Sawtooth drinking water deemed off-limits
Due to potential contamination, officials with the Sawtooth National Forest Minidoka Ranger District have temporarily shut down the Porcupine Springs water system. The water source supplies potable water to the Rock Creek Guard Station and the Lower Penstemon, Pettit, Diamondfield Jack and Porcupine Springs campgrounds.
The Minidoka Ranger District is located south of the communities of Twin Falls and Jerome in the Magic Valley region.
The campgrounds listed will still be available for use, although visitors are encouraged to bring their own drinking water. All other amenities, including toilets, are still available at the impacted campgrounds.
Sawtooth officials are working to get the water system operational as soon as possible. The length of the closure will be dependent on further sampling test results, according to a Sawtooth National Forest news release.
For more information, contact Zeke Zimmerman at the Minidoka Ranger District office at (208) 677-8295.
ITD holds highway funding conference
Idaho Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter and the Idaho Transportation Department will hold a highway funding conference in Twin Falls next Tuesday.
The conference is part of a series being held statewide that will address funding options for "repairing, maintaining and improving the state's crumbling roads and bridges," states an ITD press release.
The governor's staff and ITD officials will meet during the day with area legislators, other elected officials, business and industry leaders and local highway district representatives.
A public meeting is set from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Red Lion Canyon Springs.
For more information visit the ITD Web site at itd.idaho.gov.
Learn about ecology of Big Wood
The Idaho State University Sawtooth Science Institute will hold a Big Wood River ecology course for anglers Aug. 12-13. The two-day streamside workshop will explore the lives and habits of stream animals, especially those pursued by anglers.
United States Geological Survey biologists Terry Maret and Dorene MacCoy, who have intensively studied the Big Wood, will instruct the course. Participants will receive a packet of useful information. A lecture and slide presentation will be followed by on-stream field study that will allow for an up close and personal view of the river's wily trout.
For more information, contact ISU's Sawtooth Science Institute director, Chris Gertschen, at (208) 788-9686 or by email at gertchri@isu.edu. Course information can also be found at http://imnh.isu.edu/ssi.
Series begins on Christianity
St. Thomas Episcopal Church will resent a series "Living the Questions: An Invitation to Journey, Part I," each Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Aug. 3 to Sept. 21, though not Aug. 31. Facilitated by The Rev. Ken Brannon and Don Liebich, the series will highlight what progressive Christianity is all about.
"This is a great course for those who had bad childhood experiences of church or who fear that their insights and or experiences might not be welcome in the church," said the Rev. Ken Brannon. "The goal is not to debate right belief, but to allow each person to share their unique perspective on the Christian journey."
RSVP to attend every session, though attending all sessions is recommended. It will not be held Sunday, Aug. 31. Call 726-5349.
Wagon Days posters on sale
In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Ketchum's Wagon Days, the Sun Valley/Ketchum CVB is selling a commemorative Jane Wooster Scott poster. The posters are available for $35 (unsigned) and $75 (signed).
Scott is an internationally recognized artist and longtime Wood River Valley Resident. The Guinness Book of Records has named her as the most reproduced artist in America, and at one point a Scott painting hung in the White House.
Posters can be purchased at the Chamber's office at 251 Washington Ave N., or online at visitsunvalley.com/store.
Idaho gas prices higher than average
Although gasoline prices have dipped in many parts of the country, Idaho motorists are still paying more than $4 per gallon to fill up their tanks, the Associated Press reported this week.
The most recent AAA Idaho report set the average price per gallon in Idaho at $4.15, up six cents in the last month. The report, released on Monday, showed the national average at $3.96.
In the Wood River Valley, gasoline prices have generally maintained a higher average than in other parts of the state.
Idaho is not alone among Western states in having to pay higher prices. The AAA report listed gas prices above $4 per gallon in neighboring Washington, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and Montana.
Bellevue's free films start tonight
Every Friday in August, cinema lovers can watch a free outdoor movie at the Rosewood on Main Street in Bellevue.
Bring lawn chairs. Area businesses will be open for food and drinks before the movie, which begins at 9:30 p.m. The film series is sponsored by Soundwave, the Hailey Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Bellevue Council. It will begin Aug. 1 with the film "Funny Friday." Other films will be "Freaky Friday" on Aug. 8, "Frontier Friday" on Aug. 15, "Famous Friday" on Aug. 22, and "Fifties 50s" on Aug. 29.
Simpson notes Special Olympics
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho joined his colleagues in recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Special Olympics. Idaho will host the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in February. Simpson is an honorary co-chair of the games.
Trailweb.net announces treasure hunt
During the first three weeks of August, bikers, hikers and users of Wood River Valley Trails have a chance to win prizes just by going about their business outdoors.
Each week a bag containing a prize code will be hidden just off the trails. The locations will be noted by a red diamond shaped icon on the interactive maps in the Popular Areas section of trailweb.com.
After finding the bag, pack it out and send an email containing your address and prize code to admin@tralweb.net to receive the prize.
