Month: May 2012

An Idaho Falls mom says her 10-year-old son was too afraid of police to turn in a gun he found at Central Park last Tuesday. Jayme Abraham said her son Jessie instead kept the handgun in his backpack, until administrators at Dora Erikson Elementary found it on Thursday. Abraham said she was surprised to learn

A judge has dismissed a child pornography charge against Steve Powell, the father-in-law of missing Utah mother Susan Powell. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Ronald Culpepper agreed with defense attorneys who argued that the crime of possessing child pornography requires that the depictions include sexually explicit behavior or that the defendant have some control over

An anti-abortion protest in Jackson is drawing strong reactions from the community. Images of aborted fetuses were boldly displayed up and down Jackson’s busiest street. They’re too graphic to show on television or online. “We’re targeting Jackson as part of a bigger campaign, collaborating with many pro-life groups,? said Jason Storms, spokesman for the Missionaries

The town of Jackson has struck a deal with the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The town is going to buy 10 acres of land owned by the forest, which are located in downtown Jackson. That land is used for all of the forest?s administrative buildings. A representative for Bridger-Teton says the money will go toward housing

A 49 year old Star Valley, Wyo., man died Saturday night after an ATV accident in Crow Canyon in Caribou County, Idaho. Lincoln County, Wyo., Coroner Mike Richins identified the victim as Don Lampe of Bedford. He says the man suffered a severe crushing injury to the chest after he was thrown from the vehicle

Taylorsville police say a 22-year-old woman who reported she was nearly raped while walking her dog on the Jordan River Parkway made the story up. Taylorsville Lt. Rosie Rivera said Monday the woman has been cited for filing a false police report and disorderly conduct after telling officers a man attempted to assault her in

Many folks have gotten a head start on spring cleaning and the City of Idaho Falls wants to make it a little easier for residents who might want to get rid of unwanted items. Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman declared May 5-12 as citywide clean up week. Two Dumpsters have been put in over 10

The suspect in a Wednesday night high speed chase and police stand off in Bingham County is charged with aggravated assault, attempting to elude an officer, and attempted kidnapping. On Sunday, he spoke out about the night he said changed his life. According to police, 30-year-old Jeremy Andrus suffered a major mental break before leading

A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper helped a mother rescue her children, police said Monday. The incident occurred on April 25th at about 7 p.m. when Trooper William Kirkman was patrolling south of Casper when he overheard a radio dispatch of an ATV crash on the Ratter Q Ranch on Wyoming 487 about 23 miles south

Custer County authorities searched a backcountry area near Challis over the weekend as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Stephanie Crane. Stephanie was believed to have been abducted near her Challis home in October 1993 when she was 9 years old. Linda Dubiel was a dispatcher in 1993 and serves as Custer County

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One day after a bomb threat rocked Rigby High School, a student and her father are coming forward. They describe a terrifying experience as a group of kids, they say, were left behind in a nearby greenhouse while the rest of the school was evacuated. The student does not want her identity revealed, but she

State Sen. Nicole LeFavour kicked off her campaign for Congress this weekend, and on Sunday night, the Democrat visited the Gate City. LeFavour is looking to upset seven-term Rep. Mike Simpson in the second congressional district. About 20 dedicated Democrats showed up to Rowan’s Caf in Station Square to show LeFavour they are serious about

May is national Motorcycle Awareness Month. Drivers and bikers everywhere are encouraged to think twice when it comes to safety on the roadways. For Marc Santoro, riding motorcycles is his favorite form of transportation. Santoro said he knew bikes were his preferred vehicle since he was 12 years old. Now, he’s an instructor with the

Saturday marks Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May. One-hundred fifty years ago today, the Mexican army defeated France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war. While considered to be a minor holiday in Mexico, in the U.S., Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. Saturday

After watching an earlier broadcast, the ex-wife of the man who led police on a high speed chase after firing gun shots approached reporter Caleb James at his live report. Britney Andrus said she wasn’t sure she wanted to do an interview, but said she needed to set some things straight. Eventually, she did decide

Work is expected to begin next week on the Wilson Bridge on Wyoming Highway 22. The Wyoming Department of Transportation says it will close down one lane over the bridge, causing 15 to 20 minute delays for commuters and local residents. The bridge is at the base of Teton Pass. Work will begin Tuesday and

Republican candidates running for office in Idaho have an additional hurdle to jump through this election season. The Idaho Republican Party is requiring all candidates to complete a survey, showing voters their opinions on various issues important to the platform. Candidates can pledge their support to the party’s platform, or outline where they disagree and

A vehicle parked on Carlson Avenue was the latest victim in a recent series of paint vandalism incidents in Rexburg. Police say an unknown person spray painted the vehicle Thursday. Capt. Randy Lewis says there have been several similar incidents involving vehicles, walls, and fences over the past few weeks. In most cases, the vandalism

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL 3A DISTRICT 6 TOURNAMENT Game 1Teton 8 Sugar-Salem 5 F Game 2Teton 9 Sugar-Salem 4 F 3A DISTRICT TOURNAMENTFirth 5 Malad 0 F GIRLS SOFTBALL 3A DISTRICT 6 TOURNAMENTGame 1Sugar-Salem 14 South Fremont 12 F Sugar-Salem 16 South Fremont 14 F

When police officers from various jurisdictions responded to a threat made at Rigby High School on Friday afternoon, and the district bused nearly 800 students to another school, it was two hours before the nature of the threat was revealed. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call made to the school’s counseling office

An iconic Idaho Falls hotel has switched management and people are wondering what the future will hold. The Red Lion and formerly known as the Westbank years ago, severed ties with the Red Lion franchise last month citing economic problems. It is perhaps one of the oldest and most uniquely designed buildings in the Idaho

A fire early Friday morning led to an extensive amount of water damage at Lowe?s. Division Chief Brad Pettingill said the fire started at about 4 a.m. Employees discovered the fire and fought it with a fire extinguisher. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire was out, but the hardware store had a bigger problem

A semi-truck crashed on Interstate 15 near the Malad Summit when the driver became ill Friday morning. A Walmart tractor with double trailers was northbound when the driver drove off the left shoulder into the median. The truck traveled through the median, across southbound lanes, through a guardrail and down an embankment before rolling onto

It has been one year since the hospital on the hill opened its doors in Pocatello. Portneuf Medical Center CEO Norm Stephens, said it’s hard to believe he’s already marking a one-year anniversary since the new medical center opened its doors. “It’s kind of like, ‘blink your eye and it’s been a year’. I can

Natural Resources Conservation Service hydrologists say there is still enough snow in the higher elevations of the Upper Snake basin to produce another increase in river flows. But the agency’s latest water supply outlook reveals that it is unlikely those future peak flows would be higher than the region recorded in April. Record high temperatures

The path has been cleared for the town of Jackson to purchase 10 acres of property on the Bridger-Teton National Forest administrative site. The existing supervisor’s and Jackson Ranger District offices will be retained on the remaining 5.3 acres of the existing 15.2 acre site after the 10 acres are sold. According to the decision,

Pocatello police said road rage was a factor in a collision between a motorcycle and a car Thursday evening. Police said the driver of the car and the operator of the motorcycle exchanged words back and forth while traveling down Yellowstone at about 6:30 p.m. Witnesses told authorities the car pulled in front of the

HK Contractors will begin a $3 million seal coat project on U.S. Highway 20 north of Rexburg Monday. Idaho Transportation Department spokesman Bruce King said crews will resurface 2.5 miles of the highway between the South Fork Teton River Bridge and north Rexburg interchange (Exit 337). Travel will be reduced to one lane in each

An Idaho Falls man was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison Thursday after he shook a baby, which led to the child?s death. In January 2010, Mexican national Mauricio Cando-Franco, 26, was babysitting the baby girl of his girlfriend, Michelle Cook, when the girl?s grandmother stopped to see her. She told police the

A north Idaho judge has agreed to drop felony assault charges against a man accused of making another man dance the “moonwalk” at gunpoint. The charge against 30-year-old John Ernest Cross of Clark Fork was dismissed Wednesday after the victim told prosecutors he didn’t want to testify in the case. The Bonner County Daily Bee

When a man with a gun to his head threatened suicide in a standoff with police in Bannock County on Wednesday night, it took strong negotiation to resolve the situation peacefully. Law enforcement officials said 30-year-old Jeremy Andrus of Blackfoot led police on a high-speed chase that turned into a suicidal standoff around 9:30 p.m.

Bonneville County will play a big role in alleviating overcrowding in Idaho’s state prisons. Bonneville is one of the few counties in Idaho with room in its jail, so there will be an influx of inmates from across the state in just a matter of weeks. “It’s not gonna make us any less safe,? said

A gun was found in the backpack of a student at Dora Erickson Elementary School on Thursday. Idaho Falls Police said the 10-year-old student found the firearm while playing at Central Park on Holmes Avenue and Cleveland Street earlier in the week. On Thursday, the student put it in a backpack and brought it to

An infant from Pocatello died Thursday, from a once almost defeated disease now seeing a resurgence, pertussis. At 9 weeks old, this infant was too young to get a vaccine, but health professionals said if more people in the community made sure children got immunized, the baby likely wouldn’t have caught this disease. The distinct

Pocatello police are investigating a stabbing that occurred Wednesday night. Police said a man said he was stabbed near the Center Street underpass. They said two men passed the victim, exchanged words and then stabbed him. The perpetrators are described as white men in hoodies. They said the man was taken to Portneuf Medical Center

A Teton City man escaped a home explosion mostly unhurt early Thursday morning. The South Fremont Fire District said the homeowner, Tim Mower, escaped the blast at about 1:20 a.m. The mobile home is at 19 N. 2400 East, near the intersection of Idaho Highway 33 and the Teton Highway. Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies arrived

Being passionate about school and extracurricular activites is a common trait among the United Dairymen of Idaho Distinguished Student Award recipients, including current winner, Catherine Cornell of Century High School. Catherine spends hours several week nights practicing ballet. She’s been doing it since she was four years old. “I’ve done Nutcrackers every single year since

A U.S. Air Force F-15E fighter crashed Thursday during a routine training mission in the Middle East, but investigators have ruled out insurgent activity as a cause, the military said. Both crew members ejected safely. Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho said the crew was stationed there. “We are extremely grateful that our Gunfighters

A man is undergoing a mental evaluation after police say he threatened to kill his wife, three kids and himself Wednesday night. Law enforcement officials said shots were fired at Jeremy Andrus? Blackfoot home earlier Wednesday night. Police say the family is OK. Andrus, 30, left in his truck and drove south of Highway 91.

When you take a swig of water, do you really know what’s in there? The United States Geological Survey said water running through the aquifer below our feet in the Snake River Plain has experienced a big increase in nitrate levels. These new numbers show 13 areas around the United States where nitrate levels in

Between the officer-involved shooting in McCammon, the Taser incident and death of Kevin Benglan in Pocatello, and Wednesday morning’s stand-off in Lava Hot Springs, there have been a lot of questions from people in the community. Why are police using tasers and guns instead of other methods? How are they held accountable? Jason Wiberg’s family

A local business is going through some big ownership changes. Bowl-ero, the bowling alley on 1st Street in Idaho Falls, went up for auction Wednesday. Employees said the former owner, based out of Utah, couldn’t keep up with mortgage payments. Alliance Title reports no one showed up to bid on the property, so it is

Congress is making water conservation a top priority, with eastern Idaho coming in at the top of the list. In 2009, lawmakers implemented a new program creating incentives for locals to make protecting the environment a top priority. This year the U.S. Department of Agriculture is actually granting money and technical help to farmers who

“I’m Kirstton. I like to play around after school. I also like to read. When I graduate from high school, I want to go to college. I wouldn?t mind being the oldest in a family, maybe with younger siblings, but having an older brother or sister would be ok, too. The most important traits in

One school bus contractor in Bingham County said more and more drivers are simply ignoring their stop-arms. Valene Olney drives for Teton Stagelines. She picks up and delivers kids to charter schools around Blackfoot and Idaho Falls. “The area that I have the most violations is the main road, Meridian Street in Blackfoot,” she said.

A group of community service volunteers is looking for space to complete their work. The Idaho Falls Humanitarian Council spends Wednesday of every week making and preparing various items the local community needs. An average of 150 volunteers work on toys, blankets, care packages and even clothing. Primarily an LDS-prominent organization, volunteers say they’re looking

Commencement ceremonies for Idaho State University and the University of Idaho are just around the corner, and while economists say the job outlook for new graduates is competitive, it is also optimistic. “Really, I’m excited to get out of school. I’m excited for the opportunities,” said Kevin Nielson, a junior at Idaho State University. Nielson

Jason Wiberg, a fugitive from Utah, was captured after a standoff in Lava Hot Springs. Wiberg was on parole for bank robbery, and was wanted on aggravated assault. The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office said Wiberg led Utah police on a 100 mph high-speed chase when they attempted to arrest him. Wiberg, a survivalist, went into

Informational kiosks were vandalized at Discovery Hill in the Salmon area. The vandals caused about $1,000 in damage. That cost estimate includes both materials and the labor needed to replace them, according to the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the land. The kiosks showed open and closed routes. Discovery Hill is a popular location

A political group working to overturn Idaho’s new education reforms has hired an out-of-state consultant who last November helped repeal a hotly debated Ohio law that limited collective bargaining. David Williams left his home in Bethesda, Md., last month to work on the Idaho campaign aimed at repealing new state laws that restrict teacher bargaining,

An eastern Idaho business is making big headlines across the Pacific Ocean in Micronesia. International Consulting Services, LLC, or ICS, was founded in February by Bingham Memorial Hospital CEO Louis Kraml and COO Dan Cochran. Kraml said they created the company to help a struggling hospital on the island of Saipan. That’s part of the

Seelni, an Amur tiger at the Tautphaus Park Zoo, was euthanized Tuesday morning. Seelni was born in February 1994 in Houston and came to the Idaho Falls zoo in 1997 from South Dakota. ?(Eighteen years old) is very old for an Amur tiger,? said Beth Rich, zoo superintendent. ?In the wild, Amur tigers may only

A major construction project is close to finishing in Idaho Falls. People living along Garfield Street near the canal have been taking detours for months, as crews have literally replaced the existing bridge with a new and hopefully longer-lasting one. The end of June is the latest projected date for it, but construction workers tell

The Idaho National Lab was in Pocatello on Tuesday to give back and recognize some local students. INL employees joined community members and Idaho State University faculty to celebrate several students in the Energy Systems Technology and Education Center. Five students have been awarded 10-week stipends to support them while they intern at the lab

Air travelers in Pocatello will soon be able to travel by jet to Salt Lake City, SkyWest Airlines announced Monday. The once-daily roundtrip flight by the 50-passenger, Bombardier-manufactured Canadair Regional Jet 200 will complement the two daily roundtrips aboard the EMB 120 Brasilia aircraft on weekdays starting June 1. ?This June, Pocatello customers will enjoy

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALLDistrict 4 Tournament Preston 0 Century 5 F GIRLS H.S. SOFTBALL Hillcrest 9 Bonneville 4 F Teton 19 South Fremont 6 F {Game 1} Shelley 17 Madson 10 F {Game 2} Shelley 1 Madison 11 F

A community health care center in the Upper Valley will soon receive much needed additional funding. Community health centers all throughout Idaho are receiving financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services totaling over $9.5 million dollars. For Upper Valley Community Health Services in Saint Anthony, providing affordable health care services to

On Tuesday, shortly before 1 a.m., Pocatello police were called to Turner Hall on the Idaho State University campus in Pocatello on reports of shots fired. Police say all floors were cleared rapidly, and according to Steve Chatterton, the director of public safety, ISU used its emergency notification system to tell students and faculty to

An explosion in the area of some coal mines in northeast Wyoming was big enough to register on seismographs on the scale of a small earthquake. Some people in Gillette reported feeling the ground shake from 16 miles away. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the blast at 11:11 a.m. Tuesday. The blast registered as large

Two defendants connected to the Christmas Day stabbing in Ammon were back in court Monday. Derek Perez, 19, charged with principal to an aggravated battery, had a change of plea. In his own words Monday, he told the court he drove the car carrying the seven defendants facing various charges connected to the Christmas morning

Time to check today’s Main Street Buzz, where we look in on newer businesses “making a go of it” in today’s economy. We found Bevanda in Shelley. It’s a new little coffee shop with Wi-Fi, but they have a whole lot more besides your coffees and lattes. Hot chocolate, Italian sodas and smoothies are available.

A Jackson man arrested on a warrant for felony delivery of a controlled substance on April 23 is now facing other drug-related charges. When Teton County, Wyo, sheriff’s deputies contacted Henry Basuki, 29, at his home, they saw a large amount of cash, plastic baggies and a digital scale. They arrested Basuki without incident on

An Idaho Falls man will serve 20 days in jail for insurance fraud and damaging insured property after he faked a motorcycle crash. Jason Preston, 31, was sentenced Monday to one to four years in prison, 20 days in the county jail, 100 hours of community service and four years probation. Sixth District Judge Joel

NPG of Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) has an immediate opening for a weekend sports anchor/ weekday reporter. This person would be a member of the station?s Sports Line team. If you love to cover High School sports along with the local college and professional teams, then you need to join our team. Sports Line is committed to

KIFI is seeking an Account Executive to call on local businesses and develop new business in the Pocatello area. If you are smart, eager to train and seeking a long-term future with a fast growing company, we want to meet with you. Previous sales experience is preferable, but the primary qualifications are: Intelligence, Energy and

One man was injured after a gust of wind tore off a canopy at Valley Wide Coop in Rexburg shortly before 5 p.m. Monday. Rexburg Police Capt. Randy Lewis says 70-year-old Warren Lamont Merrill of Sugar City suffered minor cuts to his ear, arm, and hand. The 60- to 70-foot-long canopy, which overhung gasoline service