89 / 58 Rain gave gardens a slow,but fertile, start Home & Garden 1 Sunny, warm. Agribusiness 4 FIREWORKS OVER BAGHDAD >>> Iraqi forces take over security of cities from U.S. troops, MAIN 10 TUESDAY 75 CENTS June 30, 2009 MagicValley.com Boise wind developer to return to Magic Valley By Nate Poppino this summer on 152 wind “The wind down there is great. The much of the work, creating company in the state. Times-News writer turbines providing a com- more than 275 estimated Idaho Power Co. recently bined 228 megawatts of landowners down there are fantastic.” jobs during construction. called for proposals for an A Boise wind-farm devel- electricity, scattered in 14 — Holli High, Exergy’s director of The parks will need 22 peo- additional 250 megawatts of oper plans to build a num- wind parks across five ple for operations and wind power for its system. ber of new farms this year in southern Idaho counties. community and government affairs maintenance. And the Locally, proposed projects southern Idaho — a sign In the Magic Valley, the company claims the work range from more small-scale that the winds seem to still wind farms are tabbed for Regulatory Policies Act, The projects are expected will represent the largest ones by local landowners to favor Idaho’s renewable- the Bell Rapids area, as well which sets forth payment to take seven months to energy construction project the massive 185-turbine energy industry. as near Burley and rates for small-power complete. When finished, to date in Idaho, when China Mountain project Boise-based Exergy Shoshone, said Holli High, developers. the company claims they’ll measured in 2009 dollars. planned for southwest of Development Group’s last Exergy’s director of com- “We’ve been working on put Idaho into the top 20 Company officials, who Rogerson. Idaho project — Fossil Gulch munity and government it for a very long time, so states in terms of installed also have a project near A recent report from the — was the state’s first “util- affairs. Exergy is partnering we’re very excited,” High wind capacity. Great Falls, Mont., no Pew Research Center found ity-scale” wind farm when with local landowners for said Monday afternoon. But the benefits are longer own Fossil Gulch but that Idaho led the nation in it was built near Hagerman each project, she said. All 14 “And the wind down there is broader than that, Exergy are excited to return to work percentage of job growth in in 2004. Now, the company parks should qualify under great. The landowners officials said. They intend to in Idaho, High said. They’ll the green energy industry plans to start construction the Public Utility down there are fantastic.” hire local contractors for certainly have plenty of between 1998 and 2007. CSI summer GREATDAYFORASWIM enrollment increases By Ben Botkin services programs, business Times-News writer administration and veteri- nary technology, said Jeff At the College of Fox, executive vice presi- Southern Idaho, enrollment dent and chief academic in summer courses this year officer at CSI. has grown. “What we’re trying to do The college has 1,772 stu- is say let’s expand the dents enrolled in summer opportunities and see if we courses this year. That’s a can’t make something out 2.84 percent increase — 49 of this,”Fox said. students — compared to The increase comes in a last year, when 1,723 stu- summer when CSI is mak- dents took summer courses. ing an effort at new summer But the increase is even course schedule options, higher among students tak- which included a six-week ing full-time courses. This period of classes during the year, it’s 1,162 students, a last half of May and June, 7.23 increase from last year, and one four-week session when 1,084 students of courses in July and attended the college full- August. time. The goal of those options MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News Classes that are seeing is to provide alternatives to Heidi and Matt Summerfield, of Twin Falls, try to coax their black Labrador puppy, 10-week-old Emmylou, into the water with a toy as her father, increases include develop- the traditional eight-week Waylon, waits his turn to fetch Thursday afternoon at the boat docks in Shoshone Falls Park. Today’s weather should be conducive for taking a mental math and English, cooling dip, as the National Weather Service’s Pocatello office is forecasting sunny skies with a high of 89 and a 20 percent chance of afternoon health sciences and human See ENROLLMENT, Main 2 thunderstorms. Advisory committee will steer new Idaho roads study The Associated Press taken to try to avoid the “Even if they believe they’re being constitution to require “Over time, it has reduced problems in a 2007 study on highway cost allocation the politics.’’ BOISE — Idaho is again the same issue, in which the in one way or another knocked out studies every two years, Lowe said the advisory trying to determine whether study’s authors said possible of balance they should all be with the Legislature told to panel will likely include rep- owners of heavy trucks and glitches in Idaho’s record adjust taxes or fees based on resentatives from the state’s cars are paying their fair keeping and software used considered, and we shouldn’t the results. trucking association and share for roads. for the study may have Idaho is following AAA Idaho, among others. The state will use affected the data. At the be afraid of that information.’’ Oregon’s example in The 2007 study suggested new Federal Highway time, Idaho Transportation — Idaho Gov. C.L.‘Butch’ Otter appointing an advisory that heavy trucks underpay Administration methodolo- Department Director Pam committee. Oregon state and owners of cars and gy for a highway cost alloca- Lowe said the problems tee this time around. sidered, and we shouldn’t be economist Tom Potiowsky pickups pay too much in tion study and will appoint were too complex and need- “You’ve got to have those afraid of that information.’’ said the system works well transportation fees and an advisory committee to ed too much time to fix, so folks sitting at the table,’’he In Oregon, the question of in his state. taxes. Keith Allred, head of oversee the research, The the study was scrapped. said. “Even if they believe whether cars and trucks “They understand they The Common Interest citi- Spokesman-Review report- Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch’’ they’re being in one way or paid their fair share became are only advisory,but I think zens group, which has been ed. Otter said he’s all for bring- another knocked out of bal- so political that voters in it makes for a richer out- Those steps are being ing in the advisory commit- ance they should all be con- 1999 amended the state come,’’ Potiowsky said. See ROADS, Main 3 Gateway West meeting held in Burley ITD: No firm date yet for By Damon Hunzeker comprises 230- and 500- addressed the crowd of et cetera. Auger Falls bridge removal Times-News writer kilovolt power lines costing about 45 people and said the Members of the Cassia nearly $2 billion that would project could result in County Gateway West Task Times-News gave their approval Monday BURLEY — The third in a extend from a substation decreased assessments of Force, a group of citizens morning for ITD to run con- series of meetings about near Glenrock, Wyo., to tax levies on property own- and community leaders, The Idaho Transportation struction equipment down Idaho Power Co.’s Gateway another station near Melba. ers. hope to persuade Idaho Department hasn’t set a an access road into the West project was held Nearly 60 miles of trans- They devoted most of the Power to move the trans- date yet for when it plans to Snake River Canyon to Monday at Burley City Hall. mission lines would run time, in the nearly impene- mission lines from the pro- remove a dilapidated bridge remove the bridge, If you’re the kind of person through private property in trable language of tax com- posed rights-of-way on near Auger Falls. But the Commission Chairman who does your own taxes Cassia County, including missions, to explaining how private property to areas of project may stand a chance Charlie Howell said. and likes to hear government some farms that are 100 property levies are assessed public property. of happening within the Howell said a letter from bureaucrats discuss taxing years old, affecting as many in Idaho on individuals ver- Lynn Steadman, a mem- next couple of years, ITD stated the work would districts and levy computa- as 160 property owners. sus public utilities — what is ber of the task force, asked if according to possible dates be done in the fall of 2010 or tions with pie charts, it was Alan Dornfest and Greg exempt, what isn’t exempt, 10 miles of transmission given to Jerome County 2011. But the bridge removal the place to be. Cade, both of the Idaho the way overlapping tax dis- GATEWAY officials. The Gateway West project State Tax Commission, tricts calculate assessments, See , Main 2 County commissioners See BRIDGE, Main 2 Comics .................. Sports 4 Crossword..................H&G 7 Obituaries ..................Main 7 Late spring, rain Commodities..Agribusiness 4 Dear Abby ..................H&G 6 Opinion ..................Main 8-9 SOGGY START Community ............Main 5-6 Movies ......................Main 4 Sudoku ......................H&G 6 devastate hay crop > Agribusiness 1 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Tuesday, June 30, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVALS AND FAIRS no cost, 737-5988.