Month: August 2025

Ariel Jensen

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) – Ammon Days officially starts tomorrow, August 1, 2025, and one of the main attractions will be hot air balloons. This afternoon, July 31, 2025, Ammon Days’ keynote speaker, Michael Glen, the world’s first paraplegic licensed hot air balloon pilot, kicked off the celebration.

Tomorrow, people will have the chance to meet him and ride his bumblebee balloon, but what he wants people to take away from this experience is more than just a good time

“It’s actually really funny because most people, when they don’t know who I am or know anything else, and they come out to the field, the first thing is they are always shocked. They think I’m out there as a spectator. But then I go and get in my basket and fly away. They’re blown away that a guy in a wheelchair is out there doing that. And I just like to show people that no matter what happens, you can still go out in the things and reach for your goals,” said Glen.

Local News 8 will be there tomorrow morning, bringing you live coverage. For more information on Ammon Days and the exciting activities involved, click HERE.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A new emergency room is coming to Idaho Falls. The Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) hosted a beam-signing event commemorating the construction of the area’s first Free-Standing emergency room, also called FSER.

This new ER unit will provide hospital-based emergency services, serving as an extension of EIRMC’s emergency room. It will also be fully equipped with a laboratory, medical imaging technologists, and other medical staff.

When the new 10,820 square fee facility opens in 2026, it will include 10 patient exam rooms, 24/7 emergency medical care, and imaging services. 

The CEO of EIRMC, Betsy Hunsicker, says that after much research, they realized another ER would be beneficial in our area.

“EIRMC North Idaho Falls ER will provide high-quality emergency care for members of our community and region. We believe it will be a more convenient option for many people, saving significant travel time when seeking care,” said Hunsicker. “Patients can expect the same level of superior care as if they came directly to the ER on EIRMC’s campus.”

The FSER will be located just west of the intersection of Lincoln Road and 25th East (Hit Road) and will offer the same level of high-quality care as EIRMC’s ER on its main campus. Dr. Brandon Bloxham, a board-certified Emergency Room physician and the Medical Director at the new FSER, says that while urgent care clinics play a role in the healthcare delivery system, EIRMC North Idaho Falls ER will offer hospital-level emergency care. This satellite emergency room is open 24/7, accepts EMS drop-offs and treats all patients, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.

“The FSER will be fully equipped to handle any emergency. Urgent care facilities handle less severe injuries and illnesses—conditions like a cold, the flu, minor cuts, and sprains,” Dr. Bloxham explained. “Satellite ERs like this one improve healthcare access without compromising quality. It’s the same quality care – just closer to home for people in north Idaho Falls and the surrounding area.”

For more information on the FSER, check out the full press release below.

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Max Gershon

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KIFI) — A flight from the Salt Lake City International Airport heading overseas left passengers fearing for their lives last night, July 30. The Delta Airlines flight carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members experienced significant turbulence while flying over Wyoming.

Andrew Schneider, a passenger from Idaho Falls, described the terrifying ordeal: ‘We were maybe 15 minutes… maybe an hour into the flight, and the turbulence gets way worse. Apparently, our pilots lost contact with air traffic control… and so we were flying blind.

When the turbulence hit, Schneider says he and the other passengers feared for their lives as several people and service carts hit the ceiling.

“The most terrifying part [was] people hit the ceiling. We were all thinking, this is it. Is this how we go?”

The incident forced an emergency landing in Minnesota, where 25 people on board were taken to hospitals, but have since been released. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident.

You can watch the full interview where Schneider shares his harrowing experience above.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho State Historical Society:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – On May 17, 2025, the Idaho State Historical Society, in partnership with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, is proud to recognize the Haderlie Family Farm as an official Idaho Century Farm, honoring over 100 years of continuous family ownership and agricultural legacy. The Century Farm and Ranch Program celebrates Idaho’s deep-rooted agricultural heritage and honors families who have worked the same land for generations. This year, the Haderlie family joins that distinguished legacy, with their farm tracing its roots back to 1915 when Henry W. Haderlie and his wife Ruth Ward began farming in the fertile ground of Bonneville County.

The recognition holds special significance for Verl Haderlie, Henry’s son and current patriarch of the farm. Now 93 years old and living with macular degeneration, Verl was still able to witness his family’s farm receive this honor—a moment that his children and grandchildren call a lasting gift for a man whose life has been devoted to the land. “My father, Verl, and grandfather Henry were incredibly hard workers who loved this land,” said Verl’s son Tim Haderlie, who now helps run the farm alongside his son, Dustin. “This recognition is a tribute to their dedication and vision—and a legacy we’re proud to carry forward.”

The Haderlie family story reflects not only the enduring values of Idaho agriculture but also the rich cultural tapestry of the American West. Henry’s father, Charles Haderlie, was a Swiss immigrant and early settler in Utah and Wyoming. Henry helped in digging the Gardner and Hillside irrigation canals with a horse-drawn slip/buck scraper—lifelines for early farmers in the region.

Over the decades, the farm evolved from horse-drawn implements and flood irrigation to wheel lines and center pivots. In the 1970s, Verl expanded operations, which included a bulk milk-hauling business and a cow/calf herd operation that grazed on land he acquired in Bone, Idaho. Today, fourth-generation farmer Dustin Haderlie works over 1,000 acres of leased farmland in addition to the family’s original acreage, with a fifth generation—Dustin’s son Hank, named after his great-great-grandfather—growing up close to the soil that sustained his family for more than a century.

The Century Farm recognition not only marks a milestone of longevity—it celebrates the values of resilience, stewardship, and a trust in God and family that are at the heart of Idaho agriculture.

For more information about the Idaho Century Farm & Ranch Program, visit www.history.idaho.gov

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News Release

The following is a News Release from the City of Idaho Falls.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Mayor Rebecca Casper presented a special Mayor’s Choice Award to longtime community leader Carrie Getty Scheid on Thursday night, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the city of Idaho Falls.

The Mayor’s Choice Awards were established in 2021 to recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to the community. Typically awarded at the start of the year, this presentation was held outside the usual schedule to ensure Scheid received the recognition she so deeply deserved.

“For more than 30 years, Carrie has helped shape Idaho Falls into the vibrant, compassionate and creative community we know and love today,” Mayor Casper said. “From the arts and animal welfare to civic engagement and philanthropy, her impact is immeasurable. It’s a true privilege to celebrate her legacy.”

Scheid played a key role in revitalizing downtown Idaho Falls. As the former executive director of the Idaho Falls Arts Council, she helped lead the $4.5 million restoration of the Colonial Theater and the development of the Willard Arts Center. Her efforts also supported the installation of public art, including the well-known art benches throughout downtown. She served on the Downtown Development Corporation board and other civic organizations for many years.

Appointed in 2016 by Mayor Casper to the city’s Civic Center Advisory Committee, Scheid brought decades of expertise and leadership to the group. She was instrumental in guiding the capital campaign for the Frontier Center for the Performing Arts lobby expansion, helping raise $5 million toward the $7.2 million project. Before that, she oversaw fundraising for the Phase 1 renovation of the interior of the Frontier Center, including the installation of new seating.

Scheid’s work extended far beyond the arts. She helped launch Idaho Gives, one of the state’s most successful nonprofit fundraising initiatives, and served on numerous nonprofit boards throughout Idaho. She also helped found the Snake River Animal Shelter and served as a founding board member, helping create a safe space for thousands of animals in need.

She also managed a large email list known as “the Middle” to promote awareness and encourage a commonsense approach to Idaho politics.

Whether through public art, nonprofit advocacy or civic leadership, Carrie Getty Scheid dedicated her time, energy and passion to strengthening the Idaho Falls community.

“Carrie has poured her heart and soul into this city,” Mayor Casper said. “Her leadership has been generous, visionary and steadfast. We are all better because of her, and I was honored to present her with this award.”

Scheid’s husband, Jerry, accepted the Mayor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Community Enrichment on her behalf at the July 31 Idaho Falls City Council meeting.

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