Fewer Fields May Threaten Sharp-Tailed Grouse You Read This Story First Online
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35 / 25 A great year for Outdoors 1 KIMBERLY BOYS BEAT SNOW CRHS Mostly cloudy Sports 1 Business 4 SIGN OF A TURNAROUND? >>> A private company’s report says the U.S. added 300,000 jobs in December, BUSINESS 1 THURSDAY 75 CENTS January 6, 2011 TIMES-NEWS Magicvalley.com BREAKING NEWS Reduced CRP habitat funding MAGICVALLEY.COM Fewer fields may threaten sharp-tailed grouse You read this story first online. By Laura Lundquist CRP was created to reduce soil deer to myriad birds. leased. That dropped to 31 million Times-News writer erosion, improve water quality Idaho Department of Fish and as of October 2010, a reduction and preserve wildlife by encour- Game biologist Jeff Kettner said required by the 2008 farm bill. Recently reduced federal sup- aging farmers to convert environ- Idaho supports the majority of More importantly, the acreage port has left biologists concerned mentally sensitive land from crop the nations Columbian sharp- was redistributed because the bill for a subspecies of grouse that production to wild vegetative tailed grouse. Kettner said the reduced the amount of land per calls Idahos deserts home. cover. population began to decline in the county that could be under CRP Bomb Federal officials are celebrating While the program has saved mid-1980s, just about the time contract to 25 percent. the 25th anniversary of the U.S. thousands of tons of topsoil and the CRP began. Petitions to list A subprogram of CRP, called Department of Agricultures millions of acres of wetlands, its the subspecies as endangered State Acres for Wildlife En- Conservation Reserve Program, boon to wildlife has been irre- popped up in 1995 and 2004. But hancement, preserves habitat of established by the 1985 farm bill. placeable during decades of the grouse is hanging on and specific species but takes a part of But the program this year is con- increasing development in the Kettner credits CRP with its sur- that 25 percent. serving less land and the West. Wild vegetation in fields vival. That meant big changes in Idaho, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and borderlands provides forage CRP allowances peaked in scare and cover for everything from 2007,with almost 37 million acres See GROUSE, Main 2 may feel the pinch. T.F. police destroy suitcase left near propane tanks SAFETY IN ADVERTISING By Nick Coltrain Times-News writer A brown plastic suitcase left next to propane tanks Wednesday prompted a bomb scare that led to the closure of the northeast cor- ner of the intersection of Addison Avenue and Washington Street, next to the Swensens Market. Twin Falls police responded to a call about the suspicious suitcase shortly after 1 p.m. and had it destroyed by shortly after 2 p.m., which reopened the roads. The suitcase ended up being non- threatening, but with its proximi- ty to the propane tanks at the store, it was better safe than sorry, police said. “That’s the reason we treated it like a suspicious package, instead of just something that someone left behind,”said Twin Falls Police Bomb Technician Lucas Allen. “We have to treat it like an event.” Another bomb technician suit- ed up to check out the package, Allen said. He used a disruptor, a low-impact tool designed to sep- arate vital components in bombs without setting them off, to destroy the suitcase. A customer at Swensens saw the package Wednesday after- ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News noon and reported it. Debbie Cottenware, a local driving instructor with more than 20 years experience, recently asked McDonalds officials to change a TV commercial she says “(Swensens employees) didnt includes a reference to improper driving technique. She took her complaint up the corporate chain, hoping itll bring awareness to the proper way to drive. want to touch it, which is a good move,” Allen said. “If you are See SCARE, Main 2 Local driving instructor challenges McDonalds commercial By Amy Huddleston Cottenware gathered Times-News writer information from AAA and the National High- While McDonalds way Traffic Safety Blaine Co. restaurants get plenty of Administration to prove attention for their food — her points. “Billions and billions “It’s changed with the served” — a recent com- evolution of air bags,”she Sheriff mercial made a local dri- said of proper driving vers education teacher position. “They deploy take notice. at 200 miles per hour Debbie Cottenware and if your thumbs are to resign has taught the finer wrapped around the details of driving to stu- wheel they will break. Times-News dents in three different The air bag moves hands states for the past out where the chemicals Blaine County Sheriff Walt 23 years. Shes watched are released so your arms Femling announced Wednesday as young high school will be burned.” that he will resign as sheriff on students learned to drive She hopes that chang- March 1. on ice and parallel park ing the “10 and 2” refer- Femling, who has served as in tight spots. Shes also Debbie Cottenware drives with her hands in a 9 and 3 position on the steering wheel on ence will help promote sheriff for 24 years, cited health had a front seat to many Dec. 30 in Twin Falls. safer driving habits. concerns behind his “difficult” driving trends of the Cottenware teaches in decision to resign before the com- past two decades, mercial. In it, a teen driv- behind the times. to show correct hand Hansen, Carey and at pletion of his term. including a decided shift er gets his license, “Im not telling them placement. They referred the Professional Driving “It has been an honor to serve away from the advice prompting his father to anything bad because we her to their regional mar- School in Twin Falls. the citizens of Blaine County as most drivers older than suggest a trip to Mc- (drivers education tea- keting company in While she got into their Sheriff for 24 years,an experi- 20 were given. Donalds in celebration. chers) dont talk that Seattle and after a series teaching drivers educa- ence that has been so rewarding for The “10 and 2” hand As the rest of the family much about eating and of e-mails and phone tion by accident, she both me and my family,” Femling position many of us grew noshes on burgers, the drinking in the car,” she calls, Cottenware said said she found her niche said in a written release. “I am not up learning as correct has momentarily distracted said. “Hes driving with she received a response there. leaving for another job, or leaving given way to “9 and 3” or teen driver is admon- both hands on the wheel, informing her that the “You dont have to Blaine County, so I hope to stay even “8 and 4,” Cot- ished by his father to keep which is good, but let’s driving position would be have nerves of steel but engaged in our community in the tenware said, as the posi- his hands at “10 and 2.” put them in the right updated in future you do need patience and future.” tions help prevent Cottenware said it’s a place.” McDonalds commer- common sense,” she Femling has been involved in a injuries related to air bag great commercial that Cottenware called the cials. said. wide range of issues over his years inflation during crashes. promotes awareness in local McDonalds own- The Times-News calls in office,in recent years taking over McDonalds officials the car. But when it ers, Bill, Donna and for comment directed to Amy Huddleston may law enforcement in Ketchum and apparently hadnt re- comes to following regu- Darren Kyle, to see what McDonalds regional be reached at ahuddle- overseeing construction of a new ceived that memo before lations, Cottenware said could be done about corporate office in Seattle [email protected] county jail. they shot a recent com- Mickey Ds is a little changing the commercial were not returned. or 735-3204. See SHERIFF, Main 2 Bridge ............Classifieds 13 Crossword ......Classifieds 11 Obituaries ..........Outdoors 6 Comics ..............Outdoors 4 Dear Abby ......Classifieds 11 Opinion ..................Main 4-5 GOP TAKES OVER Commodities ......Business 2 Jumble ..........Classifieds 12 Sudoku ..........Classifieds 10 A divided 112th Congress is sworn in, Business 3 Main 2 Thursday, January 6, 2011 MORNING MIX TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Burley ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT “Singing in the Rain” auditions, presented by Oakley Valley Arts explores Council, 7 to 9 p.m., Howells Opera House, 160 N. Blaine Ave., come prepared with a short musical number with your own accompaniment or accompanist, free, 862-3266 or 677-2787. health EXHIBIT insurance First Thursday Studio Tour, 4 to 8 p.m. at several Mini-Cassia stu- dios with current, new and in-progress work. Studio in Paul: Ricky By Coreen Hart Bosted, silk pillows and scarves, 90 S. 1050 W. Studios in Burley: Times-News correspondent Donna Arbogast and Heywood Williams, paintings, 401 E. 16th St. (open 1-8 p.m.); Springdale School of Art, Claudette Bray, June BURLEY — The Burley Carey, Maize Bowers, Joan Turner and Everett Spencer, paintings, City Council on Tuesday 494 E. 200 S.; Marilyn Miller, paintings, 637 W. 18th St. (rear discussed possibly joining entrance); and Scott Razee, outdoor metal sculpture, 160 S. 250 E., a consortium of cities that 878-7540 or [email protected]. banded together to buy health insurance. LIBRARY ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News The group would be Twin Falls Police Detective and Bomb Squad member Ben Mittelstadt carries a suitcase away from a tele- similar to one in operation Internet Basics, for ages over 50 to learn how to use the internet, phone booth at the Swensens Market on Washington Street North on Wednesday after it was determined in Montana, said City Administrator Mark 9:30 a.m., Twin Falls Public Library, 201 Fourth Ave.