Nearly two-thirds of Idaho is federally owned, which severely limits the tax base for roads, law enforcement and schools because federal lands contribute no property taxes. The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program provides critical funding streams for rural Idahoans. The two-year extension of…
Although there is a lot of discussion about national politics, whom we choose in local elections affects our daily lives more, in some ways. This spring we will have primary elections for two county commissioners, in the seats currently held by Skip Brandt and Mark Frei (according to Bette P…
Nearly two-thirds of Idaho is federally owned, which severely limits the tax base for roads, law enforcement and schools because federal lands contribute no property taxes. The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program provides critical funding streams for rural Idahoans. The two-year extension of…
I know a retired couple who, for the past few years, has spent their winter camping in their 5th wheel along the South Fork of the Clearwater. For some unknown reason, the Forest Service LEO [law enforcement officer] has harassed them continuously about how long they are in one spot. I under…
Crash was reported on U.S. Highway 95 at milepost 135. Whoops. That should have been 235.Five miles south of Grangeville, by the way.Sorry about the mistakes. The reporter was “de-thawing.” Oh, that’s more of a slang term and kind of nonsensical.
“Cruel and unusual punishment?” Yes! I witnessed such treatment, inflicted as well on some very fine and unfortunate animals. This occurred at the Nickerson family ranch home, in the area known as Upper Fords Creek in Clearwater County this past Nov. 12th.
Thank you, to all of you who helped with the Tree of Sharing. Maybe you gave us space, advertised, or in some way got the word out there; maybe you took a tag and purchased a gift or gave a donation; maybe you helped shop, wrap, or distribute. It is because of generous people like you that w…
The updated, easy-to-read format of the back page of the sports section is helpful since it includes one column listing scheduled sporting events for all local high schools. Having one place to see which games are upcoming for the next few weeks makes it easier for people to attend games and…
“O!Let me not be mad, not mad, sweet Heaven; keep me in temper; I would not be mad!”—King Lear, Act 1:5.
I visit with my District 15 constituents at their door nearly every day to stay current with what concerns them the most. The top two issues almost everyone brings up are education funding and managing growth. Both issues are impacted by a common underlying concern – fiscal management.
"It’s hard to believe that the Christmas rush is now over, and 'The Night Before Christmas' is with us again! So, what better time to pause and consider the impact of His coming, in our own lives and in the world around us?
We go about our daily lives in the United States of America. We read newspapers in the US and via Internet we have access to myriad newspapers around the world. But how often do we stop and consider press freedom? How often do we count our blessings when we peruse social media news outlets? …
A version of this article appeared in the Dec. 20, 2001, issue of the Free Press
Thank you, Jordan Cervantes, GHS senior! Jordan chose Camas Prairie Food Bank as his senior project. His efforts raised $174.62 to feed those who face food insecurity in the community.
Based on current rap heard around Idaho County, a more appropriate topic/question to ask a sheriff candidate (other than comments or questions about sheriff’s office personnel issues) would be: So, where do you stand with respect to protecting our God-given and constitutional rights, and wha…
Grangeville Elementary and Middle School Library has been very busy this fall. Thanks to the community it has been a great success. We owe a huge thanks to all of the parents and families of the students here at GEMS. We had many people help out at each event, and I know I will miss some, bu…
Technology touches every part of our lives and, with technology, comes the need for reliable broadband access. Access to the Internet has become nearly as important as access to clean drinking water, power for your home and roads. In fact, access to broadband is so important that a U.S. Cour…
Vast ‘gratuitous’ programs since 1930’s have planted in the hearts of millions a love of idleness and love of entitlement, the mental curse of idleness. This mental curse seems to affect the administrators and personnel as well as the ‘recipients.’ Historically, no civilization has been able…
Regarding the GHS/PHS Shoot-out. The Camas Prairie Food Bank gives a huge thank you to all who donated food items and monetary donations to our area food banks. Your generosity with food donations filled two pickups and a trailer for Camas Prairie Food Bank! With the help of students from GH…
Many in our community are familiar with Animal Ark and Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), but there may be some confusion as to the mission of each organization. Animal Ark and ARF retain separate 501c3 nonprofit status, donations to both organizations are tax deductible. Both ARF and Animal Ar…
On January 27, 2016, former Kamiah Mayor Dale Schneider signed Resolution 2016-1, turning all authority of the ambulance service over to the chief of the Kamiah Volunteer Fire Department. This dramatically changed the way the ambulance service operated, and the environment in which the EMTs worked.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is proceeding with impeachment charges against President Trump. As a member of Congress and an Idaho Representative, I understand the gravity of the situation. Every future U.S. President will be subject to the precedent Congress sets within the next few days.…
If it sounds like we’re harping every year to “shop local,” it’s because we are. That’s because we know what it’s like to be a small business that relies on the support of the community to employ its people.
In the Oct. 10 issue of the Star News was an article stating that climate change is a hoax. I am 79 years old, and these are a few of the things I have observed in 79 years living here in New Meadows, Idaho.
First, a soul-searching question directed to the broad spectrum of the community at large, aware of the story that I reference here: Why were there not throngs of local people - - hundreds, even thousands - - streaming daily to visit and stand with the Nick and Donna Nickerson family "campe…
Heading south on 95 from Winchester, I was again astounded by the expansive beauty of mountains, the Camas Prairie, especially heading into Grangeville. Bam, flashback back 50 years ago, when I travelled from Washington to Idaho to train/teach at Sun Valley stables. Immediate connection with…
A big thank you to Avista Foundation. Thank you for your generous grant award to FoCL (Friends of the Centennial Library). Your continued support is much appreciated.
Baloney is always baloney, no matter how thin some people try to slice it. Your Thanksgiving edition printed a deliberately misleading glob from the Republican speaker of the house, majority caucus leader, majority leader and assistant majority claiming the recently passed Idaho Medicaid exp…
Being a local Santa’s helper can be a very demanding job. We may have to put up with frigid cold temperatures, a very abused lap, and may even catch a cold. I experienced this event once a year at the Harpster Community Christmas Show when I lived there years ago. There is nothing like an ol…
I’ll try not to smile when a raised eyebrow asks me, “why would you buy a newspaper?”
“There was a rich man . . . And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores . . .” (Luke 16).
At Christmas, we celebrate a birth that happened centuries ago. The God of the universe was born of a human mother. This baby Jesus in the manger was not a new god, but the God who had created the world. He had known it from the beginning. On Christmas, for the first time, He looked at His w…
I’ve learned that a piece of my personal freedom and self-respect is removed the moment I adopt any degree of mental entitlement. It weakens my resolve and my independence. Further, it renders me as incapable and robs the noble breath of life that gives me the energy to utter “I can.” I don’…
This Thanksgiving, thousands of Idahoans are thankful for the gift of healthcare.
The votes for Mountain View School Board Trustee Zone 2 election have been counted and re-counted with no change from the original result. I accept that Casey Smith won by four votes and I ask that others accept this result, also. After learning on election night that a poll worker turned a …
Recently, and this was on Veterans Day, a lot of veterans in our community gathered up and got recognized for their services to our great nation here at the high school in Grangeville. What is remarkable about these programs is that the time, effort, participation, rehearsals, and the due di…
I wish to say a big thank you to the wonderful couple who helped me at the Family Dollar Store last week. May you have a very blessed and wonderful Christmas. To the young man at The Depot, I really messed up on my credit card. There are some wonderful people who live in Grangeville.
Nearly 15,000 Idahoans will be losing their insurance because of the passage of Medicaid expansion. While this may come as a surprise to some, the House Republican Caucus worked hard to warn Idahoans and on Nov. 1, Idaho’s Medicaid expansion open enrollment started. One of largest consequenc…
I've been reading about Moscow's "mastery-based education." The current grade-inflated system with a third of the class getting 4.0's, where what used to be C's and D's are now B's, and almost no one getting an F is apparently too unfair. Now they are proposing a system where students can re…
The National Park Service just completed taking public comments concerning the possible reintroduction of grizzly bears in the North Cascades of Washington. The recovery area includes North Cascades National Park, which contains designated wilderness, as well as other adjacent wilderness are…
At this time of Thanksgiving, we the tenants and management of Pleasant Valley Apartments wish to give our belated, but no less sincere, thanks to all those who came to our rescue during our recent fire.
Each year, I honor Idaho veterans and volunteers who support veterans with the Spirit of Freedom: Idaho Veterans Service Award. The lives of the award recipients are fascinating and inspiring and represent the core of what makes our communities and state so special. A common characteristic a…
One less gun is in the world. Ask the ocean whether that teardrop made it any saltier.
A profound expression of appreciation to the 60 residents, ages 4 to 81, who gathered last Saturday to process firewood for those neighbors in need of it. The processing of logs contributed by Pineda Post and Pole and the Idaho Forest Group was sponsored by the White Bird Medical Relief comm…
On Halloween, Danielle Cochran and her D.A.T.E. program once again presented the Cottonwood Emergency Services Trick or Treat event. Thanks to the weather cooperating, the turnout was good. An addition this year was hot dogs donated by Stephanie Duclos and barbecued by the Cottonwood Fire De…
The pre-election newspaper ad read: "Keep Idaho County Red." Throughout Idaho, the nation, the world, red has been the "traditional" color code name for communism. Interesting.
Speaking of "facts" about global warming, look at the cartoon, page 2F of the Tribune of Nov. 10! A picture of 100-plus cartoon people has two captions in black inserted in it. The top one reads: "Irony on the day that 11,258 scientists declared a global climate emergency...", while at the b…
I want to express my most sincere gratitude to the citizens of Grangeville for your continued support in the recent city council election. It is my pleasure to continue to serve the fine citizens of this community and I will continue to make the best and most informed decisions I can to main…
The enumeration in the Constitution of original jurisdiction by the Supreme Court in all cases affecting ambassadors (Article III, Section 2, paragraph 2) cannot be dismissed.
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