Maxfield Silverson

Maxfield Silverson

  • Joined: October 18, 2023
  • Articles: 1100

Perpetua sells Stibnite silver for $8.5M

Perpetua Resources will receive $8.5 million for all the silver expected to be mined as part of its Stibnite Gold Project, the Boise mining company announced last week.The silver was sold to the Franco-Nevada Corporation, a Toronto mining company, through an agreement that nets Perpetua $8.5 million in cash.The $8.5 million will be used to pay for the company’s general corporate expenses, Perpetua President and CEO Jon Cherry said.The sale leaves Perpetua with about $80 million in on-hand funding to pay for expenses related to permitting the company’s proposed gold and antimony mine near Yellow Pine, said Perpetua CFO Jessica Largent.“We will continue to evaluate various financing options that unlock shareholder value as we receive permits for our world-class project and transition towards construction,” Largent said.Silver makes up less than 1% of Perpetua’s estimated $6 billion in mineral reserves at Stibnite, which include 4.8 million ounces of gold and 115 million pounds of antimony.Plans call for gold, silver and antimony to be extracted from three open pit mines totaling about 473 acres at Stibnite.Perpetua is currently awaiting the release of a draft decision on the project by the Payette National Forest, the lead permitting agency for the federal review process.A draft decision is currently slated for release this spring, with a final decision expected by the end of the year, according to an April 1 project update issued by the Payette.Overall, Perpetua has spent more than $300 million on its Stibnite proposal since exploration began in 2011.The company has received $75 million in the last two years from the U.S.

Local vaulters resurrect indoor trainer

It took time to plan, months to execute, weeks to transport and days to assemble, but a new indoor training set up for area pole vaulters now resides erect – alive again — inside the Meadows Valley gym.Mountaineer track and field coach Jared McIlvain proudly hosts the sizable structure, which he and others believe could help pole vaulters from MV, McCall-Donnelly, Cascade – even Salmon River – get an edge on the competition.“I’m excited,” McIlvain said.

Tracking snow to guide water

Once a month from January until May, Sarah Armstrong shoulders a 20-pound pack as she skis out into forests around Idaho to take snow surveys.The surveys collect data which help determine the water content of the winter snowpack, which can aid decision makers in managing and distributing water for agriculture, reservoirs and recreation.“Little Payette Lake is a great example of how important snowmelt is to our community,” Armstrong said last week during the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation’s Outdoor Conversations series held in McCall.“Without adequate data to estimate our snowmelt runoff, management of the lake in the early season would be difficult and lead to drought and flooding concerns to the downstream users,” she said.Armstong, who grew up in McCall but now lives in Hailey, began conducting snow surveys in 2009 when she started work for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.Armstrong demonstrated some of the gear and devices she uses to conduct her surveys during last week’s presentation, including the Mount Rose Sampler.The device, created by James Church in 1908, is an elongated and hollow metal tube which weighs the snow to determine the water content.Armstrong weighs the empty metal tube then fills it with snow from the survey site.

Correction

CORRECTION: A story last week in The Star-News incorrectly stated that the Idaho Department of Lands changed its policy regarding local planning laws for a request for lease applications on a 12.5-acre state land parcel on Deinhard Lane.

Camp Pinewood to add gymnasium

A new gymnasium and event center will be built in Camp Pinewood along Mission Street in McCall after action taken on Tuesday by the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission.The commission voted to approve the church camp’s plans to build a 7,800 square foot steel building that would house the gymnasium.The gymnasium will primarily serve the church camp, but could also be used by local nonprofits to host events, Camp Pinewood Operations Director Kyle Maschek said.Maschek told commissioners that the church camp plans to build additions onto the gymnasium building, which initially will only include bathrooms, a nurse’s station, and a coffee bar.Future phases of construction, which would also need to be approved by the P&Z, could include a bathhouse, a commercial kitchen, more storage space, and cabins, Maschek said.The gymnasium project was previously envisioned in a 2005 master plan for Camp Pinewood.The master plan was approved by the P&Z in 2005 as part of the camp’s application for a permit to operate on the 43.9-acre parcel at 300 N.

Last light

Mae Davis of Boise skis off a jump at the Little Ski Hill’s terrain park on “Outback.” The ski area’s last day of the season… Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close

McCall: M-D survey miscasts city

A public survey recently released by the McCall-Donnelly School District misrepresents the City of McCall’s role in delaying a planned expansion of Payette Lakes Middle School, according to McCall Mayor Bob Giles.The survey, which was sent out last month by the school district, includes several statements that suggest the city is stopping the expansion project from moving forward.“It’s crucial for our community to have accurate information, especially concerning matters as significant as education, infrastructure, and our collaboration efforts with other public agencies,” Giles said.“We have a low tolerance for misinformation and not telling the truth,” he said.The council declined to issue a public correction to the survey, but hopes to schedule a joint meeting with the McCall-Donnelly School District Board of Trustees to discuss improving future communications between the agencies.The district’s recent survey polls voters on a proposal to spend $65 million on a new high school and repurpose Barbara R.

Recycling down

The Valley County Recycling Depot has been closed since Monday, March 4 due to another mechanical failure in the county’s baler.The baler was purchased in July of last year for about $194,000 to replace an older model that was no longer serviceable.