90 / 62 HIDDEN IN THE HIGH DESERT Classic Start Twin Falls Legion team wins tournament opener Possible against Seattle team. thunderstorms SEE OUTDOORS 1 SEE SPORTS 1 Business 4 RURAL MIGRATION SLOWS >>> Labor officials say recession slowing exodus from rural communities, BUSINESS 1 THURSDAY 75 CENTS July 2, 2009 MagicValley.com More Airplane crashes in downtown Burley charges Minor injuries for those onboard; crash filed in knocks out power around town for hours By Laurie Welch Chief Steven Hamilton, the plane during the Twin Falls Times-News writer whose department was on crash, according to Cassia the scene as first responders, County Undersheriff George BURLEY — A vintage air- said the two men suffered Warrell. fraud case plane with a pilot and one from cuts and lacerations The passenger was passenger onboard crashed and were transported to instructor Christopher G. By Andrea Jackson Wednesday about three- Cassia Regional Medical Butler, 34, of Harper, Ore. Times-News writer quarters of a mile west of the Center. Warrell said the two men LAURIE WELCH/Times-News Burley J.R. “Jack” Simplot Kim Johan Paulsen, 46 of were conscious and able to Emergency crews attend to two male occupants Wednesday after a Three people are now Airport. Klamath Falls, Ore., a stu- 1946 Republic RC-3 fixed-wing, single-engine airplane crashed in charged with receiving Burley Fire Department dent pilot, was in control of See CRASH, Main 2 Burley. medically unnecessary prescriptions from former Twin Falls nurse practi- tioner Jan Sund. Sund, who already faces EPA weighs a possible prison sentence on charges of prescription wastewater QUILT WALK WARMS UP fraud involving a former Twin Falls police detec- tive, is named in newer cases involving two former permit for patients. Sund pleaded guilty on Twin Falls April 30 to two counts of DOWNTOWN BUSINESS conspiracy By Nate Poppino to commit Times-News writer prescrip- tion fraud The U.S. Environ- and two mental Protection Agency counts of will take comments until prescrip- July 15 on a proposed new tion fraud permit for the city of involving Sund Twin Falls to discharge painkillers treated wastewater into oxycodone and hydroc- the Snake River. odone. She is scheduled to The permit, a draft of be sentenced on July 10 in which can be read online, Twin Falls 5th District regulates the flows out of Court and allegedly over- the city’s wastewater prescribed the painkillers plant west of the Perrine for drug and money kick- Bridge — one of the backs. largest dischargers on this Sund is named in the stretch of the river. newer criminal allega- It’s been more than tions filed June 24 against nine years since the city’s two of her former last permit was approved. patients, Donald The current comment Schaeffer and Debra K. period was originally set Brandebourg — also to end in June, but was known as Debbie extended after a request Schaeffer, court records from the city — giving show. interested parties another Schaeffer and Brande- month to weigh in on bourg were each charged changes such as maxi- June 24 with three felony mum levels for phospho- counts of prescription rus and suspended solids. fraud, along with two The city will also partner MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News counts of conspiracy to with the U.S. Geological Scrappin’ Girlfriends owners Lisa Fairbanks, left, and Michele Hamilton hang quilts in downtown Twin Falls Wednesday morning in preparation commit prescription Survey to put a new for the inaugural Downtown Quilt Walk. Two hundred locally made quilts are on display today through Saturday, both inside and outside busi- fraud during 2006 and stream gauge in the river nesses on Main Avenue. ‘The idea is to get people downtown,’says event organizer and owner of downtown business Stitchin’ Time, Cathy Reitz. 2007 in Twin Falls just upstream of the County, according to wastewater plant’s dis- court records. charge,an attempt to bet- The allegations follow ter calculate how low Downtown T.F. event held through Saturday similar ones filed May 27 river flows past the plant against Curtis Gambrel, a can get. By Nichole Carnell blocks of Main Avenue East. former longtime Twin The EPA currently uses Times-News writer Magicvalley.com “People were hesitant at Falls Police detective who data from a USGS station WATCH a video of the Quilt Walk in downtown first,” said Reitz about was on the force at the near Kimberly, 8 miles Even in July, a quilt may Twin Falls. hanging the quilts in their time of the alleged acts upstream, which city help warm up downtown business, “but now every- but retired in April 2007. officials say may only business. one is getting involved.” He has a July 17 prelimi- record a third of the water Quilts began lining the well as other Idaho quilters District, organized the event Lisa Fairbanks, owner of nary hearing set in the that passes the waste- streets and shops of Main from as far away as as a way to entice people to Scrappin’ Girlfriends, a case charging him of two water plant. But even at Avenue East in historic Sandpoint, said organizer explore the shops in down- scrapbook store located on counts of conspiracy to that lower level, EPA cal- downtown Twin Falls Cathy Reitz. town Twin Falls. Main Avenue, said that she obtain a prescription by culations found the city Wednesday, and will stay Reitz, owner of Stichin’ The event, sponsored by was surprised at all the peo- fraud, and three counts of wasn’t likely to violate its there until Saturday. Time, a quilting store locat- the Historic Downtown ple she had seen downtown obtaining a prescription permit. The inaugural Downtown ed on Main Avenue East, BID, features nearly 200 in only the first hour. by fraud. Sharon Wilson, the Quilt Walk features large and a member of the quilts hanging inside and Fairbanks said that the quilt Sund is also named in and small quilts designed Historic Downtown outside most stores and See WATER, Main 2 and made by area quilters,as Business Im-provement restaurants along two See QUILT, Main 2 See FRAUD, Main 5 The Northern Leopard frog is Feds to study health of northern leopard frog being considered for the Endangered By Nate Poppino in the U.S. and Canada, the U.S. In the Magic Valley, the lation trends, Klott said. Species List. Times-News writer Fish and Wildlife Service smooth-skinned frog can be “If you saw one 15 years ago, announced. The agency says the found near Lake Walcott and less was that the only one? Or were Federal biologists species is threatened by habitat commonly in other areas of the they numerous, and the data said Wednesday they loss, disease, non-native valley, said Jim Klott, a wildlife doesn’t exist?” he asked. plan to examine whether species, pollution and climate biologist with the U.S. Bureau of The frogs can be green, brown a frog whose habitat change. Land Management’s Jarbidge or yellowish, and their dark includes southern Idaho Eight environmental groups Field Office. In some areas — spots are ringed with a lighter should be listed as an endan- petitioned the agency in 2006 to Salmon Falls Creek, for example bronze color, Klott said. They are gered species. protect the frog’s Western popu- — the frogs have disappeared not the same species as the spot- The northern leopard frog lation, and scientists will now over the years, he said. But a ted frog, which also calls south- lives in 19 Western states, but conduct a thorough review of its widespread lack of historical ern Idaho home. has disappeared across vast por- status before deciding whether data means it’s hard to conclude tions of its historic range to propose a listing. just what that says about popu- See FROGS, Main 2 Comics ..........Classifieds 10 Crossword......Classifieds 13 Obituaries ..........Outdoors 6 Commodities ......Business 2 Dear Abby ......Classifieds 12 Opinion ......................Main 6 OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR KARL MALDEN Community ........Outdoors 4 Movies ......................Main 5 Sudoku ..........Classifieds 16 DEAD AT AGE 97, SEE OUTDOORS 6 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Thursday, July 2, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Picks ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT or 726-9491. and $10 general admission for adults, 309- cannon),Jerome, 324-5019. Idaho Landscape: A Different Point of View, 4235. Celebrate Recovery, Christian-based, Patricia “The Final Dress Rehearsal” comedy spoof 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,Jean B. King Gallery, 12-step program to assist people with life Marcantonio and vaudeville entertainment, presented by Herrett Center for the Arts and Science, GOVERNMENT issues, 7 p.m.,Twin Falls Church of the Mount Harrison Heritage Foundation, 7:30 College of Southern Idaho campus, 315 Falls Nazarene, 1231 Washington St. N.,Twin Falls, Twin Falls County commissioners, 8:30 a.m., • Get in shape at the p.m.,Wilson Theatre, F and Fremont streets, Ave., no cost, 732-6655. 733-6610. courthouse, 425 Shoshone St. N., 736- College of Southern Idaho Rupert, $5, www.minicassiachamber.com. Quilt Walk, quilts displayed inside and out- ACTS Program, a 12-week, ongoing course 4068. Firecracker 5K and 10K side businesses to promote uniqueness of based on self-help, recovery and education, Bellevue Planning and Zoning Commission, runs at 8 p.m. in the Eldon BENEFITS AND FUNDRAISERS downtown; arts and crafts vendors, 10 a.m. 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Bethel Temple Apostolic 7 p.m., City Hall, 115 E. Poplar St., 788-2128. Evans Expo Center parking to 6 p.m., downtown Twin Falls, 421-2944 or Church, 929 Hankins Road (behind D&B American Legion Bingo, 7:20 p.m.