Journalism
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
- Amendment 1, Constitution of the United States of America -
As a professional journalist, I have written literally thousands of articles for newspapers, magazines, and online news sites. Below are links to some of my work. Stories sampled here include general news, agriculture, business, education, general feature stories, and more in-depth investigative pieces.
Recognized with first-place awards by the Associated Press, North Dakota Newspaper Association, Idaho Press Club, and the Utah Press Association.
AGRICULTURE
Farmers Say GMOs Give Them Competitive Edge
Times-News, April 28, 2013
It’s a challenging time for farmers: costs are up, technology is constantly changing and competition can be fierce.
Tom Billington, who has been farming since about 1970 in south Twin Falls, said in order for farmers to survive, they must adapt to modern times and its technology.
“How do you stay competitive?” he asked. “You have to use genetic crops, change financially or go out of business.”
Billington chose to adapt. Today his crops get a little boost by using genetically modified seeds, which he said give more bang for the buck.
They’re more expensive to purchase because they’re patented seeds, he said, but the output is better. He can grow more product — alfalfa and corn — in a season because of GM seeds than he ever did growing organic, which helps him stay competitive in an industry where demand continues to increase. Sitting at the table in a cafe Thursday eating his lunch, Billington used Sun Chips to make his point.
“Without genetics this is what you have,” he said. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Writing the future of your dairy farm
Progressive Dairyman, March 11, 2014
When Stephen Maddox was a little boy, he dreamed of one day owning his own dairy farm. After all, his dad helped manage the family dairy that young Stephen’s grandfather started in 1957. Him doing the same would be family tradition. Making his goal a reality started on the farm itself, where he was taught hard work and responsibility, and later attending Cal Poly just as his dad had done. While a college student with interest in the family operation, he was given responsibility to run the dairy’s commercial herd. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Ice cream and cows a love affair for Michigan dairy family
Progressive Dairyman, March 11, 2014
This producer feature spotlights the Westendorp family of Nashville, Michigan, who operate Westvale-View Dairy and Moo-Ville Creamery. Two generations of the family work together and with robots to milk 200 Holsteins. They maintain a low somatic cell count, usually 80,000 to 90,000, and sell their milk as non-homogenized. The creamery also carries products such as ice cream, eggnog (seasonally), butter and cheese. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Producers learn to maneuver in California’s regulatory maze
Progressive Dairyman, May 6, 2014
Sometimes producers may feel a little tied up, just like the man bound with red tape depicted in the picture that Kevin Abernathy, director of regulatory affairs for the Milk Producers Council, pointed to on his slide presentation. There’s a lot of red tape when it comes to California’s regulatory affairs, he said. The challenge for producers is managing the tape so they can move around. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Nebraska woman depicts love for show cattle with art
Progressive Cattleman, Aug. 8, 2014
For Amanda Raithel, a talented sketch artist living in Falls City, Nebraska, cattle are more than a job. They are her passion. She spends her working hours on the family farm with live cattle and her free time using an easel to draw the animals that she loves best. She especially enjoys them in the show ring. Raithel has been a professional artist since 2000, and though she has drawn a variety of images, it is show cattle that keep her interest. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Goat Cheese Farm a Sour Idea for Some Kimberly Residents
News Radio 1310, April 1, 2016
A controversial goat farm is underway in Kimberly. It started when Jim Primm and Dave Skinner purchased the former Rock Creek Growers property last fall after talking with Twin Falls County about plans to build an artisan goat-cheese facility. The county suggested the 30-acre parcel, which had gone into foreclosure, and Primm and Skinner started meeting with Kimberly City and the State Department of Agriculture. All of the agencies approved of their plans. But not all of Kimberly’s residents. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
BUSINESS
Small-town lawyers, big-city firms
Grand Forks Herald, Dec. 29, 2019
When Josh Wolfe was a teenager living on his family’s farm in a rural North Dakota community, he picked up a book that pointed him to his career.By the time he finished reading “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the modern classic by Harper Lee, he knew he wanted to become a lawyer. Not just any lawyer, however, but one who exemplified the values of the book’s protagonist, Atticus Finch.
“I learned from reading that book that there are lawyers with moral character,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe knew that even though Finch was a fictional character, he could take lessons from the book and apply them to his own life and career. He said lawyers often get a bad rap as being sleazy, money-hungry fakes, but he wanted to honor the profession by being a hard worker with a deep concern for his clients and the justice system.
There was something else about the book that resonated with Wolfe: lawyering in a small town. READ FULL STORY HERE.
Twin Falls Business Man Goes Beyond Call of Duty
Times-News, Jan 4, 2012
The scent of fresh coffee and the rock music of the ’80s filled the cab as John Kelley stopped for his next delivery.
He climbed from the driver’s seat and entered the heart of the custom-designed truck — a small kitchen where coffee beans, grinder, espresso machine and syrups waited.
While a Prince song played from the truck’s speakers, Kelley reached for a pinch of this, a dab of that. Before long, a steaming cup of mocha sat on the counter. He was out of the truck a couple of minutes later, greeting a client.
“Try that to see what you think,” he told Gracie Prescott, a hairdresser at D&L Academy of Hair Design in downtown Twin Falls. She had ordered a Three Musketeer, one of Kelley’s unique mochas.
“Perfect,” Prescott said. Another happy customer. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Decline in Hunting-license Sales Sinks Conservation Money
Times-News, Feb. 23, 2012
Hunting is a popular pastime in Idaho. It’s just not as popular as it used to be.What does that mean for Idaho? Less revenue for outdoors programs. Hunting license and tag sales have slowly declined over the past several years, according to data from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
“Fishing licenses have stayed relatively steady as far as the numbers of licenses sold,” regional conservation officer Gary Hompland said. “Most of that, from what we can tell, is because we’ve had some really good salmon and steelhead runs the last few years. ... What is really disconcerting is our hunting licenses, both resident and non-resident." READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Hispanic Business Becomes Gathering Place of Many Cultures
Times-News, July 23, 2012
The first thing you might notice when walking into Mi Pueblo Mexican Bakery is the aroma of freshly baked breads and burritos. The next thing: laughter or friendly conversation coming from the store’s dining area, where friends gather for lunch or a quick snack after work. On a recent Friday, two Spanish-speaking men sat at a table eating their lunch and laughing, while a woman ordered her meal in English and customers from various backgrounds shopped the market. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
EDUCATION
Twin Falls Tries After-School, Credit- Recovery Program
Idaho Education News, Nov. 1, 2015
An alternative school in the Twin Falls School District has launched a unique after-school program designed to improve graduation rates. Magic Valley High School’s “PM School” helps struggling students get back on track by offering classes in the late afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday-Thursday. Teen parents or those students who violate attendance or academic requirements or those who have daytime jobs can enroll in the PM School to recover credits. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Jerome Speech Club Snags Another State Title
Times-News, reprinted in Idaho Press-Tribune, May 6, 2013
An ocean of blue ribbons adorn part of a wall in Scott Burton's advanced speech class.
The ribbons are complemented by framed pictures of students holding trophies and a large poster, decorated with student signatures, that reads: "Class A State Speech Champions 2013."
For the 13th time in 16 years, Burton's class at Jerome High School won the state speech competition. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
North Valley Academy Cancels Class to Disinfect School, Buses
News Radio 1310, Feb. 8, 2018
North Valley Academy will close this Thursday and Friday so it can disinfect the school before allowing students and staff back into the building on Monday. A number of students and teachers have been sick with the flu and other illnesses, making the principal concerned about the educational experience of the students. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
GENERAL NEWS
No Flick of the Bic for Airport Travelers
The Salt Lake Tribune, April 15, 2005
When Jeff Williams arrived at Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday afternoon, he had no idea that he wouldn't be able to bring his cigarette lighter on board. If Williams had known, he would have brought matches, he said, “because once I'm off that plane, I'm going to want a smoke.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Teenage Drivers: Parents Can Help
The Salt Lake Tribune, May 20, 2005
The 101-day period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is the most dangerous time for young drivers, who average 44 percent more hours behind the wheel each week during summer than during the school year. They also are more likely to drive at night – some for the first time – and with multiple passengers. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Helmets Not Required, but Do Save Motorcyclists
The Salt Lake Tribune, May 30, 2005
This is Jacob Hill: victim of a motorcycle crash that could have taken his life - if he wasn't wearing a helmet. The accident happened Tuesday when Hill was riding bikes with his friend, Alex Vick, on an unfamiliar road alongside State Route 201 in West Valley City. Hill ran into some loose dirt on a turn that prevented him from braking. "I'm pretty fortunate to have walked away," Hill said. "I was airborne, landed on my head, and tumbled with the bike until a fence stopped me. I have no doubt the helmet saved my life." READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Lost Canadian Woman Found, Search for Missing Husband Continues
Times-News, May 8, 2011
Mother’s Day has turned bittersweet for a British Columbia family. Sweet because their mother, Rita Chretien, was found alive Friday after being stranded for seven weeks in rural Elko County, Nev. Bitter because their father, Albert Chretien, is still missing.
“We are, of course, over-joyed that she was found alive,” Beth Dickinson Chretien, a daughter-in-law, wrote in an email to media outlets. “We had all come to believe that they would not be found alive so this news came as a complete surprise. We are extremely grateful for the thousands of prayers from literally around the world on our behalf.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
GENERAL FEATURES
Tree near Wendell becomes incredible sight for eagle watchers
Times-News, Feb 17, 2011
Every winter day at sunset, bald eagles come to roost in a large cottonwood tree just outside a small cafe and store along West Point Road.
Passers-by stop to watch the birds. Others, who’ve been by here before, bring their cameras. Those who see the eagle-filled tree for the first time are surprised by how many they find. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Magic Valley Genealogists Say New Technology Has Helped Them Search Out Their Ancestors
Times-News, June 4, 2012
With the stroke of a keyboard and the click of a mouse, John Cox brought up whole generations of research.
“Who’s an ancestor you’d like me to search?” he asked, sitting at a computer desk in his Twin Falls home.
I thought about it a moment, then gave him a name. A few minutes later we found my ancestor — and his parents. We traced the line back to the early 1800s within 45 minutes.
“That’s the thing I love about genealogy, finding out about our ancestors,” said Cox, director of the Family History Center in Twin Falls. “It’s fun, because it becomes a sort of mystery; you become a detective.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Local Star Wars fans Gather at Mandalorian Party
Vernal Express, June 15, 2015
They looked human enough, but their attention was upon a galaxy far, far away.
About 30 people from the Uintah Basin and other parts of Utah, including Salt Lake and Utah counties, gathered at the home of Vernal resident Jason Webb on Saturday, June 13, to discuss all things Star Wars and learn to build movie-quality costumes.
The event welcomed members of the Krayt Clan, the Utah chapter of the international group called Mandalorian Mercs, a charitable organization with a Star Wars theme. Mandalorians in the mega-famous Star Wars universe that George Lucas created are the movies’ bounty hunters. A krayt is a dragon species from that same universe. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Twin Falls Man Sets His Sights on the Summer Olympics
News Radio 1310, July 27, 2016
When he was a young boy, Will Brown learned how to handle a gun. He grew up in a family of hunters and recreational shooters. Now he’s going to represent his family, his community, and his country in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Brown, who will be competing in the 10-meter air pistol and 50-meter free pistol competitions, starts his journey to Rio on Thursday and won’t return until mid-August. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Area Ski Resorts Want More Snow, But Still Keeping Busy
News Radio 1310, Feb. 2, 2018
There hasn’t been much snow on the valley floor, but for the most part area ski resorts say they’re doing good business this season. Magic Mountain Resort opened Dec. 26, and according to co-owner Suzette Miller the resort has been drawing steady crowds. “We were thankful to be open for the holidays. Business has been amazing,” she said. “The season has been great.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
IN-DEPTH FEATURES
Drive … or Ride?
The Salt Lake Tribune, April 17, 2005
Meet Jana Nytch - light rail rider from Sandy to her job in downtown Salt Lake City. Next, Julia Norton, of Midvale - she takes her car to work, also in Salt Lake. Two commuters, two decisions about how to get to work every day. With the average price of regular unleaded gasoline expected to rise soon above $2.35 a gallon, decisions about using your personal vehicle or public transportation are more and more relevant. And while commuters like Jana Nytch and Julie Norton make their choices based on more than just their pocketbooks, their personal decisions and those of thousands of daily commuters have wider implications for the U.S. economy and for public health. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
The Death of Gobo Fango
Wild West Magazine, December 2011
One day in early February 1886, Frank Carl Bedke, a 41-year-old Prussian- born cattleman, mortally wounded 30-year-old black Mormon sheepherder Gobo Fango while the latter was tending his woollies in southern Idaho Territory. At least two accounts of the shooting exist, but unanswered questions remain 125 years later. One account comes from Oakley Justice of the Peace Claus Herman Karlson, who transcribed Fango’s version of the story from the victim’s deathbed. Herman E. Bedke, a grandson of the shooter, provided the second account in the 1970s. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Five Weeks In Rock Creek Canyon Parkway Reveals Strange Mix of Characters
Times-News, Dec 27, 2011
Joe Hernandez leaned his elbows on a picnic table in the Rock Creek Canyon Parkway and lifted his beer for another swallow. It was an overcast November afternoon, and the last of the leaves were still falling from the trees.
He’d watched those trees bud in the spring and saw Twin Falls folks relax under their shade all summer.
The Twin Falls man, dubbed Indian Joe by some of Rock Creek Canyon’s regulars, has frequented the canyon during the past 14 years since the city developed the parkway.
Often spending hours at a time under the trees, Hernandez is a staple of this two-mile trail in the scenic rift that lies between Addison Avenue West and Shoshone Street West — an observer of the people who walk its paved trail, bicycle its hidden hills, or fish its creek. Bedding, old campfires and scattered dishes in a few hidden spots near the trail suggest that people live in the canyon during warmer months. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
T.F. Woman’s Death Spurs Family’s Suicide Awareness Efforts
Times-News, May 12, 2013
Since her daughter committed suicide almost two years ago, Linda Schiers has spent every waking moment working to make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else. She has been speaking to groups whenever she can and founded the Dragonfly Hope Foundation, an online resource that tells Andrea’s story and educates people on suicide prevention.
“Family, friends, the whole community was shocked by it,” Schiers said of her 28-year-old daughter Andrea’s death in September 2011. “No one knew how deep her hurt went.”
Andrea Rebecca Jenson Hall left behind a husband and two small children. She held a bachelor’s degree in social work — trained to help others through hard times. At the time of her death, she was working as a psychosocial rehabilitation worker in the Twin Falls County School District, according to the Dragonfly Hope Foundation website. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Farmers Say GMOs Give Them Competitive Edge
Times-News, April 28, 2013
It’s a challenging time for farmers: costs are up, technology is constantly changing and competition can be fierce.
Tom Billington, who has been farming since about 1970 in south Twin Falls, said in order for farmers to survive, they must adapt to modern times and its technology.
“How do you stay competitive?” he asked. “You have to use genetic crops, change financially or go out of business.”
Billington chose to adapt. Today his crops get a little boost by using genetically modified seeds, which he said give more bang for the buck.
They’re more expensive to purchase because they’re patented seeds, he said, but the output is better. He can grow more product — alfalfa and corn — in a season because of GM seeds than he ever did growing organic, which helps him stay competitive in an industry where demand continues to increase. Sitting at the table in a cafe Thursday eating his lunch, Billington used Sun Chips to make his point.
“Without genetics this is what you have,” he said. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Writing the future of your dairy farm
Progressive Dairyman, March 11, 2014
When Stephen Maddox was a little boy, he dreamed of one day owning his own dairy farm. After all, his dad helped manage the family dairy that young Stephen’s grandfather started in 1957. Him doing the same would be family tradition. Making his goal a reality started on the farm itself, where he was taught hard work and responsibility, and later attending Cal Poly just as his dad had done. While a college student with interest in the family operation, he was given responsibility to run the dairy’s commercial herd. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Ice cream and cows a love affair for Michigan dairy family
Progressive Dairyman, March 11, 2014
This producer feature spotlights the Westendorp family of Nashville, Michigan, who operate Westvale-View Dairy and Moo-Ville Creamery. Two generations of the family work together and with robots to milk 200 Holsteins. They maintain a low somatic cell count, usually 80,000 to 90,000, and sell their milk as non-homogenized. The creamery also carries products such as ice cream, eggnog (seasonally), butter and cheese. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Producers learn to maneuver in California’s regulatory maze
Progressive Dairyman, May 6, 2014
Sometimes producers may feel a little tied up, just like the man bound with red tape depicted in the picture that Kevin Abernathy, director of regulatory affairs for the Milk Producers Council, pointed to on his slide presentation. There’s a lot of red tape when it comes to California’s regulatory affairs, he said. The challenge for producers is managing the tape so they can move around. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Nebraska woman depicts love for show cattle with art
Progressive Cattleman, Aug. 8, 2014
For Amanda Raithel, a talented sketch artist living in Falls City, Nebraska, cattle are more than a job. They are her passion. She spends her working hours on the family farm with live cattle and her free time using an easel to draw the animals that she loves best. She especially enjoys them in the show ring. Raithel has been a professional artist since 2000, and though she has drawn a variety of images, it is show cattle that keep her interest. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Goat Cheese Farm a Sour Idea for Some Kimberly Residents
News Radio 1310, April 1, 2016
A controversial goat farm is underway in Kimberly. It started when Jim Primm and Dave Skinner purchased the former Rock Creek Growers property last fall after talking with Twin Falls County about plans to build an artisan goat-cheese facility. The county suggested the 30-acre parcel, which had gone into foreclosure, and Primm and Skinner started meeting with Kimberly City and the State Department of Agriculture. All of the agencies approved of their plans. But not all of Kimberly’s residents. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
BUSINESS
Small-town lawyers, big-city firms
Grand Forks Herald, Dec. 29, 2019
When Josh Wolfe was a teenager living on his family’s farm in a rural North Dakota community, he picked up a book that pointed him to his career.By the time he finished reading “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the modern classic by Harper Lee, he knew he wanted to become a lawyer. Not just any lawyer, however, but one who exemplified the values of the book’s protagonist, Atticus Finch.
“I learned from reading that book that there are lawyers with moral character,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe knew that even though Finch was a fictional character, he could take lessons from the book and apply them to his own life and career. He said lawyers often get a bad rap as being sleazy, money-hungry fakes, but he wanted to honor the profession by being a hard worker with a deep concern for his clients and the justice system.
There was something else about the book that resonated with Wolfe: lawyering in a small town. READ FULL STORY HERE.
Twin Falls Business Man Goes Beyond Call of Duty
Times-News, Jan 4, 2012
The scent of fresh coffee and the rock music of the ’80s filled the cab as John Kelley stopped for his next delivery.
He climbed from the driver’s seat and entered the heart of the custom-designed truck — a small kitchen where coffee beans, grinder, espresso machine and syrups waited.
While a Prince song played from the truck’s speakers, Kelley reached for a pinch of this, a dab of that. Before long, a steaming cup of mocha sat on the counter. He was out of the truck a couple of minutes later, greeting a client.
“Try that to see what you think,” he told Gracie Prescott, a hairdresser at D&L Academy of Hair Design in downtown Twin Falls. She had ordered a Three Musketeer, one of Kelley’s unique mochas.
“Perfect,” Prescott said. Another happy customer. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Decline in Hunting-license Sales Sinks Conservation Money
Times-News, Feb. 23, 2012
Hunting is a popular pastime in Idaho. It’s just not as popular as it used to be.What does that mean for Idaho? Less revenue for outdoors programs. Hunting license and tag sales have slowly declined over the past several years, according to data from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
“Fishing licenses have stayed relatively steady as far as the numbers of licenses sold,” regional conservation officer Gary Hompland said. “Most of that, from what we can tell, is because we’ve had some really good salmon and steelhead runs the last few years. ... What is really disconcerting is our hunting licenses, both resident and non-resident." READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Hispanic Business Becomes Gathering Place of Many Cultures
Times-News, July 23, 2012
The first thing you might notice when walking into Mi Pueblo Mexican Bakery is the aroma of freshly baked breads and burritos. The next thing: laughter or friendly conversation coming from the store’s dining area, where friends gather for lunch or a quick snack after work. On a recent Friday, two Spanish-speaking men sat at a table eating their lunch and laughing, while a woman ordered her meal in English and customers from various backgrounds shopped the market. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
EDUCATION
Twin Falls Tries After-School, Credit- Recovery Program
Idaho Education News, Nov. 1, 2015
An alternative school in the Twin Falls School District has launched a unique after-school program designed to improve graduation rates. Magic Valley High School’s “PM School” helps struggling students get back on track by offering classes in the late afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday-Thursday. Teen parents or those students who violate attendance or academic requirements or those who have daytime jobs can enroll in the PM School to recover credits. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Jerome Speech Club Snags Another State Title
Times-News, reprinted in Idaho Press-Tribune, May 6, 2013
An ocean of blue ribbons adorn part of a wall in Scott Burton's advanced speech class.
The ribbons are complemented by framed pictures of students holding trophies and a large poster, decorated with student signatures, that reads: "Class A State Speech Champions 2013."
For the 13th time in 16 years, Burton's class at Jerome High School won the state speech competition. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
North Valley Academy Cancels Class to Disinfect School, Buses
News Radio 1310, Feb. 8, 2018
North Valley Academy will close this Thursday and Friday so it can disinfect the school before allowing students and staff back into the building on Monday. A number of students and teachers have been sick with the flu and other illnesses, making the principal concerned about the educational experience of the students. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
GENERAL NEWS
No Flick of the Bic for Airport Travelers
The Salt Lake Tribune, April 15, 2005
When Jeff Williams arrived at Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday afternoon, he had no idea that he wouldn't be able to bring his cigarette lighter on board. If Williams had known, he would have brought matches, he said, “because once I'm off that plane, I'm going to want a smoke.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Teenage Drivers: Parents Can Help
The Salt Lake Tribune, May 20, 2005
The 101-day period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is the most dangerous time for young drivers, who average 44 percent more hours behind the wheel each week during summer than during the school year. They also are more likely to drive at night – some for the first time – and with multiple passengers. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Helmets Not Required, but Do Save Motorcyclists
The Salt Lake Tribune, May 30, 2005
This is Jacob Hill: victim of a motorcycle crash that could have taken his life - if he wasn't wearing a helmet. The accident happened Tuesday when Hill was riding bikes with his friend, Alex Vick, on an unfamiliar road alongside State Route 201 in West Valley City. Hill ran into some loose dirt on a turn that prevented him from braking. "I'm pretty fortunate to have walked away," Hill said. "I was airborne, landed on my head, and tumbled with the bike until a fence stopped me. I have no doubt the helmet saved my life." READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Lost Canadian Woman Found, Search for Missing Husband Continues
Times-News, May 8, 2011
Mother’s Day has turned bittersweet for a British Columbia family. Sweet because their mother, Rita Chretien, was found alive Friday after being stranded for seven weeks in rural Elko County, Nev. Bitter because their father, Albert Chretien, is still missing.
“We are, of course, over-joyed that she was found alive,” Beth Dickinson Chretien, a daughter-in-law, wrote in an email to media outlets. “We had all come to believe that they would not be found alive so this news came as a complete surprise. We are extremely grateful for the thousands of prayers from literally around the world on our behalf.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
GENERAL FEATURES
Tree near Wendell becomes incredible sight for eagle watchers
Times-News, Feb 17, 2011
Every winter day at sunset, bald eagles come to roost in a large cottonwood tree just outside a small cafe and store along West Point Road.
Passers-by stop to watch the birds. Others, who’ve been by here before, bring their cameras. Those who see the eagle-filled tree for the first time are surprised by how many they find. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Magic Valley Genealogists Say New Technology Has Helped Them Search Out Their Ancestors
Times-News, June 4, 2012
With the stroke of a keyboard and the click of a mouse, John Cox brought up whole generations of research.
“Who’s an ancestor you’d like me to search?” he asked, sitting at a computer desk in his Twin Falls home.
I thought about it a moment, then gave him a name. A few minutes later we found my ancestor — and his parents. We traced the line back to the early 1800s within 45 minutes.
“That’s the thing I love about genealogy, finding out about our ancestors,” said Cox, director of the Family History Center in Twin Falls. “It’s fun, because it becomes a sort of mystery; you become a detective.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Local Star Wars fans Gather at Mandalorian Party
Vernal Express, June 15, 2015
They looked human enough, but their attention was upon a galaxy far, far away.
About 30 people from the Uintah Basin and other parts of Utah, including Salt Lake and Utah counties, gathered at the home of Vernal resident Jason Webb on Saturday, June 13, to discuss all things Star Wars and learn to build movie-quality costumes.
The event welcomed members of the Krayt Clan, the Utah chapter of the international group called Mandalorian Mercs, a charitable organization with a Star Wars theme. Mandalorians in the mega-famous Star Wars universe that George Lucas created are the movies’ bounty hunters. A krayt is a dragon species from that same universe. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Twin Falls Man Sets His Sights on the Summer Olympics
News Radio 1310, July 27, 2016
When he was a young boy, Will Brown learned how to handle a gun. He grew up in a family of hunters and recreational shooters. Now he’s going to represent his family, his community, and his country in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Brown, who will be competing in the 10-meter air pistol and 50-meter free pistol competitions, starts his journey to Rio on Thursday and won’t return until mid-August. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Area Ski Resorts Want More Snow, But Still Keeping Busy
News Radio 1310, Feb. 2, 2018
There hasn’t been much snow on the valley floor, but for the most part area ski resorts say they’re doing good business this season. Magic Mountain Resort opened Dec. 26, and according to co-owner Suzette Miller the resort has been drawing steady crowds. “We were thankful to be open for the holidays. Business has been amazing,” she said. “The season has been great.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
IN-DEPTH FEATURES
Drive … or Ride?
The Salt Lake Tribune, April 17, 2005
Meet Jana Nytch - light rail rider from Sandy to her job in downtown Salt Lake City. Next, Julia Norton, of Midvale - she takes her car to work, also in Salt Lake. Two commuters, two decisions about how to get to work every day. With the average price of regular unleaded gasoline expected to rise soon above $2.35 a gallon, decisions about using your personal vehicle or public transportation are more and more relevant. And while commuters like Jana Nytch and Julie Norton make their choices based on more than just their pocketbooks, their personal decisions and those of thousands of daily commuters have wider implications for the U.S. economy and for public health. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
The Death of Gobo Fango
Wild West Magazine, December 2011
One day in early February 1886, Frank Carl Bedke, a 41-year-old Prussian- born cattleman, mortally wounded 30-year-old black Mormon sheepherder Gobo Fango while the latter was tending his woollies in southern Idaho Territory. At least two accounts of the shooting exist, but unanswered questions remain 125 years later. One account comes from Oakley Justice of the Peace Claus Herman Karlson, who transcribed Fango’s version of the story from the victim’s deathbed. Herman E. Bedke, a grandson of the shooter, provided the second account in the 1970s. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Five Weeks In Rock Creek Canyon Parkway Reveals Strange Mix of Characters
Times-News, Dec 27, 2011
Joe Hernandez leaned his elbows on a picnic table in the Rock Creek Canyon Parkway and lifted his beer for another swallow. It was an overcast November afternoon, and the last of the leaves were still falling from the trees.
He’d watched those trees bud in the spring and saw Twin Falls folks relax under their shade all summer.
The Twin Falls man, dubbed Indian Joe by some of Rock Creek Canyon’s regulars, has frequented the canyon during the past 14 years since the city developed the parkway.
Often spending hours at a time under the trees, Hernandez is a staple of this two-mile trail in the scenic rift that lies between Addison Avenue West and Shoshone Street West — an observer of the people who walk its paved trail, bicycle its hidden hills, or fish its creek. Bedding, old campfires and scattered dishes in a few hidden spots near the trail suggest that people live in the canyon during warmer months. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
T.F. Woman’s Death Spurs Family’s Suicide Awareness Efforts
Times-News, May 12, 2013
Since her daughter committed suicide almost two years ago, Linda Schiers has spent every waking moment working to make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else. She has been speaking to groups whenever she can and founded the Dragonfly Hope Foundation, an online resource that tells Andrea’s story and educates people on suicide prevention.
“Family, friends, the whole community was shocked by it,” Schiers said of her 28-year-old daughter Andrea’s death in September 2011. “No one knew how deep her hurt went.”
Andrea Rebecca Jenson Hall left behind a husband and two small children. She held a bachelor’s degree in social work — trained to help others through hard times. At the time of her death, she was working as a psychosocial rehabilitation worker in the Twin Falls County School District, according to the Dragonfly Hope Foundation website. READ THE FULL STORY HERE