Smoke on the Horizon

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THE NATURAL WAY HEALTHY & FIT 1 H&F 12 VENUS OUSTED FROM U.S. OPEN >>> Clijsters keeps comeback going, MAIN 6 MONDAY 75 CENTS September 7, 2009 MagicValley.com FROM T.F.TO THE Smoke on the horizon Farmers taking more advantage USS RONALD REAGAN of new crop-burning program By Ben Botkin M.V.native serving Times-News writer By Nate Poppino Times-News writer ON THE WEB: avy Cmdr.James Mills was For more on the crop-burn- as combat systems stationed at the Pentagon State officials say a ing program, including train- N on Sept.11,2001,when the revised field-burning pro- ing materials and approved airliner overtaken by terrorists gram seems to be working burn permits, visit officer aboard slammed into the building. well in its first full year of http://www.deq.idaho.gov/ Mills, who is from Twin Falls and deployment. and click on “Growers: Crop has family in the Magic Valley, had The 9th U.S. Circuit Residue Burning” in the largest aircraft an office in the section of the Court of Appeals in January middle of the page. Pentagon that collapsed. He was 2007 invalidated Idaho’s out of his office at the time the air- program allowing farmers north-Idaho issue, where carrier in Navy liner hit because an appointment he to burn crop residue. lighting bluegrass residue was in lasted longer than anticipat- Farmers, environmentalists on fire is the most econom- ed. and state authorities nego- ical way to deal with it and U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Chelsea Kennedy For Mills, that’s something he tiated a new plan, and the the airshed is overall more remembers while serving as the Cmdr. James Mills stands on the flight U.S. Environmental vulnerable to smoke. But combat systems officer aboard the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Protection Agency the new program encom- USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft car- Reagan. Above him, in the ship’s super- approved it last year in passed all of Idaho, requir- rier currently in international structure, or ‘island’ as it as known on enough time to allow burning a $2-per-acre fee of waters in the Gulf of Oman off the the ship, lie several surface and air ing in September and southern Idaho farmers for coast of Pakistan. The 1,092-foot search radars. October. the first time. long, 97,000-ton aircraft carrier — Crop burning in recent the largest in the Navy — launches Enduring Freedom, Mills, 41, who years has been more of a See PROGRAM, Main 2 planes that support troops sta- was commissioned a Navy officer in tioned in Afghanistan. 1990, sees his career coming full From seeing the devastation of circle. the attack on the Pentagon first hand to now serving in Operation See MILLS, Main 2 ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News A field of straw is burned Friday afternoon on Stan Ward’s farm south of Dietrich. DEQ official say this year’s crop-burning program is off to a good start, with healthy participation in the Magic Valley and farmers willing to give the new registration system a try. Rifle raffle stirs controversy at fair By Blair Koch “We’ve raffled off a U.S. Navy photo Times-News correspondent weapon for the past several The USS Ronald Reagan is years,” Baker said. “We deployed to the Gulf of Oman, FILER — As Jennifer were hoping this gun launching jets daily into Jones walked past the Filer wouldn’t stir controversy Afghanistan in support of U.S. Police Reserves’ booth at but I guess it has, a little “The best part of it all is getting to the Twin Falls County Fair, bit.” and coalition forces there. she didn’t stop to buy a raf- Baker said the appear- fle ticket for the semi-auto- ance of the civilian version lead sailors and mold and shape matic rifle on display. AR-15 makes it look more Jones, of Colorado, was- menacing than it really is. them into tomorrow’s leaders.” n’t impressed with the gun. “It’s black,” Baker said. “I don’t think that kind of “Take away all the black, — Navy Cmdr. James Mills, combat systems officer gun needs to be on the plastic parts and place it in aboard the USS Ronald Reagan street, let alone raffled at a wooden stock and it’d look county fair,”Jones said. like any other typical rifle.” While some visitors to The .233 caliber rifle isn’t the fair have shared her legal in all states, Baker view, most have been sup- said, but it is in Idaho. portive of the reserve force’s “The (reserves) used to Forced to shrink, Army National Guard gets pickier attempt at raising a little raffle off a shotgun but extra money, said reserve By Meghan Barr den of fighting overseas onto volunteer Lee Baker. See RAFFLE, Main 2 Associated Press writer the active-duty Army and ease the public outcry over COLUMBUS, Ohio — the way that Guard units — Suffer from a bad case of part-time soldiers normally acne? That could disqualify called into action during you from joining the Army hurricanes and other disas- National Guard. Too many ters at home — have been speeding tickets? In today’s sent on long, repeated com- slimmer, smarter Guard, bat tours in Iraq. that could keep you out, too. In fact, while the Under pressure from the Pentagon has cut the Pentagon to trim its ranks, AP photo National Guard by about the Guard has been quietly Christopher Runyon, 19, stands outside of his home in Glouster, Ohio, 9,000 soldiers to 358,200 phasing in new restrictions on Aug. 27. Runyon has been unable to enlist in the armed services over the past six months or that make it harder to enlist. after failing his Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam. so, the nearly 549,000- “To get in now,you have to Under pressure from the Pentagon to trim its ranks, the Guard has strong active-duty Army is BLAIR KOCH/For the Times-News be the cream of the crop,” been quietly phasing in new restrictions that make it harder to enlist. under orders to recruit Filer Reserve Policewoman Lia Perez sells raffle tickets for a civil- said Sgt. 1st Class Brian 70,000 new soldiers by the ian issue AR-15, semi-automatic rifle at the Twin Falls County Fair Clum, a recruiter in Ohio. force that was bloated from But there are suspicions end of September and on Sunday. The raffle is raising eyebrows by some who think the Military officials portray years of successful recruit- inside the Guard and out 22,000 more in the coming the cutbacks as an effort to ing, especially during the that the reductions are part gun looks like an assault rifle and shouldn’t be at the fair — where trim excess from a Guard recession. of an effort to shift the bur- See GUARD, Main 2 firearms are not allowed on the premises. Comics ......................H&F 3 Jumble........................H&F 5 Opinion ....................Main 10 Crossword ................H&F 10 Movies ......................Main 4 Sudoku ......................H&F 7 9 DEAD FROM CAPSIZED PHILIPPINE FERRY Dear Abby ..................H&F 9 Obituaries..................Main 9 To do for you ..............H&F 2 926 rescued after boat turns on its side > Main 11 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Monday, September 7, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today FESTIVALS AND FAIRS sion (prices include fair admission Blvd., Twin Falls, visitors welcome, marl- Pat Marcantonio Bellevue’s Labor Day celebration, with before sales tax), 326-4398 or [email protected], 208-324-4808 or music, food and crafts, as part of Wagon tfcfair.com. www.bluelakesrotary.com. • If you don’t want a • Get into shape with the Days, 1 to 5 p.m., City Park, quiet picnic in the back Over 60 and Getting Fit bellevueidaho.com. HEALTH AND WELLNESS MARKETS/ANTIQUES yard, go to the Destruction program starting Tuesday. Twin Falls County Fair continues, features Choices for Recovery, a non-traditional, 12- Ketchum Art and Antique Show, 9 a.m. to Derby at 7 p.m. at the Twin The College of Southern 4-H/FFA Junior market animal sale, 10 step spiritual program open to all faiths, 5 p.m., nexStage Theatre, 120 S. Main St., Falls County Fair in Shouse Idaho class will be held in a.m., fair sale barn; with carnival, enter- issues and addictions, 6 p.m., west confer- Ketchum, www.visitsunvalley.com. Arena in Filer. Tickets are Hagerman, Shoshone and tainment on the free stage and exhibits ence room, Minidoka Memorial Hospital, $8 for general admission. Jerome. It’s free if you’re 60 in the merchants buildings, all day, Twin Rupert, no cost, 431-3741. To have an event listed, please submit the • Visit one of my hus- and older, or $100 for Falls County Fairgrounds, Filer, fair name of the event, a brief description, time, band’s favorite hikes, Baker younger whippersnappers. admission: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors TODAY’S DEADLINE place, cost and contact number to Suzanne Lake, which is full of Information: 934-8678. 65 and over, and $3 for children 6-12 (no Browne by e-mail at sbrowne@magicval- scenery and fish. It’s a little cost for children age 5 and under); and Meeting Memo for Sept. 8 Blue Lakes Rotary ley.com; by fax, 734-5538; or by mail, more than a mile to the Have your own pick you Destruction Derby, 7 p.m., Shouse Arena, Club meeting and breakfast, features Times-News, P.O.Box 548, Twin Falls, ID lake.

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