Water, water everywhere
Monday marked the beginning of National Groundwater Awareness Week, meant to increase awareness of the importance of protecting groundwater nationwide.
Cliff Treyens, spokesman for the National Groundwater Association, said water users can make small changes to daily habits that can improve the quality of their local groundwater as well as conserve it. Conservation measures include repairing dripping faucets, using dishwashers and washing machines only when full, and using native plants and shrubs in home landscaping.
Groundwater can be improved by proper disposal of hazardous waste (i.e., not disposing of paint, paint thinner, cleaning products and other poisons through flushing them or sending them down a drain) and proper maintenance of septic systems and water wells.
"Many people taking just a step or two to protect groundwater can make a big difference," Treyens said.
Big brothers needed
The Big Brothers/Big Sisters program of southwestern Idaho needs volunteer mentors for 25 boys ages 6-15 in the Wood River Valley. Volunteers will meet with kids for six to eight hours each month for activities that include sports and movies. Sun Valley Co. provides some free tickets for activities, including skating and skiing.
Program children are typically from homes living below the poverty level, or that lack a consistent, positive role model in their homes.
Anyone wishing to be a big brother can call Bronwyn Patterson at the Community Campus in Hailey at 578-5405.
Deer numbers meeting objectives
Deer and elk numbers are meeting most statewide management objectives, according to an Idaho Department of Fish and Game report.
The objectives are determined by harvest numbers. White-tailed deer are meeting objectives throughout the state, and mule deer exceed management objectives for buck-to-doe ratio. The mule deer fawn survival rate was at 70 percent last winter, with does making up a high percentage.
However, elk numbers in some areas of the state are down. Female elk numbers failed to meet objectives in six of 29 management zones, and bucks joined them in falling behind in nine management zones. One of these zones was the Lolo, where wolf control actions have been proposed to boost elk populations.
Elk tag sales were also down about 8 percent statewide.
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Call for artists deadline extended
The city of Ketchum Arts Commission is extending its deadline for artist submissions for works of art suitable for seasonal installation in public spaces along the Fourth Street Heritage Corridor.
The extended deadline is March 25. A "Call For Artists" is posted on the city's website at www.ketchumidaho.org, under the Parks & Recreation Department's pages. The Ketchum Arts Commission is a division of the Parks & Recreation Department.
An artist stipend of up to $300 will be paid to artists chosen for the exhibition to assist with travel and installation costs.
Ketchum is looking for artworks, both representational and abstract, that celebrate its identity as a historically significant, culturally rich and vibrant community. The call is open to professional artists residing in the state of Idaho.
Applications will be accepted electronically at jsmith@ketchumidaho.org. Artworks will be on display from June to October. For more information, call Jen Smith at 726-7820.
Good grades mean money in the bank
A Wood River Middle School student's good grades have won him a $100 scholarship from Zions Bank. Seventh-grader Nelson Cantrell won the Wood River Valley-area drawing for the winter scholarship savings account from the bank's Pays for A's program.
Open to all Idaho and Utah students ages 13 through 18, the program gives cash incentives for good grades. Teen students take their most recent term-end report cards into any Zions Bank location. They'll receive $1 per "A" deposited into their Teengreen savings accounts, or 50 cents per "A" if they opt for cash. For each "A" on their report cards, students receive automatic entries into one of 152 annual drawings for scholarship prizes worth up to $1,000.
Students have until March 25 to submit their most recent term report cards for the next scholarship savings account drawing. They need not be customers of Zions to participate. More information and full contest details are available online at www.zionsbank.com/pays4as.
Festival will include writing event
The Idaho Humanities Council has awarded a $4,000 grant to assist with a full-day symposium titled "Women Writing and Living the West" to take place Oct. 7 at Carol's Dollar Mountain Lodge as part of the Trailing of the Sheep Festival.
In 2011, the festival is honoring women and their contributions to the development of Idaho and the West. The symposium will feature six female writers along with ranching women to share their stories.
Confirmed writers include Gretel Ehrlich, Teresa Jordan, Linda Hasselstrom, Linda Hussa, Annick Smith and Diane Josephy Peavey.
