Stories from Wednesday, December 17, 2025

It seemed the holiday spirit helped bring a spirit of warmth to the Mountain Home community. Following days of frigid rain and temperatures falling close to the freezing mark, the temperatures rose into the low 50s last Wednesday as hundreds of people of all ages packed into Railroad Park to take part in the community’s annual Christmas celebration...

A water main break at the intersection of Airbase Road and South 5th West Street that led to a road closure lasting a couple of hours on Dec. 8 prompted city officials to alert residents in the local area to remain vigilant due to the possibility of similar problems happening in coming weeks...

I have to admit I’m one of the worst Christmas shoppers in my family. I’m one of those you probably read about in the news headlines -- the one person who seemingly waits until the last minute to do their shopping. But in all honesty, I tend to wait until the last minute because I keep convincing myself that I’ll start my shopping “tomorrow,” which then becomes “this weekend” and then “next week.” Before I know it, I find myself trapped in the Christmas carnage in hopes of finding something appropriate to put under the tree.. ...

Just days after they claimed a number of awards and accolades during their appearance at a district-level competition, Mountain Home High School’s Encore Company team earned first-place honors during its appearance at this year’s state-level event. In addition, some of the team’s 36 students claimed additional awards as they showcased an assortment of theatric skills as they took part in the Idaho State Drama Competition, held Dec. 5 and 6 at Thunder Ridge High School in Idaho Falls...

It seemed Brian Reed always knew he would become a firefighter. It began during his early childhood after his grandparents presented him with a book he used to track what he learned each year. In addition to the drawings and other keepsakes he featured in that book, it also included his thoughts on what he wanted to be when he grew up. In time, he jotted down his plans to become a firefighter and a paramedic...

Carolyn Deaton and Troy Stempfly get into character as they rehearse their lines during a dress rehearsal held earlier this month at the Glenns Ferry Opera Theater in preparation for their appearance in the “Gift of the Magi” holiday show. Highlighting what opera theater officials referred to as a “cherished Glenns Ferry tradition,” the show represented a way for families and friends to gather at the theater as a way to “share laughter, love and the spirit of giving in this timeless story.”...

A group of people gathered at Mountain View Cemetery on Saturday to pay tribute to military service members across the United States as part of a coordinated, nationwide observance. At 10 a.m. that day, veterans in the Mountain Home community took part in an event that began that morning at more than 5,600 locations in all 50 states and 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil as part of year’s Wreaths Across America Day observance...

Monday, December 15, 2025 BOISE – A federal grand jury in Boise returned an indictment charging Charles Thomas Abrahamson, 56, of Venice, Florida, with charges of wire fraud and tax fraud, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. According to the Indictment, between approximately 2017 and 2024, Abrahamson was employed by a nonprofit veterans’ organization with a department in Idaho, and he served in various capacities, including adjutant and commander. ...