WRW 31 May 2023

WANTED

The forecast for the summer hiring season is partly sunny

BY WOOD RIVER WEEKLY STAFF

They are as ubiquitous as the spring wildflowers (finally) popping up all over the Wood River Valley: signs in local business windows broadcasting “Help Wanted,” “Join the Team,” and “Now Hiring.” Despite the changeable spring weather, summer is coming and it’s coming fast. And Sun Valley summers mean thousands of visitors looking for places to eat, shop and recreate. Summers mean a boon in construction, roadwork and landscaping. Local businesses are gearing up for what promises to be a busy, and challenging, season. From nonprofits to coffee shops, outfitters to hotels, the push is on to fill jobs.

According to Harry Griffith, executive director for Sun Valley Economic Development, the employment landscape has certainly changed in the past few years when businesses struggled to respond to the changes the response to Covid-19 brought to the Valley, but it is normalizing. “The workforce participation rate has climbed from low of immediate post-Covid from about 62 or 63 percent, to presently around 66 percent,” Griffith said. “A more historical number is 68 percent. During the pandemic, people dropped out of the workforce and haven’t felt the need to rejoin it.”

Although the Wood River Valley has experienced a large influx of residents in recent years, Griffith said, “A lot of our population increase is retirees, not workforce participants. During the pandemic, about 1,500 new people came into town. The bulk of those new residents are over 61 years old and have got an adjusted gross income of more than $300,000. They are most likely not joining the workforce in a meaningful way. Conversely, we also lost people during this time. According to data from the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Valley has lost 600 driver’s license registrants. The IRS adjusted gross income of the people leaving is $85,000 a year. That is a big loss of people in the workforce.”

However, with a look ahead, Griffith cites that summer 2023 should be the first ‘normal’ summer we have had in a while, down from the record number of visitors and

residents reported in the past two years. This, in addition to the fact that many local businesses have already shown tremendous adaptability and resiliency in response to staffing shortages and greater demand, should make the summer season smoother. He explained, “Over the past few years, many businesses adjusted to manage fewer employees. Restaurants may have cut back on hours, closed certain days, or will be offering smaller menus. We haven’t heard much about people not getting enough lifeguards or camp counselors and that may be because many organizations have limited access to their programs.” Unlike in the past, people who want to sign up for summer programs or activities probably won’t be able to do it last minute. In many cases, expectations for difficult staffing are now ‘baked in’ to the local economy and adjustments have been made.

A View from Local Businesses

Terry Ring, owner of Ketchum’s Silver Creek Outfitters, agreed that local businesses have had to remain nimble during the tumultuous past two years. “We are finally getting back to a cadence of the pre-Covid years with normal vacation schedules, planned reunions, weddings, and business meetings,” he said. “And people have definitely adjusted to the new reality here. Going into summer, it’s an optimistic time.” However, Ring added that some of the ways businesses are coping with changing demographics, the economy, and the Valley’s housing shortage shouldn’t alter the Sun Valley experience wherever possible. “I think, as a community, while we definitely need to keep up with demand and evolving conditions, we also all have to maintain the experience and continue to deliver on an exceptional customer service experience that differentiates us from everywhere else. Many changes have been out of necessity, but

round help. Photo credit: WRW Staff

Summer Hiring Season

Continued from Page 1

we still need to focus on what makes this area so desirable for visitors and residents alike.” Ring is actively hiring, both for summer and for full-time, year-round staff, looking for people who are passionate about the local lifestyle and the area. “We are actively trying to attract the best people,” Ring said.

Jane Drussel, owner of Hailey’s Jane’s Artifacts and Jane’s Stationery, is also hiring, though she said she is grateful that “we have a good crew and a crew that’s been with us for a long time.” When an opening does become available, she said, “It’s hard to find the right person. Wages have gotten so high that it’s put a crunch on how many people we can hire.” This summer, though, Drussel feels confident about staffing. “I have some college kids who are coming back, so I’m kind of set. It really helps to have people returning who have worked with you before,” she added. She did note, however, that she has seen a change in who is available for summer jobs. “The college kids who are applying are from here. They come home for the summer and can live with their families. Kids don’t really come here anymore to work who don’t live here unless they have a place to stay.” Like many small-business owners, though, Drussel said, she is still very hands-on, “working 24/7.” She said, “I can’t imagine being away very long.”

Positive signs

Despite serious housing challenges, an experienced workforce who is close to retirement, cost-of-living increases, and the other macro and micro issues that are bound to affect the Wood River Valley, there are also causes for optimism. According to Griffith, “The recent influx of primarily Peruvian families—about 300—has helped to fill a variety of jobs in the construction and trades sectors. It is taking a little pressure off.” And Ring said he looks forward to the return of students looking for summer jobs. “We always do well hiring bright, hardworking, high school and college students. They’re here to have fun, and bring with them a happy, upbeat vibe. They work hard and play hard and are an important part of our service culture,” he shared. The most positive news for summer 2023 may be that if someone is interested in joining the workforce, full-time, part-time or seasonal, many sectors are seeking employees with varied levels of experience. If someone wants a job in the Wood River Valley, there is a good chance they can find one.

Where the jobs are

The ‘jobs’ tab on the sunvalley.com website shows a long and varied list of both part-time and full-time, seasonal, and year-round openings in departments from catering and conventions, to recreation, to retail, to operations. There is something to appeal to a wide range of job seekers and Sun Valley has the benefit of offering housing to their employees. But still, a lengthy list of options for job seekers is still available as spring turns to summer. A glance at other ‘now hiring’ posts show openings up and down the Valley; from kitchen managers to deli workers, from maintenance techs to sales associates, from carpenters to digital marketing — people are hiring. Those with a yen to work outdoors can apply to be pool attendants, landscapers, or house painters.

Inevitable issues

In some ways, this summer is like many that have come before, though school schedules seem to bite into more and more of the summer. Drussel said, “College and high school employees get out late and go back early. If I hire a high school employee, they have to go back to school right when I need them — during the ‘back to school’ rush! Somehow, we always make it through, though.” On the other end of the spectrum, many reliable, experienced, full-time older workers are also moving toward retirement age. Ring said, “One of the things affecting the community right now is that people who have worked for decades here are retiring and there is no one to take their place. They had housing security. Today’s high cost of housing, high cost of living, are making it harder to move or stay here.”

Looking forward

With the community readying for a busy season, Griffith and Sun Valley Economic Development are looking ahead and continuing to work with local businesses to create positive, constructive solutions to ongoing challenges. “We are currently looking to do a needs assessment with the construction industry and continue to work with the hospitality, restaurant, lodging, and outfitter industries to see how things can improve. It’s an ongoing conversation.”

The organization will host a community roundtable on June 26 at Zenergy Health Club in Ketchum to discuss employment, wages, and issues affecting the local workforce and businesses. The event is open to the public and will run from 4:30 – 7 p.m.

As far as the short-term for this summer is concerned, Griffith said, “The broad statement is that it looks like there is a little less pressure in terms of securing talent compared to the previous two summers. But the real question is exactly how busy the summer is going to be.”

A recent Facebook post of Sun Valley looking for Kitchen Stewards. Photo courtesy: Blaine County Job Board Facebook page

WRW STAFF

PUBLISHER

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

MARKETING & SALES

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

NEWS EDITOR news@woodriverweekly.com

CALENDAR calendar@woodriverweekly.com

COPY EDITOR

Patty Healey

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

Mandi Iverson mandi@woodriverweekly.com

Christopher Seldon chris@woodriverweekly.com

ACCOUNTING accounting@woodriverweekly.com

DEADLINES

Display & Classified Ads, Monday 5 p.m. Calendar Submissions — Friday 5 p.m.

CONTACT

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

Eli is my name, being handsome is my game. I’m a very cool 3-year-old medium-sized, mixed breed. I love to splash in the water when the temperatures rise, you could join me, it’s lots of fun. I’m very smart and longing to share adventures with my new family! Do you have room in your heart, and your kayak, for me?

BLM outlines five alternatives to wind project layout, impacts

BY Tristan Head

Idaho’s Bureau of Land Management recently concluded a commentary period resulting in 11,000 comments regarding a proposal of up to 400 wind turbines spanning nearly 75,000 acres by Magic Valley Energy near Minidoka, potentially powering 350,000 homes in Idaho from the 1,000-megawatt infrastructure, depending on which state purchases the power.

The BLM developed a nearly 600-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) outlining five alternatives to not only the layout, but the impact resulting in as many as 486, or as little as 270, miles of newly developed roads on BLM land impacting flora, fauna, and humans alike (DEIS, 58). While citizens of the United States agree sustainable energy is a necessity to curb climate change, it forces individuals to contemplate: How can we evaluate sacrifices required to achieve this objective by 2030?

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and Representative Dorothy Moon have both emphasized the “harm to people” of Idaho due to the influx of labor from the Lava Ridge Wind Project, resulting in labor and housing shortages. Rep. Moon emphasized, “…the Magic Valley housing market will see a sudden influx of out-of-state laborers, many of them without lawful status to work in the U.S.”

The Magic Valley experienced a growth of 16.1% between the 2010 and 2020 Census, conveying the inevitable growth of southern Idaho, but the DEIS contrasts these statements by showing “…there is adequate housing for short-term residents across the Magic Valley to support non-local workers.”

“The Lava Ridge project will prioritize hiring local contractors and individuals for the construction phase. Certain groups of qualified workers are likely to come from outside the immediate area.”said Amy Schutte, press spokesperson for Magic Valley Energy. With the growth of College

of Southern Idaho’s Renewable Energy Systems Technology Program, local students will benefit, since “Magic Valley Energy plans to support local workforce development and educational programs, particularly those that offer pathways to a career in the rapidly expanding energy industry.” With an additional “economic impact report done on the project, more than $80 million will be realized in tax revenue for the State of Idaho, while the region will benefit from more than $500 million in economic output.”

Idaho Senator Ron Taylor (D-Dist. 26) emphasizes another concern to humans: “If you’ve ever fished at Silver Creek, by Picabo, and looked out across the fields and said, ‘Wow, this is absolutely phenomenal’ — that will go away,” Taylor said. “You will be able to see some of these wind turbines while you’re fly fishing.” Yet, Amy Schutte, press spokesperson for Magic Valley Energy, explained a vital point found within the DEIS, “The agency’s visual analysis shows the project will have no visual impact to Silver Creek.”

Another vocal opponent of the visibility and proximity of the project is the Friends of Minidoka, whose official statement included, “… Lava Ridge wind project will forever alter Minidoka’s somber landscape and fails to honor the significance of the events that occurred at Minidoka as a place of reflection, healing, and education for the survivors, descendants, and public. The proposed project places 340 towers in the Minidoka NHS viewshed with 12 of those towers on the historic Minidoka footprint...”

While nearly impossible to measure the impact the project could have on survivors and descendants of Minidoka National Historic Site, in addition to Indigenous tribes whose roots stretch back thousands of years, the BLM did “put forth two preferred alternatives for the Lava Ridge Wind Project that scaled the original project proposal back to align with cultural, community, and wild-

Magic Valley Energy is proposing up to 400 wind turbines spanning nearly 75,000 acres on this area of land near Minidoka. The project would potentially power 350,000 homes in Idaho. Courtesy photo

Lava Ridge

preferred alternatives for the Lava Ridge Wind Project that scaled the original project proposal back to align with cultural, community, and wildlife needs, including thoughtful setbacks from the Minidoka National Historic Site to site turbines five to 10 miles away.”

Southern Idaho has been “losing 1.3 million acres of sagebrush habitat per year to conifer expansion, invasive annual grass invasion, and land-use conversion.” This in turn mirrors A.G. Raúl Labrador’s comment that the wind farm will “remove or alter wetlands, change their function, change the rate and quantity of runoff, compact soils, and alter flow patterns,” while Schutte emphasized “The project will have no impact on the aquifer or Idaho’s groundwater.”

Labrador also references estimates of 10,000 bats and birds being “pulverized” per year, yet the BLM’s DEIS study found that “wind energy’s avian fatality estimate is roughly half that of nuclear energy and almost 20 times smaller than traditional fossil fuels,” equaling less than one bird per gigawatt hour compared to traditional fossil fuels, which is five birds per gigawatt hour. Certain scaffolding techniques applied to the windmill layout should mitigate the impact on raptors, but local farmer Dean Dimond’s fear should be noted, “about every third or fourth year we get hit with a vole infestation that the birds of prey help alleviate.”

The Biden Administration invested an astounding $370 billion into renewable energy, striving for electricity to be 100% carbon-free by 2035 (White House). This inevitably will require sacrifice not just from citizens of the United States in general, but specifically Idaho. While Idaho representatives actively speak up for their voters and the flora and fauna falling within their districts, these comments must consider all aspects and not just sustainable energy resulting in a net positive for the environment determined by stakeholders, the Idaho citizen. Part of the role of a democratic society is being an informed voter, so voters are encouraged to stay up-to-date as the BLM strives to make a choice by the end of the 2023. The preferred alternatives demonstrate how public engagement has refined and created a compromise by all sides.

NEWS IN BRIEF

HPL Launches Lotería Night!

Hailey Public Library and Neighbors Helping Neighbors are launching Lotería Night, a new monthly, bilingual community night, held on the 4th Thursday of each month from 6:00-8:00 PM starting May 25. Lotería is a traditional game of chance, sometimes referred to as Mexican bingo, and played with a deck of 54 colorful cards. The free, family friendly event will be held at Town Center West and feature door prizes and aperitivos.

“Originating in 15th century Italy, lotería was brought by colonizers to the area we now call Mexico in the 1700s where it quickly gained popularity,” commented programs and engagement manager Kristin Fletcher, “A designated caller, or cantor selects a card from the deck which features a culturally relevant image, like a fruit, person, animal, cultural symbol or various personalities. Really good cantors add to the festive atmosphere with their banter, word play, innuendo and sometimes by referencing contemporary events and politics.”

Fletcher continued, “Players use a board called a tabla, which is laid out like a bingo card, and contains 16 of the 54 colorful images. If the image on a player’s board matches the image the cantor calls out, the player marks it by placing a pinto bean on the square. Just like bingo, the first person to make a certain pattern with the beans is the winner and shouts ‘Lotería!’”

Lotería is not only the most popular game in Mexico, it is also widespread in Spanish-speaking communities throughout the United States and Europe. Since each card includes the name of the image and a brief, descriptive phrase, the game is sometimes used to teach reading, writing, history, language and cultural values.

For more information, call 208-788-2036 or visit www.haileypubliclibrary.org.

The Chamber announces New & Improved Chamber Bucks

The Chamber is excited to announce that the popular “Chamber Bucks” gift cards have been updated and improved. The new versions of the shop local program, which was founded by The Chamber nearly 15 years ago, has been designed to make them easier to use for both the shops and the shoppers.

The new, smaller-sized Chamber Bucks will be easier to fit into wallets and cash register drawers. Processing fees will also now be charged at the time of purchase, meaning more money stays with the local stores and restaurants.

The “New & Improved” Chamber Bucks are redeemable at any business or nonprofit that will accept them. They can be used to purchase tasty food and drinks or gear and gifts at your favorite local spots. Chamber Bucks make great gifts as they allow the recipients to choose where they want to spend them.

Chamber Bucks can be purchased at Mountain West locations in Hailey and Ketchum as well as at the Hailey Welcome Center. The old versions of Chamber Bucks will still be honored.

Chamber Bucks: Give the Gift of Choice to Shop Local!

To find out more, contact Info@ValleyChamber.org, visit ValleyChamber.org or call 208.788.3484.

Bellevue Historical Museum Seeks Volunteer Help For The Summer

The Bellevue Historical Museum has officially opened for the summer season, on Memorial Day weekend, and will continue to be open each weekend through Labor Day weekend.

The Bellevue Historical Society is seeking volunteers to assist with greeting visitors, answering questions, and otherwise sharing Bellevue’s, and its surrounding area’s unique history within the Wood River Valley. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, to keep its history alive and to help the current generation connect the lives and lifestyles of those pioneers and founders of the community. Volunteers are able to pick the days they would like to donate two or more hours, as their schedules permit. Museum hours are 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. Help is greatly needed.

The museum is located in the old City Hall building at 226 N. Main St. (Hwy. 75), in downtown Bellevue.

The museum’s front and larger portion of the building was erected in 1890. It served as a fire hall. The bell in the tower would be rung to announce a fire, a common occurrence in an era of candles, woodburning stoves, tired miners, and barroom brawlers. The original fire equipment is on display on the property. The smaller back portion of the building was later added as city all. Records of the first town hall meetings and the original safe are still on the premises.

The museum itself contains… historical photos, mining displays, school memorabilia, antique clothing, and much more.

The museum extends to the outside property. Bellevue’s original jail behind the museum was built in 1881 and still stands on the lot. It is open to the public as well as one of the original log homes.

Admission to the museum is free; donations are welcome.

For more information or to volunteer, call any of the following numbers (208) 788-4061, (208) 720-3770 or (208) 727-7455.

Announcing the 2023 Sun Valley Forum

The eighth Sun Valley Forum, “The Multiplier Effect: Partnering to Accelerate Climate Solutions,” will be held at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum, Idaho, June 20 to June 23, 2023. Founded in 2015, the Forum is hosted by Ketchumbased sustainability advisory firm Christensen Global, with partners including the Forum’s founding host, Sun Valley Institute for Resilience, which advances resilience in the Sun Valley region. In March of this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) and IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee stated, “There are multiple, feasible and effective options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change, and they are available now. Mainstreaming effective and equitable climate action will not only reduce losses and damages for nature and people, it will also provide wider benefits… if we act now, we can still secure a liveable sustainable future for all.”

The Sun Valley Forum is convening global climate leaders and innovators who are building powerful solutions for people and our planet. “We are gathering businesses, policymakers, philanthropists, investors, storytellers, and entrepreneurs across energy, food and agriculture, capital and communications,” said Aimée Christensen, the Forum’s founder and curator. “At this time of unprecedented urgency of action, collaboration is critical to accelerate our efforts.”

The 2023 Forum speakers bring knowledge from a range of key roles:

Youth leadership with Vic Barrett, youth climate leader and plaintiff in Juliana v. United States, featured in the acclaimed documentary, Youth v. Gov, and Jerome Foster II, Co-founder at Waic Up; Director of Strategy & Operations, New Zero World; member, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council;

Media with Rhett Butler of Mongabay, Lisa Friedman, Climate Reporter for the New York Times, Jeff Goodell of Rolling Stone, Leslie Kaufman of Bloomberg Business and Bill Weir of CNN;

Policy with Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, Washington State and Joshua Lincoln, Centre for International Law and Governance at Fletcher, the Graduate School of Global Affairs, Tufts University;

Innovation with Kevin Benmoussa, CFO, Aleph Farms, Lauren Fraser, Chief Product Officer & Co-founder, Canopy, Mattie Mead, Founder & CEO, Hempitecture and Matt Petersen, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator;

Business climate leadership with Jaime Nack, CEO, Three Squares, Inc., Lewis Perkins of Apparel Impact Institute and Eamonn Store, Founder & CEO, FairShare, Inc.; Philanthropy with Cecilia Martinez of the Bezos Earth Fund, Kathleen Simpson of The Russell Family Foundation and Dana Lanza of Confluence Philanthropy; Finance with Duanne Andrade and Doug Coward, Solar and Energy Loan Fund, Kunle Apampa of Capricorn Investment Group, Dave Chen of Equilibrium Capital, Ivan Frishberg of Amalgamated Bank, climate capital adviser, investor and operator Chante Harris and Kristin Hull, Founder/CEO/CIO, Nia Impact Capital; and Communication and storytelling to inspire and inform including Peter Horton, Director, Writer and Producer (“New Amsterdam” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “thirtysomething”), Jill Tidman, Executive Director, The Redford Center, Jessy Tolkan, CEO of Drive Agency, and Brady Walkinshaw, CEO of Earth Alliance, founded by Leonardo Dicaprio and Laurene Powell Jobs.

COMMENTARY CAITLIN JOHNSTONE

Everything’s Getting Way More Dangerous And Way More Stupid

By Caitlin Johnstone

Moon of Alabama

(moonofalabama.com)

has an article out on how an uncomfortable number of relatively restraint-oriented foreign policy officials have been exiting the Biden administration, while a China hawk has just been appointed the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Antiwar has an article out about how New York congressman Jerry Nadler told an Epoch Times reporter that he "wouldn't care" if Ukraine used US-made F-16s to strike Russian territory, and doesn't find the possibility that they might do so concerning.

This comes days after we learned that the Biden administration has signed off on Ukraine getting F-16s while also greenlighting an offensive on Crimea using US-made weapons, a nightmare scenario which greatly escalates the risks of nuclear war.

There are no adults behind the wheel of the vehicle that's driving us toward World War Three. We're on a bus that's being driven straight toward a cliff, and it's being driven by infants. If we survive this it will not be because of the experienced leadership of western governments, but completely in spite of it.

There are many characters in the world of literature who dream of joining the #UAarmy - the side of good.@ jk_rowling

AI by @caton.lab pic.twitter.com/Reblg8gOZ4

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 23, 2023

It's getting more and more dangerous, and it's getting more and more stupid. The other day the Ukrainian government tweeted a video in which the faces of characters from the Harry Potter film series are superimposed over Ukrainian soldiers, a perfect compliment to an earlier tweet by NATO about the Ukrainian military saying "We are Harry Potter and William Wallace, the

Na’vi and Han Solo. We’re escaping from Shawshank and blowing up the Death Star. We are fighting with the Harkonnens and challenging Thanos." This truly is the phoniest, most PR-intensive proxy war of all time.

And that's nothing compared to how stupid the 2024 US presidential race is getting, already in May of 2023.

In a recent interview on Fox News, Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis was asked by Trey Gowdy how he would respond to the war in Ukraine on day one of his presidency and he started babbling about wokeness and gender ideology.

“Well first, I think what we need to do as a veteran is recognize that our military has become politicized," said DeSantis. "You talk about gender ideology, you talk about things like global warming, that they’re somehow concerned and that’s not the military that I served in. We need to return our military to focusing on commitment, focusing on the core values and the core mission."

GOWDY: If you're president, how would you address the war in Ukraine?

DESANTIS: First, I think what we need to do as a veteran is recognize that our military has become politicized. You talk about gender ideology ... pic.twitter.com/ xv5jqTYksA

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 25, 2023

Are you ready for a year and a half of this? Because you're getting a year and a half of this. A year and a half of all substantive questions about real policy of real consequence getting diverted into the most vapid culture war quagmires you can possibly imagine, because it isn't the US president's job to change the way the US empire operates, it's the US president's job to keep everyone dazzled with fake bullshit while the US empire marches along unimpeded by the wishes of the voting public.

Supporters of Israeli apartheid and America's proxy war in Ukraine have been pretending to believe that rock

icon Roger Waters donned a Nazi costume in support of Nazism at a concert in Berlin earlier this month, their feigned outrage leading to an investigation by German police despite the fact that literally everyone knows he was just portraying the fascist character from Pink Floyd's The Wall that he's been performing for over four decades.

Oh yeah, and they're continuing to aggressively normalize the use of police robots despite massive public opposition.

Amid massive public outcry about surveillance and safety, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to accept the donation of a $280,000 robot dog for LAPD. pic.twitter.com/R6ZBQlwo5u

— People's City Council - Los Angeles (@PplsCityCouncil) May 25, 2023

This is a dark, strange timeline, and the more dangerous it gets, the dumber it gets.

Still there's no reason to give up hope, and there's no reason to give up joy. No matter how dark things get, there's always the possibility that there are forces moving beneath the surface of our collective psyche which can change it all on a dime once conditions are ripe. No matter how dark things get, we're still living in a profoundly beautiful and fascinating world which is a privilege and delight to participate in for even an instant. No matter how dark things get, we can still keep doing our best to try to make them a little bit better while making sure we don't waste any of our precious time in this universe failing to appreciate its awesomeness.

There is darkness, but there's also light. Far more of it than most people realize.

So do your worst, Stupid Dystopia. We'll fight with all we've got and enjoy the ride for as long as we're here.

Opening weekend on Silver Creek has come and gone, and we at Picabo Angler would like to thank everyone who stopped by our party on May 26, as well as all the folks that came into the shop. Here’s to a great summer!

Reports from Silver Creek during the weekend were a mixed bag. Hatches were not particularly strong, but there were periods of midge, BWO, PMD, and Callibaetis activity. This is not surprising given the unsettled weather we’ve had.

When fishing Silver Creek during the next week or two, continue to look for midges, BWOs, PMDs, and Callibaetis. As temps warm, Callibaetis will become more prominent during the afternoons, with BWOs and PMDs being the mainstay in the mornings and evenings.

Beetle and ant patterns have been producing fish, and anglers fishing streamers during low light periods have moved some large brown trout.

We expect the brown drake hatch to start soon, so please keep an eye out on our social media for regular drake updates. We will make regular posts updating the status of the drake hatch.

Please keep in mind that Silver Creek will likely be a bit on the busy side, given the upcoming brown drake hatch and the fact that all other area rivers are very high and dirty. Let’s treat our fellow anglers well!

Flows on the South Fork Boise River, Salmon River, Big Wood River, and Big Lost River are all exceptionally high; no need to go near those rivers yet!

Area reservoirs are fishing well and still worth a look.

We hope everyone has a fantastic season, and we want to thank all of you for your support!

Happy fishing!

COMMENTARY ‘BALANCE’ IN ALL THINGS DOG

By Fran Jewell

These days, if you do an Internet search about dog training, you will find extremes from one end of the spectrum to the other. I read an article the other day that talked about “the state of your dog’s mind” in how it relates to the dog responding to a simple command like “sit.” It was encouraging that we consider what the dog was feeling before we ask a dog to do something.

My thoughts about this came quickly. What happens in an emergency situation where you need the dog to “come” because there is a moose on the trail? Do I stop and ask myself, “How is my dog’s state of mind?” before I tell him to “come”?

The new trend is for “force-free and intimidation-free” training. In another incident, I saw an advertisement for only positive gun dog training. For some dogs, this can work. I am not trying to criticize this training technique; however, we must understand what “drives” are and which are stronger in order to train effectively. For instance, I just can’t imagine how one can use only positive reinforcement with a dog whose hunt drive is stronger than his toy or food drive. Maybe I am not being creative enough.

A dog’s life is not dependent upon whether he feels like doing something. This would be the same as a spoiled child that decides to spit on someone’s food in a restaurant!! (This indeed DID happen to me with a 6-year-old boy whose parents never even apologized!). I guess he felt like spitting, but there were no consequences for his actions. When this boy grows up, his life is not going to be fun when he decides to commit some crime because he feels like it!

While I don’t encourage folks to treat their dogs like their babies, there are many similarities to child rearing. When we fail to provide some sort of consequence for unacceptable behavior, we are not giving the dog the entire picture. In real life, there are consequences. If a dog bites a porcupine, he gets quills in his snout. If a dog offends another

dog, the other dog will respond with a consequence — a growl or a raised lip, or more. In our lives, there are consequences. If you speed down the highway, you get a ticket. If you drive drunk, you go to jail. The consequence depends entirely on the dog and if it makes sense to him as a dog. While I cannot sit here and give a list of consequences for every incident, I can say that consequences should be quick, confident, and FAIR, and in line with the infraction. Just like in our lives, jail sentences strive to reflect the severity of the crime. The day of brutal consequences is over. But, the extreme of no consequences has infiltrated to such a point that now many dogs abuse their owners. Yes, DOGS CAN ABUSE THEIR OWNERS! A dog with no manners can pull someone over and hurt them seriously. I had a friend whose 110-pound dog pulled her over and BROKE HER FACE! Yes, she had to have several reconstructive surgeries. However, she and her

husband had been told they could only use a flat collar or a harness on Brutus AND they were told they should never say “no” or raise their voice. If they did, it would be cruel to the dog. Truly, who was cruel to whom in this scenario?

In all things there is a time and a place. Our job is to be reasonable, fair and “balanced.” It sure can be hard if you don’t have experience. It is imperative that we know what is acceptable for dogs to do, and we need to know what is effective to help the dog learn the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.

Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified Instructor and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.

THE VALLEY TRANSFORMS

BY HANNES THUM

Springtime in our valley is a time of rapid transition. The eruption of greenery and new life and the surge of the river are dramatic examples of the difference that a few weeks can make. The sudden liberty of movement for our local critters that have been freed from their snowbound winter locals and the dizzying arrival and departure of species (especially flying ones) makes a walk outside markedly different from one day to the next.

The pace of change is so rapid at times that I feel disoriented. Was this patch of ground, bursting with bright flowers, really covered in waist-deep snow last month?

How can this many new green leaves have shown themselves since yesterday? The turkey vultures are already back?

Winter, especially one with as much snow and with as much cold as the one we just left behind, can sometimes feel like it never ends — time can seem to warp as we look for the end. Springtime, on the other hand, can sometimes feel like it started before I knew it — now, time seems to warp as I look back and try to remember when exactly it started. A lot happens in a short amount of time.

There are places in this valley that I visit fairly regularly and that are important touchstones to me during these seasons of change: an out-of-the-way canyon that I visit once or twice a month; a place along the Big Wood that I walk along most every

week; the little nooks and crannies that I walk or drive or ride my bike by every day. One of the things that has happened to me in my adult life, because I’ve lived darned near most of my life here, is that I’ve developed some points of reference with which to notice change: I can remember how high the river got along a certain section of bank years ago, and I can compare it to the height of the river today or yesterday or last week (with a little help from an old photograph, perhaps); I wrote down, somewhere, when we saw the first tanagers last year, and can compare that to this spring.

I’m nowhere near precise enough, of course, in my data sets. It all feels like a lot to remember all at once. I’m clunky with the memories in my head, and my ability to recall which year showed what signs of spring when can be patchy unless I have notes to look at — and I’m lucky if I remember which notes are where. I’m usually going off of a hunch unless I can confirm things some other way. But, the experience of trying to notice these things still keeps me busy each spring.

I have been reflecting a lot lately on how much of the natural world can pass us by unnoticed, and I have been working on ways to do a better job taking note when the opportunities present themselves. Sometimes, it’s as simple as stopping and listening to the bird songs that I can hear from my backdoor. There is always a new song, any time of day in the springtime, if I take a minute to hear it.

“A dog is a reflection of his master.” – Max von Stephanitz

THE TALK OF THE TOWN

By Kristin Hovencamp, CPWA®

Do you remember the story of the ugly duckling who became a swan? Fixed income has become that swan. Until March 2022, interest rates remained nearly zero, and bonds paid almost nothing. Bond allocation had dropped dramatically. Now that interest rates are over 5%, investors rush to lock in bond yield before it is too late. Bond purchasers, whose main goals are safety and generating income, often become alarmed if they see the bond’s value turn negative. What

can cause bond prices to change?

Interest rates. Interest rate movement causes the underlying price of a bond to adjust frequently. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall. This occurs because newly issued bonds often have a more attractive yield than outstanding bonds. Likewise, if interest rates decline, outstanding bond prices increase.

Market environment. Historically, investors pile into stocks when equity market returns are positive and appear to be on an upward trend. Bond purchases expand when the stock market is underperforming, and investors become skittish and seek safety.

Credit rating. All bonds are assigned a credit rating when they are issued. The most common credit rating agencies are Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s. The creditworthiness of a bond defines the bond issuer’s ability to pay interest and principal at maturity; for example, the price of a bond will likely decrease if its credit rating is downgraded and categorized as a riskier investment.

Date of maturity. The price of a bond is reflected in the age of the bond. Regardless of whether the bond trades at a premium or a discount, the shorter the time to maturity, the closer it moves to its face value (the bond price when issued).

Why is everyone talking about buying bonds and other debt instruments? Because bond yields are higher than we have seen in years. Remember, you do not need to worry about price fluctuation if you plan to buy and hold the bond to maturity.

Kristin Hovencamp, CPWA® 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.

FLOW

BY DOVE

Ilisten to the sound of our sump pump doing a perfect job of removing the groundwater from our crawl space. For some reason the sound is a bit soothing and the water coming from the pipe is beautiful. I catch it in a bucket and then use the pure mountain water to nourish my garden. The plants seem to love the water with no additives, and thrive.

I watched a YouTube video on Electro Culture gardening and using copper tools to plant with, as the copper does not disturb the magnetism of the dirt and helps sustain abundant growth. In Electro Culture gardening, you wrap a 6-foot stick with copper wire and place a crystal on top and place it in your garden. The purpose is to draw in atmospheric energy to enhance growth.

I love learning new things and exploring ideas that fascinate me. At this age, I have come to appreciate the ability to use my time as I choose… no schedule… just what does my soul want to pursue next?

If we continue with the same old patterns we have always entertained, our brain becomes stagnant and the fun disappears, so I constantly try on new things. Look at what you do with your energy. Are you caught in the same old rut and life is boring, or do you step out of the old mold of you and expand your experiences? I think aging comes from getting bored and not having new movement. I love riding on the bike path as I speak to everyone I pass. Some give you a rousing hello, others a wave and some stare straight ahead, locked in their devices. A smile never clears their countenance.

I send love to those that can’t smile and I ask for Source to fill them with joy. There comes a place in time when the “I” of you loses its importance and we become “us,” as a unified being loses all of its separation from all humanity. You and Nature become caretakers of one another.

My prayer is that we step into that flow that says there is only “us” and Nature. Bless one another, embrace truth, peace, wellness and joy. You are the master of your thoughts. Choose wisely; after all, the energy of tomorrow comes from the thoughts you let dominate your mind. I’m finding losing the “I” can be very peaceful.

Blessings to each of you and the planet on which we live. – Dove

TWO VITAL WOMEN

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

This past weekend was flooded with memories, partially due to it being Memorial Day weekend, a special time to honor so many men and women who have sacrificed to preserve our liberties, but I’m also in the process of cleaning out my closets and my cupboards and reviewing some incidences in my life that I had either forgotten or have glossed over or put aside for another time, some wonderful and some not.

This last weekend I had another chance to analyze my generation of women when I observed the outpouring of love towards Tina Turner, and then watching on HBO the documentary about Mary Tyler Moore. Those women lived lives that many of my generation would have craved; they were celebrities, they were the kind of drama queens I adore, and they gave me great pleasure in my life.

Thus, I naturally compared my experiences as a woman of the same era, and as one who both honored and occasionally violated the expectations for our generation. I have also been reviewing events that framed my life because of my gratitude for being adopted by the Johansons and Giffords of California. I have occasionally written of their guidance and my good fortune as a member of this family. Still, I worried about making a fuss or about not being a good girl who would have deserved them. I have seen the world change so drastically since I was a child in San Francisco, a teenager in Burbank, and a lifelong teacher who expected to be the perfect mentor. Of course, I wasn’t. Add that to my being married more than once, or that I often decided to take great leaps of travel to then unknown parts of the world as a volunteer or on a modest budget, my mother-in-law hating the “wheels on my feet.” I did not act like I was supposed to.

I had more in common with Mary Tyler Moore, at least from the television image she portrayed of an eternally optimistic, sweet, loyal, and yet adventurous woman as she matured in her roles on television. She also, of course, had great talent for other acting venues and experienced in her life many of the things that I did: sadness in her family, addictive tendencies, and loving her life and yet always haunted by thinking that she perhaps should just be a happy housewife.

I also wish, though, that I could have more fully experienced the passion for life and the bravery that Tina Turner had. She suffered more than I ever did, like public rejection and disdain when she left Ike Turner, but she continued to be the totally exciting, gifted singer and personage she was, even into her dying years. I would like to place myself somewhere between those two women because of the examples they were. They became unashamedly truly themselves, perhaps the reason I admired them so. While still a representative of my generation’s idea of a “good” woman, perhaps I can forgive myself for trying to be who I truly am.

OUR COMMON CHORE

Our friends and all our cousins grew up living country style. We lived on farms, we all had chores, stayed busy most the while.

But the chore we shared in common, more than tractors pulling plows, was spending night and morning in our barns to milk the cows.

It didn’t matter if you only milked a cow or two. Or if you milked two hundred, milking time was always due.

Every night at 5:00 p.m. or morning 5:00 a.m., you’d find yourself next to a cow and milking once again.

We’d wear those coveralls that came two sizes extra big.You were always readjusting, like Miss Johnson’s curly wig.

When finished with the milking you would take a long hot shower.’Cuz if you didn’t you would smell like pungent cow manure.

Some of the boys who milked the cows were on the wrestling team. The wrestling room smelled of manure bursting at the seams.

The coach called all the boys together, said, “We’ve got a smell. So when you’re done with milking, would you take a shower as well?”

The farm boys must have listened to their coach’s word, and yet. Still a hint of cow manure. I swear it ekes out of your sweat.

The cows were so annoying, like your daughter’s new boyfriend. A milk cow won’t stay milked. There never is an end.

Vacations only happened when another milked your cows. But no one liked the smelly job. Good help was hard to rouse.

An older man once told me that milking cows, to him, was fun. He must have left his hat off, baked his brain while in the sun.

Milking cows was not so fun, more tedious to me. But it’s where I learned to work and farm life was the life to be.

I’d just got home from school one night, and talk about good luck, when my father drove up in his empty Chevy two-ton truck.

He said, “There are no milk cows. I up and sold ’em all today.” My mind was all a whirl and I was speechless, you could say.

I’ve never been in jail except to see a friend or two. But no more milking cows felt like jail time served and through.

I must admit I’m thankful for the milk that we can buy. ’Cuz if it weren’t for milk, my Oreos would go down dry.

– 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, CPWA®, 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.”

WRANGLER’S WRITINGS BRYCE ANGELL

HISPANICS JOINING THE CALL

National Trails Day on Saturday, June 3

BY LEX CAREY

OUR VOICE COUNTS

Mark your calendars for National Trails Day on Saturday, June 3. This year we are celebrating in the Wood River Valley with a free and inclusive trail work party and community gathering.

To kick off the day, please join us at the Croy Canyon Trailhead at 9 a.m. The Pulaski Users Group and the Wood River Trails Coalition will provide personal protective equipment, tools and instruction (both in English and Spanish). We will work together and learn what it takes to keep our trails maintained. At noon, we will head to Hop Porter Park for an afternoon of festivities. The Community Table (La Mesa Comunitaria) will be providing free food; there will also be live music, games and crafts. Please feel free to attend one or both events. The entire day is free and family-friendly.

Public lands and the trails on them are here for ALL of us. Everyone should feel welcome in these spaces, regardless of whether you were born in the Wood River Valley or have recently moved here, are an avid trail user, or it’s your first time venturing out. Please join us for a fun day of service, community, and love for our outdoor spaces.

The entire day is free but if you would like to attend the trail work party, please RSVP at woodrivertrailscoalition.org/events/6-3-23. We hope to see you there!

BY MONICA CARRILLO NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA

Marque sus calendarios para el Día Nacional de los Senderos el 3 de junio. Este año estamos celebrando en el Wood River Valley con una fiesta de trabajo gratuita e inclusiva y una reunión comunitaria.

Para comenzar el día, acompañanos en el comienzo del sendero del Cañón Croy a las 9 a.m. El Grupo de Usuarios de Pulaski (The Pulaski Users Group) y la Coalición de Wood River Trails (Wood River Trails Coalition) proporcionarán equipo de protección personal, herramientas e instrucción (tanto en inglés como en español).

Trabajaremos juntos y aprenderemos lo que se necesita para mantener nuestros senderos mantenidos. Al mediodía nos dirigiremos al Parque Hop Porter para una tarde de festividades. La Mesa Comunitaria proveerá comida gratis, también habrá música en vivo, juegos y manualidades. Por favor, siéntase libre de asistir a un evento o ambos. Todo el día es gratis y familiar!

Las tierras públicas y los senderos en ellas están aquí para TODOS nosotros. Todo el mundo debe sentirse bienvenido en estos espacios, independientemente de si nació en el valle del río Wood o se ha mudado recientemente aquí, es un ávido usuario de senderos, o es la primera vez que se aventura fuera. Por favor, únase a nosotros para un divertido día de servicio, comunidad y amor por nuestros espacios al aire libre.

Todo el día es gratis, pero si desea asistir a la Trail Work Party, confirme su asistencia a woodrivertrailscoalition.org/events/6-3-23.¡Esperamos verte allí!

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE BEST MORTGAGE

BY ANNA & MICHELLE

With mortgage rates having doubled from what they were in early 2022, getting the lowest rate possible could mean the difference between being able to buy a home or, at the very least, making it much more affordable. Some people are waiting for rates to come down and, while they are expected to come down some this year, most experts agree that they’ll never return to the 3 or even 4 percent range.

There are things that a buyer can do to be eligible for the best rate available. Obtaining the most favorable terms is based on the loan-to-value, your credit rating, and your ability to repay the mortgage.

While lenders can impose their own underwriting criteria, the basic qualifying guidelines are identified as the 4 Cs:

• Capital – money and savings, plus other investments providing for down payment, closing costs, and reserves for unexpected expenses in the future. It could also include gifts from family members, grants, and down-payment assistance.

• Capacity – ability to pay back the loan. Lenders look at income, job stability, savings, monthly debt payments, and other obligations to approve a borrower for a mortgage. They’ll ask for several years of tax returns, W2s, and current pay stubs. Self-employed borrowers require additional documentation. Some of the recurring debt can include car payments, student loans, credit card payments, personal loans, child support, alimony, and other debts which could include co-signing for another’s debt.

• Credit – your credit history and score exhibit your experience for paying bills and debts on time. While there are minimum credit scores for different types of mortgages, the best rates are only available to borrowers with the best credit scores. Credit ratings are established over time and borrowers need to improve their scores before they need to use them.

• Collateral ... lenders look to the value of the home and other possessions when pledged as security for the loan.

Based on the Ability-To-Repay Rule, effective 1/10/2014, financial information must be supplied and verified; borrower must have sufficient assets

or income to pay back the loan; and, teaser rates can no longer hide a mortgage’s true cost. Even after a lender gives a loan approval to a borrower, they will generally run additional verifications a few days prior to the closing to make sure that nothing has changed that would affect their underwriting decision.

The financial preparation for homebuyers begins long before they start looking at homes. They need to be aware of their credit by asking for copies of their credit reports from the three major reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Congress mandated consumers be provided this free service through A nnualCreditReport.com. Other websites may offer free services, but their real objective may be to encourage you to purchase additional services.

Once you’ve received the credit reports, read them to discover errors that could negatively affect your credit score. The website will tell you the process of correcting the errors, which includes notifying both the credit bureau and the reporting party of the error.

Most borrowers understand that payment history is the major contributor to a credit score; it is expected of borrowers to pay on time and as agreed. Sometimes, borrowers are surprised to find out that if their borrowing approaches their available credit that it could actually hurt their score.

The credit utilization ratio is the percentage of credit used to that which is available. If you had $10,000 credit available and your balance of a credit card was $2,500, the ratio would be 25%. Ideally, lenders want your credit utilization to be below 25%. Again, this could be one of the things you work on before you meet with a mortgage officer.

Once you have an accurate credit report and have saved for the down payment and closing costs, you’re ready to meet with a trusted mortgage professional who can take you through the process of preapproval. They may be able to suggest things you can do to raise your credit score to be eligible for a lower mortgage rate.

All lenders are not the same and there is a significant difference with the online lenders who have limited counseling advice and working with a local mortgage officer you can discuss face to face what your situation is and if it can be improved.

You may feel comfortable with more than one recommendation and your agent will be able to supply you with lenders who they are familiar with from their experience in situations like yours.

Please consider supporting our newspaper by sending us some Bitcoin (BTC) using the QR code to the left, or Etherium (ETH) on the right ~Thanks!

Courtesy photo: Lex Carey

Redfish Lake Lodge Run

Redfish Lake Lodge hosted the 13th annual Redfish Lake Lodge Memorial Run on May 27. The marathon provided a 5km, 10km and half marathon distances and was open to all comers. Check RedfishLake. com for results.

After the marathon, the Blue Fish Club took to the frigid waters of Redfish lake.

Mountain Photo (www.smileysmtphoto.com)

2000 Ford F350 7.3L diesel. 287,000 miles, all new glow plugs. $15,000 OBO (208) 720-7455

and new Boss harness, K&N type airfilter, OEM 5th wheel hitch, towing package. Clean truck and in great condition. $50,000 OBO (208) 720-2509

Photo by Smiley’s