Stories from Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Despite higher than expected water levels and parasitic moss, all four wagons, outriders and more than a dozen horseback riders made it safely across the rapid Snake River last weekend during the Three Island Crossing reenactment. Wagon teams and riders made quick work of the Crossing, making it look easy to hundreds of spectators that flocked to Three Island Crossing State Park to witness the annual event...

The Hot Creek Fire was declared contained Friday after burning more than 27,000 acres. Three weeks ago the fire began as a small blaze triggered by lightning, and fire crews expected quick containment. But after four days of firefighting efforts, the fire exploded into a firestorm that grew from 40 acres to 4,000 almost overnight and became extremely difficult to control. Hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze before bringing under control...

Mountain Home's city council voted unanimously Monday night not to readdress the city. After years of wrestling with the issue of how the city should be addressed in an efficient manner to allow for a rapid response in an emergency, the council decided to leave the city's addresses alone...

Allen Edwin (Peterson) Rhodes, 57, of Glenns Ferry, died at his residence on Thursday Aug. 7, 2003. Graveside services were held on Monday, Aug. 11, at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home. Allen was born June 26, 1946, in Huron, S.D., the son of Edwin Peterson and Patsy (Shoultz) Peterson...

Vincent Andrew Varitek, 84, of Mountain Home, died at a local nursing home on Aug. 6, 2003. Rosary was held on Friday, Aug. 8, at Summers Funeral Home McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home. Funeral mass was held on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Mountain Home. Burial followed at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home...

Violet Jean (Pat) Gridley, 79, of Mountain Home, died peacefully on Monday July 28, 2003, surrounded by family, at the Elmore Medical nursing home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the First Nazarene Church, 950 N. 7th East St., Mountain Home. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in the Hagerman Cemetery in Hagerman...

Beverly Hodges, Mountain Home, announces the birth of a son. Nolan Riley Hodges was born Aug. 1, 2003, at Elmore Medical Center hospital. He weighed 5 lbs. 12 oz. Nolan joins one brother, Aric Anthony, 9. Grandparents are Curtis and Naomi Hodges of Mountain Home...

The district champion Royals' 2003 season ended on the well-manicured turf at Lewis and Clark's baseball field Sunday. The Royals lost a set of 4-3 games to North Idaho teams. The Thursday 4-3 loss to Sandpoint put the Royals in the losers bracket at the state tournament where they would have to win six in a row to advance to the regional championship in Spokane...