From building schools, businesses and churches, these early settlers also developed water systems, power infrastructure and trade routes that today’s citizens still owe much of their lifestyle.

The Afton Heritage Committee will induct their inaugural Hall of Fame class this Saturday as part of Independence Day celebrations and as part of the Afton Civic Center’s Grand Opening.

Be sure to click below for exclusive footage of Mr. Larry Call, Chairman of the Afton Heritage Committee as he discusses the six inductees, Anson Vasco Call II, William Walton Burton, Dr. George Washington West, Osborne Lowe, Anie Rebecca Seward Kennington and Clarence Gardner,  and speaks about this week’s Heritage Jubilee.

With such a long running and formidable foe however, is an army of those who would withstand it.
This was the face of the crowd during the 2008 Relay for Life.

Those unfamiliar with the event should know that while there are moments of somber reflection of those lost during the 24-hour trek, the real overwhelming feeling is the determination of the human spirit.

The original idea for the Relay for Life came from Dr. Gordy Klatt, a surgeon from Tacoma, Washington. A marathon enthusiast, he decided to help the income of his local American Cancer Society office by circling a track for a 24-hour period. The day-long walk symbolized the fact that cancer never sleeps. In his inaugural walk, Klatt covered 83 miles as friends paid various amounts to walk or run with him, raising $27,000 for his first attempt.

Since that time, the Relay For Life has become a team event where sponsors organize for several weeks or even months to put together a 24-hour celebration of life. From that first event in 1985, the program now involves millions of people in thousands of locations across the globe.

The Star Valley event descended on Star Valley Middle School where not a parking spot could be found for hundreds of yards surrounding the track. Dozens of fifth-wheel trailers and even more tents were set up for the full overnight experience.

“As a committee, we were very pleased with the turnout and the generosity of the people in this valley,” stated Lona Izatt. “We hope we made it an event that people will want to return to next year.”
Izatt also said that the amount of money raised surpassed their goal.

“We know that it takes a village,” she added. “For us to all band together and do what we can to fight cancer and every little bit helps.”

For more information on the national affect of the Relay for Life or for other ways to help battle cancer, visit www.cancer.org.

Be sure to click below for an exclusive photo slide show of the Star Valley Relay for Life. (Photos by Dan Dockstader)

Witnesses said the boy was posing with members of his family within 1-2 feet of the animal despite repeated warnings from other visitors. The incident occurred just off the trail adjacent to the Uncle Tom’s Trail parking lot along the South Rim Drive of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

The bull’s horns did not puncture the boy. The only outward injuries he suffered were abrasions possibly received from hitting the ground after the fall.

Because the boy complained of abdominal pain, he was transported by ambulance to the Lake Clinic and then flown to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. The name and hometown of the injured juvenile aren’t being released. His current condition is not available.

Visitors are urged to be very cautious around the park’s wildlife. Extremely serious injuries or death can result from approaching wild animals too closely even if they appear docile. Park regulations require that a minimum distance of 100 yards be maintained from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from all other animals.

The HMX guard the hangers, assemble the helicopters, and protect the President while he is traveling. Charlie was a part of the MP Canine Program and was a dog handler for four years; meaning he took a dog around the areas of helicopters and hangers to inspect for bombs.
He had the chance to travel to many places of the world with the President. The majority of the places that Charlie went, they had no problems.  Charlie recently finished his work with the HMX and was selected to meet with President Bush. Charlie asked his mother, Angie, to accompany him.

There were only four individuals from the HMX that were selected to meet with the President this year.

“What an honor. The President is a very humble and gracious man,” said Angie. Before Angie and Charlie could meet with the President, they were told what to do, what not to do, and were informed of rules and procedures of the White House. Angie recalls that they walked through the rose garden and that their names were announced to the President when they walked in the Oval Office. Then they got their picture taken with the President and were soon ushered out.
“It’s quite an honor to be selected. It’s not something that comes easy,” said Angie.  Charlie graduated from Star Valley High School in 2000 and went on to become a marine in 2003. He will soon be stationed at Camp Pendleton in California and will be going into the first marine expeditionary forces in the Combat Tracker dog program.
“He loves it. He absolutely loves it. It’s not like a job for him, he likes going everyday…he’ll probably make a career out of it,” Angie said.

Teton Interagency Dispatch received a report of the accident from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office shortly after it occurred. Approximately 10 park rangers and emergency medical personnel along with Teton County Fire/EMS personnel immediately responded to the scene, and several Teton Interagency fire staff helped with traffic control at various intersections near the accident site. In addition to the park response, several Teton County sheriffs and a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer assisted with traffic control and an accident reconstruction investigation. Other mutual aid assistance included a Teton County ambulance, and the Teton County rescue vehicle with an extrication team, responding from Jackson, Wyoming.

Details on the cause of the accident will become available after the investigation is completed. The two deceased persons were visitors from Belgium. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next
of kin.

Due to the serious nature of the accident and the position of the semi truck and its trailer, Highway 26/89/191 was closed from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Traffic was rerouted through detours along the Antelope Flats Road and the Moose-Wilson Road.

Afton’s overall time of 121.90 was accumulated in five different skilled events. Newcastle followed in second place and Riverton No. 2 was third.
Fifteen teams competed on the drill field west of Afton. The 2008 overall championship marks the third time for the Afton Fire Department to win the title. The state’s top honor was first awarded to Afton in 1972 and again in 2001.

The 2008 Wyoming Fireman’s Association All Conference Team includes Rodd Hillyard and Kip Johnson from the Afton Fire Department.
Team members are also follows:
Afton City
Rodd Hillyard, Dirk Hillyard, Mont Hess, Brandon Robinson and Jared Hansen.
Afton Rural
Cody Wilkes, Dennis Mcdonald, Kip Johnson, Justin Guzman, Andy Sessions and Kade Hebdon.
Afton Mud Flaps
Glen Magee, Clay Larson, Brian Erickson, Brock Brown and Jarred Baxter.

The Independent congratulates these firemen and their efforts throughout the year to assist the many communities of Star Valley.

For a full detailing of times and events, please read the June 19, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

According to the Forest Service, the Final Environmental Impact Statement was released to the public on Oct. 17, 2007 for a 30-day comment period. The initial comment period was extended an additional 30-days and over 47,000 comments were received.
“The level of public interest with this project is unprecedented for the phosphate patch,” stated Larry Timchak, Forest Supervisor for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. “As decision makers, we need to balance the public concerns with the laws and regulations that govern our management to reach a decision that provides for future phosphate mining in an environmentally sound and legal manner. I believe we have done that.”

The Caribou Clean Water Partnership disagrees.“If the Record of Decision is not reversed it will be a major setback for Idaho and Wyoming water quality,” said John Hart, a spokesman for the Caribou Clean Water Partnership. “If the federal agencies, whose job it is to protect our public lands, cannot compel the J.R. Simplot Co. to clean up past contamination and comply with clean water laws, then ordinary citizens are forced to take action. We will appeal this decision.”

Because each agency operates under different authorities, the BLM and Forest Service have each issued a separate ROD.The appeal period for the Forest Service, which is 45-days, opens Friday, June 13, 2008.
The BLM decisions regarding on-lease mining operations are the final administrative determination of the Department of Interior and are not subject to appeal.