Drew Dodson here with another edition of the Valley Lookout newsletter. Another Winter Carnival has come and gone, and now it’s time to tell organizers how you think the tradition should continue moving forward. More on that below, as well as a story paying homage to a group known for embodying the spirit of the carnival.

First up

McCall Winter Carnival survey open

For the second consecutive year, the McCall Winter Carnival was held over one weekend in late February instead of across 10 days in late January.

The McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the event, is now seeking feedback on the duration and timing of the carnival in future years. A brief survey is open here.

A public meeting on the carnival’s future will also be held on March 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the McCall Public Library.

An announcement on the format and dates for the 2025 carnival is expected by the end of March.

The changes to the carnival were made due to increased winter tourism in McCall combined with a continuing shortage of labor and housing for workers, according to chamber officials. 

The decision was based on a chamber survey of McCall-area businesses that found most businesses supported the changes and are not reliant on winter carnival tourism. 

The format adjustments are not unprecedented for the carnival. In the 1990s, the chamber changed the carnival from a 3-day event to a 10-day event in hopes of spreading tourism over a longer period.  

Forest Service sued over Stibnite mine approval

The U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies are being sued for their role in approvals issued earlier this year for a gold and antimony mine in eastern Valley County. 

The lawsuit was filed last week in U.S. District Court by the Idaho Conservation League, Save the South Fork Salmon, Idaho Rivers United, Earthworks, American Rivers, and the Center for Biological Diversity.  

The lawsuit asks a judge to overturn the approvals and stop Perpetua Resources from moving ahead with plans for its Stibnite mine, which would be about 45 air miles east of McCall. 

Other agencies named as defendants are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

The approvals issued by the agencies pose risks to public health, clean water, wildlife habitat, and endangered species of plants and fish, according to the conservation groups. 

“This lawsuit is about protecting the South Fork Salmon River watershed from a toxic gold mine that would destroy vital habitat for salmon and bull trout along with this breathtakingly beautiful place,” said Marc Fink, senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The agencies need to focus on cleaning up the toxic mining pollution that’s already here, not make things worse by greenlighting decades more of it.”

Perpetua CEO Jon Cherry provided a statement to Valley Lookout in response to the lawsuit. 

“We are confident in the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to defend its Record of Decision,” Cherry said. “While legal challenges to mining projects are commonplace, it is important to ensure the process remains rooted in science and the rule of law.”

Cherry’s statement also said Perpetua’s plans are the “only viable path to near-term cleanup” waste from historic mining operations at Stibnite dating to 1919.

“These benefits are too important to be unnecessarily delayed, especially after 8 years of permitting and project improvements,” he said. “We are hopeful this challenge will be swiftly resolved, making the Stibnite Gold Project a reality.” 

Downtown McCall bar adds pizza to menu

Neapolitan-style pizza is now available at one of downtown McCall’s most popular bars. 

In November, Foresters started serving pizza by the slice from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. The daily menu features slices of pepperoni, cheese, and rotating specialty pizzas. 

Whole 18-inch pizzas can also be ordered for carryout, including by ordering online. Customers buying a whole pizza have the option of customizing toppings, which include pepperoni, sausage, olives, jalapenos, roasted red peppers, onions, and mushrooms.  

The pizzas are cooked in a stone deck oven that was installed in a kitchen added to Foresters as part of a remodel David Carey completed when he purchased the historic bar, which has been in operation since 1947. 

The recipe for Foresters’ pizza was crafted by Rupert’s Restaurant chef Gary Kucy and Glen Fiertl, the founder of Guido’s Original New York Style Pizza in Boise. 

The daily specialties range from well-known favorites like Hawaiian pizzas to pizzas with brie cheese, apple, and roasted butternut squash.

Civic Lookout

• McCall City Council: Tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. Packet available here.
• McCall City Council: Work session Friday morning at 9 a.m. to discuss public boat ramp fees. Packet available here.
• Valley County Commissioners: Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission: Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

‘It’s something you can’t explain’: Mountain Samba dances into 20th year at Winter Carnival

From the booming sound of drums to the mesmerizing synchronized dance routine, Mountain Samba has captured the hearts not only of Winter Carnival parade-goers, but also of the performers themselves. Find out why by reading the full story on Valley Lookout.

McCall hospital district to study dissolution, puts advisory vote on hold

The board controlling a district that allocates property taxes to St. Luke’s McCall says a public education campaign is needed before an advisory vote requested by a citizen initiative can be held. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

McCall sewer bond set for May election

McCall voters will be asked to approve a $7 million bond issue on May 20 to fund sewer improvements in the city. Find out how much the bond could cost you and what the money would be spent on by reading the full story on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• State of the Snowpack: Hosted by Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center tomorrow night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Foresters.
• Little Skimo: First annual uphill ski mountaineering race to be hosted at the Little Ski Hill from noon to 3:30 p.m. Registration open here.
• Mountaineers hockey: McCall to face-off against the Sun Valley Suns on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Manchester Ice and Event Centre. Tickets available at the door.
• Middletown: Dramatic dark comedy to be performed at the Alpine Playhouse Thursday through Saturday. Tickets cost $15 and are available at the door or in advance at Barn Owl Books. Doors open at 7 p.m.
• Live music: Sean Hatton to play at 6 p.m. on Thursday night in the Salmon River Brewery Courtyard. Bluesman Trent to perform at Foresters on Thursday night at 7 p.m., followed by Scott Pemberton on Saturday night at 8 p.m.

Donnelly

• Snowfort: Music festival returns to Tamarack Resort on Friday and Saturday. More information available here.
• Skibrary: The Donnelly Public Library fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tamarack Resort is headlined by breakfast burritos, pastries, warm drinks, and, of course, free books. Tickets are $25 and are available here.

Cascade

• Open ceramics studio: Tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and tomorrow from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Cascade Cultural Arts Center.
• Pre-K Story Time with Ms. Lisa: Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. in the Cascade Public Library.
• Wine tasting: From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow night at Cascade Mercantile.
• Homestyle Chili Cook-off: Judging begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at Hotel Nobo. Registration costs $20 and the deadline is March 14. More information available here.

New Meadows

• Historical Music Night at the Depot: “Bad Asses and Disasters of Early Idaho” to be presented by Gary Eller next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the New Meadows Train Depot.
• Community House sale: Discounted bed linens available on Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet Ruckus, a 14-year-old mini Australian shepherd! Owner Sandy Christensen of McCall says Ruckus loves nothing more than snuggling up to freshly washed jackets in the laundry basket–except perhaps bacon treats.

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