Category: kifi-local-news

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho High School Rodeo Association’s State Finals are underway at the Bannock County Event Center this week, and top athletes are competing for state titles and scholarships.

Friday marks the penultimate day of rodeo events with breakaway roping, tie down roping, barrel racing, bull riding, and more.

State Finals end Saturday with events starting at 9 a.m. and conclude with award and scholarship presentations at the Indoor Arena.

For more information, visit the Idaho High School Rodeo Association website or find them on Facebook.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Portneuf River Vision group and the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce are hosting the annual Poky Paddle event on Friday.

Vendors, food trucks, and live music will set up at Centennial Park, and volunteers will offer free shuttle services to launch points on the Portneuf River at Edson Fichter Nature Area and Taysom Rotary Park so people can float down the river to the party.

Poky Paddle will run from 5 to 9 p.m. at Centennial Park at South Grant Avenue and Idaho Street.

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Seth Ratliff

PRESTON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Preston Farmers Market returns for a second season, promising an even bigger and better experience for Franklin County residents and visitors. Building on last year’s success, the market kicks off on July 5th, 2025, offering fresh, local produce, artisanal goods, and vibrant entertainment at two locations twice a week.

“We’re so excited to be growing the Preston Farmers Market by adding Saturdays in Franklin starting July 5!” says Jessica Smith, Preston Farmers Market Secretary. “It’s a great way for everyone to get out, support our local farmers and makers, and enjoy all the fresh produce, baked goods, sweet treats, homemade art, and so much more.”

Market Schedule and Locations

The Preston Farmers Market will operate on the following schedule:

Wednesdays: Evening markets will be held at Preston City Park from 5 PM to 8 PM. These will feature lively events including entertainment, classes, and friendly competitions. “Don’t forget our Wednesday night festivals, where you can shop while listening to awesome local musicians,” adds Smith. “We’re also super proud to have youth vendors joining in, showing off the talents of the next generation.”

New for 2025, morning markets will take place at Franklin City Park from 10 AM to 1 PM. This expansion provides even more opportunities to support local businesses and stock up on fresh goods.

Organizers say the Preston Farmers Market has quickly become a community hub, directly connecting consumers with the talented growers and producers of the region. Visitors can expect a diverse selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats, eggs, baked goods, handmade crafts, and more.

“It’s all about community, supporting local, and making it easy to find the best our valley has to offer,” says Smith. “This season is going to be so fun, hope to see you there!”

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News Release

The following is a press release from Make-A-Wish® Idaho:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Make-A-Wish® Idaho will hold its annual Walk For Wishes East Idaho fundraiser on Saturday, June 21 at Russ Freeman Park at 1280 Science Center Drive in Idaho Falls. Day-of registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk starting at 10. There is no entry fee for the event, but walk participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of $100 to earn an official event T-shirt. Funds will go to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses.  

There are currently 19 wish kids in East Idaho who are waiting for wishes. Many of these kids have wished to go to Disney World but others have wished for a hot tub, college tuition, to go to a resort as well as several wishes to go to Hawaii. The average cash cost of a wish is $7,500 and Make-A-Wish Idaho hopes to raise $19,500 from the walk, enough money to fully fund two wishes. Participants can sign-up as an individual or team at idaho.wish.org/events.

“Having a child who has a life-threatening illness can be isolating. Idaho is a rural and small state, population-wise, so a lot of these kids and families leave the state for treatment. This splits families up during a tough time. One parent journeys with their sick child, while the other stays behind, holding down the fort – caring for siblings and managing the household. Meanwhile, the world keeps moving on, seemingly indifferent to their plight. Well, people aren’t indifferent. They want to help, and this walk is the community coming together in support of those families,” said Janie Best President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Idaho.

The walk route is approximately one mile in length and is appropriate for all ages and fitness levels. The event will also have wish family testimonies, a wish reveal, a DJ, family-friendly activities, and refreshments. This year’s Walk For Wishes East Idaho is presented by the Startups With Stu Podcast and sponsored by the Bank of Commerce, Wood Funeral Home, TitleOne, Kiewit, and the East Idaho Regional Medical Center.

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Several people in Idaho Falls say they are angry and horrified after someone posted on Facebook saying a man threw two kittens out of his moving truck.

The initial poster says their friend saw a man in a white Chevy truck throw two kittens out of his window. They say one kitten had a seizure on the road before both kittens were hit by cars and died.

“[My friend] wrapped these poor lifeless babies in her work uniform, and I gave her a box to bury them in,” the post says.

The post goes on to say the kittens will be buried in the person’s backyard “with dignity and love, surrounded with the prettiest flowers.” 

Many people on the Life in Idaho Falls Facebook group have commented on the post, expressing their disgust at the man who threw the kittens out on the road. They’ve also praised and thanked the woman who plans to respectfully bury the kittens.

Local News 8 has reached out to the person who made the post to verify the claim. We are waiting to hear back.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The friend of a family who lost everything in a house fire Monday night, June 9th, has organized a GoFundMe on behalf of the family.

The fire tore through a home on Lorna Avenue in Bonneville County Monday afternoon, destroying the garage and back deck. Dawn Barber of Blackfoot, who created the fundraiser, says the home belonged to a single father and his young son, who were not home at the time.

For more information on the fire and efforts to put it out, click HERE.

The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damages. Barber says the father and son had insurance, but are facing a “pretty hefty deductible.”

“They are displaced but able to stay with family right now, so the immediate needs will be personal/hygiene items like clothes, as well as the deductible. Plenty of worries right now, money shouldn’t be another,” said Dawn Barber of Idaho Falls in the fundraiser.

Barber asks for prayers and help on behalf of the father and son.

For more information on the GoFundMe, click HERE.

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Kailey Galaviz

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Saddle up for a night of country fun at Snake River Landing with the Waterfront Round Up with Farmer Wants a Wife Reality TV Star Jay Woods.

He will be there to teach roping lessons, plus meet and greet fans.

Those who attend can also experience a live DJ with line dancing, food trucks, a mechanical bull and more.

The free event kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Waterfront at Snake River Landing.

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Kailey Galaviz

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A local jump rope team from Idaho Falls is looking to journey to Japan to compete in the World Championships representing Team USA. But they need your help.

The team is hosting a fundraising event raising money to help get them to the championship competition.

On June 14, everyone is invited to come support and watch performances starting at 6 p.m. at Black Canyon Middle School.

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Phillip Willis

BINGHAM COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A shooting range will not be built after 3 to 5 decision by Bingham County commissioners.

The proposed shooting range in Bingham County was up for discussion in the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Wednesday night. The decision was made based on concerns of lead leaching from bullets and casings into nearby farmland due to water run off and flooding on the property, as well as the distress of local neighbors at the prospect of the shooting range being built.

During discussions which lasted three hours, Jeff Krueger made several arguments to the safety, environmental mindset, and community benefit of this shooting range. Krueger boasts a sound level of 70 – 80 decibels in weapons fire testing, and showed video evidence of local horses unbothered, or “if anything, curious” by the firing of the weapons.

Jeff Krueger was supported by, among others, Stan Pate, the Vice Chair of the State Range Association of Oregon. He spoke to Krueger’s character, the benefit of the range, and how lead leaching is mitigated through strategies that Krueger intended for this range.

Many people from neighboring properties came out in opposition to the range being built. They cited concerns of increased traffic and noise to the quiet area, hooliganism, and bullets flying beyond the berms despite other safety measures.

The Kruegers shared the following official statement with Local News 8:

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to present our proposal and for the time the Planning & Zoning Commission and community members invested in the hearing.  We also appreciate the local residents who showed up to share their thoughts. While we disagree with some of the concerns raised, we understand and respect that people want to feel safe and informed.

We were disappointed by the Commissioner’s decision and are currently reviewing our options. In the meantime, we hope to connect directly with our neighbors to clarify aspects of our plan that may not have come through clearly during the hearing.  We’re also hopeful that by continuing these conversations, we can find common ground and explore workable solutions that respect the needs and concerns of all involved.” – Jeff and Julie Krueger

Local News 8 is committed to telling both sides of each story. We interviewed Jason Cook prior to the meeting. He provided us details on the situation from his perspective. The Kruegers shared what they believe to be important clarifications. They claim that:

The planned range was small in scale, and was intended to be a private training range, not a commercial or public facility.

While initial reports describe a 150-acre gun complex, only a portion of this land would have been designated for the range itself, the remaining land for personal use including the future building of a home.

The range is not just outside of Blackfoot, but is 25 minutes away from Blackfoot at the end of a 2-mile dead-end road in a rural agricultural area.

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