Idaho personal income rises
Record farm earnings and strong nonfarm business profits pushed Idaho’s total personal income to nearly $54 billion on an annualized basis for the third quarter of 2012. The eight-tenths of a percent growth over the second quarter ranked Idaho fifth nationally.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimated Idaho’s farm income at $1.76 billion for the July-September quarter on an annualized basis, up 10.2 percent from the spring quarter and $98 million higher than the old record set during this year’s January-March quarter.
Nonfarm business profits were up 2.9 percent over the previous quarter to nearly $6.7 billion, the seventh strongest profit growth in the nation and more than triple the growth nationally.
Wages, in contrast, rose a half percentage point to rank 21st among the states and a tenth of a percentage point higher than the national average.
Hailey grand finale on Saturday
The Hailey Holiday Square will host a final fireside celebration on Saturday, Dec. 22, from noon to 2 p.m., with music by Colla Voce, craft vendors, refreshments and nonprofit booths. Santa will appear at 1 p.m., and the Hailey Chamber Holiday Raffle will be held at 1:30 p.m.
The raffle will have prizes from local businesses, gift certificates and two Chamberbucks giveaways of $500 each. Raffle tickets can be obtained with purchases of $10 or more at any of the participating businesses in Hailey.
For more information, call 788-3484.
DUI patrols out until Jan. 2
Using federal grant funds, the Idaho Transportation Department has partnered with the Idaho State Police and local agencies to make state highways safer by funding education campaigns and high-visibility impaired-driving enforcement patrols from Dec. 17 through Jan. 2.
During the campaign, officers will be watching for impaired drivers and will check for seat belt use.
According to a news release from the ITD, in 2010 there were 10,726 DUI arrests in Idaho, and there were 96 fatalities resulting from impaired driving. In addition, there were 1,593 impaired-driving crashes. Almost 46 percent of Idaho traffic fatalities in 2010 were the result of impaired driving.
Soldier Mountain ski area to open
Soldier Mountain Ski Area, near Fairfield, will open for the season on Wednesday, Dec. 26.
The ski area, which is on national forest land, recently began operating as a nonprofit corporation. It has two fixed-grip double chairlifts, a vertical drop of 1,425 feet and snowcat skiing. Soldier Mountain recently installed a new drive system in its main lift, as well as installation of a “magic carpet” on the beginner’s hill.
The area operates on Thursdays through Sundays.
On Thursday, the area was reporting a snow depth of 18 inches at the base and 38 inches at the summit.
Foundation appoints board members
The St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation last week announced the addition of Sheila Fryberger, Jim Luckman and Cornelius (Neil) Ryan to its board of directors.
A longtime resident of the Wood River Valley, Fryberger serves on the St. Luke’s Volunteer Core board.
Luckman is a retired architect who led The Luckman Partnership, a nationally recognized architectural firm based in Los Angeles. Luckman has served on the board of The Valley Club, and he and his wife, Alison, have been strong supporters of the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation.
Ryan is a health-care venture capitalist with Tullis Health Investors and co-founder of Oxford Bioscience Partners. With nearly 30 years of experience as a venture capitalist, Ryan has served on numerous boards of both public and private companies and was the founding chair of the Healthcare Venture Investors Group.
“We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to our board,” said Chief Development Officer Megan Thomas. “Each one brings a diverse set of skills and experiences that will greatly enhance our efforts to improve the health-care needs of our community.”
The mission of St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation is to promote innovative programs that improve health care.
Two honored at Solstice Ball
Steve Woodward, president and CEO of the Idaho Youth Ranch, and Jeanne Cassell of Sun Valley were honored for their contributions to the community during the ninth annual Solstice Ball in Sun Valley.
The Idaho Youth Ranch has for 60 years provided services for youths in troubled situations, through its ranch, where youths can work with animals, its substance-abuse program and its children’s crisis shelter.
Woodward has been with the organization for 18 years.
Cassell was honored for her many efforts in the community, including her term as president of the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. During her presidency, she and her board raised the money to build a shelter for abused or threatened women and children.
Cassell also led an effort to build the Garden of Infinite Compassion at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden.
For the past five years, she has been president of the board for the Croy Canyon Ranch Foundation, which is seeking to build a senior-living facility near Hailey.
