FRIDAY May 20, 2011 TIMES-NEWS 75 CENTS Xavier performs Pitching leads ‘Les Miserables,’ Twin Falls to GRITTY Entertainment 1 state win HISTORY Sports 1 Magicvalley.com What’s next The U.S. Bureau of Land China Mountain wind project Management will continue to accept feedback on the China Mountain project through July 6. As part of that process, the BLM’s 15-member citizen advisory coun- draws wide-ranging opinions cil will give a recommendation after making a trip to the site in By Ben Botkin megawatt project, which, if approved, frequent the region for hunting trips and June. Times-News writer would scatter turbines across 30,700 to photograph wildlife. It’s uncertain when the BLM’s deci- acres in southern Idaho and northern He’s not entirely opposed to the proj- sion will come, but the developer Opinions about the proposed China Nevada. The meeting, organized by the ect, but he still has concerns about the tentatively hopes to complete the Mountain Wind Project are mixed. But U.S. Bureau of Land Management, pro- long-term environmental effect on his turbine construction in 2012-13. they are all based on the same central vided an outlet for people to provide sportsmen activities. To give input: Comments can be question: How will it affect the way of life comments and gain a better understand- “I see elk and deer and I’m just afraid if emailed by the July 6 deadline to for those who live and play in the sprawl- ing about the proposal. they put too many of those things up [email protected]. ing landscape of Brown’s Bench? Both support and a skeptical eye to- there, it’s going to kind of destroy the Visit Magicvalley.com for a link to More than three dozen people showed ward the project were present at the area,”he said.“It’s really a beautiful area.” the BLM’s draft environmental up at a public meeting Thursday in Twin event. impact statement on the project. Falls to learn more about the 425- Tom Gilbertson of Twin Falls likes to See WIND, Main 2 Jerome has new jail boss By Bradley Guire Times-News writer The Jerome County Sheriff’s Office has hired Rob Neiwert as its new jail administrator, according to Sheriff Doug Mc- Fall. Neiwert, 42, who began his new duties last week, holds the rank of lieutenant and is no stranger to running a deten- tion facility. “He’s had ex- perience,” Mc- Fall said of Nei- wert, who be- gan his law en- forcement ca- reer with the Cassia County Neiwert Sheriff’s Office ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News in 1992 and rose to the position Wendell Police Sgt. Jeff Lenker helps escort people out of City Hall Thursday afternoon. The building was evacuated after crews tearing down a nearby gym broke a natural gas line. of jail administrator of the Mi- ni-Cassia Criminal Justice Center before leaving to start his own business last year. Fighting crime, and a budget deficit Former Jerome County Jail administrator Lt. Robert Hass “We want our own department,” spent approximately two years As Wendell figures out funding, employees like INSIDE Mayor Brad Christopherson said in the position. He decided to Wendell City Hall evacuated Thursday. return to the Twin Falls Coun- police Sgt. Jeff Lenker keep the town running after gas leak. Down to just two full-time offi- ty Sheriff’s Office, where he cers, one part-time officer and previously worked as a jail By Bradley Guire part of its identity — public ser- See Main 2 three reserves, Wendell’s police deputy. Times-News writer vants like Wendell Police Depart- force is still providing a “good” Neiwert understands he will ment Sgt.Jeff Lenker. dell’s leaders have decided one level of service to residents, be immediately challenged by WENDELL — Hub City, Magic Nearly one year after discovering thing the city’s 2,782 residents Christopherson said, in a time his new position, as Jerome Valley continues its fight to main- their city was operating at an cannot do without is their own po- County continues to experi- tain not only its solvency,but also a $880,000 budget deficit, Wen- lice force,even a small one. See WENDELL, Main 2 ence overcrowding and other undesirable conditions at its current jail. ALSO MAKING NEWS “The need is great,”Neiwert Xavier to end ties with management company said of a new correctional fa- Family finds $45,000 cility. “It’s in the best interest Times-News arrangement, while Trustee Joan from any liability for its perform- of the taxpayers. We’re hous- in new home, returns it Hurlock was against the change. ance through the agreement. Hu- ing inmates in other counties, SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — When Xavier Charter School will for- Another trustee, Shawn Willsey, ber, however, noted that the docu- and it’s costing a significantly Josh Ferrin closed on his family’s mally split ties with its manage- was absent, and as chairwoman, ment “also releases us from liabili- higher amount (than housing first home, he never thought he’d ment company, Paragon Schools, Teresa Berry did not cast a vote. ty, because we have done major inmates in-county).” make the discovery of a lifetime, the school’s board decided in a The board had reviewed the damage to their business.” Neiwert estimates that the then give it back. 2-1 vote Thursday night. proposed agreement one week pri- Berry asked for a revote, but one county spends on average He found boxes, all stuffed full Trustees Gerardo Munoz and or. Thursday’s decision came after was not held. $20,000 per month to house with tightly wound rolls of cash Emily Huber voted in favor of an 15 to 20 minutes of discussion, The agreement is effective July 1. inmates out of Jerome County. bundled together with twine — agreement for the two organiza- during which Hurlock voiced con- For more on this story, read Sat- more than $40,000. MAIN 4 tions to end their business cerns about releasing Paragon urday’s Times-News. See JEROME, Main 2 Bridge ..............Classifieds 3 Crossword ......Classifieds 2 Obituaries..................Main 4 Partly sunny Comics ..........Classifieds 10 Dear Abby ........Classifieds 7 Opinion ..................Main 6-7 64 / 44 Commodities ......Business 2 Jumble ............Classifieds 8 Sudoku ............Classifieds 7 Business 4 Main 2 Friday, May 20, 2011 MORNING MIX TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho IF YOU DO ONE THING TODAY The man who saved the Magic Valley Dont forget to enter your float, vintage car, marching band or kazoo troupe in the Twin Falls Western Days Parade. Todays the f Joe Marshall had de- tially took over management eastern Idaho — high altitude deadline for the June 4 event, themed “Fun for Generations,”and cided to stay in Utah,the of heavily mortgaged spud and isolation there kept dis- you can register at the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. Y Ilandscape that sur- OU farms. ease problems from develop- Information: 543-4911. rounds you might look very DON’T SAY “He bought a Model-T ing — and sold the “certi- different today. Ford and constructed a pick- fied”seed to growers in the Theres a chance the Mag- Steve Crump up type box on the back,” Magic Valley. ic Valley would be mostly Davis wrote.“Traveling con- It was a captive market. grazing land or wheat or stantly from morning to Since the banks were calling barley country,with small LET ME HEAR IT night,he went from one farm the shots,farmers had little pockets of irrigated agricul- If its funny, sad or just plain to another advising growers choice but to use that seed. ture.At the very least,the weird and it happens in the on irrigation practices,culti- Marshalls strategy explosive development that Magic Valley, I want to know. vation,harvesting proce- worked.By the mid-1920s, began after World War II Call me at 735-3223 or dures,storage,and all as- potatoes nationally sold for might have been delayed. write me at pects of their farming opera- 40 cents for a 100-pound Marshall was an Ohioan,a [email protected]. tion.He urged most of the bag.But Idaho spuds fetched 27-year-old,self-educated farmers to grow potatoes be- $1.40 a hundredweight. civil engineer who came can agricultural markets had cause the potential cash in- He parlayed his old Chica- West in 1902 to work for the collapsed.In a single year, come from the crop offered a go railroad connections into Milner brothers,who were 1921,the average net income solution to the depressed a marketing machine.By the Times-News file photo building the dam that made per farm nationally fell from economic conditions in Ida- mid-1930s,Idaho potatoes Cancer survivor Stacey Hastings, 51, left, embraces her aunt, Shirley irrigated agriculture in the $1,000 to $500.Twin Falls ho farming in general.” were prized for the tables of Gorrell, 80, a 38-year-survivor of ovarian cancer, at the beginning of Magic Valley possible.Mar- banks,which had lent heavi- Marshall understood he big city restaurants in the shall filed on a 160-acre ly to potato farmers,were in was trying to rescue a flawed East and Midwest. the survivors lap during the 2010 Relay for Life at the Twin Falls tract east of what’s now deep trouble. product.The quality of Idaho Marshall,who died in County Fairgrounds. The women were joined by relatives and fellow Twin Falls,then left Idaho to Spuds were a much bigger potatoes in 1921 was uneven, 1964,was an old-school cancer survivors Melissa Neiers, 53, and Loah Allred, 76, at right.