Stacked Odds
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FAVORITES 67 / 40 DRIVER EDUCATION ADVANCE AT It now covers cell phone safety, but parallel RIDLEY’S parking and merging on the highway are as MATCH PLAY Cloudy and windy. scary as ever >>> Family Life 1 Sports 1 Sports 6 A WORLD WITHOUT REMOTES >>> A company is developing ways to control gadgets with a wave, BUSINESS 1 SUNDAY $1.50 September 5, 2010 TIMES-NEWS Magicvalley.com Stacked odds Politics at the fair For candidates, Internet age still can’t outdo traditional campaigning By Ben Botkin INSIDE Times-News writer Law enforcement officers FILER — Politics and are also at the fair. county fairs mix together as easily as red and blue See Main 4 snow cones. the Internet and multiple Amid the carnies seek- ways to get a political ing contestants for message out, the old- games, vendors selling fashioned but dependable fattening and delicious method of shaking hands fair food, and businesses and passing out literature displaying their wares, and bumper stickers at another breed of fair folk the fair is alive and well. hawks its bag of goods. Politicians of all stripes Unlike many main have been out — or will be attractions at the Twin soon — at the county fair, Photos by DREW NASH/Times-News Falls County Fair, they a regional attraction that won’t require you to open Sixth-grade students grab their social studies books during the first day of class on Aug. 18 at Castleford High School. While draws in potential voters your wallet. Instead, Castleford School District started class in August this year, many area school districts have pushed back the start of the school year by the thousands. The you’ll just have to hear to after Labor Day in response to declining state funding for public schools. practice gives fairgoers a them out and then decide chance to ask tough ques- whether or not to vote for tions and look candidates them in November. In in the eye while they Districts cope with fewer school days, today’s era of rapid elec- tronic communication, See CANDIDATES, Main 3 try to determine effect on students By Ben Botkin Times-News writer ummertime breaks from school got longer this year. For many Magic Valley school districts, state budget cuts led to a later start of Sschool this year. Idaho’s public schools, faced with reduced state funding, have had to trim days of student instruction from their schedules. The end result is that some districts, including Twin Falls School District, will start school after Labor Day this year rather than in the latter part of August. “We know these cuts are “Students and parents will 990 hours for students in going to hurt,” said TFSD notice that it’s different grades 9-12; 900 hours for Superintendent Wiley this year. We have less students in grades 4-8; Dobbs. “We tried to mini- time.” 810 hours for students in mize the damage as much Although school dis- grades 1-3; and 450 hours as we could.” tricts across the state have for kindergartners. The district is cutting prepared to cope with that For now, it’s too soon to eight days of classroom reduction to instruction gauge how a reduction to instruction, four of which time, it remains unknown instruction hours will are half days. The reduc- how student achievement affect student achieve- tion goes against the dis- will be impacted by the ment. Districts have trict’s inclination to add cuts. trimmed their schedules instruction time for stu- by differing amounts, and dents, Dobbs said. An uncertain the results of most stan- “We don’t even use Algebra 2 books are stacked on dardized tests that stu- snow days very often,” he a desk as students in a pre-cal- outcome dents will take this year said. “Our district’s been culus and calculus class study For school districts, won’t be released until very intentional in trying Aug. 18 at Castleford High reducing the school year summer 2011. DREW NASH/Times-News Independent gubernatorial candidate Jana Kemp talks to Marie to add classroom time. School. usually equates to moving “It’s going to be difficult The focus — the thought in the schedule closer to to predict,” said Melissa Koontz about health care and public education at her booth dur- our district — has been to state-mandated minimum McGrath, spokeswoman ing the Twin Falls County Fair Friday in Filer. add time to the year, not al opening-day ceremony. requirements for hours of for the State Department subtract.” “We’re in an emergency education, which haven’t of Education. “We know Aside from cutting situation and we definitely changed amid the state’s that every teacher, every school days, the district are going to do the best we budget crunch. The annu- also canceled its tradition- can,” Dobbs said. al state requirements are: See SCHOOL, Main 7 Renova plant set for auction Nov.10 By Laurie Welch plants and equipment. Times-News writer The sale will be held at 10 For U.S. Muslims, a 9/11 a.m. at 951 J St. HEYBURN — Creditors “Right now we have of the bankrupt Heyburn three potential buyers ethanol plant Renova looking at it,” Drinkwine anniversary like no other Energy Idaho LLC have said about the possibility brought in an auction of receiving an offer on By Rachel Zoll expected to feature Geert Wilders, the company for a Nov. 10 the entire plant before the AP Religion Writer aggressively anti-Islam Dutch law- sale of the property. sale. “Two of those are maker. The same day in Gainesville, The auction is a backup doing strenuous due dili- NEW YORK — American Muslims Fla., the Dove World Outreach Center plan in case no buyer gence, but they are still are boosting security at mosques, plans to burn copies of the Quran. makes an offer by then on negotiating and none seeking help from leaders of other “We can expect crazy people out the 20-million-gallon- have made an offer.” faiths and airing ads underscoring their there will do things, but we don’t want per-year plant. Drinkwine said the loyalty to the United States — all ahead to create a hysteria,’’ among Muslims, Bill Drinkwine, a con- creditors remain cau- of a 9/11 anniversary they fear could said Victor Begg of the Council of sultant for Idaho tiously optimistic. bring more trouble for their communi- Islamic Organizations of Michigan. Creditors’ Trust Group, “They have had that ties. “Americans, in general, they support said Friday that Maas anticipation before in 2008 Their goal is not only to protect pluralism. It’s just that there’s a lot of Companies Inc., based in and 2009 and (the buyers) AP photo Muslims,but also to prevent them from misinformation out there that has cre- Rochester, Minn., will ended up walking away Demonstrators hold up signs during a news retaliating if provoked. One Sept. 11 ated confusion.” conduct the auction. The from the uncertainties,” conference Wednesday on the steps of New protest in New York against the pro- company specializes in MUSLIMS RENOVA York’s City Hall. posed mosque near ground zero is See , Main 4 marketing industrial See , Main 2 Bridge ..............Classifieds 5 Kids Only ........Family Life 6 Obituaries ......Business 5-6 Crossword ......Classifieds 7 Jumble ............Classifieds 2 Sudoku ............Classifieds 6 GOODBYE FRESHMEN Dear Abby........Classifieds 6 Movies ..................Opinion 7 Your Business ....Business 2 Parents dreading college sendoff more > Opinion 4 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Sunday, September 5, 2010 BRIEFINGBRIEF- Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Pat Marcantonio Sun Valley Art Series benefit concert, FIND Check out our online calendar where you The action today is at Oak Ridge Boys, and even with renowned pianist Misha Dichter, 8 can submit events and search by category fairgrounds. the State Arm Wrestling p.m., Sun Valley Pavilion, Dichter per- • The World Tournament Tournament. It runs until formed with Leonard Bernstein and MORE for specific events and dates. of Champions: Knights of Sept. 11. received the 2005 Record of the Year www.magicvalley.com/app/calendar/events/ the Realm, a jousting show, • Bellevue celebrates from MusicWeb International for his ONLINE rides into town at 2 and 7 Labor Day with a parade, recordings of Mozart, $93, $74 and $47, p.m. at Shouse Arena at the live music, food and 622-2135 or seats.sunvalley.com. Twin Falls County arts/crafts vendors starting Show, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 730 N. Main St, site, guided tours, 1 to 4 p.m., 3715 E. Fairgrounds in Filer. Tickets at 11 a.m. at Bellevue are $8 and do not include fair Memorial Park. It’s free. FESTIVALS AND FAIRS 622-2135. 3200 N., Hansen, the store, built in admission. Twin Falls County Fair, continues all day Bellevue Labor Day Celebration, live 1865, was the first trading post in • Horse racing is among Have your own pick to at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds, music, food and arts/crafts vendors, 11 Magic Valley, no cost, 731-3895. the activities at the Eastern share? Something unique to highlight: World Tournament Of a.m., Bellevue Memorial Park; parade, Idaho State Fair in the area and that may sur- Champions: Knights of the Realm,an with Grand Marshal Ron Taylor leading, SPORTS Blackfoot, not to mention prise people? E-mail me at international theatrical jousting show, down Main Street, 1 p.m., free admis- rodeo, Kenny Rogers and the [email protected]. U.S. Paragliding Championships, contin- featuring medieval events of archery, sion, [email protected].