Archive - 2013 - Latest News
April 26th
BLACKFOOT — The laughter and the "ARRRGHHHs" could be heard throughout the building at Stoddard Elementary School as students celebrated exceeding their Idaho Reads! VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) reading challenge at a "pirate themed" reward party Friday.
Annie Tanner, Idaho Reads! VISTA volunteer for the school, said that the goal for the school-wide reading challenge was for the students to read 200 books (with a book title starting with each letter of the alphabet) by March 31. The students exceeded the goal by reading 207 books.
April 25th
BLACKFOOT — Dan Cravens announced he is running to become the next mayor of Blackfoot at noon Thursday in front of City Hall.
Asked how he would accomplish these goals, Cravens said, “The mayor is the lead ambassador for Blackfoot. That doesn’t cost the city a cent.
“There are also federal and state programs to help local employers,” said Cravens.
Not long ago, my wife, Jill, and I bought our first home, Cravens said. “We hired a carpeting company to re-carpet a few of our rooms.”
April 24th
Blackfoot High School students won gold medals (first place) in cabinet making and welding at the Idaho SkilllsUSA competition last week.
Jake Lauritsen, a junior, won first place and a gold medal in cabinet making. Zackary Hall, a senior, won first place a gold medal in welding and a bronze medal in technology- related math.
Both Lauritsen and Hall will compete in the SkillsUSA National Championships June 24-28 in Kansas City, Mo. Lauritsen will compete in cabinet making. Hall will compete in welding.
April 23rd
Dan Cravens, a regional economist with the Idaho Department of Labor, has scheduled a news conference at noon Thursday at the Blackfoot City Hall.
While sources close to Cravens have indicated that he plans to announce a run for mayor of Blackfoot, Cravens said he will have no comment until Thursday.
Mayor Mike Virtue has indicated that he will not seek another term. He has been in office since 2006.
In addition to his job with the state, Cravens is vice-president of the Bingham Economic Development Corporation and is chairman of the Bingham County Republican Party.
April 22nd
POCATELLO – A new surgery to help patients with chronic reflux disease is available exclusively at Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot.
"Chronic reflux disease, heartburn and Barrett's esophagus has been my passion for 30 years," said surgeon Kurt Birkenhagen. He has offices in In Blackfoot and Pocatello.
Birkenhagen's interest is not only professional but also personal. He has personally suffered from chronic acid reflux, heartburn and Barrett's esophagus.
Items of note from March 22-April 3.
Bingham County Sheriff
TAPE RECORDING: March 24, 7:08 p.m.: A woman said she has a tape recording that she needs an officer to listen to.
GAS CAPS: March 24, 9:41 a.m.: A caller at Pratt Truck Service said several vehicles are missing the gas caps.
FAKE COINS: March 25, 1:36 p.m.: A man said he bought coins at an auction and found out that they are counterfeit when he took them to be appraised.
BREAK-IN: March 26, 6:27 p.m.: A man said someone has broken into his house but he has not noticed anything missing.
April 21st
Despite Friday's pesky rain and wind, the Blackfoot High School prom and the festivities surrounding it went perfectly for Rachael Slay, her date Nathaniel Stansfield and a group of friends, who arrived at the prom like royalty in the luxury of shiny,10-seat limousine with leather interior.
April 19th
The community has generously stepped up to help cover the medical costs of Muffin, the 12-week-old Cocker spaniel who was flung out of a moving vehicle two weeks ago.
Marcia Williams, vice-president of the Bingham County Humane Society, said she was contacted by a woman who witnessed the puppy being thrown out the window in the midst of what appeared to be a domestic dispute going on between a couple in the vehicle ahead of her on the highway between Blackfoot and Fort Hall.
April 18th
The spring book sale is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday in the basement of the Blackfoot Library.
Sponsored by Friends of the Blackfoot Library, the money raised goes to support projects in the library, said book sale co-chair Venita Fankhauser.
"We purchased a machine that buffs CDs and DVDs," she said.
"We will also partner with the library for a "Let's Talk About It," seminar that starts in January," said Fankhauser. "It depends if the library receives a grant for this program.
April 17th
Thanks to the kindness and generosity of the community and one special young man, a night fit for a princess awaits Rachael Slay, a senior at Blackfoot High School with non-speaking autism, as she prepares to attend the BHS prom on Friday night.
A few weeks ago, Rachael's mother, Serrina Slay, used social media and the assistance of the Morning News in hope of finding her only child, Rachael, a date to the prom saying, "She [Rachael] has never gone to a school dance or any school function and I would love for her to have this one last opportunity to go to the Blackfoot High School prom."
