Stories from Wednesday, August 23, 2006

The Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce has announced that longtime volunteer Diane Ferrell is this year's Air Force Appreciation Day Grand Marshall. To be an Air Force Appreciation Day (AFAD) Grand Marshall, one must be an individual that has worked specifically towards making it the successful event that it is...

by Landon Johnston Mountain Home News The City of Mountain Home is currently deciding if it wants to help fund, for the first time, the public bus system that is currently in place and operated by Treasure Valley Transit. "The city has not, up to this point, ever put a single dime into the bus service," said Mayor Joe B. McNeal. "We are not 'cutting' the program, because we never funded it."...

When asked about his recent purchase of the Mellen Hotel on the corner of East Second and East Jackson Streets, San Diego businessman Larry Rogers said, "To tell you the truth, the real reason I bought the building was to take down those ugly awnings and simply make the place look nicer."...

Students headed back to class Wednesday for the new school year -- but not at Liberty Elementary, which the school district's board of trustees voted last week to close in response to a continuing trend of declining enrollment on base. Only one of the three schools on base is now open. ...

Two more Elmore County men have died in the last ten days from West Nile virus, prompting the county commissioners to declare a state of disaster for the county, the precursor to officially asking the governor to commit state resources to help. The two deaths last week brought the total number of deaths due to the mosquito-borne virus in Elmore County to three, half of the total deaths reported statewide. ...

The Mountain Home Tiger cross country team opens its season this Saturday at Bishop Kelly High School. Tiger cross country coach Doug Root was pleased with this year's turnout. "Right now we've got 18 kids, which is the best turnout we've had in a couple years...

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers open their volleyball season this week on the road, traveling to Skyview on Thursday night, and competing in the Kuna Classic at Kuna on Friday and Saturday. Second-year Lady Tiger volleyball coach Sarah DeVore was fairly pleased with this year's turnout for volleyball at the high school...

The Mountain Home Tigers head into the 2006 football season with plenty of optimism. What has Mountain Home Tiger head football coach Brian smiling is the numbers out for football this year. Coach Floyd and his staff have issued football gear for 80 players, up from 39 last year...

Brenda L. Hampton, 34, of Glenns Ferry, died on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006. No local services are planned. Arrangements in Idaho are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Arrangements in Ely, Nev., are under the direction of Mountain Vista Chapel...

Robert "Bob" R. Olsen, 82, of Featherville and Mountain Home, died Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006, at a local hospital. Per his request, no services are planned. Cremation is under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Bob was born Sept. 18, 1924, in Nebraska, where he grew up and went to school. ...

Gerald Robert Lounsbury, Jr., 76, of Mountain Home, died from lung cancer on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006, at a local care center. Per his request, no services are planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home...

Rebecca Nichols and Daniel McCallum have announced the birth of a son, Daniel Lee McCallum, Jr., on Aug. 16, 2006, at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise. Daniel weighed 2 lbs. 13 oz. at birth and was 14.5 inches long. Grandparents are Nick Nichols and Vicki Echenrod and Debbie Bosworth and David McCallum...

Don and Muriel Spies are celebrating 50 years of marriage this week. The couple were married in Scotland, Aug. 24, 1956, while Don was serving in the US Air Force. Their daughters Brenda and Sonya and grandchildren are honoring the couple with a reception Saturday Aug. 26, at American Legion Hall from 1-4 p.m. Friends are being invited stop by and wish the couple well wishes on their special day...

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Boehlke and Mr. and Mrs. Steven Mengel have announced the engagement of their daughter, Amanda Leigh Mengel, to Samuel Phillip Smith, son of Mrs. Janet Wheeler. Amanda, a graduate of Mountain Home High School, Boise State University, and Idaho State University, is an occupational therapist at Life Care Center...

Tedd and Patty Dalrymple and Lind and Orville Thomsen of Mountain Home have announced the engagement of their daughter, Cassie Dawn Dalrymple, to Jonathan Pentland, son of Don and Connie Pentland of Mountain Home. Cassie is currently employed at Washington Mutual Bank in Mountain Home...