Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

UPDATE 4:40 pm: IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Falls Police Department said Troy Meyers has been found and is safe. No other details were given.

ORIGINAL STORY

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Police Department is requesting the public’s immediate assistance in locating 13-year-old Troy Meyers, a teen with autism who went missing late Monday morning.

Troy was last seen around 11:30 a.m. at his home near the intersection of John Adams Parkway and South 15th East (St. Clair Road). Troy is 5 ft 4 inches tall and is believed to be wearing a grey hoodie and grey sweatpants and may be riding a bike, according to a post by IFPD.

If you see him or have any information on his whereabouts, call Idaho Falls Police dispatch at 208-529-1200. 

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Doug Long

UPDATED: 1:11 PM

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — A crash on U.S. Highway 26 left a Florida driver and his passenger hospitalized Monday morning after their motorhome struck a detached trailer near Swan Valley.

According to the Idaho State Police (ISP), the incident happened around 11:15 a.m. at milepost 372 on westbound US-26.

Investigators say a 51-year-old Idaho Falls man was driving a 2016 Ford F-350 westbound, towing both a camp trailer and a second utility trailer carrying a Razor side-by-side. The second trailer detached from the truck and came to a stop in the middle of the westbound lanes.

Moments later, a 2020 Winnebago motorhome towing a 2021 Jeep, driven by a 79-year-old man from Crestview, Florida, collided with the trailer.

An ambulance rushed the 79-year-old driver and his passenger to a local hospital. ISP confirms that all occupants in both vehicles were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

All lanes of US-26 remain affected. Idaho State Police troopers are on-site rerouting traffic through the South Fork Lodge area to bypass the scene. Drivers traveling through the area should expect delays or seek alternative routes.

ISP continues to investigate the cause of the incident and how the trailer became detached.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a developing story. This article has been updated and corrected to reflect new information from ISP.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – From fried foods, fair rides, and lots of local livestock, the Eastern Idaho State Fair could offer a unique experience for everyone. One of these unique experiences is the educational value it offers to kids in the 4-H program.

“I like 4-H because showing sheep and goats, I think, is really fun,” Parker Pratt, a 4-H participant of 6 years said.

His younger cousin, Konnor Pratt, is going to officially join the program next year. But he already has some experience 4-H and raising chickens.

“I like doing 4-H because I like learning about the livestock and stuff,” Konnor Pratt, a soon-to-be 4-H participant said.

Konnor and Parker’s sister, Kaylee Pratt, has been in the program since she was 8 years old. Ever since her first animal market show, she’s loved the program and the many lambs she has raised.

“I like doing 4-H because it gives you all different experiences,” Kaylee Pratt, a 4-H participant of 10 years, said. “Like we have to go talk to business owners. You have to go talk to like for potential buyers and for add ons and everything. So then we can have buyers for the so and so we can make money and profit off of like what we’ve done all year. And with breeding all year, it takes a lot.”

4-H began in 1902 and it provides educational opportunities for youth related to agriculture, STEM, healthy living, family and consumer sciences, leadership, and civic engagement.

At the Eastern Idaho State Fair, a particular part of the 4-H program is the animal markets, which teach kids about how to raise a farm animal for profit.

“It teaches a lot,” Teresa Pratt, the local 4-H leader for 35 years said. “You have to go talk to potential buyers so that gets them out. And to talk to the business people and teaches them about record keeping.”

They have to balance hands-on animal care, responsibility and financial management with daily life and schoolwork. Which may be a lot to balance, but the Pratt family is up to the challenge.

“So I play soccer and tennis. And then I’m in dual-enrollment classes like I’m in a bunch of dual-enrollment classes and I’m in FFA,” Kaylee said. “I’m just I’m in a lot. And it’s kind of a hard balance. but I like doing it all, so I’m happy to balance it.”

If the 4-H participants do a well enough job, they can sell their animals and make a profit. The top 20 in each animal category are the sellers.

If you are interested in seeing these young competitors and their livestock, the schedule is listed right here.

Wednesday 09/09:

4-H Market Sheep Show

Goddard Pavilion – 6 P.M.

4-H Market Rabbit Show

Yellow Dairy Show Barn – 9 A.M.

Thursday 09/10:

4-H Market Swine Show

Yellow Dairy Show Barn – 8 A.M.

4-H Market Goat Show

Goddard Pavilion – 10 A.M.

4-H Dairy Cattle Show

Yellow Dairy Show Barn – 12 P.M.

4-H Sheep Showmanship

Goddard Pavilion – 1 P.M.

Friday 09/11:

4-H Jr. Market Animal Sale

Beef Show Barn – 6 P.M.

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Maile Sipraseuth

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Jefferson County Coroner released the name of the man who died at a bar in Rigby. Corey Bates of Lewisville died after a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police were called to the Off Ramp Bar and Grill on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 5, when a man threatened the bartender holding a gun.

When officers confronted the man outside the bar, he refused repeated commands to drop his weapon before taking his own life.

“[If] You’re going to take your own life, call 988, the suicide hotline,” said Chief Fullmer. “We’re indeed sorry for the victim’s family and their heartache, and at this time condolences go out to them.”

The Rigby Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation into the incident.

If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call the 988 suicide hotline or click HERE.

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Abi Martin

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – A skydiver was injured while landing at a Rigby High School football game Friday night.

Emergency medical personnel with Central Fire District were already on scene for the game and responded to help the skydiver after the landing.

According to Central Fire District, the skydiver came in too fast while landing and injured his leg.

Idaho Falls Fire Department ambulance personnel transported the patient to a hospital for treatment.

No further information about the extent of the injury was made available.

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David Pace

ARCO, Idaho (KIFI) – Seventy-five years ago, Experimental Breeder Reactor-1 (EBR-1) became the first-ever nuclear power plant to create electricity near Arco, Idaho.

“This is the first place in the entire world where we managed to produce enough electricity to light four, simple light bulbs,” said EBR-1 Tour Guide Vic Thomas. “It’s the very beginning of us being able to use atomic energy peacefully.”

The Museum of Idaho and Idaho National Laboratory hosted a historic tour for dozens of community members Friday to commemorate the milestone.

The groundbreaking achievement on December 20, 1951, was followed two years later by another breakthrough. In 1953, EBR-1 successfully produced more fuel than it consumed – the first demonstration of breeder reactor technology.

The reactor was cooled by liquid sodium. It ran for a dozen years until December 1963.

Later that decade, it was designated a National Historic Landmark by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

“This is representing a whole legacy of electricity production across the United States. At the laboratory, we are now creating small modular reactors and microreactors, and that legacy, it began here.”” Thomas said.

While the site remains the birthplace of atomic power, INL guides quickly corrected a common myth. 

“Everybody believes EBR-1 is the reactor that lit the city of Arco. That is not true—it was the BORAX-III reactor,” said INL Ambassador Liza Raley.

On July 17, 1955, electricity for Arco’s 500 residents was unhooked from the grid and connected directly to the Borax-III reactor in a historic first for nuclear power generation.

“For 45 minutes in the middle of the night, they powered the entire city of Arco with atomic power. That made Arco the first city in the world to ever be powered entirely by atomic power,” Raley said. “Now, the joke that we normally make is in 1951, they lit four iconic light bulbs at EBR-1. In 1955, they lit five light bulbs.”

Today, 57 nuclear power plants are producing 20 percent of America’s electricity.

The dawn of the nuclear energy age began with the illumination of four, small light bulbs in December 1951.

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Abi Martin

UPDATE 8:20 p.m. – Frances Avila has been found, according to the Idaho Falls Police Department.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – The Idaho Falls Police Department is asking for the public’s help locating a missing handicapped adult.

Frances Avila, 54, was last seen around 6 p.m. Friday in the area around the College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls.

Police say Avila was wearing a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants and was not wearing shoes.

Anyone who sees Avila or has information about his whereabouts is asked to call dispatch at 208-529-1200.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello Marathon is just around the corner in the Gate City, with participants picking up their swag bags and T-shirts this afternoon at the ICCU Fieldhouse. This year’s race marks the first under new race director Mary Stenquist, who took over the role from her father and is excited to continue the legacy of the marathon.

For a quarter-century, the Pocatello Marathon has brought runners from all over the U.S. and internationally. The 2026 race currently has over 800 runners signed-up, but Stenquist says the number continues to grow as they accept same-day sign-ups.

“We have multiple different events, we have the full marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K, we also have a kids’ one mile and a .2,” said Mary Stenquist, Race Director. “It’s been fun to see it change and grow over the years.”

With multiple different race lengths, the event both draws out and accomodates for all levels of runners. Some participants are running their first race ever, with others hoping to qualify at the race for the Boston Marathon.

“I love being able to show people our awesome community. We have people from over 40 states and three different countries represented this year,” said Stenquist. “It’s cool to see the variety of different people and be able to share our little slice of Pocatello heaven that we have here.”

Stenquist said runners enjoy the scenic views along the route of the Pocatello Marathon as the first half of the marathon is along a narrow canyon road. The full marathon course begins at Camelback Mountain and follows Buckskin Road.

All the races finish at Ross Park where vendors, volunteers and supporters will be waiting to welcome the finishers. The racers are hoping to beat the heat with an early start on Saturday morning, with the full marathon beginning at 6:15 a.m. and the half-marathon at 8 a.m.

“Our slogan has always been ‘small town with big race flair,” said Stenquist. “We try to incorporate some nice swag items for runners and bring in all the vendors, we’d like to just make it really awesome for our runners.”

People line up to receive their runner packets and swag bags at the ICCU Fieldhouse the day before the 2026 Pocatello Marathon, Sept. 4

The event comes together each year thanks to sponsors like title sponsor Bingham Healthcare and a fleet of local volunteers from various organizations and Idaho State University. Stenquist said the team is incredibly thankful for the local businesses that chip in for fundraising to make the event memorable and professional each year.

There are multiple aid stations along the course for runners that will be manned by dozens of volunteers. At the finish line, booths like the ISU Physical Therapy program will offer services to runners.

“We’re offering post-race massages tomorrow,” said Alex Lacroix, PT student at ISU. “So after you’re done with any length of race, you can come check-in right by the finish line. We’ll try to get that fluid moving so hopefully the lactic acid doesn’t build up and we’ll get the blood flowing again.”

Some runners, like Marijke Johnson, are locals from Pocatello running the marathon in their hometown.

“I’ve been a runner my whole life so I thought it would be a really cool opportunity to run a marathon in my hometown and do something that I love,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she’s been training for about six months and has woken up early all summer to beat the heat on her runs. “I’m excited to have it done and have all my hard work pay off,” she said.

The hill past Century High School brings some nerves for participants, who anxiously call it a “brutal” part of the course. However, the runners walking in to grab their shirts today were all smiles and anticipation for the big day tomorrow.

“I think a marathon sounds intimidating, but I genuinely believe that anyone can do a marathon,” said Johnson. “I think if you put in the work and the time and effort, you can do hard things. You might be slow, but a marathon is a marathon.”

For more information about the various races and a spectator guide, visit pocatellomarathon.com.

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Megan Lavin

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — There was a chill in the air this morning, which means the holidays will be here before we know it.

Two people who are already thinking about the holidays stopped by Local News 8 Live at Noon to tell us why this year’s Festival of Trees will be such a special one.

McKayla Matlack, the CEO of Development Workshop Inc., and Tim Sopalski, the foundation director, arrived in festive attire with a decked-out Christmas tree to remind us that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Trees.

They also announced this year’s theme: Nostalgia.

The theme is an invitation to look back at the last 60 years of the Festival of Trees, from past themes to the family traditions and memories that have made the event special to generations of Idaho Falls families.

Organizers are asking people to share their favorite Festival of Trees memories on social media, including photos of trees they’ve brought home from the event.

And there are plenty of ways to get involved. Volunteers are already needed, with committees working on everything from decorating trees and building crafts to baking goods. If the holiday season gets too busy, organizers say now is a great time to volunteer and help before the holiday rush begins.

There are also sponsorship opportunities for businesses and organizations interested in supporting the event.

To find out more about the Festival of Trees or learn how to volunteer or sponsor the event, visit their Facebook page.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Divers with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of Teng Go on Friday, nearly a week after the Arizona man fell into the Snake River.

Go’s body was found around 10:30 a.m. about 46 feet underwater, just upstream from the Broadway Bridge.

This comes after officials reduced water flow from the Palisades Dam earlier this week to slow downstream currents near the downtown Broadway Bridge, where search operations are concentrated, in an effort to support dive teams.

“Divers and rescue personnel have been searching the area since last Sunday, taking advantage of lower water flow and improved conditions,” stated Sgt. Bryan Lovell in a news release.

Go, who fell into the river Sunday, Aug. 30, is the second visitor to drown along that stretch of the Greenbelt this summer. On June 4, John Green of Louisiana drowned after losing his footing on riverbank rocks while taking photos nearby.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office says search crews remain on the water Friday in an attempt to locate Green’s body.

“Mr. Go’s body was turned over to the Idaho Falls Police Department and the Bonneville County Coroner who will continue their part of the investigation,” Lovell said. “Our thoughts are with the families of Mr. Go and Mr. Green.”

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