Category: kifi-local-news

David Pace

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) – Residents and officials are sounding off after Fremont County Commissioners’ decision to approve the Caldera Flats development on Henry’s Lake Flats in Island Park last Monday.

“Nobody who’s seen the flats – the Henry’s Lake Flats – will be surprised that a lot of people are concerned about what happens there. It’s a beautiful place,” said Tom Cluff, Fremont County’s Planning and Building Administrator. “It’s one of the scenic gems of Fremont County. There’s a subdivision proposed there and a lot of concern about what effect that subdivision will have – how it will impact wildlife, water quality, scenic views, those sorts of things.”

The 160 acres north of the Island Park Cemetery could soon be turned into 32 single family homes, on minimum five-acre lots.

The project is owned by Doug and Kevin Button, of DK Land LLC.

Hundreds of Island Park residents protested development on the flats, with 500 showing up at a previous Planning and Zoning meeting – most in opposition.

“The idea that they had is not bad. It’s just where they put it was a problem,” said Loy Schroeder, former Fremont County Planning and Zoning Chairwoman. “The biggest concern initially was wetlands. It is a wetland area, and when you put homes on wetlands, they tend to be destroyed. You can’t go back on them if they fail. It has antelope that have their babies there. It has elk. It has long-billed curlew that nest on it.”

She’s also concerned about the impact on the Henry’s Fork world-class fishery.

“The Henry’s Fork that runs through the adjacent property – within less than a quarter of a mile from the Button property – stands to be contaminated,” she said.

The Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission initially denied the application for the subdivision in May.

But in a 2 to 1 vote, Fremont County Commissioners Rick Hill and Mark Chandler overrode that decision. Commission Chairman Blair Dance disagreed, stating the application should be sent back to Planning and Zoning for further consideration.

“The development code says you can have a subdivision in that zone. They felt like if we say you can have a subdivision and you follow our rules, your subdivision should be approved,” Cluff said. “There’s a property rights element that they felt was important, that whatever other concerns we have don’t outweigh that.”

The County Commissioners placed requirements on the developer – including that each home provide wildlife-friendly fencing and connect to Island’s Park sewer system rather than installing individual septic systems.

“A subdivision has to set aside a certain amount of property as open space. In this case, the requirement was 65 percent. The developer’s setting aside almost 70 percent,” Cluff said. “The subdivision has to have a plan to mitigate wildlife impacts. … They have to have a master plan. They have to address stormwater design.”

Fremont County’s Planning and Building staff has also recommended that the HOA require native vegetation in open spaces and restrict planting trees to minimize impacts on wildlife and the environment.

But for Schroeder and others, the changes don’t go far enough.

“The biggest problem right now is that the development code has not been updated since 2008,” Schroeder said. “… Adding into the development code for protection of water areas, hydrology areas – the hydrology that feeds the Henry’s Fork, [and] feeds the Buffalo. All of those things need to be added into our development code and our comprehensive plan. … It can be done in a year.”

Schroeder left the Planning and Zoning Commission in December.

“My biggest question, which I was unable to ask at the last meeting because it was not a public hearing, was what changed? I just want to know what changed. Why did they pass it the first time and deny it during the appeal?”

The project still requires final approval from the County Commissioners before construction can begin, which could be within the next two years.

Some residents in Island Park have threatened to file a lawsuit over the development.

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Par Kermani

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — An adult man was injured after being attacked by a bear while jogging with his dog early Friday morning at Henrys Lake State Park.

According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the attack happened along the Aspen Loop Trail.

The man suffered injuries but was able to walk out of the area on his own. His dog was not injured and followed him out safely. Around 8 a.m., the man was taken by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg for treatment.

Following the attack, Idaho Fish and Game and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office secured the area and launched an investigation. Trails will be closed for a week, Deputies used a drone to help search the trail system and surrouding area, while crews also searched on the ground.

Investigators located the site where the attack occurred but did not find any bears in the area.

Henrys Lake State Park remains open for camping and boat launches.

Visitors are asked to respect the closure and stay out of the trail system until officials determine it is safe to reopen.

For updates on trail reopenings, contact Henrys Lake State Park at 208-558-7532.

The incident serves as a reminder that all of Island Park is bear country, according to Fish and Game. Officials say bears can be encountered anywhere and encourage anyone recreating in the area to always assume bears are present.

Fish and Game recommends the following safety tips while recreating in bear country:

Keep a safe distance from wildlife and never intentionally approach a bear.

Stay alert for signs of bear activity, especially in wooded areas, dense vegetation and near streams.

Travel in groups whenever possible.

Make noise by talking or clapping to avoid surprising a bear.

Carry bear spray where it is easily accessible and know how to use it.

Avoid hiking or running at night, dawn or dusk.

Stay away from animal carcasses or areas where scavenger birds are gathered.

Remember that people moving quickly, including trail runners and mountain bikers, are at greater risk of surprising a bear.

Fish and Game encourages anyone spending time outdoors in Island Park to review additional bear safety information before heading into bear habitat.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – In the spring, a raccoon from Pocatello tested positive for canine distemper. Another positive test followed, leading Idaho Fish and Game to investigate the outbreak and animal services to push vaccinations to protect domestic pets.

Distemper in Raccoons

“These numbers are kind of rare,” said biologist Jon Dixon with Idaho Fish and Game. “[we’ve] never seen a year like this, where we’ve had this number of calls fro raccoons. This is definitely an outlier.”

Dixon said earlier in the spring, IDFG was getting at least one call per day about raccoons in the urban areas of Pocatello and Chubbuck. When a raccoon has distemper, they may wander around throughout the day, exhibiting runny eyes and lethargic attitudes.

While the disease can’t affect humans, we can transmit it, meaning its important to limit contact with wildlife. Dixon says the disease is nearly 100 percent fatal for raccoons, so if you see an ill raccoon, it’s best to leave it be.

If the animal is posing a direct threat to you, your property or pets, call Idaho Fish and Game.

“Raccoons do really well in urban environments because there’s a ton of food around, and if you can limit that and access to your property, the exposure level will go down for your pets,” Dixon said. “Try to clean up piles of trash and don’t keep pet food outside.”

Idaho Fish and Game says this year was a “perfect storm” for the disease to spread quickly throughout the large raccoon population. When there is high density of a wildlife population, contact rates increase and distemper can rapidly spread. The raccoon sample sent for testing from Preston, ID did not come back positive.

“Our positives are really focused here in urban Pocatello,” Dixon said. “It’s very localized and that’s where the calls were coming from as well.”

IDFG wants to emphasize there is no threat to people when a distemper outbreak happens, as the disease only effects raccoons and other canine species.

If you find a carcass of a raccoon, fish and game recommends putting on some gloves and double-bagging it before throwing it away. They will also come take care of the raccoon for you if you give them a call.

Dixon said they aren’t worried about the raccoon population being effected by the distemper outbreak, because usually an outbreak indicates overpopulation.

“We’ve seen so far with this disease that it will come in and reduce the population to lower densities, a more appropriate level,” he said. He added the virus doesn’t survive long in the heat of the summer environment, and they’ve already had less calls since the start of the season.

Idaho Fish and Game hasn’t had any reports of distemper in foxes, wolves, skunks or other canine species.

“Don’t feed them, remove attractants like food from your property, and call us if you feel concerned that you can’t handle what you’re seeing,” Dixon said.

Protecting your pets

Distemper can spread to domestic pets like dogs, and, if unvaccinated, can be deadly. Liam Hughes, manager of Pocatello Animal Services, said dogs may present the disease by acting like they’re drunk, lethargic, experiencing sudden weight loss or a decrease in appetite.

“The best prevention for this is vaccination, there’s no cure for it and it’s very expensive to treat and there’s no guarantee of success,” Hughes said. “Getting simple yearly vaccinations from your veterinarian to make sure your pet is up to date is the best.”

Distemper vaccinations are available at veterinary clinics or at one of the rabies/microchip clinics offered by Pocatello Animal Services.

Raccoon populations also thrive in urban areas because of the excess of food available. Keeping trash bins closed and food trash contained is essential to keeping raccoons off your property.

“Limit the time your animals have outside that are unattended, so if you have a doggy door, close it and make sure you’re monitoring your kids and pets to make sure they’re not interacting with wild animals,” Hughes said. He said the key tip is to avoid interacting with wild animals as it can lead quickly to a bad interaction and spread of disease.

“If you see an animal acting weird or see anything weird, definitely report it right away to be safe and keep diseases out of your yard and home,” he said.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Dozens of local families lined up at the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership (EICAP) this afternoon to get some much-needed relief for their youngest family members. The Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership in Idaho Falls began distributing free diapers to local families this week.

“It’s been amazing to me how many people have come out looking for help,” said Brenda Jackson, EICAP Family Services Director. “We didn’t anticipate this turnout.”

The effort is funded by generous community donations made through the 2025 Light the World Giving Machines.

Diapers cost an average of roughly $100 per month per child nationally, which can quickly overwhelm a tight family budget.

“The cost of having a baby is just crazy,” said Jackson. “There are so many things that you have to pay for—formula, diapers, and supplies. Having these diapers available helps ease the burden for households who are struggling.”

Jackson noted that Eastern Idaho had one of the highest turnouts in the nation for the Giving Machine initiative, raising thousands of dollars to support local nonprofits like EICAP.

What’s Available for Families

The diapers and supplies are available to any family in need, regardless of financial circumstances. Eligible families can receive:

Diapers / Training Pants: Up to 4 packs per child (25 count per pack)

Baby Wipes: Up to 4 packs per child

Socks: 1 pack of children’s socks per child

The aid is already making a difference for local parents and grandparents alike, including Army veteran Mike Jensen, who stopped by to pick up supplies for his family.

“It’s helping support my daughter with her babies. My little grandbabies!” said Jensen.

EICAP plans to hold additional diaper distributions throughout the summer months while supplies last.

For more information on pickup dates, locations, or how to support the program, click HERE or follow EICAP on Facebook.

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Stephanie Lucas

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Bannock County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of the deceased following the two-vehicle crash in Malad earlier this week.

Jacob Reynolds, 31, of Pocatello, was identified after a collision northbound on Interstate 15 at milepost 20 in Bannock County on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Next of kin has been notified and the incident remains under investigation by Idaho State Police.

“My deepest sympathies go out to Jacob’s family and friends who are grieving this unexpected loss,” said Coroner Torey Danner. 

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Hadley Bodell

ASHTON, Idaho (KIFI) – Residents near Fall River are experiencing a power outage after a plane crashed into a power line, sparking a small fire. The outage is contained to the Green Timber area east of Ashton.

A crop duster plane crashed into Fall River’s overhead line earlier this afternoon. Crews are currently on site making repairs to the line and expect power to be restored by 2 p.m.

The plane was able to land safely in the area and the pilot is in stable condition.

Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative says the situation was resolved thanks to the quick action of Fall River Member Brett Reynolds. The small fire started by the contact crash with the power line was quickly put out thanks to Reynolds.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Intermountain Health will be expanding its operational footprint in Southeast Idaho with an enhanced partnership through two local hospitals.

Friday, July 24th, the Utah-based non-profit health network announced plans to buy out Surgery Partners’ ownership stake in a network of healthcare facilities in Southeast Idaho, including Mountain View Hospital, Idaho Falls Community Hospital, and 60+ affiliated clinics.

Since 2023, the healthcare system has been collaboratively owned by Intermountain Health, Surgery Partners, and local physicians. Under the proposed agreement, Surgery Partners will step away, shifting full collaborative ownership to Intermountain Health and local physician partners.

Despite the ownership shift, the non-profit says patients can expect continuity in their care. Doctors, staff, and location offerings will remain unchanged.

“Providers and caregivers employed by these facilities will remain in their current employment arrangements, providing the same high-quality care that patients are used to at these facilities,” states the release.

The transaction is not yet final; the deal still needs official approval from the local physician members and the governing board.

In a statement to Local News 8, Mountain View Hospital and Idaho Falls Community Hospital’s CEO James Adamson said, “Intermountain Health is already an investor in both hospitals and has deep roots in our region. They believe in our vision and our teams, and they want to empower us to continue delivering the personalized care our organizations are known for.”

Adamson went on to say he believes the growing partnership will bring positive benefits to both the healthcare teams and patients. There will not be noticeable changes on the front lines for patients, rather, the intention is for both hospitals to continue their locally managed vision.

Mountain View Hospital said leadership, jobs and compensation remain unchanged throughout this deal.

Marty Boughton with Foresight Public Affairs at Mountain View Hospital stated this is an “exciting development for hospitals, not least because both MVH and IFCH will remain locally managed.”

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Curtis Jackson

STANLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — Road crews are continuing to clear a central Idaho highway following a major mudslide on Thursday.

State Highway 21, west of Stanley between Grandjean and Banner Summit, has been closed since early yesterday morning, July 23rd. Photos released by the Idaho Transportation Department reveal a stretch of pavement buried under deep dirt, large boulders, and washed-out logs.

Crews brought in heavy machinery Thursday to begin clearing the debris, but ITD officials warn that incoming weather could slow progress.

“With more rain in the forecast, we expect the highway could remain closed for about a week, though we are hopeful crews can reopen it sooner,” states the post.

The Sawtooth National Forest closed the Grandjean campground and surrounding trails due to the mud and debris.

For updates on road closures and traffic impacts, click HERE.

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Danielle Mullenix

We will see brief isolated to scattered showers and storms this Friday and Saturday afternoon as the monsoonal moisture exits our region. Overall, most residents will experience a dry and very warm next few days ahead.

Some elevated fire conditions will occur due to the increased dryness and elevated wind gusts from these isolated storms over the Eastern highlands. Mostly clear skies to start out Friday morning, with some minor storms pushing their way out of the Northeast zone of our region. We will have a break in this activity this afternoon before more cloud coverage returns those mountain showers and storms later on.

High pressure is bringing a wave of warm, dry conditions to the majority of Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Expect high temperatures today to sit in the mid to upper 90s… and these numbers will persist or grow warmer in the following week (triple-digit highs forecasted in our 8-day track!). The strongest wind gusts will be toward the central mountains, where they’ll be 25 to 35 mph as isolated storm chances pick up.

Saturday’s forecast, looking much similar to today’s forecast, will continue to see small pop-up showers in the mountains as that high pressure rides into the region this weekend. Breezy conditions will also pick up, with a potential to create dangerous fire hazard conditions and wind gusts around 35 mph. High temperatures will sit in the upper 90s with a strong UV index across most of the region, so plan to have sunscreen and create some fun summer outdoor memories.

Sunday sun will persist to wrap up the weekend, and temperatures will rise heading into the final week of July.

Heat Advisory issued July 23 at 10:45AM MDT until July 24 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID

* WHAT…Temperatures 95 to 100 degrees expected across valleylocations within the advised areas.

* WHERE…Eastern Magic Valley, Shoshone/Lava Beds, Arco/Mud LakeDesert, Lower Snake River Plain, Raft River Region, SouthernHills/Albion Mountains, and Upper Snake River Plain.

* WHEN…From 1 PM to 9 PM MDT Friday.

* IMPACTS…Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses.Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out ofthe sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

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David Pace

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) – Nestled in the Snake River Homestead is a gem of a monument to the pioneers and their efforts to tame the wilderness in Idaho.

Hundreds gathered to celebrate Pioneer Day Thursday at the public park, formerly known as North Bingham County Historical Park, situated at 587 East 1250 North near Shelley.

“We have food vendors and historic merchant vendors. Then, of course, we have a lot of free activities for all ages,” said Snake River Homestead President Anna Decker.

Families from across Bingham County gathered to learn about class in the one-room Allridge Schoolhouse, visit the General Store, pan a mining sluice for gems, spin wool and ride in horse-drawn wagons.

“They didn’t have electricity. We teach them about going to school in a one room schoolhouse with an outhouse,” said Snake River Homestead Vice President Lynn Cramer. “Kids today just can’t even fathom what that would have been like for children 100 years ago.”

The commemoration may have been the first of its kind at the Snake River Homestead, but the site itself is a living history book that comes alive with reenactments, recreations and intricately preserved cabins, sheep camps and other structures dating to the 1860s.

“We’re just here to carry on the dream and to continue the education about the pioneers,” Decker said.

Kids listened to the incredible, true survival story of mountain man Hugh Glass from modern-day story teller Adam Finehout, dressed for the part at a teepee.

“He was attacked by a grizzly bear, and his friends thought he was going to die so they left him,” Finehout said. “He had so many wounds on him, he had to put maggots on it to help eat the bacteria off of his flesh. He ended up killing the bear with a Bowie knife, and he crawled over 200 miles and survived.”

Visitors also received “prairie diamond” rings fashioned out of nails by Greg Adams, a real blacksmith. 

They took historical tours with volunteer missionaries and learned arithmetic on slate boards with schoolteachers.

The park is a labor of love, run by a volunteer board and members of the community. It is the legacy of Mike and Joan Winston, who organized the preservation of the historic school and cabins nearly 30 years ago.

The Snake River Homestead’s Pioneer Day celebration will become an annual tradition, held on the third Thursday of every July.

Other festivities continue Saturday in St. Anthony with a grand parade at 10 AM, car show at 8 AM and the Pioneer Day Rodeo Friday and Saturday night – honoring the contributions of the men, women and children who settled this land and left us a legacy that we can call home.

“Don’t forget where you came from, because that’s what we are – a bit of history,” Cramer said.

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