Stories from Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare withdrew a controversial proposal Tuesday to enroll in the Mountain Home School District six students from the Sequal TSI juvenile sex offender secure treatment facility here. The effort to place the students in the regular schools -- at Hacker Middle School, the junior high and the high school -- had been strongly resisted by Supt. Tim McMurtrey...

An effort aimed at raising more than a half million dollars to build a community recreation center in Mountain Home is now scheduled to start in November. Details on the capital campaign and a revised timeline to build the facility were outlined during a public hearing Aug. 21 before the Western Elmore County Recreation District board of directors...

Dear editor: This letter is in response to Gov. Otter's remarks to the Idaho Statesman and NIFC (the National Interagency Fire Center) on Friday Aug. 16, in which he said Fall Creek was an indefensible area for fire. I was at all three meetings at the Elks lodge in Mountain Home on the Elk Complex Fire, and all three times I was told by fire officials that the Elk fire was a much different fire than the Trinity Ridge Fire of last year. ...

Dear editor: For two years in a row now, our community and Elmore County have been hit hard by devastating wildland fires. Last year, the Contrail Fire on Airbase Road took out six homes, followed by the Benwalk Fire that raced toward the Hampton Inn and then the Trinity Ridge Fire that threatened Featherville. ...

Donna Marie Venable, 73, of Mountain Home, passed away at her home on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

On Aug. 23, 2013, our sweet son and angel, Tegan, took flight back to his heavenly home. Tegan blessed our family on May 1, 2013. His journey here was short, but in that time he filled our house with unconditional love, grace and pure happiness. His darling smile was like a warm, cozy blanket that covered everything and made it better, which he shared with us often and effortlessly. ...

Jaye M. Houtcooper, age 49 of Mountain Home, died at his home on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday Aug. 31, 2013, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Jaye was born July 16, 1964, in Moline, Ill. He graduated from high school in Pipestone, Minn., and then one year later joined the U.S. Air Force, which he served 11 years. He was school and trained in electrical work...

Our beloved Michelle Grace (Jewett) Gutierrez, mother, daughter, sister and aunt, age 42 of Mountain Home, passed away on Aug. 25, 2013. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Michelle was born June 12, 1971, in Mountain Home to the proud parents of Steve Jewett and Linda Kromm...

Janet Waggoner of Mountain Home and Dalvin R. Webb Jr. of Zachary, La., were united in marriage Aug. 17, 2013, in Carl Miller Park in Mountain Home. Carla Bradley officiated. The bride is the daughter of Dianne Childress of Mountain Home, and Bruce Waggoner of Ratliff, Ark...