Stories from Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Flags in Mountain Home remain at half staff in honor of the city’s first black mayor who passed away Sunday at the age of 89. Joe McNeal, who served as the city’s first African American mayor as well as the second in Idaho, represented “a distinguished leader whose dedication and service to our community left an indelible mark on the City of Mountain Home,” said Mayor Rich Sykes in a post shared on social media Monday morning...

The American spirit from the Roaring 20s nearly a century ago filled the air at the Mountain Home Elks Lodge on Saturday as representatives with the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce celebrated the accomplishments of two people who received yearly honors...

Members of the Elmore County Relay for Life committee invite people in the local community to take part in this year’s kickoff event on Saturday. Scheduled to run from 6 to 9 p.m. that evening at the First Congregational Church at 515 East 15th North Street, the event comes as plans come together to resume this yearly relay event...

The loss of evidence involving the death of a woman in Prairie back in 2021 led to the temporary dismissal of charges against her husband during a court hearing held Jan. 5. Lee Landers, faced charges of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Melissa Landers, who was found dead at a residence on South Landers Lane in the rural community...

Senior leaders from Mountain Home Air Force Base joined with members from the local military affairs committee as they took part in an event to honor the city’s former military liaison officer. In a ceremony held during a city council meeting Jan. 13, Marty Anderson received the Navy Federal Defense Community Champion award for 2025...

Amendments to documents involving the impact that urban growth represents to the Mountain Home community gained the attention of the city’s planning and zoning commission during a scheduled meeting Jan. 20. At issue involved a review and recommended revisions to the city’s current impact fee study as well as its capital improvement plans in which the commission assumed their additional role as members of the city’s development impact fee advisory committee...