44 / 29 READY TO HIT THE MATS STRESS RELIEVERS More than 100 area wrestlers head to 4x4 enthusiasts find adrenaline, relaxation Pocatello with one thing in mind: winning a in off-road vehicles >>> SEE OUTDOORS 1 state championship >>> SEE SPORTS 1 Sunny. Business 4 TRAIL CREEK CALLS IT QUITS >>> Twin Falls brewery selling equipment, BUSINESS 1 THURSDAY 75 CENTS February 25, 2010 Magicvalley.com Teacher raises raise eyebrows Dell agencies are freezing The ability of school dis- “In this economic workers Report shows 44 percent of Idaho salaries and assessing fur- tricts to declare a financial lough days to employees in emergency and renegotiate situation, I don’t teachers received raises this year; Luna efforts to offset declining teacher contracts — one know how anyone can revenues. tool to potentially decrease get $1.3M decries pay increases during downturn “Quite frankly, I was sur- employee expenses — is a justify giving anyone prised when I saw this,” key component of how By Ben Botkin received raises this year is Superintendent of Public salary increases played out. a raise. This is Times-News writer also raising some eyebrows. Instruction Tom Luna said Though the state didn’t $22 million in pay assist The Idaho State in a statement.“In this eco- appropriate money this BOISE — Less than a Department of Education nomic situation, I don’t year for teacher salary increases that could U.S. Dept. of Labor week before the Joint report shows that 37.4 per- know how anyone can jus- increases based on experi- have been used to Finance-Appropriations cent of administrative tify giving anyone a raise. ence, districts like Twin grant to help 275 Committee will set the fis- employees have increased This is $22 million in pay Falls School District still preserve successful cal year 2011 budget for salaries this year, while increases that could have awarded the raises. laid off workers public schools, a report 44.2 percent of teachers been used to preserve suc- Because the Twin Falls classroom programs.” showing many school across the state are earning cessful classroom pro- — Tom Luna, superintendent By Joshua Palmer administrators and teachers more. This comes as state grams.” See RAISES, Main 2 of public instruction Times-News writer The U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday it has awarded the Idaho Department of Labor more than $1.3 million in grant money to assist workers affected by layoffs at the Dell call center in Twin Falls. The grant will provide 275 SNOW workers who were laid off last year with access to dislocated- worker services, including skills assessment, basic skills training, individual career counseling and occupational skills training. However, the labor office will only assist in CAMEO training workers for jobs that it considers to be in demand. Snow comes to valley; February An Idaho Department of Labor analysis earlier this year indicated possible upcoming precipitation still below average job vacancies in nursing, ele- mentary and secondary edu- By Nate Poppino cation, and general and opera- Times-News writer INSIDE tions managerial occupations. Snowstorms blanket Northeast; “We could definitely put Snow made another second storm on tap. cameo appearance in the See GRANT, Main 2 Magic Valley on Wednesday, See Business 4 drifting down in the morn- ing before rain turned it to lots of them,” SIRCOMM slush. dispatcher Julie Haycock URA bills The storm came fairly said of vehicle crashes. directly from the Pacific So far, February appears Ocean, meteorologists say, likely to continue a trend of take center carrying a little more mois- below-normal rain and ture with it as a result. But in snow this winter, starving the broader picture of the mountain snowpacks. A region’s water supply,it did- water-supply forecast stage at n’t do much more than look released earlier this month pretty and snarl traffic. by the U.S. Natural Reports compiled by the Resources Conservation Legislature National Weather Service Service warned that the show about an inch of snow upper Snake River “is in Twin Falls URA fell near Buhl, Twin Falls and desperate need of more Rupert. Quite a bit more fell snow,”with some measure- at higher elevations; a storm ment stations nearing director testifies spotter measured seven record lows. inches of new snow near Such dire forecasts have MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News against reforms Pine shortly before 2:30 p.m. occasionally been turned Sets of footprints mark the snow buildings Wednesday afternoon on the College of Southern Idaho The weather was appar- around by early spring rains By Ben Botkin campus in Twin Falls. ently enough to throw off — a similar situation hap- Times-News writer drivers in some parts of the pened last year. But irriga- valley in the morning. tors and scientists say they WEDNESDAY’S STORM A DROP IN THE BUCKET BOISE — Urban renewal Though some dispatch cen- don’t expect that sort of agencies could face drastic ters reported few to no slide- last-minute aid to come Twin Falls precipitation for the month Twin Falls precipitation since Oct. 1 changes giving both a stronger offs, the Southern Idaho often. NORMAL TO DATE NORMAL TO DATE voice to the public and a say to Regional Communications Ron Abramovich, a NRCS affected tax districts, under .74 inches .50 inches 5.1 inches 3.64 inches Center ended up with a busy water-supply specialist, proposed legislation this ses- (estimated) morning. said Wednesday that Idaho sion. “We haven’t had any that But the proposals are draw- See SNOW, Main 2 have been very serious, just Source: National Weather Service ing concerns. Melinda Anderson, director of the Twin falls Urban Renewal Agency, testified Wednesday at the House subcommittee for Tilt finds a home in Kimberly urban renewal. Tilt, a puppy Urban renewal agencies are of the injury, her head tilts, the People for Pets Humane who survived a funded primarily by tax- Couple adopts thus her name. Society that operates the gunshot wound increment financing, which “She just grabs my heart,” Twin Falls Animal Shelter. to the face, is allows them to collect any dog who survived said Maria Thiemann, who The Thiemanns fell in love held by Twin increase in assessed property had been following the story with the puppy, she said. Falls Animal tax value after the agency is a gunshot wound online. She didn’t think the The couple has another Shelter implemented. puppy would find a home shelter-adopted dog, Roxie, Anderson was against a pro- Times-News because of her special and two cats. Roxie had Director Debbie posal requiring majority needs. been sad because of the loss Blackwood last approval from affected tax dis- There are happy endings. “The one thing that made of their other dog to cancer, week. Tilt was tricts on the proposed bound- For Tilt the puppy, their me think about it was we but now she’ll have a new adopted aries of an urban renewal dis- names are Maria and Sam don’t throw our handi- friend in Tilt, Sam said. And Tuesday by a trict. Thiemann. capped people off, so why they plan to keep the name, Kimberly cou- That requirement would On Tuesday,the Kimberly treat animals any differ- his wife added. ple. See URA, Main 2 couple adopted the 10- to ent?” said Sam Thiemann. Olmstead said the shelter 12-week-old border collie Because of the news cov- staff is happy and grateful and Australian shepherd erage, more than five people for community help that INSIDE Find out how seven different mix who survived a gunshot called about adopting Tilt, included for financial sup- Times-New wound to her head. Because said Kathleen Olmstead, of port for Tilt’s medical bills. file photo proposals will reform URAs. “She just grabs my heart.” — Maria Thiemann, of Kimberly, who adopted Tilt See Main 2 Comics ..........Classifieds 20 Crossword......Classifieds 18 Obituaries ..............Sports 8 Commodities ......Business 2 Dear Abby ......Classifieds 18 Opinion ..................Main 6-7 1 KILLED IN WHALE ATTACK AT SEAWORLD Community ............Sports 6 Movies ......................Main 8 Sudoku ..........Classifieds 19 Killer whale savages trainer in front of crowd > Main 5 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Thursday, February 25, 2010 BRIEFINGBRIEF- MC Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Sun Valley Road in Ketchum, (benefits the Senior Center, appointment, 436-9107. Pat Marcantonio Movie and Popcorn, feature: “The Birds,”1 to Wood River Bike Coalition), 622-2244. Fit and Fall Proof Exercise Class, 10 a.m., 3 p.m., Blaine County Senior Connection, Blaine County Senior Connection, Hailey, no • The Magic Valley Eagles • Who doesn’t want to be 721 Third Ave. N., Hailey, no cost, 788-3468. BUSINESS cost, 737-5988. Cheer Expo showcases area strong and stay young? To Jazz at Java, featuring College of Southern Fit and Fall Proof Exercise Class, 10 to 11 a.m., cheerleaders, as well as find out how, attend the Business After Hours, hosted by Freedom Living Waters Presbyterian Church, 821 E. Idaho Trio, 3 p.m., Java coffeehouse in the Auto Finders and Canyon Crest Dinning and dance and gymnastic teams, Strong Women, Stay Young CSI Student Union Building, 732-6765. Main St., Wendell, no cost, 737-5988. at 6 p.m. at the Radio class offered by University Event Center, 5:30 to 7 p.m., 330 Canyon Fit and Fall Proof Exercise Class, 10:30 a.m., Open microphone night, 6 p.m., Pandora’s Crest Drive, (food, drinks, networking and Rondevoo, 239 Main Ave., of Idaho Extension at 4 p.m. restaurant, 516 Hansen St. S., Twin Falls, no First Segregation Fire Station, Eden, no Twin Falls.