Stories from Wednesday, July 23, 2014

The engagement of Brandy Collett of Glenns Ferry and Logan Thompson of Idaho Falls has been announced. The couple plan an Aug. 2 wedding in Pocatello at the home of the groom's grandparents. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Donna Lambert of Glenns Ferry and Randall Smith of Thompson Falls, Mont. A graduate of Glenns Ferry High School, she is a student at Stevens-Henager College working on a degree in Medical Teton Radiology-Administration...

Christopher James Swicegood, 22, of Mountain Home, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for possession of sexually explicit images of prepubescent minors, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced late Tuesday. Also according to the plea agreement, Swicegood also admitted sexual interactions, including sexual touching, with at least three different minor children in the Mountain Home area. ...

The animals were being loaded, exhibitors were collecting their items, the carnival had been torn down and vendors were heading out to their next venue as the 2014 Elmore County Fair and Rodeo came to a close Sunday morning. Overall, this year's fair was a winner, according to Elmore County Fair and Rodeo Executive Director Rena Kerfoot. Combined, the fair and rodeo gates increased by nearly $1,000 over last year's event, indicating that attendance was up by 323 people, she said...

Dear editor: Earth to Elmore County Commission -- No way will Idaho citizens allow Arrowrock Reservoir to be raised 78 feet and (expanded) 300,000-acre feet. (MHN, 7-16-14) 1. The recreational value of the wild and scenic lower South Fork Canyon and lower Middle Fork Canyon has been established for over 100 years. Hunters, anglers, campers and whitewater enthusiasts will not surrender these precious canyons to rural drought suckers...

Dear editor: I just read the letter from Mike Bradbury and I would like to say I fully agree with him. The heading of his letter read Voter Are Responsible for Obama's ills. I would like to tell him and your readers that I did not vote for him. I listened to the debates but I could see Obama is not a true American. He does not love this country the way I do...

The Western Elmore County Recreation District heard some criticism of its work during last Wednesday's budget hearing -- some from longstanding critics and in one case from a former chairman of the WECRD board. But in the end the board approved the roughly $4 million budget...

A Mountain Home police officer was faulted in connection with a two-car crash the afternoon of July 15. The crash happened around 3 p.m. as Officer Sierra Jensen responded an emergency call. According to Sgt. Matthew Sly from the Idaho State Police, Jensen was traveling south on North 10th East Street with her vehicle's lights and sirens running. The traffic light was red from her direction of travel, the patrol trooper said...

After providing financial support to keep the Mountain Home Youth Center open for more than 25 years, the city is ending its support for the organization. The decision comes after the city spent thousands of dollars earlier this month to clean up hazardous waste from the youth center building...