Sept 12, 2021 The Yellow Pine Times – Valley County, Idaho
Reminder: We are still under a boil water order.
Because of our [water] situation lawn watering is discouraged. No watering after 2pm. If you are asked to turn your water off, it’s because the system is in danger of running out. Please be respectful. There will NO lawn watering on all summer holidays weekends.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are still in Effect
Community Calendar:
April 17, 2020 – Boil water order in effect
May 10 thru Oct 20 – Burn Permit season
May 15 – Firewood Season, permits at The Corner
May 25 – Johnson Creek road fully open
June 7 – Lick Creek road open
June 13 – Profile road open
July 16 – Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
Sept 18 – ATV-UTV Ride to Thunder Mountain
Sept 18 – Jim Adkins Retirement 2pm at YP Tavern
(details below)
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Local Events:
ATV-UTV Ride to Thunder Mountain
Saturday, September 18, 9am – 4pm
Meet at the Community Hall
Ride with us through the fabulous back-country to the historic Thunder Mountain area and support the Yellow Pine Community Hall. This out-and-back ride is rated as intermediate. Participants ride from Yellow Pine Community Hall up Stibnite Road to Thunder Mountain. BBQ Lunch will be served to participants at the end of the road. The timeframe of this event is estimated to be from 9am to 4pm. $25 for online sign up and $30 at the event.
Sign up link:
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Sept 18th Pot Luck – Yellow Pine Tavern
Yellow Pine Friends, Neighbors and Family
Please join us for a pot luck at the Yellow Pine Tavern on Saturday September 18th at 2:00 P.M.
After 60 years in Yellow Pine, Stibnite and Zena Creek Ranch Jim Adkins has decided to start his next great adventure.
Please join us to wish Jim luck on his new adventure and to meet the new co-owners of the ranch
Shannon and Boyd
Katy and Dave
Debra and Eric
Beth and Bob
Kathy will be providing burgers and brats. Please stop by to wish Jim good luck and meet your new Zena Creek neighbors. Please bring one of your specialty foods to go with the burgers and brats.
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Stage 1 Fire Restrictions still in Effect
Under the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on state and federally managed or protected lands, roads, and trails:
* Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site and in a permanent concrete or metal fire ring, or on private land, and only within an owner-provided structure.
* Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
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Village News:
Donation to Yellow Pine Area Coalition
First come, first served for the price of a YPAC donation of $20 minimum (see neighbor -Deb); You haul off! 230 Yellow Pine Ave.
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Internet and Phone Outage update
Sunday, Sept 5th, approximately 330pm, the phone line was accidentally dug up and cut next to Yellow Pine Avenue.
Fire Chief Tim and Cecil used the radio at the Fire Hall to call dispatch to report the outage Sunday afternoon. Dispatch contacted MTE. Nate headed down from Stanley Sunday night and they had a crew and equipment ready to leave Midvale early Monday morning (Labor Day.) Slow internet and landline phones restored by around 6pm on Monday.
The slow (dial up speeds) persisted on Tuesday until around 7pm then just the internet went out – along with cell service via the internet, but our landlines still worked. MTE said the slow speeds was not due to the cable cut – it was a much wider issue.
Internet was restored by 7am Wednesday morning, Sept 9th.
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Notice – New Deadline
In order to have your item posted in that week’s paper you must email it in by Noon on Sundays.
A reminder – if your group or business want an event, photo, minutes, news or advertising posted in the Yellow Pine Times, please write what you want posted in text form (for copy/paste) and send it by email. Remember to include the “who, what, when, where and why.” Images or groups of images must be under 10 megs per email.
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Life Flight
It is a very good idea to have Life Flight insurance if you live or recreate in the back country. If you already have Life Flight, consider it as a gift to a loved one.
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Road News
Local streets are dusty – no dust abatement this year on main street. Please slow down!
Link: to current road reports.
Johnson Creek road was recently graded, but is already getting rough again.
Profile Gap, Lick Creek, Thunder Mountain and Deadwood roads are Open. These roads have not been bladed and are rough. Travel at your own risk.
Hwy 55 projects
Smith’s Ferry area: Starting Tuesday, Sept. 7, drivers can expect full road closures Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. After 2 p.m., the road will be open to one-way alternating traffic. Please note: the delays may be significant immediately after the road reopens due to large traffic volumes. Once this traffic clears, drivers can expect 15-minute delays. We encourage drivers to plan ahead and use U.S. 95 as an alternate route. Project Website link:
Donnelly to McCall: One lane during the week and two lanes on weekends. Project is slated to last until September.
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Critters
Be Mountain Lion Aware
Note: A report of a mountain lion hanging around the upper end of the village early summer.
* NEVER run away from a mountain lion. The lion’s instinct is to chase and ultimately catch what they perceive as potential prey.
* NEVER turn your back on a lion. Always face them while making yourself look as large as you can. Yell loudly, but don’t scream. A high-pitched scream may mimic the sound of a wounded animal.
* SLOWLY back away while maintaining eye contact with the lion.
* Safety equipment you may choose to carry could include bear spray, a noise device, like an air-horn, and if you walk in the dark, a very bright flashlight.
* If you are attacked, fight back!
Be Bear, Fox & Coyote Aware
* Do not feed them human food
* Secure your trash
* Feed domestic pets indoors
* Make sure your pets are updated on Rabies vaccines
* Small pets could become a snack
Bats
While bats are an important part of our ecosystem and most do not carry rabies, CDH offers the following tips to protect yourself and pets:
* Never touch a bat with your bare hands.
* If you have had an encounter with a bat, seek medical attention.
* If you come in contact with a bat, save the bat in a container without touching it and contact your health department to arrange testing for rabies. Whenever possible, the bat should be tested to rule out an exposure to rabies. During regular business hours in Ada, Boise and Elmore Counties, call 208-327-7499 and in Valley County, call 208-634-7194. After business hours in all counties, call 1-800-632-8000.
* Always vaccinate your pets for rabies, including horses. Pets may encounter bats outdoors or in the home.
* Bat-proof your home or cabin by plugging all holes in the siding and maintaining tight-fitting screens on windows. Bats can enter through holes the size of a quarter.
Ticks
* Know where to expect ticks. Many ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. When possible, avoid wooded and brushy areas with tall grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails, particularly in spring and summer when ticks feed.
* Wear appropriate clothing. When in tick habitats, wear light-colored, tightly woven long pants and long-sleeve shirt. Tuck your pant legs into socks or boots, and your shirt into your pants. This helps keep ticks on the outside of your clothing where you can spot them more easily.
* Use tick repellent when necessary, and carefully follow instructions on the label. Apply an EPA-registered repellent effective against ticks, such as those containing DEET to clothes and exposed skin, and permethrin to clothes and gear. Take care when applying repellent on children. EPA’s search tool can help you find the repellent that best suits your needs.
* Check clothing, gear, and pets after being areas with ticks. Ticks can hitch a ride into your home on clothing and pets, then attach to you or a family member later. Carefully examine coats, camping gear, and daypacks. Don’t forget your dog, see CDC’s where to check your pet for ticks.
* Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming can reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tick-borne disease. Showering can wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.
* Check your body, your child and pets thoroughly for ticks. Carefully inspect areas in and around the hair, head, neck, ears, under arms, inside the belly button, around the waist, between the legs, and behind the knees. Ticks can be very small before they feed—look for what may appear like a new freckle or speck of dirt. Continue checking for two to three days after returning from areas with ticks.
Mosquitoes – West Nile
* Remove standing water
* Wear long sleeves and pants during morning/evening hours
* Use a good repellent with DEET (our bugs laugh at “backyard” formulas.
* Vaccinate your horses and mules! West Nile can be fatal to equines.
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Yellow Pine US Mail
Starting Aug. 29, USPS will raise prices of first-class postage stamps to 58 cents from 55 cents.
Attention Mail Route Customers – FedEx Ground has changed their policy, and they will no longer pay for Mail Plane or Truck freight. If you can avoid it, we strongly encourage you to use UPS or USPS to receive packages. If you do order a FedEx Ground package, you will be billed for: Air Freight @ $0.45/lb, or Mail Truck Freight @ $0.05/lb. We are truly sorry this is the case, and are working very hard to make sure you still receive your orders. – Arnold Aviation
The 6-day a week mail delivery started June 1st. The Post Office in Yellow Pine is open six days a week year around: M-F 845am-245pm Saturday 9am-245pm. Forever Stamp: 58 cents. Support our local post office and purchase your holiday stamps here.
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Yellow Pine Transfer Station
Report Saturday (Sept 4) The dumpsters are being emptied on Wednesdays.
Locals have worked hard to clean up the area, please be respectful.
Yellow Pine Transfer Station (aka, the dump)
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.
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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Local Groups
YPWUA News:
We are still under a Boil Order. Please conserve water. No outside watering after 2pm, nor on holiday weekends and especially not during the festival.
July 25, 2021 Update:
The Yellow Pine Water Users Association Board asks that individuals refrain from using domestic water to dampen the road. The Water Corporation is doing its best to provide water for domestic use during the low water period but as the supply becomes more limited, it is incumbent upon each of us to be judicious with its use. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring that all community members have an adequate supply of water.
The corporation has received the first $150k grant of the anticipated $450k. We are hoping to have some of the supply lines replaced by winter. Thanks to those who wrote letters of support. They were very beneficial in securing the grants. – Willie Sullivan
Sept 10, 2021 Update
DRINKING WATER WARNING
Yellow Pine Water Users PWS 4430059
BOIL WATER ADVISORY
Due to insufficient treatment
We routinely monitor the conditions in the drinking water distribution system. On 4-19-2020 we experienced a period of insufficient treatment due to extreme water demand which exceeded the capacity of the treatment system. A drop in water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through backflow, by backpressure, or back-siphonage. As a result, there is an increased chance that the drinking water may contain disease-causing organisms.
What should I do?
* DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
* Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.
* The symptoms above are caused by many types of organisms. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
What is being done?
Efforts are under way to curtail water use. Once water use is diminished, the water treatment system will again be operational and the boil water order can be lifted.
We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water. We anticipate resolving the problem within 180 days.
For more information, please contact Warren at 208-573-6261 or wdrake @ drakediversified.com
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by Yellow Pine Water Users Assoc.
PWS ID #: 4430059 . Date distributed: 9-10-21.
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YPWUA 2021 Annual Shareholder Meeting July 4, 2021 at the Community Hall at 10am
Link: to 20210704 YPWUA minutes.rtf
YPWUA 2020 Annual Shareholder Meeting held July 5, 2020 at the Community Hall 2pm.
link: minutes 20200705YPWUA.docx
Water Board:
Steve Holloway
Willie Sullivan
Dawn Brown
Stu Edwards
Candy Hardisty
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VYPA News:
September 11 Meeting Agenda
Village of Yellow Pine Association Meeting Agenda
September 11, 2021; 2pm; at the Community Hall
As requested by VYPA members, this meeting will be recorded and kept to a 1-hour timeframe.
Agenda Item Presenter Time Comments
Call to Order Deb Filler
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes Deb Filler 2 minutes Please read the prior meeting minutes before the meeting to expedite approval
Treasurer’s Oral Report Ronda Rogers 2 minutes
Community Hall Oral Report Rhonda Egbert 2 minutes Accomplishments since last meeting. Progress on project. Update on grant.
Cemetery Oral Report Ron Basabe 2 minutes Please include progress and expected completion date on sign
Infrastructure Oral Report Tim Rogers 2 minutes Please include upcoming plans for infrastructure work
Festival Written Report Deb Filler 10 minutes Please bring several copies of the report for attendees
Stibnite Advisory Council Update Lynn Imel 2 minutes
Stibnite Foundation Update Ronda Rogers 2 minutes
YPFPD Update If anyone available 2 minutes
YPWUA Update If anyone available 2 minutes Update on grants
Perpetua Resources Update If anyone available 2 minutes
Old Business
Fireworks Research update Rhonda Egbert 3 minutes
New Business
Community Representatives Named Deb Filler 2 minutes 2022 Stibnite Advisory Council and Stibnite Foundation representatives
2022 Festival Chairman named Ronda Rogers 2 minutes
Adjournment
Sept 11, 2021 – VYPA Meeting 2pm at Community Hall
Aug 14, 2021 VYPA Meeting Canceled (lack of quorum.)
July 10, 2021 VYPA meeting minutes link:
June 12, 2021 VYPA Meeting Minutes link:
VYPA Meetings are the 2nd Saturday of June, July, August, and September (June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11) at 2:00pm at the Community Hall.
Village Council members:
Deb Filler, Chairman
Matt Huber, Vice Chairman
Ronda Rogers, Treasurer
Hailey Harris, Secretary
Rhonda Egbert, Member at Large
VYPA Bylaws adopted 8/8/2020 (link)
YPAC Corp Bylaws (link)
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YPFD News:
Fire Truck No. 1
photo by Local Color Photography 2010
Remember to clean your chimney before lighting that first fall fire, and check the fittings.
[Note: Due to internet outage this info was received too late for last Sunday’s paper.]
Yellow Pine Fire Protection District (YPFPD)
Fire Commissioner’s Budget Hearing and Meeting Agenda
Saturday, September 11, 2021 at YPFPD Station
AGENDA:
* Fire Chief Update –Tim Rogers – INFORMATIONAL
* Begin Annual Budget Hearing – PUBLIC COMMENT – Nikki Saleen/Willie Sullivan
– Budget Compilation and background– Nikki Saleen – Informational
– Open public comment on the proposed budget for the year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. Accepting oral testimony of witnesses on the proposed budget, limit statements to 3 – 5 minutes, Fire Commissioners may ask questions of witnesses. Then END OF HEARING.
Proposed Yellow Pine Fire District Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022
Fire Fighting/Support: $9,000
Insurance: $3,000
Wages: $0.0
Advertising: $200
Utilities: $3,000
Repairs and Maintenance: $2,250
Total: $19,471
Note: The above amount is the allocation we receive each year from the Yellow Pine Fire Protection District property owner’s tax dollars. We have received an increase of $659 from last year ($18,812).
Can use additional $1,152 from Forgone Account which will require a 3% increase in property taxes. Under Idaho law, a taxing district is able to raise property tax 3 percent per fiscal year to fund the budget. Should the Commissioners choose not to raise the property tax rate, those funds are considered “forgone.” However, Commissioners can later pass a resolution to reclaim those funds.
* Commissioners open the regular meeting to discuss and adopt the proposed budget – DECISION
* Budget –Nikki Saleen – INFORMATIONAL
– Stibnite Foundation Grant Update– Rhonda Rogers – INFORMATIONAL
– Current budget Status – Nikki Saleen – INFORMATIONAL
– Commissioner discussion on Carryover Expenditures – DECISION
* Update on Meeting with Representative Russ Fulcher’s aide, Matthew Keenan – Merrill Saleen – INFORMATIONAL
* Open Meeting Laws and Executive Sessions complaint, plus request for all financial records – INFORMATIONAL – Phil Jensen
* Proposal for YPFPD Webpage and possible automated outgoing emergency calling platform, plus need for YPFPD laptop with software – Phil Jensen – INFOMATIONAL, POSSIBLE DECISION
* Executive Session per Idaho Code 74-206 1(b): Personnel
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Elections for Commissioners for both District 2 and 3 will be held in November 2021.
August 28, 2021 – YPFD Meeting to discuss upcoming election (no minutes yet.)
July 10, 2021 – YPFD Meeting Minutes. Link:
June 12, 2021 – YPFD Meeting Minutes. Link:
May 15, 2021 – YPFD Meeting Minutes. Link:
Sept 30, 2020 YPFD budget meeting. (No minutes yet.)
2021 Meeting schedule for the YPFD. All meetings are at the YPFD Station
Sat. May 15 at 10am
Sat. June 12 at 10am
Sat. July 10 at 10am
Sat. September 11 at 10am Budget Meeting
Also if you are burning any piles of forest litter and debris – please have a connected and charged garden hose that can reach your piles. If your hose cannot reach where you are burning, follow the good advice of having a shovel, axe, and water bucket at the scene. Rake away from anything that could ignite. Stop burning if winds become an issue. Make sure your fire is out before you leave the area. Nothing like getting surprised by a escaped fire in the middle of the night!
Better yet, “Rake It and Take It” your yard waste (limbs, pine needles, brush, etc.) to the burn pile at the Transfer Station on the south end of the turn-around. Remember, keep the pile neat. Woody debris only, no nails, no cardboard and no furniture! The Boise NF will burn the pile in the fall when it is safe.
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.” Click the link: to view 20190724 Yellow Pine Fire Protection mitigation
Valley County Wildfire Evacuation Checklist
A wildfire evacuation checklist that property owners in the Yellow Pine area might find useful. link: Valley County Evacuation Checklist – 2021.pdf
YPFD COVID19 Policy
link: YPFD Covid-19 SOP
link: Covid-19 EMS
YP Fire Commissioners:
Lorinne Munn – District 1
Phil Jensen, Acting – District 2
Merrill Saleen – District 3
Tim Rogers – Fire Chief
Secretary – Ronda Rogers
Treasurer – Nikki Saleen
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Biz Listings:
The Corner (208) 633-3325
Hours: 1pm-8pm, closed on Tuesdays
We offer smoked tri tip, brisket, and chicken sandwiches and also burgers and chicken wings.
Firewood Permits available May 15th.
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Yellow Pine Tavern (208) 633-2233
Open daily: 8am to 9pm
Sunday 8am to 2pm
Indoor Dining and Outdoor Dining Available.
Full Breakfast Menu. Burgers, Pizza, Fajitas, Beer Wine and Pop
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Yellow Pine Lodge (208) 633-3377
Opened June 12th for Summer
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Yellow Pine General Store (208) 633-3300
Store hours: 10am to 5pm, Monday – Sunday. Gas and Diesel now available. The Liquor Store is now reinstated. Now Selling Black Rifle Coffee.
The store is stocked with basic convenience store items such as food, fuel, liquor, beer, wine, tobacco, ice, non alcoholic beverages, snacks, ice cream. New Yellow Pine branded shirts, hats and koozies have arrived. We are going through the process of installing a propane dispenser and bottle exchange service.
For any particular store item requests, please call 208-633-3300 or Email
For room reservations, please call 208-633-3300 or Email for reservations
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Murph’s RV Park and Mary’s Cabins
FB page link
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Knotty Kat Crochet Works – 509-406-2221
FB page link
open Tue – Sat, 9-5
Yellow Pine eggs $3/doz
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Buck Horn Outfitters LLC 208-633-3614
Our Elk & Deer hunts are booked for our 2021 season, we do have a couple openings for our 2022 Elk & Deer hunts. We Also have a couple openings for Mountain Lion hunts December 2021 through February 2022 and Spring Bear hunts May of 2022. Please see our Website site for further details.
Tom & Sarah Lanham
156 Yellow Pine Ave, Yellow Pine Id 83677
website:
Facebook:
Wapiti Meadow Ranch – Johnson Creek (208) 633-3217
or 208-315-3554 – cabin rentals
website:
Big Creek Lodge
website:
Deadwood Outfitters
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 open 830am-5pm Monday-Friday, closed weekends.
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Outside Biz that will service Yellow Pine:
Arnold Aviation (208) 382-4844
Watkins Pharmacy Cascade (208) 382-4204
Cascade Auto (208) 382-4224
Cascade Vet Clinic (208) 382-4590
The Star-News
click to subscribe:
A reminder that those who live in other states can subscribe to the online edition only since the mail can take days for hard copy to reach them.
Rocky Mountain Mechanical – Plumbing – Heating – Air conditioning
(208) 365-PIPE (7473), Emmett, will service Yellow Pine
Website:
Garden Mountain Contractors
We would like to extend our services into the Yellow pine area if there may be a need. We dig alot of dirt! If you need this give us a shout on our FB page below. – Larry Williamson
Garden Valley, Idaho FB Page:
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Follow The Yellow Pine Times on Facebook (updated more often than emails)
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Local Observations:
Monday (Sept 6) overnight low of 38 degrees. This morning clear above haze of smoke – poor air quality. Phones and internet still out. Loud dirt bike and 4-wheeled traffic kicking up dust on the main road. Jays visiting. Warm, clear and smoky at lunch time. Two hairy woodpeckers visiting. Pretty warm by mid-afternoon, breezy, clear sky, haze of smoke and poor air quality, high of 90 degrees. Northern Flicker whooping it up in the neighborhood. Phone service restored around 6pm, internet is back but very slow (0.33Mbps.) Calmer and warm before sunset, clear sky and haze of smoke (and dust) – yellow air quality. Cooling off quickly after dark. Thinner haze before midnight – stars shining.
Tuesday (Sept 7) overnight low of 43 degrees. This morning some high hazy streaks of clouds above the haze of smoke – Yellow air quality. Light air and street traffic. Internet still very slow (0.49Mbps.) Thicker smoke at lunch time, warm and worse air quality. Jays, hairy woodpecker and pine squirrel visiting. Light traffic and heavy dust. Hot by mid-afternoon, slight breeze, moderate smoke and quite poor air quality, high of 91 degrees. Northern flickers whooping it up around the neighborhood. Internet (and cell phones) out before 7pm. Quite warm and mostly cloudy before sunset, moderate smoke and poor air quality. Cooling off quickly after dark and smoky. The brightest stars shining thru the smoke before midnight. Internet still out.
Wednesday (Sept 8) overnight low of 43 degrees. This morning it is likely clear over moderate smoke – Orange air quality – reduced visibility. Internet back on before 7am (6.32Mbps.) Light street traffic and dust. Jays and a pine squirrel visiting. Thicker smoke by lunch time, reduced visibility and worse air quality. Mail truck was on time. Hot and breezy by mid-afternoon, seems to be clear above the smoke, somewhat improved visibility and air quality (high end of Yellow AQ), high of 94 degrees. Warm and really murky looking before sunset, appears partly cloudy, dusty and smoky, very poor air quality. Cooling off after dark and smoky. Cloudy or hazy before midnight.
Thursday (Sept 9) overnight low of 47 degrees. This morning it is possibly clear or mostly clear above moderate smoke – Orange air quality – reduced visibility. The sun was ruby red and the morning light cast an orange glow on things. Street traffic and dust. Jays and hairy woodpeckers visiting. Sky covered with smoke at lunch time, might be some clouds? By early afternoon we had Red Air Quality. Hot by mid-afternoon, sky covered with smoke and breezy, high of 92 degrees. Pretty warm before sunset, light breezes, a bit thinner smoke. Very red sun setting in the notch. Cooling off after dark. Looked cloudy before midnight.
Friday (Sept 10) overnight low of 51 degrees. This morning, light breezes and it appears to be mostly cloudy above a haze of some – Yellow air quality. Northern flicker whooping, hairy woodpecker and jays visiting. Light street traffic kicking up dust. Cloudy and smoky at lunch time. Dark clouds, breezy, mild temperatures and lighter haze of smoke by mid-afternoon, high of 80 degrees. Big hawk in the neighborhood – even the jays are upset. Light rain shower for about 30 minutes late afternoon. Much cooler before sunset, mostly patchy high clouds and much better air quality. Much cooler at dusk, mostly cloudy and fairly good air quality. Short shower after dark and cloudy. Looked cloudy before midnight. May have rained a little early morning.
Saturday (Sept 11) overnight low of 42 degrees. This morning mostly clear blue sky and great air quality. First rain of Sept totaled 0.05″ – enough to barely settle the road dust. Hairy woodpeckers and jays visiting. Light street traffic but so far no dust. Mostly clear at lunch time, light breezes and good air. Warming up and drying out by mid-afternoon, clear blue sky and breezy, high of 77 degrees. Blue dragonflies and more grasshoppers. Mild temps, clear sky, calm and smoke settling in before sunset – AQI PM2.5 = 52 (Yellow). Stars out before midnight.
Sunday (Sept 12) overnight low of 36 degrees. This morning partly cloudy (high wispy), light breeze, and light haze of smoke – Yellow air quality. Jays visiting. Mostly cloudy before lunch time. Light street traffic. Mostly cloudy, light breeze, haze of smoke and Yellow air quality mid-afternoon, high of 77 degrees. Flicker whooping it up in the neighborhood. Mostly cloudy, warm, slight breeze and haze of smoke before sunset – Yellow air quality.
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RIP:
JR VanHoover Celebration of Life Postponed
It is with great regret that I want to let everyone know we, as a family, have decided to err on the side of caution and postpone the celebration of life for J.R. VanHoover that was scheduled for this Saturday. Members of our own family have recently tested positive for covid and we simply cannot take the chance this gathering could in any way be responsible for further spread of Covid to any of you. We want to thank you all for the outpouring of love and support we have felt. We will schedule a gathering at a later time.
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Idaho News:
Valley hospitals report 67 new COVID-19 cases in past week
By Tom Grote for The Star-News September 9, 2021
A total of 67 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the past week by Valley County’s two hospitals. That compares to 42 new cases reported the previous week and 57 new cases the prior week.
St. Luke’s McCall reported 55 new cases in the last week, while Cascade Medical Center reported 12 new cases.
The two hospitals have reported a total of 1,118 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic arrived in Valley County in March 2020.
Information on the number of new cases among those not vaccinated for COVID-19 are not available for the two hospitals, but the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported on Tuesday 90% of new cases statewide are among unvaccinated people.
St. Luke’s McCall offers walk-in COVID-19 vaccines from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at St. Luke’s Clinics – Payette Lakes Family Medicine, 211 Forest Street, McCall.
Appointments also can be scheduled online through St. Luke’s myChart or calling 208-381-9500 or by calling 208-634-2225.
Cascade Medical Center offers a daily walk-in vaccination clinic Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
full story:
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COVID-19 Updates: 1,574 new Idaho COVID-19 cases, 13 new deaths
Sept 10, 2021 Local News 8
Idaho officials reported 1,574 new COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths Friday.
That brings the total confirmed and probable cases reported since March 2020 to 232,630.
The state said 840,746 people have received the vaccine, and 1,528,899 total doses have been administered. 750,553 people are fully vaccinated.
The state said 61 new hospitalizations have been reported bringing the total number to 10,311, and 7 new cases have been admitted to the ICU bringing the total to 1,715.
13 new deaths were reported bringing the total recorded deaths to 2,460.
full story: [Valley County: 1135 cases, 6 deaths]
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Idaho patients in hospital halls amid COVID rationed care
by Rebecca Boone Associated Press Sept 9, 2021
Amid the Idaho coronavirus surge that prompted officials to authorize hospitals to ration health care, Army soldiers sent to one hospital have traded their fatigues for personal protective equipment to help treat a flood of infected patients.
The conference center at Kootenai Health hospital in the city Coeur d’Alene has been converted into a field hospital of sorts — with some of its classrooms filled with hospital beds where patients receive oxygen or get monoclonal antibody treatment, hospital officials said.
At the nearby main hospital building in the city of about 50,000, some emergency room patients receive care in a converted lobby and others get it in hallways. Urgent surgeries have been put on hold and some patients in critical condition are facing long waits for intensive care beds.
continued:
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Gov. Little activates National Guard again, directs hundreds of new medical personnel to help Idaho hospitals overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients
Tuesday August 31, 2021 Press Release
Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today a last-ditch effort to avoid the first-ever activation of statewide crisis standards of care by adding hundreds of new medical personnel for Idaho hospitals, but he said the real solution to the crisis is more Idahoans choosing to receive the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.
Nearly all Idaho hospitals are overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. There are more Idahoans in Intensive Care Units (ICU) with COVID-19 than ever before. The vast majority of them are unvaccinated.
“On a daily call with hospitals this morning, we heard there are only FOUR adult ICU beds available in the entire state, out of close to 400. Where hospitals have converted other spaces to be used as contingency ICU beds, those are filling up too,” Governor Little said. “We are dangerously close to activating statewide crisis standards of care – a historic step that means Idahoans in need of healthcare could receive a lesser standard of care or may be turned away altogether. In essence, someone would have to decide who can be treated and who cannot. This affects all of us, not just patients with COVID-19.”
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Trident sues Idaho over McCall swap rejection; asks for Land Board to reconsider alleging ‘bias’
September 8, 2021 By Don Day – BoiseDev editor
A Boise firm that hoped to trade 26 square miles of land in and around McCall with the State of Idaho’s land endowment isn’t taking no for an answer.
The Idaho Department of Lands denied Trident’s application last month. It said, among other things, that the value of timberland it hoped to buy in North Idaho then trade was worth $292 million less than the McCall area land it wants to take possession of.
Yesterday, Trident took two separate actions in hopes it could reverse the decision, according to public records obtained by BoiseDev.
Trident sued for judicial review – asking a judge to step in while also asking that the Idaho Land Board hold a contested case hearing on its swap proposal.
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West Nile virus activity rising across the state, health officials say
September 8, 2021 Local News 8
Human West Nile virus (WNV) infections as well as positive mosquito pools and infections in horses are on the rise in Idaho.
Detection of the virus has been reported in 13 counties, primarily in south and southwestern Idaho, but also in the Salmon area of Lemhi County and Franklin County, areas that don’t often report WNV activity.
Six human WNV infections, all severe neurologic disease, including one death, have been reported in Idaho this year, as of Sept. 1. Only one human infection had been reported in Idaho last year by Sept. 1.
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Public Lands:
DEQ says Toxins found in lakebed of Payette Lake
By Max Silverson for The Star-News September 9, 2021
Laboratory tests found low levels of toxins from cyanobacteria in the lakebed of North Beach, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality said last week
The tests were made after a dog fell ill after swimming in Payette Lake last month.
The cyanobacteria and toxins found in Payette Lake are a different variety from the type that has triggered a public health advisory on Lake Cascade the last four years, the DEQ said.
The toxins are from bottom-dwelling cyanobacteria and are considered most dangerous if directly consumed, the agency said.
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Grimes Creek Closure Renewed for Another Year
Sept 7, 2021 Boise National Forest (via FB)
The Idaho City Ranger District of the Boise National Forest has renewed the closure to all public entry along National Forest System road and area 364 (Grimes Creek.)
This Order will be in effect from September 3, 2021 and shall remain in effect until September 01, 2022, unless rescinded earlier by the Forest Supervisor.
Boise County Sheriff’s Department, Residents, Volunteer Fire Departments and Emergency Managers in partnership with the Idaho City Ranger District will continue to address issues involving the heavy recreation use along the seven-mile strip of land adjacent to Grimes Creek through 2022.
View the closure and map on the Boise NF Alerts and Notices web page. (link)
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Helicopter Making Low-Level Flights over North-Central Idaho
Sept 9, 2021 USGS
Map shows the airborne helicopter survey west of nearby Salmon, just south of Montana-Idaho border (bold black line). Surveys will be conducted within/near the boundary margins (red polygon). Planned flight lines and survey information can be found online. (USGS map; Public domain.)
Residents and visitors should not be alarmed to see a low-flying helicopter over Lemhi and Custer Counties west of Salmon, Idaho from September 6 to October 18, 2021.
The U.S. Geological Survey and Idaho Geological Survey are co-leading the effort to conduct a helicopter-assisted airborne survey over approximately 1,160 square miles of the Salmon National Forest west of Salmon, Idaho. The instrumentation aboard the helicopter is passive, meaning it receives but does not emit signals for detection, and poses no health concerns or risks to humans, pets or wildlife.
The survey aims to study cobalt and other important mineral resources concealed in ancient rock layers beneath the rugged landscape of north-central Idaho. Aerial coverage will extend north near the Idaho-Montana border and continue about 40 miles south through Lemhi and Custer Counties.
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Fire Season:
Sept 8, 2021 Satellite Map
Cropped to show Idaho fires/smoke – the big plume is the Boundary fire.
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Brush fire near Blackhawk doused by crews
By Drew Dodson for The Star-News September 9, 2021
A brush fire on West Mountain Road near McCall on Monday was put out before it could endanger nearby homes, the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association said.
A SITPA fire patrol reported the fire at 2:15 p.m. Monday near Blackhawk on the River five miles south of McCall on West Mountain Road.
Crews cleared the scene at about 10 p.m. after dousing the brush fire with an estimated 85,000 gallons of water and 3,000 gallons of fire retardant, Fire Warden Paul Wagner said.
About 30 personnel, five vehicles, three airplanes and a helicopter were deployed to prevent the fire from growing. The blaze was kept to less than an acre.
Water trucks from McCall Fire & EMS and Cascade Fire & EMS supplied ground crews.
The helicopter dipped a bucket into the North Fork of the Payette River and dropped water on the flames.
Meanwhile, two single-engine air tankers based at the nearby McCall Airport rotated dumping fire retardant onto the flames, Wagner said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation Wednesday.
full story:
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2021 Payette Wilderness Fires
Three fires are burning in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness on the Payette National Forest. The Club, Rush Creek, and Vinegar fires were started by lightning on July 15, 2021. A Type 3 Incident Management Team took over the fires on July 19th. A closure order for trails has been put in place in and around these fires for public and firefighter safety to prevent any interference with suppression and response operations.
Lightning on July 15, 2021 ignited multiple fires on the Payette National Forest. The Rush Creek Fire was detected on 7/16. The Club and Vinegar fires were detected on 7/17. One additional fire from the July 15th lightning remained small and was called out on 7/18. Lightning on 7/19 also ignited 3 more fires, all of which have remained small.
InciWeb: Maps and closure orders
Rush Creek Size 7,945 Acres
Vinegar Fire Size 2,998 Acres
Club Fire Size 2,331 Acres
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Boundary Fire grows to 49,784 acres
Sept 10, 2021 Local News 8
InciWeb
The lightning-caused Boundary Fire, less than two miles W of Boundary Creek Boat Launch, was detected on August 10.
It has burned 49,784 acres and is 38% contained.
The Boundary Fire is burning in steep, inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority for the Boundary Fire. On Thursday, the fire was active with uphill runs, group torching, and short-range spotting. The fire continues to back in the Fall Creek drainage to the south. Crews are continuing to snag out the Boundary Creek road and are mopping up and securing the fire’s edge at the Boundary Creek administrative sites. Mop-up was completed around Morgan Ranch. Firefighters conducted a burnout operation west of the airstrip at Sulphur Creek Ranch, the fire continues to back to the south towards Sulphur Creek. Fire is established in Sulphur Creek, east of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, and is backing down the south side of the drainage.
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Boundary Fire
Salmon-Challis National Forest
The lightning-caused Boundary Fire ~2 miles W of Boundary Creek Boat Launch was detected on August 10.
Size 50,963 Acres
InciWeb: Maps and closure orders
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Scarface Fire grows to 7,241 acres
Sept 10, 2021 Local News 8
InciWeb
The lightning caused Scarface Fire that started on August 7 has burned 7,241 acres.
It is 20% contained and is burning 2½ miles southeast of the Middle Fork Lodge; Middle Fork Ranger District; Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
The fire is active with running, torching and fire backing down slopes. Firefighters are continuing point protection actions which include burning out above the private land in the area. On Friday, as conditions allow, firefighters will continue those burnout operations with the overall object to bring fire down and tie into the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Fire has crossed into the Little Soldier Creek drainage to the northwest of Thomas Creek. To the south, the fire continues to flank towards Little Creek. Smoke conditions allowed firefighters to access the Cougar Ranch area yesterday. Firefighters are assessing and preparing values at risk in that area so that point protection strategies can be initiated if they become necessary.
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Scarface Fire
Salmon-Challis National Forest
The lightning fire detected on August 7 is approximately 2 1/2 miles southeast of the Middle Fork Lodge; Middle Fork Ranger District; Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
Size 7,806 Acres
InciWeb: Maps and closure orders
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Mud Lick, Haynes, and Iron Fires
Salmon-Challis National Forest
Mud Lick Fire Size 20,857 Acres
InciWeb: Maps and closure orders
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Nez Perce-Clearwater Lightning Fires
Nez Perce – Clearwater National Forests
InciWeb: Maps and closure orders
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Some useful links:
InciWeb Fire info link:
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Air Quality McCall link:
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National Fire Heat Map link: (zoom in to our area)
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Fire Heat Map (Slow to load – be patient)
Zoom Earth (weather and smoke map)
Real Time Lightning Map (zoom to our area)
GOES-West – Satellite Maps: Pacific Northwest
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Critter News:
Fish & Game notes reports of bears coming into McCall
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is beginning to receive more reports of bears in town, Regional Wildlife Biologist Nathan Borg of the McCall office said.
“Don’t let your trash can or bird feeder become a bear’s food source! “ Borg said. “Once a bear has learned to eat human food, it can be hard to convince them to leave.”
Fish and Game ends up killing bears in McCall every year because they’ve become dangerous to humans, he said.
“Please make sure that your trash is kept inside and is in a bear proof trash can, keep pet food secured or inside, and don’t feed birds during spring, summer and fall,” Borg said.
For questions or to report a nuisance bear, call 208-634-8137.
source: The Star-News September 9, 2021
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2021 Four Mile Wild Horse Gather
The Bureau of Land Management Boise District, Four Rivers Field Office, on or about September 14, 2021, will begin the capture of approximately 189 wild horses and remove approximately 173 excess wild horses within and outside of the boundaries of the Four Mile HMA. The current population is approximately 210 wild horses. The Appropriate Management Level is 37-60 wild horses. The BLM expects the helicopter gather to take approximately 3-5 days.
The purpose of the gather is to prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses, and to restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands, consistent with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and the Cascade Resource Management Plan. The primary issue in this HMA is the availability of water and forage.
Forage is allocated for 37 wild horses or 444 Animal Unit Months (AUMs) in the Four Mile Herd Management Area (HMA). Monitoring data indicate that when the total horse population begins to reach the upper limit of 60 animals (720 AUMs), resource conditions begin to decline, especially in areas near water sources.
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Fish & Game News:
Valley County residents can help avoid bear conflicts by storing food and garbage properly
By Brian Pearson, Regional Conservation Manager
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
rokopix/Shutterstock.com
With fall approaching, Idaho’s black bears are on the move and preparing for denning season, seeking out and gobbling up food to help them pack on the pounds.
This annual race to put on as much weight as possible before going into hibernation begins in mid-summer and lasts into early fall. Not coincidentally, this time of year is when Fish and Game staff receive the most reports of black bears causing problems in Valley County neighborhoods. This year is no exception.
“We’ve had a ton of reports of problem bears coming in from all over the Valley County in the past few weeks,” said District Conservation Officer Marshall Haynes. “And the majority of these bear problems are created by bad human habits in our communities.” …
* Valley County residents can report bear problems to Fish and Game staff in McCall so that they can monitor the situation: (208) 634-8137
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Traps, snares and pets can be a bad combination, and here’s how to avoid a problem
By Brian Pearson, Regional Conservation Manager
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Dog owners are reminded that it’s year-round wolf trapping season on private land
With many wolf trapping seasons open, and many bird hunters taking to the field in the fall, bird hunters and other people recreating with off-leash dogs are reminded to avoid traps and be prepared to act quickly in the event their hunting or hiking companion becomes trapped.
Most traps and snares are simple in design and easy to operate if you know what to do. Some of the larger foothold and body-gripping traps can be challenging because they require more effort to open, but the principles are the same.
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A citizen’s tip helped to solve a case of an illegally-killed mule deer in Southern Idaho
By Terry Thompson, Regional Communications Manager
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Tips from the public are often key to solving cases of illegally-killed big game.
On August 29, 2021 Idaho Fish and Game Officers Trevor Meadows and Philip Stamer, both stationed in the Magic Valley Region, received a tip from a concerned citizen that someone had illegally shot a mule deer a day before the deer season opened. Both officers responded to the scene but the suspect had left the immediate area. After an unsuccessful initial search for the deer carcass, officers called in one of Idaho Fish and Game’s K-9 teams, Officer Craig Mickelson and K-9 officer Blue who are stationed in Fish and Game’s Southwest Region.
Idaho Fish and Game
K-9 officer Blue and Officer Mickelson were able to locate the deer carcass and Blue also led officers to additional crucial evidence. Using the information gathered by officers Mickelson and Blue, officers Meadows and Stamer were able to find the suspect who was subsequently charged with multiple violations.
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More F&G News Releases
link:
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Crazy Critter Stuff:
Recognizing & Avoiding Wildlife Traps while Walking your Dog
Idaho Fish & Game Wildlife Biologist Jennifer Struthers takes viewers into the field to demonstrate how wildlife traps are disguised. The idea is to aid viewers in making decisions about leashing dogs or leaving the area.
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Releasing your Dog from a Trap
Dog owners should be aware that traps may be present on the landscape. Dogs will be attracted to foothold trap sets due to the scent and bait, and they may also encounter snares and body grip traps. This is an instructional video explaining a variety of traps and how to release your dog from traps.
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Seasonal Humor:
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The Yellow Pine Times 