WRW 8 February 2023

Considering the cold temperatures that greeted organizers of the Billy Goat Loppet, there were over 50 diehard skiers that turned up to ski the 10 km course at the Sun Valley Nordic Center on Saturday, January 21st, 2023. Photo credit: Jenny Busdon

SUN VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL HOSTS PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND EVENT

Three events taking place Presidents’ Day weekend preclude this year’s Sun Valley Film Festival, which will be held March 29–April 2 at various locations throughout the Wood River Valley.

Free or low-cost admission makes event accessible to local community

By HAYDEN SEDER

Over two days of Presidents’ Day weekend, the Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) is putting on three events at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum. These events are a great precursor to the actual Film Festival, taking place March 29–April 2, 2023.

The weekend will kick off on Sunday, Feb. 19, with an encore screening of National Geographic Documentary Films’ Fire of Love at the Argyros at 2:30 p.m. An extraordinary love story of French scientists Katie and Maurice Krafft, this film captures spectacular imagery of their greatest passion: volcanoes. The Academy Award-nominated film for Best Documentary Feature is directed by Sara Dosa and narrated by Miranda July. The screening will be accompanied by a Q&A with associate producer Elijah Stevens. Admission is free and open to the public, though priority access will be given to 2023 festival passholders.

Following the Fire of Love screening is “Movie Night in Sun Valley” with Boise State Public Radio and Morning Edition’s George Prentice. Described by Festival founder and executive director Teddy Grennan as a “film geek society” night, the event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Argyros and will be a fun, fast-paced showcase of the most talked about (and sometimes debated) films of the season. There will be some exclusive moments with the year’s most celebrated storytellers and a sneak peek at what the 2023 Film Festival will bring. With prizes, games, and plenty of surprises, it promises to be a fun night! General admission is $10 or included with the purchase of a 2023 festival patron pass.

The final event of the weekend is a SVFFirst Look of the third season of Outer Banks. Festival attendees to the 2022 event will remember the cast of Outer Banks in attendance and the many events throughout town the cast participated in. On Monday, Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Argyros, there will be an advance screening of the third season of the show followed by a Q&A with show actor Charles Esten, creator/ showrunner/executive producer Josh Pate, and producer Sunny Hodge. Admission is free and open to the public for this event, though priority access is given to 2023 festival passholders.

The Presidents’ Day weekend series of events is a continuation of the SVFF’s seasonal programming that takes place throughout the year. Other recent seasonal programming includes two special screenings in December 2022 of Women Talking and Wildcat, which the director Trevor Frost was in attendance for. In January of this year, there was an SVFFirst Look screening of Bruiser followed by a Q&A with director Miles Warren.

Grennan explains that these events aren’t just for people visiting or who come specifically for a film festival event. “We want people who are visiting Sun Valley to be aware of the film fest, but also for people to know that there’s other things to do on top of everything else the Valley has to offer.”

With such an amazing lineup of events, it’s somewhat surprising that admission is either free or low-cost to this slate of programming. But for Grennan and the SVFF, it’s important to make sure the festival and many of its events remain accessible to the local community. “Our Coffee Talks are free, so it’s in that spirit that we wanted

to keep costs low,” Grennan explains. “We want people to come and take the time to visit. These sneak peeks—it’s us sharing with the town.”

Following in that spirit, the SVFF has created a new program to make participation in the festival more accessible to high school and college students. Student passes, priced at $75 for the festival, include admission to five festival films, the Screenwriters Lab, the Sun Valley Junior Film Competition screening, and meet-and-greet events. Festival supporters also have the ability to sponsor a student through the “pass it forward” program for local students.

Passes for the Film Festival are on sale now and often sell out, so be sure to get them now so you can have continued access to the high-caliber films and events put on by SVFF. Grennan says there’s an unbelievable lineup of films for this year, in addition to amazing filmmakers, events, parties, bands, and more!

Photo courtesy Sun Valley Film Festival

Sun Valley Film Festival’s Presidents’ Day weekend will kick off Sunday, Feb. 19 with National Geographic Documentary Film’s Fire of Love screening 2:30 p.m. at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum. Photo courtesy Sun Valley Film Festival

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DEADLINES

NORDIC SKI EVENTS RESULTS

Billy Goat Loppet

Winter in Idaho’s Wood River Valley means lots of snow and plenty of ways to enjoy it, including unique events like the annual Wood River Extreme Ski Joring Races, set to take place February 18-19, 2023, in Bellevue, Idaho.

Produced by the Wood Extreme Ski Joring Association (WRESJA), this event features cowboys with their fast horses racing with brave skiers and snowboarders and promises a weekend of fast-action fun that the whole family will enjoy. Ski Joring is a winter sport in which a person on skis is pulled by a horse, a dog or a motor vehicle. It is derived from the Norwegian word skikjøring, meaning “ski driving”. In the Wood River Valley horses are used. A successful run of this race means crossing the finish line of the 600-900-foot course with the skier having executed one to three jumps ranging from three to six feet high and grabbing from three to nine rings. The rider must also grab a ring. Points are deducted for missed or dropped rings and missed jumps. Speed – which often reaches 40 miles per hour – is a factor. Winners are based on the combined overall score for both days. This year the WRESJA races will also feature a couple’s division and stick horse races for 10 & under.

The WRESJA races will take place at 81 Browning Lane in Bellevue on Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19, starting at 12noon each day. There is an admission fee of $10 per spectator, children 12 and under are free, and a portion of the fees with be donated to the Wood River High School Rodeo Team. Please bring your lawn chairs but no dogs. This family-friendly weekend event will also feature concessions at the races, a raffle to support a local area non-profit and evening events that include a team auction on Saturday night, 6:30 p.m. at Mahoney’s Bar & Grill in Bellevue and awards party on Sunday night, 5:30 p.m. at 7 Fuego restaurant in Gannett.

For those interested in competing, sign-ups are Friday night, at Mahoney’s in Bellevue from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. There is also a teamup page on Facebook if you need a partner www.facebook.com/ groups/wresja.teamup/

EVENT INFO

Sign up at Mahoney’s Bar & Grill in Bellevue on February 17th 6pm-9pm

Race will be Feb. 18th & 19th at high noon

81 browning lane, Bellevue, id

Contact info: Bill Bobbitt (208) 720-7798 www.woodriveresja.com

A team races to the finish line in a previous Wood River Extreme Ski Joring event. Photo credit: Mark LaRowe

2023 Sun Valley

Writers’ Conference Passes on Sale

Passes for the 2023 Sun Valley Writers’ Conference will be available starting at 10am (Mountain Time) on February 16. They will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis directly from the SVWC website (svwc.com/attend). As in years past, passes will sell out quickly—even within minutes—so be sure to mark your calendars!

This year, two passes will be offered—a Full Conference Pass ($1,100) and a half-price Next Generation Pass for those age 35 and under ($550). Both passes provide access to all the wonder of the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference throughout the three-day event—all Pavilion talks, intimate breakout sessions, book signings, Q & As, breakfasts and lunches, and a closing reception on the stunning Sun Valley Pavilion lawn.

If passes sell out, sign-ups for a waiting list will open and those on the list will be notified in the order submissions are received in case any additional passes become available. There will also be the opportunity to purchase single event tickets ($35 each), livestream for free, or attend the free Pavilion lawn talks—all for select talks only. Schedule and talks are still to be determined and will be announced closer to the Conference dates. The free Community Speaker Series, in partnership with The Community Library, will also be happening again this July, with more details to be released soon.

The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is pleased to offer the half-price Next Generation Pass again for 2023. This $550 pass is available for those age 35 and under, inspiring the “next generation” to become lifelong SVWC supporters.

This pass allows the Wood River Valley’s youth to experience all the wonder of the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference throughout the three-day event at half the price. There is a limited supply, so it is recommended not to wait to purchase.

For several days each summer at the Sun Valley Resort, some of the country’s— and the world’s—best writers and thinkers, including fiction and nonfiction writers, journalists, playwrights, poets, and filmmakers, talk about their work and the world at the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference. The event’s past presenters have included Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, and winners of the elite Mann Booker Prize given in Great Britain. Together, writers and readers freely exchange ideas, concerns, hopes, and aspirations.

The audience enjoys talks presented in the stunning outdoor Sun Valley Pavilion and smaller, more intimate sessions with favorite speakers, as well as musical performances and films. The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is a nonprofit organization. For more information, please visit svwc.com. Photographs are available upon request.

Annual Nordic Cup Race at Quigley on Sunday

Kids ages 3-13 are invited to spend the morning on the trails at the BCRD Quigley Nordic center in Hailey. Classic and skating events on courses ranging in distances from 0.5 kilometers to 3k are offered.

This year’s theme is Gliding to Freedom. Red, white, and blue costumes are encouraged. Held since 2006, the Nordic Cup is staged in partnership with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and Blaine County Recreation District.

The Nordic Cup Race is FREE to the community. Sign up at papooseclub.org/nordic-cup-pre-registration

Race location is the BCRD Quigley Nordic Center, Hailey. Day of race registration @ 8:30AM. Race start @ 10:00, awards and refreshments to follow.

Volunteers appreciated. Please visit us at www.papooseclub.org and click on the volunteer link. Or contact Sharla Smith 541-646-1946 or sharla.smith.vacasa@gmail.com.

Idaho Plunges from #7 to #23 in National Conservative Rankings

ALEXANDRIA, VA (February 2, 2023) The voting of Idaho’s state lawmakers trended much more liberal last year, dropping the state from #7 to #23 in the national conservative rankings produced by the Center for Legislative Accountability (CLA). The rankings are based on analyses of the voting of all 7,400 state lawmakers in the nation, including over 265,000 individual votes across 3,500 different bills introduced across the 50 state legislatures. Idaho’s conservative rating fell from 69.93% to a dismal 59.29% last session, with only 34 of the state’s 93 Republican lawmakers receiving awards for voting in-line with the conservative position at least 80% of the time. The conservative rating is based on lawmaker voting across 186 policy areas ranging from cultural and life issues to tax, fiscal, and regulatory policies.

There is an opportunity for improvement in Idaho’s ranking as Rep. Mike Moyle (a stellar 86% conservative rating) has recently been sworn in as Speaker. But major concerns still remain on the Senate side where the conservative ratings of many members and leadership hover around a mere 50-54%. However, CPAC looks forward to working with leadership and all members to help return Idaho to a top 10 state.

I Take Your Hand In Mine - A Play Reading

Written by Carol Rocamora based on the love letters between playwright Anton Chekhov and famed actress Olga Knipper. They knew each other only six years; they were married for three of them until Anton’s death in July, 1904. During those six years his health and her work kept them apart most of the time. Their love story is brought to life vividly through the roughly 400 letters written by each of them. Eloquent and moving, the play is an exploration of this couple’s short but beautiful time together.

Info:

A play reading, produced by TLTC and presented at The Mint in Hailey.

Tix available at LibertyTheatreCompany.org, or call 208-582-8388. Pay what you feel.

Directed by local artist Naomi McDougall Jones.

Starring Courtney Loving & Joel Vilinsky

Plays February 14, 17 & 18 at 7pm.

Drinks available for purchase each night courtesy of The Mint. 75 minutes, no intermission.

Tickets are general admission.

RATES (includes Full Color)

Quarter Junior Horizontal (5.78” x 3.875”) .....$225

Quarter Junior Vertical (3.8” x 7.875”) ...........$185

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

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

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

More Evidence That The West Sabotaged Peace In Ukraine

Days after the war in Ukraine began it was reported by The New York Times that “President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has asked the Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, to mediate negotiations in Jerusalem between Ukraine and Russia.” In a recent interview, Bennett made some very interesting comments about what happened during those negotiations in the early days of the war.

In a new article titled “Former Israeli PM Bennett Says US ‘Blocked’ His Attempts at a Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal,” Antiwar’s Dave DeCamp writes the following:

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in an interview posted to his YouTube channel on Saturday that the US and its Western allies “blocked” his efforts of mediating between Russia and Ukraine to bring an end to the war in its early days.

On March 4, 2022, Bennett traveled to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin. In the interview, he detailed his mediation at the time between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which he said he coordinated with the US, France, Germany, and the UK.

Bennett said that both sides agreed to major concessions during his mediation effort.

But ultimately, the Western leaders opposed Bennet’s efforts. “I’ll say this in the broad sense. I think there was a legitimate decision by the West to keep striking Putin and not [negotiate],” Bennett said.

When asked if the Western powers “blocked” the mediation efforts, Bennet said, “Basically, yes. They blocked it, and I thought they were wrong.”

According to multiple former senior U.S. officials we spoke with, in April 2022, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators appeared to have tentatively agreed on the outlines of a negotiated interim settlement: Russia would withdraw to its position on February 23, when it controlled part of the Donbas region and all of Crimea, and in exchange, Ukraine would promise not to seek NATO membership and instead receive security guarantees from a number of countries.

In March of last year Bloomberg’s Niall Ferguson reported that sources in the US and UK governments had told him the real goal of western powers in this conflict is not to negotiate peace or end the war quickly, but to prolong it in order “bleed Putin” and achieve regime change in Moscow. Ferguson wrote that he has reached the conclusion that “the U.S. intends to keep this war going,” and says he has other sources to corroborate this:

“The only end game now,” a senior administration official was heard to say at a private event earlier this month, “is the end of Putin regime. Until then, all the time Putin stays, [Russia] will be a pariah state that will never be welcomed back into the community of nations. China has made a huge error in thinking Putin will get away with it. Seeing Russia get cut off will not look like a good vector and they’ll have to re-evaluate the Sino-Russia axis. All this is to say that democracy and the West may well look back on this as a pivotal strengthening moment.”

I gather that senior British figures are talking in similar terms. There is a belief that “the U.K.’s No. 1 option is for the conflict to be extended and thereby bleed Putin.” Again and again, I hear such language. It helps explain, among other things, the lack of any diplomatic effort by the U.S. to secure a cease-fire. It also explains the readiness of President Joe Biden to call Putin a war criminal.

All this taken together heavily substantiates the claim made by Vladimir Putin this past September that Russia and Ukraine had been on the cusp of peace shortly after the start of the war, but western powers ordered Kyiv to “wreck” the negotitations.

“After the start of the special military operation, in particular after the Istanbul talks, Kyiv representatives voiced quite a positive response to our proposals,” Putin said. “These proposals concerned above all ensuring Russia’s security and interests. But a peaceful settlement obviously did not suit the West, which is why, after certain compromises were coordinated, Kyiv was actually ordered to wreck all these agreements.”

“President Zelensky is an inspiring leader,” McConnell said in his speech ahead of the Ukrainian president’s visit to Washington. “But the most basic reasons for continuing to help Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are cold, hard, practical American interests. Helping equip our friends in Eastern Europe to win this war is also a direct investment in reducing Vladimir Putin’s future capabilities to menace America, threaten our allies, and contest our core interests.”

Bennett says the concessions each side was prepared to make included the renunciation of future NATO membership for Ukraine, and on Russia’s end dropping the goals of “denazification” and Ukrainian disarmament. As DeCamp notes, this matches up with an Axios report from early March that “According to Israeli officials, Putin’s proposal is difficult for Zelensky to accept but not as extreme as they anticipated. They said the proposal doesn’t include regime change in Kyiv and allows Ukraine to keep its sovereignty.”

Bennett is about as unsavory a character as exists in the world today, but Israel’s complicated relationship with this war lends itself to the occasional release of information not fully in alignment with the official imperial line. And his comments here only add to a pile of information that’s been coming out for months which says the same thing, not just regarding the sabotage of peace talks in March but in April as well.

In May of last year Ukrainian media reported that then-British prime minister Boris Johnson had flown to Kyiv the previous month to pass on the message on behalf of the western empire that “Putin is a war criminal, he should be pressured, not negotiated with,” and that “even if Ukraine is ready to sign some agreements on guarantees with Putin, they are not.”

In April of last year, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that “there are those within the NATO member states that want the war to continue, let the war continue and Russia gets weaker.” Shortly thereafter, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the goal in Ukraine is “to see Russia weakened.”

A September Foreign Affairs report by Fiona Hill asserts that in April of last year a peace deal had been in the works between Moscow and Kyiv, which would presumably have been the agreement that Johnson et al were able to sabotage:

Month after month it’s been reported that US diplomats have been steadfastly refusing to engage in diplomacy with Russia to help bring an end to this war, an inexcusable rejection that would only make sense if the US wants this war to continue. And comments from US officials continually make it clear that this is the case.

In March of last year President Biden himself acknowledged what the real game is here with an open call for regime change, saying of Putin, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” Statements from the Biden administration in fact indicate that they expect this war to drag on for a long time, making it abundantly clear that a swift end to minimize the death and destruction is not just uninteresting but undesirable for the US empire.

US officials are becoming more and more open about the fact that they see this war as something that serves their strategic objectives, which would of course contradict the official narrative that the western empire did not want this war and the infantile fiction that Russia’s invasion was “unprovoked”. Recent examples of this would include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s speech ahead of Zelensky’s visit to Washington in December.

In May of last year Congressman Dan Crenshaw said on Twitter that “investing in the destruction of our adversary’s military, without losing a single American troop, strikes me as a good idea.”

Indeed, a report by the empire-funded Center for European Policy Analysis titled “It’s Costing Peanuts for the US to Defeat Russia” asserts that the “US spending of 5.6% of its defense budget to destroy nearly half of Russia’s conventional military capability seems like an absolutely incredible investment.”

In May of last year US Senator Joe Manchin said at the World Economic Forum that he opposes any kind of peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, preferring instead to use the conflict to hurt Russian interests and hopefully remove Putin.

“I am totally committed, as one person, to seeing Ukraine to the end with a win, not basically with some kind of a treaty; I don’t think that is where we are and where we should be,” Manchin said.

“I mean basically moving Putin back to Russia and hopefully getting rid of Putin,” Manchin added when asked what he meant by a win for Ukraine.

“I believe strongly that I have never seen, and the people I talk strategically have never seen, an opportunity more than this, to do what needs to be done,” Manchin later added.

Then you’ve got US officials telling the press that they plan to use this war to hurt Russia’s fossil fuel interests, “with the long-term goal of destroying the country’s central role in the global energy economy” according to The New York Times. You’ve also got the fact that the US State Department can’t stop talking about how great it is that Russia’s Nord Stream Pipelines were sabotaged in September of last year, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying the Nord Stream bombing “offers tremendous strategic opportunity” and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland saying the Biden administration is “very gratified to know that Nord Stream 2 is now, as you like to say, a hunk of metal at the bottom of the sea.”

The US empire is getting everything it wants out of this proxy war. That’s why it knowingly provoked this war, that’s why it repeatedly sabotaged the outbreak of peace after the war broke out, and that’s why this proxy war has no exit strategy. The empire is getting everything it wants from this war, so why wouldn’t it do everything in its power to obstruct peace?

I mean, besides the obvious unforgivable depravity of it all, of course. The empire has always been fine with cracking a few hundred thousand human eggs in order to cook the imperial omelette. It is unfathomably, unforgivably evil, though, and it should outrage everyone.

THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 8 - 21

FROM PICABO ANGLER

Warmer temperatures have been in the forecast locally, and area fishing conditions will be productive under the right conditions. On select afternoons, midges have been hatching throughout the portion of Silver Creek that remains open to fishing. Long, light leaders and delicate presentations are required to fool these midging trout; 12’ – 15’ leaders tapered to 6X or 6.5X are the norm. Trailing-shuck midges, Tie-down midges, Griffith’s Gnats, and Fripple midges have all been effective patterns (size 18-22). There’s a bit of color to the creek, so streamer fishing should continue to produce. Sparkle Minnows, Zonkers, Clouser Minnows, and other baitfish imitations are very effective, as are small, dark leeches and woolly buggers. Balanced Leeches and Pine Squirrel Leeches in black are a great choice. If you decide to get in the float tube and fish Kilpatrick Pond, dress warm and don’t overdo it! As a reminder, Silver Creek remains open until the end of March on Kilpatrick Pond and on the section downstream of Highway 20.

Midge fishing is good on the Big Wood River as well. Look for foam lines and back eddies, and you will find the rising trout. Standard midge imitations, along with a tiny zebra midge dropper, are the way to go. Nymphing and streamer fishing continues to produce; while tried and true patterns are always effective (Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, Rubber Legs, etc.), don’t be afraid to show the fish something a little different!

If you’re looking to take a drive, both the Lower Big Lost River and South Fork Boise River have been productive lately under the right conditions. Again, midges, nymphs, and streamers are all producing at times.

While February is the shortest month of the year, sometimes it certainly feels like the longest! In addition to the local fishing opportunities, now is a good time to take a look at your gear and do any maintenance or replacement that’s needed.

Keep your fingers crossed for more high mountain snow, and as always, be safe out there.

Happy Fishing Everyone!

COMMENTARY HEART ATTACK!

By Fran Jewell

It is now February 2023. This month the American Heart Association makes a special effort to help educate women about heart disease. Since I am a survivor of a heart attack, I really feel committed to sharing this story AGAIN because it DOES pertain to our dogs.

My first appointment in cardiac rehab was incredibly scary. I was the ONLY woman in a large group of older men. Not only was I younger than the rest, it was painfully obvious that WOMEN DO NOT SURIVE HEART ATTACKS! Unaware to almost all women, heart attacks—and not breast cancer—are the NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN!!

Please, for the sake of your dog, and of your family, read my article and please become informed about the extremely unusual signs of a heart attack for women.

By now most of the locals know my recent expedition over Mount Heart Attack. Let me say that the journey there is far beyond any Everest climb! I am here today to tell you this story for several reasons. The first is to pay overwhelming tribute to St. Luke’s ER Dr. Torres and the forthright, honest and hard line that he took with me, someone in total denial of my health condition. The second is the extraordinarily compassionate and capable Life Flight crew that raced me to the Twin Falls Cath Lab and into the expert hands of cardiologist, Dr. Hymas. Without all of them and their support teams, I wouldn’t be here to tell you this story.

A day in Stanley with the dogs and my dear friend Margery left me a little tired. I was feeling like I had been experiencing panic attacks late into the day. But, after getting home, feeding the dogs and settling in for a

SCIENCE OF PLACE

peaceful night’s sleep, I was awakened by a horrible pain in my chest. I thought to myself, I am not experiencing all the symptoms I have read about for a heart attack, so I was unsure. I got up, walked around the house, then the pain started in my back. It was not crushing pain as I envisioned a heart attack to be. It didn’t make me fall over, or lose my breath. Although, what I could hear is my daughter’s voice — former executive director for the American Heart Association in Idaho — telling me that women do not experience heart attacks like men do. But still, I wondered. I was afraid to call 911. I had no idea what opening that door was going to do for SO many reasons.

Then the next thing happened—I felt the cold sweats. Not for long, though. It was that symptom that forced me into action.

Living with several very confident, very protective German shepherds has been a worry on my mind for many years, especially in this situation. Had I called 911, how would EMS get through the front door without a confrontation? And who would care for my dogs in my absence? Most dogs become extremely protective of their owner if they feel their owner is threatened. Even the most docile poodle can become a dog you have never experienced before. Owning German shepherds, I knew that instinctive protective nature would prevail. I know these things being the dog behavior specialist that I am.

In the past, I had this conversation with many of my German shepherd friends as well as my law enforcement friends; how would I protect my dogs in this type of emergency situation? I finally came to the conclusion that this scenario would be the one I would play out, if I was able.

I told all the dogs to go to their “nightnights.” In SECONDS, they scattered into their

individual crates. Not one, even my puppy, hesitated for a second to carry out my wishes. Happily, they went right in, lay down and waited for their treat. I didn’t have a treat, but they didn’t care. It took me another 10 seconds to walk around my living room to close the crate doors. Now they were safe. There would be no confrontation with anyone coming to the house to rescue ME.

Terrified, I made that call and within two minutes the Hailey police arrived ahead of the

COUNTDOWN TO SPRING

BY LARRY BARNES

The darkness of winter is losing its grip. The day length through January increased by about one minute per day and February will average two minutes daily. By March, the light will gain three minutes each day. March 20th, the first day of spring, will be three hours longer than January 1st. And during these frozen months of comparative quietude, the land and its creatures are getting ready.

A coyote’s urine along a ski trail on January 11th included some blood, a fact obvious to those species having a good nose. But because the urine was on snow, it could also be detected by humans. The blood revealed a female coyote in proestrus, which lasts 5-9 days and all of the coyotes within her scentscape probably knew about it, especially the males. She will stop bleeding and be in estrus for another 5-9 days, during which time she will mate. Her pregnancy will carry her 60 days through to spring and her pups will be born into the season of long days and a land comparatively saturated in rising opportunity.

A nearby fresh deer kill, probably taken by a mountain lion, was likely why the coyote was on the ski trail in the first place. The lion was gone, perhaps watching its kill from a few hundred yards away, reclined comfortably and invisibly in the sagebrush steppe. The scent of a dead deer had summoned at least one local coyote who waited a safe distance until the lion’s belly was full. The coyote’s turn had begun in the night as the lion moved off and ended with the rising sun that would bring the danger of humans—the coyote’s bipedal, diurnal, superpredator.

The dawn light turned a streak of blood on the snow into a beacon for 25 magpies and 10 ravens that were there in line behind two golden eagles, all aiming to turn that deer into more magpies, ravens, and eagles.

The eagles flushed first, the sight of a two-legged at 250 yards being enough to signal that it was time to leave. One labored across my path with heavy wingbeats, its goiter-like crop laden with venison, and landed on the snowy hillside to catch its breath on this calm morning.

The eagles were possibly a local pair and at this time of year they might find themselves reconnoitering last year’s nest site, perching near it and sensing a nascent hormonal tug toward parenthood in 2023. As day length increases, certain sticks will strike their fancy and they will carry them to their nest, land there, and with care, close examination, and a tilting head, rearrange nesting material until it is

just right to receive the annual symbol of immortality in the shape of eggs, usually two, in March.

The ravens were next in size and next in line at the kill, following life’s prime directives to obtain energy, stay alive, and make more ravens.

Here, in a country that freezes, the coming annual pulse of light will wake the land. The warmth will weaken the hydrogen bonds that have shackled life’s molecules during the frozen times. The light itself will turn trillions upon trillions of molecular cogs and levers to convert water and carbon dioxide into food for life, into more plants, coyotes, eagles, ravens, and magpies. But timing is critical and the window of opportunity short, and now is the time to get ready.

Larry Barnes retired from 26 years as a biology teacher at Wood River High School and is now transitioning to spending more time exploring the natural world.

My 105-pound, 10-year-old Baewulf loved a crate so much I found him in my puppy’s crate sound asleep! Photo credit: Fran Jewell

Coyote urine and blood in the snow show that spring is coming. Photo by L arry Barnes

WHAT IS YOUR CASH WORTH?

By KRISTIN HOVENCAMP

In 1966, humorist Jean Shepard wrote the book, In God We Trust, All Else Pay Cash Meant as a play on words, it still rings true. Whether it be for purposes of holding reserve funds or a liquidity event, investors have cash balances for a variety of reasons. But what if your money is worth less today than it was yesterday? Conservative fixed-income mutual funds, or Money Market Funds (MMF), are a consideration in a rising interest rate environment as a cash alternative.

For investors seeking to generate income from cash, MMF offer the following:

• Safety and Stability – Investments held in MMF may have minimal price volatility, high credit quality, and low levels of risk. MMF can also help offset the volatility of bonds and equities. The FDIC does not insure MMF.

• Liquidity – Assets are commonly available the following business day. It is good to remember that MMF can impose redemption fees or suspend an investor’s ability to sell their shares when selecting the fund(s) that meet your investment objectives.

• Shorter duration – MMF are subject to less interest rate risk due to the types of debt instruments and their short-maturity dates. MMF buy securities that mature within one year. However, there is no guarantee that the funds’ return will keep up with the inflation rate.

• Diversification – MMF hold many different debt securities from various issuers. Do due diligence on managers, fund objectives, and underlying securities.

SPLENDID SARIS

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

Two weeks ago, I experienced one of the loveliest times of my life. I write about it here not just to share travel stories (we all have good ones, I’m sure), but to share an experience which reminded me of my good fortune, even with the unexpected events and situations of my now long life. As a travel bug, I certainly have had times where odd events or timing have seemed perilous in another country, but often the missteps have resulted in unique and positive experiences and more appreciation for the good people one encounters everywhere in the world.

I flew on a very cold, early-morning flight to John Wayne Airport in Newport Beach. I often travel alone, but this time it seemed more daunting since I had arranged for a rental car to attend this particular celebration and then wend my way up the California freeways for more stops to visit dear friends I haven’t been able to see for long periods of time. Even though I learned how to drive on the Hollywood Freeway eons ago, I experienced abject fright at the speed and hostility of too many lane-changing drivers and closed exits being repaired.

When I had lunch with a friend in Burbank, the “small town” of my teenage years, I understood why driving has changed. Like the nearby highways, Burbank, though now embodying an energetic Hollywood flavor with its proximity to film venues, seems crowded.

Kristin Hovencamp is an Investment Executive and Director of Business Development with HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC.

• Taxable or tax-free income – MMF can invest in securities exempt from federal and potentially state income taxes.

• Yield – MMF can offer incremental yield in comparison to bank savings accounts. Debt-based securities commonly held in MMF are government securities, short-term treasury securities, taxable and tax-exempt municipal paper, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, and certificates of deposit (CD).

For investors seeking the preservation of capital while taking on minimal risk in exchange for a modest return on cash balances, MMF could be the right strategy to include in your investment portfolio.

Kristin Hovencamp is an Investment Executive at RJFS and Director of Business Development with HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC, which is independent of Raymond James and is not a registered broker/dealer. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. Prior to making any investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. 675 Sun Valley Road, Suite J1 + J2 Ketchum, Idaho 83340 208.726.0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com

Mixed with minimal times of trepidation was the joy I felt with all the people I encountered on my trek, naturally with friends but also with hotel and service station employees who were always courteous to me, possibly because I am a “nice old lady.”

An experience which illustrates just one of my unexpected pleasures occurred on the morning after the day I arrived at a lovely hotel recommend by a friend. I awoke feeling a bit iffy after my travels, too many conversations with Apple when my computer ceased working, and thus no dinner. However, when I stepped into an elevator going down to the lobby, a beautiful young woman in a hot-pink sari simply dazzled me into a big smile. She mentioned that she was attending a wedding and perhaps I’d like to see more saris on the guests gathered just outside. Thus, I accompanied some of the handsomely clad men and exquisitely gowned women as they greeted the groom, arriving in a white convertible. (In India, he might have been astride a white horse.) I was introduced to the bride and groom’s mother, and after several friendly conversations where I felt compelled to tell them how memorable my time in India had been, they even asked me if I would join them at the reception. I had other plans awaiting me, but I was moved by their friendly and generous spirit.

The bright and gorgeous colors of the saris and the warmth of the women who wore them changed my mood and set a richly-hued tone to the rest of my California visit. What a vibrant start!

Skunked by Fish

BY DOVE

Ihad a delightful experience the other day while standing in line at a local grocery store. There was a young man standing behind me that I had known since he was about 17 and he now has a master’s degree in counseling. He gave me a big hug and I told him to go in front of me because he only had two items. He checked out and then requested another hug, which I readily gave.

The amazing part of this whole event was the clerk who was checking us out I had never seen before. He asked me if I gave hugs, and I responded, “Of course.” He came around the counter and we exchanged big hugs.

Have you ever considered what type of courage and confidence or even need it takes to ask a complete stranger for a hug? What if we all had the courage to ask for what we needed rather than live in the place of doubt that says, “I am unworthy to ask for what I need. People will think I am weird.”

Right now, I am going to tell you how blessed we are to live in a place where you can feel safe giving hugs to complete strangers. I was blessed by this encounter. We shared names and I will never enter this store again without looking for my new friend and giving him a hug.

Back on this same theme, I have a friend of 45 years who lost her husband three years ago and is still struggling to create a life for herself that she desires. She lives in a rural part of Montana by herself on a lovely farm, but she has finally acknowledged that she does not like living alone. She has been reluctant to ask her middle-aged adult children to come get their stuff so she can make changes in her life, release the farm, and move closer to family. Finally, she has come to a place to acknowledge that it is time to make the shift because she wants company.

Please take the time to love yourself enough to ask for what you need. Don’t put it off and expect someone else or something else to fix you. The government can’t and won’t do it. You have to take responsibility for self and all that you have created.

The Universe wants you to have the joy of living the life you want. It only requires that you become clear on the changes you desire. Put it out there, and make your wishes known. You do deserve to be happy but you alone must have the courage to take the action required.

“Buck up, buttercup” and take action for yourself. Become your own advocate. Courage to all. Much love, Dove

Our drive was two long hours, then we parked next to the stream. I’d waited for this day to come. ‘Twas almost like a dream.

I saddled up old Cyruss. He was ready for a ride. We’d chosen South Boone Trailhead and we’d fish along creekside.

My good friend rode a sorrel, his four-year-old Arab mare. We’d rode this trail so many times. No way to count, I swear.

We always caught a mess of fish. The fishing was the best. Just bait your hook and toss the line. The fish would do the rest.

We’d fry the trout in butter, heat a can of cream-style corn. Then fill the pan with spuds, two cowboys cooking up a storm.

But this time we didn’t use our brains and set a lofty goal. We took no food, just sleeping bags, some worms and a fishing pole.

We figured we’d be eating fish at dinnertime that night. But those danged old fish were sneaky. They just wouldn’t take a bite.

They say to spit right on your worm. It’s known to bring good luck. But all it did was make the worm too slippery for the hook.

We fished all afternoon and every cast turned to a waste. Two cowboys’ bellies would be growling, not a fish to taste.

That night while in my sleeping bag, I couldn’t fall asleep. I had to find some food, darned sure was feeling six feet deep.

So, I rustled through my bags and found a year-old Snickers treat. A mouse had chewed one end off, but still left a bite to eat.

I split the piece of candy, gave my pardner half the cut. Then popped the piece of chocolate in our mouths right to the gut.

Our tiny piece of Snickers bar was heaven to the taste. Especially for two grown-up men whose brains were made of paste.

The morning light came early. We both cast a desperate line. Not a single fish was biting. So I took that as a sign.

I tore my pole apart and stuffed it in my saddlebags. Then saddled up old Cyruss ‘fore my stomach turned to rags.

Well, I guess I’ve learned a lesson. Carry in your favorite dish. And when it comes to fishing, you ain’t smarter than the fish.

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.

Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens). Photo credit: Laura Brolis, accessed via Wikimedia

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.”

Ski Days Are Good Days!

ART, CULTURA, CommUNITY!

BY LUIS LECANDA

OUR VOICE COUNTS

The recent art reception in Sun Valley was a powerful demonstration of art’s impact on a community. On Feb. 2, The Community Library’s foyer was overflowing with guests from diverse backgrounds, drawn to Carlos Lecanda’s stunning La Catrina art and adding an electric energy to the already festive atmosphere. This was the first exhibit of its kind in Sun Valley and it showcased the unique talents of a brilliant Mexican artist.

The exhibit was the outcome of a two-year collaboration between the Sun Valley Museum of Art (SVMoA) and the artist himself. Lecanda’s first year’s workshop was so well received that he was commissioned for a second visit, during which he led art workshops and discussions at local schools, including Alturas Elementary in Hailey and Sun Valley Community School. The popularity and beautifully expressive papier-mâché art inspired The Community Library to showcase the exhibit as it is known today: “Las Catrinas: A Celebration of Mexican Culture.” The exhibit can now be seen until late spring 2023.

Lecanda’s art is not just aesthetically pleasing—it is imbued with powerful messages that resonate with people from all cultures. The library’s exhibit demonstrated that art has the power to bring people together and create a shared experience, fostering a sense of community and mutual understanding.

The success of this exhibit highlights the critical role that art plays in promoting community and reinforcing our shared humanity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing support and promotion of the arts in our communities.

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

La reciente recepción de arte en Sun Valley fue una poderosa demostración del impacto del arte en una comunidad. El 2 de febrero, el vestíbulo de la Biblioteca Comunitaria estaba repleto de invitados de diversos orígenes, atraídos por el impresionante arte de La Catrina de Carlos Lecanda y agregando una energía eléctrica a la atmósfera ya festiva. Esta fue la primera exhibición de este tipo en Sun Valley y mostró los talentos únicos de un artista mexicano brillante.

La exhibición fue el resultado de una colaboración de dos años entre el Museo de Arte de Sun Valley (SVMoA) y el propio artista. El taller del primer año de Lecanda fue tan bien recibido que se le encargó una segunda visita, durante la cual dirigió talleres de arte y debates en las escuelas locales, incluida la escuela primaria Alturas en Hailey y la escuela comunitaria Sun Valley. La popularidad y el arte de papel maché hermosamente expresivo inspiraron a The Community Library a exhibir la exhibición como se la conoce hoy: “Las Catrinas: una celebración de la cultura mexicana”. La exhibición ahora se puede ver hasta finales de la primavera de 2023.

El arte de Lecanda no es solo estéticamente agradable, está imbuido de mensajes poderosos que resuenan en personas de todas las culturas. La exhibición de la biblioteca demostró que el arte tiene el poder de unir a las personas y crear una experiencia compartida, fomentando un sentido de comunidad y entendimiento mutuo.

COMPARE BEFORE DECIDING ON THE STANDARD DEDUCTION

BY ANNA & MICHELLE

The TCJA of 2019 dramatically increased the standard deduction so that many homeowners benefit from taking that rather than itemizing their deductions.Taking the standard deduction may result in a larger deduction even if you have no expenses that qualify for claiming itemized deductions.

Another thing reinforcing taking the standard deduction was low rates at the time and the interest plus property taxes were less than the standard deduction.

In 2022, mortgage rates more than doubled, so anyone who purchased a home or refinanced at the higher rates might benefit from itemizing rather than taking the standard deduction. The takeaway in this article is to compare both methods each year to see which way provides the larger deduction.

For 2022, the standard deduction for mar ried couples filing jointly is $25,900, for single filers and married individuals filing separate

ly is $12,950, and for heads of households is $19,400. T here are increased amounts for seniors over 65.

Mortgage interest, points paid to purchase a home (paid by seller or buyer), and property taxes are deductible on Schedule A. Other items allowed as deductions are charitable contributions, medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of taxpayers’ adjusted gross income, and casualty and theft losses from a federally declared disaster.

In 2019, IRS reported that 89.5% of people took the standard deduction, which is easier to file, doesn’t require receipts, and may yield a higher deduction than itemizing, but the only way to be sure is to compare both ways.

For more information, download Publication 529 or contact your tax professional. D ownload our Homeowners Tax Guide for more information on homeowner taxes.

El éxito de esta exposición destaca el papel fundamental que desempeña el arte en la promoción de la comunidad y el refuerzo de nuestra humanidad compartida. Sirve como un recordatorio de la importancia del apoyo continuo y la promoción de las artes en nuestras comunidades.

Growing up in the Wood River Valley has its perks. One of the best is winter ski days for area elementry school students. Last Wednesday 4th graders from Hemingway Elementary School enjoy a beautiful day on Dollar with classmates and teachers. Photo credit: Wood River Weekly

ambulance. There I sat, on my front porch, in pain, and probably not very coherent. They asked how I was and I muttered out something about I thought I was having a heart attack, but that I was confused because I didn’t think I would be able to even walk during a heart attack. I explained that my symptoms were not those that you usually hear about associated with a heart attack.

The dogs barked lightly from the safety of their crates, just to let the intruder know they were there, but there was no threat to anyone. They were safe and the police, Fire and Rescue and EMS were safe. I WAS SAFE and on my way through a journey I never expected, BUT for which I had thought through previously and TRAINED my dogs for such an event.

When someone tells me they don’t want to crate train

Heart Attack!

their dogs, I always tell them it is a LIFE SKILL! Now, more than ever, I mean it to be a LIFE-SAVING SKILL! The fact that my dogs didn’t hesitate, didn’t give me any guff in a moment of trauma, was so reassuring to me that they would be fine. Then, I had a plan for someone to come into the house, who they knew, to take care of them in the morning. What a relief for me to know that the loves of my life were going to be okay and cared for.

I don’t know what would have happened if my dogs had been loose in the house when the police arrived and had to come inside to save my life. It could have been a perfect storm. Dogs that move into protective drive don’t think like people do. They don’t say to themselves, “Oh, it’s EMS, let them in!”

The point of this story is to urge ALL of you to CALL 911 even if you SUSPECT a heart attack, especially all the women out there who don’t feel all the typical symptoms!!!!

All I had were chest and back pains, then eventually a very

short bout of cold sweats. AHEAD of time, make a plan, especially if you live by yourself, to care for your dog(s). Then, TRAIN for that emergency. Be sure your dog CAN run to a crate for safety, easily and happily. It’s the safest place for them to be and allows even unknown help for them to enter the house when you are not there.

People who know me laugh at my priorities. And we can laugh now, but it was no laughing matter at the time. Even my two 10-year-old dogs still have impeccable crate skills. Going in the crate and being happy there is not just for young dogs. It’s a LIFE-SAVING SKILL for EVERYONE!

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.

CAMPER SHELL FOR SALE

720-2509

PRINTER FOR SALE

Leer Model 180 custom camper shell for 8’ long bed. Was on a 2016 Ford F350. Dark Green. Exterior and interior lights. Perfect Like New Condition. $1200 OBO (208)

by MIKE MCKENNA

We could all use a good coach and some solid teammates in our corner—people to help us chase our dreams, work through the tough times and share those magical moments.

That’s what makes Girls On The Run (GOTR) Southern Idaho so special. The mission of the nonprofit is to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.” They do so by creating small teams that train for, and then compete in, a 5K together.

“The goal of our programs is to boost girls’ self-confidence and empower them to lift themselves up and help lift up others,” Teressa Johnson said.

Teressa is the executive director for GOTR Southern Idaho. She took over the role last year, after serving as the youth director for the Wood River Community YMCA for half a dozen years. GOTR first got on Teressa’s radar when she lived in Colorado, but didn’t have the time to get involved back then. The Oregon native has always been an avid runner—her mom has long been a high school track coach—and truly appreciates the full range of benefits the sport offers.

“I love running and all it involves and sharing that passion with others through Girls On The Run,” Teressa said. “It isn’t just about training girls to run; it’s about learning life skills and learning about themselves and learning how to be a good friend.”

GOTR was founded in 1996 with just 13 girls. Over 2 million girls have now been involved, making GOTR’s annual 5Ks one of the largest running events in the world. It has also been recognized as being one of the most influential after-school programs in the country for health and wellness.

GOTR offers programs for girls in grades 3–5 and 6–8 and junior coaching for high school girls aged 16–18. They run programs for six weeks each fall and spring, ending in a celebratory, noncompetitive 5K. GOTR offers scholarships and can even provide running shoes.

Volunteers and coaches (who don’t have to be runners, or female) are always welcome and are the

heart of the organization. Teressa knows first-hand how rewarding the experience of being involved in GOTR is and explained that coaches are “thoroughly trained so they can feel confident and comfortable.”

In addition to training for the 5K, the teams also do a service project. Last fall, they put up posters with positive messages at Ernest Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum. The students and staff there loved them.

“It showed the girls how something that seems so small can have a positive impact and help change the world,” Teressa said.

LUNAFEST

A film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, LUNAFEST is a fundraiser to help support the important and impactful work that GOTR does. It will be showing at The Mint in Hailey and at the Orpheum Theatre in Twin Falls on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. Purchase tickets, make a donation or find out how to volunteer or register a girl to be a participant at GOTRSouthernIdaho.org or call (208) 788-7863.

THE TRADER

THE TRADER

THE TRADER

TRADER

Wednesday - Friday 11 to 6

Saturday 11 to 4

Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

720-9206 or 788-0216

509 S. Main Street Bellevue, Idaho

Always available by appointment and if we’re here.

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