Airport study results to be aired
City officials from Ketchum and Sun Valley along with the public today will have another chance to hear details of new studies about the economic viability of a new Wood River region airport.
The joint gathering is set for noon today at Ketchum City Hall. A similar briefing was to have been held Tuesday night at the regular monthly meeting of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority.
Outlining the study findings will be representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and FAA consultant Landrum & Brown, which was awarded a contract to conduct an environmental impact statement study leading up to recommending a new site to replace Friedman.
New data are part of Phase 1 of the EIS.
The findings are based on operations of a terrain-free, all-weather airfield with at least one 8,500-foot runway of some 600 to 1,200 acres with adequate room for a cross-wind runway, as well as terminal, aircraft parking and hangar areas.
In their findings, consultants have projected possible airline service to the new airport based on interviews, as well as the economic sustainability of the field based on projected passenger traffic.
WRMC recognized for patient care
St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center has been named a national award winner in healthcare service quality for "exceeding patient expectation." The award was made by Avatar International, which measures customer expectations in healthcare.
"We are thrilled to once again be honored with this award," said St. Luke's Wood River CEO Bruce Jensen. "We pride ourselves on quality patient care and providing the finest patient experience to all who enter our doors."
Avatar CEO David Medvedeff said, "The hallmark of exceptional service to patients is to consistently meet or exceed their expectations—not always an easy task. St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center has demonstrated that it exceeds its patients' expectations in a tangible and measurable manner."
Register to vote
The last day to pre-register to vote for the coming Nov. 4 general election is fast approaching. Blaine County voters have until 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10, to register.
Idaho does allow same-day registration at the polls, so anyone who misses the Oct. 10 deadline can still vote on election day. Proof of residency—such as a gas bill with the applicant's name on it—as well as a driver's license or other official identification card is required to register to vote at the polls.
Beginning in late September, county voters were also able to begin voting in-person by absentee ballot. The final day for in-person absentee voting is 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3, the day before the general election.
The deadline to request mail-out absentee ballots in Blaine County is Oct. 29. To apply online for absentee voting go to the Blaine County Web site at www.co.blaine.id.us/ and click on the "Elections" tab.
Mountain West to open new branch
Mountain West Bank will hold a grand-opening ribbon cutting and barbecue at its new branch at 331 N. Leadville Ave. in Ketchum, at noon, Friday, Oct. 10. Additional festivities will be held throughout the following week. The public is invited to sign up for a raffle to win an iPod, use the cyber bar and visit branch Manager Linda Packer and the entire Mountain West Bank staff.
Mountain West Bank is an Idaho state-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, with 24 branches operating in Idaho, Washington and Utah.
Mountain West Bank is an equal housing lender and is FDIC insured. It is part of the Glacier Bancorp holding company, a publicly traded, $5 billion corporation based in Kalispell, Mont. For more information, visit mtnwb.com.
Sustainable Food discussions to begin
The Environmental Resource Center will launch a free, six-week-long discussion group about sustainable food systems, beginning Thursday Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. at Tully's in Ketchum.
These hour-long discussion groups will focus on readings from the Northwest Earth Institute. Topics covered throughout the course will include the effects of modern eating habits, the shift from family farms to industrial agriculture, small-scale sustainable alternatives to the current system, issues of hunger and social justice, the benefits of local food and more.
Sign-up by Oct. 22 and pick up a workbook ($18) one week before classes begin. Ideal class size is eight to 10 people. Register early.
To register for the "Menu for the Future" discussion group or to ask questions please contact Megan at the ERC at 726-4333 or megan@ercsv.org.
Spiritual Film Festival DVDs donated
Several films were recently donated to the Community Library on behalf of the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival.
"We hope the community will have the opportunity to enjoy the illuminating power of film and continue to support the efforts of the film festival board," said festival Director Mary Gervase.
Included in the donation are "Raising Lucy," "God Made Them Blind," "Beyond Our Differences," "Icon," "Wardance," "Project Happiness," "Dog Bless You," "Divided We Fall," "Cambodia," "Rumi Returning," "A Winter Feast for the Soul" and many others.
For more information please visit svspiritualfilmfestival.org.
BCRD holds inaugural Bearcat Bowl
On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Blaine County Recreation District will host the first annual Bearcat Bowl Flag Football Tournament. This eight-man, double-elimination tournament will be held at O'Donnell Park in Bellevue (at the mouth of Slaughterhouse Canyon) and will start at 9 a.m. Teams can have up to 10 players. Cost is $120 per team. Players must be 18 years and older. Space is limited to the first eight registered teams.
An awards party at Mahoney's Bar & Grill will be held immediately following the championship game. To register, go to the Blaine County Recreation District's main office in the Community Campus, or call Piers Lamb at 788-2117. For more information on the rec district's programs and upcoming events, visit www.bcrd.org.
Today is Bike to School Day
Today is Bike to School Day, an international endeavor involving some 1,500 schools in the U.S.
The event in Blaine County is sponsored by Mountain Rides Transportation Authority.
For more information contact Julie Daniels or Jim Finch at 788-7433.
'Rachel's Vacation' visits Sun Valley
Celebrity chef Rachel Ray's Food Network television show, "Rachel's Vacation" will air an episode shot in Sun Valley and Ketchum on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
The show follows Ray traveling around the world and showcasing local cuisine and businesses. The show's production crew came to Sun Valley in February and filmed several restaurants including Globus, the Roosevelt Grille, Ketchum Grill, Apples, Trail Creek Cabin and the Rustic Moose. In addition Ray was filmed snowboarding on Baldy.
F&G searching for moose poacher
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information from the public about the poaching of a bull moose in the eastern Soldier Mountains north of Fairfield. According to Fish and Game, the moose was killed on Sept. 26 or 27, north of Fairfield in the Rosetta Creek drainage near Warswick Hot Springs and Little Smoky Creek.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Citizen's Against Poaching Hotline at (800) 632-5999 or the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.
Nemitz files as a write-in candidate
Twin Falls resident Gregory Nemitz is running as a write-in candidate for Idaho's 2nd Congressional District, the seat held by Mike Simpson. The Republican ran against Simpson during the May primaries, but only garnered 3,747 votes, or 6.4 percent of those who voted.
For information on Nemitz's candidacy, go to his campaign Web site at www.nemitz.net.
