27 May 2020

BUSINESS NEWS

LIFESTYLE NEWS

Coping With The Economic Impact Of Coronavirus PG 4 SUN VALLEY

KETCHUM

KIDS CAMPS

World’s Toughest Horse Race PG 10

HAILEY

See Centerspread PGS 8-9 BELLEVUE

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WOOD RIVER WEEKLY YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

Free | May 27 - June 9, 2020 | Vol. 1 - No. 13 | woodriverweekly.com

“ To d a y i s n o t j u s t a n o t h e r d a y. I t ’s a n e w o p p o r t u n i t y, a n o t h e r c h a n c e , a n e w b e g i n n i n g . E m b r a c e i t . ” ~Anonymous

A graduation parade Thursday in Hailey was capped with a double rainbow Valley-wide. Photo credit: Lynnette Blas

Gravity 2020 Training Camp GRAND RE-OPENING Series for Kids

June 1, 2020 - Facility will be open to any and all business.

For Details See Page 3

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Wood River Weekly

NEWS

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May 27 - June 9, 2020

EDUCATION

School District’s Dual Immersion Program Down To Just Uno

Ernest Hemingway STEAM School’s dual immersion will merge with Alturas Elementary

N

By Eric Valentine

ot everything involving school these days has to do with coronavirus safety and distance learning.

There’s good old-fashioned difficult policy decisions happening, too.

Blaine County School District last week released a nine-point explanation of the school board’s decision to merge the dual-immersion program at Ernest Hemingway STEAM School, Ketchum, into Alturas Elementary, Hailey, a dual-immersion magnet school. Dual immersion (DI) is a program in which students learn core academic content taught in both English and Spanish.

“The decision was made by the board with regret due to an ongoing and recently exacerbated shortage of qualified DI teachers, leaving us unable to appropriately staff both programs,” the district stated in its explanation to parents.

Maintaining both the single track of DI instruction at Hemingway and the fully integrated program at Alturas did not represent a “best practice,” the district explained.

“Whereas the Alturas program utilizes a team ap-

proach in which each class is taught by one native English speaker and one native Spanish speaker, the Hemingway program utilized a single-teacher format in which the language and non-language content was taught by one teacher who was either native Spanish or native English speaking. That teacher at times had to teach concepts (such as photosynthesis) in their non-native language,” the district said.

Not So Fast There was pushback by some parents in the district.

Some felt the matter was handled too abruptly and at least one parent complained that the merger may be racially motivated. The district explained the timeliness issue and firmly denied the racial allegation.

“While the time frame was shorter than the board would have preferred, ample opportunity for public comment was afforded via email … This form of public comment has proven to be superior to live comment in that it affords the commenting party time to organize and present their ideas and also provides more time for individual trustees to absorb and consider public input.

More than 50 email comments and several calls were received by the trustees,” the district said.

Regarding the claim that race played a factor in the decision, “The board’s commitment to DI learning and the needs of our Hispanic students who are not-native English speakers is exemplified by its support of the Alturas magnet school, which in fact has shown them better academic success than the EHSS program over time. Such claims are unfounded and disregard the actual problem: a severe shortage of qualified bilingual and biliterate teachers to staff two programs.”

Making It Work The district said that transportation will be provided for Hemingway DI students wishing to attend the DI program at Alturas. The district also said extra support will be provided for rising first and second graders who remain at Hemingway if they need extra assistance to adjust to the English-only program.

The district’s full explanation of the board’s decision can be found online at blaineschools.org/Page/1794.

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Wood River Weekly

WRW STAFF

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

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May 27 - June 9, 2020

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FLY SUN

MARKETING & SALES Mandi Iverson (208) 721-7588 mandi@woodriverweekly.com Jennifer Simpson (208) 721-0658 jennifer@woodriverweekly.com NEWS EDITOR Eric Valentine news@woodriverweekly.com ARTS & EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Dana DuGan dana@woodriverweekly.com

SEA: Alaska daily nonstop flights June 25 - Sept 7; 3x week Sept 10 - November

COPY EDITOR Patty Healey

SLC: Delta daily nonstop flights all summer and fall

Christopher Seldon chris@woodriverweekly.com ACCOUNTING accounting@woodriverweekly.com DEADLINES Display & Classified Ads, Monday 5 p.m.

Calendar Submissions — Friday 5 p.m.

DEN: United daily nonstop flights, June 20-22, June 25 - Sept 7 LAX: United nonstop flights, 5x week (Wed-Sun), June 25 - Sept 7 SFO: United nonstop flights, 2x week (Sat & Sun), July 11 - Sept 7 While SUN will have fewer flights this summer, we are pleased to be able to maintain service to all of our major nonstop flights markets. Sun Valley will remain safely and easily accessible for all those who wish to travel here or elsewhere from here.

All flights are available for booking online.

Sign up here for airfare deal alerts and news too!

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Check SUN fares first!

Fly SUN. Nonstop to DEN • LAX • ORD • SEA • SFO • SLC ONE STOP TO THE WORLD

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

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Dear Valley residents, The Wood River Weekly is currently limping back into normality, as are all Valley businesses and residents. We will be publishing every two weeks during this initial stage, with an eye toward a regular weekly schedule in July or August, depending on how the situation evolves.

Thanks to all for your patience and support, Chris & Mandi

GRAND RE-OPENING AT GRAVITY FITNESS Camp & TENNIS Gravity 2020 Training June 1, 2020 Kids FacilitySeries will be open tofor any and all business GRAVITY ISFOR EXCITED TO BE OFFERING * SPECIAL NEW MEMBERSHIPS* $0 enrollment through 30 with any SUMMER! one-year membership.

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Free day passes to fortrain anyone who wants try athletes out Gravity Our camps are designed kids ages 6-14 to beto better while having fun! All activities will focus on improving the Mind and Body. We will split kids up by ageSCHEDULES/EVENTS and rotate them around the followingIN activities: NEW COMING JUNE!

1. New Group X Class schedule (it’s awesome!)

Stretching & Breathing • Strength Training 2. Tribe Team Training, trial week begins June 8, Cardio • Plyometrics • Tennis • Martial Arts Season 4 begins June 15 Archery • Contests/Games • Brain Reaction Time Training 3. New Tennis Schedule and Specials Special Guest Instructors Offering Bonus Activities 4. Gravity Camp Series for Kids *No two camp days will be the same, and each week will be progressive from day 1 – 4 5. Martial Arts for Kids & Adults

THREE CAMP SERIES: OUR RESPONSE TO COVID

Camp Series #1: June 1 – 4 & June 8 – 11, 2020

• Installed CSS air filtration that cleans air and surfaces 24/7 Camp Series #2: July 6 – 9 & July 13 – 16, 2020 • Implemented our easy to use branded app for scheduling activities Camp Series #3: Aug 3 – 6 & August 10 – 13, 2020 • Utilized our huge spaces more efficiently so everyone has more All Camps 8 – 4 Monday – Thursday space One-Day Camp - $100 (8 hrs) One-Week Camp - $325during (32 hrs) Best wishes to all in the Wood River Valley these challenging Two-Week Camp $600 (64 hrs) times. We are committed to providing a safe place for people to work

*We offer sibling discounts out in. We know how important exercise is and will continue to provide CA M P P R I C I N G / I N F O R M AT I O N opportunities for all ages and abilities to exercise affordably and safely.

Contact Tasha Seig for Registration Contact Oliver Whitcomb for more information: (208) 727-7014 (c) (208) 720-6088 tlseig@gmail.com mundonim@gmail.com 208.788.7669 • 1970 Woodside Blvd. Hailey, ID 83333

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Wood River Weekly

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May 27 - June 9, 2020

Congratulations Class of 2020!

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Oliver Whitcomb, owner and operations manager of Hailey-based Gravity Fitness and Tennis, prepares to re-open the facilities to the public. Photo credit: Wood River Weekly

Valley proprietors grapple with the economics of clean air Follow us on online:

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hances are you’ve probably received an email by now from a business that goes something like this: “In these unprecedented times (insert company name here) … our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of our employees and customers ... (insert a bulleted list of coronavirus-related steps being taken here).”

In fact, chances are you received dozens of these emails by now.

And as the state is now three days from potentially moving out of the so-called Phase 2 reopening of the economy and into Phase 3— which allows for larger gatherings to take place—business owners and operators are banking, literally, on those emails being far more than lip service.

One thing known about COVID-19 already from the earliest days of the pandemic was that the virus wanted to work its way into the lungs. So as business owners try to ensure the safety of their clientele, some are recognizing the importance of investing in their air filtration systems. Not just normal HVAC cleaning and maintenance, but HVAC systems “on steroids” that utilize something called advanced oxidation technology. It may be just a marketing term, but they can operate 24-7 and clean both the air and surfaces.

“It’s not baloney, this is the real deal,” said Oliver Whitcomb. “We don’t want to get over-confident, but it’s things like this that make us feel a little more relaxed about reopening.”

Breathing Easier Whitcomb is the operations manager of Hailey-based Gravity Fitness and Tennis, which he owns with eight-time Grand Slam tennis

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The photohydroionization element in Gravity’s HVAC system does three things: cleans the HVAC filters, spreads the cleaning agent through the air, and spreads the cleaning agent onto surfaces. Photo Credit: Wood River Weekly

Wood River Weekly

The Economics Of Clean Air

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May 27 - June 9, 2020

5

Continued from Page 4

champion Mats Wilander. During the lockdown, they installed into their HVAC system a so-called photohydroionization element. It uses a combination of hydroperoxide and high-intensity UV light to, essentially, do three things: clean the HVAC filters, spread the cleaning agent through the air, and spread the cleaning agent onto surfaces.

“We’d been looking into it even before COVID, but the lockdown pushed us to getting it done sooner than later,” Whitcomb said.

It wasn’t cheap, said Whitcomb, who didn’t elaborate on specific costs since every establishment is different in how much square footage needs coverage. But he’s adamant that it was a good investment.

“It’s way more expensive to have to close a business,” he quipped.

For Whitcomb, who studied Korean culture academically and spent time in South Korea practicing martial arts, Gravity’s new shoe policy makes him breathe easier, too. The gym now requires its patrons to take off their outside shoes and wear a pair of shoes that have only been worn inside the gym. It’s one of the things members have to agree to when they sign up.

“In Korea it’s common to remove your shoes when entering a home and in martial arts you train in bare feet,” Whitcomb observed.

“We can cut down on so much germs if culturally we opened up to this practice a little more.”

Gravity will fully open June 1. Right now the gym is beta testing its new policies and practices by offering gym usage to healthcare workers and first responders only. Another new policy is that members have to download a custom app that alerts them when the gym or particular classes have reached a capacity that won’t allow for social distancing. When caps are reached, members know they’ll have to come in at a different time.

“We’ve been working our asses off,” Whitcomb remarked. “Between the PPP and the financial stuff and installing the HVAC system and testing out the app, it’s the busiest we’ve ever been.”

“We started a summer camp coalition that’s been meeting regularly to support each other and share ideas on everything from masks to cancellation policies, so that we can be in alignment.”

Whitney Gershater, Idaho BaseCamp The Outdoor Outlook When it comes to providing fresh air, there are other Valley businesses that have an easier time of it. For instance, Idaho BaseCamp—the nonprofit that operates Mountain Adventure Tours—is well-positioned if you consider its normal offering is intensely focused on kids doing outdoor activities. But that doesn’t mean owners Mat and Whitney Gershater didn’t have to recalibrate the summer.

Adhering to social distancing and sanitation policies means added expenses for things like hand sanitizer and cleaning services, all while reducing the number of participants in camps and activities.

“Mat started this 23 years ago with a small group of kids with backpacks on bikes, so we’re returning to those roots a little bit more this year and we feel good about that,” said Whitney Gershater.

Gershater said she’s also trying to feel good about the Valley culture and sense of community. On the one hand, she worries about loosening the bonds that form with large events with live music.

But on a more positive note, she’s encouraged to see a new sense of community between the owners and operators of summer camps Valley-wide.

“We started a summer camp coalition that’s been meeting regularly to support each other and share ideas on everything from masks to cancellation policies, so that we can be in alignment,” Gershater said.

“For one person, this time can be amazing to reprioritize and do yoga and pursue things you normally have no time for, and for another person, it’s about losing your business. So, I hope there’s a return to compassion from this experience.”

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Mat Gershater, owner of Idaho BaseCamp, is optimistic that kids summer camp will resume for the 2020 summer season. Photo Credit: Wood River Weekly

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Wood River Weekly

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May 27 - June 9, 2020

NEWS

LIFESTYLE

Valley Doors Half Open Cancellations, changes and outlooks on the summer of 2020

M Saturday May 30

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By Eric Valentine

emorial Day has come and gone. Typically, that means the launch of summer events in resort towns like these. But the summer of 2020 figures to be nothing but atypical.

From individuals trying to keep their families safe to businesses trying to stay afloat to local governments trying to budget the rest of the fiscal year and beyond, if you feel like you’re in limbo, you are hardly alone.

What follows is a look into the outlook some in the Valley are having toward summer 2020.

TBD The most pervasive part of the COVID pandemic and lockdown impact is the not-knowing. If you never used the acronym for To Be Determined (TBD), you’ve probably used it by now. From Sun Valley Resort’s annual meeting of the minds (the Allen & Company event) to Hailey’s Days of the Old West Rodeo, a number of events have been cancelled outright. Others have been pushed back until fall, and a few postponed indefinitely.

An efficient way to keep track of what’s happening and what’s not is visiting Visit Sun Valley online. VisitSunValley.com is a one-stop shop for finding out the status of your desired event or establishment. On its homepage you’ll find more than just the standard FAQs. You’ll find a Valley-wide list of events—the ones still going on and the ones changed or cancelled, too. What’s more, the website has a “Complete List of Business Openings, Closures & Amendments” link that takes you to a categorized and color-coded spreadsheet that provides open/close updates and links to webpages and contact information for restaurants, organizations, and more.

Positively Selling Whether it’s marketing spin or 100 percent sincere remains to be seen, but during a crisis, cautious optimism is key. And that’s what you get when you talk to folks like Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw or Sun Valley Resort spokesperson Bridget Higgins.

Pristine air and world-class golf may be what saves the local economy from freefall. Photo credit: Sun Valley Resort

“At our core, this will always be a place to enjoy the outdoors and the recreational opportunities that it offers. We need to go back to basics in the branding of this town and what nature provided us in the first place. Sun and open space are the perfect antidotes to an epidemic, and we have both in abundance,” Bradshaw states in his letter to the public titled Back to Basics on Budget and Branding.

Ketchum, like many cities and counties, faces a budget shortfall for this year and the next. Specifically in Ketchum, it’s triggering the city council to eliminate discretionary spending and focus just on city essentials, such as police and fire, roadwork, and other infrastructure. Although Bradshaw feels there is widespread support for the pocket fastening, he acknowledged there were some pushing for at least a wait-and-see approach to the popular summer events the city helps fund. After all, by June 1, the state will likely approve a move into Continued CANCELLATIONS, CHANGES AND OUTLOOKS Next Page

NEWS

PHOTOBOX

Art Galleries Are Open

Contact the galleries for their opening times and protocols.

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Tribute to Luca Mathieu On Monday, a long line of cars, festooned with balloons, posters, and lacrosse sticks jutting out of windows and sunroofs, along with Hailey police and Wood River Fire and Rescue vehicles, celebrated 15-year-old Hailey resident Luca Mathieu’s final chemotherapy appointment with joy and appropriate social distancing. Members of the Wood River Warriors lacrosse club cheered for their teammate who has battled cancer for two years.

Coach Michael Malko said, “We have missed Luca on the field and lacrosse is one of the things he says he is most looking forward to getting back to. We are so happy to celebrate this milestone with him.”

Wood River Weekly

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May 27 - June 9, 2020

Cancellations, changes and outlooks on the summer of 2020 Continued from Page 6

Phase 3 of the reopening, which allows for gatherings of more than 50 people under certain circumstances.

“But what if we get a spike in cases in July? An event might be planned for September, but we have to write the checks now,” Bradshaw explained.

And even if the public health status does allow for the large events, Bradshaw says, “Cities are not in the business of taking risk. Spending discretionary money when there’s a pandemic and a budget shortfall just isn’t financially responsible. These are public dollars we’re

talking about.”

Over at privately owned and operated Sun Valley Resort, where out-of-town visitors will be allowed to book rooms starting on Saturday, activities are steadily returning and running smoothly, according to Higgins.

She said they are not yet at full staff, but will continue to ramp up as the economy and the resort are able to open up more.

Like Bradshaw, Higgins sees opportunity in the dilemma.

“We are so fortunate to have open space. There’s golf.

There’s trails. We’re in the right place to weather this storm,” Higgins said.

7

The resort is also offering extended stay credits and other discount packages to people who book now, Higgins said.

“It’s going to be a challenge for hotels, but overall the Valley economy will be OK,” Bradshaw noted. “It’s anecdotal and not every second-home owner is the same, but I know personally of people who typically stay here for two to three weeks who may now be staying for two to three months because they can’t plan the trip to Europe for example.”

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Wood River Weekly

•

May 27 - June 9, 2020

Sun Valley Firefighter Conquers World’s Toughest Horse Race

By Robin Sias

W

hen Julie Youngblood committed to being one of the ‘pioneers’ in the first Gaucho Derby, a race billed as the “greatest test of horsemanship and survival skills on earth,” spanning two weeks and 500 kilometers through the most rugged and sublime country in Patagonia, she knew it would be the kind of experience that defines the word ‘adventure.’ After all, Julie had previously prevailed in the Mongol Derby, a similar, though slightly less challenging, endurance race in 2012, sponsored by the same folks behind the Gaucho Derby.

She prepared and trained diligently for six months before setting out on March 5 with her lifelong friend and partner in the race, open to what the next weeks might bring. Julie, her friend Sophie, and the 22 other riders from South Africa, Canada, Hungary, Thailand, and the U.K., among other far-flung locations, along with 56 horses, lined up at the start, ready to test their horsemanship and wilderness skills. But it was going to be a leap of faith.

“They didn’t give us much information before we got there for a three-day start camp,” Julie explained. “In fact, they left it pretty vague and that was partially because we were the first group to do this race—the pioneers, they called us. We were going to help invent it. They didn’t release the course until we got there.”

During the start camp, Julie also learned just how bare-bones the experience would be.

“We learned that we were going to do each stage with only one horse and sometimes a pack horse,” Julie said. “We didn’t know what animal we were riding until we met them.

We were given a base saddle and learned how Argentinians approach horsemanship. Getting a glimpse at the beautiful culture not many people get to see was an amazing experience. And the horses were wonderful creatures—the ultimate four-wheel-drive of horses!”

The directions given to the racers were pretty minimal, too.

Julie explained, “We were all given the same GPS coordinates for checkpoints and topo maps. We were allowed less than 20 pounds of gear, including clothes, food, tent, and personal medical and rescue equipment. There were some checkpoints at ranches that offered food, but many stretches were two to three days in between checkpoints. I was really thankful for my experience riding in the high alpine. I knew how much food to bring, and I knew that mountain weather is dramatic and changes quickly. I felt pretty well prepared.”

As Julie and Sophie set out that first day, her experience and preparedness made all the difference. They began their ride in 80-degree weather in the high desert, but by day three, they were riding in 20-degree weather and into an epic snowstorm that hit at about 9,000 feet.

“The second to the fourth nights were a blizzard,” Julie said.

Due to a series of incidents near the start of the race (think a horse that bucked Julie off and require she circle back to the start and delay her progress), she got to one of the vet checks on the course at a high alpine lake when the storm hit, which turned out to be a great place to ride out the bad weather.

“We were able to find shelter for us and the horses and kept a fire going through the night. We were with some of the other riders, so among us we had enough food and we were okay,” she remembered.

Others in the race were not so lucky. “Other people who were outside in the storm had to be life-flighted back to the closest city to be treated for hypothermia and even more serious issues,” she said.

At that particular juncture, and throughout the race, Julie appreciated all her EMT and backcountry rescue training as a full-time member of the Sun Valley Fire Department.

She was also grateful for Sophie, who she calls a “consummate mountain gal.” Once the weather lifted, they continued on their way, bonded for life with the riders they sheltered with and grateful for their incomparable horses.

Julie said she likes to be on horseback more than just about anywhere else. She first fell in love with riding when she and her twin sister, in response to endless begging, were given a pony to share when they were about 10 years old. Growing up in Los Angeles, riding soon became a major part of her life.

Julie went on to ride competitively in high school, with Hunter Jumper as her favorite event. She continued to compete while an undergraduate at NYU and even served as captain of their equestrian team. Like so many, after college Julie moved to Sun Valley to ski for ‘one season,’ and stayed, holding what she calls “every job under the sun,” from river

Julie and two of her fellow competitors head out for another day of tough riding. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Julie Youngblood

raft guide, to ski instructor, and finally to firefighter. She never gave up her horsemanship.

Despite the hardships of the race, the highlights of the experience are what Julie said will stay with her forever. “There were so many moments of unbridled joy,” she said.

“Sophie and I decided we would live every moment, embrace every moment. At night, we drank Malbec and hung out with the gauchos before getting just a few hours of sleep and heading out again. We made friends for life.

“The best part about the whole thing was starting the race with strangers and quickly banding together in this survivalist setting. By the end of the snowstorm that first week, it was no longer a race. It was a group experience to get people through in one piece and enjoy the experience as much as possible.”

Getting to the finish line was an emotional moment for Julie.

“On that last day, when we crossed the highest point of the ride, we were surrounded by the iconic mountain ranges of Patagonia—a place you can access only by foot or horseback,” she said. “To get to the actual finish line we had to swim the horses across a huge river. I could see my parents waiting on the other side. It’s something I will never forget.”

The reality waiting on the other side as Julie found as she forded that final river, though, was a world that had changed forever during her time in the mountains. While she was testing her survival skills in the wilderness, the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep across every continent, something Julie was completely unaware of.

“When I saw my parents, they had our plane tickets in hand, ready to leave the next morning,” she recalled. “It was so bizarre and it definitely made the celebration at the end of the race a different experience. Everyone was suddenly scrambling to try to make plans to get home.”

That was mid-March and the window to return to Idaho was closing fast.

“Going through airports when everyone was freaking out was strange,” she said, but she successfully made her way back through Buenos Aires, Texas, and L.A. before finally driving back to the Wood River Valley.

Instead of celebrating with friends upon her return, Julie went straight into 14 days of quarantine. She marvels a bit at the timing of the race and the fact that, after all her training and preparation, she was able to have that experience, even in these uncertain times.

The memories of her time in the Patagonia high country, with her best friend, new friends, beautiful horses, and jaw-dropping scenery, got her through her quarantine and are ones she will cherish for the rest of her life.

For 2020, Team Julie and Sophie ended up technically finishing this ultra endurance challenge in 12th place, but for the adventurers, it was much more about the journey than the outcome. And yes, COVID permitting, she hopes to go back and be part of the crew next year.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

D

LIFESTYLE

Deforestation

eforestation is an issue that affects forests all over the world. According to Sentient Media, roughly 50,000 acres of woodland are cut down by loggers and farmers per day worldwide.

The largest cause of deforestation is agriculture, primarily cattle grazing. The negative effects of deforestation are most often associated with climate change, but deforestation also plays a large role in the spread of wildlife-borne diseases and pathogens. This is an issue that is often overlooked, but now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is becoming more relevant with every passing day.

The loss of forest and wooded areas makes humans more likely to come into contact with wild animals that can carry diseases. According to EcoWatch, every year since 1980 the number of emerging infectious disease outbreaks has tripled. Two-thirds of these diseases come from animals, and 70 percent of those diseases come from wild animals.

Not only does deforestation increase human exposure to diseases and increase the likelihood of contracting them, disrupting the ecosystem has an effect on the number of viruses that exist and how they behave. Scientists believe that there is a strong possibility that the coronavirus emerged in a wet market from an animal, which makes this topic all the more relevant at this time.

Deforestation, most of which is driven by agriculture, is a major factor in the spread of disease. This is a subject that deserves attention. Though it may seem that there is nothing the average person can do in regard to this situation, this is not the case. One way people can help reduce this problem is by cutting down on meat consumption, as the demand for meat products directly influences the amount of natural habitat that is cut down for agricultural use.

It may seem like a small and insignificant action, but if everyone begins to limit the amount of meat they eat, it could potentially help reduce the spread of wild-borne diseases in the future.

Grace Rogers A student at The Sage School, Hailey

GRACE ROGERS

Wood River Weekly

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May 27 - June 9, 2020

11

NEWS

PHOTOBOX

Congratuations To All Graduating Classes!

Photo credit: Silvia Romero

Photo credit: Marilyn Donofrio

Photo credit: Kristin Bevers

Photo credit: Molly Boomer

Photo credit: Tristan Gralenski

Photo credit: Tristan Gralenski

NEWS

IN BRIEF

High-Speed Pursuit Ends With Felony Arrest

Your break from isolation may have been greeted by an unwelcome sight or sound last week. A high-speed pursuit stretching from Blaine County to Lincoln County on Saturday, May 16, involved officers from seven law enforcement agencies and ended in a felony arrest of an Ada County man.

At approximately 6:36 p.m. a deputy from the Ketchum Police Division of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a silver 2006 Dodge Dakota on Main Street near Serenade Lane in Ketchum, for speeding. The driver, later identified as Jayson S. Mitchell, age 22, of Boise, failed to yield and began accelerating to speeds from 80 to100 mph, running red lights and stop signs, passing over the double yellow line, and narrowly missing several head-on crashes and at least one pedestrian as he traveled south through the Wood River Valley.

The pursuit crossed several jurisdictions and involved additional officers from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, Hailey Police Department, Bellevue Marshal’s Office, Idaho State Police, Shoshone Police Department, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle eventually stopped after driving over a spike strip placed on Highway 75 at approximately milepost 78 near Johnny’s Country Store in Lincoln County.

After impacting the spike strip, the vehicle, later determined to be stolen, veered into the northbound lane of travel and off the roadway near Vortex Loop. The Dakota came to rest in a field approximately 75-100 feet east of the roadway.

Mitchell was charged with four counts of Felony Eluding a Police Officer, one count of Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and three misdemeanors: Injuring a Vehicle Without Owner Consent, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Purchase a Driver’s License. Mitchell’s preliminary hearing has been slated for June 1.

Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins commented, “This was a very dangerous situation and all the officers involved exercised sound judgment of when to discontinue and restart the pursuit for public safety. The officers from multiple jurisdictions worked together seamlessly to stop an individual who could have caused a serious crash.”

OBITUARY

B

SUN Maintains Service To 5 Cities, Reduces Schedules

Fly Sun Valley Alliance, in partnership with Sun Valley Resort and Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), recently announced the airline flight schedule for the 2020 summer and fall season which will maintain nonstop flights to five cities: • Seattle • Los Angeles • San Francisco • Denver • Salt Lake City With one caveat: There will be later start dates for seasonal flights and reduced schedules to all markets.

“We are cautiously hopeful, but realistic,” Fly Sun Valley Alliance Director Carol Waller said. “Recognizing there will likely be lower passenger demand due to COVID-19 concerns, we were able to maintain service to our five important flight markets by working with our airline partners on reductions to schedules and frequency.”

Waller estimated that overall flight seat capacity could be down 40 to 50 percent, depending on final airline schedules.

Specifically, United Airlines will offer nonstop flights from Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco starting in late June. Also in late June, Alaska Airlines will offer flights from Seattle. And Delta Air Lines, which serves Sun Valley year-round, will offer one daily nonstop flight from Salt Lake City (SLC) throughout the summer with the possibility of additional service based on demand as the season progresses.

Brenda Anne Douglas

renda Anne Douglas was delivered in the Hailey hospital on March 15, 1976. On that day a generous heart and a devoted caregiver was born.

Brenda’s first job was taking care of her older brother, Michael, who has cerebral palsy. She honed her people-pleasing skills while attending Wood River High School, where she is remembered as witty, loyal and hardworking. She was a popular employee at The Pizza Factory, SnowBunny Drive-In, and Hertz Car Rentals at Friedman Memorial Airport.

At 22, Brenda was diagnosed with lymphedema, which made working outside of the home difficult. It was around then that her friends started having kids.

Seeing a renewed opportunity to provide and stay connected, she started her own daycare. She was lovingly called TiTi, Nanny, or Mom by her surrogate children.

In 2000, Brenda would have her own daughter to call her Mommy. Vanessa (her Boo) was joined in 2004 by Gabriel (her Monkey). She threw her heart and soul into her children, staying on top of their education as passionately as their entertainment. Still, her arms remained wide open to others.

Brenda continued to provide daycare until 2010, when she learned that her father, Big Mike, had colon cancer, and her priorities selflessly shifted again. With her dad’s death, Brenda became her brother’s primary caretaker.

Brenda saw her role in life to make everyone else’s lives better. Her positivity and support were evident in everything she did. She put everyone else before herself. She never missed an opportunity to celebrate ev-

erything. She suffered tremendous pain over the years, but she never bowed. She was the strongest and most fun person in the room and loved her holidays and vacations, friends and family.

In 2018, she started experiencing more daunting health issues, but only those closest to her would have known. She made sure no event was missed, and that her kids had every opportunity available to them. If a parent couldn’t be there, she stepped up and snapped the photos. Funds needing raising, causes championed, Brenda was front and center. She drove tirelessly across this Valley, getting her brother to Higher Ground, raising responsible and gifted children who she held to being as accountable to her community-at-large as she was.

Heaven gained an angel with the most prominent wings sitting next to her father, Mike, and Sue-Sue, as Brenda passed in her sleep the morning of May 3, 2020.

She is survived by her mom, Sue; her stepmom, Ann; her brother, Michael; her two children, Nessa and Gabe; Uncle Bill (Anna and children); Aunt Bunny (Bob and children); Aunt Lee (Ed and children); her sisters, Sonya (Skippy), and Sara and her children, Marcos, Lili and Lucas; her niece Elizabeth (Emory) and their children, Eisham, Mimi, Carvyn, Macksyn, Barclay and Lyl-

BRENDA ANNE DOUGLAS

la; her nephew Zachary and his daughter Zyana; her cousin Dustin (Emily) and their children Charlotte and Wyatt, as well as her best friends, who turned into her family over the years: Moe (Marc); Malinda (Lupe), her children, Breanna, Mary, Benny and Khloe; Susan (Carlos), her children, Miguel, Adriana, Sergio and Nani; Nancy (Pascual) and their children, Alex, Jizel and Polett; Teresa and her children, Francisco, Melissa, Lissette, Mia and Koko; Tracy and her daughter Lexie; Erica and her son Peyton; and Marisa (Joel) and her children, Lacoby, Thalia and Tino; Jake (Lauralynn) and his children, Kaidence, Paitin and Isaac; and many more friends and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Brenda is preceded in death by her father, Michael James; her grandmother, Susan Kobe (Sue-Sue); maternal grandparents, Ma and Pa; her best friend, Brandi; her nephew, Isiah; her uncle. Matt (Cocklebur); Aunt Rose, Aunt Katie, Aunt Ceilia, Aunt Terry, Aunt Ellen and Aunt Meg. Under the direction of Wood River Chapel, there is going to be a celebration of life at a later date. Donations can be given to Pioneer Federal Credit Union in the dropbox with the name Gabe or Vanessa in the memo line. Please share a photo, memory or condolence and light a candle at: www.woodriverchapel.com.

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Wood River Weekly

•

May 27 - June 9, 2020

C OM M EN T AR Y

Fishing R epoRt

NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR MAY 27 - JUNE 2 FROM PICABO ANGLER Happy opening weekend, everyone!

Opening day on Silver Creek has come and gone and, like many previous opening days, anglers were treated to wild weather, great hatches, and rising trout.

The PMD made a strong showing during the weekend and will continue to be the main player on Silver Creek for the immediate future. Keep in mind that these early PMDs are typically large— size 14 and 16. Look for PMDs throughout the Creek as late morning starts to warm up and have a good selection of emerger and dun patterns. Our favorites include Harrop’s Last Chance Cripple, Quigley’s Hackle Stacker, and Lawson’s Thorax Dun. BWOs are also making sporadic appearances on Silver Creek.

Size 18, 20 and 22 imitations will fool the Creek’s fussiest trout.

Ants and beetles are also highly effective during the early season on the Creek. Robust black beetle patterns like Fat Alberts, Jake’s Gulper Beetle, and the Dancing Ricky fished along grassy banks take plenty of fish.

The Big Wood River was at a very fishable flow on opening weekend, and anglers had success fishing big bushy dries and large dropper nymphs. A Chubby Chernobyl with a Copper John or Prince Nymph dropper is hard to beat. This setup will continue to produce until flows on the Big Wood become high and off-color. Many of the river’s rainbows are spawning at the moment, so please keep an eye out for redds and let these fish do their thing!

The Big Lost River below Mackay Reservoir is flowing at just over 200 CFS as of this writing, and the river has been fishing well with a variety of nymphs.

Flows will likely increase at any time, so pay attention to the USGS water flow gauge before making the trek to Mackay.

The South Fork Boise River at Anderson Dam is running at 1200 CFS, and with the upcoming warm weather, anglers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Salmon Fly. Looking ahead, our area will see above-average temperatures by the end of the week. This will likely cause flows in area rivers (with the exception of Silver Creek) to rise and go off-color.

It should also usher in Silver Creek’s premier hatch—the Brown Drake!

Temperatures in Picabo will rise to 90 degrees by the weekend, so expect Brown Drake activity on lower Silver Creek.

We’re fully stocked with Drake patterns here at Picabo Angler, so stop in and fill up your boxes.

Remember to “be kind, stay kind” during the Drake, and enjoy one of nature’s finest shows!

Happy fishing, everyone!

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

FRAN JEWELL

COVID-19 Wellness With Your Dog – Intentional Touch

I

By Fran Jewell

’m so glad to be back writing to my Wood River Weekly followers. It’s difficult to bring this topic up, but so important right now.

With all the struggles we have all been through and will continue to go through until COVID-19 is at a place where we have some ability to be more social, our animals become so important to us.

We are so blessed that we can do things with our dogs here, such as long walks and exercise away from people. That is about to change with restrictions loosening up. Soon, our Valley may be filled with vacationers and tourists trying to escape the virus and close encounters with others that the big city requires. While our Valley has been a sought-after destination resort before, it may be more than ever once again. Private hikes in the woods with our dogs may soon be disappearing because of the influx of people. People from other communities may bring with them another spike in the virus, as predicted by epidemiologists. We were hard hit before because of our unique community, and it may happen again. While I am no expert on COVID-19, I am here as an expert in dogs and our relationships with them.

Because of where we live, we look for our sanity during this very tough time with our dogs. We even feel guilty about not taking our dogs with us wherever we recreate. In some ways, that becomes a huge motivator for us to be more active. It’s a good thing! However, as with everything, there are two sides.

I would like to encourage this dog-loving community to also feel good about not walking the dog every day. Something I think is sorely missed for many dogs is the luxury of “intentional touch.” What is “intentional touch”? What it is not is mindlessly petting our dog when they come up to us for petting. It is not sleeping on the bed with us. It is not feeding your dog from the table. What “intentional touch” is is nurturing a deeper bond that goes beyond walks in the woods where your dog runs, sniffs, plays with other dogs, chases squirrels and so on. In fact, in some ways these activities do NOT include you. Yes, walks nurture a dog’s soul, but not necessarily a relationship with you. Walks can actually foster independence!

Intentional touch means things like massaging your dog and getting to know your dog physically. When you touch your dog intentionally, you learn how his coat feels today. Is it soft, rough, or does it have dandruff and shedding? Are his muscles tense or relaxed? Is there one muscle more tense than others? If you find spots that are warm, indicating inflammation, they might need to be addressed.

You could find other physical abnormalities, like a small growth or tender area that should mean a trip to the vet.

Intentionally touching your dog encourages a new level of TRUST between both of you. When a dog learns to lie still for touching,

I’ve had Cloud since he was born and he has never liked his paws touched.

Intentional touch allows me to pet his ears, which he loves, after he lets me touch his foot. This helps to further our relationship with each other while teaching him that paw touching means something good is going to happen, which is the ear pet. Photo credit: Fran Jewell

it’s about building a relationship with your dog. Brushing, looking in your dog’s eyes, ears and touching or playing with his feet takes trust. You must trust that your dog will not mouth or bite you and your dog must trust you that you are not going to hurt him. I cannot tell you how many people have to take their dog to someone else to trim toenails or for grooming. This is something we need to focus on in order to truly build a trusting, loving and connective relationship with our dog.

Take time to intentionally touch your dog. Be mindful of who he is—what he likes, and what he doesn’t like. There is no trick or special skills; just pet and touch your dog with intent. When I spend time brushing, grooming and feeling every inch of my dogs, we both enjoy each other and TRUST each other so much.

Intentional touch has an amazing ability to create calmness and tranquility for all of us in this crazy time.

Fran Jewell is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.

SCIENCE OF PLACE

Science In This Time

T

BY HANNES THUM

his is a crazy time.

Although we saw this virus coming, and although we knew that it had the potential to disrupt our lives and scare us and hurt us, most of us were not ready for how much our world has changed in the past few months. The impact has been (and will continue to be) global, but it’s hit us hard right in our valley.

Many of us are trying to figure out how to adapt our lives to this new reality and to find ways to do the things we do in the face of all of this.

I am a science teacher, and it’s one of the privileged professions that can try to carry on in this world for now, albeit in a very different format. And I have had to ask myself many times lately how my students can still be using science as a way to interact with the world, when all of us are hunkered down in our homes and trying, as a community, to help the medical community get a handle on this public health crisis by staying entirely out of the world.

Is it possible for students to learn about the world without us all being in the same room?

Science is, at its core, an observation and a curiosity about the natural world. We forget that, sometimes. Science is a way of opening your eyes to what is going on and wondering about why the things that are going on are

going on. That’s really all it is.

For hundreds of thousands of years, humans have looked at the stars in the night sky and imagined what they were and how they moved. That’s science. We’ve watched animals move and wondered where they were coming from and where they were going.

That’s science. We’ve looked into the maw of erupting volcanoes and we’ve seen the scarps left on the landscape after earthquakes and we’ve seen rivers cut canyons and imagined how these things could occur. That’s science.

We’ve been doing it a long time. It’s a part of our human species and of the way we’re built.

And, it can carry on. We can still step outside on our porches at night and see the way the stars are moving in the sky. There is much to be learned by watching the plants grow and the birds that come to visit daily in your backyard. My students, from their bedroom windows, can see the mountains of our hometown and picture the way that the Big Wood River has carved our valley.

At least, that’s what I’m hoping. We’re all wondering what the next day will bring, but hope helps. We’re each trying to do the things we can.

The world is full of immeasurable pain and suffering right now, but I believe that the natural world can be a healthy outlet for our kids (and adults), and that it can give them something positive to do. Something human to do.

HANNES THUM

Hannes Thum is a Wood River Valley native and has spent most of his life exploring what our local ecosystems have to offer.

He currently teaches science at Sun Valley Community School.

Wood River Weekly

MONEY MATTERS

•

May 27 - June 9, 2020

SUZANNE HAZLETT

REBALANCING ACT

By Suzanne Hazlett, MBA, CIMA®, CFP®

When financial markets shift, they can impact the balance of different types of assets within a portfolio. Rebalancing is a smart tactic to use when your investments get overweighted in some areas and underweighted in others.

What do we need to rebalance?

Asset allocation is a commonly used term in the investment realm that simply means the percentage we allocate to different classes or types of investments.

Think of your portfolio as a pie.

What is the proportionate share of the pie you attribute to each asset class?

Cash or cash equivalents, such as money market funds, short-term certificates of deposit, savings accounts, and checking accounts are all examples of this class of assets.

Real estate – real property is yet another class of assets. We may own vacant land, residential property, or a commercial building.

We can alternatively own a derivative of actual property through a real estate investment trust.

Commodities are different from conventional equity, income, cash asset categories.

They are the raw materials of industry and commerce. Think copper, steel, concrete, agricultural products.

To rebalance, we must first have a basis for our investment strategy. Do you have a wellthought-out premise? If not, start by focusing on your foundation.

Then, when investments shift due to market fluctuation, get back to your foundation. Pare positions that have grown disproportionately and add to diminished holdings that have declined.

Every market can present opportunities and provide valuable reminders. Periodically reasFixed income – more commonly thought sess your plan and confirm your investments of as bonds – represent another asset class. are in alignment with your intended strategy.

When we own bonds, we are the lender. As If they are out of balance, it’s time to rebalance. bondholders, we lend our funds in exchange Suzanne Hazlett is a Certified Investment for interest payments and an agreed-upon timeline for our principal’s return. There are Management Analyst® and CERTIFIED FIother types of bonds, as well as securities that NANCIAL PLANNERTM. Diversification and differ from bonds that are still considered part rebalancing offer no guarantees against principal loss. HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, of the fixed-income class.

LLC is independent of Raymond James and is Equities, otherwise known as stocks, not a registered broker/dealer. Investment admake up another asset class. When we own visory services are offered through Raymond stock, we own a piece of a business. Our in- James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securivestment expectation is that we will see an ties offered through Raymond James Financial appreciation in our holding and possibly an Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. 675 Sun Valley Road Ketchum, Idaho, 208.726.0605. income stream from dividends.

HazlettWealthManagement.com.

THE WAY I SEE IT

E

Endure

BY CHRIS MILLSPAUGH

ven through the entire pandemic, the nation’s political parties haven’t given up bombarding us with their pleas for donations for their candidates. It doesn’t matter to them whether or not you’re on a fixed income, as in my case, or if you’re unemployed because of the dire economy. They rattle us on our e-mail accounts, Facebook, in newsprint, on radio and on television. It doesn’t matter to them that you have to pay your bills, or even eat, for that matter.

They repeatedly announce to us that we are doomed if we don’t send in $3 by midnight, tonight.

It’s called “grassroots” campaigning, meaning that the election rests entirely upon you, so break out your wallets and give, give and give some more.

What’s the matter with you?

I, for one, am really tired of the guilt being imposed upon me. How about you? It used to be the campaigns were funded by the political parties’ war chests. Money was gathered from corporations and “fat cats” who maneuvered for special interests and favors. It still is, but for the last three or four elections it has fallen upon us little guys to add to the prize pot even if we can’t afford it. Why not deduct a small percentage from our income tax to go for political parties and leave everyone else alone to vote for their own choice without suffering through all this needless pressure?

The Census Bureau collects all the data and facts and designates the electoral count for each state. This determination awards the most votes to the largest populated areas in the country. Thus, New York, California, Florida and Texas receive the most despite the needs and lifestyles of each state. I believe Idaho gets four electoral votes. Makes you feel a little powerless, doesn’t it?

And, don’t you just love the way the advocates from each party resort to talking amidst the accusatory verbiage and mudslinging,

CHRIS MILLSPAUGH

some to the point of slander and outright lies.

We seem to be put into the position of voting out of fear. I don’t care for that. Sure, that’s the way it is, but at the end of the day you’ll blah blah blah. Well, the stock market will tremble but at the end of the day you’ll blah blah blah.

And, how about those pundits who talk in questions? “Do I want to have more taxes piled upon me? No, but how else do we fund these projects?” “Do I agree with my state representatives? No, but they’re our leaders in the House and Senate who enact the laws of the land.” “Do I believe the world is corrupt?

Yes, but it’s the only world that we’ve got.” (Heartwarming, aren’t they?)

At age 78, this could be my last election and I intend to vote at my precinct at The Community Library or mail in my vote, whatever the deal is. Do I wonder what kind of world we are leaving our children? Of course.

But with my birthday being August 26, 1941, I made it through Pearl Harbor and World War II, the “Blacklisting” era and the Korean War. I survived the Vietnam War, the “Summer of Love,” the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Bobby Kennedy and the landing on the moon. I endured the Nixon years and missing tapes and “Watergate,” the Clinton and the “Lewinsky” scandal and made it through the Carter years and the “Hostage Crisis.” I got through the Reagan years with “Trickle Down Economics” and the Iran Contra debacle with Ollie North. I endured the 9/11 bombing of the Twin Towers and the misguided Iraq War. I’ve been through the Bush years and the Stock Market crash of 2008, the Obama years and the rise of racism, school shootings and Donald J. Trump and the coronavirus horror. But I made it through and so will the kids in the next decades to come.

May God have mercy on all of our souls.

Humor column? Maybe next week. Nice talking to you.

13

INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART

DOVE

My Garden Of Infinite Possibilities

S

BY DOVE

pring is manifesting itself fully, the cottonwoods and aspens are doing their thing, and I am anxious to go play in my garden.

The peas are up and I really want to get the lettuce in the soil; however, the dandelions are also in full bloom and they are occupying the space where I want to put the lettuce.

Have you ever really thought about dandelions? Dandelions are not only a highly nutritious food source but they have a life force that is more tenacious than just about any living organism. They can even grow in the crevice of a rock.

I wonder if I would have the focus to be so dedicated to my dream of life as a dandelion does. What an example dandelions are of knowing their purpose and fulfilling it completely in any soil. Can I bloom wherever I am planted? I think we all can if we stop to become very clear on the gifts that every situation brings us. I need to be clear about my dream and then take action to bring that dream into reality. I just need to live with the tenacity of a dandelion. We all could take a hint from the dandelion and its life force in these unusual times.

So, that brings us back to the question: do I dig up the dandelions or do I let them grow and be the first food of spring for the bees. Maybe I will dig up just a few that are right in the middle of the lettuce bed and then gather a bouquet of the sunshine-yellow flowers to grace my table for dinner.

Blessings to all as we navigate a new reality. We can do this and make it even better.

Life is a gift. The purpose is joy. Find yours.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

BRETT POGGI

El Verdad Sobre el Aire Limpio, y Porque Debes Tener Miedo

El aire limpio ahora que estamos viendo solo es una ilusión. Conocemos que una clima limpia es muy importante para nosotros. Conocemos que cambios climáticos son real. Conocemos que los emisiones globales han reducido mucho en las últimas semanas porque estamos en cuarentena. Pero eso no es una solución permanente.

De acuerdo con una reporte de los Naciones Unidos, emisiones globales casi siempre aumentan después de crisis económicas como este. Pero, la cosa es, que no podemos tener más aumentos rápidos en emisiones. No tenemos mucho más tiempo. Necesitamos hacer algo ahora antes de que sea demasiado tarde porque serán daño irreversible a la clima sí no. Un gran ejemplo de cuándo emisiones aumentaron después de un crisis económico es el 2008 recesión. En 2009 los emisiones solo fueron 8.6 billion montones. Pero solo un año después, en 2010, ¡los emisiones aumentaron a 9.1 billion montones! Eso fue un nuevo récord y la mayor cantidad de emisiones en historia. Muchos expertos dicen que este crisis será mucho más perjudicial de cualquier otro en el pasado, aparte del Gran Depresión, y después será un gran aumento de emisiones. Pero hay esperanza para nosotros. Tenemos el poder para cambiar nuestra economía. No será fácil, y no hay un solución simple. Energía renovable, nueva infraestructura, transportación eficiente, y más. Eso es solo un empiezo.

Ahora es el tiempo. No podemos ponerlo más atrás en el lista de cosas que necesitamos hacer. ¿Si no ahora, cuándo? Conocemos que es un gran problema con respuestas muy complicados, pero si no accionamos algo rápido, los respuestas serán más complicados. Es ahora o nunca.

Atentamente, Brett Poggi, 13, 7° grado, Estudiante, Wood River Middle School

The Truth About Clean Air, and Why You Should Be Worried The new, clean air that we are seeing is just an illusion. We know that a clean climate is very important for us. We know that climate change is real.

We know that global emissions have reduced greatly in the past weeks because we are in quarantine. But that is not a permanent solution.

According to a report by the United Nations, global emissions almost always increase after an economic crash like this. But, the thing is, we can’t have another increase in emissions. We don’t have much time left. We need to do something now before it is too late because there will be irreversible damage to the climate if not. A great example of when emissions spiked after an economic crash is the 2008 recession. In 2009 emissions were only at about 8.6 billions tons. But only one year later, emissions spiked to 9.1 billion tons! That was a new record and the most emissions in history. Many experts say that this crisis will be much more detrimental than any other in history, apart from the Great Depression, and after, there will be massive growth in emissions. But, there is hope for us. We have the power to transform our economy. It won’t be easy, and there is no simple solution. Renewable energy, new infrastructure, efficient transportation, and more. That's just a start.

Now is the time. We can’t put it further and further back on the list of things we need to do. If not now, when? We know that this is a major problem with very complicated answers, but if we don’t act now, then those answers will just get more complicated. It’s now or never.

Sincerely, Brett Poggi, 13, Grade 7, Student, Wood River Middle School

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Wood River Weekly

COFFEE CHATS WITH KIKI

KIKI TIDWELL

•

May 27 - June 9, 2020

ADVERTORIALS BETTER HOMEOWNERS NEWS

Everyone Else Is Installing Lots Of Batteries Now

I

BY KIKI TIDWELL

daho Power is pinning its hopes on getting to its 100 percent-renewable-energy-by-2045 goal on a plan that it devised in 2006—to bring power 305 miles from Oregon to Idaho.

The company is not going to build its own renewable-energy solar or wind farms in Idaho, where the naturally-occurring wind, solar, geothermal and hydro sources are outstanding. Unfortunately, this 2006 plan leaves Idaho ratepayers at risk; what will the power cost in the future from this out-of-state plant and will it even be available when we need it, if we are competing with others for this same power at the same time?

In 2006, Idaho Power hated renewables and as late as July 2012 ran a media campaign against wind power. For perspective on the pace of technology change since 2006, note that the IPhone was first introduced in 2007. Now solar power is the least-cost resource, with the Jackpot Solar power purchase agreement coming in at 2.175 cents per kWh. When Idaho Power had to agree to a majority of shareholders in 2008 to reduce carbon in its power production, ratepayers actually benefitted; ratepayers saved $17.5 million last year when coal plants were shut down early.

But, unfortunately, Idaho Power is still very much behind other states when it comes to embracing and incorporating batteries as a way to ‘firm’ renewables to be on-demand power and to replace expensive transmission and fossil peaker plants. Idaho Power’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, which maps out the next 20 years of projects for the companies, shows that batteries are slated to be introduced 10 years down the road, in 2029, and then only 30 megawatts’ worth. Everybody else is building 400, 770, 1,000 and 3,000 megawatts of batteries now!

“Hawaiian utility backs 460 megawatts of solar and nearly 3 gigawatt-hours of batteries as state moves to close its fossil plants.” (Hawaii also has a 2045 100 percent clean energy goal.) “Earlier this month Southern California Edison selected seven projects adding up to 770 megawatts of 4-hour-duration battery systems slated to be completed by August 2021.” Batteries are also replacing expensive peaker plants which only run for certain peak times of the year, “Strata Solar will begin construction in July on its 100-megawatt/400-megawatt-hour battery plant in Ventura County.”

Massachusetts has already installed 108 megawatt hours as of February 2020, and has a plan for 1000 megawatt hours by 2025—five years!

As an Idaho Power ratepayer and shareholder, I am dismayed that my power company is so far behind technologically. The company is not maximizing its business returns by clinging to 14-year-old plans when it could be building its own power plants in Idaho. As well, it is leaving ratepayers at risk of future price increases, transmission line losses, and lack of supply if it continues to rely on power plants outside of Idaho.

It is high time for this company to get with it and put megawatts of batteries installation now in 2020 as part of the IRP portfolio!

Blaine County Commissioner Candidate

www.tidwellcommissionercampaign.com twitter: @kikitidwell

Kiki Tidwell

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

T

ANNA MATHIEU

Rethinking Home

he last two months of the new normal stay at home has led many homeowners to rethink the way they live in their home. It has now become an office for working at home; a school for children; a gym to stay in shape; and a place for recreation.

The repurposing has people evaluating whether their home still meets their needs or if some changes are necessary. In some cases, adult children have moved back home, and, in others, there are parents who have moved in for the first time.

Staying at home and sheltering in place is necessary but how much togetherness can one family take and how long is it going to last? Temporary is stretching into longer than expected and even when vaccines and treatments are discovered, will things really go back to the way they were?

A home is a place to call your own; to raise your family, share with your friends and to feel safe and secure. COVID-19 has changed the scope of feeling safe and secure at home and may now be considered a sanctuary of safety more than ever

SUN VALLEY INSTITUTE

before.

Many of the chief economists in the country feel that real estate will likely lead the country out of this recession. The housing market is experiencing low inventory and has for almost a decade. Building has not kept up with demand and prices of existing homes have continued to go up; 8 percent over last year.

With 30-year mortgage rates at close to 3.25 percent and prices expected to continue to rise, an investment in a home can fit your needs and show returns in satisfaction, comfort, enjoyment, and monetary value.

If you are going to be spending more time in your home for all the reasons mentioned, maybe now is the time to consider finding a home that better suits your needs. It can be done in a responsible and safe manner using an online meeting with your real estate professional. Find out what is available and what the process entails to protect you and your family.

RESILIENCE

Resources Of Blaine County’s Recovery And Resilience

O

BY SUN VALLEY INSTITUTE

ur community is resilient. That is something we’ve learned through this pandemic. Though every aspect of our lives has been affected by COVID-19, we’ve found ways to come together, to support each other, and figure out how to get through this. A foundation of Sun Valley Institute is the building of economic, ecological, and social resilience. The systems our community has put in place have been tested.

We’ve had successes and we’ve been shown areas where we can build back better. That is the challenge and the opportunity moving forward, to address our immediate needs and to rebound stronger, wiser, and more resilient than ever!

In response to the COVID crisis, leaders from the government, nonprofits, businesses, and faithbased communities came together to form the Blaine Recovery Committee (BRC). With Sun Valley Institute in a coordinating role, the committee is identifying and prioritizing challenges facing our recovery and seeking help to advance solutions and pursue resources for meeting our immediate needs. The goal is to reduce barriers to an effective and equitable recovery.

A key piece of the BRC’s work is blainerecovery.org, a bilingual English and Spanish site where individuals and businesses can find up-todate information on assistance and support. The resources are updated regularly and are being supplemented by the Viva Bien 5B video series.

Viva Bien 5B is hosted by Luis Alberto Lecenda and features information-filled conversations

with community leaders. Conducted in Spanish, the series addresses the challenges of virtual learning, removing the stigma of mental health support, and much more. They’re “real talk” on the issues we’re facing. The full conversations, plus some must-watch clips, are available on blainerecovery.org/inicio.

These resources are a community-driven effort because that’s what it means to be resilient.

We’re coming together to absorb a shock, bring our community through, and emerge on the other side better prepared for the next challenge.

Wood River Weekly

NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

T

•

May 27 - June 9, 2020

THE CENSUS MAKES SENSE

OUR VOICE COUNTS

he ongoing coronavirus crisis has underlined just how important community organizing is to our Wood River Valley community. As one of the hardest hit communities in the state, it’s more important than ever to create opportunities for our community to connect and get involved to build a collective future where we all benefit. Our community benefits when we are all civically engaged, and that includes ensuring we’re all counted in the 2020 Census and participating in our local elections.

Participating in the census and voting are similar as they both play a critical role in the decision-making power that determines what resources are made available to what communities. Yet, some communities are left out of this process. A study from the McClure Center for Public Policy Research and the University of Idaho found that, as of 2017, 62 percent of Herbert Romero Idaho Hispanics were of voting age but have historically lower participation rates at the polls than non-Hispanics. This illustrates how important our

young people’s voices are if we want to have a community that can take care of one another.

I challenge my fellow residents to share resources like the changes to our upcoming election, which will be done entirely by mail, to young people and those most affected by the coronavirus in order to ensure we include their voices in our recovery efforts. If we don’t, only some of us will recover, and we will see a large gap in much-needed resources that will ultimately result in the opposite of a thriving community.

Because Spanish language assistance is an important part of reaching those in our community who may be impacted the most, please share this bilingual web page created by an Idaho-based conservation group working to increase civic engagement: https://cvidaho.org/2020election/. It contains nonpartisan information around our new voting process for the May 19 primary election. The process is new but straightforward: all eligible voters can register and request an absentee ballot online at Idahovotes.gov or by paper forms also found on the website.

You still must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen

HEALTH BEAT

ST LUKE’S WOOD RIVER

By Terry O’Connor, M.D., FACEP DIMM FAWM

C

Emergency Physician, St. Luke’s Wood River

appropriate measures, too. This rapid response will help to prevent another widespread outbreak and our state reverting to the shelterin-place order. Testing and contract tracing must go hand in hand.

The scientific community rapidly came together to collaborate and innovate to develop antibody testing. There has been a wealth of interest and hope in these tests as a way to move past this pandemic. We hope and wish they do help. The problem is, right now, based on best available evidence, we don’t know if a positive test means that you are protected.

Antibody testing seeks to find if there are proteins that formed in response to infection and is a way to suggest a current or past infection. These tests are developing rapidly under emergency waivers from the FDA to encourage innovation and to speed delivery to the market. As of today, only four tests have gone through more rigorous authorization to be approved by the FDA and people should be vigilant in determining the authenticity of tests offered.

For many infections, antibody levels above a certain threshold indicate someone’s immune system has successfully fought off the virus and is likely protected from reinfection. But the accuracy of antibody tests remains under question and applies to the new COVID-19 tests, as well. Researchers still don’t know how much of an antibody response is needed to form immunity and how long it will last.

A test’s reliability is based on its sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity refers to the ability to detect a disease when it is present.

Specificity is the likelihood of a negative result when the disease is absent. Right now, most tests do not have high enough sensitivity and specificity to be considered reliable as a clinical indicator.

As of today, there’s not enough prevalence of the disease among the population of Idaho or the broader United States, so widespread antibody testing would result in too many false positives. To better learn about immunity, it’s better to test a smaller group that’s had a higher prevalence. That’s why antibody testing studies are underway in Blaine County, which had a higher percentage of people testing positive for the virus.

Of course, we cannot forget our foundational principles in fighting this disease. We need to continue to physically distance, wear masks in public, and be diligent in performing infection prevention hygiene measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. Doing our part will likely prevent a rapid COVID-19 resurgence that would overwhelm the healthcare system with very ill patients and lead to more deaths.

COVID-19 will likely be here for the next 12-18 months. Continuing to follow these safety measures buys us time to study the virus and develop treatments and a vaccine.

The tough news is this virus is not going anywhere and we need to outsmart it with good decisions and smart science. We can rise to the challenge and navigate living with COVID together.

It’s your life.

We help you live it.

HERBERT ROMERO

to be eligible to vote. If you would like to complete your requests online, you will need an Idaho ID and the last four digits of your Social Security number to complete your request. The absentee ballots will allow for safe voting as it will be entirely through the mail and has been used by our service members when they are away from home for many years.

Also be sure to fill out the 2020 Census. Even if you are unable to vote, you are required to fill out the census for your household, which will help guide federal funding for school lunches, Medicaid, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and food assistance to your community for the next 10 years. And it’s completely safe and secure—the census does not ask citizenship questions and cannot release your personal data.

Please complete the census by going online at 2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020. If you know of someone who needs to fill it out in Spanish, they can do so at 2020census.gov/es or by calling 1-844468-2020.

Fighting An Invisible Enemy Through Testing OVID-19 is a tough challenger, in part because it’s an invisible virus. Some people have minimal to no symptoms, or assume they’re just suffering from allergies or a cold, yet they shed the virus and spread it around our community. Others end up so desperately sick they require critical care and may even die.

Fighting an enemy like this is complex.

Since COVID-19 hides, the way to see it is through testing. Positive results must be followed up with contact tracing and isolation.

Timely and accurate testing facilitates clinical care decisions in real time. Test results inform important decisions for our hospitals and clinics and provide critical information for local, state and federal leaders to best understand the pandemic and design mitigating strategies to slow or control it.

Conversations and questions about testing are swirling. It’s confusing and frustrating to know what’s accurate and the right thing to do. During a novel pandemic, testing evolves with the disease.

So, what are the different types of testing, who gets tested and what does it mean?

Here’s what we know today: Clinical testing is used for diagnosis and to help develop an appropriate plan for treatment and care. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or molecular-based testing basically looks for genetic material and identifies whether the virus that causes COVID-19 is present. It’s particularly helpful in caring for a patient with symptoms because it offers real-time/near-real-time information about active infection. It may also detect disease 1-2 days before symptoms start.

PCR testing, however, does have limitations. Results depend on when the test is performed and the collection technique. Testing someone without symptoms could result in a negative result, but symptoms could develop the next day and a test would yield a positive. Whether an oral or nasal swab is used for collection and whether adequate material is collected also affect the test result. For these reasons, PCR testing can result in false negatives. It’s really important to have well-trained clinicians and public health professionals guide you through this nuance.

Who gets PCR tested varies depending on testing criteria guidelines issued by federal and state health agencies, on the availability of supplies like PPE, swabs and reagent, and on the need to allocate resources where the need is greatest. For instance, if a hotspot occurs like in Blaine County, resources may be shifted accordingly.

When it comes to PCR test results, St. Luke’s implemented a prioritization framework to determine which testing platform should be used and when. The key difference is turnaround time. Rapid tests are currently used for first responders, high-risk patients and people being admitted to the hospital. Other suspected cases can typically get a result in a day or two. The criteria may expand as reagent becomes more available and we gradually add back services, such as postponed surgeries and additional clinic visits.

We do need more PCR testing, but the testing needs to be applied wisely and expanded to target populations like healthcare workers, first responders and vulnerable communities such as nursing homes and congregated living facilities. We also need the ability to take random samples around our community at different intervals to find outbreaks before they get out of control.

But, testing in and of itself isn’t a strategy alone. As capacity for testing expands and the criteria is loosened to allow for more widespread testing, it will be important to obtain results quickly, isolate those who test positive, and implement contact tracing to identify people in contact with the infected person so they can take

15

NEWS

IN BRIEF

High-Profile Crime Cases Impacting Children Move Toward Closure

Two high-profile felony cases stemming from arrests in 2019— one involving vehicular manslaughter, the other involving the rape of a child—moved further along in the Blaine County Courthouse last week.

Matthew Park, of Fairfield, pled guilty to aggravated Driving Under the Influence charges and three counts of felony vehicular manslaughter last week. Meanwhile, former Lincoln County Sheriff and Bellevue Marshal’s deputy Rene Rodriguez, who in November was found guilty on six charges of sexual abuse involving a child, was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years in prison.

Park, 46, is scheduled for sentencing on July 29. Rodriguez, 41, now has 14 years to prove he’s worthy of parole. If he fails to do that, he could spend a total of 28 years behind bars.

BCSD Parents Go Online, Too

During the last two months of the school year, Blaine County School District students were asked to do a lot of things online. This month, BCSD families got asked to do something online, too—complete a survey aimed at helping the district improve the distance learning program it had to spring into action in, literally, just days when COVD-19 forced Valley-wide shelter-in-place orders in March.

“Although we believe that a traditional, face-to-face experience with a teacher and peers in a classroom setting is the best learning environment for students, we know we must be ready to adapt to other models should the need arise to keep our students and community safe,” the district said in a statement to parents.

According to the district, the information will be shared with administrators, teachers, the school board, and the public in the near future. The survey closed on May 22.

16

Wood River Weekly

CHAMBER CORNER

•

May 27 - June 9, 2020

MIKE MCKENNA

Hard way Pipeline

Staying Mentally Healthy Helping one another survive the crisis

By Mike McKenna

W

hile the number of people infected with COVID-19 in Blaine County is considered high, with around 500 confirmed cases, that number is shattered by the amount of local people whose lives have been damaged and threatened in other ways.

Thousands of locals lost their jobs. Hundreds of Blaine County families are now food insecure.

Kids and countless folks of all ages have become lost and lonely. Nerves have been fried. Hopes have been dashed. Fear has become the overwhelming mood of many Blaine County residents.

That’s why we need each other now more than ever.

While there are valid concerns about a “second wave” of the pandemic hitting our county and country, the next wave may not be just a physical health crisis.

“The second wave isn’t necessarily going to be about COVID,” Laurie Strand said, citing a growing national concern. “It’s going to be a mental health crisis.”

Laurie is a mental health therapist for the Blaine County School District and the co-facilitator for the 5B Suicide Alliance. Since May is Mental Health Month and so many of us are currently or are likely to be having battles with this part of life as we work our way through these challenging times, I asked Laurie for some advice.

“Nationally and locally I don’t think we’ve ever lived through a human experience where we’re all going through the same thing,” she said. “But everyone is still experiencing this differently. For some people it has been an inconvenience, for others it has been life altering.”

Despite being known for affluence, approximately one in three Blaine County households were considered to be one crisis away from food insecurity before the pandemic hit, according to The Hunger Coalition. Mix that with the fact that around 25 percent of Americans already struggle with mental health issues and we have the recipe for some serious challenges.

But the news is not all bad, especially if we end

Steel Fencing

Kelly Wardell 208-309-0916

How To Play Sudoku

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

Photo credit: Carol Waller

the stigma against getting help and we do our part to help one another.

Laurie explained that there are five healthy habits we all should follow. We need to get exercise regularly. We need to eat healthy foods. We need to keep up our routines and healthy habits.

We need to stay connected to others in meaningful ways. And we need to relax and recharge, now more than ever.

“Rarely is someone in crisis dealing with just one thing,” Laurie said. “That’s why it’s so important right now for us to be there for each other.

You don’t have to know what to do. You just have to be there, to stay there with that person until you can find someone who does know how to help.”

Luckily, there are lots of people in Blaine County who are here to help. The Hunger Coalition, The Advocates, Crisis Hotline, NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness], your friends and neighbors are here to help. The new BlaineRecovery.org website is also ga ood place to find resources in both English and Spanish.

Please remember that we all have dark and challenging moments and that you are never really alone. Be kind to yourself. There are lots of people who want to help—you just have give them the chance.

CLASSIC SUDOKU See answer on page 7

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See answer on page 7

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

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