Stories from Wednesday, January 18, 2023

1.10.23 - BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A woman charged with conspiring to kill her two children and her new husband's late wife says she has an alibi, and that the kids were killed while they were at her late brother's apartment. Attorneys for Lori Vallow Daybell made the claim in court documents filed in eastern Idaho last week in the triple murder case. She is also asking for permission to meet with her husband, who is also charged, for “strategy sessions” before the case goes to trial in April...

BOISE, ID, January 10, 2023  The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho has released the January Water Supply Outlook Report for the 2023 water year (WY23).   We are on track to meet water supply needs this irrigation season at this point in the winter, but there is still a lot of winter ahead of us. This year, with low reservoir carryover, we are dependent on the snowpack continuing to build and stay above normal to meet irrigation demand...

Jan. 13, 2023 - “I never thought this would happen to us,” said a mother in Montana, who asked not to be identified, in a public service announcement that urges other parents to be vigilant of their children’s activities online. In a joint PSA with the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office, the woman, who is being referred to as “Michelle,” and Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Aaron Eisner warn parents and caregivers about an increase in incidents involving sextortion of young children, primarily boys, in Montana, Utah, and Idaho, and across the country. ...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife office and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation would like to encourage all of Idaho’s school-aged (K-12) students to enter the annual Junior Duck Stamp art contest. Homeschool and independent entries are welcomed. Entries must be submitted by March 01, 2023 to qualify. One student design will be selected as “Best of Show” from the state and will go on to compete at the national level...

The Mountain Home Public Library held its first meeting of the new year on January 5th in the library’s conference room. In attendance were all but one of the library board members. The board began its process of accepting applications for library board members following board member James Green’s appointment to the Mountain Home City Council in addition to another open position now resulting in two open seats. ...

The Elmore County Commissioners began their latest meeting by approving the minutes for their previous meeting, and appointing Jeff Blanksma to the county’s planning and zoning commission. Following a handful of other non-controversial approvals, Shelley Essl was sworn in as the County Clerk, Crystal Rodgers as a County Commissioner, Josh Dison as the County Assessor, Nicky Campbell as the County Coroner, Al Hofer as a County Commissioner, and Shondi Lott as the County Prosecutor. ...

The Mountain Home City Council met in the council chambers at city hall on the evening of January 9th in their first meeting of 2023. The meeting began with an uncontroversial unanimous vote to approve the consent agenda. Following this, the council unanimously moved to elect Councilwoman Garvey as the new Council President...

In an effort to clarify what was reported by Mountain Home News about the January 6, 2023 Elmore County Commissioners meeting, the group that circulated petitions for a CSI Community College District would like to add the following information that was NOT reported...

BOISE, IDAHO January 9th marked the start of the 2023 Legislative Session. The Idaho State Senate Majority Caucus is ready to serve the people of Idaho. We look forward to working with Governor Little and our partners in the House on the Governor’s“ “Idaho First Plan”that he outlined in the State of the State address. ...

MHAFB School Advisory Committee, with the support of MHAFB OSC, selected the entire staff of 10 at Bennett Mountain High School as Educators of the Quarter. Mr. Tesar and his crew do an amazing job ensuring their students are provided a quality education and so much more with life skills to be successful into adult life. ...

(BOISE)–Applications are now being accepted from high school juniors and seniors in the classes of 2023 and 2024 to represent Idaho at the 2023 National Youth Science Camp (NYS Camp). Two students from each state, Washington D.C. and select countries will attend the all-expenses-paid program, held from June 19 –July 12. ...

Recent Arrest Records reported in the Mountain Home News and subsequent research of Public Court Documents obtained by the paper show the arrest of Tera Hathaway and John Hopkins, both residents of Mountain Home, arrested on charges of Felony Injury to a Child, I.C. ...

1.12.23 - BOISE, Idaho (AP) The criminal case against a man accused of stabbing to death four University of Idaho students last November is underway, but it will likely be months or longer before the case goes to trial. Bryan Kohberger, who was attending a nearby university around the time of the killings, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on murder charges in late June. He was arrested Dec. 30 in connection with the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin...

After almost 25 years of serving the community of Mountain Home and the Elmore County area, owners Jon Mickel and Lorraine Guptill’s journey running the Sears Hometown Store on American Legion Boulevard is coming to an end. Following Sears Hometown Inc.’s filing for bankruptcy, Jon Mickel and Lorraine are being forced to jump into their next adventure a little sooner than expected. ...

The MHHS girls varsity basketball team defeated Vallivue 57-13! The Lady Tigers are now 14-2 overall and in 6-3 in conference.

Mountain Home High School Cheerleaders competed in Pocatello at Highland High School’s Cupid’s Cheer Challenge Jan 14th. They were successful in their division and brought home second place for their sideline routine and first place for their pom routine...

Melvin (Mel) Anderson, of Mountain Home, passed away suddenly, at the age of 58, on the morning of January 11, 2023. Cremation under the care of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Mel was born July 25, 1964, at the Mountain Home AFB, to Lewis (Andy) Anderson and Nancy King. After serving in the Air Force National Guard, he attended Boise State University and pursued his career in plumbing...

Beverly Arlene Dice passed away peacefully the morning of January 11, 2023, at 87 years old. Bev was born in Twin Falls, Idaho on June 30, 1935, to Lloyd and Eunice Jordan. She spent her childhood in Drewsey, Oregon. It was there, Bev rode behind her mom horseback to attend grade school at the one room school at Van, Oregon where her mom was the teacher.