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BLAINE COUNTY-EASEMENTS
Central Idaho officials eye open space easements
(Information in the following story is from: Idaho Mountain Express, http://www.mtexpress.com)
KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) — Blaine County commissioners in central Idaho have given initial approval to a plan to keep about 2,000 acres of farmland as open space in the southern part of the county.
The Idaho Mountain Express reports that the project would spend about $1 million from the Land, Water and Wildlife program to buy conservation easements.
That money would be added to $1.7 million in federal funds already awarded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to buy the easements.
DOLLAR THEATER
Lewiston-Clarkston Valley's dollar venue closed
(Information in the following story is from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com)
LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — The only dollar movie venue in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley is closed.
The screens at Orchards Cinemas have been dark since March 23, but it wasn't until last week that anyone affiliated with the theater provided an explanation.
Duane Brelsford is a managing partner of Village Centre Cinemas, which owns both the discount theater and the first-run complexes in Lewiston, Moscow and Pullman.
Brelsford tells the Lewiston Tribune that the theater can't show the newer digital movies being released by Hollywood.
He says a potential buyer has been found, but the theater will not continue to operate under the change in ownership.
OLD FAITHFUL
Study looks at Old Faithful area and development
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A new study on the geology and hydrology in the area around Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park provides suggestions on how to avoid harming the famous geyser.
The report was written by U.S. Geological Survey and park geologists, working with university and private-sector scientists.
The experts were convened by Yellowstone to review and summarize the geological and hydrological understanding that can inform park management of the Upper Geyser Basin area.
They reviewed the effects of utilities, roads and buildings on the thermal features as well as the effects of the thermal features on the infrastructure.
The report includes a variety of techniques that can assist park managers as they evaluate options for future management of the Old Faithful area.
JACKSON-GROUND SLIPPING
Wyoming hillside slipping, but not gaining speed
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Authorities say an unstable hillside has continued to move since it forced dozens from their homes last week in the Wyoming resort town of Jackson over the slim but persistent risk of a sudden landslide, but the shifting was not accelerating.
Geologists and others are watching the hill's movement with the help of ground monitoring equipment. A geologist has put the risk of sudden collapse at just 5 percent. So far, only one unoccupied home, which is directly atop the slide zone, has sustained damage.
About 60 people haven't stayed at their homes since Wednesday. Officials say the move was a precaution in the wake of Washington state's deadly landslide and was also tied to damage of the only access road.
The unstable hillside is about the size of two football fields and is along a main artery outside the historic downtown area.
IDAHO EARTHQUAKE
4.9-magnitude earthquake rattles central Idaho
CHALLIS, Idaho (AP) — A 4.9-magnitude earthquake shook central Idaho on Saturday.
USGS geophysicist Dale Grant says the earthquake was the first one of its strength in the area since 2005. But he says even minor damage is unlikely because of the remote location. It struck 8 miles northwest of Challis, a town of around 1,000 less than 200 miles northeast of Boise.
The quake flung items off walls and scared residents but otherwise producing no reported damage or injuries in the sparsely populated mountain area.
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