News

Another new group of first-time debaters at Mountain Home High School turned in a strong performance last Friday at the Borah Novice Debate Tournament in Boise as half of the 16 teams turned in a 3-1 record or better at the tournament. The Novice Talkin’ Tigers were led by the Public Forum team of Krysten Hope and Andrea Morales who won all four of their debates to earn a First Place Medal...

It’s that time of year - the time for crockpot soups, pumpkin pies, fall decorations and countless mini-sized candy bars. As the Earth slowly tilts away from the sun it brings on cooler weather, precipitation and shorter days. The reduction in sunlight hours and intensity causes all of our deciduous trees to turn their leaves a red/orange/yellow color and to produce an essential plant hormone, abscisic acid, which, results in the dropping of leaves from the tree...

The Mountain Home City Council met on Oct. 28, 2019. Many of the council hopefuls were also in attendance at the meeting. Dan Weitz, who currently owns the property surrounding the newly acquired rail spur was in attendance and afforded a chance to speak about the annexation of his property into city limits to open the meeting...

On October 31 2019, the courtroom filled with family members and friends of Paula Febrache and a small family presence for Scott Riggs. This was the final episode and sentencing in a long drawn out court case of just over two years in the murder case of Paula Febrache. ...

Editor’s Note: We are currently following many court cases in Elmore County, over the past week and a half many of them have had hearings. Here is an update on each of those cases. Roy Forrest Ashford – Case #2253 stems from the original charges of Rape- victim 16 or 17 and alleged perpetrator is 3 years or more older, filed in March of 2016 and a second charge of Battery filed in August of 2016. ...

Frigid temperatures did not stop the community from showing up in downtown Mountain Home on Oct. 26 for the Annual Fall Harvest. There were activities for everyone with plenty of food, music and vendors. There was also a Cornhole Competition, Dinner on a Farmer, a Spooky Stroll and a Pie Toss featuring candidates as targets...

The First Annual Take a Stank 5K Run/Walk was held on the morning of Oct. 26 . The course stretched from the gazebo area of Legacy park down the Brown Belt to the intersection with 18th Street near the Golf Course. The Race, which benefited the Elmore County Domestic Violence Council and the Evans Harmony House, had about 35 participants for the inaugural event...

On the evening of Oct. 25 children of the community descended on Carl Miller Park for the third annual Spooktacular at the Park event. City departments, community organizations and area schools set up trunk or treating booths throughout the day. Some were creepy, some were whimsical, all were handing out goodies that the children loved...

The Western Elmore County Recreation District held its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. Director Lee Pierce had some questions about a line item on the financial report, so it was removed from the Consent Agenda until Treasurer Judy Erwin could get the answers for the Board of Directors...

Editor’s Note: At the beginning of October I sent out questionnaires to all of the contested races for the City of Mountain Home, which included candidates for mayor and for the City Council. Included in these questionnaires were five questions from me and additional questions that were submitted by our readers. ...

During the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce's Political Forum, Government Teacher/City Councilman Matt Bundy had a question specifically for the candidates running for mayor. During elections Bundy likes to try and give his students a chance to engage with the candidates and learn more about the process of becoming informed voters. ...

On Tuesday October 15, the Mountain Home School Board held their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Once the meeting was called to order, the Board approved the agenda and the consent agenda. Mountain Home AFB Liaison, Allen Niksich, gave an update that there are over 700 troops deployed and thanked all the schools for helping with the kids who will be without a parent during the holiday season. ...

The Commissioners Meeting on Oct. 18, started with a short executive session, followed by a short public hearing on the FY2019 Budget Adjustment. The proposed budget adjustments were provided only to the Commissioners. They asked if there was any public opinion to be heard, there was none, so they passed the motion to approve the FY2019 Budget Adjustment...

Recently, Mountain Home FFA was able to host the first Boise Valley District competition of the 2019-2020 school year. The Boise Valley District includes Mountain Home FFA, Melba FFA, Rimrock FFA, Kuna FFA, Nampa FFA, and Meridian FFA. On October 14, the six schools were able to come to Mountain Home to compete in the Milk Quality and Products Career Development Event (CDE) and Dairy Cattle CDE competitions...

Encore Company is bringing the Marvel Universe to Mountain Home, October 24-26 at 7pm in the MHHS gym. Tickets will be sold at the door--$3 Students, $5 Adults. Don’t miss this exciting night of adventure, an all-new way to experience some of the greatest heroes ever! From a series of plays developed for teenagers, Marvel Spotlight explores the humans behind your favorite superheroes as they balance mastering their newfound powers while facing the real-world challenges of young adults...

In court proceedings on Friday, Oct. 18, Stephen May appeared before Judge Fleming for a preliminary hearing, stemming from a case filed in Sept 2019. May is now facing two charges of Lewd Conduct with a Child Under 16 after the Elmore Prosecuting Attorney, represented by Mr. ...

The Mountain Home Highland Games and World Fair took place over the weekend. During the first day of the event a severe thunderstorm swept through the area temporary shutting down the competitions. The show went on though with traditional Scottish games for all ages, vendors and entertainment by The City of Trees Pipes and Drums, the ECHO dancers and Scottish dancers. ...

News travels quickly in a small community like ours especially when homicide is involved and even more so when it involves one of their own for a generation of young adults still living in Mountain Home that went to school here together. Many times friends move outside of the community, but ties are thick and relationships are continued outside our boundaries. ...

The Mountain Home City Council met on Oct. 15, 2019. As the meeting started, the Council Chamber was filled with members of the MHFD and law enforcement as the Mountain Home Masonic Lodge presented Sgt. Brian Fields with a check in the amount of $2,205.34...

The Mountain Home Senior Center held its "Meet the Candidate" Political Forum on Oct. 17th. All local candidates in a contested race were in attendance and a large crowd came out to ask questions of them. This forum worked a bit differently from the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce's forum, with the candidates being given the chance to make a rebuttal to any question in which the other candidate used their name. ...

BOISE — The man accused of killing another man whose body was found in Ann Morrison Park Thursday morning had been questioned by police Wednesday in connection with another incident in the park. Police and prosecutors believe Andrew Ray Garcia, 27, of Boise, is responsible for the death of 43-year-old Roque Leon Arellano, according to a news release from the Boise Police Department. ...

BOISE — The death of a 43-year-old man found in Ann Morrison Park Thursday is currently being investigated as a homicide, according to the Ada County Coroner’s Office. The office identified Roque Leon Arellano, of Boise and formerly of Mountain Home, as the man found in the park’s southwest corner Thursday morning. ...

The 6th Annual Mountain Home Highland Games and World Fair takes place this weekend. The weekend long event kicks off on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. (registration at 9 a.m.) with festivities going throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday. The fun culminates on Sunday Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. Join them for a, fun family friendly event!!!! There will be Scottish Highland Games, Bagpipe competition, Kids games, Dancers from different cultures, multicultural food vendors, clan and craft vendors!!!!...

The Backpack Bridge is hosting its First Annual Coat Swap. If you have a coat that your child has outgrown, in good condition, you may bring it in and swap it our for one that fits. If you have a coat your child has out grown and would like to donate it, please contact the group through their Facebook page before the event and they will make sure it goes to a child that needs one...

In a preliminary hearing, overseen by Judge Fleming, on Thursday, October 10th, Donald Schultz faced additional charges filed Sept 13, for Witness-Intimidates, Threatens, Harasses or Prevents from Testifying in a criminal case and is defined by Idaho Statue as: “18-2604(3) Any person who, by direct or indirect force, or by any threats to person or property, or by any manner wilfully intimidates, influences, impedes, deters, threatens, harasses, obstructs or prevents, a witness, including a child witness, or any person who may be called as a witness or any person he believes may be called as a witness in any criminal proceeding or juvenile evidentiary hearing from testifying freely, fully and truthfully in that criminal proceeding or juvenile evidentiary hearing is guilty of a felony”. ...

The Mountain Home High School Talkin’ Tigers Speech and Debate team dominated the 13 other schools at the City Of Trees Debate Tournament last Saturday at Timberline High School in Boise. Junior Oam Patel won Lincoln Douglas Debate while the team of Khylan Stubblefield and Zach Warren won Public Forum Debate. In addition Mercedez Mason and Korbin Peterson were finalists in Congressional Debate...

Mountain Home School District celebrated Homecoming Week Oct. 7th through 12th with activities throughout the busy week. Monday night started the festivities with the yearly Macho Man Volleyball game and a win for the Senior boys. Also on Monday night, both the boys and girls soccer teams took home wins in the District tournament, but both teams lost on Wednesday and Saturday nights ending their seasons. ...

The City of Mountain Home hosted distinguished guests from Mountain Home Air Force Base, including 366th Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Richard A. Goodman, for a commemorative signing and “golden spike” ceremony on Oct. 11th. The signing and ceremony commemorated the completion of the transfer of the former Mountain Home Air Force Base rail spur to the City of Mountain Home. ...

On Oct. 12, the Elmore County Domestic Violence Council held its Annual Harvest for Hope Benefit. This year’s event capped off a very significant year for the organization with the completion of Evans Harmony House, and the housing of its first residents imminent. The safe house, which will be the first of its kind in Elmore County will house victims of abuse and their children while they get back on their feet and transition to the role of survivors...