Talk issues with GOP candidates
Local Republican candidates will attend a no-host lunch to talk to voters at 1 p.m. Friday, July 18, at Irving’s Hot Dogs on the corner of Main and Fourth streets in Ketchum.
Idaho State Rep. Steve Miller, of Fairfield, and candidates Dale Ewersen (Idaho Senate), Don Hudson (Idaho House) and Randy Patterson (Blaine County Commission) will answer questions and talk about issues.
This event is sponsored by the Blaine County Republican Women.
County seeking input on planning
Blaine County is asking for the public’s input in in its “Moving 5B Forward” effort by helping shape the county’s comprehensive plan through participating in a short survey.
The comprehensive plan, under the guidance of the County’s Land Use Services Department, is a visionary document that will guide the county into the future. It will serve as a foundation for county decisions on land use, infrastructure, services, recreation and other topics. The updated plan will be developed around a series of key principles, which represent shared community beliefs that have served to guide county planning since the first comprehensive plan in the 1970s.
A short survey has been developed to help the county understand if these key principles are still held within the community and what citizens, second-home owners, frequent visitors and other interested parties care most about.
People are encouraged to go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/bccompplan to take the short survey.
F&G Commission opposes monument
SALMON, Idaho (AP)— The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is opposing the proposed Boulder-White Clouds National Monument for fear of losing control of wildlife management in the 592,000-acre area.
The decision this past week during a meeting in Salmon was unanimous.
The commission approved a letter opposing the monument to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and the Idaho Congressional Delegation.
It was supported by several area hunters but drew immediate criticism from sportsmen’s groups who long have promoted the monument as a way to enhance habitat for hunting and fishing opportunities under Fish and Game control.
Commission Chairman Fred Trevey, of Lewiston, said without state sovereignty there won’t be any meaningful hunting, fishing and trapping in the proposed monument area.
Audio files of Ketchum City Council meetings now online
In an effort to make City Council proceedings more accessible to the public, the city of Ketchum is now uploading audio files of council meetings and Planning and Zoning meetings online, according to a city press release.
Those interested in listening to the meetings can find them on the city website, www.ketchumidaho.org, under the “Public Meeting Information” link on the left side of the page. Both broadcasts of past meetings and information packets on agenda items are available.
As of Tuesday, July 15, there are audio files of meeting archives on the website dating back to July 7.
“Our goal is to make public meetings more accessible to Ketchum residents,” Mayor Nina Jonas said. “We see this as a major step, as people can now listen to a discussion as it takes place or at a later time.”
The city will be improving the video broadcast soon, according to Lisa Enourato, assistant to the city administrator and communications coordinator.
Stalled land exchange leads to logging
LEWISTON, Idaho (AP)—A timber company is planning to log and subdivide portions of its 39,000 acres of private land in northern Idaho that’s part of a stalled exchange for public land.
Western Pacific Timber Co. spokesman Andy Hawes tells the Lewiston Tribune in a story on Tuesday that the company has signed a contract with a Montana company to log near Moose Lake in the upper Clearwater Basin.
The company has been working with the U.S. Forest Service to swap land but the plan has run into opposition amid concerns about loss of access for the public.
The deal involves a combination of purchasing and trading public land to obtain the 39,000 acres owned by the timber company. The timber company land includes habitat for threatened steelhead and bull trout.
ITD OKs speed increase on highways
Following a review of engineering and traffic safety reports, the Idaho Transportation Board approved a plan on Friday, July 11, to increase the speed limit on selected rural sections of interstates in southern and eastern Idaho. The increases were approved with the requirement of an annual review by the board to ensure continued safe highway operations.
“The board considered all of the comments received, reviewed the engineering study, discussed concerns and concurred with the ITD recommendation,” said transportation department Chief Operations Officer Jim Carpenter. The decision was made at the monthly board meeting in Coeur d’Alene.
The maximum speed limit on sections of interstates 15, 84 and 86 will increase to 80 mph by early August, following coordination of sign installation. The speed limits do not increase until the new signs are in place.
“Motorists are reminded that these are maximum speeds, but all should drive according to weather and other condition limitations,” Carpenter said.
The maximum speed for trucks will increase to 70 mph. The speed limit in urban areas will not increase.
Legislation allowing the board to increase the speed limit was approved by the Idaho Legislature during the 2014 session. Engineering studies on state highways will be completed at later dates before speed-limit changes will be considered.
Feds: Don’t leave fires unattended
As fire season begins to heat up, the Sawtooth National Forest is seeing an increase in campfires being left unattended. In addition, Forest Service officials are seeing an increase in campfires in dispersed camping areas being left and not extinguished.
On the Minidoka Ranger District, 45 abandoned campfires have been found this season, 21 campfires just over the Fourth of July weekend.
A citation for “leaving your campfire without completely extinguishing it” carries a $200 fine.
“The public must remember that leaving a campfire unattended while taking a nap, fishing the creek, taking a hike can result in a wildfire that could cost them millions of dollars,” the Forest Service said. “To ensure that campfires are out we suggest using the ‘cold to the touch’ method—if you can feel heat in your campfire pit, it has the possibility of drying out and with wind could start a fire.”
July BAH at Hope Garden in Hailey
The Hailey Chamber of Commerce is inviting businesses and the public to the July Business After Hours event, set for Thursday, July 17, from 5-7 p.m. at the Hope Garden in Hailey. It will be hosted by The Hunger Coalition. The Hope Garden is located at the corner of Walnut and First Avenue (next to the Blaine County Courthouse).
Jeanne Liston, the Hunger Coalition director, and Hallie Reikowsky, garden education manager, and other staff and volunteers that work with the Hunger Coalition will be present. Wiseguy Pizza will provide pizza, salads and beer.
Call 788-3484 for additional information.
