39 / 26 LIVING THE SEE FOOD sweet life 1 IN A KETCHUM KITCHEN Snow, rain. Business 4 IDAHO PLAYERS NAMED ALL-AMERICAN >>> Idaho, BSU football teams represented on list, SPORTS 1 & 3 WEDNESDAY 75 CENTS December 16, 2009 MagicValley.com M-C officials Valley House gives struggling adults, families a place to regroup scrap bid for new prison By Laurie Welch Times-News writer BURLEY — County efforts to entice the federal government to build a “green prison” near a Raft River geo- thermal plant were suspended Monday. Cassia County Commissioner Clay Handy said commissioners voted to cancel the county’s contract with con- sulting firm New West Strategies after the prison proposal failed to show up on any federal budget. “You know we rolled the dice,” Handy said Tuesday. “And if you don’t play you never win.” Cassia and Minidoka county officials co-signed the New West contract, and the counties were splitting the $5,000 monthly consulting bill. The contract required a 30-day notice of cancella- tion. Minidoka County Clerk Duane Smith said Minidoka County commis- sioners voted to cancel the contract on Photos by MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News Monday as well. Ken Pullin, 36, holds his 18-month-old daughter, Serenity, as she and sister Kadence, 3, slowly wake up from naptime at their home in the Valley House complex in New West Strategies was founded by Twin Falls. Pullin is one of three single fathers receiving help from the Twin Falls nonprofit to start building a new life for his family. He said he’s excited about former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig and starting a new job next week. Michael O. Ware, and was hired by the See PRISON, Main 2 King receives More than just shelter By Andrea Jackson probation, home Times-News writer The Valley House shelter in confinement Twin Falls has kept at least one family together, according to a By Nate Poppino grateful dad staying there on Times-News writer Tuesday. WHO: Valley House After taking custody last WHERE: 507 Addison Ave. W., POCATELLO — Cory King will month of his daughters, Ken Twin Falls spend a lot of time at home over the Pullin said that he would have TO CONTRIBUTE: Valley House is next four months, his punishment in a likely turned to foster care out of accepting tax-deductable cash case that seems certain to be appealed. necessity — if it weren’t for contributions at P.O. Box 774, In April, a federal jury convicted Valley House — to give Kadence, Twin Falls, ID, 83303. King, a Burley-area feedlot operator, of 3, and Serenity, 18 months, a Other immediate needs include: four counts of injecting fluids into the warm place to stay. toilet paper, paper towels and quilts for double and single ground without a permit and one count “I wouldn’t have my kids, Kari Gessele, 26, wraps donated gifts on Tuesday afternoon for others at the of lying to investigators. that’s for sure,” said Pullin, 36, beds, baby wipes, towels and On Tuesday, a federal judge in from his temporary apartment Valley House in Twin Falls. She credits Valley House with giving her the opportu- wash clothes. Canned goods and Pocatello laid out King’s sentence: Tuesday at the area homeless nity to build a better life for her unborn child and her 7-year-old son. cleaning supplies are also on the three years’ probation, four months of shelter. center’s needs list. Call 734- home confinement with GPS monitor- Like Pullin, three other single Executive Director Sharon the shelter, with nearly half, or 7736 first to drop off donations. ing and $5,500 in fines and fees. dads are staying with their chil- Breshears. 23, being children, she said. INFORMATION: www.myvalley- U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill dren at the private, nonprofit A total of about 50 people house.org said King would have faced prison time Valley House, according to were being served Tuesday at See VALLEY, Main 2 if prosecutors had proven the water injected in 2006 contained manure. As it was, the judge deviated from federal advisory sentencing guidelines in his decision because he said the case was so unique. While he said he doesn’t believe King will reoffend, he imposed H1N1 recall not expected to affect Magic Valley the confinement to serve as a deterrent to others. And he took time during the By Damon Hunzeker hour-long hearing to explain to the Times-News writer “It doesn’t limit our ability to distribute the vaccine at all.” courtroom audience why the matter — Cheryle Becker, epidemiology manager for South Central Public Health District was so important. Injection permits are Nationwide, 800,000 doses vital, he said, because any damage done of the swine-flu vaccine have and Prevention (CDC), from a The South Central Public received after Dec. 1 — presents to drinking water in the ground is often been recalled by French manu- discovery by the company that Health District (SCPHD) is no health concerns and doesn’t irreversible. facturer Sanofi Pasteur — but the doses for children 6 to 35 currently administering vac- affect supplies, officials said. “You can’t go back and undo that,” it’s not a big deal, officials say, months old were insufficiently cines, by appointment, to the “It doesn’t limit our ability to Winmill said. “That’s done.” especially around here. potent and that, while filled general public in all six of its distribute the vaccine at all. It He also specified to King and his The voluntary action was properly at the time, “had district offices. The recall — was a very small amount for us prompted, according to the dropped below a pre-specified which only applies to pediatric See KING, Main 2 Centers for Disease Control limit.” doses of prefilled syringes See VACCINE, Main 2 Bret Burch, 11, places a marker on a robot T.F.students prepare for course as Jessica Keeton, 12, moves ‘Frankenspud’ the LEGO league competition LEGO robot Tuesday morning after the By Damon Hunzeker Discovery Association, 12 12-year-olds — was selected group from Robert Times-News writer seventh-graders from Robert to compete in the state tour- Stuart Middle School Stuart Middle School partic- nament held in Pocatello in Twin Falls learned The self-named Psycho ipated in the FIRST LEGO next month. they qualified for a Scientists are going to state League robotics qualifying The student team navigat- with a LEGO robot named rounds in Meridian last ed several challenges for its state robotics com- “Frankenspud.” weekend, and one team — robot — building a tower out petition in Pocatello. Because of a $700 grant the aforementioned Psycho MEAGAN THOMPSON/ from the North Idaho Scientists, comprising six See LEGO, Main 2 Times-News Bridge ................Classifieds 7 Crossword ..........Classifieds 6 Obituaries..........Food 4, 6 & 8 Comics................Classifieds 8 Dear Abby ..........Classifieds 6 Opinion ........................Main 6 ECONOMY FLASHING INFLATION WARNING SIGNS Commodities ........Business 2 Jumble ................Classifieds 5 Sudoku ..............Classifieds 4 Experts not worried yet > Business 1 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Wednesday, December 16, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Twin Falls, complete cardio and circuit training Chapter of Twin Falls, weigh ins, 4:30 to 5:20 with resistance, state-of-the-art equipment and p.m. and meeting, 5:30 to 6 p.m.,The Church Pat Marcantonio Willie and Robert Reale’s “A Year with Frog and “Curves Smart”personalized coaching, 5:30 of Christ, 2002 Filer Ave. E., (corner of Sunrise Toad,” a “pay what you feel”preview presented a.m. to 7 p.m.,Twin Falls Curves, 690 Blue Street and Filer Avenue), 736-9282. • Eat a festive meal and music, go to the West End by Company of Fools, 7 p.m., Liberty Theatre, Lakes Blvd. N., no cost for Humana Gold- TOPS ID No. 388 Chapter of Malta, a weight-loss visit Santa at a Christmas Community Singers’ annual 110 N. Main St., Hailey, tickets on sale one hour insured or AARP provided by Secure Horizons, support group, 5:30 p.m., Raft River Electric meal at noon at the Twin Christmas Cantata at before performance; no reserved seats, 578- 734-7300. Board room, 155 N. Main St., 208-645-2438. Falls Senior Center, 530 7:30 p.m. at the Buhl United 9122. College of Southern Idaho’s Over 60 and Cancer Support Group, 7 to 8:30 p.m., MSTI Shoshone St. W.Suggested Methodist Church, 908 Getting Fit programs, a guided walking workout Twin Falls Cancer Center Lobby, St. Luke’s donation is $5.50. Maple St. Admission is free CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS with stretching and gentle resistance training, Magic Valley Medical Center, 650 Addison Ave. • A classical Christmas but donations will be 9 to 10 a.m. at several Magic Valley locations: W., Twin Falls, 737-2800. concert and lecture, lead by accepted. Magic Valley Toastmasters meeting and no- Blaine County Campus gym, CSI gym, Filer pianist Del Parkinson, starts host lunch, assisting members in developing Elementary,Jerome Rec Center, Rupert Civic LIBRARY at 7 p.m. at the Herrett Have your own pick to speaking, communication and leadership skills, gym and Shoshone High School (old gym); Center for the Arts and share? Something unique to noon, Idaho Pizza, 1859 Kimberly Road,Twin 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., old Buhl middle school Preschool Story Hour, with stories, activities Science in Twin Falls. The the area that may surprise Falls, visitors welcome, 736-1025. gym; and 11:30 a.m.