Month: September 2011

When people think of the Eastern Idaho State Fair a lot of times they just think of the food, the rides and the concerts. But really the fair is all about the livestock. Since she was a young girl, Mercedes Vincent has brought her cows from Paul, Idaho to show off their strong hips and

The panel drawing up Idaho’s new political boundaries failed to finish by Tuesday’s deadline and now face a lawsuit in state Supreme Court that will likely order them back to Boise. One commissioner unlikely to be there: Evan Frasure, the Republican chairman, who said doctors advised him that 92 days of hearings since June have

Police says three people are dead after a gunman opened fire at a Nevada IHOP restaurant, wounding himself and nine other people. The shooting happened at about 9 a.m. at the Carson City restaurant, located in a strip mall on the state capital’s main street. Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong says the gunman is still

Officials from a former charter school in Nampa are asking a full panel of federal appeals court judges to reconsider an earlier ruling that dismissed the school’s lawsuit against Idaho. Last month, a three judge panel for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision tossing out a 2009 civil lawsuit

Police say a 17-year-old girl who lost both legs while trying to hop a freight train was trying to get to Fort Collins, Colo., where she attends Colorado State University, after a trip to Denver. Authorities say the teen’s legs were severed at the knee when she fell under the train on Monday in Longmont,

There are some big names coming to perform at the Eastern Idaho State Fair this week, and they can come with a pretty big ticket price, too. But not to worry: If you do not want to shell out the money for a show, there is plenty of fun to be found at the free

Parking at the Eastern Idaho State Fair is always a hassle, but for some it’s a cash cow. Once a year, some enterprising residents get to make some extra dough. For the Gardner family of Blackfoot, the state fair is an opportunity to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit. Sam Gardner and his wife Heidi use

On Sunday, 40 soldiers from the 116th Cavalry Brigade returned from their year-long mission in Iraq. Much to everyone’s surprise, their plane from Boise arrived early that afternoon, making the long-awaited homecoming even more exciting. Benny and Chelsea Mireles were met with signs, clappers and smiling faces when they got off the chartered plane. After

Firefighters are expecting an increase in fire activity Monday as higher temperatures and low humidity develop over the region. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for Labor Day for much of the central mountains. Five fires continue to burn in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Below is a summary of each of the fires. BLACK

An Idaho Falls man was taken to the hospital Sunday afternoon after police chased him on Interstate 15. Idaho State Police said Tracy Nii, 51, may have had a medical condition when he was seen driving erratically on the freeway north of Blackfoot. ISP said a motorist reported Nii’s driving behavior near milepost 95. A

Authorities say a 38-year-old man fell to his death after his parachute failed to fully deploy. The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office tells KTVB-TV http://bit.ly/pX0SSu that the Alabama man died Saturday morning after his parachute only partially deployed while base jumping off of the Perrine Bridge. Boaters were able to pull the man from the

Authorities say a 38-year-old Alabama man has died in a BASE jumping accident in southern Idaho. The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office says the man’s parachute only partially deployed early Saturday when he was BASE jumping off a bridge. The sheriff’s office says boaters were able to pull the man from the Snake River minutes

Salt Lake City police are investigating a pair of attacks near a downtown nightclub that left two gay men seriously injured. Dane Hall says he was beaten by a group of men outside Club Sound on Aug. 26. The 20-year-old lost six teeth and was left with a shattered cheekbone and fractured jaw. He says

Federal land managers are considering a plan that would close down several popular climbing areas in eastern Idaho in an effort to protect cultural and historic values. The Bureau of Land Management is in the process of drafting a land use amendment that would impact climbs near Massacre Rocks State Park. The Idaho State Journal

Authorities are crediting bystanders with saving the lives of three people who were seriously injured when the helicopter they were riding crashed in Heber City. The Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune report Suzanne Tanner of Heber City, her 15-year-old son and pilot Ken Heidorn were rushed to hospitals after the crash Saturday afternoon. Wasatch

Authorities say two people were killed when a small airplane crashed on takeoff in Caldwell. Caldwell Industrial Airport manager Rob Oates says that both passengers were killed when the homemade aircraft crashed Sunday morning. He identified the airplane as a Kitfox, a popular single-engine airplane kit assembled by owners. The Federal Aviation Administration classifies such

Yellowstone National Park officials say a wildfire near the eastern shore of Yellowstone Lake has grown to 75 acres while another fire has been suppressed because of its proximity to the Gallatin National Forest. Officials said Sunday that six other fires are being allowed to burn. One of those fires is 15 to 18 acres.

Not everyone chose the hustle and bustle of the fair or wanted to battle the crowds in the shopping malls this Labor Day weekend. Many Eastern Idahoans went to the mountains to enjoy the quiet of the outdoors. Hundreds passed through this weekend. Many of them came out to pitch a tent while others just

If you aren’t celebrating Labor Day at the fair, you might have taken advantage of the big holiday sales this weekend. From furniture to RVs to computers, they are all on sale this Labor Day weekend. Retailers tell us they didn’t see ?floods? of customers come through their doors, but some folks were out there

Many people turn out at the Eastern Idaho State Fair for the Indian Relay Races. However, few know that it?s the best Indian relay in the country and has quite the history. ?It started clear back 1800s,? Leo Teton said. ?This is where we originated right here and in Fort Hall. So it’s kind of

Idaho redistricters adjourned until 8 a.m. Tuesday, leaving just a few hours before that day’s 5 p.m. deadline to draw up Idaho’s new political boundaries. The best hope for a compromise may be Republican commissioner Lorna Finman and Democratic panelist Julie Kane, who have been working together on a plan. But there’s no guarantee, especially

Several firefighters battling the Black Canyon fire north of Howe are recovering after becoming sick with an intestinal disorder on Saturday, incident commander Marty Adell said. The illness struck 41 crew members, 26 of whom were unable to return to work, Adell said. Seven people were taken to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and

The summer season may be coming to a close with the Labor Day holiday, but construction season is far from over. Drivers in the upper valley can expect delays north of Rexburg as the Idaho Transportation Department begins its next project. On Tuesday, crews will begin to resurface the six-mile stretch of Highway 20 between

Some firefighters at Idaho Falls Station No. 1 got a hearty surprise for lunch on Labor Day. The Idaho Falls Olive Garden supplied lunch, drinks and desserts for the crew. Lasagna, bread sticks, salad and more of the restaurant’s favorites were served up. “I’m sure the guy who lost for cooking is maybe a little

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An investigator says a pilot was communicating by radio with her boyfriend before their planes collided in the air over Alaska last week, killing him. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Clint Johnson told the Anchorage Daily News (http://bit.ly/pBn5EI ) Sunday the two pilots took off from different western Alaska villages Friday but met up in

Troopers responded to a 2-car accident near mile post 282 on Highway 20, Idaho State Police said. According to State Troopers on the scene, 63-year-old Kathleen Storms, a passenger of a gray minivan involved in the accident was airlifted to EIRMC Hospital with injuries. Police said the 40-year-old female driver of the minivan was attempting

Day one at the Eastern Idaho State Fair brought big crowds, sunny weather, and a lot of smiling faces. Police cars and sirens signaled the start of the fair on Saturday morning. “(It’s) too noisy,” said some of the kids. Down Blackfoot’s Shilling Street came horses, old cars, marching bands, monster trucks, and dancers in

H.S. FOOTBALL Click here to send up your favorite shots. BONNEVILLE 28SKYLINE 31HILLCREST 36 MADISON 21 IDAHO FALLS 8BLACKFOOT 38 SHELLEY 21 RIGBY 7 MARSH VALLEY 16PRESTON 35STAR VALLEY (WY) 10 SNAKE RIVER 9SOUTH FREMONT 44 WEST JEFFERSON 20 KIMBERLY 16AMERICAN FALLS 56 FIRTH 20MALAD 36DECLO 8 ABERDEEN 6SODA SPRINGS 14 BEAR LAKE 6 TETON

Bannock County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed a search for a lost bicyclist in the Mink Creek Area Saturday. Crews were hoping to locate the Cyclist before nightfall. That is the only information being released at this time. Keep refreshing this page for updates and be sure to watch localnews8 at 10pm for the latest on

Getting some food at the fair could help out a good cause. Good Wok is a regular at the Eastern Idaho State Fair, serving food for 35 years. This year Good Wok is trying to do some good works. “We wanted to do something this year to give back to the community,? owner of Good

Teton County Sheriff’s office said two teen boys were arrested Thursday afternoon in connection with the vandalism at a Driggs elementary school. The Rendevous Upper Elementary School was found vandalized on August 7, 2011. School district officials said computers, projectors and many light fixtures were destroyed in the vandalism, along with graffiti over the walls.

This upcoming year, farmers in our area may be planting more wheat than ever with high prices and good potential for profit luring them into stocking more acres. Wheat farmer Gordon Gallup said the United States, particularly Idaho, is benefiting from other areas’ bad luck. With places like Texas and Japan not able to produce

It’s been a mixed bag for area seasonal attractions this summer. Some are holding on to high attendance numbers despite the economic downturn. For others, the living isn’t quite as easy. The new Rexburg Rapids had better than expected attendance despite a closed slide. The family fun was alive all season at Pocatello’s Ross Park.

The Eastern Idaho State Fair kicks off Saturday, and crews are working to get everything ready for the crowds. It takes a small army working nonstop to get the fair ready. “Well, the Friday before the fair is complete chaos. We have probably approaching 1,000 people that will be on the grounds putting the final

A WWII museum with wings flew into Idaho Falls Friday, in the shape of a B-17 Bomber and a B-25 Bomber. More than 13,000 B-17 bombers filled the skies during WW II, now only a handful of these rare birds remain, and less than a dozen can still take to the sky. The captain of

Bingham County commissioners breathed a sigh of relief on Friday. After more than a year of dispute with the company hired to handle the area’s solid waste, they’ve taken the first steps toward a long term plan. Ever wonder what happens to your garbage once it leaves the curb? In Bingham County it goes to

Giveaways at our booth for the 2011 Eastern Idaho State Fair: – Idaho Falls Sizzler coupons all week long Monday – 5 pairs of tickets to the Lee Ann Womack Concert in Sun Valley on Friday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Sun Valley Pavilion. Tuesday – Idaho State University President Arthur Vailas will

Yellowstone National Park officials have captured a grizzly bear, but a park spokesman says they are unclear whether it is the bruin responsible for a Michigan hiker’s death last week. Spokesman Al Nash says the 420-pound male was trapped Friday near the site of the attack. Officials plan to take hair samples, collar it and

An Idaho man will serve the rest of his life in prison for killing his girlfriend’s 8-year-old son, then stuffing rocks in the boy’s pants pockets and dumping his body in an irrigation canal. A district judge sentenced 38-year-old Daniel Ehrlick on Friday in a packed Boise, Idaho, courtroom for the first-degree murder of Robert

A southwest Idaho man has been charged with felony arson for setting fire to his former high school in New Meadows that caused more than $1 million in damage four years ago. Twenty-year-old Nicholas Priddy was formally charged with arson and burglary this week in an Adams County courtroom. He was freed on a $20,000

Idaho Falls Power and Water is playing the role of “guinea pig” for a new “smart grid” program. The goal of the demonstration program is to allow volunteer energy users to try out new technology that will monitor energy usage in real-time. With the option to monitor exactly what’s being used in the home, energy

Idaho Falls police arrested two people Wednesday morning on possession of a stolen vehicle charge after they were caught selling a stolen van. Cristy Rose Apolinar, 27, and Todd B. Weaver, 28, both of Idaho Falls, were arrested at their house and booked into the Bonneville County Jail. According to police reports, police began investigating

Federal mandates and financial reforms are making it tougher for banks and credit unions to turn a profit, and many are increasing fees to make up the difference. Some banks are increasing ATM fees, others are getting rid of reward programs for customers, and for many what once was free now has a price tag.

Another local pet has fallen prey to a mountain lion, the second attack within a week on pets in the Swan Valley area. Officials believe the same mountain lion and its two young cubs are responsible for both attacks. The most recent happened just a few houses down from where the attack happened on Friday.In

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Lyman (WY) 46 Ririe 14 F HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL Highland 3 Sets Minico 1 Set F BOYS SOCCER Shelley 0Blackfoot 2 F Skyline 4 Rigby 0 F Bonneville 3 Madison 0 F

The Idaho Falls Police Department is looking for the person who burglarized the Flowers at the Falls shop. Someone broke into the business sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. According to the police report, the person broke into the 498 E. 13th Street business through a glass door.

Managers of the Eastern Idaho State Fair brought the event back to its agricultural roots on Thursday night by hosting a five-course meal made entirely from local ingredients. The sarsaparilla was flowing, the pots were hot, and the food was local. “The primary intention of it is to celebrate local agriculture,” said John Lyskett, special

Some scientists say restoring wolves in the West could help restore the Canada lynx, a threatened species. An article published in the journal Wildlife Society Bulletin suggests that wiping out wolves in the early 1900s allowed coyote populations to explode. Those extra coyotes preyed heavily on the lynx’s favorite food, the snowshoe hare, as well

A central Idaho man who entered into a fake marriage more than a decade ago to remain in the country has pleaded guilty to immigration fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 38-year-old Americo De La Cruz, of Hailey, will be sentenced in late November. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to unlawful procurement of citizenship as part

Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership, or EICAP, has a new building to call home, and one that will actually save them money in the long run. A remodel of the 25,000-square-foot Lincoln Road building started in January. For the first time in EICAP’s 40-year history, every program will be under the same roof, including two

Authorities say a University of Idaho professor who gunned down a graduate student he had recently dated and then killed himself last week had previously cleared a background check and was issued a concealed weapons permit. Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch says no flags were raised when 31-year-old Ernesto Bustamante applied for the firearms permit,

Idaho motorists traveling during the holiday weekend won’t be getting any breaks at the gas pump. AAA Idaho predicts the price of a gallon of regular gasoline will hold steady at $3.68 during the Labor Day holiday. AAA Idaho Spokesman Dave Carlson says petrol pump prices have been consistent for most of the summer, even

This Sunday, 40 troops from the 116th Cavalry Brigade will finally return home after their year-long mission in the middle east. The Pocatello Regional Airport is working out all the logistics on how the chartered arrival will work. Banners are already hung in the AV Center hangar where the troops will be welcomed. Myriad “thank

Southeast Idaho has a confirmed report of West Nile Virus, but there are steps you can take to fight the bite. Some of the mosquitoes buzzing around in the air could be carriers of West Nile Virus. “We know it’s here. It’s just a matter of time when it’s going to show itself,? Health Department

Homeowners can take comfort knowing Idaho’s new foreclosure reform will help keep them in the know when it comes to the foreclosure process. The new law sponsored by state Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and the Idaho Bankers Association goes into effect Thursday. The law was designed to educate homeowners so they can make the best

The Fremont County Sheriff?s Office is looking for information about the shooting of several cows on Wednesday. Deputies said they found six cows shot to death and two more injured off of North Hatchery Butte Road near Mesa Falls. It looks like the cows were shot with a small caliber rifle, the sheriff?s office said.

Fire crews with the Bureau of Land Management are battling a wildfire north of Howe, Forest Service spokesman Lynn Ballard said. The Black Canyon Fire has quickly spread to more than 1,500 acres Wednesday on the mid-slope of the Saddle Mountains, Ballard said. As of Thursday at 3:45 p.m., the fire was up to 2,000

An eastern Idaho woman who was briefly charged with having an illegal abortion is suing in federal court, contending that Idaho’s so-called “fetal pain” law and other abortion bans violate the U.S. Constitution. Jennie McCormack’s lawsuit against Bannock County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Hiedeman is believed to be the first to directly challenge the constitutionality of

A brush fire in Jackson which was threatening a school and forced the evacuation of some students and faculty on Wednesday had been contained, Teton County, Wyoming spokeswoman Charlotte Reynolds said. The fire was burning above the Teton Science Schools along Highway 22 and Coyote Canyon Road. Students had already been dismissed for the day

There are only a few days left before “Bodies: The Exhibition” closes its doors at the Museum of Idaho. If you want to check out the show, the museum will have extended hours through the close of the exhibit on Sunday. The Museum of Idaho is open on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,