43 / 30 SEMI SWEET Wood River girls earn spot in 4A title Showers game, while Bruins fall short. Sports 1 Business 4 TO SERVE AND TO BLESS >>> A Twin Falls pastor and wife will embark on a service mission to India, RELIGION 1 SATURDAY 75 CENTS February 19, 2011 TIMES-NEWS Magicvalley.com BUDGET CUTS: How deep will they go? Legislative panel sets target with $92M in cuts By Jessie L. Bonner Associated Press writer BOISE — Lawmakers plan to write a state budget that will require nearly $92 million in cuts to Idaho agencies next year. While the budget scenario is worse than what Gov.C.L.“Butch” Otter pre- dicted in January when estimating a $35 million deficit for the next fiscal year, the revenue outlook is better than the $185 million shortfall lawmakers Photos by ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News feared roughly two weeks ago. Gary Guy, caretaker at Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite, pauses for a portrait in the 1865 Rock Creek Store. Guy says vandals have recently targeted the Members of the Joint Finance-Ap- site south of Hansen, raising his concerns for the safety of the site’s historical artifacts. propriations Committee voted 15-4 to set a spending target Friday based on $2.43 billion in tax revenue. That’s the forecast Idaho’s GOP governor used when crafting his budget recommen- dation based on 3 percent growth in An eye on history revenue. See BUDGET, Main 2 Stricker caretaker hopes to keep vandals at bay By Bradley Guire than 150 years old. Last winter, 30 Times-News writer Kimberly Hansen Guy discovered damage to the Albertsons heir Rock Creek Store, which has HANSEN — If he lets his stood since 1856. Its door, an 3500 East imagination wander, Gary Guy 3800 East original part of the log-and- mixes business, can hear the ruckus of a stage- mortar structure that still has on Trail coach’s wooden wheels and Oreg the original glass and metal Stricker site taste the dust kicked up from 3200 North door knob, had been kicked in. the Oregon Trail. Kelton He was able to repair it. foundation Rock Creek Road The caretaker of the Rock “It’s fortunate that no one By John Miller Creek Station and Stricker broke the glass,”he said. Associated Press writer Homesite likes to sit on the SANDY SALAS/Times-News It’s also fortunate that none Herman Stricker’s old safe sits in the Rock wooden benches on the south a popular Oregon Trail stop. of the antiquities inside were Creek Store on Wednesday. The store is the BOISE — Since 2007,Albertsons su- side of the Rock Creek Store, The site five miles south of destroyed or stolen, such as oldest structure in the Magic Valley. permarket heir Joseph B. Scott has had where he can imagine settlers Hansen is one of four Idaho Herman Stricker’s safe. a golden touch with one of his invest- more than 150 years ago watch- State Historical Society his- In the 10 months since Guy ments, a company that sells online ed- ing the horizon for stages full of toric sites. became caretaker, he’s had to MORE ONLINE ucation courses and other services to travelers looking for somewhere According to Guy, the site run off groups of adventure VIEW more photos public schools. to stop and spend their money. has fallen under attack by van- seekers during the middle of from the Stricker site. Scott’s investment company, Alscott What he can’t imagine is dals, who most recently tore the night. He’s even caught MAGICVALLEY.COM Inc., has brought in more than $15 mil- why some people would want metal parking signs out of the people breaking into the old lion by selling part of its stake in Vir- to vandalize a historical site ground near the site’s parking garage, located on the south rior work to be completed on ginia-based K12 Inc., which was that boasts the oldest structure lot. He filed a report with the side of the Stricker house. Guy that project, which also will founded in 1999 by former U.S. Educa- in the Magic Valley. Twin Falls County Sheriff’s lives onsite to keep an eye on house its share of irreplaceable tion Secretary William Bennett. “As remote as this place is, Office last week, and he’s try- the place around the clock. exhibits. The dedication and But it isn’t just luck on Scott’s side. where they get the idea to come ing to get a few more light posts So far, no one has messed grand opening is scheduled for His family’s tax-exempt foundation out and be destructive is hard installed in the parking lot. with the 110-year-old Stricker Mother’s Day,May 8. has helped develop customers for K12. to understand,”Guy said. “The damage to (the signs) is house or the new interpretive And Idaho’s taxpayers have been pay- The Rock Creek Station and negligible,”Guy said. center, which was built about Bradley Guire may be ing for it. Stricker Homesite is one of Less negligible is the damage 100 yards east of Rock Creek reached at bguire@magicval- Idaho’s oldest settlements and to structures that are more Store. There’s still a bit of inte- ley.com or 735-3380. See SCOTT, Main 3 Woman injured in Five Points crash 7 plead not guilty Times-News Traffic snarled at one of Twin in Jerome drug bust Falls’ busiest intersections Fri- day when a car and an 18- wheeler collided. By Bradley Guire bust were not made available. Six lanes of the “Five Points” Times-News writer Idaho State Police led the year- intersection where Blue Lakes long investigation, and the U.S. Boulevard meets Addison Av- Seven of the 10 individuals in- Attorney’s Office in Boise will enue and Shoshone Street were dicted on federal narcotics distri- prosecute the accused. Neither closed for about 45 minutes af- bution charges pleaded not guilty Region 4 Capt. Rob Storm nor ter the vehicles collided shortly in U.S. District Court in Boise Assistant U.S. Attorney Christ- after 2 p.m. Friday. ian Nafzger could be reached for Sharol Villines of Murtaugh Rocendo Lara, 55, Jesus Manuel comment Friday. was taken by ambulance to St. Fontes, 49, and Julio Cesar Card- Juan Montejano Barraza, 40, of Luke’s Magic Valley Medical elas-Martinez, 32, all of Jerome, Twin Falls, is also among the in- Center with a possible neck in- will face an early April trial along dicted, but he has yet to be ar- jury after her Mercury Sable was with Francisco Garcia, 49, of raigned in federal court as he re- hit on the driver’s side by a Bliss, Ceila Ivonnie Loya, 31, of mains in custody of Gooding semitrailer driven by Rashid Wendell, Noel Diaz, 33, of Rich- County. He awaits a March 8 Yashayevich. field, and Lazaro Ramirez Arreo- sentencing for felony metham- Twin Falls Police Officer Ken la,39,of Parma. phetamine trafficking and vari- Wiesmore reported that both All remain in the custody of the ous misdemeanor crimes. He vehicles were headed south on U.S.Marshals Service. pleaded guilty to those charges in Blue Lakes, attempting to turn ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News Several of the defendants were January. onto Shoshone when they col- Twin Falls Fire Department Capt. Mark Petruzzelli, left, and Kirk Dean of Magic Valley arrested in a raid on a Jerome res- Two more defendants, Manuel lided. Towing return a door to a vehicle that was involved in an accident in central Twin Falls. idence near Jerome High School V. Guerrero and Jose Dolores Yashayevich was cited for The crash closed six lanes at the intersection of Blue Lakes Boulevard and Addison Tuesday morning. Further de- See BUST, Main 2 making an improper turn. Avenue for about 45 minutes. tails on the exact location of the Comics....................Sports 5 Crossword ......Classifieds 7 Obituaries ............Religion 4 Commodities ......Business 2 Dear Abby........Classifieds 6 Opinion ..................Main 4-5 SHOPPING FOR SPRING Community ........Business 3 Movies ......................Main 6 Sudoku ............Classifieds 5 T.F. show vendors are optimistic, Business 1 Main 2 Saturday, February 19, 2011 MORNING MIX TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Wendell seeks publics thoughts ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT “Shamrocks and Dreadlocks,” Marley In The Mountains Festival, presented by Mountain Niceness Productions, 8 a.m., raises funds on sewers, demolition of old gym for Sun Valley Adaptive Sports and Sawtooth Avalanche Center, suggested $20 donation; Concert, 4 p.m., Simplot Field, $10, By Emily Katseanes community,” Councilman other project. The American obligation. It’s just to see if Ketchum, [email protected] or marleyinthemountains.com. Times-News correspondent Kent Bates said. Legion has approached the the publics interested,” he “The Tortoise and the Hare,” an original adaptation of Aesop’s The council also made an- city about demolishing Wen- said. fable presented by St. Thomas Playhouse Childrens Theater Tour, WENDELL — The Wen- other decision regarding the dell High Schools old gym In a lighter matter, the 2 p.m., Iconoclast Books, 671 Sun Valley Road, Ketchum, free, dell City Council is seeking sewer project. David and and building an event hall. council was asked what to do 726-1564. input from Wendell citizens Nicole Hults are moving off Christopherson said the with a safety deposit box the Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series, continues with music by Ethan on upcoming projects. of property that is now part plans are for a one-story city recently discovered it Tucker, 3 to 5 p.m.; athletes practice on the contest rail, 4 to Mayor Brad Christopher- of the project and asked if building that could be rented owned.