Stories from Wednesday, July 30, 2008

After stumbling in the second round of the Area B Class A American Legion Baseball Tournament, the Mountain Home Royals fought their way back through the losers' bracket to face the Boise Gems in the championship round Monday and qualify for state. The Mountain Home Royals lost to the Boise Gems, 14-5, in that game to finish second at district. The open State Cass A Tournament play Friday morning at 10 a.m. at Timberline Park in Boise against the Buhl Tribe...

Anabel Juarez, infant daughter of Rocelia and Felix Juarez of Bruneau, died Sunday, July 27, 2008, at a local hospital. A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, July 30, at 10 a.m. at the Bruneau Cemetery in Bruneau. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel...

1st Lt. Aaron Arting, formerly of Mountain Home, and Sheena Bailie of Albuquerque, N.M., have announced their engagement. Aaron is serving in the US Air Force as a developmental engineer. He is currently stationed at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirkland AFB, N.M. Aaron is the grandson of Virginia Bowman of Mountain Home. He is the son of George and Dee Arting of North Las Vegas, Nev...

Harold William Berciunas, 82, of Mountain Home, died Friday, July 25, 2008, at a local care center. Per his request, no services are planned. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Harold was born on Dec. 5, 1925, in Grand Rapids, Mich., the son Joseph and Noma Berciunas...

Almeta Hilty Good, 87, of Lucille, Idaho, formerly of Indian Cove, died Monday, July 21, 2008. A memorial service was planned for Saturday, Aug. 2 at the Riggins Assembly of God Church. Almeta was born in Nampa to George B. and Hannah E. Hilty on Dec. 20, 1920...

Jennifer Nichole Thornton, 26, of Mountain Home, died July 24, 2008, at home. A memorial for Jennifer will take place in the near future. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home. She was born on Aug. 2, 1981, in Mountain Home...

Jessica Anne Matthews and Jason Michael Harris were united in marriage on Saturday, July 12, 2008, at the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise. Jason is the son of Allan Harris of Mountain Home and Debra Adams of Arlee, Mont. Jessica is the daughter of John and Diane Matthews of Meridian...

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Hill of Mountain Home have announced the engagement of their daughter, Angelei, to Josh Bruce, son of John Bruce of Kuna and Virginia Bruce of Boise. Angelei is self-employed at Lefflers Spa and Salon in Kuna. Josh is employed at Micron...

Mr. and Mrs. Tony Black of Bruneau have announced the marriage of their daughter, Loni K., to Ryan Francis Auer, son of Mr. Bill Auer of Sedona, Ariz., and Ms. Amy Auer of Boise. The couple married in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., on Dec. 27, 2007, in a small family wedding. A reception dinner and dance will be held to honor the couple's union on Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Bruneau Community Park in Bruneau from 6 p.m. until midnight...

A few weeks ago we suggested that this nation's politicians shouldn't wait until after the elections to start fixing this country's problems. Usually, there is sort of a "stall" period in the year of a presidential election, as politicians try to avoid having to actually face a roll-call vote on any specific issue...

"They are killing animals a hundred feet from my door!" -- from a letter to me by a concerned Idahoan Those of us who have owned livestock knew this is what would happen. What we feared has become a reality. Wolves are roaming Idaho, and their presence is hurting the livelihoods of many Idahoans...

Hungry Mountain Home residents flocked to Carl Miller Park on Saturday for the Idaho State Championship Chili Cookoff, an event that is a first for Mountain Home. In total 10 cooks coming from all over the United States, including Colorado, Oregon, Montana and Idaho, took part in the event sanctioned by the International Chili Society. The event was sponsored by A.J.'s Restaurant and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage...

The Mountain Home Museum will hold a special Canyon Creek Stage Station Plaque Dedication and Social today, Wednesday, July 30, at 5 p.m. at Canyon Creek Station. The History Channel will be on site filming the event for an upcoming program. The Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) wagon train will make its Canyon Creek stop on the Oregon Trail that evening and will "circle the wagons and prepare for an evening full of good old-fashioned fun," said museum director Nancy Marshall. ...

The Sesame Street Experience for Military Families, a free, traveling tour, will be at Mountain Home AFB today, July 30, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Base Theater in Building #1613. The 60-minute program, which consists of a 25-minute mini-show and an opportunity to connect with outreach organizations that are providing materials for the military family community, will feature a live Muppet performance, giveaways, outreach materials and a group photo framed by the Muppets...

The main registration for the Mountain Home School District will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 13, but some pre-registration and orientation sessions for students new to the district will be held Aug. 7. All registration activities will be held in each school...

Michael Martin was acquitted of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter following last week's trial on charges stemming from an accident in 2007 that resulted in the deaths of two of his friends. After receiving the case in late afternoon Friday and deliberating until 1:30 a.m. that night, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the lesser charge of vehicular manslaughter in the case. Prosecutor Christine Schindele said she would not retry Martin on that charge...