46 / 26 Tourney time 4A girls tangle in first round of postseason Sports 1 Mostly sunny. Business 4 DON’T PITY THE SENIORS >>> New chef in town crafts their whole veggies, prize-winning cookies, FOOD 1 WEDNESDAY 75 CENTS February 4, 2009 MagicValley.com Worried about Woody’s Triumph of the torch Warehouse District businesses voice concerns about fights at bar By Joshua Palmer with Twin Falls Police Chief Times-News writer Jim Munn about the letters from area businesses. A recent shooting at a bar Sgt. Terry Thueson told the in Twin Falls’ Historic Times-News that Munn “will Warehouse District prompt- review the letter and assign ed neighboring businesses to the appropriate divisional seek city action over what captain to address the they say is a growing prob- issues.” lem. The “pattern of activities” At least one business in the that have occurred during warehouse district wrote a the last eight years at letter to the City Council Woodhead’s establishments about establishments oper- — such as Woody’s Sportsbar ated by David Woodhead — and Grill and Sidewinders other owners in the area say Saloon — include three they will write to council reported shootings, aggravat- members if the city doesn’t ed battery that left a man take action. brain damaged, and hun- The Twin Falls City Council dreds of calls to police for spent the last few minutes of assistance. a regular meeting Monday In 2007 alone, police night discussing whether or responded to 68 calls for not the city should address service at Woodhead’s estab- the issue. lishments, according to the “When you see a pattern of Twin Falls Police activities like this in a certain Department. MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News area, it becomes an issue that Some business owners say Sgt. Arnold Morgado, with the Twin Falls Police Department, carries the torch with James Neeson, 30, of Ireland, Tuesday afternoon in the 2009 needs to be addressed,” said the Historic Warehouse Councilman Don Hall. Special Olympics World Winter Games Final Leg Torch Run that wound through the Magic Valley, escorted by police officers and Special Olympic ath- He added that he spoke See WOODY’S, Main 2 letes from around the world. Special Olympics flame carried through T.F., Magic Valley Former masseuse sentenced By Ben Botkin The event includes 10 The athletes and officers Times-News writer Magicvalley.com Special Olympics athletes continue today with stops in WATCH: a video from around the world who Sun Valley, Glenns Ferry, after prostitution sting They ran onto the campus and slide show were accompanied by 118 Mountain Home and Boise. of the College of Southern about the Special police officers from each They have visited about 30 Magicvalley.com Idaho, and cheers rang out Olympics event in state and other nations. cities since Thursday. Other suspect to for the Special Olympics ath- Twin Falls. They’ve been visiting cities “Their dedication and WATCH: A video of letes. throughout Idaho on the courage has been an inspira- Tuesday’s court They made a stop in Twin torch run. tion to all of us,” Morgado fight charge in proceedings. Falls on Tuesday as part of out as the athletes, escorted “Our journey isn’t over said. the Final Leg Torch Run by police officers from yet,” said Sgt. Arnold An athlete from Ireland, massage parlor before the 2009 Special around the world, Morgado of the Twin Falls 30-year-old James Neeson, Olympics World Winter approached the Fine Arts Police Department, who has addressed the audience at prostitution case asked for a trial. Games. Music from the Twin Auditorium at CSI with a lit been on the torch run with The women allegedly Falls High School band rang torch. the athletes. See TORCH, Main 2 offered to perform sexual By Andrea Jackson acts with undercover Twin Times-News writer Falls County sheriff’s deputies for money at the Two women accused of former Osaka Massage and prostituting themselves at a Spa on Addison Avenue. Lawmaker says lobbyist rule too weak popular massage parlor The women aren’t living in shielded their faces Tuesday Twin Falls, and both listened By Jared S. Hopkins have honesty and trans- then see if there’s anything as they left a Twin Falls through a Korean-speaking Times-News writer INSIDE parency.” wrong,” Smyser said. courtroom. translator during their pre- In ’08 Legislature, However, Luker intro- Rep. Eric Anderson, R- Myeong Sook Mickley, 46, trial hearings Monday in 5th BOISE — A legislator intro- lawmakers didn’t take duced the bill without con- Sandpoint, said during was charged in November District Court. duced a bill Tuesday to cut by lobbyist cash. sulting the Secretary of State’s Tuesday’s meeting he wasn’t with one count of prostitu- Judge Roger Harris ordered more than half how much office, which oversees lobby- sure $35 — an amount Luker tion and Sun Do Chong, 57, Chong to pay the cost of the money lobbyists can spend See Main 10 ing disclosure, or any of the conceded was a “gut feeling” with two counts. Twin Falls County Sheriff’s on lawmakers without working lobbyists, a handful — would really change On Tuesday, Chong plead- Office investigation into her reporting it, arguing a law lobbyists, increased the mini- of whom had crowded the much. ed guilty to one count of adopted last year is too weak. mum amount from $50 in room Tuesday because they Anderson said after prostitution and Mickley See STING, Main 2 Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, response to inflation during weren’t sure what Luker had the meeting he’s not opposed said a law adopted last year the past 25 years. in mind. to the legislation — he would — which he voted for — that Luker said the set amount Skip Smyser, the head of be comfortable with full dis- Sun Do Chong, left, sets the minimum disclosure would clarify a perception the lobbyists’ association, closure — but wants the and Myeong Sook at $75 per event doesn’t go far the public has of relation- said the lobbyists would amount to have reason. Mickley appear in a enough in holding lobbyists ships between legislators and comply with any changes to “If we’re gonna do some- Twin Falls court and legislators accountable. lobbyists, particularly if they the law. But he pointed out thing, then I wish we would Tuesday. The two He wants the amount to be go to lunch simply because how last year’s law took effect have justification for it other $35. there’s no other time to get in July last year, and lobbyists than just a gut feeling,” he women were arrested “There’s a fine line between together. only recently filed their said. for allegedly engaging convenience and favors,” he “When I get questions annual report. The first Luker said after the meet- in prostitution while said. “The perception by the from constituents about monthly report during a leg- ing that he didn’t consult the they worked at Osaka public is not good at this Sunshine laws the question islature isn’t due until next Secretary of State’s office Massage and Spa in time.” on the top of the list is lobby- week. because his proposal doesn’t Twin Falls. Last year’s legislation, ing and expenditures,” he “It seems odd. At least give change the mechanics of the which was brought by the said. “It’s important for us to the law a year to work and law. ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News Obama admits he ‘screwed up’ on Daschle nomination By Jennifer Loven for prominent people and House had announced that new president’s drive for the fact that the man who Associated Press writer one for ordinary folks who Daschle had asked to be health care reform. Obama would oversee the Internal have to pay their taxes,’’ removed from consideration said neither he nor Daschle Revenue Service had only WASHINGTON — Barack Obama said in one of a series as health and human services excused the former Senate belatedly paid $34,000 in Obama on Tuesday aban- of interviews with TV secretary and that Nancy Democratic leader’s tax income taxes. doned his nomination fight anchors. Killefer had made the same errors but that he accepted Bill Richardson bowed out, for Tom Daschle and a second “I’m frustrated with myself, request concerning what was his friend’s decision “with too, though his difficulties high-profile appointee who with our team. ... I’m here on to be her groundbreaking sadness and regret.’’ didn’t involve personal taxes. failed to pay all their taxes, television saying I screwed appointment as a chief per- Unsightly personal tax The New Mexico governor, fearing ugly confirmation Daschle Killefer up,’’ Obama said on NBC’s formance officer to make the problems had been piling up who was Obama’s choice for battles that would undercut “Nightly News with Brian entire government run bet- for the new administration. commerce secretary, with- his claims to ethical high “It’s important for this Williams.’’ He repeated virtu- ter. Last week, the Senate con- drew amid a grand jury ground and cripple his presi- administration to send a ally the same words in sever- Daschle said in a brief let- firmed Timothy Geithner as investigation into a state con- dency in just its second week. message that there aren’t two al other interviews. ter to Obama that he refused treasury secretary, but only tract awarded to political “I screwed up,’’ Obama said. sets of rules — you know, one Hours earlier, the White to “be a distraction’’ from the after days of controversy over donors.