Friday, August 14, 2009

News Briefs


Burning owl causes wildfire

Monday night was a bad night for a Wood River Valley owl.

According to reports from Wood River Fire & Rescue, the unfortunate creature got caught in the power lines above milepost 107 on state Highway 75, south of Bellevue. The bird was shocked and burst into flames, igniting a small 10-square-foot brush fire near the Wood River Gun Club.

The fire was out by the time Wood River Fire & Rescue arrived on scene.

Chamber receives ITC grant

The Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau has been awarded an approximately $256,000 grant from the Idaho Travel Council. The money will be used to promote the Sun Valley-Ketchum area through the chamber's Web site, online efforts, public relations and marketing.

"This money is vital to our marketing programs," chamber Marketing Director Carrie Westergard said.

The grant is funded through the state's 2 percent lodging tax.

McCall retains city manager

McCall will retain a city manager form of government after a special election that was decided by a 58 percent to 42 percent vote.

A petition to return to a "strong mayor" form of government, which it had prior to 1993, succeeded in bringing about the special election.

In March, Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall broached the subject of transitioning to a city manager form of government, an idea that gained traction with the City Council and some members of the public, but is on hold until after elections this fall.

In a city manager government, the manager would take on the chief executive role formerly held by the mayor.

Chip-sealing scheduled in Ketchum

The Ketchum Street Department will conduct chip-sealing projects on city streets on Monday, Aug. 17, and Tuesday, Aug. 18, weather permitting.

Crews on Monday will work on Northwood Way (north end), Saddle Road and Cedar, Fir, Pine and Aspen streets. On Tuesday, they will work on Shady Lane and Bald Mountain and Irene streets.

Cars parked in the affected areas must be moved before the work begins or they could be towed.

Short delays will occur.

Chip-sealing involves adding a layer of gravel and special tar to streets to extend their longevity.

'Club Zou' prompts noise complaints

Spruce Street resident LeAnn Gelsky complained to the Hailey City Council on Monday that "Club Zou" dance nights at Zou 75 restaurant were causing her and her family to lose sleep.

The restaurant, on the corner of Main and Spruce streets in Hailey, turns into a nightclub after dining room hours on the first Friday of every month.

"I know it's a hot spot, but sometimes we don't get to sleep until 3 a.m., and my daughter and I work on Saturdays," Gelsky said.

Councilman Don Kiern said the restaurant owners "needed a talking to." Hailey Mayor Rick Davis instructed Police Chief Jeff Gunter to address the issue.

Bellevue museum needs volunteers

Bellevue's 1885 Old City Hall Museum will get a sprucing-up this Saturday and Sunday. The white-tiled building on Main Street contains yearbooks, photographs and artifacts from Bellevue's colorful history.

Volunteers recently put on a new front door and installed new siding where the boards were cracked and warped, but the entire building exterior needs to be painted. City Council Chairman Chris Koch is spearheading an effort to fix up the museum.

"It's long been neglected and it needs to be preserved for future generations," said Koch, who will organize volunteer painters on Saturday, Aug. 15, starting at 9 a.m., and on Sunday if the job can't be completed in one day.

"The more the merrier," Koch said. "Bring paint tools if you've got them."

Columbia Paint & Coating has volunteered time and equipment for the project.

For more information, contact Koch at 720-8543 or Melanie Dahl at 788-3628.




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