Category: kifi-local-news

Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Pet owners in eastern Idaho will have the opportunity to get free vaccinations and microchips for their dogs and cats this weekend through a community clinic hosted by the Snake River Animal Shelter.

The shelter will provide free pet vaccines on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Idaho K9 Academy building next to the Snake River Animal Shelter. The clinic is part of Petco Love’s “Vaccinated and Loved” initiative, a nationwide effort to prevent deadly but avoidable diseases in pets.

According to Snake River Animal Shelter, the free vaccines are made possible through Petco Love, a national nonprofit that has distributed more than 4 million free pet vaccines to animal welfare organizations across the country.

The clinic will offer DAPPv canine vaccines for dogs and HCP feline vaccines for cats on a first-come, first-served basis. Shelter officials said they hope to vaccinate about 200 pets during the event.

In addition to vaccines, free microchips will be available for dogs and cats. The shelter said pets that do not already have a microchip will be required to receive one before being vaccinated.

Low-cost vaccinations will also be offered, including $20 rabies vaccines for dogs and cats and $15 Bordetella vaccines for dogs. Organizers said only cash or Venmo payments will be accepted for those services.

Snake River Animal Shelter Executive Director Michelle Ziel-Dingman said the partnership helps remove barriers that can prevent pet owners from accessing preventive care.

“Petco Love’s partnership allows us to bring lifesaving vaccines directly to pet parents at no cost,” Ziel-Dingman said in a statement. “Access to preventive care is critical. When we remove access barriers, more pets stay protected, and that benefits our entire community.”

According to Petco Love, diseases such as parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats are among the most common deadly illnesses affecting pets and can be prevented through vaccination.

The organization said survey data from attendees at previous free vaccine clinics found that only 38% of pet owners reported their pets had previously received similar vaccines, underscoring the need for free vaccination programs.

Petco Love President Chelsea Staley said the clinics often serve as an entry point for families who have not yet established routine veterinary care.

“For nearly half of the pet parents we surveyed at free clinics powered by Petco Love, these events are how they make sure their pets get vaccinated,” Staley said. “It’s more than just a single shot. It’s about preventing disease in the long term, protecting communities, and opening the door for families and pets to a lifetime of care.”

Pet owners planning to attend are asked to bring dogs on leashes and cats in carriers. The shelter said it cannot vaccinate pets that are sick, injured, unowned, or known to have adverse reactions to vaccines or people.

For more information, contact the Snake River Animal Shelter at 208-523-4219.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Optimist Skate Park, located across from City Hall in Pocatello, is closed this week for routine maintenance. Beginning on Wednesday, September 23, crews from Artisan Skateparks will complete the work.

The scheduled repairs are under the warranty portion of Artisan Skateparks’ contract with the City of Pocatello, according to the Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department. The repairs include addressing minor chips and cracks as well as wear and tear from weather exposure to the skate ramps.

The Parks and Rec Department said the work is expected to take five to seven days and the skate park will remain closed throughout the maintenance. It will reopen when the area is fully safe for public use.

The City is also asking the public to avoid the area of Optimist Park during the closure to help ensure work can be completed safely and efficiently by repair crews.

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Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A local man is facing felony charges after allegedly stabbing someone Saturday night, leaving the victim with significant injuries, according to Rexburg Police.

Officers with the Rexburg Police Department responded to a reported stabbing at a residence on South 2nd East around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19. Upon arrival, officers found the victim suffering from significant lacerations. The victim received emergency medical treatment and was stable.

Following an investigation, officers identified Gerardo Mendoza as the suspect and obtained both search and arrest warrants for his residence.

Due to the nature of the incident, the Upper Valley Special Response Team (SRT), a specialized unit comprised of authorities from area law enforcement, was deployed to execute the warrants

SRT members took Mendoza into custody without further incident. He was booked into the Madison County Jail on charges of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon.

“We want to thank our partners from these agencies for their assistance in completing this investigation,” the Rexburg Police Department said in a statement.

Mendoza made his initial court appearance on September 21 before Judge David Hunt. Bond was set at $150,000, and he was appointed a public defender. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 30 at 1:30 p.m. If convicted, Mendoza faces up to 15 years in state prison.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Charges represent a formal accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A local freelance journalist has been found guilty of felony domestic violence following a two-day jury trial in Bonneville County.

A jury found David Helaman George, 36, of Idaho Falls, guilty of one count of felony domestic battery inflicting traumatic injury on Sept. 15, according to a Tuesday release from the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office. George was acquitted on a second count.

The conviction stems from an investigation conducted by the Idaho Falls Police Department. George was charged in February 2025 and pleaded not guilty the following April.

George previously worked as a freelance reporter for East Idaho News. In a statement, Managing Editor Nate Sunderland confirmed the outlet was aware of the verdict.

“As a result, he will no longer be freelancing for our publication,” Sunderland said. “We don’t generally write about domestic incidents, and when we do, we wait until after sentencing, which has not yet happened in this case.”

George is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 16, 2026 before Judge Joel Tingey. He faces up to 10 years in state prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville High School and surrounding buildings were briefly placed under a hall check Wednesday morning while law enforcement investigated a report of a weapon on campus.

Deputies with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office were sent to the area around 11:00 a.m. to search as a safety precaution. Sergeant Bryan Lovell with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies searched the building, found no weapon, and cleared the scene within the hour. Bonneville County School District 93 has since returned the school to normal operations.

In an update to parents, district officials and the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the incident appears to be part of a “swatting” call—a hoax designed to trigger a heavy emergency response. Investigators believe the call originated from outside the area, has no connection to Bonneville High School.

“Deputies have since learned this threat is similar to swatting calls to schools in other parts of the region,” said Lovell in a news release.

The investigation into the call remains ongoing.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Pocatello Police are asking for the public’s help locating a driver involved in a hit-and-run with a bicyclist.

The crash happened Saturday afternoon between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM between The 19th Hole and the Sand Trap in Pocatello. According to a post by investigators, they currently have no leads or physical evidence identifying the suspect vehicle or driver.

Pocatello police urge anyone who was in the area at the time to come forward.

“Even seemingly minor details could be helpful. Thank you for sharing this post and helping us reach anyone who may have witnessed the incident,” states the post.

If you were in the area or saw the crash, click HERE to contact Pocatello Police.

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Danielle Mullenix

UPDATE:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Betkouski was discovered beneath a pew at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Dec. 4, 1982, having ingested cyanide following a confessional service. He carried $1,900 in cash and left a typewritten suicide note instructing that the money cover his funeral expenses, signed only with the alias “William L. Toomey.” Without identification, his identity remained a mystery to authorities for decades.

The breakthrough came after Detective Tim Cooper with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office reopened the cold case in 2019. Local experts examined key evidence and deciphered an engraving on one of 30 keys recovered from the body, tracing it to “Mills Court” in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Working with investigators and records personnel in Jacksonville, our office was able to acquire property deeds dating back to the late ’70s and early ’80s from Mills Court,” Cooper said. “Our office attempted to locate everyone listed on those past deeds.”

That trail led investigators to a family member who confirmed a brother had gone missing in 1982. Subsequent DNA testing between the surviving relative and evidence recovered from the original scene confirmed the victim was Betkouski.

Unmasking the “Unknown Wanderer” unlocked a far more chilling possibility: a possible connection to the 1982 Chicago Tylenol poisonings, which claimed seven lives just three months before Betkouski’s death.

Betkouski had a background in chemistry and maintained an interest in cyanide and explosives. Following a major head injury in 1974, those close to him reported that he became paranoid and strange. Personal items recovered during the investigation included a 1970s map of Chicago and a small bottle labeled cyanide.

Renowned forensic psychiatrist Dr. Park Dietz reviewed the cold case findings alongside investigators and noted the strong overlap.

“Detective Cooper and I co-presented to the largest group of experienced criminal profilers at the FBI Academy, where everyone agreed this was a viable suspect,” Dietz said. “They were as convinced as I that Detective Cooper may have unlocked the most important unsolved murder of my lifetime—the Chicago Tylenol murders.”

Ada County officials confirmed that evidence gathered during the investigation has been shared directly with the Chicago Police Department. Despite the compelling behavioral profile, law enforcement has cautioned that Betkouski has not been formally named a suspect in the Tylenol killings.

However, the case is slated to gain national attention in an upcoming episode of Unsolved Mysteries airing Oct. 9. Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford said he hopes the national broadcast will generate new tips to bring final resolution to both cold cases.

Editor’s Note: This story was adapted from an original on-air broadcast report with the assistance of AI. All content is thoroughly reviewed and verified for accuracy by the Local News 8 editorial team.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – For nearly 44 years, a man known only as the “Unknown Wanderer” has remained one of Idaho’s most enduring unidentified-person cases.

This morning, investigators say they may finally know who he was.

Sketch of William L. Toomey

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office is expected to reveal the man’s identity Wednesday morning, along with new information about a possible connection between the decades-old Boise cold case and the infamous 1982 Tylenol poisonings in Chicago.

The announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, with Ada County Cold Case Detective Tim Cooper and Sheriff Matt Clifford expected to speak alongside forensic psychiatrist Dr. Park Dietz and “Unsolved Mysteries” co-creator and executive producer Terry Dunn Meurer.

A decades-long mystery dating back to 1982

The case began the evening of Dec. 4, 1982, when an unidentified man was found dead beneath a pew at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Boise. Church members had previously seen the man at the 4 pm confession service.

According to the Doe Network, the man was believed to be between 35 and 45 years old. Investigators determined he died by suicide after ingesting a cyanide pill.

A typewritten note found by his body instructed that the money he carried be used for his funeral and cremation, with anything remaining donated to the church.

Interior of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church today in Boise, Idaho

He also had $1,900 in cash beside him, including 19 $100 bills, but no identification.

Despite years of investigation, authorities have been unable to identify him.

While the suicide note was signed with the name “Wm. L. Toomey,” investigators later determined that it was an alias:

Suicide note found near the “Unknown Wanderer”

“In the event of my death, the enclosed currency should give more than adequate compensation for my funeral or disposal (preferred to be cremated) expenditures. What is leftover, please take this as a contribution to this church. God will see to your honesty in this.”

— Wm. L Toomey

Investigators followed leads across several states, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Illinois.

The case eventually became known as the “Unknown Wanderer.”

A string of clues

The man was described as well-groomed and physically fit. He wore western-style clothing and a belt buckle containing a Mexican 100-peso coin. Investigators traced his belt to a western shop in Phoenix, Arizona.

The “Unknown Wanderer”‘s belt buckle

The name “William L. Toomey” also led investigators to a Massachusetts company that manufactured clothing for priests and nuns. However, investigators could not establish a connection between the company and the unidentified man.

His fingerprints also did not match any available databases. It is also unknown if authorities were able to retrieve DNA from the original scene.

The mystery received national attention when the case was featured on “Unsolved Mysteries” in 1990.

A possible link to the Tylenol Poisonings of 1982

The latest development adds another layer to the mystery.

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office says its investigation may have uncovered a connection between the Unknown Wanderer and the 1982 Tylenol poisonings, in which seven people in the Chicago area died after taking cyanide-laced capsules three months prior.

Those deaths occurred in September and October 1982 — just months before the unidentified man died in Boise from cyanide poisoning.

New Packing of over-the-counter medications was the immediate result of these murders PBS News

Authorities have not publicly explained what they believe the connection may be. They expect to reveal it during today’s press conference.

The Tylenol killings remain unsolved. The case prompted major changes to over-the-counter medication packaging, including the widespread use of tamper-evident packaging.

A possible destination for the “Unknown Wanderer”

The Unknown Wanderer was eventually buried in Eagle under the name “William Toomey,” the alias used on his suicide note.

Now, after more than four decades, investigators say that name may finally be replaced by the man’s true identity.

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office is expected to provide those answers during Wednesday morning’s news conference.

Local News 8 will continue to update this story as investigators release new information. To watch the press conference this morning, click here.

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Max Gershon

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Ask Kason Loveland about his favorite moment of the football season, and his answer comes quickly.

“My touchdown made me happy.”

For Kason, a senior at Thunder Ridge High School, that touchdown was more than one trip to the end zone.

It was months of practice, a dream he had shared with his coaches and a moment that showed just how much No. 77 means to the Thunder Ridge football program.

Before the Titans took on Bonneville earlier this season, Kason got his chance.

Thunder Ridge had been preparing for it for months.

A Thunder Ridge coach said Kason was asked in the spring what he wanted to accomplish during his senior season. His answer was simple: he wanted to score a touchdown.

So the Titans went to work.

The team practiced the play roughly 10 to 15 times. Thunder Ridge then reached out to Bonneville, which agreed to help make the moment happen.

When the time finally came, Kason took the football and headed for the end zone.

The plan may have been rehearsed.

Kason’s reaction was not.

One teammate said he had never seen Kason smile so much.

For Kason’s father, watching his son reach the end zone brought back memories that went far beyond football.

He said he teared up as he thought about the challenges Kason has faced throughout his life and how much being included with others has always meant to him.

Then, when Kason came off the field, his dad gave him a hug.

The celebration did not end there.

Thunder Ridge records its plays so players and coaches can review them on the sideline. After his touchdown, Kason went straight to the iPad with his coaches and teammates.

Just like any other player, they broke down the film.

Was the blocking right? Was Kason carrying the ball correctly? Did everybody do their job?

His coach said one of his favorite parts of the moment was that Kason wanted to be coached.

Since then, Kason has watched the touchdown plenty more times.

His father estimates at least 100.

Sometimes Kason will go into his room, pull up the video and sit on his bed smiling as he watches it again.

But the touchdown only tells part of his story with the Titans.

Kason has Down syndrome and has limited speech. During his interview, he used his communication device to talk about the things that matter most to him.

“I love football.”

“I love my teammates.”

“I’m 77.”

And around Thunder Ridge, his teammates make it clear that Kason is not simply someone who stands on the sideline.

He is one of them.

He comes to morning weights. He is at practices. He celebrates with the team. He breaks down huddles. He greets players coming off the field with hugs and fist bumps.

One coach said Thunder Ridge’s offensive linemen look forward to seeing Kason when they come off the field — before they have to hear what the coach thought about the previous series.

His teammates say Kason has also become the person who can change the mood when football is not going well.

After a bad drive, when frustration starts building, Kason is there.

After a loss, he is there.

One teammate recalled sitting in the locker room upset after a loss to Bear River. Kason came over and gave him a hug.

Another said Kason helps remind the Titans that even when they are locked into a game, football is still supposed to be fun.

“Honestly, it’d be so boring without him,” Senior Colt Crystal said.

For another Thunder Ridge player, the relationship started during one of the lowest points of his own football career.

After suffering an ankle injury last season, he was stuck on the sideline with crutches when Kason came over and began joking with him.

The friendship grew from there.

The two spent time together at school, talked outside of football and became close enough that the teammate now calls Kason one of his best friends.

He said he plans to keep Kason in his life even after high school ends.

That bond is hardly unique inside the Titans’ locker room.

Kason’s father said players regularly text and FaceTime his son to see what he is doing.

And as Thunder Ridge has enjoyed one of the strongest starts in the program’s young history, Kason has been right in the middle of it.

He celebrates the wins.

He joins the team.

He gets excited with the student section.

And through it all, his coaches say he has also taught them something.

Offensive line coach Christopher Carnes said Kason has reminded him to enjoy the days that come with a football season — good or bad, rain or sunshine — instead of letting each practice or result become too serious.

That may be Kason’s biggest contribution to Thunder Ridge.

The touchdown gave him a moment he will never forget.

But every day since has shown why the Titans were so excited to celebrate it with him.

Because Kason Loveland did not become part of the Thunder Ridge football team when he crossed the goal line.

He was already a Titan.

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David Pace

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Pocatello spiced up the political scene with a non-partisan “Meet Your Candidates: Speed Dating-style” night at the Idaho State University ballroom tonight.

Voters were able to meet 10 of the 12 candidates running for Idaho’s Legislature District 29 in Pocatello and District 28 representing Chubbuck and surrounding areas.

The activity was sponsored by the Idaho State University Political Science Club, Southeast Idaho Citizens for Democracy and Braver Angels.

“We’d like to give the participants, the voters, an experience of meeting candidates up close and personal,” said Braver Angels Organizer Dr. Michael Jindra.

Residents asked questions for 15 minutes to each of the five candidates running from their region. 

Voters inquired about data centers, healthcare, Medicare cuts, protecting public land, relations with the Shoshone-Bannock tribe and more.

“There’s a lot of toxicity in politics right now through advertisements, through the internet,” Jindra said. “This is a personal event that helps people get to know candidates face-to-face, and I think that kind of helps tone it down a little bit.”

Candidates who participated are starred:

Idaho Senate District 28

*Jim Guthrie (R) and *Mandy Peace (D)

Idaho House of Representatives District 28 Seat A

*Kim Jackman (D) and Rick Cheatum (R) 

Idaho House of Representatives District 28 Seat B

*Dan Garner (R) and *Jayson Meline (D) 

Idaho Senate District 28

*James Ruchti (D) and John Crowder (R)

Idaho House of Representatives District 29 Seat A*Dustin Manwaring (R) and *Mary Shea (D)

Idaho House of Representatives District 29 Seat B

*Nate Roberts (D) and *Jennifer Miles (R)

Local News 8 will publish in-depth reports with each candidate in the weeks before the general election on November 3, 2026.

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