Category: kifi-local-news

News Team

The following is a press release from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will be holding an open house event at the new Special Housing Unit (SHU) addition to the Bonneville County Jail April 25th and 26th from 10am to 2pm each day. With the finishing touches nearing completion, the Sheriff’s Office team wanted to provide an opportunity for our community to tour the facility and learn more about how the jail serves our area. BCSO Deputies work hard to maintain a safe environment and facilitate available resources based on a wide variety of individual inmate needs.  

     This new addition significantly expands the ability of the jail to manage inmates with medical, mental health, and other developmental needs. The expanded space includes additional medical facilities and monitoring technology to help increase the effectiveness of inmate care. Staff breakroom, training, and exercise areas were also added adjacent to the new housing units to help Deputies maintain their own mental and physical wellness needs.

     The BCSO Team is excited to meet with our community and answer questions about the facility. As the SHU prepares to become operational, the hiring of new Deputies and staff is also underway. This open house is a great opportunity for anyone interested in a Law Enforcement career to explore what our Detention Deputies do and the career paths available right now. For more information about starting your career with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, visit www.BonnevilleSheriff.com/join/ to fill out the online application and contact a Recruiting Deputy!

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)-Irving Middle School in Pocatello is celebrating a major milestone, an entire century of serving students.

Irving Middle School saw its first students all the way back in 1925.

Since then, thousands of young people have passed through the doors of the now historic building.

Irving Middle School’s Principal says this year is a time for students and staff of past and present to reflect on all the lives touched by the school.

“100 years of 700 kids a year. Man, that’s, that’s a lot of kids that have come through these halls and have been impacted by teachers, administrators, coaches,” Stuart Johnson said. “I really love just the thought of of 100 years of kids coming through here and to know the stories of some of those kids.”

Irving Middle School hosted a ‘100 year celebration open house’ on Wednesday night.

The open house included school tours, stories from former staff and alumni, and student made displays explaining the school’s history through the decades.

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Ashley Chilcutt

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Department of Education is hosting a series of educator career fairs throughout the state, and they were in Idaho Falls Wednesday night.

People from the department were on hand to answer applicant questions about certifications and among other requirements.

School Principal Bryan Jensen said it was nice to meet with applicants and help them learn about what makes their district a good place to work.

“We take every opportunity we can to brag about our town and try to attract people there, because it’s a wonderful place to live,” he said. “I originally came thinking i would teach here a year or two, and I’ve been in Caribou County for 29 years now.”

There are a few more career fairs happening around the state. If you didn’t get a chance to attend the fair you can always check with the school districts to learn how to apply.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Preschool students in Pocatello got to boogie on the dance floor today in brand new footwear courtesy of some of the city’s bravest men and women.

The Pocatello Fire Department hosted their annual ‘Sock Hop’ event at Head Start Preschool. Firefighters outfitted each of the 156 students in brand-new socks donated by the Pocatello Firefighters’ Union.

While the kids got a chance to test out their new socks on the dance floor, fire leaders see the event as a way to give back to people in the area.

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Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is excited to be patrolling in its new fleet of cars.

In total, they have five new Tahoe cars. Their cars are essentially their office, and deputies say they are excited for the upgrade.

Many law enforcement agencies travel out of state to order new cars, but the Madison County Sheriff’s Office is excited that its big expense went back into its community. All their new cars came from Taylor Chevrolet in Rexburg.

The old cars were silver, and now they’re black.

Some of the deputies feel the new color is doing a better job of standing out to other drivers. 

“They do stick out a little better. I haven’t heard anything from the community if they stick out better than the silver. We’ve just been doing a transition from the silver to the black, ” said Chief Deputy Vince Kaaiakamanu with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. “So, I haven’t really heard anything, but me personally, I think they do stick out a little better. 

A new feature that the patrol cars have is that all lights now sync up. They believe people will respond better when seeing these lights.

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A fence and a shed were engulfed in flames Wednesday afternoon at a home on Joan Avenue in Idaho Falls.

Neighbors noticed a dark plume of smoke rising from the area around 1:15 PM and came to help. Eyewitnesses say they worked together, tossing buckets of water and using garden hoses to help as best they could.

The Idaho Falls Fire Department arrived on the scene at 1:19 PM and quickly put the fire out.

“A shed caught on fire, a fence caught on fire, and it looks like a tree caught on fire as well,” said Robert Joseph Hall of the Idaho Falls Fire Department.

Three fire engines responded to initial reports, with another one on the way. A ladder truck was also called out.

“We also had three ambulances show up, and a Battalion Chief,” said Hall.

Hall says the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The owners of the shed and shared fence, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to Local News 8.

“It’s devastating to have half your stuff gone. But we’re lucky that the house isn’t on fire and that we can still go in the house.” – said one of the homeowners.

“I built that shed many years ago, it’s been there a long time. Twenty… twenty-five years?” – said the other resident.

The neighbors on the other side of the shared fence say they had recently planted raspberry bushes, which were also lost to the flames.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Employees of the Simplot Don Plant took to their two-mile stretch of adopted Highway 30 on Wednesday to pick up trash in recognition of Earth Day.

Simplot adopted the stretch of road near the plant in 2005, and, since then, employee volunteers have tidied litter from the sides of the highway twice a year on dates scheduled near Earth Day in the spring and National Pollution Prevention Week in the fall.

“We care about our community, we care about the environment,” said Jesse King, environmental manager of the Don Plant. “Simplot is very much one for understanding and wanting to give back… that’s really what we’re about, is just giving back as much as we can at the end of the day–we’re here to serve the community, here to feed the world.”

On April 18, the Idaho Transportation Department recognized Simplot as the Adopt-A-Highway Group of the Year for their dedication to keeping their stretch of highway clean.

ITD said the 40 to 50 Simplot employee volunteers who come out to clean every year average around 1,600 pounds of trash picked up from their adopted piece of road annually.

“A lot of our employees that work for Simplot have a lot of pride in Simplot, but also it’s more about the community giving back–this is their chance to be able to give back,” said King.

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Maggie Moore

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Saturday, April 26, Idaho Falls volunteers are marking the world’s longest-running annual youth service event. This year, JustServe Idaho Falls is encouraging youth to assemble hygiene kits for local people in need, in commemoration of Global Youth Service Day.

Starting Wednesday, April 23, volunteers will be gathering donations at the Idaho Falls humanitarian center. The community is invited to donate items leading up to April 26.

JustServe is looking for the following items:

Travel-size facial tissue

Hand towels 15″ x 25″

Combs – (not rattail)

Individually wrapped toothbrush

Individually wrapped bath-size bar of soap

Shampoo 12-15oz

Boxed toothpaste 6oz

JustServe.org, a nondenominational service organization created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, connects volunteers globally to serve their communities.

For more information on where to donate or how to volunteer, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) – A California man is now in custody after allegedly attempting to rob a shop in Shelley and firing multiple shots at responding officers, according to the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office. The incident was resolved without injury to law enforcement, the suspect, or area residents.

27-year-old Luke Thomas Herzberger of California has been charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement.

According to a press release from the Bingham County Sheriff, Jeff Gardner, dispatch received a call at around 1 AM of a possible burglary in progress at a shop near 1150 E and 1300 N. The caller reported seeing a man who had run off and also told dispatch they had heard gunshots shortly after.

Upon their arrival, responding deputies and officers with the Shelly Police Department heard multiple gunshots and a bullet struck a police vehicle, according to the release.

“Due to darkness, multiple visual obstructions, and a unique landscape affecting sound travel in the area, it was unknown where the shots were coming from,” says the Sheriff’s Office.

At this point, multiple agencies, including the Idaho State Police, Blackfoot Police, and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, responded to assist in ensuring the safety of nearby residents and locating the suspected shooter, who was still intermittently shooting, according to law enforcement.

Bonneville County SWAT and the Eastern Idaho STAR Team’s Bearcat were mobilized. A thermal drone was deployed in an attempt to locate the suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Herzberger, who was moving on foot through fields and continued to shoot intermittently, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Law Enforcement located Herzberger behind a small silo near a home on 1300 N, where they say he fled on foot and was intercepted and taken into custody in a front yard on 1150 E. According to the release, the 27-year-old was armed with a semi-automatic rifle and a pistol at the time of his arrest.

The investigation is still pending, but Law Enforcement assures the community this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Herzberger was reportedly staying with relatives in the area leading up to the incident. He has been booked into the Bingham County Jail.

“We give our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all of the surrounding agencies for being willing to help. Shots were ringing out with a suspect at large that was unable to be seen, and the heroes of the night stayed in the fight. They tactically advanced TOWARDS the sound of gunfire and brought the situation to a peaceful resolution. We could not be more proud and thankful for the outcome,” said Sheriff Gardner in the release.

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