41 / 28 CreativityA new series of profiles explores at the any creative spirit age in every decade of life. >>> FAMILY LIFE 1, 4 Partly sunny. Sports 8 SALT LAKE SENT PACKING >>> CSI men and women top rival in key conference matchups, SPORTS 1 SUNDAY $1.50 January 24, 2010 MagicValley.com State targets Perez Idaho AG’s ENDANGERED SPECIES office accuses Jerome woman CLASHES: FAR FROM EXTINCT of swindling immigrants By Andrea Jackson Times-News writer JEROME — She prom- ised immigrants better lives for their families, preyed on their vulnerabilities and ultimately bilked them out of thousands of dollars. At least that’s the picture painted by a civil complaint filed by the Consumer Protection Division of the Idaho Attorney General’s Office against Celia Perez and her Jerome-based company, Perez Inter- national. Perez, a former Idaho notary public, is accused of posing as a lawyer and deceiving illegal immigrants in the Magic Valley, swiping them of their money and dreams of citizenship. Selling services adver- tised as immigration and naturalization consulta- tion, Perez allegedly com- mitted “unconscionable See PEREZ, Main 2 Tech use ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News up in kids Ryan ‘Buck’ Schiermeier holds a wolf pelt at Schiermeier Taxidermist Studio in Twin Falls. Schiermeier is waiting for nine Idaho wolf pelts to return from a tannery. Wolf hunts opened in Idaho and Montana last year after the predator was removed from the endangered species list. A federal judge could relist wolves this year. Children spend almost 8 hours a BY NATE POPPINO TIMESNEWS WRITER Idaho grazing day viewing media By LeAnne Italie isting an endangered species is a serious business. Associated Press writer Steve Damele was one Idahoan who did his best to protect a troubled Western plant. debate sparks L Like many working par- One of several private landowners with slickspot peppergrass, he followed other ents, Beverly Flaxington ranchers and joined a state-led effort to preserve the plant on his Mountain Home land by armed her daughter with a ESA rancor cell phone in fifth grade, altering a number of his rangeland practices. By Nate Poppino when the time came for Then last October, after a decade of scientific studies and lawsuits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Times-News writer her to venture out alone.At first, it was a great way to Service announced it would list slickspot peppergrass as threatened. And Damele, along with The endangered species debate in stay in touch. Idaho has long been complicated by That was then. the others, now asks why he should bother to help any species when it won’t make a differ- another longstanding issue — pub- Now 13, Samantha’s ence. lic-lands grazing. grades have slipped drasti- Environmentalists have never cally and she’s obsessed “It’s safe to say everything gets listed eventually,”said Damele’s fellow rancher Ted Hoffman. been wild about the way some with texting, Facebook and ranchers treat the public lands they her laptop, sometimes The Endangered Species Act their attention. A core of activist in trouble, however, and you’ll get a grazed on. But over the past two falling asleep in her clothes isn’t that simple. But locals and environmental groups files lawsuits different picture. Pressured by decades in Idaho, spurred especial- clutching her phone. state officials who have dealt with it at a moment’s notice. And a deci- resources, deadlines and a public ly by the rise of environmental When her texting exceed- daily argue that the peppergrass sion next month about a humble that knows of only a portion of the watchdog Western Watersheds ed 2,000 messages a day, decision is the latest sign that desert-dwelling bird, the Greater work they do, federal biologists Project, the disagreements between her parents shut off the something is wrong. sage grouse, threatens to change simply do their best to cope with the two have taken on new heat. function from 9 p.m. to 6 Federal agencies rush but fail to land use across the West. the strain of survival. Grazing opponents and advocates a.m. on school nights, and meet deadlines for the ever-grow- Talk to those agencies or conser- Sam “just went nuts.’’ ing number of species brought to vationists working to save creatures See ENDANGERED, Main 12 See GRAZING, Main 13 “She slammed doors. She accused us of being overly conservative when IN THE SERIES MORE INSIDE all of her friends are able to Today: Westerners clash over the scale of the Endangered Species Act. See what animals in the region are endangered, or under consideration. >>> Main 12 do things at night,’’ said Monday: How the ESA became a political force through Congress and courts. Ranching attorney questions how much the government pays out to environmental Tuesday: The feds respond to ESA criticism, and why reform faces a rough path. groups in lawyer fees. >>> Main 13 See MEDIA, Main 2 Bridge ..............Classifieds 7 Kids Only ................Family 6 Obituaries ..........Business 6 Crossword ......Classifieds 4 Jumble ............Classifieds 2 Sudoku ............Classifieds 5 SWEAT EQUITY HELPS LOW-INCOME FAMILY GET HOME Dear Abby........Classifieds 5 Movies ......................Main 11 Your Business ....Business 2 Families earn homes though hard work > Business 1 Ribbon Cutting and Tours of Your New Hospital This February Watch for more details 267 North Canyon Drive (intersection of Hwy 26 & 46) Gooding MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Sunday, January 24, 2010 BRIEFINGBRIEF- Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT dents.org/csi. 208-622-2250. Pat Marcantonio Dance class and open dance, line, couples and contra dances, 2 to 5 p.m., Twin Falls SPORTS AND RECREATION TODAY’S DEADLINES • Get creative and submit Class starts Wednesday.The Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., Twin your artwork for the Art cost is $59. Call 732-6442, or Snowsports Camp for kids, four consecutive Reminder for next Sunday: Minidoka Falls, open to everyone, $3 per person, 410- weeks for kindergarten to sixth grade, 9 to Christian Education Association, potato bar Guild of Magic Valley register and pay online at 5650. T-shirt contest for Art in the http://communityed.csi.edu. 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 to 3 p.m., Sun Valley and trimmings fundraiser, noon to 2:30 Forever Plaid, performance, doors open, Nordic Center, 1 Sun Valley Road, Sun p.m., Praise Chapel First Christian Church, Park. If you win, your art • For a great day, head on 6:30 p.m.; show, 7:30 p.m., Boiler Room at may be featured on a T-shirt up to Pomerelle ski area Valley, $150 for four weeks (lift tickets and 1110 Eight St., Rupert, freewill donations at Sun Valley Village, 1 Sun Valley Road, Sun lessons), 208-622-2250. the door, 208-436-0449. at the event, and you’ll get near Albion. It offers lots to Valley, $15 cover ($12 with valid Idaho iden- $250. The entry deadline is do and you might even Ski group lessons begin, classic skiing group tification), no cost for children 12 and lessons, 10 a.m., Sun Valley Nordic Center, 1 To have an event listed or to submit regular March 1. Information: Art learn how to ski or snow- under, 208-622-2135. Hoag, 421-1311 or board in lessons taught Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, $40 package updated meetings, please submit the name [email protected]. every day. Information: price (includes equipment rental and of the event, a brief description, time, place, • Think you might be the 208-673-5555. CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS instructions), 208-622-2250. cost and contact number to Mirela next J.K. Rowling? Sign up Secular Student Alliance at College of Locals’ adult clinics, beginner and low inter- Sulejmanovic by e-mail at msulej- for the College of Southern Have your own pick to Southern Idaho, 7 p.m., Room 87,Fine Arts mediate on Dollar Mountain, 10 to noon; [email protected]; by phone, 735- Idaho non-credit class share? Something unique to Center, CSI campus, Twin Falls, open to stu- intermediate and advanced on Bald 2378; by fax, 734-5538; or by mail, Times- Writing and Publishing the area that may surprise dents and members of community, Mountain, 1 to 3 p.m., Sun Valley Nordic News, P.O.Box 548, Twin Falls, ID 83303- Children’s Books, taught by people? E-mail me at [email protected], deadforsophia@ Center, 1 Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, $110 0548. Deadline is noon, four days in author Stephanie Holman. [email protected]. live.com, [email protected] or www.secularstu- for three weeks (lift tickets no included), advance of the event. Perez S LEDDING IN S COTLAND Continued from Main 1 he paid for citizenship serv- conduct,” taking thousands ices that were never provid- of dollars for services that ed. were never performed, The complaint charges according to the 11-page Perez with five violations of complaint filed Jan. 19. the Idaho Consumer Perez could not be reached Protection Act and its rules. by the Times-News for She is accused of unfair comment, and has yet to file methods of competition and a response to the complaint. unfair and deceptive acts in The complaint seeks civil her business as a notary penalties, restitution, fees public in Idaho between and costs. It also asks that 2003 and April 2009. Perez be barred from work- “The Attorney General ing as an immigration con- has reason to believe that, if sultant and a commissioned the facts of this case were notary public ever again in made public, Perez’s con- Idaho.