WRW 14 December 2022

THEATRE COMPANY FUNDRAISES TO HOLD ON TO HOME

‘Relight the Liberty’ close to deadline

By DANA DUGAN

Locally owned businesses such as markets, restaurants, a bookstore, and a live theatre venue are what arguably make a town viable. A place you might want to live. And certainly a place worth visiting. The town of Hailey contains many historical gems, but one of its standouts has always been the Liberty Theatre. “Relight the Liberty” is a fundraising effort to save this unique Art Deco theatre. Built in 1938, it’s now in need of structural and industry standard upgrades, along with an operational endowment.

In a new video for “Relight the Liberty,” Kaz Thea, Hailey City Councilmember, said the theatre “provides the needed vitality that any community strives for.”

First some history: Beginning in the mid-1990s, the Liberty Theatre was home to the Company of Fools, an independent theatre company founded by actors Denise Simone and Rusty Wilson. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, who owned the theatre itself, were its earliest patrons. Willis was known to appear on stage from time to time.

In 2013, Company of Fools became part of the Sun Valley Museum of Art (then Sun Valley Center for the Arts), and in 2016 Moore and Willis donated the Liberty Theatre to SVMoA. The theatre provided an essential venue for arts and theatrical programming for the Wood River Valley. In 2021, after seven years of joint programming, the organizations mutually agreed to become two independent 501(c)(3) arts organizations. Thus, The Liberty Theatre Company (TLTC) was born, made up of performers already associated with both organizations. However, the Liberty Theatre itself remains an asset of the SVMoA.

“The Liberty Theatre has been THE arts anchor on Main Street in Hailey for decades,” said Kristine Bretall, SVMoA public programs director. “It’s served as host to countless plays, concerts, authors, community events and productions featuring students from our local schools – events attended by tens of thousands of people. There truly isn’t another venue in the south Valley

The Liberty Theatre Company is fundraising to save their theatre. Photo courtesy The Liberty Theatre Company

BY HAYDEN SEDER

In the last year, local organization The Hunger Coalition has averaged serving more than 500 families in the Wood River Valley each week, a 240 percent increase from what it was serving pre-pandemic. It’s no secret that the pandemic and increase in remote work caused an influx of new residents to the area. But, more surprising is that with that increase of people came an increase in the need for food assistance.

“Even before the pandemic, the amount of folks who needed food was higher than one might expect in an affluent community,” said Kristin McMahon, communications manager for The Hunger Coalition. “Then the pandemic hit as well as mass closures and layoffs — that made our numbers surge. What we found in the last year is that those numbers continue to climb at a time when we thought the dust might start to settle.”

Among the reasons that might still be affecting those numbers are people who moved to the area without realizing how high rent would be. The housing problem plaguing the area has created a disparity between wages and cost of living, meaning that sometimes those wages have to go to rent and leave little left over for food.

The Hunger Coalition provides food to its patrons through three weekly food distributions — two at their Bloom Community Food Center in Bellevue and one in Ketchum — as well as through their community kitchen and café. “We like to provide food access in a variety of ways to meet people where they are,” said McMahon. But with the increase in demand, the organization saw a bigger strain on food distributions, and a call to arms was put out for more volunteers to help staff struggling to keep up with the need. Distribution was shifted to every other week when more food points are given (not sure what this means) to improve the flow of the system and accommodate as many people as possible.

None of this would be possible without the support of donors or partnerships with wholesalers and other places The Hunger Coalition sources food from. Members of the local community are also crucial, like new Hailey resident Brian DiJulio. Moving from Seattle to their new residence in Old Cutters in May, DiJulio and his wife wanted to do something to help their new community. After learning about The Hunger Coalition, DiJulio, the vice president of Seattle Italian Cultural Center Casa Italiania and president of DiJulio Pasta Co., decided to use his own resources to contribute. Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, DiJulio donated sixteen 15-pound turkeys and 25 bags of DiJulio pasta to the Bloom Community Food Center.

“Whatever comes up, I’m all for it, if I can help locally or recruit people,” said DiJulio. “I appreciate the position The Hunger Coalition is in and the job they’ve been doing; it’s a vital part of this whole area staying alive and well, especially with so many immigrants working here.”

The help of the local community in supporting The Hunger Coalition and by extension the people it serves cannot by underestimated. “Monetary donations are

definitely a crucial thing right now,” said McMahon. “We had a great outpouring of volunteers when we asked for help, but as we continue to give out this level of food and reach a new level of need, we really just run on donor dollars and could use all the help we can get.”

The holiday season is a time for gathering with loved ones around bountiful meals; hopefully this year no one in the Wood River Valley will have to go without. Whether you have it in you to donate to The Hunger Coalition, volunteer your time, organize a food drive, or drop off some food to one of the Bloom bins located in all local grocery stores.

“Always, we’re eternally grateful for the way our community continues to step up, especially when the going gets tough,” said McMahon. “Our community proves we’re not ones to stand idly by while our neighbors are struggling.”

Nathan

Michael

James

Kyle

PUBLISHER

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

MARKETING & SALES

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

NEWS EDITOR news@woodriverweekly.com

CALENDAR calendar@woodriverweekly.com

COPY EDITOR

Patty Healey

PRODUCTION

Mandi Iverson mandi@woodriverweekly.com

Christopher Seldon chris@woodriverweekly.com

ACCOUNTING accounting@woodriverweekly.com DEADLINES Display

CONTACT

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

BY HAYDEN SEDER

In the last year, local organization

The Hunger Coalition has averaged serving more than 500 families in the Wood River Valley each week, a 240 percent increase from what it was serving pre-pandemic. It’s no secret that the pandemic and increase in remote work caused an influx of new residents to the area. But, more surprising is that with that increase of people came an increase in the need for food assistance.

“Even before the pandemic, the amount of folks who needed food was higher than one might expect in an affluent community,” said Kristin McMahon, communications manager for The Hunger Coalition. “Then the pandemic hit as well as mass closures and layoffs — that made our numbers surge. What we found in the last year is that those numbers continue to climb at a time when we thought the dust might start to settle.”

Among the reasons that might still be affecting those numbers are people who moved to the area without realizing how high rent would be. The housing problem plaguing the area has created a disparity between wages and cost of living, meaning that sometimes those wages have to go to rent and leave little left over for food.

The Hunger Coalition provides food to its patrons through three weekly food distributions — two at their Bloom Community Food Center in Bellevue and one in Ketchum — as well as through their community kitchen and café. “We like

to provide food access in a variety of ways to meet people where they are,” said McMahon. But with the increase in demand, the organization saw a bigger strain on food distributions, and a call to arms was put out for more volunteers to help staff struggling to keep up with the need. Distribution was shifted to every other week when more food points are given (not sure what this means) to improve the flow of the system and accommodate as many people as possible.

None of this would be possible without the support of donors or partnerships with wholesalers and other places The Hunger Coalition sources food from. Members of the local community are also crucial, like new Hailey resident Brian DiJulio. Moving from Seattle to their new residence in Old Cutters in May, DiJulio and his wife wanted to do something to help their new community. After learning about The Hunger Coalition, DiJulio, the vice president of Seattle Italian Cultural Center Casa Italiania and president of DiJulio Pasta Co., decided to use his own resources to contribute. Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, DiJulio donated sixteen 15-pound turkeys and 25 bags of DiJulio pasta to the Bloom Community Food Center.

“Whatever comes up, I’m all for it, if I can help locally or recruit people,” said DiJulio. “I appreciate the position The Hunger Coalition is in and the job

tat holds such deep memories and history. And today, the Liberty Theatre has tremendous potential to continue serving as a home for arts events in Hailey for decades to come.”

“It’s a tremendous gift,” said TLTC executive director JD McDonnell. “Unfortunately, the building needs structural work, seismic and gravity load upgrades, and new HVAC for Actors’ Equity standards post-COVID.”

The company must raise $1,700,000 by the end of 2022 — Saturday, Dec. 31. About $1,200,000 of these funds will be dedicated to necessary renovation costs and the remaining $500,000 will provide an endowment to ensure ongoing care and upkeep of the building.

McDonnell, who has both a financial industry and a theatrical background, moved to the Valley two years ago with his family. He said he wanted to get involved with the arts again. At the time, the Liberty was looking for someone with financial expertise, to help guide them through this process.

“It’s going well,” McDonnell said. “Since March [we’ve raised] over a million dollars. It’s mind blowing. My mission with this building is that it must get going. I hope we get a Christmas gift.”

Initially, SVMoA donated $200,000 to seed The Liberty Theatre Company.

“It was a great start, and very generous,” McDonnell said. “They want to gift the building. She’s an old gal. But there were all these circumstances to make it very difficult.”

Echoing the words and feelings of many in the community, Hailey resident Joan Davies said, “It would be such a void not to have it.”

McDonnell said the original date [for the fundraising deadline] was March of this year. “The Museum has been working with us,” he said. “But we still can’t use the building, due to structural needs, and equity rules. I hope we can come to some fruition here. The theatre provides an economic driver for the local businesses.”

TLTC is accepting donations at libertytheatrecompany.org, and will also accept pledges. “It’s process,” McDonnell said. “We can be flexible.”

A new fundraising video, shot by Wyatt Caldwell and Chase Cleveland of Stellar Media, can be viewed on TLTC’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

‘Relight the Liberty’ Hunger Coalition Responds

they’ve been doing; it’s a vital part of this whole area staying alive and well, especially with so many immigrants working here.”

The help of the local community in supporting The Hunger Coalition and, by extension, the people it serves, cannot be underestimated. “Monetary donations are definitely a crucial thing right now,” said McMahon. “We had a great outpouring of volunteers when we asked for help, but as we continue to give out this level of food and reach a new level of need, we really just run on donor dollars and could use all the help we can get.”

The holiday season is a time for gathering with loved ones around bountiful meals; hopefully this year no one in the Wood River Valley will have to go without. Whether you have it in you to donate to The Hunger Coalition, volunteer your time, organize a food drive, or drop off some food to one of the Bloom bins located in all local grocery stores.

“Always, we’re eternally grateful for the way our community continues to step up, especially when the going gets tough,” said McMahon. “Our community proves we’re not ones to stand idly by while our neighbors are struggling.”

Nathan Welch, M.D.

Evan Allan, M.D.

Michael K. Taylor, M.D.

James M. Coombs, M.D.

Kyle N. Klingler, M.D.

Jeffery Stevens, M.D.

Jason T. Halverson, M.D.

NEWS COMMUNITY

The iconic Liberty Theatre on Main Street in Hailey. Photo courtesy The Liberty Theatre Company

Valley Pickleball Players Score Big at National Championships

Seven Wood River Valley pickleball players qualified to compete at USA Pickleball’s National Championships at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, in Palm Springs, Calif., held Nov. 5-13. To qualify for the Nationals players were required to win a gold medal at a regional championship or lottery entry. The local players brought home two gold medals, a silver medal and a fourth-place finish.

Elaine Ingram, a Valley Club resident, and her women’s partner, Kitty Flaherty, Mercer Island, Wash., won a gold medal in the women’s doubles 60+ 3.0 level. George “Geordie” Foster, of Ketchum, and his partner Lee Sponaugle received a silver medal in the men’s doubles 55+ 4.5 level. Sponaugle, the president of the Wood River Valley Pickleball Alliance, won a national champion gold medal in the men’s singles 55+ 4.0 level. Sue Hamilton of Ketchum, and her partner, Larry Smith, from Coeur d’Alene, won six rounds and finished fourth out of 40 teams in mixed doubles 60+ 4.0. Sam Adicoff, former executive director of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, and partner Debbie Benson, from La Quinta, Calif., competed in mixed doubles 60+ 4.0 level.

Sun Valley resident Fred Hartzman, the west campus director of The Valley Club, created the first national event in 2017 when he was the tennis club director at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Pickleball is played with paddles and a plastic wiffle ball on a court about a quarter of the size of a tennis court. It is the fastest growing sport in the country. There are courts in Elkhorn, Sun Valley, The Valley Club and numerous private courts, and at Atkinson Park in Ketchum, the only public courts in the north Valley. The recently formed Wood River Pickleball Association (WRPA) has more than 225 members.

Drinking Water and Wastewater System Grants announced

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality awarded grants totaling nearly $1.7 million to help 26 drinking water and wastewater systems study deficiencies and determine what improvements are needed.

Gov. Brad Little said in a press release that all Idaho residents rely on “clean, efficient water and wastewater systems.”

The grants can fund up to half of eligible planning costs. In our area, grants were awarded to the towns of Bellevue: $50,000 for drinking water. The rest of eligible $100,000 will be funded by city.

Central Shoshone County Water and Sewer District: $132,500 for drinking water. The rest of the eligible $265,000 will be funded by district.

Gooding: $40,000 for drinking water; and $20,000 for wastewater. The rest of the eligible $80,000 will be for a drinking water study and $40,000 for a wastewater study will be funded by city.

Hailey: $75,255 for drinking water; $43,000 for wastewater. The rest of the eligible $150,510 will be for a drinking water study and $86,000 for a wastewater study funded by city.

Origami Cranes and Loving Kindness Meditation

In honor of the holiday season, meditation teacher Mary Ann Chubb and Hailey Public Library’s Kristin Fletcher will offer an evening workshop for adults on origami crane folding accompanied by a guided loving kindness meditation at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at Town Center West. The workshop is free and materials will be provided.

“During this workshop, we’ll teach participants how to fold beautiful origami cranes that they can take home to ornament their holiday tree or give as gifts as well as offer a supportive loving kindness meditation,” said Fletcher, the library’s education and engagement manager.

Chubb, a 40-year resident of the Wood River Valley, became interested in meditation in 1996. She has attended many meditation retreats and was a facilitator with the Flourish Foundation for eight years, teaching mindfulness practices to children in public and private schools throughout the Valley. Fletcher has been folding cranes and giving them as gifts ever since.

Hailey Town Center West is located across from the library at 116 S. River Street in Hailey. For more information, contact the library at (208) 788-2036 or visit haileypubliclibrary.org.

Lee Sponaugle won a national champion gold medal in the men’s singles 55+ 4.0. Photo courtesy Wood River Pickleball Association.

NATO Chief Voices Fear Of War With Russia While US Greenlights Drone Strikes On Russian Territory

By Caitlin Johnstone

In what Antiwar's Dave DeCamp describes as "a rare acknowledgment of the dangers of backing Ukraine," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged a fear of something going "horribly wrong" and leading to a hot war between the nuclear-armed alliance and Russia.

In an article titled "'I fear a full-blown war between the West and Russia', Nato chief warns," The Telegraph writes the following:

"I fear that the war in Ukraine will get out of control, and spread into a major war between Nato and Russia," said Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, responding to a question about his greatest fears for the winter in an interview.

He told Norwegian broadcaster NRK on Friday that he was confident such a scenario could be avoided but that the threat was there.

"If things go wrong, they can go horribly wrong," he added.

And things absolutely can go horribly wrong when dealing with an increasingly aggressive standoff between nuclear superpowers, as we have seen from history. The last cold war saw many nuclear close calls as a result of technical malfunctions and misunderstandings, including an incident during the Cuban Missile Crisis when the only thing which prevented a nuclear-armed Soviet submarine from deploying its weapon on the US military was one officer refusing to go along with two others who were giving the orders to fire.

We got a taste of this horror once again last month in the long minutes following erroneous reports that Russia had launched missiles at NATO member Poland. The fact that cooler heads have prevailed up until this point does not mean that nuclear brinkmanship is safe, anymore than a game of Russian roulette not ending after the first couple of trigger pulls would mean that Russian roulette is safe to play.

So Stoltenberg is correct to be afraid. There absolutely

are too many things that can go horribly wrong in such a standoff, and there are simply too many unpredictable moving parts for anyone to feel confident that this will not happen.

And it's pretty crazy to hear Stoltenberg voice these concerns even while the Pentagon gives the go-ahead for Ukraine to begin launching long-range attacks on targets inside Russia in its war that is being backed by the United States, because those two positions would seem to be pretty strongly at odds with each other.

In an article titled "Pentagon gives Ukraine green light for drone strikes inside Russia," The Times reports as follows:

The Pentagon has given a tacit endorsement of Ukraine’s long-range attacks on targets inside Russia after President Putin’s multiple missile strikes against Kyiv’s critical infrastructure.

Since daily assaults on civilians began in October, the Pentagon has revised its threat assessment of the war in Ukraine. Crucially, this includes new judgments about whether arms shipments to Kyiv might lead to a military confrontation between Russia and Nato.

This represents a significant development in the ninemonth war between Ukraine and Russia, with Washington now likelier to supply Kyiv with longer-range weapons.

The Times quotes a "US defence source" as saying the following: “We’re not saying to Kyiv, ‘Don’t strike the Russians [in Russia or Crimea]’. We can’t tell them what to do. It’s up to them how they use their weapons. But when they use the weapons we have supplied, the only thing we insist on is that the Ukrainian military conform to the international laws of war and to the Geneva conventions."

“They are the only limitations but that includes no targeting of Russian families and no assassinations. As far as we’re concerned, Ukraine has been in compliance,” the source says, which is a strange assertion given that US intelligence has reportedly concluded Ukraine was behind the assassination of the daughter of Aleksandr Dugin.

"Ukraine has been careful to use its own drones, not

US-supplied weapons, to carry out the strikes," The Times reports, while also noting that "Pentagon officials have made it clear that requests from Kyiv for longer-range US weapons, including rockets and fighter bombers which could be used for even more effective strikes inside Russia or occupied Crimea, are being seriously considered."

NYT confirms US-backed Ukraine forces carried out their "most brazen attack" yet, 300 miles into "the heart of Russia" -- including a base with Russia's nuclear bombers. Not long ago this scenario would've sounded totally unfathomable and insane. Dwarfs anything from the Cold War pic.twitter.com/fKNoT42YBP

— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) December 6, 2022

This revelation comes days after Ukraine launched its most brazen attack into Russian territory yet, with drone strikes on bases which killed multiple Russian soldiers and damaged two nuclear-capable bombers. Not too long ago the US waging a proxy war that features direct attacks on Russia's nuclear forces would have been an unthinkably terrifying prospect, yet that's where we're at now, and it only seems to be escalating.

Empire apologists will try to make this a conversation about whether Ukraine has a "right" to attack Russian territory, which is a red herring from the real issue at hand. Obviously Ukraine has a right to attack a nation that is attacking it; that's not the point. The real issue is the danger of provoking a hot war between nuclear superpowers, which even the NATO Secretary-General is becoming increasingly nervous about.

The western power alliance continually ramping up aggressions to test how far it could provoke Russia is what led to this conflict in the first place. Now we're at a point where there isn't much space for Russia to back up before it's against the ropes and potentially pressed to do something nobody wants. These people should not be talking about escalation, they should be talking about de-escalation. We need diplomacy, de-escalation and detente, and we need them yesterday.

THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR DECEMBER 14 - 27

FROM PICABO ANGLER

Let it snow…

We’ve received a fair amount of snow in the valley lately, bolstering snowpack and providing a bright outlook for flows on our local waters. Let’s hope it stays that way!

Fishing on Silver Creek during this time of year can be productive swinging small dark leeches and woolly buggers; black, olive, brown, and maroon in sizes 8 – 12 are all effective.

Deep undercut banks found near Point of Rocks and The Willows can yield some impressive trout.

On the Big Wood River, lower Big Lost River and South Fork of the Boise River tandem nymph rigs fished through typical winter holding water (slow runs, pools, and tailouts) will take plenty of fish. For the lead fly, use something that gets the attention of sluggish trout; large rubber legs, girdle bugs, yuk bugs, princes, and san juan worms are all good choices. Downsize your dropper nymphs to diminutive size 18 – 24 zebra midges, brassies, copper johns, pheasant tails, and rainbow warriors.

There are few experiences as magical as fishing the Big Wood River during a winter snowstorm. Steady, low pressure and heavy, wet snowflakes often equate to some of the best winter fishing on the Big Wood. It looks like anglers will have plenty of opportunities like this during the next few weeks.

Any surface feeding activity this time of year will be limited to midges during the afternoons, so look for feeding fish along foam lines and slower eddies. Remember, “the foam is their home.”

Be prepared to deal with inclement weather when fishing in the winter. Always bring extra clothes to change into in the event of an unexpected spill, and having extra gloves and hats makes sense when fishing on cold, wet days. Your vehicle should carry basic survival items – jumper cables, food, water, blankets, etc. Always let someone know where you are going to be. A few extra precautions go a long way!

If you’re looking for holiday gift ideas for anglers, give us a shout. A Picabo Angler gift certificate is the perfect stocking stuffer!

Stay safe and warm out there, and Happy Holidays to all!

Happy fishing, everyone!

Mother Nature has provided all animals with the necessary tools to learn how to survive and thrive. She uses her environment and gives elders the ability to give baby wildlife important information for their growth and, ultimately, survival of the species.

At first, the mother and/or father provide food for their young, from birds to bears, squirrels to skunks. As the babies mature, they learn important lessons about hunting and foraging. If they hunt for prey that is improper—say, the fox hunts for the skunk— the skunk sprays the fox, a definitive consequence for hunting the wrong prey. If foraging animals forage near predators, they lose their lives.

Some lessons are harder to learn than others, and so the survival of the species. Those animals that are quick learners and can understand their environment are the ones that survive and thrive. The coyote that can successfully hunt and capture a squirrel has a great meal—the ultimate positive reinforcement. Mother Nature is full of positive reinforcement as well as consequences. In order to survive, every creature must have both to learn and survive and thrive.

How does this apply to training your dog? Many New Age methodologies have abolished all forms of consequences, forsaking the natural order of things. There is lots of thought now that when one dog snarls at another for inappropriate behavior, the snarling dog is labeled “aggressive.” One trainer I listened to recently felt that if his dog did not perform whatever activity he was teaching through positive reinforcement only, that he had failed the dog. The fact of the matter is, when we provide ONLY positive reinforcement for the desired behavior, the dog has less information to learn from, and if we are honest, this form of learning can actually be MORE stressful than providing thoughtful consequence along with the positive reinforcement.

The other thought in dog training is to completely “control the environment.” This

By Fran Jewell

is so that we can control that the dog only receives positive reinforcement. While we have some capability to do that with such things as fences and leashes, I ask, does Mother Nature only provide positive reinforcement? If our dog chases the porcupine and bites the porcupine, his face and mouth become filled with quills, which, ultimately, can even be deadly. Is it feasible for us to ever completely control the environment so the dog never has a bad experience with anything from the environment? Can I keep my dog in a vacuum to protect him from ever receiving a natural consequence from the environment, such as the skunk that might decide to make its nest under your deck?

When we consider training with our dogs, we must understand nature and the “nature of learning.” The key in natural learning for our beloved dogs is understanding that not only MUST dogs have “YES!”, but they must also have “THOUGHTFUL” consequences that are meaningful to the dog so the dog

THE NATURE OF DOG LEARNING DIGGER

will consider no longer pursuing that behavior, yet also delight in performing the desired behavior. Thoughtful consequences depend on the dog and his/her responses. Some consequences might need to be firmer or more definitive, especially where life and death is involved, like car chasing or potential injury to the owner. Mother Nature would also provide varying degrees of consequence much the same way.

Following Mother Nature and her wisdom in our training can assure that we indeed have a healthy, respectful, and happy relationship with our dogs.

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 208578-1565.

BY HANNES THUM

One summer when we were kids growing up, my friend brought home a wild badger from a ranch over in the Big Lost River Valley.

Badgers often were and are intentionally killed on ranches for various reasons, and Drew had developed either a soft spot in his heart for this particular badger or a powerful sense of curiosity about it (or both), and so lit upon an idea to bring it back here to town to try to keep it safe and to learn more about it.

Without asking anybody’s permission, Drew simply snuck the badger off of the ranch, drove it in a cage in the backseat back to his family home here in the Wood River Valley, released it into his closed garage, and began to try to figure out what it was that a badger needs, wants, and does.

We were neighbors, and he soon called me to come check it out. I will never forget what it was like to walk into that garage and make eye contact with this fierce, forceful creature.

Dubbed Digger because of his remarkable ability to rapidly dig holes in the backyard, this badger would quickly become many things: a family member, a pet of sorts, and a fascinating study for us kids in what wildness truly means.

Digger eventually was comfortable moving around the house independently, and he would let himself in and out as he pleased through a dog door. Digger became a raider of the refrigerator in the kitchen, a burier of raw eggs in the yard (I have no idea why he did that), and a subject of a video documentary that Drew made for a biology class.

We also quickly learned that Digger’s version of play could end in some serious claw wounds for us.

The house became Digger’s home base for the rest of that summer and well into the fall. Then, quite suddenly, on the morning after the first real snow in late October, he was gone. Digger tracks were visible in the snow, leaving the backyard and heading in a straight line off into the hills. We never saw him again.

To this day, a picture of Digger still hangs on the wall in my classroom. The documentary video, filmed on a VHS camcorder, has sadly gone missing.

I still hope that Digger knew that the humans with whom he interacted meant him no harm, even though he was moved far from the valley where he was born, and I still hope that he found a wild and good life here in this valley. Being separated from the ranch changed his life, but it likely saved it — I hope that Digger found it a suitable arrangement.

But, of course, these hopes are just hopes. And, they betray something important about the separation between myself and wild creatures. Digger certainly had more important things on his mind than what I thought about him, and my hopes meant and mean nothing to him.

It is folly to think we know what or how other animals think. It is not folly to wonder, though.

Dogs will discipline each other, fairly and firmly. They don’t fear political correctness. Photo credit: Fran Jewell

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS VS. MUTUAL FUNDS

BY KRISTIN HOVENCAMP

If you do not fancy yourself an expert stock picker and are not willing to roll the dice with your savings, consider using exchange-traded fund (ETF) and mutual fund investment vehicles. Using these strategies in your portfolio can help reduce risk and provide diversification.

A mutual fund is an open-end investment fund that pools investors’ money together to purchase securities. ETFs are a hybrid of mutual funds and closed-end funds. ETFs and mutual funds both hold a basket of assets, such as stocks and bonds, and can target specific indices, sectors, industries, and geographies. The key differences are:

• ETFs are generally passively managed and track a specific index. Mutual funds are actively managed to outperform a particular index or the broader market.

• ETFs trade on a market exchange, like Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange, and can be bought and sold like stocks. Mutual fund shares are purchased and sold between the fund and the investor. An investor owns shares in the mutual fund, not the fund’s individual securities.

• ETFs are bought and sold throughout the day and trade close to their underlying price or net asset value (NAV). Mutual fund pricing occurs at the end of each business day when NAV is calculated.

• ETFs typically cost less and have lower expense ratios. They do not have a minimum investment amount and can invest in alternative strategies that are only sometimes available to accredited investors. Mutual funds charge higher fees for active management, have higher expense ratios, and have a minimum investment requirement.

• ETFs offer liquidity because they are priced throughout the trading day, which can be helpful in market volatility. Mutual funds are less liquid but are professionally managed. A managed fund benefits from security selection, sizing and rebalancing within the fund.

A mix of investment vehicles and securities offers diversified market exposure while helping reduce portfolio risk. In addition, there is a wide variety of funds to choose from that will best fit your investment objectives and approach.

Kristin Hovencamp is an Investment Executive and Director of Business Development with HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC, which is independent of Raymond James and is not a registered broker/dealer. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. 675 Sun Valley Road, Suite J1 + J2 Ketchum, Idaho 83340 208.726.0605.

NO GRIPES, PLEASE

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

Icame across a saved message for this shopping season; although I will record this quote here exactly as written, it applies to all the places shoppers go in our Valley: “Don’t bring your grudges into Atkinsons’ Market.” This observation reminded me of all the complaints made back and forth by or about personnel and the shoppers they serve in the pressures of a holiday season.

Eons ago, I first visited Sun Valley in the company of neighbors in California who were building a new home and planning to move here, seeking a healthier environment for their sons. I followed them here a couple of years later and we became close neighbors again in East Fork. I have been forever glad that our families both settled in this spectacular part of Idaho. Incidentally, I still love “my Golden State” and enjoy the ocean and lifelong friends in California.

The first and most important aspect of being in the Wood River Valley was the gracious hospitality I received from every merchant or employee I encountered. Some of the earlier perks have changed over the years, such as when Pete Lane’s graciously refunded some of my ski rental costs when I didn’t feel well, an unexpected gift and also a tribute to the positive spirits of almost everyone I met. I instantly felt at home and happy to be in these mountains in spite of my poor athletic abilities.

Before I moved here, I was an English teacher at Beverly Hills High School. My students were always polite and courteous to me, and I found also that many of my wealthier pupils, perhaps envied by some for their family’s good fortunes, still needed care and comfort. One girl came to school the day after her sixteenth birthday and shared with me her disappointment that her parents, involved in Europe, shooting a film, had somehow overlooked that important birthday.

Teenagers are pretty much the same, wherever they reside or in what economic level they inhabit. Oddly, though, it was the environment outside of school that sometimes intimidated me. I drove my Volkswagen to the top level of parking (outside and for teachers), passing cute convertibles, Mercedes-Benzes, and other shiny vehicles on my way up. I also did not frequent many of the boutiques and shops around me, because I felt (maybe just my imagination) a lack of salesgirls’ enthusiasms for the middle-aged, simply-dressed person entering their store. One notable time the young woman at the counter didn’t address me from her perch behind the cash register the whole time I was looking at a rack of gorgeous dresses. She only became hospitable when Paris Hilton came in.

These memories of rudeness have almost vanished because I live in a place where I have many people who welcome me, who make me feel worthy, and are gracious in their jobs and attitudes. I am just hoping that this civility isn’t spoiled by anxious, cranky, and stressed customers. Like “no crying in baseball,” I don’t want hostility caused by seasonal angst.

Cheery season hopes!

WRANGLER’S RECKLESS WRITINGSBRYCE ANGELL

THE ROAN

I shifted into granny, then I hopped back on the hay, and let the tractor pull the wagon on that winter day.

BY DOVE

Ihave found that one of my greatest joys is not knowing what’s going to happen next and expecting something magical to happen. Many years ago I was talking to God and was pleading to know what was coming, much of what all of us are wondering now. I heard the voice tell me, ‘If you knew what was going to happen next, life would be so boring that there would be no point in staying.’

I gave that some thought and I began to realize that having unexpected blessings pop into my life was one of the things I cherished most. For me, it confirmed that existence of some power out there helping out, caring for the children of earth. It did not have anything to do with religion but, rather, a higher power. What I have come to know is that the higher power is within me. It is not separate from me, but is the part of me that used to be so often hidden from my consciousness that I could not hear the guidance. I have come to know that that guidance is constantly within me, and within all others. It does not care about race, religion, political persuasion—it is a connection to your higher self and is always available for everyone.

To access that higher self can happen in a moment. As an example, I had a friend whose little brother had his arm trapped under a car. This young woman of 12 was able to literally pick up the car off his arm and free him. When we don’t see ourselves as limited or unable, that is when the magic happens.

We so often are caught up in the everyday limitations of standard reality that we forget we have power beyond measure. It seems to take an emergency to trigger our most magnificent selves. I am here to suggest that we might all step up our “magic” and not need to wait for an emergency to make a difference. Your magic is a result of the work you have done. Just ask to be guided to your perfect purpose and I guarantee you will be led. It may not make sense at the moment, but eventually it will. It is about being content with who you are and willing to give what you can give.

I ask, during this Christmas season and all year long, to be of service whenever and wherever possible. I realize that “I” am not the source of the “magic,” but, rather, that part of me that is connected to that higher power is the source. I can’t create magic if I don’t take time to make that connection to my higher magic daily; otherwise, I forget how.

My prayer for this season is to be a blessing to all I know, including myself. Be content and joyful with what you have. After all, when you are gone, someone has to dispose of all the material things, so quit collecting things that you can’t take with you. My dad informed my brother and myself, “The only thing you get to take with you is the love.” Let’s hold a lot more love in our hearts and leave the rest to sort itself out. Blessings, Dove

The horses milled around behind and tried to reach the feed. I kicked the hay bales off each side and gave them what they’d need.

You could hear the horses chomping down, all lined up in a row. Their nostrils blowing steam while eating hay right off the snow.

Our horses all looked plenty sound, especially one big roan. I’d seen too many horses in the winter, skin and bone.

I wondered why the roan had put on so much extra weight. He was no easy keeper. Looking fat was not his trait.

So, I finished up the feeding and sat down to watch them eat. That’s when the roan did something, to the likes you couldn’t beat.

The crazy roan let out a snort and scared Dad’s Bay away. Then straddling the alfalfa, urinated on the hay.

Had I really witnessed why the sly roan was so overweight? He’d learned to get some extra food. Just had to micturate.

I watched the other horses, guessing what a horse would do, as they passed up all the flavored hay, while the big roan ate that, too.

I’ve heard of spitting in your drink. I can’t say that will work. But the roan was such a wiseacre, I swear I saw him smirk.

I had to wonder how the big roan’s brain could figure out. I’d watched him do the dirty deed. He was guilty without doubt.

But we couldn’t let one greedy horse eat all the horses’ hay. So we penned him in the corral, and there the peeing horse would stay.

The hungry roan was smart enough to steal the hay away. But did he have a clue why he was corralled away that day?

We fed the roan his hay and straw, kept track of what he ate. We put him on a diet. Soon enough he lost the weight.

I tried to be observant, feeding horses every day. But from then on I never saw him peeing on the hay.

So, I’ll give the old roan credit, how he planned his little trick. And I must admit his reasoning was pretty doggone slick.

– Bryce Angell

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.

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

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.”

WAITING FOR THE MORTGAGE RATES TO COME DOWN

BY ANNA & MICHELLE

Waiting for the mortgage rates to come down before you buy a home may not be a good decision.

If you are correct, and the rates do come down by 2 percent, the savings you benefit from a lower rate will most likely be devoured by the appreciated price increase.

As of Dec. 8, 2022, the 30-year fixed rate was at 6.33%, which is close to the highest level since mid-2008. If the rate drops to 4.7% in three years, but the price increases by 5% a year, a $400,000 home today will cost $463,050 three years from now.

An increasingly popular option that more buyers are considering is to purchase the home today with an adjustable-rate mortgage that could give them a 5.00% rate for five years. T hen refinance to a fixed rate when rates come down.

Not only will the buyer have lower payments with the ARM, but the buyer will also own the home, and benefit from the appreciated prices which will build equity in the home and increase their net worth.

Mortgage rates have increased over 3% in the first three quarters of this year. Some would-be buyers are wishing they had a do-over so they could get into a home at a lower rate. The current differential between the fixed and adjustable rates could lower the monthly payment.

T he lower adjustable rate could save a buyer $300 a month during the first period of five years. At any point during that period they could refinance at a better interest rate should it become available. However, if the rates do start trending down, the homeowner might decide not to refinance because the rate on the ARM would have to go down at the next adjustment period to reflect the lowering of rates in the market.

Mortgage rates have been low since the housing crisis that caused the Great Recession. The government kept them low to build the economy. Then, the pandemic threatened the economy, and the government spent a tremendous amount of money to bolster it, which led to inflation, which is what is causing the rates to increase currently.

When inflation is under control and back to acceptable levels, the rates should lower.

Home prices are a different situation. The recent rise in mortgage rates has caused home prices to moderate because it affects affordability. Inventories are still low and there is a pent-up demand for housing from purchasers unable to buy during the pandemic.

This, coupled with millennials reaching household formation age and insufficient home building to keep up with demand for the last decade, prices are expected to continue to rise. The rate of appreciation could even increase when rates come down, which would also affect affordability and demand.

Buyers who feel they missed a window of opportunity to buy before rates started increasing should investigate financing alternatives.

Monica Moscow Xperience!

BY MONICA CARRILLO

OUR VOICE COUNTS

I had run out of ideas of what I could pitch for the week before Thanksgiving and planned to tell my newsroom I was going to take the week off. Then I received a text.

I wasn’t sure what I felt at that moment; I just felt shocked.

A homicide?

I quickly got up and locked the door, closed the blinds, peeked through the window once more before heading to the farthest room in my apartment.

I thought that would be enough to feel secure — at least for a few hours.

But because I’m a reporter, I knew I couldn’t escape it for long.

Going straight into reporting the next day based on the little information we had, I interviewed reactions of the community and the tragedy that struck the students at the University of Idaho.

But the moment I had a free day, I broke down and felt panic when I was left alone.

Who did this? Why? How?

It’s still been a mystery in the small town of Moscow and only continues to be the center of many conversations in my newsroom.

Since then, that’s been the main focus of my writing, but also the main focus in my thoughts.

As I continue my journey as a reporter, this was my first experience covering a story like this and I only hope that I won’t have to go through this again anytime soon.

I’m okay now. This all just sucks.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sun Valley To Make Further Upgrades

Sun Valley Resort is embarking on a multi-year improvement plan focused on an enhanced guest experience. The proposed projects in the first phase will benefit the recreational experience on Bald Mountain by improving skier and rider circulation, increasing the accessible skiable terrain and improving both lift and snow quality.

Pending project approval by the U.S. Forest Service, work will begin in April 2023 to replace and realign the Challenger chairlift, construct the new Flying Squirrel chairlift replacement, and extend the Flying Squirrel trail and snowmaking. The new lift project will remove the Greyhawk lift and replace the existing Challenger lift with a Doppelmayr high-speed six-pack. The lift will connect Warm Springs base to Bald Mountain summit. The Challenger lift terminal will shift to the location of the current Greyhawk bottom terminal, and the new Challenger lift will have a mid-unload station located near the current top terminal of Greyhawk.

Flying Squirrel lift, the second out of Warm Springs base, will be a Dopplemayr high-speed quad and will link to the top of upper Picabo’s Street trail. This is designed to improve guest circulation and access to Frenchman’s terrain network, from the Warm Springs base area, as well as mid-mountain access to surrounding areas on the mountain. This lift will also provide repeat skiing and riding on Picabo’s Street and Flying Squirrel trails. The bottom terminal will be located in the Warm Springs base area, adjacent to the bottom terminal of the new Challenger chairlift replacement. The top terminal will be located southwest and upslope of Frenchman’s chairlift top terminal, at the top of Picabo’s Street trail.

There is a new website for the development plan: https://www. futureofsunvalley.com.

Open Enrollment For Health Insurance

In Idaho Closes Dec. 15, 2022

Boise, ID – Individual health insurance enrollment for 2023 will soon close to shoppers on the state insurance exchange, and St. Luke’s Health Plan remains among the options available for enrollment. The enrollment period opened on Oct. 15, 2022, and closes on Dec. 15, 2022, in Idaho.

“We are excited to bring a new health insurance plan to our members, one that we believe will remove common barriers that many people experience with health insurance. We want to encourage people who haven’t yet selected their 2023 health plan to use the state insurance exchange website to shop and compare plans as we quickly approach Dec. 15,” said Matt Wolff, President

of St. Luke’s Health Plan. For those currently enrolled through the state insurance exchange, unless a new plan is selected, they will be automatically renewed in their current plan for the 2023 coverage year.

“Health insurance plans change every year and so do the needs of consumers and their families, so we recommend giving some time to make sure your plan is meeting your needs,” added Wolff.

Family Medicine Welcomes Two New Primary Care Physicians

St. Luke’s is happy to welcome Victoria Kent, DO and Joe Pendleton, MD, who are joining the St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine Clinic as primary care providers, in January of 2023. They both attended University of Wisconsin-Madison for their undergraduate degree, which is where they met and embarked on a path that led them to the Wood River Valley. Pendleton majored in microbiology with minors in gender studies and global health. He continued his education at University of Wisconsin-Madison for medical school. Kent majored in Biology and Spanish at University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her medical degree at Pacific Northwest University of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima.

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

Me había quedado sin ideas de lo que podía lanzar para la semana antes de Acción de Gracias y planeaba decirle a mi sala de prensa que iba a tomar la semana libre.

Pero horas despues, recibí un texto.

No estaba segura de lo que sentía en ese momento; sólo me sentí sorprendida.

¿Un homicidio?

Rápidamente me levanté y cerré la puerta, cerré las persianas, miré por la ventana una vez más antes de dirigirme a la habitación más alejada de mi apartamento.

Pensé que eso sería suficiente para sentirme segura, al menos por unas horas.

Pero como soy reportera, sabía que no podía escapar por mucho tiempo.

Yendo directamente a informar al día siguiente basado en la poca información que teníamos, entrevisté las reacciones de la comunidad y la tragedia que embarcaron los estudiantes de la Universidad de Idaho.

Pero en el momento en que tuve un día libre, me derrumbé y sentí pánico cuando me quedé solo.

¿Quién lo hizo? ¿Por qué? ¿Cómo?

Todavía ha sido un misterio en la pequeña ciudad de Moscow, Idaho y solo sigue siendo el centro de muchas conversaciones en mi sala de redacción.

Desde entonces, ese ha sido el foco principal de mi escritura, pero también el foco principal en mis pensamientos.

A medida que continúo mi viaje como reportera, esta fue mi primera experiencia cubriendo una historia como esta y solo espero no tener que volver a pasar por esto pronto.

Estoy bien ahora. Todo esto simplemente apesta.

Photo credit: Daniel Gonzalez

by MIKE MCKENNA

For most parents of young children, life tends to be very chaotic and stressful, albeit pretty rewarding. But if there’s one thing parents don’t want to be stressed about, it’s who’s watching their kids when they can’t be with them.

That’s why it’s great news to have a new, highly-respected option for childcare: the Twinkle Toes™ Nanny Agency. Heck, they’re slogan is “Second to (None) Mom” with the None crossed out.

Twinkle Toes is East Idaho’s only pediatrician-recommended nanny agency and all of their nannies are CPR certified and screened beyond industry standards. Twinkle Toes is owned by native Idahoan Julie Crecelius. Julie grew up in the Gem State and, after successfully running a Twinkle Toes agency in Florida, she decided to buy a franchise of her own and move back home. She prides herself on her ability to “help Moms and Dads find the perfect childcare fit for their family.”

Twinkle Toes offers everything from date-night babysitting to helping families for up to 80 or more hours per week. They provide care for children from newborns until they’re old enough to no longer need it, including kids with special needs.

The process is fairly simple, but their biggest priority, as Alexia Featherston, the director of operations for Twinkle Toes, explained, is finding the proper placement for the nanny and family.

“We try to match up our nanny’s experience with the needs of the family,” Alexia said. “I love kids and making sure they’re safe and cared for.”

Lexi, as she often goes by, was a nanny for six years and studied early childhood education. She grew up in Twin Falls and has always had a fondness for Blaine County and the mountains of central Idaho. Lexi explained that one thing that really separates Twinkle Toes is that they prioritize “very open and honest communication with families.” Another thing that makes Twinkle Toes special is that they really value the role a nanny plays.

“Nannies really are like second moms. They take care of the kids, play games and do arts and crafts, go on hikes or go skating, and they also make sure the home looks just as good as if Mom were there,” Lexi said.

Twinkle Toes is always hiring quality candidates. As Lexi said, “You can never have too many good nannies.” A good nanny for Twinkle Toes has at least three years of childcare experience, is personable, communicates well and can be any age from about 18-65. The job of being a nanny can be very rewarding and lifetime friendships can be made. A good nanny really can improve the quality of life for parents, too.

In family towns like Hailey, Ketchum and Bellevue, the less parents feel stressed out, the better it is for all of us.

To find out more about Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency, go to TwinkleToesNanny.com/East-Idaho or call (208) 329-2470.