School District to host state ‘EdCamp’
The Blaine County School District will host Idaho’s first EdCamp, a new approach to professional development for educators, on Friday, July 25, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wood River High School in Hailey.
More than 90 educators from throughout Idaho are expected to attend.
“EdCamps are a way for people closest to students—teachers—to determine what knowledge they need and bring that back to the classroom,” said Tim Rocco, the district’s technology director. “The power of this is in the conversation that occurs before, during and after the presentation.”
A news release states that only a “skeleton” schedule exists for the camp and that the agenda will be determined by participants in the morning.
Fire information resource set on Facebook
Because of all the frantic activity that occurs around fire season, an information resource has been set up on Facebook to help people connect with people who can help move animals and provide shelter.
Called Blaine County Fire Information, it’s free to join. It is a group for keeping up to date on fires in Blaine County (and surrounding areas) where the public can post photos, updates, assistance needed and offers for those affected by fires in our area.
“I was just thinking about last year’s fire and the evacuations and how it would be a nice resource to have,” said founder Kat Vanden Heuvel.
Ski Club sets Galena hike and bike
Join the Sun Valley Ski Club on Thursday, July 31, for a variety of outdoor activities. Participants can hike from Galena Summit to Titus Lake in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, ride their bike from the SNRA to Galena Lodge, or mountain bike on the trails at Galena Lodge. Afterwards, they can enjoy a no-host lunch at Galena Lodge north of Ketchum.
Hikers should meet at the Galena Lodge parking lot at 9 a.m. for a drive to the Titus Lake trailhead near Galena Summit. Bikers should gather at the SNRA parking lot at 10 a.m., prepared for the 15.6-mile trek to the lodge. And mountain bikers should meet at the Galena Lodge parking lot at 10:30 a.m.
RSVP to 622-3003 or email sunvalskiclub@gmail.
Ketchum approves Vue Townhomes
The Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission approved the final plat for the Vue Townhomes on July 14. The four townhomes, located at 105 Pinewood Lane, will be on two lots. The layout of the townhomes will be approved later, after construction begins, according to Joyce Allgaier, director of planning and development.
Applicants Elizabeth Grabher and Alex Monge moved the center lot line 2.5 feet to the east to increase the setback on the property’s western boundary to appease a neighbor.
The city council also needs to approve the final plat for the subdivision.
Ketchum approves Vue Townhomes
The Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission approved the final plat for the Vue Townhomes on July 14. The four townhomes, located at 105 Pinewood Lane, will be on two lots. The layout of the townhomes will be approved later, after construction begins, according to Joyce Allgaier, director of planning and development.
Applicants Elizabeth Grabher and Alex Monge moved the center lot line 2.5 feet to the east to increase the setback on the property’s western boundary to appease a neighbor.
The city council also needs to approve the final plat for the subdivision.
Realtors can tour SVEA facilities
An open house for real estate agents will be hosted by the Sun Valley Elkhorn Association today, July 23, and Aug. 20 at the Harker Center, 1 Harker Lane, in Sun Valley.
Real estate professionals are invited to see the Harker Center swimming pool, Patty Rosewater Park, the Harker tennis courts, the homeowner lounge and other facilities. Light refreshments will be served. Tours of the Harker Center amenities will be given from 2-4 p.m.
For more information, call 622-7420.
See ‘Main Street Cabaret’
The nexStage Theatre in Ketchum will present Laughing Stock’s “Main Street Cabaret”—a New York-style show featuring local talent singing the best-loved songs from stage and screen—this weekend, Friday through Sunday, July 25-27.
Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. each night. Tickets are available for $20 general admission and $35 for reserved seating by calling 726-4TKS or in the theatre box office weekdays from 11-2 p.m. The show offers comfortable cabaret seating at tables in the theatre, with drinks and hors d’oeuvres available at the no-host bar before the show.
The nexStage Theatre is on Main Street in downtown Ketchum.
Hailey in Top 10 for livability
Hailey has been named a Top 10 Small Town in 2014 by Livability.com, a national website that ranks quality of life and travel amenities of America’s small to mid-sized cities.
For this list of cities, editors started by looking at cities with populations under 20,000, then dug into statistics such as cost of living, health-care spending, racial and socioeconomic diversity, adult obesity, crime, civic engagement, air quality and natural amenities, just to name a few of the 41 data points. After narrowing down the list, editors conducted a visual assessment of the cities and found out what visitors had to say about them and what residents liked about living there.
“Throughout the U.S., we’re seeing a resurgence of emphasis on downtowns in cities of all sizes,” said Livability.com Editor Matt Carmichael. “It’s nice to see in the big cities, certainly, but it’s especially great to see these smaller towns not just holding their own, but also thriving.”
“Hailey offers residents a laid-back atmosphere with an astonishing amount of outdoor recreational options,” the website said. “In addition to good schools, low crime, low pollution and high community involvement, Hailey has the highest level of employment and the greatest income distribution of any city on our list. Residents can also enjoy outdoor excursions to nearby ski resorts, hiking trails and fishing holes.”
Los Alamos, N.M., placed first. Hailey placed 10th.
SCPHD closing family planning clinic
South Central Public Health District has announced the closure of its Twin Falls family planning clinic. Family planning clinics will remain open at the Bellevue, Burley, and Jerome SCPHD offices.
The last day for the public to receive clinical services will be Friday, July 25. However, SCPHD will continue to refill contraceptive supplies until July 31.
For more information on the Twin Falls family planning clinic closure, visit phd5.idaho.gov or call the clinic information line at (208) 737-5966. All other services provided by the SCPHD Twin Falls office are still available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Idaho jobless claims drop again
Idaho businesses hired more people in June than during any month since the expansion of the mid-2000s, and the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell another two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.7 percent, the Department of Labor reported this week. It was the 35th straight month that the number of jobless workers has declined.
“Employers created new jobs at a pace just below the average for the previous five years,” the department reported. “But with total jobs 1.9 percent higher than in June 2013, job creation appeared to be moving to a more sustainable level over the long term from the spurt of growth the Idaho economy saw in 2012 and 2013 coming out of the recession.”
Total employment was essentially unchanged from May at just under 741,800, marking the 10th straight monthly employment record.
All major economic sectors, except private education and health care, increased jobs from May, but most were only fractional increases. Idaho’s economy has added 34,000 jobs since January to push total nonfarm jobs in June over 660,000—barely 1 percent below the pre-recession peak.
Almost 15,000 more workers were on the job in June than in June 2013, when the unemployment rate was 6.3 percent. The number of workers without jobs dropped below 37,000 for the first time in six years, a decline of 12,500 in just the last year.
The two-tenths of a point drop in the Idaho jobless rate matched the decline in the national rate of 6.1. Idaho’s rate has been below the nation’s for almost 13 years.
Fish & Game seeks comments on sage-grouse seasons
Idaho Fish and Game is seeking public input on sage-grouse hunting proposals. Upland bird managers will present sage-grouse hunting season recommendations to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission at their Aug. 11 meeting.
“Current sage-grouse lek (breeding site) data indicate that many populations could be hunted at the ‘restrictive’ level,” a Fish and Game news release states.
Sage-grouse are proposed for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. The public comment period lasts until Aug. 5. Visit a regional Fish and Game office for specific information on sage-grouse hunting, the season proposals and to provide comments. You can also learn more and provide comments at: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/webform/2014-sage-grouse-season-proposals.
