Politics

The vote follows a yearlong investigation by the Idaho Statesman and ProPublica into how the state’s restrictive funding policies left students studying in deteriorating buildings across the state.

LEMHI — Lemhi County now has official Republican nominees for county commissioner and county sheriff after Tuesday’s primary elections. John Bennett beat out three opponents, Chris Horton, Albert Pardo, and Leah Madsen, for Lemhi County Sheriff. Bennett earned 35%, a total of 997 votes. Madsen followed closely behind...

A group of Salmon residents gathered Tuesday night to await the results of a high-stakes ballot measure — a $20 million bond for a new K-8 grade school building. “We were on pins and needles until they posted the results,” said Breann Green, a member of the Salmon Schools Needs Assessment Committee, “then, truly, super happy.”

11:25 a.m.: Correction: Blaine County School District’s supplemental levy passed with 74% support, not 96%. 9:56 a.m.: Corrections: Wilder’s $2.735 million COSSA levy passed by two votes, with 210 voting in favor of the measure, and 208 against. Ririe’s $1.5 million bond passed with 67% support, just over the two-thirds supermajority.

RIGBY -— Two Idaho representatives from what was formerly District 35 are now running against each other for Seat B in District 31. Due to redistricting in Jefferson County, parts of the former District 35 are now District 31. Incumbent Rep. Rod Furniss is running against former Rep. Karey...

SALMON (IdahoEdNews.org) — A group of Salmon residents gathered Tuesday night to await the results of a high-stakes ballot measure — a $20 million bond for a new K-8 grade school building. “We were on pins and needles until they posted the results,” said Breann Green, a member...

SALMON — Four new candidates are vying to be the next Lemhi County sheriff, including a deputy, a city plan examiner, a detective sergeant, and a retired U.S. Marine. Running this election season are John Bennett, Chris Horton, Leah Madsen and Albert Pardo. The race is for a four-year term.

The unemployment rates in Custer and Lemhi counties in March held steady with February, as did the statewide jobless rate. Butte County saw an increase in unemployed people between February and March, according to the latest report from the Idaho Department of Labor. Custer County registered a 3.9 percent jobless...

Jervois officials have begun underground extension drilling from the existing mineral resource estimate at the RAM deposit at the Idaho Cobalt Operations site in Lemhi County. That work is being paid for with the $15 million grant awarded Jervois by the U.S. Department of Defense last year.

The plan can be viewed online, or at the BLM Salmon Field Office at the at the address listed below. Comments will be accepted through June 5, 2024, by the following means: Email: BLM_ID_SalmonOffice@blm.gov Fax: 208-756-5436 U.S. Mail: BLM Salmon Field Office, 1206 S. Challis St., Salmon, ID 83467 Read more from the official announcement.Visit here for more details.

Douglas County Commissioners Chris Boice, Tim Freeman, and Tom Kress along with Salmon Harbor Director James Zimmer and staff at Salmon Harbor Marina, have announced that they have started development of a new master plan exclusively for Salmon Harbor Marina and the Waterfront. A County release said master plans provide...

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Salmon, Idaho, is seeking public input on a new business plan for eight recreational sites managed by the Salmon Field Office. The plan aims to improve visitor services and manage fees to cover increasing costs in operations, maintenance, and emergency responses, driven by higher visitor numbers. The affected sites include Williams Lake and McFarland Campgrounds, Sharkey Hot Springs, Geertson Shelter, Shoup Bridge, Tower Rock, and Morgan Bar Campgrounds.

By Kristy Tallman, May 2, 2024 DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. — Douglas County Commissioners Chris Boice, Tim Freeman, and Tom Kress, alongside Salmon Harbor Director James Zimmer and staff at Salmon Harbor Marina, a division of Douglas County Government, have announced the commencement of development on a new master plan exclusively for Salmon Harbor Marina and the Waterfront. Master plans offer a comprehensive overview of the current economy and infrastructure while identifying factors related to development, planning, acquisitions, tourism, and sustainability. Additionally, they provide insight into future community growth. Salmon Harbor is collaborating with Healthy Sustainable Communities (HSC) and HGE Architects to craft a new master plan that not only sets the foundation for a thriving and resilient future but also identifies potential development sites and assesses infrastructure requirements. HSC and HGE were awarded the bid through a request for proposals process conducted in 2023. The development process for the new master plan will actively engage residents, business owners, stakeholders, and a diverse Technical Advisory Committee representing various sectors of Salmon Harbor Marina and Waterfront communities. It also includes the completion of a comprehensive market study, currently underway. "This collaborative journey signifies our commitment to steering coastal Douglas County towards a sustainable and prosperous future," expressed Board Chair, Commissioner Chris Boice. "Through the combined efforts of our community, stakeholders, and expert advisors, we aim to establish a master plan that becomes a beacon of responsible development along the coast." As the collaborative process progresses, the commitment remains steadfast in addressing community needs while fostering public involvement and developing solutions that promote long-term, sustainable development. The unveiling of the new master plan is anticipated to chart a course for new standards in growth, prosperity, and environmental resilience for coastal development. Residents, business owners, tourists, and stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed and participate in shaping the future of Salmon Harbor Marina and the Waterfront by visiting the provided weblink. The new webpage will host documents, future open house announcements, and essential information during the master planning process. [Link: https://douglascountyor.gov/900/Master-Plan-2024] By Kristy Tallman, May 2, 2024 The Republic News.

NORTH FORK, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) —The Salmon-Challis National Forest Road Crew has been screening material that resulted from landslides and flooding in August of 2023. Most of the screened material has been hauled to the sections of the lower River Road which needed repair. A portion of the material went to the Owl Creek area and downriver from Owl Creek. Lemhi County was also able to make use of the screened material on the County’s section of the Indian Creek Road. In addition, the lower seven miles of Panther Creek Road have been graded this spring.

SALMON – Two Lemhi County residents are campaigning against each other for a seat on the Lemhi County Commission. Rick Carlson and John Blayden are running for a two-year term. Both candidates are Republican. EastIdahoNews.com sent the same eight questions to each county candidate. Their responses, listed below, were...

SALMON, Idaho — A Bear Aware community education event, sponsored by the Salmon-Challis National Forest and Salmon Valley Stewardship and presented by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, is coming to Salmon on Friday, May 3, 2024. This event covers bear identification and habits, as well as how one should conduct themselves safely in bear country. Idaho Department of Fish and Game will bring their Education Trailer, which includes hands-on educational items, bear spray inert canisters, and other safety equipment. Attendees will have an opportunity to practice deploying inert spray canisters at a bear on tracks, simulating a charging bear scenario. Bears can be encountered across the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-9.

The four incorporated cities within Custer County all gained residents between July 2020 and July 2022, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau. That trend holds true for cities in neighboring Lemhi and Butte counties, too.

Idaho Fish and Game will compensate Salmon land owners for allowing public access to their property. The organization is hoping to enroll new properties into its “Access Yes!" program, it said in a press release. The program “improves public access to or through private land by compensating willing landowners...