Ongoing power issues at Stephensen Elementary School at Mountain Home Air Force Base earlier this week prompted school officials to cancel classes this Thursday and Friday.

In a post shared on social media on Wednesday, Jan. 8, school principal Robynn Schipani said the part necessary to restore the school’s power currently remains in transit and may get installed on Saturday.

Currently, school officials plan to reopen the school on Monday, Jan. 13. In addition, students at the school don’t need to make up these missed days at the end of the school year.

“Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we work through this issue,” said Schipani, who added that school officials will provide further updates if the plans to reopen the school face any changes.

Seeking to provide increased protection for airmen and families stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base and other installations across the United States, officials took steps to increase security procedures at these bases following terrorist attacks targeting U.S. citizens at the start of the new year.

The base was one of the installations assigned to the U.S. Northern Command headquarters that increased these force protection measures following the attack on Bourdon Street in New Orleans that killed 15 people as well as a separate bombing incident next to a Las Vegas hotel owned by incoming president Donald Trump.

“This is a prudent measure to ensure the safety and security of installations and personnel,” Air Force officials said in a statement shared with the Mountain Home News. These increased security measures include each installation, facility, and unit within the U.S. Northern Command’s area of responsibility, which includes bases across the continental United States as well as Alaska.

Along with increased vigilance, these heightened security measures, “may have the potential to cause delays for personnel or visitors entering installations,” officials added.

Maribel Morelos poses for a photo with her newborn son, Ezekiel, following his birth at St. Luke’s Elmore Medical Center on Thursday. Ezekiel became the first baby born in Elmore County at the start of the new year.

Photo courtesy St. Luke’s Elmore Medical Center

Some parents expect their babies to arrive earlier than expected. Others prepare to wait for their child to arrive later than they planned.

Ezekiel Morelos apparently had other plans.

At 4:02 p.m. Thursday, he officially made his appearance on this world to become the first baby born in Elmore County at the start of the new year.

For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper’s online edition.

The pickup truck crashed into the lobby of the Knight Veterinary Clinic the morning of Jan. 2. No people or animals were injured as a result of the crash, which remained under investigation as of press time.

Photo by Brian S. Orban

Unintentional consequences led to a vehicle crash that damaged a local veterinary clinic on Jan. 2.

Emergency responders arrived at the Knight Veterinary Clinic on Elmcrest Street after receiving reports that a 2001 Chevy S10 pickup truck crashed into the building around 8:40 a.m.

For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper’s online edition.