95 / 59 VOLTVOLT OF OF ENERGY ENERGY FOR FOR CARSCARS 230 MPG FROM GM’S NEWEST Sunny, hot. SEE BUSINESS 1 Business 4 HAGERMAN COACH RESIGNS >>> Citing DUI, need to refocus, football coach leaves position, SPORTS 1 WEDNESDAY 75 CENTS August 12, 2009 MagicValley.com Paul man, sons, ID’d as plane crash victims By Laurie Welch Malheur County (Ore.) Jed Mingo, the owner of the Wolfe said the three men “They did not arrive at either Times-News writer Undersheriff Brian Wolfe said plane and its pilot, often used a were traveling to Ilwaco on the of those two locations,” Wolfe Ronald Eugene Mingo, 62, of dirt airstrip near a homestead Washington coast, where they said. A Paul man and his two adult Paul, and his two sons, Jed R. he owned near Kasota, family planned to go fishing. The trio Wolfe said radar last tracked sons were on a fishing trip Mingo, 32, of Bountiful, Utah, members said. had stopped at the Jerome the single-engine plane in the when their small plane crashed and Jordan D. Mingo, 26, of “Jed was a really good pilot,” County Airport to refuel Succor Creek State Natural in mountains near the Idaho- Lehi,Utah,all died Friday when said Weston Webb of Twin between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Area in the Owyhee Mountains. Oregon state line last week, their plane, a single-engine Falls, who is Ronald Mingo’s Friday and planned to stop in “We didn’t start worrying a killing all three, officials said Navion, crashed about 16 miles uncle. “The unanswered ques- John Day, Ore., before reaching Tuesday. southwest of Homedale. tions are the hardest part.” their final destination. See CRASH, Main 2 Ron Mingo Districts file for court stay on well closures By Nate Poppino the North Snake and Magic SEEKING A WAY OUT Times-News writer Valley groundwater dis- tricts did not follow Two Magic Valley through on a portion of an groundwater districts have agreement to keep about asked a judge to review a 9,300 acres converted to decision by the Idaho use surface water instead of Department of Water groundwater. Resources to shut down a The districts managed to number of groundwater recover some of the con- rights across the region in a versions and Spackman on well curtailment aimed at Friday shrank the closures providing water to Clear to just 150 rights and 4,150 Springs Foods of Buhl. acres. But further negotia- IDWR Interim Director tions between the districts Gary Spackman ordered and Clear Springs failed more than 300 water rights Monday, and the districts affecting businesses, cities on Tuesday afternoon filed and nearly 9,000 acres of a petition in 5th District irrigated land shut down on July 31 after he concluded See WELLS, Main 2 Sawtooth project caps T.F. construction surge By Ben Botkin This week, the initial Times-News writer tasks include getting water and sewer lines in place Preliminary construc- before work starts on the tion work has started on the project’s foundation. multipurpose room at “They have to have those Sawtooth Elementary things in the ground before JOHN MCELHINEY JOHN HORONZY CAMERON WATTS School in Twin Falls. they can start the founda- CONVICTED: Of first-degree murder CONVICTED: Of second-degree murder of CONVICTED: Of first-degree murder of Dale The project is the last tion,”said Kirk Brower,dis- of Dale Miller, pleaded guilty, later Rosemarie Lavonne Murphy, pleaded guilty Miller, pleaded guilty major piece of a round of trict director of operations. tried to recant plea SENTENCED: To at least 15 years in prison SENTENCED: To at least 20 years in prison improvements and con- “They’re basically getting SENTENCED: To at least 22 years in prison APPEAL: Currently appealing conviction, APPEAL: Lost an appeal to struction work that the ready for construction.” APPEAL: Currently appealing conviction to in part because investigator is now charged overturn conviction because he was Twin Falls School District The foundation work is Idaho Supreme Court with felony drug crimes ‘actually innocent’ has initiated following expected to begin in a week approval of a $49.7 million or two. bond levy in 2006 and a When finished, the new $3.3 million plant facility levy in 2008. See SCHOOLS, Main 2 T.F.AUTHORITIES FACING MURDER APPEALS, OBJECTIONS By Andrea Jackson County Prosecutor Grant also sent McElhiney to Miller owed a $250 drug debt Times-News writer Loebs of the challenges. prison. to Watts, and McElhiney “The process allows these When McElhiney, 32, was was the muscle who Two recent Twin Falls people to abuse the system sentenced to 22 years to life roughed Miller up before murder convicts are chal- by filing frivolous appeals for killing 18-year-old Dale binding the teen with cord lenging their prison sen- and claims.” Miller, he told the victim’s and placing him in a car tences, as a third admitted John McElhiney and John family he was sorry. trunk, where Miller suffo- killer continues to fight his Horonzy, two of the men “I don’t believe my life cated. court fees despite losing a Loebs recently helped con- should belong to me any- Now McElhiney claims he bid to get out of a life sen- vict of murder, have current more because of what hap- should get out of prison and tence earlier this year. bids pending to get out of pened,” McElhiney told the his guilty plea should be Though each man pleaded prison. court. overturned, appealing his guilty, county and state Meanwhile, a third mur- That was more than a year case all the way to the Idaho prosecutors are still faced der convict, Cameron after Miller’s body was Supreme Court. MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News with their appeals and Watts, recently lost his found inside a barrel on “It doesn’t end with a Construction was underway Monday on the new Sawtooth objections. appeal of a life sentence, but Sept.12,2007,in a Twin Falls guilty verdict,” said Loebs, Elementary School multipurpose room in Twin Falls. The project is “They’re all without is continuing to fight fees he apartment’s garage. Law the final phase in the district’s revamp of a number of its facilities. merit,” said Twin Falls must pay for a slaying that enforcement authorities say See APPEALS, Main 2 Deaths lead police officers to rethink chases By Tracie Cone three teenagers trying to outrun have limited chases in recent years Graciela Associated Press writer police in a tragedy that has stunned because of the danger to officers Guerra is con- people in this rural corner of and the public, said Eugene soled by her DINUBA, Calif. — Carlos and California’s citrus belt. O’Donnell, a professor of police daughter Jennifer Salazar had piled their five Criminal justice experts said it studies at the John Jay College of Diana Guerra children into their pickup truck and was one of the deadliest police Criminal Justice in New York City. were headed to a Pee Wee football chases they can remember, and it Their alternatives include relying Silva Monday kickoff carnival when a speeding has renewed the debate about the on law enforcement bulletins and at the site of a car came out of nowhere. dangers of high-speed police chas- helicopters to track the car and fatal crash The occupants had run a stop es. In this instance, the officer did avoid dangerous chases. that killed sign on a rural road and were fleeing not know the fleeing vehicle had The issue has also reached the eight people a police officer at nearly 80 mph been stolen at gunpoint 12 hours U.S. Supreme Court, with justices on Saturday in when they barreled into the fami- earlier. ruling in 2007 that suspects who Dinuba, Calif. ly’s truck. Eight people died: five The crash comes as many kids all younger than 8, and the departments around the country See CHASE, Main 2 AP photo Comics................Business 3 Dear Abby........Classifieds 4 Obituaries..................Food 6 Commodities ......Business 2 Jumble ............Classifieds 8 Opinion ......................Main 6 CURRY COMES TO SOUTHERN IDAHO Crossword ......Classifieds 5 Movies........................Main 7 Sudoku ............Classifieds 3 The flavor for spice lovers > Food 1 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Wednesday, August 12, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS Ave., Hailey, no cost, 737-5988. Fit and Fall Proof Exercise Class, 10:30 to 11:30 OPEN HOUSE Pat Marcantonio Burley Kiwanis Club, noon, Morey’s a.m., Ageless Senior Citizens, Inc., 310 Main Steakhouse, 219 E. Third St. N., 436-0720. St. N., Kimberly, no cost, 737-5988. Open House for St. Luke’s Clinic on Addison • If you’re interested in winners compete in the Burley Soroptimist International, noon, Syringa SilverSneakers Fitness Program, 10:30 to 11:30 Avenue East, includes tour of facility, opportu- history, especially pre- semifinals. There’s no Plaza, 626 Elba Ave., 438-8666. a.m., Jerome Senior Center, 212 First Ave. E., nity to meet physicians and staff, and light serving and promoting it, cover to watch. Ladies Lifeline Fellowship nondenominational no cost for Humana Gold Choice members, $1 refreshments, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., with 5:15 join one of the many his- • Have a digital camera, luncheon, noon to 2 p.m., Connor’s Café, for non-Humana members, 324-5642. p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony, 2550 Addison torical societies around but you’re not sure what to Heyburn, 438-5376. SilverSneakers Fitness Program, innovative Ave.