Oct 31, 2021 The Yellow Pine Times – Valley County, Idaho
Reminder: We are still under a boil water order.
Community Calendar:
April 17, 2020 – Boil water order in effect
May 15 – Nov 30 – Firewood Season
Oct 31 – YPFD Fire Training 2pm
Nov 1-4 – BNF Rx Burns
Nov 4 – Last Amerigas delivery
Nov 7 – Time Change – Fall back 1 hour
Nov 11 – Veterans Day
Nov 15 – Deadline to order 2022 calendars
Nov 25 – Thanksgiving Potluck 3pm
(details below)
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Local Events:
Fire Training Oct 31st
Winter Structure Fire Response Plan & Training
Sunday Oct. 31, 2021 At 2pm Yellow Pine Fire Station
To All Residents:
This is your opportunity to review and practice winter structure-fire response procedures. These sessions are recommended for all residents spending the winter in Yellow Pine. The session includes:
Engine operation, driving, communications, and logistical support will be discussed including:
Structure attack and structure protection techniques.
Actual practice opportunities to deploy engines including driving, spraying water, and refilling engines.
All winter residents are encouraged to attend one or both sessions.
Volunteer agreements will be available for those interested and not yet signed up.
Yellow Pine Fire Protection District (YPFPD), Valley County, Idaho
Dated this 15 day of October 2021 at 09:00. Notice posted at the Fire Station and other locations.
Lorinne Munn, Fire Chief
Merrill Saleen, Deputy Fire Chief
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Nov 1-4 – Cascade Ranger District plans prescribed burns
Weather and conditions permitting, the Cascade Ranger District fuel managers are planning to ignite a number of debris piles, approximately 50 acres, along National Forest System road 413, Nov. 1 – 4, 2021.
The burns are located south of Yellow Pine, Idaho, within the Johnson Creek drainage. Yellow Pine may experience periods of light smoke. (208-382-7441)
Objectives of the burns are to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations collected into piles during fuels reduction, and operation activities from the 2020 Buck Fire as well as slash piles from the Yellow Pine area.
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Payette Fall Rx Burn Postponed until Spring
We will not be burning near Yellow Pine this fall. Conditions have become to wet to meet objectives. We will be looking at opportunities to burn next spring. I will send maps and more info out in the spring as we get closer to burning. – Patrick Schon, Payette NF
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Amerigas November 4
Dan H. wrote to say he is coming to top us off on November 4th.
Note from Shon at Amerigas: I wanted to let you know that we plan on being in the Yellow Pine area one more time for the season the 1st week of Nov. You can make an order by going online at (link) or by calling 1-800-427-4968.
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Thanksgiving Potluck
Please join us for a Thanksgiving Potluck on Thursday, November 25th at 3pm the Community Hall. Turkey and ham are provided.
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Village News:
Halloween/Salmon Bake Party at the Tavern Oct 25
Good crowd at the Salmon Bake – Halloween Party. Thanks to Tom for the Alaska Salmon and to our great local cooks for the Potluck dishes.
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Rock Migration Season
After the recent rains, rocks came down on the EFSF road.
On the blind corner, East Fork.
“Gift wrapped migratory rock and many Tamaracks, East Fork of South Fork, Salmon River. 10/27/21”
Note: Local backhoe operator cleared the rocks on Thursday, Oct. 28th.
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Notice – Deadline
In order to have your item posted in that week’s paper you must email it in by Noon on Sunday.
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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Road News
Link: to current road reports.
Profile Gap, Lick Creek, Thunder Mountain, Elk Summit and Deadwood roads may have snow. These roads have not been bladed and are rough. Travel at your own risk.
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Critters
Be Bear 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.
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Yellow Pine US Mail
Aug. 29th the price of first-class postage stamps went 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
Dump update October 27th: It was [last] emptied today and we are now in winter mode. When it gets fairly full we will call to have it dumped. Contact Cecil.
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
Dump Tips
Do you know where your trash goes after it leaves Yellow Pine?
90 tons per week of Valley Co.’s solid waste comes to the Adams Co. landfill. (Valley Co. has a contract with Adams Co.) When Valley Co.’s weekly trash exceeds 90 tons, the rest is then taken to Payette. The more garbage, the more cost in transferring it further away.
Tips to reduce trash:
1. When purchasing groceries refuse plastic bags as they reek havoc at the Adams Co.’s landfill, causing problems with equipment.
2. Garbage: recyclables, compost, trash
If each household would have containers for these three categories this is the place to start.
– B. Dixon
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Local Groups
YPWUA News:
We are still under a Boil Order. Please conserve water.
October 2021 Water Usage Data
date | flow | used | hours | gph | gpm | dow | more | less |
10/01/21 | 15531896 | 27686 | 24 | 1154 | 19 | F | 2085 | |
10/02/21 | 15561519 | 29623 | 24 | 1234 | 21 | S | 1937 | |
10/03/21 | 15591162 | 29643 | 24 | 1235 | 21 | S | 20 | |
10/04/21 | 15622036 | 30874 | 24 | 1286 | 21 | M | 1231 | |
10/05/21 | 15654041 | 32005 | 24 | 1334 | 22 | T | 1131 | |
10/06/21 | 15683470 | 29429 | 24 | 1226 | 20 | W | 2576 | |
10/07/21 | 15711373 | 27903 | 24 | 1163 | 19 | T | 1526 | |
10/08/21 | 15738476 | 27103 | 24 | 1129 | 19 | F | 800 | |
10/09/21 | 15765506 | 27030 | 24 | 1126 | 19 | S | 73 | |
10/10/21 | 15791366 | 25860 | 24 | 1078 | 18 | S | 1170 | |
10/11/21 | 15820395 | 29029 | 24 | 1210 | 20 | M | 3169 | |
10/12/21 | 15846394 | 25999 | 24 | 1083 | 18 | T | 3030 | |
10/13/21 | 15872265 | 25871 | 24 | 1078 | 18 | W | 128 | |
10/14/21 | 15898092 | 25827 | 24 | 1076 | 18 | T | 44 | |
10/15/21 | 15920094 | 22002 | 24 | 917 | 15 | F | 3825 | |
10/16/21 | 15947196 | 27102 | 24 | 1129 | 19 | S | 5100 | |
10/17/21 | 15974740 | 27544 | 24 | 1148 | 19 | S | 442 | |
10/18/21 | 16001338 | 26598 | 24 | 1108 | 18 | M | 946 | |
10/19/21 | 16027937 | 26599 | 24 | 1108 | 18 | T | 1 | |
10/20/21 | 16054610 | 26673 | 24 | 1111 | 19 | W | 3 | |
10/21/21 | 16082151 | 27541 | 24 | 1148 | 19 | T | 868 | |
10/22/21 | 16109634 | 27483 | 24 | 1145 | 19 | F | 58 | |
10/23/21 | 16137398 | 27764 | 24 | 1157 | 19 | S | 281 | |
10/24/21 | 16164410 | 27012 | 24 | 1126 | 19 | S | 752 | |
10/25/21 | 16192597 | 28187 | 24 | 1174 | 20 | M | 1175 | |
10/26/21 | 16220802 | 28205 | 24 | 1175 | 20 | T | 18 | |
10/27/21 | 16246726 | 25924 | 24 | 1080 | 18 | W | 2281 | |
10/28/21 | 16273714 | 26988 | 24 | 1125 | 19 | T | 1064 | |
10/29/21 | 16300058 | 26344 | 24 | 1098 | 18 | F | 644 | |
10/30/21 | 16327645 | 27587 | 24 | 1149 | 19 | S | 1243 | |
10/31/21 | 16357672 | 30027 | 26 | 1155 | 19 | S | 2440 |
Oct 11, 2021 Water Update
Warren Drake has been in this week and shut down the summer tank, took samples, and spent time on the winter drip points. He built a small, insulated box from pressure treated wood, around each [trickle] point that will allow better winter access, make it so [he] can use each point for sampling, and also ensure that things don’t freeze.
DRINKING WATER WARNING October 11, 2021
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: 10-11-21.
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YPWUA 2021 Annual Shareholder Meeting July 4, 2021 at the Community Hall at 10am. Link: to 20210704 YPWUA minutes
YPWUA 2020 Annual Shareholder Meeting held July 5, 2020 at the Community Hall 2pm. link: to 20200705 YPWUA minutes
Water Board:
Steve Holloway
Willie Sullivan
Dawn Brown
Stu Edwards
Candy Hardisty
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VYPA News:
Sept 11, 2021 – VYPA Meeting minutes link: (see document at link for attachments)
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
Josh Jones, 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:
Remember to clean your chimney before lighting your first fall fire, and check the fittings. Chimney brushes are available to borrow from the YPFD.
Sept 11, 2021 YPFD Budget meeting (no minutes yet.)
Aug 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
YPFD COVID19 Policy
link: YPFD Covid-19 SOP
link: Covid-19 EMS
Fire Chief: Lorinne Munn
Deputy Fire Chief: Merrill Saleen
YP Fire Commissioners:
Lorinne Munn – District 1
Phil Jensen – District 2
Merrill Saleen – District 3
Secretary/Treasurer – Nikki Saleen
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Biz Listings:
The Corner (208) 633-3325
Closed
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Yellow Pine Tavern (208) 633-2233
Winter Hours at the Tavern
Open Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat: 9am-2pm 4pm-8pm
Open Sunday 9am-2pm
Closed Tues & Thurs
Call the Tavern 208 633-2233 or Cell 208 739-7086 for other arrangements
Full Breakfast Menu. Burgers, Pizza, Fajitas, Beer Wine and Pop
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Yellow Pine Lodge (208) 633-3377
Open through the end of hunting season.
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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
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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 a lot 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 (Oct 25) rained most of the day on Sunday and continued all night, total = 0.75″. Overnight low of 38 degrees. This morning low foggy overcast and light rain still falling. Foggy clouds sitting down on the mountains and light sprinkles at lunch time. Low foggy overcast, light sprinkles of rain and cool, high of 42 degrees. Low foggy clouds and light rain at dusk. A break in the rain later in the evening. Looked overcast before midnight.
Tuesday (Oct 26) overnight low of 35 degrees. Yesterday’s rain total = 0.06″. This morning overcast, fog belts mid-mountain. Rivers are up above average. Jays, a hairy and a little downy woodpecker visiting. Breaks in the clouds before lunch time. Overcast and light breeze mid-afternoon, high of 43 degrees. Dark overcast, light breeze and a few misty drops at dusk. Cloudy before midnight. Rain shower during the night.
Wednesday (Oct 27) 24 hour low of 36 degrees from Tuesday morning. Rain total = 0.05″. This morning breaks in the overcast. Jays, starlings, hairy woodpecker, chipmunks and pine squirrel visiting. Mostly cloudy and chilly breezes at lunch time. Mail truck was a little later than usual, reports snow on Warm Lake Summit and upper Johnson Creek. Warmer mid-afternoon, mostly cloudy and chilly breezes. Partly clear and chilly light breeze at dusk. Looked cloudy before midnight.
Thursday (Oct 28) overnight low of 38 degrees. This morning dark overcast and light breeze. Raven calling, jays and flock of starlings visiting. Sprinkles of rain (for about an hour) and dark overcast after lunch time. Dark overcast and slight breeze mid-afternoon, high of 49 degrees. Dark clouds and calm at dusk. Looked partly clear before midnight.
Friday (Oct 29) shower early morning, plus yesterday’s rain = 0.01″, overnight low of 38 degrees. This morning mostly cloudy, patches of blue sky. Jays and pine squirrel visiting. Mostly cloudy and a bit of a breeze at lunch time. Dark overcast, a bit breezy and a few drops of rain mid-afternoon, high of 62 degrees. Light rain showers late afternoon, continuing after dusk. Cloudy and not raining before midnight.
Saturday (Oct 30) overnight low of 38 degrees, yesterday’s rain total – 0.18″. This morning low overcast with fog belts on the mountains and light breeze. Jays and chipmunk visiting. Becoming partly clear (top of VanMeter foggy) at lunch time and light breeze. Clear blue sky and a bit of a breeze mid-afternoon, high of 52 degrees. Clear sky at dusk, dew forming on metal roofs. Clear sky before midnight and below freezing.
Sunday (Oct 31) overnight low of 26 degrees. This morning mostly cloudy sky and frosty. Jays, hairy woodpecker and pine squirrel visiting, mule braying off in the distance. Mostly hazy sky at lunch time. Mostly clear by mid-afternoon and light breezes, high of 51 degrees. Mostly cloudy at dusk.
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Idaho News:
New COVID-19 cases in Valley County decline to 31 in week
By Tom Grote for The Star-News October 28, 2021
New cases of COVID-19 declined last week as reported by Valley County’s two hospitals.
A total of 31 new cases were reported for the week through Monday by St. Luke’s McCall and Cascade Medical Center. That compares to 46 new cases reported the previous week and 41 the prior week.
Youths age 17 and younger accounted for 14 of the 41 positive tests reported in October through Monday of McCall residents, or 34% of the total tested by St. Luke’s McCall. Those age 50 to 69 were among 11 of the total tested, or 27%.
The two hospitals have reported 1,616 cases of cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic started in March 2020.
Valley County has had 10 confirmed or probable deaths due to COVID-19, according to Central District Health.
Cascade Medical Center will hold a vaccine day on Wednesday at the Cascade American Legion Hall. Moderna booster shots as well as flu shots will be available.
People are eligible for a booster if it has been more than six months since their second COVID-19 shot and they are either over age 65, are at high risk, or work in a high-exposure occupation such as health care, education, or first responder.
Call the Cascade Family Practice at 208-382-4285 to make an appointment.
full story:
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COVID-19 Updates: 1,076 new Idaho COVID-19 cases, 25 new deaths
October 29, 2021 Local News 8
Idaho officials reported 1,076 new COVID-19 cases and 25 new deaths Friday.
That brings the total confirmed and probable cases reported since March 2020 to 290,872.
The state said 84,091 people have received one dose of a two dose series, and 120,504 people have received an additional or booster dose. 1,674,430 total doses have been administered. 829,332 people are fully vaccinated.
The age group with the most cases is 18-29 with 68,108 cases.
The state said 35 new hospitalizations have been reported bringing the total number to 12,649, and 11 new cases have been admitted to the ICU bringing the total to 2,122.
25 new deaths were reported bringing the total recorded deaths to 3,534.
full story: [Valley County 1488 cases, 10 deaths.]
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Cascade to require businesses to obtain city license
By Max Silverson for The Star-News October 28, 2021
Businesses in Cascade will have to obtain a business license following action by the Cascade City Council on Monday.
The council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance requiring licenses for all businesses that sell taxable items.
Each license will cost $25 and only need to be purchased one time. The requirement is expected to go into effect by Jan. 1.
continued:
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Valley sheriff’s office to close Fridays starting next week
The administrative division of the Valley County Sheriff’s Office in Cascade will be closed on Fridays starting next week.
The new operating hours will be Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The administrative division of the Valley County Sheriff’s Office handles all civil actions, driver’s license services, concealed weapons, records requests, finger printing services, release of property and sex offender registry.
The Friday closures are due to lack of staffing. Call the court office at 208-382-7150 with any questions.
source: The Star-News October 28, 2021
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Recent atmospheric river improves Idaho’s drought conditions but not enough
Katija Stjepovic (KTVB) October 28, 2021
The bomb cyclone, an atmospheric river, brought rain, wind and snow from the coast of California and into Idaho.
“It really hit San Francisco and that’s where they had the crazy flooding, came over the Sierras and up through Nevada and over the Owyhees up into the Boise and then back into those central mountains,” said David Hoekema, Hydrologist with the Idaho Department of Water Resources. “It really hit the area of the state that has been in drought pretty hard.”
He added that considering Idaho’s current drought conditions, any kind of precipitation is welcome.
continued:
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Public Lands:
Payette forest seeks comments on roads in East Fork South Fork
The Payette National Forest is seeking public comments on a project to define motorized travel routes and watershed rehabilitation in the East Fork South Fork Salmon River watershed.
The East Fork South Fork Restoration and Access Management Plan will affect about 100,000 acres on the Krassel Ranger District of the Payette National Forest including the Thunder Mountain Area.
Proposed actions were based on preliminary recommendations from the Forest Service and Big Creek Yellow Pine Collaborative group. There are several motorized access actions under consideration.
The project seeks to determine the minimum roads necessary for administrative, public and private access in the area, which could lead to revisions of the travel management plan.
Several new motorized trails and roads are proposed and the access points and locations of dispersed camping within the project could change.
Restoration work on about 70 miles of abandoned mining roads is proposed throughout the area. Work would focus on reducing erosion and could include removing culverts, planting trees and shrubs, or reshaping old roads. Several culverts are also slated for repair or replacement.
This project is being conducted because a 2008 lawsuit found that the Payette failed to include “unauthorized roads” when creating a travel management plan in 2005.
This project will include unauthorized routes in consideration and planning as well as add the minimum necessary road data.
To comment on the project, visit the project webpage by accessing the Payette National Forest website at (link) and searching for “East Fork South Fork Restoration and Access Management Plan.”
Comments must be received by Nov. 22 in order to obtain standing to object to the project later in the review process.
Comments can be submitted through the project webpage or contacting Krassel District Ranger Joshua Simpson by email at Joshua.simpson@usda.gov or sending a physical copy to 500 North Mission Street, Bldg 1, McCall, ID 83638.
source: The Star-News October 28, 2021
Comments requested by 11/22.
link: to East Fork South Fork Restoration and Access Management Plan #60889 comment page.
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New Emmett District Ranger
John Wallace selected as Emmett District Ranger for Boise National Forest
Boise, Idaho, October 27, 2021, — Forest Supervisor, Tawnya Brummett has selected John Wallace to serve as the new Emmett District Ranger for the Boise National Forest.
John started his career at the Boise National Forest in 1997, more than 24 years ago, as a timber marker. He enjoyed working in the timber organization with the employees at the Idaho City Ranger District and eventually became their Timber Management Officer and acting District Ranger.
“John continued to broaden his leadership skills while working as the Timber Program Manager for the Big Horn National Forest in northern Wyoming. In 2021, John returned home to the Boise National Forest accepting the Emmett District Ranger position,” said Brummett. “We are excited to have John join our leadership team and share his extensive experience while working closely with our partners.”
John enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities including, hunting, picking mushrooms, fishing, rockhounding and an occasional golf game.
“I am looking forward to my new adventures as the Emmett District Ranger. I know I will enjoy meeting the Emmett community members, while I strive to build strong team relationships both inside and outside the agency,” said Wallace.
Venetia Gempler
Public Affairs Staff Officer
Boise National Forest
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Fire Season:
Southwest Idaho [Fall] prescribed fire burning planned
Boise, Idaho, October 28, 2021— Southwest Idaho interagency fire managers anticipate favorable spring weather conditions for planned moderate complexity understory burns and low complexity pile burning operations. Prescribed fires are designed to reduce hazardous vegetation (fuels), large wildfire potential to communities, and improve wildlife habitat. Pile burning is designed to reduce hazardous vegetation (fuels) generated from logging, non-commercial thinning operations and administrative site clearing.
Weather and conditions permitting, prescribed burns are scheduled to start in October and continue through February. Approximately 410 acres are planned for ignition in 2 project areas within the Boise National Forest. In addition to understory and broadcast burning a number of landing and hand piles are planned for ignition in 17 different locations within the Boise National Forest.
Public and firefighter safety is always the top priority in all public land fire operations. Fire managers develop burn plans with prescriptions that account for safety, specific fuels/weather conditions and potential smoke impacts. All prescribed burns are closely evaluated and are only approved when favorable conditions are present.
Prescribed burns may affect people sensitive to smoke and may impact access to burn areas and travel routes. Fire officials strongly advise forest visitors and homeowners to prepare and plan activities around the proposed dates and locations of burns and to use extreme caution near prescribed fire areas.
Please be aware of firefighters and equipment in the area and on roadways, comply with posted notices and drive slowly in areas with decreased visibility.
All planned burning during this time frame will be pile burning which will generate smoke but have low probability of fire spread beyond the footprint of the piles due to time of year, weather and adjacent fuels conditions.
Information and signs will be posted on roads that access burn areas in advance of ignitions and remain in place through burn completion.
Visit the interactive map with the latest planned areas of prescribed fire treatments. (link) Zoom into your areas of interest to get the latest information. The Idaho Department of Lands and Boise, Payette, and Sawtooth National Forests’ planned prescribed fire treatments will be featured.
Planned Boise National Forest fall prescribed burns include:
Idaho City Ranger District
* Buckskin project area (500): Hand piles generated from hazardous fuels reduction activities in the Little Muddy Creek drainage and Grimes Pass area. Located approximately 3 miles east of Idaho City, Idaho.
Cascade Ranger District
* Warm Lake Transfer Site (1 large pile/1-acre): Debris pile generated from fuels reduction activities. Located off the Warm Lake Highway near Warm Lake.
* Yellow Pine Transfer Site (1 large pile/1-acre): Debris pile generated from fuels reduction activities Located off National Forest System (NFS) road 413 near Johnson Creek Guard Station.
* Crawford Debris Pile (1 large pile/1-acre): Debris pile generated from hazardous fuels reduction activities around administrative site. Located near NFS road 430 and the Warm Lake Highway.
* Johnson Creek/Buck Hand piles (100+ piles/ 49 acres): Hand piles generated from hazardous fuels reduction activities and operational activities from the Buck Fire. Located near NFS road 413 and Johnson Creek Guard Station.
* Willow-South Landing Piles (3 large piles): Landing piles generated from logging activity in the Willow-South timber sale. Located near NFS Road 404G and Collier Peak.
Lowman Ranger District
* West Lowman project area (300 acres): Prescribed burning in Clear Creek off NFS road 582 and Miller Creek along NFS road 592 north of Idaho State Highway 21.
* Lick Creek Unit 4 (133 acres): Hand piles generated from hazardous fuels reduction activities in Lick Creek along NFS road 558.
* Lowman Administrative site (1 acre): Debris pile generated from hazardous fuels reduction activities around administrative site located at the Lowman Ranger Station.
* Elk Creek Administrative site (1 acre): Debris pile generated from hazardous fuels reduction activities around administrative site located at the Elk Creek Guard Station.
* NFS road 524 debris site (1 acre): Debris pile generated from road maintenance activity located off FS road 524G.
Emmett Ranger District
* High Fork Piles: landing piles generated from logging slash located along NFS roads: 601H, 601J, 601K, 606E near High Valley.
* Little Sage Hen Basin Piles: landing piles generated from logging slash located along NFS road: 626
* Tripod Tussock Piles: landing piles generated from logging slash located in the Tripod meadows area along NFS roads: 626,626C,626D,626E,626F,626H,626P,626L,626M,626O, and 627.
* Williams Creek (110 acres): Prescribed burning west of Idaho State Highway 55, between Banks and Smiths Ferry, Idaho. The project area is to the south and east of High Valley and located entirely on NFS lands in Valley County.
Mountain Home Ranger District
* Bogus Basin piles (approx. 25 piles): Machine and landing piles near NFS 297 road generated from logging operations.
* Minneha/Star Gulch piles (approx. 350 acres): Hand piles generated from hazardous fuels reduction thinning near NFS 202B road.
Venetia Gempler
Public Affairs Staff Officer
Boise National Forest
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Fall Burning on the Krassel RD – Postponed until Spring
Dated: October 29, 2021 Payette NF
We will not be burning near Yellow Pine this fall. Conditions have become to wet to meet objectives. We will be looking at opportunities to burn next spring. I will send maps and more info out in the spring as we get closer to burning.
Thank you,
Patrick Schon
Fire Management Specialist
Payette National Forest, East Zone
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BLM to burn logging slash 6 miles east of Smiths Ferry
The Bureau of Land Management will conduct the Round Ridge Pile prescribed burn in Valley County through the end of the year.
The burn will be located six miles east of Smiths Ferry and will involve burning 30 large piles of logging slash spread over 250 acres from a 2020 timber harvest.
Fire managers will wait for adequate moisture levels and cooler conditions in the project area to minimize fire spread and eliminate what might otherwise be a hazardous fuel source during a wildfire.
Once initiated, prescribed burning operations are expected to last up to three days, with personnel and equipment patrolling areas up to five days afterward.
Smoke from the burn may be visible from large distances due to the location, fuel types and burning conditions.
Contact the Bureau of Land Management’s Boise Fire District information line at 208-384-3378 for more information.
source: The Star-News October 28, 2021
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Critter News:
Dog attacked by coyote in Boise Foothills
by CBS2 News Staff Wednesday, October 27th 2021
A coyote attacked a dog in the Boise Foothills, prompting Idaho Fish and Game to caution hikers to keep their dogs close by and on a leash.
The attack happened on Chickadee Ridge Trail. A hiker was walking a large dog when a coyote came out of the brush and attacked, biting the dog. The owner was able to scare the coyote away.
Coyotes have attacked and killed domestic dogs before, IDFG says. This has happened even within city limits. Coyotes can be territorial with dogs, especially around their dens.
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Idaho family inherits 80 dogs from a deceased relative
by CBS2 News Staff Thursday, October 28th 2021
A family in Marsing is struggling to care for approximately 80 dogs left behind by a deceased relative.
All of the dogs are infested with fleas and worms, and some are malnourished, West Valley Humane Society says. They will all need medical care.
“We are working with the family to bring in dogs as fast as possible as kennel space opens,” WVHS said.
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Horseshoe Bend Goat Killed
On 10/23/2021, Boise County deputies were dispatched to a report of a dead goat in the Horseshoe Bend area. From the initial reports, it was believed that a human could have possibly killed the goat on the owners property.
An investigation was conducted by BCSO along with Fish & Game into the unfortunate demise of the goat.
The BCSO investigation determined that a cougar was the most probable suspect in the death of the goat. The department of Fish & Game will determine what to do about the cougar.
There have been quite a few recent reports of cougar sightings throughout Boise County.
Boise County Sheriffs Office (via FB)
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Letters to Share:
Upcoming Habitat Restoration Opportunities
The Gamebird Foundation Oct 27, 2021
The Gamebird Foundation is Helping Landowners Restore Habitat
We now have a drill-seeder to establish food plots and habitat plantings. The seeder requires at least a 35 to 50 h/p tractor. Contact us if you are interested!
Do you want to learn more about establishing wildlife habitat? You can by helping us plant game bird habitat! We have 150 wildlife plants we need help planting this Saturday October 30th from 10-3, at Terry Carlson’s near Potlatch Idaho. We have the power auger, we only need some folks to drop the trees in the holes and put the dirt in. Please Call, 208-883-3423, or email if you can make it this Saturday or in the future!
We also have more habitat plantings coming up at the youth hunting area and plantings in Viola, Troy and Potlatch we can use your help there too.
Do you know, if you have land in CRP, you are eligible to have food plots installed? If you are interested contact us. We have a wildlife Biologist that can give you some recommendations.
The Gamebird Foundation is here to help bring back our pheasant and create a new Red Legged Partridge population with Private landowners. 208-883-3423
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October Banquet was Huge Success!
We had our Second Annual Banquet and Auction! We had a great Banquet Feast and Auctioned off a lot of great things, raising thousands of dollars for the Gamebird Foundation’s Mission.
We want to thank all those who came or contributed to help build our organization!
We also want to thank some of our major donators including, but not limited to:
Little Canyon Shooting Preserve is a major contributor to Our Foundation: Donated a fully outfitted pheasant hunt at the Preserve.
The Wall Tent Shop donated a 12×14 canvas wall tent w/floor, stove jack and frame.
Andy Sewell, a famous local artist, painted live at the banquet a beautiful rooster water color for live auction.
Thanks Again to the many other auction contributors and members who believe in our mission. Thank you!
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Fish & Game News:
Hunters: Know what hunting units have Motorized Hunting Rule restrictions
By Connor Liess, Public Information Specialist
Friday, October 22, 2021
There are 30 big game hunting units that have motorized restrictions in place
Hunters are reminded that the Motorized Hunting Rule is specific to hunting big game animals, including moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat, in designated units, and applies from Aug. 30 through Dec. 31. ATVs, UTVs, e-bikes, and other off-road motor vehicles are restricted to roads that are built, maintained, approved or designated by any governmental entity or private landowner for the purpose of travel by full-sized automobiles.
For the past 20 years, Idaho Fish and Game has been regulating the use of motorized vehicles during big game hunting dates. Hunter conflict, noise disruptions, off-trail use, and access to closed areas were all taken into consideration by the Fish and Game Commission to determine these restrictions.
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Hunters: Please fill out your big game hunter reports
By Connor Liess, Public Information Specialist
Friday, October 29, 2021
Hunter reports are critical to effective big game management, and hunters are needed to do their part
Now that October big game seasons are over, Idaho Fish and Game needs all big game hunters to take a few minutes to fill out their mandatory hunter reports regardless of whether they harvested.
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Hunters at check stations provide samples to test for chronic wasting disease
By Sara Cassinelli, Digital Content Strategist
Friday, October 29, 2021
At check stations across the state, Idaho Fish and Game staff are collecting lymph nodes from harvested deer, elk, and moose to increase monitoring efforts for chronic wasting disease, a disease that has not been detected in Idaho.
Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a contagious and fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, moose, and caribou. Detection of the disease has been inching closer to home as states like Montana, Wyoming, and Utah have all reported positive cases. Fish and Game has increased sampling efforts in game management units closest to those states and relies on hunters throughout Idaho to provide this critical data as a proactive measure for early detection.
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Wood River Valley website to provide residents with information to reduce human – wildlife conflicts
By Terry Thompson, Regional Communications Manager
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
A new website has been launched in the Wood River Valley to help residents reduce human-wildlife conflicts
The Wood River Valley Wildlife Smart Communities Coalition recently announced the unveiling of a new website that will provide local residents and visitors with information about how to live safely with wildlife, including species commonly involved in human-wildlife conflict such as mountain lions and black bears. The new website can be found at (link).
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More F&G News Releases
link:
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Crazy Critter Stuff:
Elk gets child’s swing stuck on his head
by Peter Barker – Zenger News Tuesday, October 26th 2021
Colorado Parks and Wildlife/Zenger
A young elk was saved by wildlife officers after it wrapped a child’s swing around its head like a muzzle, leaving it unable to eat or drink.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a statement the two-and-a-half-year-old bull elk was first sighted near the Evergreen Golf Course in Jefferson County, Colorado on Oct. 23.
As seen in the footage, the distressed elk was charging up and down a hill entangled in the swing.
continued: CBS2 Idaho
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Seasonal Humor:
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