Blaine County

Blaine County’s Hunger Coalition is set to purchase a new building across the street from its Bellevue location that will triple the size of its current space.

Although Mayor Tammy de Weerd will no longer lead the City of Meridian come January, her policies could largely live on in the winner of the November 5 election. Robert Simison will take the job in January, after serving as de Weerd's longtime chief of staff. Idaho Matters talks with de Weerd, along with Boise State Public Radio reporter Rachel Cohen about Twin Falls and Blaine County elections. Finally, we connect with Valley County Commissioner Sherry Maupin to find out what a failed levy means for the counties deteriorating roads.  

With November 5 quickly approaching, South Central Idaho has several important issues that will be on the ballot on election day. From a Twin Falls jail bond measure, to the Blaine County school board elections and more, Boise State Public Radio reporter Rachel Cohen joins Idaho Matters to preview these elections.

Over the past year, the Blaine County School District has been at the center of controversies.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released a five-year report on the status of an abandoned mine near Triumph, an unincorporated town southeast of Ketchum, home to about 65 people.

The anterless elk hunt will look a bit different this fall in the Wood River Valley.

Updated post 9/23/19

Following public hearings throughout the summer, the Blaine County Commissioners have filed a complaint against the Flying Heart Ranch Owners’ Association in the county court.

St. Luke's is partnering with the Hunger Coalition to alleviate instances of food poverty in the Wood River Valley. Idaho Matters talks with Erin Pfaeffle, director of community engagement with St. Luke's and Jeanne Liston, executive director of the Hunger Coalition about these efforts. 

Camp Rainbow Gold, a rustic retreat for young cancer patients, has found a permanent home in Camas County near Fairfield.

The camp is putting down roots in Camas County after a long and complicated effort to secure a site in Blaine County near the Big Wood River. The camp pursued a 260 acre site there – the Camas County location the camp will set up shop at is 172 acres.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is out with a report examining health in the Gem State. It ranks Idaho’s 44 counties on a variety of factors centering on wellness. Ada, Blaine and Latah Counties are the three overall healthiest. The Treasure Valley’s Canyon County comes in at seventeen.

According to the report, the rankings are intended to help local governments understand what things effect healthy residents and how long people will live.

A proposal at the statehouse that would have banned municipalities from instituting their own local bans on using cell phones while driving failed to get traction. The legislation’s defeat sets the stage for Pocatello’s prohibition on handheld devices going into effect.

Rain and melting snow has lead to washed out roads and significant repair bills in south central and eastern Idaho.

After last year’s historic flooding in the Wood River Valley, Blaine County Commissioners are weighing plans to alter the river and restore it to a more natural state.

An Idaho camp for kids with cancer was dealt another setback last week. The Blaine County Commission voted against a proposal last Tuesday that would allow Camp Rainbow Gold to build a permanent location in the Wood River Valley. The camp currently leases space each summer from Cathedral Pines, a Baptist camp in the area.

Blaine County is attempting to address an issue that plagued the Wood River Valley last winter: feeding elk. County commissioners are looking into an ordinance revising the county's position on private citizens giving food to big game.

The Big Wood River again rose above flood stage this week. It’s the fifth time since early May. Damage assessments from the devastating flood season are finally set to get underway.

State and federal emergency management officials will meet with county and city leaders in the Wood River Valley the week of June 26 to examine the toll spring flooding took on infrastructure in the region.

Officials in Blaine County are telling residents water levels in the Big Wood River will rise again.  

Cooler temperatures and a momentary reprieve from flooding in the Wood River Valley are being called “the eye of the hurricane.” Speaking to a group at the Community Campus, Hailey City Councilman Don Keirn invoked the imagery while reminding people there's still plenty of snow yet to melt in the mountains.

Wood River Valley residents continued to battle floodwaters over the weekend. Officials distributed sandbags as worried residents moved to fortify their homes throughout Blaine County. 

The Big Wood River continued to rush along at flood-level stages. The river hit a peak level on Friday night, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began reinforcing the Broadford levee in Bellevue. On Saturday, Governor Butch Otter arrived in Hailey to meet with local officials.

Each day, librarian Randy Kemp has seen Warm Springs Creek rise and rise by his Ketchum home.

After an emergency declaration was issued for Blaine County Monday by Lt. Gov. Brad Little, the Army Corps of Engineers say they're sending a small group to the region to help with flooding.

The Corps is sending a three person crew to assess flood risks to public infrastructure and help Blaine County emergency management staff. Members of the Army Corps team are experts in both hydraulic and civil engineering. Another task the group will assist with is coming up with contingency plans should a worst case scenario unfold.

As residents of a subdivision in Blaine County continue feeding elk, the county is taking them to court over the rule violations.

A herd of around 70 elk descended on the Golden Eagle Ranch development north of Hailey in December. Driven to lower elevations by the harsh winter weather, the residents of the development said the animals were eating everything from patio furniture to decorative wreaths.

After hearing about increased emergency feeding efforts on the part of Idaho Fish and Game, some residents of the subdivision started feeding the animals.

Camp Rainbow Gold serves kids and families struggling with cancer in Idaho. Currently, the nonprofit leases from two private camps in the Sawtooth Mountains, and camp officials want to build a permanent location near Ketchum to increase the number of kids who can attend.