Established 1865 TTrojansrojans capturecapture CCalhounalhoun wrestlingwrestling titles,titles, PagePage 1133 CChristmashristmas servicesservices pplanned,lanned, PPageage 4 RRoadoad ddistrictistrict fi nnancials,ancials, PPageage 2 Churches hold events Sunday Auditor brings good news before holiday and Christmas Eve for Homedale Highway District VOL. 30, NO. 50 75 CENTS HOMEDALE, OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 Soda Fire Woman reseeding closes area dies after near Wilson texting A single-vehicle accident on BLM project U.S. Highway 95 at Y Road south of Homedale resulted in will last through the death of a Wilder woman early Friday morning. December Owyhee County Sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Olsen said Tracy Wasson, A recreation area at the turnoff 40, was headed southbound on on the upper section of Wilson 95 when the crash happened Creek Road is currently closed shortly before 2 a.m. as part of reseeding efforts in the Wasson was the only person in wake of August’s Soda Fire. the red 2008 Chrysler Sebring. Owyhee County District 2 She drove off the road, and the Commissioner Kelly Aberasturi vehicle rolled. said that Owyhee Field Offi ce Olsen said Wasson probably assistant manager Michele Mc- wasn’t wearing a seatbelt Daniel told him Bureau of Land Mauvia A. Moon, left, of the Sunnyslope area in Caldwell gives Kayla Widner a diamond ring to because she was ejected from the Management crews are using replace the wedding ring that Widner lost in a house fi re on Dec. 5. vehicle. the area to land helicopters. The Homedale Police Chief Jeff aircraft is being used to seed an Eidemiller responded to the area burned by the massive wild- Community’s giving spirit scene. fi re this summer, Aberasutir said Wasson was conscious during the Dec. 7 county com- when he arrived, and she told missioners meeting in Murphy. rings true with Marsing family Eidemiller that she shouldn’t Attempts to contact McDan- A stranger’s generosity has restored some would drive all the way over there and do that have been texting while driving, iel to get further context on the sparkle to a Marsing family’s otherwise dark for somebody she didn’t even know,” Kayla, 32, Olsen said. reseeding campaign were unsuc- holiday season. said. “I’m very thankful for that.” The woman suffered heavy cessful, but Aberasturi said he Kayla Widner lost her wedding ring along Moon’s gesture is only part of the community blunt force trauma to her chest, thinks the recreation area will with all her family’s other possessions during outpouring the Widners and their four children causing both lungs to collapse. remain closed until the end of the a house fi re. Last week, Sunnyslope resident have experienced since the Dec. 5 blaze on She was transported by Homedale month. Mauvia A. Moon dropped by the family’s home Pascoe Road near Edison. Ambulance to West Valley Aerial seeding for portions of site on Pascoe Road and offered a diamond ring “It’s tearing at my heart that the community Medical Center in Caldwell the nearly 300,000 acres burned to replace Widner’s lost band. where she later succumbed to her in the fi re started in mid-Novem- “I was really grateful, I can’t believe she –– See Family, page 11 injuries. ber. — SC Homedale High School senior presents powerful project watchful eyes of Homedale Police Sgt. Mike Simulated texting-and-driving wreck sends message McFetridge, Owyhee County Coroner Aaron Homedale High School senior Nathaly if something happens to them?” chuca, portrayed the victim. HHS seniors Tines and deputy coroner Teresa Ryska. Jimenez wanted to send a message to her On the afternoon of Dec. 7, she organized Diana Gonzalez and Raquel Palacios, play- High school students standing in a fi eld fellow students through her Senior Project. a mock accident scene in the parking lot be- ing the roles of emergency medical techni- between the gymnasium and the ag shop Her idea was to convey how potentially hind the high school gymnasium. cians (EMTs), removed the body from the watched the event unfold during their lunch deadly texting while driving can be. The scene was a simulated rollover acci- vehicle. hour. “I wanted to put an end to it, or at least dent, with a white car turned upside-down, The mock EMTs and Homedale Fire De- Jimenez talked to McFetridge to get the show a message of how dangerous it can and a deceased “victim” inside. One of partment personnel then placed the body be,” Jimenez said. “It worries me. … What Jimenez’s fellow seniors, Gardenia Ma- into the back of an ambulance under the –– See Project, page 5 Subscribe today Obituaries 6Sports 13-17 Get the news source of the Owyhees delivered Calendar 7Commentary 18-19 IInsidenside directly to you each Wednesday Avalanche at 150 7 Looking Back 20 Only $31.80 in Owyhee County Benefi t poker Call 337-4681 U of I Extension 7 Legals 21-22 tourney slated Weather 10 Classifi eds 23 Page 12 Page 2 Wednesday, December 16, 2015 Homedale Highway District makes strides fi nancially was bolstered by an increase of carryover of just $33,000 “So that’s fantastic. Good to make any income.” Auditor 18.9 percent ($50,740) between during his FY 2014 audit report job, Stewart, on budgeting, and Voters defeated a permanent impressed with two most recently completed in January, he told the board congratulations to the board on a override levy election in 2013 fi scal years. of commissioners the district good job,” Parker said. when commissioners sought an last fi scal year “Quite a turnover from a year would be broke within three to Board chair Larry Prow increase of as much as $175,000 ago, guys,” Parker said. He fi ve years if the fi nancial trend attributes the successes reported that would have fi lled the 97- Homedale Highway District added that nothing in the audit continued. in the audit to just focusing on year-old gap. offi cials received some good came to his attention “to cause At least for now, it would seem maintaining the roads, and not Parker has previously warned news as they continue to keep heartburn.” the trend has reversed. tackling any big improvement the board against seeking a a close eye on the 99-year-old Parker told the directors that Total expenditures budgeted projects. supplemental levy, citing the organization’s fi nances. the fund balance increase from for FY 2015 were $613,291, but “That’s about all the money we diffi culty that school districts Auditor Mike Parker of $267,768 after FY 2013 to the district only spent $516,925. had to do, was just maintenance,” have faced trying to get Bowen Parker Day CPAs $318,508 at the end of FY 2015 “So you spent $96,365 less Prow said. supplemental levies passed. In told commissioners at last is an indication of the good job than what you anticipated, and However, he said the district January, he told commissioners Wednesday’s monthly meeting the board has done handling that’s really good because you still needs a levy increase. The that a permanent override, that the district’s overall fund taxpayer dollars. budgeted that you could actually district was established in 1916, which would require a two- balance is stronger than it was The district had a cash spend $96,000 more than what and is still running the original thirds majority, could generate two years ago when directors ran carryover of just $33,000 when you had coming in,” Parker said. tax rate. $230,000 annually. an election in an unsuccessful FY 2014 closed. The carryover “Instead of depleting that fund, Still, Prow thinks it could be State lawmakers also could attempt to raise the tax levy for for the last fi scal year was you were actually able to build years until commissioners even provide some help during the next the fi rst time since 1916. $50,740, a gain of 53.8 percent. on it.” consider asking voters for more legislative session by increasing Parker told directors that the That is still about $50,000 less He added that the money. transportation funding as they district’s overall fund balance at than what Parker previously told commissioners and Homedale’s “We can’t do anything about did earlier this year through gas the end of Fiscal Year 2015 was the board he would like to see on director of highways Stewart a levy until this water situation tax and vehicle registration fee 5.2 percent better that FY 2013 the books at the end of a fi scal Constantine are making big turns around,” Prow said. “I hikes. for a net gain of $15,878. year. gains in improving the district’s farm myself, and I can’t afford to Although modest, that gain When Parker reported the fi nancial future. raise my taxes without my water — SC Homedale council OKs tattoo shop of the city council’s fi nal meeting the council about the type of State has no of 2015. clientele her husband’s studio licensing process Councilman Steve Atkins would attract. She said about 50 recused from the vote because existing customers from Nampa After a public hearing at which Simpson is his uncle. will continue to seek business only the property owner gave Councilman Aaron Tines said with Voodoo Tattoo, and “none comment, the Homedale City he received a phone call from are gang members.” Council gave the go-ahead for a a citizen concerned about the “It’s not going to be a dive.