Drew Dodson here with this week’s edition of the Valley Lookout newsletter. One of the more interesting things about this line of work is the institutional knowledge you accumulate over time. One of my first assignments upon arriving in Valley County in 2018 was to cover Perpetua Resources (then known as Midas Gold) and their Stibnite mine proposal. Fast forward seven years and Perpetua is gearing up to bring its vision to fruition nearly two decades after the project’s original visionaries first laid eyes on Stibnite.

We all know it’s a copycat world and history inevitably repeats itself, but I still find it fascinating to watch it play out. So you can understand my intrigue over an Australian mining company that is intent on following in Perpetua’s footsteps by exploring prospects for a gold and antimony mine of its own — right next door to Stibnite.

Resolution Minerals proudly notes its geographic proximity to Perpetua in the company’s news releases and investor materials. The company also employs the same public relations strategy as Perpetua: emphasize the potential to provide domestic critical minerals needed for our nation’s defense.

The difference between Perpetua in its early days of exploration and Resolution now, however, is who is listening. On Monday, Resolution reportedly had President Donald Trump’s ear during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Washington, D.C. The leaders announced a partnership expected to pour billions into critical minerals projects in each country.

In Boise, Perpetua executives were undoubtedly rubbing their hands together at the prospect of adding to the $80 million already poured into the project by the federal government. On the other side of the planet, in Australia, you can bet Resolution executives were doing the same.

First up

Nov. 4 Election Preview

From Cascade to New Meadows, voters will decide contested races for local city councils and school board members while also weighing in on proposed tax measures.

Early voting opened Monday for each of the races and will continue through Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. at the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade or, for New Meadows area voters, at the Adams County Courthouse in Council.

Election Day voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 in polling locations in Cascade, Donnelly, McCall, and New Meadows. Sample ballots are available here.

For each contested race, Valley Lookout is publishing candidate interview transcripts ahead of Nov. 4. Here is an outline of this year’s across the region:

McCall voters

• McCall City Council – Five candidates competing for three seats. Read Valley Lookout Q&A or view the candidate forum hosted by The Star-News.

McCall-Donnelly voters

• Mountain Community Center District – Proposed tax on short-term rentals to fund a community field house. Valley Lookout preview still to come, but previous reporting available here.
• McCall-Donnelly School District Levy – Proposed two-year, $950,000 supplemental property tax levy. Read the Valley Lookout preview.

Cascade voters

• Cascade School Board – Four candidates competing for two seats. Valley Lookout candidate Q&A still to come.
• Southern Valley County Recreation District Board – Two candidates competing for one seat. Valley Lookout candidate Q&A still to come.

New Meadows voters

• New Meadows Mayor – Incumbent Mayor Julie Good vs. write-in challenger Richard Yelton. Read Valley Lookout Q&A.
• Meadows Valley School Board – Incumbent trustee Barb Dixon vs. challenger Lisa Potter. Valley Lookout preview still to come.

Statewide closed burn season ends

A statewide open burning closure was lifted on Monday by the Idaho Department of Lands.

The closure, which applies every year from May 10 to Oct. 20, requires anyone living outside of city limits to obtain a permit from the state to burn brush piles during the closure.

With the closure lifted, Valley County residents are now free to burn any time when weather conditions are safe to do so and air quality is good, according to Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association Fire Warden Paul Wagner.

“While we will no longer be in closed fire season, there is still a risk of fire,” said IDL Fire Management Chief Josh Harvey. “We all need to do our part, using common sense and caution when burning yard waste, slash, or having a campfire when hunting.”

IDL offers the following guidelines for open burning:

• Clear all flammable material and vegetation within 10 feet of the outer edge of pile.
• Keep a water supply and shovel close to the burning site.
• A responsible adult is required by law to be in attendance until the fire is out.
• If it’s windy and the surrounding vegetation is very dry, it may be best to wait and burn debris another day.

Perpetua posts $139M construction bond

The final hurdle standing in the way of Perpetua Resources beginning construction on its Stibnite Gold Mine has been cleared, the company announced Tuesday.

The Boise mining company received final approval from the Forest Service to begin a three-year construction phase after a $139 million financial package guaranteeing site clean-up was posted and approved.

“With our reclamation performance bond to reclaim the work we undertake at the project site in place, we officially started early works construction today and are making good on our promises to Idaho and America,” Perpetua CEO Jon Cherry said in a statement. “After nine years of permitting, Stibnite can once again serve this country’s national interest.”

The $139 million bond only covers clean-up costs associated with Perpetua’s construction phase. A subsequent bond will need to be posted for the operations phase, which Perpetua expects to last up to 15 years.

Perpetua estimates it will provide 950 jobs during the construction period and 550 jobs during operations. The company held a ground-breaking ceremony last month at Stibnite in anticipation of the financial assurance package approval, as Valley Lookout reported.

Civic Lookout

• McCall Memorial Hospital District: Community conversation on the district’s background and its relationship with St. Luke’s McCall tonight at the McCall Public Library from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• McCall City Council: Regular meeting Thursday night at 5:30 p.m.. Agenda available here.
• Valley County Planning and Zoning Commission: Public hearing on Thursday at 4 p.m. to consider proposed updates to county planning documents and building codes. Agenda available here.
• McCall City Council: Work session Friday morning at 9 a.m. to hear presentations on a McCall Climate Action Plan and public opinion on a potential Payette Lake land exchange. Agenda available 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 County Commissioners: Next Wednesday, Oct. 29, starting at 9 a.m. Agenda to be posted here.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

Australian mining company expands Horse Heaven project as Trump agrees to $8.5B critical minerals deal

Australian officials asked Resolution Minerals for a briefing on its eastern Valley County gold and antimony exploration project ahead of a meeting in Washington D.C. on Monday with President Donald Trump. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

No deal: Sewer district rejects Pine Creek Ranch annexation request

The path forward for the largest subdivision proposed in McCall in more than 30 years is unclear after a request for sewer service was denied for more than half of the 600-plus homes planned. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Cascade wants concrete plant proposal studied, to re-open public hearing

The potential impacts of a concrete plant proposed roughly 1,000 feet away from the North Fork Payette River will be studied before the Cascade City Council makes a decision on the application. Read the full on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• Haunted Forest: Ponderosa State Park to host festive educational event Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Activity Center. Costumes encouraged!
• After the Snowfall: Ski film to debut this weekend at Broken Horn Brewery on Friday at 6:30 p.m., with follow-up shows at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., Saturday. Tickets available here for $10.
• Witches, Wizards, and Warlocks on the Water: Annual floating costume parade from Legacy Park to Rotary Park set for 2 p.m. on Saturday. More information available here.
• End of Season Party: Central Idaho Mountain Bike Association to host year-end fundraiser with mountain bike raffle and other prizes at Salmon River Brewery on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Zombie Crawl: Experience the McCall Ale Trail during a bar crawl begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday night at the McCall Public Library. More information available here.
• Mill Whistle ceremony: City of McCall to sound the historic Brown Tie & Lumber Company sawmill whistle on Tuesday at 1:55 p.m. in Brown Park to commemorate 48 years since the mill closed.

Donnelly

• Halloween at Tamarack: Resort to host all-day festivities on Saturday, starting with the Hilloween Fun Run at noon and ending with a showing of Casper in the Grange Hall starting at 6 p.m. Complete schedule available here.
• Fall Festival: Saturday at the Donnelly Bible Church from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cascade

• Grand re-opening: Mrs. Tibs Bakery to celebrate re-opening in new location at 111 Main St. on Thursday at 5 p.m. with ribbon-cutting ceremony and tastings.
• Live music: Will Burton to perform at The Local at Clear Creek on Thursday at 6 p.m.
• Star gazing: Learn how to identify constellations and planets during a free Dark Sky Activities event hosted by the Cascade Cultural Arts Center on Saturday at 7 p.m. More information available here.
• Trunk or Treat: At the Cascade Stinker station from 4p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and again on Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Cascade Schools.

New Meadows

• History Night at the Depot: Local historian Dale Fisk to present on the history of the Seven Devils Mining District tonight at 7 p.m. in the New Meadows Train Depot.
• More Than Pink Walk: Meadows Valley High School senior to host breast cancer awareness walk on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. in front of the school.
• Candidate Forum: Candidates for New Meadows mayor and the Meadows Valley School Board to meet public and answer questions on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. in the New Meadows Train Depot.
• Trunk or Treat: Free Halloween celebration hosted by Meadows Valley Parks and Recreation in Dorsey Warr Memorial Park on Oct. 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet Dasher and Murphy! This duo’s owner, Tom Dubert, says these boys love to get a drink out of the river after a long mountain hike. And then take a long nap after a few treats.

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