The year’s top stories of 2019: Part 2 – July through December

Residents of Weiser, Midvale and Cambridge enjoyed July 4th activities on a picture-perfect summer day.
 In Weiser, veterans were honored with a short parade from the depot to Veterans Park. The annual tribute to Independence Day was punctuated with fireworks in Weiser and Cambridge, while Midvale celebrated with a parade and events in the city park.
 Two accidents on U.S. Highway 95 during a single weekend claimed the lives of four Weiser residents and shocked the community. Some said the tragedies were evidence the highway between Weiser and Payette is dangerous.
 Local farmers received a full allocation of irrigation water during the growing season, which wasn’t too hot or cold. In October, though, an early hard freeze had onion farmers scrambling to get the crop harvested, transported and stored. Records fell across the region as unseasonably cold temperatures gripped the area.
 Residents enjoyed numerous summer activities, including the 75th annual Weiser Valley Round-Up, the Court Street Cruise show and shine and the farmers markets in Weiser and Midvale.
 The Washingon County Fair in early August is always an enjoyable week in Cambridge. The FFA and 4-H kids earned more than $200,000 from the livestock sale on the final day of the fair.
 The August opening of the Ridley’s Family Markets grocery store in Weiser was greeted with much enthusiasm.
 Mark Ridley was on hand for the ribbon-cutting at the new location next to Bi-Mart. He  thanked the community and employees for their loyalty.  
 Residents were thrilled to have a brand new store after shopping in a temporary location for more than two years. The old store was forced to close after the roof collapsed during the winter of “snowmageddon” in 2017.
 Before they knew it, kids were back in school and summer vacation was over. Both the Weiser School District and Cambridge School District started the school year with new superintendents leading.
 Weiser celebrated the holidays in a big way with a parade, holiday bazaars starting in October, Ho Ho Express, Festival of Trees and much more.
 The spirit of the season could be found around town during the month of December. Residents even saw some snow in early December, but it didn’t stick around for Christmas.
“We have a lot of fruit this year,” Kathy Brooke said, while weighing buckets of cherries at the family-owned Brooke Orchards south of Weiser. The orchard was offering both U-pick and already picked cherries, and there were a lot of them. The cherries ripen and are harvested in a fairly short window of time in late June and early July. Neighboring Kelley Orchards also had a big crop of peaches and other fruit.
 The communities of Weiser, Midvale and Cambridge all planned activities for July 4th to celebrate Independence Day. Midvale’s full day of fun and food started with a parade. There were various categories to enter and possibly win prizes, including kids bikes and pets. There was also an adult farm equipment and motorized “toy” category.
 Homeowners on private wells in the vicinity of Winslow Road south of Weiser were notified of an unexplained increase in nitrate levels in groundwater over the past year. The SWDH sent a letter to more than 95 property owners in the area informing them that nitrate levels in two wells showed “a significant increase.” The level of nitrates doubled in two wells and far exceeded the maximum contaminant level for consumption.
 There was shock and then grief following two separate car accidents in two days on U.S. Highway 95 that resulted in the deaths of four Weiser residents and numerous injuries. The accidents occurred on a Saturday and Sunday on U.S. 95 between Weiser and Payette.
 Weiser High School’s 2019 average SAT score of 955 was up from last year’s score of 916. The statewide average score declined for the second year in a row. The 2019 SAT score was 976, a dip from the 2018 score of 989 and 20 points lower than 2017. A perfect score on the SAT is 1,600. WHS juniors, along with nearly 20,000 juniors across the state, took the college entry exam in April.
 Rodeo fans enjoyed three nights of action at the 75th installment of the Weiser Valley Round-Up at Fred Hust Arena in Weiser. The heat cranked up past 90 degrees for all three nights of the rodeo, a boon in business for the concession and beer stands as rodeo fans sought to stay hydrated. Past Round-Up queens were invited to be recognized as grand marshals on Friday night right after the grand entry. Some former WVR queens rode their horses, while others made a trip around the arena on four wheels.
 Four new crown holders will represent the region as 12 young women – six teens and six Miss contestants – competed in the Miss Western Idaho Scholarship program. The new Miss Three Rivers Lacie Willet, Miss Western Idaho Kyra Bake, Miss Three Rivers Outstanding Teen Elsie King and Miss Western Idaho Outstanding Teen Karley Walker earned the top combined scores in all elements of the program. Each was rewarded with a title and also the chance to compete as candidates for Miss Idaho and Miss Idaho’s Outstanding teen.
AUGUST
 American hot rods and classic cars were the stars at the 20th anniversary of the Court Street Cruise Show and Shine at City Park in Weiser. The car show was organized by the Court Street Cruisers, a local group of vintage car owners in Weiser who love to show off their vintage rides. More than 60 classic cars and rods registered for the event. During the afternoon, prizes were given away during breaks between song sets by Billy and the Barn Kats, who played rock and roll from the heyday of hot rodding.
 The bleachers in the sale barn at the Washington County Fair in Cambridge filled up for the 4-H and FFA market livestock auction on the final day of the county fair. It’s the one payday 4-H and FFA members get for the months spent caring for and feeding their project animals. The weeklong fair began with the dog agility trials and ended with the livestock sale. The theme of this year’s fair was “Where the road ends and the fun begins.”
 The first Weiser Farmers Market of the season brought local residents downtown to the train depot on a hot afternoon. Any and all shade from the afternoon sun was welcome with the temperature hovering right around 100 degrees. The first market featured fresh produce, locally grown fruit, tasty baked goods, crafts and more from a dozen vendors. The popular weekly markets also featured live entertainment.
 When Weiser farmer Ernie Chandler saw that Bayer Grain was offering a sweepstakes to give back to local charities, he knew he wanted to apply. He also knew which local organization he wanted to support. Chandler’s application was selected as one of the 10 winners of the Bayer Grain for Food Sweepstakes and the Weiser cancer support organization Angel Wings Network received a $5,000 donation from the company.  
 Mosquitoes trapped in Weiser tested positive for the West Nile virus at the end of July, the Southwest District Health Department said. The health district also reported that mosquitoes from Fruitvale and Indian Valley in Adams County also tested positive for WNV. The positive results in Washington and Adams counties follows numerous other counties in southwest Idaho that have reported WNV-positive mosquitoes earlier in July.
 A new music performance space in Weiser debuted as award-winning harmonica player Dennis Cooper took the stage for an hour to entertain with original and cover songs. The building at 8 East Idaho St. most recently housed the Nazarene Church, which used it as a youth center. The building was purchased from the church by the nonprofit Co-Opportunities and renamed The Bee Hive. Dennis and Sandy Cooper founded the nonprofit Co-Opportunities and plan many events, classes and activities with the Bee Tee Folk School.
 The colorful mural project on the wall of Marbella’s in downtown Weiser was completed and celebrated. Many of the community members and BEST afterschool program students that painted the individual tiles for the art project stopped by to admire the finished mural. The 10-foot by 22-foot mural can be seen from State Street and everyone agreed that it greatly enhances the downtown area. The artwork is actually a mosaic of many pieces of tiles with a frame that consists of complete tiles.
 Almost exactly one year after breaking ground in a field next to Bi-Mart, the new Ridley’s Family Market opened with much fanfare. Few store openings in Weiser have been quite as anticipated as Ridley’s. City, county and state leaders, along with a large crowd of local residents, were on hand for the ribbon-cutting before the doors opened on Ridley’s new 55,000 square foot store. The atmosphere was festive as Ridley’s employees handed out free donuts.
 Mark Ridley thanked the community for supporting the store at the temporary location while the new store was under construction. Ridley’s old store downtown was forced to close after the roof collapsed during the heavy snows of January 2017. It was more than two years before the new store opened, and Ridley’s operated out of a temporary location during those two years.
 St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Love INC made sure kids were stocked up for success in the new school year. Donations of school supplies by the church and nonprofit assured that local kids were well equipped to start school last week. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Weiser recently raised $1,000 and spent the money on school supplies. The donations came mostly from church members who wrote checks for the good cause or stuck some cash in the donation box at the church.
 Students in the Weiser School District went back to the classrooms at the end of August. All schools in the Weiser School District began the fall semester on a Wednesday. The mid-week start eased students back into the school routine after the summer break.
September
 Proponents of legal medical marijuana in Idaho started collecting signatures in an effort to put the issue on the ballot in 2020. The initiative effort cleared the first hurdle when Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney certified the petition submitted by the Idaho Cannabis Coalition, the sponsor of the Idaho Medical Marijuana Act, allowing the collection of signatures to proceed. The medical marijuana backers must collect 55,057 signatures, or 6 percent of registered voters in the 2018 election, to get the measure on the 2020 general election ballot.
 Local candidates filed the paperwork to run for a number of city and county offices by the deadline. The cities of Weiser, Midvale and Cambridge held municipal elections, with contested races for mayor and city council seats in Weiser and two city council positions in Cambridge. Three Weiser residents filed for the mayor’s office, creating a three-way race for the open seat. After serving two terms, current mayor Diana Thomas declined to seek re-election. The candidates included Randy Hibberd, Dan Randleman and Alex Chavarria. Both Hibberd and Randleman serve on the city council.
 Two more Weiser residents were confirmed by state health officials to have contracted human West Nile virus, which brought the total number of local cases to four. The first two cases of WNV human infections were reported in early August by the Southwest District Health Department. The two recent human WNV cases were reported later, but they were probably infected at about the same time in early August.
 The sixth annual fundraiser hosted by the Surviving Hearts cancer support group attracted the biggest crowd ever. The event was held at Sunnyside Farms and Events, a rural location south of Weiser, on a perfect night to be outdoors enjoying live music, dinner and auctions. Through dinner ticket sales and silent and live auctions, the annual Surviving Hearts fundraiser raises many thousands of dollars to assist local cancer patients with everything from gas cards to help with utility bills.
 Enthusiasm was running high among members of the newly formed Weiser FFA alumni chapter to support local agriculture education and students in the FFA program at Weiser High School. The alumni chapter held its first major fundraiser, a “farm gate to dinner plate” dinner and auction at the Weiser Senior and Community Center. By all measures, the fundraiser was a big success, with every table filled at the senior center. FFA students in their blue jackets helped out during the evening with serving dinner, cleaning up and the auction.
 Authorities lifted the burn ban in Washington County, citing a reduced chance of wildfires after recent rain and the arrival of cooler temperatures. The wildfire season last summer was a mild one around Weiser and in the county, and a short one as well. Fire Chief Tim Atwood, with the Weiser Area Rural Fire Department, said he didn’t think more than five acres in total burned in the fire district in the entire summer.
 Weiser residents wore red and white for the homecoming parade and the big game at Weiser High School that night, the culmination of a week of Wolverine pride. The parade wound down State Street and members of the volleyball team had fun with spectators along the route, giving high-fives. The Wolverines routed the Parma Panthers on Friday night to wrap up homecoming week. The victory over Parma was a treat for members of the Weiser High School Class of 1969, who were in town to celebrate their 50th reunion and take part in homecoming events. There were also members of the Class of 1974.
October
 An early, hard freeze added urgency to get this year’s onion crop harvested, transported and put in storage. Farmers, truck drivers, produce shippers and everyone else who could lend a hand have put in long hours to get the crop out of the fields. There were numerous cold temperature records set across the Treasure Valley and the region. In eastern Idaho, farmers were scrambling to complete the potato harvest.
 Candidates for Weiser mayor, city council and Weiser School District Board of Trustees offered their views on a variety of issues at a well-attended forum sponsored by the Weiser Signal American and moderated by editor Steve Lyon. The forum was held at the Weiser Senior and Community Center and invited questions from the audience.
 Phil Soulen was remembered as a generous, humble man who contributed much to Weiser and Idaho. Soulen was a  prominent local livestock producer and philanthropist who contributed to many causes, including the Weiser Memorial Hospital. Soulen, who owned Soulen Livestock Company, passed away at age 90 in Weiser. Soulen and his late wife Erlene built the company started by his dad into a successful sheep and cattle operation that today operates in eight counties and owns more than 47,000 deeded acres.
 Among those who passed away in the previous year, the community also lost former Weiser mayor John Walker and former Washington County Commissioner during 2019.
 The Weiser Irrigation District shut down the Galloway canal and mill ditch on Oct. 15, which is the traditional ending date for the irrigation season. The irrigation district supplies water to farmers and ranchers to irrigate about 15,000 acres in the area. Farmers received a full allocation of water in 2019 and there was water left over in storage at Crane Creek Reservoir for the 2020 growing season.
 A group of Weiser High School FFA students and adviser Amanda Cheney attended the national convention for the first time in a few years. The 12 students had the opportunity to attend the 92nd annual National FFA Convention and Expo. It has been over five years since the Weiser FFA chapter has attended the national convention. The students who were able to attend included Kelsi Marvin, Riata Chandler, Lacie Willet, Emily Mounts, Madelyn Erickson, Madison Cobb, Shae Kunz, Faith Mink, Mecarte Olsen, Ander Barbot, Emmett Walker and Colyer Chandler.
 It was a night to recognize individuals, businesses and organizations at the Weiser Chamber of Commerce’s annual community awards banquet. The winners in a number of categories were selected based on voting from members of the community at large following a round of nominations. The Chamber dinner featured, as it does every year, tables decorated by businesses and organizations in the community. This year’s theme was “Vacations around the world.”
 Washington County Search and Rescue volunteers and sheriff’s deputies located a lost elk hunter who spent a cold Friday night outdoors on Cuddy Mountain. The sheriff’s office 911 dispatch received a call at 8 p.m. on Friday that a hunter was due at 2 p.m. and never arrived. A deputy made contact with the reporting party to collect more details about the location of the hunter. The hunter was found the next day and suffered no serious injuries.
November
 Voters in Weiser elected a new mayor and retained the three incumbents on the city council whose seats were up for election. In a three-way race for the Weiser mayor, retired banker and current member of the city council Randy Hibberd garnered the most votes with 446. Dan Randleman, who also serves on the Weiser City Council, collected 328 votes, and Alex Chavarria received 242 votes. Interest in the city races likely helped boost participation. The turnout for the election was 41.4 percent.
 The Cambridge City Council will seat two new members in January following the results of voting on Nov. 5. Voters had a choice of three candidates on the ballot to fill two city council seats up for election. The top two vote-getters won the council seats. Levi Harrison pulled the most votes with 74 votes, followed by Delray Platt with 66 votes. Trailing in third place was former Cambridge mayor Nanette Rhodes, who received 46 votes. The two incumbents on the four-member city council whose seats were up for election did not seek re-election.
 Veterans were remembered and honored on Nov. 11 at various events in Weiser. A Veterans Day program led by Navy veteran Jim Grunke was held at Weiser High School in the high school auditorium. The program featured the WHS band and choir performing patriotic music. Later in the day, the Weiser Community and Senior Center celebrated Veterans Day with a lunch and a Quilt of Valor program. Four veterans received a handmade quilt.
 Property owners in Washington County should have received their 2019 tax bills in the mail. The county treasurer’s office mailed 9,039 tax bills on Nov. 8. By law, the property tax bills must be mailed by the end of November. Property owners can pay tax bills in full or in two installments, with the first payment due by Dec. 20, 2019, to avoid late charges and interest. If the taxes are paid in two installments the last day to pay the second half is June 22, 2020.
 Vendors reported visitor numbers were up and business was good at the annual arts and crafts sale over the weekend at the Vendome in Weiser. The two-day event always attracts droves of shoppers in search of unique and handmade gifts for the holidays. The sale also is a fundraiser for both the Friends of the Library and the Four County Art Guild. A total of 65 vendors rented space for the holiday bazaar this year.  
 A free Thanksgiving dinner of turkey with all the trimmings was served on Thursday at the Weiser Senior and Community Center. The community Thanksgiving dinner has been a holiday tradition in Weiser for more than two decades. Between the meals served at the senior center and dinners delivered around town, organizers usually feed 300 or so people.
December
 Washington County residents were digging out in early December after the second blast of snow in less than a week blanketed the area. The 6-10 inches of snow that fell early Sunday morning and throughout the after-noon and evening caused numerous traffic snarls on U.S. Highway 95 as motorists spun out and slid off the highway. The snow arrived at the same time holiday travelers were headed home at the end of the long Thanksgiving weekend.
 The first week of December was one of the most event-filled of the holiday season in Weiser and Washington County. The activities began with the Festival of Trees, a community favorite and a major fundraiser for the Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation. The theme for the 33rd annual event was “Winter Wonderland.” A record night of bidding during this year’s Festival of Trees helped the Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation exceed its fundraising goal. The nightlight parade and other events got everyone in the holiday spirit.
 As the current Miss Idaho, Weiser’s own Grace Zimmerman was offered the once-in-lifetime- opportunity to compete in the Miss America Pageant. Zimmerman spent a week in Connecticut taking part in the many aspects of the competition. The final night of the competition aired on NBC on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. MST. A University of Idaho student, Zimmerman, who is the daughter of Dawn and Dion Zimmerman, won the title of Miss Congeniality.  
 A hangar at the Weiser municipal airport with two airplanes, boat, camp trailer and other items inside burned to the ground on Sunday afternoon. Both Weiser Area Rural Fire Department and Weiser City Fire and Rescue responded to the fire. The airport is owned by the city but located in the county south of Weiser. The hangar was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. The hangar was a woodframed building with sheet metal walls and roof. It eventually collapsed from the heat of the fire.
 District 9 Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, was one of a number of lawmakers to join Gov. Brad Little earlier this month to announce that Idaho has become the least-regulated state in the nation. Joined by Idaho House and Senate committee chairmen and leadership at a statehouse press conference, Little said Idaho has cut and simplified 75 percent of the rules and regulations in one year, surpassing South Dakota and attracting favorable attention from the Trump administration.
 Weiser High School senior Bentley Weldon was chosen to participate as a member of the parade royalty in the Ontario parade royalty in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Winter Wonderland Parade in Ontario. Bentley and Hailee Hill, a Harper, Ore., high school student, were selected as princesses, and this year’s parade queen was Ontario High School’s Kyla Larson. Chamber officials choose the annual parade theme from essays submitted by local students. The winner was chosen as the parade’s junior grand marshal.
 The Citizens on Patrol provided a free Christmas Day dinner for anyone who stopped by the Weiser Senior and Community Center. Volunteers also delivered take-out dinners around the community. Many volunteers helped out with the dinner.
 It was the busiest time of year, naturally, for Santa Joe Malay, as he not only made numerous appearances around town, but also brought lots of smiles with the annual Ho Ho Express. Santa Joe took 86 kids from the Annex Charter School shopping at Bi-Mart on the Thursday before Christmas. Two days later, he took another 250 kids shopping at the Wal-Mart in Ontario. Every year, Santa Joe gives the kids $50 to buy presents for the holiday. In all, more than 400 local kids got to participate in the Ho Ho Express, which wouldn’t be possible without many donations, both large and small.