Hailey among best outdoor towns
Hailey has been ranked 43rd in Outdoor Life magazine's listing of the top 200 towns for sportsmen, beating out such stalwarts as Bozeman, Mont., and Fairbanks, Alaska.
"Ernest Hemingway lived in Ketchum, [but] Hailey, in the heart of Sun Valley, is a more attainable destination for today's outdoorsman," the article reads.
The article cites the area's diverse array of hunting, proximity to national forests and excellent fly fishing in Silver Creek.
Trey Spaulding, director of operations at the Wood River Land Trust, said the region's fishing is a huge economic boon to the valley.
"We need to be promoting our natural resources, as they are a natural event going on for free all the time," he said. "A healthy watershed offers an enormous economic return to our local economy."
In 2006, the last year for which data were available, nonresident fishers brought almost $115 million to the state. Nonresident hunters brought in $127.5 million.
Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Sandpoint also made the list of top towns. Lewiston was the top-ranked Idaho town, coming in at No. 7.
Join Arbor Day celebrations
Arbor Day in Ketchum will be celebrated on Friday, May 6, from 3-4 p.m. at Atkinson Park. Hailey's Arbor Day celebration will be held Saturday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hop Porter Park.
Ketchum's celebration will involve after-school programs for children and their parents with the Parks & Recreation Department. Kids will be taught proper planting techniques and the importance of trees in the urban environment from Community Forestry Division staff members. The town's Arbor Day tree will be planted in memory of Jim Hitson, a longtime friend of Atkinson Park.
The Hailey event is organized by the Hailey Tree Committee. Festivities will include food and drink, an Ask an Arborist booth staffed by local certified arborists, fun for the kids, including a bouncy house, tree planting demonstrations and lots of tree information.
Hailey is also celebrating a transplanting effort involving moving trees from the rodeo grounds redevelopment site to Hop Porter Park. The transplanted trees helped fill gaps in Hailey's urban forest canopy following a large risk mitigation project in 2009.
Hailey Rodeo park obtains grant
The Hailey Rodeo Park interpretive exhibit has received a $4,000 grant from the Idaho Humanities Council for "Rodeo: A Story of Community."
The rodeo has been a tradition at the site since 1949, but was deeded to the city of Hailey in 1903. It was used for a park (called Werthheimer Park), race track and ball field over the next decades.
Project historian Florence Blanchard has completed a research project on the rodeo grounds. Her research has documented little-known community uses of the site, and identified a plethora of historic photographs, some film footage and numerous artifacts.
The next step is to secure the services of an exhibit design firm.
The project continues to seek donations of artifacts, photographs, film footage, original printed matter and stories related to the history of the rodeo or of the site. The project also welcomes monetary donations. The following items are of specific interest:
- A 1954 copy of Argosy Magazine, which documented the appearance of Slim Pickens in the 1953 Hailey rodeo.
- Chaps, reins, boots.
- Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club uniform.
- Additional rodeo queen trophies, outfits, hats, boots, etc.
Anyone with items that may be of interest can contact Tracy Anderson at Hailey City Hall.
Murphy is Y Volunteer of the Year
Wood River Community YMCA board Member Cynthia Murphy was named Volunteer of the Year by board members and staff during the board's April 21 meeting.
According to a press release from the Y, former board Chair Murphy was "the leading force" in creating the Y.
"Both in her personal life and in her community involvements, Cynthia embodies the four core values of the Y: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility," the releases stated.
Gas prices continue to rise
Idaho's average price for regular grade gasoline is up 4 cents this week to $3.74, and the U.S. average price is up 6 cents to $3.91 a gallon.
Following last week's first week-over-week decrease in oil prices in more than a month, the price rose this week to the highest it's been since September 2008. The question is not whether the country's average price will hit $4, but when, AAA Idaho said.
"Multiple and sometimes conflicting factors are at play as the markets bid the price of oil higher," said Dave Carlson, AAA Idaho director of public and government affairs. "A weaker dollar against other currencies typically encourages traders to invest in commodities, and uncertainty in the Middle East and Northern Africa continues to keep pressure on oil prices."
Join Mother's Day brunch
All mothers, grandmothers, aunts and friends of the Senior Connection are invited to a Mother's Day brunch complete with champagne on Sunday, May 8. All proceeds will benefit senior meal programs such as Meals on Wheels.
Reservations are required, at 788-3468.
Walk for your health
Physical therapist Mary Kay Foley will help people improve their walking with cardio-walking techniques that suit their fitness level to boost cardio, muscular and mental health on Thursday, May 5, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. at St. Luke's Center for Community Health in Hailey.
This Brown Bag lecture is free and no pre-registration is required. For information on this or other educational programs, call 727-8733.
Anti-wolf activist appears on Aussie '60 Minutes'
Stanley resident Ron Gillett spoke on the Australian version of "60 Minutes" on Sunday, speaking on wolf reintroduction in the West.
Gillett said the reintroduction is leading to a "civil war."
"We are not just standing around getting red-faced, making threats to people," Gillett said.
He also said wolves are the most "vicious" predator in North America, akin to terrorists.
"There are three kinds of terrorists," he said. "There are foreign terrorists like bin Laden, there are domestic terrorists like Defenders of Wildlife and Earthjustice, and the wildlife terrorists are the Canadian wolf."
The show also included an interview with Yellowstone biologist Doug Smith. Calls to determine if the segment will air in the United States were not returned as of press time.
Craters cave access changes
As the National Park Service prepares a new cave management plan for Craters of the Moon National Monument, the service is also limiting public access to the caves.
Only those visitors with guided tours or permits can enter the caves, to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome, a fungal infection that affects bats and is impacting populations regionwide. Only five caves near the Craters of the Moon Loop Road will remain open with a permit or guided tour, while all other caves in the park will be closed to outside access until the new plan is completed, possibly in summer 2012.
