News

With voracious Mormon crickets already invading north-central Oregon and northern Elmore County, the head of the University of Idaho's extension office in Mountain Home offered some tips to help local farmers and backyard gardeners protect their property from these pests...

What started off as an Eagle Scout project for a local Boy Scout troop turned in to a community effort aimed at beautifying Hacker Middle School. Earlier this month, volunteers from Pioneer Federal Credit Union, artists from the Community Canvas of Mountain Home and Boy Scouts started to transform the front entrance of the school on East Jackson Street...

scheduled to stand trial in September on charges that he sexually assaulted a juvenile female known to him through personal relations. Robert W. Lynch, 36, remains in custody at the Elmore County Jail following his arrest June 11 on charges of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16...

A prayer vigil is scheduled for today, July 20, to honor the memory of a Mountain Home woman who died Wednesday morning. The vigil for Justice Gump begins at 9 p.m. this evening in Carl Miller Park with Chaplain Joseph Stull Sr. from the Mountain Home Police Department leading with a prayer...

Local law enforcement is continuing its search for a man they suspect was linked to the murder of a Mountain Home woman early Wednesday. Anthony A. Johnson, 30, is considered a person of interest in the death of Justice Gump, 25, who was found dead at the Meadows Mobile Park.

Construction on the interstate exit northwest of Mountain Home will move to the westbound on- and off-ramps starting Monday. Crews will work during the day to rebuild the Exit 90 ramps, and the traveling public is advised to use caution while driving in the project zone, officials with the Idaho Transportation Department said...

Budget and funding requests, taxing issues and the possible effects that a bill introduced by the state legislature would have on Elmore County dominated the Elmore County board of commissioners' first meeting of the month. Funding requests for the new fiscal year came from John Keifer with the Elmore Soil and Water Conservation District, Debbie Shoemaker of the Mountain Home Museum and Jamie Hansen with the county family advocacy department...

The sounds of classic rock 'n' roll will fill the air at Carl Miller Park as the Mountain Home Arts Council continues its 40th season during a concert Friday evening. Free and open to the public, the performance featuring the Blues Brothers Rock 'n' Soul Revue runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. that evening in Carl Miller Park with vendor booths set to open after 5:30 p.m...

The crime rate in Mountain Home and Elmore County increased during the previous year although there were fewer people arrested in connection with these reported crimes, according to a yearly report from the Idaho State Police. Released earlier this month, the report includes a synopsis of crime statistics gathered from 108 law enforcement agencies across the state and includes data from the Mountain Home Police Department and Elmore County Sheriff's Department...

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and Central District Health Department issued a health advisory Monday afternoon involving Little Camas Reservoir. Located off Highway 20 northeast of Mountain Home, recent water samples taken from the reservoir indicate the presence of Aphanizomenon algae...

A member of the Mountain Home City Council officially stepped down with another joining the board as city officials met June 10. Recently, Councilman Geoff Schroeder announced his plans to resign from the board to take advantage of an opportunity to get his law license early to advance his education and career...

Weeks after a group of Glenns Ferry High School students led a project to help beautify their community, the Association of Idaho Cities recognized these efforts by presenting them with a state-level honor. The City of Glenns Ferry Mayor's Youth Advisory Council received this year's City Achievement Award during the state association's 70th annual conference, held recently in Boise...

Two sets of human remains found north of Mountain Home in April were discovered to be more than 400 years old, according to information released by the Elmore County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday. The findings come following three sets of carbon dating tests conducted on human bones recovered in the vicinity of Hot Creek Road with officials ruling out homicide as a reason why these people died...

Two Mountain Home High School graduates were recognized for academic excellence following their selection to the Dean's List at Northwest Nazarene University. Cicily Brenenstahl and Kathy Sexauer were among 770 students named to the Dean’s List for the 2017 spring semester...

Lorin Ford, Exaulted Ruler of the Mountain Home Elks Lodge, is joined by Esteemed Leading Knight Tom Narramore and Trustee Terry Ratliff as they present a $1,000 check to representatives from the Mini's R Us animal therapy organization during a recent gathering at the lodge. ...

Four students from Mountain Home High School and another from Glenns Ferry High School received a first-hand look at the government process following their participation in this year's Girls State event, sponsored each year by American Legion Auxiliary Elmore Unit 26. ...

In a recent announcement, 17 graduates from Mountain Home High School and Glenns Ferry High School were selected for the University of Idaho dean's list. These individuals were among the more than 2,400 students that qualified for the university dean’s list for the spring 2017 semester...

Home prices in Mountain Home and across Elmore County remained on the rise earlier this year while the demand for houses in the local area indicated continued recovery following the housing market collapse nearly a decade ago. According to information provided by the Elmore County Board of Realtors last week, the median price of a single-family home from January to March stood at $123,450...

Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell for the third consecutive month to 3.2 percent in May, underscoring the increased pressure among employers competing for workers, according to a report released Friday by the state labor department...

Authorities lifted an evacuation order at Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park after a range fire threatened the park over the weekend. The Love Ridge Fire was contained at 6 p.m. Monday and was brought under control two hours later, according to information released by the Bureau of Land Management...

A trial involving the head of the local Catholic church remained unresolved after it ended in a mistrial on July 7. Father Victor Jagerstatter faced charges of sexually assaulting an airman from Mountain Home Air Force Base last July. During the trial, the jury was given two options regarding the charge. If they determined sufficient evidence was presented at the hearing, they could've found him guilty of felony rape by preventing resistance or battery with intent to rape...

An ongoing effort to turn a walkway in the city's downtown area into a showcase of local artists celebrated its second anniversary last week as people in the Mountain Home area got their first official look at the newest creations. The Community Canvas of Mountain Home expanded across two city blocks by adding 38 individual murals this year, bringing the total number of individual displays up to 78...

With range fires continuing to scorch parts of southern Idaho, the Mountain Home airport is helping support efforts aimed at controlling these blazes. Since late June, the airfield has served as the base of operations for single-engine air tankers, or SEAT, aircraft that are continuing to fight range fires that are raging out of control across this part of the state...

For the second time in two years, two of the Western Elmore County Recreation District's directors are facing the possibility of being removed from office after a group of local residents submitted a recall petition containing more than 1,700 signatures from voters in the Mountain Home area...

The Mountain Home Arts Council and Mountain Home Parks and Recreation department will team up as the arts organization launches its 40th season during a concert Friday evening. Free and open to the public, the concert featuring the Beatles tribute band West Abbey Road A runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. that day in Carl Miller Park with vendor booths set to open after 5:30 p.m.

Flooding that caused significant damage to the Pine community became a main topic addressed by the Elmore County board of commissioners as residents of the rural community expressing their displeasure of how the county responded to this emergency. During an afternoon session June 23, Dave Lemons and Andrea Tuning spoke to the commissioners as they addressed concerns raised by others in the Ballantyne neighborhood located in Pine in a letter signed by these residents...

People from across Elmore County will enjoy a week of "Making Blue Ribbon Memories" during the county's annual fair and rodeo, which begins Sunday at the fairgrounds in Glenns Ferry. The fair is all based around kids — to educate them on challenges and responsibilities of farm life, according to county fair manager Rena Kerfoot...

An evacuation order remains in effect at Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park as the Love Ridge Fire threatens the park and surrounding area. Multiple fires were being reported by the Bureau of Land Management, including one in the vicinity of Glenns Ferry, although details were not immediately available...

Creativity, ingenuity, teamwork and problem-solving skills were put to the test as local students participated in a program at Hacker Middle School that exposed them to various scientific principles through hands-on learning. Marking its debut in Mountain Home last week, Camp Invention focused on inspiring future innovators by introducing participants to a number of problem-solving lessons and allowing them to develop and test inventions to overcome those challenges...

The city council chambers were standing room only when supporters of Willie Heckathorn's plan to use the old dog shelter came to show their united commitment to the project. Councilman Geoff Schroeder had previously e-mailed Heckathorn a list of questions a month before pertaining to the groups intentions with the grounds they are asking to use...

An education program aimed at helping children in the Mountain Home area improve their reading and math skills returned this month following a 10-year absence. Held weekdays from June 5 to 29, the Migrant Education Program included 47 children ranging in age from three years old to those preparing to enter sixth grade along with three high school-age students...

The June 28 Western Elmore County Recreation District once again dissolved into argument before moving into executive session. Meeting attendees raised questions as to why there is no public comment or questions allowed during the official public meetings...

In an announcement June 28, the Idaho Commission on the Arts selected the Mountain Home Arts Council to receive more than $3,200 in financial support through this year's grant program. The local arts organization was among the 102 organizations and schools spanning 29 communities throughout the state selected to receive a portion of the more than $487,000 presented this year...

"Hands! Hands!" Brandishing his sidearm, the police officer shouted the warning to any suspects lying in wait. With another officer joining him, they reported seeing at least one individual lying unconscious next to a vehicle in the parking lot. "One man down!"...

In a letter to the mayor dated June 28, Councilman Geoff Schroeder resigned from his position on the board effective June 30 citing "potential conflicts of interest." "He has been a trusted advisor over important decisions I have made," said Mayor Rich Sykes about his time with Schroeder...

Mayor Rich Sykes is joined by directors from the Mountain Home Arts Council as he prepares to sign a proclamation to officially start a yearlong anniversary celebration to mark the arts council's 40th anniversary. The main festivities begin this month as the local arts group hosts its yearly Summer Concert Series, which includes a performance by the Blues Brothers tribute band on July 21 in Carl Miller Park. ...

Construction began earlier this week to rebuild a stretch of roadway along Old Highway 30 near Exit 90 by the interstate. The work includes rebuilding approximately one mile of Old Highway 30 going into Mountain Home as well as the on and off ramps at the interstate exit...

Volunteers from Mountain Home and Mountain Home Air Force Base join forces to wash cars at the local Les Schwab tire center as they help raise funds to benefit the Mountain Home Senior Center during a benefit June 17. Proceeds from the event benefitted the senior center's "Save the Kitchen" campaign, which seeks to replace the 40 year old equipment used to cook meals for the center's congregate and meals on wheels programs. ...

During a presentation June 14, representatives with the Mountain Home Elks Lodge presented nearly $10,000 to three civic organizations to fund different programs and efforts in the local community. The Mountain Home High School and American Legion baseball teams were presented with $5,000 with the High Hopes Special Olympics team in Mountain Home given another $3,600 with the lodge handing $1,000 to the Friends of the Mountain Home Public Library...

A Twin Falls man remains in critical condition at a Boise hospital following a multi-vehicle crash that blocked the eastbound side of the interstate for nearly four hours June 20. Antonio Vega, 23, was driving a 2004 Mack concrete pump truck when it collided with a trailer being pulled by a 2002 Volvo semi-truck driven by Pavel Priymak, 52, of Vancouver, Wash...

The Mountain Home School District's five-member board was sworn in to resume their duties during a public meeting June 20. The swearing in comes as the board reviewed issues leading up to the district's fiscal year, which starts July 1 and covers the 2017 to 2018 school year...

In the time between official monthly meetings, the Western Elmore County Recreation District board called two special board meetings to discuss various matters. The meeting May 30 started with the swearing in of David Kellerman as the incoming director for subdistrict three and Tarl Smith as district's new administrator...

More than 60 business owners, city and county officials and volunteer citizens were invited to the first in a series of meetings to develop a master plan for the City of Mountain Home. The city's economic development office hosted a stakeholder workshop June 13 and 14, where attendees paired up with a planner from Horrocks Engineers...

One of southern Idaho's largest fireworks shows will highlight Mountain Home's Independence Day celebration on Tuesday. The celebration officially begins that morning as organizers host various activities in Carl Miller Park. Details on those activities were still being finalized as the newspaper went to press. However, people interested in hosting different events or opening vendor booths in the park are asked to call Bill Bamber at 599-0008...

The Mountain Home community will enjoy a day of music, food and fun on Tuesday as people come together to celebrate this year's Fourth of July Festival in the Park. The events begin at 8 a.m. that morning in Carl Miller Park as people begin to register for this year's "Wash and Shine Car Show."...

Budget requests and planned improvements to city facilities were among the topics addressed by the Mountain Home City Council during a public meeting June 12. The council learned that the city received an inheritance of sorts specifically earmarked for the Mountain Home Animal Shelter...

Mountain Home Fire Chief Mark Moore issued a simple message late last week for local residents who are tempted to shoot illegal fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. Don't do it. According to state law, people are limited to using what are known as "safe and sane" fireworks. Those legal fireworks include those that don't explode or fly more than 10 feet in the air...

Two local area families are continuing to assess the damage after fires swept through their homes over the weekend. The first fire was reported around 8:15 p.m. on Friday with members of the King Hill Rural Fire District responding to a residential fire on Flock Road in Hammett...

The Mountain Home Police Department will join local and state emergency services agencies to hold a training exercise on Thursday, June 29, at the former Paul's Market in the city's downtown area. The exercise is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. that day and is expected to run until noon...