Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — A Shelley man is behind bars today following a violent fight that turned into a police standoff at a local trailer park late Wednesday night.

Jeffery S. Fredrickson, 34, has been booked into the Bingham County Jail on charges of Felony Battery and Mayhem.

The Shelley Police Department reported on Facebook that the trouble began around 9:30 PM on January 28, as their officers responded to a battery at the trailer court on W. Oak Street. After they arrived on the scene, the victim told police Fredrickson had been hit and bitten them before they managed to escape the trailer and call for help.

When the victim had left the trailer, Fredrickson reportedly barricaded himself inside and refused to come out. The victim was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle for their injuries.

Because of the violent nature of the fight and the possibility that he had weapons, the Shelley police called in the STAR tactical team and detectives with the Bingham County Joint Investigations Division.

While police cordoned off the area and worked on getting a warrant to enter the home, Fredrickson’s family stepped in. They managed to get him on the phone and eventually convinced him to leave the trailer and surrender to the police.

In its post, the Shelley Police Department thanked the neighbors for their patience during the incident and the Bingham County Joint Investigations Division and STAR team for helping resolve the night peacefully. The case remains under investigation.

All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Michael Coats

Idaho Falls, IDAHO (KIFI) – It’s not just the big news stories we remember when looking back on the 65 years of broadcasting history at KIFI.  We also remember the numerous personalities that came through our front door. Michael Coats talks to one memorable weathercaster from KIFI’s past.  

“Helllooooo Pocatello!”  

That un-mistakable voice might bring back some memories for viewers of KIFI in the 70’s. Lloyd Lindsay Young got his television start as a weathercaster here 

“I was working in Salt Lake City, and I went up to do a live audition. It made me pretty nervous but somehow I pulled if off.” Young said in an interview this month. “I wasn’t under contract in Salt Lake, so I gave them two weeks’ notice and BOOM! 1971 Hello Jackson Hole!” 

Elements that became a trademark for Young, started at KIFI and followed Young’s career through San Franscisco and New York City. 

The infamous long helllloooo, was a Lloyd Lindsay Young staple, invented on the spot at KIFI. “I don’t know what got into me that day, I said helllloooo Jackson Hole. I figured I might be on to something.” 

“I might have been on the air for about a month when I go, HELLLOOOO Jackson Hole Wyoming and somebody sent me, like a cane to point at the weather map. I had a lot of fun with weather pointers. People would send me all sorts of contraptions. Basically, when the weather wasn’t serious, I did a lot of schtick, and it got a lot of attention.” 

“Funniest story, one day I got this long stick, I didn’t know what the heck it was. The Rachers, believe it or not, had sent me a shellacked bull’s penis.”  

“I always felt, and I don’t know if you feel this way? A lot of the news is so serious that I felt my job was to add a little bit of levity. You know a lot of the news can be depressing, shootings etc…I wanted to add a little levity into it, fun you know and try to do that.”    

After working for several years at KIFI, Lloyd eventually jumped to KGO-TV in San Francisco. Then Young went on to WOR-TV (WWOR after 1987) in New York City.  He retired years ago after a decades long career in radio and television. Young now enjoys retirement just outside of Sacramento with his wife.   

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — How should American citizens secure our rights? One constitutional scholar addressed that question and analyzed current events at a Wednesday event presented by the Alturas Institute at the United Methodist Church in Idaho Falls.

“Is this the America we want? You all know that is the central question of our time as we examine what is occurring across America, and particularly in the streets of Minneapolis,” Dr. David Adler said. “We’re asking ourselves, as we observe the tactics and behavior of the ICE officials, is this the America we want where American citizens can be shot down, gunned down and killed?”

Adler, the president of the Alturas Institute, focused much of his presentation on recent actions by the Trump Administration, which he believes acts like an authoritarian regime. 

But, Nick Contos, a local conservative leader, says recent civil right violations stretch beyond the current administration.

“I believe that we should be concerned about all of our elected officials and the power we give them. But when I see someone using hyperbole for the president and his actions, I have to look back at the last five years,” Contos said. “I mean, we all lived through five years ago – the greatest infringement on civil liberties in our lifetimes, I believe – lockdown orders, mandated masks, vaccines, people were fired from their jobs, businesses, the entire economy was shut down with centralized control.”

Both leaders emphasized that protest is an appropriate measure for citizens to petition their government to address concerns and disagreements, but that such events should not descend to rioting.

“I fully support people’s right to their freedom of speech, the right to assembly, the right to protest,” Contos said. “Every American should support that. All too often, protests become riots, and a riot is not a First Amendment right. We’ve seen that on both sides of the aisle.”

“The right of the people to peacefully assemble and to protest is precisely what these times call for,” Adler said. “ … Americans are breaking out all over the country, including here in Idaho Falls and throughout Idaho, to do precisely that.”

In today’s tense political times, the discussion over civil liberties and the proper way to protect them in America will undoubtedly continue.

Dr. David Adler, a constitutional scholar and president of the Alturas Institute, and Nick Contos, a local conservative leader, discuss civil liberties in the United States.

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Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Wednesday’s snow and dropping temperatures didn’t stop a large turnout at White Pine Charter School’s annual Family Dinner Night.

The spaghetti dinner and bingo fundraiser included a student art show, a silent auction, and a penny raffle for younger students.

School Director Ron Cote says while the fundraiser raises a bit of money for the school, the main point of the fundraiser is to bring people together.

“This event is intended to bring the community together,” Cote said. “We sell tickets, make money, it doesn’t put a dent in the needs we have at the school, but the big draw is the community coming together and spending time together.”

White Pine Charter School serves grades K-12. The junior high and high school are also a STEM academy, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math.

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Par Kermani

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Rexburg Police Department is sounding the alarm over a sharp increase in “sextortion” cases, a digital blackmail scheme that investigators say is increasingly targeting high school and college-aged victims in the area.

Detective John Bone is a digital forensics investigator with the department and is concerned with the number of cases he has seen and the mental health impact it is making on community members.

“The bad guys are using those pictures to intimidate the person to send them money,” Bone said. “We’re seeing an uptick in that in the area, and we want to make sure our citizens are knowledgeable about it”.

Police say the scam typically begins on social media apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. The scammers will often create fraudulent profiles to “catfish” young adults, luring them into sharing explicit photos before blackmailing the individual into giving them money.

Once the photos are sent, the scammers demand payment, often starting around $100 under the threat of sending the images to the victim’s family, friends, or employers.

“My biggest thing is if someone’s demanding money, just stop all communications.” Bone said “There’s opportunities where you can disconnect and turn your profile off. They will threaten they’re going to send it to people that you know or send it to employers. In my experience, I haven’t necessarily seen that actually happen.”

Among young adults, Bone says males are targeted more than females.

“It’s typically people impersonating females and then catfishing or luring these young males into these types of relationships where they think it’s nice and safe. In reality, it’s just to expose them and to extort them.” Bone warns.

The department issued a warning through their social media feed, but was particularly concerned about the mental health toll these cases take on young people. Bone emphasized that the situation, while stressful, is not life-ruining and that help is available.

“We’ve unfortunately seen people take their own lives because they believe this sextortion is going to ruin everything,” Bowen said. “In reality, we can help you, we can document it, and we can get past this. It’s just a bump in the road.”

Police are urging anyone targeted by these scammers to stop all communication immediately and not send any money, as payments often lead to further demands. Also Block the individual and deactivate the social media account to cut off the scammer’s access to the victim’s contact list. And finally Report the incident to local law enforcement.

For parents and youth seeking more information, the department recommends utilizing resources from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Idaho task force. For more information, click HERE.

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Maile Sipraseuth

DRIGGS, Idaho — Medicaid cuts and declining reimbursements are having a direct impact in Teton Valley, where Teton Valley Health Care has laid off some staff and closed a clinic amid ongoing financial challenges.

The hospital is one of the largest employers in the valley, but Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Teton Valley Health Care, Leianne Everett, says it is facing pressures similar to rural hospitals across the country. A major factor is a high percentage of patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid, along with reimbursement rates that do not fully cover the cost of care.

“Like many other rural health care facilities, we are in a situation where our reimbursements are declining. Fifty-two percent of our patients do come with Medicare or Medicaid as their coverage, which means that 52% of our population, we are not covering our cost on supplying those services to those patients. So, it has created a reliance upon our cash reserves,” Everett said. “And then recently just based on the critical access hospital reimbursement mechanism it was determined by CMS that we owed them $1.2 million.”

Everett, who is the CEO but also has served as the hospital’s CFO since 2023, said leadership has relied on data to determine whether vacant positions should be replaced or eliminated as part of these efforts.

As part of these cuts, the hospital also shut down its infusion clinic.

“In an attempt to look at how we can have enough money to pay the bills we’re encountering on a monthly basis, we were looking at our service lines,” Everett said. “The ability to order those expensive drugs, administer them, and then wait for reimbursement was not sustainable for us in our current situation. That’s why the decision was made.”

Everett says most of the major changes have already taken place. Moving forward, the hospital will continue evaluating individual service lines to determine whether they are financially sustainable.

If a service is not covering its costs, Everett said the hospital may explore options such as negotiating new contracts or making other adjustments to remain financially viable.

“I think that we do have a lot of county support. We’re in a county that’s growing. I think that together with the community support, we’ll be able to figure out how to retain services. I am confident that we will not be closing our doors as a result of this. We’re just going to have to restructure and figure out how to how to respond to the current market conditions,” Everett said.

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Seth Ratliff

RIRIE, Idaho (KIFI) — All schools within Ririe School District #252 have canceled all classes through the end of the week as a wave of illness leaves many desks and workstations empty.

Superintendent Jeff Gee announced the closure on Wednesday on Facebook, citing a significant spike in absences among both students and staff.

“Our hope is that this four-day break from school will allow the illness to run its course and will also give our custodial staff additional time to complete a deeper cleaning of our buildings,” Gee stated.

The situation in Ririe mirrors that of Hazel Stuart Elementary School in Shelley, which last week was forced to close its doors for four days due to a combination of influenza and stomach flu. Both closures take place in what doctors are calling one of the worst flu seasons in three decades.

RELATED: Super flu: Worst influenza season in 30 years sweeping Idaho

While the classes in District #252 have been cancelled until Monday, all previously scheduled events will proceed as planned. However, district officials are strongly asking students who are ill to stay home.

“Thank you for your understanding and for helping us keep our students and staff healthy,” states the post.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 33-year-old local man faces up to five years in state prison after a jury found him guilty of striking a police officer during a confrontation last summer.

On Tuesday, January 27, Christian James Markmiller was convicted of felony battery on a peace officer and misdemeanor resisting or obstructing, according to Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal.

The charges stem from an incident on June 13, 2025, where Markmiller was allegedly attempting to film officers from the Idaho Falls Police Department as they investigated a report of an impaired driver. Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) officers were investigating a report of an impaired driver when Markmiller approached the scene. Though not involved with the driver in the initial investigation, Markmiller began filming the officers with his cellphone while shouting at them.

According to court documents, the officers told Markmiller he could video the traffic stop from a safe distance, but the 33-year-old continued to approach, circling the officers. In their testimony, one of the officers stated they ordered Markmiller to “step no closer,” but instead, he continued to approach.

The officer then told Marmiller he was interfering with the traffic stop and was under arrest. At this point, the officer took hold of him, and Markmiller struck the officer in the head. Court documents detail how Markmiller continued to resist the officers as they took him to the ground and handcuffed him.

During the trial, Markmiller argued that his actions were protected under the First Amendment, claiming he had a “duty” to disobey what he perceived as an unlawful order.

Prosecuting Attorney Neal categorized the incident as a “First Amendment audit,” pointing to several YouTube contributors who make a living by videoing police activity and sometimes antagonize and try to provoke the police.

He noted that while citizens have the right to record police, that right does not grant immunity for physical interference or violence.

“The courts have consistently held that while the First Amendment recognizes several rights, these are not absolute,” explained Neal. “Many of these professional ‘auditors’ actually employ lawyers who advise them on the limits of the law,” Neal said.

“The First Amendment does not excuse someone who interferes with a lawful investigation, commits violence against police officers, or resists a lawful arrest,” Neal added.

Markmiller remains in custody pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for March 25, 2026.

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News Release

The following is a news release from Idaho Fish and Game:

RIRIE, Idaho — The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the purchase of 280 acres during its November meeting, expanding the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in eastern Idaho. Funding for the acquisition was provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, onX, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game license dollars. The Department took ownership of the property in early December following Commission approval.

The newly acquired property is located approximately 16 miles east of Idaho Falls and is directly adjacent to the existing Tex Creek WMA. The 280 acres consist of two parcels that will provide important habitat benefits for big game winter range and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse year-round.

The southern parcel includes one of the few remaining juniper stands in the area, which has been shown to be critical winter habitat for mule deer following the Henry’s Creek Fire in 2016. Protecting this parcel helps maintain secure winter range for deer and other wildlife during harsh conditions.

The northern parcel is primarily grassland habitat, consistent with much of the former agricultural landscape within the WMA. This habitat supports Columbian sharp-tailed grouse throughout the year and contributes to the long-term conservation of the species.

Tex Creek WMA is managed to help wildlife when they are most vulnerable, while also providing unique hunting and recreational opportunities for the public. “Thanks to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and onX for helping to make this acquisition possible,” says Ryan Walker, Tex Creek Habitat Biologist. “Adding these additional acres will protect them in perpetuity and allow the wildlife populations that depend on these landscapes to thrive.” 

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