July 25, 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. Odd/Even days watering. 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 and during the Festival weekend!
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in Effect
Remember there will be an internet and telephone out age Monday and Tuesday.
Community Calendar:
April 17, 2020 – Boil water order issued
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
July 19-29 – Lick Creek Road closure for bridge replacement
July 26-27 – Internet/Phone Outage
July 28 – Dust Abatement Calcium chloride
August 5-7 – Harmonica Festival
Aug 14 – VYPA Meeting 2pm at Community Hall
Sept 11 – YPFD Budget Meeting 10am at Fire Hall
Sept 11 – VYPA Meeting 2pm at Community Hall
(details below)
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Local Events:
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions July 16
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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July 26-27 – Internet/Phone Outage
MTE will be having a planned internet and phone outage Monday and Tuesday (July 26-27) for up to 8 hours per day to replace and upgrade equipment in our service area.
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Harmonica Festival August 5, 6, and 7
Link: to website
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Village News:
July 24 – Pet Vax Clinic
Dr. Keith Ruble and crew from Cascade Vet Clinic came to Yellow Pine Saturday, July 24th, for the annual Pet Vax Clinic. Their first stop saw 5 cats and 10 well behaved dogs, who were examined, received their vaccinations, other medications as necessary including banana flavored wormer for the dogs; some even had their nails clipped. The crew headed up town for lunch and planned to see more pets in the afternoon.
rrS
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Unplanned Internet and Phone Outages
Tuesday (July 20) Internet went out before 530pm for about an hour. Then Wednesday (July 21) Internet (and long distance) out around 945am for about 2 hours.
Short power outage at 1209am early Wednesday (July 21.)
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Mayor Chappy
April 19, 1945 – March 23, 2020
Thanks to the cemetery committee for placing Mayor Chappy’s headstone July 19, 2021 at the Yellow Pine Pioneer Cemetery.
photo courtesy MF
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Veterans’ Monument
With this heat, the flowers and shrubs at our Veterans’ Memorial dry out quickly. When Niebrand’s are in, they water them, but aren’t here all the time……if you go by, please check, and give them a drink with the hose that is there. Our veterans (and the Niebrand’s) thank you!
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Attention
Would the person who borrowed the measuring wheel please return it to the community hall? It will be needed for the festival.
Also – Will the person who left the twin bed outside the Community Hall please pick it up.The yard sale is over until next year. Thank you.
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Conserve (and Boil) Water
Please be conservative when watering lawns. We ask those that are here all week to not water lawns on the weekends so that more water is available for the weekend cabin owners. There will NO lawn watering on all summer holidays and during the Festival weekend!
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Tips on Water Recycling
Use a dishpan to catch the rinse water when doing dishes (and hand washing) and use it to water outdoor flowers.
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Scrap Metal
Sharing a message that Mike Amos will haul out a load of scrap metal. If you have scrap metal, contact Mike. He has an area by his place to stack it.
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Road News
Link: to current road reports.
Lick Creek Road will be closed at Zena Creek (about 4 miles east of the Ponderosa Campground) from July 19 – July 29 for a bridge replacement. Please plan ahead.
Johnson Creek, Profile Gap and Lick Creek roads are Open. These roads have not been bladed and are rough.
The Hwy 55 project Smith’s Ferry area: Starting June 1, crews will transition into their summer construction schedule. Drivers can anticipate single-lane, alternating traffic controlled by flaggers Monday – early Friday morning. From Friday morning – Sunday, and any major holidays, the road will be open to two lanes. This schedule will be in place until September. Project Website link:
The Hwy 55 project from 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
Aggressive Deer and Elk
Be aware that mothers will attack dogs and chase people if they feel their babies are threatened. Keep dogs leashed in the forest during “baby season” for their own protection.
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.
Pine Martins & Raccoons
Watch your small pets. Reports of pine martins living in the dump and raccoons on the north side of the village.
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
Be Mountain Lion Aware
Note: A report of a mountain lion still 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!
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Yellow Pine US Mail
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: 55 cents. Support our local post office and purchase your holiday stamps here.
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Yellow Pine Transfer Station
Report July 17: The dumpsters are about one quarter full, and it still clean out there. The road to the dump is fine.
Bins last emptied July 10th. 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 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
July 8, 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: 7-8-21.
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YPWUA 2021 Shareholder Meeting July 4 at 10am
YPWUA 2021 Shareholder Meeting Minutes
Sunday July 4th 10am Community Hall
1. Financial Report – Willie
A. We have $52,000 balance
B. 9 people delinquent compared to 18 two years ago
2. Operations
A. Boil order status – continue to be on boil order and will be until more leaks are found and repaired
3. Grants
A. Details of grants We are been granted $450,000 in grants. YPWUA must contribute $12,500 as matching funds to receive grants
C. A vote was taken which was required by the shareholders to accept the terms of the grant. Nicki Harner made the motion, Ginney seconded the motion and the vote was approved by 100 percent of the shareholders that attended.
C. More future grants are going to be written. The approved $450,000 will only get some of the distribution lines replaced
4. Summer lawn watering
A. Because of our situation lawn watering is discouraged
B. Odd/Even days watering
C. No watering after 2 pm
D. If you are asked to turn your water off, it’s because the system is in danger of running out. Please be respectful.
5. Election of one board member
A. Dave Prouty is not running for another term
B. Candy Hardisy was nominated and accepted the available position on the board
6. Other Comments
A. Mike Fortin brought up that he was collecting spring water to water his lawn. That’s great, many in the community is coming up with ways to water lawns without using our community water.
B. Many thanked the water board for their work on getting grants. It has taken a while but is starting to pay off.
C. Meeting ended at 10:50 am.
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The annual Water meeting for 2020 was held July 5th 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:
Village of Yellow Pine Association
Meeting Minutes July 10, 2021
I. Call to order
Deb Filler called to order the regular meeting of the VYPA at 1400 at the Yellow Pine Community Hall.
II. Roll call
Council Members: Deb Filler, Ronda Rogers, Hailey Harris.
Attendees: Rhonda Egbert, Virginia Bartholomew, Ron Basabe, Christy Petersen, Joel Fields, Mary Fields, Belinda Provancher, Margaret Vranish, Bill McIntosh, Rob Rosenbaum, Theresa Rosenbaum.
III. Approval of minutes from last meeting
Deb Filler asked attendees if there were any outstanding questions/concerns with prior meeting minutes. All attendees agreed that there were no questions/concerns. Minutes approved.
IV. Open issues
a) Treasurer Report: Ronda Rogers discussed the breakdown of the General Ledger Report, all attendees were offered a copy. No questions/concerns. Marj Fields requesting a copy of financial breakdown for the cemetery committee. (Ronda Rogers to send that to Marj).
b) Community Hall Update: Council has cleaned out the Community Yard Sale items, waiting on grant outcomes, and Tim Rogers is still working on kitchen/bathroom renovations.
c) Cemetery: Ron Basabe gave an update-Tim & Ron will work together to get water source running; expired water permit is in process of being renewed, Ron will get the headstone for Chappy placed.
d) Infrastructure: OK Gravel started project on West Ellison
e) Harmonica Festival: Deb Filler gave a budget summary including the decline in funds due to ads, supplies, etc. Final Festival meeting to be held July 11, 2021 at 1400 at Deb Filler’s home.
f) Stibnite Project: University of Idaho partnership to monitor water levels starts this week.
g) Nominations: Hailey Harris appointed as interim Secretary in replacement of Rhonda Egbert until the position is up for election in 2022. Chairman: Deb Filler nominated by Virginia Bartholomew, seconded by Rhonda Egbert, no objections, motion to re-elect Deb Filler as Chairman approved unanimously. Member at Large: Rhonda Egbert nominated by Virginia Bartholomew, seconded by Christy Petersen, no objections, motion to elect Rhonda Egbert as Member at Large approved unanimously.
h) Dust Abatement: North American Dust Control has laid Earthbind; Calcium Chloride to be laid on July 28th. Deb Filler discussed the ultimate goal behind having Calcium Chloride on Yellow Pine Ave.
i) Perpetua Resources Update: Belinda Provancher explained that a comment period will be held for the Supplemental DEIS, Stibnite Lake will aim to keep water temperatures low (suggested by the tribes & conservation groups) by providing shrubbery and vegetation around the lake/along the stream. Within the first six months of 2023, a decision is likely to be made on mining permitting with hopes to start construction in the fall of 2023.
j) Fire Department: Ronda Rogers gave update-Elections for Commissioners for both District 2 & 3 will be held in November 2021.
V. New business
a) Fireworks: Explained by Deb Filler that both VYPA & YPFPD have no authority with the individuals that organize the fireworks show, but that VYPA can give donations if VYPA members vote for such. Concern around presence and location of fireworks was displayed by citizens of Yellow Pine. Rhonda Egbert to conduct research to further investigate requirements for future fireworks to ensure community unanimity. VYPA to inform Belinda Provancher of the outcome of said research and how the Village of Yellow Pine (citizens or otherwise) will handle this issue going forward.
b) Transfer Station: On July 10, 2021, at 1730, the community of Yellow Pine is encouraged (if able) to help clean up the transfer station. Explained by Deb Filler that Lake Shore Disposal had many breakdowns in their dump trucks, which resulted in an overflowing transfer station. Encouragement to maintain cleanliness of transfer station was expressed.
VI. Adjournment
Deb Filler adjourned the meeting at 1444.
Minutes submitted by: Hailey Harris
July 10, 2021 VYPA meeting minutes link:
June 12, 2021VYPA 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)
Festival
Want to join YPAC Corp in making a difference? We are raising money to benefit the Yellow Pine Music and Harmonica Festival . Any donation will help.
Each year, during the first full weekend of August, the sleepy mountain village of Yellow Pine is transformed into the largest festival of it’s kind in the western hemisphere!
The festival is produced by volunteers and raises funds to support the village of Yellow Pine as well as the funds needed to hold next year’s festival.
As you all know, the 2020 festival had to be cancelled due to Covid-19. This placed a significant burden on Yellow Pine to come up with enough funding to hold the 2021 festival this August 5, 6, 7.
Souvenirs and events at the festival help raise funds. We also know there are many of you who support the festival, but are not able to attend. This fund raiser is to give you an opportunity to help us help Yellow Pine.
Thanks in advance for your tax-deductible contribution to this cause that means so much to us!
GoFundMe link:
Anyone interested in being a part of the Festival Planning/Working committee, please contact Deb Filler. Meetings will begin at the end of January. Even if you aren’t physically in YP, you can participate in the committee.
2021 Planning Notes updated July 11, 2021 (link)
Yellow Pine Music and Harmonica Festival Policy and Procedure Link:
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YPFD News:
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
June 12, 2020 – 10am Fire siren test and YPFD meeting.
Link to minutes: 2021 June 12 YPFD meeting minutes.docx
There was a meeting Saturday, July 10th, 10 am at Fire Station (no minutes yet.)
Elections for Commissioners for both District 2 and 3 will be held in November 2021.
May 15, 2020 – there was a YPFD meeting 10am at the Fire Hall.
Link: to 20210515 YPFD MeetingNotes_Final.docx
YPFD had a budget meeting on September 30, 2020 at 10am at the fire station. (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.
YPFD COVID19 Policy
link: YPFD Covid-19 SOP
link: Covid-19 EMS
YP Fire Commissioners:
Sue Holloway – District 1
Phil Jensen, Acting – District 2
Merrill Saleen – District 3
Tim Rogers – Fire Chief
Secretary Ronda Rogers
Treasurer Nikki Saleen
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
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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
Yellow Pine Tavern open daily:
Monday thru Thursday 8am to 9pm
Friday and Saturday 8am to 10pm
Sunday 8am to 8pm
Indoor Dining with limited seating 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 Gas and Diesel available.
The store is now receiving inventory of Food items. The ATM is operational, and Debit/Credit cards are accepted. Currently there is fuel, ice, alcoholic beverages (non liquor) tobacco, non alc beverages, snacks, and Dairy items (ice cream, milk, butter, and yogurt). Fresh produce is soon to come. If there are needs for fuel or anything during off hours, Josh will be around on call to accommodate. 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
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
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:
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Follow The Yellow Pine Times on Facebook (updated more often than emails)
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Local Observations:
Monday (July 19) overnight low of 51 degrees. This morning cloudy above the smoke (Yellow AQ) and light sprinkles of rain started just before 9am and lasted about an hour and a half, enough to make things damp. Very quiet no birds calling. Cloudy, smoky and more normal temperature at lunch time, but a bit muggy. Overcast, humid, light breeze and light haze of smoke mid-afternoon, high of 79 degrees. Female hairy woodpecker and steller jay visiting. Sprinkles at 645pm, dark overcast, far off rumbles of thunder and a bit breezy. The lightning strike maps showed hits west of the South Fork towards McCall. Quit raining before 9pm, still a light haze of smoke and overcast. Robins chirping. Another shower around 930pm and cooling off. Cloudy and humid before midnight.
Tuesday (July 20) overnight low of 54 degrees, 24 hour rain total = 0.26″. This morning humid, mostly high clouds, light breeze and light haze of smoke. Quiet, no birds calling. Humid and mostly cloudy at lunch time. More normal temperatures early afternoon, humid, cloudy, light breeze and increasing haze of smoke, high of 85 degrees. Internet went out before 530pm for about an hour. Mostly cloudy early evening, light breeze and thicker smoke, poor air quality. Warm after sunset, light breeze, increasing smoke and appears to be some high clouds. Looked hazy before midnight, Mars rising over Golden Gate peak. Power blipped off and back on at 1209am. Looked hazy after midnight.
Wednesday (July 21) overnight low of 53 degrees. This morning it appears clear above smoky haze and poor air quality. A few birds calling. Internet (and long distance) out around 945am for about 2 hours. Smoky and warm at lunch time, looks like a few clouds – then getting a little gusty. Mail truck reported no problems on the drive in. Hot, smoky and breezy by early afternoon, high of 93 degrees. Loud gunfire to the west around 630pm. Cooling off just a tad by early evening, partly cloudy, thinner smoke and light breezes. Clear over haze of smoke and breezy after sunset. Large very orange moon rising over Antimony Ridge before 11pm.
Thursday (July 22) overnight low of 45 degrees. This morning it was mostly small clouds, light breeze, haze of smoke and poor air quality. Increased street traffic and dust. A few small ground birds and a juvenile steller jay visiting. Warm, increasing smoke and decreasing visibility at lunch time. Hot breezes blowing early afternoon, looks clear above the smoke, high of 91 degrees. Slightly thinner smoke, no clouds, and lighter breezes by early evening. Still warm after sunset. Probably clear with smoky haze before midnight.
Friday (July 23) overnight low estimated at 48 degrees (thermometer had an error.) This morning it looked clear above the haze of smoke and poor air quality. Early morning robin calling. Warm and haze of smoke at lunch time. Hot breezes early afternoon, clear sky and improved air quality, high of 92 degrees. Water pressure down. Still pretty warm early evening, light breezes, very light smoke and much better air quality. Pretty warm after sunset, clear sky and light breeze. Looked clear before midnight. Yucky smoke came in by early morning.
Saturday (July 24) overnight low of 44 degrees. This morning clear above moderate smoke, crappy air quality and light breeze. Morning air traffic (a couple of loud ones.) No birds around. Warm and smoky (and dusty) at lunch time, occasional light breeze. Hot, dry, dusty, smoky afternoon, high of 97 degrees. Still hot by early evening but thinner smoke and better air quality. A couple of swallows flying around. Smoke settling in after sunset, poor air quality. Still pretty warm (and smoky) after a red sunset. Looked hazy before midnight, Mars very red.
Sunday (July 25) overnight low of 48 degrees. This morning it appears clear above moderate smoke and very poor air quality. Very few birds around. Water pressure down. Hot and smoky after lunch time, poor air quality. Hot, dry, smoky afternoon with poor air quality, high of 96 degrees. Still hot early evening smoky and very light breezes.
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Idaho News:
Yellow Pine to host music & harmonica festival Aug. 5-7
The Star-News July 22, 2021
Yellow Pine will celebrate its 31st annual Music and Harmonica Festival Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 5-7, with live music, harmonica contest, Mustache Musical Parade and the Great Harmonica Run.
Live music will kick off on Thursday at 6 p.m., and the festival’s opening ceremonies will be Friday at noon.
The event will end with a Community Breakfast on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The festival will include a Teen Hangout, scavenger hunt, Children’s Corner, demonstrations, jam sessions and booths.
West of Ustick, Guess When, The Kap Brothers and 37 other bands will take the stage during the event.
The Idaho Harmonica Workshop will be Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 4-5, and conclude with a performance during the festival’s opening ceremonies. Cost is $99.
The Great Harmonica 6.5K Run will be Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Sign-in will begin at 8 a.m. on the porch of The Corner.
Registration is $20 in advance and $25 at the race.
Cost is free to attend, park and camp at the festival. Donations are welcome, and all proceeds from the event will benefit the festival and the Village of Yellow Pine.
Visit (link) for more information, including directions, or to register.
source: © Copyright 2009-present Central Idaho Publishing Inc. All rights reserved (used with permission.)
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Lick Creek Road to stay closed through July 29 for bridge work
The Star-News July 22, 2021
Lick Creek Road east of McCall will stay closed through July 29 while Valley County crews replace the bridge at Zena Creek.
The road will be closed to all traffic during construction with no direct detour.
Access to Yellow Pine and areas of the backcountry can be gained by using the Warm Lake Road from Cascade and then either the South Fork Salmon River Road or Johnson Creek Road.
The original bridge was built in 1959 and was found to have extensive deterioration in the wood structure, Valley County Road and Bridge Superintendent Jeff McFadden said.
The wooden bridge was removed and a temporary steel bridge from the Payette National Forest was used to span the creek last fall, McFadden said.
The wooden bridge was 26 feet across. The new bridge will sit higher over the creek, spanning 40 feet and measuring 16 feet wide. The bridge is about 36 miles from McCall and about three miles from the South Fork Salmon River.
The bridge and pavement will cost about $68,000 to be paid by the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council, while construction work done by the county will cost about $40,000.
source: © Copyright 2009-present Central Idaho Publishing Inc. All rights reserved (used with permission.)
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COVID-19 numbers surge in Valley County
20 new positive cases reported in week
By Tom Grote for The Star-News July 22, 2021
Valley County’s two hospitals reported 20 new cases of COVID-19 in the past week.
St. Luke’s McCall reported eight new cases during the week ending Monday and Cascade Medical Center reported 12 new cases during the same period.
The latest numbers bring the total new cases since July 1 to 27. By comparison, 29 new cases were reported in all of June.
A total of 826 cases of COVID-19 have been reported by the two hospitals since the first case was detected in March 2020.
Four confirmed deaths and two suspected deaths related to COVID-19 among Valley County residents have been reported by Central District Health.
A total of 59% of eligible Valley County residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of this week, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported. That compares to 58.6% reported vaccinated last week. …
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: 325 new Idaho COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths
July 21, 2021 Local News 8
Idaho officials reported 325 new COVID-19 cases and 2 new deaths Wednesday.
That brings the total confirmed and probable cases reported since March 2020 to 197,781. …
The state said 737,995 people have received the vaccine, and 1,367,810 total doses have been administered. 683,866 people are fully vaccinated. …
The age group with the most cases is 18-29 with 49,212 cases. …
712 vaccine breakthrough cases have been reported.
2 new death was reported bringing the total recorded deaths to 2,179.
full story: [Valley County 904 cases, 6 deaths.]
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Some quick COVID-19 facts:
* 99.5% of the deaths are among the unvaccinated
* The Delta variant now accounts for 83% cases in the US
* Unvaccinated who are infected with the Delta variant carry 1,000 times the amount of virus than people with the original variant (controlled study comparing 60 people infected with Delta variant to 60 people infected with the original virus).
* A vaccinated person who is exposed constantly to unvaccinated people, especially in crowded, indoor settings where no one is wearing masks, can become infected themselves.
Tom Reinhardt, CEO
Cascade Medical Center
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Idaho Health and Welfare working to step up testing for COVID-19 delta variant
As the more contagious delta variant emerges across the U.S., Health and Welfare is working to test more positive COVID samples for the variant
Joe Parris July 21, 2021 KTVB
Idaho Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen said that COVID-19 metrics like daily case counts and COVID hospitalizations are now heading in the wrong direction.
“Unfortunately, I wish I had better news, the overall state COVID-19 numbers have taken a turn for the worse in the past few weeks,” Jeppesen said during a media briefing Tuesday. …
Idaho health experts explained that the process of sequencing positive COVID tests to find out if they are the delta strain is an intricate process. Frankly, they haven’t been able to test for it at a high frequency. But, that is set to change, soon.
“We’re happy to announce that through partnerships with other laboratories including, in particular, the VA Medical Center, which you may recall has been helping out with PCR testing all along, now has been assisting us with sequencing and so we have a bump this week where we have over 284 samples that we now have results on,” Hahn said.
full story:
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Two people hospitalized after 3-vehicle crash on Highway 55
Traffic near Smiths Ferry was backed up for hours while emergency crews responded to help the injured. One driver was cited for inattentive driving.
KTVB Staff July 23, 2021
Idaho State Police say two people were flown to a Boise hospital after a three-vehicle crash on Highway 55 Thursday afternoon.
The crash happened just after 4 p.m. at mile marker 91 between Banks and Cascade.
Troopers say a southbound Toyota Camry collided with a northbound pickup and a second pickup that was traveling behind the first one.
continued:
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Idaho History:
U of I researchers dig at Salmon River ranch of Polly Bemis
400 artifacts to give insight into life of Chinese immigrant
By Ralph Bartholdt for The Star-News July 22, 2021
About 400 artifacts linked to Chinese immigrant and Idaho pioneer Polly Bemis have been unearthed by University of Idaho archaeologists.
The first year of what researchers hope will be a multi-year excavation was completed in April at the Polly Bemis Ranch on the Salmon River 44 miles east of Riggins.
The team, directed by U of I Professor Mark Warner and led by doctoral student Renae Campbell, will clean, analyze and document the artifacts this fall for eventual display in the reconstructed cabin of Bemis (1853-1933).
Researchers found a small dump where Bemis likely disposed of her trash, including food cans and bottles that tell about the commercial products that made their way up to remote parts of the Salmon River.
Also discovered were personal items including a tobacco tin used by the pipe-smoking Bemis as well as fragments from a stoneware crock probably used to store food from the garden kept by Bemis and her husband, Charlie.
In addition to the excavation, researchers used metal detectors over a portion of the property surrounding the cabin, and dug several smaller probes where metal detectors showed there were possible artifacts.
Project Obstacles
It took U of I several years to gain access to the 25-acre property because the site is owned by a corporation. The property is also a designated national historic site in an area protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and is surrounded by Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area.
A statue of Bemis will be unveiled at noon on Aug. 10 on the front steps of the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. Gov. Brad Little and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, will declare Aug. 10 “Polly Bemis Day.” The statue will eventually be placed at the ranch.
Bemis, who was just over 4 feet tall, was smuggled to the United States and sold as a slave in California.
She was taken from San Francisco to Portland and eventually the Idaho Territory to the mining community of Warrens, now Warren, where she worked in a saloon.
She eventually gained her freedom from her Chinese owner, and the 1880 U.S. Census showed her living with saloon owner Charlie Bemis (1848-1922).
Polly Bemis took in laundry from miners and ran a boarding house. Charlie was almost killed during a gambling dispute in 1890 when he was shot in the cheek, but Polly nursed him back to health.
Polly Bemis was also a good fisherman and caught and sold fish from the Salmon River. Eventually she and Charlie moved to their ranch 17 miles north of Warren on the Salmon River where they had a mining claim.
They were among the first pioneers to live on the Salmon River. The story of Polly Bemis was the subject of a 1991 film, “A Thousand Pieces of Gold.”
(Ralph Bartholdt is Communications Manager of University Communications and Marketing for the University of Idaho.)
source: © Copyright 2009-present Central Idaho Publishing Inc. All rights reserved (used with permission.)
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Mining News:
Plans To Restart Mining In The Historic Stibnite District Raise Environmental Concerns
Boise State Public Radio News By Troy Oppie, Lindsey Schmidt July 22, 2021
Alexandra Etheridge U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Forest Service has asked Perpetua Resources — the company wanting to re-open and expand the Stibnite Mine east of McCall — for more information on the potential environmental impacts of its revised plan. That change means a decision on the mine won’t come until well into 2023. The site has a complex history and uncertain future here in Idaho.
Rocky Beginnings
Sixty-six miles along gravel roads northeast of Cascade sits the Stibnite Mining District. Miners first chased gold in the region’s rugged mountains in 1900. It was land that once belonged to the Nez Perce tribe.
“The Nez Perce tribe ceded millions of acres to the federal government,” said Shannon Wheeler, Vice-Chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee.
The Treaty of 1855 handed the U.S. government a lot of important tribal land, primarily for mining.
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Public Lands:
Stage One Fire Restriction FAQs
Boise National Forest July 20, 2021 (via FB)
The Boise National Forest is currently under Stage One Fire Restrictions. Under Stage One Fire Restrictions – campfires are ONLY allowed at developed recreation sites.
But what is a developed recreation site and how it is different than a dispersed site?
A developed recreation site is an established area that has been improved and maintained by the Forest Service. These recreation sites will have approved metal fire rings, water, and other facilities provided. Usually these sites have an associated fee. Campfires are allowed only in the provided fire rings.
What is a dispersed recreation site and how it is different than a developed recreation site?
A dispersed recreation site is any site that is NOT an established developed recreation site that can be used for camping. These sites do not have an associated fee. These sites often have a rock fire ring. However, under Stage One Fire Restrictions campfires are NOT allowed in these rock rings. These rings are made by campers for there use and they are not safe to use under especially hot/dry conditions.
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BLM to extend closure of Skinny Dipper Hot Springs to protect public health and safety
Boise, Idaho – July 23, 2021 – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today it will extend the existing closure of Skinny Dipper Hot Springs, located about five miles west of Garden Valley, for an additional five years to protect public health and safety and prevent additional damage to natural resources.
The existing closure was implemented in June 2016 after an environmental analysis concluded that unauthorized construction of pools and piping systems and resulting use posed a public health and safety hazard and damaged natural resources. Prior to the closure, the BLM received repeated complaints from local law enforcement, area landowners and public health officials related to unsafe and illegal activity at the site. Soon after the closure, a natural rockslide filled the pools, making them largely unusable.
The BLM released a proposal to extend the existing closure in May for public comment. The agency will soon be publishing a notice to extend the existing closure in the Federal Register, as required.
“We appreciate all the input received from our local partners and public land users, the majority of which supported the closure extension,” said Brent Ralston, BLM Four Rivers Field Manager. “Extending the closure addresses the potential for public health and safety concerns to arise again, allows us the time to finish rehabilitating the access trail, and provides relief to local and county emergency resources.”
Details regarding the closure extension are available at (link).
For more information, contact the BLM Four Rivers Field Office at 208-384-3300.
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Fire Season:
InciWeb Fire info
link:
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Air Quality McCall
link:
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National Fire Map
link: (zoomable)
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July 23, 2021 Afternoon Smoke
GOES-17 Satellite Map
(Our 1 day this week of good air quality.)
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Lightning sparks six fires on Payette, Frank Church wilderness
By Max Silverson for The Star-News July 22, 2021
Lightning has ignited six wildfires in the Payette National Forest in the past week.
Four fires were within the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, while two smaller fires were within the South Fork of the Salmon River Drainage.
The Krassel Creek fire just east of the Krassel Work Center, and the Cougar Fire one mile northwest of Blackmare Peak were ignited on July 19 but were kept small by firefighters.
Of those fires within the wilderness, the Rush Fire was the largest, growing to over 1,500 acres as of Tuesday after initial firefighting efforts were not successful. The Rush Fire is located about 14 miles to the southwest of Taylor Ranch.
The Vinegar Fire, about two miles north of the Cabin Creek Administrative Site, was about 270 acres as of Tuesday. The Cabin Creek Airstrip has been closed and firefighters have been working to protect Forest Service structures at the site.
The Club Fire about three miles southwest of Root Ranch was less than 30 acres as of Tuesday with a 10-person firefighting crew on site.
The Copper Fire in the Monumental Creek drainage was put out by firefighters on Sunday.
Fire restrictions remain in place on the Payette forest in addition to all state and private land except within city limits.
Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire is prohibited with exceptions that include using a liquid fuel stove, burning within a designated area approved by the Forest Service, using a Forest Service maintained metal or concrete campfire structure, or using a fully enclosed metal stove or grill.
Smoking is banned except in an enclosed vehicle or building, in an area at least three feet wide and cleared of flammable materials.
source: © Copyright 2009-present Central Idaho Publishing Inc. All rights reserved (used with permission.)
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Dixie Fire grows to 29,000 acres and spreading
Blaze stays on the north side of Salmon River
By Max Silverson for The Star-News July 22, 2021
The lightning caused Dixie Fire about 51 miles northeast of McCall grew to about 29,300 acres as of Tuesday, mostly on the north of the fire and along the Salmon River.
Controlled burning conducted last week created a buffer between the community of Dixie and the fire, and firefighters continued to strengthen containment lines with similar burnouts as well bulldozer lines and retardant drops around the perimeter.
Containment lines near Dixie and Comstock have been holding the fire to the east of those communities, but the fire could grow to the south of Comstock and in the northeast portion of the fire, said Operations Section Chief Kendal Wilson.
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Lightning Starts Wilderness Fires on the Payette National Forest, More Thunderstorms Forecasted Today
Point Protection is Being Done on Wilderness Inholdings
McCall, ID, July 19, 2021 — Last week, lightning ignited four fires in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness on the Payette National Forest. The Copper Fire, located in the Monumental Creek drainage, was suppressed and declared out on July 18th. The remaining three fires, the Rush Creek, Vinegar, and Club, escaped initial attack and are being managed by a local Type 3 Incident Management Team, with point protection in place. More lightning is anticipated for this afternoon, so fire crews are remaining vigilant.
The Rush Fire is located at the confluence of Rush Creek and Telephone Creek, approximately 14 miles to the southwest of Taylor Ranch. The fire was detected on July 16, 2021, and initial actions to suppress the fire were unsuccessful. As of midnight on July 18th, the fire had grown to just over 1,500 acres but had still not crossed the South Fork of Rush Creek.
The Vinegar Fire is located approximately 2 miles north of the Cabin Creek Administrative Site. As of early Monday morning it was almost 270 acres. Firefighters are on site with structure protection equipment and will have their protective measures in place by the end of shift today. Cabin Creek Airstrip has been closed to General Aviation and a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) is in place.
The Club Fire is located 3 miles southwest of Root Ranch. The fire is between 20 and 30 acres and has a 10-person crew on scene.
The nation is currently in planning level 5, meaning that unassigned resources are scarce. The Payette National Forest will be working with their neighboring forests to prioritize initial and extended attack resources. Please remember to recreate responsibly and abide by the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in place on the Payette. On average, human-caused wildfires make up 87 percent of all wildfire occurrences annually.
Forest Service News Release
Payette Fire Information: (208) 634-0820 payettefireinformation@gmail.com
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Rush Fire Update July 25
For the past several days, 11 members of the Alta Hotshot Crew have been preparing Taylor Ranch for the time when the Rush Creek Fire reaches it, a tactic called “point protection.” Because Taylor Ranch is a wilderness inholding managed by the University of Idaho, tools such as chainsaws are allowed within its boundaries. Protecting Taylor Ranch has involved cutting back flammable brush, digging handline, and setting up pumps, hoses, and sprinklers around buildings. For more information about the Rush Creek Fire, visit Inciweb at (link).
(via PNF FB)
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Trail Closures in Place as Warm, Dry Weather Returns
Thunderstorms Bring Precipitation to Wilderness Fires
McCall, ID, July 21, 2021— Trail closures have been put in place for the safety of the public and firefighters on the Rush Creek, Vinegar and Club Fires burning in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Please see the attached maps and the descriptions below for details on the trail closures.
Thunderstorms brought precipitation to all three wilderness fires on Tuesday, slowing fire growth; however, recent rainfall will only moderate fire behavior temporarily. In the next few days, conditions are expected to continue to warm and dry, with fire danger remaining high.
Per Closure Order 0412-563, portions of Silver Creek Trail (NFST #010) and South Fork Rush Creek Trail (NFST #058) are closed until October 1, 2021. All of Coyote Spring/Spring Creek Trail (NFST #044), Rush Creek Trail (NFST #057), and Telephone Creek Trail (NFST #060) are closed until October 1, 2021. All trails are located within the Krassel Ranger District on the Payette National Forest, in Idaho and Valley Counties.
The portion of NFST #010, Silver Creek Trail, shown on Exhibit A (Club Fire), beginning at its junction with NFST #011, Frog Spring Ridge Trail, located in Section 11, Township 22 North, Range 11 East, and continuing for 6.8 miles to its junction with NFST #002, Cold Meadows Trail, in Section 19, Township 23 North, Range 12 East.
All of NFST #044, Coyote Spring / Spring Creek Trail, shown on Exhibit B (Vinegar Fire), which begins at its junction with NFST #196, Big Creek Trail, located in Section 25, Township 21 North, Range 12 East, and continues for 12.65 miles to its junction with NFST #168, Cottonwood Butte Trail, on the Forest Boundary in Section 2, Township 21 North, Range 13 East.
All of NFST #057, Rush Creek Trail, shown on Exhibit C (Rush Creek Fire), which begins at its junction with NFST #055, Big Creek Ridge Trail, located in Section 19, Township 20 North, Range 12 East, and continues for 8.5 miles to its junction with NFST #058, South Fork Rush Creek, and NFST #060, Telephone Creek Trail, in Section 3, Township 19 North, Range 12 East.
The portion of NFST #058, South Fork Rush Creek Trail, shown on Exhibit C (Rush Creek Fire), beginning at its junction with NFST #060 Telephone Creek Trail located in Section 3, Township 19 North, Range 12 East, and continuing for 7.6 miles to the Forest Boundary located at Section 8, Township 19 North, Range 13 East.
All of NFST #060, Telephone Creek Trail, shown on Exhibit C (Rush Creek Fire), which begins at its junction with NFST #061, Lookout Mtn. Ridge Trail, located in Section 12, Township 19 North, Range 11 East, and continuing 8.2 miles to its junction with NFST #057, Rush Creek Trail, and NFST #058, South Fork Rush Creek Trail, in Section 3, Township 19 North, Range 12 East.
The Closed Trails are all located within the Krassel Ranger District, Payette National Forest, Idaho and Valley Counties, Idaho, Boise Meridian.
Link: to Maps at the bottom of the closure page:
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Latest on fires burning in Salmon-Challis National Forest
By Rachel Fabbi July 25, 2021 Local News 8
The National Forest Service has updated their progress in fighting three fires burning in the Salmon-Challis National Forest.
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Critter News:
Groups: Idaho wolf law will cause grizzly bear, lynx deaths
Keith Ridler (AP), Associated Press July 20, 2021
Environmental groups have notified Idaho Gov. Brad Little and other state officials of their intent to file a lawsuit over an expanded wolf-killing law they believe will result in the illegal killing of federally protected grizzly bear and lynx.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project and others on Monday gave a required 60-day notice of their intent to sue if Idaho officials don’t prohibit all hunting, trapping and snaring in grizzly bear and lynx habitat.
For lynx, the conditions could cover most of Idaho except for the southwestern portion of the state. For grizzly bears, the areas would include portions of northern, central and eastern Idaho. Wolves are found in roughly the northern two-thirds of the state.
continued: KTVB
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Messy Grand Teton camp draws bear; Idaho woman fined $5.8K
By Associated Press July 23, 2021
A judge has ordered an Idaho woman to pay over $5,800 for leaving trash out that attracted a grizzly bear to her campsite in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
Federal prosecutors say wildlife officials had to tranquilize the bear and move it elsewhere in the park in the hope that tasting human food won’t make it a recurring danger to people.
continued: (Local News 8)
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Yearling moose relocated out of Twin Falls residential neighborhood
July 20, 2021 Local News 8
Idaho Fish and Game
A yearling moose on a walk-about was captured out of a Twin Falls neighborhood and relocated back into suitable moose habitat north of Carey, Idaho.
Residents of northeast Twin Falls had an unexpected visitor on Sunday, July 18, when they awoke to a yearling moose wandering throughout their neighborhood. Originally reported in the Kimberly area four days earlier, the moose slowly made its way into Twin Falls. While seeing a moose is an exciting event, having one in a residential neighborhood quickly raises issues of public safety, especially as residents take their morning walks, often with dogs.
The Twin Falls Police Department started receiving phone calls and reports of pictures of moose on doorbell cameras on Sunday morning near Jason’s Woodland Hills Park.
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Van crashes into deer, catches fire on Idaho highway
The sheriff’s office said the crash created a fire that burned the van down and closed the highway. The deer was seen running away from the crash.
KTVB Staff July 21, 2021
Credit: Blaine County Sheriff’s Office
A Washington man is now in search of a new vehicle after his van was completely engulfed by a fire that was started by a collision with a deer.
According to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, the 59-year-old Bellevue man was driving northbound on Idaho Highway 75 in a red 1999 Volkswagen Eurovan.
At about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, near milepost 103, which is just north of the junction of Highway 75 and Highway 20, the Eurovan collided with a deer that was crossing the highway, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
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Rabid bat discovered in Blaine County
Blaine is at least the third Idaho county where rabies has been found in a bat this year. Health officials urge precautions to protect your family and your pets.
KTVB Staff July 20, 2021
A bat caught in Blaine County tested positive for rabies Tuesday.
That is the first bat this year to test positive for rabies in south-central Idaho, said Brianna Bodily, public information officer for the South-Central Public Health District.
However, rabid bats were found in June in Bonneville and Payette counties.
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2 charged with shooting, killing golden eagle in Ada County
Katie Terhune July 20, 2021 KTVB
Two men were are facing federal charges after investigators say they shot a golden eagle inside a conservation area earlier this year.
Wyatt Noe and Colten Ferdinand were formally charged Thursday with killing a golden eagle without permission and killing a migratory bird without permission. Both charges are misdemeanors.
According to agents with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Noe and Ferdinand killed the eagle inside the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area south of Kuna on April 10. Officials stressed that the killing was not accidental, writing that the two men shot at the bird “knowingly or with wanton disregard for the consequences of their actions.”
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Mosquitoes found in Gem County test positive for West Nile virus
The mosquitoes were collected on July 21 and the virus was confirmed the next day in tests performed by the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories.
KTVB Staff July 23, 2021
West Nile virus has been found in a third Idaho county.
Jason Kinley, Director of the Gem County Mosquito Abatement District (GCMAD), says mosquitoes found in traps during routine surveillance have tested positive for virus.
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Fish & Game News:
Bobcats abound in the Boise area and beyond
By Steven Ross, Conservation Officer Sr.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
One of the greatest things about living in Idaho is the wide range of wildlife that can be seen at any time when you take a step outside your front door. As Idaho’s human population grows, the interface between the untamed and our urban communities also expands. Most of the time these interactions are quiet, memorable moments like seeing the mule deer walk by with her spotted fawns, or catching a glimpse of an osprey as it dives to snatch its next meal of fish. Sometimes we observe the more rare animals which can leave us with some concern, like a bobcat.
IDFG
Bobcats are common, but reclusive in nature. They don’t often come out in daylight hours as they are most active at night. The rocky canyons with mixed riparian and wooded areas nearby make Boise an ideal habitat for the bobcat. This wild cat varies in color from light brown to grey with black spots and stripes on its back and sides. The cat has rather large cheek tufts, with a white belly. The tail is a giveaway as it is “bobbed” short and is black tipped on the topside, white on the bottom. A full grown bobcat can weight up to 20 pounds, but most are smaller in size, and are usually around 16 to 20 inches tall at the back.
A bobcat sighting can be concerning at first with the thoughts of chance encounters with children and pets. However, a bobcat’s diet primarily consists of rodents, rabbits and small birds like quail. One should take care if they do have pets like small dogs, chickens, rabbits and ducks. To avoid any confrontations it is best to keep all pets inside from dusk to dawn and protect outside pets with enclosures that have a protective roof. Motion activated lights and noise devices have been used with good success to keep a variety of animals, including bobcats, out of yards.
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Summer elk hunts require special preparation
By Brian Pearson, Conservation Public Information Specialist
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Obtaining landowner permission, knowing the area, and planning for the heat are key
With some early season elk hunts starting Aug. 1, Idaho Fish and Game officials remind hunters that they can increase their chances of success and avoid possible problems by obtaining landowner permission, knowing the area they intend to hunt and take extra precautions to properly care for the game meat during summer weather.
“Always get permission, scout the area beforehand, and plan for the heat,” said Rick Ward, Deer and Elk Program Coordinator. “These are challenging hunts, but hunters who plan ahead and adjust to the conditions can do well.”
The majority of early season elk hunting opportunities are antlerless hunts that occur on or within 1 mile of private agricultural land. Early-season hunts across Idaho are a tool that wildlife managers use to address chronic depredation problems by providing additional opportunity to hunters. The goal is to reduce crop damage by harvesting or discouraging animals in specific areas or portions of units.
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More F&G News Releases
link:
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Crazy Critter Stuff:
Goose refuses to be separated from mate undergoing surgery
by WJAR Staff Tuesday, July 20th 2021
A love story in Cape Cod, Massachusetts is giving animal lovers goosebumps.
Cape Wildlife Center/CNN Newsource)
Two geese couldn’t stand to be separated after an injury left one of them in need of medical care.
Staff at the Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable noticed one of a pair of wild geese that live nearby limping and falling over after being hurt by a snapping turtle.
They discovered two fractures on his foot, requiring surgery.
“We heard sort of a faint tapping at the front door. We turned and were all pretty shocked to see his mate had walked up to the porch and was furiously trying to get into the clinic,” said Zak Mertz, executive director of the Cape Wildlife Center. “I kid you not, she stood there the entire time and actually watched the procedure going on. Was really watching him like a hawk. Or like a goose, I guess.”
Forty-five minutes later, with the surgery complete, they moved Arnold right in front of the door as they gave him oxygen. When Arnold fully woke up, his mate began grooming him.
full story w/video:
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Seasonal Humor:
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Summer in Valley County has officially arrived and with it, the need for a reminder about fireworks safety and fire prevention. While fire danger is always of concern in the summer months, this year we are seeing increasing drought conditions, unseasonably hot weather, and a large influx of new visitors and forest users to our area who may not be well versed in fire prevention measures.
On June 26th the Bald Mountain Knuckle Draggers competed in Yellow Pine.
