Drew Dodson here with this week’s edition of the Valley Lookout newsletter. I’ve got local scoops over the last week lined out for you as usual, plus an exciting announcement about a special book that the BoiseDev team, in partnership with Valley Lookout, has been working on since earlier this year. Kara Jackson has details on that in a story below, but first, I’d like to share a story about working on the book.

As a reporter, I’ve never been the type to find myself nervous or captivated meeting major political figures, famous actors, or powerful people of other varieties. It’s just business.

So you can understand my surprise last month when I received an email that made me feel starstruck. It was from Barbara Morgan. It was a routine email, maybe only two dozen words or so, in which she gave her blessing for me to include her in the book we have been working on. It was nothing, and yet I felt completely honored simply to interact with her.

I had loosely known Barbara’s story since 2018 when I moved to McCall, where an elementary school bears her name. In the office of The Star-News, McCall’s local newspaper, a four-pack of framed front pages faces guests as they walk through the door. The pages are jammed full of stories about Barbara’s 2007 trip to space, which marked the fulfillment of a decades-long odyssey that saw the one-time McCall school teacher overcome one setback after another.

Still, it took tracing Barbara’s story back to its beginnings for me to grasp the enormity of her legend. It wasn’t until then that I understood the adversity — and tragedy — she overcame to see her dream through. Knowing the grit, dedication, and resolve she showed in becoming the hero we know her as today…yeah, you better believe I was starstruck by Barbara Morgan!

Inspiring women like Barbara hail from every walk of life and every corner of Idaho. Our book, “Incredible Idaho Women, 43 Inspiring Stories for All Ages” aims to present these amazing stories in a way that readers of all ages can appreciate and, perhaps more importantly, be inspired.

First up

BoiseDev to launch new book Incredible Idaho Women: 43 Inspiring Stories for All Ages

This fall, BoiseDev will launch a new book: Incredible Idaho Women: 43 Inspiring Stories for All Ages.

The full-color hardcover book dives into the back story of Idaho women throughout history — from well-known names like Sacajawea and Barbara Morgan, to lesser-known figures including Betty Penson Ward and Elvina Moulton. The stories are written in a way that’s accessible to grade school students, but enjoyable to read for all ages. Each story is paired with a custom portrait from an Idaho artist.

The book is being created by BoiseDev Managing Partner Kara Jackson, with stories written by the BoiseDev team of writers.

“A few years ago, I saw the bronze statues of Idaho Olympians linked to Sun Valley. I looked at the centermost statue, and learned about Gretchen Fraser for the first time,” Jackson said. “After biking, I googled to learn more about Gretchen. How had I, a native Idahoan who loves history, skiing, and stories about women, not known about Gretchen? It was on that trip that I dreamed up the idea for this book.”

The book is available for pre-sale starting today, with delivery in early November. Pre-sale copies are priced at a discounted rate, and the authors will sign the first 1,000 sold.

For each copy of Incredible Idaho Women sold, BoiseDev will donate a copy to an Idaho school, library, nonprofit or child in need.

“We wanted to get these stories into as many hands as possible,” Jackson said. “By matching every purchased copy with a donated copy, we’re hopeful we can put the power of reading into many deserving hands.”

The book features portraits by Nicolet Barclay, Martine Castoro, Lise Cheney, Julene Ewert, Julia Green, Yidan Guo, Hailee Parman, JanyRae Seda, Beth Trott, and Marie Withers. Stories are written by Margaret Carmel, Anna Daly, Don Day, Drew Dodson, Kara Jackson, Sydney Kidd, Gretchen Parsons, Blake Pascal, and Erin Banks Rusby.

Incredible Idaho Women is BoiseDev’s second book, following the best-selling Boise: City of Trees book that went on sale in 2022.

‘Experience art up close’: Regional artisan tour returns for second year

More than a dozen crafters and artists from Cascade to New Meadows will open their studios to guests this weekend for the second annual West Central Mountains Artisans’ Tour.

The self-guided tour, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, pulls back the curtain on the studios, workshops, and galleries used by local artisans.

“It’s always a joy to welcome visitors to Goldfork Galleria, where they can experience my art up close,” a Llona Jensen, a pastel painter and colored pencil artist based in McCall. “These interactions often lead to meaningful conversations, fresh ideas, and new perspectives—for both myself and those who stop by.”

Guests are given passport stamps as they follow this tour map to stops hosted by woodworkers, potters, photographers, jewelry makers, and painters. Anyone who earns 10 or more stamps is entered into a drawing for prizes made by the artisans hosting the tour.

The tour is organized by the West Central Mountains Creative District, which was established in 2021 by the Idaho Commission for the Arts and the West Central Mountains Economic Development Council.

A creative district is a way to identify, promote and grow an area’s inventory of creative people, products and places. It is not a taxing district, but a defined geographic area of cultural and economic influence.

The West Central creative district is the only one in Idaho. It is considered a pilot project for similar districts across the state, according to a report prepared by the Idaho Policy Institute and Boise State University.

The district is based on creative or cultural districts that exist in 17 other states, including Washington, where creative districts are intended to create jobs in the arts, increase tourism and attract artists and businesses to the area, according to Arts WA, the state agency that administers the districts. 

(A display by Rustic Beauty Rock & Gem Shop in Cascade. Photo: Courtesy West Central Mountains Creative District)

Valley County moves commissioner meetings to Wednesday

The Valley County Board of County Commissioners is changing its regular meeting schedule.

Starting today, the board will begin weekly meetings on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. at the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade. The meetings have long been held on Monday mornings.

“It’s been difficult getting all the prep work done for a Monday meeting without working every weekend,” said Sherry Maupin, who chairs the board. “We’re trying to give everyone more time to review all of the information.”

Commissioner meetings have been on Mondays since at least 2011, according to Valley County code. Valley County Clerk Doug Miller told Valley Lookout that he “believes” the meetings have always been held on Mondays.

The Board of County Commissioners was established in 1917 with the creation of Valley County.

Civic Lookout

• Cascade School Board: Tonight at 6 p.m. Agenda available here.
• McCall City Council: Special meeting Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. Agenda available here.
• Donnelly City Council: Monday at 6 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Valley County Commissioners: Next Wednesday at 9 a.m. Agenda to be posted here.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

Lakefront tacos & tequila: Treasure Valley spot ready for second location in McCall

BoiseDev’s Anna Daly has details on the latest restaurant to occupy a space beneath the Yacht Club in downtown McCall. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

McCall-Donnelly reveals ‘scaled back’ plan for middle school expansion

In April, Valley Lookout reported that the McCall-Donnelly School District had resolved a years-long impasse with the City of McCall over an expansion of Payette Lakes Middle School. Now, updated plans have been publicly aired. Find out what the school district is proposing in the full story on Valley Lookout.

Eagle developer cleared to start 374-acre subdivision near Donnelly

Valley County signed off last week on the first of eight proposed phases of estate lots, but more public hearings must be held before work can begin on additional phases. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• Farmer’s Market: Every Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Second Street.
• Mule Specials & Complimentary Tasting: Tonight at Salmon River Brewery at 6 p.m.
• Cardboard Boat Regatta: Hosted by AWeSOMe! on Saturday at Legacy Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information available here.
• Sip & Stretch: Yoga with lawn bar service at Brundage Mountain Resort each Saturday from noon to 1 p.m

Donnelly

• Farmer’s Market: Every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Donnelly City Park.
• Tastes & Tunes: Each Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Fern & Feather Patio at The Lodge at Osprey Meadows in Tamarack Resort.
• Summer Music Festival: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night starting at 6 p.m. in historic Roseberry. More information available here.

Cascade

• Live music: Will Burton to perform at The Local at Clear Creek on Sunday at 4 p.m.
• Artisans’ Tour in the Mountains: Self-guided tour of working studios and galleries from Cascade to New Meadows on Saturday and Sunday. More information available here.

New Meadows

• Ice Cream Festival: Tonight at the Meadows Valley Community Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Farmer’s Market: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Dorsey Warr Memorial Park.
• Fosdick Benefit Golf Tournament: July 25 registration deadline for tournament to be held August 2-3 at MeadowCreek Golf Resort.

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet Freida! Freida’s owner, Amber, says Freida is our mountain girl pup through and through—at just two years old, she’s already claimed the trails of McCall as her playground. With the sweetest soul and a heart full of love, she’s the perfect hiking partner and loyal companion. She adores our kids with a gentle, playful spirit and absolutely dotes on her big brother, Odin. Whether she’s bounding through the pines or curled up after a long day outside, Freida is pure love wrapped in fur.

Click here to nominate your pet for Mountain Pet of the Week for a chance to be featured on a weekly newsletter!