Davey's Bridge

– July 29, 2013 ID PFH 24(10) Davey’s Bridge Construction Activities and Upcoming Work LCI placed most of the bridge parapet concrete last Friday. The remainder will be placed mid-week this week. LCI’s sub-contractors will continue working on bringing the sub-grade up early this week and then work on placing roadway aggregate and completing the traffic lanes for Phase II of the bridge construction. Guardrail will be installed at the end of the week. Traffic may be switched to the Phase II configuration by the end of this week. LCI is gearing up for the bridge removal, which is scheduled to take place next week. Traffic Delays Legacy Contracting Inc is scheduled to work Monday thru Friday. Flagging operations may be required between the hours of 7AM and 7PM, M-F, with up to 15-minute delays. No official alternate routes are currently available. Contact Information Construction Manager: Sean Jackson, Project Engineer Mailing Address: 1119-A Banks Lowman Rd Garden Valley, ID 83622 Office Phone: 208-462-5166 E-mail: sean.jackson@dot.gov Bridge Removal Containment and Access Project Overview</b>

Idaho Fire Restrictions Implemented

Southwest and Central Idaho, August 1

(Does not include Owyhee)

David Olson, PIO

Boise National Forest

BOISE, ID - With the hot, dry conditions and very high fire danger throughout southwest and central Idaho, local wildland fire protection agencies will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, effective Thursday, August 1, 2013 beginning at 12:01 a.m.  The identified areas include private and agency lands protected by the Boise, Payette, and Sawtooth National Forests; Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Forest Protection Districts, Southern Idaho Timber Protection Association, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Offices within the areas listed below.  Stage 1 Fire Restrictions include the areas listed below:

·         All private, State, and BLM protected lands outside incorporated city limits within Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Washington counties, and portions of Idaho, Adams, Valley, Custer, Elmore, Camas and Blaine counties;

·         All Boise National Forest lands within Boise, Elmore, Gem and Ada counties, and a portion of Valley County;

·         All Payette National Forest lands (excluding the Frank Church Wilderness) within Adams, Washington and portions of Idaho and Valley Counties;

·         All Sawtooth National Forest lands within Elmore and Camas counties, and portions of Blaine and Custer counties.

For a detailed map and information, visit:  http://www.idahofireinfo.blm.gov/southwest/firerestrictions.htm.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.  The restrictions are being implemented by federal and state agencies providing wild land fire protection in the area, including the BLM, Boise National Forest, Payette National Forest, Sawtooth National Forest, and Idaho Department of Lands.  These restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of any preventable fires in the designated areas. 

Under State 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on the restricted state and federally managed lands, roads and trails:

·         Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, stove fire except within an agency designated recreation site and only within an agency provided structure, or on a private citizen’s own land and only within an owner-provided permanent structure.

·         Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

 Following are exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

·         Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.

·         Persons using fire solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels.  Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used in an area cleared of flammable material.

·         Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.

·         Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

·         All land within a city boundary.

·         Persons using metal fire pans within ¼ mile of the south side Main Salmon River west of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness to the confluence of the Little Salmon River.

·         Other exemptions unique to each agency.

Don't Struggle with Windows 8!

There will be a 2-hour

'Exploring Windows 8’

class

on Wednesday, July 31 at the Library – 1pm-3pm. 

Cost is $15 and take-home materials will be available. 

 Please sign up at the library so we can have materials ready.

~ 462-3317 ~

Mention to friends who are struggling with or thinking about

Windows 8

Nan Kelley

Lone Pine Technical Solutions, LLC
Garden Valley, ID  83622

208.462.2080

Ridge Fire Update

The Ridge Fire, using subalpine Fir, Lodgepole Pine and Douglas Fir as fuel, is now at 5,246 acres and is contained at 35%. 

Assigned resources are 418 personnel, with eleven twenty-person fire crews and eight helicopters.

  The cooler, more humid weather on Saturday helped firefighters achieve complete containment

on the southwestern division of the fire, referred to as “Zulu”. The crews working on Zulu were

taken to the base camp, where they had their first hot meal in seven days!

The other ten crews are still camped on the fire line and also had their first hot meal delivered since they started working the fire last Friday.

Fire activity continues to diminish on the east side, where hose-lay from 8-Mile Creek has been

routed to hotspots. The northern end of the fire continues to smolder and torch in the Cat Lakes

area where hotshot crews are working toward containment.

For realtime upates and photos, visit www.inciweb.org/incident/3523/

Summer Fun at GV Center for the Arts!

Visit www.gardenvalleycenterforthearts.org

for more information, membership, and contact info.



Gail White is your pottery instructor!

La Flambe Here in August!

Free Flow Arts Performance

Fire Dancing and LED Light Show

La Flambé

Sat. August 24^{th @} 9 PM

Raffle Drawing For Awesome Prizes

Downtown Crouch

In-front of our local Radio Station

 @ 95.7   Broadcast live

THE BOARDWALK SHOPS:

~ Red Rooster ~

 ~ Raven’s Nest ~

~Syringa Floral and Gifts ~

will be open with special offers just for that evening

along with light refreshments offered.

Sponsored by La Flambé, a volunteer performance group

that entertains with poi, fire fans and hula hoops

as a thank you for supporting our group’s dream

to attend workshops in Lake Tahoe

 with raffle sales and donations!

Contact: laflambesisters@gmail.com

Like Us on Facebook @ LaFlambeSisters

City of Crouch Opens Bids on Water Project

  At the Crouch City Council meeting on July 10, City Planner, Jerome Mapp, and Forsgren and Associates Engineer, Gary Ashby, exhibited a map which showed the proposed 125,000-gallon water tank and 8-inch waterline that will connect to the existing well, which was put in with the GV Market.

   The Water Project map may be viewed at the City offices in the Syringa Building, next to the Community Hall.

  Bids will be open until 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 7. Forsgren and Associates will review the qualifications of the lowest bidder and go from there. The Council will announce the winner and award the contract at the next regular council meeting on August 14.

  On that date, Ashby and Mapp will give a progress report on the water project. Ashby said, “It’ll be a three-month project—the tank can be built in one month, but no use rushing. It will be completed in November.”

  The legal ad for bidding appeared in the July 17 issue of the Idaho World and is advertised with the American General Contractors.

  Clerk Vickie Chandler reported that the Syringa Building/Historical Museum exterior painting is completed, and she reiterated that the council was not liable for any payment—upon award of a grant, it is to be paid. Castle Mountain Homes contractor, Scott Leslie, bought the paint and donated half. The grants organization assured that they will fundraise for the money if a grant doesn’t come through. Leslie had the painting done immediately after Dick Polley completed repairs, though the funds were not available.

Lowman Log Works created this handsome new sign for the museum.

  The gorgeous new museum sign arrived right after this meeting. Lowman Log Works did the good work. Chandler gleefully drew attention to the absence of boxes in the room. The board—Ed Griffith, Terry Welch, Janeen Jackson, and John Tucker—had completed the task of organizing all the photos and pictures.

  A reminder: Donations or loan of historical items, including household, tools and machinery, will be appreciated; cash for projects is always welcome. Stop in on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, between 12—4 p.m. to gather inspiration on how you can help.

  The council discussed replacing the waterline from the Syringa Building to the Community Hall well. Acting Chair, Richard Messick, said, “It’s all old PVC pipes and we’d have to dig up the road.” City Attorney, John McFadden, advised them to “wait and see what happens with the bids—maybe you can discuss it with the contractor”. He recommended they connect with the city system and not fix the well.

  Regarding cost of utilities, Clerk Chandler said, “The city is hoping for a good surprise with the propane and electric bill, come winter,” due to the move from the Community Hall to the small Syringa Building.

  The scheduled Amended Budget Hearing did not take place because no residents attended the meeting. The next Council meeting is August 14, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., in the Community Hall. The 2014 Annual Budget Hearing will take place on this date.

 For information, call the clerk at 462-4687. The City office is located in the Syringa Building, at 342 Village Circle, downtown Crouch.

 

Ridge Fire Update

The Ridge Fire, which started with lightning on July 17, is burning 14 miles northeast of Lowman and has reached a size of 4,615 acres, with 390 personnel now battling among subalpine Fir and lodgepole Pine.

 

Today, fire crews will continue to construct fireline on the western portion of the

fire perimeter as they secure and mop up existing fire line with assistance from water dropping

helicopters. Three additional twenty person hotshot crews will arrive today to assist with

firefighting efforts. These crews will be flown via helicopter, to the fireline when they arrive at

the incident.

The northern part of the fire has moved into the area previously burned in the Red Mountain Fire

of 2006. The reduction of fuel in this area has slowed the progression of the Ridge Fire to the

north, thus allowing fire crews to make good progress while increasing the percentage of

containment to 14 percent.

Fire crews will continue to utilize spike camps throughout the fire area as they work towards full

containment, in their efforts to protect the White Bark Pine and Bull Trout habitat within the local

area.

For realtime upates, visit

www.inciweb.org/incident/3523/ and follow the team on twitter

@GreatBasinTeam5.

Kelly Hughes to Perform Recital at Library

  The Friends of the Garden Valley Library are sponsoring another summer program featuring local talent. This presentation features a Kelly Hughes recital, for your enjoyment.

  Kelly, an accomplished musician on oboe, saxophone, guitar and vocals, has performed in various chamber ensembles and orchestras since 1990, including Idaho Falls Symphony, Lulea and Pitea Symphony Orchestras (in Sweden), Las Vegas Woodwind Quintet, and Nextet, a new music Ensemble.

  Before she moved to Garden Valley from Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2006, Kelly played English horn with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, from 2001-2006. The musician is a current member of Garden Valley Center of the Arts and GVArt.

  Get ready for an entertaining night of music. Kelly will play and sing some of her own compositions as well as known musical works. There will probably be some musical surprises for everyone.

  This special night of music will take place at the Garden Valley Library on Thursday, July 25, at 7:00 p.m.

  After the performance, refreshments will be served in the Community Room. Take this opportunity to meet and talk to the artist.

  This is a free presentation, and all are invited.

           

Pine Creek Fire Morning Update

22 July 2013

Contact Fire Information:  (208) 392-9893 or (208) 940-0642

PineCreekFire@gmail.com

Start Date	Cause	Acres	Percent Containment	Helicopters	Engines	Crews	Dozers	Total Personnel
7/15/2013	Human	2,797	80%	2	8	10	1	396

The Pine Creek Fire remains at 2,797 acres and is 80 percent contained.  Beginning tomorrow, Kidd’s Type 2 Incident Management Team will be transitioning command to a local Type 3 Incident Commander.

Today crews will continue mopping up hot spots, progressing further into the interior of the fire, and mitigating resource impacts caused by fire suppression activities. Some of the rehabilitation work includes installing water bars on steep slopes, re-establishing road and trail conditions to pre-incident status, and protecting water quality for municipal water sheds.  Firefighters will also continue relocating slash from fuel reduction that was done prior to the burnouts and begin breaking down and hauling out equipment and supplies. Some resources were released this morning and were reassigned to other fires, and the command staff will continue to evaluate staffing needs and release resources as necessary.

Today’s weather is expected to be a bit cooler than the past couple days with high temperatures reaching 95 degrees and the minimum relative humidity at 10 percent. The winds are predicted to be 5 to 8 miles per hour with afternoon gusts reaching 18 miles per hour.  Interior pockets of green vegetation may continue to burn and produce minimal smoke over the coming days.   

Grimes Creek Road is fully opened, although travelers need to use caution as firefighters will still be in the area completing post-suppression work.  The area closure does remain in effect.  For more information on the closure area and the Pine Creek Fire, visit http://inciweb.org/incident/3514/. 

###

 

Senior Center Cook-Out Tuesday, July 23

   Granny Big Cheese and Peggy Limey Luver had been stashing for months and Granny's finally had a successful "Antiques, Collectibles and Vintage" sale last week-end. 

If you are missing Renee Smith at the reception desk,
try to catch her at Granny's Closet!

  This week-end, July 26-27, the theme will be "Lighthouses and Ocean-Related Things" and they will also be featuring exercise equipment with a lot of weights, DVDs, clothing, and other items related to sweating. Summer apparel and wares can be found throughout the shop, so stop in for your fix anytime between 12-5, on Friday and 10-4, on Saturday.
  BBQ Chicken, Brats and Hot Dogs are a-comin’ on 4^th Tuesday, July 23, 6 p.m. The Senior Center board will bring the fixin’s: Corn Salad, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Desserts (Rhubarb Crisp for one) and the music will be supplied by Ken Patterson and Friends. Show up by 6 p.m. and get the show on the road. Bring the family and drop whatever you want into the donation box.

  Other news on the food front is Lunch, possibly consisting of homemade Soup, Bread, or Sandwiches or other lunchy items and maybe a sweet, for the old friendly, neighborly get-together once a week. Keep your antennae tuned.

  Foot Clinic ladies will be here on August 14, IF a couple more people sign up, at $20 each. All takers have said it feels divine, while sprucing up the tootsies, and is well worth having a session. Call to add your name to the list of swooners: 462-3943.

  MOVIE NIGHT this Friday, July 26, at 6:30 --no charge. Stop in and relax around the screen and watch an almost oldie--this is the movie where Brad Pitt made his pitch for ladies' hearts, in "A River Runs Through It". If you have a favorite you’d like to have shown or if you have a preference for "oldies but goodies" or foreign films or whatever, let our volunteers know. The Movie Corner is now very comfy and cozy with sofas, so it’s perfect for watching the screen. Popcorn and sodas for a small fee.

  Yoga is here: Shanti has come from Lowman to lead sessions the past two weeks and starting the 9^th of August, will be here every Friday morning at 10 a.m. If you have stress in your life, you need YOGA! This class is free and is all about you. Relax, gently move into position and let the stress flow out. Bring a mat or slide-proof rug.
  Fit & Fall-Proof exercise class, by Ione, is gentle stretching, strength-building and easy for anyone. Join this free class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 3:00 p.m., and stay for coffee and low-calorie sweets after the sweats. If you want to shop Granny's for some work-out gear, Ione will let you in.

  Board president, Ruth Richter, commented at the last meeting that she has never been involved with an organization where a few people made decisions without membership input. This is the time to get involved with your senior center—don’t leave it all up to the board! Ruth has started sending e-mails to the senior’s membership. If you have an e-mail address, please send an e-mail to gvseniors@frontiernet.net, to get your address set up.

  Building Rental prices for the Center are quite reasonable and remember, for your $5 (active) membership, you get half off: $60, less than 8 hours; $100, 8-24 hours; with kitchen use, $100. For your separate events, folding chairs, $1 each; and tables, $10 each.

Refundable deposits of $50, for room, kitchen use and take-out rentals.

  Volunteers will be at the Center to answer phones or welcome visitors on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10-12. The phone will be answered during Granny’s hours and odd hours also. Call 462-3943 or e-mail above.

  The Senior Center is the Center for All Ages. Wifi is available inside and out.

  Located at 261 S. Middle Fork Road, Crouch/GV. See you soon!

Classical Music in Crouch!

Boise National Forest Area Fire Updates – July 21, 11:00 a.m.

Pine Creek Fire – Information Center: (208) 392-9893

Start Date	Cause	Acres	Percent Containment	Helicopters	Engines	Crews	Total Personnel
7/15/2013	Human	2,700	60%	2	14	11	455

Location-7 miles southwest of Idaho City, ID

Current situation-Firefighters are focusing efforts on patrolling containment lines, mopping up hot spots and rehabilitating fire lines.  This includes relocating slash piles created during fuel reduction work to the east side of Grimes Creek Road at the Clear Creek intersection. 

Closures-Grimes Creek Road is open, although intermittent closures will occur in the area throughout the day.  An area closure remains in effect around the fire.  While public land west of Grimes Creek Road and north of Pine Creek is open, camping is not currently permitted.  For more information, visit http://inciweb.org/incident/3514/.

Ridge Fire – Information Center:  (877) 608-5655

Start Date	Cause	Acres	Percent Containment	Helicopters	Engines	Crews	Total Personnel
7/17/2013	Lightning	3,061	5%	5	0	7	310

Location-14 miles northeast of Lowman, ID

Current situation-Fire continues to burn actively.  Flames moved through thick vegetation to the north, east and west yesterday. Smoke continues to impact Stanley, ID.  Containment work is focused on the western flank.  A small section of the southwest edge of the fire has been secured. Public meeting was held yesterday in Lowman.

Closures-Warm Spring Airstrip, NFS Road 545 (O’Keefe Loop), NFS Road 515 (Red Mountain Rd.), NFS Trail #018 (Long Creek), NFS Trail #144 (Kirkham Ridge), NFS Trail 148 (Link Trail), NFS #147 (Warm Springs), NFS # 145 (Red Mountain).

For more information, visit http://inciweb.org/incident/3523/.

Summit Fire – Information Center:  (208) 462-5320

Start Date	Cause	Acres	Percent Containment	Helicopters	Engines	Crews	Total Personnel
7/16/2013	Lightning	370	50%	3	7	10	307

Location-14 miles northeast of Idaho City and 8 miles southwest of Lowman, ID

Current situation-Fire crews have made good progress building a fire line around the southeast and west portions of the fire.  The northern flank has some isolated interior torching with some short range spotting.

Closures-An area closure is in effect.

For more information, visit http://inciweb.org/incident/3525/.

Garden Tour Saturday

Garden Tour is for Sharing

Anita Sherwood doing what she does best--
although if she's singing in the garden,
it's a double superlative!

  Well-known local gardener, Anita Sherwood, has been behind the annual Garden Valley garden tours for fourteen years, though the defunct Garden Club was headed by Heidi Simpson until she became a full-time mama. “This year the theme is ‘Vegetable Gardens’,” says Anita. “We’ll see some very marvelous vegetables and see what can happen in spite of deer, weather and shade.”

  The free tour on Saturday, July 20, will include five houses with generous gardeners eager to impart knowledge they’ve gathered from experience. One garden is practically on straight hillside, which can present a great challenge—find out the secret to success.

  “This tour is so worthwhile,” enthuses Sherwood, “people want to share what they’ve learned, the dos and don’ts, what grows here…they will address the soil, whether it’s crushed granite, and how to work it. Sometimes they have starts they’ll give you—you can ask for a little piece—gardening doesn’t have to be expensive. Gardeners really share with one another; it makes them wonderful people.”

   Everyone is welcome to participate in the tour. Parking is tight in some locations, so it is provided by the Senior Center, at 261 S. Middle Fork Road, in Crouch and car pools will head out from there, at 3:30 p.m. The tour will last approximately one-and-a-half hours.

  You are advised to wear a hat and bring paper, pencil, and a water bottle. “Some gardeners will have treats—different houses do different things,” says Anita. “We enjoy carpooling—it makes it nice and friendly and we get to know each other. For information, call Anita Sherwood at 462-2500.

 

Summit Fire update 7/20

7/20/2013 at 10:40 AM

The Summit Fire in Boise County is an estimated 260 acres in size and 20 percent contained.  The fire is located approximately 14 miles northeast of Idaho City and 4 miles north of Pilot Peak, or 8 miles southwest of Lowman.

The Type 2 (regional) Great Basin Team 6 Incident Management Team took over management of the fire this morning under Incident Commander Tracy Dunford.  An Incident Command Post (ICP) will be staged in Crouch, at the same location where the Springs Fire ICP was placed in 2012.

The middle of the fire to its southern flank is mostly burned through, but the northern flank of the fire is still active and spotting.  Approximately 250 fire personnel and aerial resources will work today to secure line already constructed and will focus on catching spots on the northern flank.  Weather today will be hot and dry with low relative humidity, typical summer conditions that make fighting fire challenging in subalpine fir and lodgepole pine - the fuels that are feeding this fire.

Now that the weekend is here, recreationists in the area are encouraged to check fire information for closed areas of the Boise National Forest.

Lightning started the Summit Fire on Tuesday evening and strong winds spread the flames quickly.  No structures are threatened. 

Information about the fire is being updated online at this link: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3525/

Emily Callihan, Idaho Department of Lands