Marsing to Start Holiday Celebrations Community Laura Bowman Thanksgiving to Lead Marsing Slated Thursday Night Parade
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Established 1865 HHuskiesuskies roarroar bbackack forfor sseason-openingeason-opening win,win, PagePage 1616 SSchoolschools aandnd broadband,broadband, PagePage 2020 PublicPublic hearinghearing slated,slated, PagePage 2 No clear-cut answer on what’s next Homedale City Council to hear after judge strikes down contract comments on irrigation fee increase VOL. 29, NO. 47 75 CENTS HOMEDALE, OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2014 Marsing to start holiday celebrations Community Laura Bowman Thanksgiving to lead Marsing slated Thursday night parade Good lessons were learned It’s fi tting that Marsing hon- from last year, but the mission ors the matriarch of a family so remains the same for the organiz- involved in the community on a ers of the Marsing community night when several organizations Thanksgiving dinner. will hold benefi ts. “I think it’s overwhelming for The annual Marsing Night Light Owyhee County Sheriff’s Deputy Jaime Wood investigates a one-vehicle rollover on Graveyard all the people that are involved, Parade, with Laura Bowman as Point Road in Homedale on Friday afternoon. that prepare for this, to see that grand marshal, winds down Main First snow causes few problems –– See Thanksgiving, page 6 –– See Parade, page 6 its Monday meeting in Murphy. Commissioners make The roads usually are reopened sometime in winter road closures the spring. The closure couldn’t save one motorist whose truck was stuck about 16 miles up on Silver City County offi cials closed roads for the winter District 2 Road Saturday. Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Lynn Monday after last week’s heavy snowfall, which county commis- Bowman said the driver got his truck towed and triggered few accidents. sioner Kelly Ab- no OCSO assistance was necessary. Acting on a recommendation from Sheriff erasturi makes The overnight snowstorm on Thursday brought Perry Grant, the Board of County Commissioners a point during three inches of snow to the Homedale area, closed Bachman Grade Road and Silver City last week’s public Road to automobile travel for the winter during –– See Snow, page 13 hearing on RS 2477 designa- tions in Murphy. County seeks historical info on public roads crossing BLM ground ally is more of a history lesson. Comment taken In its attempt to solidify RS through Jan. 10 2477 rights-of-way, the Board of County Commissioners is look- on area south of ing for as much information as possible on how roads and trails Bruneau on public lands were used and maintained between 1948 and The tedious task of building 1976. Friday’s snow triggered removal efforts in downtown Homedale, and prompted the county a roadmap for how the federal Last week’s public hearing commissioners to close Silver City and Bachman Grade roads during their Monday meeting. government should view Owyhee County roads on public lands re- –– See Roads, page 5 Subscribe today School menus 6Sports 16-19 Get the news source of the Owyhees delivered Calendar 7Looking Back 21 IInsidenside directly to you each Wednesday Then and Now 7Commentary 22-23 Only $31.80 in Owyhee County Nuclear plant Call 337-4681 U of I Extension 7 Legals 24-25 indictments Weather 13 Classifi eds 26-27 Page 4 Page 2 Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Homedale residents Homedale updates transportation plan Caldwell store that is closing. to do to the street that connects State agency OKs The Homedale store will Idaho Avenue to the Owyhee can discuss fee Main sewer plans include a truck wash, which is County Fairgrounds is $352,500. one reason a larger sewer main The wish list includes drainage Infrastructure improvements would be advantageous. improvements, sidewalks, curbs increases Thursday may be less stressful for Homedale Kimmel said that the city should and gutters and intersection offi cials after last Wednesday’s get some competitive and low bids improvements. 15 percent In recent years, the council has city council meeting. given the time of year and the lull Kimmel said the Idaho had to dip into the general fund to Andrew Kimmel of Reidesel in the construction industry. Transportation Department is irrigation rate make ends meet in the irrigation Engineering Inc., provided an The council also accepted an not accepting new applications fund. Last year alone, the city updated transportation plan updated transportation plan last for its Community Choice grant hike proposed made up a $77,000 defi cit as the and good news about the Idaho week. program because the kinks are cost of operation out-stripped Department of Environmental Reidesel personnel updated the being worked out of the process City of Homedale residents the revenue brought in through Quality signing off on the city’s city’s 2008 plan, opening the door involving the fi ve grants awarded get their say Thursday on the user fees. plans for a sewer main extension for grant applications. in the fi rst year of the program. city council’s plan to increase At a workshop earlier this on South Main Street. Creating a safer route for Grant applications for that irrigation fees and establish a new month, Councilman Aaron Tines The council authorized Gheen schoolchildren to Homedale program, which could provide fee to administer an ordinance. suggested that the city build in an Christoffersen to accept the lowest Middle School is on top of the up to $500,000 for a project, The 6 p.m. public hearing at annual increase of two to three qualifying bid for the $36,500 sewer capital improvements list, but probably won’t be accepted for City Hall, 31 W. Wyoming Ave., percent to keep pace with rising main extension. Four contractors isn’t on the council’s radar yet. another year. will cover the establishment costs of equipment and repairs. had until Monday to submit bids The estimated cost of sidewalks, Kimmel said the city still of a chicken registration fee as The city council also has for the work that would enable curbs and gutters on Johnstone has the Local Rural Highway well as a 15 percent increase in proposed a new $10 chicken the incoming Mountain View Road and Idaho highway 19 is Investment Program as a source the existing annual irrigation registration fee to help with Equipment retail store to hook up $820,000. for grant money. system maintenance fee. Council implementation of the revised to a larger sewer line. Instead, the city may seek grants In other public works members also want to increase the ordinance allowing households to Construction on Mountain to complete a comprehensive developments, department price of a bartender permit. keep no more than eight chickens. View Equipment’s location at the project for North 3rd Street West. supervisor Bret Smith told the Under the council’s proposal, The fee will cover the cost of corner of South 2nd Street East Several elements of that project council he would begin looking the average irrigation bill would checking chicken coops for and South Main Street continues. are listed on the 19-item capital for an employee to replace rise to $95.23 per year. The compliance. The tractor and implement retailer improvement program list in the Randall Eschler, who resigned to average bill is based on a 0.143- Prospective bartenders fi le for plans to open the store on Jan. transportation plan. Total cost for take a job closer to his hometown acre parcel, which is the average permits to initiate a background 1. The location will replace a everything city leaders would like in Oregon. size of lots in town. The calculation check from the Homedale includes the $87.08 maintenance Police Department. The current fee, which is charged per residence administrative fee is $10, but the First Homedale Festival of Trees nears and the Gem Irrigation District council proposes a 150 percent assessment of $56.98 per acre, increase to $25. The fee covers the A Homedale High School senior businesses for the festival, which sold in a live auction beginning which is 16 cents higher than the administrative costs and the cost is still looking for entries for what will be on display from 10 a.m. at 3 p.m. on the fi nal day of the 2013 assessment. of the background check. she hopes will become an annual to 5 p.m. next Wednesday and festival. Silent auction winning The city maintenance fee Once the background check event to help the local Meals on Friday, Nov. 28 and from 10 a.m. bids also will be announced at increase would be the first in comes back clean, a bartender Wheels program. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. that time. almost a decade, and is aimed receives a license and can begin Sam Woods’ Senior Project The center will be closed Sam hopes that someone else at ending a cycle of the town’s working in town. The license lasts is a Festival of Trees planned Thursday, Nov. 27 for will pick up the mantle and irrigation budget running in the a lifetime and is good for any bar to begin next Wednesday at the Thanksgiving. coordinate a Festival of Trees in red. in town. Homedale Senior Center, 224 W. Folks will be able to vote for subsequent years. Idaho Ave. their favorite trees as well as For more information on how to The daughter of Kenny and bid in a silent auction for other get involved or enter a tree, call Stacy Woods is looking for decorative items such as wreaths Sam at 250-7580 in the evenings. decorated Christmas trees from and table centerpieces. During school hours, contact her organizations, individuals and The Christmas trees will be mother at 250-0855.