Weiser was a hopping place for the Fiddle Contest and River Festival

Congratulations to Sandy Cooper, Bruce and Cindy Campbell, and everyone else responsible for another great Fiddle Contest and Festival!
 I didn’t have the opportunity to visit the contest, but I heard everything went well.  
 Thursday’s Kid’s Day on State St. was an obvious success, especially the dunk tank.  
 Although there was not a carnival this year, the food booths and vendors in Memorial Park seemed to do well.  
 Saturday’s parade was long and entertaining! Again, congratulations to all involved for another wonderful Fiddle Week in Weiser!
 For those of us who live here, it may be surprising to realize how much of an impact the Fiddle Contest and Weiser has had in the world of fiddle music.  
 To name just one instance, my son told me about an Alison Krause blue grass concert in Boise he had attended a few years back. During the concert Alison began talking about Weiser and how she had competed here as a child. Alison went on to ask her band how many had been to Weiser to compete in their earlier years and nearly everyone of them had. They then spent time talking about Weiser and the affect the Fiddle Contest had on their careers.
 Personally, on Friday morning, I had a voicemail from a gentleman making a documentary about a fiddle song that had strong ties to Weiser.
 As a small part of the documentary, he wanted to get a mayor’s perspective about the quality of the relationship between the people of Weiser and the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest and Festival.
 The interview was a good opportunity to promote both Weiser and the Festival and show how much of Weiser’s identity is tied to the contest. In talking to this gentleman, Joe Weed, it impressed me even further what a strong ripple effect Weiser has nationally on the music community. As a community, we should be very pleased.
 I will keep you posted on when the documentary is released.  
 In City news this week, West 9th Street is open for use.  There are still some details being worked on. We are also waiting for a custom-made hand rail for the sidewalk leading up to the bridge, but otherwise the project is complete. (Just a note of caution; it may be tempting to drive faster than the 25-mph speed limit, so Weiser’s finest will be keeping an extra eye on West 9th St.).
 Also, Kerry Nyce, the Weiser City and Rescue Fire Chief, would like you to know that open burning is allowed within the city limits as long as the following restrictions are met:
 1. Hours are limited from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 2. Outside temperatures must be under 100 degrees.
 3. Must be in an open area 15 feet in diameter.
 4. Must have a charged water hose, shovel, or fire extinguisher present.
 5. Prior to burning, call the non-emergency dispatch number at 208-414-1483 to advise them of your intention to burn.
 In other City news, Ken Anderson at the Recreation Department wanted to let you know of several upcoming sign-up deadlines.    
 1. Middle School Volleyball Camp for sixth through eighth grades – June 30.
 2. Co-Ed Softball ages 18 plus – July 7.    
 3. Football Camp for incoming third through sixth grades – to be determined.
 4. Recreational Football third through sixth grades – July 28.
 5. Football Camp for incoming seventh and eighth grades – Aug. 4.
 6. Cheerleading Camp incoming second through eighth grades – Aug. 11.
 7. Fall Soccer incoming first through sixth grades – Aug. 11.
 Ken is going to be busy.
 Well, that’s it for now. Stay as cool as you can and hope you have a great week!