Thanks to some additional state funding, the Eastern Idaho Public Health District is expanding its Women’s Health Check program. Based on income, age and insurance coverage guidelines, RN and program coordinator Pat Fletcher says it provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings. Since cancer can’t be treated till its found, she says its critical to find it and treat it early. You can get details and eligibility requirements at your county health district office.

 

A good snow year translated into booming business at area resorts this winter…but it was also busy in the back country. Teton Valley Trails and Pathways reports the 136 day season saw over 6700 (6755) skiers in Teton Canyon. That’s roughly 50 per day, on average.   There were only two days there were no skiers. On the busiest day there were 186.

 

Teton County, Idaho authorities are reminding residents they must have a burn permit to conduct controlled fires in the county.   Fire district business manager Bob Zombro says there are some good reasons for the requirement…including reducing the number of false alarm calls for firefighters and acquainting those conducting burns with EPA and other ground rules. In the Madison Fire District you’re not required to get a permit…but you are requested to call the Fire Department with your plans and get that run down on what, when, and where you can burn.

 

Teton County, Idaho is holding a free-transfer day at the county’s transfer station site Saturday.   It also marks the re-establishment of the county’s recycling program.   But, Teton Valley Recycling director Ginny Newsom says you can probably expect some long lines. To accommodate volume, small household loads will be directed in one direction and large volume (over a pickup full) will be directed over the scale. The system is not yet set up to accept plastic bags or containers. They’ll spend the first few weeks assessing how much volume will be coming through and, with that, the amount of staffing needed to accommodate it.

Here are the details and you can find more information at www.tetonrecycling.org

 

For the past year, a regional study has been underway to identify potential hazards in eastern Idaho and projects that might address them. Emergency Management officer Greg Adams says a meeting tonight will help formalize Teton County’s list.   Once the list is approved, the county can put in for FEMA grants that would pay up to 75% of the cost for projects aimed at mitigating those hazards.   The county is looking for your ideas on potential projects or how to prioritize those already identified.   The meeting is set for 6 pm tonight (May 8) at the County Commissioners’ meeting room in Driggs.

 

A wastewater pilot plant using technology developed in Israel is now operating in Driggs. It’ll be at full capacity by the end of the month.   Idaho DEQ is keeping a close eye on the plant to see if it meets standards. So far, Mayor Lou Christensen says it’s working well. The goal is to develop technology that’s reasonably inexpensive to meet the needs of Driggs and other communities across the state of Idaho. A traditional treatment plant would cost upwards of 30 million dollars. A full- scale version of the pilot plant… would cost somewhere between three and a half to five million.  

 

Teton High School’s Lady-Redskins have won their 5^th consecutive 3-A District Six Softball title. They beat Sugar Salem Wednesday 13 to 8.

 

Teton County, Idaho Sheriff Department deputy Joseph Gutierrez has resigned.   He’s been on paid administrative leave since a dog shooting incident in November.   His resignation was effective last Friday…just days after the Idaho Attorney General’s office charged him with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

 

There were some minor changes in area unemployment rates last month.   Teton and Fremont counties say four tenths of a percent increase over year-ago levels…while Madison County’s rate dropped a tenth.   Idaho Department of Labor regional economist Tonya Albin believes there are a couple of issues at play….a slow start to agricultural work and a sluggish construction season. She is worried about the impact gas prices may have on the region’s tourism business this year.

 

Democratic Senate candidate Larry LaRocco reports his Boise campaign headquarters were broken into at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Boise Police say nothing appears to have been stolen…but it’s unknown whether campaign documents or computer files were inspected by the intruders. LaRocco was in Idaho Falls for a speaking engagement at the time. He says its too early to say if the break-in was politically motivated or simple vandalism.  

 

Fall and Winter Reading Indicators show Idaho students are improving their reading skills…and more are reaching grade level.   It’s a tool for teachers to identify students who are struggling. This is the first year Idaho has used it. On average, Idaho students ended the winter reading at between 65 and 71 percent of grade level.

 

Idaho’s population is getting older…another tenth of a year…to an average age of 35.3.    New Census Bureau statistics also show that while total population grew two point two percent from mid 2006 to mid 2007 the 45 to 64 year old age group was up three point two percent while the 15 to 44 group barely increased by a third of a percentage point.   The state’s Hispanic population grew six point two percent in that same time frame.

 

 

This is severe weather awareness week and the national weather service hopes we’ll use it to brush up on what to do in the event of lightning, flash floods, or high winds.   The weather service issues a “watch” when conditions are favorable for severe weather. That changes to a “warning” when a threat is either reported or is likely to occur within minutes.

 

What would happen if Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center had to be evacuated?   That scenario was put to the test this weekend as part of a regional emergency exercise.   Emergency managers put a myriad of equipment recently purchased thru a federal assistance program (now known as ASPAR) to the test…which involved hospitals throughout the region.

 

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game Thursday released its wolf hunting recommendations.   It would set a mortality cap of 328…including wolves killed by hunters, natural causes or accidents.    That would maintain a population of 500 to 700 animals for the first five years.

 

The Idaho Falls regional office, meantime, has slated a public meeting next week to talk about how the gray wolf delisting affects the way citizens interact with the animal.    That’s set for 7 p.m. Thursday (May 8) at the Asthon Community Center. The agency will host an open house at its regional office in Idaho Falls May 12^th to discuss hunting aspects of the state’s wolf management plan.

 

Teton Valley Hospital along with just about every emergency management agency, hospital, and homeland security officer in eastern Idaho is participating in a full scale exercise at the Eastern Idaho Public Health District office in Idaho Falls. It’s scheduled today and tomorrow. Emergency equipment…including generators, decontamination tents, mass care trailers and light plants will be on public display…Friday (May 2) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday (May 3) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.