Drew Dodson here with this week’s edition of Valley Lookout. We’ve got a variety of content compiled for you this week, ranging from recreation plans to natural disasters and even two stories related to garbage management.

First up

Landslide damages U.S. 95 near New Meadows

It could take weeks to repair damage to U.S. 95 following a landslide on Sunday afternoon between New Meadows and Council, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.

A steep bank along the Weiser River slid away from beneath a section of the roadway near the north outlet of the Fruitvale Glendale Road, causing asphalt to crumble away with it. The highway has since been closed at blockades in Council and New Meadows, except for residents within the closure zone.

Crews were on site investigating the damage and assessing repairs Monday and Tuesday, which ITD said could include construction of a retaining wall below the highway.

“We aim to have one lane opened at some point this week, but just for cars,” ITD District Engineer Jason Brinkman said. “We are concerned about allowing wider, heavier commercial vehicles on this narrow area until the repair work is complete.”

The slide spanned about 50 feet of roadway and ran out about 100 feet to the river, said Megan Jahns, an ITD spokesperson.

ITD attributed the slide to steady rain and snow throughout the weekend, including on Sunday, that saturated the ground in the area, which was already being monitored

“These natural weather events are nearly impossible to predict,” Brinkman said. “Fortunately, given this season of storms, we are ready to respond and expedite this project.”

(Photo: Courtesy of the Idaho Transportation Department)

McCall forced to wait on curbside recycling, compost proposals

Lake Shore Disposal will continue serving as the City of McCall’s contracted trash collection provider through at least 2028, the McCall City Council was told last week. 

The revelation follows an attempt last year by the city to seek competing proposals for trash collection services, including compost and recycling programs, which are not currently provided by Lake Shore. 

That request, however, was rescinded after it was determined that the city’s contract with Lake Shore does not expire until 2028, according to McCall Community and Economic Development Director Michelle Groenevelt. 

“Unfortunately it looks like we’re going to have to wait for that a little bit longer,” council member Julie Thrower said. 

The city expects to seek proposals again next year, which would allow providers time to review, respond, and plan for a future contract date, Groenevelt said. 

The city would ask Lake Shore and other companies to submit plans for providing curbside trash, recycling, and compost collection to about 60 businesses and more than 3,700 homes in McCall. 

The city would then evaluate the plans and choose whether to contract with a new trash company or work with Lake Shore to shape services around the city’s needs. 

Lake Shore has operated as the city’s contract trash collection provider since 2012, when it signed a 10-year contract. The contract was then renewed for five years in 2023, though city officials at the time believed the renewals would be on an annual basis moving forward.  

The company has similar contracts with Valley County and the cities of Donnelly and Cascade. 

Focus group sessions led by McCall in 2023 found residents “mistrust” Lake Shore and are skeptical of whether recyclables collected by the company are truly recycled or if they are bundled and taken to regional landfills. 

Lake Shore currently serves more than 2,000 residential customers and 250 businesses within McCall. Service is voluntary for residents, but mandatory for vacation rental homes. 

The company is owned by Waste Connections, a corporation headquartered near Houston, Texas. It is one of the largest solid waste providers in North America. 

Valley County completes rec plan, seeking comments

Growth, over-use, degraded water quality, and loss of access to public lands are among the top issues facing recreation in Valley County, according to the county’s draft strategic recreation plan. 

The plan, developed by the Valley County Parks and Recreation Advisory Council, charts strategies the county can implement over the next five years to preserve and improve recreation. 

A public comment period on the plan will be open through March 31, Valley County Recreation Planner Dave Bingaman said. 

The Valley County Recreation Department would be tasked with implementing the plan, if adopted by the county commissioners. 

“The purpose of this plan is to provide a path forward for recreation in Valley County that will not harm but rather enhance the community’s residents as well as future generations,” the county commissioners wrote in the plan’s introduction.

Five focus areas identified by the plan would combat the biggest challenges facing recreation, which also include a need for indoor recreation space and a lack of funding for maintenance and improvements. 

Each focus area sets goals and strategies for the parks and recreation advisory council to pursue, including developing partnerships, cost-sharing policies, and improved awareness of recreation needs and opportunities.

Public land preservation

One of the plan’s goals is to develop permanent solutions for preserving state and federal lands, which account for more than 89% of Valley County. 

Potential solutions could include recreation leases, conservation easements, and trading state endowment lands to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation or the U.S. Forest Service, according to the plan. 

The plan advised the county to develop a prioritized list of areas that are at risk of losing public access, as well as a list of potential private land purchases that could benefit recreation access. 

The county should also develop a maintenance schedule for existing recreation areas and monitor usage to inform plans for improved infrastructure in high-use areas, the plan said. 

All recreation decisions, including those related to access and infrastructure improvements, should be made with water quality in mind, per the plan.

(Photo: Courtesy Valley County Strategic Recreation Plan)

Civic Lookout

• Pine Creek Ranch: Community meetings to be held tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Evergreen Hotel.
• South Lake Recreational Water and Sewer District: Regular meeting Friday at 7 p.m. Agenda available here.
• Valley County Commissioners: Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Cascade City Council: Monday at 6 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• New Meadows City Council: Monday at 6:30 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

Familiar face tapped as new McCall-Donnelly chief

The long-time principal of McCall-Donnelly High School now oversees all five schools within the school district. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

‘It’s hanging over all of us’: uncertainty looms as fired Payette employees re-instated

Fired probationary employees on the Payette and Boise National Forests are being paid again, but it remains unclear when they may return to work—and how long a return may last. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Summer remodel coming for Valley County waste facility

It will soon be more convenient to dump garbage at the Valley County Transfer Site, but first homeowners, contractors and other users will need to endure a season of makeshift operations during construction. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• Author visit and book signing: Richard Holm Jr. to discuss his new book “In Selway Shadows: Last Flight of 148Z” tonight at 6 p.m. in the McCall Public Library. More information available here.
• Live music: Sam Henry live at the Salmon River Brewery Courtyard Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday night Honey Trail will perform at Broken Horn Brewing from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., while the Jeff Crosby Band will be live at Foresters from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (tickets are $10 and can be purchased here).
• Screen Printing Class: Friday at Flying M from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased here.
• Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center fundraiser: Pint night at Salmon River Brewery on Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Women’s History Month Jazz Celebration: Los Angeles-based musicians Sophia Augustine, Jackie Rush, and Alex Sjobeck to perform at the McCall Community Church on Sunday at 7 p.m. Entry is $5.

Donnelly

• Jeff Crosby Band: Live at the Seven Devils Taphouse in Tamarack Resort from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. The resort’s Spring Break Music series also includes Something Spicy, DJ Rap Hippy, DJ Yung Buck, and others throughout the week. Full schedule available here.
• Demo Day: Hosted by Ridgeline Bike & Ski, test a variety of new skis at Tamarack Resort on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Family bingo night: At Tamarack Resort Basecamp from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Snacks, drinks, and prizes available. $5 for three bingo cards or $10 for eight bingo cards.

Cascade

• An Evening with the Basques: Learn about Basque history, dance, music and more at The Roxy Theatre on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Event is free.
• Introduction to Fly Tying: Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cascade Cultural Arts Center.
• Nibble, Sip, and Paint: Paint a river scene on Friday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in a class led by Annie Beggs. Registration is $20. To sign up, call Shauna Arnold at 208-634-6906.
• Summer Arts Walk: Proposals due April 1. More information available here.

New Meadows

• Crochet Class: Make a citrus scrubby on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Meadows Valley Public Library. More information available here.
• Spring Bake Sale: Meadows Valley Public Library seeking volunteers to help with a month-long bake sale planned in April as a library fundraiser. Contact Library Director Audrey Crogh at 208-347-3147 or [email protected] for more information.
• Free Family Swim Night: At Zims Hotsprings on April 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet Bob! Owner Danny Reese of Boise says Bob enjoys every moment at the cabin in McCall as he considers it his own private residence and everyone else is merely his guest.

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