89 / 59 Will lightning strike again? Several teams think they have the magic this year to crash the BCS party Sunny & warm. SEE SPORTS 1 Business 4 FRESH AIR WITH YOUR FISH TACOS? >>> Take a tour of Magic Valley alfresco lunches, FOOD 1 WEDNESDAY June 24, 2009 75 CENTS MagicValley.com ITD report says trucks underpay Burley in Idaho’s record keeping Legislature adjourned in and software used for the early May after 117 days — man State, consultant say report flawed study. the second-longest session “My own consultant was behind 2003’s 118-day The Associated Press ing heavy trucks. cent,’’the study found. saying it might not be valid,’’ marathon — after Gov. C.L. A copy of the study was A draft of the $20,000 department Director Pam “Butch’’ Otter abandoned BOISE — A 2007 study obtained Monday by The study by Palouse Partners Lowe told the newspaper. his plan to raise gas taxes to pulls discarded by the Idaho Spokesman-Review using Inc. of Pullman, Wash., was Lowe said fixing those help pay for what he said was Transportation Department the Idaho Public Records given to the department in glitches would have been too a $240 million annual road concerning Idaho roads Law. October 2007. complex and taken too much maintenance and repair found that car and pickup “Autos and pickup users But the department dis- time, “so I just scrapped it.’’ backlog. gun owners are paying about are over paying about 10 carded the study amid con- Finding a way to pay for Instead, the House, 10 percent more than percent, while all trucks are cerns about statements in it roads in Idaho has been con- their share and are subsidiz- underpaying about 10 per- that noted possible glitches tentious. The Idaho See TRUCKS, Main 2 on boy By Damon Hunzeker District Times-News writer BURLEY — William judge Stirling Teeter, 50, of Burley, was charged with felony aggravated assault rebukes two Rising river Friday night following an unusual response to a teenager’s ball landing in practices in his yard. The alleged incident culminated in Teeter water call pulling a semi-automatic pistol on the 13-year-old By Nate Poppino boy. Times-News writer According to the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office Idaho Department of police Water Resources Director report, the Dave Tuthill improperly victim was handled parts of a water playing call dealing with seasonal with the variations in Snake River ball while Canyon springs and Teeter was “replacement water mowing plans” approved without his lawn Teeter hearings, a 5th District when the judge has concluded. ball rolled onto Teeter’s Judge John Melanson yard. upheld the rest of The victim said he Tuthill’s process in a walked over to retrieve the nearly 60-page decision ball, and then, the report signed Friday. It is reads, “William drew a expected to be appealed pistol from his hip.” to the Idaho Supreme The victim, according Court. to the report, “slowly At stake is water that reached down and picked two Thousand Springs- up the ball and backed area trout farms say away from William’s groundwater pumpers property and went took from them. In spring MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News inside.” 2005, both Clear Springs Mary Lovingfoss, 13, appears to be running on water as she takes a leap into the Snake River while the river’s water rises over the cement side- The victim, described Foods and Blue Lakes walk Tuesday near her home in Burley. Upstream releases on the Snake have elevated river levels around southern Idaho. as pale and frightened, Trout Farm filed letters was reluctant to speak but with IDWR seeking the acknowledged that Teeter water. For various rea- may have been aiming for sons, a hearing on the Minor flooding hits Rupert, upper Snake the ball — but the boy’s matter wasn’t held until father, according to the November 2007, and a By Laurie Welch been the worst day so far.” report, told police that July 2008 order by Tuthill and Nate Poppino Muir said he watched Teeter has threatened his found that two out of four Times-News writers Tuesday as the water children with a firearm on water rights had been engulfed his retaining wall at least one other occa- harmed. HEYBURN — Some resi- and moved in toward his sion. The fish farms and the dents living on the banks of lawn about a foot. When questioned by pumpers challenged vari- the Snake River kept their “When the boats go by Deputy Matt Arthur, ous aspects of Tuthill’s eye on the rising water level really fast it makes the waves Teeter allegedly said the process in court, leading Tuesday as retaining walls crash up against the wall and “neighbor kid has been to Melanson’s decision. and boat docks became sub- that really damages the causing a lot of problems.” The judge first merged and the water wall,”Muir said. Teeter said he didn’t remanded Tuthill’s mate- inched closer to their The high flows are the aim at the kid. rial injury determination homes. result of strong river runoff “William told me that back to him — stating that “I’m starting to get con- and a drop in irrigation he was angry and drew his relying on records of sea- cerned,” said Theron Muir, demand that’s left the U.S. gun to shoot the ball. (The sonal variation in spring who has lived in his home on Bureau of Reclamation LAURIE WELCH/Times-News victim) picked up the ball Diana Drive in Heyburn for Snake River water laps around Theron Muir’s ankles Tuesday as he See SPRINGS, Main 2 the past year. “Today has See RIVER, Main 2 walks out onto his boat docks behind his Heyburn home. See GUN, Main 2 Rumor of snake bite and death at local A fable without fangs grocery store isn’t new, and isn’t news By Nichole Carnell It’s a great story, except for one approached him after hearing that snake bite victim at WinCo. ornia, and can be found com- Times-News writer problem. the rumor, but no one has pre- She died. Sounds like news to monly on the Internet. “It’s completely false,” said sented him with any proof of a me.” Preece said he was told this Perhaps you heard the story, Brent Preece, manager of the snake, a victim or a serpentine The “news,” however, isn’t particular version of the rumor sitting in the break room or at the Twin Falls WinCo. “Certainly if encounter in his produce sec- isolated to Twin Falls. dinner table. it were true there would have tion. Similar rumors about a See SNAKE, For those unfamiliar with it, been actions taken.” Still, the rumor persists. shopper bitten by a Main 2 the tale goes something like this: Twin Falls Police Capt. Matt The Times-News has received snake have slith- An unsuspecting woman was Hicks said there have been no numerous phone calls and ered out from shopping at the Twin Falls reports of any snakes, snake bites e-mails in the past week about Virginia to Calif- WinCo Foods store. or snake-related deaths at the alleged incident. One con- While reaching for some fresh WinCo. cerned Twin Falls citizen wrote produce from Mexico, she is met Preece said customers have in an e-mail, “Hey, what about with a painful prick on her hand. The woman feels ill and collaps- es in the parking lot, where she What is your favorite urban legend? dies. Go to Magicvalley.com and tell us the details. Times-News illustration Times-News Comics....................Sports 4 Dear Abby ........Classifieds 7 Obituaries ..................Main 7 Commodities ......Business 2 Jumble ............Classifieds 8 Opinion ......................Main 8 ECONOMIST:IDAHO IN RECESSION THROUGH 2010 Crossword ......Classifieds 9 Movies ......................Main 6 Sudoku ..........Classifieds 10 Gem State recovery will rely on nation > Business 1 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Wednesday, June 24, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Herrett Center for the Arts and Science, N. Main St., 208-645-2438. College of Southern Idaho campus, 315 Falls Magic Valley Chronic Pain Support Group Pat Marcantonio Twin Falls Tonight summer concert series, fea- Ave., Twin Falls, no cost, 732-6655. meeting, for patients with chronic fatigue syn- tures Fastback with classic rock, blues and bal- “Idaho’s Fences,” open exhibit for local photog- drome, fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis • Take a guided historic classic rock, blues and bal- lads, 6 to 9 p.m., at the fountain, Main Avenue, raphers, illustrators, painters and printmakers, and any other chronic condition that causes walking tour of Stanley lads from 6 to 9 p.m. at the downtown Twin Falls, no cost, food and bever- presented by Sun Valley Center for the Arts, pain and fatigue, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Twin Falls First starting at 3 p.m. at the fountain downtown on ages available for purchase, 420-0916. noon to 5 p.m., The Center, 314 S. Second Ave., United Methodist Church, 360 Shoshone St. Stanley Community Main Avenue. It’s free. New West Guitar Group in performance, jazz, Hailey, no cost, sunvalleycenter.org or 726- E., no cost, 410-7239 or melissadavlin@ Center. If you can’t make it, • A few blocks away, the rock, blues, country and classical music com- 9491. gmail.com. you can take a self-guided LA-based New West Guitar binations with three guitars, 6:30 to 9 p.m., “Going to the Dogs,” animal portraits by Janet one with brochures avail- Group performs from 6:30 Pandora’s restaurant, 516 Hansen St.