Call to veterans
Milt Smith, state service officer from the Idaho Division of Veterans Service, will be in Hailey on Tuesday, Jan. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. to answer questions about current veterans' benefits, assist with ongoing claims and take new claims for benefits for eligible veterans.
Smith will be in the County Services' meeting room at 219 First Ave. S. To set up an appointment, contact Wilma Colter at 788-5566.
Volunteer for Special Olympics
The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2009 Committee is seeking approximately 600 volunteers to accommodate athletes, coaches and delegations. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and must have a background check.
There will be fingerprinting in Hailey at the Community Campus from noon until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, and 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31. Fingerprinting in Ketchum will be at the YMCA Community Room in Ketchum from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, and 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31. On Saturday, Feb. 2, fingerprinting will take place from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
If a business or group would like to send a number of volunteers, the committee will arrange for that group to work as a team.
Volunteer forms are available online at www.2009WorldGames.org or from the Ketchum office, at 140 W. Second St., Ketchum.
For more information, call Sun Valley coordinator Ashley Crawford at 726-7533.
Hailey to discuss sewer policy
The city of Hailey will review a new Sewer Extension Services Policy on Monday night at 5:30 p.m. to address requests by Spring Canyon Ranch developers to extend city services outside city limits into Croy Canyon.
The policy would set guidelines for future extension of city services.
Further discussion of the proposed Spring Canyon Ranch development plans will follow the public hearing on the policy. The council meets at Hailey City Hall.
Religion is topic of live feed
The Wood River YMCA will have a live feed of a 92nd Street Y lecture at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30.
It will be moderated by Rabbi Barney Brickner. The guests for the second in these programs are writer Christopher Hitchens, author of "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything," and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, host of "Shalom in the Home" on television's The Learning Channel and the best-selling author of 18 books.
Cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Reserve tickets at 727-9622 or woodriverymca.org.
Men's Group to hold open house
Begun in 2004, a consciousness-raising group of 30 Wood River Valley men meets regularly to explore issues of men and power, personal growth and how to relate to women.
On Feb. 4, from 5-7p.m. an open house to welcome new men's group members to the informal association will be held in Gimlet subdivision south of Ketchum. There are 15 openings for new members to engage in an eight-week introductory course exploring men's issues.
To find out more, contact Cam Cooper at 726-6016, David Wilkinson at (206) 819- 2387 or Jim Mulenos at 720-5433.
Passports needed for Canada
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security began requiring that all travelers have their passports when flying between the United States and Canada or Mexico. As of Thursday, Jan. 31, the requirement will apply to all travel, even by car. For more information, visit www.travel.state.gov.
Turnaround time for a passport takes approximately four to six weeks. Passport applications can be found at post offices or city halls.
Idaho ACLU chief to resign
Jack Van Valkenburgh, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, will resign his position as of May 1.
"I love the ACLU, but I'm not getting any younger. After 18 years directing it in Idaho, I think it's time to pursue some other interests," Van Valkenburgh said.
During Van Valkenburgh's tenure, the ACLU in Idaho grew from 350 to more than 2,000 members. The ACLU used its legal, legislative and educational programs to battle for the rights of women, prisoners, students, gays, immigrants and other minorities. It successfully litigated for the rights of all Idaho voters to a politically neutral polling place.
While the ACLU is viewed by some Idahoans as a liberal organization, Van Valkenburgh said it defends everyone's civil liberties, especially their right to free speech.
"Our client, our real client, is the Bill of Rights," he said.
