Stories from Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Darleen Watson will be honored as the Person of the Year at Friday's 20th Annual Mountain Home Community Black History Committee Banquet. The annual banquet serves as a platform to praise the contributions of local African-Americans to the community...

A nine-year-old girl fought off a man who allegedly attempted to grab her off the street in Canyon Creek Creek Mobile Home Park last Friday morning. Arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping was Carlos Martinez, 19. According to the Elmore County Sheriff's Office Martinez allegedly grabbed the girl outside of his trailer in the park, as she was walking by, and attempted to drag her into the trailer...

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers stumbled out of the chutes in their District III 4A Tournament opener against Nampa, but bounced back with a win over Columbia to keep their state tourney hopes alive. Nampa 43 Mtn. Home 34 The Mountain Home Lady Tigers finished their regular season girls basketball schedule playing some of their best ball of the season, so Coach Brent Keener was hoping to ride that momentum into the District III 4A Girls Basketball Tournament...

The Mountain Home Tigers moved back up into a tie for third place with conference wins over Kuna and Columbia last week. Tigers 60 Kuna 45 The Mountain Home Tigers broke upon a close game in the second half on their way to a 60-45 conference win over the Kuna Kavemen last Tuesday night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium...

The freshman basketball team played its final two games against the "5A" teams this past week. Although they lost both games, the frosh were able to show that they could play with the big schools, Coach Brian English said with pride. On Monday, Feb. 2, the young Tigers took on the Rocky Mountain Grizzles...

The Mountain Home Tigers dropped a conference wrestling dual match at Middleton last Thursday night and then traveled to Pocatello where they went 3-4 at the Dick Fleischman Invitational. Middleton 39 Mtn. Home 28 The Tigers battled back from a 27-7 deficit to come within two points, 30-28, with two matches to go, but lost by decision and pin in the final two matches to fall short, 39-28, to the Vikings at Middleton Thursday night...

Mountain Home's three district winners of the Elks Hoop Shoot competition competed in Blackfoot at the program's state competition this past weekend, with Teresa Fredell earning a third-place trophy in the 12- to 13-year-old girls division. Jace Bennett placed in the boys 8- to 9-year-old boys division and, Analeise Mills placed in the 10- to 11-year-old girls division...

The Mountain Home Tigers managed a split of their JV boys basketball games last week, losing at home to Kuna and winning on the road at Columbia. Kuna 51 Tigers 39 The Tigers fell behind early, and were never able to make a comeback, as they lost to Kuna 51-39 last Tuesday night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium in Mountain Home...

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers sophomores made it to the semi-finals of the District III 4A Girls Basketball Tournament before they were beaten and ousted from the single-elimination tournament. Mtn. Home 34 Skyview 33 The Lady Tigers went into the District Sophomore Tournament as the number three seed and opened on Jan. 31 against sixth seeded Skyview. They held off the Lady Hawks for a 34-33 win...

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers sophomores made it to the semi-finals of the District III 4A Girls Basketball Tournament before they were beaten and ousted from the single-elimination tournament. Mtn. Home 34 Skyview 33 The Lady Tigers went into the District Sophomore Tournament as the number three seed and opened on Jan. 31 against sixth seeded Skyview. They held off the Lady Hawks for a 34-33 win...

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers were eliminated from the District III 4A Girls JV Basketball Tournament at Skyview with their opening round loss to Bishop Kelly on Jan. 31. A scoreless second quarter helped lead to the Lady Tigers' downfall as they lost to Bishop Kelly 54-18...

Plans are proceeding for the first annual Mountain Home Tiger Alumni Football Game set for June 5 at Tiger Field. Mountain Home Tiger head football coach Brian Floyd indicated there's a lot of excitement building for the fundraising effort. "Obviously with the economic times, we have a hard time fundraising. ...

The Mountain Home High School Speech and Debate Team defeated 17 other high schools last weekend while winning the Second Annual U-Bus-2-Us Speech and Debate Tournament in Mountain Home. The Talkin' Tigers used a strong finish in the debate and student congress sections of the tournament to defeat last year's winner, Eagle High School. Bishop Kelly High School placed third...

February 4 • 03:50 Welfare, King Hill• 04:52 Hazard, I-84 EB• 06:29 Motorist Assist, MH• 06:44 Vehicle Stop, Hwy 30• 06:54 Vehicle Stop, Hwy 30• 07:18 Vehicle Stop, MH• 07:28 Vehicle Stop, MH• 07:35 Vehicle Stop, MH• 07:40 Vehicle Stop, MH• 07:48 Vehicle Stop, MH• 09:04 Vehicle Stop, MH• 09:25 Assist, MH• 09:49 K9, MH• 10:19 Vehicle Stop, Pine/Featherville• 10:30 Vehicle Stop, MH• 10:44 Vehicle Stop, Hwy 20• 10:47 Animal, MH• 11:11 Suspicious Circumstance, MH• 12:00 K9, I-84• 13:01 Vehicle Stop, MH• 13:13 Vehicle Stop, MH• 14:00 Vehicle Stop, MH• 14:09 Vehicle Stop, Pine/Featherville• 14:10 K9, MH• 14:40 Vehicle Stop, Hwy 20• 15:34 Vehicle Stop, MH• 15:56 Vehicle Stop, MH• 16:40 VIN Inspection, MH• 17:13 Vehicle Stop, Glenns Ferry• 17:35 Animal, Glenns Ferry• 18:09 Vehicle Stop, Glenns Ferry• 18:22 Vehicle Stop, MH• 19:06 Motorist Assist, I-84 EB• 22:20 Noise• 23:57 Vehicle Stop, I-84 EB. ...

Dear editor: Diana Hooley's recent opinion got a few facts right: we are proposing "500 permanent, high-paying jobs and increased wealth to be spread among public facilities and private business. But the benefits can only begin to be realized if Elmore County agrees to support and permit a nuclear power plant on a piece of farm ground in Hammett."...

Editor's note: The following was received from Rev. Dana S. Brazell, former Senior Pastor of the Abundant Life Christian Fellowship Church. The incidents referred to in his letter involved an arrest of his wife (at the time) for operating a house of prostitution at a local health spa several years ago...

The Mountain Home Library will be participating in the Big Read again this year. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American popular culture. It encourages people all across the country to read and discuss a single book within their communities...

Carol L. Cook, 67, of Grand View, died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, with her daughter at her side. A celebration of Carol's life will be held on Friday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. at JC Landing in Grand View. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel...

Robert "Bob" L. Davis, 72, of Glenns Ferry, died Feb. 4, 2009, at his home. A graveside service was held Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry. Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home...

April Payne, and Kole Weaver have announced the birth of a boy, Kasun Ray Weaver, on Jan. 11, 2009, at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. Kasun weighed 7 lb. 10 oz. and was 20 inches long at birth. His grandparents are Kim and Kevin Weaver and Troy Payne, all of Mountain Home...

Dear editor: Stan Franks and his staff have done a wonderful job with the parks in Mountain Home, especially Legacy Park, which years ago was an eyesore and an "attractive nuisance." Small problems remain at Legacy with dog waste and litter, which might be remedied with better signage...

Dear editor: I would like to reiterate with what Mayor Tom Rist said about backing the city and recreation workers, but nonetheless this not a big issue to be looking at. I have recently seen lots of empty lots where business's should be. It's very upsetting to me that the staff at city hall have been allowing this to happen. Get out of the past and come back to the future...

Dear editor: I want to publicly acknowledge and express my gratitude to the good neighbor who clears the sidewalks along North 10th East. This is a stretch of walks notoriously ignored by those of us who live with it behind our back fences. I have noticed that, after each large snowfall, the good neighbor (unknown to me by name or face) comes along with his four-wheeler-snowplow and clears the walks -- not only for those residing on Owyhee Drive and Court, but also for every person who passes by our back fences.. ...

Dear editor: On Thursday morning, 2/5/09, my husband was walking down 6th Street to go to Moxie Java when he slipped on some ice and fell, and not one person stopped to see if he needed assistance. He waved at a car for help and they chose to keep on driving by...

Dear editor: Last week Mr. Heinen wrote in with some ideas for cutting our education budget and was asking me to also contribute solutions. First of all, I must say that I agree with him about the sports programs. I think if we HAVE to decide between a quality education for our kids and funded sports programs we need to choose education. It does not mean that we can't have sports programs, but why can't we go to intramural sports while we are weathering this storm?...

The junior high school's Act Out Theatre Company will be performing "The Music Man" on Feb. 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 7 p.m. at the junior high. Tickets can be purchased at the junior high office during school and at Mulberry Place, 1140 Airbase Rd., during business hours Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See the mountainhomenews for the complete story...

This past weekend Mountain Homes 3 District Winners of the Elks Hoop Shoot competition competed in Blackfoot ID in the State Competition. All 3 children got to travel with their families to this 3rd level of the Shoot Off. They competed with 30 children from through out the state representing 5 districts. From left to right: Jace Bennett who placed in the boys 8-9 year old boys, Teresa Fredell placed 3rd in the 12-13 year old girls and Analeise Mills placed in the 10-11 year old girls...

MILFORD, Conn. (AP) _ At 8 months old, Lexi Schneider isn't able to walk yet, but if she were to fall into a pool, she could keep from swallowing water and turn herself around to float on her back, hopefully until she was rescued. Lexi isn't a future Olympian in training, but she is a student in Dena Blum-Rothman's Infant Swimming Resource class, learning survival, rather than swimming...

By JESSIE L. BONNER Associated Press Writer BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ The state should hire more bilingual teachers and allow students who are not proficient in English to skip standardized tests or take them in their native language, the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs says...

NEW YORK (AP) _ Diane Keaton is telling all _ about her bond with her mother. The Academy Award-winning actress, whose films include ``Annie Hall'' and the three ``Godfather'' movies, is working on a memoir _ currently untitled _ that the Random House Publishing Group plans on releasing in 2012...

The Mountain Home Air Force Base main gate will officially reopen today after having undergone numerous changes and upgrades over the last year. The gate had closed April 6, 2008, while the construction was in progress. The eight phase construction project has increased the number of inbound and outbound traffic lanes to three in each direction at the guard house; built a new visitor's center, guardhouse facility and weather canopy; installed permanent active vehicle barriers plus a security over-watch; and upgraded lighting and force protection-oriented landscaping. ...

Col. John D. Bird II formally took command of the 366th Fighter Wing from Col. James S. Browne during ceremonies Wednesday presided over by 12th Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Norman R. Seip. Col. Bird told the Gunfighters assembled for the change of command ceremony in Hanger 211 that his emphasis would be on "mission, people, and championing the Air Force story."...