Ketchum to fund utility line burial
Ketchum’s fiscal 2013 proposed budget includes a new Undergrounding Improvement Fund with a beginning balance of $218,277.
The new fund is a replacement of the former Capital Improvement Fund, though its purpose is more narrowly defined.
“This fund now serves the singular purpose of addressing the undergrounding of overhead utility lines,” the proposed budget states.
Franchise fees collected from Idaho Power will be stored in the new fund for “future projects.”
Idaho Power franchise fees for fiscal 2013 are expected to add $215,000 to the fund. If no money is spent from the fund during fiscal 2013, it will have a balance of $433,277 at the end of the fiscal year.
“As a council you can decide to spend this money every year or save it up for a big project,” City Administrator Gary Marks said at an Aug. 13 council meeting. “What I’m excited about is you now have some options here.”
Salmon Festival set for Aug. 25
This year’s annual Sawtooth Salmon Festival on Saturday, Aug. 25, will feature a special guest appearance by Lonesome Larry, the single sockeye salmon that 20 years ago was the only sockeye to return to Redfish Lake.
In staging the Salmon Festival, which includes tours of salmon spawning areas, a wild salmon dinner and live music, Idaho Rivers United is continuing its partnership with the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association. The event will be held at the Stanley Historical Museum grounds, located along state Highway 75 near the confluence of Valley Creek with the Salmon River.
The salmon feast will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are available online and at the event. Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for kids.
All educational activities are free. To learn more about the festival, visit www. HYPERLINK "http://sawtoothsalmonfestival.com" sawtoothsalmonfestival.com.
Shoe drive under way in Ketchum
Soles4Souls, which collects new and gently used shoes for needy people in developing countries, will has a drop box at The Elephant’s Perch in Ketchum through Labor Day.
All types of shoes, including athletic, running, dress, sandals, pumps, heels, work boots, cleats, dance and flip flops, will be accepted.
Vendors clean, repair and sell the shoes in their local villages, generating income to feed their families and educate their children.
Sara Burns is coordinating the program, and Kate and Bob Rosso have donated space for the drop box.
Boise event for Bergdahl set
The Boise-area Lions have organized a Walk for Bowe Bergdahl, to take place Thursday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m. starting in the Ann Frank Memorial next to the library on Capitol Boulevard across from Julia Davis Park.
The walk will go to the state Capitol steps where there will be a program featuring a former POW, a family of a former POW and a representative of the POW/MIA organization as well as an open mike in support of Bergdahl’s immediate release.
All participants are asked to bring an American flag, yellow ribbons and an appropriate sign.
Chamber to host meeting on LOT
The Hailey Chamber of Commerce is inviting local businesses and the public for coffee, sweets and an informative presentation by Fly Sun Valley Alliance on the proposed 1 percent LOT ballot initiative to support air service to the Wood River Valley.
The event will be held Thursday, Aug. 23, from 8-9 a.m. at the Blaine County Senior Center, 721 Third Ave. S. in Hailey.
For more information, call the Hailey Chamber of Commerce at 788-3484.
West Nile found in Twin Falls area
The season’s first evidence of West Nile virus in the Twin Falls area was detected on Aug. 15 when employees of the Twin Falls County Pest Abatement District found an infected mosquito during routine mosquito surveillance activates in a rural area West of Buhl.
The mosquitoes were caught in one of 18 traps set out this week. All other traps tested negative. Mosquito trapping started in April and has been conducted every week this summer.
The location where the mosquito found is not far from where positive mosquitoes were found in 2009.
