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The Washington man who shot and killed Rory and Sara Mehen at the Hartland Inn in New Meadows last year could be released from prison in 30 years, Third Judicial District Judge Matthew Roker decided on Monday.Roker sentenced John “Cody” Hart to life in prison with the chance for parole after 30 years following a full day of testimony at the Adams County Courthouse in Council.The ruling came despite a recommendation by Adams County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Boyd for Hart to be sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.Boyd argued that a fixed life sentence would give certainty to the New Meadows community and friends and family of the Mehens, while granting the chance for parole would leave them to hope that Hart would not kill again.“Hope is a pretty shallow thing to give to victims of a crime like this,” he said.The sentence means that Hart, 29, will be eligible for parole shortly before his 60th birthday in 2053.Hart’s release would require good behavior while in prison and approval from the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole.

More than 100 long-term rental apartments would be built in downtown McCall under a proposal pending before the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission.The proposal by Boise developer Michael Hormaechea would build 125 apartments on 4.4 acres along Idaho Street and Ward Street, or across Third Street from Alpine Village.Overall, the complex would include four buildings containing 48 one-bedroom apartments, 72 two-bedroom apartments, and five three-bedroom apartments.

Rory and Sara Mehen were remembered as “beautiful humans” and “the kind of citizens you want in your community” this week at the Adams County Courthouse in Council.About 25 friends and family members attended a sentencing hearing on Monday for John “Cody” Hart, who shot and killed the Mehens at the Hartland Inn on Oct.

A Canadian mining company has found “significant” evidence of gold and antimony in a project zone near Yellow Pine after analyzing rock samples collected last year.Samples collected by Stallion Uranium Corp.

Plans for storage condos and multi-tenant industrial buildings on South Samson Trail would not be compatible with surrounding homes, the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission decided on Tuesday.The proposal by Carmello Echanis of Boise calls for four storage buildings and one storage canopy to be built on 2.8 acres at 450 South Samson Trail, which is near Krahn Lane.The buildings would be used for storage condos and industrial tenants, according to plans.However, the P&Z worried that traffic from the storage facility would conflict with residential and commuter traffic along South Samson Trail.“It seems to me as a real unsafe type of scenario,” P&Z commissioner Tom Mihlfeith said.The P&Z also agreed with public comments from neighbors of the proposal who said the storage condos would be a “sore thumb” for nearby homes.“This is a residential neighborhood,” said Kim Apperson, who lives across the street from the proposal.

Crews worked last week to place dozens of metal structures resembling umbrellas on the slope above Idaho 55 about a mile north of Smiths Ferry.The structures, which will act as snow fences to prevent avalanches, are the final addition to the Smiths Ferry road straightening project, which started in the Fall of 2020.These fences have not been used in Idaho, but they are common in Utah, Washington, Colorado and Wyoming, and see much broader use in Europe, said Idaho Transportation Department Communication Manager John Tomlinson.“This is a unique solution to a particular set of circumstances that we saw on Cut 8,” Tomlinson said, referring to one of nine corners where rock was removed to straighten the roadway.“These are not required, but ITD feels this snow fencing or these umbrellas are the right solution to ensure the safety of the traveling public,” he said.More than 150 fences will be installed in Cut 8, fastened by a steel bar drilled into the slope.

The Treefort Music Fest will return to Tamarack Resort with two days of music in March as Snowfort.The Boise-based music festival held one iteration of Snowfort at Tamarack in February 2020.Snowfort will take place at Tamarack Resort March 1-2, before the Treefort festival, which is set for March 20-24 in Boise.

Bistro 45, a McCall landmark that has defined the quiet courtyard in downtown McCall for 23 years, will close next week in preparation for a move across town.The restaurant’s name, wine inventory and menu were purchased by Steve Topple, who owns Ragazza Di Bufalo in Donnelly and Regazza Di Lago in McCall.

Valley County Commissioners approved resolutions on Monday that will create a new ambulance district and dissolve the current district.The change was the result of a successful ballot measure in the November general election to create a new district with an independent set of commissioners.The November ballot measure passed with a vote of 1,627 in favor to 642 opposed, or about 72% in favor.