PPropertyroperty oownerswners fi llee aappealppeal ooff wwreckingrecking yyard,ard, 3 Ensley places MManslaughteranslaughter pplea,lea, PPageage 2 FFFAFA cchampionship,hampionship, PPageage 1122 Page 13 Marsing man heads to prison Rimrock wins district ag mechanics Established 1865 VOL. 26, NO. 2 75 CENTS HOMEDALE, OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2011 Homedale trustees’ decision on levy election set Tuesday decision on a levy election at a School district special Tuesday meeting. could seek up to During a meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the district offi ce, $400K for 2 years 116 E. Owyhee Ave., trustees Facing a fund balance decimated will consider asking patrons to by declining property tax revenue approve a two-year levy that and two years of dwindling support could be as low as the $520,000 from the Idaho Legislature, the levy passed in August 2009 to Homedale School District Board build the Canyon-Owyhee School of Trustees will make a final –– See Levy, page 4 New terms begin in Murphy Left: New District 3 Commissioner Joe Merrick, right, repeats the oath of offi ce to District 1 Commissioner Homedale council to hear Jerry Hoagland. Right: New District 2 Commissioner Kelly Aberasturi was the fi rst of six people to take oaths during a Monday morning ceremony in Murphy. proposal to limit parking The Homedale City Council is 100 block of West Idaho Avenue New commissioners take offi ce expected to discuss establishing a and on the portions of East Idaho Treasurer Brenda Richards and Assessor Brett parking limit to North Main Street Avenue and North 2nd Street East New OCSO hires, pay raise Endicott. Chief Deputy Coroner Aaron Tines also when it meets for the fi rst time in that border City Park. among fi rst decisions took the oath in place of his boss, Coroner Harvey 2011 tonight. The council also will consider Grimme. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at approving a deal to lease space Pointing out that with their new terms will come Later on Monday, Hoagland was appointed for a City Hall, 31 W. Wyoming Ave. on the old city water tower for a new challenges, Board of County Commissioners third consecutive term as BOCC chair. In an agenda item requested T-Mobile cellular phone antenna. chairman Jerry Hoagland swore in two new col- “I feel you’ve been here, and you understand how by Homedale Drug Store owner AT&T already leases part of the leagues Monday. it works. I’m just as green as they come. I can lean Rodney Roe, the council will hear tower for cell service. District 2 Commissioner Kelly Aberasturi and back and learn from your expertise,” Merrick said an argument for restricted parking Standing reports also are on the District 3 Commissioner Joe Merrick were among to Hoagland after Aberasturi nominated the District much like the two-hour parking agenda for the police department, fi ve elected offi cials and a proxy taking the oath –– See Offi ce, page 5 limits that are now in place on city attorney, mayor and city of offi ce in a ceremony inside Courtroom 1 at the East Owyhee Avenue across from council members and public Owyhee County Courthouse in Murphy. –– County searches for new building offi cial, Homedale High School, in the works department. Also sworn in were Clerk Charlotte Sherburn, page 5 Making the rounds New Marsing Chamber Marsing Hard- ware and Pump owner Chris Sa- offi cers eye turnaround love, right, smiles and energy, the struggling group can put as he meets with Jolyn Green at the its feet back on the ground and move the town’s Cham- helm of struggling forward supporting local businesses. ber of Commerce’s During the Jan. 5 meeting, the new president Jolyn organization Chamber held nominations for the Green, center, and offices of president, vice-president, vice-president John The Marsing Chamber of Commerce DeOsio. is hoping that with new organization –– See Chamber, page 5 Subscribe today Obituaries 6Church listings 17 Get the news source of the Owyhees delivered Calendar 7Commentary 18-19 IInsidenside directly to you each Wednesday Peary Perry 7Looking Back 20 Only $31.80 in Owyhee County Holiday Call 337-4681 Water report 9Legals 21-22 closures list Sports 13-17 Classifi eds 22-23 Page 2 Page 2 Wednesday, January 12, 2011 Accused of murder, Marsing man pleads to lesser charge Thomas J. Gonzalez gets Ryan handed prison time for the man a prison sen- manslaughter tence of four years deter- A 23-year-old Marsing man minate and will spend the next four years two years in- in state prison for involuntary determinate. manslaughter and could be there Gonzalez was as long as six. also fined Silvestre Originally charged with sec- $800. Gonzalez ond-degree murder, Silvestre Owyhee Gonzalez was sentenced Dec. 22 County Sheriff’s Deputy David in Murphy, more than two months Green arrested Gonzalez in Au- First Smorgasbord sellers recognized after a plea deal that reduced the gust after arriving at the man’s Halie Grant, left, chair of the 50th annual Homedale International Smorgasbord, presents the prizes to original felony stemming from home and finding 49-year-old the top ticket-sellers from Week 1. The top sixth-graders at Homedale Middle School were, from left, Victor an Aug. 7 fi ght at his Pasco Road Bradley Dewayne Schlotka laying Valenzuela, Brittany Bugher and John Gomez. home. in the driveway beaten but breath- While crediting Gonzalez for ing. Witnesses said Gonzalez and 137 days spent in the Owyhee Schlotka were fi ghting over tools. Merchants treat Smorgasbord County Jail, Third District Judge Schlotka later died. ticket salespersons to tasty prizes Most schools closed The fi rst round of big sellers for seller for the fi rst round, which Paul’s Market, a free game and the fi nal Homedale International started with the school district’s shoe rental from Owyhee Lanes, a Smorgasbord received their prizes Christmas break. A student in Pat free rental from Reel Time Video, for MLK Day Monday Friday. Warren’s class, Bugher sold $154 a free one-topping personal pizza Banks and post offices in Halie Grant made the presenta- worth of tickets, more than half of from the Idaho Pizza Co., and Government Owyhee County will close tion at Homedale Middle School the total sales of $264. a free $1 cone or cup from the Monday and re-open Tuesday. to three sixth-graders. Grant and Victor Valenzuela was the top Owyhee Ice Cream Co. offi ces also Of the county’s four public her husband, Perry, chair the 50th salesman in Lesa Folwell’s class, Sixth-graders continue to sell libraries, only Lizard Butte Public anniversary Smorgasbord, which bringing in $50. John Gomez tickets — $30 for a family (two observe holiday Library in Marsing will be open, will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. sold $30 in tickets to lead David adults and a maximum of eight Marsing students will be in observing noon to 6 p.m. hours. on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Homedale Hann’s class. people), $8 for adults, $6 for class Monday, while all other While Homedale Public Library Elementary School, 420 W. Wash- Each student received a large senior citizens, $5 for kindergar- local school districts take the day and the Eastern Owyhee County ington Ave. Hershey’s chocolate bar as well teners through sixth-graders, and off for the federal Martin Luther Public Library in Grand View will Brittany Bugher was the top certifi cates for two donuts from $3 for preschoolers. King Jr. Day holiday. close for the holiday, the Bruneau Homedale, Adrian and Jordan Valley Public Library in Bruneau Valley school districts will be is always closed on Mondays. Teens make soldiers valentines closed. Bruneau-Grand View The Homedale Senior Center The Homedale Public Library’s the Pooh children’s stories, game featuring series characters. schoolchildren usually don’t start will be open, but the Marsing Tween and Teen Program next participants will have the chance The snack will be crackers with their school week until Tuesday. Senior Center will close for the event Tuesday is Winnie the Pooh to create valentines to be sent to peanut butter and honey. City and county government holiday. The Rimrock Senior Day, and marks the fi nal day that service personnel overseas. The Tween and Teen Program offi ces will be closed Monday, Center in Grand View is always valentines can be submitted for the Participants will read examples meets at the library, 125 W. Owyhee too, although emergency services closed on Mondays. Hugs for Our Soldiers program. of Winnie the Pooh from 6 p.m. Ave. For more information, call such as sheriff, police, fi re and The Owyhee Avalanche offi ce In addition to celebrating A.A. to 7 p.m. 337-4228 in the afternoons and ambulance will be available. also will be open Monday. Milne, the author of the Winnie Youth will play “Who Am I?” a ask for Sara. Game feed tickets on sale A local freelance outdoors church’s Men’s Ministry, which writer will serve as guest speaker also mans a tri-tip barbecue sta- for the eighth annual Men’s Wild tion during Mountain View’s Game Feed at the Mountain View Family Fair and Roundup in Church of the Nazarene. September at the Owyhee County GO BOWLING! Meridian’s Tom Claycomb Fairgrounds in Homedale. delivers the keynote during the The Men’s Ministry helps peo- Owyhee Lanes has expanded our bowling Hours! church’s Men’s Group fundraiser, ple in need in the community each Lanes are open at 1pm daily for Open Bowling which takes place from 6 p.m.