July 28, 2019 The Yellow Pine Times – Valley County, Idaho
Note: The boil water order and water restrictions are still in effect.
Community Calendar:
April 2 – Boil water order issued
Every Sunday – 11am Fire Training
May 10 – Burn “permits” required
May 15 – Firewood Season opens
July 22 – Daytime closures on So. Fk road begin
Aug 10 – VYPA meeting 2pm Community Hall
Sept 14 – 10am YPFD meeting at the Fire Hall budget meeting
Sept 14 – Ride to Cinnabar
Sept 21 – VYPA meeting 2pm Community Hall
(details below)
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Local Events:
2019 Yellow Pine Escapades
The 2019 schedule for the Yellow Pine Escapades has been updated on the website!
Expect new escapades this coming year, including an ATV-UTV Photo Scavenger Hunt; two (yes, two) ATV-UTV rides, a golf tournament, and even a community yard sale. Other events will be added to the calendar as plans are finalized.
Join us for a great season of fun! The starting point for fun in Yellow Pine! The website includes information on the events hosted by the Yellow Pine Community Hall as well as the other “goings-on” in the village. Food, lodging and fuel are available in Yellow Pine. link:
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Village News:
“If it’s yellow let it mellow; if it’s brown flush it down.”
Tips for conserving water during fest weekend
Remember we are under a boil water order until further notice. Pass the word to visitors.
No outside watering, this means no car washes or spraying off decks either. No filling of visitors camper’s water tanks!
Avoid doing laundry, running a dishwasher or showering. Do not leave the water running while brushing teeth or washing dishes.
If we all conserve as much as possible, we can avoid running the village out of water.
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Power Outage
Idaho Power planned a maintenance outage on Thursday, July 25th, the power was off from 805am to 1230pm.
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Progress at the Heli-Pad
Volunteers working hard on the helicopter landing pad
Building a cement landing pad for Life Flight.
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Wally and Roberta Cory
Wally and Roberta celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary at the YP Tavern
link to Tavern’s FB photo gallery:
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Wilbur Wiles Remembered
There was large turnout for the celebration of life for Wilbur Wiles at the Big Creek Lodge on July 27th. Lunch catered by The Corner.
photo courtesy Scott A
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Yellow Pine Transfer Station
Report Sunday (July 28) the dumpsters are about 3/4 full (they were 1/2 full on Friday.) The road to the dump has been dust abated.
Please do not abuse our Transfer Station or we may lose it. Household trash must be placed in the bins, flattened cardboard boxes can also go into the bins. Do not stack trash in front of the doors. Woody yard debris only for the burn pile. No furniture, appliances, tires or construction debris allowed, those items must be hauled out to the Donnelly station by you.
Yellow Pine Transfer Station (aka, the dump)
The Yellow Pine Transfer Station is located approximately 3 miles south on Johnson Creek Road.
The TRANSFER STATION is for household trash and yard waste:
* Household trash must be put inside (and fit) the dumpster;
* Yard waste (limbs, pine needles, brush, et.) goes in the burn pile on the south end of the turn-around;
* Cardboard boxes should be flattened before putting the in the dumpster,
The DUMPSTERS are NOT for:
* Furniture (take to Donnelly Transfer Station);
* Appliances (take to Donnelly Transfer Station).
The BURN PILE is NOT for:
* Cardboard boxes (flatten and put in dumpster);
* Furniture and appliances (take to Donnelly Transfer Station);
* Drywall and building material (take to Donnelly Transfer Station);
* Wire or fencing (take to Donnelly Transfer Station);
* Foam Rubber (take to Donnelly Transfer Station);
* Wood with metal (like nails) attached (take to Donnelly Transfer Station.)
When closing the DOORS on the front of the dumpsters:
* Make sure the “U” brackets at the top and bottom of the door are engaged;
* The retaining bar at the middle of the door is slid into the pipe;
* And the “L” bars at the bottom of the doors dropped into place.
The Yellow Pine Transfer Station is Valley County responsibility. If it is not kept tidy, use of the Transfer Station may be revoked. That would result in residents having to take all household trash and yard waste to the Donnelly Transfer Station.
If Dumpsters Are Full, Contact Lake Shore Disposal at: 208/634-7176
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Roads
South Fork
Starting July 22 the South Fork road will be closed Monday through Friday from 7am to 4pm on weekdays, with no closures over the weekends.
More info:
Map w/info:
YP to Stibnite Road
Update from Midas July 18: The road is still closed Monday through Thursday and open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Good progress is being made, but it is likely that we still have a few weeks of work ahead.
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Yellow Pine US Mail
June 1st started the 6-day a week mail delivery. The Post Office in Yellow Pine is open six days a week: M-F 845am-245pm Saturday 9am-245pm. Forever Stamp: 55 cents
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Wasp Season
Long legged wasps are out, invading sheds and seeking to come indoors.
Have not had a report of ticks since the hot dry weather arrived.
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Reminder for people living in bear country:
* Garbage should be stored inside the house or in a secure garage or storage building.
* If garbage cannot be stored in a secure location, a bear-resistant container approved by the Interagency Bear Committee is recommended.
* Avoid using bird feeders from March through November. Birds do not need supplemental feeding this time of year.
* Pet food should not be left outside.
* BBQ grills or anything with a strong odor should not be left out at night.
* Protect gardens, beehives, and compost piles with electric fencing.
* Never intentionally feed bears. A food-conditioned bear may pose a threat to human safety and usually results in the removal of the bear.
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Local Groups:
YPWUA News:
Water Update July 25:
On July 19th a crew from Idaho rural water came in and found a substantial leak on the east side of the east fork bridge. We are currently looking for a good time to shut the water down to town to make the repairs. It will definitely be after harmonica but seeing we will be shutting down the town, we want to be prepared. We are still on a boil order due to the large capacity of water lost and low chlorine contact time. We still request that everyone conserves water by not watering lawns because we are borderline to running the town out of water.
– Steve H YPWUA
Water Update June 7:
1. The “boil order” is still in effect.
2. There is still large water leaks in the system. We continue to look.
3. A grant for $39,000 was approved for improvements to the system.
3. Work is currently being done on the new contact tank.
4. Please, no lawn watering until we find and repair the major leaks.
– Steve Holloway
The yearly Yellow Pine Water Users Shareholders meeting was Sunday July 7th at 10am in the community hall.
link to: #4430059 Yellow Pine Water Users Boil Water Notification 4-2-19.pdf
link to: 2018 September Water Department Update.docx
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VYPA News:
Next meeting August 10th 2pm at the Community Hall
Village of Yellow Pine Association Meeting Minutes July 20, 2019
link to: 20190720 Yellow Pine Village Association Minutes.docx
Village of Yellow Pine Association Meeting Minutes for June 8, 2019
link to: 20190608 Village of Yellow Pine Association.rtf
VYPA Meeting Dates 2019
June 8th; July 20th; August 10th; September 14th – 2pm at the Community Hall.
Yellow Pine Harmonica Meetings 2019:
July 27, 2019 Saturday 2pm at the Community Hall
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YPFD News:
Yellow Pine Fire Protection District Community Service Notice
The purpose of this letter is to show how you as a Yellow Pine Resident can help protect your structure against a wildland fire by being “Fire Wise.”
Link to: 20190724 Yellow Pine Fire Protection mitigation.doc
Next Meeting Sept 14 at 10am YPFD meeting in the Fire Hall
Last meeting July 13 – minutes forthcoming.
YPFD June 16, 2019 Meeting minutes
link to: 20190615 YPFD Meeting Notes_Final
Meetings will be held at the fire station at 10am and everyone is welcome to attend. June 15th; July 13th; and Sept 14th (which will also be the budget meeting as well).
Every Sunday 11am – Training
May 10th Burn Permits – contact the YPFD
Pile burning: Dress appropriately, have enough help on hand (people, water and tools) and make a firebreak before you start. Call your local fire protection district chief to let them know you’ll be conducting a debris burn. This saves them from sending emergency responders to your property if they are not needed.
Bring it, Don’t Burn it
For us in Yellow Pine, Jake Strohmeyer, Dist. Ranger with the Boise NF said we can use the area at our transfer station for yard debris and the FS will burn it once a year. Please no furniture, mattresses, construction debris, metal objects, tires or personnel junk. Please only woody yard debris. When using the pile please be mindful of where you place the debris as it should be contained to a manageable burnable area and kept as clean as possible. – JF
Training: Sunday Fire/EMS training has begun. Sundays at 11:00 AM unless otherwise posted. If Jeff F is in town the trainings will be held. All are welcome.
YP Helispot: We are working with Valley County Road Department and the Boise National Forest for the rock base for the road leading into the Helispot and the actual Helispot itself. We are also receiving rock for the Fire Hydrants, water tank foundations, etc. The rock will come from the Valdez pit and will be less expensive than having it trucked in from Cascade.
Stop the Bleed Course: This course was well attended in the Fall and Jeff F and Ann F will be presenting another course when the new instructor material comes out. There are “Stop The Bleed” kits at the Tavern in an emergency.
Siren Testing: The YPFD siren will be tested only once this year on the first of May at noon. 3 blasts of the siren is a test, more than 3 is an Emergency.
-JF
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Biz Listings:
Yellow Pine Lodge (208) 633-3377
Call for reservations
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The Corner (208) 633-3325
Our hours will be 11-8 every day, except closed on Tuesdays. We are open for breakfast by request and always have good coffee starting at 6am.
The Corner has firewood permits in stock now. 4 cord minimum at $6.25 per cord. Please bring drivers license and cash is preferred, no CC.
The Corner Store will also be open with snacks, groceries, fresh produce, soda, ice and packaged beer. If you know you will be coming in over the summer and need special grocery orders, let me know and I will order it in for you while you are here, 2 deliveries a week. The best way to get a hold of me is to call or stop by and say hello.
Karaoke is back at The Corner! Choose your favorite songs from our online music library and entertain your friends up on stage through our professional sound system.
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Yellow Pine Tavern (208) 633-2233
Summer Hours Daily 8am to Close
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Buck Horn Outfitters LLC 208-633-3614
Tom & Sarah Lanham
156 Yellow Pine Ave, Yellow Pine Id 83677
Website:
Link to FB page:
It’s official starting June 2020 We will be doing trail rides out of Yellow Pine along with summer pack / camping trips to high mountain lakes in the area!
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Wapiti Meadow Ranch – Johnson Creek (208) 633-3217
or 208-315-3554 – cabin rentals
website:
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Deadwood Outfitters
Link to website:
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Local Fuel Suppliers
Amerigas Phone: (208) 634-8181
Ed Staub & Sons Phone: (208) 634-3833
Diamond Fuel & Feed Phone: (208) 382-4430
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Outside Biz that will service Yellow Pine:
Rocky Mountain Mechanical – Plumbing – Heating – Air conditioning
(208) 365-PIPE (7473), Emmett, will service Yellow Pine
Elkhorn Heating & Cooling
(208) 906-4067 Middleton, Idaho, will service Yellow Pine
B&T Safety Solutions LLC
208-271-1600 Based out of Donnelly
Snow removal, cleaning chimneys and stoves, we do cabin staining/chinking as well
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Follow The Yellow Pine Times on Facebook (updated more often than emails)
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Local Observations:
Monday (July 22) stayed warm overnight, the low of 51F was recorded Sunday morning, mostly cloudy sky this morning and humid. Morning air and street traffic (noisy and dusty.) A few swallows calling. Dark clouds and a few drops of rain just before noon, not enough to wet anything. Decreasing clouds after lunch and warming up. Hot and mostly clear mid-afternoon, high of 95 degrees. Extra traffic thru the neighborhood most of the afternoon and very dusty. Still hot this evening before sunset, smoky/dusty haze in the air. Starting to cool off a little after sun down, mostly clear. Lots of stars out before midnight.
Tuesday (July 23) overnight low of 54 degrees, warming up quickly and mostly clear sky this morning. Finches and pine siskins visiting, tree swallows swooping and calling. Sounds like they are working on the crusher above the village. Lots of young columbian ground squirrels running about. Cloudy before lunch time, and not too hot yet. Dark clouds, occasional drop of rain and moderate temperatures mid-afternoon, high of 84 degrees. Cloudy and normal temperatures late afternoon. About a 30 minute light rain shower early evening, settled the dust and good air quality. Quiet evening. Overcast sky at dusk. Cloudy before midnight.
Wednesday (July 24) overnight low of 53 degrees, warming up quickly under clear sky and strong sunshine this morning. Finches, pine siskins and swallows calling. Lots of clanging and banging up on the hill at the gravel site, hazy air. Partly cloudy and warm mid-day, light breeze. Light traffic this afternoon. Clear sky and warm mid-afternoon, light breezes, high of 86 degrees. OHVs traveling at excessive speed down the hill on main street. Warm evening, breeze died down and skeeters out in droves.
Thursday (July 25) overnight low of 40 degrees, clear sky this morning. Planned power outage started at 805am. Tree swallows, an olive-sided fly catcher, finches and pine skiskins calling. Noisy morning: air and road traffic, generators and crusher. Clear and light breeze mid-day. Power on at 1230pm. Water pressure a bit low. Large low jet flew over at 149pm. Traffic and dust early afternoon, heavy equipment working. Clear, hot and light breeze mid-afternoon, high of 91 degrees. High wispy clouds over most of the sky by evening, warm and slight breeze. Lots of skeeters. Cooling off after dark.
Friday (July 26) overnight low of 43 degrees, mostly high thin wispy clouds and a nice breeze this morning. Northern flicker, swallows, finches and pine siskins calling, calliope hummingbird visiting. Extra traffic and dust in the neighborhood. Overcast before lunch time, clouds keeping temperatures down. Olive-sided flycatcher sounding off from the forest, ground squirrels not as active in the heat. Partly clear and hot mid-afternoon, high of 93 degrees. Warm evening, nearly calm and lots of skeeters out at sunset. Mostly cloudy at dusk, rose colored clouds to the west.
Saturday (July 27) overnight low of 51 degrees, clear sky and warming up fast this morning. A few noisy airplanes turning over the village, light morning traffic and haze of dust in the air. Mostly cloudy and breezy after lunch. Water pressure down a bit. Hot and mostly clear mid-afternoon and gusty breezes, high of 90 degrees. Haze of smoke to the west, reduced air quality. Breezy evening. Clear, warm and lighter breezes after sunset, skeeters coming out. Lots of stars out before midnight.
Sunday (July 28) overnight low of 46 degrees, clear sky this morning. A few noisy airplanes turning over the village, increased road traffic and dust. Swallows, finches and pine siskins calling. Ground squirrels active. Pretty warm mid day, dusty air. Hot by mid-afternoon, a few small clouds and light breezes, high of 91 degrees. Clear, warm and a bit of haze in the air before sunset. Seems like there are fewer swallows and song birds around, but plenty of columbian ground squirrels. Folks are starting to camp on the golf course.
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RIP:
John F. Lance
died February 15, 2019
Ashes to be scattered in Yellow Pine August 4, 2019
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Ron “The Sugar Mountain Strangler” Erickson
June 22, 1948 – July 13, 2019
Memorial video link:
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Idaho News:
Brake Dancing
Lick Creek Rd. homeowners thrilled with new radar speed signs
By Drew Dodson for The Star-News July 25, 2019
Blake Hanks is thankful speed limit radar signs were installed earlier this month on Lick Creek Road by the City of McCall, but he also had a backup plan in place to deter speeding cars.
“Until we got the signs, I was going to sit out here in a chair and use a hair dryer as a radar gun,” said Hanks, who has lived on Lick Creek Road for seven years.
One of the new signs was placed near Davis Avenue to face eastbound cars and another was placed near Spring Mountain Boulevard to face westbound cars.
So far, the two signs have made a drastic difference along the long, straight stretch of road with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour, Hanks said.
“To us that live here, I think you’d call it night and day,” said Hanks, 68. “It’s not that ‘pick up and race down the street’ anymore.”
Hanks began campaigning for the signs to be installed on the street last summer amid worries that speeding traffic would kill one of the many pedestrians and cyclists that frequent the road.
… Other residents along Lick Creek Road have also noticed fewer speeding cars since the signs were installed.
“Before, they used to drive like 50 miles an hour down this street,” said David Beckman, 65, a Lick Creek Road resident of 18 years. “I’ve been looking forward to (the signs) for a long time.”
Beckman still sees speeding cars pass by, but not as fast or as frequently. Beckman knows how dangerous speeding can be after having two dogs hit and seeing multiple deer killed by speeding cars on the road.
full story:
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Warren Wagon rebuild on track for October completion
$9.9 million project will rehab 5.5 miles of road
By Drew Dodson for The Star-News July 25, 2019
Work on a two-year, $9.9 million reconstruction of Warren Wagon Road remains on schedule to wrap up by the end of the October.
Daily road closures from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday will likely remain in place until work is complete, said Cody Brown, a spokesperson for M.A. DeAtley Construction of Clarkston, Washington, the general contractor for the federally-funded project.
Barricade locations change daily throughout the 5.5-mile project zone, which begins 2.2 miles north of West Lake Street (Idaho 55) and extends to the intersection of Warren Wagon Road and Eastside Drive.
Motorists will continue to be forced to detour around Payette Lake via Eastside Drive, which the Valley County Road Department has performed extra maintenance on this year to account for increased traffic.
Since work resumed on May 7, crews have focused on widening some sections of roadway, installing new drainage culverts and stabilizing land below the roadway to prep for paving work, Brown said.
Base layer paving is expected to begin on Aug. 12 moving from north to south and is expected to take about two weeks, before final paving work begins moving south to north, he said.
Final paving is expected to be complete around Sept. 20. Crews will then transition to striping the new roadway and installing guard rails and new signs, Brown said.
Once complete, Warren Wagon Road will have new pavement, guard rails along some sections and shoulders between three and four feet wide on either side to accommodate bicyclists.
continued:
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Semi rolls on Highway 55 near McCall, traffic clear
by CBS 2 News Staff Friday, July 26th 2019
McCall, Idaho (CBS 2) — A semi rolled onto its side on H-55 mp 140, near McCall and was blocking northbound traffic according to Valley County dispatch.
The incident was reported at 1:06 p.m. Friday.
source:
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Housing survey needs wide response
The Star-News July 25, 2019
A survey designed to gauge how local employees view housing in Valley and Adams counties deserves a few minutes of everyone’s time.
The 21-question survey, posted by the West Central Mountains Economic Development Council, aims to capture how secure employees feel with their current and future housing and whether the type, size, price and location of housing meets their needs. The target audience for the survey is people who live and work locally, but it is also open to business owners and employers. Breaking down responses by industry and income level will help surveyors identify housing needs specific to different segments of the workforce.
The survey will provide a thorough, regional accounting of perspectives from real people. Local government can use the data to tweak their housing policies, but the real value will be to private developers to tell them what kinds of housing projects people would want to live in and how much they would be willing to pay.
But the survey is only valid if enough people take it to be a true representation of the community. So open up that browser and go to (link):
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Letter to Share:
Americans Deserve Real Data Privacy
By U.S. Senator Mike Crapo July 15, 2019
Over the last decade, we have experienced a digital revolution that sees people using the Internet to manage more of their daily lives. Mobile applications, social media and search engines have become everyday tools, but their usage is accompanied by a shocking amount of hidden data collection without individuals’ knowledge or consent. A report from Cracked Labs on corporate surveillance notes “the behaviors, movements, social relationships, interests, weaknesses and most private moments of billions are now constantly recorded, evaluated and analyzed in real-time . . .” We need to balance maintaining America’s lead on the digital front while protecting our individual liberties and personal privacy.
Companies are collecting, processing, analyzing and sharing considerable data on individuals for all kinds of purposes. Data brokers play a central role in gathering vast amounts of personal information—many times without ever interacting with individuals—from a wide range of public and private sources, which is then sold or shared with others. The previously mentioned report broadly outlines examples of the information data brokers collect on individuals: “The profiles . . . include not only information about education, occupation, children, religion, ethnicity, political views, activities, interests and media usage, but also about someone’s online behaviors such as web searches. Data brokers also calculate scores that predict an individual’s possible future behavior, with regard to, for example, someone’s economic stability or plans to have a baby or to change jobs.” Companies will argue that this data is needed in order to provide customized, free services, but consumers will just as rightly argue that they were never fully informed of such data collection, nor consented to it.
continued:
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Scam Alerts:
‘Jury Duty’ Scam
Valley County Sheriff’s Office July 23, 2019
We have received several phone calls over the last hour asking if we have certain individuals working for the Sheriff’s Office. Several citizens in Valley County have gotten phone calls from “so-called” employees claiming that they have missed jury duty or some type of legal action against them is imminent. This is a scam, please do not give out any of your personal information or verify any personal data.
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Have you been hit with a Social Security scam call? Feds say it’s a growing problem
The Federal Trade Commission says complaints increased tenfold from 2017 to 2018.
Morgan Romero July 19, 2019 KTVB
Here’s a scenario that might sound familiar: a number that looks a lot like yours is calling, or maybe your caller ID says it’s the government ringing you.
So, you pick it up and on the other end, a recording says your Social Security number or benefits are suspended.
If that does sound familiar, you should know it’s the latest version of a government impostor scam – a common form of fraud in which scammers act as government officials and try to get you to give up personal and financial information or money.
continued:
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Prime day is past, but scams are just starting
Jul 22, 2019 By Natasha Williams KIVI TV
Amazon Prime Day is officially behind us, but experts say around 175 million items are now in the mail from all those orders!
With the onslaught of deliveries comes an onslaught of scams. Officials say the bad guys will pose as the post office, UPS, or Fed Ex, saying there’s a problem with your delivery. They’ll send you a text, an email, or will call you as a way to get your personal information.
continued:
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Tips & Advice:
Prepare for Fire Season
If you live in an area where the wildfire risk is high, take steps now to prepare for fire season. Being prepared for fire season is especially important for the health of children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease.
continued (pdf):
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Evacuation Levels: What They Mean
Level 1 (Be Ready): You should be aware that a danger, such as a wildfire, exists near you. Officials recommend that you prepare to be evacuated. This includes packing essential items, water food and needed medications.
Level 2 (Get Set): There is a high risk of danger to you and your property and officials say you should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
Level 3 (Go Now): Officials say you should evacuate immediately. The danger to you and your property is imminent.
More detailed information about these levels can be found at this U.S. Forest Service page here.
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Heat Safety Tips and Resources
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness
link (image):
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Fire Season:
Shady Fire
Salmon-Challis National Forest
Two (2) miles east of Seafoam Guard Station in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness on the Middle Fork Ranger District.
InciWeb:
Canyon Fire
Boise National Forest
14 miles west of Stanley, Idaho
InciWeb:
Vader Fire
Salmon-Challis National Forest
14 miles northwest of Stanley, south of Highway 21 on the Middle Fork Ranger District.
InciWeb:
2 Idaho News
To keep you updated, safe and in the know, this page will provide the very latest news and updates throughout the summer. link:
NIFC:
| Idaho |
Fires: 6 |
Acres: 126,611 |
New: 0 |
Contained: 1 |
| Canyon |
Boise National Forest |
BLM |
324 |
80 |
14 miles west of Stanley |
208-373-4105 |
| Lookout Point |
Twin Falls District |
BLM |
9,432 |
50 |
16 miles northwest of Murphy |
|
| Shady |
Salmon-Challis National Forest |
FS |
2,500 |
0 |
21 miles north of Stanley |
208-756-7853 |
| Sheep |
Idaho National Laboratory |
DOE |
113,612 |
95 |
10 miles south of Mud Lake |
|
| Vader |
Salmon-Challis National Forest |
FS |
443 |
88 |
12 miles west of Stanley |
208-756-7853 |
| Waterfall |
Salmon-Challis National Forest |
FS |
300 |
0 |
37 miles west of Salmon |
|
| Marys |
Boise District |
BLM |
182 |
100 |
15 miles northeast of Riddle |
|
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Employees evacuated as 6,500-acre wildfire burns on Idaho National Lab site
The blaze, dubbed the Sheep Fire, started Monday with a lightning strike.
KTVB July 23, 2019
Idaho Falls, Idaho — Crews are working to contain a wildfire burning on the Idaho National Laboratory site near Idaho Falls.
The blaze, dubbed the Sheep Fire, started Monday evening with a lightning strike, according to the Bureau of Land Management. The area where it is burning is south of Highway 33 and north of Highway 20.
continued:
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Shady Fire grows to 2,681 acres 16 days after starting
by CBS 2 News Staff Friday, July 26th 2019
Shady Fire activity increased Thursday, growing to 2,681 acres after starting in the Salmon-Challis Forest 16 days ago on July 10.
The fire was active in the bottom of the Shady Creek drainage burning to the north. The fire is established in Shady and Casto Creeks, in an unnamed drainage east of Casto Creek, and in unnamed drainage north of Silver Creek and west of Shady Creek.
continued w/video:
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Highway 75 near Shoshone closed due to brush fire
by CBS 2 News Staff Tuesday, July 23rd 2019
Shoshone, Idaho (CBS 2) — A fast-moving brush fire near Shoshone has forced fire crews to shut down a stretch of Highway 75.
The Bureau of Land Management says Highway 75 has been closed north of Shoshone for fire suppression operations. The closure is between Highway 26 and 520 North Road about three miles north of town.
The BLM says the Lava fire has burned more than 500 acres about three miles north of Shoshone, and is growing quickly from west to east.
continued:
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Lightning strikes spark six fires in Malheur County
An overnight thunderstorm in eastern Oregon set a half-dozen new wildfire starts.
KTVB July 23, 2019
Malheur County, Ore. — An overnight thunderstorm in eastern Oregon set a half-dozen new wildfire starts.
Vale Bureau of Land Management said Tuesday morning that crews were either already fighting or en route to at least six fires in Malheur County. All were sparked by lightning strikes: “the number one cause of wildfires on the BLM Vale District,” according to officials.
continued:
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Public Lands:
South Fork Salmon River Road Rehabilitation Project Update
USDA Forest Service Region 4 Payette
The road closure will be in place Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm daily, with no closures over the weekends.
July 22-26 Newsletter.pdf
link (pdf):
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Outbreak of tree damaging caterpillar peaking in the Sage Hen area
Boise, Idaho, July 25, 2019 –The Boise National Forest is experiencing another outbreak of Douglas-fir tussock moths/caterpillars in and around Sage Hen Reservoir, a popular recreation area located 5 miles west of Smiths Ferry and forest visitors are reminded not to touch or pick it up.
The moth’s tree-damaging caterpillar has long bristly hairs that may cause allergic-like reactions for some individuals. A rash called tussockosis can persist from a few hours to several weeks. Individuals do not have to come in contact with the caterpillar to be effected as the hairs may be airborne. Reactions can worsen with exposure and can compromise airways for some individuals.
Tussock moth population began to increase in 2016 following with outbreaks typically lasting 3-4 years and subside when natural enemies such as a virus specific to the caterpillars and non-stinging parasitic wasps that kill the caterpillars. This year is expected to be the last year of the outbreak and caterpillar populations should crash by the end of August.
Defoliation is now visible and looks like reddish half-chewed needles and tends to be worse in the tops of trees. While the trees may look dead because the caterpillars feed on the needles, they are not, and should not be cut for fuelwood. If trees have any green needles, please do not cut.
Options for control are somewhat limited over a large areas. Dense stands of trees are impacted more severely than more open stands. Dry sites, ridges and dense stands tend to have more damage because trees have less water to recover from feeding damage. For more information:
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Decision signed for West Side Divide – Cottonwood Project
Dear Interested Party:
Forest Supervisor Cecilia Seesholtz has signed the decision for the Cottonwood Project located on the Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest. A copy of the Decision Memo can be found on the Cottonwood project webpage (see the Decision tab).
Thank you for your interest in this project. If you have any questions, please direct them to Deb Lozinski, Project Leader, at 208-365-7019.
Sincerely, Tera Little (208-373-4157)
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Mining News:
Canada mine waste prompts calls for better water protection
7/22/19 AP
Towns, tribes and politicians in U.S. states bordering British Columbia are seeking better oversight and stricter regulations to protect them from hazardous pollution that flow downstream from coal mines in the Canadian province.
Leaders in Libby, Troy and Eureka, towns along the Kootenai River, wrote in separate letters to Montana Gov. Steve Bullock saying their livelihoods depend on the region’s rivers and lakes. But those waterways that support diverse wildlife and recreational interests are being compromised by contaminants from British Columbia coal mines, they said.
They and tribal leaders in Montana and Idaho want state and federal officials to fund better long-term water quality monitoring and to adopt a strict water quality standard for selenium.
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Critter News:
Pet Talk – When A Pet doesn’t have Testes
By Dr. Karsten Fostvedt July 26, 2019
“Crypt” is a Latin word for hidden. “Orchid” is the Latin word for testicle. “Crypt orchid” is a failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum; descent usually occurs within six to eight weeks after birth but may take as long as six months. The undescended testicle may be located within the inguinal canal, called the groin, or in the abdominal cavity. Cryptorchidism usually involves only one testicle and is more likely to affect the right side. A testicle that is not in the proper location is termed an ectopic testis. This is a congenital anomaly that has a reported incidence of approximately 5 percent in dogs and 2 percent in cats. The anomaly is thought to be a trait that can be inherited. Small-breed dogs are more likely to have this problem.
There are usually no signs directly related to the retained testicle. Retained testicles are prone to tumor formation because of the increased temperature inside the abdomen compared to the temperature in the scrotal sac. Dogs with the retained testicle are 14 times more likely to develop a testicular tumor.
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Idaho Humane Society in need of cat food, blankets
The shelter is also in need of blankets for dogs.
KTVB July 25, 2019
Boise, Idaho — The Idaho Humane Society says they’re running low on small bags of dry cat food for their pet food pantry.
That pantry is used by those facing economic hardships, other animal non-profits and Meals on Wheels, which, in addition to delivering human food, also delivers pet food to homebound seniors.
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Cat calls BFD for own ‘rescue’ at the Idaho Humane Society
by Ryan L Morrison Friday, July 26th 2019
Cats and firefighters have always had a special bond and that was put to the test today after a cat pulled a fire alarm at the Idaho Humane Society.
“We hadn’t scheduled a drill, so we were all scratching our heads wondering what was happening,” said the IHS. “There was a faint smell of smoke hovering in the air, but we couldn’t be sure that it wasn’t smoke floating in from wildfires burning outside of the Treasure Valley.”
Firefighters arrived on scene and cleared the facility. CBS 2 reached out to the IHS about whether or not there was a fire, though we haven’t heard back.
The staff eventually discovered that the alarm had been triggered in a unique place: the cat holding room.
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Boise City Council member proposes change to city animal code
Jul 22, 2019 By Anna Silver KIVI TV
Boise city council member, TJ Thomson considers himself an animal lover. He is asking his fellow council members to join him in supporting a proposed change to the City of Boise’s animal code that he says is outdated.
“I’m no different than anyone else. Our city has consistently been shown one of the top dog loving cities in all of America,”said Thomson.
He says the Humane Society has to rely on Idaho code. He wants to change the definition of animal cruelty to include common sense practices which currently aren’t in the code.
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Wolf pack kills calves in southeast Washington
by Brian Morrin Saturday, July 27th 2019 Idaho News 2
Washington wildlife officials say wolves have killed two calves in southeast Washington in the past two and a half weeks.
Data from a collared wolf shows the wolves are part of the Grouse Flats Wolf Pack.
Washington Fish and Game policy says the department will consider killing two wolves after four attacks on livestock in ten months, or three attacks in thirty days.
Washington Fish and Game officers have never killed a wolf in the southeast part of the state.
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Moose on the loose in Nampa caught, relocated to mountains
“Well that’s not the typical cow call we handle here in Nampa,” the department posted on Twitter.
KTVB July 23, 2019
Nampa, Idaho — A young female moose is on a journey to a new home – this time, one a little farther from the City of Nampa’s neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs.
The moose caused a stir early Tuesday morning, when a resident spotted her in town and dialed police.
… Nampa officers were eventually able to corral the large creature in someone’s backyard, and called in the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to tranquilize her.
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Rabid bat found near Red Fish Lake
Jul 25, 2019 Local News 8
Custer County, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) – A rabid bat has been identified in Custer County near Red Fish Lake.
This is the first rabid bat located in Public Health District 7 so far this season and the third in the state.
While most bats are harmless and do not carry rabies, they are the only animal in Idaho that is a natural reservoir for the virus. Rabies is a fatal viral illness in humans and other animals.
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Empty Nester: Osprey nest on crane at McCall home site found to be not used
By Max Silverson for The Star-News July 25, 2019
The appearance of an osprey nest on a construction crane on Payette Lake this summer caused a flurry of calls to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
However, the nest was found to be empty and there were no delays to the home being built at 305 W. Lake St.
Several weeks ago, ospreys began constructing a stick nest on the horizontal arm of the crane, Fish and Game Regional Wildlife Biologist Diane Evans Mack said.
The crane had been sitting idle for about two weeks, which allowed the birds time to construct the nest, Evans Mack said.
Ospreys and their active nests are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
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Beekeepers scramble after truck hauling beehives goes off road
by CBS 2 News Staff Tuesday, July 23rd 2019
Dubois, Idaho (CBS 2) — Beekeepers scrambled to gather up bees after a truck carrying beehives went off the road.
The truck carrying the hives was forced off the road when a grain hauler, trying to pass another car, went back into the other lane.
Beekeepers were able to contain the bees and get them back on their journey according to Idaho State Police.
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“Mormon crickets” invade Franklin County
By Max Cohan Jul 23, 2019 Local News 8
Dayton, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) – Over the past several weeks, “Mormon crickets” have been causing quite the stir in parts of southern Idaho.
Millions of shield-backed katydids have made their way down from the mountains of the Bannock Range and invaded towns in Franklin County.
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Fish & Game News:
Newly deployed game cameras will improve statewide wolf population estimates
By Brian Pearson, Conservation Public Information Specialist
Monday, July 22, 2019
New survey methods will help produce the first estimate of total wolf numbers since 2015
How many wolves are on the landscape in Idaho? That’s an often-asked question that Idaho Fish and Game is aiming to answer using game cameras during a new statewide population monitoring program.
In recent months, Fish and Game staff have deployed over 800 game cameras in a high-density grid throughout the state, which will take millions of pictures. When Fish and Game staff collect the cameras at the end of September, researchers will download and analyze the photos and apply statistical modeling to estimate the population.
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Hunters must buy controlled hunt tags by Aug. 1, or tags will be forfeited
By Mike Demick, Staff Biologist
Monday, July 22, 2019
It’s the hunters’ responsibility to check if they drew and buy the controlled hunt tags no later than Aug. 1
Big game hunters who were successful in drawing controlled hunt tags for deer, elk, pronghorn, and black bear have until midnight Mountain Daylight Time Aug. 1 to buy their tags.
Tags may be purchased at any Fish and Game office, license vendor, by telephone at (800-554-8685), or online. Controlled hunt tags not purchased by Aug. 1, excluding unlimited tags, will be forfeited and combined with controlled hunt tags no one applied for and made available in a second drawing.
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Artificial beaver dams rebuild Boise streams
by Axel Quartarone Wednesday, July 24th 2019 Idaho News 2
Idaho Fish and Game have implemented a project on the Boise River Wildlife Management Area in order to restore stream bed and riparian zones near Lucky Peak reservoir that were damaged during the 2016 Mile Marker 14 fire. The project uses beaver dam analogs which is an artificial beaver dam that uses wooden posts and surrounding vegetation to help stream bed health through increasing wet zone areas.
This means the stream bed is widened by slowing flow and spreading it across a greater area. The goal of the project is to help increase riparian zones and provide more resources for local wildlife to thrive. Idaho Fish and Game has also implemented this strategy on streams in the Owyhees mountains.
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More F&G News Releases
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Fun Critter Stuff:
German firefighters rescue squirrel stuck in manhole cover
by Associated Press Friday, June 21st 2019
In this Thursday, June 20, 2019 photo provided by the fire department a squirrel is stuck in a gully cover in Dortmund, Germany. (Feuerwehr Dortmund/dpa via AP)
Berlin (AP) — Firefighters, police and a veterinary clinic combined forces to rescue a red squirrel that had gotten its tiny head stuck in a manhole cover in the western German city of Dortmund.
Dortmund’s fire department said Friday they responded Thursday morning to a call about the rodent in peril on a street next to a downtown park.
When rescuers arrived, they spotted the tufted-eared squirrel’s head poking out of a hole in the cover. Initial attempts to free the animal were unsuccessful, so the entire manhole cover was removed and taken to a nearby veterinary clinic, while police were called in to guard the open sewer.
Vets used anesthetic to calm the squirrel and then freed the animal. It was treated for superficial neck wounds and is expected to soon be released back into the wild.
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Seasonal Humor:
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The Yellow Pine Times 