The Daily Press http://www.am-news.com http://www.am-news.com/apfeed.xml--1 Copyright The Daily Press 2011-06-18T02:56:57-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:24442011-06-04T00:48:11-04:002011-06-04T00:48:11-04:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning NewsBLACKFOOT — 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. "[The teachers] understand you," she said. "They communicate with you and understand your point of view. "I don't know where I'd be without them," Nieto said. Nieto earned a two-year full ride scholarship to Eastern Idaho Technical College. She wants to become a nurse. Speaking to his classmates, Payne said, "In each and every one of you there's greatness. "Fulfill your dreams; live your life to the fullest." The co-valedictorians were Cameron and Barzee. "My dad died two years ago," Cameron said. "I thank everyone who helped me through my struggles." Cameron plans to attend the College of Southern Idaho to major in culinary arts with an emphasis in cake decorating. "I plan to end up on television with my own cake decorating show," she said. Barzee received scholarships to attend Idaho State University. She plans to major in zoology and then attend Washington State University to become a veterinarian. "We are heading into a lifetime of possibilities," Barzee said. "This is not the end but the beginning." Speaking to the seniors, IAHS teacher Dan Grimes said, "It doesn't take any courage to be average. Shoot for greatness. "Achieving goals is important but having goals and working toward those goals is more important," he said. "Sometimes when you shot for a goal; sometimes you don't get it," Grimes said. "It does not matter what awards you receive in life. It matters what you in your heart do." After presenting diplomas to the Class of 2011, IAHS principal Mark Kartchner said, "Teachers work hard. I credit my staff and appreciate them. "I do appreciate you [parents] letting us borrow your students for awhile," said Kartchner. "[The teachers and administration] act as parents sometimes. We tell the students what we would tell our own children—we tell them to be successful." Blackfoot, IDLESLIE MIELKEIndependence graduates 36 studentsBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:2444Change0Usable2011-06-04T00:48:11-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:24452011-06-04T00:54:58-04:002011-06-04T00:54:58-04:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning NewsPOCATELLO — 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."I felt that's what I needed to get a jump start on," Lyons said. He coordinated a canned food drive a hosted a dinner to present the food to tribal elders.Lyons will graduate next year and plans to attend college to pursue music, medicine or law, with the ultimate goal of becoming a cardiologist or music instructor.Austin Kniffin, a junior at Century High School, said she joined the program because she likes helping people and wanted to become more connected to her community in Fort Hall. "It was a way for me to get to know people," Kniffin said. Traelee Perdash, a senior at Blackfoot High School, said he has learned valuable skills including leadership and people skills. He also learned about tribal government."It helped me out a lot," Perdash said. "I just thought it would be a good program."Winston Bearing, a senior at Sho-Ban High School, said he learned how to teach others, teamwork and leadership. He also said the program helped him develop confidence to speak in front of others.For his service project, Bearing worked with students at Lillian Vallely School and taught the students traditional Native American songs. His career goal is to go to college and to run a successful business.The NDN Scholars program is a joint venture between Partners for Prosperity and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Randy'L Teton is the Partners for Prosperity NDN youth program coordinator. The goal of the program is to promote education and community involvement. Throughout the year-long program students completed a mentorship program, community service project and participated in a leadership conference.Blackfoot, IDMELANIE MOORENDN Scholars honored in ceremonyBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:2445Change0Usable2011-06-04T00:54:58-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:25142011-06-13T02:18:45-04:002011-06-13T02:18:45-04:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning News“The more people come, the more money we have to help the school,” said Lions Club member Glenna Hale.Mick Parris, Hale and the Lions Club wants to help schools and teachers in the Snake River School District. They encouraged teachers to write grants.“Contact us for guidelines for grants,” Hale said.The Lions Club has given a grant to the marching band to cover the cost of cleaning their uniforms. Field trips were also suggested.The Snake River School/Community Library is open and is having a book sale. The cost is 25 cents per book.“We are selling books that have not been checked out for three years,” said Librarian Sherrilynn Bair.Summer school begins in August, two weeks before school starts. Twenty-five to 30 students are expected at the Snake River Junior High to study math in this quick start program. Classes will be from Monday through Friday. This is paid for by a school improvement grant, said Federal Grant Coordinator L.T. Erickson.Extended Reading Intervention is scheduled for the same two weeks of August at the Moreland and Riverside Elementary schools.Continuing work on the schools was outlined.The Idaho State Department of Education awarded Snake River High School a plaque for being an accredited high school for 75 years.“This was a complete surprise to me,” said Superintendent Russell Hammond, “because Snake River High School has not been in existence for 75 years.”This plaque is recognizing the 75 years of high school accreditation from the start of the Moreland, Thomas, Pingree and Rockford schools. These schools joined together to become the Snake River School District.“It’s nice to know my mom’s high school certificate is valid,” Hammond said.Trustees Randy Jones and Carol Hepworth received thanks and plaques for their work on the board.Dylan Webb represented Snake River at the Business Professionals of America National Convention in Washington, D. C., in May.“It was a total culture shock,” Webb said. “It was my first time on an airplane and my first time leaving Idaho.”The culture and food were different, he said.“I met a lot of people,” Webb said. “I’m really glad I went; it was an amazing experience and I’m looking forward to doing it again.”A change in the boundaries and legal description of trustee zones 2 and 4 was approved by the Snake River trustees. These boundaries were changed according to the 2010 census.The focal point of the June meeting was the budget hearing.Blackfoot, IDLESLIE MIELKETwin Butte Lions seek to help Snake River School DistrictBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:2514Change0Usable2011-06-13T02:18:45-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:25432011-06-18T02:56:57-04:002011-06-18T02:56:57-04:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning NewsAt least 120 survivors attended Relay. Registered for Relay for Life were 62 teams totaling 820 participants. Money turned in to the Relay committee at the start of the evening totaled $77,480. "We will definitely meet our goal of $100,000," said Sherrilynn Bair. In the 19th century, this coming together of friends, neighbors and families was called a barn-raising. This 21st century twist is called a Relay-raising. Angels Among Us from the Jason Lee United Memorial Church was the top fundraising team this year. They raised over $11,000. The top three money-raising people were: ° Vickie Merle who raised $3,816. ° Florence Grant raised $2,083. ° Luz Bautista raised $1,146. Mary Jones, age 89, was the oldest survivor at the Relay. She had breast cancer about 15 years ago. Cancer is not a problem for her, she said. In 1999, she was knocked down by a garbage can and wind. She said she broke her jaw, her glasses, her hearing aids and her pride. She was in the hospital for two and one-half months. "Now I spend a lot of time with doctors and tests but not for cancer," Jones said. "My mother died from cancer when she was 48 or 49 years old," she said. "I was 14 years old when my mother died. I was a freshman in high school." Jones said, "My dad lived until he was 103 2/3 years old. "I play bridge each Monday morning and every other Tuesday afternoon," Jones said. "I also volunteer to do hair at Bingham Memorial Hospital. I've been doing this for 30 years." Jones and her husband, Herbert, have one son and two daughters, seven grandchildren and more great-grandchildren. Her husband and one daughter have died. Daniella Dulisse discovered she had non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) in 2002. "I thought I had strep throat," Dulisse said. "I'm in remission now but it keeps coming back but it's all right because it makes me stronger." Maria Perez, a Relay participant, said she was at Relay for Life so she could "go for it and help fight cancer." "You forget how cancer affects whole families," said Allen Jensen. "My mother- and father-in-law died from cancer and four of my uncles also died from cancer." "We come out here [to Relay for Life] each year," Jensen said. "It's a good cause." Blackfoot, IDLESLIE MIELKERelay celebrates lifeBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:2543Change0Usable2011-06-18T02:56:57-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:24512011-06-06T01:02:17-04:002011-06-06T01:02:17-04:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning NewsBLACKFOOT — 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.Despite being unoccupied for 20 years, funds were just recently allocated from the State of Idaho to demolish the buildings. Horton said the buildings have been deteriorating and have started to crumble.Interior demolition begins today, with the walls scheduled to come down within the next few weeks. A trackhoe will be used to pull down the walls.The hospital will be recycling as much of the material from the buildings as possible.Blackfoot, IDMELANIE MOOREState Hospital South to demolish abandoned buildingsBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:2451Change0Usable2011-06-06T01:02:17-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:6442010-09-18T11:43:39-04:002010-09-16T22:06:32-04:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning News"This is really a historic day for the people of Pocatello and all of Eastern Idaho," said Dr. Scott Pierson, a medical oncologist and hematologist at the current cancer center.Speaking to a small group of cancer survivors and other dignitaries at a ground-breaking ceremony on Sept. 16, Pierson noted that medical and radiation oncology will be under one roof in the new facility.Stephen Weeg, vice president of the Portneuf Healthcare Foundation, called the new cancer center, "the crowning achievement for our new hospital."Having the care locally, over time, is so critically important," Weeg added.Dr. Michael Callaghan, a radiation oncologist at the cancer center, said, "the citizens of Southeast Idaho have made it very clear that this is what they wanted."pocatello, idahoBOB HUDSONOfficials break ground at PortneufBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:644Change0Usable2010-09-16T22:06:32-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:6132010-09-16T13:28:29-04:002010-09-16T13:27:12-04:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning NewsThe fourth grader was last seen by Principal Colin Folsam as buses were loading at the close of school. At 5 p.m. a Code Red was sent out via telephone alerting residents of a missing child. Teachers flooded into the school parking lot to call classmates while officials from the sheriff’s department, the police department, and Citizens on Patrol (COP) searched. “Most kids turn up within 45 minutes to an hour,” said Sgt. Jeff Mosbrucker, incident command. “To say we were worried is an understatement.”Mosbrucker confirmed that they had been in touch with the FBI and the Center for Missing and Exploited Children was prepping flyers. Mosbrucker and his team set up a command central in the parking lot of Ridge Crest Elementary where they continually updated and marked a map showing every area that had been searched. In addition to official searchers, the area was swamped with neighbors, concerned citizens, even teenagers who were taking the child’s photo door to door trying to help. Dennis and Deone Kawamura were on their bikes and told officials “we’ll move until dark” and they did. The call came across radios announcing his safe return just as the sun set. “This is the happiest ending ever,” said Isaac’s father Curtis Green moments after the child returned home. “I can never explain how much appreciation I have for this city. I’d like to thank every single person that has been searching. I wish I could personally tell each one thank you!”Curtis, who is the manager of Flying J, said Isaac was found around Sexton Street by the husband of his assistant manager. He said the child was scared but happy to be home. “I feel extremely relieved,” said Cpl. Greg Austin who spent the evening with the family. “In 15 years, this is the longest I have had to search for a kid.”At the end of the night officials stood in a dark parking lot grateful that the best possible outcome was now reality. Blackfoot, IDKatie Harris and Leslie MielkeMissing boy found safeBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:613Change0Usable2010-09-16T13:27:12-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:11282010-11-10T12:54:40-05:002010-11-10T12:54:40-05:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning NewsThe money would be used to restore the potato bar in the museum to bring back fresh “taters for out-of-staters.”Potato Museum Director Rebecca Price said they have been wanting to restore the potato bar, which was a popular feature of the museum.“We would use it to restore the restaurant,” Price said. “We’re still trying to reopen that.”The Idaho Potato Museum, located in the former Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot, showcases the evolution of the potato industry including history, the growing and harvesting process, nutrition and potato facts. The depot was built in 1912.In addition to reopening the potato bar, the museum will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. beginning Nov. 20 to accommodate weekend travelers.Since 2000, Hampton Hotels has been preserving historic, cultural and fun landmarks in the United States, Canada and Mexico through the Save-A-Landmark program. Hampton considers historical and cultural importance as well as city and wacky landmarks.Individuals can vote for the Idaho Potato Museum through the end of the month by visiting www.hamptonlandmarks.com. The winner will be announced Dec. 2.Blackfoot, IDMelanie MooreVote for Potato Museum in contestBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:1128Change0Usable2010-11-10T12:54:40-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:6302010-09-16T15:00:38-04:002010-09-16T14:54:09-04:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning NewsAbsentee voting closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29. Previously, absentee ballots could be cast until 5 p.m. Monday, the day before any election. Polls in Bingham County are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 2. There are three ways electors can request an absentee ballot. They are: ° To vote absentee, each elector can write his/her name, current address and state something like, “please, send me a ballot to my current address.” They must then sign their name and send the request to the clerk’s office.° Electors can call the Bingham County Clerk’s office at 782-3164 to request an absentee form. ° People can also go online at www.co.bingham.id.us to download and print an absentee request or they can contact Elections Clerk Marlene Jensen at mjensen@co.bingham.id.us to make that request.Overseas citizens or military voters can receive the ballot via e-mail. They can print, vote and mail it back to the courthouse. Each ballot must be physically mailed back to the clerk’s office. “We did this [type of absentee voting] during the primary election and it worked very well,” said Jensen. The clerk’s office started mailing out absentee ballots last Monday morning. “There’s still plenty of time,” Jensen said. “If you are homebound or know of anyone who is homebound, please contact the clerk’s office to set up an appointment,” Jensen said. Clerks will come to homes to help the homebound person vote. To make an appointment, call the clerk’s office at 782-3164. All ballots being sent out to the military were mailed last Monday, Jensen said. If military personnel have not yet registered or requested a ballot, both the registration and an absentee request can be obtained in one form from his/her military base. Idaho soldiers being deployed next week can register or request an absentee request form by e-mail at mjensen@co.bingham.id.us. Another change for all electors voting in any Idaho election is the requirement to bring and show to the election judge photo identification. This will be required for each election whether the person is voting absentee, in person at the courthouse or voting at a polling place. These changes were effective July 1, 2010, according to Idaho Code 34-1113 through 34-1114. # # #Blackfoot, IDLeslie MielkeAbsentee voting openBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:630Change0Usable2010-09-16T14:54:09-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:15662011-01-30T23:28:14-05:002011-01-30T23:28:14-05:00Copyright 2010 Blackfoot Morning NewsFIRTH – Twelve Boy Scout troops from Shelley and Firth and one Order of the Arrow troop participated in an overnight campout and Klondike Derby Friday and Saturday at the river bottoms in Firth.The number of Scouts, leaders and staff camping overnight totaled 103.Most of the Scouts said their favorite activity of the campout was the sled race, also known as the Klondike Derby.On Saturday, each Scout troop brought the sled it had previously built to compete in this race. This was a timed event with each sled running against the clock. By mid-morning, Troop 97 from Firth had the best time for the course--52 seconds.The Firth sled ran under four-Scout- power—two Scouts pulled the sled and its passenger, Holland Webb, around the course; two more pushed it. Layne Bolinder and Sayer Leslie pulled the sled down the track. Dalton Clevenger and Keegan Harrison pushed it.This troop even surpassed the leaders’ time of 54.5 seconds.The winning sled registered a time of 42 seconds.A snow-launching competition also took place. Scouts were judged in two disciplines—distance and accuracy. Each troop launched five snowballs in each discipline.The launchers varied in design. Engineering skill was on display with a pulley system. One troop designed an arrow from birch branches. One Scout, using a paper bowl nailed to a short piece of two by four, was able to launch his snowball 54 feet.A fire-building contest not only taught the Scouts how to work together to build a fire but also about leadership.Kade Nelsen, Trysten Jimenez, Mike Cook and Reuben Ponce from Troop 33 started their fire with dryer lint and steel. It took them 11:28 minutes to build a fire high enough to burn through the string set three feet off the ground.Advice to the Scouts was, “Be ready with everything first and keep your stuff dry.”Other activities on Saturday morning included winter survival instruction, building a snow fort and finding your way through a GPS course. Tastebuds were tested in the Scoutmasters’ hot chocolate competition for the best-tasting hot chocolate.With a nighttime temperature of nine degrees Fahrenheit, Scouts earned 23 points toward their 100 points below freezing award. (The award is given for camping overnight in below freezing weather conditions.)For Ammon Frost of Troop 58, sleeping was the highlight of the campout.Scoutmaster Glenn Russell from Troop 34 agreed. Russell slept Friday night on a cushioned hammock under the shelter of trees.“I love the cold on my face,” he said.Scout Ryan Scovill from Troop 34 said his favorite part of the campout was “being able to enjoy the wilderness and being around friends who help you.”Blackfoot, IDLESLIE MIELKENorth Bingham Boy Scouts have some wintertime funBlackfoot Morning Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:1566Change0Usable2011-01-30T23:28:14-05:00