Thursday • September 1, 2011 www.magicvalley.com • 75¢ State Study: Idaho and CSI Volleyball Team Participates in Community Service • S1 Regional Wages Lag 2011 Twin Falls County Fair Behind Average BY BEN BOTKIN [email protected] Idaho wages slipped further below the national average as the Great Re- cession took its toll on the Gem State. And in south-central Idaho, wages are even lower than the states aver- age. The findings are in a report re- leased this week by the Idaho De- partment of Labor. The states aver- age wage was $18.56 an hour in May 2010, which is 15 percent below the national average of $21.35. The states average wage ranking dropped a notch to 38th among U.S. states in 2010, according to the re- port. In south-central Idaho, the aver- age wage for 2010 was just $16.81, or 9.4 percent less than the states aver- age. Please see WAGES, M3 Hourly Wage ASHLEY SMITH • TIMES-NEWS Averages in 2010 Kelli Schroeder hangs around the family camper on Wednesday at the Twin Falls County Fair. The family bought the camper for $100 and this week has added it to the RV city that forms around the fair in Filer. South-central Idaho: $16.81 Home Is Where the Hog Is Idaho: $18.56 National: $21.35 RV city pops up around Twin Falls County Fair, with 4-Hers Source: Idaho Department of Labor. spending the week closer to the animals that demand early mornings and long nights. BY NICK COLTRAIN their own activities. Community [email protected] Being on-site makes it More Online easier to take care of all the FILER • Blaze Requa, 16, has last-minute responsibility SEE more fair photos at Advocate spent most of his birthdays that comes with show ani- Magicvalley.com/gallery. away from home but in a mals, including the 6 a.m. place sure to make most 8- pen cleaning after a day that Kelli Schroeder, who is part Wooten Left year-olds jealous: camping can have 4-Hers working of the camp, said they even at the Twin Falls County until after midnight. take turns cooking for each Fair. “It’s like a home base,” other. Lasting Legacy His family is one of the Requas dad, Twin Falls The group takes up sever- relative few to have secured County farmer Brad Requa, al of the coveted 230 RV a spot at the fairgrounds for said. spots at the fair, only 180 of Through her involvement their recreational vehicle. Grouped up with other 4- which have hookups. Fair with Community Action, Theyll stay there for more H families, the impromptu Manager John Pitz said there ASHLEY SMITH • TIMES-NEWS Valley House and the Boys than a week as Requa pre- RV camp becomes like a was a waiting list 20 people Olivia Johnson, 13, gives a piggy-back ride to pares his pigs for show and “cozy family,”as one of the deep at the start of this fair. Hallie Thompson, 11, in route to the 4-H Barn and Girls Club, the former others in the family take in campers described it. Please see FAIR, M2 Wednesday at the Twin Falls County Fair in Filer. Twin Falls resident made a positive impact on the Magic Valley. Q&A ALSO MAKING NEWS BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI [email protected] Deadlines For School Not many people T.F. Learning Center can love a skunk. But for Betty to Close, but Officials Wooten, it was Merit-pay Plans is Today second nature to Plan to Form Another nurture an animal nobody else could BY JULIE WOOTTON Popplewell, met in June and July. The stand. [email protected] Twin Falls school board approved the The Southern Idaho Learning Wooten “My mom plan Aug. 24. Center is closing its doors at the couldnt turn her When state legislators approved creat- end of the year, but Executive Di- back on anything,”said Kathie Fogg, ing merit bonuses for teachers as part What does it say? Wootens daughter. “We always had rector Dori Madsen hopes to keep of this spring’s education reforms, the The district based its share of bonuses a ton of critters in the house.” concept was still extremely abstract. primarily on student test scores. The services going under a new non- For as many quirky and unusual Now, districts are sorting out how district favored test scores over other profit organization called the animals she cared for in her house, the bonuses will actually work. Heres measures such as graduation rates or Southern Idaho STAR Center.The Wooten also took on just as many what the Twin Falls School District parental involvement. center,which provides a variety of community advocacy projects in the concluded: Magic Valley. How will local success be meas- services to struggling Magic Val- Wooten died on Aug 24. She was Who can receive merit pay? ured? ley students, is currently located 83 years old. But her memory re- In order for certified school employees Kindergarten through fifth-grade in a rent-free Twin Falls County- mains strong in the people and or- to receive bonuses, both local district teachers can receive bonuses based owned building on Shoup Av- ganizations she was active in and state goals must be met. The first mainly on student reading scores. 7 Best throughout the years. round of bonuses is scheduled to go Scores will be averaged district-wide enue. But the county plans to Wooten grew up in Kimberly and out to employees in fall 2012. for each grade level. Turning in com- Spots close down the building by Dec.31 eventually married and settled down pleted assessments to the district of- for Kid in order to potentially sell it in the in Twin Falls. In 1968, she went Who came up with the districts fice will also factor in. future.The upstart organizations to work at the newly founded plan? Middle and high school teachers can Fishing South Central Community Action A 12-member committee, chaired by receive bonuses based on test scores goal is to raise $100,000. Agency. Now called South Central elementary programs director Ted Please see MERIT, M2 Page O1. Read more on M2 Please see WOOTEN, M2 PRCA rodeos Tough Enough to Wear Pink: Twin Fall High 73° 46°Low Bridge C8 Markets N4 Dear Abby C10 Obituaries O5 County Fair. 7:30 p.m. Shouse Arena. $9 reserved. $6 general. Comics N3 CrosswordC10 Jumble C7 Opinion M4 Breezy and Mild. S4 Main 2 TN • Thursday, September 1, 2011 Both Trappen and Wooten Wooten spent the rest of the day T.F. Learning Center to Close, but Continued from the front page driving the family around town, all of them packed Community Action Partner- snugly in a Ford Ranger,until ship, it’s a nonprofit low-in- they could find a hotel that Officials Plan to Form Another come assistance organiza- would accept pets. tion in Twin Falls. “I never forgot that day,” BY JULIE WOOTTON The organization is look- Those close to Wooten de- Trappen said.“It was inspir- [email protected] ing for a building with at Help Out scribe her personality as ing how passionate she was least 3,000 square feet that “driven,”or “intelligent,”and about serving those who The Southern Idaho Learn- could be used for the learn- Those who wish to donate start-up funds for the pro- at times, even “intimidat- were underserved.” ing Center is closing its doors ing center, as well as a retail posed Southern Idaho STAR Center can send checks to ing.” Fogg said her mothers at the end of the year, but store to offer teacher sup- Nancy Koonce, Ataraxis Accounting, 267 Fillmore St., “It was very young back blend of fierce tenacity and Executive Director Dori plies. Twin Falls, ID 83301. A new STAR Center website with then, there was a lot of compassion has been passed Madsen hopes to keep serv- Board members at the additional information is expected to be online soon. learning,” said Michelle down to her children and ices going under a new non- learning center decided to Picklesimer,SCCAPs finan- grandchildren. profit organization called the close the organization un- Idaho Learning Center learning disabilities or fall cial officer. “She grew up “As a kid, I was somewhat Southern Idaho STAR Cen- der its current name at the Foundation, didnt return a behind in other educational with the organization.” clueless what I was doing ter. end of the year.Madsen said phone call Wednesday. settings. Students are re- In 1989, the U.S. Depart- when I was helping my The center, which pro- one reason for that is to The Scottish Rite Foun- ferred to the center by ment of Energy and the state mother raise money or vol- vides a variety of services to break ties with the Southern dation created the learning schools or their physicians. of Idaho named Wooten the unteer at an event,”she said. struggling Magic Valley stu- Idaho Learning Center center about 20 years ago Twin Falls pediatrician Business and Financial “But now I see how impor- dents, is currently located in Foundation, which was and used to provide about Dr. Jack Trotter said the Manager of the Year.She was tant that is. All of us kids are a rent-free Twin Falls Coun- formed in 2008 to provide 4 percent of the centers an- learning center fills a heavily involved in the plan- trying to pass that onto our ty-owned building on Shoup funding for the organiza- nual budget, Madsen said, “much-needed niche” in ning process of Valley kids.