KPD offers TIPS Training
The Ketchum Police Department is offering training in proper serving of alcohol in food and bar establishments. Referred to as TIPS Training, the course will be held Thursday, Nov. 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ketchum City Hall Council Chambers.
According to a press release, the training will be focused on over-service of alcohol and prevention of sales to minors.
The cost is $15 per participant and advanced registration is required. Additional information is available at Ketchum police at 726-7819.
Open house at BCRD FitWorks
BCRD Fitworks is hosting an Open House for the public this week. People can try a complimentary class or workout. Today, Oct. 26, will be the highlight of the week with refreshments all day, a 5:30 p.m. yoga class with Beth Stuart and a Pilates introduction class at 6:45 p.m. with Salome Taylor. A nutritional talk with a St. Luke's dietician will take place on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m.
For more information visit www.bcrd.org or call 578-2273.
Learn about Sun Valley bond
Sun Valley residents can learn more about the proposed general-obligation bond up for a vote on Nov. 8.
The city is hosting a town hall meeting tonight, Oct. 26, to educate voters on the $14.2 million bond, which would pay for road and path reconstruction and fixed assets. All council members and the mayor are scheduled to be in attendance. They will give a brief presentation and take questions from the public.
The meeting will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. at Sun Valley City Hall. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, call the city at 622-4438.
See 'Bag It' in Ketchum
A free screening of the 65-minute documentary film "Bag It" will take place Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. at the Community Library in Ketchum. The documentary investigates plastics and their effects on our lives. The screening is sponsored by the Environmental Resource Center, the Community Library and the WRHS Environmental Club. Find more information about the film at www.bagitmovie.com/. For event details, call 726-4333.
County unemployment drops
The September unemployment rate in Blaine County, was 9 percent, down from 10.3 percent last September. According to the Idaho Department of Labor, there were an estimated 1,092 people unemployed in the estimated workforce of 12,152 people.
Hiring across the Idaho economy in September fell just short of levels during the mid-2000 expansion, but it was enough to drive the seasonally adjusted state unemployment rate down two-tenths of a point to 9 percent. It was the first time Idaho's rate has slipped below the national rate since last November.
Nationally, the unemployment rate was 9.1 percent. But even though Idaho's jobless rate has fallen three-quarters of a point over the past 10 months, it has been at or above 9 percent since the beginning of 2010. The rate was 9.5 percent in September 2010.
Prior to November 2010, Idaho's unemployment rate had been below the national rate for more than nine years.
Last call for election letters
The final deadline to submit letters to the editor for publication in the Idaho Mountain Express pertaining to the upcoming Nov. 8 elections in Blaine County is Friday, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m., Editor Greg Foley announced this week.
The Express will make every effort to publish election-related letters received by that time in the Wednesday, Nov. 2, "election edition" of the newspaper, Foley said. However, the newspaper cannot guarantee that every letter received will be published in print. Shorter letters below the 300-word maximum are more likely to be published, Foley said.
Letters can be sent by e-mail to letters@mtexpress.com. No election-related letters or opinion columns will be published after Nov. 2. Other guidelines can be found on Page A9 of the newspaper.
Lecture to focus on immunizations
A talk titled "Immunizations: Risks vs. Benefits" will be held Thursday, Oct. 27, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. at St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center's Baldy Conference Rooms. Registered nurse Jenny Jorgensen will discuss facts, myths and fears about immunizations and what the current requirements are for children.
All Brown Bag lectures are free and no pre-registration is required. Call St. Luke's Center for Community Health for information on this or other educational programs at 727-8733.
Photo contest deadline nears
The deadline for entries in the Croy Canyon Ranch Foundation's Circle of Caring photography contest is Monday, Oct. 31. Photographs can be submitted electronically, by mail or hand delivered to the Croy Canyon Ranch Foundation.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three photographs. First place is dinner for four at Ketchum Grill, second place is dinner for two at 310 Main and third place is a gift certificate from the Cornerstone Bar and Grill.
The contest focuses on the "circle of caring" theme. Entries should be photographs depicting people sharing, enjoying and/or caring for each other.
"Think puppies and kids, grandparents and babies, snowball fights, wedding dances, learning to fish, skate, ski, and cross-generational interactions," said Executive Director Kathleen Eder.
Photographers may enter up to three photographs. Details and application forms are available on the Croy Canyon website, www.croycanyonranch.com under the photo contest tab. Information flyers may be picked up at Flolo's Imaging Center in Hailey and F-Stop Camera and Video in Ketchum.
IRU auction to help rivers
Idaho Rivers United, a Boise-based conservation organization, will hold its 17th annual Auction for the Rivers next month.
Participants can bid for prizes such as a new raft from AIRE, a paddle board from Idaho River Sports, a week of paddling in Costa Rica, a week in Mexico, river trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon, ski weekends in Sun Valley and other prizes. There will also be silent and online auctions, door prizes and a raffle.
The auction will take place Saturday, Nov. 12, from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the Boise Train Depot on Eastover Terrace in Boise.
Entrance to the auction is $10 for members and $15 for the public. All proceeds benefit Idaho Rivers United. For more information, call 208-343-7481.
Potato Commission reaches 75 years
This year's potato harvest marks the 75th anniversary of the Idaho Potato Commission, and commission officials say this is a landmark harvest year.
Roughly 319,000 acres of land are expected to yield 12 billion pounds of potatoes, almost 11 billion of which are expected to be shipped fresh or processed.
"Idaho has a formula for growing potatoes that cannot be beat," said Frank Muir, CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission. "Our unique growing environment naturally produces a potato that is high in solids and has a lower moisture content, but the magic really belongs to the growers."
Nurse receives St. Luke's award
St. Luke's has awarded registered nurse Karen Soracco the 2011 Presidents Award for exemplary performance. The announcement came during an award ceremony Oct. 10 at the BSU Stueckle Sky Center in Boise.
Each year the entire hospital staff may nominate a colleague who exemplifies significant dedication, performance and contributions to St. Luke's. The leadership staff then votes on the colleague whom they believe is most deserving of the recognition.
Soracco received the award along with nine of her peers across the St. Luke's Health System. She has worked for St. Luke's for 10 years, and currently works as manager of the emergency department, medical/surgery/ICU department and the mother/baby department.
