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The Payette National Forest’s draft decision to approve Perpetua Resource’s proposed mine near Yellow Pine did not do enough to reduce environmental harm the project could cause, according to a coalition of opponents to the mine.The coalition, which includes the Idaho Conservation League, Save the South Fork Salmon River, and other conservation groups, aired objections to the draft decision last Friday after it was announced.“This decision is a grave disservice to the hundreds of people who voiced concerns about the cyanide vat leach mine,” said John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League.

Public objections to the Payette National Forest’s draft decision on Perpetua Resources’ proposed Stibnite Mine are being accepted until Oct.

Resources for domestic violence victims and youth trail management programs are among the things funded by $32,000 in grants awarded in 2024 by the Stibnite Foundation.The foundation, which was established in 2019 by Perpetua Resources, awards grants annually to community organizations through a competitive application process.“Every year when we review grant applications, we are blown away by the incredible work taking place in our communities,” said New Meadows resident Julie Good, a spokesperson for the foundation.This year’s grant cycle awarded seven grants to local organizations, including the Horizon’s Lifestyle and Education Team, Rise Up 2 Thrive and the New Meadows Community Farmers Market.The grants will fund training to help teachers better support students with dyslexia, a regional youth summit and improvements to the Yellow Pine Community Hall, among other things.The $32,000 awarded in 2024 brings the foundation’s total to $222,000 awarded since its first grant cycle in 2020.

The Valley Countywide EMS District will ask voters to approve a $4.21 million permanent levy override in the November general election.The district had previously decided to seek a permanent levy in November, but had not finalized an amount.If approved, the levy would fully fund emergency medical services across Valley County, including one ambulance, 24 hours per day in each fire district in Cascade, Donnelly and McCall, said EMS District Commission Chair Travis Smith.“Our hope is that this levy override passes and gives us the funding needed to fully fund the EMS district and staff an additional fourth ambulance in Valley County,” Smith said.A 2019 outside study of the Valley County EMS system not only recognized the funding shortfall, but also indicated a need for a fourth ambulance by 2025, he said.“The service demand indicated by the study is coming to fruition but we think we can stave off the absolute need for a couple more years, by adding staffing incrementally until a unit can be staffed full time,” Smith said.A two thirds majority plus one vote is required for the vote to pass.The levy would cost about $35.52 per $100,000 in taxable property value per year.The current levy costs $12 per $100,000 in taxable property value per year, raising about $1.2 million each year, an amount that is “inadequate” to handle the current emergency needs in Valley County, Smith said.The EMS levy for fiscal year 2025, which starts Dec.

Perpetua Resources’ proposed gold and antimony mine is in the Stibnite Mining District about 40 air miles east of McCall.Perpetua, formerly known as Midas Gold, plans to extract about $6 billion in gold, silver, and antimony from Stibnite, the site of historic mining operations during World War II and as far back as 1899.Approval of the project would trigger a three-year construction phase that Perpetua estimates would cost about $1.26 billion, followed by 12 to 15 years of mining.Gold, silver, and antimony would be extracted from three open pit mines totaling about 473 acres of disturbance within the 1,740-acre project zone, which is about three miles from the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness.An on-site ore processing facility would remove gold and silver from up to 25,000 tons of rock per day in a contained cyanide circuit, according to Perpetua’s operating plan.Opponents to the mine fear it would pollute the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, which flows through the project site, and cause other environmental damage.The mine is expected to produce 115 million pounds of antimony and 4.2 million ounces of gold, which is expected to account for 94% of the mine’s estimated $6 billion in lifetime revenue.Stibnite would become the only domestic mined source of antimony and would supply an estimated 35% of annual demand for the mineral in the United States during the first six years of the mine, according to Perpetua.Antimony is used in the renewable energy industry and to make flame-proofing materials, paint, glass, defense munitions and ceramics.Exploration of the Stibnite Mining District began with drilling in 2009.

A Cascade man died Tuesday afternoon when the car he was driving collided head-on with a semi-truck on Idaho 55 about three miles south of Donnelly, according to Idaho State Police.The Chevrolet Venture minivan driven by the 30-year-old Cascade man crossed the center line of the highway into the northbound lanes and struck the semi-truck at about 1:02 p.m., the state police said.The man, whose name had not been released by officials as of Wednesday, died at the scene of the accident, which blocked traffic for about 4.5 hours.A 40-year-old Nampa man driving the semi-truck was not injured in the crash.The Valley County Sheriff’s Office and Donnelly Fire and EMS responded to the accident.

Cyanobacteria toxins were found in Lake Cascade, but not enough to warrant a health advisory.Water samples containing low levels of cyanobacteria toxins were taken Sept.