Practicing for the unthinkable
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Correction:
Correction: An article in last week’s edition gave the wrong voter threshold for Proposition 1 to pass in the Nov.
McCall to forgive sewer district’s $55K water bill
A leaky water pipe at the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District’s wastewater treatment plant poured over 14 million gallons of water into the ground during September, the McCall City Council was told last week.The leak, which was discovered on Sept.
McCall man sentenced on plea deal
A 56-year-old McCall Man will spend 10 days in jail and 10 years on probation for assault with a deadly weapon after charges of rape, kidnapping and the sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult were dropped.Thad Harlan Rice was sentenced last Friday by Fourth Judicial District Judge Jason Scott on an assault charge, which he pleaded guilty to in exchange for the more serious charges being dropped.Rice was arrested on June 22, 2023 on suspicion of holding an 18-year-old woman against her will for five days at his home and repeatedly sexually assaulting her during that time.The woman was picked up by Rice after he saw her walking along Idaho 55 in Donnelly.
M-D housing project depletes district funds
The McCall-Donnelly School District’s $5.3 million project to build eight staff housing apartments has depleted the district’s operating funds to “critically low” levels, trustees were told at the district’s October board meeting.Building the apartments, which are expected to be move-in ready Dec.
Volunteers rehab Harshman Skatepark
While growing up in McCall, Angela Staup has enjoyed Harshman Skatepark on and off since it was first built 20 years ago.Staup and her friends idolized pro skateboarders who occasionally used the skatepark and, in time, it grew into a place of community for her.Harsh winters and misuse, however, caused the park to fall into disrepair, prompting Staup and other volunteers to team up with the McCall Parks and Recreation Department this year to complete repairs.“It may be a city park but we all should take ownership over these gems we have throughout our community and do what we can to keep them in great condition,” said Staup, 36, of McCall.Staup and other volunteers recently gave the skatepark, located at 128 Idaho St., a fresh paint job and repaired sections of the concrete bowls.
M-D, Cascade and MV to get $6.64 million
Local school districts are set to receive about $6.64 million from legislation signed this year to help fund school facility improvements across the state.House Bill 521, which was signed into law this March, will allocate about $5.38 million to the McCall-Donnelly School District, with Cascade Schools receiving about $782,000 and the Meadows Valley School District receiving about $479,000.The bill includes $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to fund building maintenance and construction in public schools.The money cannot be spent on athletic facilities, but there are few other limitations, with districts allowed to decide where the money is needed most.Amounts were determined by enrollment numbers and a 10-year facilities plan detailing what each district plans to spend the money on, although districts can stray from that plan if other facilities needs arise.
McCall joins United Payette task force
The City of McCall will join a task force formed to evaluate proposals that would make state endowment lands around Payette Lake part of the Payette National Forest.Last week the McCall City Council accepted an invitation to join the group, which is being assembled by United Payette, a local advocacy group focused on preserving public land around Payette Lake.Council member Julie Thrower was appointed to the task force by fellow council members during last Thursday’s meeting.“I definitely would be interested,” said Thrower, who has an environmental law practice in McCall.
“Mass casualty” training set for Tuesday in McCall
First responders will practice a “mass casualty” event on Tuesday in Downtown McCall, simulating a multiple vehicle accident that would stretch the limits of local hospitals and EMS services.“We want to make sure the community is aware of this training exercise, as it may appear to be a real event, but it is for training purposes only,” St.
Stevenson to step down as Cascade superintendent
Cascade Schools Superintendent Joni Stevenson will step down by the end of the school year.Stevenson submitted her resignation at the Cascade School Board of Trustees meeting on Oct.