Author: KIFI

Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– With Veterans Day approaching, the southeast Idaho community takes time to honor the men and women who have served our country. However, with such honorable service also comes significant challenges.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, post-traumatic stress disorder is more common among veterans than civilians. About 7% of veterans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. The condition is also more prevalent among female veterans than their male counterparts.

Local News 8 spoke with Teriann Ness, a certified complex trauma clinician and licensed social worker, about common mental health challenges seen among veterans, particularly Post Traumatic Stress.

“There are a lot of different things that our military do experience that makes it really tough. Also, there’s a lot of stuff that they can’t talk about because it’s classified. or there’s things that they’re learning that we don’t even have a clue about. and then there’s just tough stuff that happens and that can cause both memories, coming back, tough things that they have seen or experienced themselves. Plus just that physical sensation inside of anxiety,” Ness said.

Most trauma that veterans experience stem from different places.

“The memories of what they’ve experienced when they’ve been deployed or even here in our homeland, the different things that they do for our military, the things that they learn, being able to have those thoughts come back and the pictures, the image of what they’ve experienced also affects them internally, where heart starts to race and the breathing changes and get anxious or or traumatic experiences, just their body doesn’t feel comfortable anymore,” Ness said.

Addiction is another obstacle that veterans face in the civilian world is addiction, which is tied to Post Traumatic Stress.

“…addiction comes in when people are trying to find a balance, trying to find that calmness inside. So by using something helps to bring themselves back to a sense of balance so they can keep on doing what they’re doing just to make it through the day or the week or anniversaries too,” Ness said.

If you are a veteran who needs help, contact the East Idaho Veterans Center. For more information, click HERE. Or for veterans in crisis, dial 988 and press 1.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville County residents are set to head back to the polls sooner than expected as the upcoming runoff elections take shape. On Monday, the Bonneville County Election Office announced a change to the early voting schedule for the upcoming December runoff election.

Originally planned to start on November 17, early voting will now begin later this week on Thursday, November 13, to ensure voters have two full weeks to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.

The change takes into account county office closures for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, allowing more time for residents to cast their votes.

“Preparing for an election takes months of planning and coordination,” the Bonneville County Election Office said in a press release. “Our team has been working diligently to wrap up the November election and prepare for December’s runoff. The Election Office appreciates your understanding as we continue to work under a tight timeline.”

Election Officials also took the opportunity to address common questions they received during the November municipal election. The office clarified that only residents living within the official limits of any city are eligible to participate in that city’s elections. Specifically, voters residing outside Idaho Falls city boundaries, even if their mailing address includes Idaho Falls, are not eligible to vote in the local city runoff election.

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Maile Sipraseuth

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI)– Standing Shelley Mayor Stacy Pascoe has passed away.

Shelley City council member Kim Carlson Westergard took to Facebook a heartfelt message:

“With the permission of his family… The City of Shelley is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Mayor Stacy Pascoe. Mayor Pascoe was not only a dedicated public servant, but also a trusted neighbor, friend, and champion of our community. His loss will be felt by all who knew him and by the many residents whose lives were quietly made better by his service.

Mayor Pascoe served Shelley with integrity, humility, and a genuine love for the people who call this community home. Whether he was working through complex city issues, supporting local events, or listening to residents one-on-one, he consistently put Shelley first.

We will miss Mayor Pascoe more than words can express, He cared deeply about this community and worked tirelessly to make Shelley a better place for all of us. We are grateful for his leadership, his example of service, and the time we were able to work alongside him. Our hearts are with his family during this difficult time.

The City extends its heartfelt condolences to Mayor Pascoe’s family and loved ones and asks the community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers in the days ahead. Information regarding public memorials or services will be shared as it becomes available and at the direction of the family.

Mayor Pascoe’s legacy of kindness, hard work, and dedication to Shelley will live on in the projects he helped lead, the relationships he built, and the community he loved so dearly.”

Pascoe was elected Mayor of Shelley in 2013, after previously serving on the City Council, where he was elected in 2011 and completed two years of his four-year term. A lifelong resident, Pascoe grew up in Shelley and graduated from Shelley High School.

He is survived by his four children and seven grandchildren.

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Maile Sipraseuth

UPDATE: NOV 10 — 10:00 AM

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — As of Monday morning, the Blackfoot Police, along with a local wrecker service, began the retrieval of the single-engine plane that crashed into the Snake River last night, November 9th. The Blackfoot Police, alongside a local wrecker service, began removing the plane around 10:00 AM after it was secured in the water overnight.

“We’d like to thank Search and Rescue for stepping up our Marine Deputies us on the water to assist with the recovery,” said Blackfoot PD. “Day or night, rain or shine, that team is always willing to help and we sure love them for it.”

During the removal, authorities are currently attempting to manage the flow of traffic over the Porterville Bridge by allowing alternating one-lane travel across. However, Blackfoot PD issued a warning that for safety and logistical reasons, a temporary, complete shutdown of both lanes may be necessary to safely remove the aircraft. If this full closure is required, southbound traffic will be rerouted to 200 N, and northbound drivers will need to turn around.

“We’ll do everything we can to avoid having to do that or making it the shortest interruption possible if that ends up happening,” assured Blackfoot PD in a press release.

Crash Details

The pilot, the only person aboard the aircraft, is recovering today after the plane went down sometime before 6:05 PM Sunday. Police say the pilot only suffered non-life-threatening injuries and managed to reach a nearby home immediately following the crash to call for help.

“We are grateful this wasn’t a fatality and thank the great citizens that took the pilot in and got help on the way,” stated the Blackfoot PD in a press release.

Emergency responders, including Blackfoot Police, Bingham Patrol, Marine units, and Fire/EMS, quickly arrived. The Porterville Bridge was temporarily closed for about 45 minutes to allow police to safely survey the scene. Police confirm there was no damage to the bridge structure, and lanes are currently open.

The pilot’s name and further details on the crash have not been released at this time pending the FAA’s complete findings.

In the wake of the crash, authorities are urging the public to limit unnecessary 911 calls with reports of the plane in the water.

ORIGINAL:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Police and emergency responders rushed to the scene of a crash, which appears to be a single-engine plane into the Snake River near the Porterville Road bridge in Blackfoot.

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the plane partially submerged in the water below the bridge, and first responders dispatched boats into the water. Police are no longer on the scene while the plane remains in the water awaiting retrieval.

Authorities have not yet released any information regarding the aircraft’s registration, flight number, or the condition of the pilot at this time. Local News 8 has reached out to the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office and police dispatch and is awaiting a response.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide additional details as they become available.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Just a few weeks ago, Pocatello residents enjoyed the ISU Homecoming Parade, and this weekend they were treated again with the 4th annual veteran’s parade.

The Veterans of the American Legion Post 4 have coordinated the parade to honor veterans in the area from all six branches of the military for the past four years. The event has become a staple and a tradition for families in Pocatello.

Local Joel Holverson said it’s important he bring his children to the parade to show them the importance of honoring the veterans who served our country as well as celebrating the flag itself.

The ISU marching band and color guard led today’s parade with their performances. Color guard captain Emilia Giokas said it’s an amazing opportunity for the students of ISU to walk alongside our local veterans and interact with the community.

The parade ended at Caldwell Park, where hundreds of community members lined the street to catch the last of the flying candy.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The 15th annual fall bazaar and craft fair brought in thousands from around the area today at Bonneville High School.

Vendors sold everything from homemade treats to holiday home decor and clothing. Vendor Beth Milligan has been selling for 25 years. She and her family spend the year creating holiday-themed home decor and look forward to interacting with customers and selling at the bazaar.

Other artists do their work live at the craft fair, so customers can watch them create. 14-year-old Naarya Noel has been painting for two years and sells her nature and animal paintings at the fall bazaar. Another artist offered live graphite portraits, which took her just minutes to sketch.

The venue was bustling all day with families doing their holiday shopping and mother-daughter duos out for a fun afternoon. Other handmade goods included woodwork, crochet animals, baby clothing, backpacks, handbags and plenty of locally crafted wines and pastries.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Fairway Condominiums Complex in Pocatello flooded early Friday morning as a result of a main pipeline bursting.

A representative from Axium Properties, who manages the Fairway units, told us the property has experienced plumbing issues in the past because of the buildings’ old age. Only one of the units had significant water inside, leaving the tenants evacuated for a couple of hours.

Otherwise, there was only wet carpet found in the hallways of one Fairway building. By mid-afternoon, Roto Rooter Plumbing of Pocatello had pumped the water out of the building and everyone was returned to their units.

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Winnie and Mo’s Bookshop hosted a book release party for “Energy and Nothingness” by Kevin Vallejo.

“I hope that through this book, I can invite more people into being curious about what our universe is made of,” Vallejo said.

Vallejo attained his Ph.D in Material Science from Boise State, with an emphasis on semiconductor physics. His passion for the craft drove him to write poetry about it. You can see more of his work on his website here.

Vallejo says he was inspired to write “Energy and Nothingness” by a thesis that he never finished. He reports having spent countless hours on an academic piece that tried to answer the question “What is energy?”

The thesis, as it turns out, was not required to complete the requirements for his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at El Paso. But he cites his study of energy as something fundamentally transformative.

You can buy the book “Energy and Nothingness” at Winnie and Mo’s Bookshop, or online here.

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Stephanie Lucas

Idaho Falls, Idaho (KIFI)- Roughly three-quarters of American cities hold non-partisan city council and mayoral elections, or, where candidates do not provide a political party affiliation beside their names on the ballot. But in Idaho, that could soon change.

Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon says it is time to put an “R” or “D” by candidates’ names, and ending nonpartisan municipal elections will be a topic in the 2026 Legislative Session.

Are Idaho’s City Council Races Already Partisan?

Chairwoman Moon argues that local races are already partisan in practice, despite the current format, asserting that numerous conservative groups are already vetting and rating local candidates based on their perceived Republican alignment.

 “I think it’s obvious that they are partisan, even though they’re called nonpartisan,” said Moon. “We have a lot of groups, even within the Republican Party central committees, who do rating and vetting on different candidates. And I think it’s important if we’re already rating and putting information out for the ‘Conservatives Ofs’ groups or Magic Valley Liberty Alliance or Stand Up for Idaho, all of these different groups are already rating and identifying folks as either being Republican or Democrat.”

According to Moon, State Representative Chris Bruce from District 23 A plans on sponsoring a bill in the upcoming session that calls for partisan elections for local offices. The issue is also scheduled for discussion at the GOP Winter Meeting on January 9th and 10th, 2025.

Democrats Argue Nonpartisan Races Force Focus on Local Issues

On the other side of the political aisle, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Nocochea defends the nonpartisan system, arguing it forces candidates to focus on local issues and solutions rather than relying on party affiliation.

“I think what was so great about the nonpartisan elections we saw in Idaho last week is that candidates focused on the issues,” she said. “They had to explain to voters what they were going to do, what solutions they proposed, and they couldn’t just use a shortcut of, ‘I’m with this party. Vote for me.’ And that was true for candidates who, you know, when it comes to voting for partisan elections, they vote Democrat or Republican.”

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