Stories from Saturday, December 17, 2016

A benefit held in Mountain Home last month for two wounded Boise police officers exceeded $12,000, according to final numbers released last week. The Nov. 11 fundraiser organizerd by reserve Officer Kasey Thomason at the Brie-sta coffee shop and another held at Cheekys Boutique and Salon shattered similar efforts held in other communities across the state, according to said Sean Stace, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police in Boise...

For the third time this year, luck descended on the Mountain Home area after a winning lottery ticket was sold here last week. A local resident won more than $192,000 after purchasing a winning InstaPlay Ultimate Diamond Jackpot ticket at Sunset Super C Store in Mountain Home...

The Rimrock food bank continues to collect canned and non-perishable food items during this year's food drive. Donations will support families in Bruneau, Grand View and Oreana. To make a donation or to drop off items, call Linda Araujo at 208-834-3199 or Verla Robinson at 208-834-2419...

Elmore County is expected to remain the home of some of country music's biggest stars for at least the next five years after the county planning and zoning commission voted to extend the Mountain Home Country Music Festival's conditional use permit...

People may see anglers wading streams or staked out on banks during winter weather and wonder "what are they doing?" The short answer is, "probably catching fish." Late fall and early winter are overlooked times for the simple reason most anglers don't want to deal with the cold temperatures. Ice anglers love frigid temperatures because that's what forms ice, but we will save ice fishing for later...

The Trinity Mountain Family Practice Physicians group recently presented a check to the St. Luke's Elmore Foundation to support ongoing construction of the emergency department at the local hospital. Connie Cruser, former hospital foundation chair, accepted the $5,000 donation, which was part of a pledge made by local physicians to support the hospital's expansion effort...