Author: KIFI

News Release

The following is a press release from the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation (IFDDC) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kerry Hammon as its new Executive Director, effective June 1, 2025. Hammon will succeed Bryan Chaffin, who will depart at the end of May 2025.

“We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Kerry to our team,” states Chip Langerak, IFDDC Board President. “She brings a wealth of expertise, energy, and a profound passion for our organization. Kerry’s talents and experience will be invaluable, and we couldn’t be more excited about the positive impact she will make on our vibrant downtown,” adds Langerak.

Hammon, a lifelong resident of Southeast Idaho, brings a deep understanding of the community to her new role. She holds an Associate of Applied Science degree from the College of Eastern Idaho and a Bachelor of Business and Information Systems Management from the University of Phoenix.

Her early career began as a certified medical assistant before she transitioned to the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce as an events coordinator. In this role, she planned and executed significant community gatherings, including the Independence Day Parade, Taste of Idaho, and the Liberty Festival on the Falls (now known as Riverfest). These experiences ignited her passion for community relations, networking, and communications.

In 2013, Hammon became one of the first full-time public information officers for the City of Idaho Falls, where she was responsible for disseminating information to the public. Over her decade-long career with the city, she served as a spokesperson for the city’s eleven departments. For the latter half of her tenure, Hammon primarily focused her efforts on the Idaho Falls Public Works Department, assisting with public outreach for snow removal, construction, and the new water tower. Hammon was also a member of the Idaho Falls Fire Department’s administrative staff, where she developed a strong interest in emergency management.

Hammon holds numerous certifications in emergency management and communication. Her expertise led to deployments as a Public Information Officer (PIO) on local and national incidents, assisting with emergency communications. She was the first PIO in Idaho to be credentialed by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, a nonprofit dedicated to continuous improvement within high-performing fire departments and emergency service professions.

Hammon joined IFDDC in January 2025 as the part-time operations manager. In addition to her new role, she co-owns Oakenstone Properties with her husband, Jim Hammon. Professionally, she is deeply passionate about effective communication, building strong relationships, volunteering, and fostering a thriving environment for her hometown. Her greatest joy comes from spending quality time with friends and family.

“Having grown up in Southeast Idaho, I truly understand the heart of this community,” says Hammon. “I’m thrilled to bring that perspective, along with my dedication to making and cultivating meaningful connections, to Idaho Falls Downtown Development. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and collaborate with our stakeholders to achieve great things for our vibrant downtown.”

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Seth Ratliff

YELLOWSTONE, Montana (KIFI) — A 67-year-old Bend, Oregon, man faces up to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted of assaulting a federal employee inside Yellowstone National Park last year. David Tyler Regnier was found guilty by a federal jury on Wednesday, May 21, for the assault.

According to court documents, on September 18, 2024, Regnier was spotted by two park employees directing traffic near Canyon Junction. He was reportedly driving the wrong way along the road to avoid a construction zone and appeared upset with the traffic direction.

One park employee reportedly stood in front of Regnier’s Jeep with a stop sign while the other instructed him to back up. Regnier then accelerated, striking the employee with his vehicle and physically pushing him backward. The employee was able to jump out of the Jeep’s path after being hit.

Yellowstone National Park Service law enforcement officers later stopped and arrested Regnier.

“Our office will take a strong stance against the frequent acts of violence directed at public servants who are merely doing their jobs to protect the community,” said acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher.

The three-day trial for David Tyler Regnier was held before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 7, 2025. In addition to potential prison time, Regnier faces up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment.

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News Team

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little is bringing state government directly to the community of Shelley next week for his latest “Capital for a Day” event. The event is set for Wednesday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Heart 2 Hand Bingham food pantry.

The Governor will be joined by a range of top state officials, including leaders from agriculture, transportation, education, and other key departments.

Governor Little emphasized that the event is a valuable opportunity to connect with Idahoans and understand how state agencies can better serve communities like Shelley.

“Capital for a Day is a great opportunity for myself and my administration to hear from Idahoans about the needs of their community,” Governor Little said. “I look forward to sharing this tradition with the good people of Bingham County and learn how we can better serve them.”    

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Zach Glancy

ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (KIFI) – The annual Fisherman’s Breakfast kicks off at 6 a.m. Friday, May 23 at Clyde Keefer Memorial Park in St. Anthony.

Volunteers cook up free pancakes, sausage, and hash browns for the public all morning long.

The breakfast goes until about 1 p.m.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Three later-in-life friends are traveling the country, raising money for two important groups. This week, they made their way through Idaho Falls.

The group calls itself the “Three Old Guys Bike the USA.” They are on one incredible mission, proving it’s never too late to make a difference. 

“We’re actually riding our bikes across country, raising money for the Wounded Warriors Project and the American Cancer Society,” said Donald Coffey, Team organizer.

The trio has known each other since childhood, and all of them have their own reason for riding.

“My son was in the service. My son served several years as an Army Ranger, and fortunately, he never got hurt in combat. But some of his buddies did. And it’s something that my wife and I have been contributing to for a few years now,” said Coffey

“My baby sister died of cancer in 2023, and she was 61 years old. And it was just tragic,” said Larry Gerbick, cyclistic.

“You know, several of my family members have had cancer. I’m in the health field at home, and I wanted to specifically support that,” said James Kinciaid, Support Driver.

Their journey began three months ago, starting in Tampa, Florida.

Now they have made their way to eastern Idaho.

They ride 50 miles a day, stopping in each town to spread the word of their mission. 

This journey didn’t come without hitting a few bumps in the road.

“Currently, I am the van driver support driver, and that was not the original plan. We started out April 1st in the Tampa area, and unfortunately, I went over my handlebars and broke my clavicle and a rib,” said Kinciaid.

Having to return home to recover, Kinciaid rejoined his group on May 10th.

They say this mission is too important to quit on, and so far, they have raised almost 10,000 dollars in total. They expect to make their way back home near the end of June.

If you are interested in showing your support, click HERE.

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CNN Newsource

By Dave Cawley

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    KAMAS, Utah (KSL, KSL Podcasts) — It seems to happen almost every summer: a hiker or hunter ventures into the Uinta Mountains but fails to return on time. Concerned friends or family sound an alarm, and searchers rush into the high country in hopes of finding the missing and bringing them back to safety.

As long as help arrives quickly, odds of survival are good. But even minor missteps in the Uinta Mountains can be deadly. The natural hazards, from dangerous lightning to crumbling cliffs, challenge hikers, especially those who venture deep into the backcountry. Most people who go missing in the Uinta Mountains emerge, eventually, alive or dead. A smaller number are never found.

Among those who’ve vanished without a trace are Lynn Simmons, Garrett Bardsley and Melvin Heaps. The circumstances of how each disappeared differ. They varied in age, from 12 to 74, and arrived in the Uintas with far different levels of experience. They are all presumed to be dead, but their remains have never been located.

The Uinta Mountains have a reputation for keeping their secrets. They’re a place where most people come and go without trouble, but where an unlucky few enter and never return. A Bermuda Triangle of the Utah backcountry.

The Uinta Triangle There’s another case of a person missing in the High Uintas Wilderness that illustrates better than any other how someone can enter that rugged expanse and fail to return, leaving no trace of their passing.

In July of 2011, an Australian trekker named Eric Robinson arrived in Utah with the intent of hiking the Uinta Highline Trail. That primitive track crosses one end of the Uinta range to another. Robinson, 64, planned to spend 10 days hiking solo from Chepeta Lake to the Highline Trailhead along the Mirror Lake Highway.

Robinson did not arrive as scheduled at the end of his hike. His contact in Utah notified the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, along with Robinson’s wife, Marilyn Koolstra. She traveled to Utah to take part in the search, hoping to find her husband and bring him home.

“That was the first time I’d been in the Uintas,” Koolstra said in an interview for the new KSL Podcasts series Uinta Triangle. “I appreciated why Eric wanted to be in that space.”

The grandeur of the High Uintas was tinged with intimidation for Koolstra, though, as she came to understand the challenge of looking for a missing person in that mountain wilderness.

“A missing person can be missing forever,” Koolstra said.

From the COLD podcast team

The new KSL Podcasts series Uinta Triangle was produced by the same team behind COLD, the true crime series that over three seasons has investigated the cold case disappearances of Susan Cox Powell, Joyce Yost and Sheree Warren.

Uinta Triangle took COLD’s approach of deeply researched narrative storytelling and applied it to the disappearance of Eric Robinson. Reporting for the podcast required traveling halfway around the world to meet Robinson’s family and friends in Australia. It involved learning about Robinson’s motivations and justifications for hiking alone. It also included walking some of Robinson’s favorite trails in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

The podcast sought to answer lingering questions about what happened to Robinson, while also exploring the geographic, cultural and jurisdictional barriers that hampered the search.

“It’s a story of a missing person, but it’s also a legacy to that person for the love of what they did and acknowledgment of a life that was well lived,” Koolstra said.

The first two episodes of Uinta Triangle are available on May 20 with additional episodes to follow each Tuesday. It is free to listen through Apple Podcasts, other major podcast providers, or directly from the Uinta Triangle website.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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CNN Newsource

By Mythili Gubbi

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WEST HAVEN, Utah (KSTU) — One elementary school teacher in West Haven is raising money to pay off school lunch debts through her dance moves and social media. Kati Jo Christensen has collected about $20,000 since January, which has helped pay off debts in 6 schools, and she’s still going.

“I really thought we would maybe get 100 bucks, 200 bucks every once in a while, and then that would be it,” said Christensen, a special education teacher. “But yeah, twenty thousand dollars and it’s not over yet.”

She found out about lunch debt a couple of years ago and started to collect donations in small ways. When she started working at West Haven Elementary School last year, she found that they had about $4,000 in lunch debt, and neighboring schools had outstanding balances too.

“I think a lot about my students, it’s kind of emotional,” said Christensen. “I love my kids, watching kids come to school and maybe they’re hungry or maybe they’re distracted by their hunger, or that’s like the only thing they’re thinking about, it’s a lot. They can’t focus on anything else. And if they’re hunger isn’t met or their basic needs aren’t met, school doesn’t stand a chance.”

Through her account “MrsCactusVibes” on TikTok, she started posting minute-long TikTok dances. She was able to monetize her account, educate people about the issue of lunch debt and raise money from people around the world who want to help. She has over 47,000 followers and 1.5 million likes on her videos.

To highlight her effort, West Haven City Council recognized Christensen with a community star award.

“We don’t see all the good that happens in the community, and when you see something like this come up, especially when it involves children, and helping families, it’s a wonderful thing,” said Christensen.

Her goal is for people to just understand the issue of lunch debt and step up to help.

“I’m doing this for our community and our kids, but it’s nice to at least put a light on it and be like, hey, this is a problem in our area,” added Christensen.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Allegiant Air officially launched new nonstop service Thursday from Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) to the Denver International Airport (DEN) in Colorado. To celebrate, the airline is offering one-way fares on the route for as low as $42.

“We’re excited to connect passengers in Idaho Falls to Denver,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Our unique approach of offering all nonstop flights at unbeatable value continues to resonate with travelers. Allegiant is dedicated to providing budget-friendly options that empower our passengers to customize their perfect getaway.”

These new flights will operate up to twice weekly.

“Allegiant’s new service to Denver provides an incredible opportunity for travelers to explore all the exciting attractions along Colorado’s Front Range,” commented Ian Turner, IDA Airport Director. “Demand for air service continues to grow in Idaho Falls, and our partners at Allegiant have consistently recognized and responded to this need.”

For specific flight days, times, and to secure the lowest available fares, click HERE.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– In honor of Idaho Power’s annual ‘Power of Community Day’, employees gathered to clean up Restlawn Cemetery in Pocatello on Thursday.

For their ‘Power of Community Day’, Idaho Power employees choose service projects around the eastern Idaho region as a way to give back to the community. Employees in Pocatello have chosen to clean up Restlawn Cemetery as their act of service for the past three years.

“When families come here, hopefully it’s just a little surprise for them that someone took the time to take care of the headstone,” said Matt Stucki, regional customer relations manager for Idaho Power. “I know other organizations come and do it as well, but this is a pretty important one for us.”

During the cemetery beautification project, around 20 Idaho Power employees clean and cut the grass away from dozens of Restlawn’s ground-level headstones.

For more information on other Idaho Power service projects for Power of Community Day, you can visit the Idaho Power website.

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Sam Ross

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Bingham Ag Services presented Willow Bay Food Bank with $7,300 in donations on Thursday. Willow Bay Baptist Church operates the Willow Bay Food Bank outreach service. Pastor Chris Thompson said the food bank serves around 200 families every month on average.

“The church, that is a big part of what they should be doing across the world, serving people, helping those who need something,” said Thompson. “Whether it’s a little bit or a lot, whether it’s food or just someone to talk to, we just want to help people.”

Thompson said it costs around $13,000 every year to keep their food bank running. The donation from Bingham Ag Services will help the church distribute food boxes during the holidays, one of the food bank’s busiest and most expensive times of year, where they can serve up to one thousand local people during Thanksgiving alone.

For more information on the Willow Bay Food Bank, you can call the Willow Bay Baptist Church at (208) 226-2244. Donations can be mailed or delivered to the church at 246 Lee St, American Falls, ID 83211.

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