FAA says jets would have no impact
On Oct. 24, the Federal Aviation Administration stated in an environmental assessment that 65-passenger regional jets flying into Friedman Memorial Airport would have no significant impacts.
According to a news release from the airport, the action clears the way for the FAA to grant SkyWest’s request to replace its EMB-120ER Brasilia 30-passenger turboprop with the Bombardier CRJ-700, a twin engine jet with 65 passenger seats. However, SkyWest has not said when it would begin flying the jets.
This joint document is available for viewing at the airport’s website www.flyfma.com and at the airport manager’s office, Hailey and Ketchum libraries, and Hailey, Bellevue, Ketchum, Sun Valley and Carey city halls.
Austrian delegates visit Sun Valley
The city of Sun Valley is hosting two visitors from the Austrian Consulate in Los Angeles.
Austrian Trade Commissioner Rudolf Thaler and Consul General of Austria Karin Proidl were scheduled to arrive this morning, Oct. 31, to tour the area, meet with Sun Valley Mayor DeWayne Briscoe, Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall, the Sun Valley City Council, Sun Valley Co. General Manager Tim Silva and others.
Briscoe said the purpose of the visit is to strengthen the relationship between Sun Valley and Kitzbühel, one of Sun Valley’s sister cities, which could promote the Sun Valley area in Europe.
The delegates will enjoy lunch and a photo opportunity with local officials, a city news release states. The group will then embark on a driving tour of Ketchum and Sun Valley and a walking tour of the Sun Valley Resort Village. Sun Valley Co. will host the group for dinner, to which several Austrian expatriate ski instructors have been invited.
On Thursday, the group will discuss—over breakfast—“the next steps” that each city might take to build the cities’ relationship, the news release states.
Ketchum Cox store moves
The Cox Communications “solutions store” in Ketchum has moved to 340 Lewis St.
The new store opens for business today, Oct. 31, though Cox will hold an official “grand opening” for the location on Monday, Nov. 5.
“We will continue to provide the services we offered at the other location, but we will also be offering a few new things,” said Retail Sales Manager Lynda Anderson.
Anderson said these “new things” include a “learning lounge” where customers will be able to learn about and test new Cox products.
“It will be very interactive,” she said. “We will have iPads, laptops, digital video recorders and other devices that our customers will be able to touch and play with.”
Anderson said that will help Cox show customers how its products work on those devices. She said the learning lounges have been successful in Cox Solutions Stores in other locations.
Finalists named in biz plan contest
Six local businesses will compete for a $1,500 Best in Show prize Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Community Library in Ketchum. They are the finalists selected for Entrepreneurs Just Do It, a public business plan competition organized by Jigsaw.
The competition mimics ABC TV’s Shark Tank. Entrepreneurs have a few minutes to present their business to a five-member panel experienced in financing and entrepreneurship. Panelists question aspects of each entrepreneur’s presentation, comment on their plans and then decide who has made the most convincing, articulate and enthusiastic presentation. Presenting finalists will be BuckSnort Beverage (Kainoa Lopez), Dignified Designs (Gini Ballou), Drain Smart (Steve Butler), Game Face Gear (Doug Niedrich), It Takes a Village Foods (Sheila Plowman), and Killer Instinct (Brian Camilli). The public is invited to visit the competition for part or all of the time.
Twenty-four businesses submitted their plans to Jigsaw. President Jima Rice said the $1,500 award ($500 more than was planned) was made possible by local entrepreneur sponsors: Maestro Technology Solutions, Orflo, Power Engineers, QuickEdit, Redfish Technology and anonymous contributors.
Ketchum bookstore recognized
Seattle Metropolitan magazine published its annual Northwest Travel awards in the October issue, and Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum was chosen as one of the Top Five Great Indie Bookstores in the Pacific Northwest. The other bookstores that received the honor were Powell’s Books in Portland, Elliot Bay Book Co. in Seattle, Village Books in Bellingham, Wash., and KidsBooks in Vancouver.
“We are thrilled with this recognition,“ said long-time Chapter One Bookstore owner Cheryl Thomas. “Independent bookstores are so important and we really strive to provide a unique selection of books and exceptional customer service in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.”
Chapter One has been in business for more than 40 years. It recently moved to a new location at 340 E. Second Street in Ketchum.
Learn about child behavior
Family practitioner Dr. Julie Lyons will present a lecture titled “Your Healthy Child: What’s Normal, What’s Not” on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. at St. Luke’s Wood River’s Baldy Rooms.
According to a news release from St. Luke’s Center for Community Health, child development happens at different times and in different ways from one child to another, and parents sometimes find it difficult to understand when it might be appropriate to seek professional services. Lyons will discuss growth curves from infancy through puberty and the importance of well-child checkups to help parents gain trust in the process of growth and development.
This and 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: 727-8733.
Hailey Halloween Hoopla is on
The Hailey Chamber of Commerce and South Valley Merchants Alliance are hosting another Hailey Halloween Hoopla today, Oct. 31, from 3-6 p.m.
So, dress up your goblins, witches and monsters and bring them to downtown Hailey to trick or treat. All participating businesses will have orange and black balloons. Watch out for Scarecrows dancing in the streets.
A costume contest will take place at King’s department store from 3-6 p.m. The Spooky Hollow will be at Aqua Pro Spa & Pool and treats will be provided at Cowboy Cocina in the Meriwether Building. The Window Decorating Contest is on again and a scarecrow contest is happening at many local businesses.
For more information, call the chamber at 788-3484.
Last ‘Flight Night’ on Thursday
The Yes to Air campaign will hold its last Flight Night on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. at the Cornerstone Bar and Grill in Ketchum.
The evenings are designed to educate voters on the benefits of a local-option tax for air service, an issue that will be on the ballot on Nov. 6. The events also include drink specials, giveaways and a drawing for a Sun Valley Flex Plus ski pass, which offers unlimited early/late season skiing and one day a week during the peak season.
The evenings are sponsored by Citizens for Air Service. For more information, visit www.yestoair.com.
Legislators plan town halls
The District 26 legislative delegation is already planning its pre-legislative session town hall meetings across the district.
Rep. Donna Pence, D-Gooding, Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, and Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, are expected to hold six meetings before the start of the legislative session in January. At least one other representative is expected to be present, as Jaquet is retiring and will be replaced after the Nov. 6 election.
The legislators will start on Nov. 14 at the Gooding City Council Room from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and in the Wendell Chamber of Commerce Room from noon to 1 p.m.
They will spend a full day in Hailey on Nov. 15, meeting in the Blaine County Annex Building across the street from the Blaine County Courthouse from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
They will continue to Fairfield on Nov. 16, meeting at City Hall from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and the Senior Citizens Center from 11:50 a.m. to 1 p.m. Then they will continue to Shoshone, and meet in the Shoshone Community Center conference room from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Their last stop will be in Hagerman on Dec. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Snake River Grill.
All meetings are open to the public.
Fall chinook season ends this week
Salmon fishing in Idaho will be over for the year when the fall chinook season on the Snake and Clearwater rivers ends today, Oct. 31.
The season opened Sept. 1, and as of Oct. 29, anglers in the lower Clearwater had caught 62 marked adults and 60 adolescent “jacks,” catching and releasing 261 unmarked, or natural, fish. Anglers caught and kept 382 adults and 486 jacks in the Snake River, but caught and released more than 3,355 unclipped, wild fish.
Senior Connection is open again
The Senior Connection in Hailey reopened last week, bringing an end to the extensive remodel process that led to its closure.
The facility, which provides meals, activities and camaraderie for area seniors, reopened after a kitchen remodel on Oct. 23. The facility is now open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Meals on Wheels has resumed its regular schedule.
The Scoops Ice Cream Parlor is also open on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Papoose Club donates to four groups
At the October meeting of Papoose Club, members voted to donate $3,710 to four programs that benefit local children.
The Hunger Coalition received a grant to support its Infant Formula Initiative, a program that ensures newborns in food-insecure households have access to the basic nutrition necessary for proper physical and mental growth.
Winter Feast for the Soul, an organization that promotes the daily practice of stillness and meditation for mental and emotional well-being, received a donation to increase community awareness of its offerings for local kids.
Wood River Wrestling Club received funds to help its athletes travel to competitions this season.
Girl Scouts of Silver Sage troops received funds to help with start-up costs for four new troops and a scholarship fund.
The club is now gearing up for its 22nd annual Holiday Bazaar, on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum.
For more information about Papoose Club’s upcoming events or to make a tax-deductible contribution, visit papooseclub.org.
