Dear Friends,

I take short walks on occasion around the Capitol and it is amazing what I find. Across the street from the Capitol, I found this beautiful monument to the Challenger space shuttle crew. This was a tragic accident that happened in January of 1986. The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff and the entire crew was lost. This was the flight that was taking the first teacher into space. That teacher was Christa McAuliffe. Seeing this reminder caused me to reflect on what I was doing when the event happened. This was one of those events that was so impactful to a generation, that we all seem to remember what we were doing when we watched the event or first heard about it. I was in flight school with the United States Air Force and we all took a break from training to go watch the launch on television. We all cheered when the Challenger took off, but tragedy struck within a few minutes after liftoff. The room was somber and it was hard to resume training that day. That day spurred many things, but it did give the world a chance to see the importance of a science teacher from Idaho and the influence she has had on education in our state and in the country. I just wanted to share my thoughts on an event that has been so very important, but at the same time is fading into history.

The Idaho Small Arms Protection Act is unlike any other legislation in the country, designed to protect the owners of small arms in Idaho. Idaho has a Firearm Freedom Act however our prior law passed has been proven to be insufficient to protect gun owners as the Ninth Circuit Court ruled that some provisions of our law violates the supremacy clause of the United States constitution. Our goal is to defend the right of Idahoans to possess the arms necessary to protect and defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Idahoans expect the Democrat-controlled Congress to pass law, and President Biden to issue executive orders which will impose significant taxes on firearms and accessories routinely owned by Idahoans, tax on ammunition, require background checks,waiting periods for firearms and ammunition, registration of firearms, licensing by individuals wishing to possess a firearm, or declare certain firearms and accessories illegal. Idaho’s constitution prohibits registration of firearms.

ARTICLE I

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

Section 11.

RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.

The people have the right to keep and bear arms, which right shall not be abridged; but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to govern the carrying of weapons concealed on the person nor prevent passage of legislation providing minimum sentences for crimes committed while in possession of a firearm, nor prevent the passage of legislation providing penalties for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon, nor prevent the passage of any legislation punishing the use of a firearm. No law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition. Nor shall any law permit the confiscation of firearms, except those actually used in the commission of a felony.

This bill does not declare federal law which have been in place for decades are null, rather it protects certain arms, ammunition, reloading supplies and components. Many of these items have been declared illegal in other states. Idaho will protect the right of our citizens to own and use them pursuant to their right protected by the Second Amendment. This legislation will provide criminal and civil immunity to law enforcement officials and elected officials who refuse to aid federal agents in enforcing federal law passed that is not pursuant to the United States Constitution, Idaho’s Constitution, or Idaho code. If the Attorney General of the state of Idaho will not defend this legislation, this bill provides a way for the legislature to pass a concurrent resolution to intervene on behalf of our state. This law will not allow for violation of federal law,this is a statement that the State of Idaho will defend your right to own these small arms. We invite all to join us in this effort to declare our state sovereignty, uphold our Second Amendment, Fifth Amendment, Ninth Amendment and Tenth Amendment.

Editors Note: When we get the 'Legislation at a Glance' from our Representatives, we will try to get them in the paper and this is your opportunity to reach out to your elected officials with any comment or concerns happening in your government

The Idaho Small Arms Protection Act is unlike any other legislation in the country, designed to protect the owners of small arms in Idaho. Idaho has a Firearm Freedom Act however our prior law passed has been proven to be insufficient to protect gun owners as the Ninth Circuit Court ruled that some provisions of our law violates the supremacy clause of the United States constitution. Our goal is to defend the right of Idahoans to possess the arms necessary to protect and defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Idahoans expect the Democrat-controlled Congress to pass law, and President Biden to issue executive orders which will impose significant taxes on firearms and accessories routinely owned by Idahoans, tax on ammunition, require background checks,waiting periods for firearms and ammunition, registration of firearms, licensing by individuals wishing to possess a firearm, or declare certain firearms and accessories illegal. Idaho’s constitution prohibits registration of firearms.

ARTICLE I

RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.

The people have the right to keep and bear arms, which right shall not be abridged; but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to govern the carrying of weapons concealed on the person nor prevent passage of legislation providing minimum sentences for crimes committed while in possession of a firearm, nor prevent the passage of legislation providing penalties for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon, nor prevent the passage of any legislation punishing the use of a firearm. No law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition. Nor shall any law permit the confiscation of firearms, except those actually used in the commission of a felony.

This bill does not declare federal law which have been in place for decades are null, rather it protects certain arms, ammunition, reloading supplies and components. Many of these items have been declared illegal in other states. Idaho will protect the right of our citizens to own and use them pursuant to their right protected by the Second Amendment. This legislation will provide criminal and civil immunity to law enforcement officials and elected officials who refuse to aid federal agents in enforcing federal law passed that is not pursuant to the United States Constitution, Idaho’s Constitution, or Idaho code. If the Attorney General of the state of Idaho will not defend this legislation, this bill provides a way for the legislature to pass a concurrent resolution to intervene on behalf of our state. This law will not allow for violation of federal law,this is a statement that the State of Idaho will defend your right to own these small arms. We invite all to join us in this effort to declare our state sovereignty, uphold our Second Amendment, Fifth Amendment, Ninth Amendment and Tenth Amendment.

Feb 16, 2021- March 13, 2020, was the date we held our kick-off event for the Idaho Women 100 yearlong celebration of women’s suffrage on our State Capitol steps. It was a large gathering with people hugging, greeting each other warmly and in tight groups for photos. It was also the date our governor, my husband, made all Idahoans first aware of the precautions we must begin to take due to the coronavirus.

That was the very last day many of us gathered closely together with anyone without very careful consideration and precautions.

Truly amazing, in Idaho in less than one year, we have gone from first awareness of coronavirus to a full-scale rollout of not one but, two highly effective vaccines with more on the way!

This past month I have been engaged in our hometown of Emmett assisting with vaccine appointment registration and drive-thru clinics. It is heartwarming volunteer work.

There are definite ways you could help this process speed along in your community, too.

First, educate yourself on how and where folks in your community may register for a vaccine.

The coronavirus.idaho.gov website is an excellent place to do this. If English is not a person’s first language, the site may be converted to these languages: Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, French and Russian. You may also enlarge or decrease the font size. The first link on the page is “When and where to get your vaccination.” The page clearly lets you know who is eligible now as well as approximate dates for next eligible groups. There are links within this for the seven health districts in our state, with links and phone numbers for who is providing vaccinations within that health district. Check back to the site regularly as pharmacies are being added to the mix.

The website has a “Vaccine administration transparency data” link. There, you will see where doses of vaccine into the state are currently located and where they have been distributed.

The other link I find very informative is the “COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard.” There you will find regularly updated information on those vaccinated, number of first and second doses, by county and health district. It also maps the vaccination rates for ages 16+ by county and health district.

With this knowledge in hand, please reach out to your family members, friends, church members, etc., who do not navigate the internet well, and ask them if they need help in securing an appointment. Your assistance in this process would be a huge blessing in their lives. If you, then, feel comfortable giving them a ride to their appointments, this would also be an act of love.

NBC very recently put up a web site: planyourvaccine.com. If you wish to help family living in other states, it is a good tool to guide you. Crushthecurveidaho.com has an easy to navigate site up and running too.

My friend, Laurey and I have spent many hours and days calling people with higher risk profiles in our community. If they navigate the internet and have an e-mail address, we have sent them a link to register for an upcoming clinic. If they do not have e-mail, we have registered them over the phone. Frustrations with computer glitches aside, it is a joy to know we are helping people secure an appointment. Their sense of relief transfers right through the phone line.

In Emmett, Angela Booker and Beth Sutton of Valor Health, Laurie Boston, our Gem County Emergency Planning Officer, and Curt Christensen, our Emmett Fire Chief, have coordinated four large clinics: one walk-in and three drive-thru to date.

The people working the clinics, including the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, first responders and their assistants, are also the people who have had an extremely tumultuous time this past year as they gave care to COVID ill patients along with their other patients. Now, they are doing their regular work, COVID patients, COVID testing, plus vaccine distribution. It is a lot to manage! The vaccinating teams I have observed have been extremely kind, friendly, and patient with those they are helping. We are grateful for them.

Our drive-thru clinics have enabled willing volunteers to assist with traffic control and other duties, freeing trained professionals for their important work. Freshly brewed coffee, home-baked muffins and cookies for staff and volunteers have been most appreciated contributions from community members.

Though bundled up in the cold weather, it has been a lot of fun to see grateful people and longtime friends come through the drive-thru clinics...when we actually are able to recognize them and they us behind their masks and ours! Our friends Sue and Millie brought their 103-year-old Mom, Gerry Shaw, through to receive her vaccine. Mary Weerheim, our son Adam’s second grade teacher, received her vaccine one day and delivered delicious individual servings of homemade caramel corn to the crew the next. At the end of our first drive-thru clinic we had a dose left. The first woman on our waiting list did not drive and did not have a ride to come right down. Bless their hearts, one of our PA’s and a fireman drove to her home, gave her the vaccine, and waited with her to be sure she did not have a reaction. Love in action, for sure.

It remains a critical part of our path out of this pandemic to continue to mask (even two with the variants so prevalent), social distance, and wash our hands frequently. We have come so far in less than a year.

Stay vigilant. Stay vigilant in honor of those who have died of COVID. Stay vigilant in support of those continuing to suffer long lasting effects of COVID illness. Stay vigilant to continue to protect your health and the health of all you encounter. Stay vigilant for all those doing their very best to keep you well.

Stay vigilant so when this pandemic ends, we may, once again, safely gather in large groups, hug our loved ones and friends, celebrate birthdays, weddings and holidays, mourn our deceased, and begin to put a health crisis - turned ugly political mess - behind us.

With love,

Teresa

Feb 11, 2021 - Too many Idahoans don’t have broadband internet access. In this information age, broadband is a utility. We ensure rural towns have access to water and power, but we don’t ensure they have access to broadband. That means their businesses can’t communicate with consumers, they can’t get the health care they need,and their kids can’t get the education they deserve. My new legislation can help fix this. This past week, I introduced legislation that would provide for an Idaho Broadband Advisory Board to create a more strategic broadband plan for our state.

For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper’s online edition.

Our community has reason to be proud and appreciative of the local Community Canvas. It has been recognized, not only locally, but beyond our borders to the entire state and beyond. The Canvas is a place for us to walk or drive and enjoy the visual art displays that are there.

I always take the opportunity to share it with my own family and friends that come to visit. Our local artists have spent their time, resources, energy, and imagination to express their talent with their eyes and hearts vision with a beautiful expression of talent. To those that have participated and made our town better, we thank you for all your efforts.

When the graffiti first happened, my thought as a parent, grand and great grandparent was "did we not teach our children that when it’s not yours, don’t touch it?"

To those that disrespect someone else’s property, know that they are quickly repaired and made whole again. Please be a part of the team of artists and ask to join in and legitimately participate. Be respectful and proud of what your capabilities are.

All the art has not only the artists’ - but also the viewer’s interpretation. When we have vandalism to these pieces of art, we as a community take it personally and are disgusted and angry at those that desecrated them.

Our community has come together, yet again to show their support with a donation reward fund, in an attempt to identify and prosecute those responsible.

The City has offered a $150 reward and a personal donation by the Mayor for another $250 with Eric Tautfest adding yet again to increase the fund to $500.

What a charitable expression of our community’s determination to not allow this type of behavior in our city.

If you have any information that might lead to an arrest, please calls the Mountain Home Police Department at 208-587-2101.

To Reba Lindsay,

Unlike your 1/6 redundant LTE, I intentionally kept my article, Dec. 23, 2020, short and to the point in consideration of others who may have wanted to submit an opinion of their own, I’m quite cognizant of H.R. 8598, so please do not insult my intelligence! Perhaps you took out of context my article, as I did not specifically refer to either the Dems or Republicans regarding the COLA. You alone, made the assumption that I pointed my finger at the Dems.

Left-wing politicians and ‘Swamp Creatures’ are metaphors, and yes they are in both partys. You intentionally attacked my character with your personal rhetoric, and I’m quoting your verbatim: “Ms. O’Hanley only serves to exacerbate the current climate of hate and disrespect.” Your choice of word ‘hate’ is offensive and unjustified. Also, respect is earned; not simply given! You further quoted: “Even worse, it encourages acts of violence by others.” Acts of violence by others is a personal decision, Ms. Lindsay, and I am conformable.

Forgive me for not obtaining your ‘stamp of approval’ when I opine!

Rhonda O’Hanley

The Service Extension for The Elmore County Salvation Army would like to thank the people and businesses of the Mountain Home area for their generous donations and the volunteers from the community who spent their tim to “Man a Kettle” through the 2020 Christmas Season.

The generous, caring people of Elmore and Owyhee Counties, and the Mountain Home Air Force Base made this season’s donations one of the best.

Many needs will be met in the coming year because of your sacrifice of time and resources.

THANK YOU!

Sincerely,

Donald Nesbitt

Salvation Army Volunteer

In response to this letter to the editor in particular, and all the many additional media releases and responses to our current state situation, addressing topics for our schools, businesses for cities and state, the sad fact is we just don’t have room to publish them all. Being in a pandemic has affected our businesses and each of us personally. We try to choose those that speak for the many as a way to share their messages to our readers. I can assure you that if we do receive any response or letter in opposition to these pleas of additional measures to slow and stop the spread of this virus, I would publish them as well. As a publisher, I do feel that there has been a radio silence locally on how our local leaders feel on the current conditions and what we as a community could face in the future. We do receive the basic notification of office closers and releases of that nature, but no definitive comments of possible plans that would-could affect us here in our cities and county. Aside from the fact that the governor addressed the state again this past Thursday, and kept us in the modified Stage II status, and that he was in fact asked over and over again what HE was going to possibly do, he repeated himself multiple times that he was still leaving it to the local level. Well, what are our local plans? Do we do nothing, say nothing and wait and see what our governor or possible CDH will do? We will not all agree, but in order to have the opportunity to use our voices, and I mean you the citizens, what are the plans in the works for our communities and what is currently being done to keep our community safe if and when the conditions warrant? Are we there yet and just waiting to see what someone else orders? Is there something as a local mask mandate being considered by local officials?

For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper’s online edition.

Washington, D.C. – “I have been a proponent of hydroelectric power since I first came to Congress. It is one of the best energy sources we have—clean, reliable, renewable baseload generation that is more valuable than ever as we seek to reduce carbon emissions in the electricity sector. For years, I have supported policies to promote, increase, and support our hydroelectric resources. From reforming our licensing processes to making it easier to install new generation and supporting continued research and development into technological advances for new waterpower technologies.

There are many who have chosen to make Idaho home. What is important is their love, devotion, and desire to protect the freedom of our state and nation.

We need unity, not division. I will always work for unity, and to secure the promise of liberty and responsibility. As I write this we are over half way through the legislative session. I wish I could report that legislation had been passed to balance the powers of the executive and the legislative branch, it has not. Hopefully, soon we will see something we can vote on.

The Idaho Small Arms Protection Act, is still waiting for a hearing in the Senate State Affairs committee. Senator Lodge has been asked to grant a hearing, she sent us to a Senator, who we previously consulted.

The Idaho Small Arms Protection Act, was written by top 2A attorneys in this country.

We have welcomed all suggestions, made changes, offered to meet with any legislator, with ISAA legal counsel, to answer questions about the legislation.

In all honesty, the politics of personalities is not the way we should be doing business in this state.

You would not think so difficult to pass gun legislation in Idaho that has been carefully crafted by top second amendment legal minds.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) voted against conviction in the Senate impeachment trial of former-President Donald Trump. Risch issued the following statement upon the conclusion of the trial:

“The purpose of the constitutional authority of impeachment is to remove the president from office. The person Democrats attempted to impeach was no longer in office. The United States Senate has no jurisdiction over a private citizen and thus impeachment was and is impossible.

“It’s time we stop the political hate and vitriol and move forward wiser and stronger just as America has countless times before.”

“This week’s trial was unconstitutional. The House’s impeachment proceeding blatantly violated established guarantees of due process. Furthermore, the plain text of the Constitution limits impeachment to current civil officers of the United States, specifically stating that, ‘The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.’ Both by text and by precedent, the Constitution does not allow impeaching private citizens--even those who formerly occupied federal office. Private citizens are subject to accountability for their actions under our legal justice system. We must not dismiss the foundational tenets of our Constitution, particularly in the heat of the deep divisions we face in America.

“The violent, despicable acts of January 6th have shaken our republic to its core and must not go unpunished. Investigations, arrests and court proceedings are already underway for those responsible, and law enforcement and the National Guard are vigilant in maintaining order on Capitol Hill and elsewhere in our country.