Established 1865 VOL. 31, NO. 44 75 CENTS HOMEDALE, OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016 County clerk reports absentee voting error Deputy clerk Brook Russell, Some citizens who is responsible for getting originally didn’t ballots out to citizens, said an attempt to keep up with demand receive judicial went awry when she printed constitutional amendment ballots ballot on the wrong colored paper. There are actually three Faced with an unusual infl ux different ballots for the Nov. 8 of absentee ballot requests, the general election. Owyhee County elections offi ce • White for the presidential, explained a mailing error to a federal and county offi ces small number of voters. –– See Voting, page 5A On Page 2A: A look at Tuesday’s election and where to vote. On Page 8A: Dist. 23 legislative candidates speak out. Homedale library grant nears $500K ceiling came after Wilson’s presentation City Hall was shored up on the fl y during restroom could Thursday’s council meeting. The total cost of the project, see ADA upgrade according to Wilson’s presentation, could near $600,000 when grants, After a lengthy meeting laced library board expenditures and with moments of confusion, in-kind matches are tallied. The the Homedale Public Library library board has already spent expansion grant process is moving nearly $30,000 in acquiring the forward. land on which the 3,600-square- The city council unanimously foot addition would be built. agreed that Western Alliance The council’s approval of the Halloween fun in Homedale for Economic Development $498,200 grant application was Emma Westrand (right) gets a treat from Brenda Coons Houser as the SRC Sports bull and executive director Tina Wilson contingent on the library board’s Megan Houser as the Moxie Java coffee bean during Homedale’s Safe ‘n’ Sane trick or treat event should continue writing an Idaho review and acceptance of Wilson’s Monday afternoon. Emma, 7, is the daughter of Mary and Shaun Westrand. Community Development Block presentation. A special meeting Grant application. The decision –– See Library, page 5A HHS grad heading to Ireland USDA offi cial lauds Marsing school food The son of Dwayne and Tracy Kevin Concannon, U.S. De- National award Fisher competed against FFA partment of Agriculture under- members from Wisconsin, Ohio highlights historic secretary for food, nutrition, and and Missouri. He already had consumer services, stopped by earned a $500 scholarship for FFA trip the Marsing schools cafeteria making the top four, but he Thursday with some high praise won an all-expenses paid trip Devin Fisher will study an for the district. to Ireland next June after the International Agriculture Concannon was in the Trea- interview process at the national Experience in Ireland next sure Valley for the 2016 Summit convention. summer. on Idaho Hunger and Food Secu- He also earned the American The 2016 Homedale High rity. He was the keynote speaker FFA degree, the highest degree School graduate won the honor at the event in Boise on Friday. for FFA members. Fewer than after interviewing for the National When he travels around the two percent of the nation’s FFA Sheep Proficiency Award last country, Concannon stated that members receive the degree. month at the FFA national he contacts state education de- Fisher is the second Homedale convention. partments for direction on where FFA members to be recognized Fisher was part of the Marsing Elementary School student Declyn Berends shows USDA he should visit. this way. Homedale FFA’s contingent in Undersecretary Kevin Concannon (left) how old he turned on his Indianapolis. –– See HHS grad, page 12A birthday Thursday. Declyn, 6, is the son of Bekki and Ethan Berends. –– See Marsing, page 11A Subscribe today Daylight Saving Time end: Turn clocks back at 2 a.m. Sunday Get the news source of the Owyhees delivered HMS shows off talent, Pg. 9A: Wax museum returns directly to you each Wednesday Only $31.80 in Owyhee County Champs, Pg. 16A: Local band, color guard win district titles Call 337-4681 Sports, Pg. 1B: Adrian teams advance in state playoffs Honor rolls, 10A • Commentary, 6-7B • Looking Back, 4B Page 2A Wednesday, November 2, 2016 Plenty of decisions loom for voters Tuesday Presidential election fuels Where to vote large absentee turnout Depending on where they live, voters will visit the following locations Tuesday: There aren’t any contested county offices on North Homedale — Senior center, 224 W. Tuesday’s general election ballot, but voters still Idaho Ave. will have their hands full when they step into the South Homedale — Magistrate courtroom, voting booth. 31 W. Wyoming Ave. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday North Marsing — Phipps-Watson Marsing at locations throughout the county. American Legion Community Center, 126 W. Results from county voting will be available online 2nd St. N. at www.owyheeavalanche.com or the newspaper’s This windblown and wet yard sale sign on the corner of East Idaho South Marsing — University of Idaho Facebook page after the polls close Tuesday night. Avenue and North 1st Street East was righted later Friday morning. Owyhee County Extension Offi ce, 238 8th Pre-election voter registration has closed. You can Ave. W. register at the polls on Election Day. Wilson — Wilson Schoolhouse, 10427 Of course, the hotly contested presidential race Johnston Lane HPD chief: Tighten will bring voters to the polls. In fact, the Owyhee Oreana — Oreana Community Hall, 18092 County elections offi ce already reports the highest Oreana Loop Road number of absentee ballot requests in more than yard sale sign rules Murphy — Owyhee County Courthouse, four years. 20381 State Hwy 78 After seeing yard sale signs up areas. But voters will also appoint two new Idaho House Grand View — Eastern Owyhee County scattered by a storm last week, “Just drive down Idaho and of Representatives members for District 23 and help Library, 520 Boise Ave. Homedale Police Chief Jeff Eide- Main,” he said. “It’s a (heck) of a decide a crucial state constitutional question regarding Bruneau — American Legion Post 83, miller would like the city council welcome to Homedale.” legislative oversight of the Executive Branch. 32636 Belle Ave. to consider ordinance changes. The races for District 23 seats in the state House After a fall storm Thursday, wet Park’s sign refurbished of Representatives feature Republican nominees and windblown yard sale signs Public works supervisor Bret from Hammett with Homedale Democrat Mary Aberasturi will begin a four-year term in January. were laying down along East Smith told the council that the cin- Ann Richards challenging Christy Zito for Seat A Merrick will have to stand for re-election in 2018. Idaho Avenue. derblock “Homedale” sign near and independent Bill Chisholm of Buhl facing off Rogerson Republican Bert Brackett is running Eidemiller made note that resi- the Bette Uda City Park tennis against Megan Blanksma. unopposed for his sixth term in the state Senate. dents will put signs out — some courts has been reconstructed. Zito defeated incumbent Rich Wills of Glenns The proposed constitutional amendment, HJR 5, without addresses — and then not Broken blocks were removed, Ferry in the Seat A Republican primary, while would give the Idaho Legislature oversight on rules return to pick up the signs once the sign was painted and new Blanksma ended Pete Nielsen’s long political career created by the state’s executive administration to the sales are completed. gravel was spread to freshen up in the Seat B race. implement laws. “If they’re not picked up and the sign that had seen its last TLC Owyhee County Prosecuting Attorney Douglas D. Rupert-based attorney Robyn Brody and Nampa it rains, it just looks terrible,” Ei- during a Trojan Day cleanup ef- Emery is set to begin a third four-year term in January attorney and longtime state senator Curt McKenzie demiller said. “I think we should fort more than four years ago. because he has no general election opponent after are seeking a spot on state Supreme Court. revisit the ordinance and put some Maintenance workers Curtis beating Ed Yarbrough in the Republican primary in All mail-in ballots (Pleasant Valley, Riddle and teeth into it. If there is no (yard Stansell and Kent Curtis con- May. Sheriff Perry Grant won a second term during Three Creek precincts) and absentee ballots must sale) permit number on the sign, tinued to move city lamppost the GOP primary and also has no opposition in be received at the county clerk’s offi ce in Murphy we pick it up and throw it away.” fl agpoles to the sidewalk side of the general election. County commissioners Kelly by the end of polling Tuesday. The City of Homedale requires the structures Friday. Smith said Aberasturi (District 2) and Joe Merrick (District In-person absentee voting is available until residents to swing by City Hall that the horizontal poles — two 3) also won uncontested primaries and have no Friday at the clerk’s offi ce, 20381 State Hwy 78, and fi ll out a free yard sale permit. of each post — were transferred Democratic opponents Tuesday. in Murphy. Residents are allowed two yard sales from the street side to cut down on each year, and deputy city clerk Ra- damage from semi-trailers. chael Percifi eld said the permits help The city crew will begin setting We‘re Back!! the city regulate the ordinance. up Christmas decorations this Eidemiller said the prevalence week, Smith said, and there are # (*) Breakfast Buffet (*) # of abandoned yard sale signs cre- plans to paint the fl agpole and fi x & ates an eyesore for a town that broken stones at the City Park war has been working hard to clean memorial.