Stories from Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The football season came to a close for the Mountain Home Tigers Friday night with a 46-27 loss at Kuna. The Tigers ended the season tied for second in conference with Kuna and Bishop Kelly, both of whom beat Mountain Home, putting the Tigers in fourth place by the tie-breaker system, and out of the playoffs...

Coach Rob Daniels U14 soccer team had a bye in league play on Saturday and used the opportunity to stay fresh with its skills by traveling to Twin Falls to participate in a jamboree with the Twin Falls Rapids and Sawtooth United teams. The boys came away with a 3-0 victory over Sawtooth, with Gustavo Martinez finding the back of the net for two scores and Mike Daniels adding the third goal. Tomas Guillen and Mike Daniels shared goalkeeping duties to preserve the shutout for United...

Mountain Home's two runners represented themselves well at the State 4A Cross Country Meet run at Freeman Park in Idaho Falls. Alysia Crandall ran her best time ever, going the course in 20:57.16, which placed her 24th. Haley Schaefer came in 31st with a time of 21:30.57...

Arrests Jairo Noe Salas-Salas, 22 -- DUI, no license/ invalid. Coty Jan Frampton, 22 -- Battery (x2). Michael James Kelly, 18 -- DUI; possession of paraphernalia; driving while suspended.

Magistrate Court Christina M. Dowell, 28, was charged with grand theft (felony). Dowell pleaded guilty, however the case is being withheld. Dowell was charged with a probation violation. Dowell was found guilty, placed on 4 years probation (retained jurisdiction), and ordered to pay $250 in court costs and $3,491.76 in restitution.

Voters will go to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 6, to cast ballots in the city elections. The mayor's position and two open council posts are open. For city council, voters will cast ballots for two candidates. The two who earn the most votes, not necessarily a majority, will be elected...

It's time to "Fall Back" this weekend. Congress this year extended daylight savings time by an extra week (confusing many computers that didn't know about the change). Officially, the end of daylight savings takes place at 2 a.m. Sunday morning when clocks are moved back to 1 a.m. Most people make the change to their clocks when they go to bed Saturday night...

Long-time city councilman Tom Rist is challenging incumbent Joe B. McNeal for mayor in next Tuesday's election. Rist has extensive experience in city operations. He served for five year's on the Mountain Home Planning and Zoning Commission and subsequently has served 12 years as a city councilman (beginning during Don Etter's final two terms as mayor). Rist said that experience "provides me with the extensive background one needs to address challenges faced by a growing community such as ours...

Mayor Joe B. McNeal is seeking a second term as mayor "of the metropolis of Mountain Home." McNeal said in a prepared statement that he will run on his administration's accomplishments during his first four years as mayor. He said those accomplishments include "a dramatic increase in living-wage jobs, library expansion, commercial and residential growth and a "friendlier, more open city government."...

A Crèche (Nativity) Exhibit -- "A Gift of Love," will be held Friday, Nov. 30, from 5-9 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1150 N. 8th East St, A display of hundreds of privately-owned nativity sets, including a Live Nativity, will be featured, filling the church...

Tuesday's Mountain Home city elections are vital to the future of this community and we can't emphasize enough the need for citizens to wisely choose their candidates and then go vote. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mountain Home Public Library...

Dear editor: I am writing this letter in support of Tom Rist for mayor! I met Tom about six years ago through some city council matters and work with Cheer Basket of Mountain Home. Tom was helpful and assisted with answering the questions that I had. Over the years, though, I have also had the opportunity to watch Tom on Cam 8, discuss the issues with him, and observe his work with the city council and mayor at city hall...

Dear editor: Mayor Joe B. McNeal is one of the best mayors that the citizens of Mountain Home has elected into office. Under his watch new employers have come into town and the economy of Mountain Home has grown. Had the same 700+ high paying jobs with benefits that the city has gained been lost during the mayor's administration others would have blamed the mayor...

Dear editor: I have known Tom Rist for about 50 years. He and his lovely wife, Shirley, both graduated from Mountain Home High School and have lived here all their lives. Tom has worked in the private sector all his life and has learned the value of a dollar and why it is important to have a government that is careful with the use of public money. He has illustrated constance and loyalty in his employment...

Dear editor: I was very impressed by Kelly Everitt's editorial in the Oct. 24 edition of the paper. He said things that needed to be said regarding the present situation between the mayor and the city council and his curtailing of the democratic process. This democratic process is the foundation of this country and provides the checks and balances needed so that government represents the people...

Dear editor: I believe that our mayor has excellent administrative skills. I say this because our streets are paved, the garbage is picked up, flags fly on time honoring our military community, and the city is growing. Mountain Home has grown and is changing for the better...

Dear editor: I believe the most important question any of us can every ask ourselves is "What and how can I be of service to my country, my community and its people?" Mayor McNeal continues to truly do just that. Our city has made great progress in the past four years by increased job opportunities, open city government, improving neighborhoods and actually moving forward with a purpose and mission for the city...

Dear editor: Please write in a vote for C.D. Houston for city councilman. He is: Caring Devoted Honest Outgoing United States AF (Retired) Strong Trustworthy Observant Newcomer to a city office Bill Watson

Dear editor: I first met Tom Rist in 1968 when he was a manager at Safeway (where Albertsons stands today). We became very good friends and then co-workers when he hired me to work part-time for Meadow Gold Dairies. Tom's work ethic both then and now is just unbelievable. Whenever I run into him, Tom is either on his way to solve a problem or lend a helping hand, or he has just finished doing whatever needed to be done...

C.D. Houston, a retired USAF veteran, has announced his candidacy as a write-in for Tuesday's Mountain Home City Council election. Those who wish to vote for Houston must write in his full name, C.D. Houston, on the ballot. Houston and his wife, Becky, came to Mountain Home in 1993, and a year later the couple celebrated the birth of their son, Matthew...

Dear editor: I have noticed over the years that the mayor actually takes time to talk to and give advice to our children and visits our senior citizens during non-campaign years. This shows me Joe genuinely cares for the people of Mountain Home. Joe is a man of his word and I would appreciate your vote for him...

Dear editor: I do not agree with the focus about Joe acting like a king. He has his own style of getting things done and done they get! I personally have had occasion to call on Joe for help and every time I talked to him the problems were solved expediently...

Dear editor: Thank you, Kelly Everitt, for writing "It's Time for a Change," in the Oct. 24 issue. I, for one, cannot say I like Joe McNeal. When Joe sent out his candidacy announcements I returned such to Joe McNeal stating he left out one thing on his announcement, and that he was a big deceiver. You hit the nail on the head...

Dear editor: I am writing this letter in support of Mitch Prouty for city council. I have known Mitch for more than 30 years. I can testify to his honesty, integrity, values and willingness to work for the community. Mitch has volunteered in the community in many ways, and I have been personally affected by a couple of them...

Dear editor: I have read several letters in the editorial section of the paper complaining about growth in the downtown area. The county assessor's office shows that the downtown corridor property is owned by private companies and individuals and not the city of Mountain Home. ...

An Open House to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of Glenn and Thomasene McCleary will be held Nov. 6, from 2-5 p.m., at the Hagerman Senior Citizens Center, located on Lake Street. Glenn and Thomasene were married on Oct. 30, 1947 in Ontario, Calif. The couple moved to King Hill in 1960 where they farmed until moving to Hagerman in 2003...

Russ Anderson says he would "like the chance to work for the people of Mountain Home for the betterment of our community." Anderson said there are several issues of concern that he would like to focus on if he were to win the election. Some of those issues include growth, safety, traffic, planning and zoning, employee salaries/benefits, and "helping the city get back to working together as a team."...

Albert Clement says that "as the president and vice-president of the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce it has been my pleasure to work diligently for the betterment of Mountain Home's business community, ultimately benefiting the entire community. If elected to the Mountain Home City Council I would continue with that commitment to work for the betterment of the community and surrounding area."...

Mitch Prouty says he was running for office because "it is time for me to give back to our community and I want to make a difference in Mountain Home. "I am ready to jump into public office head first. It takes courage," he said, "but I am up for the task."...

Geoff Schroeder says that "it is time to bring back a certain level of civility to the discourse, understanding that two opposing viewpoints can come to an understanding when effective dialogue is used in good faith," addressing the issue of the communication problems between the mayor and the city council...

A Mountain Home woman was mauled by a pit bull that had escaped its owner's control Monday afternoon. The incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Monday when officers were dispatched to 205 Dawn Dr. in reference to a dog bite. When police arrived they noticed an elderly female sitting on the ground...

Boise Police have arrested John Wissel, 63, of Mountain Home, on charges of attempted lewd conduct with a minor under 16. Wissel was arrested in Boise on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at about 1:15 p.m., after he arrived there allegedly expecting to meet and have sex with a 12-year-old girl. Instead, he was met by Boise Police detectives. The location of the arrest was not disclosed...