Fire support
Water scoopers have continued to support the Wolf Creek and Boulder Fires by picking up water from Lake Cascade near Sugarloaf Island. Boats are advised to steer clear of their path.
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West Mountain fires creep up in size
The Wolf Creek Fire grew to about 1,150 acres with the Boulder Fire reaching about 1,000 acres as of Wednesday.Both fires saw moderate growth over the week, but neither ballooned in size as hundreds of firefighters were stationed in Cascade to take on the fires.The Wolf Creek and Boulder fires are now being managed by the same team as the West Mountain Complex, which also includes the Wapiti and Bulltrout Fires to the south.As of Tuesday, there were 759 people assigned to the West Mountain Complex, with 20 fire engines six water trucks, five bulldozers, three skid-steers and a masticator on the Wolf Creek and Boulder Fires.
Several new fires flare up as Limepoint spreads
Thunderstorms earlier this week caused several new wildfires, with at least 22 new starts on the Boise and eight new starts on the Payette National Forest.Most fires started earlier this week had not grown larger than three acres in size.
EMS to try again for levy override
The Valley Countywide EMS District will seek a permanent levy override in the November general election to fund three ambulances across the county.A levy amount was not finalized for the November ballot, but it would cost about $3.9 million to pay for an ambulance to be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week in Cascade, Donnelly and McCall, said EMS Commission Chair Travis Smith.It will be the third time the district has asked voters for funding to pay for ambulance services.Votes in the May primary and November 2023 election both narrowly failed to meet the two thirds majority for a permanent tax increase, each receiving about 64% voter approval.The two failed votes were top of mind for commissioners, who considered seeking a temporary, two-year tax increase, which only requires a 50% majority vote.Since the original EMS levy was set in 2009, Valley County’s population and number of visitors have grown significantly, increasing the demand for emergency services, officials said.The current budget of $1.3 million is no longer sufficient to maintain industry standards and appropriate staffing numbers.
Boise man tased amid fireworks complaint
Two men have been charged with resisting arrest in connection to a fireworks complaint in McCall on July 30, according to Valley County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Naugle.William Simplot, 63, of Boise, and Joshua Simplot, 41, of Meridian, became combative with first responders were called to a lakefront home at 4098 Warren Wagon Rd.
Bomb scare during Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival
Nobody was hurt last weekend when mining explosives were found in Yellow Pine during the annual Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival, according to the Valley County Sheriff’s Office.
Cascade sidewalk revamped
Work started last week to replace sidewalks on the west side of Main Street in Cascade from Pine Street to Lake Cascade Parkway.
P&Z approves Builder’s First Source yard building
Three dilapidated buildings in the Builder’s First Source lumber yard will be replaced with one new steel frame building, the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission decided Tuesday.The commission voted unanimously to approve the company’s plans for its location at 400 Deinhard Ln., or at the road’s intersection with Idaho 55.“I don’t see really any issues,” P&Z Chairman Robert Lyons said.
P&Z: Woodmore Crest too dense, again
Plans for more than 40 homes and townhomes on First Street in McCall remain too dense despite repeated efforts to scale back the proposal, the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission said Tuesday.The Woodmore Crest Subdivision, proposed by Rick Williams of Star, would now build 10 single family homes and 32 townhomes, or two fewer units than proposed by previous versions of the project.The P&Z, however, was not impressed with Williams’ latest effort to scale back the proposal, which commissioners have now reviewed at four separate meetings.“In the last few hearings we’ve mentioned that density is an issue and we haven’t seen that change drastically,” commissioner Ryan Kinzer said.The commission voted unanimously to recommend denial of the application to the McCall City Council, which will make a final decision on the proposal at a future meeting that has not yet been scheduled.Commissioners also were critical of the latest version of the proposal because it did not include updated renderings of how the subdivision would look once built.“I just have a hard time…not being able to see how it’s gonna look,” P&Z Chairman Robert Lyons said.
Learning by fire at McCall clinic
John Ray’s dream is to provide pediatric care in a rural town after he graduates from medical school, so he spent the last several weeks learning firsthand at the St.