Stories from Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Continuous coverage of breaking news around the world.

Road work will have downtown Mountain Home congested through Friday. Work on North 2nd East Street and North Main Street, the business loop of Mountain Home, began Monday, July 9, and is expected to last through Friday, July 13. The full width of the roads, including the shoulders, are being chip sealed and seal coated by the Idaho Transportation Department...

Mountain Home Parks and Recreation has teamed up again this year with the Mountain Home Arts Council to bring back the "Jump'N'Jive Summer Concert Series." The event features area bands performing in Carl Miller Park while those attending the free concerts bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music...

For Jon and Jen Sowers, the new Dusty Rose Inn bed and breakfast has been a true labor of love. Built in 1904, and originally known as the Mellon House, the two-story home at the corner of N. Third East and E. 8th North streets, has over the years been the residence of some of the more prominent community family names...

Some kids hang out in the parks. Some "scoop the loop." Some spend their weekends looking for the latest thrill. But every Saturday, a group of youths -- and a number of adults as well -- gather in the "game room" at Wondertrails in Stardust Plaza to enjoy a variety of popular board, miniatures and card games...

The West Nile virus has returned to Elmore County, based on lab tests completed last week that positively identified the presence of the virus from a sample of mosquitoes collected at a test site near Prairie. Last year there were 65 documented cases of West Nile virus and three confirmed deaths from the virus in Elmore County...

Debra A. Augusto, 33, of Mountain Home Air Force Base, died Sunday, July 8, 2007, at a Boise hospital. At this time no local services are planned. Debra is survived by: her husband, Manuel "Manny" Augusto; her three sons, Manuel Augusto III, Adam Augusto, and Keaton Augusto, all of Mountain Home; her parents, Bruce and Susan Engle of Stigler, Okla.; her brothers, Ronnie and his wife, Lori Engle of McAlester, Okla., Bruce and his wife, Kamye Engle, and Adam and his wife, Ashely, of Stigler, Okla...

John R. "Bob" Brady, 75, of Sweet Home, Ore., formerly of Mountain Home, died Wednesday, July 4, 2007. No services are planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. He was born on Jan. 11, 1932, in Twin Falls, to Joel and Faye (Sterling) Brady...

F. Gene Conrad, 56, of Hammett, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, July 7, 2007. A viewing will be held from 9-10:45 a.m. with funeral services starting at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 12, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home...

The Western Elmore County Recreation District will be hosting its 3rd Annual Kid's Fun Run/Walk "for children of all ages" on Saturday, July 21. Children under 9 must be accompanied by someone 16 or older. "The event is free of charge and I encourage parents to sign up and walk with their children," said Teri Smith, event coordinator. "It is a way to teach kids that exercise can be fun."...

A brand new '07 gas Yamaha drive golf cart will be raffled off this year to help raise funds for the Mountain Home DARE program. Up to 100 tickets, but not more, will be sold. Tickets are $100 each. All proceeds go to the local DARE program. The drawing will be held Aug. 11 following the 7th Annual DARE golf tournament. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win. Tickets can be obtained by contacting the Mountain Home Police Department...

The Mountain Home Royals won four of six games in the Pepsi Challenge American Legion baseball tournament, finishing in fourth place in the four-day tourney played at Borah and Capital. Royals 9 Senators 6 A four-run sixth inning helped the Mountain Home Royals to a 9-6 win over the Boise Senators in the opener of the Pepsi Challenge American Legion Baseball Tournament at Borah's Wigle Field...

Dear editor: He won't pick up the phone and free the border agents, imprisoned for doing what they're supposed to be doing. He won't pick up the phone and free the eight Marines being court-martialed at Camp Pendleton for unintentionally killing some Iraqi civilians that were being used as human shields during a crossfire...

Dear editor: I'm writing because I'm concerned with our Congress and our elected officials. Why don't we have Term Limits on the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives? Franklin Roosevelt served as our President from 1933 to 1945, and is the only U.S. ...

Dear editor: If you're somewhat of a history buff, you know history has a way of repeating itself. What is happening now on our Mexican and Canadian borders has happened before. The China Wall is a great example of that. It is now a tourist attraction...

In the two weeks, leading up to our nation's Independence Day last week, I'd been looking at how well the Bill of Rights has stood the test of time, especially in light of polls that show many Americans would either modify or ignore them in certain circumstances...

This has been a tough year for the city council as it tries to put together next year's city budget. But we have to admire the council for how open they have made the process. Citizens have had a better chance than ever before to see the evolving budget process, and offer comments and suggestions...

Daniel Garrett Farias-Rodgers, 24, of King Hill, died Friday, July 6, 2007, in a tragic auto accident near Glenns Ferry. Funeral Services were held Tuesday, July 10, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Burial followed at Mountain View Cemetery...

Magistrate's Court --- Diane E. Schafer, 44, pleaded guilty to an amended misdemeanor for reckless driving. She was sentenced to five days jail time and placed on probation for six months. Schafer had fines of $100 and court costs of 72.50. Aaron M.W. ...

Adult arrests --- Fredd Zacaras-Delacruz, 23 -- warrant. Adam J. Elick, 22 -- domestic battery. Carrie Leann Noe, 30 -- domestic battery. Jodie Lorie Wolfenbarger, 39 -- battery. Thomas Edwin Bergstrom, 49 -- DUI. Lee Allan Evans, 54 -- reckless driving; failure to purchase drivers license; eluding a police officer...