DEFENDER OF FAITH CSI WHACKS WESTCOS GAS TAX ON THE RISE? Man defends Anglican Eagles beat Westchester Motorist habits spur faith and beliefs. in second day of tourney. calls for increase. RELIGION, B1 SPORTS, A5 BUSINESS, A8 Saturday, January 3, 2009 MagicValley.com 75 cents $1 million won by Buhl couple By Ben Botkin Times-News writer For Gregg and Cathie Owen, 102,813 is a lucky number. That’s the number that was on the Buhl couple’s winning ticket for the 2008 edition of the Idaho Lottery $1 million Raffle. Gregg, a foreman at WATCH: A video Clear Springs Foods, pur- of the Owens chased the winning ticket receiving their at Ridley’s Food & Drug in lottery prize, Buhl the day before online at Thanksgiving while shop- Magicvalley.com ping for the holiday. On the shopping list, his wife, Cathie, asked him to pick up two raffle tickets. Winter magic begins Please see RAFFLE, Page A2 Holiday snowstorms a boon for area ski resort By Ben Botkin Times-News writer Amanda Wigington of Phoenix tried snow- boarding for the first time this week at Magic Mountain Ski Resort. The first day was rough, with lots of falls. By the second day, on Wednesday, she only fell ARIEL HANSEN/Times-News down several times — usually to stop — and grew more comfortable with her snowboard. Kenneth Quintana, charged with felony injury to a “I’ve just been gliding down the mountain,” child and second-degree murder following the death she said. of Sage Aragon, listens to the judge at the Lincoln With a plentiful snowpack, winter recreation County Courthouse on Friday. enthusiasts are flocking to the slopes south of Kimberly at Magic Mountain Ski Resort. Some, like Wigington, are relatively new to snowboard- ing and skiing. Others have years of experience. Uncle charged in The resort recently opened for the winter sea- son, and offers a couple of new features this year. The hillside used for tubing is expanded. Christmas death Beginners who are learning to ski and snow- board on the bunny slopes have a new escalator — called a “magic carpet” — instead of a cable tow. appears in court “It’s just a little bit of everything,” said Gary Miller, owner of the ski resort. By Ariel Hansen Tubing, now in its second year at the resort, Times-News writer has become more popular than anticipated, he said. On Wednesday, snow tubing was in full Kenneth Quintana first heard the charges swing, with participants sliding down the slopes, against him Friday at the Lincoln County sometimes atop tubes spinning in lazy circles. Courthouse, when he appeared before Kaleb Gambrel, a ski and snowboarding District Court Judge Mark Ingram. Shaking instructor, said the timing of the snowfall during his head repeatedly through the judge’s Photos by JUSTIN JACKSON/Times-News the holiday season helped bring out loads of reading, the 29-year-old Jerome man appar- Above, Samantha Breeding sits in a tube Wednesday on the way up the tubing hill people who have time off from school. ently didn’t believe or didn’t agree with the When he’s not teaching newcomers how to at Magic Mountain Ski Resort south of Kimberly. court’s account of what befell his niece and At top, Kaleb Gambrel, a ski and snowboard instructor at Magic Mountain Ski nephew on Christmas Day. Please see MAGIC, Page A2 Resort, performs a flip Wednesday at the resort south of Kimberly. Quintana is alleged to have contributed to the death of 11-year-old Sage Aragon and To see a video of activities at Magic Mountain Ski Resort, visit Magicvalley.com. hypothermia of 12-year-old Bear Aragon. On the Web: www.magicmountainresort.com Please see QUINTANA, Page A2 BSU coach repeats as Idaho pay champ Late-December storms The Associated Press The sixth-highest paid state employee is Aicha Elshabini, Boise help Idaho snowpack BOISE — An annual report by dean of the University of Idaho’s the state controller’s office lists College of Engineering, at State head By John Miller INSIDE Boise State football coach Chris $230,838. coach Associated Press writer Petersen as the state’s highest- Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch’’ Otter, Chris See the latest snowpack paid employee with a salary of with a salary of $108,727, is No. Peterson BOISE — Seven of Idaho’s numbers from around Idaho. $806,998. 311 on the list. Otter could have protests a 21 river basins now have All top 10 of the state’s highest been higher but he turned down call from average or better-than-aver- On page A2 paid employees work at universi- a 3 percent pay increase this year. the side- age water content levels in ties, with four of the top five at “He feels that if the other their snowpacks after recent Friday, the Idaho BSU. employees aren’t getting raises, line during storms pummeled the state. Transportation Department Greg Graham, BSU men’s bas- he shouldn’t get a raise either,’’ the second Another 11 basins have at reported road closures on ketball coach, is second at Otter’s budget chief, Wayne half of the least 90 percent of average. State Highway 21 from $343,678. School President Bob Hammon, told The Spokesman- Poinsettia “We rebounded tremen- Grandjean to Banner Kustra comes in third at $299,416, Review. “So he’ll just turn it back.’’ Bowl in dously in the last two weeks Summit, U.S. Highway 12 while Idaho State University Besides his salary, Otter San Diego of December,’’ Ron from Pete King Creek Road to President Arthur Vailas is fourth receives a $4,500 monthly hous- on Dec. Abramovich, with the Natural near Papoose Creek Road, at $286,650. Rounding out the ing allowance because Idaho has Resources Conservation and State Highway 75 west of top five is Eugene Bleymaier, no official governor’s residence. 23. Service in Idaho, said Friday. Stanley from Titus Creek BSU’s athletic director, at AP photo The snow, however, has $266,115. Please see PAY, Page A2 caused avalanche danger. On Please see SNOW, Page A2 Obituaries ..........................................B4 Commodities ............A9 Horoscope ..............B9 Opinion ..................A10 High: 23 Low: 8 Crossword..............B13 Jumble ....................B9 Su|do|ku ................B10 Bridge....................B11 Comics ..................A12 Dear Abby ................B9 Movies ..................A11 Today in History........B9 Drier and cold. Details: B14 Classifieds ..........B6-14 Community ............A13 Dr. Gott..................A13 Nation/World............B5 Weather ................B14 and live at magicvalley.com/weather A2 Saturday, January 3, 2009 TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho ODAY S HAPPENINGS T ’ Pat’s Picks ... Pat Marcantonio ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Sun ” at 7 p.m., Herrett Center, $4.50 for adults, $3.50 for senior citizens, $2.50 for Three things to do today “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” students, no cost for children under age 2 presented by Company of Fools, 8 p.m., and a special price package for families Load up the gear and go Learn a new skill, name- munity pool at 315 Fourth Liberty Theatre, 110 N. Main St., Hailey, with five children or less; and Rock skiing or snowboarding at ly calligraphy or computer Ave. W. in Gooding. For $25 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and Entertainment Show: “Lynyrd Skynyrd: Fly one of the many ski areas technology through the more information, 934- $10 for children (ages 18 and younger), On Free Bird” at 8:15 p.m., Herrett Center near you, from the famous College of Southern Idaho 4023. (208) 578-9122. for Arts and Science, north end of the Sun Valley to the Pomerelle enrichment center in Burley. College of Southern Idaho campus, Twin Ski Resort past Albion. Calligraphy starts Jan. 7; the Have your own pick you CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS Check their Web sites for computer class starts Jan. 8. want to share? Something Falls, $4.50, 732-6655. info. Many of the ski areas Both classes cost $40. Call that is unique to the area Christian Men’s Fellowship and (optional) have packages that include 678-1400 to register. and that may take people by nohost breakfast, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Depot SPORTS lift tickets, rentals, clinics For more indoor fun, surprise? E-mail me at Grill, Twin Falls, no cost, 733-5501. Canceled: Jerome Rod and Gun Club sport and more. visit the new indoor com- [email protected]. ing clays shoot, due to weather condi- EXHIBITS tions, 733-6045 (next shoot Jan. 18). “The Russ Hepworth Restrospective,” 1 to 9 p.m., Jean B. King Gallery, Herrett Center for the Arts and Science, College of To have an event listed, please submit the Southern Idaho campus, 315 Falls Ave., no name of the event, a brief description, cost, 732-6655. time, place, cost and contact number to Suzanne Browne by e-mail at MUSEUMS [email protected]; by fax, 734- 5538; or by mail, Times-News, P.O.Box Faulkner Planetarium “Planet Patrol ” at 2 548, Twin Falls, ID 83303-0548. Deadline p.m.; “Journey to the Edge of Space and is noon, four days in advance of the event. Time” at 4 p.m.; and “Here Comes the Raffle Continued from page A1 The number was selected on Tuesday from among 250,000 tickets sold throughout the state. On Friday, the Owens returned to Ridley’s, where lottery officials gave them their $1 million check. “This is going to make a JUSTIN JACKSON/Times-News little bit of a difference in A scenic view of the snow-covered South Hills can be seen Wednesday from the top of the ski lift at Magic your life,” said Jeff Anderson, Mountain Ski Resort south of Kimberly.