Ammon Construction: 1st Street Bridge in Ammon closing for up to 6 weeks starting July 21st

KIFI on July 14, 2025

Seth Ratliff

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — Beginning Monday, July 21, the 1st Street Bridge in Ammon will be closed as crews complete construction of the bridge. The bridge will be closed for up to 6 weeks.

The 1st Street Bridge was reopened before the completion of the bridge replacement to allowtraffic on 1st Street while the 17th Street Bridge was under construction. With the 17th Street Bridgenow complete, the 1st Street Bridge will undergo the final improvements that were delayed.

“We are hoping to open it as soon as it is completed. We apologize for any inconvenience,” said the City of Ammon in a recent post.

21st Street to see intermittent closures on Monday

Residents can expect intermittent closures today, July 14, on 21st Street as crews work on extending the local bike path. The project aims to connect the existing path from Fieldstone Drive to 60th Street, offering a longer, more accessible route for cyclists and pedestrians.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we hope the community will enjoy the new bike path when it is complete,” stated the City of Ammon in a recent announcement.

The city anticipates the project will be finished before October 1st

Click here to follow the original article.

Moberly man who pleaded guilty to sodomy now charged with child enticement

KMIZ on July 14, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly man who pleaded guilty last month to sodomy has now been charged with enticing a child.

Billy Vanbibber, 40, was charged on Monday with enticing a child younger than 15 years old. He is being held at the Randolph County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He pleaded guilty on June 11 to second-degree sodomy and has a sentencing hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13.

The probable cause statement in his new case says that he sent pornographic images of women to a minor and tried to meet with the child for intercourse. The victim gave police the phone number of the sender, which was linked to Vanbibber, the statement says.

Police searched Vanbibber’s home and found the phone that contained the messages, the statement says. Vanbibber claimed the messages were a prank and he didn’t know the victim’s age, the statement says.

In his other case, Vanbibber met the victim on social media in September 2024 and the victim believed they were meeting a woman, the probable cause statement says. Vanbibber allegedly kept himself hidden until the encounter occurred and the victim punched him when they realized he was a man, the statement says.

Click here to follow the original article.

‘Suspicious incident’ briefly shuts down Fort Carson Gate 20

KRDO on July 14, 2025

KRDO News

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A suspicious incident briefly shut down Fort Carson Gate 20 on Monday afternoon, a Fort Carson official confirmed.

According to officials with Fort Carson, the incident was reported around 2 p.m., but the gate was back open to traffic as of 2:40 p.m.

A Fort Carson official confirmed that they are investigating the incident.

Details about this incident are limited at this time. KRDO13 is working to learn more, and this article may be updated.

Click here to follow the original article.

One dead, one rescued in Cameron fire on Sunday

News-Press NOW on July 14, 2025

News-Press NOW

CAMERON, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One person is dead and one child is safe after being trapped inside a structure on fire on Sunday in Cameron, Missouri.

Cameron Police, Fire and EMS were dispatched just before 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 13 to a structure fire call at 424 N. Nettleton St., following reports of a fire with a possible victim inside. A separate caller also reported hearing an explosion within the residence.

Cameron Police officers were the first to arrive on the scene and observed heavy smoke and visible flames coming from the front porch area of the home. During this time, a bystander was able to break a window and successfully rescue a child from inside the residence.

The Cameron Fire Department arrived moments later and initiated both rescue and fire suppression efforts. However, the structure became fully engulfed.

The fire resulted in one fatality, where the person’s identity is being withheld at this time.

Officials said the cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office, with the assistance of the Cameron Police Detectives Division.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Osborn Fire Department and Hamilton Fire Department also assisted with the call.

Click here to follow the original article.

SJFD warns of common fire dangers during summer months

News-Press NOW on July 14, 2025

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Following a string of recent fire-related calls, the St. Joseph Fire Department is urging residents to stay mindful of fire safety.

The SJFD has received numerous fire‑related calls, often linked to seasonal conditions such as high temperatures and increased outdoor activities.

“A lot of times during the summer, it comes down to distractions,” said Bill Lamar, emergency manager with SJFD. “Whether it’s inattentive cooking or barbecuing out back, you’ll see a lot of fires started in the kitchen or in someone’s backyard grill.”

Overloaded electrical units are also a common cause the fire department is seeing with structure fires. These fires are a silent hazard that often go unnoticed until it’s too late and structures have already been set ablaze.

“We always preach don’t overload extension cords because those commonly overheat,” said Lamar. “And overnight, when you’re sleeping and carpets, draperies, anything that’s been covered up by those overloaded cords set fire and nobody is awake to notice, it tends to lead to those bigger structure fires.”

Residents are encouraged to make sure that all equipment is unplugged during the day and that electrical systems are being inspected regularly, as many fires also tend to start in the attic space from overheated power cords.

Smoke detector maintenance is also crucial, and Lamar recommends testing smoke detector batteries at least once or twice a year.

“If you’ve got the kind with lithium batteries rated for 10 years, then you should be good,” he said. “But if you’ve got standard alkaline batteries, check your nine-volts twice a year, which will help keep your smoke detectors functioning.”

Families are also encouraged to teach children about fire hazards and practice escape plans. 

More fire safety tips and information from the SJFD can be read at https://www.stjosephmo.gov/214/Prevention.  

 

Click here to follow the original article.

Play All Summer Long: Portneuf District Library highlights free game & sports equipment rentals

KIFI on July 14, 2025

Sam Ross

CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI)– The Portneuf District Library is featuring their vast collection of games and sports equipment available for patrons to check out and enjoy this summer.

The library’s outdoor activity kits include supplies for games like bocce ball, pickleball, frisbee golf, and more for people seeking warm-weather fun on a budget or looking to try a new hobby without the commitment.

“This is a great way to try out something you’ve never done before,” said Breein Bryant, administrative assistant for the Portneuf District Library. “Pickleball is a big craze, and you might want to try it first before you decide to invest in all the equipment; there are also patrons who live in apartments, so they don’t have the storage space they would need to have things like this year round, and then you might want extras if you’re going to have a family reunion or a barbecue and just enjoy.”

The outdoor activity kits are available for two-week checkout periods for people with a Portneuf Library District library card. For more information, you can visit the Portneuf District Library website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gear up for summer adventures: ISU’s Outdoor Adventure Center has you covered

KIFI on July 14, 2025

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Idaho State University’s Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) is open through the summer and offers rentals of any and all equipment for camping, rafting, or climbing trips.

OAC employees say their most rented items this summer have come from their wide catalogue of inflatable rafts, kayaks, and paddleboards. But they also offer a range of camping equipment (including backpacks, stoves, and sleeping bags), rock climbing gear, and mountain bikes available to rent at competitive prices.

“We have some really high-quality, durable gear, and you can test it before you buy it,” said Bryce Walker, outdoor recreation and climbing wall coordinator for the OAC. “If you’re wanting to try backpacking for the first time, but you don’t want to spend $100, $200 on a backpack, you can come rent it from us for a weekend and have it really cheap.”

For a full list of rentable equipment and prices, you can visit the Idaho State University Outdoor Adventure Center website or find them on Facebook.

Click here to follow the original article.

Man charged with raping teenager now accused of having child porn

KMIZ on July 14, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was charged with statutory rape earlier this year after moving into a home with a teenager and her father is now charged with having child pornography.

Travis Kalchbrenner, 32, was charged on Saturday with possessing child porn and is being held at the Cole County Jail. He was charged earlier this year with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, two counts of statutory rape, one count of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of fourth-degree child molestation.

He has a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, July 28 in his rape case.

Previous reporting indicates that the victim and her father brought Kalchbrenner from Florida to live with them in Russellville. Kalchbrenner allegedly admitted to multiple sexual assaults after law enforcement was called to the home in March, according to court documents in previous reporting.

The child’s father, Frederick Copping, 47, was also charged in the case with child abuse, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree accessory to rape, first-degree accessory to sodomy, two counts of second-degree accessory to statutory rape, one count of first-degree accessory to sexual abuse and fourth-degree accessory to child molestation.

Copping is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond and had a hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tank blaze brings firefighters to closed south Columbia gas station

KMIZ on July 14, 2025

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A tank used to store flammable liquid blew its top off Route K, sending its top flying into a nearby neighborhood.

Fire crews were called to the closed Leatherwood Hills store on Route K at about 2 p.m. for a tank fire. A photo shows four tanks of the sort used to store gasoline or other flammable liquids. The tanks show burn marks, and one is missing its top.

Boone County Fire District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said the top of the tank was blown off in an explosion, hit a house and landed on a street about 100 yards to the west. No injuries have been reported.

The fire started when people were working to remove the tanks, and a spark lit vapors inside the tank that exploded, Blomenkamp said.

Boone County emergency dispatchers sent out an alert warning of traffic congestion on Route K because of the firefighting operation.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

Click here to follow the original article.

Idaho approves funding for Next Generation 911 

KIFI on July 14, 2025

News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho is taking a major leap into the future of emergency services with the approved funding for Next Generation 911 (NG911). The program will replace decades-old analog infrastructure with a cutting-edge digital system, modernizing the state’s emergency response and connecting all 911 call centers statewide through a secure network.

Idaho now stands alongside nearly every other state and U.S. territory in embracing NG911. With the new system, you won’t just be able to make a voice call. 911 centers will be able to receive:

Text messages

Photos and videos

Real-time location data: Pinpointing a caller’s precise location within seconds, even down to a specific room in a large building.

Live call transcription: Allowing dispatchers to give more accurate, exact caller information to responding officers.

NG911 is also built to handle call surges during disasters. If one 911 center is overwhelmed or goes down, another center can easily take over its calls.

“We are proud to have been part of the process in developing a strategy to bring Next Generation 911 to Idaho,” stated IPSCC Chairman and Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech. “This transition will save lives and strengthen the connection between 911 callers and our law enforcement, fire, and EMS teams. It’s a major step forward in ensuring every Idahoan has access to fast, reliable emergency response.”

Funding and rollout

The Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission (IPSCC) approved grant funding to move forward with the implementation of Next Generation 911 earlier this month, paving the way for a phased rollout and implementation of the program in all participating counties in the months ahead.

The $15 million transition is being funded through the Emergency Communications Grant Fee, paid through a 25-cent surcharge on phone bills. 42 of Idaho’s 44 counties will participate in the grant program.

To ensure seamless integration and optimal performance, IPSCC also approved a separate $1.33 million grant to bolster Geographic Information System (GIS) projects across Idaho communities. This funding will establish a four-person team dedicated to working directly with counties, including the 32 that currently lack a dedicated GIS professional.

IPSCC and the Idaho Office of Emergency Management will also collaborate closely with counties and emergency response partners throughout the rollout, providing essential support for implementation, training, and public education.

Click here to follow the original article.