2007 Year in review By KELLY JACKSON & LESLIE THOMPSON
The Wood River Journal After thumbing through all 52 issues The Journal produced last year, it became quite apparent that 2007 was monumental. Topping the list were Mother Nature's dueling forces-summer and winter-that had our sensitive resort community on edge. Winter saw lower snowfall levels and the early closure of our beloved ski mountains. Then along came summer and a raging fire that led to the cancellation of one of the valley's most important events, the annual Wagon Days parade and coinciding activities on and around Labor Day. If there's one characteristic the valley's population displayed the most this year, it was the power of community. Despite major tribulations, locals persevered. When the mountain closed early, we turned smiling faces towards early summer recreation. New events, such as the Sun Valley Food and Wine Festival and the first ever Summer of Fools Festival at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey, blended nicely with the valley's numerous traditional events like the Hemingway Festival, Jazz Festival and the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival. Before winter faded far too fast, the first ever Honda Ski Tour rejuvenated the valley in the weeks that followed New Year's 2007, bringing music to the streets, fast-paced events to the slopes and changing the face of winter in the valley for the future. When the Castle Rock Fire scorched nearly 50,000 acres west of Ketchum, rather than succumb to the sadness of lost foliage and nearly departed homes, residents just wanted to say “thank-you” to all of the firefighters that saved the day. “Where one door closes another opens,” they say, and in the absence of Wagon Days, the Kick Ash Bash stepped in to give us all something to hoop and holler about. Still, 2007 had other running themes. Idaho citizens everywhere continued to debate the presence of wolves and the conflict with traditional ranching practices until we were all blue in the face. Climate protection and sustainability practices were on everyone's mind and going green took major steps to move beyond concept to policy throughout the valley. Water woes continued as studies released at the end of the year showed declining water levels in municipal wells and mercury levels were found to be too high for comfort in Silver Creek fish. Illegal drugs also made the headlines often. The Blaine County Narcotics Enforcement Team conducted major stings on methamphetamine sells. Hailey voters approved three of four pro-marijuana initiatives in the Nov. 6 elections. Arguably, the two most shocking crimes of the year occurred this summer. First in July when a Ketchum woman allegedly tried to shoot her ex-boyfriend and, second, in August when the body of a 16-year-old Hailey girl and Wood River High School student was found in Woodside and her ex-boyfriend was soon arrested and charged with her murder. On a lighter note, who could forget Sen. Larry Craig's bathroom sex solicitation scandal that made national headlines and provided fodder for many political cartoons? Fire consolidation, the valley's economic fragility, affordable housing and the U.S. military's continued presence in the Middle East were on-going major topics as well. At a national level we were devastated by the Virginia Tech shootings and appalled when Atlanta Falcon football player Michael Vick came under fire for his underground dog fighting operation, among many, many other major events. Everything that happened and all that 2007 stood for allows for no complete summation. But, here's a try at the local level (and surely many important milestones will be skipped over). The following is a brief synopsis of the major news from each week in 2007. And, before we forget-Happy, happy New Year and a hearty welcome to 2008 from all the staff at The Wood River Journal. Jan. 3, 2007 Kipp Nelson, co-founder of the Honda Ski Tour, announced that the brand spankin' new ski event would open its four-resort tour in Sun Valley from Jan. 11 to 14. Plum TV publicized their acquisition of Idaho Senator Clint Stennett's, D-Ketchum, Twin Falls stations, broadcasting from Hailey, for $1.7 million. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was released from a Santa Monica hospital after he underwent surgery for his fractured leg, an injury he sustained while skiing on Bald Mountain. Jan. 10, 2007 On Jan. 8, newly elected District 1 Commissioner Larry Schoen was sworn in while, Sarah Michael (who handed the reigns of commissioner chair to Tom Bowman, District 2) was sworn in to serve District 3 for a second term. County Clerk Marsha Riemann retired and passed her duties over to Jolynn Drage. Wood River High School senior Alexa Turzian won the women's 10k freestyle race at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Houghton, Mich., making her the youngest skier in history to win nationals. Jan. 17, 2007 The Honda Ski Tour packed Ketchum with thousands of locals and tourists, who came out over the weekend to watch the pros compete in skiercross and half-pipe competitions, and also enjoy a heavy line-up of live music, including The Wailers. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter publicly stated his support to kill all but 100 gray wolves in Idaho, beginning a lengthy dispute by state agencies, wildlife defenders, ranchers and the general public. Jan. 24, 2007 Sun Valley Mayor Jon Thorson was the first mayor in the Wood River Valley to sign the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. Soon after other valley mayors signed the agreement, catapulting the valley into a greener year. Wood River Journal Editor Pedro Salom attempted to stay 24 hours in the Blaine County Jail to evaluate the need for a new facility. He only made it 21 hours. Jan. 31, 2007 Expedition Inspiration made tracks in the Sawtooth Mountains for their second annual Moonlight Snowshoe, and raised at least $35,000 for breast cancer prevention and cure. The Sun Valley Suns hockey team reached a 14-0 season score over the weekend, tilting them closer to breaking their own best season record of 15-0. News surfaced that many Bellevue farmers did not support the Wood River Legacy Project. Al Gore visited the Taco Bell Arena in Boise to speak out about global warming. Following numerous letters to the editor in support of the upcoming jail bond vote, The Journal editorialized in favor of the new facility. Wood River Ride Share launched commuter van service from Twin Falls to Ketchum. Feb. 7, 2007 Over 75 percent of county voters helped pass a bond approving the new $13 million public safety facility for Blaine County. Retail icon Chateau Drug founded in 1970, changed hands to new owner Ken Sangha. Feb. 14, 2007 Even though the mercury was expected to summit at 21ºF, Ketchum galleries prepared to host the first gallery walk of the year. Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, arranged a public forum on Wood River Legacy Project (Senate Bill 1136). Bellevue and Hailey joined the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Developers began to pitch the development of a five-story hotel to the city of Ketchum. Feb. 21, 2007 Longshot's Duchess, a 3-year-old wirehaired pointing Griffin won Best of Breed at the renowned Westminster Dog Show in Manhattan. The Mountain School, a Waldorf-based school with programs for children ages 4-12 announced class registration. Discussions began for installing new ski lifts at Dollar Mountain. The County started accepting applications for an administrator. Sun Valley Proclaimed Feb. 16 as Alexa Turzian Day. Changes were suggested to the Wood River Legacy bill at the public forum. Feb. 28, 2007 The fifth annual, Hollywood-themed, Share Your Heart Ball raised more than $700,000 to benefit Camp Rainbow Gold for kids with cancer and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho. Efforts began to raise funds to save nexStage Theatre in Ketchum. The county (and cities) learned Grant Application Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) funds would not be available to fund Highway 75 widening. Hailey Planning & Zoning approved the plan for the new jail. The KART Bus board voted to merge with Wood River Rideshare. March 7, 2007 The Energy Policy Act changed the on-set of Daylight Savings Time in order to save energy. It started three weeks early for the first time and lasted one week later. The 73 year old man that played the Green Hornet, Van Zandt J. Williams, was the victim of a hit and run and aggravated assault following a road rage incident while driving along Highway 75 towards Ketchum/Sun Valley. March 14, 2007 KART/Peak added a “Down Valley” commuter bus to their fleet, making it the first bus to be part of the Sun Valley to Bellevue commuter run. The Sun Valley Suns surprised fans with a loss at their final game, bringing their overall season score of 23 consecutive wins to a screeching halt. March 21, 2007 What turned out to be nothing more than an imported brand of Indonesian talcum powder was enough to close the Sun Valley Post Office for almost two hours, after employees discovered an envelope leaking the white powdery substance. XFS Lightweight World Champion Lee Anderson opened a local self-defense school, with classes combining boxing, stand-up fighting, jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling. Idaho's House of Representatives approves the Wood River Legacy Project, or Senate Bill 1136. It was set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2008. Hailey Planning & Zoning denied an application to annex the Life Church property north of town. Following the loss of Journal Sports Editor Dave Larson, humor and content in this week's sports section suffered. March 28, 2007 Iconoclast books announced the closing of their Hailey store, while both their Ketchum and Sun Valley locations remained open. Local chimney sweeps Kim Rogers and Liz Wallace appeared on the “Today” show. Hailey's oldest living female, Billie Buhler, celebrated her 93rd birthday. April 4, 2007 The deadline was extended for the nexStage Theatre board to raise the $1.5 million needed to purchase the building from owner Tim Mott. Fourth Street construction began. The Blaine County Sheriff's office went live with their new Records Management System. The RMS computer system allowed all five law enforcement agencies in the Valley to share information for the first time via technology. April 11, 2007 Due to a low snow year and the white stuff's quick disappearance from Bald and Dollar mountains, the ski resort closed for the season and announced skier numbers were down 14 percent from the previous year. The totals: 362,317 skiers hit the slopes in 2006-07 for a 137-day season. Samuel Samudio Jr., 18, pleaded guilty for committing armed robbery at the Veltex Convenience Store in Ketchum Aug. 19, 2006. Govern Butch Otter signed the Wood River Legacy Bill into law. Blaine County Lt. Jay Davis was promoted to serve as the new jail administrator. Sen. Jon Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry dropped by Ketchum to sign copies of their book, “This Moment on Earth: Today's New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future.” April 18, 2007 The Blaine County Narcotics Enforcement Team announced an April 11 sting in which warrants were served on over a dozen individuals associated with dealing methamphetamine and cocaine. A local service was held in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings that dominated the week's national headlines. A month-long repaving of the Friedman Memorial Airport runway began. The Blaine Regional Leadership Council formed to address regional planning. The Blaine County Historical Museum got a face-lift when reconstruction of its south wall, built 120 years ago of adobe brick, began. April 25, 2007 Blaine County Planning & Zoning recommended denial of the proposed Cove Springs development, located south of Bellevue off of Gannett Road on Cove Springs Ranch. The proposed development was arguably one of the year's biggest hot-button issues. The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees announced an approval to expand the preschool program, piloted for two years at Bellevue and Carey elementary schools, to all district elementary schools. The Journal debuted its new sports editor, Jon Mentzer, and the sports section got a long-awaited facelift. May 2, 2007 Attention was brought to a road kill study being conducted by Blaine County through April 2008. The city of Ketchum agreed to end their contract with planning consultant Tom Hudson four months early. Plans for the Sun Valley Symphony pavilion were unveiled to the general public. The Blaine County Museum received a Take Pride in Idaho Award for the first time. The first class of dual-immersion students graduated from elementary schools and moved into to Wood River Middle School. The Wood River Economic Partnership announced its formation to address economic issues in Blaine County. May 9, 2007 Sun Valley City Council member Ann Agnew resigned from the council two years into her second term. Douglas D. Cooper, 43, Hailey resident and former Wood River High School lacrosse coach, pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old Hailey girl the day before his trial was set to begin. He was originally arrested in June 2006. The county certified the first eight Transfer of Development Rights, bringing a component of Blaine County 2025 and a program under development for 10 years into the light. Jose Luis Vivar-Olivera and Emmanuel Bautista-Aguayo were sentenced to seven years in prison, three of which must be served before parole, for sexual offenses occurring in July 2006 that involved two girls, 12 and 13 years old. Groundbreaking occurred at the site of the new Blaine County Public Safety Facility. May 16, 2007 Blaine County Commissioners announced that Michael McNees of Florida was hired to serve as county administrator. John Blackman went from being the assistant principal to the principal at Wood River High School. Dwight Yoakam announced his planned Ketchum concert to benefit the YMCA. May 23, 2007 May 22 was a big day for special elections held throughout the valley. County voters OK'd the sell of Blaine Manor to support funding of the Croy Canyon Ranch Foundation's plans to build a new aging care facility. Sun Valley voters agreed to lower Local Option Tax on retail goods from 3 to 2 percent and agreed to a general obligation bond of $4.4 million for the construction of two wells and one reservoir. Bellevue voters approved a levy increase that would supply an extra $200,000 to the annual city budget. The Friedman Memorial Airport reopened May 23 following a month-long runway reconstruction project. Sun Valley Planning and Zoning approved a new 53,642-square foot golf clubhouse to replace the existing structure on Trail Creek Road. The building was designed to accommodate the existing 18 holes, as well as a new nine holes planned for Trail Creek Road near Trail Creek Cabin. Nordic center improvements were in on the deal as well. Cory Rutkowski and Whitney DeBree of Wood River High School took the mixed doubles title at the Idaho State Class 4A Tennis Tournament. May 30, 2007 The Hailey Historic Preservation Commission, Hailey Chamber of Commerce and Blaine County Museum unveiled the revamped Historic Walking Tour Brochure with a guide-lead tour while also celebrating the completion of the south wall at the museum. Graduation ceremonies were held throughout the week at local high schools. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., son of the late New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, gave the keynote address at the 10th annual Sun Valley Wellness Festival. The new marketing campaign spearheaded by local chambers of commerce, known as “Shop Mom & Pop” began. June 6, 2007 Idaho Fish & Game announced plans to seek restitution for an herbicide application that killed 150 trout on Elkhorn Creek at the lower end of Elkhorn Golf Course. The Blaine-Ketchum Housing Authority drew closer to becoming a countywide entity under the new title of the Blaine County Housing Authority. The valley geared up for the inaugural Sun Valley Food & Wine Festival, which hosted three days of cooking demonstrations, as well as wine, beer, and vodka tasting and talks. June 13, 2007 Marketron International, Inc. merged with Wicks Broadcast Solutions. A B-17 World War II fighter aircraft was the highlight of displays at the Friedman Memorial Airport Community Appreciation Day. June 20, 2007 Sun Valley City Administrator Virginia Egger resigned after serving the city since September 2004. The Rotarun Ski Club announced plans to revamp the south valley's ski area. June 27, 2007 The Sun Valley Company and others nearby had a major scare when the Trail Creek Fire burned approximately 300 acres, 10 percent on private land owned by Sun Valley Company and 90 percent on public land. The Company of Fools kicked off the inaugural Summer Fools Festival at the Liberty Theatre. After months of complaints from local businesses and travelers alike, Ketchum's revitalized Fourth Street, known as the Heritage Corridor, was set to re-open. Hailey Planning Director Kathy Grotto resigned. The final relay (this year will be a mountain hike instead) in the annual Relay for Life earned more than $35,000 for cancer research. July 4, 2007 Author Ridley Pearson unveiled his latest thriller “Killer Weekend.” The fictional novel set in Sun Valley included Blaine County Sheriff Walt Fleming (notice the spelling) as a key character based on Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling, although the fictional and the real sheriff had marked differences. Allen & Company marked 25 years in Sun Valley. Wood River High School senior Anna Chrysikopoulos traveled to Bellevue, Wash. and won the Bellevue City Jr. Challenger Tournament, as the only participant not from Washington. July 11, 2007 Millie Wiggins, the 41-year proprietor of Avventura, passed away at the age of 74. New fees for overtime parking and other parking restrictions went into effect for the city of Ketchum. Geo-caching caught on as one of the valley's biggest new hobby this year. July 18, 2007 Renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly's Black Seaforms visited a Ketchum museum and he spoke at the Community Library. Hailey Police Chief Brian McNary and Hailey Public Works Director Ray Hyde announced their resignations. Hailey Chamber of Commerce Director Julie Oxarango-Ingram also resigned. Allen & Company donated Wi-Fi service to the cities of Hailey and Ketchum. Douglas D. Cooper was sentenced to 15 years, two to be served before parole, for his sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Work continued towards Hailey Ice, Inc.'s proposed rink at Lion's Park. Groundbreaking was held for Sun Valley Music Pavilion. Fans anxiously awaited the release of the final book in the Harry Potter series. July 25, 2007 Deborah A. Reimer, 54, gave valley cops a run for their money when she allegedly fired two shots at her ex-boyfriend while he is showering in his Ketchum home the morning of Wednesday, July 18 and fled the scene. By the time the newspaper issue hit the stands, Reimer had been apprehended and entered a not guilty plea during her arraignment in Blaine County Court. Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant announced she would not run for re-election. Firefighters saved homes in Indian Creek from a wildfire caused by lightening. Hailey hired Beth Robrahn as its new planning director. Aug. 1, 2007 NexStage raised the $1.5 million needed to purchase the theatre. Camp Rainbow Gold hosted its 23rd year of operation and welcomes 81 campers at Cathedral Pines. Aug. 8, 2007 The new chairlifts proposed for Dollar Mountain became a reality as a helicopter lowered four ski lift towers onto their concrete bases and carried 15 cross arm mechanisms to the top of their respective towers. Dwight Yoakam played a benefit concert for the YMCA, raising approximately $100,000. Aug. 15, 2007 Neftali Olmos, 22, was arrested and charged with rape for allegedly raping and stabbing an 18-year-old woman in Bellevue. Presidential candidate Rudi Giuliani announced his plan to visit Ketchum. Christopher Scott Honeycutt, 42, of San Francisco was arrested for lewd conduct with two minor girls in Ketchum. Aug. 22, 2007 Woodside was shocked when the burned body of Margarita Guardado, a 16 year old Hailey resident and Wood River High School student was found lying across the street from her home Friday morning, Aug. 17. Freddy T. Tellez, 17, was arrested shortly thereafter and charged with first-degree murder. The Castle Rock Fire began with a small lightening-ignited blaze out Warm Springs Road. By this issue it had grown to encompass 12,078 acres and the community lived on edge as many were evacuated from their homes over the coming weeks. KART, having merged earlier in the year with Wood River Rideshare, decided on its new joint name-Mountain Rides Transportation Authority. The death of Plum TV's executive director Mila Riggio, 45, was caused by hyperthermia combined with alcohol intake. Riggio was sadly found dead in a friend's hot tub the morning of Aug. 6. Citizens addressed commissioners with their fight to save Hulen Meadows Pond. Some 200 people gathered at a Ketchum home to discuss the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games coming to Boise and other events were held on the topic during the year. Aug. 29, 2007 The Castle Rock fire raged on, hitting Baldy hard on Tuesday, Aug. 28. The annual Wagons Day celebration was canceled, evacuations increased, the valley was declared as in a state of emergency, firefighters and Idaho National Guardsmen and women swarmed the valley, a makeshift Incident Command Post was formulated at River Run Lodge, the start of the school year was postponed, the air quality in Blaine County was terrible, Ketchum city hall served as a staging area for numerous volunteer efforts and press conferences. Sept. 5, 2007 The Castle Rock Fire was fully contained and citizens throughout the Wood River Valley breathed a hefty sigh of relief. At the point of containment, the Castle Rock Fire had burned more than 48,000 acres-75 square miles-west of Ketchum. Containment meant saying goodbye to the California Team 3 Incident Command and Jeanne Pincha-Tulley, the woman in charge of the whole firefighting operation. At the same time, the loss of Wagon Days impacted the local economy with a heavy hand. Ketchum business proclaimed sales were down anywhere from 30-70 percent. With elections only a month away, more and more people announced their candidacy and the races heated up. Many of those arrested in April in connection with a major methamphetamine and cocaine sales bust enter not guilty pleas, beginning a lengthy court process of plea bargaining and sentencing that would practically dominate Blaine County Court in the months to come. By this point, creation of the Blaine County cultural center, which had been dubbed “La Alianza” by its development members, announced it would be located at the Community Campus and was seeking a director. The Forest Service began talking about BAER (the Burned Area Emergency Restoration team) following the Castle Rock Fire. Sept. 12, 2007 The Idaho Department of Labor and Commerce announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) approved low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses economically impacted by the Castle Rock Fire. The Idaho Travel Council gave Ketchum $10,000 for an economic boost following the fire. Plans for the big firefighter thank-you, the Kick Ash Bash, were born. The ‘Thank You Firefighters' mannequins (Mona and Lisa DaVinci) were stolen from there home south of Ketchum along Highway 75. Hailey City Administrator Jim Spinelli announced his resignation and plans to return as the executive director with the Hailey Chamber of Commerce. Members were appointed to serve on the brand new Blaine County Housing Authority. Sept. 19, 2007 BCHA announced the upcoming Community Housing Week, a first-ever week-long event set to address the problem of community housing and provide community members with the nuts and bolts of getting into an affordable housing unit. The Blaine County Sheriff's Office first pitched their plan to take over the Bellevue Marshal's Office. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent a specialized Boise unit to Blaine County to detain illegal immigrants; overall 22 individuals were removed. The American Civil Liberties Union in Boise and the community questioned whether or not the raids were conducted in accordance with civil liberties and civil rights. John Henry McElhiney, 31, who had recently lived in Hailey, was arrested and charged with murder in Twin Falls. McElhiney allegedly killed 18-year-old Dale Miller and stuffed his body in a barrel in the garage of a Twin Falls residence with the help of Cameron Watts, 29, of Gooding. Plans that had been in the works since summer, to combine the Gateway Hotel planned for the entrance to Ketchum at the Trail Creek Bridge, and the plan to combine the Gateway with the neighboring Bald Mountain Hotel property failed. Open House Partners, a Dallas company, dropped efforts to purchase the properties. Sept. 26, 2007 The construction site of the new Sun Valley Pavilion saw the most concrete ever hauled and poured in Sun Valley. Free bus service within Hailey city limits, a funding negotiation with Mountain Rides, was set to begin Oct. 1. Four pro-marijuana initiatives were set to appear on the Hailey ballot in the Nov. 6 election. The line-up for the Kick Ash Bash was announced to include Carole King, Steve Miller and Bruce Willis. Oct. 3, 2007 Nearly 6,000 concertgoers attended the Kick Ash Bash and Steve Miller rocked. With the continuing trend of more and more wildlife coming down to the valley following the devastation of the Castle Rock Fire, a moose made his way into the Coles Skate Park in Ketchum. Rescuers removed her from the park and returned her to the Big Wood River. Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, appeared before the Bellevue City Council to criticize the reduced speed limit to 25 mph at the outskirts of the south and north end of town. Affordable housing discussions dominated headlines. Although Wagon Days was cancelled, the annual Duck Race went on, with 15,000 ducks floating down Walnut Street in Ketchum. Oct. 10, 2007 Ketchum City Administrator Ron LeBlanc announced that he was considering another city job in Durango, Colo. Dan Alban, who resigned from his position as a Fifth District Court magistrate judge in 1991 due to MS, passed away at the age of 62. One of his last public appearances was at the MS Walk held the previous week. The Valley geared up for Trailing of the Sheep Festival following the cancellation of Wagon Days and Peruvian sheepherders were set as the cultural focus. The community anticipated the appearance of “Doubt,” a Pulitzer Prize winning play, at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. The Wood River High School girl's soccer team won the Class 4A District IV title when the Wolverines creamed the Burley Bobcats with a score of 7 to zip. Oct. 17, 2007 Marjorie Brass Heiss passed away at the age of 97. Heiss, a Magic Valley resident who had a cabin in Ketchum, was the daughter of Ernest Brass, the man who sold his ranch to the Union Pacific Railroad in 1935 and watched the first Sun Valley Resort spring up in a cattle pasture. After months of negotiations, developer Harry Rinker told the Bellevue City Council that he simply could not afford the 280-acre project called Woodbridge Village that would require annexation into the city. St. Luke's Center for Community House moved from its location in one of the old Forest Service buildings on south Main in Hailey to 417 N. Main Street. The Community School Cutthroats boys' soccer team took the Class 3A District IV title, as did the girls' soccer team. Oct. 24, 2007 - Dec. 26, 2007 can be viewed in our Wednesday 01/02/08 paper issue.