Wednesday, November 3, 2010

News Briefs


Board seeks applications for baskets

People can apply for holiday baskets from the Sawtooth Board of Realtors Community Foundation on Thursday, Nov. 11, from 2-6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 12, from 12-6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 13, from 12-4 p.m.

Signup is at the Community Campus in Hailey. Applicants should bring photo identification and proof of Blaine County residency. Volunteers will assist in English and Spanish.

For details, call 481-0088 or 720-2905.

Coalition to provide food baskets

Through a partnership with Silver Creek High School, the Hunger Coalition will distribute food baskets this Thanksgiving. Silver Creek students will host a food drive to collect canned and boxed goods. There are yellow food-collection barrels throughout the Wood River Valley.

Individuals and families wishing to receive a basket must fill out an application and return it to the Hunger Coalition at 121 Honeysuckle St. in Hailey no later than Nov. 12. Applications can be submitted via e-mail at tdaybaskets@thehungercaolition.org.

Applications are available at the Hunger Coalition, St. Luke's Center for Community Health, La Alianza, the Advocates and Blaine County Services, as well as from all Blaine County School District social workers. They can also be downloaded from the Hunger Coalition website at www.thehungercoalition.org.

People already enrolled as food recipients can call 788-0121 to reserve a basket. Baskets will be distributed at the Community Campus on Wednesday, Nov. 23, from 4:30-6 p.m.

YMCA offering anniversary freebies

The Wood River Community YMCA will celebrate its third anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 6, by offering numerous free activities and even free day passes to the facility for non-members. Classes will also be free, including Richard's Yoga from 9-10 a.m., Zumba from 10-11 a.m. and Aqua Bootcamp from 10-11 a.m. Children ages 3-5 will be able to try out Little Imagination Movers from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A bouncy castle will also be available for children from noon to 2 p.m. Those of all ages will be able to rent climbing shoes and a harness for free from noon to 6 p.m. The Y will be offering free daycare from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children ages 6 months to 7 years.

The festivities will continue until 6 p.m. with live music, dancing, karaoke, giveaways, cake and drinks.

Ketchum hires events coordinator

The city of Ketchum has promoted Stephanie McCord to special events coordinator, a position to be shared between two departments. Previously, the city's Community and Economic Development Department handled large events, while the Parks and Recreation Department processed an annual average of 200 reservations for smaller events.

"We want to provide better customer service for the public with one point person and one set of paperwork," said Parks Superintendent Jennifer Smith.

McCord developed the Parks Department's summer gardening program and has a background in event planning.

The next community event will be the Holiday Tree Lighting on Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. in Ketchum Town Square. The city has partnered with the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau in planning the event to include snacks, a free ice-skating rink and a visit from Santa Claus.

Aggressive-driving patrols begin

More than 100 people die as a result of aggressive driving crashes each year in Idaho. Federal grants are funding education campaigns and high-visibility aggressive driving enforcement patrols through Nov. 14.

"The effort is part of Idaho's Toward Zero Deaths' goal to someday have no traffic deaths on Idaho's roads," said Cecilia Awusie with the Idaho Transportation Department's Office of Highway Operations and Safety.

During the campaign, police will increase enforcement of speed limits and traffic laws. They will also check for seat belt use.

Aggressive driving includes tailgating, changing lanes without signaling, speeding, running red lights or stop signs, following too close and failing to yield to other vehicles.

Youth survey results presented today

Results of a developmental assets survey taken by 800 local youths in May will be presented today, Nov. 3, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. at St. Luke's Hailey Clinic.

The survey evaluated how youths perceive community support and community risks that affect them. Terry Basolo, executive director of the Blaine County Community Drug Coalition, will present the results of the survey and lead a discussion on what adults can do to promote a healthy and safe environment for kids.

State to cut mental health services

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare plans to cut more than $8 million in programs and services starting in January, according to The Associated Press.

The agency has trimmed its budget by $1.6 million in its latest set of rules, to be published Dec. 2, but these cuts will trigger the loss of another $6.5 million in matching Medicare federal funds, for a total of $8.1 million. Most of the cuts affect programs for low-income adults with severe mental illness, from support in managing medication to group therapy for severely mentally ill clients.

The agency has been suffering under a budget shortfall all year, forcing the closure of nine of its 29 offices in Idaho, including the offices in Bellevue, Jerome and Rupert. These cuts saved $7 million, but the agency has been under pressure to cut more than $57 million from its fiscal 2011 budget. So far, only $36.2 million has been cut.

Questions on fire consolidation?

A community meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 4, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Community Campus in Hailey to address questions and concerns the public has regarding south-county fire and emergency service consolidation. A consulting company hired to take stock of the south-county services will report its findings.

Grant funds mammography services

The St. Luke's Wood River Foundation has been awarded a grant from the Boise affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for its Improving Access to Screening and Diagnostic Mammography Services for Underserved Women project. The grant will help provide mammogram services to women in need.

In 2009, community generosity built and equipped a state-of-the-art Women's Imaging Center that comprehensively addresses breast care and women's health. Since the center opened, 145 women have received free breast care services through a previous grant from the Boise affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

For more information on mammography funding, call (208) 381-2095. To schedule an appointment, call 727-8283.

BCRD offers tour of new facility

The Blaine County Recreation District has renovated more than 6,000 square feet of the old high school locker rooms to complete a convenient, affordable recreation center for the community and College of Southern Idaho. The BCRD at the Community Campus includes FitWorks, the HUB Youth Center and Sports & Leagues.

FitWorks will offer strength and cardio training, a full gymnasium and fitness studios for community partners to offer fitness, dance and martial arts classes as well as youth programming. The HUB Youth Center will continue to offer after-school programming and teen programming. Beginning in November, affordable annual and monthly memberships will be available along with individual classes or program enrollment.

The district will offer a tour of FitWorks at noon today, Nov. 3, or by appointment. Call 578-2273 or go to bcrd.org for more information.

Honoring 'Unsung Heroes'

The fourth annual Unsung Hero Community Awards will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 13, as part of St. Luke's Center for Community Health's annual fall conference, "Creating a Healthy Community." Nominations for the awards came from the Blaine County Community Drug Coalition with the selections being made by the St. Luke's Fall Conference Planning Committee. The Unsung Hero Awards are given in six categories that recognize the everyday heroes that contribute to the health of the community.

Winners are:

- Outstanding Youth Mentor: Joey Altermatt.

- Outstanding Adult Mentor: Nicole Britt.

- Outstanding Youth Neighbor: Esteban Palencia.

- Outstanding Adult Neighbor: Mitzi Mecham.

- Youth Zone Award: LeRoy's Ice Cream/Toni Bogue.

- Prevention/Healthy Choices Award: Tod Gunter.

The award presentations will be held from 9-9:15 a.m. in the auditorium at the Community Campus before James Vollbracht's keynote presentation, "Creating Communities That Care for All Kids."

For more information, call Erin Pfaeffle at 727-8734 or see www.stlukesonline.org/healthycommunity.




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.