Stories from Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A two-vehicle collision on the interstate left a Mountain Home man critically injured Monday morning. James D. McCord, 34, was driving westbound on a 2004 Yamaha RX6 when he struck the rear of a utility trailer being pulled by a 2000 Dodge R1500 pickup driven by Brent Noe of Meridian near milepost 93 around 9:30 p.m...

Four candidates are seeking election to two posts on the board of trustees of the Mountain Home School District. In Zone 1, incumbent Toni Reynolds is being challenged by Gary Oyler. In Zone 3, Rick Checketts and Art Nelson are competing for the trustee position. The Mountain Home News recently submitted a questionnaire to the school board candidates to determine their views on the difficult issues facing the school district this year...

Absentee balloting is now open for next Tuesday's taxing district election. In-person absentee voting is available until Friday, May 13. Those who wish to have an absentee ballot mailed to them can now do so by making a written request to the county clerk's office...

May 4 • 03:08 Civil Matter, I-84 WB MM74• 07:10 Vehicle Stop, Hwy 67• 07:19 Abandoned Vehicle, Hwy 67/Hwy 167• 07:30 Traffic, I-84 EB MM82• 08:39 VIN Inspection• 10:13 Homicide, Elmore County• 11:06 Vehicle Stop, American Legion Blvd/N7E• 12:01 K9• 12:02 K9• 13:05 Vehicle Stop, Old Hwy 30• 13:20 VIN Inspection, MH• 14:48 Vehicle Stop, Jackson/Main• 14:53 Vehicle Stop, Hwy 51• 15:10 Motorist Assist, Old Hwy 30• 16:08 Motorist Assist, I-84 EB• 16:29 Vehicle Stop, N18/Dutton Dr• 17:07 VIN Inspection, MH• 18:09 Vehicle Stop, Hwy 30• 18:20 Vehicle Stop, Hwy 30• 20:11 Vehicle Stop• 20:47 Traffic, I-84 EB MM61• 21:13 K9, Hwy 51• 21:27 Vehicle Stop, MH• 21:35 Vehicle Stop, Glenns Ferry• 21:58 Vehicle Stop, N2E• 22:00 Vehicle Stop, I-84 WB MM115• 22:06 Traffic, Main• 22:24 Motorist Assist, I-84 EB MM99. ...

Dear editor: Thank you for giving us aluminum for the Ronald McDonald House Aluminum Drive. We have collected over 870 pounds. We met our goals and helped the children and families of the Ronald McDonald House. Sincerely, Michael Campbell and Mitch Aguirre, sixth grader, Hacker Middle School...

Over three years, Idaho's public schools have lost nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in funding, and we rank 50th in the United States in per-pupil investment. State Superintendent Tom Luna's radical plan to overhaul education has piled insult on top of injury...

Once again, it appears only a handful of people will ultimately decide the fate of Elmore County's future. Judging by the lack of public support so far, does anyone really care? Having sat through countless hours of public hearings over the past several months, I could be right. Looking at all the empty seats at these meetings, it seemed as if the public didn't seem to care until someone took a vote. Then some folks got themselves all bent out of shape complaining on the outcome...

Once again, gas prices are changing, and the Mountain Home News tracks the price of gas locally so readers can monitor these changes. All figures are those stated on the indicated service station's reader boards. Special discounts available at some individual stations are not included in these listed prices. ...

Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in what, under the new consolidated election laws, have been declared the off-year taxing district elections. Polls will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The standard general election polling sites will be used, however, there are some minor changes...

Community representatives and the public offered their perspectives on plans to build a large-scale community on the county border during a hearing May 3. The forum on the Mayfield Townsite was one in a series of three scheduled meetings to address whether to approve the project, which would add another 37,000 people within the county...

Donald K. Durrant, 69, of Featherville, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, in Tucson, Ariz. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., on Tuesday, May 24, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Post #26...

Authorities responded to a single-vehicle accident on I-84 near Exit 90 just before 1 p.m. Wednesday that sent two people to the hospital. Preliminary reports indicated the vehicle, a four-door Lincoln Continental with Utah license plates, went off the right side of the road, clipped the highway exit sign, then briefly got back onto the shoulder of the road before again leaving the roadway on the right side. The vehicle rolled and was spun around in the accident, suffering heavy damage...

Deputies with the Elmore County Sheriff's Office arrested a Wendell man following a high-speed chase Tuesday afternoon. In addition to suspected drunken driving, Adolfo Acevedo-Villanueva faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident. The pursuit started around 3 p.m. when county dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a pickup truck traveling recklessly on the westbound side of the interstate near milepost 132...

Photo description: She squeezed her eyes shut when I told her to look at me!