Archives November 2007
Massive Eagle Foothill Development Plan Changes
The M3 Eagle planned community proposed in the Eagle Foothills has been changed significantly in order to comply with Eagle's new comprehensive plan passed by the city council last week.
Bill Brownlee announced the changes to the Eagle City Council Tuesday night. Instead of 8,160 homes, the cookie-cutter community will have only 5,463, and 1,200 acres of vineyards will be included in the new plan.
Vineyards are all well and good, but there are plenty of issues to be addressed still. First of all, Brownlee claims that four wineries can move in to process the grapes, but the North Ada County Foothills Association says each 500 acres of grapes will require 15 or more wineries to process the fruit. They are also concerned with the workers who will be employed, and the fact that most of those workers will be unable to afford housing within the community, which will increase traffic, pollution, and other problems commonly associated with gigantic "planned communities" like M3 Eagle.
A phone call to the M3 Eagle offices on East Riverside Drive, Eagle, revealed that no wine companies are currently lined up to move into the new Eagle Wine Country, and that it seems no one is even interested. Considering that Idaho was home to a mere 23 total wineries in 2006, it comes as little surprise that new wine companies aren't exactly fighting for a place in the line to move to Eagle.
Regardless of the countless problems associated with a massive development like M3 sprouting up in the Eagle area, Brownlee still intends to increase the number of proposed homes to 7,153 with a "density bonus" based on the amount of open space in the community. That means that last night's revised plan is just a temporary adjustment to make Eagle City Council and its residents content while they try to get those numbers back up.
Eagle Student Causes Evacuation with Fake Bomb Threat
An Eagle High School junior has supposedly admitted to writing a fake bomb threat on a not and leaving it in a computer lab for other students to find.
When another student did discover the note, it was reported to school administrators who decided to evacuate 1800 students from the building while police bomb teams searched the school.
Of course, since there was no bomb, the cops didn't find anything. But hey, at least 1800 school kids got a break from class -- those who couldn't fit into the church across the street were packed into idling school buses to keep warm while the non existent bomb was searched for.
The student has not been identified, but we're guessing someone out there knows who he is and will fill us in shortly...
Treaser Valley Drivers Blow it On First Freeze of Season
Despite similar conditions occurring for weeks and months on end each and every year in the Treasure Valley, many local drivers were unprepared for this year's slippery roads Tuesday.
Multiple accidents were reported throughout the valley including one fatal crash near Mountain Home.
The worst of the slick road accidents took three lives on I-84 about 10 miles from Mountain Home when a 1997 Chevy Blazer slid off the westbound side into the center median, then rolled over multiple times. Idaho State Police said that all three passengers were killed instantly in the crash, and one was even ejected from the vehicle during the rollover. The victims were identified as Nannette Haag Miller, 56, Donna Haag, 76, and Eric Haag, 81. All were from Heyburn, Idaho, and the ejected passenger was not buckled in in the back seat.
Accidents do happen in cold weather, but it's easy to take precautions to help avoid dying while driving out there.
Slow down, pay close attention to potential hazards, and slow down even more. Carry an emergency kit including blankets, road flares, flash lights, water, food, etc, so that if you slide off the road in a remote location you will survive until you're found. And remember that four wheel drive does not aid in your vehicle's stopping ability.
Boise Man Jailed After Having Relations With Underage Girl
Meridian, Idaho -- A Boise man is behind bars, accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl.
Donald Lamaster, 26, is accused of violating a no contact order and committing lewd or lascivious acts with a minor.
Lamaster is charged with felony sexual battery of a child 16 or 17 years of age and misdemeanor violation of a no contact order.
Meridian Police say when the suspect was arrested late Friday night for breaking the judge's order. Further information came to light that resulted in the felony charge.
Late-Breaking Update:
Lamaster was not the only Meridian man to be arrested for putting the moves on an underaged and unwilling girl. Jeremy Robert Waggoner, a 33 year old Meridianite, was arrested and booked into the Ada County jail on battery charges after an officer patrolling in the area of 8th & Main was flagged down by a group of young women Friday night.
The young women, all young teenagers, told the officer a man had just grabbed one of the girls by the arm and made statements that he was "hitting on her". Other witnesses had apparently told the man to leave the girls alone before the girls were able to walk away.
The girls pointed out the suspect, later identified as Waggoner, to the officer, who arrested him and took him to the Ada County jail. Responding officers say alcohol appeared to be involved in Waggoner's actions.
Just Released: Larry Craig Talking Action Figure
The Talking Senator Larry Craig Action Figure stands about 12 inches tall and wears a t-shirt emblazoned with his declaration: "I Am Not Gay."
The doll comes from stupid.com, a website which sells dozens of satirical toys and gimmicks, and has had some popularity with their unique political action figures.
From the site: Senator Larry Craig is having a bad year -- In June he was arrested for Lewd Conduct after hitting on an undercover police officer in an airport Men's Room. In September resigned from the Senate, then in October decided NOT to resign. AND NOW HE IS A TALKING DOLL!
Press the button on the doll and he speaks: "Thank you all very much for coming out today. I will read a statement: I am not gay. I never have been gay."
Wow, just in time for the holidays.
Idaho Firefighters Beefcake Calendar Coming Soon
COEUR D'ALENE -- Our firefighters are smokin' hot, ladies, yes indeed. Just check out the Professional Firefighters of Idaho 2008 Beefcake Calendar.
There's Mr. January, Eric Sorenson of the Northern Lakes Fire Department, glistening, bare chested and spraying water from a fire boat. And Mr. February is Joshua "Hoss" Hoston, from the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, thick muscles bulging.
The Professional Firefighters of Idaho 2008 Beefcake Calendar contains 14 black-and-white photos of shirtless firefighters from around the state wearing their firefighting pants and suspenders.
Money from calendar sales will pay for firefighter training and education. The calendar, in its first year, replaces a concert in Boise that failed to meet the firefighter group's $80,000 goal.
Firefighters volunteered to be photographed, though many had to get their wife's permission first.
Coeur d'Alene firefighter Matt Tosi, Mr. February 2009, said he was one of the few firefighters who didn't shave his chest for the photo shoot. He expects some good-natured raking over the coals by fellow firefighters.
The Professional Firefighters of Idaho calendars are available for $15 at Coeur d'Alene's Station 1, Studio 3B, on Sherman Avenue, and Baby Space next to Costco. They'll also be available in The Coeur d'Alene Resort hallway during the sold-out Festival of Trees fashion shows on Monday, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Firefighters will charge $20 for the calendar then, but all the local men featured and two others will be on hand to sign the calendars. The extra $5 will go to the Kootenai Medical Center Foundation through the festival.
Child Hit By Car At Fairmont Jr. High, Driver Flees Scene
Boise Police are searching for a car that allegedly ran a red light and hit a child on his bike Monday morning in a crosswalk near Fairmont Jr. High.
Responding officers say a 12 year old boy was on his bike in the crosswalk headed toward the school crossing Cole Road from east to west. Witnesses said oncoming traffic had a red light and that the car ran the red light and hit the child. Paramedics responded but the boy was uninjured. He did continue on to school, but his bike was damaged enough it couldn't be ridden.
Witnesses told officers after the car hit the child, the driver slowed down, rolled the passenger's side window down to look at the boy, who had fallen, then drove off. Now officers are asking the public's help in searching for the car and the driver that hit him.
The vehicle is described as a white passenger car, a Honda or Toyota-type vehicle. The driver is described by witnesses as a male, possibly 17 to 18 years old and wearing a beanie. The driver appeared to be the only person in the car.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 343-COPS.
Dog Saves Owner From House Fire
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Candace Jennings was sleeping on the couch when she was nudged awake by her dog, Anna, to find her mobile home engulfed in flames early Thanksgiving Day. The blond heeler, an abused stray dog Jennings had adopted from an animal shelter, whined and howled until they ran outside.
"I had an awful headache. The place was filled with smoke," she told the Idaho Statesman for a story published Saturday.
But Jennings said she ran back into her burning home to save some items.
She crawled back into her burning home in Idaho City, about 40 miles northeast of Boise, with Anna close at her side.
But Jennings said she became disoriented and was nearly overcome by smoke. She tried to get back out but crawled in the wrong direction, heading toward the pantry instead of the door.
Anna showed her the way out.
"She pushed on me; she nudged me out the door," Jennings said.
The roof collapsed as Jennings, barefoot and wearing only pajamas, ran to some trees in the 15-degree weather. Jennings suffered burns to her feet and then frostbite. Anna and two other dogs Jennings has were not injured.
Let The Ridiculousness Ensue
Holiday Shoppers Act Like Idiots
Traffic control officials are actually manning the traffic camera stations today, adjusting traffic signal timings to help ease the crunch on Boise's major roads and freeways during the most retarded shopping day in America.
Also, someone thought it would be a good idea to open the Boise Town Square Mall at 1:00 a.m. this morning, but that was basically a disaster. People were smashed trying to get inside. Many left unhappy and said, in retrospect, going to the mall at 1am was a bad idea.
Boise Police says they had five officers at the mall and thought they were prepared, but soon realized they were outnumbered and had to double their presence.
According to Ada County Paramedics there were 6-8 calls for assistance at the mall between 12:30am and 2am alone. There were several reports of people being trampled as they tried to get inside.
Hawaii: Unruly BSU Fans Will Be 'Booted'
Officials at Hawaii's Aloha Stadium announced a "zero tolerance" policy against violence or threatening behavior at tomorrow's sold-out football game, Boise State at University of Hawaii.
Fans caught throwing things or acting inappropriately will be escorted out or dealt with accordingly, the stadium said in a news release.
The strict policy was adopted after Fresno State fans complained of rude conduct in the stands during the last home game, Nov. 10.
Tomorrow's big game is completely sold out, so UH is expecting 50,000 or more attendees, and lots of trouble, apparently.
Boise Loses 2009 Potato Congress, France Doesn't Even Want It
In a crushing blow to state pride, Idaho was not selected to host the 2009 Global Potato Congress. Instead, Paris, France was chosen as the next site for the 500+ attendee conference.
But when officials in Paris found out about the plans to have a potato convention in their city, they put into motion a strategy to dump the conference on longtime rival nation New Zealand, claiming they were unable to accommodate the event due to "unforeseen circumstances."
The World Potato Congress functions to promote information sharing among global potato interests, including a wide representation from developing nations. This is the organization to contact if you have a potato-related international emergency of any kind.
Comedy Club Crisis: Funny Bone to Close Down
Owners of the Funny Bone Comedy Club, 405 S. 8th St., filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition recently in federal bankruptcy court in Boise after accruing $41,128.61 in unpaid rent and related fees.
Michael Kohn, whose St. Louis-based company owns the Boise Funny Bone and eight other Funny Bones across the United States, said the company had no choice but to file for bankruptcy. He alleges BoDo Partners, the company's landlord, has been overcharging him for the space since the lease was signed in 2003.
Boise Fire Dept. Rescues Puppy, PETA Issues News Release
Boise, Idaho - Chief Renn Ross of the Boise Fire Department and his technical rescue team will receive PETA's Compassionate Firefighter Award for their heroic rescue of a 7-week-old puppy who fell down a well.
After hours of well blueprint analysis and head-scratching, the department's special technical rescue team cut through surrounding concrete and into the well in order to free the puppy.
Chief Ross and his technical rescue team will receive a framed certificate and a letter of appreciation from PETA. "Boise is very fortunate to have a public agency that is ready to protect and serve the city's beloved four-legged companions," she said.
Butch Otter Holds Top Secret Meetings - No Story Here
Just kidding, it's about liquor licenses, though no one has told us how they found that out...
The meetings are to consider making drastic changes in the Alcohol Beverage Control, run by the Idaho State Police.
Currently, there are about 800 licenses in the state. Unless you want to wait the 20 years, you have to pay an unrealistically high price to get one from a license owner, not the state. Kevin Settles, owner of Bardenay, said he paid more than $300,000 for three licenses. And if you want one in Ketchum, you can pay more than $400,000 for one license.
Governor Otter wants to put some common sense into the process and make more licenses available. The problem is, many of the license owners are treating the licenses as assets. And there are stories floating around of people getting loans based on those assets, something Brian Ballard, of Hawley Troxell Ennis and Hawley, told the Chamber committee is illegal.
Sections
- Home
- Massive Eagle Foothill Development Plan Changes
- Eagle Student Causes Evacuation with Fake Bomb Threat
- Treaser Valley Drivers Blow it On First Freeze of Season
- Boise Man Jailed After Having Relations With Underage Girl
- Just Released: Larry Craig Talking Action Figure
- Idaho Firefighters Beefcake Calendar Coming Soon
- Child Hit By Car At Fairmont Jr. High, Driver Flees Scene
- Dog Saves Owner From House Fire
- Let The Ridiculousness Ensue
- Hawaii: Unruly BSU Fans Will Be 'Booted'
- Boise Loses 2009 Potato Congress, France Doesn't Even Want It
- Comedy Club Crisis: Funny Bone to Close Down
- Boise Fire Dept. Rescues Puppy, PETA Issues News Release
- Butch Otter Holds Top Secret Meeting - No Story Here
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