Author: KIFI

Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — About 15 swimmers braved the icy waters of the Snake River in a “Frigid Friday Plunge” at the John’s Hole Bridge boat dock. 

After flipping, diving, or wading into the river, each participant was challenged to remain in the 40 degree Fahrenheit water for three minutes before warming up in a custom-manufactured sauna in a trailer in the parking lot.

Tyler Price, the organizer of the event, said cold plunging followed by a trip to the sauna can bring physical and mental benefits. 

“It’s a health thing,” Price said. “I’ve had nagging pain in a hip and a shoulder that have gone away from it. So part of it’s mental, part of it’s just for fun, being with a group of people and just having a good time. Then part of it is the health benefits that come from it.”

Amber Beck brought the portable sauna — built by Price — clear from Mackay for the event, where she also holds retreats for women and men to plunge in the Big Lost River.

The Snake River is a dangerous waterway, so it is important for cold plungers to stay next to the dock and not swim away from the shore into potentially deadly currents.

But for the band of daring kids and adults, the tradition of jumping into the Snake River for the holidays requires a blend of bravado and sheer willpower.

“Shivering is a choice,” said participant Andy Johnson.

Men, women and kids “chill” in the freezing waters of the Snake River by the Greenbelt. | Courtesy Tyler Price

Swimmers warm up in the sauna following the “Freezing Friday Plunge.” | Courtesy Tyler Price

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News Team

 POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The right northbound lane of I-15 off-ramp at Exit 73 near Pocatello has reopened, seven hours after a single-vehicle crash involving a commercial truck blocked the exit earlier this morning.

The incident took place around 9:07 a.m. today, Friday, November 28, 2025, at milepost 73.

According to a news release from the Idaho State Police (ISP), a 45-year-old man from Coalville, Utah, was driving a 2026 Freightliner northbound on I-15. Police say his vehicle drifted out of its lane, struck a concrete barrier, and ultimately came to rest across the off-ramp for Exit 73.

The crash completely blocked the exit ramp. The ramp and right lane remained closed as crews worked to clear the scene and recover the vehicle.

The ISP news release did not report any injuries as a result of the crash. The incident remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —  The day after Thanksgiving, most people know it as Black Friday, but some people are now calling it “Brown Friday.” It earns that name because it’s become a busy day for plumbing services.

If you’re stuck unclogging the toilet the day after Thanksgiving, you’re not alone. Local New 8 called several plumbing services, and they told us they have already responded to several house-plumbing emergency calls. 

“We have anything from clogged drains to water leaks. You never know when your valve underneath the sinks will just drip or cause a flood, you know? But we’re always happy to help,” said Perry Selfridge, Technician for All About Plumbing Repair in Idaho Falls.

Homes that hosted Thanksgiving dinners for a large group are at an increased risk for plumbing issues the next day. 

“You have build up all year round. Add 20 to 30 people to your house, and it creates more flow to those fixtures,” said Selfridge.

Bathrooms are not the only spot for plumbing emergencies; it can also start in the kitchen.

“You’re getting the fats, oils, and greases that go down naturally. So if you’re at a kitchen sink, you’ll either throw away your grease, and then you’ll still wipe it out with a paper towel. Even washing your hands constantly every day,” said Selfridge.

Selfridge suggests using a de-greasing agent that breaks down fats, oils, and greases to prevent those sink plumbing issues.

Selfridge says if you have questions on what de-greasing agent to use, they will be glad to offer their recommendations.

You can contact them at (208) 408-4668. They are open 24 hours a day.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —  November 29th is Small Business Saturday, and local shops are getting ready for the big rush. 

Shoppers are already lining up to support local stores in Idaho Falls.

Local News 8 walked around downtown on Black Friday and visited with store owners, who told us this is a critical time of year for them. The support from the community helps them stay afloat for the rest of the year.

“I think shopping local, it does keep those specialty shops here, and you can find things that you can’t find in other places, like the big box stores,” said Nichole De Loera Owner of Holiday House Boutique. “I also think that it helps support creativity and the uniqueness of our community. That helps support people who are employed here and the families in the community who are owning businesses and trying to make our community special.”

Nichole says she is expecting her store to be busy until the end of the year. For more information on shopping local, including downtown Idaho Falls’ fun free activities, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 46-year-old Bingham County man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Thanksgiving night in Bonneville County. The incident occurred on 15th West near 81st South.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies have identified the man as 46-year-old Steven Adams, a well-known obstetrician-gynecologist at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and Mountain View Hospital, according to the medical center’s websites. The Sheriff’s Office confirms that DO Adam’s family has been notified.

Preliminary reports indicate the crash happened sometime before 6:30 PM Thursday. Adams was reportedly traveling south on 15th West when, after passing another vehicle heading southbound, he lost control of his car.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene and immediately began life-saving measures, but Adams was pronounced deceased due to his injuries.

Preliminary information indicates that Adams was traveling south on 15th W. sometime before 6:30 PM last night, when he lost control of his vehicle after passing a vehicle traveling in the same direction.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the crash and states that no further details are being released at this time pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

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Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – On December 1st from 7-8 pm, a joint public safety forum will be held at Eastern Idaho College, organized by the parents and loved ones of Dylan Rounds and Gabby Petito. This event aims to enhance public safety awareness and will feature Nichole and Jim Schmidt, the parents of Gabby Petito, as well as Candice Cooley, the mother of Dylan Rounds.

Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old woman, lost her life during a cross-country trip, with her remains discovered in September 2021 in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. This tragic event has led the Schmidts to establish the Gabby Petito Foundation, which focuses on public awareness and safety.

Dylan Rounds, a 19-year-old, went missing in May 2022 from a remote area in northern Utah, and his remains were found in April 2024. Following this tragedy, Candice Cooley started the Dylan’s Legacy Foundation to honor her son’s memory and support public safety initiatives.

Prior to the forum, there will be training sessions for local law enforcement officers, focused on enhancing their skills in digital forensics, cell phone data analysis, and other technology-based investigative tools. These sessions will be led by law enforcement experts, including Detective Aaron Benzick from Plano, Texas, retired FBI agent Jeff Ross, and Matthew Anderson, Deputy Director of the Intermountain West Regional Computer Forensic Lab.

This training is sponsored by the Dylan Rounds Foundation and is open to law enforcement officers from across the state. Those interested in participating can find more information and apply for the training online.

The public safety forum is open to all community members and will take place in rooms 150-152 of Building 6 at the College of Eastern Idaho, located at 1600 South 25th East. Everyone is encouraged to attend and engage in discussions to improve community safety awareness.

For more information about the event and Dylan’s Legacy, click here.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– With nearly 80 volunteers filling the kitchen and dining hall, the Salvation Army of Idaho Falls continued its over 40-year Thanksgiving tradition Thursday morning, serving meals and spreading the message that everyone deserves a loving community and a full belly.

“It started out of the love of people, and it started with a desire to make people feel seen, valued and loved so much,” Lt. Jon-Marc Lamb of the Salvation Army of Idaho Falls said.

This tradition has been running for over 40 years, but would not have been possible without the help of volunteers.

“Today we have about 80 volunteers. We have volunteers helping in the kitchen with dishes, serving our community, delivering meals for people who are homebound, and just anything people can help with today. That’s what we have volunteers,” Lt. Brianna Lamb of the Salvation Army of Idaho Falls said.

Every year, the event serves about a thousand people each year.

At the beginning of the event, both Lieutenant Brianna and Jon-Marc Lamb made their remarks and joined everyone for a prayer in English and Spanish.

Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper was honored with a crystal bell and carved the turkey after her speech.

“This is where the rubber meets the road in terms of community and terms of service, in terms of, generous spirit. These are the things that make a community special,” Mayor Casper said.

One of the long time chefs, Juan Contreras, was given a white chef jacket to honor his hard work and dedication over the years.

“(We) want to thank the families that are come here every year. This isn’t just a one time thing for many of our volunteer families. They come with their children up the work as young as five years old because they have their kids helping here, because they want their kids to also see what they can be doing and things like that,” Brianna Lamb said.

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Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Hundreds filled the Rexburg Tabernacle on Thursday morning, November 27th, to kick off their Thanksgiving celebrations at a cherished local event.

Attendees were treated to a heartfelt musical performance by the local choir, alongside several talks focused on the spirit of the season of giving.

This annual community event is a long-standing tradition, having been hosted for over 40 years, and is entirely organized by dedicated community volunteers.

“It’s really easy on Thanksgiving to sort of get busy with the food and the family and whatever else is happening and forget that. The point is to think about our blessings and to really focus on the things that are beautiful in life,” said Heide Pyper music specialist for the Cultural Arts Department of the City of Rexburg. “So I hope that’s what people can do. They come and just sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, the beautiful music, focus on our blessings, and then they can go home and start really the holiday season with that in their hearts. It’s it’s a great thing.”

Many who attended told Local News 8 that they make it a point to go every year, viewing the service as an essential way to set a reflective and grateful tone for their Thanksgiving festivities. For some, the traditional gathering has firmly become a cornerstone of their family’s holiday traditions.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Tragedy can strike at any moment, and the city of Idaho Falls is offering a service to reduce that risk.

Starting the day after Thanksgiving, the Greater Idaho Falls Transit is providing the “gift” of free late-night public transportation as part of a grant-funded initiative to promote safe and sober travel over the holidays.

The complimentary service runs through December 31, 2025, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Free rides are only available after 7:00 P.M. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“What this does is it allows people to have a free, safe, sober ride to make just better decisions. Give people the gift of getting home safely for the holiday season,” said Kade Marquez, transit coordinator for the city of Idaho Falls.

The transportation service is only available within the Idaho Falls city limits. For more information on the free rides, click HERE.

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Maile Sipraseuth

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — First responders gathered at the Clark Hill rest stop near Ririe this afternoon after a Wyoming man, who police believe was intoxicated, survived a fall after jumping over a protective fence and rolling an estimated 50 feet down a cliff face.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office deputies said it appears the man was at the rest stop since the night of Wednesday, November 26th. Preliminary details indicate the man had previously hitched a ride to the location and planned to meet family at the stop.

After the family arrived, he reportedly ran away from them, jumping a protective fence, then bounced down a steep slope into some brush that prevented him from falling the entire length of the cliff face into the river below.

The individual was located and retrieved by first responders early Thursday afternoon. The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that he is alive, though his specific medical condition remains unknown at this time. Rescue crews have concluded their search, and the man was transported via ambulance for treatment.

This incident is a reminder to use caution, obey posted safety warnings, and remain behind protective barriers while visiting local rest stop facilities.

This is a developing story. Watch for updates as Local News 8 learns new information.

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