Author: KIFI

Hadley Bodell

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Wooton Way and Eagle Way in Blackfoot at approximately 7 p.m. on July 17.

The driver was a 21-year-old man from Jackson, Wyoming. Police say the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer left the roadway and rolled, coming to a stop in a gravel parking lot nearby.

The man was transported to the local hospital in an ambulance but later died of injuries from the crash. Police say he was not wearing a seatbelt.

The crash is still under investigation by Idaho State Police.

Click here to follow the original article.

Hadley Bodell

HAILEY, Idaho (KIFI) – The Ohio fire is quickly growing in central Idaho, expanding to 1,000 acres this evening. Evacuation orders have been issued for several neighborhoods in the area.

The Heather Ohio Valley evacuation area is under a level 3 “GO” status, meaning anyone in the boundaries announced by the Blaine County Sheriff’s office need to leave immediately. This includes all homes in the Indian Creek Subdivision and Indian Creek canyon. Officials say evacuated residents are not allowed back into the area until the fire danger has passed.

The Ohio Fire has also caused road closures for Buttercup Road at Highway 75 and Red Devil Lane. Blaine County Sheriff’s say to stay out of the area at al costs to allow emergency personnel easier access.

Evacuees can go to the WR Middle School or the Life Church.

As of just after 4 p.m. this afternoon, The Hiawatha zone is on a Level Two status, meaning residents in this area need to be “SET” to evacuate if the fire spreads.

Click here to follow the original article.

William Syslo

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – This evening at Melaleuca field, the 15th annual “Guns versus Hoses” charity softball event took place. The game pitted deputies from the BCSO Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8 agains Idaho Falls Firefighters, with all proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish Idaho.

“We got together 16 years ago,” Sergeant Bryan Lovell of the Bonneville County Sherriff’s Office told me. “We wanted to have a fun event that raised money for a charity. And we decided that charity was Make-A-Wish of Idaho.”

Fans who attend the “Guns vs. Hoses” charity event are encouraged to make donations throughout the game, and there were plenty of opportunities to make that happen.

“We have a makeshift jail cell that’s a very popular item out here,” Sergeant Lovell said. “…In the even innings… people can donate money and buy points for their favorite team at 20 bucks a point. We’ve got also our impairment goggles, beer goggles, that we use for community demonstrations… there’s times during the game the crowd can pay money to put those goggles on the batter…”

Multiple entertaining ways for fans to get engaged with the game and donate money to a good cause at the same time. Not only is the event effective at raising funds for Make-A-Wish, but it also doubles as a team-building exercise for both agencies.

“We work with the fire guys in a professional capacity all the time,” said Ryan Krumblis, a Patrol Sergeant with Bonneville County. “And we have a very good professional working relationship with them. But this gives us a fun atmosphere to kind of razz each other a little bit, give each other a little bit of stuff here and there, and then have a good time.”

A topic and feeling that are mutual between the two departments.

“It’s pretty fun. This is probably one of the best ways to build camaraderie amongst your… you know, all the members of your department,” said Idaho Falls Fire Chief Johan Olson. “Obviously, it’s for a good cause, so we’re excited about that… and it’s just nice to get out and have a good time with your friends and people that we consider family.”

It was the “Hoses” who took the win this time, with a final score of 98 to 74, the high scores courtesy of generous patrons. In total, the event pulled in $11,800 for Make-A-Wish Idaho.

Click here to follow the original article.

David Pace

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) – The controversial Caldera Flats subdivision proposal to develop 32 lots on 160 acres of Henry’s Lake Flats in Island Park received approval Monday from the Fremont County Commissioners.

The project, owned by Doug and Kevin Button’s DK Land LLC in Dillon, Montana, has evoked intense opposition from local residents concerned about the impact on wildlife habitat and environmentally-sensitive land in the Island Park caldera.

But two commissioners stated the owner’s property rights must still be respected – regardless of community opposition.

“People don’t want to see change or development in that area, but people own property and have property rights,” Commissioner Rick Hill said, according to preliminary minutes.  “…You can’t stop development just because don’t want it. There has to be something in the Development Code to restrict it.”

“Nobody wants that place developed,” Commissioner Mark Chandler said.

But he agreed people can’t dictate to others what to do with their property.

“They don’t have skin in the game,” Chandler said. “… It’s the American dream to get property and do what you will with it.”

Ultimately, Commissioners Rick Hill and Mark Chandler voted to advance the project on Monday.

Commissioner Blair Dance voted against it, stating he believed the decision should be sent back to Planning and Zoning for more review. 

Dance voiced that he “understands concerns about the Flats being developed. Any development out there, if it is approved, has to be done right in order to set the standards for any future development.”

About 500 residents packed previous Fremont County Planning and Zoning meetings – most in opposition to the project, according to the committee’s former Chairwoman Loy Schroeder.

PRIOR COVERAGE | Island Park Planning and Zoning Commission Denies Controversial Henry’s Lake Flats Rezoning Request

The County Commissioners’ hearing for the Island Park Caldera project developers’ appeal was held on May 20.

In preliminary minutes obtained by Local News 8, Commissioner Hill said, “It’s not an easy decision. The bottom line that the Commissioners need to consider is whether or not the application meets the standards and requirements of our Fremont County Development Code.”

He clarified that the developers applied for a Class II permit, and the application was “complete.”

Open space would be maintained on 69.7 percent of the land. Sensitive wetland areas would be set back by a 100-foot buffer.

But Davis also raised concerns from the development’s neighbor about irrigating on adjacent agricultural land. He also some agency letters – including one from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality – were not included in the packet.

Hill remarked that the necessary permits were included, and wildlife corridors and wetlands were properly addressed.

“They have a sketch plan, a site plan, contact map. Subdivisions are allowed within the Rural Base Zone with a Class II permit, open space,” Hill said. “They had a public hearing. They’ll have connection to a central wastewater treatment facility. They won’t have fencing, so wildlife won’t be restricted.”

Hill said “the application meets the performance standards for subdivisions in this zone.”

The decision comes after the Island Park Planning and Zoning Commission had rejected a request from Burtenshaw Land and Cattle to rezone the parcel in the Henry’s Lake Flats along the east side of U.S. Highway 20, Local News 8 reported previously.

The history of annexation and rezoning attempts on this land to allow higher-density residential development dates back to 2015.

The controversy is far from over.

Some Island Parks posted on social media they are considering a lawsuit to delay or block the project.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dylan Carder

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)- Pocatello’s Alameda Park officially opened a new playground for children ages 5 to 12 Friday, marking significant progress in the city’s ongoing park improvement efforts. Additional upgrades, including a new surface for the swings, a replacement tot lot for younger children and new amenities, are underway at the park.

The new playground and planned improvements are part of the city’s “retire playground program,” which aims to replace playgrounds in poor condition throughout Pocatello. Anne Butler, director of the Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department, said the initiative is part of an effort to address deferred maintenance and enhance park facilities.

The swingset area at Alameda Park was fenced off on July 17 for a scheduled upgrade. Crews are replacing the existing gravel surfacing with synthetic bark to provide a softer landing area. Butler noted that this process is expected to take about a week.

After the swings reopen, the city plans to close the existing 2–5-year-old tot lot to replace it with a new playground designed for the park’s youngest visitors.

“We have a retire playground program with the city and we’ve been doing our best to identify playgrounds that are in the poorest condition and start replacing those,” Butler said. She added, “we’re just really hoping to try to get caught up on a little bit of deferred maintenance and, make our parks as nice as we can.”

The park improvements are funded through a combination of city resources and community partnerships. “We’ve been rolling it out for about a year,” Butler explained. “The city’s replaced. We’ve had some funding to replace some playgrounds, but we’ve also been working with different community members or businesses to try to sponsor some of those playgrounds as well.”

Alameda Park has unfortunately been a target for significant vandalism, particularly affecting its restrooms. The park’s restrooms have been closed, with a portable restroom made available for visitors due to repeated incidents.

“We have a lot of vandalism there,” Butler stated. She expressed frustration, saying, “truthfully, our staff just can’t keep up with the vandalism that we’ve had.” She noted that the department had to make the decision to close them to focus on other operations.

Butler indicated that vandalism has seen “a pretty big uptick over the past year or two.” She is calling on the community for assistance. “We’re really hoping that the neighbors or the neighborhood would help us and kind of pay attention to those things. And, you know, if they see something awry that they call the police immediately.”

She also reminded the public that “the parks are open from sunup till an hour after sundown.” She urged residents, “if it’s beyond that time period, please help us out. Or if you see something in the park during the day that looks wrong. Just make that phone call. I think that would help us a ton.”

Further improvements at Alameda Park are being realized through collaborations with the Alameda Neighborhood Association, NeighborWorks Pocatello and the Marley Family. These partnerships are facilitating the addition of new amenities.

“We’ve been working with the Alameda Neighborhood Association and Neighborworks and, family here in town. They want to remember a family member and so we’re going to be putting up a bunch of benches around the park, along the walking path by the basketball court,” Butler said. The Alameda Neighborhood Association has also purchased a new drinking fountain to be installed near the restroom, adding to recent tree trimming and planting efforts.

The swingset area is expected to reopen in about a week once the synthetic bark surfacing is complete. The Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department hopes to have the permanent restrooms at Alameda Park reopened as soon as possible.

The city anticipates installing two more playgrounds within the next year and plans to seek additional donations from businesses to continue the playground replacement program.

Click here to follow the original article.

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Hundreds of competitors raced across Idaho Falls on Friday, solving puzzles, completing challenges and raising money for student scholarships during the College of Eastern Idaho Foundation’s annual Great Race for Education.

The fundraiser, known as the Great Race for Education, sent teams to secret locations across the region where they completed physical and mental challenges in this year’s “Valhalla Edition.”

Participants spent the day following clues, working together and racing against the clock as they competed for the fastest finish.

“It was a lot of fun,” said participant Jake Stevens, Ball Ventures’ Managing Director of Investments. “I think we probably ran about two miles total. Everybody was in a good mood, supporting each other and just a lot of very positive atmosphere.”

Every challenge tested a different skill. Some required speed and teamwork, while others challenged participants to slow down and solve puzzles before moving on to the next location.

“It’s interesting because every year, something different kind of stumps you,” said participant Gray Augustus, Idaho Falls Arts Council Executive Director. “This year, we got hung up on a word search, so it can be something super simple that kind of holds you up.”

While teams competed for bragging rights, organizers said the event’s biggest victory comes long after the race ends.

“Our mission is to change families for generations,” CEI Foundation Executive Director David Facer said. “We’re able to do that through scholarships, through program support and through helping with capital expenses at CEI as well.”

Money raised during the event supports scholarships, academic programs and other educational opportunities through the College of Eastern Idaho Foundation.

According to organizers, last year’s Great Race for Education raised more than $70,000 to support students.

Augustus said the fundraiser benefits students of all ages pursuing higher education and workforce training.

“There’s thousands and thousands of dollars raised here today from the different companies,” he said. “That all goes directly to students in our area. That’s young students all the way up to older adults going back to school and working on trades. It makes a big impact.”

This year’s event featured nearly 500 participants representing businesses, organizations and community groups from across East Idaho.

Click here to follow the original article.

Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The City of Pocatello held a naming contest for the new cougar kitten at Zoo Idaho as a fundraiser for her habitat, which raised $3000 for renovations. On Friday, a crowd gathered outside the enclosure for Mayor Dahlquist to announce the winning name of the zoo’s new addition.

The contest was down to three names: Roxanne, Purrsephone, and Clawdia. The Mayor invited Caleb, a young student in the community, to announce the name, as he was “Mayor for the Day” on July 17. Caleb had spent the morning with Mayor Dahlquist at the Water Treatment Plant, a senior living center ribbon cutting and then the zoo for the name announcement.

“In your loudest voice, tell us the name of the new young cougar,” the Mayor said.

“Roxanne!” Caleb announced to the cheering crowd.

Roxanne, photo credit Zoo Idaho

Roxanne arrived at Zoo Idaho with two other orphaned cougar kittens from Wyoming. Upon arrival, all three were diagnosed with a deadly virus called feline panleukopenia. Roxanne is a miracle kitten with a story of resilience, as through intensive vetrinarian care, she is the only surviving cougar.

“She is quite a fighter,” said Shelby Maris, lead zookeeper at Zoo Idaho. “We were very excited to see her live and now to see her thrive.”

Zoo Idaho is a rescue facility and provides care for orphaned and injured wildlife. Roxanne will live out the rest of her life under the care of experts at Zoo Idaho.

Maris said the best part of her job is getting to know the animals’ personalities. “She is very feisty, she is small but mighty,” Maris said. “She definitely likes to tell you that she’s not afraid of you. It’s fun to watch her develop and grow as she gets bigger and more confident.”

“She is very feisty, she is small but mighty,”

-Shelby Maris, Lead Zookeeper

Roxanne, photo credit Zoo Idaho

The donations through the naming competition will go towards renovations and upgrades to Roxanne’s habitat. Maris said they will install some large enrichment items for her like a waterfall as well as more grass and dirt. The zookeepers hope that she will come out of the enclosure and explore in her new space.

Zoo Idaho previously had a full grown cougar named Sinbad. Maris said having cougars in the zoo is always a highlight for both the zookeepers and the community.

“It’s really cool to see them up close, whereas you probably wouldn’t even see them in the wild, so I think they’re a fun animal to see,” Maris said. “They’re also fun to do enrichment for because they have that prey drive to attack things.”

Roxanne playing in her habitat, video credit Shelby Maris

Sinbad was fully trained to the point he could do voluntary blood draws with Maris as his primary keeper and trainer. She said the goal is to get Roxanne to that level as well, with one of the full-time keepers already working hard to train the young cougar.

For now, if you visit Zoo Idaho to see Roxanne, there’s a chance she won’t come out to the exhibit area of her habitat.

“She’s pretty timid right now,” Maris explained. “She just got access to her whole exhibit recently, but she’s still getting used to it. Hopefully, as she gets bigger, she’ll gain more confidence and come out for people to see her more.”

She sometimes “peekaboo’s” through the doors to the den near the top of her habitat. Maris said the zookeepers know she’s been exploring at night by looking at her footprints in the mud.

Zoo Manager Peter Pruett said it could take a few seasons for Roxanne to be fully comfortable with the number of people passing by near her habitat and come down to see them.

Click here to follow the original article.

Curtis Jackson

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI)— A black bear was euthanized after breaking into a Swan Valley home and helping itself to a late-night snack.

Last Sunday, July 12, Idaho Fish and Game said a black bear tore through a window screen and entered the home while the homeowners were sleeping. The bear ransacked the kitchen and ate a pumpkin pie from the table. The homeowners discovered the damage the following morning.

The bear returned the next night and got into unsecured garbage.

Fish and Game personnel set up a trap and captured the bear. The release said the bear was humanely dispatched in accordance with agency policy for bears that post a clear risk to human safety.

“Our number one priority is always human safety, and we are extremely grateful that the individuals inside the home are ok,” Wildlife Manager Eric Freeman said. “In a situation where a bear has entered a residence, relocation is not an option.”

The agency is reminding people to secure trash, pet food, and other attractants to help prevent these types of dangerous encounters.

Click here to follow the original article.

Seth Ratliff

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — The National Transportation Safety Board has released its official report on a September 2025 plane crash near the Rigby-Jefferson County Airport, shedding light on the performance issues that led to the accident.

RELATED: Small plane crashes into building near Rigby

According to the report, a Cessna 150F was destroyed after striking a power line and crashing into a building. Fortunately, both occupants, a student and an instructor pilot, escaped without serious injury.

The crash happend on September 17, 2025, during an introductory instructional flight. The aircraft was crewed by a 21-year-old student pilot from Tetonia and a 38-year-old from Victor who was acting as the instructor pilot (IP).

Their day began with a successful 48-minute training flight. After returning to Rigby for a brief stop, the student and instructor prepared for a final departure around 11:30 a.m.

The NTSB notes that while the initial takeoff went completely normal, the aircraft encountered severe performance issues almost immediately afterwards and struggled to gain altitude.

Realizing the aircraft could not maintain a safe climb, the instructor pilot took full control. Because the plane lacked the altitude to turn back and was too far down the runway to safely abort the takeoff, the IP was forced to fly forward. Pitching the plane up to climb and banking to avoid oncoming obstacles, the aircraft continued to lose energy.

As the Cessna flew toward a low-hanging power line, the IP pulled the nose up in a final attempt to clear the wire. According to the NTSB, the aircraft’s left main landing gear clipped the line, snagging the wire and instantly sending the plane into a 90-degree nose-dive and spin roughly 80 feet above the ground.

While plunging toward the ground, the report says the instructor aggressively applied rudder pressure to counteract the spin. The force caused the landing gear to tear completely free from the fuselage, states the report.

As the instructor continued to slow their descent, the left wing of the plane struck the old Intermountain Auto Wrecking building, rolling the aircraft to the right before the right wing, engine, and forward fuselage slammed into the ground.

Immediately following the impact, the crew began an emergency engine-securing checklist to prevent a post-crash fire.

Initial police reports indicate witnesses helped both men out of the wreckage, and they were treated for only minor injuries. However, the crash caused a widespread power outage, leaving over 2,700 Rocky Mountain Power customers without electricity for several hours.

Click here to follow the original article.

Seth Ratliff

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 20-year-old Bingham County man, Jacob Harlow, is facing felony charges for the reported rape of a 17-year-old.

According to court documents, officers with the Shelley Police Department responded to the reported assault just before 3 a.m. on July 12, only hours after the incident allegedly took place.

The victim told police the assault took place at a home on Birch Street in Shelley. She told investigators she had been spending time with Harlow when he began kissing and touching her. Court documents state the victim made it clear she was comfortable with kissing, but was not interested in going any further.

She told investigators they moved into a bedroom where Harlow became “pushy” and “physical,” eventually forcing intercourse despite her explicitly stating she was “not interested in sex.”

Another woman living in the home told police her boyfriend woke her up to tell her something had happened. According to the documents, the couple went into Harlow’s room to speak with him, where the woman reported seeing evidence of the assault in the trash.

Harlow was then arrested and booked into the Bingham County Jail. He has been placed under a $100,000 bond, and his preliminary hearing is set for July 23. If convicted, he could face a punishment of up to 1 year to life and/or a $50,000 fine.

Context and Resources

Sexual violence remains a critical issue in the state. According to data compiled by the Fitch Law Firm, Idaho ranks 13th in the nation for sexual offenses, with young women between the ages of 11 and 20 identified as the most affected demographic across the nation. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reports that 2 in 5 Idaho women and 1 in 5 Idaho Men have experienced sexual violence.

For resources to combat sexual assault, visit the Idaho Falls Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center. Additional resources are available from the area law enforcement.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual assault or violence, immediately contact local law enforcement or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.

Click here to follow the original article.