Stories from Thursday, July 5, 2012

Barry Peterson stepped into the corral as one of his horses whinnied for attention. A tall, soft-spoken individual with a broad smile, Peterson reached out and gave the horse some wanted attention. Having a chance to enjoy some quiet time with his horses was a welcome diversion compared to the countless hours he spent running a hardware store in Mountain Home over the years...

As work continues this week to upgrade the city's underground water transmission lines, construction is set to start this month to install a new storm water drainage system along a stretch of East 8th North Street. The $575,000 project involves building a drainage system along an eight-block stretch of road from North 6th East Street by Elmore Medical Center to North 14th East Street that would continue down to American Legion Boulevard...

A state law that took affect Sunday makes it illegal for drivers to write, send or receive electronic text messages behind the wheel. The bill signed by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter in April mades Idaho the 37th state to enact a texting-while-driving ban...

An increasing number of cats running loose within city limits continues to overwhelm animal control officials as they struggle to deal with complaints from local residents. The complaints concern a growing number of cats running freely within city limits -- a violation of city ordinance, according to Mountain Home Animal Shelter Supervisor Danniele Rhatigan...

As the Mountain Home community pauses to celebrate Independence Day, it seems like a very odd time to highlight local issues. However, in light of the current situation we've seen, it seemed prudent to highlight the problem before it spirals hopelessly out of control...

Connley and Connie Cruser of Mountain Home celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this month. The Crusers celebrated their wedding anniversary in Maui, Hawaii, with their three sons Dan, Michael and Patrick, and their spouses, Mary, Nikki, and Sally, along with their 13 grandchildren...

Brad and Tiffany Bowen of Mountain Home are proud to announce the engagement of their son, Blake Andrew Bowen, to Jacquelyne Leah Shields of Meridian. Bowen is a 2011 graduate of Mountain Home Senior High School and is currently enrolled in the diesel technology program at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls...

Leo and Joanne Spence of Mountain Home celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Saturday. They were married June 30, 1952, in Humboldt, Nev. The family celebrated the occasion with a picnic at Carl Miller Park. The Spences have five children, Terry, Gary, Dale, Jeana and Marla, along with numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren...

The Mountain Home Royals return to action Friday when they host the Centennial Cannons in an American Legion league doubleheader at home. It will be exactly two weeks since the Royals last played as they crushed Middleton, 12-4, during an away game June 22. However, Royals manager and head coach Alex Hoffman isn't complaining about the time off...

One of the largest fireworks shows in southern Idaho culminated a day-long celebration as Mountain Home observed Independence Day on Wednesday. The $30,000 firework show came just days after the city council approved plans to expanded the viewing area for this year's fireworks show at the Desert Canyon Golf course...

Skeeter Clark, 62, passed away suddenly on June 26, 2012, at his home near Silver Lake, Ore. Daniel Edwin Clark III, or "Skeeter' as he was more commonly known, was born on April 6, 1950, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Daniel and Gladys (Eckersell) Clark, Jr. ...