Maxfield Silverson

Maxfield Silverson

  • Joined: October 18, 2023
  • Articles: 1098

Thomas to take MD reigns if Pingrey leaves early

McCall-Donnelly High School Principal Tim Thomas will serve as the interim superintendent if Eric Pingrey leaves the post prior to the end of the next school year.The M-D Board of Trustees approved the potential interim posting at a special meeting on Monday.Pingrey, 52, announced last month that he would be retiring as superintendent no later than the end of the 2024-25 school year, which ends July 1, 2025.Trustees have said they would start the search for a new superintendent in the fall.Thomas, 55, was hired as the MDHS principal in 2004.“I appreciate the board trusting me with this opportunity,” Thomas said.

Payette gets new supervisor

Matthew Davis has been selected to lead the Payette National Forest as the new forest supervisor.Davis replaces Linda Jackson, who retired from the Forest Service in late April of this year.“We are thrilled to share this exciting news and welcome him to our team,” said Mary Moore, Deputy Regional Forester Intermountain Region.“His vast experience and knowledge will serve the Forest and our local community well.”Davis reported to the Payette on Monday.“I am very excited to work with the employees, tribes, external partners, and communities of the Payette National Forest on the many facets of work we do for the public,” said Davis.Davis comes to the Payette from his previous position as the District Ranger of the Priest Lake Ranger District in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.He started his career in 1990 as a seasonal fisheries technician on the Lolo National Forest in Montana.Davis worked as a fish biologist for more than 15 years and has held three different district ranger positions.

Eyes in the sky

Peering through Binoculars, Evan Lunning did not know if the white puffs he could see from his perch atop the Carey Dome Fire Lookout were wildfire smoke, or the low-lying clouds that often float through the Salmon River canyon.Lunning had seen lightning strikes in the area the night before, and erring on the side of caution, he radioed the Payette Interagency Dispatch Center in McCall to report a smoke sighting.

New look, Ramblers grow together

The Cascade Schools boys basketball team spent June assimilating a new cast of characters.The Ramblers played summer tournaments in Dietrich and Carey, with a focus on developing chemistry and teamwork.“We lost six seniors so we have a lot of work to do establishing new roles and a new team,” Cascade coach Josh Hurley said.The Rambler skipper said his squad finished mid-pack at both tournaments, but were able to face a long line of quality opponents in Kimberly, Canyon Ridge, Butte County, Buhl, Valley, West Jefferson and Liberty Charter.Of course, there were growing pains for a largely newer group that for the upcoming season will lean on returners like Cole Olson, Hayden Hull and Finn Wilkins.“There were some games where things clicked and then other games where they fell apart,” Hurley said.The Ramblers are coming off a banner campaign, finishing third at the 1AD2 State Tournament and earning a no.

Emergency staffing stretched thin by July 4 crowds

Valley County’s emergency call volumes during last week’s July 4 celebration held similar to recent years, but first responder staffing remained a challenge, according to local fire and EMS agencies.McCall, Donnelly, and Cascade Fire and EMS all reported being “fairly busy,” and said that most of the 62 calls for service during the holiday period were connected to minor incidents.On several occasions the calls came in simultaneously, which stretched staffing thin across the county and forced first responders to use creative solutions.“Our first responder agencies are not resourced for these numbers of people in Valley County,” McCall Fire and EMS Chief Garrett de Jong said.

Sports Briefs: July, 11

M-D FOOTBALL HOLDS YOUTH CAMPThe McCall-Donnelly football team will hold a youth camp later this month, welcoming incoming players third grade through eighth grade.The three-day camp will be held July 30 to Aug.