Rural-to-urban shift slowed in 2013
The steady shift of Idaho’s population from rural to urban counties slowed in 2013, as the 33 rural counties saw their combined population increase for the first time in three years, the Idaho Department of Labor reported.
Estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday showed the population of the rural counties rising two-tenths of a percent from mid-2012 to mid-2013—about 1,200 people—while the population of the 11 urban counties increased 1.5 percent.
That resulted in a two-tenths of a percentage point increase to 65.7 percent of the population living in the urban counties, but that was just half the increase recorded between mid-2011 and mid-2012.
In Blaine County, the 2013 population was 21,329, up .9 percent from 2012. There was a net migration of 52 people. The county recorded 212 births and 83 deaths last year.
Statewide, Idaho’s population rose 1 percent to just over 1.6 million, resuming a growth rate higher than the national rate of seven-tenths of a percent in 2013.
Discuss science over a cold beer
People interested in science can quench their thirst for knowledge at the Idaho Conservation League’s Science Pub at the Sawtooth Brewery in Ketchum today, April 2, at 5:30 p.m.
Guests can learn about cutting-edge science and environmental topics in an informal atmosphere. Based on the Science Cafe model developed in Europe in the 1990s, Science Pub brings educators, scientists, presenters and the public together for informal discussion about topics relevant to their area.
The discussion will focus on pollinators—bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, beetles and other insects that help pollinate over 75 percent of flowering plants and nearly 75 percent of crops. See more at: www.idahoconservation.org.
Democrats set to meet next week
The Blaine County Democratic Central Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday April 9, in Ketchum City Hall.
At the meeting, local Democratic candidates will discuss issues they feel are important in the upcoming elections. Members will also hold a caucus to select delegates to the State Democratic Meeting, set for June 20-22 in Moscow, Idaho. Nominations are being accepted.
This meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Janie Davidson at jwdavidson@cox.net or at 309-0350.
Easter chicks can carry salmonella
Backyard poultry, Easter chicks and ducklings are potential sources of salmonella bacteria, the state Department of Health and Welfare is warning.
The chicks and ducklings in feed stores are a sure sign that spring has arrived,” a news release states. “But be aware that poultry can transmit potentially harmful bacteria to those who handle them improperly.”
In fact, between 1996 and 2012, 45 outbreaks of human salmonella infections in the United States were linked to live poultry from mail-order hatcheries. Public health and agriculture officials encourage people to think hard before purchasing poultry, particularly for the very young, the old, and those with compromised immune systems, because of the risk of acquiring the salmonella bacteria.
To learn more about the risk of human salmonella infections from live poultry, visit the CDC website, at www.cdc.gov.
Trailing of the Sheep elects board
The Trailing of the Sheep Cultural Heritage Center elected the following board officers on March 19:
- President, John Peavey, Flat Top Sheep Co., Carey.
- Vice president, Jerry Seiffert, Idaho Mountain Express, Ketchum.
- Secretary, Kathi Kimball, University of Idaho/Blaine County Extension Office, Hailey.
- Treasurer, Kelli Young, D.L. Evans Bank, Hailey.
The organization’s board and staff are responsible for organizing and implementing the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, one of Idaho’s premier cultural events. The festival will take place this year from Oct. 9-12. For more information, go to www.trailing
ofthesheep.org.
Judge upholds sheep grazing limit
BOISE (AP)—A federal judge has ruled that a U.S. Forest Service plan to reduce domestic sheep grazing on the Payette National Forest by about 70 percent to protect bighorn sheep from diseases will remain in place.
Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge A. Wallace Tashima, sitting by designation for the District of Idaho, made the ruling last week.
Sheep ranchers in Idaho and other states in 2012 sued the Forest Service over the bighorn sheep protection plan announced in 2010. The groups contended the Forest Service didn’t adequately consider the environmental consequences of the plan as required by the National Environmental Protection Act.
New ranger to start at Challis District
Longtime lands manager Katie Wood has been selected as the new district ranger for the Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Her reporting date is May 5.
Wood began her federal career as a wildland firefighter with the Bureau of Land Management in Shoshone and Boise. She worked for the BLM throughout college, eventually earning a master’s of health science degree.
After five years on the fire crew, Wood then moved to the BLM’s Idaho state office. There, she assisted in managing a variety of programs, including safety and occupational health, workers’ compensation and emergency management. She then transitioned back to the field, on detail assignments, as an assistant field manager and a planning and environmental coordinator.
‘La Bohéme’ to be broadcast live
Sun Valley Opera will present a live broadcast of Puccini’s opera “La Bohéme” at the Bigwood Cinema in Hailey on Saturday, April 5. Doors open at 10 a.m. Dick Brown will give a pre-opera lecture beginning at 10:15 a.m. The opera broadcast from the Metropolitan Theater begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 2:25 p.m.
Puccini’s moving story of young love is the most performed opera in MET history. The Italian opera in four acts is based on a collection of vignettes by Henri Murger portraying young bohemians living in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840s. The opera’s libretto focuses on the relationship between Rodolfo, a poet, and Mimì, an equally poor seamstress, ending with her death.
Tickets are available for purchase at the cinema box office. The cost is $24 for general admission, $20 for seniors and $18 for students. For more information, go to www.sunvalleyopera.com.
ISP reports traffic fatality
Idaho State Police reported Tuesday that a 32-year-old Shoshone man was killed in a single-vehicle accident early Monday evening near the intersection of state Highway 75 and U.S. Highway 26 in Shoshone.
ISP identified the man as Johnathon Jackson. According to a news release, Jackson was westbound shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Rail Street in a 2000 Subaru Impreza when he lost control of the vehicle, ran off the road and struck a communications tower on the vehicle driver side.
Jackson was transported by ground ambulance to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls and was pronounced dead there.
ISP reported that Jackson was wearing a seatbelt and that the accident remains under investigation.
See top pianists perform
The Sun Valley Artist Series is presenting a three-day piano festival that will include top pianists from New York and Los Angeles, playing both solo repertoire and piano concerti.
The solo performances will comprise moving works for piano and will feature many of the world’s greatest composers including Haydn, Brahms, Debussy, Beethoven, Chopin, Gershwin and Mozart. Each of the evening solo performances will be preceded by an informal “Meet the Artist” interview hosted by Sun Valley Artist Series Artistic Director Susan Spelius Gannon.
The festival venue is in a private home. Performances are free, but because of limited space, reservations are required.
A complete schedule is available on the Sun Valley Artist Series website at www.svartistseries.org.
Dental sealant clinics scheduled
South Central Public Health District is offering the gift of better dental health this month.
Children in grades 1-5 at Woodside Elementary School will meet with registered dental hygienists who will place sealants—a safe coating that is painted onto the chewing surfaces of a child’s back teeth.
The coating is said to protect teeth from cavities by keeping germs and food out of the deep grooves in the surface of the teeth.
The sealant will be followed with a fluoride varnish, a gel-like substance that is “painted” on the child’s teeth with a small brush and strengthens tooth enamel to reduce and/or prevent tooth decay.
SCPHD will bill Medicaid, Blue Cross, Regence and Delta Dental for these services.
Children who are uninsured can still be seen at these clinics.
The school sent home permission slips with students, but parents or guardians can also access the form at www.phd5.idaho.gov.
For more information, contact Susie Beem at 737-5946.
Celebration set for cancer survivors
Cancer survivors and caregivers can celebrate cancer survivorship by attending the Relay For Life at Wood River High School in Hailey on July 18.
Participants can take a survivor victory lap, and enjoy dinner and gifts.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a community gathering in which everyone can join in the fight against cancer.
For more information, contact Shannon at 471-0333 or Cindy at 720-7678.
