Author: KIFI

Maile Sipraseuth

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Three people are in the hospital following a head-on crash in north of Ririe.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred on the south side of the Snake River Bridge at Twin Bridges near 4700 E.

Initial reports by the Sheriff’s Office show that a blue Volkswagen was traveling north when it was struck head on, by a minivan that was traveling south bound. However, the reason the minivan crossed lanes remains unknown.

The driver of the minivan, a 51-year-old woman from Twin Falls, was transported by air ambulance to EIRMC with critical injuries.

The Volkswagen was occupied by two boys from Rexburg, an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old. They were both transported by ambulance to a local hospital with unknown injuries.

The road has been closed since the crash occurred and will be reopened as soon as the scene is cleared.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Five people have died in crashes across Idaho since Memorial Day as law enforcement urges drivers to stay safe during the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.”

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day typically sees an increase in fatal crashes as more people travel for vacations, road trips, and outdoor recreation.

With summer break beginning and major routes to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks running through eastern Idaho, the Idaho State Police expects heavier traffic on local highways.

“There’s going to be more traffic this summer,” Idaho State Police Trooper Alexis Summers said. “You’re going to have more people going to do stuff, take vacations. Just be patient and take your time there.”

ISP recommends drivers:

• Wear a seat belt• Never drive impaired• Obey the speed limit• Avoid distractions• Maintain a safe following distance• Avoid driving significantly above or below the speed limit

“Be courteous of other drivers that are around,” Summers said. “You got a lot of people that are just starting driver’s ed because it’s summertime and they’re out of school. Be patient with them. And you have a lot of elderly people that don’t like to go mach 10 on the highway either. So be patient with them and just be courteous to other drivers.”

Drivers can also help keep Idaho roads safe by reporting reckless driving to the Idaho State Police by dialing *477.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The National EMS Memorial Service partnered with Portneuf Air Rescue and Medical Center to host the Moving Honors procession on Wednesday, June 3. The ceremony honors fallen EMS heroes across the country, with the journey beginning in California and ending in Arlington, Virginia, totaling over 10,000 miles.

Along the way, the procession stops 32 times in 24 different states, honoring 37 EMS professionals who passed in the line of duty in 2025. There is no standing memorial for EMS heroes, which is the void the National EMS Memorial Service procession intends to fill by taking the ceremony across the country.

The center of the journey is carrying the Tree of Life, which bears the names of all 37 lost professionals. The tree will be transported along the entire journey and revealed at the national service in Virginia on July 19. A replica of the Tree of Life will be on display at each stop, showing spectators the bronze-etched leaves honoring each hero.

Several health leaders spoke at today’s ceremony at the Portneuf Medical Center helipad. Local fire department vehicles and the traveling tree of life truck were on display at the memorial. Around 30 local EMS workers attended the ceremony.

“Today, we gather to honor our brothers and sisters who are no longer with us,” said Chelsea Groom, Program Director at Portneuf Air Rescue. “Their commitment to serving their communities came at the highest cost. While they cannot stand here with us today, their legacy lives on through the lives they’ve touched, the families they’ve served and the colleagues who continue to work in their memory.”

She added that events like the traveling memorial prove that EMS is more than a profession, it’s a family and community committed to service and first response.

“Many of you that sit here today are not just first responders and professionals, but you’re also coaches at the local soccer leagues, people who teach and volunteer,” said Marc Kilman-Burnham, Director of Government Relations at Global Medical Response and speaker at the memorial. “When we step out and get on the ambulance, that fire truck or that helicopter, we’re carrying a single simple goal that’s to go out and find someone that needs us and try to take care of them.”

Kilman-Burnham went on to say that, unfortunately, the story doesn’t always go in the favor of the EMS workers, and it’s important to honor their legacy.

“If you have a loved one who has passed, you have nowhere to go to see their name permanently etched, so that’s a void we have to fill,” Kilman-Burnham said.

The Weekend of Honor will take place July 19 in Arlington, Virginia, where the Moving Honors group will complete its journey and unveil the Tree of Life.

“With the mission of the team, the Moving Honors and the National EMS Memorial Service, we’re here to say that your loved ones are never going to be forgotten,” said Megan Haverkamp, a volunteer on the journey with Moving Honors. “They’re always with us as we carry them across our trip.”

2026 Honored Fallen EMS Professionals

Salih Abdur-Rahman, 46, Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Brooklyn, NY, died in the  

line of duty on 10/29/2025 as a result of a medical event. 

Scott Adams, 46, Milton-Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department, Milton, IN, died  in the line of duty on 04/25/2025 as a result of a medical event. 

Stephen “Batman” Anderson, 53, North State Medical Transport, Raleigh, NC, died in the  

line of duty on 09/21/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

Amanda Benson, 25, CSI Aviation, Albuquerque, NM, died in the line of duty on  

08/05/2025 as a result of an air medical accident. 

Jacob Bozeman, 20, American Medical Response, Tappahannock, VA, died in the line of  

duty on 03/20/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

David Burke, 61, Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Brooklyn, NY, died in the line of duty  

on 07/31/2025 as a result of the WTC illness. 

Michael “Mike” Campbell, 48, Lawrence County Emergency Medical Services, Coal  

Grove, OH, died in the line of duty on 09/08/2025 as a result of a medical event. 

Kameilia “Kami” Chavez, 38, CSI Aviation, Albuquerque, NM, died in the line of duty on  

08/05/2025 as a result of an air medical accident. 

Everett Edwards, 84, Clarks Fork Valley EMS, Bridger, MT, died in the line of duty on  

06/24/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

Donald “DJ” Ellis, 57, Guardian Flight, Ketchikan, AK, died in the line of duty on  

06/27/2025 as a result of a medical event. 

Wesley England, 41, Nelson County EMS, Bardstown, KY, died in the line of duty on  

06/02/2025 as result of a medical event. 

Adam Loren Finseth, 40, Burnsville Fire Department, Burnsville, MN, died in the line of  

duty on 02/18/2024 as a result of a traumatic injury. 

Pamela Hehn, 61, Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Brooklyn, NY, died in the line of  

duty on 03/03/2025 as a result of the WTC illness. 

Graham Hoffman, 29, Kansas City Fire Department, Kansas City, MO, died in the line of  

duty on 04/27/2025 as a result of a traumatic injury. 

Mary Jolly, 27, Gaston County EMS, Gaston, NC, died in the line of duty on 11/17/2025 as a  

result of being struck by a vehicle. 

Jeff Jones, 55, Woodward County EMS, Woodward, OK, died in the line of duty on  

09/11/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

Fred Kemp, 52, Washington County – Johnson City EMS & Rescue, Johnson City, TN, died in  

the line of duty on 10/22/2025 as a result of a high angle fall. 

Jakob Kindt, 37, University of Mississippi Medical Center AirCare, Columbus, MS, died in  

the line of duty on 03/10/2025 as a result of an air medical accident. 

Brenna Kulikowski, 31, Timber Mesa Fire & Medical District, Show Low, AZ, died in the line  

of duty on 09/14/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

Justin Lauppe, 37, Butler County EMS, El Dorado, KS, died in the line of duty on 05/16/2025  

as a result of a medical event. 

Nick Mancuso, 37, CSI Aviation, Albuquerque, NM, died in the line of duty on 08/05/2025  

as a result of an air medical accident. 

Sarah McCarthy, 48, St. Charles County Ambulance District, Saint Peters, MO, died in the  

line of duty on 12/09/2025 as a result of a medical event. 

James McGee IV, 54, Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Brooklyn, NY, died in the line of  

duty on 12/12/2025 as a result of the WTC illness. 

Robert “Bob” Miller, 56, Phoenix Paramedic Solutions, Lafayette, IN, died in the line of  

duty on 10/09/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

Larry Nuckols, 53, Jay County EMS, Portland, IN, died in the line of duty on 01/10/2025 as a  

result of a medical event. 

Skye Oraczewski, 22, North State Medical Transport, Raleigh, NC, died in the line of duty  

on 09/21/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

Dustin Pope, 36, University of Mississippi Medical Center AirCare, Columbus, MS, died in  

the line of duty on 03/10/2025 as a result of an air medical accident. 

Kevin Robert, 55, LifeNet of New York, New York, NY, died in the line of duty on 08/27/2025  

as a result of a medical event. 

Stephen Scott, 62, Houston Fire Department, Houston, TX, died in the line of duty on  

09/17/2025 as a result of a medical event. 

Michael Skody Jr., 68, Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Brooklyn, NY, died in the line  

of duty on 08/05/2025 as a result of the WTC illness. 

Roy Smith, 60, Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department, Staunton, IN, died in the line of  

duty on 04/05/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

Susan “Suzie” Smith, 67, REACH Air Medical Services, Redding, CA, died in the line of  

duty on 10/10/2025 as a result of an air medical accident. 

Damon Thompson, 21, Timber Mesa Fire & Medical District, Show Low, AZ, died in the line  

of duty on 09/14/2025 as a result of a vehicular accident. 

Jeffrey “Jeff” Tuning, 66, CSI Aviation, Albuquerque, NM, died in the line of duty on  

08/05/2025 as a result of an air medical accident. 

Calvin “Ski” Wesolowski, 62, University of Mississippi Medical Center AirCare, Columbus,  

MS, died in the line of duty on 03/10/2025 as a result of an air medical accident. 

Frederick Whiteside, 43, Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Brooklyn, NY, died in the  

line of duty on 11/17/2023 as a result of the WTC illness. 

Allan Williams, 55, Vanderbilt LifeFlight, Nashville, TN, died in the line of duty on  

11/08/2025 as a result of an air medical accident

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – In celebration of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho has recognized a local detective for his exceptional service and unwavering dedication to the community.

On Wednesday, June 3rd, Detective Korey Payne was presented with the prestigious Hometown Hero Award for his distinguished record of law enforcement service, particularly his work in combating internet crimes against children.

“I’m just very honored that they would even think of me as someone who would be qualified for this,” Detective Payne said. “There are so many other people that are. I’m just very grateful for the things they have provided for me.”

United States Attorney Bart M. Davis emphasized that competition for the award was fierce, but Detective Payne’s impact made him the clear choice.

“Many worthy candidates were considered for this recognition, but I selected Korey Payne. He enjoys a distinguished record of service,” said Davis.

Sheriff Sam Hulse echoed those sentiments, noting that Detective Payne is defined by his passion for serving the community.

To recognize Detective Payne, U.S Attorney Davis gave him a letter of commendation, a commemorative medallion, and a U.S. Attorney’s Office challenge coin.

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Par Kermani

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous broadcast version of this story included file video footage featuring branding from Daloris Jersey Dairy in Rigby. Local News 8 clarifies that Daloris Jersey Dairy is entirely unrelated to the raw milk outbreak.

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho health officials are investigating an outbreak of illnesses linked to the consumption of raw milk that has affected nearly 60 people across the state.

According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, at least 45 people have tested positive for campylobacteriosis, a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

Health officials say the illnesses have been reported since May 19, and investigators believe additional cases may still be identified as the investigation continues.

Most of those who became sick reported drinking unpasteurized, or raw, milk from two separate milking operations, one in northern Idaho and one in southern Idaho.

The Idaho Division of Public Health is working with multiple local health districts to determine the source of the contamination and identify any affected batches of milk.

Officials say both dairy operations are cooperating with the investigation and are working with health agencies to identify and address potential sources of contamination.

Raw milk has not been pasteurized, a process that kills harmful bacteria while maintaining the milk’s nutritional value. Health officials warn that raw dairy products can contain bacteria that cause illness, especially in young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms of campylobacteriosis typically begin two to five days after exposure and can last about a week. In some cases, complications can develop and persist longer.

Anyone who develops symptoms after consuming raw milk or raw milk products is encouraged to seek medical care and contact their local public health district.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 03 JUN 26 16:51 ET

By Erin Cox

Click here for updates on this story

    SALT LAKE CITY (KSL, KSL TV) — A Utah bus driver was sentenced to five years in prison for setting a school bus with 42 children inside on fire.

Michael Ford, a 60-year-old who’s worked at the Granite School District since 1998, pleaded guilty to intentionally setting a district bus on fire using a cigarette lighter.

In April 2023, surveillance footage shows Ford igniting a bus and “continuing to drive the bus, despite smoke billowing past his face,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The video shows no children on the bus, and no injuries were reported.

Prosecutors said Ford tried to tamper with the bus’s video surveillance system days before setting it on fire.

“Through further investigation, (the investigating officer) has learned that Michael Ford … was involved in a total of eight fires. Four bus fires involving Granite School District (buses), two fires at his residence located in West Valley City, one vehicle fire in Bluffdale, and one additional vehicle fire in 2009,” according to an affidavit.

Police said the four bus fires were all reported to be electrical in the dashboard area and started while Ford was driving the buses.

He pleaded guilty in March to arson of a vehicle belonging to a federally funded organization.

In 2022, attorneys said Ford started a fire on a bus with 42 children inside.

“Multiple students are seen covering their faces with their shirts and coughing,” according to an affidavit. Ford then stopped the bus, and the students got out, police said. He used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. No one was injured. The charge connected to this was dismissed as part of Ford’s plea agreement.

In 2017, a bus was partially engulfed in flames, scorching the scaffolding of the bus. No children were inside and no injuries were reported. At the time, police believed the bus had mechanical issues but later confirmed Ford was the bus driver.

“Given the nature of the four bus fires with the same driver with them all starting in the same area of the bus, Michael Ford lighting the dash area on fire while driving the bus on April 7, it is reasonable to conclude that Michael Ford is responsible for these fires,” police said in the affidavit.

Three years following the 2023 fire, Ford has been sentenced.

“We are grateful for the efforts of Granite Police, West Valley Police and the Utah State Fire Marshall who helped investigate this matter as well as the prosecutors who were involved in the case,” a spokesman with the Granite School District told KSL in a statement. “We are glad to see that the legal process has played out and we are thankful for the end result.”

Ford was sentenced to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay more than $21,000 in restitution.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 03 JUN 26 15:49 ET

By Greenlee Clark

Click here for updates on this story

    EAGLE, Idaho (KIVI) — What started as a joke between a father and daughter is now days away from becoming reality.

Cynthia Wilson, who has lived in Avimor for 6 years, is preparing to take on a 40-mile, 7-day trek across the Andes Mountains in Peru — reaching elevations above 17,000 feet — to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer through the Zero Peaks Challenge. The trek ends at Machu Picchu. She leaves the weekend of June 6 as part of a group of 10, accompanied by a guide and support crew.

Wilson’s fundraising minimum is $10,000, but her personal goal is $15,000 for Zero Prostate Cancer — the largest national prostate cancer awareness organization. Donations are being accepted through July 7.

The journey is all the more remarkable given what Wilson has overcome to get here. At 16, she broke her lower spine in a car accident and was told she would likely need back surgery by age 40 — the first in a series of surgeries — and that she may not be able to carry or bear a child. She has since had a son, and the bone that was once floating freely in her spine has gradually fused back together over roughly 2 decades. She has also dealt with chronic migraines, autoimmune issues, bone spurs in her knees and hips, and shoulder problems throughout her adult life.

“It’s not something I’ve ever dreamed… I thought that I could possibly do,” Wilson said.

To prepare for the trek, Wilson has been training for 6 months with personal trainer Brandon Peters, who has lived in Avimor since 2022 and is her longest-running client. Peters first met Wilson at the Avimor prostate cancer awareness walk, where she learned he was a trainer. The connection was personal for him as well — his father passed away from cancer.

Peters said the trail Wilson is taking on is considered the most physically demanding in the Andes, and that when he learned what she had signed up for, he knew the training would need to be intentional and specific.

Each session is structured to build the strength and stability Wilson will need on the trail. Sessions begin with banded work to mobilize her hips, activate her glutes and warm up her shoulders, then move into balance-based exercises including step-ups and cross-diagonal lunges designed to mimic the demands of hiking over rocks and uneven terrain. Sessions finish with core and back work to maintain postural integrity throughout the trek.

“As soon as your posture fails, then your joints start to fail too,” Peters said.

He said the training has been tailored carefully around Wilson’s history of injuries — focusing on strengthening the muscles around her knees to manage bone spurs, building shoulder stability for carrying a pack and developing hip and core strength to protect her lower back.

Peters said the progress he has seen over nearly 4 years of training together has been consistent and meaningful — improved range of motion, stronger posture, better endurance, strength, stability and balance.

“It’s just a testament to persevering and pushing, and it’s so motivating, and like, I’m inspired by her, like, honestly,” said Peters. “I haven’t told you that, but I truly am,” Peters added while looking over at Wilson.

He said Wilson’s perseverance through chronic migraines and setbacks has been a defining quality throughout their work together.

“She’ll have these times where she gets this chronic migraine, and she’s just going through it. Sometimes she has no choice but to do nothing, but she gets back on the horse, she gets back in her sessions, and she gets back to training, and she’s just been super consistent,” Peters said.

He said Wilson’s story is a positive testament.

“The body is capable of doing so much more than I think we give it credit for, as long as you’re doing the right things for it.”

“If you really put your mind to it, you take the right steps — don’t be messy about it, have a goal — you can accomplish so much more than you probably could imagine,” Peters said.

Wilson is also seeing a functional medicine doctor and chiropractor in Avimor who is performing soft wave therapy on her knees and shoulders — a treatment that uses deep-penetrating waves to break up scar tissue and stimulate the body’s natural healing response. A massage therapist who specializes in neck and shoulders and is herself an avid backpacker rounds out Wilson’s care team, focusing on the specific rotations and movements she will need on the trail. All three of her care providers live in Avimor.

“In the last 6 months that I’ve just been training for this, I would say I’ve felt the healthiest physically, but also mentally. The hiking outside in nature is huge, and being able to live in Avimor and being able to say, I don’t have time to drive somewhere to go for a hike — I’m just going to walk 5 minutes, and then I’m already on a trail.”

Wilson’s motivation is deeply personal. Her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer 17 years ago. After the cancer returned following initial treatment, doctors gave him approximately 4 years to live. He is still here. Over the years, he has served on government research advisory boards — reviewing studies before they were conducted on patients and advocating for changes that made them more viable — and has been able to access some of those treatments himself to extend his life.

Today, his cancer has spread significantly. He has already undergone multiple rounds of treatment, recently had targeted radiation on his lower spine and liver, and currently has 2 fractures in one hip caused by bone weakness from years of treatment. One chemotherapy option remains.

Despite all of that, Wilson’s father leads a monthly prostate cancer support group at Eagle Hills Church in Eagle — a group he started about 6 years ago after moving to the area and recognizing the need for local connection. Wilson’s mother runs a parallel group for partners and caregivers, meeting at the same time in a separate room.

Wilson said the trek is also a way to bring her dad along on the adventure in spirit. He will be able to track her location on the mountain in real time through a link she plans to send him.

“This could potentially be a way for him to have some excitement without having to go anywhere.”

Beyond the trek, Wilson and her father organize a prostate cancer awareness walk every September in Avimor — now in its 6th year. The event is held in the lot across from the community center and features food trucks, local vendors and entrepreneurs from the neighborhood. This year, the walk is planned for a Saturday in mid-September, and organizers hope to connect it with the farmers market across the street.

Wilson said the most important message she wants people to hear is about early detection. Prostate cancer often has no symptoms until it has already spread, but a simple PSA blood test — prostate-specific antigen — can detect rising levels before symptoms appear.

“If you go get checked and you find out you have it when it’s in like stage 0 of cancer, you treat it, and it’s no problem. But if you wait until you have the symptoms, it’s probably already metastatic, and it’s probably gonna just constantly be — we’re chasing after it,” Wilson said.

She said she has watched her father’s condition progress for nearly half her life, and still believes in hope.

“I still feel like there’s hope out there, and there’s definitely hope for all the other guys that are out there and their families, their kids, their spouses, to their grandkids, you know, to know that this doesn’t have to be something that is the end.”

Zero Prostate Cancer will be posting updates online during the trek. Wilson is also sharing training updates and the donation link on her Facebook page, where the link is pinned to the top. Donations are accepted through July 7.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is backing a proposal that would increase wage requirements for employers hiring workers through the H-1B visa program.

Labrador joined attorneys general from 12 other states in submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Labor supporting a proposed rule that would raise the minimum wages employers must pay foreign workers under the program.

According to the coalition, increasing wage requirements would reduce incentives for companies to hire foreign workers at lower costs than American employees.

The H-1B visa program allows employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations when qualified American workers are unavailable.

Supporters of the proposed rule argue some companies have used the program to replace American workers while reducing labor costs. The coalition cited examples of major technology companies that have conducted layoffs while continuing to file H-1B visa petitions.

“The H-1B visa program was originally intended to bring in foreign workers only when Americans aren’t available. Instead, corporations have exploited it to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor,” Labrador said. “I’m urging the Department of Labor to raise the wage floors that make this abuse profitable. When the financial incentive disappears, so does the scheme.”

The coalition also raised national security concerns, noting that a portion of H-1B visas issued in recent years have gone to Chinese nationals working in technology-related fields.

In addition, the attorneys general argue the current wage methodology used by the federal government may not comply with federal administrative law because it was established through agency guidance rather than formal rulemaking.

The Department of Labor is currently considering the proposed changes.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Drivers traveling on Hitt Road should expect traffic delays beginning Thursday as construction crews start work near the Lincoln Road roundabout.

According to a notice shared by the City of Idaho Falls, Knife River will begin utility installation and roadway improvements associated with the Riviera Park development on the northeast corner of Hitt Road, also known as 25th East, and Lincoln Road.

As part of the project, the outside northbound lane on Hitt Road north of the Lincoln Road roundabout will be closed. All lanes entering and traveling through the roundabout will remain open.

Drivers heading north from the roundabout should be prepared to merge into a single lane shortly after leaving the intersection. The lane closure will extend north to the Grand Peaks Medical area.

The work includes underground utility installation and roadway upgrades to support the new development.

Construction is expected to continue through the end of August, depending on weather and field conditions.

Drivers are encouraged to watch for crews and equipment, follow posted traffic signs and slow down while traveling through the construction zone.

City officials note the project is not being managed by the City of Idaho Falls. The city says it is sharing the information to help notify residents about upcoming traffic impacts.

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Danielle Mullenix

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Construction continues onward within the walls of Willow Creek Elementary, the district’s newest elementary school, which is scheduled to welcome its first students when doors open in September 2026.

The school represents a significant investment in the future of education in eastern Idaho and comes as District 93 works to accommodate continued population growth and increasing student enrollment throughout the region.

“It’s always fun to open a school and be part of that and be part of the original crew that started,” Willow Creek Elementary Principal Steve Cziep said. “And I think the kids are going to be just as excited.”

Although crews officially broke ground on the project in September 2024, district leaders say planning for Willow Creek Elementary began much earlier. Initial design work dates back to 2019, as school officials evaluated long-term enrollment trends and future facility needs.

“I started the design for this school back in 2019, and it’s been a long but rewarding road to get here,” shared Tucker Hatley, project manager of NBW Architects. “There are features of this building that are unique only to this structure, including individualized bonus rooms for music or special needs programs… we’ve been really impressed with the work that has been done.”

As new housing developments and neighborhoods have expanded throughout the Idaho Falls and Ammon area, district leaders have identified the need for additional classroom space to reduce overcrowding at existing elementary schools and accommodate future growth.

To see the updated 2026-2027 D93 Boundaries Map, click here.

Willow Creek Elementary will be the first completely new elementary school design utilized by District 93 in approximately 30 years. School officials say the building is being designed with modern learning environments that support both academic achievement and student collaboration.

In addition to creating additional classroom capacity, district leaders say the new facility will offer updated educational spaces designed to meet today’s students’ needs.

“The classrooms are amazing,” Principal Steve Cziep shared. “The teachers that I’ve brought through love the setups and the technology that’s going in, just a lot of excitement to be shared.”

Construction progress has become increasingly visible in recent months, with the school’s structure taking shape. District officials remain on track for a fall 2026 opening and have already started preparing for the school’s future operations.

“It’s a beautiful, beautiful elementary,” Logan Bingham, senior director of Headwaters Construction, said. “They’ve incorporated many features that will really help with the learning process. And that’s been impressive to watch.”

For many families in this rapidly growing area of Bonneville County, the new school represents more than just another building project. It reflects the district’s efforts to stay ahead of growth while continuing to invest in educational opportunities for future generations.

District 93 plans to provide additional updates as construction progresses toward the school’s anticipated opening in September 2026. To find more resources with the district, click here.

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