days to work with quaraligned with expert health guidance to protect the health antined students and engage in teacher collaboration.

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Wood River Weekly

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

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WRW STAFF PUBLISHER Christopher Seldon (208) 788-4789 publisher@woodriverweekly.com MARKETING & SALES Mandi Iverson (208) 721-7588 mandi@woodriverweekly.com NEWS EDITOR Eric Valentine news@woodriverweekly.com ARTS & EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Dana DuGan dana@woodriverweekly.com COPY EDITOR Patty Healey

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Wood River Weekly

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

NEWS

STATE

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f some lawmakers in the Idaho State Legislature have their way, you won’t be voting in August anymore and you may never be voting on a ballot initiative ever again. That may sound a bit hyperbolic, but it’s pretty spot on. And, there are two sides to every story. What follows is a summary of some recent higher profile bills being considered by Idaho lawmakers this session and where they stand in the lawmaking process. This is not an editorial, but to keep things 100% honest, it’s not a typical report either. Senate Bill 1110— Ballot Initiative Ballet Frame of reference: On Idaho ballots there are only a few and sometimes zero initiatives for voters to yae or nae. Where in, for example, California, a ballot with a dozen or more initiatives is commonplace. In fact, in 1988, when California drivers were fed up with exorbitant car insurance rates, Proposition 103 was put on the ballot. Soon after—in the very same election—propositions 100, 101, 104 and 106 landed on the ballot. Some of them cancelled each other out and were written by the insurance companies themselves. It was a ballot initiative rave party; no one knew what they were really doing, but they thought they were doing good while doing it. Moral of the story: Putting strict controls on the ballot initiative process isn’t necessarily a way for the ruling class to quiet those they rule. In fact, it can sometimes be the opposite. Idaho is one of 26 states with a general ballot initiative process, where other states reserve the right for the legislature to nix a voter-requested initiative before it lands on an official ballot. Although real estate prices are making it feel like California in parts of the state, we’re hardly the Golden State when it comes to getting an initiative on a ballot. California’s process for getting an initiative on a ballot is to reach a signature-count benchmark—something easier to do in a populace state. In Idaho it requires 6% of voters across 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts to sign a petition. That dance isn’t easy, especially in a state with a lot of territory to cover. Getting an initiative on a ballot would become significantly more difficult and more costly if the bill being considered in the Senate eventually gets signed into law. Specifically, the bill would require 6% of voters across all 35 districts to sign a petition. Good luck, Boise and north Blaine County activists, the Motel 6 in Sandpoint will keep the light on for you. America was founded under the concept of the people putting limits on the government. Somehow, the initiative

Some are questioning the wisdom behind Sage Dixon’s bill to constrain the ballot initiative process. Photo credit: Idaho State Legislature

process may now get used—for better or worse—by the government to put limits on its people. House Bill 106— August Voting Vacation It sounds efficient. Reduce the number of elections so that all elections can run more smoothly, which in theory might even increase the amount of voter participation and voter knowledge come November and May. That’s how bill sponsor Rep. Vito Barbieri (R-Dalton Gardens) has publicly defended it. And it only impacts school districts. But school district officials across the state are reeling over the possibility the House bill gets warmly received in the state Senate, which would put it at the tip of the governor’s pen, where it could get signed into law. And if that happens, school districts would not be able to hold bond and levy elections immediately after their budget-setting sessions which take place in June and July. At the Blaine County School District, where a levy election for facilities improvements is forthcoming, trustees would have to push to November. That means levy money—assuming the levy passes—wouldn’t show up for more than a year. The district says it would leave them with the following choices: 1. Dip into reserves. 2. Cut staff salaries. 3. Do both. 300+ Bills There are well over 300 bills listed on the House and Senate legislation page. If there is a bill you feel should be made more high profile than it is now, please let us know. You can track legislation here: legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2021/legislation. And you can let us know your thoughts and concerns here: news@woodriverweekly.com.

Wood River Weekly

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

NEWS

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A view of Highway 75 showing where new, metal power lines could be installed and how they compare visually to the existing wooden power poles seen in the right side of the image. Image credit: Blaine County

HWY. 75 UNDERGROUND POWER LINE POWER STRUGGLE Tidwell et al to sue county

By Eric Valentine

daho Power’s plan to develop a backup power system along Highway 75 may have passed initial muster with Blaine County commissioners, but it’s the courthouse that may ultimately determine the project’s destiny. Blaine County resident Kiki Tidwell, a longtime green-energy advocate, says she will be suing the county for what she says is its failure to follow its own rules. Specifically, Tidwell claims the county’s Local Land Use Planning Act prohibits them from altering the original permit which approved Idaho Power’s backup power line so long as it would be installed 100% underground. In an interview with “Wood River Weekly,” Tidwell said former Hailey mayor Fritz Haemmerle will be the attorney representing her, and other residents and property owners may join the lawsuit. “We’ll see who else is going to participate,” Tidwell said. “What needs to happen is for the county and Idaho Power to hash out in front of the PUC (Public Utilities Commission) exactly who is supposed to pay for what.” Meanwhile, county officials from its commissioners to its legal staff believe they have dotted all the Is and crossed all the Ts when it comes to the matter. Commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 9 to have staff give one final review (called a findings of fact) of Idaho Power’s latest game plan for the power line project that will cost local ratepayers north of $20 million to be paid off over the next 20 years in the form of rate increases and surcharges. And the kicker? Part of the project is going to go above ground anyway. “You’re waving the white flag,” said Haemmerle at the Feb. 9 meeting. “You haven’t even taken your best shot yet.” The “shot” Haemmerle says is to ask the PUC to determine whether Idaho Power or local ratepayers are on the hook for the bill. County staff attorney Tim Graves was clear that the payment plan in front of the commissioners is exactly what the PUC would determine is fair to all parties. Haemmerle and Tidwell have been openly disputing that and feel stakeholders from the county and the utility are assuming how the PUC would decide rather than testing the waters themselves. “One party (Idaho Power) has a financial incentive to not hash it out,” Tidwell said. What’s clear is that local ratepayers have to cover the difference in costs of improvement projects like these when they are asking for something (un-

dergrounding) that go above and beyond the basics. However, it was Idaho Power’s idea to create the redundant power line, and to do it with transmission lines and distribution lines 100% above ground. Since Highway 75 is not only a scenic corridor but one that leads to the Valley’s economic life blood (Sun Valley), undergrounding becomes more of a basic necessity than it does an extravagance. “It’s the worst of both worlds,” Tidwell said regarding the current plan. “We’re impacting a scenic corridor and we’re being forced to pay for it.” “They’re bullying you,” added Haemmerle regarding Idaho Power’s option of having the poles 100% above ground. Are We Pulling a Texas? For either side of the issue, the importance of having an adequate redundancy (power line backup) couldn’t be more clear after the recent snowstorm events in Texas. Without trying to litigate how citizens of the Lone Star State found themselves in the fatal mess they were in and, sans the Ted Cruz Cancún-gate controversy, it’s important for a community to know whether the weather can put them in a similar situation where power failures lead to food and water shortages and hypothermic conditions inside homes. Again, this is where stakeholders in the county and at the power utility differ from folks like Tidwell. The ideal solution in Tidwell’s opinion? Forget about undergrounding power lines just yards away from the existing power lines. Instead, invest money into backup generators at the local substations. “We are completely dependent on power that is delivered to us from a long ways away,” Tidwell said. “ We need to have distribution backed up next to where we live.” 5G Other concerns from the public involved the installation of 5G equipment on the new, larger power poles. While there certainly is more room to hold 5G equipment, Idaho Power said there are no pending requests to install 5G transmitters at this time on the proposed power poles. Idaho Power says the telecom company seeking 5G deployment has to show its permission and authorization to do so from the local jurisdiction. Approval of the transmission line project would not automatically authorize a whole host of 5G fixtures, Idaho Power says.

To review county documents related to the Idaho Power undergrounding matter, we have created this link for our readers’ convenience: tinyurl.com/2483euqo

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Wood River Weekly

•

February 24 - March 9, 2021

NEWS

BLAINE COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING

Blaine County Hires New County Administrator

On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the Blaine County Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. upstairs in the main meeting room in the Old County Courthouse located at 206 First Ave. So., in Hailey. Its agenda includes: Zoning Regulations Text Amendment and Map Amendment – Airport Vicinity Overlay District: County-initiated amendments to Blaine County Code, Title 9, Chapter 18 - Airport Vicinity Overlay District. Text amendments would replace the chapter in its entirety. Map amendments would amend overlay district boundaries and designate multiple zones/areas. (Action Item) Information is available at the Land Use Office 788-5570 and on the Blaine County website www.blainecounty.org. Public comment including name and place of residence may be mailed to the Land Use Office, 219 1st Avenue South, Suite 208, Hailey, Idaho 83333, or emailed to pzcounter@co.blaine.id.us.

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NEWS

Park City Ski Patrol Battles Contract Impasse

The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association brought public attention to their protracted contract negotiations with Vail Resorts. The Utah-based patrollers have been working without a contract since New Year’s Day, with negotiations commencing in August of last year. Concerns for the Patrol include: • Advanced training and education • Adequate sick time • Wages that are commensurate for professional first responders The patrollers union has requested a professional, federally trained mediator to join the process on at least three occasions, since late last year, with the hope of moving the process forward. The union has also requested that corporate decisionmakers join the process, and were rebuffed each time, they said, until just this month, when Park City Chief Operating Officer Mike Goar announced that he would personally be taking part in the talks. “While we’re pleased that someone from Vail of Mike Goar’s stature has finally joined negotiations, it is still our position that a neutral, professional mediator, trained and provided by the federal government at no cost to either party, is the best option to move these talks forward,” said Cressa Pratt, spokesperson for the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association. Vail Resorts is also currently locked in negotiations with Professional Ski Patrollers at Stevens Pass Resort in Washington State. Patrollers there voted to unionize in April 2018 and are still seeking their first contract with Vail.

Meet Your Farmer Series To Launch Feb. 24

This spring, the Meet Your Farmer webinar series will connect residents and visitors to their regional food producers. The series, presented by the creators of the Locally Grown Guide, runs from February through June. Each session focuses on a different category of locally and regionally produced food. Producers will discuss their growing practices, challenges and successes, offerings, and how and where to enjoy their products.

IN BRIEF

The Blaine County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously this month to hire Mandy Pomeroy as its next county administrator. The current county administrator, Derek Voss, will be retiring on April 17. Pomeroy will transition into her new role on April 19. The Board and internal interview team interviewed many applicants and narrowed it down to three before ultimately choosing Pomeroy. The county says it figures to be a smooth transition, as Pomeroy is current- Blaine County Administrator Mandy ly the administrative services manager for Pomeroy. Photo credit: Blaine County, and has been working with Blaine County the county administrator during her five years in this position. Pomeroy brings to this position her experience in public administration, human resource management, grant management, strategic planning and leadership development, as well as her extensive knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations. She received an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix, and received the Best in Class Award for HR Management from Gallagher Benefit Services. She also has her Senior Certified Professional Certificate from the Society of Human Resource Management, Mid-Career Manager’s Institute Certificate, Project Management Certificate, and Six Sigma Black Belt.

Idaho Wolf Population ‘Stable’ Amid Mortality Spike

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game says its second annual wolf population estimate shows the population was stable from 2019 to 2020. The 2020 estimate was 1,556 wolves, 10 fewer than the 2019 estimate of 1,566. The estimates are made in August at a time of the year when the wolf population is near its annual maximum. Tracking human-caused mortality and adding estimated natural mortality through the year allows biologists to estimate the minimum population size, which occurs just before the addition of pups in March and April. Human-caused mortality of wolves between the two August estimates was documented at 583, and was 53% higher than 382 during the previous year. Documented human-caused mortality coupled with Fish and Game’s estimate of natural wolf mortality allows biologists to describe the annual population cycle and estimate the annual minimum population at approximately 900 wolves. “It is important to be able to describe both the annual population cycle and longer-term population trend from year to year,” Fish and Game Director Ed Schriever said. Idaho has a commitment to maintain a population of at least 150 wolves. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is responsible for managing the state’s wolf population to keep a healthy balance between predators and prey. Fish and Game said its crews deployed 566 cameras in the summer of 2020 and collected almost 7 million photos. Wildlife technicians used recognition software to identify wolves and other animals in the photos. Estimating wildlife populations using remote cameras is a new innovation, and uses mathematical modeling to refine and improve annual estimates and compare populations from year to year. The estimate includes all of the habitat occupied by wolves in Idaho.

IN BRIEF “It is also more than just healthy food for them. These producers are instituting regenerative practices, creating local jobs, and making decisions that restore our regional environment. They are a driver of our economy and our resilience. We are thrilled to be supporting them and connecting them to regional eaters,” says Amy Mattias, program director of the Sun Valley Institute for Resilience. All Meet Your Farmer webinars will be hosted during the lunch hour, 12 to 1 p.m., on the last Wednesday of each month. Upcoming topics are All About Small Grains (March 31), All About Eggs, Meat & Dairy (April 28), All About the Locally Grown Guide (May 26), and All About the Wood River Farmers’ Market (June 30).

Avalanche Kills Snowmobiler At Smiley Creek

On Friday, Feb.19, at approximately 11:46 a.m., Blaine County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Smiley Creek Lodge, approximately 35 miles north of Ketchum, for a report of an avalanche and a snowmobile crash with injuries. Upon investigation, it was determined that Andrew M. Jessop, age 30, of Corvallis, Mont., was snowmobiling with his family when he was caught and killed in an avalanche in the upper reaches of Smiley Creek drainage in the Vienna Mine area. Family members located and moved the deceased Jessop to Smiley Creek Lodge before the arrival of first responders. According to the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, the avalanche broke loose on a south-facing slope at an elevation of approximately 9,000 feet. The upper portion of the slope was wind-loaded. A rider triggered a very large avalanche that was approximately 500 feet wide, 3 to 4 feet thick, and ran over 1,000 vertical feet. Jessop was caught and carried into trees near the bottom of the avalanche path. He deployed his avalanche airbag and was not buried, but sustained severe injuries. Members of the group were not able to revive Jessop. The avalanche danger was rated to be considerable at the time of the accident. Witness statements put Jessop as being the highest one on the mountainside at the time of the avalanche. Jessop was riding a 2020 yellow and black Ski-Doo 850 Summit X snowmobile, which was not found after the avalanche. The Forest Service is coordinating with the family to recover the snowmachine at a later date.

Wood River Weekly

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A Plant-Based Diet To Support Your Immune System, Part 2

St. Luke’s Clinic – Lifestyle Medicine

he single biggest predictor of a healthy gut is PLANT DIVERSITY: Aim for 30 plants a week. Eat the rainbow of colors for your fruits and veggies. Whole grains are an excellent of prebiotic fiber. Whole-grain consumption is linked to lower rates of diabetes, healthy body weight, lower risk of stroke, and lower rates of colorectal cancers. Eat legumes, such as beans and lentils! There are literally hundreds of studies showing the benefits of beans. Legumes are considered longevity foods essential for good gut health. 1 cup of beans = 7 grams of fiber and 1 cup of lentils = 16 grams of fiber Limit use of overt fats and oils: Having a high intake of fats and oils can hinder your body’s immune response. Avoiding processed foods will help you achieve the goal of reducing your fat intake. You can also use broths or water while cooking to reduce oils and fat. Try steaming foods instead of frying and try substitutions for fat (think butter or oil) such as applesauce, nut butters, dates, and mashed banana when baking. If you are wanting to kick your immune system response up due to the COVID pandemic, recent antibiotic use or recent illness, here are some foods that can help: Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, miso, kimchi, tempeh, sourdough bread, and kombucha. The drop in pH resulting from the bacteria growing preserves the food by killing the pathogenic bacteria and promoting bacteria that is protective. It’s like we mimic what is happening in our gut. For thousands of years this was one of the primary ways food was preserved. Since the invention of refrigerators, freezers, pasteurization, and canning – pasteurization has been marginalized. Aim for at least two cups a day of leafy greens—more is better! They offer the maximum benefit for the least amount of calories. Kale contains the phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin, which help with eye health. Collard greens help lower cholesterol due to their bile acids. Just one cup of cooked spinach has 36% of recommended daily iron, 11% of your protein needs, 4 grams of fiber, calcium magnesium, potassium, and manganese. Bok choy is loaded with minerals like iron and zinc, magnesium and vitamin K. Arugula is full of cancer-fighting compounds called sulphoraphanes. Romaine is loaded with Vitamin A and C, which are great for skin and collagen building. Berries! Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries have anti-cancer properties due to their ability to counteract, reduce and repair damage resulting from oxidative stress and inflammation. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, broccoli sprouts, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, and arugula produce an antioxidant called glutathione that can be used by the body to support the immune system. They reduce the level of pathogenic bad bacteria in the gut and limit bacterial endotoxins, help protect against air pollutants, and shut down pro-inflammatory pathways. All that and they improve cognitive function and mood! Omega 3’s Super Seeds, such as chia, hemp and flax, are rich in fiber. Hemp is also a good source of protein. Mushrooms accelerate immunoglobulin A secretion, which acts as a mucosal defense in the gut border. They act as an anti-inflammatory agent when consumed regularly. Always cook mushrooms – agaritine, a potential carcinogen, is destroyed when cooking. Aromatics such as onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, chives and scallions are allium vegetables that are packed full of vitamins and prebiotic fiber. When garlic and onions are chopped or crushed, an enzyme called alliinase is activated and converts allicin into allicin – it takes approximately 10 minutes for this to happen. Allicin is a compound that is antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antiviral. Seaweed such as nori, kelp, kombu, wakame, and spirulina increase the replication of T cells, which are an important part of our immune defense against viruses. Are you hungry yet? Consider this when shopping: Consuming locally grown food, within 100 miles of home, is preferable, as it is picked at peak nutrition value and does not have far to travel. Non-local food is picked before it is fully ripe, then transported an average of 1500 miles from the farm to the store in environments that lower the food’s nutritional value. Produce begins to lose its nutrients within 24 hours of being picked. It is recommended to check with your medical provider before beginning a new exercise or dietary routine. To find a doctor or to learn more about our dietitians and clinical nutritional services, contact the St. Luke’s Center for Community Health at (208) 727-8733 or visit stlukesonline.org.

It’s your life, We help you live it

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

ADVERTORIALS BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS

ANNA & MICHELLE

Transferring Property Prior To Death

ometimes, as people approach the inevitable, they start trying to get their things “in order.” They may even have a will, but they decide to transfer title to real estate prior to their death which could be an unnecessary expense for the would-be heir. Generally, when property is passed through direction of a will, the heir will receive a stepped-up basis which means that the fair market value of the property at the time of death becomes the cost basis for the heir. If the property were sold for that fair market value, there would be no gain and no capital gains tax due. However, if the property is gifted prior to death of the donor, along with the title to the property comes the cost basis of the property. The transfer of title does not trigger the capital gains tax but when the property is sold, the gain is calculated by subtracting the basis from the sales price leaving a capital gain subject to tax. In other words, the person receiving the gift does not get the stepped-up basis. There certainly can be advantages to transferring the property prior to death. It completes the transfer without having to wait for the death and bypasses the probate process that might be required to settle the will. Another advantage to the donor may be to remove the property from the owner’s name, which could lower the taxable estate. Some owners may transfer title prior to death to qualify for Medicaid. The value of the asset may make them ineligible. It may trigger a Medicaid Transfer Penalty when the gift is made within five

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

years and the basis of the property is less than fair market value. Once a property is deeded to someone, the donor loses control of the asset and it cannot be reversed. Depending on the value of the estate, there could be gift or estate tax implications. As mentioned earlier, it may have capital gain tax consequences for the donor when they dispose of the property. If the person receiving the gift has creditors or judgments, the gift becomes an asset subject to those creditors or judgments. Even though the mechanics of transferring title to a property is simple, there are many things to consider for both the person giving the property and the one receiving it. Consult an attorney and tax professional to determine the best informed decision available. There could be other alternatives that would better serve your situation.

MONICA CARRILLO

STRUGGLE TO SAFETY! By Monica Carrillo

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

OUR VOICE COUNTS

Después de una sorprendente cantidad de aprobación para la Ley de Comunidades Seguras, una ola de alivio se apoderó de la comunidad inmigrante de Hailey. Antes de la reunión del Consejo de Hailey el lunes hace dos semanas, Luis Alberto mencionó sus preocupaciones sobre el acto que no se aprueba y con la esperanza de que líderes hispanos, como Herbert Romero, hablen sobre esta resolución y lo que califica. Romero habló sobre sus experiencias que ayudaron a la aprobación de este acto, pero fueron ponentes como Blanca López, de la Alianza de Idaho, Bianca Romero, de la Coalición Hambre, y Juan Martínez, del concejo, quienes cambiaron el juego. Una cosa fue ver a líderes conocidos defender este acto, pero fue otro nivel de importancia ver cómo los latinos de esta comunidad salieron a apoyar este acto y compartir sus historias de miedo e inmigración. Otros que compartieron su apoyo a la Ley de Comunidades Seguras fueron Muffy Davis, miembro de la Casa de Representantes; Mary Fauth, directora del Blaine County Charitable Fund; Jacob Greenberg, comisionado; Jefe Steve England; y más. Sin embargo, después de que líderes de la organización, padres y estudiantes de todas partes hailey hablaron el lunes por la noche, un voto unánime a favor del acto fue el resultado y el alivio llegó a los de la comunidad. “Pasó!” dijo Alberto. “No puedo creerlo.” La Ley de Comunidades Seguras fue aprobada para representar la confianza en la comunidad para las familias indocumentadas que temen ser deportadas y no buscan ayuda debido a su estatus. Este acto espera crear una ciudad más segura dentro de Hailey. Alberto está trabajando en la aprobación de la Ley de Comunidades Seguras en todo el Condado de Blaine.

After a shocking amount of approval for the Safe Communities Act, a wave of relief washed over the immigrant community of Hailey. Prior to the Hailey City Council meeting on Monday, about two weeks ago, Luis Alberto Lecanda mentioned his worries about the Act not passing and hoping to get Hispanic leaders, like Herbert Romero, to speak on this resolution and what it qualifies for. Romero spoke about his experiences, which helped the approval of this Act, but it was speakers like Blanca Lopez from the Alliance of Idaho, Bianca Romero from The Hunger Coalition and Juan Martinez from the council who changed the game. It was one thing to see known leaders stand up for this Act, but it was another level of importance to see how Latinos from this community came out to support this Act and share their stories of fear and immigration. Others who shared their support for the Safe Communities Act was Muffy Davis, member of the House of Representatives; Mary Fauth, director of the Blaine County Charitable Fund; Jacob Greenberg, Blaine County Commissioner; Steve England, Chief of Police; and more. Nevertheless, after organization leaders, parents, and students from all over Hailey spoke on Monday night, a unanimous vote in favor of the Act was the result, and relief came to those in the community. “It passed!” Lecanda said. “I can’t believe it.” The Safe Communities Act was passed to portray trust in the community for undocumented families that fear deportation and don’t seek help because of their status. This Act hopes to create a safer city within Hailey. Lecanda is working on passing the Safe Communities Act throughout Blaine County.

COMM ENT ARY Wood River Weekly

Fishing R epoRt

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 9 FROM PICABO ANGLER

ishing patterns remain mostly unchanged on local waters, so in place of a standard fishing report, here is a description of some of our favorite flies: Woolly Bugger – This is a classic streamer pattern that represents a variety of food sources. Depending on the size and color, the Woolly Bugger can represent leeches, crayfish, aquatic worms, stonefly nymphs, sculpin, juvenile trout, and baitfish. Consider carrying buggers in black, olive, brown, white, and yellow in sizes 6 – 12. This pattern can be weighted or unweighted, and there is no wrong way to fish it. A great all-around pattern would be a black conehead bugger in size 8 or 10. Zebra Midge – Midges are abundant in all of our local waters (rivers and reservoirs) and are always available to trout. Zebra midges represent midge larva and are one of the simplest flies to tie; they typically consist of thread, wire, and a bead. While this fly can be tied in a wide variety of colors and sizes, it’s hard to beat red or black in sizes 16 – 20. Parachute Adams – The standard Parachute Adams has been a staple fly pattern on most trout waters. It looks buggy enough to warrant a trout’s attention and is a great imitation of many mayflies. The classic Parachute Adams is tied in “Adams grey” but many other colors are effective as well (purple, tan, etc.). Chubby Chernobyl – This is another fly that does a lot of things well! Tied in large sizes, the Chubby Chernobyl can represent a Salmonfly, Golden Stonefly, cranefly, grasshopper, or October Caddis. In smaller sizes, trout mistake it for a baby ’Hopper, Caddis, or large beetle. The Chubby comes in almost any color imaginable, and it makes a wonderful attractor pattern. Drop a nymph of this fly, and you have the perfect floating strike indicator. Foam Beetle – While grasshoppers often get the glory during terrestrial season, beetles are a staple of a trout’s diet. They are available to fish for a long portion of the season, and just look like “trout food.” Rusty Spinner – This pattern can be used to represent the spinner stage of almost any mayfly if fished in the appropriate size. A size 20 – 24 bug can represent a Trico, while a fly sized 10 – 12 is a great imitation of a brown drake. Sizes 14 – 10 cover BWOs, PMDs, Callibaetis, Mahogany Duns, etc. Don’t fish Silver Creek or the Big Wood without Rusty Spinners! Happy fishing, everyone!

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

FRAN JEWELL

Puppyhood Emergency!

By Fran Jewell

hen we have children, we are quick to start reading to babies, providing them with educational experiences, socializing them, even taking them to an educational preschool. We would not lock them in a dark closet and expect them to come out when they are 2 years old as a well-adjusted child. In the past two to three years, I have seen this phenomenon happening more and more with puppies. I am called later and later for help with young adult dogs (ages 6 months to 18 months) that are out of control and miserable to live with. Now training consists of more than teaching new behaviors—it’s also a barrage of eliminating horrid behaviors, especially biting/nipping, jumping, barking uncontrollably either for recreation or to demand, separation anxiety that has become destructive, and life-threatening counter-surfing or disrespecting commands, especially those like “come.” Puppies are like human babies in that they are sponges for learning. There is a critical imprinting period up to 16 weeks old. What that means is that what that puppy learns, good and bad behaviors during that time, become imprinted for life. All the behaviors mentioned above can be avoided if training begins during this imprinting period up to 16 weeks old. Many puppy owners are afraid to socialize their puppies during this period because they have not had all their shots. But, the conundrum is that critical socialization, especially with other dogs, must be done between five and seven weeks old. Developmentally, this is a critical period for puppies to meet (safe) dogs besides littermates and their mother, to learn about relating to other dogs with good doggie language. What this means is that the breeder needs to provide this, since most puppies go home about eight to nine weeks old. This is always a good question to ask when getting a puppy from a breeder. Did they do socialization with other dogs during that period? If the pup does not have that experience, all is not lost. It is just the most beneficial way to help puppies early on. When your puppy comes home, the second you have contact with that puppy, training should begin. While most puppy classes are not afforded to puppies this young, private instruction is a perfect solution. Learning how to provide leadership in a manner that the puppy understands is so critical during this period. Many puppy owners believe puppies are too young to learn even basic commands. This simply is not true. My last litter of puppies began obedience training

SCIENCE OF PLACE

BY HANNES THUM

Baewulf is two-and-a-half weeks old here, but in the next week he learned how to sit and down. By the time he was FIVE WEEKS OLD, he had all his basic obedience skills. Early training is essential to a happy dog! Photo credit: Fran Jewell

at three weeks old when they first liked food. Many of you are familiar with Brinx and Baewulf. I used cream cheese to teach them sit, down, come, watch, and leave it. By the time they were FIVE WEEKS OLD they knew these things, including no biting and no jumping. And it was all taught using positive reinforcement. The point is, do not mistake the puppy “quarantine” period because they do not have all their shots with not starting training because they are too young. It is CRITICAL that you begin training the second your puppy comes home. Your life with your puppy will be so much more happy and simple. 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.

Meteor Tracks

t was early. I’m not sure what time it was, but it was still dark out. This time of year, on the other side of the winter solstice and with the days rapidly lengthening on both ends, darkness is slowly getting harder to come by. It was close to the new moon, and the moon wasn’t up anyhow. I had stepped outside and just barely closed the door behind me when something caught my eye. I looked up and had one of those moments where all I could do was stare. If I was still connected to my arms and legs or to my heart and lungs, I couldn’t have known it at the time—this was one of those times where I may as well have been just eyeballs, retinae, and brain, floating there. What I seemed to be looking at was a long, brilliant streak of light hanging high up in the night sky, crossing a great arc above me. I watched as it changed colors, pulsed brightly and then faintly, and then slowly faded away over the course of maybe thirty seconds or so. By the time I remembered that I had a mouth and remembered that I had a wife and used my mouth to tell my wife to come look, it was gone. The explanation that jumps out is that I had just barely missed seeing a meteor, a shooting star, traversing our upper atmosphere, and that what I saw was its fading trail. Well, if so, then the fading trail alone was brighter than any meteor I have personally seen. The meteor itself must have been astounding. Makes me wish I had stepped outside about a second earlier. In the days after, I asked around if anybody else had seen what I had seen. Nobody seemed to have. Nothing. Nope. Nada. If anybody else noted what I saw, I don’t know about it. And I have wondered a few times since if I saw what I saw or am even remem-

HANNES THUM

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 in Spruce Knob, West Virginia. The Perseids show up every year in August when Earth ventures through trails of debris left behind by an ancient comet. This year, Earth may be in for a closer encounter than usual with the comet trails that result in meteor shower, setting the stage for a spectacular display. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

bering it correctly. Human memory is, after all, an incredibly fallible and plastic medium. Especially when I haven’t finished my coffee. The image of the streak in the sky began to remind me of coming across animal tracks that I can’t quite identify (which happens a lot). Clearly, something walked by and made the tracks, but… what animal? I can’t tell, sometimes. Science is based, at its core, on observation. The selling point of science has always been that if you make enough diligent and objective and precise observations about

something in the universe, you’ll eventually arrive at some achievable and objective and precise conclusion about how things work. The entire assumption about science is that if you watch something carefully enough, knowledge will reveal itself. But, we are imperfect observers. We miss a great deal more than we find. And what we find is limited by our ability to describe and document it. The universe sidesteps even our most deliberate attempts to catalogue it. Or, at least, that’s how I usually feel.

Wood River Weekly

MONEY MATTERS

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

KRISTIN HOVENCAMP

INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART

DOVE

EQUITY SECTOR STRATEGY Being In Love With AKA The Recovery Rotation Self As A Partner By Kristin Hovencamp

quity sectors define large segments of our economy. Within the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index are 11 discrete sectors. Different sectors of the stock market fare better than others as the economy progresses from trough to peak. Here’s how we anticipate the sectors will perform during a recovery. • • •

• • • • • • •

Consumer Discretionary. As consumers feel more secure about spending money, discretionary products and services tend to outperform. Industrials. Driven by supply and demand, the industrials sector is one of the best levered to economic recovery. Information Technology. Technology is expected to show its continued fundamental strength through the current stay-at-home environment. Global demand can continue to drive growth. Communication Services. Strong growth trends of interactive media and entertainment, as well as traditional industries, present opportunities as the economy reopens. Health Care. This defensive sector is well-positioned for short- and long-term trends of growth. Financials. With modest interest rate increases limiting net interest margins, banks’ profitability may be a challenge for now. The subsectors — asset management, capital markets, financial exchanges, and fin-tech — are well poised. Energy. Energy may benefit most from rotational shifts. Patience is vital as we assess the economic environment. Basic Materials. A weakening dollar and a rise in commodity prices would help materials flourish in a recovering economy. Real Estate. Relative performance for the real estate sector has been lackluster. Subsectors of real estate such as data centers, towers, timber, self-storage, and apartments are not as challenged as others, such as lodging, retail, and office. Consumer Staples and Utilities. These defensive sectors are expected to lag the overall equity market as the economy reopens.

Most investors should seek diversity to balance risk versus reward. For this reason, even the least-favored sectors may be appropriate for portfolios seeking a more balanced equity allocation. Those investors seeking a more aggressive investment style may choose to overweight the preferred sectors and entirely avoid the least-favored sectors. Kristin Hovencamp is an Investment Executive, and Director of Business Development with HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC, independent of Raymond James and is not a registered broker/dealer. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. 675 Sun Valley Road, Suite J1 + J2 Ketchum, Idaho 83340 208.726.0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

KATE NIXON

Ban Wolf Trapping

Concerned hikers, dog lovers and equestrians, please unite and take a moment to support banning wolf trapping in our Valley. Email Fish and Game at Commission@idfg.idaho.gov. My father, Jim Nixon, worked for the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery in Stanley for over 20 years. Our former family ranch is now known to Fish and Game as the Cecil Andrus Game Reserve near Cambridge. Our family has been in Idaho before statehood. We have a long history of conservation and cooperation with wildlife, the land, and ranching for five generations in this state. I have five horses and three dogs that enjoy backcountry riding. Our trails here are seeing so much more traffic and use. I cannot imagine the trauma these traps could cause a human, dog or other animal. Hunt wolves with bullets. We taxpayers never should have allowed the reintroduction of wolves anyways. We pay to reintroduce them, we pay to track and manage them, we pay to reduce their numbers, we pay to reimburse livestock producers for their losses. I was a kid when my dad began working for the the Sawtooth Hatchery in 1985. Our first two winters were spent north of Stanley on a ranch with a native pack of wolves. They killed our house cat and at night we’d throw firecrackers out the door before turning the dogs out. I’m all for reducing wolf populations—just not with traps, please. Regards, Kate Nixon

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

JENNIFER MONTGOMERY

Against Wolf Trapping

I am against trapping. Traps pose a threat and danger to people, domestic pets, and wildlife (targeted and non-targeted). It is not humane, requires little to no skill and does not respect the fact that public land belongs to the 1.9 million Idaho citizens (and growing)—not just the 2,000 registered trappers. We are the number one fastest growing state in the country. Arizona is in second place. Arizona, along with New Mexico, Colorado and California, has disallowed trapping on public land. I have had the privilege of knowing many of the wolf experts, traveling in our wonderful wilderness and experiencing wolves first-hand. That is coupled with acquired knowledge based on fact and science. Wolves are a vital part of our ecosystem and often demonstrate characteristics that are more exemplary than some of humankind. Regrettably and wrongly, they have become "political tools." In [Idaho Department of Fish & Game] Units 48 and 49, we have repeatedly proven that trapping wolves is contradictory with our values of coexistence and respect for wildlife and our value of outdoor recreation in its many forms, year-round. This a major cog-in-thewheel for our economy, bringing tourists/guests from all over the country and the world to Idaho! Sincerely, Jennifer Montgomery, Hailey

BY DOVE

had the opportunity this past week of creating a wedding ceremony for a loving couple and also to do some energy work with young people that were in the process of learning to create the lives they want by loving themselves. The two things together inspired me to wonder how can we actually balance our own masculine and feminine energy to become our best support partner—to love ourselves enough to be complete, whether we are in a relationship with someone or just ourselves. It is indeed possible to be complete and whole with just yourself, and in doing so you become the perfect partner for another. When you are whole, you are not needy and your energy is freed up to have plenty to give to another person. And, the person you attract to yourself will be equally whole. The key to creating the perfect relationship is to create it first in yourself and then you get to share that beautiful self with another being if you so choose. Somehow, the concept of being unworthy has permeated our environment and become a dominant energy form, but it is time to create a different way of being. Know you are worthy just because you are. You do not have to prove anything to anyone. Just be love. Find an example of something physical that you feel great love for easily. My dog gives and receives the energy of unconditional love. I would say, love like a dog that has been unconditionally loved and you will have that key to a joyful life. Look for opportunities to share that love on a daily basis. Can you imagine the changes that would occur in our physical world if we each took a moment every day to love ourselves, first unconditionally and then extend that love out to the planet and all living things. Make an effort to love someone or something unconditionally every day. It will change your life dramatically. Never itemize the reasons you aren’t lovable, which we all tend to do. Instead, itemize all the reasons you are lovable. Where your focus goes, energy flows. You are not required to earn love—it is your right. Stake you claim right now that love is yours by divine right. Be your own best partner and then share yourself with the world.

ON LIFE’S TERMS

JOELLEN COLLINS

Happy Flying

By JoEllen Collins

he concept of happy flying is rare amidst the restrictions and uncertainties of travel during our time of discontent with the pandemic, a situation narrowing our focus and our lives, physically and emotionally. However, this past weekend I experienced a day of air travel that proved surprisingly positive. As background, it may be helpful to understand why this particular trip seemed so necessary to me. Even with a lifelong pattern of exotic travel and trips to be with loved ones, I haven’t been anywhere since I left California to return home to Idaho in early March of 2020. I was spending that time to be close to family, something I have accomplished most winters, especially since the birth of my grandchildren. I have tried staying with friends for short times, renting Airbnb places, taking advantage of home exchange possibilities, and anything that would let me be there in the winter. (Because I am an aging klutz, winter sports aren’t my forte.) By renting out my Ketchum condo, I am able to afford this break from slippery ice. This year, however, COVID-19 changed everything… the desire to travel equaled the fear of catching or giving others the virus. Fortunately, I received the vaccine, tested negative, finalized arrangements with the same renter from last year, and was gifted with frequent-flyer miles from my daughters. Happily, I cleared closets, spiffed up the rest of the condo, and repaired necessary household glitches. Then, about two weeks before my scheduled flight, the ravages of a natural progression of de- JoEllen Collins—a longtime teriorating spinal components hit me, and doctors resident of the Wood River determined that the constant though thankful- Valley— is an Idaho Press ly not extreme pain in my back and left leg was Club award-winning columcaused by a herniated disk, along with mild sco- nist, a teacher, writer, fabric liosis and the appearance of possible future prob- artist, choir member and unabashedly proud grandma lems with disks. I received high-quality, caring help from St. known as “Bibi Jo.” Luke’s doctors and decided to fly even if it was uncomfortable. So, on Valentine’s Day, I boarded Delta flights to LAX and then SFO, double masked and using a wheelchair, for the first time ever, to navigate what is usually the very crowded and lengthy terminal space at both airports. I didn’t want to do this but decided that I should arrive relatively pain-free as my grandchildren’s Valentine. Upon landing at LAX, I awaited the wheelchair by the off-ramp. After several minutes, the pilot got up from his break in the cockpit to ask me if I needed help. He said, “Wait right here. I’ll be back.” In a couple of minutes he returned from the terminal with a wheelchair, personally helped me in it and then assisted me to the waiting area, all with a smile. At both airports, the Delta staff were absolutely polite and concerned, and even a nearby passenger offered to help me open a stubborn water bottle. I was reminded of the time of earlier and simpler airline travel. I arrived for my stay with a renewed sense of the possibilities for comfort and positive human connection, even after a horrible 2020.

Wood River Weekly

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

OPINION

CAITLIN JOHNSTONE

Biden Continues Trump’s War On The Press

by Caitlin Johnstone

ust one day after a coalition of prominent civil rights groups made headlines with a letter urging the Biden administration to drop efforts to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States on espionage charges, the Biden administration has announced its intention to continue those efforts.

"Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi on Tuesday said the U.S. government will continue to challenge a British judge’s ruling last month that Assange should not be extradited to the United States because of the risk he would commit suicide," Reuters reports. “We continue to seek his extradition,” Raimondi said. If those who denounced Trump's attacks on press freedom actually meant what they said, they will be the first to denounce the Biden admin's decision to *continue* the most egregious and harmful one. Where are you at on this, @BernieSanders @ AOC @NancyPelosi @SenSchumer? https://t.co/sOIxfEmESk — Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) February 9, 2021 Assange's arrest and subsequent charges under the Espionage Act in 2019 for what amount to standard journalistic practices which exposed US war crimes marked both a dramatic escalation in the US empire's war on critical national security journalism and a sharp divergence from the Obama administration's decision not to pursue such charges in this case. Biden is not just upholding Trump's assault on press freedoms (far and away the single most egregious attack on journalism in the 45th president's entire four years in office), he is rejecting the Obama administration's decision not to charge Assange due to concerns that it would erode the First Amendment. As The Washington Post reported during Barack Obama's second term in 2013: "The Justice Department has all but concluded it will not bring charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing classified documents because government lawyers said they could not do so without also prosecuting U.S. news organizations and journalists, according to U.S. officials." ... “The problem the department has always had in investigating Julian Assange is there is no way to prosecute him for publishing information without the same theory being applied to journalists,” said former Justice Department spokesman Matthew Miller. “And if you are not going to prosecute journalists for publishing classified information, which the department is not, then there is no way to prosecute Assange.” Nothing about this has changed. The Trump administration did not have access to any evidence that the Obama administration did not also have in 2013, it just chose to squint at the law from a different angle and legally interpret Assange's journalistic activities as a violation of the Espionage Act. There is nothing whatsoever preventing other journalists around the world from facing the same fate under similarly dubious legal interpretations. The US Department of Justice is not going to be using other people's personal definitions of what constitutes legitimate journalistic activity going forward, it's going to be using its own. As the Obama DOJ Concluded, Prosecution of Julian Assange For Publishing Documents Poses Grave Threats to Press Freedom https://t.co/iyZMRhSu0Q — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) November 16, 2018 Biden's divergence from the Obama administration's less authoritarian position on the matter should not come as much of a surprise, since he took an absurdly hard line against WikiLeaks after the first publications of the earth-shattering Manning leaks in 2010. "I would argue it is closer to being a hi-tech terrorist than the Pentagon papers," Biden said of Assange at the time. "But, look, this guy has done things that have damaged and put in jeopardy the lives and occupations of people in other parts of the world." It should also come as no surprise because, all things considered, this administration has not been much different from the previous one in terms of actual policy. The policy of regime change interventionism in Venezuela is the same. The policy of hawkishness toward China is the same. The policy of starvation sanctions against Iran is effectively the same. In a recent CNN interview Secretary of State Tony Blinken could not speak highly enough of Trump's more incendiary foreign policy decisions like moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the illegally occupied Golan Heights as Israeli territory. There are far, far more similarities between the Trump administration and the Biden administration than there are differences. As is consistently the case with US presidents, the narratives are different, the campaign platforms are different, the political parties are different, but the actual policies and behaviors remain more or less the same. Blinken is a bigger fan of Trump's foreign policy than half the Trump administration. https://t.co/tajQye9JGX — Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz) February 9, 2021 None of this means we should stop fighting tooth and claw for Assange's freedom: the fight is far from over. There is still time for the Biden administration to opt against appealing the UK court decision not to extradite, thereby leaving the entire embarrassing extradition attempt on Trump's lap. "The US may submit its Assange appeal filing by Friday to meet its deadline, but one would expect a serious policy decision to be made by the new Attorney General who, once confirmed, can review the incredibly weak case against Assange in full before making a determination," a statement by the Courage Foundation reads.

"Reports are circulating that an interim spokesperson says the Biden admin will continue the Assange case. The incoming DOJ, whose Attorney General is yet to be confirmed, can drop the charges against Assange at any time, including after this Friday’s appeal deadline." So we keep pushing. We cannot allow a corrupt and murderous globe-spanning empire to effectively outlaw inconvenient journalism around the world in the way it would by setting the legal precedent it is trying to set with the Assange case. If journalists everywhere know they can be extradited and imprisoned for publishing inconvenient facts about the US-centralized empire, they will largely refrain from doing so. And that is the whole idea. Through WikiLeaks Julian Assange has revealed a lot of damning information about the most powerful entities on our planet, but by far the most damning revelation he provided was not a WikiLeaks release at all: it was the revelation that "free democracies" like the US and the UK will openly imprison and torture a journalist for telling the truth. This has been seen, and it cannot be unseen. We owe him a great debt for bringing such facts into the light. The least we can do is try to get him out of there now. Publishers note: To read this piece with all the links, go to https://caitlinjohnstone. com/2021/02/10/biden-continues-trumps-war-on-the-press/

4TH ESTATE

ERIC VALENTINE

A ‘Rush’ To Judge

By Eric Valentine

f you want to stir someone up, say something about the passing of Rush Limbaugh. Pro or con, harsh or kind, your words will—like so many of his— divide. That division for some was not “divisiveness.” Rather, it was a line in the sand to stand up and speak out about what they stand for and what they believe America should stand for. Limbaugh’s mostly radio broadcast diatribes went beyond whether we tax the rich too little or too much. His dug deep into the soul of people. During the height of the HIV-AIDS crisis, Limbaugh had a show segment where he would joyfully announce to music the deaths of people he described as “militant homosexuals” Rush Limbaugh, 1951–2021. Photo credit: who had AIDS. Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United So when social media threads rid- States of America iculed his demise with words and thoughts reserved for only one’s worst enemies, some Limbaugh supporters decried it as examples of liberal hypocrisy and hate. Defensively postured liberals then retorted with, among less printable slurs, scripture quotes like Galatians 6:7, a person will reap what one sows. Others asked the question: Did you speak up when Rush was being offensive? Silence. And there passed the opportunity to discuss and debate and develop ideas clearly concerning to people who love their country and want what they feel is best for culture and society. Yes, love him or hate him (there’s often no in between), Limbaugh was a man of ideas. How one opines on an idea is only critiqued because the idea is critical. It doesn’t mean Limbaugh was ever right or wrong, it doesn’t mean he did or didn’t deserve a Medal of Freedom, it doesn’t mean he was fairly compensated or just grifted America with sensationalism. But it does mean his impact was important. And to not see a connection—intended or inadvertent— between the career of Limbaugh and where America finds itself today in its battle with fact and truth, is to be blind. Whether it’s the Rush Limbaugh show or [insert the show of an equal villain representing the left], I do believe our country would be better off without them. I don’t mean that in the mean way. And, I’m not alone. From Wikipedia: “The fairness doctrine of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, was a policy that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was honest, equitable, and balanced. The FCC eliminated the policy in 1987.” I’ll give you one guess when “The Rush Limbaugh Show” was first broadcast. Hint: Ronald Reagan was still president. Let’s be clear: one well-intended policy does not change a nation’s soul. But a nation’s soul does impact our policies. And now, nearly a quarter century after that policy’s demise, one of its biggest beneficiaries is now dead. Very alive though is the void of equitable presentation of ideas in American media. I’m not talking about the news. For the most part, news broadcasts report the facts of a matter and the interpretations of those facts by stakeholders on either side. It’s the broadcasts where larger ideas are discussed that have become problematic. Some of them are designed simply to shock. Others are so worried about offending someone, honest dialogue isn’t heard from anyone. So, let me be fair right now. That early controversy Limbaugh found himself in related to victims of AIDS, he tried to make up for it, at least a bit. Not long after a group of activists disrupted Limbaugh’s appearance on The Pat Sajak Show, he discontinued the “AIDS Update” segment of his show. He also donated $10,000 to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Does that make him a saint? Hardly. But it shows he had a conscience, our primitive sense of basic fairness, that ability to empathize to two sides of a story to at least some degree. So, when you watch or listen to or read something controversial that only makes you feel how right you already are, your conscience may not be conscious.

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Jane D Sells 5B

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February 24 - March 9, 2021

MIKE MCKENNA

Hard way Pipeline

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ou never know where life is going to lead you, but if you’re lucky, it will be to a place like Hailey. Jane Dynduik can certainly testify to this. “Miss Jane” (as she’s known to countless local kids who went to Hailey Elementary School) lived in a half-dozen states before she finally called Hailey home. Her husband, Peter, originally brought her here 20 years ago on an impromptu vacation. An avid mountain biker and former racer, Peter had visited Sun Valley before to ride the “best mountain biking in the world” and fell in love with the place. He wanted to make sure Jane would like our little slice of Idaho as much as he did. “Peter wined and dined me. We stayed at the Knob Hill Inn. We went fly fishing,” said Jane, who swiftly fell for the Wood River Valley herself. “You could be in the wilderness five minutes from town. Most of the other places I lived, it took at least an hour just to get out of town. It was totally amazing.” Jane’s appreciation for Hailey only increased— and dramatically so—after moving here. Shortly after settling in, Jane found out she had lupus, an autoimmune disease that can attack any part of the body. “It’s a life-changing event,” Jane said about battling a disease that, among other things, forces her to avoid sunlight. “The lesson for me was that I could get really excellent medical care here. I’ve been pretty lucky compared to most people.” After working for Sawtooth Title, Jane took a job with the School District, manning the front desk at Hailey Elementary for 14 years before retiring in 2017. Jane’s smiling face was a friendly staple at the school, where she greeted thousands of kids and families over the years. She still can’t go anyplace in town without hearing someone call out, “Hi, Miss Jane!” Miss Jane has been selling real estate as part of the team at Hallmark Idaho Properties since she left the school. Jane sold real estate in Minnesota and had kept up her license in Idaho, because sell-

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

Sunny 6%

high 32º

low 7º WEDNESDAY

Mostly Cloudy 24%

high 29º low 15º THURSDAY

Snow Showers 52%

high 30º low 9º FRIDAY

Partly Cloudy 12%

high 31º low 10º SATURDAY

Mostly Sunny 4%

high 33º low 17º SUNDAY

Partly Cloudy 24%

high 37º low 21º MONDAY

Partly Cloudy 7%

high 39º low 20º TUESDAY

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