Stories from Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Expected strong winds this afternoon and possible thunderstorms could cause challenges for fire crews currently trying to contain the Rose Creek fire south of Silver City in Owyhee County. Robert Narus with the Boise District-BLM released a statement this evening stating that three hand crews were on scene battling the fire in a remote area where access is difficult due to rocky terrain approximately 21 miles south of Silver City...

The 47th Annual Air Force Appreciation Day kicks off this Saturday, Sept. 8, with the state's largest parade and a free barbecue, among numerous activities planned. AFAD is a special tribute to the men and women of the armed forces, and in particular those assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, and is annually the largest event held in Elmore County...

Jean Vance, 80, of Grand View, died Sunday, Sept. 2, at her home. At her request, no services will be held. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home.

Richard H. Hoagland, 88, died Aug. 29, 2007, at the hospital in Mountain Home. Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Glenns Ferry. Burial followed at Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry. Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel...

Mildred Marie (Rennpage) Norstebon, 71, of Mountain Home, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007, at a Boise hospital. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel...

Joan Ellen Oak, 63, of Mountain Home, died Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007, at her home. No services are planned at this time. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Joan was born on Jan. 13, 1944, in Branchville, N.J., to Albert and Viola Pittenger. She went to school and became a registered nurse...

Rhonda Young and Wayne Sparling of Orlando, Fla., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Melissa Mary Elizabeth Sparling, to Michael Edward Thurlow, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thurlow of Mountain Home. The wedding is planned for August 2008 at Lake Lucerne in Orlando, Fla...

Charles Davidson and Samantha Winkelman were united in marriage Aug. 11, 2007, at the Dusty Rose Inn in Mountain Home. Charles is the son of Jim and Sarah Davidson, and Samantha is the daughter of Ray and Shelly Winkelman, all of Mountain Home. A reception followed immediately after the ceremony...

Dear editor: I cannot support the new school bond initiative. It is too grandiose in nature, scope and far too expensive. Here are a few important facts to consider. Fact one, compared to the 1998-99 school year we have about 418 less students and 33 less teachers in the district...

Dear editor: Some of you may remember a time they would tie tomcats together and throw them over the clothesline. Or the cockfights people would wager a bet on. I've seen two people walking their dogs down the street and when they meet, encouraging the dogs to fight while on the leash until one of them was hurt pretty badly. ...

Dear editor: Driving at 75 mph on the interstate is not a particularly relaxing job, especially when you hear a loud pop followed by ka-thunk, ka-thunk. Four women, age 56 to 81, huddled around the spare donut reading instructions and were pleasantly surprised by a male voice asking if help was needed...

Dear editor: As a proud parent and educator I am going to vote "YES" on the upcoming school bond. My daughter attends Hacker Middle School, and last year, her home room had between 34 and 36 students. If you have not observed the overcrowded conditions at Hacker, try to walk in the hallway during class changes. It is a difficult task...

Last week was a real nightmare down here on production day, putting out the paper. And at the end of a long 12-hour day, I sat down to write the final headline, on the school bond issue -- and screwed it up. All elections are held on Tuesday, so I automatically wrote that. ...

William Jay Gazley, 41, had a felony charge for intimidating a witness that was dismissed by the court. Eric M. Velazco, 23, was charged with burglary (felony) it was amended to unlawful entry (misdemeanor). Velazco was found guilty, sentenced to 30 days in jail (25 days suspended), placed on 1 year probation, and ordered to pay $300 in fines ($150 suspended), $213.50 in court costs and $12.99 in restitution...

Justin Cody Nelson, 19 -- illegal possession/consumption (under 21). Jordan Jenae Farnsworth, 25 -- battery- simple assault; obstruct/resist officer. Tyler Wayne Black, 24 -- attempted strangulation. Joy Hoon-Mee Higgins, 22 -- eluding officer; DUI...

Three Mountain Home cross country runners placed in the top 10 at the New Plymouth Invitational cross country meet last Thursday at New Plymouth. Hailey Schaefer finished sixth in the girls race, running a 24:17. Jessi Cameron came in ninth, running a 25:01. Jennica Quintal ran a 27:56, Alisha Crandell ran a 33:19, Courtney Ashford finished with a 37:29, Korie Foster ran a 39:23, Alisha Caldwell, 40.00, and Ashley Benham, 40:30...

The Mountain Home Tigers dropped a couple boys conference soccer road games last week, losing at Middleton and Columbia. Middleton 5 Mtn. Home 1 The Tigers played Middleton to a 1-1 first half tie, but the Vikings scored four times in the second half to win 5-1 last Monday at Middleton...

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers dropped home conference volleyball matches to Emmett and Bishop Kelly last week. Emmett 25, 25, 25 Mtn. Home 15, 21, 20 The Lady Tigers dropped a conference volleyball match to Emmett in three games in their conference opener last Tuesday night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium...

A blown power transformer during a Friday night thunderstorm knocked out the lights to Tiger Field and ended the Tigers' home opener at halftime. With word that it could be two to three hours before Idaho Power could have the lights back on, the game was called at halftime, not having gone long enough to be ruled as an official game...

Yancy D. Mailes, the historian at Mountain Home AFB, has published a book from the Arcadia Press Images of America series on Mountain Home AFB. The 128-page soft-cover book went on sale in bookstores this week, and Mailes will be holding a book-signing at Footnotes Book store this Saturday, during AFAD...