Stories from Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Longtime incumbent county commissioner Larry Rose went to the wire before defeating challenger Jay Brown in Tuesday's primary election, which saw all the incumbents win. Brown was leading in the commissioner's race until returns from Glenns Ferry, Hammett and King Hill turned the tide and gave Rose a slim 71-vote victory...

The cloud of deadly gas was invisible -- because it wasn't really there -- but for emergency responders from Elmore County last Wednesday's disaster drill was a chance to learn what they'd have to do in the event of a real disaster. Wednesday's drill involved more than 200 people, representing dozens of federal, state and local agencies, as part of a Department of Homeland Security weapons of mass destruction exercise...

Emotions ran high as the strains of Pomp and Circumstance filled the air and families and friends stood to honor the graduates of Richard McKenna High School. In his opening remarks headmaster Jose Madarieta noted that "while other graduation ceremonies often turn into the equivalent of a tailgate party, with beach balls floating through the crowd and silly slogans painted on motor boards," those gathered for the May 21 ceremonies had "come together to recognize a major achievement in these young people's lives, an achievement that deserves all of the dignity we can bring to it.". ...

James Richard Ingram, 69, of Hammett, died Sunday, May 23, 2004, at his residence. Memorial Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mountain Home. Arrangements are under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home...

Harold L. Larsen, 88, of Mountain Home, died peacefully at home Monday morning, May 24, 2004. Memorial services will be held Friday, May 28, at 10 a.m. at the Summers Funeral Home chapel in Mountain Home. Larsen was born in Barre, Vt., to Andrew and Christine Larsen on April 27, 1916...

Long time Yakima physician and general surgeon, Samuel A. Gridley, formerly of Mountain Home, died at home, surrounded by his family following an extended illness, on May 22, 2004. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, at the Terrace Heights Chapel of Valley Hills Funeral Home in Yakima, Wash...

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Huston of Mountain Home have announced the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Cassandra Janeen, to Michael David, th e son of Jim and Donna Nordin Wordin of Annehiem, Calif. Cassandra is a 2001 graduate of Mountain Home High School. Michael is currently serving in the United States Air Force...

Dan and Debbie Thompson of Grand View, and Curt and Betty Lahtinen of Bruneau, have announced the engagement of their children, Kristy Thompson and Colin Lahtinen. The couple will be married on June 26, 2004, at 6 p.m. in the lower Strike Dam park near Grand View. A reception will follow at the Bruneau Legion Hall. All friends and family are invited...

Mountain Home's lone entrant in the 4A State Tennis Tournament in Caldwell went out in two matches over the weekend. Drew White opened the tournament against Sandpoint's Tim Neidhart, and lost 0-6, 0-6. From there, White faced Shawn Cafferty of Vallivue in the consolation bracket, and lost 2-6, 4-6, to be eliminated from the tournament...

Mountain Home finished 15th in both the girls and boys competition of the 4A State Track and Field Championships at BSU last week. Mykel Barrie finished second behind Stephanie Barnwell of Kuna in the 100-meter hurdles, and both Barrie and Barnwell bested the previous 4A class record in the event...

The Mountain Home Tigers extended their win streak to seven straight before dropping their final two games at the State 4A Baseball Tournament in Nampa to finish fourth. Mountain Home 3 Jerome 2 The Tigers got a 14-strikeout effort from Michael Hobgood in downing Jerome in the State Tourney opener Thursday night...