Archive - Latest News
June 5th, 2011
BLACKFOOT — This year marks the 125th anniversary of the opening of State Hospital South in Blackfoot, but two hospital buildings built 79 years ago will be demolished this summer.
Buildings F and G, former patient wards located on the north side of the State Hospital campus, were constructed in 1932 and officially opened in 1933. The two-story buildings were occupied as separate men's and women's wards until 1988 when the treatment methods used there became obsolete, said Support Services Director Greg Horton. The wards were replaced by the Patient Treatment Facility used today.
June 3rd
POCATELLO — Fourteen students from area high schools were recognized Friday at a ceremony celebrating the 2011 class of NDN Scholars.
The NDN Scholars Program (Navigating and Developing Native Scholars) is part of Partners for Prosperity and provides Native American high school students with leadership development, mentoring and tutoring.
Tyrell Lyons, a junior at Blackfoot High School, said he chose to participate in NDN Scholars because he felt it would help him develop his leadership skills.
BLACKFOOT — Proud parents, families, faculty and friends celebrated with the 36 graduating seniors of the Class of 2011 from the Independence Alternative High School (IAHS). The graduation ceremony was Friday in the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center.
The student speakers—Chelsea Barzee, Wendi Cameron, Cecilia Nieto and Eddy Payne—each expressed appreciation to their teachers "who helped us get where we are."
"Some of us have been through some rough times," said Nieto. "We know how to get back up.
June 2nd
BLACKFOOT — Thousands of ping pong balls will drop from an airplane Saturday—many marked for prizes—to raise money for Bingham County Relay for Life.
At 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 3,500 balls will drop from an airplane flying over the Blackfoot High School football field. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and admission is a minimum $2 donation per person. All proceeds benefit Relay for Life.
The event is organized by the Idaho Central Credit Union Relay for Life team.
"We were trying to come up with a unique fundraiser," Team Captain Jessie Hopkins said. "I thought it sounded really fun."
ABERDEEN — Fifty-six Aberdeen graduates are on their way as they celebrated their graduation from high school Thursday evening.
Valedictorian Taetem Simms asked her classmates, "What do you want to be?
"We are graduating from high school and have earned the right to follow our dreams," she said. "You must have the courage to follow your dream and work for it.
"Trust in your abilities, your friends, your family and trust in God," Simms said. "Be proud of your decisions and your accomplishments."
June 1st
BLACKFOOT — Preparations for possible flooding was the agenda item for representatives of four irrigation companies as they met with the Bingham County commissioners on Tuesday.
"Most of the canals are in better shape than we were in 1997," said C. Paul Robertson of the Parsons Ditch Company. "In '97, that was a nervous two weeks."
The last major flood came through this part of the state most recently in 1997.
The Parsons Ditch Company is the last irrigation canal in Bingham County, just before American Falls.
The Morning News — Leslie Mielke
Four-year olds Ben Evans and Gabe Hooste dig into spaghetti dinners at the fundraiser at A. W. Johnson Elementary in Firth Wednesday evening. "We've had a huge turnout," said organizer Laurie Nielson. Funds raised from the dinner, donated items and raffle totaled $3,060. Proceeds will be used for paper, ink and curricula for students and teachers in the Firth School District.
BLACKFOOT — Tom Harrington has spent 39 years as a teacher and administrator, and this year he has finally decided to retire.
Harrington has worked in the Blackfoot School District for 22 years as an administrator. He was an assistant principal at Blackfoot High School from 1989-1991. He was then assigned to Mountain View Middle School for three years. He was transferred back to BHS in 1991, where he has remained since.
"I found my niche," Harrington said. "I like to work with kids and it's been a perfect fit."
The Morning News—Melanie Moore
May 25th
THOMAS — Into a gymnasium filled to capacity with proud parents, families and friends marched 134 graduating seniors at Snake River High School Wednesday evening.
Speaking to her classmates, senior class president Kylee Hale said, "The world is so much bigger than high school."
She continued, "Be a best friend. Overuse 'I love you.' Don't outsmart yourself. Whatever you do, be a good one."
The 2011 graduating class at Snake River has two valedictorians—Sarah Asmus and Jake Arbon. Katie Mathis is the salutatorian.
"Learn, laugh, love," said Asmus. "Experiences provide challenges."
