Long-Ignored Transmission Project Gets New Life
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RELIGION 4 Just follow our map, CLASSIFIEDS 6 BUSINESS 4 BIG BANKS, BIG PROFITS >>> Citibank, Bank of America join list of banks reporting strong quarter, BUSINESS 1 SATURDAY 75 CENTS July 18, 2009 MagicValley.com Long-ignored transmission project gets new life Midpoint Substation Southwest Intertie could run through Magic Valley by 2011 Oregon Idaho By Nate Poppino Now, the project is on the from this spring’s economic link to another proposed Times-News writer edge of becoming reality. stimulus act. transmission project — The 500-kilovolt line would The project would be Gateway West, expected to A high-voltage transmis- run more than 500 miles Nevada’s first major north- stretch 1,150 miles across sion-line project first pro- from the Midpoint south power transmission southern Idaho and posed in the early 1990s is Substation — near Shoshone line and primarily would Wyoming. The Nevada proj- once again moving forward, — to Las Vegas. handle energy from new ect would essentially pro- Utah Nevada this time propelled by a Construction could start on renewable-energy projects, vide the Gateway segment Thirtymile Missouri company. its southern half this year, said Mark Milburn, assistant from the Midpoint station Substation Idaho Power Co. first and the segment that vice president of LS Power south to a proposed station acquired the rights-of-way includes Idaho could be and the Intertie’s project in Twin Falls County called for the Southwest Intertie operational by 2011. manager.But it will also pro- Cedar Hill, Milburn said — Project about 15 years ago, Great Basin is gathering vide additional reliable though Idaho Power may and the U.S. Bureau of Land bids for space on the future transmission infrastructure decide another line is need- Management performed an lines and arranging funding for the West, he said, as well ed in the same area. A sepa- environmental study of its to begin work on the project. as construction jobs and tax rate Great Basin project route at the time. But the But the company said revenues for local govern- would also connect the Las Vegas project was shelved until Thursday that it may start ment. Shoshone power station to Arizona 2005, when Great Basin construction before com- “We equate more trans- wind farms in Wyoming, Transmission LLC — an pleting the bid negotiations mission to more supply to following Gateway’s north- affiliate of LS Power Devel- through a partnership with better electricity costs,” he ern route. opment — picked up the Western Area Power said. SANDY SALAS/Times-News; Source: Great Basin Transmission LLC rights from the Idaho utility. Administration and funding The Intertie would also See INTERTIE, Main 2 Alleged rape victim Dispute laid to rest takes stand By Andrea Jackson Sheriff: No crime found at Murtaugh cemetery Times-News writer By Jared S. Hopkins A woman clad in men’s clothes Times-News writer took the stand Friday in a Twin Falls courtroom to say she is a les- The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s bian who was raped in May by a Office has closed its investigation man she has known for two years. of alleged desecration of the “I said ‘no,’” the woman Artesian City Cemetery near recounted. “I got raped … Forced Murtaugh, and County against my will to have sex.” Prosecutor Grant Loebs will file Authorities say in court papers no criminal charges. that Marty Wade Stone, 37, of The Sheriff’s Office completed Buhl, raped the woman after she the nearly-three month investi- went with him to his home to gation on June 29. On Friday, retrieve some darts. Magistrate deputies cleaned up the area Judge Howard Smyser bound the because weeds had grown back, case over to district court. and replaced a headstone that had The woman’s sexual preference been removed as evidence. A has become a factor in the case rededication ceremony is set for because she told authorities she 10:30 a.m. today. has been a lesbian since she was in The investigation began in the sixth grade and never would response to complaints that have consented to sex with a man. graves were disturbed when trees and weeds were removed from the See TRIAL, Main 2 historic site. Deputies also wanted to determine whether the land- scaping was initiated by Murtaugh Mayor Dee Hunsaker ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News or farmer Darrell Funk, who did Two sheriff’s Lt. Daron Brown of the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office clears brush Friday afternoon along with Capt. Don Newman, not pictured, the work. They determined that one at the Artesian City Cemetery south of Murtaugh. headstone did sustain some employees face “fresh”scratches but there was no Magicvalley.com TAKE PART criminal intent by Funk or investigations Hundaker. READ the statement that Darrell Funk gave to the A rededication ceremony for a headstone will be “I don’t think there is a crime sheriff’s office and a letter from the sheriff’s office held at 10:30 a.m. at the Artesian City Cemetery By Andrea Jackson there,’’Loebs said.“I think it was a about the investigation. near Murtaugh. Times-News writer whole host of misunderstandings and neglect of years all coming to be maintained in the future. Valley. The city no longer wants “Somebody needs to take respon- Two Twin Falls County Sheriff’s head in one thing.” The old burial ground was long the land and neither does Chuck sibility and try to get this ceme- Office employees are facing alle- Capt. Don Newman, who’s believed to be owned by the city of Coiner,a state senator who said he tery back into some kind of state gations from city and state police been leading the investigation, Murtaugh, but last month offi- wasn’t aware his family owned it. of dignity. And, as it turns out, involving off-duty inattentive plans to meet with all the stake- cials said records show the parcel “All we’re tying to do at this we’re the only ones who care.” driving and police impersonation. holders in the next few weeks to belongs to the Coiners, a longtime point is make it right,”said Twin Idaho State Police said Friday determine how the cemetary will farming family in the Magic Falls County Sheriff Tom Carter. See CEMETERY, Main 2 that an off-duty Twin Falls County Jail deputy pulling a trail- ered boat with a personal vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with a bicyclist Wednesday at the inter- Idaho lawmakers want money for child immunization section of 3500 East Road and Falls BOISE (AP) — A joint legisla- restore the state’s child immu- have the money. We really need cost to immunize a child up to Avenue. tive task force has voted unani- nization program at least to do something about that.’’ age 18 is $4,300 for diseases such The jailer, David Hartgrave, is mously to ask Gov. C.L. “Butch’’ through the rest of this year. Idaho had covered the costs of as measles and polio. currently on duty as normal, Otter to shift Idaho Department “I’m already getting calls from vaccinations for every child. The National Immunization Sheriff’s Capt. Tim Miller said of Health and Welfare funds to parents,’’ Sen. Tim Corder, R- That program ended amid Survey in 2007-08 found Idaho’s Friday. help pay for child immunizations Mountain Home, told The statewide budget cuts on July 1. overall child immunization rate The police report indicates that in the state. Spokesman-Review. “We Now, only kids who are unin- was 57.6 percent, well below the the deputy was at fault, said The lawmakers voted already have a number of young sured, underinsured or who national average of 77.2 percent. Jerome-based ISP Sgt. Kevin Thursday to call for reversing parents who are planning not to qualify for Medicaid are eligible budget cuts of $2.1 million to immunize because they don’t for free vaccines. The average See VACCINE, Main 2 See SHERIFF, Main 2 Comics....................Sports 7 Crossword ......Classifieds 5 Obituaries ............Religion 4 Commodities ......Business 2 Dear Abby........Classifieds 8 Opinion ......................Main 8 THE BATTLE FOR SOLDIERS’ SOULS Community ............Sports 8 Movies ......................Main 9 Sudoku............Classifieds 11 Chaplain shortage hits National Guard > RELIGION 1 EXCITEMENT AT THE RACES! JULY 18, 2009 Mountain Dew Modifieds, Budweiser Super Stocks, Napa Auto Parts Pony Stocks, Quale Electronics Jr. Stingers, Idaho Super Sixes, Legends Gate opens at 3:00 McDonalds Time Trials at 5:30 1 MILE WEST OF THE AIRPORT Green Flag at 6:05 www.MagicValleySpeedway.com MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Saturday, July 18, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT cost for children accompanied by adults), lic is invited to bring and run their trains, Darrell Mansfield Band, blues-style vocals 578-7830. (parental supervision for those under age Pat Marcantonio and harmonica, 6 p.m., Lighthouse VFW raffle drawing, 10 p.m., Warm Art Tattoo 18), noon to 4 p.m., Model Rail Road Christian Fellowship, 960 Eastland Drive N., & Body Piercing, 24 Main Ave., No. 203, Building, Twin Falls County Fairgrounds, • Check out the Jerome Grass” from 3 to 9 p.m. the Twin Fa lls, free admission, 737-4667. Twin Falls, proceeds to VFW relief fund, Filer, 404-2151. High School music boost- Burley Municipal Golf Sun Valley Center for the Arts Summer www. An Evening of Racehorse Pinochle, with ers rummage sale and bake Course and Boat Marina.