November 2024

Speirs, Mascheroni lead Vandal runners at state

Teammates Charlie Speirs and Jacob Mascheroni proved it on the biggest stage over the weekend, both finishing among the top boys runners as McCall-Donnelly competed at the 2024 Idaho Cross Country State Championships on Saturday in Eagle.Josie Leslie also shined during her first state meet at the 4A level, helping the Vandal girls to a fifth place finish.The M-D boys, meanwhile, brought home a fourth place trophy, forcing a repeat of last year when both Vandal boys and girls finished among the top five.Speirs capped off a successful fall season by becoming a state runner-up in just his sophomore season.

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Reinstated: Payette Lakes Ski Club regains nonprofit status

The Payette Lakes Ski Club recently regained its nonprofit status after it was revoked in the spring following an accounting error.The ski club, which manages the Little Ski Hill and Bear Basin Nordic Center, was notified by the IRS on March 14 that its nonprofit status would be revoked.PLSC Executive Director Colby Nielsen declined to provide specifics of the accounting error but asserted that the revocation was not the result of any misuse or misappropriation of funds.The club’s nonprofit status was reinstated in October.Regaining the 501c3 designation means that all donations from Nov.

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EMS levy passes narrowly on third try – Cascade levy passes and Prop. 1 flops

The $4.22 million Valley Countywide EMS permanent levy override passed with 69.5% of the vote on Tuesday.A two-thirds plus one vote majority was required for the tax to be approved.On Tuesday, 4,986 people voted in favor of the levy, with 2,185 opposed.The district saw two previous attempts to pass a permanent levy override fail, each earning about 64% of the vote.“This is a huge win for the EMS System and Valley County residents,” said EMS District Commission Chair Travis Smith.

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Huckaby concludes season with state run

Will Huckaby represented the Cascade cross country team at the 2A State Championships on Saturday in Eagle to conclude a strong sophomore season.The Rambler runner completed the 5,000-meter course at Eagle Island State Park in 20:09.45, a mark that shaved over a minute and half off his time since the season began.“This was the culmination of months of hard work, hundreds of miles, hours upon hours of running,” Cascade coach Josh Miller said.On Saturday, there was an additional challenge.

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Copperi elected Valley County Sheriff – Republicans sweep District 8 legislature races

Incumbent Valley County Sheriff Kevin Copperi won a three-way race for his position on Tuesday, receiving 3,282 votes in the General Election for about 48% of the vote.Write-in candidate Bradley Beaman came in second place with 2,372 votes, about 35% of the vote, while Independent Jason Speer received 1,217 votes, about 18% of the vote.This marks the first time Copperi has been elected sheriff.

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Public fieldhouse proposal aired at Economic Summit

A public fieldhouse and event arena could be built in Lake Fork under a proposal aired on Monday during an Economic Summit hosted by the West Central Mountain Economic Development Council at Tamarack Resort.The 120,000-square-foot facility, called the Mountain Community Center, would provide year-round indoor recreation space as well as a venue for conferences, concerts and other events.Current plans call for multiple sports fields surrounded by a walking track, with the ability for future expansions to add pickleball courts, a swimming pool, an indoor gym and other amenities.“This facility is for our entire community,” said Donnelly resident Johanna Defoort, who is helping to lead a group of Valley County residents who have developed the proposal.“We envision that it would be open to all members of the public but can also be reserved for sports to practice, tournaments, family and corporate gatherings, and other events,” Defoort said.The Mountain Community Center would be funded by donations and creating an auditorium district that could tax stays in short-term rentals and motels up to 5%, under state law.“We’ve created a business model and a framework that won’t affect your individual property taxes,” Defoort said.

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