Author: KIFI

Danielle Mullenix

BREAKING UPDATE: Christie Stone’s preliminary hearing has been continued again, with the judge saying the case will require significantly more court time to work through the evidence. Judge Cousins said the case is “paper heavy” and the parties expect to need about a day and a half — roughly 12 hours — for the preliminary hearing.

The court will work with county clerks to find a special date for the hearing. A status conference is scheduled for October 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Local News 8 will continue following the case and will update this story when a new preliminary hearing date is set.

BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – The former president of the Portneuf Valley Soccer Club is expected in court Tuesday morning for a preliminary hearing stemming from allegations that she misused nearly $220,000 from the organization.

Christie Stone is facing a felony grand theft charge following an internal audit into the soccer club’s finances.

Christie Stone | Akamai Advisors

Stone’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, before Judge Cousins. The hearing had previously been scheduled for July 21 but was moved to late September.

According to the incident report, Stone is accused of making personal purchases using the soccer club’s account. Investigators say the alleged transactions totaled nearly $220,000.

The report says the soccer club’s board questioned Stone about the transactions after they were discovered. According to investigators, Stone said she did not realize the soccer club account had been linked to her personal Idaho Central Credit Union credit card.

Stone first appeared in court after the charges were filed. During that hearing, her defense attorney waived the reading of the complaint.

Judge Eric Hunn previously stated the charge carries a potential sentence of one to 14 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine if Stone is convicted.

Stone is not currently in custody.

Protocol of preliminary hearings?

For clarification, a preliminary hearing is not a trial. Prosecutors must present evidence for the court to determine whether there is enough probable cause for the case to proceed.

Stone has been accused of wrongdoing but has not been convicted of the charge.

Local News 8 will be in court Tuesday morning and will provide updates as the hearing develops.

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David Pace

TERRETON, Idaho (KIFI) – A new 18,000-pound memorial dedicated to Prisoners of War has been erected in West Jefferson Cemetery by Terreton and Mud Lake.

The memorial consists of two massive pieces of travertine engraved with words honoring a local hero.

Ray Cope, a POW from Mud Lake, was captured by the Japanese during the Battle of Wake Island in December 1941 – enduring 44 months of torture, starvation rations, beatings and sickness.

On Saturday, Ray’s son John Cope led the dedication of a new war memorial to his father, those taken captive at the Battle of Wake Island and all prisoners of war.

However, the memorial isn’t just dedicated to Cope. It’s dedicated to those taken captive at the Battle of Wake Island and all prisoners of war.

Men like Lewis W. Shamel, who wrote about his experiences as a Japanese prisoner in four different prison camps on mainland China and in Japan.

His niece Nancy Shamel shared his story with me at the memorial’s dedication.

He preserved his memories in a book called “A Cup of Rice” about his experiences as a Japanese prisoner in four different P.O.W. camps on mainland China and in Japan.

“He was a prisoner of war for four years under the Japanese prison system. They were horrible, horrible conditions,” Nancy said. “When they first captured them, they made them all take off their clothes and sit on the airstrip for two days with just a little bit of water.”

Lewis was 21 when he left to serve in World War II, weighing 185 pounds. When he returned, he weighed 89. 

It is for these sacrifices that John Cope says we must remember and honor Prisoners of War.

“Always remember the sacrifices that the P.O.W. / MIAs (Missing in Action) have done for this country and this community,” Cope said. “When you put your name on the line to join the service, you’re committing to protecting our freedoms and following the Constitution of the United States.”

Construction of the memorial was a community effort led by Cope, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8893 and residents of Mud Lake and Terreton.

John Cope invites all to visit the new monument and reflect on the dedication of Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action.

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Maile Sipraseuth

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — For 61 years, John Bagley has spent his life in the skies. When he’s not in the cockpit, you can find him at the Legacy Flight Museum in Rexburg, probably talking about vintage aircraft. On Saturday, September 19, Bagley was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration with the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing his decades of dedication to aviation.

“All the good things that there is to do in life, you can experience in an airplane,” Bagley said.

The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is known to be the highest honor in aviation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, you must meet these requirements to earn the award:

Hold a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificate. Have 50 or more years of civil and military piloting experience or 50 or more years combined experience in both piloting and aircraft operations. Up to 20 years of the required 50 years may be U.S. military experience. The effective start date for the 50 years is the date of the nominee’s first solo flight or military equivalent. The 50 years may be computed consecutively or non-consecutively. Be a U.S. citizen. Have NOT had any airman certificate revoked.

“The FAA called me, and they interviewed me for a while, and they said, ‘Do you think you deserve it?’ And I said, ‘No, but my mechanics do, because my mechanics keep me flying,'” Bagley said.

While he says that, he is grateful for the recognition from the FAA.

“To me, it was just a great honor to get it. You know, I’ve got about 10,000 hours of flying and this is the FAA’s way of saying good job,” Bagley said.

Like every career, there were tough times. But he survived.

“I had an airplane quit on me just south of town, and I had to landed on the freeway. In 1995, I had a TI-28 fireball on me, and we crashed it outside of town, and I was burned very badly. My buddy in the back seat had a broken back, and I waited about ten days for I went flying again,” Bagley said.

Despite the challenges, it wasn’t able to keep him out of the pilot’s seat.

“(I love) the beauty of the earth when we’re in the air. But there’s another part when you’re up high and the clouds,” Bagley said, “And you’ll see it is so peaceful up there. You get up at 24, 26, 28,000ft and everything is calm. And there’s not really a sense of motion, and it’s just wonderful. It’s just delightful. It’s home.”

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – After a bit of an enrollment slump last year, Idaho Falls School District 91 has more than doubled its band and orchestra enrollment this year, with well over 150 signing up.

“Last year we had a little bit of an off year with not as many students, so I’d say we’re more than double already,” Sharon Cole, District 91’s Music Office Manager, said.

The teachers are thrilled of having more students enrolling in the program.

“With this new class of sixth graders coming in, we have a ton of students, and we’re just really excited to just provide this opportunity for more kids,” Jake Snarr, the Band Director at Taylorview, said.

More student’s enrolling in these music programs not only brings a smile to the faces of the teachers, but it could prove beneficial to their development. In a study conducted by The University of Southern California, scientists found that as little as 2 years of music instruction could boost brain engagement, the ability to focus, creativity, and enhance intellectual development.

“It’s very important for development,” Cole said. “Studies have shown that students in band, choir or orchestra classes actually do better academically.”

Cole said it also gives students a chance to take full responsibility for their own equipment, teaching them a valuable life lesson.

“One of the things that I think is important that we teach is responsibility,” Snarr said. “Taking care of the instrument is a big challenge for students. It’s a very fragile piece of equipment and there’s a lot of nuance to taking care of each and every single one of them. So it’s a great way for them to become responsible for something that is very valuable and fragile.”

The District is thrilled to provide this opportunity for so many young students, but they could use a little help ensuring every student gets an instrument.

“We are especially low on trumpets, trombones and alto saxophones,” Snarr said. “If there’s anybody in the community that would like to donate those, we always accept donations. And often the district will take care of repairs so that they are ready to go and get into a student’s hands.”

If you are interested in donating an instrument or simply want to show support for these young performers, you can find more information on District 91’s Music Department page.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Southeastern Idaho Public Health is offering free STD testing for the rest of the month, urging community members to take advantage of quick, accessible screenings.

The test will consist of a small needle prick to the finger; then the blood sample taken will be used to screen for Syphilis, Hepatitis C, and HIV, helping people catch potentially serious conditions early. Ian Troesoyer, a board-certified family nurse practitioner for Southeastern Idaho Public Health, recommends annual testing for individuals with multiple or new sexual partners.

“Anybody who has sex with new partners or whose partners have sex with other partners should get screened,” Troesoyer said.

Although Idaho is ranked as one of the lowest STI and STD rates in the nation, that does not make them non-existent. Local cases are steadily rising across the region. According to data from the Pew Research Center, the prevalence of HIV cases in Idaho increased from 55.8 to 83.2 per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2021.

“Southeastern Idaho Public Health and East Idaho Public Health put out a press release earlier this year saying that we’ve gotten the same number of HIV cases in the first three months that we normally get in the whole year,” Troesoyer said.

Routine screening is important not only to stop the spread of infection, but also to prevent long-term health complications. Conditions like Hepatitis C, if it goes unnoticed and untreated, could do irreversible damage to the liver.

Public health officials also want to eliminate the stigma and anxiety often associated with STD testing.

“There are a lot of people who feel uncomfortable or nervous about getting tested because nobody wants bad news. But knowing is empowerment,” Troesoyer said. “Knowing is able to keep yourself healthy. And so even if someone is positive for something, there’s usually something we can do about it. It’s better to know better to help protect your partners, protect the community, and also protect your own health.”

If you are interested in free testing, click is HERE.

Residents unable to attend this month’s event will have another opportunity when SIPH hosts its next free testing event in December.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Amy’s Kitchen is laying off dozens of employees at its Pocatello facility as part of a nationwide restructuring, moving its canning operations from Idaho to Medford, Oregon, as first reported by the Press Democrat.

According to the Dept. of Labor Department’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, 49 people at the Pocatello plant will be affected by the decision.

The move comes as the California-based organic food brand announced plans to close its Santa Rosa manufacturing plant, which will affect over 200 workers.

Despite the initial job cuts, the California-based organic food brand says it plans to expand the Pocatello plant into a designated facility for its line of frozen entrees. In an interview with the Press Democrat, the company said it was reorganizing production “so each facility can focus on the product categories where it is strongest.”

While Pocatello takes on entrees, the Medford facility will concentrate on pizza, soup, and burritos.

The layoffs are scheduled to begin late this year and wrap up by summer 2027.

“These decisions were not made lightly, and they are not a reflection of the dedication of the people affected,” Amy’s Kitchen said in a statement to the Press Democrat. “We are committed to supporting every impacted employee through this transition.”

The company stated that affected workers will receive severance packages, job-placement assistance, and counseling services.

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Linda Larsen

UPDATE: All lanes are now reopened, and the incident has been cleared as of 2:50 p.m.

POPLAR, Idaho — Quick action by a pickup truck driver saved an elderly driver after his car burst into flames along U.S. Highway 26 in Bonneville County on Monday afternoon.

Emergency crews responded around 1:55 p.m. to reports of a fully engulfed vehicle fire near mile marker 360, just west of Poplar.

According to Swan Valley Fire Chief Travis Crystal, the elderly man was driving along US-26 when his car caught fire. A pickup driver traveling in the opposite direction noticed smoke pouring from the car and immediately flipped around to help.

The bystander spotted the elderly driver still trapped inside the cab. He pulled the man to safety moments before the vehicle became completely consumed by flames.

Firefighters with the Central Fire District worked to extinguish the blaze. The incident temporarily forced a total shutdown of the highway, but the Idaho State Police have confirmed that one lane has since reopened.

Drivers traveling through the area should expect delays.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide additional updates as we learn new information from ISP.

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News Release

DRIGGS – Beginning October 1, the Idaho Transportation Department, with support from Teton County, will close multiple minor access points along State Highway 33 between Driggs and Victor to make travel safer. Closures will be conducted one at a time at:

1520 S. 500 W. 2116 S. 500 W. 3228 S. 500 W. 3714 S. 500 W. 4760 S. 500 W. Two four-wheeler tracks in this vicinity will also be eliminated.

Each of these locations cross a county road (500 West) and a well-used bike path before intersecting with SH-33. Drivers will need to use 500 West and other major county roads, such as 1000 to 6000 South, to access the highway following these closure changes. 

Motorists can expect to see ITD crews and equipment working through the fall at these points to remove existing roadways and place barriers. Traffic on SH-33 will not be impacted during construction.

The decision to limit access points in this vicinity was made in partnership with Teton County. A recent ‘Safe Streets for All’ study conducted through a grant to Teton County indicated that minimizing access points along the SH-33 corridor was critical for increased safety. Fewer roads intersecting the busy highway means a safer drive with less points of potential conflict for motorists. 

“We’re grateful to the community members of Teton County for their cooperation with these changes,” ITD Engineering Manager Bryan Young said. “It’s not often we have a parallel running road that’s an ideal alternative for drivers and residents. This is a unique scenario that we’re confident will make Teton Valley safer.” 

Changes are posted to the Idaho 511 app, as well as at 511.idaho.gov.

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Karole Honas

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Hundreds of volunteers gathered early Saturday morning in Blackfoot for the annual “Day of the Corn,” a community effort that helps provide meals to local residents throughout the winter.

At least 250 students arrived at Richard Johnson’s cornfield at 6:30 a.m. to shuck 5,000 ears of freshly harvested corn. The corn was then transported to the Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, where volunteers worked through a large assembly line set up in the alley behind the church.

There, the corn was boiled and removed from the cob before being carried upstairs to the church kitchen. A second team of volunteers drained the corn and packed it into freezer bags for storage.

By the end of the morning, organizers expected to have processed about 190 gallons of corn, all of which will be stored in the food pantry freezer.

The corn will help supply the weekly Community Dinner Table throughout the winter months. The free Tuesday night meals are hosted at the Methodist Church and supported by churches across Blackfoot, with congregations taking turns preparing and serving the dinners.

Organizers say the meals are open to everyone, whether they are in need of food or simply looking for fellowship and companionship.

The Community Dinner Table begins Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. and continues every Tuesday throughout the winter.

Editor’s note: Richard Johnson name was written as Richard Larson in an earlier version.

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Bailee Shaw

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho Falls resident is recovering after firefighters rescued them from a manufactured home fire on West Elswood Drive Sunday morning.

The Idaho Falls Fire Department responded to the scene around 10 a.m. after callers reported seeing black smoke and flames coming from the home.

Firefighters began aggressively attacking the fire while a crew entered the building, found the resident inside, and carried them to safety. Crews began emergency medical care at the scene before the resident was taken to the hospital.

Unfortunately, firefighters also found a dog inside the home, but it did not survive the fire.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, but the home and all contents inside were declared a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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