Archive - 2013 - Latest News
March 19th
Second graders at Blackfoot Charter Community Learning Center (BCCLC) designed and built a city they named Diamondville.
It took the 44 second graders about two months to build this city. Amy Ogden and Katrina Elliott were the teachers working on this project.
The city, Diamondville, measures 12 feet by 15 feet. Some of the features in the city are homes, the mayor's mansion, schools, hotels, McDonald's, a western store, a hospital and veterinarian clinic, other businesses as well as roads, an overpass, a racetrack, railroad and cemetery, with a parking lot.
Those driving by the Sartori cheese plant in Blackfoot the past couple of days may have noticed the building's new signs. On Tuesday, Glanbia Foods of Twin Falls, the world's largest producers of American-style cheese, announced that they purchased Sartori Foods on March 14, 2013.
All of Sartori's (approximately 70) employees were kept on to work for Glanbia. The workers say that "this is positive move for the company and Bingham County."
March 18th
The student body at Firth High School (FHS) spent their morning exploring their possible career interests.
Quinn Alvey arranged the career fair for his senior project.
To begin, Alvey surveyed the 225-member student body, asking them to identify their top 15 interests for a career. After tabulating those results, Alvey then asked each student to narrow their choices to six.
Monday, each student attended six 25-minute session outlining his/her career picks.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, "Oklahoma!" will be performed at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday and Friday at the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center, 870 S. Fisher.
The cast and crew are all Blackfoot High School students. Besides performing, the students helped to build the sets. The singers and performers are backed by a live pit orchestra made up of BHS musicians. The student BHS tech staff also light the stage and magnify the voices.
Staff and crew have been working on this musical for about eight weeks.
March 17th
Family and friends will come from near and far to help Annzi Rossi celebrate her 100th birthday on next Sunday, March 24.
Anzzi, whose full name is Annunziata, was born March 25, 1913, in Segunde, Colo., to Italian immigrants Giovanni and Giovanna Rossi.
Among those who will celebrate with her at St. John's Catholic Church from 1-4 p.m. are two family members from Italy and five from eastern Canada. Friends from a lifetime of work in and around her Pingree home are also welceome.
In a narrative that begins in Blackfoot with references to Riverton Road, Bingham Memorial Hospital, the Idaho Potato Museum and other local landmarks, Jesse Elison offers a "a fun but brutal new and unique insight into the Mormon faith" in his compelling first book: "My Best Mormon Life."
March 15th
Retired teacher Harriet Clark and her son Jack were among those who gathered for Friday's Snake River FFA Scholarship Auction.
Harriet planned to bid on gravel for her driveway and a sack of flour. One of her tablemates at the dinner which preceded the live auction had his eye on a food basket and on a jacket, hats, backpack and water bottle which were part of the silent auction.
"It's a good program," Harriet said of the FFA. "My grandkids have all been very active in the program, both the boys and the girls."
Eighteen-year-old Marcus Ian Medina has been sentenced on three counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16.
On Wednesday, Medina appeared before Seventh Judicial Court District Judge Darren Simpson. Two of the original five counts of lewd conduct were dismissed on motion of the prosecutor.
The victim's father, LeRoy DeVar Saline II, gave a victim's impact statement.
Saline stated Marcus had dropped out of school and got into fights at school.
"He [Marcus] has a lot of anger and disrespect," he said. "He blew off any regard for others or responsibility of family.
The Blackfoot Chamber is seeking donations and ideas to help keep the annual 4th of July fireworks show at Jensen Grove going.
"For many years, the Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce has has graciously sponsored the free 4th of July fireworks at Jensen Grove," said Tish Dahmen, the chamber's executive director. "The community has come to love and expect it; however, funding it is becoming increasingly difficult each year."
Dahmen said that through the years, the $10,000 firework show has been paid for by the Chamber and the generous donations of local businesses.
March 14th
Thursday, elementary students swarmed the courthouse to be transported into the 19th century as they explored Bingham County's history.
Each student was given a book to fill out. There were questions to answer, stickers to obtain, people to meet and lots of displays to see.
Rockford Elementary fourth grader Stephanie Miranda said the displays were "good."
After leaving the re-creation of an 1887 trial, Rockford student Mary Anderson said, "The jury listened to the evidence."
Rockford student Alexa Rodriguez said she learned that "Sara Woods was murdered."
