Category: kifi-local-news

Maile Sipraseuth

EDITED: Oct. 21, 2025 4:20 PM

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– With colder temperatures setting in and frost appearing, homeowners are being reminded not to overlook an important task: winterizing their sprinkler systems.

It is important to winterize your sprinklers as soon as those cold months come in, otherwise you’ll see damages.

“Water as it freezes is extremely powerful. And its expansion into ice will break just about anything,” Owner of OLS Sprinklers, Steve Morales, said.

Morales said the blow-out method is one of the most effective ways to winterize your sprinklers. This method involves using compressed air to clear water from the sprinkler system’s pipes.

Another method is the “drain out” method, which he says customers like, but not as effective since it could be error-prone.

“What we found is that it’s not as good because some of the sprinklers that have gears in the bottom of them will get ice expansion in those gears and then their lifespan is shortened. It should last 12 or 15 years. Sometimes they’re a lot less if you allow them to ice over every winter,” Morales said.

While you may think it’s easier and cheaper to do it yourself, you should always consult with a professional or do extensive research prior to doing a blow-out to ensure accuracy and to avoid injuries.

“If you do it yourself, then the damages when you repair those sprinkler systems are several hundred could be thousands of dollars. But when it’s not done correctly, a lot of the basements in Idaho Falls end up with the water that that after the thaw occurs and the sprinkler systems now broken, sometimes the water will go down and flood a basement and then you’re really done some serious damage,” Morales said.

Original:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– With colder temperatures setting in and frost appearing, homeowners are being reminded not to overlook an important task: winterizing their sprinkler systems.

Experts at The Home Depot highlight three common methods for winterizing sprinklers: The manual drain method, the automatic drain method, and the blow-out method.

Local company Ohana Sprinklers and Landscaping emphasizes the importance of the blow-out method. When water is left in the system and freezes, it can bend gears. The blow-out method helps prevent this, extending the lifespan of your sprinkler system.

The blow-out method involves using compressed air to clear water from the sprinkler system’s pipes. However, it can be dangerous if proper safety precautions aren’t followed. This is why extensive research or professional help is important.

The ideal time to start winterizing is between mid-September and the end of October.

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Seth Ratliff

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is honoring retired Sheriff Byron R. Stommel, who passed away Monday at his home outside of Idaho Falls.

A native of Idaho Falls, Stommel graduated from Idaho Falls Senior High School in 1960. He furthered his education at Pasadena City College in California and later completed training at the Idaho State University (ISU) police academy, according to his Facebook profile.

Sheriff Stommel spent the early years of his law enforcement career with the Idaho Falls Police Department before being elected Sheriff of Bonneville County in 1993. At the time of his retirement in 2007, Sheriff Stommel was recognized as the longest-serving Sheriff in Bonneville County history, leaving behind a proud legacy of service to the community, according to BCSO.

“Our thoughts are with the Stommel family, mourning the loss of a colleague, mentor, and friend to the BCSO Team,” BCSO stated on Facebook.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 21 OCT 25 12:15 ET

By JR Stone

Click here for updates on this story

    OAKLAND, California (KGO) — Former NFL player Doug Martin, who died in Oakland police custody over the weekend, had been struggling with mental health issues, according to his family.

Martin’s former agent released a statement on behalf of the family, saying in part, “Privately, Doug battled mental health challenges… Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support. Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down.”

Police say Martin was involved in a break-in at a home in the Oakland Hills. As officers attempted to detain him, they say there was a brief struggle, and after being detained, Martin became unresponsive and later died at a hospital.

“They dropped the ball! Is it the color of his skin that he thought maybe was someone bad?” asked Kar Raphino as she referenced officers.

Raphino and her family met Martin when he was in college at Boise State, before his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders.

“A lot of people cared for him; he was so caring. Words cannot explain how caring he was,” said Raphino.

We spoke with his former St. Mary’s High School football coach in Stockton.

“Maybe the story now is about, you know, mental health issues, and people who are really struggling,” said Coach Tony Franks. “We miss him. We’re grieving. We’re hurting. Tough, tough loss for a lot of people of people that loved Doug.”

“Well, you know, it hasn’t been too long ago he was in rehab and out recently from that. And I think a lot of our hopes were that, you know, maybe some of the personal demons that he was facing was getting behind him,” said Nick Perkins.

Perkins also met Martin in Boise. He says he was a fun-loving, stand-up guy who was very involved with the community and who helped put Boise State on the map nationally for football.

While the mental health concerns here are front and center. Raphino says she wants to see the body camera video from officers to see how much force was used to detain him.

“And I know justice will be done. We love you Doug! I’m so done, sorry,” said Raphino as she fought back tears.

Please note: 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™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A major two-vehicle collision on Interstate 15 has left two people dead and severely snarled northbound traffic between Fort Hall and Pocatello this morning.

Idaho State Police (ISP) Sgt. Teresa McClure confirmed to Local News 8 that the fatal crash involved a Peterbilt semi-truck and a Ford F450 flatbed pickup, both traveling north.

ISP has confirmed that the two people killed were the driver and passenger of the Ford pickup, who were not wearing seatbelts and succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The driver of the flatbed pickup was identified as a 42-year-old male from Rupert, Idaho, and the passenger was a 44-year-old male from Paul, Idaho.

According to preliminary reports, the pickup left the road and overturned. The driver of the semi-truck, a 75-year-old male from McCammon, Idaho, was wearing a seatbelt and was not transported for injuries.

Northbound traffic between Fort Hall and Pocatello has been periodically blocked and rerouted by emergency personnel as they work the scene. Commuters should expect major delays.

The cause of the crash is still under active investigation by ISP troopers.

ORIGINAL:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A major two-vehicle crash brought traffic to a screeching halt along I-15 between Fort Hall and Pocatello.

First responders are on the scene at Milepost 77 north of Pocatello. The right northbound lane is currently blocked.

Multiple outlets are reporting that the crash was fatal; however, ISP has not released an official statement at this time. Local News 8 has reached out to ISP to confirm these details.

The Idaho Transportation Department is urging drivers to use caution when traveling through the area.

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

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Chris Nestman

With the floors clean, the paint dry, and the ribbon cut, Pocatello’s city-owned recycling center is officially fully operational.

It’s a far cry from what at one point threatened to become a shuttered and locked building. Last summer, Western Recycling/Republic Services had announced it was no longer financially feasible to do recycling with the city and would be leaving town.

“We were told it was going to close,” said Tom Kirkman, Pocatello’s Public Works Director. “And so we had to make a decision of whether or not we were going to stop recycling or going to purchase facility and keep it moving.”

With a recycling rate of more than 70 percent among its citizens, cancelling recycling all together did not seem like a valid option. It meant the city would have to buy the facility and its associated monthly losses.

“So what we’ve done, once we purchased this facility, we were able to broker a lot of our own materials. Now. within the first month, we dropped our operating costs from about $20,000 a month, down to under $5,000 a month” said Kirkman.

Losing less than $5,000 a month for recycling is good by national standards for a city of its size, but some like Kirkman still saw opportunities to drop that rate even lower.

“[In] June, we started a commercial curbside cardboard route and we were able to actually, send that straight to a paper mill and get paid,” said Kirkman. “So it lowered the total out the door costs by by quite a bit.”

Both Kirkman and Pocatello’s mayor Brian Blad said the city now makes a small profit on recycling, something that’s very rare in today’s market.

“I think the ultimate goal was to keep recycling available to our citizens, and we’ve been able to do that,” said Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad. “Now the ultimate goal is to watch it continue to pay for itself. Ideally, it won’t cost our citizens anything to recycle.”

While the new facility is fully operational and operating efficiently, sanitation leaders and workers ask Pocatellans to review the standards of what’s recyclable and what’s not. Landfill trash in the recycling system slows it down and ultimately costs taxpayers more money.

A link to what’s allowed in the city’s blue bins can be found HERE.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho National Laboratory building was evacuated Monday afternoon following a report of a possible steam explosion.

The evacuation was already underway at the INL facility located at 750 MK Simpson Blvd. when Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) first responders arrived on the scene, according to IFPD spokesperson Jessica Clements.

Clements confirmed that the incident was minor from the first responders’ perspective and that there were no injuries to personnel.

Idaho Falls Police Department spokesperson Jessica Clements says the evacuation was in process when first responders arrived at the facility at 750 MK Simpson Blvd.. There were no injuries, and after a brief response, all first responders left the scene. Clements confirmed the incident was fairly minor from the first responders’ perspective.

“It appears to have been a minor issue with a piece of equipment,” Clements stated. “But I would defer to the INL to share any additional details of what that equipment was or the extent of any property damage.”

After a brief on-site response, all first responders cleared the scene.

Local News 8 has reached out to the Idaho National Laboratory for a statement regarding the specific nature of the equipment failure and any resulting damage. We will provide updates as more information is made available.

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News Team

SOUTHEAST IDAHO (KIFI) — As autumn arrives, local law enforcement agencies are encouraging Idahoans to tidy up their medicine cabinets and keep dangerous medications and drugs out of the hands of the Gem State’s most vunerable.

This week, police departments and Sheriff’s Offices across the region are participating in the National Drug Takeback Day.

On Saturday, October 25th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., law enforcement agencies are inviting the public to bring their old, expired, or unwanted prescription medications to designated collection sites. This service ensures the medications are safely and properly destroyed in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

To find a collection site near you, click HERE.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the City of Idaho Falls:

IDAHO FALLS – The City of Idaho Falls Street and Sanitation Divisions will begin the annual leaf collection program on Monday, Oct. 27, with collection continuing through Friday, Nov. 21.

City residents are encouraged to rake their leaves—free of branches, sticks, and other debris—into the street along the curb at least one week before their scheduled collection date. Street Division crews will make one curbside collection to remove and haul away loose leaves. In some neighborhoods, crews may arrive a few days early to remove large piles using heavy equipment before beginning final cleanup with street sweepers.

Collection Schedule

Leaf collection is scheduled to run from Oct. 27 through Nov. 21, though dates may vary slightly depending on weather and volume. Updates and any changes can be found on the Leaf Collection Map & Schedule.

Residents are asked to move all vehicles, trailers, and other items off the street during collection to help crews safely and efficiently remove leaves.

Repeat collections are not guaranteed and will only occur if weather and workload allow.

Bagged Leaf Options

Residents who prefer to bag their leaves, miss their scheduled pickup, or are unable to rake leaves to the curb have two options:

Drop off bagged leaves at the Bonneville County Transfer Station at 2455 Hemmert Ave free of charge.

Schedule one free curbside pickup of bagged leaves, weighing under 50 pounds each, through the Sanitation Division.

Please note: the city does not provide bags for this service.

Tree Trimming Reminder

To help city equipment navigate safely and prevent damage, property owners must keep trees trimmed according to City Code Title 8, Chapter 9:

13 feet above the road surface at the curb

15 feet above the road surface at the centerline

Leaves that are blocked by parked vehicles low hanging branches, trash or other debris cannot be collected.

Contact Information

Street Division: (208) 612-8490

Sanitation Division (to schedule bagged leaf pickup): (208) 612-8491

Leaf Collection Map & Schedule

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A routine traffic stop in Bonneville County quickly escalated into the arrest of a Jefferson County man on multiple felony drug charges, last Friday.

Rigoberto Avila Mendoza, 19, was taken into custody after a Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputy pulled him over just before midnight on Friday, October 17, near the intersection of 15th E. and Iona Rd.

The incident began when Mendoza allegedly ran a stop sign. As deputies approached the vehicle to speak with the teenage driver, they reportedly detected the smell of marijuana. A check also revealed that Mendoza’s driver’s license was suspended.

While Mendoza reportedly denied having any illegal drugs or weapons, deputies detained him and conducted a search of his vehicle. The search uncovered a handgun, several marijuana joints, and a large amount of edible THC products.

In total, investigators seized just over 163 grams of marijuana and THC products from the vehicle. Mendoza was then arrested and transported to the Bonneville County Jail.

During the booking process at the jail, deputies reportedly discovered a small baggie of white powder hidden in Mendoza’s shoe. The substance was later identified as cocaine, weighing just over one gram.

Mendoza was subsequently booked into the jail on felony charges for Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, and Introducing Contraband into a Correctional Facility.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Authorities are warning residents to be cautious as Bitcoin-related scams become more common in the area. Victims are reportedly being tricked into sending money to fake investment sites or scare tactics, often losing thousands of dollars with little chance of getting it back.

National Rise in Crypto Scams

According to CNN, dozens of victims have been affected by this scam and have lost a total of $118,000. The Federal Trade Commission found fraud losses involving crypto ATMs jumped from about $12 million in 2020 to $114 million in 2023. FBI data suggests the rate of the losses is only increasing.

These scams often begin with a familiar tactic: a caller threatens an elderly person with arrest unless they transfer their savings. But instead of requesting payment through Visa gift cards, scammers are now directing victims to use Bitcoin ATMs, making the funds nearly impossible to trace.

Bitcoin Scams in the Gem State

Unfortunately, Idaho is facing this scam as well. In September, Attorney General Raul Labrador warned families of this scam which predominantly target seniors through fake tech support calls and government imposter schemes that have costed victims tens of thousands of dollars.

“Criminals are calling Idaho seniors pretending to be from a legitimate business or government agency, then directing them to deposit thousands of dollars into cryptocurrency machines at gas stations to supposedly fix computer problems or pay fake fines,” said Attorney General Labrador. “If anyone demands you put cash into a cryptocurrency ATM for any reason, it’s more than likely a scam and you should report it immediately. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

People who have been affected by this scam can report it here.

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