Stories from Thursday, August 25, 2011

Final plans are coming together for the 51st annual Air Force Appreciation Day in Mountain Home on Sept. 10 -- just a day before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In a community that doesn't officially crack 14,000 people, AFAD features approximately 2,500 patriotic citizens who walk, ride and march in the state's largest parade, 7,000 or more people who line the streets to watch the parade -- many waving tiny American flags or dressed in red-white-and-blue outfits -- and over 10,000 individuals who show up to enjoy the free barbecue, entertainment and vendors booths in Carl Miller Park at the end of the parade route.. ...

The Treasure Hunters Roadshow will visit Mountain Home Sept. 6-10 at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 3175 NE Foothills Ave. The show is part of a "world-wide treasure hunt," organizers said. During the free event, the Treasure Hunters will meet residents bringing in their rare and unusual collectibles, which they hope to buy...

The fires that erupted during a lightning storm Aug. 15 were all declared contained last Thursday. The Big Hill Fire south of Bruneau was the largest, charring 67,000 acres. The Big Hill Fire was a combination of two fires that had burned together, according to a BLM news release...

Jean Gillialand launches himself off the top of an inflatable slide as he takes the plunge during a customer appreciation carnival hosted by the Windjammer cable company Saturday. Held in Carl Miller Park, the event featured a free lunch as well as a variety of activities, including face painting and hair coloring along with games and prizes...

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers open the 2011 volleyball season Thursday evening with a conference tri-match against Nampa and Skyview in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium. Mountain Home varsity volleyball coach Rachele Asbury said the numbers are down, overall, for the volleyball program, but she has some good quality...

The Mountain Home Tiger cross country team opens its season Friday at the Camelsback Invitational at Camelsback Park in Boise. The Tiger thinclads ran at a non-scored Mud Run in Firth last Saturday. Tiger cross country coach Doug Root is pleased with the turnout he has for cross country this season...

The Mountain Home High School Tigers continue to work to be ready for next week's football home opener on Sept. 2 against the Columbia Wildcats. Tiger head football coach Brian Floyd was working hard at getting more kids out for football once school started -- and trying to get players in working at various positions...

Mountain Home High School is no longer in "AYP jail." The school district was notified over the summer that it met its Adequate Yearly Progress goals for the second year in a row, after several years of failing the AYP standards. Adequate Yearly Progress is based on test results mandated by the state and the federal No Child Left Behind law. Each year, over the last ten years, the number of students who must pass the tests at a school have increased...