Stories from Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Dear editor: WECRD Vote Reminder! There are two ways to vote for the rec district director: Absentee ballot by going to WECRD office at 140 N 3rd East St. or ask for the ballot on Nov. 4 at your regular polling place. Whitney is the name, change is the game! Thank you for being a concerned citizen...

Dear editor: I would like to let Kathleen Hiler know that I HAVE sought the truth about Barack Obama. I seek the truth by reading a variety of credible mainstream articles. I also do fact checking when I am unsure whether or not a candidate is using rhetoric and/or lies...

Dear editor: As with the bamboo tree that appears to be dormant for six years while its strong foundation of roots is being formed below the surface, so is the progression of the Western Elmore County Recreation Center. Just as the bamboo tree suddenly springs forth from the ground, so can the recreation center. ...

Dear editor: Barack Obama's "Presidential timber," as it was referred to, is little more than kindling wood. Rebecca Lampman doesn't think experience counts for much, and Obama has the ability to learn. Sure be does. We all have, but the Oval Office is no place for OJT...

Dear editor: Subject: Look for another understanding. In the Oct. 15 publication my letter under the title, "Voters shouldn't be swayed by emotion," is something we all should consider. My sentiments in this article were also meant to express a sense of loss for a system and way of life I have so appreciated. This was an epitaph, and call to action...

Dear editor: With less than two weeks until the election, this is your last chance to help this great REPUBLIC survive a depression not unlike we had back in the '30s. If Obama is elected, we are likely to end up a "socialistic government" that will be controlled by the democratic party and will make the first depression seem like a picnic...

On Saturday, Hacker Middle School hosted the sixth annual Health and Wellness Fair sponsored by the Elmore Medical Center and the Western Elmore County Recreation District. The Health Fair is a day "to increase awareness of a healthy living in our community," according to organizer and Education Manager at Elmore Medical Center Anna Hissong...

Michael "Mike" R. Simono, 50, of Pine, died on Oct. 14, 2008, at his home. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the South Fork Senior Center, located in Pine, followed by a potluck luncheon. Cremation is under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home...

Mary Dee Rose, 79, died Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, at her residence in Shoshone. Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 24, at the Shoshone United Methodist Church. Burial followed at the Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry. Arrangements were under the direction of Demaray Funeral Service, Shoshone Chapel...

Eusebia Arando-Susaeta, 86, died Oct. 27, 2008, at her home in Mountain Home, with her husband at her side. A viewing will be held at 4 p.m. with a rosary at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home...

John Albert Harrison and Tami Elizabeth McCoy have announced their plans to be married. The ceremony will be held June 19, 2009, at the Banbury Golf Club in Eagle, and will be officiated by D.G. Van Curen. John Harrison graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1991 and from Boise State University in 2006 with a Bachelors of Business Administration in business management. He currently works as a travel consultant for Connexions Leisure Travel Services in Boise...

The Mountain Home Tigers freshman football team gave Columbia a tough battle last Thursday night in dropping a 26-18 contest to the unbeaten Wildcats from Columbia in the District III 4A freshman football championship game at Columbia. A fumble recovery on the Columbia 34-yard line helped set up the Tigers' first score, as Juan Silva capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run...

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers played two tough, close matches but came up short in both of them to get eliminated from the District III 4A Volleyball Tournament at Kuna last week. Bishop Kelly 3 Mtn. Home 0 The Lady Tigers opened the District Tourney against Bishop Kelly, a team they played close but lost in three to the last time they played them. Mountain Home played them tough in the first and third games, but lost in three straight to the Lady Knights...

The Mountain Home Tigers girls cross country team came in third at last Thursday's District III 4A cross country meet at Eagle Island State Park while the Tiger boys came in eighth. Bishop Kelly won the girls race with 32 points. Kuna was second with 53, Mountain Home, third with 102, Emmett, fourth with 112, followed by Skyview, 115, Middleton, 135, Columbia, 147, and Nampa, 253. The top four teams advanced to state this Saturday back at Eagle Island State Park...

The Mountain Home Tigers overcame some turnovers to down the Emmett Huskies 28-7 Friday night at Emmett in SIC 4A football. The win also assured the Tigers their season would extend into the state 4A playoffs in November. The Tigers set the tone for the game right from the start as Jesse Donez ran back the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Kyle Kerfoot ran in the two-point conversion to put Mountain Home up 8-0, just 16 seconds into the ballgame...

Dear editor: To quote from the Aaron Tippin song "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string. Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name. You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything," nothing is truer than that when it comes to describing Molly Marsh and supporting her in the upcoming election...

Dear editor: Taxpayers from the recreation district are giving WECRD $413,000 a year. It is time for the community to have an event center and Leanna Whitney on the WECRD board is crucial to achieving this. This could have been done five years ago if the WECRD Board of Directors would have been willing to work with the City of Mountain Home and other local civic and recreational groups to use their taxpayer dollars and support an economic development program to build a multi-purpose community event center.. ...

Dear editor: I have been reading with deep interest the various letters in the paper concerning the WECRD recreation center. If I may, I would like to put a few ideas out to the Western Elmore County community. Before I start, just so you know who I am, I am a retired Air Force member who has lived in Hammett for close to eight years, works part-time for the Mountain Home School District as an elementary substitute teacher and as the high school's head tennis coach. ...

Dear editor: Please vote for may Papa, Doug King. Please write his name in, we need a good guy in with Arlie. Remember, his name is Doug King. Don't forget to write it in on Tuesday, Nov. 4. His granddaughter/buddy, Taylor Springer, 6

Dear editor: I would like to invite Elmore County to WRITE IN Doug King for Elmore County Commissioner District 2 on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Doug has thought long and hard about running for Commissioner. He was born and raised in Elmore County and wants to better Elmore County for future generations...

Dear editor and citizens of Elmore County: Please vote out Arlie Shaw and Larry Rose as county commissioners for their decision to overturn the Elmore County Planning and Zoning decision to deny Clear Springs Ranch Subdivision a conditional use permit to build about 200 homes on 200 acres with septic tanks...

Dear editor: Regardless of whom you plan to vote into the White House this year, please keep Boise County in mind when you head to the polls on Nov. 4. I know it's hard to think of anything other than the national election in times like these, but think of this: Boise County has not had representation in Idaho State government for 20 years. Our representative has come from Elmore County each and every election. It's a battle against sheer population, but it's time for Boise County...

Dear editor: The dream of a recreation center housing swimming pools, hydrotherapy tubs, basketball courts, and an auditorium could have died when the Kroc Foundation selected another city to receive the funds. Fortunately for Mountain Home, Mollie Marsh is not a dreamer but a visionary who works to make dreams become reality...

Dear editor: How could this replication have failed to catch your eagle eye? Two letters to the editor by Alan Bermensolo regarding the recreation district were exact duplicates, with changes only in the headlines and paragraphing (Sept. 24 and Oct. 15). If Mr. Bermensolo wanted your readers to see repeated information, he should have used an ad. Of course, ads cost money while letters to the editor are free...

Dear editor; Apparently, Doug King doesn't bother to review any of the minutes of the county commissioners or he would never have said, "$35,364 per year is too much to go to weekly meetings." This seems to imply that the commissioners attend only four meetings per month, which is as far from the truth as you can get...

Dear editor: I personally will not be voting for Mrs. Whitney. I sat under her leadership during the creation of the Blue Ribbon Committee. Sure she was organized and dedicated to the position for which I believe she was getting paid for. However, when the committee voted unanimously to go a different direction then her own views she resigned. ...

Dear editor: I have attended several of the WECRD meetings and listened carefully to what the three directors have to say. The WECRD secretary is a gem. She answered my questions and provided copies of documents, which helped me to better understand how we got to where we are with the Recreation District...

Rick Layher GOP -- Incumbent 1. Please describe your philosophy of law enforcement and management of the sheriff's office. My philosophy for management of the sheriff's office, and for law enforcement in general, is to promote and maintain a caring, professional department; one that not only gains the respect and confidence of the citizens while enhancing public safety, but also improves citizens' quality of life through crime reduction and prevention...

Mollie Marsh incumbent board member As a candidate for re-election to the unpaid office of the Western Elmore County Recreation District Board of Directors, I would like to clarify some issues. Since 2000 when the WECRD was formed by a favorable vote of 60 percent, the WECRD Board has sought to fulfill the people's mandate of building a recreation center...

Dear editor: Pete Nielsen is a strong leader in our community and has served our district well. He's a good person; honest, knowledgeable and caring. We need to keep him as our state legislative representative. Anna S. Vasso

Dear editor: I would like to publicly thank Sheriff Layher for his phone call to me last Wednesday before the second hearing, letting me know there would be no more wanding at the hearings. I must say, the whole atmosphere was different, much more public-friendly. The whole evening was enjoyable, as a matter of fact. Speakers were interesting and informative...

Dear editor; We are writing this letter in support of Larry Rose for Commissioner. We have known Larry for over 30 years, and have found him to be a man of integrity and fairness. Larry represents a superior choice for the voters of Elmore County. As we head into a huge economic crisis, we need a leader with experience, stability, good judgment and dedication. The job of county commissioner has become a seven-day-a-week job and Larry is available and ready to give his all for his constituents...

Dear editor: The time is overdue for a change. Elmore County and the city of Mountain Home have had trouble with some of the elected and appointed officials completing their charter of taking care of the public. Specifically, I'm referring to the chief of police and the sheriff. ...

Dear editor: I am writing to express my strong disagreement and disgust with your editorial board's recommendation in the Oct. 22 edition entitled "Time for changes." I will start by saying that it's always much more convenient to publish these suggestions as a "board" rather than attaching any one person's name to such recommendations. ...

It could very well be a record turnout in next Tuesday's election, so voters are being encouraged to cast their ballots as early as possible. In fact, we encourage businesses to demonstrate their patriotic faith in the American democratic system by letting their employees slip out during the day to cast their ballots...

An ongoing tradition for Mountain Home since 1995 is the "Scarecrow Spectacular," a fundraiser started by Coleen Swenson while serving on the Chamber's Retail Merchants Committee. This year, the "Scarecrow Spectacular" is co-organized by Nyla Norris, a Base Primary teacher since 1995, and her husband, Vern Norris. The class involved in this year's project is Mrs. Morgan Pelkey's first grade class...

Voters who wish to take part in Western Elmore County Recreation District's first challenged election will need an additional ballot on Nov. 4. Leanna Whitney is challenging incumbent Mollie Marsh to represent Subdistrict 3 on its three-member board for a four-year term...

October 22 • 08:43 Collision Property Damage• 10:05 Civil• 13:51 Collision Property Damage• 14:16 Assist• 15:01 Theft• 16:17 Vehicle Stop• 16:21 Vehicle Stop• 16:28 Vehicle Stop• 16:49 Collision HR• 17:11 VIN Inspection• 17:31 Animal• 18:17 Vehicle Stop• 18:17 Traffic• 18:25 Collision Unknown• 18:41 Motorist Assist• 20:20 Suspicious Circumstance• 20:38 Prowler• 23:10 Animal. ...

On Wednesday night the Elmore County Planning and Zoning Commission heard from groups that are neutral to or opposed to the request by Alternative Energy Holdings, Inc. to rezone approximately 1,345 acres of Agricultural A zoned property to Heavy Industrial in order to build a nuclear power plant on land southwest of Hammett...

Stephen and Tonya Vedder of Mountain Home have announced the birth of a daughter. Tanis Citrine Vedder was born Sept. 30, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise. She weighed 1lbs. 10 oz. and was 18 inches long. She joins an older brother, Stephen, 3.