Wednesday, December 23, 2009

News briefs


Sun Valley featured in Ski magazine

Sun Valley Resort is the subject of a story in Ski magazine's January 2010 issue. Titled "The Return of Sun Valley," the piece by writer Allen St. John recounts a family trip he took to Sun Valley.

Weaving his personal admiration for Ernest Hemingway into the story of the birth of America's first ski resort, St. John explores Hemingway's local haunts as well as both Dollar and Bald mountains—especially Baldy.

"This archetypal mountain offers snow sliding at its most basic: a single mountain you can ski from top to bottom in roughly a straight line. And its classic ski town offers mountain living that's still unadulterated. Rugged? Yes. Elegant? Yes. But most of all, this place is honest and enduring."

To read the full story online, visit http://www.skinet.com/ski/resorts/2009/12/the-return-of-sun-valley.

Idaho doles out record benefits

According to a report from the Idaho Department of Labor, Idaho paid out $16.2 million dollars in unemployment benefits this week, exceeding the previous weekly record of $15.1 million paid during the first week of April.

Year to date, the state has paid $627 million in unemployment benefits, an all-time record that far exceeds the 2008 total of $247 million.

In regular benefits—those held at the state level by the Idaho Trust Fund—the state paid $395.2 million since January of this year. An additional $231.8 million has been paid in federal extended and supplemental benefits.

This year's record payout of regular benefits broke the Idaho Trust Fund in June 2009 when the state began to tap interest-free loans from the federal government. As of Dec. 18, Idaho has borrowed more than $91 million.

Idaho's labor pool stands at about 755,000 people, about 49,000 of whom are collecting unemployment benefits, which are funded by a mix of employer-paid taxes collected at the state and federal level.

Wilson appointed IHFA board chair

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has appointed David Wilson of Sun Valley to be chair of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association's board of commissioners.

Wilson is president of Wilson Construction in Sun Valley and is past president of the National Association of Home Builders.

"Dave's tenure on the board and working knowledge and expertise of the housing industry contribute to IHFA's success as we strive to meet housing needs across Idaho," said Gerald Hunter, the association's president and executive director.

Wilson succeeds Jack Beebe, who continues to serve as a member of the board. Wilson was appointed to the board in 2004 and reappointed in 2008.

In other recent leadership changes to the board, Richard Bauer was elected vice chair and Steve Keen secretary-treasurer.

County waits on wind ordinance

Blaine County's proposed wind ordinance will wait for approval for nearly another month because of the County Commission's decision to give the public more time to read the most recent changes to the draft.

At a meeting last week, the commissioners decided that the changes were significant enough to warrant the two-week notice.

The changes allow wind turbines of up to 120 feet to be erected on parcels of at least 20 acres without a conditional-use permit as long as they are not within the scenic corridor, which runs north from Bellevue along state Highway 75.

The public will have the opportunity to once again comment on the issue when consideration of the ordinance resumes on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Kudos for emergency personnel

The Blaine County Commission declared Dec. 22 Emergency Service Providers Day throughout the county to recognize the commitment and dedication to the safety of the community.

At a commission meeting Tuesday, members of fire departments from around the county, along with other emergency medical responders and emergency room personnel, were commended with a proclamation stating that "these heroes stand ready to serve those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week, frequently at great risk to themselves."

Commission Chairman Larry Schoen commented both on the quality of service provided as well as the cooperation among the various agencies to ensure this high level of care.

Historical Society changes hours

The Ketchum-Sun Valley Historical Society's Heritage and Ski Museum will be open from noon to 4 p.m. today and Thursday. The museum will be closed on Christmas Day and will reopen Saturday, Dec. 26, from 1-4 p.m.

The museum is in Forest Service Park on the corner of First Street and Washington Avenue. For details, call 726-8118 or visit ksvhs.org.

SNRA reports for winter

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area visitor center will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All stations and centers will close at noon on Thursday, Dec. 24, and will be closed on Christmas. Hours of operation during the week are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Harriman Trail is groomed from the SNRA to Galena Lodge. The Prairie Creek Loop as well as Galena's Jenny's Way, Northwood and Gladiator Trails are also groomed.

ChristmastTree permits are available until noon on Thursday, Dec. 24. Trees under 10 feet are $5 and trees 10-20 feet are $10.

"Snowshoe With a Ranger" on Thursdays will begin on Jan. 7, at 11 a.m. at Galena Lodge. The tours depart at 11:05 a.m. and last an hour and half and cover up to two miles. Leave pets at home.

Snow camping is available at campgrounds, which do not have closed gates. For details, call 727-5013.

Hailey signs Sweetwater deal

Sweetwater Community developer J. Kevin Adams signed a deal with the city of Hailey on Wednesday that got him out of default and on track to sell the first 49 colorful town homes in Woodside Subdivision.

Under the agreement, Adams must pay about $330,000 in fees by June 30.

The city agreed to sign the agreement by the end of the year to satisfy Adams' lenders' balance sheets.

Under the renewed agreement, Adams retains the right to sue the city over its affordable housing ordinance, to recoup some or all of $8 million in affordable housing obligations.

He has threatened to challenge the ordinance based on a 2008 court decision that ruled a similar affordable housing ordinance in McCall unconstitutional.

Idaho's Bounty elects board members

Idaho's Bounty, a regional food cooperative based in the Wood River Valley, announced this week the results of its board elections. Re-elected to the seven-member board are Secretary Kaz Thea of Hailey and Jami Adams of Boise. Clarence Stillwell of Fairfield joins the board. They will each serve a three-year term.

Thea is a professional biologist and manager of the Hailey Farmer's Market. Adams is financial manager of Just Eat Local Inc., with whom she has been associated for 12 years. Stillwell and his wife, Tona, farm in the Camas Prairie at their 120-year-old homestead, Fair Mountain Farm.

These members join Kelley Weston, president; Chris Williams, treasurer; and food producers Lee Rice, Tim Sommer and Mike Heath. Heath, also with Idaho's Bounty since inception, was featured in Michael Pollan's groundbreaking book, "The Botany of Desire."

For more information, visit www.idahosbounty.org.




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