Author: KIFI

Kailey Galaviz

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Bonneville Joint School District 93 is considering plans for the future of Ammon Elementary School.

In a D93 public board meeting, board members proposed the idea of relocating the Praxium Mastery Academy to the Ammon Elementary School building, due to the overwhelming popularity and success of the program.

The academy is currently housed in an auxiliary building near Rocky Mountain Middle School.

Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme says many students at the Academy have expressed the desire to continue on in the program into high school, but have been unable to because of space limitations. If the students were allowed to continue the program from 7th to 12th grade, the district estimates a maximum enrollment of 450-500 students.

“Its current location… does not allow any expansions beyond 7th and 8th grades,” said Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme. “The classrooms that we currently have there are full. We have perhaps one modular trailer that we could add an additional classroom in that trailer. But that does not allow a full expansion into high school.”

The proposal follows voter approval of a $34.5 million bond to construct a new elementary school south of Telford Road in Idaho Falls in 2023.

Superintendent Woolstenhulme says the district built multiple elementary schools to meet the rapid growth in population over the past 30 years. However, the district faced a new challenge as population growth fell short of their projections.

“At the time that we originally proposed the elementary school, we were anticipating that we’d continue to see that type of growth in the district,” said Woolstenhulme. “But through a couple of really interesting shifts in demographics that just didn’t happen.”

In response, several staff members at Ammon Elementary have requested that their entire team simply relocate to the new school building.

“We as a staff are not here to resist progress,” said Ammon Elementary 4th-grade teacher Tressa Packer. “We are here to advocate for a thoughtful transition. Rather than disband a cohesive team that has built a strong culture of learning and support, we are asking to move together as a nucleus to the new school.”

The school board will vote and decide in May or June.

D93 parents and staff are welcome to share their comments and concerns with the board through email. For more information, click HERE.

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) hosted a celebration of Earth Day with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. There were speeches, awards, and traditional tribal dancing at the event, which 105 tribe members attended.

“This meeting today means a collaboration in the efforts to try to save our environment, protect out environment, protect our cultural sites.” – Ladd Edmo, Fort Hall Business Council

The celebration began with INL transporting participants to Middle Butte Cave, where the guests held a religious ritual before taking a tour.

The event continued at the INL Meeting Center in Idaho Falls, where guests were welcomed by INL Tribal Engagement Lead Elese Teton. Following remarks were given by the INL Deputy Lab Director, David Teter, Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office Deputy Manager, Mike McAnulty, and Fort Hall Business Council representative, Ladd Edmo.

A $25,000 check was presented to the Shoshone-Bannock Junior-Senior High School by the INL. The presentation was followed by gift exchanges to select members of INL staff from tribal representatives.

The INL’s Tribal engagement director Jennifer Jackson said about the event, “This is just one of the many events that demonstrates that we value them and their rich history, and that we want to learn from them.”

A traditional sign language performance of America the Beautiful was performed. It was requested that no recordings be made due to the sacred nature of the rendition.

The Shoshone-Bannock Dance Troupe danced to music performed by the drum group Sage Point. The event ended with a Friendship Dance, in which the entire group joined hands and danced in a clockwise pattern.

The tribe members were then transported back to Fort Hall.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATED:

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – A Teton County man is now in custody after allegedly firing off shots in downtown Victor.

At around 2:25 AM on April 21, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of shots fired near downtown Victor. The deputies determined that a Jeep and a Subaru had left the area together, the shots coming from the Subaru, according to the Sheriff’s office.

Deputies located the Subaru in Driggs, where they ultimately arrested the passenger, Jose Facio Garcia, for Attempted Assault and Carrying a Concealed Weapon while under the influence.

The incident is still under investigation by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Governor Brad Little ordered all U.S. and State of Idaho flags be lowered and flown at half-staff in honor of the passing of Pope Francis. The pontiff died of a stroke and heart failure on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

“Thousands of Idaho Catholics and people of all faiths are mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a true servant of God. Teresa and I join many, many others in honoring his life and legacy of service to Christ and others,” Governor Brad Little said.

The governor’s order was made in conjunction with a directive from President Donald Trump, ordering that flags fly at half-staff until sunset on the day of Pope’s funeral.

Local Catholics honor 2000-year tradition

Father Francisco Flores of the Parish of Pope Saint John Paul the Second in Idaho Falls told Local News 8 the presence of the Pope is essential as an apostolic connection in the faith.

He says the Pope’s passing brings a sense of loss, but also a great sense of excitement as they await the next Pope.

“There’s a great deal of gratitude to be able to connect to something so meaningful in the lives of literally billions of people in the world today, to tap into this history that has gone unbroken for going on 2000 years,” said Father Flores. “We’re continuing this tradition that has gone on for so long again, that he was Pope number 266. And so we look forward to 267 might be.”

The Catholic faith now enters 9 days of mourning. According to the Diocese of Boise’s website, a memorial mass will be held in Boise at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist at 12:15 PM on Wednesday, April 23.

Regional religious leaders honor Pope Francis

As Catholics around the world mourn the passing of the Pontiff, Christians and other faiths across the region are expressing their sympathies and condolences.

The First Presidency of the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement on the Pope’s passing:

“We join the world in mourning the passing of his holiness Pope Francis. His courageous and compassionate leadership has blessed countless lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who looked to him for inspiration and counsel.”

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

ARIZONA (KIFI) – Lori Vallow Daybell’s Arizona murder conspiracy trial is heading into the final stretch. Vallow-Daybell rested her case Monday without calling a single witness.

After closing arguments, Judge Justin Beresky instructed the jury per their deliberations. The court is now in recess until the jury returns with a verdict.

Local News 8 will be streaming the proceedings below. As per the judge’s order, the stream has been delayed by 30 minutes.

Vallow-Daybell is representing herself in court. She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder related to the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.

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