Drew Dodson here with this week’s edition of the Valley Lookout newsletter. On Saturday, a monument of small-town resilience will be unveiled in New Meadows. The grand opening of Mehen Memorial Skatepark is more than a new recreational amenity that will be enjoyed by generations of Meadows Valley youth to come. It is the very representation of what embeds small towns deep into the souls of those who call them home.

Three years ago, on Oct. 1, the New Meadows community was shocked to its core by the senseless murders of Rory and Sara Mehen at the Heartland Hotel, which the married couple owned and operated. The days that followed were among the darkest in New Meadows’ history. They were certainly the darkest in my career, especially as a New Meadows resident at the time.

Rory was in the early phases of putting together the skatepark project that later became known as Mehen Memorial Skatepark. A fundraiser for the project was set for just weeks after the murders. Although the visionary for the skatepark was gone, his spirit was not. Volunteers stepped up to carry the project forward and the New Meadows community rallied around the couple’s memory to the tune of nearly $600,000 raised for the skatepark over the last three years.

The grand opening ceremony will be followed by Little Ski Hill’s AC/VC Skatedown competition—an exciting event on its own. But make no mistake: the headliner on Saturday is the healing power of community.

First up

Fatal Idaho 55 crash Saturday strands drivers for 12 hours

Sarah Jacobsen writes: A Caldwell man is dead after his Ford F350 went into the North Fork Payette River Saturday night, causing a 12-hour closure on Highway 55 that left many motorists stranded. 

Idaho Police said that the crash occurred just after 6 p.m. on SH-55 near mile marker 79, just north of Banks. 

The 45-year-old Caldwell man was driving northbound when his truck left the roadway on the right shoulder. The driver then overcorrected and lost control of his truck, and went down an embankment into the Payette River, according to Idaho State Police. 

The driver and his 25-year-old passenger were able to exit the vehicle while in the water. According to Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, when exiting, the driver of the vehicle was pinned downstream by the strong current due to his foot being trapped under a rock. The driver sadly died at the scene. IMSR said the man’s location made the recovery mission challenging, requiring specialized rope systems and mechanical advantage to safely free and bring them to shore. His passenger was transported to a local hospital by LifeFlight, according to police.

Idaho roads have seen increased fatalities this year. As of 2025, 188 people have died on Idaho roads compared to 172 fatalities for all of 2024, according to Britt Rosenthal with the Idaho Transportation Department. 

This crash caused SH-55 to close both lanes of travel for 12 hours during rescue operations led by Idaho State Police and assisted by Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, Garden Valley Fire, the Boise County Coroner and the Idaho Transportation Department. This extended closure left many motorists stranded.

Some of those frustrated motorists called out the Idaho Department of Transportation for a lack of reader boards deployed during the closure, causing a miles-long backup for folks trying to head north or south. 

This portion of SH-55 has no cell service or internet access, leaving drivers stranded and without word on when the roadway would reopen. The Idaho Transportation Department responded, saying that they are looking into options to better communicate with drivers along SH-55.

The incident remains under investigation by Idaho State Police.

(First responders worked overnight to pull the sunken vehicle from the North Fork Payette River. Photo: Courtesy Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue)

Civic Lookout

• McCall City Council: Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. Agenda available here.
• Adams County Republican Town Hall: District 7 lawmakers to provide legislative update and hold Q&A session on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the New Meadows Train Depot.
• McCall City Council: Work session with McCall Area Chamber of Commerce Friday morning at 9 a.m. Agenda available here.
• New Meadows City Council: Special meeting Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Big Payette Lake Watershed Advisory Group: Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the McCall Public Library’s Hershberger Room. Agenda available here.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

Perpetua breaks ground on Stibnite mine

A ceremony hosted last week by Perpetua Resources marked the beginning of construction on the Stibnite Gold Project nine years after the company submitted its first mining plan for the site. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Sewer district doubts annexation benefits touted by Pine Creek Ranch developer

A developer’s request to extend sewer service to a large subdivision proposed in southeast McCall drew skepticism from sewer board members last week. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Tamarack eyes Memorial Day Weekend debut for ‘elusive’ Lake Cascade marina

Construction is underway on Lake Cascade’s first commercial marina with on-water fueling. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• Farmers Market: Today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Second Street in downtown McCall. *Ends Oct. 4*
• Oktoberfest: McCall Brewing Company to host an afternoon of family-friendly fun, food, beer, and games on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
• Fall Festival: Pumpkin painting, mini golf, and apple cider to highlight Franz Witte’s fall celebration on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.
• Doing Democracy: Monthly civic conversation series to tackle whether summer in McCall has become unsustainable on Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the McCall Public Library.

Donnelly

• Farmers Market Finale: Last Donnelly Farmer’s Market of the season today in Donnelly City Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Top of Tamarack: Annual walk, hike or bike journey to the summit of Tamarack Resort to be held on Saturday at 7 a.m. in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. Registration open here.
• Oktoberfest: Live music, a stein-holding competition, and pretzel toss to highlight Tamarack Resort’s Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. More information available here.

Cascade

• Idaho High Mountain Triathlon: Second annual race to be held Saturday, Oct. 4, from Warm Lake to Yellow Pine. Registration open here through Sept. 27. 
• Fall Harvest Celebration: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Alpha Nursery & Garden Center.
• Live music: Brook Faulk and Zack Roberts to perform at North 55 Social on Saturday at 8 p.m.
  

New Meadows

• Mehen Memorial Skatepark: Grand opening set for Saturday at 11 a.m. Little Ski Hill’s AC/VC Skatedown competition to follow.

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet Bosco, who the Stoll Family of McCall notes is a retired public servant after serving a self-appointed term as mayor. Bosco loves everyone, human or canine, and enjoys outdoor life in McCall – wriggling in the snow, fishing and, of course, duck hunting. He’s also the best duck dog around, and at 12 years old, the Stolls hope Bosco has one more hunt in him.

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