Stories from Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Dear editor: Former Democrat Ronald Reagan was once asked by a reporter why he left the Democrat Party. "I never left the Democrat Party" he replied, "The Democrat Party left ME." The party no longer held the values that the "party of the people" once had, and Reagan could no longer be a part of it...

Dear editor: I think that our school district should move the day school starts till after Labor Day. I think it should be after Labor Day because before Labor Day is the hottest time of the year. You can save money on air conditioning. It's really hot if you have to walk home from school...

Dear editor: I like Scouts because it helps me to be a good citizen, to learn important skills, and to do outdoor activities. It helps me to be a good citizen by learning the Pledge of Allegiance and to do what is right. I learned to do first aid, swimming, cooking and outdoor skills...

Dear editor: I am writing to you about the opinion that I have about the Air Force. My opinion is that the Army is better than the Air Force. Here are my reasons why. The Air Force originally came from the Army. So in a way, Air Force Appreciation Day should be Army Appreciation Day. Because, without the Army, we wouldn't have the Air Force...

Within a span of just a few minutes, they got to experience weightlessness, the pull of gravity and the thrill of speed. They also got a chance to view the Earth from a vantage point most people can only dream about. In the end, two students from Hacker Middle School and two others from schools in the Treasure Valley earned a once-in-a-life chance to participate in a program aimed at encouraging them to pursue their dreams and achieve lifetime goals...

Scott Sessions resigned from the board of the Western Elmore County Recreation District and was replaced by Rachel Ruffing. Sessions resigned citing personal reasons. Ruffing was selected by the board to complete Sessions' term, which expires in 2015...

The Elmore County Sheriff's Department urges residents to remain vigilant after a series of scams recently targeted local individuals and businesses. "Elmore County has noticed there have been a couple of different scams coming through the area," said Detective Clint Andrus, an investigator with the county sheriff's office...

The Mountain Home Police Department is continuing to investigate a number of burglaries involving local businesses. The thefts occurred over the past week, and it's not known at this time whether the incidents are related, said Officer Melanie Broughton, a spokesperson with the city police...

Wade Finneman, 55, of Prairie, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Blacks Creek Road about four miles south of Long Gulch Road in northwestern Elmore County. The accident was discovered about 8:30 a.m. by a person heading to work in the area. According to Elmore County Deputy Sheriff Farrel Ramsey, it appeared that Finneman was northbound, headed toward Long Gulch Road, when his car left the road on the right side, rolled once and came to rest on its wheels in a canal in the area...