DUBOIS — A county clerk who embezzled public funds has pleaded guilty to felony charges.

Pamela J. Barrett was charged this summer for misuse of public funds by a public officer while she was serving as the Clark County Clerk, according to court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com

The documents state that around Dec. 17, Barrett deposited a mileage reimbursement check into her personal checking account despite using a county owned vehicle.

As part of the plea agreement, Barrett will serve a two year suspended sentence with two years of unsupervised probation. She will also be required to resign her position as Clark County Clerk.

Charges against Barrett are being filed by the Idaho State Attorney General, who assigned the 7th Judicial District and Bonneville County to hold all court documents and filings of the case.

“The court deems public trust important. As a result, the file will be kept in the Court’s chambers in Bonneville County,” documents state. “This is being done simply to make sure there are no allegations of tampering.”

Barrett is not the first Clark County Clerk who has been convicted of misuse of public funds by a public officer. In 2012, Lisa K. Black was sentenced to 180 days in jail and a $439.50 fine for depositing a mileage reimbursement check into her personal account. The jail sentence was suspended for one year of supervised probation.

Barrett is scheduled to be sentenced by District Judge Bruce L. Pickett on Nov. 16.

IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls man suspected of stealing a purse from a local convenience store has been identified and taken into custody.

Jesse Bryan, 46, was arrested Monday for burglary and theft around 8:30 p.m. He is accused of visiting Maverik County Store on South Yellowstone Highway on Sept. 30 around 11:25 p.m. and stealing a woman’s purse before leaving the store in a black Cadillac SUV.

Idaho Falls Police asked the public for help in identifying the suspect Monday and by Tuesday morning, he had been arrested.

Police were able to recover the purse and most of the contents, according to a news release from IFPD.

AMMON — When Barry Parkes reached 300 pounds, he promised himself he would finally do something.

He had been overweight and out of shape for 20 years. He didn’t exercise and his eating habits were poor.

“I would not eat breakfast, not eat lunch, and then I would go home and eat two pizzas, and I’d be 6000 calories,” he recalls. “When I stepped on a scale in the workout room last July, it said 325. I was like what? How did I get here? I thought — I’m done. I’ve got to do something. This is way higher than I ever thought I would be.”

Parkes, an assistant principal at Rigby High School, heard friends at work talk about the Fitbit app and he thought he would give it a try. He started by creating a “food budget.”

“I’m a math guy. I’ve budgeted my whole life,” Parkes says. “From that day until today, I’ve kept track of every single thing that I’ve eaten.”

Parkes says he learned portion control by tracking his calories. He never owned a fitness tracker or smartwatch, so he entered all of his exercise and calories manually. He admits he finally decided to give in to his wife’s invitations to go on walks. She too has lost 40 pounds using the app.

“I’ve had people say, ‘You must really be exercising hard,’ and I say, ‘I walk.’ That’s all I’ve done. We’ve gone on walks together for the last year an a half,” Parkes says. “I haven’t changed what I eat. I cut down on my portions but as far as what I eat, I haven’t changed one thing. If I want a milkshake, I have a milkshake.”

Barry’s wife, Shauna, says she’s always loved her husband, but his weight loss has brought huge benefits to their marriage. Now they do fitness activities together that they couldn’t do before.

“I feel like a newlywed. It’s great. I’ve always loved Barry – he’s a great guy – but it’s nice to be able to do things together and not worry about being tired or sore,” Shana Parkes says.

The Parkes say they’re sticking with their commitment to track calories and after making their drastic transformations, they call themselves a ‘power couple.’

“I’m by no means an expert – which is an indication that anybody can do this,” Parkes says. “It’s not that hard if you just really want to do it. I think that commitment is the key.”

In less time than it takes to fix dinner, Idaho high school students can apply to 10 local colleges and universities online for free.

Students may use their smartphones, tablets or computers through the state’s Apply Idaho program, which opened Monday for its second year of online applications.

All of the state’s public colleges and universities (Boise State University, University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho and College of North Idaho) are participating, as well as the College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene University.

And while any Idaho high school student may use the program, there is a special incentive for thousands of seniors to click and apply. On Friday, the State Board of Education began mailing college acceptance letters to about 22,000 students through the direct admissions program. Any student who receives a direct admissions letter has already and automatically been accepted into some or all of Idaho’s public colleges or universities, based on their grades and SAT or ACT score.

By sending the direct admissions letters, waiving application fees that often cost $50 or $60 per school and using Apply Idaho as a one-stop application hub, state officials hope to make it easier for students to go on.

“It’s easy for students to think, ‘I just can’t picture myself making that step,’” State Board spokesman Mike Keckler said. “Our hope is by reading this letter and seeing their name on it and finding out in person they have been accepted that students will be inclined to move forward, especially those who may not be thinking along those lines right now.”

To take the next step after receiving the admissions letter, all students have to do is visit the Apply Idaho program, create a free online account and answer some basic questions. Within about 15 minutes, each applicant will receive a message confirming their college applications have been submitted successfully.

The programs are part of a new strategy in Idaho’s ongoing effort to convince more students to attend and complete college.

“The big idea is to let every kid and their family know there is an opportunity after high school, whatever they choose,” College and Career Advising Program Manager Byron Yankey said.

Last year, 8,814 students logged on during Apply Idaho’s first year, filling out an average of 2 1/2 college applications. With a year to study the launch and additional time to spread the word, State Board officials hope to increase usage this year.

State Board officials offered test drives of Apply Idaho before Monday’s launch, in an attempt to smooth out the process and ensure it works with mobile devices and computers alike.

Because Apply Idaho applications are tied to student identification numbers, students don’t have to rummage through transcripts, calculate GPAs or double-check college entrance exam scores. The state tracks and stores this data.

“On our field tests, the average amount of time it took for them to go through whole process with one or two colleges ranged from 13 to 17 minutes,” Yankey said. “The whole idea is to make the whole process easier to opt in than it is to opt out.”

After students finish their applications, they may enter additional information to see if they qualify for scholarships or financial aide, and visit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid website, which has been optimized for mobile use.

What students need before using Apply Idaho:

• Their legal name.
• Birthdate.
• Their EDUID number (usually their student number, but students may check with their school counselor if they are unsure what their EDUID number is).
• A personal e-mail address that students will retain after graduating from high school (students should not use their school email address).
• A cell phone, tablet or computer to access the Internet.
• Visit www.nextsteps.idaho.gov and click “Apply Idaho” to get started. A free demo video is also available.

Dear Dave,

I got laid off a couple of months ago, and I’m behind on the payments for a rental property. I found a full-time job recently, but it doesn’t provide enough income to cover my other bills and the mortgage on this property. The other day, I received an offer from someone who is willing to buy it for what’s owed on the property. I’m not sure that’s the best thing, because I owe $70,000 and it’s worth around $150,000. What do you think?

Travis

Dear Travis,

You’ve got one thing right. You definitely need to get rid of the rental property. I’m not sure I’d jump at the offer you just received, but if I were in your shoes I’d slash the price way below value and sell the place.
Right now you’re broke, and you’re still trying to play real estate investor. That’s not a good plan. I’d put a price tag of $100,000 on it, so you can move it fast and still see some equity in the deal. But sell it today!
By doing this, you’ll have a nice chunk of cash in your pocket, and you can get something of a financial fresh start — one that includes living on a written, monthly budget and staying out of debt!

—Dave

Dear Dave,

I follow your advice and live on a budget, but it’s really hard to save up for a down payment on a house because property is so expensive here in New York. My family in Indiana says I should buy a cheap property there, then fix it up and sell it to get the money I need. I’m not sure how I feel about this idea. What do you think?

Adam

Dear Adam,

I think you’d be smart to back away from their idea. Your family loves you and wants to help, but this is a bad plan. Fixing and flipping properties is a hands-on business. There’s no way I’d try something like that from 700 miles away. It would be a nightmare!

When you take on that kind of work you need to oversee every single step of the process. You’re also keeping an eye on the help you hire to make sure they’re doing things right. Think about this, too. You can’t just find a house and expect to get a good deal. Professionals who flip houses for a living often look at dozens of different properties to buy just one. It’s not an easy way to make money, and it’s not something I would advise doing from a distance.

I know it can take a while to save up cash for a down payment on a home. But don’t let a case of house fever push you into making a bad financial decision. Have you considered getting a part-time job for a while to bring in some extra cash?

A house should be a blessing, not a burden. Trust me, waiting a while and saving up is a lot smarter than fixing and flipping houses three states away!

—Dave

IDAHO FALLS — Idaho Falls Power is partnering with Utah open-access fiber network UTOPIA to begin offering fiber optic access to select Idaho Falls households.

The city council passed a resolution Thursday night authorizing Idaho Falls Power to launch a fiber optic pilot program.

Bear Prairie, IFP General Manager, tells EastIdahoNews.com they’re still finalizing the exact homes that will be included in the pilot program, but says it will include approximately 2,000 homes in the area north of Tautphaus Park up to 17th street and south of Sunnyside Road off Rollandet.

“We want to make sure that every home has access to this type of connectivity,” Prairie says. “Idaho Falls Fiber will be doing what they’re really good at, (which is) putting underground infrastructure in place. We already have hundreds of miles of infrastructure we can leverage to drive costs down and bring this connectivity out to local residents in our community.”

RELATED | Fiber optic internet may soon be an option for Idaho Falls residents

The city will be sending letters to homes in these areas within the next week inviting them to participate in the pilot program. An open house is scheduled at Taylorview Middle School Oct. 23 for those who are interested. If you don’t participate in the pilot program, you can still sign up at a later time.

“We are not interested in becoming an internet service provider. Local companies will (be providing) this service. What we can do is get the fiber physically to the homes and maintain the infrastructure,” Prairie says.

IFP will be meeting with local internet providers this month to explain how to offer service over the fiber network. The cost of the service to residents will include a fiber installation fee and a bill from the internet provider.

“The utility bill you receive from the city includes power, water, sewer, and garbage collection. If you connect to the fiber network, we’ll also add the infrastructure component (to the mix),” says Prairie. “If you don’t want fiber service, (it won’t be included in your bill).”

The monthly cost for using the fiber network will range from $55 to $80, depending on speed and bandwidth. The cost for internet service will be determined by the internet provider.

Prairie says the fiber network has the ability to offer internet speeds up to 10 gigs, but the speed each customer receives will be determined by the internet provider.

“Idaho Falls Fiber is not going to get between the internet service providers and the customers. The internet providers can market and create different products and services that fit the customer’s needs.”

“This kind of public-private partnership is exciting. It allows the city to focus on infrastructure, and it allows the local internet providers to offer internet services residents trust that only the private sector can provide,” Mayor Rebecca Casper says in a news release.

Prairie says there has been a lot of interest in the community for fiber optics and hopes to have 800 homes connected in the first year.

“If we end up with more, it really proves that the demand is there, which makes the decision to go for a city wide buildout even easier.”

But if you’re concerned that a high number of fiber customers will impact internet speeds, don’t be.

“You’ll have your own strand of fiber that runs all the way back to the head end of the network, so you won’t see any degradation of speed (with increases in enrollment),” Prairie says.

The fiber rollout will begin in November. Connection to the network through an internet provider will occur between December and May of 2019.

Idaho Falls has operated a commercial dark fiber model since 2002 used by 20 different business customers at more than 550 connected fiber locations.

IDAHO FALLS — A woman is facing one felony count of battery upon certain personnel after an incident at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center Thursday.

Sarah Jean Walcher, 29, was booked into the Bonneville County Jail after Walcher’s grandparents called Idaho Falls Police and said she was “out of control” and having a mental breakdown.

Officers arrived and said Walcher had bloodshot eyes and “smelled of an alcoholic beverage.” Police believed she had been using marijuana and drinking alcohol.

After talking with Walcher, she agreed to go to EIRMC for an evaluation, according to court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com.

“I began transporting Sarah and while en route, she began screaming and punching my cage in the back of my patrol car,” a police report says. “While walking into the E.R., Sarah began spitting and then turned and spit directly in my face.”

Walcher fell to floor and cut her chin, according to court documents, and she was then moved into an exam room.

Emergency room personnel began to treat Walcher’s cut and placed an oxygen mask over her mouth so she could not spit on anyone else, documents state.

While in the exam room, she reportedly hit the officer in the groin when he removed her handcuffs and stated she hoped “everyone in the room would die.”

“(The doctor) advised Walcher that he needed to sew up her chin. She became aggressive again and…kept saying, “You’re dead,” documents state. “One female nurse came in…and (Walcher) advised that she would kill her and wanted her dead. (The doctor) had to shield her mouth from allowing her to spit while she was being sewn up.”

Once Walcher was sewn up, she was taken to a police car to be transported to the Bonneville County Jail. On the way out of the E.R., she’s accused of kicking a wet floor sign “so violently that it smashed into the wall and sent the sign flying several feet.”

Walcher was charged Friday and released to Pretrial Services the same day. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 12.

REXBURG — Madison High School student journalists Bridger Stoddard and Jared Miskin will be on PBS NewsHour tonight.

The school was chosen as a Student Reporting Lab (SRL) this year and their newspaper program will be working with producers in Washington D.C. to plan, produce, shoot and edit news packages that could potentially air on Idaho Public Television and PBS Newshour.

The school newspaper, MHS Bobcat Beat, reports on news that is happening around the school. The SRL program is a great place to expand their audience, think about issues other teens are facing and let their voices be heard.

Besides two original assignments the students are working on, SRL producers from Newshour periodically send out Rapid Responses – prompts with 10 questions to all of the labs. They usually deal with current stories and students only have a couple of days to respond with their top interviews.

Two of Madison’s interviews were chosen from labs across the country to be used in a news package about how teens feel about whether adults should be held responsible for their actions as teens. The package appeared on Twitter and Facebook last week and will air tonight on Newshour at 6 p.m.

The following is a news release from the Bureau of Land Management.

IDAHO FALLS — To meet the needs of ATV enthusiasts over Columbus Day weekend, the Bureau of Land Management has decided to keep the Egin Lakes campground open until Oct. 10. The area will be staffed during regular business hours.

“We are happy to provide this service to our public,” said Jeremy Casterson, BLM Upper Snake Field Office Manager. The Egin Lakes recreation site will seasonally close to overnight camping effective Oct. 10 through approximately May 1, depending on weather. The site will remain open for day use throughout the winter.

The BLM closes the campground seasonally because visitation significantly decreases as the weather gets colder. The water system is shut down and winterized to prevent broken pipes due to freezing. A closure to protect elk, moose and deer wintering areas is also in place from Jan. 1 through April 1 in the larger area surrounding the campground and the dunes. The campground reopens in May as the weather warms up and visitation increases.

The white quartz sand dunes are the largest in Idaho and blanket an area approximately 35 miles long and five miles wide. This unique area sees over 250,000 visitors a year from around the world. Not only does it create an amazing outdoor playground, it is an important environment for a variety of plants and animals, providing critical winter range for elk, mule deer and moose.

For more information, please contact Ben Cisna, outdoor recreation planner, at bcisna@blm.gov or (208) 524-7557. Please visit the BLM’s website for more information.

POCATELLO — Some local citizens are ‘fed’ up with issues of ‘feeding wildlife.’

Bannock County resident Steve Leaman says he’s lived in the Gate City area for some 60 years and has seen wildlife come and go on his property.

He says although he lives in the county, he’s still concerned about a possible ‘feeding of wildlife’ ordinance that could be passed in the city of Pocatello.

“They come in here for protection. I’ve seen them in here starved. That Charlotte Fire took a lot of their feed, and so I see a lot of the animals, all the wildlife coming in and out of here,” Leaman said.

City of Pocatello officials say that if this proposed ordinance is passed, it will prohibit citizens from intentionally, knowingly and recklessly feeding wildlife in city limits.

READ MORE ABOUT THE AUDIENCE HERE

“I think when they need a little help, be it the city limits or the county, they ought to be able to, the citizens should be able to help feed them,” says Leaman.

That’s why Pocatello resident Orlando Bejarano is starting a petition to get signatures from neighbors in the Johnny Creek area.

He’s hoping to convince the city council to meet half way with concerned citizens who at least want to be allowed to feed the animals in the winter when food and shelter is scarce.

“During the winter they’re digging around trying to find a blade of grass. I go through the expense myself for the grain to feed them in the winter and anything that they must suggest so that we feed them. I’d be more than happy to take care of this wildlife that I enjoy in my yard and I’ve done a few things to control deer, from a fence and a wall that I paid for,” Bejarano said.

City officials say feeding birds and squirrels is an ‘exception’ in the proposed ordinance.

They also say they will discuss it further in a future study session before the city council votes on the issue.

If the proposed ordinance is passed, any violation of it would be a misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine and/or six month in jail.

IDAHO FALLS — A man who is already incarcerated and facing deportation is now being charged with sexual battery of a minor.

Luis F. Corona, 24, allegedly tried to have sex with a then 16-year-old girl sometime in 2017. An exact time is unknown as both the suspect and the victim were on drugs at the times of the incidents, according to court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com.

In July, the victim told police that she had a number of sexual encounters with Corona. Documents show Corona would supply and use methamphetamine with his victim. Over several months, the victim alleged there was consensual sexual encounters with Corona; however, sometimes she would tell him “no,” according to court documents.

During some of the alleged incidents the victim said she was high and kept passing out, according to court documents. The victim awoke several times to find Corona allegedly groping her.

The victim also told detectives Corona was from Mexico and living in the United States illegally. Court records show Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked up Corona in January and he was scheduled for deportation. When Idaho Falls Police detectives contacted the Department of Homeland Security, they were told he was being held at the Bingham County Jail awaiting trial on prior drug charges.

Corona has a long criminal record. Most recently he was convicted for possession of a controlled substance and sentenced to four years on Aug. 27. He was also sentenced to four years of supervised probation.

Corona is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 10, at the Bonneville County Courthouse.

IDAHO FALLS — Police are asking for help in finding a man who has been missing since Tuesday afternoon.

David Madison, 54, left his home on the 700 block of Lomax Street around 1 p.m. He missed taking his medication twice, according to a news release from the Idaho Falls Police Department.

Madison is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He weighs approximately 229 pounds.

Anyone with information on Madison’s whereabouts is asked to call Idaho Falls Police at (208) 529-1200.

AMMON — When Alissa Brough drove into the Discount Tire parking lot Tuesday, she had $60 and four bald tires that badly needed to be replaced. She didn’t expect to leave with money still in her pocket and brand new tires on her car.

Alissa, who is living in a homeless shelter with her two children, called Discount Tire earlier in the day asking how much it would be to put used tires on.

“I explained my situation and told them I didn’t have much money,” she tells EastIdahoNews.com. “The manager, Josh Jones, told me to come in anyway and we would work something out.”

Alissa’s father, Dennis Brough, says he was concerned about the state of his daughter’s tires.

“They were worn all the way to the belts and looked like they were going to explode,” Dennis says. “I told her, what happens if they explode on the way home and you’re stranded?”

Alissa took the car in, and after the maintenance workers finished putting on replacement tires, they handed her an invoice.

“I told them I didn’t understand why it said $0,” she recalls. “They had put on four brand new tires instead of the cheaper ones I was expecting — for free. They also disposed of my old tires, which usually has a fee, and they balanced all four tires.”

When Alissa expressed her confusion to Jones, he told her, “We just want you safe.”

Alissa estimates charges for everything — new tires, balancing and manual labor — would have come to around $600.

To express his gratitude, Alissa’s father took a dozen donuts to Discount Tire Wednesday morning. The company declined to comment to EastIdahoNews.com and Jones wasn’t there, but Dennis expressed his thanks to the workers.

“They shine like a diamond to me right now. I couldn’t afford to help her and they did,” he says.

Alissa adds, “I’m so grateful for this huge shock. It’s relieved a lot of my stress.”

IDAHO FALLS — The National Weather Service has issued a blowing dust advisory along Interstate 15 between Idaho Falls and Roberts.

Southwest winds of between 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, are expected to stir up dust from nearby fields.

Visibility may be reduced to one to two miles. Travelers are urged to use caution.

The advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday.

LOGAN, Utah (KSL.com) — CNN reported Wednesday that a person had been taken into custody in Logan Wednesday in connection with two suspicious letters that were sent to the White House and the Pentagon this week.

William Clyde Allen III, of Logan, was arrested, according to U.S. Department of Justice spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch. The Department of Justice anticipates filing formal charges in the case by Friday, Rydalch said.

CNN reported that the letters tested positive for the toxin ricin.

Federal officials were asking people to avoid the area of 380 N. 200 West in Logan due to an ongoing FBI operation. The operation involves potentially hazardous chemicals, FBI spokesman Doug Davis confirmed Wednesday. FBI and local law enforcement officials are conducting the operation, Davis said.

“No wider threat to public safety exists at this time,” Davis said in an emailed statement. “As it is a pending matter, that is all we can say at this time.”

Davis did not provide any other details about the operation.

On Tuesday evening, the Secret Service said in a statement that officials received a “suspicious envelope” addressed to President Trump on Monday. It did not go to the White House or enter the White House, officials said.

The agency did not release any other details about the envelope, citing sensitive intelligence information.

“However, in this instance, we can confirm that we are working jointly with our law enforcement partners to fully investigate this matter,” Secret Service officials said in the statement. “Further, all threats directed towards the President, or any Secret Service protectee, are treated seriously and fully investigated.”

This story will be updated when more information is made available.

UPDATE

Idaho Falls Police Sgt. Jon Johnson confirms the girl has been found. No other information was available.

ORIGINAL STORY:

IDAHO FALLS — Authorities are searching for a missing 8-year-old girl who went missing from Sunnyside Elementary at about 2:34 p.m. Wednesday.

Piper Fell was last seen at the school by her sister at 10:45 a.m. Piper did not return home after school.

She is described as 4 feet tall, weighing 70 pound with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a skirt from picture attached and a gray shirt saying sparkle on it.

The Idaho Falls Police Department is encouraging anyone with information to please contact Police Dispatch at (208) 529 1200 or Crime Stoppers at (208) 522-1983.

Do you want to know what’s happening on the east Idaho business scene? We’ve got you covered.

Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley.

BIZ BRIEF

IDAHO FALLS

Popular pizza restaurant moving to new location in 2019

IDAHO FALLS – Crews are busy finishing up construction on The Broadway in downtown Idaho Falls, a two-building, 40,000-square foot development that includes an underground parking garage, retail space and splash pad on the corner of Broadway Street and Memorial Drive.

Last week, we told you about Smokin’ Fins, a unique seafood and smoked meat restaurant that’s opening up in The Broadway development next month. Another restaurant opening up in the building closest to Broadway is Lucy’s New York Style Pizzeria.

RELATED | Unique seafood and smoked meat restaurant opening in downtown Idaho Falls

Lucy’s currently has two locations in Idaho Falls — East Anderson and South 25th East — but the restaurant at East Anderson will close once the new location opens.

Geoff Padigimus, one of three co-owners of Lucy’s, tells EastIdahoNews.com the new 3,300 square foot building is an improvement from the current building and even provides a marketing perk.

“It’s on Broadway, so we’ll be able to offer New York style pizza on Broadway, which is a cool, nostalgic thing,” Padigimus says. “The current building is just old. It was built in the 1970s, and though we’ve kept up the maintenance, we just wanted to expand.”

Lucy’s on Broadway will be able to seat 114 people, twice as many as the East Anderson location. Construction will wrap in January, and management is planning to open it in early 2019.

The restaurant on S. 25th East moved from the east side of the road to the west side of the road in early 2016.

“We’re excited to be in downtown by the hotels and (the hustle and bustle of activity),” says Padigimus. “We moved out of the other store on Hitt Road (two and a half years ago), and it worked out great. The transition was perfect. We feel pretty confident in continuing the growth and the sales.”

Padigimus says the menu at the new location will stay the same. Lucy’s New York Style Pizzeria offers thin, hand-tossed crust made from scratch. The hours at the downtown location will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. It will close at 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursdays, and 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

There is another Lucy’s restaurant in Roberts and Orem, Utah. Padigimus says they’re looking to expand in the Pocatello, Boise and Salt Lake City areas.

The Broadway splash pad is being installed west of the alley between the two buildings.

BIZ BITS

Noodle and ramen bar opening in Pocatello

POCATELLO – After the success of their Thai cuisine restaurant in Idaho Falls, a local couple is now opening a ramen restaurant in Pocatello. Gin Sen Noodle and Ramen Bar at 507 E. Center St. in Pocatello came about because of Pocatello customers positive response to dining at Krung Thep Thai Cuisine in Idaho Falls. Gin Sen is not open yet, but will be once construction is complete. EastIdahoNews.com will post a story soon.

Homeless mother, with only $60 and 4 bald tires, receives ‘huge shock’ from local business

AMMON — When Alissa Brough drove into the Discount Tire parking lot Tuesday, she had $60 and four bald tires that badly needed to be replaced. She didn’t expect to leave with money still in her pocket and brand-new tires on her car.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Come celebrate with T-Mobile in Rexburg

REXBURG – You’re invited to celebrate with T-Mobile in Rexburg. T-Mobile employees will be hosting a ribbon cutting of their new Rexburg store Friday, Oct. 5, at noon. T-Mobile is at 1480 N. Second East next to Walmart.

TECH TALK

IDAHO FALLS

Idaho Falls launching fiber optic pilot program for residents

IDAHO FALLS — Idaho Falls Power is partnering with Utah open-access fiber network UTOPIA to begin offering fiber optic access to select Idaho Falls households. The City Council passed a resolution Thursday night authorizing Idaho Falls Power to launch a fiber optic pilot program.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

TRAVEL TIPS

Idaho gas prices drop 10 cents

IDAHO FALLS – Chilly Fall weather and school obligations are keeping more drivers and families close to home, with gasoline demand dropping as a result. The U.S. average gas price has increased three cents in the last week, and 5 cents in the last month. Idaho drivers are faring somewhat better in recent weeks. Tuesday’s average gas price was $3.15, which is 10 cents less than a month ago and 39 cents more than a year ago. Just a month ago, Gem State prices were 40 cents higher than the national average, but the margin has narrowed to 27 cents today.

BIZ BUGS

TOPIC: CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS

The following is a news release from the Better Business Bureau.

October isn’t just pumpkins and falling leaves. It’s also National Cybersecurity Awareness month, a time aimed at raising the public’s awareness of the basic steps needed to stay safe online.

The Better Business Bureau encourages online users to educate themselves about cybersecurity risks and offers the following tips to stay safe online:

• Own your online presence.
Set the privacy and security settings on websites to your comfort level for information sharing. It’s OK to limit how and with whom you share information.
• Get two steps ahead. Turn on two-step verification on accounts when available. This adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring you to know more than just a password. This is typically a code that is sent to you after accessing your password-protected electronic device.
• Keep a clean machine. Technology companies such as Apple and Microsoft are constantly making safety updates. Keep all software on internet-connected devices – including PCs, smartphones and tablets – up to date to reduce risk of infection from malware.
• Keep a lid on personal information. Information about your history or location has value. Think about who is seeing the information and how it is gathered by mobile apps or websites.
• Think before you post. Take care when posting about yourself and others online. Consider who might see it and how it could be perceived now and in the future.

Throughout the month, BBB will be releasing cyber safety tips and articles to help consumers and businesses stay vigilant. Social media users can follow the hashtags #BBBSecure and #CyberAware to find out when the articles are available.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …

Group awarded $945,000 to help with downtown revitalization efforts

Facebook says attack exposed info of 50 million users

Amazon announces $15 minimum wage for all US employees

Netflix adding 101, dropping 42 titles in October

If you have a Biz Buzz item you want to share, send it to rett.nelson@eastidahonews.com. Remember to use “Biz Buzz” in the subject line. Also, don’t forget to sign up for the free Biz Buzz email newsletter.

UPDATE (7:20 p.m. Wednesday):

Idaho State Police says both eastbound lanes and one westbound lane are open.

PREVIOUS STORY (7:10 p.m. Wednesday):

BONNEVILLE COUNTY — Two people were hospitalized in a two-vehicle crash on 45th East and U.S. Highway 26, three miles east of Idaho Falls.

Idaho Falls Fire Department spokeswoman Kerry Hammon says a 32-year-old woman and a man whose age was unavailable were involved in the crash, which occurred around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The man’s vehicle was on its top, and he was trapped inside for a time.

Both were transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in stable condition, she said.

Idaho State Police says as of 7 p.m., both westbound lanes are blocked and one eastbound lane is blocked.

We will post more information here as it becomes available.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (KSTU) — A lawsuit alleging sexual abuse and a cover up has been filed against the daughter and son-in-law of the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Salt Lake City on Wednesday by six unnamed people listed only as “Jane Doe” and “John Doe” against unnamed “Doe 1 Male Defendant” and “Doe 2 Female Defendant.” However, Brenda and Richard Miles’ attorney publicly disclosed their names after the lawsuit was filed and said they vigorously deny the allegations.

FOX 13 spoke with several of the plaintiffs on the condition that their names not be used nor their faces shown.

“Victims need to be listened and heard and have a voice. I think now there’s a chance some members of the Mormon community will believe us. I’m certain there’s some who will not because of who the defendants are,” said a woman known in the lawsuit as “Jane Doe 2,” who alleges she was sexually abused as a child.

The lawsuit alleges that in 1985, a man only identified as “Perpetrator” in the court papers sexually abused his children. It also claims a 16-year-old babysitter was both a victim and perpetrator of abuse (who later committed suicide). Then it accuses the Miles of abuse.

“DOE 1 MALE DEFENDANT and DOE 2 FEMALE DEFENDANT led what they called ‘touching parties’ at their home and at the Perpetrator’s home. These ‘touching parties’ were sometimes attended by acquaintances and friends of Defendants and Perpetrator,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges the children were sexually abused repeatedly. The children disclosed to their mother their abuse and claimed “DOE 1 MALE DEFENDANT, who was the Second Counselor of this LDS ward at the time,” was one of those who abused them. It also alleges “DOE 2 FEMALE DEFENDANT” is the daughter of an LDS apostle.

The mother of the children, who spoke to FOX 13, said she reported the abuse to police who didn’t pursue it very far. She also said LDS Church leaders did nothing, but Elder Neil A. Maxwell gave them a priesthood blessing instructing them to “forgive and forget.”

“I assumed the highest leaders in the church would want to help my children heal that the perpetrators would be put in jail. I was very quickly disillusioned about that,” she told FOX 13.

The mother said she divorced her husband, who later re-married. The children in that marriage joined the lawsuit and allege their stepfather abused them. One of the women, identified as “Jane Doe 3” in court papers, said if police and the LDS Church had acted — she never would have been abused.

“Of somebody would have done the right thing the first time, the abuse would never have happened. It was pretty horrific,” she told FOX 13.

The lawsuit said Jane Doe 3’s mother ultimately reported the abuse to state authorities in 1995 and her stepfather killed himself when police sought to arrest him.

“Since January of 1986, DOE 1 MALE DEFENDANT and DOE 2 FEMALE DEFENDANT have successively utilized their status within the Church, both as leaders in their own right and as the daughter and son-in-law of an Apostle of the Church, to cover up the crimes they committed against JANE DOE 1, JANE DOE 2, and JOHN DOE 1. This included (lockstep with Perpetrator) lying to the police and influencing the criminal investigation; influencing leaders of the Church to ignore Church policy and not convene a Church disciplinary hearing against themselves or Perpetrator; and further actions which encouraged and enabled Defendants and Perpetrator to escape criminal prosecution and not be excommunicated from the Church for the heinous sexual crimes they committed against these children,” the lawsuit claims.

Richard and Brenda Miles’ attorney said they vigorously deny the accusations.

“There’s no truth to these allegations. The Miles did not abuse these children or anyone else,” Jim Jardine told FOX 13 on Wednesday. “To do so would be out of their values, their belief system and their character.”

Jardine said Bountiful police investigated the crime in the 1980s when the accusations were first leveled and concluded there was nothing to it. Within hours of the lawsuit being filed, Jardine filed a motion to dismiss with the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City.

He suggested the children were given “false memories” by a therapist.

“These allegations were investigated in the 1980s by three different law enforcement agencies who found no evidence of any child sex abuse ring in Bountiful and filed no charges against my clients,” Jardine said.

In their own statement released through their attorney, the Miles’ said they would defend themselves.

“While it pains us to engage in litigation with former neighbors, especially individuals who have so clearly faced significant challenges in life, with the lawsuit they have filed, we are left with no choice but to defend ourselves in the court of law and in the court of public opinion. The allegations against us are false. While we feel deep sadness and concern for these individuals, any abuse they suffered did not involve us,” they said in the statement.

The lawsuit does not name the LDS Church itself nor anyone else. Vernon told FOX 13 he reserved the right to amend the lawsuit later to include others. That could include LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson.

“We believe there will be additional evidence to show this person along with other people worked in tandem with the defendants to basically cover up the crime of the sexual assaults, the sexual abuse,” Vernon said.

Vernon has specialized in clergy abuse lawsuits. Most recently, he has represented McKenna Denson in her high profile lawsuit against the LDS Church alleging rape in the 1980s at the Missionary Training Center. He has also sued the LDS Church over allegations of sexual abuse of Native American children and Boy Scouts.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. It seeks unspecified damages.

The LDS Church released a statement on Wednesday in response to inquiries from FOX 13 and others about the lawsuit.

“Protecting and nurturing children is important to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we handle issues of this nature with the utmost seriousness. These allegations of interference or coverup are baseless and offensive. Law enforcement investigated this matter in the 1980s and took no action against the Church or its leaders. We will continue to act responsibly and appropriately in addressing these matters,” the church said.

Jane Doe 3 said she wants justice through the courts.

“Their lives and comfort, whatever, it’s not more important than me and my whole life has been pretty difficult and I know it stems from the abuse that should never have been allowed to happen,” she said.

Click here for updates on this story

The following is a news release from the city of Idaho Falls.

IDAHO FALLS — Idaho Falls Power will activate the HAWK (High-intensity Activated crossWalK Beacon) on South Boulevard and 15th Street on Thursday afternoon. The push button-activated traffic signal will provide on-demand positive traffic control to protect pedestrians crossing South Boulevard in front of Hawthorne Elementary.

“While there will be minimal, if any, impacts to traffic during activation this afternoon, we want motorists and pedestrians to be aware of the change in signalization at that intersection,” said city spokeswoman Kerry Hammon.

Pedestrian safety is the primary focus of the HAWK beacon. The improvements will make crossing safer for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling through the area, particularly school children walking to and from the school. The HAWK beacon replaces an older style pedestrian signal at that intersection.

Since 2015, this is the fifth HAWK beacon the City of Idaho Falls has installed – three on Pancheri Drive, one at South Yellowstone and “B” Street, and now one on South Boulevard.