Month: November 2012

Fremont County is now on the list: It’s part of a designated surveillance area for brucellosis in Idaho. For one Idahoan, raising cattle has been in his family for over 150 years. “It’s a scary word when people hear it,” said Richard Savage, president of the Idaho Cattle Association. For Savage the word brucellosis brings

A new conservation easement will preserve nearly 400 acres along the Teton River valley, including three quarters of a mile of the riverbank itself. The Teton Regional Land Trust said the property, known as the Three Forks Ranch, lies along a stretch of the river between the Bates Bridge and the Idaho Fish and Game

A federal appeals court has declared moot a case challenging the U.S. government’s decision to remove federal protections from Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy previously ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service improperly removed wolves in Montana and Idaho from the list of protected animals under the Endangered Species

A group of western state US Senators are urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to put the timber industry to work to help reduce fuel loads in wildfire prone areas throughout the west. The group, which includes Wyoming Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, said reducing fuel loads in wildfire-prone areas would improve community safety. In

Two people are in custody after trying to outrun Idaho Falls Police Thursday afternoon. Police said 35-year-old Bradley Sean Westbrook was spotted walking with 31-year-old Shante Marie Davaz near Lincoln and John Adams Parkway. Westbrook was known to be a wanted felon. Police said the couple attempted to run from officers who saw Westbrook throw

A Chubbuck fire truck rolled over on the I-86 onramp late Thursday night on its way to a trailer fire. Idaho State Police said water in its tank shifted causing the truck to roll onto its side of the Exit 61 westbound onramp. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital and released. They’re still trying

The Idaho Department of Lands is proposing a land exchange with a private landowner it believes would more than double cash returns for the endowment trusts. The exchange involves 14 acres of state land in McCall for a commercial building in Idaho Falls of equal value. The land is located near the Center for Advanced

A Challis woman died in a one car crash on Thursday morning. Michelle Dea, 42, was driving south on U.S. Highway 93 in a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee when she failed to negotiate a turn. Dea overcorrected, lost control and slid off the side of the hill. Her car rolled to the bottom of the

Two six-man Idaho Power Company utility crews have safely arrived in Brookhaven, New York to help Long Island recover from the effects of Superstorm Sandy and help restore power to the region. IPC Regional Operations Manager Bo Hanchey said the crews would be stationed at Brightwaters Substation and will be housed in trailers and tents

The man who robbed East Idaho Credit Union in Rexburg on Wednesday with an assault rifle matches the description of the AK-47 Bandit, who the FBI said has hit banks in California and Washington. The FBI said the AK-47 Bandit also committed a heist Feb. 29 at the California Bank & Trust in Chino, Calif.

With winter weather in the wings, many folks are breaking out the heavy parkas or stocking up on firewood. Just as you winterize your home, power companies are working behind-the-scenes to make sure eastern Idaho can keep the lights on this winter. “You expect a lot of heavy snow, wind, ice, cars sliding off the

“Cost or convenience?” It’s a question that’s on a lot of travelers’ minds as they get ready to head out of town for the holidays. Eyewitness news has weighed the options, comparing area airports when it comes to those two things travelers value most, and the Pocatello Regional Airport seems to offer a bit of

Boxes of hamburger patties were floating down the Snake River on Thursday after a semi-truck crashed. Bruce Fitzgerald, 58, of Shelley, was traveling east on U.S. 26 in a 2007 Freightliner with a 2011 Great Dane trailer. He failed to negotiate a turn causing the semi to go off the road, Idaho State Police said.

In Tuesday’s election, Idaho voters passed a state constitutional amendment preserving the right to hunt, fish and trap. The measure is known as HJR2 and it has some people wondering how these outdoor activities will be regulated. There are no immediate changes to hunting, fishing and trapping in Idaho. Members of the Idaho Department of

Bonneville County Clerk Ron Longmore has ordered a reconciliation of votes cast at two county precincts.In one case, he says about eight write-in votes were not counted Tuesday. In another precinct, about 100 votes were inadvertently counted twice. Longmore said Thursday that the discrepancy would not affect the outcome of any races, but would change

Idaho State University head football coach Mike Kramer will not be facing any criminal charges following a pushing incident that made national headlines last month, the Pocatello Legal Department said Thursday. A video that submitted to ESPN showed Kramer shoving wide receiver Derek Graves to the ground. After the incident, Kramer was suspended for an

The Bonneville Power Administration is proposing a 9.6 percent increase in its average wholesale power rates to compensate for reduced revenue expectations from surplus power sales. It would also continue to fund investments in the Federal Columbia River Power System. The federal agency is also proposing a separate 13 percent increase in its transmission rates

It’s go-time at the current Pocatello Animal Shelter after voter approved funding for a new facility. Plans have already been drawn up and contractors hired. Work on the new shelter could begin in spring. “We’re just really excited with what we can do with this new building,” said Animal Services Director Mary Remer. The $2.8

Pocatello police are investigating a shooting that occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.Shots were reported fired on the west side of Pocatello, but officers were unable to locate the precise location. At 2:30 a.m. Portneuf Medical Center reported a male had walked in with gunshot wounds. Police determined he had stab wounds, but that a

Pocatello Police are investigating a shooting incident at around 1:35 a.m. Thursday. Shots were reported fired on the west side of Pocatello, but officers were unable to locate the precise location early today. This afternoon, police said they found evidence related to the case at a residence at 528 Fremont. Officers have been at that

Here is an appropriate story with Veterans Day approaching. Two young men join the U.S. Army from different locations. The year is 1942. They meet for the very first time and become very good friends. But then the call comes and they both get sent in different directions overseas. We’re talking World War II. They

A couple of campers got the scare of their lives the day before Halloween after they spotted what they claim was Bigfoot. The man who posted the video to YouTube said he was camping with some friends near Squaw Peak and Little Rock Canyon in Provo Canyon and initially thought he saw a deer. He

The Rexburg City Council has taken steps it hopes will keep Rexburg Rapids water park in the black next year. Chief Financial Officer Richard Horner said the park posted a $45,000 operating loss in 2012 compared to 2011. The park opened in 2011. Although the facility generated $54,000 more in revenue, its operating expenses were

Multiple vehicle burglaries occurred late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning in Idaho Falls. The burglarized vehicles were on the 600 block of Bainbridge, 600 block of Manchester, 4000 block of Nottingham and the 700 block of Carriage Gate. Other vehicle burglaries took place on the 2100 block of Cavan and the 800 block of

The Idaho State Department of Education will distribute pay-for-performance funding to school districts this month, even though Proposition 2 did not pass. On Nov. 6, voters rejected the proposition, along with two others. Proposition 2 provided bonuses to teachers and administrators based on student performance. The performance is based off of student’s test scores. It

Idaho election officials predicted this years election could bring more people out to the polls than ever before. With votes being tallied, it appears 2012 is the second biggest turnout the state had had, behind the 2008 presidential election. Secretary of State Ben Ysursa said three out of every four registered voters in Idaho cast

Some of the biggest measures on the Idaho ballot last night — education reform propositions 1, 2 and 3 were rejected. These changes with the Students Come First plan were proposed to legislators two sessions ago, but what happens now that Idahoans have voted against them? “We don’t like to play the politics game,” said

It may not always be on your mind, but the idea of just how to store and re-use energy is a huge undertaking for researchers. Right now in eastern Idaho, some very bright minds are working to develop storage solutions — basically batteries — for energy created by wind and solar power generators. “Energy storage

Top leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are congratulating President Barack Obama for winning a second term, and urging Americans to pray for him. The Mormon church’s First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also said they commended Mitt Romney for engaging in the high levels of the democratic

Wednesday was a stressful morning for Idaho State Superintendent Tom Luna. As ballots were being counted, Luna was upbeat about these propositions that he worked two years to develop. It was a long wait for everyone in Idaho to find out if Propositions 1, 2 and 3 had passed or failed. But on Wednesday morning,

An Idaho Falls man is in jail after a five-hour SWAT standoff Tuesday night. James R. Farber, 34, was booked into the Bonneville County Jail on a parole violation warrant. Idaho Falls officers responded to assist probation and parole in the 300 block of W. 16th Street for a warrant service around 4:30 p.m. Farber

Idaho voters have rejected Proposition three, according to projections from the Associated Press. Props 1 and 2 are still too close to call. As of 2:15 a.m. Wednesday with 576 of 967 precincts reporting Proposition 1 has 56% No, 44% YesProposition 2 has 57% No, 43% YesProposition 3 has 66% No, 34% Yes For up-to-the-minute

While other counties are running smoothly so far this evening, Madison County ran into a hiccup. Two precincts, Archer-Lyman and Plano, ran very low on ballots. Madison County Clerk Kim Muir said turnout at the polls Tuesday was overwhelming and far more than originally expected. At 7:20 p.m., the county started printing more ballots and

A flow of ballot boxes are now starting to arrive at the Bonneville County Clerks Office, where Jamie Ostroff has been reporting from all night. She says election officials had to call in some more help. Although other counties are running smoothly so far this evening, Madison County ran into a hiccup. Two precincts, Archer-Lyman

Pocatello voters approved funding for a new animal shelter to be built in the city. The bond passed with 5,290 votes, about 71 percent. Taxpayers approved up to but not more than a $2.8 million bond. The debt would be paid off by using revenue obtained through raising property taxes. According to state law, the

The wait begins in Jefferson County as the current sheriff is going against a write-in candidate. Sheriff Blair Olsen has been in office for six terms and on Nov. 6 is running for his seventh term. He is going against Ryan Brown, former Rigby mayor. Former candidate Jeff Poole asked Brown to run after he

The polls in Bonneville County have definitely had their moments of chaos and calm. At times, they were packed and other times voters were able to get in and get out without having to wait very long. Bonneville County Clerk, Ron Longmore, said when county polls opened at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, workers knew they

A Madison County teen drowned in the Teton River on Monday afternoon. The 17-year-old boy’s name was Brett Ryan Ours. He was a student at Central Alternative High School in Rexburg. It happened around 5 p.m. at the bridge near Highway 33 and 3000 West along the South Fork, according to Madison County dispatch. County

So, what type of skills are needed to work in a corporate headquarters? Some of the new positions will be office jobs such as finance and marketing. But don’t be scared by the word headquarters. Idahoanfoods was granted $240,000 to train 60 new employees on how to get the job done right. “They did look

As part of an investigation called “Operation Walkabout”, multiple law enforcement agencies served search warrants and federal arrest warrants at various locations in Idaho Falls shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday. Two men and one woman were arrested on federal drug trafficking charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. United States Attorney Wendy J. Olson said the

The countdown has begun. Less than 24 hours until the polls will officially close. The 2012 campaign trail has proved to be a bumpy ride for all involved and it’s one that many are anxious to put behind them. How soon will be able to do that? Poll workers will start the tedious job of

On Monday, our station was tipped off to a scam. A man who said he represents an Idaho vendor for ADT Security Systems promises to keep a customer’s service calls local instead of corporate. The tipster said the man then transfers ADT accounts to his company, and then it’s too late. “He just came up

A new study shows the ISU Division of Health Sciences is helping to spur the local and state economies more than most people realize. The Economic Impact Study led by Assistant Dean of Health Sciences Linda Rankin was released this month and shows how the D.H.S. contributed over $200,000 back into Idaho’s economy. With more

A man was arrested in Sunday’s early-morning standoff, police said Monday. Jamin Robert Bowen was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. Neighbors awoke to the sound of a woman screaming before calling the police in the early Sunday morning hours. After police arrived at 425 Hyde Ave. just after 5 a.m., they

Idaho Falls police are investigating two burglary-related incidents. The first was an attempted break-in at the Trackside Mall in the 300 block of Poulson. The attempted burglary occurred sometime late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Police responded to the business around 9:20 a.m. after it was reported that there was evidence that someone tried

Five Idahoans on their way to help Superstorm Sandy’s victims were hurt over the weekend. The Ohio State Highway patrol said the group was traveling in pickup trucks along the Ohio turnpike when they pulled over to make a repair on one of the trucks. That’s when a semi-truck drove by and hit two of

In addition to statewide referendums and political offices, a number of local issues will be decided at the polls Tuesday. The city of Pocatello will ask voters to approve a $2.8 million bond issue to pay for a new animal shelter. It will require a two-thirds majority for approval. Two issues are going to voters

Pocatello police are looking into a stabbing that happened in broad daylight. It happened Saturday afternoon at a mobile home park on Wilson Avenue near the Fred Myers shopping plaza. Police said the victim was stabbed in the stomach during some sort of argument. The victim was taken to Portneuf Medical Center and is expected

Police said an Idaho Falls woman stole TVs from a hotel and tried to sell them on Craigslist. The manager of Best Western Driftwood Inn contacted Idaho Falls police around 3:45 p.m. Sunday for a burglary complaint. The manager said that between 3 and 9 p.m. on Saturday, someone entered two rooms and took the

An Idaho Falls woman is behind bars on a long list of charges, including felony assault on an officer, after an incident at a hospital over the weekend. Officers responded to the emergency room of Eastern Idaho Medical Center for a reported theft. Angelique Usuzette Swinney, 36, had taken various medical supplies from the ER,

Three people were arrested on burglary charges after police said a 15-year-old boy was caught stealing more than $250 in merchandise from Walmart on Sunday. Cynthia Guadalupe Espanoza-Gutierrez, 21, and Rocio Espinoza Gutierrez, 18, and the boy were also suspects in earlier burglary cases at Walmart and other local retailers over the last few weeks.

An Idaho Falls man was arrested Sunday after police said he punched a woman in the face while she was sleeping. Nathan Shade Soper, 41, was arrested on charges of domestic battery and attempted strangulation, after an incident on the 2400 block of Pumic Drive. Idaho Falls police responded to the apartment at about 4

A 4-year-old boy is recovering at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City after getting hit on Friday night. He was hit by a car near the intersection of 12th Street and Cranmer in Idaho Falls on Friday at 8:30 p.m. after police said he darted into the road. Police said the driver of the

At 8 years old, Brendan McDaniel is one in a million. He has a disease so rare and destructive doctors had to cut out part of his brain. While he is beating the odds in Cleveland, Ohio, friends and family in eastern Idaho are coming together to help out. Two years ago, Brendan started having

It’s the final weekend before the Nov. 6 election, and both the Republican and Democratic parties in eastern Idaho plan to campaign in full force for one last push of votes. Jonathan Haines, co-chair of the Bonneville County Republicans, said, “It’s a strategic approach, because a lot of people who get information too early, they

The waves Super Storm Sandy is making in the East are having a ripple effect on Idaho. Passengers are stranded at airports all across the country because of Sandy, though Idaho Falls Regional Airport there doesn’t seem to be a major inconvenience. Chris Hunt of Idaho Falls was in Washington, D.C., for business. He travels

November is diabetes awareness month. Statistics show by the year 2030, 30 percent of the population could have diabetes. Type two diabetes is a chronic disease where high levels of sugar or glucose are in the blood. That can happen from being overweight, not eating well and not exercising enough. The disease is being diagnosed

For kids and adults living with disabilities, life can present its share of hurdles. Things like competitive sports might seem out-of-the-question. “They can’t just go out and do whatever they want,” said Hunter Leavitt, 14. For Leavitt, hockey is more than a game — it’s something that grabs you. It grabbed him when he was

Three people are recovering in the hospital after their car went off the side of the interstate. According to the Idaho State Police, the driver fell asleep just south of Inkom, when his car went off the right shoulder of Interstate 15 Sunday morning. The car rolled and two passengers were ejected. Both of those

Police responded to a call of a semi-truck stopped in the median of Interstate 15, near milepost 81 in Fort Hall Saturday night. According to the Idaho State Police, the driver, Chance Verhelle, 61, stopped the truck because of a medical condition. Verhelle was unconscious when rescuers arrived. Both southbound lanes of I-15 were closed

Last month, the Boy Scouts of America released 20 years worth of files on men suspected of child sex abuse. The so-called “perversion files” identify scout leaders and volunteers banned from the group after being accused of sexual or inappropriate conduct with boys. Saturday, local Boy Scout leaders met to discuss ways to protect the

Here are final scores from Friday night’s high school games. If you are reading this in full-browser view, your team may not be listed on the first page — use the page numbers below. Links to highlights of select games are included. * Bonneville 18Moscow 6_ * Madison 28Capital 14http://www.localnews8.com/sports/H-S-Football-Madison-vs-Capital/-/308186/17253040/-/tyurwl/-/index.html _ * Lake City 24Eagle

The last day for early absentee voting in Idaho had crowds packing local polling places. Four years ago, Bannock County got a total of about 7,000 absentee ballots, and by Friday morning election workers has already taken in more than 9,000 this year. Election workers said ballot boxes are filling up quick. “We usually just

A second grader in Shelley is being honored as a hometown hero for her bravery in a life-threatening situation. Paramedics said 7-year-old Rozzlyn Cazier saved her mother’s life in early October after she was trampled by a horse. “I said a little prayer to help me, and I wasn’t that scared,” said Rozzlyn. Rozzy’s mom,

But don’t be surprised Saturday morning at the breakfast table if your child tells you the whole story of where your Cheerios or milk come from. We caught up with all the excitement of Agriculture Day at Fox Hollow Elementary. Second grader Jenna Barney said that milking the cow was her favorite part of the

An Idaho Falls officer shot and badly wounded a pit bull while on duty earlier this week. The incident occurred Tuesday, and dash cam video of the incident was released Friday. Officer Malin Reynolds was investigating a homeless couple camping along the Snake River when two dogs ran toward him aggressively, and he shot one

Fire caused extensive damage to a home in the 1,000 block of 1400 North in Shelley on Thursday. Shelley Fire Chief Mike Carter said the fire appeared to have started when a downstairs electrical outlet overheated and ignited a pile of newspapers. He said the fire apparently smoldered for several hours before a family member

A Salmon woman has died after sustaining injuries while in Lemhi County Sheriff custody on Wednesday. On Thursday night, her family decided to remove her from life support. Idaho State Police captain Danny Bundersen said detectives from his agency are investigating what happened when 44-year-old Karri Stephanishen became unresponsive in the back of a Lemhi

Wyoming payroll increased by $215.8 million in the first quarter of 2012. According to the Research and Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, employment rose by 6,470 jobs and average weekly wages increased by $42 (5.2 percent). First quarter job growth, total wages and average weekly wage were higher than the state’s

There are many issues to address in the upcoming sheriff’s race, as the Bonneville County Sheriff deals with budgeting money, illegal immigration, communication with other agencies, and preventing controlled substances from entering the county. “Bonneville County is a great place, a beautiful area,” said current Bonneville County Sheriff Paul Wilde.“It’s a great place to raise

Idaho State head football coach Mike Kramer suspended wide receiver Derek Graves for violating team rules. The athletic department made the announcement Thursday night. Graves filed a report with the Pocatello Police Department in October after he sent a video to ESPN showing Kramer shoving him to the ground during a practice. He appeared on

Achievements in sports are often recognized – achievements in the classroom, not as much. United Dairymen of Idaho Distinguished Student Award winner, Ririe High School senior, Jacob Myler, is a high achiever in both. As quarterback for the Ririe Bulldogs, Jacob leads his team on the football field. He’s also involved in basketball and track.

Investigators say a Montana man charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl from Cody, Wyo., allegedly confessed. Jesse P. Speer is being held on a $2 million bond on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault and using a gun in the commission of a felony. He hasn’t entered a plea yet. Speer was arrested

Things are really heating up in the race for Jefferson County sheriff. Former mayor Ryan Brown is taking on 24-year veteran Blair Olsen as a write-in candidate. These two men are not only pillars of the community, but they worked together in the sheriff’s office for two years. Former candidate Jeff Poole asked Brown to

The Bonneville County Republican Central Committee will hold a special meeting Nov. 7 to consider a replacement for County Coroner Jonathan Walker. Walker announced this month that he will retire from the post November 15th. The Central Committee will nominate three potential replacements to the Bonneville County Commission which will make the final selection. The

Searchers found the body of a Blackfoot man in the Snake River on Thursday. Emergency personnel from Bingham and Bonneville counties had been searching near Wadsworth Island. The body of Vaughn Kepler, 59, was found as crews in a boat were returning to dock downstream from the search area. The search was called off just

A woman on probation severely hurt herself while in the back of a patrol car, the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office said. Just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, during an investigation by local law enforcement and state and local probation officers, a 44-year-old woman was arrested on charges of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was

Opinions are divided on Proposition 2, which deals with teacher bonuses. Idaho State Superintendent Tom Luna said he worked with the Idaho Education Association, the state teacher’s union, for 18 months to hammer out a bonus plan for a grant application. The state didn’t get the grant, but he said he used the same agreement

A fire that damaged a 2002 Toyota truck late Wednesday night was arson, the Idaho Falls Police Department said. Officers responded to a vehicle fire at 10th and Division just after midnight on Thursday. Just before midnight, a passerby noticed the vehicle fire and extinguished it with a nearby hose. The fire appeared to have

It’s time for a new beginning for a man who’s served the city of Idaho Falls for 31 years. The city’s police chief Steve Roos is retiring. So what’s the next step for the city of Idaho Falls to find a new chief of police? Mayor Jared Fuhriman has already found an interim for the

Some of the scariest things this Halloween may be a few numbers. According to an FBI report, violent crime is down across the nation, but in Idaho murder is way up. The FBI’s new Crime in the US Report shows from 2010-2011 the gem state saw a 63 percent spike in the murder rate. And