Family Dollar opens in Bellevue
The Family Dollar discount store in Bellevue held a grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 27. Representatives from the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and the city of Bellevue attended the event.
Attendees of the ribbon-cutting event included Councilwoman Janet Duffy, Councilwoman Barb Patterson, Mayor Chris Koch, store manager Bill Menhart and Family Dollar district manager Brandy Taylor.
The store is located on Main Street, just south of Atkinsons’ Market.
City to discuss school expansion
The Hailey City Council will hold a public hearing on an annexation proposed for the expansion of Wood River Middle School on Monday, May 6, at 5:30 p.m. at Hailey City Hall.
The Blaine County School District is asking Hailey to annex roughly .62 acres into city limits for its plans to expand Wood River Middle School. The Blaine County School District board of trustees approved a $1.7 million project for remodeling and building a new wing at Wood River Middle School. The wing would include four new classrooms.
ERC reaches out to students
The Environmental Resource Center, a nonprofit organization based in Ketchum, is bringing environmental experts to schools this spring through its Environmental Education Outreach Program.
Allison Marks, program director for the ERC, said Sawtooth National Recreation Area Educator Susan Kranz will go to area elementary schools this week, Wednesday and Thursday, to speak about nocturnal flyers. The presentation will focus on animals such as bats and owls, their preferred habitats and adaptations for nighttime hunting.
On Wednesday, Kranz will speak with second- and third-grade students at Hailey Elementary and Woodside Elementary, as well as second-, third- and fourth-grade students at Carey Elementary. On Thursday, Kranz will visit Hemingway Elementary, the Community School, Bellevue Elementary and Woodside Elementary.
This is the ERC’s fourth week in its Environmental Education Outreach Program, a program meant to supplement the Blaine County science curriculum. The program continues through May 23.
Locals join National Bike Challenge
The Wood River Bike Coalition and Mountain Rides are urging Blaine County residents to join the National Bike Challenge, a nationwide five-month effort to get people to take two wheels to work instead of four.
The National Bike Challenge is sponsored by Kimberly-Clark Corp. and organized by the League of American Bicyclists. Participants log their miles after registering at nationalbikechallenge.org—every time the participant hops on a bike, whether to go to the store, to commute to work or to participate in a competitive event, the miles count.
In 2013, the league aims to have 50,000 riders pedaling 20 million miles from May 1 until Sept. 30. It is open and free to anyone who lives in the U.S. or works for an organization with U.S. employees.
Participants can register at www.nationalbikechallenge.org.
Free tour of ‘green buildings’
Ketchum, Hailey, and the Idaho Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council are hosting a “Green Building Tour” of environmentally sustainable structures in the Wood River Valley.
The tour will take place on Friday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., following a board meeting of the U.S.G.B.C. Idaho Chapter at 9 a.m. at Hailey City Hall. People interested in taking the tour should meet at Hailey City Hall just before 11 a.m.
According to Rebecca Bundy, an associate planner for Ketchum, the tour will feature buildings in Hailey, McHanville, Sun Valley and Ketchum. Mountain Rides Transportation Authority will provide transportation free of charge.
For more information or to RSVP for the tour, contact Bundy at 727-5082 or rbundy@ketchumidaho.org.
YMCA gets new officers
The Wood River Community YMCA has welcomed four new officers to its board of directors, leading with Dan Turner as the new chair of the board, who takes over from Alex Orb. Local attorney Ed Lawson took over as vice chair, Michael Schlatter of DL Evans Bank as treasurer and former Y board Chair Cynthia Murphy as secretary.
Turner and his wife, Christiane, discovered the Wood River Valley in 1995. He spent his professional career as an equities trader, and founded Rubicon Capital Group, a private investment fund.
Lawson was recently presented with the Y Volunteer of the Year award for 2012.
Carey School presents comedy
“Straight from the Horse’s Mouth” is the title of the Carey High School spring drama production to be staged Friday and Saturday, May 3-4, at 8 p.m. in the school theater. The two-act comedy directed by Ken Mecham is a fast-paced collision of funny lines and complicated situations revolving around a horse, a real estate office called Dream House Inc., a mobster and a psychiatrist. Tickets are $4 for adults, $3 students and $2 seniors.
The cast includes Morgan Parke, Gunner Thompson, Eric Adamson, Glen Andrews, McKayla Mecham, Lilly Rivera, Arriana Nielson, Dusty Dickerson, Alex Durtschi, Emily Wittemann, Zach Olsen, Chris Peck, Jaide Parke and Christopher Adamson. Handling the sound and lights are Kendrick Villavicencio, Shane Mecham and Jesus Morales. In charge of make-up are Daphne Kirkland, Shayla Adamson and Angelica Zarate.
Redfish Technology gets kudos
Redfish Technology, which has an office in Hailey, was awarded first place in a “Best Places to Work in Idaho” competition conducted by the Idaho Business Review.
The recognition was given to the top 10 businesses in each of three categories. Redfish, a nationwide technology recruiting company, competed in the category of companies with 10 to 19 employees.
The award is based on employee feedback and on employee attraction and retention. Companies were measured by employees for compensation and benefits, employee growth and development, work-life balance, workplace environment and company management.
Redfish has offices in the Silicon Valley, on the East Coast and in the Intermountain West. Its high-tech division recruits talent in the mobile, software, security, digital, cloud, e-learning and big data sectors. The clean tech division focuses on solar, wind, renewables, energy efficiency, green technology and alternative energy.
Cinco de Mayo fiesta at church
Hailey’s 100-year-old St. Charles Catholic Church is the site for a Cinco de Mayo Festival on Saturday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Besides the Mexican food that will be served, there will be folk dancing, karaoke, games for all ages and a raffle for many prizes. Providing the music will be Juidos DJ. A highlight will be the crowning of the queen and princess.
School to host Leadership Assembly
Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum is inviting the public to attend its Leadership Assembly starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 3.
The assembly will be led by students and will focus on the “Leader in Me” program and the seven healthy habits taught by the program. Students will showcase talent and projects, as well as share personal growth experiences influenced by one of the healthy habits. Students will also display art and literature.
The assembly will last about one hour. For more information, contact Hemingway Elementary at (208) 578-5050.
Blaine County Dems to hold forum
The Blaine County Democrats will hold a forum to discuss the proposed Wood River Trails levy and the contested Blaine County School Board seat on Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. at the Old Blaine County Courthouse in Hailey.
Gini Ballou, head of the organization, said the forum is being held to determine what candidates or sides of the issue the party will endorse. She added that all candidates are invited, regardless of party.
