Fire near Stanley nearly contained
The Basin Fire, a small 175-acre blaze burning in grass, brush and timber seven miles northeast of Stanley on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, was at 99 percent containment Wednesday, information posted on the Boise-based National Interagency Fire Center's Web site said.
The fire, which started on July 10 near the Basin Creek Campground along the Salmon River, caused the temporary closure of state Highway 75 for a short period of time Tuesday. The highway has since been reopened. The blaze also reportedly led to the temporary loss of power to the town of Stanley.
On Wednesday, two helicopters, five engines and 20 firefighters from the Sawtooth Hotshot crew were working the blaze, a news release from the Salmon-Challis National Forest states. Motorists traveling along Highway 75 should expect intermittent delays because of helicopter activity and other fire suppression activities.
Across the entire 4.3-million-acre Salmon-Challis, fire crews this week have been working on a total of six separate wildfires including the Basin Fire. Other blazes include the 20-acre Bohannon Fire, which is burning in rugged terrain about 10 miles east of Salmon, and the West Granite Fire, which has burned a total of 2 acres six miles west of Gibbonsville. Two engines and 20 firefighters are working the West Granite Fire.
Fairfield to become the capital
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter announced earlier this week that Fairfield, located south of the Wood River Valley in Camas County, will be the state's "Capital for a Day" on Tuesday, July 17.
Residents, on a first-come, first-served basis, will get the opportnity to meet Otter, along with members of the Governor's Cabinet and other senior state officials, from 9 a.m. to noon and then continue from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Camas Senior Center, located at 131 Willow Avenue W.
Prior to the public session, the governor will tour the facilities of High Country Fusion Inc, near the city.
"(Fairfield) combines the best of what Idaho has to offer today with some of the strongest elements of our past," Otter said.
Benefit set for Craig Kjesbo
A benefit dinner, dance, raffle and live auction will be held for Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation alpine coach Craig ("Cheeso") Kjesbo from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at Apple's Café on Northwood Way in Ketchum. All proceeds will go toward Cheeso's courageous battle with cancer.
Only 400 $25 tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Raffle tickets are available for $5 each. All tickets are available in Bellevue at Sun Valley Garden Center on Highway 75, in Hailey at Idaho Lumber on Airport Way, in Ketchum at Apple's Café on Northwood Way, or by e-mailing Lenore@engelmann-inc.com.
The event is sponsored by Apple's Café and Engelmann construction, and is supported by the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. To donate raffle or auction items, or for more information, contact Lenore at 726-9742.
Celebrate Papa's birth
The Sun Valley Ketchum Heritage & Ski Museum, will ceelbrate Ernest Hemingway's birthday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 21. Enjoy cake, lemonade, the movie "Hemingway in the Autumn" and the Hemingway exhibit, which highlights his time in Sun Valley.
For more information, contact the museum at 726-8118.
Animal shelter receives grant
The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley announced last week that it was awarded a $20,000 grant from Maddie's Fund, a charitable pet rescue foundation.
The grant will help fund a number of the shelter's programs, including a no-cost spay/neuter program, an animal rehabilitation program, as well as adding to the general fund for the care and sheltering of homeless and abandoned animals in Blaine County.
Volunteer Core sponsors blood drive
St. Luke's Volunteer Core is once again sponsoring a bi-annual blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, at the LDS Church on Sun Valley Road in Ketchum.
To schedule a blood donation, contact Jeannie Kiel at 720-4063.
St. Luke's Magic Valley has new CEO
Mark Schwartz, formerly the CEO for Aurora Medical Center in Hartford, Wisc., will become St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center's new CEO as of August. The medical center is in Twin Falls.
Schwartz will replace John Kee, who is moving to Boise for a new position with St. Luke's Health System in Boise.
