BLACKFOOT — A 46-year-old man is facing a felony charge after police say he attacked a boy on a football field and spit on a woman who tried to intervene Brady Victor Brower is charged with felony injury to a child and misdemeanor battery The warrant was later quashed and recalled on April 24 and Brower appeared in court on Monday where he was booked and released on his own recognizance According to Bingham County Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Hart the prosecutor’s office issued the complaint and warrant in October and it was active until Brower hired an attorney in April “I stipulated to quash the warrant and issue a summons after discussions with his attorney in which (Brower) agreed to voluntarily appear in court,” said Hart Blackfoot Police officers were called to the football field at Blackfoot High School on Aug The reporting party stated that a ten-year-old boy in a football jersey “was just picked up by his throat and thrown to the ground” by Brower who reportedly had red marks around his neck The child’s parents were advised to take the boy for further medical treatment A witness told officers that she saw Brower grab the boy by the throat She then got in between the two and told the man you have no right to put your hands on another kid Brower reportedly spit on the woman and then walked away He is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on May 15 he could face up to 10 and a half years in prison Though Brower has been charged with these crimes it does not necessarily mean he committed them Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty SUBMIT A CORRECTION We hope you appreciated this story.  A small team of local journalists runs EastIdahoNews.com – not a big business or corporation Our stories are produced to inform and serve the public We don't have a paywall or require a subscription to use EastIdahoNews.com but there is a cost associated with bringing you stories every day Please consider supporting us just once for $1 or contribute a little more monthly or annually We sincerely appreciate your consideration © 2015 - 2025 EastIdahoNews.com LLC May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Native women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average Indigenous women are four times more likely to go missing MTN is sharing some of the stories from the MMIW crisis; some of which you might know Chris Butterfly did not know that the night of December 28 was the last time he would see his daughter her personality was one of a kind," Butterfly said Butterfly told MTN his daughter was shot by her boyfriend What followed were weeks of silence from local law enforcement about Jadie's case "We received zero calls from law enforcement that's what made me start advocating for my daughter." MTN reached out to Tribal Law enforcement and Glacier County for more information and received no response the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it cannot comment on ongoing cases This is a reality for families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and families are left in the dark to seek justice on their own Jadie's family took their fight to social media creating the "Justice for Jadie" Facebook page in hopes of finding answers Watch related coverage: Arlee family finds justice and purpose following tragic loss of daughter "This is something we shouldn't have had to do we want to shine light on how wrongfully she was done," Crystal Cole Jadie's family hopes the page will bring attention and justice to her case her story was not covered by any media outlets Many turn to the media to shed light and pressure for action on cases This is common when it comes to crimes against Indigenous people "It's just the same story on every case," Butterfly said "Whenever their family members crying out for help just because the justice system failed them says she's never imagined a life without Jadie "She was my favorite person in my life," Bremner said "I feel like that's what hurts the most is like the silence Marlene Cobell met Jadie in their first year of college at the University of Montana They are fighting for justice for their beloved friend Cobell plans to be a lawyer and work for justice throughout Indian Country her friends and family continue to move forward with the same message "Jadie was very loved and she deserved justice," Butterfly said No charges have been filed in Jadie's death and no suspect has been publicly named Watch related coverage: Behind the billboards: Visibility and resources for the MMIW crisis Idaho Transportation Department The Idaho Transportation Department will host public open houses on April 30 and May 1 to share information and gather community input for three projects along Interstate 15 between Fort Hall and Blackfoot Community members are encouraged to drop in anytime to learn about the projects ask questions and provide feedback to the project team The public is invited to view design plans in person: ITD will share design plans about the following projects: Those who are unable to join ITD in person are invited to participate online at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-corridor Online participants can review identical project information and comment between April 30-May 15 Elements of the widening project are funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build Those who are interested in learning more are welcome to visit the project website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-corridor, email info@pocatellotoidahofalls.org or call 208-252-5553 Idaho (KIFI) —The Idaho Department of Transportation (IDT) is sharing its plans for Interstate 15 specifically its plans around the Blackfoot interchanges at an open house at the Blackfoot Community Center at 1350 Parkway Drive #31 ITD is hosting the meeting on April 30th from 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM another meeting covering the same topic will be held May 1st from 4:00 - 6:30 PM at the Shoshone-Bannock Convention Center at 777 Bannock Avenue The project as a whole stretches from exit 67 near Pocatello to exit 116 at Idaho Falls This meeting covers those aspects relating to Blackfoot specifically Plans include a rebuilding of the US-26 / Blackfoot interchange (exit 93) a rebuilding with a new design of the I-15 / South Blackfoot interchange (exit 89) and the widening of the stretch of road between the two exits in anticipation of future traffic demands It's anticipated that the construction will take a cumulative 6-9 years of construction time if the construction of the interchanges and connecting roads is done in parallel Government funding plays a large role in the speed of construction KIFI Local News 8 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Do Not Sell My Personal Information BLACKFOOT – The Blackfoot public got its first chance to see an improved facility that will shelter stray animals Blackfoot Animal Shelter and Rescue held an open house Thursday afternoon allowing community members to tour its new building at 2397 Teeples Drive The facility has expanded capacity to shelter dogs and cats while they wait for new owners Thanks to the new building being nearly double the size of the old one and the public has a lobby to wait in and interact with animals they could decide to adopt “I have been working for 20 years for this It’s a long time coming,” said Executive Director Amanda Cevering Mayor Marc Carroll told EastIdahoNews.com that he was happy with the open house turnout “We’re just real pleased with the shelter and the acceptance of everybody in Blackfoot for where we built it and what it looks like,” Carroll said Cevering estimates that the old shelter was taking care of around 50 animals at any given time The shelter would even take animals from out-of-state that weren’t doing well at their current shelters she called managing that many animals at the old facility “difficult.” I would not turn any animal away because of where they’d end up if they didn’t come to us,” Cevering said the new shelter has a little over 50 dog kennels and a separate room that can house around 20 to 25 cats The room holding the dog kennels has a higher ceiling than the old facility and they have an additional quarantine room for cats Carroll also pointed out that the separate space will be good for the cats at the shelter “They were exposed to a lot of barking and a lot of commotion from the dogs and the cats were just in constant fear because of that,” Carroll said the shelter has two full-time employees and one part-time employee In order to get everything moved to the new building the part-time employee and one full-time employee stayed at the old building while Cevering and the other worked on the new facility just getting things ready… There was a lot of dirt paint and things that had to be cleaned up the shelter stopped accepting surrendered animals so that they could decrease the amount of animals they had to move to the new facility it’s sheltering around 16 large dogs and 13 small dogs there’s around 35 animals on the shelter’s waitlist Cevering said that the main reason people surrender their animals to her shelter is because of behavior issues that could be fixed through proper training Cevering hopes that before the shelter begins to accept surrendered animals again they’re just like kids… Kids don’t automatically learn how not to potty in their pants (and it’s the) same with dogs,” Cevering said Because Cevering and two others at the shelter are certified dog trainers and animal behaviorists they are willing to provide guidance to people who are struggling with their animals While they don’t have an official dog training class Cevering hopes to put one in place sometime in the future Let us try to help you before you give up on it,” Cevering said SUBMIT A CORRECTION Idaho (KIFI) - Idaho State Police stopped a pickup on I-15 near the south Blackfoot exit 89 after a high-speed chase that started near Pocatello on I-86 milepost 59 ISP and Bingham County deputies are also searching spots along the Interstate for items that may have been thrown out of the pickup.  This is a developing story and will be updated as we get more.  The Idaho Transportation Department has begun the planning process to improve the South Blackfoot Interchange at Exit 89 The South Blackfoot Interchange has served motorists since 1961 eastern Idaho’s population and traffic volumes have greatly increased The interchange is in an area of I-15 that is heavily used for commercial To improve safety and mobility for motorists it is necessary for ITD to replace the interchange with a design that has increased capacity and meets current standards Improvements to this interchange will be developed and designed based on traffic and other technical data design and environmental evaluation stage of the project is expected to be completed in 2026 Construction of the improvements is anticipated to begin in 2030 depending on the availability of further funding This project is utilizing both state and federal funding ITD will provide multiple opportunities for the public to learn more about the I-15 South Blackfoot Interchange project throughout project development, including a public open house and pop-up meetings in early 2025. For more information visit the project website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-corridor or call 208-252-5553 BLACKFOOT – Community members have a chance to share their thoughts on a plan to redesign an increasingly used section of interstate The Idaho Transportation Department held two open houses on Wednesday and Thursday allowing members of the public to make comments on its plans to expand the traffic capacity of Interstate-15 between Fort Hall and Blackfoot People who weren’t able to attend either of the meetings will still be able to view the plans and make comments online until May 15 “We would like to know… whether or not there are issues that our engineers have not been able to identify yet,” said ITD District 5 spokesman Justin Smith and so it’s important for the community to speak up and have their voices heard so that we can plan appropriately.” These plans would make significant changes to this interstate corridor and rework both interchanges to the north and south of Blackfoot While there are still decisions to be made on these parts of the project ITD has already decided on a final design for widening the interstate between Fort Hall and Blackfoot The parts of the project the public can comment on are split into three areas of focus: ITD has presented the public with three options for how this interchange would be rebuilt The red sections of road represent existing roads that would be eliminated Option 3 would add an overpass to the interchange allowing southbound travellers to exit and then drive over the interstate to highway 91 This would eliminate the current exit and the southbound entrance regardless of whether they’re going north or south This would address one of the main issues ITD is trying to fix particularly the short distance people have to speed up and slow down as they exit the interstate “The biggest issue that we’re seeing there is the short distances for deceleration and acceleration as you go through that interchange… and we’re looking at ways to give traffic more room to accelerate when entering the interstate and to decelerate when they’re leaving,” Smith said The design options ITD presented are preliminary ones It plans to develop the design plans this year and next year and host another community open house to request input in 2026 It then plans to finish the design plans in 2026 and 2027 ITD has presented the public with two design options for how the interstate between Blackfoot’s two exits could be widened Design Option 1 is closer to its final design for the widening of I-15 between Fort Hall and Blackfoot rather than a median like in Design Option 2 The transportation department recommends the first option because it minmizes potential environmental impacts simplifies the construction process and accommodates future population growth and so we’re seeing a large increase in population,” Smith said “We’re trying to meet that issue now rather than waiting until it becomes critical.” ITD is currently conducting a project to widen I-15 between the Northgate exit and Fort Hall to three lanes of traffic Its long term plan for the interstate is to eventually widen it out all the way to Idaho Falls “But we have to take it in sections because of the funding,” Smith said ITD will further develop these design plans in 2025 and 2026 hosting an open house to request community input that year It then plans to complete the design plans by 2027 and start construction at a date that’s still to be determined Because ITD already held an open house in 2023 it has already determined that it will build what it calls the Improved Diamond Interchange design the department says the design will accommodate future growth and improve safety and mobility for interstate travellers The ramps on the interchange will be lengthened and a four foot buffer will be added between the traffic lanes and exit lane Highway 26 will have two through and two left turn lanes going under I-15 accommodating oversized trucks and megaloads approximately 1,700 foot long soundwall between the interstate and Jensen Grove Park with a concrete barrier between traffic and the wall This was decided after conducting a noise analysis to find the impacts the new project will have on the recreational area Construction is scheduled to begin in 2031 with the final design plans being completed either this year or next year SUBMIT A CORRECTION Do you want to know what’s happening in the eastern Idaho business scene Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley Ryan Thatcher has ‘one of the dirtiest jobs in the world,’ and he’s thrilled about it ROCKFORD – Coming home covered in black dust is a mark of success for Ryan Thatcher The 42-year-old Blackfoot man spends his days polishing metal behind a Makita 6,000-rpm grinder and a Dewalt variable-speed polishing grinder It’s a mobile operation called Metal Mobile Polishing and it puts a shine on any metallic surface whether it’s a semi-truck or a YETI cup He knows he’ll never get a hug from family at the end of the day because it’s “one of the dirtiest jobs around.” For Thatcher meeting the customer where they are to “outshine every time” is what brings him satisfaction “I just like to see the finished product but the end result — it’s like bam!” Thatcher tells EastIdahoNews.com “You can bring a lot of things back (to their original shine) with a little bit of elbow grease.” Thatcher started this career path in 2016 working for a similar company with his brother He branched off on his own about two years ago and has enjoyed working on diamond plate steel truck beds Watch him polish a YETI cup in the video above One of his most unique projects involved a World War II-era P-51 Mustang Pacific Fighters in Idaho Falls restored the crashed aircraft and Thatcher was part of the five-man crew that polished it “I worked on the nose cone (one of multiple original parts they acquired from across the world) It was one of the only (vintage parts) left in the world,” says Thatcher “That’s kind of special knowing the history of it.” World War II-era P-51 Mustang Thatcher worked on with a five man crew Although other businesses offer similar services Thatcher says the fact that he’s mobile is what makes him unique Thatcher is proud of the business he’s built over the years and wants it to be a longterm venture that “can help east Idaho shine.” He’d love to be more centrally located in Idaho Falls one day so he can get to many customers’ houses quicker I’ll get a crew one day so we can make it more efficient and faster I just want to take one project at a time and just get my name out there,” he says For a free quote or to learn more, call or text (541) 305-3825. You can also visit the company’s Facebook or Instagram page BLACKFOOT – The Eastern Idaho State Fair is thrilled to continue its support for local high school seniors by offering six scholarships to students graduating in 2025 the scholarship amount is increasing from $1,000 for each winner to $1,500 These scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors who have participated in and supported 4-H and FFA at the Eastern Idaho State Fair for a minimum of three years The recipients for 2025 have significantly surpassed this requirement collectively amassing 46 years of participation The scholarship winners and their families were invited to a special dinner on April 23 The 2026 scholarship will be available to all graduating seniors from the 16 surrounding counties Qualified candidates can apply starting January 1 Idaho Falls Farmers Market kicks off on Saturday with larger space and more vendors Madison High Students pitch bold business ideas for $5,000 prize Local car wash under new ownership Precision Boats employee receives prestigious industry award Broulim’s will break ground on a new grocery store this fall. Here’s where it will be If you have a Biz Buzz item you want to share, send it to rett@eastidahonews.com. Remember to use 'Biz Buzz' in the subject line. Also, don't forget to sign up for the free Biz Buzz email newsletter SUBMIT A CORRECTION IDAHO FALLS – He may be a state champion head football coach but Hillcrest’s Brennon Mossholder said he wanted more Football has obviously been a passion for some time but actually playing the sport was never a big part of the equation growing up Mossholder was primarily a back-up quarterback in high school and went on to play college baseball and gives players ranging in age from teenagers to some even approaching senior citizenship the chance to get out and play tackle football on Saturday afternoons in the spring “I still have some competitive juices,” Mossholder said “That itch can’t completely be scratched by coaching So when the opportunity with some of my friends from Hillcrest came along Hillcrest defensive coordinator Jordan Long is also the head coach of the Blackfoot Bandits of the MWFL so the two joked about Mossholder joining the Bandits Last year Mossholder took the opportunity seriously enough to put on the helmet and cleats and give it a try He began his second season with the Bandits earlier this month and is the team’s quarterback Mossholder said there’s more to the experience than trying to live out some missed glory days “It’s been a good learning experience for me because it gives me a different perspective on the sport,” Mossholder said “(At Hillcrest) I’m the quarterbacks coach offensive coordinator and play caller and head coach but seeing the game from a quarterback’s perspective is different than seeing it from a coaches’ perspective so I think that’s helped me be a better coach because it gives me a wider perspective.” several former Hillcrest players are on the team so that adds a fun dynamic to the game experience Peyton King and Kaden King are among a handful of former Knights now competing on the Bandits with Mossholder “Some people call it semi-pro football but we make fun of ourselves and we just call it under-60-years-old football We’re all very competitive and try really hard but we understand it’s for fun and we’re not playing for a state championship.” Mossholder said he may endure a few more bumps and bruises to recover from than his younger former players SUBMIT A CORRECTION BLACKFOOT — A local man was charged after a woman alleged he had beaten her attempted strangulation and aggravated assault An enhancement charge was also filed for the use of a deadly weapon an officer with the Blackfoot Police Department was dispatched on March 29 and spoke to three individuals The initial call to dispatch was for an unwanted man who had attempted to get through a sliding glass door to talk with the victim One of the individuals told Regalado that the victim was not interested in talking with him and she told the officer the man didn’t take no for an answer The man had left before the officer’s arrival The officer said the woman’s face had cuts and bruises and asked her about her injuries She said Regalado caused them from March 27 to March 29 The victim was at the man’s home when she alleged that Regalado had taken her phone without her permission and had found something he did not like The documents state that during those days made threats of killing her and held her at knifepoint with a box cutter as they drove down Rich Lane to the Blackfoot River where the woman told the officer the man had told her to shower so she could “die clean.” which allowed her to get her phone and sneak out The document states officers went to Regalado’s home and he was placed under arrest on March 31 Regalado asked if this was about the incident with the victim Regalado was asked if he had gotten physical with the victim He also denied having a box cutter on him and stopped answering questions Officers spoke with the victim once again and documented her injuries The documents detailed that there was significant bruising on her arms and shoulders Regalado is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing with Magistrate Judge James Howard Barrett Jr Though Regalado has been charged with these crimes If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call (800) 799-SAFE (7233) SUBMIT A CORRECTION BLACKFOOT — The parking lot at Homestead Family Restaurant has been packed all week as loyal customers stop by one last time to enjoy their favorite comfort foods Owner Virginia Burke recently announced on the Blackfoot restaurant’s Facebook page that the beloved restaurant will close its doors for good on March 29 Homestead Family Restaurant has been a staple in eastern Idaho since 1989 They saw it as a way to sell Bill’s fresh produce alongside a restaurant featuring hearty RELATED | After nearly four decades in business, this Blackfoot restaurant does it the ‘old-fashioned way’ The restaurant quickly took on a life of its own becoming a popular gathering place for family reunions and friendly staff made it a cornerstone of the community took over the restaurant from her parents in 2014 she has successfully run and grown the business continuing the legacy of home cooking and outstanding service that made Homestead Family Restaurant a Bingham County favorite Melissa — who grew up in the business — was planning to take over the restaurant from her parents and she ultimately decided to pursue other opportunities Burke made the difficult and emotional decision to close the restaurant but it’s the kind of business you must be present for — no matter what,” Burke explained “Melissa can step into any role that’s needed but her real passion is connecting with the public she’s had to spend most of her time cooking just to keep us open.” “I can’t continue running Homestead without her,” Burke added “So we decided it was time to close and make space for more time with family and other interests.” Burke has had the unique opportunity to work alongside her parents She also considers the many employees who have worked with her throughout the years as part of her extended family “My most cherished moments are working with an amazing staff,” she said “We’ve had many families and long-term employees work for us That’s what makes closing so hard — because we love them so much.” “We’re excited to turn the building over to a family friend who has been close to our children through the years,” Burke said “We truly appreciate Adam and Krystal’s great love for our community.” With just a few days left in a business filled with familiar faces “We have truly loved and cherished our customers We’ve loved being a gathering place for the community,’ said Burke “Seeing familiar faces walk through our doors and watching families grow over the years — it has been a privilege We’re so grateful for every one of you who have been part of this journey.” SUBMIT A CORRECTION BLACKFOOT — A brand-new neighborhood has taken shape in Blackfoot offering fresh opportunities for homeownership East Idaho developers Michele and Russell Robison officially welcomed the public to “Caliber Place” during an open house on Thursday Caliber Place features 28 modern townhomes The two-story homes each offer three bedrooms and spacious layouts filled with natural light From contemporary finishes and energy-efficient features to classic curb appeal the development represents a modern standard of living unique to the Blackfoot market said the goal was to enrich Blackfoot with high-quality “This is a long-term livable facility for the community Each unit is individually plotted for individual ownership Homeowners will have an asset that appreciates.” Russell believes Blackfoot was the perfect place for his project because of its unique blend of small-town charm and convenient access to city amenities such as parks the Blackfoot golf course and a sports bar it’s nestled right between the larger hubs of Idaho Falls and Pocatello with easy commutes to shopping The townhomes at Caliber Place span around 1,611 square feet and are listed between $275,000 and $300,000 reflecting the Robisons’ commitment to quality at an attainable price point Each townhome has state-of-the-art kitchen appliances An HOA covers lawn maintenance and snow removal The homes are attracting first-time homebuyers Seventeen homes are ready for immediate occupancy with the remaining units scheduled for completion by the end of July said he is pleased that the project has come together so smoothly in just two years “We could’ve waited until the economic conditions were better,” said Russell The Robisons are most proud that Caliber Place was built entirely by members of the community it serves “This project has been local from its very roots,” said Michele every aspect of this project was handled by local professionals.” “We’re passionate about this community and incredibly grateful to everyone who helped bring this project to life,” Russell added Michele, who is also a realtor for Caliber Realty, a partner of Keller Williams Realty East Idaho, said those interested in checking out the townhomes at Caliber Place can contact her at (208) 520-4236 or go to Caliber Realty Team SUBMIT A CORRECTION BLACKFOOT – Blackfoot’s Cambrie Waterhouse has signed to play basketball at the College of Southern Idaho Waterhouse averaged 7.0 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds for the Broncos and shot 47% from the field while leading the Broncos in blocks The 6-1 post was a force inside and helped Blackfoot capture the district title with a 20-point performance against Skyline in the championship game Waterhouse was a first-team 5A District 6 All-Conference selection and was named to the All-State Tournament third team after helping lead the Broncos to the third-place game SUBMIT A CORRECTION BLACKFOOT – Blackfoot’s Tanner Ellis has signed to wrestle at Eastern Oregon Ellis placed third at 150 pounds at the 5A state tournament and finished the season 26-5 The 150 bracket was one of the most competitive for local wrestlers with DJ Neider of Idaho Falls winning the title Ellis placing third with a 3-1 win over Lewiston’s Mason Faling and Pocatello’s Gabriel Archuleta finishing sixth Eastern Oregon competes in the Cascade Collegiate Conference and qualified six wrestlers to last season’s NAIA national meet SUBMIT A CORRECTION An official website of the United States government Open Search  Mobile Menu Mont.— The Bureau of Land Management’s Missoula Field Office is getting ready for prescribed burning in the Blackfoot Corridor in the coming weeks If conditions allow the BLM plans to burn multiple units ranging in size from 40 acres to 650 acres this spring along Blackfoot River between Nine Mile Prairie and Johnsrud Park.  The timing of these planned burns is dependent on weather and fuel conditions and would be carried out with a combination of aerial ignition by helicopter and ground ignition using drip torches.  “We will be looking at burning conditions as the snow recedes from the burn units.” noted Dan Poole Fire Management Specialist with the Missoula Field Office “We want to be prepared to make this important progress on our fuels treatment projects when weather conditions turn favorable.”   Each of these burns will produce smoke and could take up to several days to complete Smoke impacts are carefully considered in coordination with smoke and air quality managers from Missoula County and the State of Montana.  For more information on air quality and potential impacts from smoke please visit https://www.missoulacounty.us/government/health/health-department/home-environment/air-quality/about-us The BLM is also working closely with staff from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation on these projects the DNRC provides fire suppression support for BLM-administered public lands Missoula BLM managers have been keeping a close eye on recent weather forecasts and feel the timing could be right in the upcoming weeks for a prescribed burn in the Blackfoot.  Prescribed fire is a critical tool to reduce hazardous fuels and restore historic vegetative conditions on the landscape or “ladder fuels,” land managers can create fuel breaks that can serve to reduce wildfire intensity and provide firefighters more opportunities to safely engage wildfires.  the prescribed burns will benefit wildlife by creating conditions that are essential for the health and restoration of large-diameter Douglas fir and western larch with intermittent openings of forbs For more information about the upcoming prescribed burns call the Missoula Field Office at (406) 329-3869 The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations An official website of the Department of the Interior BLACKFOOT — Shelby Mickelsen of Blackfoot has signed to play college soccer at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs was an honorable mention All-Conference selection for the Broncos SUBMIT A CORRECTION MISSOULA — Hunters are getting ready to scour for shed antlers in the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area southeast of Seeley Lake Vehicle registration to drive in on opening day, May 15, isavailable online starting Tuesday, April 1. The start of shed season in the Blackfoot-Clearwater is a big event Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is managing things a little bit differently They are asking hunters who want to drive up when the range opens FWP instituted the system last year to help manage the large crowds looking to scoop up sheds "The reason behind the registration is to improve safety we had vehicles and campers and horse trailers in some cases lining up for weeks along Highway 83 which borders the Wildlife Management Area,” said FWP spokeswoman Vivaca Crowser we moved to the registration just in an effort to move people off the road to help their safety and the vehicles that are driving by." The registration system is aimed at reducing congestion right as the hunt kicks off It does not cap the number of vehicles that can enter on opening day “You just enter your information,” Crowser said We take all the numbers and mix them up and then everybody gets emailed out their entry number which will happen towards the end of this month.” Watch related coverage: Shed hunting kicks off at Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area These entry numbers will determine the order in which hunters drive into the range FWP will send out information to those who register about when to show up it's just a matter of are you number 10 in line or number 150?” Crowser said The registration system only applies to vehicles looking to get in right at the start Those outside of vehicles or looking to come after 2 p.m “If you're not needing to drive in right at noon if you're going to walk in or go on with horses or maybe pedal a bike in you don't need to worry about the registration at all,” Crowser said FWP said the system has helped out on opening day They are still working on the process and are open to feedback it's new and we learned some things and we heard feedback that helped us make some adjustments this year but in general it really did help with safety,” Crowser said “It helped also provide a little bit more equal opportunities so that if you don't have [the] schedule or the ability to get there early and line up Wildlife & Parks is poised to log a portion of the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area FWP has released a supplemental environmental assessment of the Doney Lake Forest Habitat Improvement Project which would log or burn more than 1,100 acres north of Ovando in the Ovando Mountain Unit of the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area FWP is accepting public comment until March 27 The more obvious portion of the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area extends northeast of Clearwater Junction along Highway 200 in the Blackfoot River Valley The Ovando Mountain Unit is separate and lies 10 miles farther east along the North Fork of the Blackfoot River FWP acquired most of the Ovando Mountain Unit between 1957 and 1965 and another parcel in 2009 The wildlife management area is managed primarily as elk winter range The Doney Lake project would log mainly lodgepole pine Douglas fir and subalpine fir to enhance woody-browse understories and aspen stands that provide winter forage at the base of Ovando Mountain for migratory populations of approximately 500 elk and 200 mule deer There are no plans to log the 1,100-acre parcel in the valley south of Doney Lake The Fish and Wildlife Commission endorsed the proposal in October 2021, after FWP administrator Ken McDonald told the commission the project was planned for 268 acres. In December 2022, a 1,500-acre project was proposed but public comment prompted FWP to put it on hold FWP managers had done a minimal analysis called a Checklist Environmental Assessment but then decided to do a full environmental analysis after commenters raised concerns More than 40 comments raised questions about road building and removal and the method of identifying trees to be cut wandering over approximately 120,000 acres throughout the year from the Blackfoot Valley bottom into the Scapegoat Wilderness “The largely migratory nature of the elk using HD 282 and fluidity of movement with winter range in neighboring districts must be accounted for when interpreting survey trends,” according to the elk plan The Doney Lake project would use two different methods to log the area with the goal of opening up the canopy to improve understory browse Regions along the northern boundary of the area originally belonged to the Plum Creek Timber Company and were logged in the mid-1980’s So the tree species are mainly younger lodgepole pine and Douglas fir that have grown back thick with few if any dominant overstory trees The plan for Stand 2 is to remove larger trees that have grown tall and skinny due to crowding although any ponderosa pine or western larch survivors and larger snags with nesting cavities would be spared Larger vigorous understory trees with dense crowns would be retained while the rest would be cleared so the stands are more diverse with towering ponderosa pine and western larch surrounded by lodgepole pine and Douglas fir in the middle and lower canopy layers So the plan is to remove all overstory trees with crowns that have been suppressed by crowding and leave dominant trees with ponderosa pine and western larch having priority trees will be retained in a “clumpy variable pattern.” Openings would be created around aspen clones and larger snags will be left for nesting The project has received a Montana Forest Action Plan Grant of $300,000 and is scheduled to run from July 2025 through the summer of 2030 Logging work will be carried out from July 15 to Oct 1 through March 15 to avoid spring conditions and the general rifle season Ground-based logging equipment will be restricted to operations during the winter when soils are frozen larger mobile wildlife such as grizzly bears wolverine and Canada lynx will be able to relocate to surrounding areas while operations are underway less mobile species aren’t as lucky but “population-level impacts are highly unlikely and any adverse direct impacts to such species would be limited,” according to the proposal The proposal’s discussion of whether it’s better to retain forest cover or to open things up to improve browse availability indicates the answer is probably in the middle A good forest canopy reduces the amount of snow below Elk have an easier time in snow than mule deer Shrubs and conifers are a big part of the mule deer diet during winter while elk eat primarily grasses and forbs quality winter habitat will contain a diversity of microsites of cover and forage,” according to the proposal Two other logging projects are planned on either side of the Doney Lake project a 6-mile stretch of the foothills of the southern Swan Range would be affected Just to the west of the  Ovando Mountain Unit, the Blackfoot Challenge is planning a fuels reduction project on its 5,600-acre Blackfoot Community Conservation Area Core Similar to the Stand 2 area in the Doney Lake project the land formerly belonged to Plum Creek Timber and was transferred to the Blackfoot Challenge in 2008 That project was proposed in 2023 and is still in the scoping phase Fish, Wildlife & Parks is once again poised to log a portion of the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area.\nRead More FWP has released a supplemental environmental assessment of the Doney Lake Forest Habitat Improvement Project The project has received a Montana Forest Action Plan Grant of $300,000 and is scheduled to run from July 2025 through the summer of 2030 Just to the west of the  Ovando Mountain Unit, the Blackfoot Challenge is planning a fuels reduction project on its 5,600-acre Blackfoot Community Conservation Area Core ID – Idaho State Police is investigation a single vehicle rollover which occurred on Friday driven by a 37-year-old female from Idaho Falls was travelling southbound on Interstate 15 near mile marker 94 where the driver lost control of the vehicle coming to rest on its side in both southbound lanes of travel where it spilled approximately ten yards of concrete onto the roadway The driver was wearing a seatbelt and was transported to a local hospital The southbound lanes are still blocked while crews continue to clear the scene Idaho State Police was assisted by Bingham County Sheriff’s Office This crash remains under investigation by Idaho State Police Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: (Missoula Current) Nearly 18,000 acres in the lower Blackfoot River watershed prized for its habitat and wood products could become publicly owned if the Bureau of Land Management follows through with its planned acquisition Missoula County last week signed a letter of support backing the BLM's proposed acquisition of the former private industrial timberland in the Gold and Twin Creek drainages northeast of Missoula chief lands and communities officer with the county said that acquiring the parcels would permanently protect public ownership and provide benefits for decades to come “These are some of the former commercial timberlands that The Nature Conservancy acquired back around 2015,” he said “The BLM has been working with the Blackfoot Challenge and other community efforts to identify public acquisition opportunities This is just the latest in a number of BLM acquisitions in the Blackfoot.” More than 60% of Missoula County is covered with public lands – lands the county claims sustain local economies through restoration and active management But the property also sits in a key location in the Crown of the Continent ecosystem It connects with other public lands to the south providing habitat and prized connectivity in an increasingly fractured ecosystem “It provides valuable habitat and connectivity for a variety of big game species as well as significant public access opportunities for wildlife viewing and hunting,” the county noted in its letter The proposal also comes on the heals of the closure of both Pyramid Mountain Lumber and the Roseburg plant Both had a heavy impact on the timber industry and the jobs and forest management they provided Crowser said that acquiring the properties would ensure the forested landscapes provide a sustainable wood products supply There have been a number of Environment Assessments the BLM has done to evaluate the accusation process for their work in the Blackfoot over time This continues to support BLM's acquisition work,” Crowser said The county also highlighted the landscape's importance to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes “We acknowledge BLM's recent efforts to engage the Tribes in the management of these lands and uphold the U.S government's responsibilities under the Hellgate Treaty of 1855 and we strongly support the continuation of this important work,” the county said Nearly 18,000 acres in the lower Blackfoot River watershed prized for its habitat and wood products could become publicly owned if the Bureau of Land Management follows through with its planned acquisition.\nRead More — Two citizens of the Blackfeet Nation on April 4 filed a lawsuit against the federal government alleging tariffs the Trump administration is imposing on Canada violate the U.S Plaintiffs further allege that orders imposing Canada tariffs are “unconstitutionally vague” and therefore violate their right to due process the legal principle that requires the government to treat people fairly Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Montana Free Press it’s not uncommon for members of the Blackfoot Confederacy to cross the border not with a passport but with a tribal identification card drove to Saskatchewan to buy a replacement for a broken tractor part Goddard alleges he paid a $308.77 tariff for the new part He alleged in court documents that tariffs caused him “financial stress” and future tariffs could cause “irreparable harm” to his business Webber in her declaration wrote that her constituents “cannot afford random members of the tribal community are losing economic opportunities and business,” she wrote Goddard in the lawsuit asked the court to enjoin Trump’s various orders implementing tariffs on Canada they ask the court to stop tariffs on all commerce and goods at three ports of entry on the U.S.-Canada border or to exempt tribal members from the Canada tariffs Native American tribes are sovereign entities and have a unique government-to-government relationship with the United States several tribes have pushed back on his policies nmabie@montanafreepress.org BLACKFOOT — A 7-year-old girl walking to school was hit by a vehicle driven by a teenager at the York Drive and York Circle intersection in Blackfoot The Blackfoot Police Department said it responded to a “vehicle vs pedestrian” accident after the 16-year-old female driver hit the younger girl The 7-year-old was transported to Bingham Memorial Hospital by ambulance and her injuries do not appear to be life-threatening According to police, the driver has been cited for “obstruction to the driver’s view or driving mechanism.” Click here to read the Idaho code “This incident reminds us of the importance of maintaining clear visibility of our windshields while driving particularly during winter,” Blackfoot Police said The names of those involved will not be released Blackfoot School District 55 Superintendent Brian Kress posted about what happened on Facebook “It is with a very heavy heart that I give this update an elementary student was struck by a vehicle driven by a high school student and I am not sure I could share more even if I had them Please place in your prayers the student who was struck and please find room for grace for the driver Our hearts go out to the families involved in this incident SUBMIT A CORRECTION (Missoula Current) The University of Montana has compiled a report on what locals think about recreation issues in the Blackfoot River Valley but it’s up to the Blackfoot Challenge and others to come up with some actions representatives of the University of Montana Parks and Recreation Management Program gave an hourlong overview of a report titled “Balancing Conservation and Recreation in the Blackfoot Watershed” to the Blackfoot Challenge and interested community members The report will be published within the next few weeks and summarizes conceptual ideas related to recreation produced over the past six months of community meetings we wouldn’t be presenting today on all of your ideas,” said Jennifer Thomsen and Recreation Management Program associate professor “The goals of this overarching project was to engage communities and stakeholders within the Blackfoot watershed to get their input on recreation-related issues and concerns as well as develop a vision statement particular to recreation at the watershed level And then identify some options and considerations for action that the Blackfoot Challenge or communities can take in the coming years.” Thomsen’s colleague, Jake Rayapati, reviewed the general ideas and concerns that came out of six meetings held in communities from Bonner to Lincoln The concerns are familiar to many who’ve experienced the recent growth in use on Montana’s rivers natural resources and wildlife; reduced personal enjoyment of the river; increasingly poor behavior and etiquette; and the need for better infrastructure and enforcement Several commenters noted that use of the river and recreational areas had increased due to more people moving in as a result of the pandemic social media publicity and the “Yellowstone” effect from fans of the television show Taking the comments from the six community meetings a visioning workshop came up with a draft vision statement that could ensure any actions chosen would apply across the Blackfoot valley “from ridgetop to ridgetop.” The draft vision is “to sustain a clean connected and biodiverse Blackfoot Watershed protect and steward natural resources and strengthen our rural community through adaptive recreation planning a final workshop developed some priorities for action fishing regulations might be changed to create seasonal closures or stricter rules for triggering hoot-owl restrictions Permits might be required for rafters and out-of-state visitors or limits might be placed on the number of commercial users Under the category of funding for improvements and enforcement a tourism tax might be created or funds might be reallocated from the Montana bed tax The report makes no recommendations on actions to take That’s up to the Blackfoot Challenge or other communities “This is the start of a much longer process,” said Marley Held-Wilson Blackfoot Challenge recreation coordinator “A big thing for us is creating a set of strategic recommendations or a strategic plan Our hope is that it is supported by the communities and the recreation managers from the state concerned about all the personnel and budget cuts at the federal level asked how that might affect future actions and whether the actions would have any teeth He encouraged reaching out to Missoula and Powell county departments for resources acknowledged the current challenges with funding at the federal level and said the organization would need to lean more on state said the federal situation was also problematic for Powell County because she was still waiting for more than $6 million in federal recreation funding to come through But that’s where the report could provide some fodder “We collaboratively have been working really hard to engage our delegation and try and underscore the importance of recreation and trails especially to our local economies but also to our community health,” Cooley said “The work that you’ve done is a really powerful message that we can carry forward as we’re having these conversations This gives the local level a voice - I think that’s what’s missing from the conversation a lot right now.” Contact reporter Laura Lundquist at lundquist@missoulacurrent.com The University of Montana has compiled a report on what locals think about recreation issues in the Blackfoot River Valley, but it’s up to the Blackfoot Challenge and others to come up with some actions.\nRead More Thomsen’s colleague, Jake Rayapati, reviewed the general ideas and concerns that came out of six meetings held in communities from Bonner to Lincoln Contact reporter Laura Lundquist at lundquist@missoulacurrent.com IDAHO FALLS – A Blackfoot man has been charged after he allegedly strangled and repeatedly punched a pregnant woman in the belly numerous times during a domestic violence incident was charged with the following felonies: robbery aggravated battery causing harm to a pregnant female or fetus an officer with the Idaho Falls Police Department was dispatched to the residence in Idaho Falls at around 3:30 a.m told dispatch Hernandez had stolen her vehicle and debit card and punched her numerous times in her pregnant belly The officer reported the woman’s jaw was slanted to the left and crooked with red marks on both sides of her face and scratch marks on her upper chest Scratch marks were also found on her upper chest When asked about what had happened before calling 911 the woman said she had picked up Hernandez from a friend’s house the man asked to be dropped off at a different spot The woman later got a call from him to be picked up at a mutual friend’s house and upon parking outside of the home The document states the man opened the driver’s door and began to assault her and left the woman told the officer Hernandez had strangled her punched her numerous times in her stomach and attempted to break her arm against the car’s door frame the woman told the officer she believed her water had broken When asked if Hernandez had hit her in the past Interviewing a mutual friend about the incident he told the officer he never saw a physical fight but saw the pair arguing on the lawn after hearing a woman scream Hernandez is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing before 7th Judicial Magistrate Judge Wiley Dennert at 1 p.m Though Hernandez has been charged with these crimes EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this article was posted with details that may have served to identify the victim It has been edited to remove specific details of this case SUBMIT A CORRECTION Editor's Note: As per Zyan's guardian's wishes Local News 8 has not included his last name in this story: UPDATE: Local News 8 is now hearing from the alleged target of racial harassment at a local high school basketball game I didn't know the whole story," Zyan's legal guardian Krystal Hansen told Local News 8 "So when Zyan came out of the locker room and he collapsed in my arms says he experienced racial taunting during a January 29th basketball game at Skyline High School says neither School District 91 nor District 55 have done enough to protect her son from harassment So she turned to the community to shed light on what happened.  "So I've been working behind the scenes this whole time I've gone through all of the avenues that I needed to and was not getting anywhere And I wanted to give each district the benefit of the doubt to do the right thing And I still don't feel like they have," said Hansen The Blackfoot School District updated their response to the allegations against their students on their Facebook page the day after my initial report we took proactive steps to reinforce positive sportsmanship including disciplinary actions where appropriate and working with district #91 to ensure a respectful atmosphere at future games we have strengthened expectations for student conduct to foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all athletes and spectators." In a voicemail left by Blackfoot Superintendent Brian Kress he tells Local News 8 disciplinary actions have been taken and they have done everything asked by D91 to handle the situation He says he can't go into detail on what those disciplinary actions were The district also said they "found no evidence to support the claim that Blackfoot students directed racial slurs Local News 8 spoke with District 91 trustee Paul Haacke who says he hasn't spoken with the Blackfoot school district personally but he has spoken with the Idaho Falls superintendent Haacke believes Blackfoot can do more to prevent this from happening "I think there's several things that the Blackfoot school district could do It's an opportunity for them to just pull their kids together and talk about racism and how racism impacts those who are affected by the things are said about or against I understand they have the names of these individuals who are making these remarks and making these gestures and speak to them directly about the impact that their remarks have made on not only Zyan that the perpetrators are held responsible None of which she believes were met.  I want one of these three things to happen Local News 8 spoke with many people who said they witnessed the incident Zyan's guardian Krystal tells us the teen boys did not make monkey-like gestures as some witnesses had told Local News 8; rather they made whipping hand motions and sounds at him They say racial slurs were not shouted but were said to him Zion says he does not want to be the face for this story He says he just wants to see a change in the community The Blackfoot School District has released another statement regarding the incident at the Skyline/Blackfoot basketball game We want to assure the Skyline and Blackfoot communities of our commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all athletes and spectators.  When concerns were raised regarding student conduct at the Blackfoot/Skyline boys’ basketball game we took them seriously.  Following a thorough investigation – including reviewing game footage from both schools and interviewing referees and parents – we found no evidence to support the claim that Blackfoot students directed racial slurs or gestures at a Skyline player.  However we recognized that certain chants and gestures may have been misinterpreted and were not in line with our values of respect and sportsmanship.In response including disciplinary actions where appropriate and working with District #91 to ensure respectful atmosphere at future games.  Additionally we have strengthened expectations for student conduct to foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all athletes and spectators.We remain dedicated to promoting inclusivity and respect within our school and community and will continue working with students I will make some additions.  We have had multiple conversations with District 91 officials regarding this incident.  We have done everything that they have asked of us - District #55 Superintendent of Schools Brian Kress the Blackfoot School District did not mention disciplinary action only stating the district found no evidence that "Blackfoot students directed racial slurs or gestures at a Skyline player..." and certain "chants and gestures may have been misinterpreted." and community members are outraged over an incident at a Skyline High School basketball game against Blackfoot High School Parents are expressing their concern over allegations of the rival student section's trash talk turning into racial harassment Social media posts detail and witnesses at the game told Local News 8 that a group of teenage boys started shouting racist slurs at Skyline Basket player Zyan The boys allegedly made crude hand gestures and mimicked "whipping motions" towards the Skyline student Comments on social media say this has been an ongoing issue for years at Blackfoot High School and concerned parents haven't seen the district take action The Blackfoot School District issued the following statement in response to the social media attention: "We found no evidence to support the claim that Blackfoot students directed racial slurs we recognized that certain chants and gestures may have been misinterpreted and were not in line with our values of respect and sportsmanship," - Blackfoot School District #55 No disciplinary actions have been taken.  D91 board member Paul Haacke says the community "must do better." "I can't speak for them (School District #55) I don't know exactly what they've received but I do know that they have been given information specifically the names of the students that were involved and very credible information from students who were also in that group of students who recognized this as wrong So I hope they will take that information and act accordingly," said Haacke Local News 8 has reached out to the Blackfoot School District for comment and is awaiting a response Local News 8's Ariel Jensen talks with Zyan's legal guardian about how the experience has affected the young man This is a developing story that Local News 8 will continue to update Ariel Jensen is a reporter for Local News 8 Construction is underway at Blackfoot High School with the construction of a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Student Center Ryan Wilson is the assistant superintendent with the Blackfoot School District and works in partnership with the construction crew The Student Center is just one of the many projects the school district is working on right now the idea of a new elementary school building was formed to better the education within the school district which then started what Wilson calls a domino effect “Part of the domino effect of all of this is if we started building an elementary school That would give opportunities to our students and community to explore other avenues and pathways to further their education.” Wilson says the new building will offer a variety of courses upon its grand opening with help from local businesses like Premiere Technologies "We also work with Shoshone -Bannock Tribes to do hospitality courses and partnering with them it's a wide range of options and availabilities that will be open for our students and community,” Wilson said The classes that will be offered in the Student Center will better prepare students for the future giving them a taste of different career options they may be interested in “And we just felt that if we could help them get a jumpstart in the trade industries that there’s other options and explore that while they’re in high school still and hopefully get them excited in pursuing that and furthering their degree if they choose to go on further to university,” Wilson said but there’s still much more work to be done until the new student center can start to offer classes follow the school district’s Facebook page Podcast Reservations for the Blackfoot River Recreation Corridor’s float-in campsites started opening up at 8 a.m There are eight paddle-up sites in the corridor which spans the river from Russell Gates to Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site All of the campsites need to be booked in advance during float season the process for getting a reservation looks a little different than before reservations are opening several months in advance with availability for another month released on the first Monday of each month You can now try to snag a spot by checking the available dates on the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website then calling the Reserve America call center at 1-855-922-6768 Members of Blackfeet Nation filed a lawsuit against the federal government over recent tariffs imposed on Canadian products They claim the move impedes tribal sovereignty Browning Democratic Senator Susan Webber and Blackfeet Tribal Member Jonathan St Goddard filed the suit Friday over tariffs they say impacts trade between Canada and the Tribe Former Congressional Candidate and Missoula-based attorney Monica Tranel is carrying the case "Congress has constitutional authority to do tariffs The executive does not have the authority to impose tariff in this way either under the Constitution or under the statutes that were invoked The Blackfoot Confederacy’s historical territory overlaps the U.S The lawsuit says tribal members are legally exempt from tariffs Plaintiffs say they damage the Blackfeet Nation’s cross-border trade and commerce Tranel is asking the court to freeze Canadian tariffs or find other ways to protect tribal members specifically Montana Public Radio is a public service of the University of Montana State government coverage is funded in part through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Volunteer BLACKFOOT – The first phase of a downtown revitalization project in Blackfoot is limiting access to at least a dozen businesses The project got underway Wednesday morning between Bridge Street and Pacific Street on Broadway Street and Sanitation Superintendent Scott Murphy tells EastIdahoNews.com it’s a $500,000 project crews will be replacing the road and tearing out curbs The road will be blocked to traffic for the duration It’s slated for completion in mid-June “There will still be walking access to each of the businesses HK Construction (the contractor doing the work) is going to maintain that except for maybe a couple days in a row where we’ll have it blocked off to give the concrete enough time to cure properly,” Murphy says Alternative parking is available on the east side of Broadway and Bridge Street behind several businesses Murphy says that area has 33 parking spaces and there’s a walking path connected to it that leads directly to the businesses in the construction area Stephanie Flores owns a business in that section She opened Downtown Thrift and Gift Boutique five and a half years ago and recently sold another business Though the bread store is under new ownership The thrift store is her family’s sole income and she’s concerned about the potential negative impact on business because of the road construction Flores says a significant decline in traffic could have disastrous results and we would potentially lose all our income,” Flores says Flores says parking has always been a challenge and that’s the case for most business owners in that part of town “If they’re going to be displacing 25 spaces I foresee a huge problem with the parking we’ll be left with,” says Flores the city uses a trolley to help locals get to the entrance Flores suggests the city using it during this time to make it easier for customers to get to them Flores says it’s not her intent to speak negatively about the city She simply wants to raise awareness about the project and is calling on patrons for their continued support We’re not going to be closed (even though the road will be closed),” says Flores I’m hoping the city can work with us … to make it easier for customers to get to us.” Murphy says the city made an effort to stop by each of the businesses and inform them about the construction They also held a town hall meeting about it last Wednesday “Only about five business owners showed up,” says Murphy Those with questions and concerns can give Murphy a call. His office number is (208) 785-8607 SUBMIT A CORRECTION With construction ramping up along Interstate 15 the Idaho Transportation Department is asking motorists to drive defensively and take alternate routes when possible Work occurring at the south Blackfoot exit (Exit 89) and north of Exit 93 has resulted in increased congestion along the corridor “We recommend Blackfoot residents take an alternate route such as U.S Highway 91 to an exit north of the Rose area,” Engineer Kevin Sonico said Doing so not only decreases the number of vehicles on I-15 but also allows motorists to avoid driving through the construction zone north of Blackfoot The repaving project north of Blackfoot will improve safety and drivers’ experience with a smooth new surface During construction traffic is shifted to the southbound lanes through a crossover Drivers should expect reduced speeds through the construction zone The project is expected to take about seven weeks to complete Work at Exit 89 consists of rehabilitating the bridge surface by repairing joints and potholes “Our goal is to have this done by September 1,” said Engineer Zak Johnson “We really want to have everything done before the start of the fair.” Johnson also recommends drivers take US-91 as an alternate route whenever possible Motorists are encouraged to stay updated on project detours and traffic impacts at 511.idaho.gov or on the 511 app ANTHONY — A 21-year-old former Brigham Young University baseball player who is originally from Blackfoot has been charged in two counties accusing him of sexually assaulting children Candon Dean Dahle is charged in Fremont County with felony lewd conduct with a child under 16 years old Dahle allegedly sexually assaulted an 11-year-old on or about Jan Dahle “did place his hand over the victim’s mouth.” RELATED | Former east Idaho athlete arrested in Utah on lewd conduct allegations and a no-contact order was issued for the victim Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins ordered if Dahle posts bail he will not be allowed to have unsupervised contact with minors Dahle is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on Feb Court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com indicate Dahle is also charged in Bingham County for a juvenile case regarding felony lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen Dahle allegedly sexually assaulted a child when he was a young teenager 7 and extradited from the Utah County Jail in Spanish Fork to the Bingham County Jail in Blackfoot on Feb It is not clear if or when further details will be available for the juvenile case EastIdahoNews.com has contacted Bingham County Prosecutor Ryan Jolley who has declined to comment while the investigation is still ongoing EastIdahoNews.com sent a public records request to the Bingham County courts where we received the following documents: a motion to waive jurisdiction under the Juvenile Correction Act an order for investigation pursuant to I.C We also sent a public records request to the Bingham County Prosecutors Office, which was denied pursuant to Idaho Juvenile Rule 52 for closed hearings. Court documents indicate Dahle posted bail in Bingham County on Tuesday and was released BYU Media Relations Manager Todd Hollingshead confirmed to EastIdahoNews.com that Dahle is no longer enrolled at BYU after transferring from the College of Southern Idaho SUBMIT A CORRECTION MISSOULA — A 23-year-old Potomac man died in a one-vehicle rollover crash in the Blackfoot Valley on Saturday The Montana Highway Patrol reports the man was eastbound in a Toyota Tundra on Montana Highway 200 near mile marker 14 the vehicle went off the right side of the road and hit a power pole The vehicle went through a fence and overturned The MHP says the man was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle by the force of the crash His name has not been released at this point speed is considered a factor in the crash; alcohol and/or drugs are not suspected BLACKFOOT – A teenage girl is safe after her car landed in the Snake River near Blackfoot Monday night near the Porterville boat dock above the waterfall by the golf course Brock Katseanes with the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office Katseanes tells EastIdahoNews.com the girl whom he declined to identify due to her age came around the corner and caught the edge of some snow “The snow sucked her off the road and into the river,” Katseanes says Katseanes says she made it out safely and swam to shore “She had to go out the back door due to the pressure of the water,” he says “Bystanders saw her and were able to give her aid right away.” Authorities will be sending divers to recover the car first thing in the morning SUBMIT A CORRECTION On Monday the Idaho Transportation Department will begin work to repave the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 from the West Blackfoot Interchange Exit 93 to Riverside Canal near the Rose Road Interchange Exit 98 This project will improve safety and the drivers’ experience with a smooth new surface During construction traffic will be shifted to the southbound lanes through a crossover The project is expected to take 50 days to complete crews will be milling down the base layer of the highway to fully reconstruct the road base and driving surface Work includes pulverizing the existing asphalt excavating and placing new material as a base and then paving over the top of the new base Travelers are encouraged to use the Idaho 511 system for updated traffic impacts through the construction season.