Voter registration fraud
The Idaho secretary of state is warning that some Idahoans have received telephone calls offering to register them to vote over the telephone.
The caller requests personal information, including a social security number.
Idaho does not allow voter registration by telephone, the office states on its Web site. Such calls are not legitimate, and personal information should not be given.
Hailey library sets new story times
The Hailey Public Library has announced a new schedule for story times. They will take place Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for 3- to 5-year-olds, Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. for 3- to 6-year-olds and Fridays at 10 a.m. for 18- to 36-month old toddlers, which require parent supervision and participation.
For details, call 788-2036 or e-mail cgutches@haileypubliclibrary.org.
State seeks comments on gas surcharge
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will take comments through Sept. 25 on an application by Intermountain Gas Co. to implement a surcharge to collect $54.3 million it paid to gas suppliers over the last year.
For an average Intermountain Gas customer who uses natural gas for space heating only, the proposed one-year increase would be about $7.90 per month, or about 15 percent. For customers who use natural gas for space and water heating, the increase would be about $12.30 per month, or about 18 percent. The actual proposed increase would vary depending on customer use.
The company is asking that the surcharge become effective Oct. 1.
Comments will be accepted through Sept. 25 via e-mail. Go to the commission's homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov and click on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number (INT-G-08-03) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208) 334-3762.
Event features greening of Idaho
High County News is gathering expert Idaho politicians and environmentalists for a public talk about the politics of tree hugging, salmon kissing and other environmental issues.
The conference, to be called "Politics on Planet Idaho: The Atmosphere May Be Turning Green," will be Sept. 18 from 7-9 p.m. in the Jordan Ballroom in the Student Union at Boise State University. Visit www.hcn.org for more information.
Local man elected VP of insurance group
Greg Bloomfield, owner of Wood River Insurance Inc. in Hailey was elected vice president and president elect of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Idaho during an insurance agents' convention in Coeur d'Alene.
Bloomfield's duties will consist of serving on the board of directors and assisting the president in formulating plans for continued growth of the association, and consumer awareness.
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Idaho represents most independent agents and brokers in Idaho and is part of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.
South Barker Fire dying down
A lightning-caused wildfire burning west of the Wood River Valley since Aug. 7 is starting to die down.
Officials with the Sawtooth National Forest announced Thursday that some crews assigned to fight the South Barker Fire northwest of Fairfield were released from duty in the area after observations of "decreased fire activity over the last several days and a forecast of reduced fire behavior." More crews and equipment are scheduled to be released from the area.
On Wednesday, forest officials said, "active fire burning was limited to the interior of the fire perimeter." The last estimate of the fire's burn area was 34,250 acres of forest, grassland and brush. Growth of the fire has been minimal since last weekend.
