67 / 42 YOUNG PLAYERS FINDING NEW ROLES YANKEES WIN IT! FOR BRONCOS New York wins 27th World Series title, Sports 1 SEE SPORTS 1 Sunny, warm. Business 4 EXPLORING JACK’S CREEK >>> OUTDOORS 1 THURSDAY 75 CENTS November 5, 2009 MagicValley.com Jayco Inc. Jerome jail, redux ramps up production By Joshua Palmer Times-News writer Jayco Inc. said Wednesday it will hire 200 workers and boost production at facil- ities in Twin Falls and Middlebury, Ind., after sales outpaced inventories in the third and fourth quarters of 2009. Akos Sefcisk, gen- eral manager of Twin Falls operations, said his plant will hire as many as 30 addition- al workers, bringing its total payroll in Twin Falls to more than 180 employees. The plant employed about 200 before the national recession forced the company to lay off more than 40 people in October 2008. Jayco also consolidated its operations by moving production from the building at 621 Washington St. S., to the building in its 176-acre industrial park on Hankins Road. The recreational trailer manufacturer does not have plans to resume operations at the Washington Street location. See JAYCO, Main 2 Photos by MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News A lock hangs from an open hatch in the door to the library at the Jerome County Jail, a facility county officials call outdated and potentially dangerous for inmates and employees. ‘It’s just open because of air circulation,’said detention Sgt. Sean Lynd. ‘If you close it up it turns into a hotbox in there.’The latch is one of dozens of examples Lynd said are reasons why the county needs a new jail. Toss of the coin Jerome voters should expect replay of jail proposal in May to end Wendell By John Plestina ment for a 165-bed jail was only expressing his Times-News writer failed by to meet state- thoughts and not those of mandated two-thirds fellow commissioners Joe JEROME — A proposal to supermajority approval by Davidson and Cathy mayoral race build the Jerome County only 1.16 percent of total Roemer. Justice Facility may return votes. County voters cast “I think we’ll take By Blair Koch to voters as soon as May, 1,191 votes in favor of the another run at it,”he said. Times-News correspondent after it was defeated by funding proposal, while Howell said he thinks a only 25 votes during 626 voted against it. The recount request is doubt- After waiting until nearly midnight Tuesday’s election. 1,817 votes represented ful. He said he believes Tuesday for votes to be tallied, Wendell’s The lease-purchase 22.6 percent of the coun- funding the jail through a mayoral candidates expected to learn who financing proposal may ty’s registered voters. lease is better than bonded would win. return as well. County Commission indebtedness because the A worn toilet and small shower are crowded in the cor- The results were The ballot question that Chairman Charlie Howell question does not call for announced: Incumbent ner of a cell at the Jerome County Jail. County officials asked voters to authorize said Wednesday that voters an increased tax levy. Mayor Rick Cowen and the county to enter into a will likely vote on the Howell attributed the say a ballot question to build a replacement for the challenger Brad 30-year, $13.5 million lease-purchase question aging facility may be put before voters in May, after one Christopherson were dead- lease-to-purchase agree- again in May, but added he See JAIL, Main 2 such measure failed to pass during Tuesday’s election. locked at 215 votes apiece. City Clerk Mickey Walker said finding out Cowen who will be Wendell’s mayor in January will come down to a coin toss, as dic- Filer re-checks election tallies after discrepancy tated by Idaho Code. “We have until six days By Ben Botkin than 317 when added Tuesday drinks. Currently, Filer bars columns of numbers that are after the election to hold Times-News writer night. can only sell wine and beer. added up, and a figure was the coin toss,”Walker said. Reported votes for the pro- On Wednesday, the city took misread, leading to the incor- “I’ve got a call in to the In Filer, it seemed the num- posal were 150, while opposing another look at its tally books rect tally, Hart said. Idaho Association of Cities Christopherson bers didn’t add up on Election votes were reported at 185. and adjusted the final out- “It was just read wrong in the to find out just what we Day. Added up, that was 335 — more come: 140 votes for and 175 tally book,”Hart said. have to do.” There were 317 ballots cast than the number of ballots against — 315 total. Ballots weren’t recounted, The toss will likely take place prior to total in the election. But for a cast. “What we had was an error though. That concerns Thursday’s regular City Council meeting, proposal for liquor by the drink If passed, the proposal would in a tabulation of the tally Deborah Corbett, co-owner of so the results can be read into city record. to be sold in establishments, have allowed establishments to book,” said Shari Hart, Filer’s the Moon Bar in Filer. In the meantime Christopherson said the votes of support and dis- sell alcoholic beverages such as clerk and treasurer. sent at first amounted to more bourbon, vodka and mixed The tally books track See FILER, Main 2 See WENDELL, Main 2 T.F., state officials seek to outlaw motorist texting By Ben Botkin Greg Lanting is interested in Times-News writer implementing a city ordinance MAGICVALLEY.COM that would give police authority READ a draft of the proposed city ordinance. There are those who stay to write $50 traffic citations to VOTE in an online poll about texting while driving. focused while driving, with their texting motorists. Lanting’s idea vision fixed on the road ahead. comes after he heard feedback And then there are those who from residents who voiced con- could send it to the council for a shouldn’t be done.” text while at the wheel, moving cerns about texting drivers during vote. Sen. Denton Darrington, their line of sight back and forth his re-election campaign. Rep. Les. Bock, D-Boise, plans R-Declo, said he’s “luke- from the road to their cell phones. “It’s just dangerous,” Lanting to introduce a bill in the 2010 warm” about the idea, In Idaho, texting while driving said. Legislature that would make tex- adding that other activities is not forbidden by state law. Lanting said that texting is ting while driving a traffic offense while driving, such as put- Some local and state officials popular among younger drivers — that comes with a $75 fine. ting on makeup, are also dan- want that to change, implement- the group most likely to be easily “I haven’t found anybody out gerous but not traffic offenses. ing fines to discourage motorists distracted while driving. The pro- there who thinks you should be “I think it is a poor practice to from keying out their messages posal will first be taken to the able to text while driving,” Bock text and drive and I think we from behind the wheel. city’s Traffic Safety Commission. said. “The overwhelming con- Twin Falls City Councilman From there, the commission sensus is this is something that See TEXTING, Main 2 Bridge ............Classifieds 11 Community ........Outdoors 5 Obituaries ..........Outdoors 7 Comics ..........Classifieds 14 Crossword......Classifieds 13 Opinion ......................Main 6 CHRYSLER ROLLS OUT FIVE-YEAR BUSINESS PLAN Commodities ......Business 2 Dear Abby ......Classifieds 13 Sudoku ............Classifieds 9 Automaker trying to stage comeback > Business 1 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Thursday, November 5, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDUCATION/LECTURE Declo High School gym, no cost, 732-6475. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) ID No. 48 Pat Marcantonio “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” presented by “The Good Times Are All Gone Now,” lecture by Chapter of Jerome, a weight-loss support Jerome High School drama department, set in Hailey resident Julie Weston, in conjunction group, 10 a.m., Jerome Public Library, 100 • If you love antiques or Admission is free. the ’60s using Beatles music, 7 p.m., Jerome with “Prospects: An Exploration of Mining,” First Ave. E., 420-3823. just searching for them, • The West End Theatre High’s Jerry Diehl auditorium, 104 N. Tiger 7 p.m., Sun Valley Center for the Arts, 191 Fifth Senior Health Insurance Benefit Advisory there’s the Antique Show Co. presents “Emma’s Drive, Jerome, 6:30 p.m. doors open, suggest- St. E., Ketchum, no cost, sunvalleycenter.org (SHIBA), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Minidoka County and Sale from 9 a.m. to Child” by Kristine Thatcher, ed donation of $5 per person, 324-8137. or 726-9491, ext. 10. Senior Center, 436-9107 for appointment. 6 p.m. with all kind of col- at 7:30 p.m. through Latin American Film Night, “Noche de Cine Fit and Fall Proof Exercise Class, 10 to 11 a.m., lectible goodies at The Saturday at the Buhl High Latino,” “With or Without Fidel,” a 2007 docu- EXHIBITS Living Waters Presbyterian Church, 821 E. White House, 365 Blue School auditorium, 525 mentary, (Spanish with English subtitles) fea- Main St., Wendell, no cost, 737-5988. Lakes Blvd. N., Twin Falls. Sawtooth Ave. Tickets are tures Cuba’s leading politicians, intellectuals Robert McNealy’s “Skullduggery,” 9:30 a.m.