Established 1865 LLocalocal wwrestlersrestlers wwinin sstatetate ttitles.itles. IInn SSports,ports, 11BB BBrothersrothers iinn cculture,ulture, PPageage 111A1A MMorale,orale, mmembershipembership uup,p, PPageage 88AA Homedale’s Lejardi boys preserve Owyhee County Sheriff’s Posse heritage at Saturday’s Basque dance enjoying a renaissance VOL. 29, NO. 10 75 CENTS HOMEDALE, OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 Rain doesn’t dampen deals Bruneau-GV district facing tough decisions that goes to the voters Tuesday. Superintendent: The presentation was held at the Levy needed just Rimrock Senior Center in Grand View. It was the fi fth of six sched- to keep three uled community meetings. “We just want to educate people schools running as to what the current status is, so they can make an educated The Bruneau-Grand View decision about the levy,” Wilson School District is “at a crossroads, said. and we have to make some tough “I’m not here to give you good decisions,” district superintendent news,” Wilson told the group. He Dennis Wilson said Thursday. explained in detail the challenges Bidders brave He spoke at a community meet- facing the school district, which is soggy conditions ing on the topic of the proposed $1.2 million supplemental levy –– See District, page 5A in Homedale Above: A heavy rain did not discourage the hundreds of people attending the Baker Auction Co. equipment auction Saturday at the Amalgamated Sugar Co. beet dump in Homedale. Left: Auction volunteers wore rain gear and rode four-wheelers to help out when items were sold. Owyhee County Clerk Angie Barkell reported Monday that the county surplus equipment garnered more than $14,000 in gross proceeds during the auction. Photos by Karen Dennis Wilson, superintendent of the Bruneau-Grand View school Bresnahan district talks to seniors at Grand View about the school levy. Photo by Karen Bresnahan South Board water users meeting set today Invasive species The South Board of Control Tuesday’s Join Board meeting. losses this year, Dustie Paynter will hold its annual water users • A water report from Brian and Loren West of Idaho Farm stations open again meeting at 1:30 p.m. today inside Sauer of the federal Bureau of Bureau will make a presentation the Homedale Senior Center, 224 Reclamation. on insurance coverages. Owyhee County’s two invasive intersection west of Marsing W. Idaho Ave. • A district progress report • Lora Ulrich of the U.S. species boat check stations have opened Saturday. The agenda for the water users • Information on Reclamation Department of Agriculture’s Farm opened for the year. Sheriff Perry Grant said the meeting includes: Reform Act (RRA) and land Service Agency offi ce in Caldwell The checkpoint at the U.S. • Water reports based on leased form requirements will give an update on the recently Highway 95-Idaho highway 55 –– See Invasive, page 5A information obtained from • With the possibility of drought ratifi ed Farm Bill. Subscribe today Grand View 4A Sports 1-4B, 12B Get the news source of the Owyhees delivered Obituary 6A Looking Back 5B IInsidenside directly to you each Wednesday Calendar 7A Commentary 6-7B Only $31.80 in Owyhee County Big Sky title for Call 337-4681 Then and Now 7A Legals 8-10B Austin Emry Senior news 10A Classifi eds 10-11B In Sports Page 2A Wednesday, March 5, 2014 Please join us in celebrating Next up for Gateway Roman West panel: Itemize impacts on resources BLM RAC Bennett, learned that the BLM Usabel’s would like to see a “matrix” that subcommittee would identify how each proposed route of each segment would to meet twice impact various resources. 80th “I think we’ve made quite a bit this month of progress just by the fact that we now have it boiled down to Birthday While county officials the resources that we believe need are skeptical about what will to be considered and the various We will be celebrating at the come of the Gateway West routes and variations thereof,” transmission line subcommittee’s Chatburn said. Homedale Basque Dance recommendation, the head of the Subcommittee members state’s Offi ce of Energy Resources discussed resources that could remains guarded yet optimistic. be impacted, including private Saturday, March 8 The latest Bureau of Land property, sage-grouse habitat and Management Resource Advisory cultural and historical sites, such Badiola Arena Committee subcommittee meeting as Oregon Trail ruts. Doors open at 5:30 was held last week at the Boise At Monday’s meeting, the District Offi ce. subcommittee could discuss Idaho No Gifts, Please. John Chatburn, the OER Power’s proposed mitigation interim administrator, admits and enhancement package that he’s “always” skeptical, but points is proposed if the line were to out there have been assurances be routed through the Morley from the federal agency’s national Nelson Birds of Prey National offi ce in Washington D.C. that Conservation Area. If the basque Club, homedale the decision on routing Segments subcommittee recommends that th 8 and 9 through Owyhee County route, it would also have to make 14 Annual will be made at the state level. recommendations on the utility’s Furthermore, he said, Idaho mitigation plan, Chatburn said. BLM offi cials have said they are Chatburn said the subcommittee taking “very seriously” the input has identified more than 20 homedale from the RAC subcommittee variations for routing the power as well as what the full RAC line through Segments 8 and 9, will finally put forward for both of which traverse Owyhee scrutiny under the provisions County. Basque Dance Whatever happens in Owyhee of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). County will affect parts of Canyon Saturday March 8, 2014 “I think we have to accept that and Ada counties, too. >`>ÊÀi>ÊUÊ{äÈÊ} Ü>ÞÊxÊUÊi`>i they really want to work with the “There were a lot of public state and the local governments citizens there representing dairy and citizens of Southwest Idaho to and small landowners and private fi nd the best place for the power property owners from Ada and Located in the Admission -- $5.00 line to go,” Chatburn said. Canyon counties, so that was Badiola Arena Doors Open at 5:30 p.m. The RAC subcommittee heard good,” District 1 Commissioner Band: “Amuma Says No” from Idaho Power, a BLM staffer Jerry Hoagland said. on historic trails and the Idaho Chatburn said BLM Boise National Guard during its Feb. District outdoor recreation planner 25 meeting. Terry Heslin got it right when he The next meeting is scheduled said infrastructure development is for 9 a.m. Monday in Boise, but a “necessary evil,” but it should be Chatburn said affected property carried out in a way that has the owners and other interested least impact on resources, such as parties could turn out in force for the Oregon Trail. the March 18 meeting. “Quite frankly, I think that’s The subcommittee is scheduled how everybody on this RAC to start discussing the impacts subcommittee looks at the of the power line on various process,” Chatburn said. “It’s the property and resources during position of the Offi ce of Energy that meeting. Resources, and my position herribatza dantzariak Property owners who may and the governor’s position that be affected by the route were anytime you develop anything oinkari basque dancers notified by mail prior to last infrastructure-wise you have an week’s meeting. impact, and our goal is to have Live & Silent Auction At the meeting, subcommittee the least number of impacts on members, including co-chair the least number of resources and >V}ÊUÊ`ÊUÊ À Karen Steenhof of Murphy and citizens.” Grand View rancher Donna — JPB /Õ}ÊvÊ7>ÀÊ>`Ê 7i} ÌÊ >ÀÀÞ Bottled Water It Just Tastes Better! ÌiÃÌÃÊÊ 5 gallon bottles delivered to your door >à Ê*ÀâiÃt FIRST 2 BOTTLES FREE No deposit, No contract, No delivery or fuel fees 208 377-2163 Wednesday, March 5, 2014 Page 3A Homedale irrigation, streets funds fi nish FY 13 in red bail out the irrigation fund for about 20 Paul Fink’s fi nal administration, but the tion of fi scal duties (Pegram has oversight General fund money years. Last year, general fund monies were issue was never addressed before Fink’s of all the fi nancial records and because of used to close gap used to bring the street and highway fund death. He said that he and Councilman Steve the small city staff size there is no checks out of the red, too, Parker said. Atkins have discussed a remedy recently. and balances in place) as a defi ciency in the Homedale’s auditor once again urged During fi scal year 2013, the city trans- Another solution, which offi cials agreed federal reporting portion of the audit. the city council to take steps to shore up a ferred $132,000 to the irrigation fund, was undesirable, is raising irrigation rates Parker said that such a deficiency is couple funds that lose money each year. which only brought in $37,820 in rev- charged to the city’s water users. understandable for most small towns that Mike Parker of Bowen Parker Day CPAs enue. Parker also reported that the streets and do not have enough employees to provide delivered the city’s 2013 audit during Parker suggested that the council should highways fund was in the negative when segregation of duties. Thursday’s city council meeting. consider transferring money from the gen- the fi scal year ended Sept. 30. He said that Overall, though, Parker reiterated the “The books are in very good shape,” he eral fund permanently to rectify the defi cit Clerk and Treasurer Alice Pegram moved health of Homedale’s fi nancial house.