CMC Donnelly clinic opens April 19
A new Cascade Medical Center clinic is set to open tomorrow in Donnelly offering urgent care and regular family practice appointments.The Donnelly Urgent Care clinic will be open Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m.
April 2024
Read MoreCMC Donnelly clinic opens April 19
Valley County starts firewise dept.
Valley County residents can now receive free home safety evaluations on how to prepare their property for wildfires.The program is part of the Valley County Department of Wildfire Mitigation, a new department formed this year and has already completed 10 consultations in its first two months in operation.The department is funded by an agreement with the Payette National Forest and the Good Neighbor Authority, which allows for work across federal, state, local and private ownership boundaries, with the permission of each party.The department director is Mara Hlawatschek of McCall, who has 13 years of wildland firefighting experience, nine of which were with the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association, where she earned the rank of Fire Operation Specialist.“Wildfire truly impacts everyone…we must work to protect communities and values at risk from wildfires,” Hlawatschek said.That work at the county includes administration of grants from the Idaho Department of Lands and U.S.
Democratic caucus to be held May 23
The presidential caucus for the Idaho Democratic Party will be held Tuesday at the McCall-Donnelly High School commons from 5 to 8 p.m.There are five candidates up for consideration in the Idaho Caucus alongside President Joe Biden, who has already secured the Democratic nomination by earning the necessary number of delegates in primary votes across the country.Participating in the primary is important as a show of support, more than it is contributing to a horse race to select a candidate, said Valley County Democrats Chairman Bill Thomas.“As Democrats, we want to show that we exist in Valley County, and we want to support a democratic candidate for president,” Thomas said.Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters are welcome to participate, as long as they have not voted in another party’s caucus in 2024.Voting will be conducted as a “firehouse caucus,” where individuals cast their vote in a ballot as opposed to some caucuses, which include multiple rounds of voting and speeches.“This pivotal event allows community voices to shape the democratic process by selecting presidential preferences and electing state delegates,” said a statement from the group Valley County Democrats.The deadline to file as a state delegate is May 1, and can be done at idahodems.org/caucus.Also on the ballot are Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips, who has officially suspended his campaign.Entrepreneur Jason Plamer has not officially suspended his campaign, but endorsed Biden this week.Author Marianne Williamson suspended her campaign in February, while lawyer David Olscamp and behavioral therapist Armando Perez-Serrato have remained in the race, despite having no chance of sealing the nomination.
Be Prepared to Stop the Bleed
In emergency situations, knowing how to stop bleeding quickly and effectively can make the difference between life and death.
Spring means hungry black blears
Bears are waking up from a winterlong hibernation with several overturned trash cans already reported in McCall this spring.People need to prepare for another spring in bear country, or careless trash handling could lead to bears dying.“Unfortunately, bears that have become too accustomed to human food sources cannot responsibly be relocated,” said Regan Berkley, a regional wildlife manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.“These bears can become dangerous, and in some cases IDFG needs to trap and lethally remove them,” Berkley said.
Letters to the Editor
During my two years on City Council, there have been very few votes that I’ve regretted.
McCall OKs 125 downtown apartments
Plans for more than 100 long-term rental apartments in downtown McCall were approved last week by the McCall City Council.The proposal by Boise developer Michael Hormaechea will build four buildings containing 125 apartments on a 4.4-acre parcel across Third Street (Idaho 55) from Alpine Village.“It looks like a really well-planned project,” council member Julie Thrower said, citing the environmental benefits of downtown housing within walking distance of businesses.Hormaechea agreed to permanently restrict the use of 101 of the apartments as long-term rentals as part of the city’s approval for the project.That includes 31 apartments that will be under the city’s local housing program, which permanently deed restricts units for use by people who live and work in McCall.In exchange, Hormaechea is eligible for up to $310,000 in developer incentives offered by the city, like utility connection fee waivers.The project more than doubles the 14 units signed onto the city’s housing program since it was launched in 2018.The other 70 long-term rentals would be reserved through a development agreement with the city that would remain with the property no matter who owns it.Those rentals would not be subject to rental rate appreciation caps in place for the 31 apartments signed onto the city’s housing program after the council honored a request by Hormaechea to not impose the rental caps.“He needs to make enough money to maintain the buildings,” Thrower said.
McCall man pleads guilty to killing wife
The McCall man suspected of shooting and killing his wife amid a domestic violence dispute in February 2023 pleaded guilty to murder last week at the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade.Mark Dooley, 56, pleaded ‘guilty’ to second degree murder as part of a plea agreement with Valley County Prosecutor Brian Naugle.Naugle agreed not to seek a life sentence with no chance for parole in exchange for Dooley’s pleading guilty last Friday to Fourth Judicial District Judge Jason Scott.Scott will sentence Dooley on Sept.
Vandals snap slide in return home
Catcher Monique Brewer splurged for a pair of doubles as the McCall-Donnelly softball team celebrated home field advantage Monday by snapping a six-game slide with a win over Payette, 15-2.Payton Woolcott also went 2-for-3 at the plate as the Vandals exploded for 12 runs in the third inning to seize control of the Snake River Valley Conference tilt, which marked the McCall team’s first game this season at the M-D field.Brewer and Angie Dauphinais, who came up with a single, each drove in two runs as the Vandals delivered nine RBI total.M-D coach Jeff Walker said his players were excited to get a win on their own field.The game stood scoreless after two innings, but Vandal hitters soon found their groove.
McCall approves second large STR permit
A permit for a large short-term rental in Spring Mountain Ranch was approved last week by the McCall City Council.The permit allows a seven-bedroom house at 1030 Bitterroot Dr.