News

Missing rafter found safe

A 73-year-old rafter is home safe after a five-day misadventure on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River after he was ejected from his boat at Dagger Falls.Thomas Gray, an experienced rafter who lives in North Fork and Pendleton, Oregon, launched from Marsh Creek on Friday, May 17 on what was supposed to be a three-day solo run of the Middle Fork, according to his wife Lori Gray.He spent several days alone without food or adequate shelter while authorities searched for him along the river.“It has been a roller coaster, for sure, I don’t know that I’ve fully grappled with it yet,” said Lori Gray.He has been rafting by himself for years, but he has decided not to go at high water anymore before the busy season starts, and he plans to bring a satellite phone, Gray said.Thomas Gray could not be reached for comment.

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Fox trap injures dog in McCall

Dee Schneider was walking her dog on public land near Spring Mountain Boulevard on May 20 when she heard a loud snap followed by sharp yelping.Huckleberry, an Australian Shepherd poodle mix, had stepped on a fox trap, a small device that clamps onto the leg of animals that step on a pressure plate trigger.“All of a sudden, he just started screaming.

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McCall Public Library expansion opens

A smile grew across Richard Millington’s face last Saturday as his two young children bounded into the McCall Public Library within a sea of people who flooded into the building at about 1:30 p.m.A new two-story expansion of the library, under construction since 2022, was opened to the public following a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new 12,000 square foot building at 211 E.

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M-D housing and EMS levy fail

A $14 million bond to fund staff housing at the McCall-Donnelly School District and an EMS levy override both failed at the ballot on Tuesday, while a M-D supplemental levy and water bond for the city of McCall were approved.Tuesday’s election saw about 44% of the 8,210 registered voters in Valley County cast ballots.Measures approved by voters will fund $16.5 million in upgrades to the City of McCall’s drinking water system and fill a $650,000 funding gap for school district operations.Meanwhile, a countywide levy for EMS funding failed for the second straight year and M-D voters shot down a $14 million bond for staff housing in McCall.The school district’s $14 million bond to build staff housing failed by a vote of 1,421 against to 1021 in favor, or about 58% against.

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Rafter reported missing on Middle Fork

Valley County Search and Rescue is asking boaters on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River to be on the lookout for a missing rafter.Thomas Gray, 73, of North Fork was reported missing on Monday.The experienced rafter put in on the river at Marsh Creek on Friday and was expected to arrive at the confluence of the Main Salmon on Sunday.Gray’s blue Maravia Cataraft was last seen north of the Boundary Creek boat launch.Authorities are seeking any information about Gray from people that have been on the Middle Fork since Friday from Marsh Creek to Indian Creek.Anyone who might have seen or had contact with Gray is asked to call the Valley County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 208-382-5160.Assistance is not requested as authorities have already begun a search.

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Former students surprise Parnett

As Jeff Parnett prepared to pick up his conductor’s baton to lead his last concert at the Meadows Valley School, the doors to the gymnasium burst open, and about 50 of his former students paraded in playing Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” on kazoos.The group of alumni traveled from near and far to attend the beloved band teacher’s farewell concert on Wednesday, May 15.After greeting and hugging each alumnus, Parnett said he was “truly speechless,” before kicking off the performance of the Meadows Valley kindergarten and first grade choir.Also performing was the second and third grade choir, beginning band, middle school band, high school band and pep band.“All of a sudden, the music starts and 50 of my former students walk into the gymnasium, playing kazoos, you know, and just blew me away,” Parnett said.“I had no idea.

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Harmonies of home

Jeff Parnett knew as a young man that he wanted to be a teacher, just not in New Meadows—little did he know that the small town would one day hold the key to both his teaching career and his heart.Parnett swore off New Meadows in the mid-1970s after being stranded there while driving through to Boise.

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