Archive - Latest News
November 16th, 2011
BLACKFOOT – Lt. Paul Newbold is counting down the hours to the execution of Paul Ezra Rhoades on Friday. Lt. Newbold was just 27 years old and had been a detective for less than one year when Rhoades' reign of terror in Bingham County began in 1987.
BLACKFOOT — As they talked about Friday's scheduled execution of their son's killer on Wednesday, Junior and Julie Haddon often became emotional.
Paul Ezra Rhoades murdered 20-year-old Nolan Haddon at an Idaho Falls convenience store on March 16, 1987. If the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals doesn't intervene, as Rhoades' attorneys have asked it to do, he will be executed at 8 a.m. on Friday.
"No, it don't," Junior Haddon said of Rhoades' death bringing closure. "It don't close anything. It just finalizes it."
November 15th
BLACKFOOT — Three people were arrested on drug trafficking charges Monday after an investigation by the Bingham County Sheriff's Office and Bear River Drug Task Force revealed the trio was in possession of 2.7 pounds of marijuana.
The Bingham County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous tip Nov. 12 that indicated drugs were to be transported to the Blackfoot area in a U-Haul truck from California. The U-Haul truck was located Sunday behind a residence west of Blackfoot at 1274 Hoff Road.
Update Tuesday 11:50 a.m.:
Missing person James Clarke has been located and is safe and with his family. The Blackfoot Police thanks everyone who helped spread the message.
BLACKFOOT — The Blackfoot Police Department is seeking information about a missing Blackfoot man who was last in contact with family Nov. 10.
James Clarke, 85, is a white male. He is 5-foot 10 and weighs 160 pounds with grey hair and grey eyes.
Clarke left Blackfoot Nov. 10 en -route to Warsaw, Mo. He was driving a silver 2005 Chevrolet Malibu four-door sedan with Idaho license plate 4B 7040.
BOISE (AP) — The attorneys for condemned Idaho inmate Paul Ezra Rhoades have filed an emergency appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court in hopes of staving off the execution set for Friday morning.
November 14th
BOISE (AP) — A federal judge has refused to postpone the execution of an Idaho inmate slated to be put to death this Friday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Bush said in a 43-page ruling Monday he would not grant a stay of execution to Paul Ezra Rhoades.
Rhoades, who was convicted of killing three people and sentenced to death for two of the murders, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Nov. 18.
BLACKFOOT — When Annie Gardner first started looking into enlisting in the Idaho National Guard, Jim Blake was there as her recruiter.
"When I got to basic training, everything he said was spot on," said Gardner. She noted that other soldiers told her that their recruiters had painted vastly different pictures of the experience.
"He didn't lie to me," Gardner said.
Gardner recalled Blake's support as friends met at the National Guard Armory for a retirement social on Monday.
FIRTH — To raise money for the Firth football team to travel to Moscow for the state 2A finals, a spaghetti feed will be from 6—8 p.m. Wednesday in the Firth High School cafeteria. A pep rally will follow the dinner.
The football moms are sponsoring the spaghetti feed. Cost is $5 per individual and $20 per family.
The money will go to help pay for expenses for the football team's trip to Moscow for the state championship.
"We estimate it will cost $3,000 for the bus," said Firth High School principal Jeff Gee.
BLACKFOOT — School fundraisers are now more important than ever. With deep budget cuts schools are reliant on the extra funds generated through fundraisers to help fill in the gaps.
While some schools are sticking with the tried and true -- others are venturing into new territory, hoping the risk will pay off. Ridge Crest Elementary is one school that decided to try something new this year and its switch from a catalog order to a math-a-thon equalled big success.
THOMAS –– Blackfoot Fire Department is now responding to a structure fire at 799 West 100 South. There are reports of a chimney fire at the residence. We will bring you updates as they become available.
UPDATED: 11:15 a.m. – There are no injuries reported.
UPDATED: 11:22 a.m. - Minor fire resulting in roof damage to the residence. Crews are checking for hot spots.
