Drew Dodson here with this week’s edition of the Valley Lookout newsletter. Last week, a reader emailed me asking about a crosswalk to nowhere near Donnelly that was puzzling him and a few of his friends. The answer to that question is in our “First Up” section below — in part because it is an interesting story that has implications reaching far beyond a mysterious sidewalk, including the potential for a grocery store (!) to be built in Donnelly.

But the real reason I wanted to give this topic a little extra attention is because it is my favorite type of reporting. Valley Lookout’s “You Asked” series gives me an opportunity to look at questions that everyday people ask as they go about their lives in Valley County. It introduces variety to our content that I would otherwise be hard-pressed to replicate. More importantly, it’s a surefire way to know we are answering the questions our readers want answered.

So, send your questions to me. I won’t promise that all of them turn into stories because often they don’t. Sometimes sources aren’t willing to cooperate. Other times, I just plain can’t find someone who knows the answer. Still, your questions help shape my coverage and provide answers you can bet others have also been seeking. If one or two people are asking, then so are three or four, and maybe hundreds more.

First up

You Asked: What is that random crosswalk on Roseberry Road near Donnelly? 

A crosswalk was recently painted across a busy Donnelly roadway despite a lack of any apparent pedestrian routes nearby. 

The crosswalk spans West Roseberry Road at Kassandra Drive, linking the Donnelly Flyway Trail on the south side of the roadway to undeveloped land on the north side of the roadway. 

The undeveloped land is part of the Mountain Meadows Ranch Subdivision proposed by Donnelly developer Craig Groves, who is also working on his Pine Creek Ranch proposal in McCall. 

The first phase of Mountain Meadows Ranch, for which preliminary plans have been approved by the Donnelly City Council, would include building a pathway along the north side of the property’s Roseberry Road frontage. 

Once built, the pathway would link to a segment of pathway the city completed this summer between Idaho 55 and Growler’s Pizza & Grill. The crosswalk seen on the roadway today would then connect the Roseberry pathway to the Donnelly Flyway Trail, which ends on Dawn Drive. 

Groves told Valley Lookout on Wednesday that the pathway segment along his property could be built as soon as next year, pending the completion of plans for city water infrastructure improvements he will be required to fund. 

Meanwhile, Valley County Pathways is planning another pathway segment on Roseberry along the south side of the roadway from Kassandra Drive to Dawn Drive. The timeline for that work to be completed is dependent on funding.

Mountain Meadows Ranch would be built on 272 acres west of Donnelly between Roseberry Road and Wallace Lane, including about a mile of Idaho 55 frontage north of Donnelly. 

Conceptual plans approved by the city for the project’s first phase call for commercial development fronting Roseberry Road and up to 240 homes, apartments, and townhomes. 

At buildout, Mountain Meadows Ranch could include 216 apartments, 146 townhomes, 100 luxury RV spaces, up to 250 single family lots, a large community center, and a grocery store. 

The city’s Roseberry pathway segment was built this summer with a $250,000 grant aimed at providing safe pathways to and from schools. Donnelly Elementary School is located along East Roseberry Road, or across Idaho 55 from the pathway. A pathway to the school already exists along East Roseberry Road. 

The pathway segment switches between asphalt and sidewalk. Groves is currently unsure what surface will be used for his pathway segment. 

The city ordered signs to warn drivers of the upcoming crosswalk, as well as a blinking crosswalk sign like one in place for a crosswalk in front of the elementary school. Those signs are expected to be installed in the coming weeks, City Clerk Lori Clemens said.

Also completed earlier this year was the Donnelly Flyway Trail, which winds nearly a mile from Roseberry Road through trees around the Donnelly Airport before ending on Dawn Drive near the Donnelly Boat Docks. 

That project, completed by Valley County Pathways, was funded by volunteer work and $20,000 from the Donnelly local-option tax and donations collected during the city’s annual Huckleberry Festival. 

Civic Lookout

• McCall City Council: Regular meeting Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Agenda available here.
• North Lake Recreational Sewer and Water District: Regular meeting Friday at 11 a.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• McCall-Donnelly School District: Regular meeting Monday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Cascade City Council: Regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. expected to include a potential decision on cement plant proposal. Full meeting agenda to be posted here.
• New Meadows City Council: Regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Valley County Commissioners: Public hearing next Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m. to consider road conveyances proposed by DF Development. Full meeting agenda to be posted here.
• Cascade School District: Regular meeting next Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District: Regular meeting next Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 9 a.m. to include possible Pine Creek Ranch annexation decision. Full meeting agenda available here.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

‘We have to build our foundation first’: McCall eyes local-minded tourism plan

McCall officials recently met to discuss a philosophical shift in tourism management that could help shape the industry to locals’ needs. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Wilks Brothers to offer backcountry roads near Cascade to Valley County

County officials say accepting the public roadway deeds would preserve access to public lands and improve wildfire escape routes, but there is something in the deal for the Texas billionaires, too. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Advisory group: Payette Lake boat wash station ‘doable’ for next year

Payette Lake boaters could be required to pass through a boat wash station before launching on public boat ramps next summer as part of an increased focus on invasive species management. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• Ski Swap: Payette Lakes Ski Club to host annual ski exchange this weekend at Payette Lakes Middle School. Drop-off is Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., $5 general admission on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information available here.
• Fall Fling: Payette Lakes Progressive Club Fundraiser Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. in the North Fork Lodge. Reservations must be made in advance of the buffet dinner party by clicking here.
• Sing with Us: Join the McCall Music Society’s Concert Singers for open rehearsals on Monday’s from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the McCall Community Church. Concert set for Dec. 7 at Mountain Life Church.
• Excel Wizardry: Free small business class to be held in the Hershberger Room of the McCall Public Library next Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Donnelly

• Halloween Havoc: Tamarack Resort to close golf season with a Closest to the Pin Tournament Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Registrations open here.

Cascade

• Excel Wizardry: Free small business class to be held in the Hershberger Room of the McCall Public Library next Wednesday, Oct. 15, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Cascade Public Library.
• North Shore Lodge: To close from Oct. 10-14.
• Sound of Music Youth Edition: Local students to perform live at The Roxy Theatre on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

New Meadows

• Oktoberfest Potluck & Bingo: Tonight at the New Meadows Community Center starting at 5 p.m.
• Senior Night: Meadows Valley Mountaineers Girls Volleyball team to host “Pink Out” game at home against Greenleaf starting at 6 p.m. Thursday night.
• Courage to Connect Community Walk: Adams County Action Heath Team to host free community trail walk on Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Wye Campground.
• Crafting: Meadows Valley Community Center to host crafting night next Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet Bogie! Bogie is almost 9 years old, but still acts like a puppy, according to her owner, Liz Fitzwater of McCall. Bogie loves mud and is in hog heaven when she can find a nice mud puddle! She won first place in the 70lb weight class last winter at the McPaws Monster Dog Pull.

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