Wednesday, June 7, 2023
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Guest Column–Ski Ingram’s “A Veteran’s Thoughts”: The War on Cops

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June 1, 2023

The War on Cops

By: Ski Ingram

I have a dear friend named Ron, who lives in California. Whenever I see him or talk to him on the phone he will say “I love cops.” He then goes on to tell me that I was a great cop. I wish that more people had that attitude and belief in cops. Not that they think or believe I was so great, but that they appreciate cops for what they do as much as my friend Ron.

It’s sad that so many people have no idea how cops work. It’s rarely like what you see on TV or in the movies. For most of the general public the only interaction they have with a police officer is when they are stopped for a traffic violation, or they are the victim of a crime.

There is a little-known truth that 10% of the people in any given neighborhood commit 90% of the crime. Another sad fact is that of those 10% many of them will be victims one day and a suspect in a different crime the next. Why are crime stats soaring today? It’s because criminals are arrested and then let out of jail even before, as some have said, “the ink on the police report has had time to dry.” When criminals are put in jail, they are unable to commit more crimes. It’s that simple.

 

 

I served as a police officer in the fifth largest city in California. I have a degree in Criminal Justice and have worked on a variety of details in my 20 plus years on the job. These assignments include Patrol, Vice, and Narcotics. I also was in charge of over 60 Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Officers in the Department as well as being one of the few nationally recognized DRE Instructors in my Department. I tell you all this not to boast but to show you that I have a lot of training and experience in the field of Law Enforcement.

Most people do not have any idea what police officers do on a daily basis. The one thing they do more than anything else is risk their very lives for you. They do things that most people will never experience in their lifetime. They see people, including children, victimized over and over again because our courts are inadequate, our prosecutors are overworked, and our juries never learn the whole truth during a trial. Why do they do it? Most of them do it because they have a heightened sense of justice. They do it because they have a desire to protect those who can’t protect themselves. They do it because they know when bad guys are in jail, they are unable to hurt their family or yours.

I was dismayed a few years ago during the “war on cops.” I would ask everyone who would discuss this with me “who will protect the innocent if we don’t have the police?” The answer I most often received was “no one” or “I don’t know.” Everyone who will use their eyes to see are beginning to realize that when the cops no longer will protect you, are restricted or unable to, you will have to protect yourself. We all saw how that worked out for the bodega worker in New York last year who was arrested for defending himself from an assault and, most recently, for Daniel Perry who was trying to protect others on a subway car from a homeless man making very scary threats to its passengers.

Ayn Rand from her novel, Atlas Shrugged, wrote this, “If you are unsure who to trust in these confusing times: Trust the courageous one. Truth requires courage. Courage requires fortitude, truth requires integrity. Cowards tell lies, cowards support liars. Telling a lie is easy, believing a lie is easy, being compliant is easy, staying silent is easy. Trusting without thinking is easy. Thinking for yourself is hard, standing up for yourself is hard, being real and authentic is hard.In times like these it takes all the courage in the world to question the status quo and to speak up and tell the truth. Trust the courageous.”

 

 

Police officers are the courageous. More than 800,000 police officers put their lives and well-being on the line every time they go to work. They make over 10 million arrests each year. They have more than 60 million interactions with the public each year and yet only 2% of those interactions require them to use force. Less than 1% of all police officers in the United States last year were charged with misconduct. To me that’s a pretty good record for all that police officers have to deal with.

Whenever someone would complain to me about the perceived mistreatment they received from a police officer, I would tell them this, “we have a problem, we have to get our police officers from the human race.” Yes, some officers do not meet the standards most of us expect and some go bad after serving a number of years. But they are the exception rather than the rule. I believe that police officer training is the best way to prevent “bad cops.” The problem is few police agencies can afford the money to train police officers adequately.

Each police officer will encounter between 400 and 600 traumatic events in his career. The average citizen will experience two or three in a lifetime. Maybe this is why police officer suicide is on the rise. The next time you see a police officer, smile and know that he has your safety and best interest in mind.

Ski Ingram is a life member of Lester Keate Post 90 of the American Legion in St. George, Utah. He now lives in Gilbert, Arizona. He is a combat veteran and is a life member of six different veteran’s organizations as well as the NRA. He can be reached at Ski@Skiingram.com Or www.Skiingram.com.

 

 

Bonneville County Sheriff to Speak at Stand Up For Idaho’s Weekly Meeting, Wednesday, June 7

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June 5, 2023

Idaho Falls–Stand Up For Idaho, an Idaho Falls-based nonpartisan citizens’ organization that peacefully and actively advocates for the rights and liberties of all Idaho citizens, is hosting a presentation by Bonneville County Sheriff Samuel Hulse at their next Wednesday meeting on June 7.  Young will discuss a variety of topics relevant to the security of Bonneville County, including fentanyl and border security.

SUFI’s announcement reads:

Bonneville County Sheriff Samuel Hulse is coming to talk with us about what’s happening in Bonneville County and across the state, including the fentanyl and the poisoning of America, the border crisis and how illegal immigration may affect Bonneville County, and more.  Come prepared to ask the hard questions.

Sheriff Samuel Hulse is the current Sheriff of Bonneville County.  He has worked for Bonneville County for the last 24 years and has 31 years of experience in the Law Enforcement profession.  Sheriff Hulse has experience in Patrol, Narcotics, Special Operations and as an Emergency Medical Technician.  In addition to leading the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Hulse currently serves on several local and State boards including Region VII Behavioral Health, the Behavioral Health Crisis Center of East Idaho, Region VII Crisis Intervention Team, DIGB6 (District 6 Emergency Communications Interoperable Governance Board), Behavioral Health Crisis Center of East Idaho Advisory Board, Idaho State Public Communication Commission and the Idaho Behavioral Health Council Advisory Board.  In January of 2022, Sheriff Hulse was appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Sheriff’s Association.

Sheriff Hulse and his wife Michelle have been married for 32 years. They have four sons, four granddaughters and one grandson.

The class will be held at the Snake River Event Center (Shilo Inn), located at 780 Lindsay Blvd. in Idaho Falls.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the class begins at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

Pocatello: Road Closure and Traffic Report for Week of June 5

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(Photo Credit: City of Pocatello)

June 5, 2023

The Road Closure and Traffic Report for the City of Pocatello for the week of June 5 has been posted on the City’s website.

Some of the highlights include:

  • Street sweepers are performing their spring clean-up
  • Street Operations is patching potholes and curblines throughout the city
  • Traffic Operations is repainting crosswalks and arrows throughout the City
  • Portions of S Hayes Ave, W Bonneville St, and W Benton St will be closed for paving
  • Crews will continue replacing the water main line on Wyeth, Buchanan, and Lander
  • The Carson St. bridge remains closed for repair
  • Chubbuck Road will be closed between Pleasant View Dr. and Fairgrounds Rd. as part of the I-86/I-15 System Interchange project, and will remain closed until Fall 2024
  • Crews are installing upgrades and resurfacing parts of Ammon St.
  • Crews will be jetting sewer lines throughout the city
  • The intersection of Hawthorne Rd. and W Quinn Rd. will be closed until August for installation of a traffic signal

To read the full report, visit: Pocatello Traffic Report/Road Closures, Week of June 5, 2022

 

 

Governor Little Proclaims June 5 – 9 as Summer Food Service Program Awareness Week

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(Governor’s Office Press Release, June 1, 2023)

Boise – Governor Brad Little has proclaimed June 5 – 9 as Summer Food Service Program Awareness Week. The proclamation highlights that Idaho students will once again have access to nutritious, healthy food options throughout the summer months with the program.

The program provides healthy food choices when school meal programs are not operating.

Access to summer meals will become available beginning June 5. To find the site nearest to you, text FOOD to 304-304; call the Idaho Care Line at 2-1-1; or go to the USDA’s Find Meals for Kids map at https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids.

“The Summer Food Service Program is a great example of what’s possible in our communities when we focus on our children,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said. “For some students, food scarcity is a reality during the summer and this important program helps meet their basic needs.”

 

 

The program provides free snacks and meals to children ages 18 and younger in locations throughout the state. Meals are served in areas of greatest need, with food provided by sponsors who are reimbursed for each qualifying breakfast, lunch, snack and/or supper they serve. In the summer of 2022, 67 sponsors served more than 860,000 meals and snacks at more than 235 sites across Idaho.

The program has no income requirements, and anyone under 18 can receive free meals, no questions asked. In addition to serving healthy, nutritious meals and snacks, many of the meal sites also offer games and reading activities for children and families.

 

Lindsey Williams Receives Roy Weaver Memorial Scholarship

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(Steven D. Merrell Marine Corps League Detachment 698 Press Release, June 1, 2023; Photo Credit: Merrell MCL Detachment)

Pocatello’s Merrell Detachment #698 of the Marine Corps League (MCL) is a local service organization of former Marines and Fleet Marine Force Corpsmen. The main purpose of the MCL is to “aid voluntarily and to render assistance to all present and former Marines and (FMF) Corpsmen as well as to their spouses, orphans, and parents.” MCL also supports Toys for Tots, provides burial services for veterans and works with all veteran service organizations (VSO’s) to support veterans from all branches of the military.

The Roy Weaver Memorial Fund was established at the Idaho MCL’s Department Convention in 2011. The purpose of the Fund is to present Scholarships to local students seeking post-secondary education.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant Roy Weaver was a WWII prisoner of war for 3 ½ years. He served in the Marine Corps Reserves for 2 ½ years after which he rejoined the Corps. He retired in 1964 after 21 ½ years. Following his retirement, he served as a Liaison for the Young Marines, was an active member of the Coeur d’Alene MCL Detachment and held several offices in the Department of Idaho MCL.

 

 

Pocatello’s Steven D Merrell MCL Detachment recently had the privilege of presenting Lindsey Williams, a valedictorian graduate of Snake River High School with one of this year’s Roy Weaver Memorial scholarships. Not only is Lindsey an excellent academic student, she is also an active participant in many school and community activities. She served as the school’s Chamber Choir president and Honor Society Junior Representative. Business Professionals of America, Snake River Theater Company, Pep and Concert bands, Bella Voce and a Capella Choir are some of the Snake River extracurricular activities that benefited from Lindsey’s participation. Lindsey’s volunteer list is long and includes: Community Dinner Table; Salvation Army; Blackfoot Food Pantry; American Red Cross; Pennies by the Inch for Primary Children’s Medical Center; The Village which is a foster care closet that collects and prepares clothing for foster children; and helping install a frisbee golf course at State Hospital South.

Lindsey’s goal to attend BYUI and work towards a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant is shaped from her experiences with family members that are experiencing serious health challenges. In her essay, Lindsey wrote, “I have seen how my loved ones have benefitted from physical therapy and I want to provide that to as many people as possible. I feel a great responsibility to spend my life building up others and making their lives better.”

Selection of Lindsey Williams for receipt of this scholarship is a very fitting commemoration of the memory of Gunnery Sergeant Roy Madison Weaver. It is our pleasure to present this Department of Idaho MCL Scholarship to Lindsey Williams.

 

 

Guest Column–Brian Parsons: A Tale Of Two Countries

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May 31, 2023

A Tale Of Two Countries

By: Brian Parsons

“Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a lot of territory, country music does.” – Johnny Cash

Just recently, I took my wife to a local country music concert to celebrate her birthday. I was surprised by the number of people drinking Bud Light there.  Given the conservative market backlash to Bud Light’s transgender beer campaign, I expected many more people to choose no shortage of alternatives.  A friend observed that they saw a thirty-pack of Bud Light at the local grocer for twelve dollars.  This is why it was odd to see people pay twelve dollars for a single Bud Light tallboy.

One Bud Light drinker, in particular, stood out.  This person was among the first to stand for the Memorial Day tribute of the national anthem played on the fiddle with the American flag waving on the jumbotron.  This same person also knew all the words to Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.” At that time, I realized that many Americans are blissfully unaware or apathetic to current affairs and are just here to catch a good time.

Country music presents an interesting metaphor for modern America: traditionally family and faith-oriented, now shallow and self-interested.  It has always been a storytelling art form that celebrates a simpler life, God, family, and traditional morals.  With the recent mainstreaming of country music came a melding of pop, rap, hypnotizing beats, and repetitive lyrics emphasizing superficial topics like sex and alcohol.  I have heard it called country rap or crap, and that’s an apt description.  Songs I would place in this category are often the least melodious or creative but were the first to get the youth up and dancing at the concert.

 

 

I heard a recent SiriusXM interview with Hall of Fame songwriter Steve Wariner, in which he grieved the loss of storytelling in country music and the promotion of cliches like whiskey in every tune. I can relate to this sentiment.  I enjoy many crap songs for the mindless anthems they are, but I also find myself irked by the lip service to country themes without much depth to them. In one of the latest radio hits, “Good Time” by country artist Niko Moon, the listener is treated to cliched lines such as “like a bobber on a wet line, we just tryna catch a good time,” an homage to classic country songs like “Fishin in the Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band that repeats throughout the chorus.

What irks me most about the shallowness of these kinds of lyrics is that they are a cosplay of a genre that celebrates an authentic heritage.  Putting on a pair of cowboy boots while twerking no more makes you a cowboy than putting on a dress makes you a woman.  Cowboys exist, and many still fight to maintain their traditional values nationwide.

The shift in country music toward shallowness and commercialization coincides with a shift in Music City, Nashville.  Long seen as the epicenter of country music and the home to the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville became an attraction for Country Music, what Hollywood is to film.  Commercial politics and a leftward bend to a historically family-oriented genre came with commercial recording dollars. At the most recent CMT Music Awards, viewers were treated to pride flags and drag queens dancing in fanciful Western regalia just days after a deranged transgendered person shot up a private Christian school in Nashville.

 

 

Country music artists themselves have adopted leftist politics into their art.  Hall of Famers Tim McGraw and wife Faith Hill have openly waded into gun control debates. Once the crooner of chest-puffing gender pieces such as “I’m Still a Guy,” country music artist Brad Paisley recently recorded a song with perpetual Ukrainian war celebrity and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  Platinum recording artists Lady Antebellum disavowed the term Antebellum during the height of Black Lives Matter protests and truncated their name to Lady A.  Unfortunately, that trademark was already taken by a black blues performing artist. Thankfully, they sued her to appropriate the moniker so that they might end racism.

If politics is downstream from culture, it seems the primary strategy for injecting leftist politics into conservative America has been infiltrating the conservative culture.  Much like urban culture was co-opted by the commercial glorification of gangs, sex, drugs, and alcohol in rap and hip-hop, the same playbook has been deployed against a traditionally conservative demographic and appeals mainly to the apathetic class. In one of the latest radio hits, country artist Hardy pays tribute to all things “Red” about conservative culture: barn doors, Budweiser cans, and red dirt, but is quick to preface all that is praiseworthy with “I’m not talking politics.”  Conservative politics are verboten in the new conservative culture.

At the concert that we recently attended, there were still splashes of conservative Americana, whether an occasional lyric referencing church or the prior mentioned Memorial Day tribute.  Still, attendees were primarily treated to celebrations of alcohol and getting naked in various forms, including a promotional commercial featuring the headliner selling his personally branded premium whiskey.  While there has always been an element of women and whiskey in country music, the complete saturation of all things country with the superficial aptly represents an intentional leftward infiltration.

Brian Parsons is a paleoconservative opinion columnist in Idaho, a proud husband and father, and saved by Grace. You can follow him at WithdrawConsent.org or find his opinion columns at the American Thinker, in the Idaho State Journal, or in other regional publications.

 

Patriots for Liberty and Constitution to Continue Discussion of ‘The Psychology of Totalitarianism,’ Monday, June 5

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Patriots for Liberty and Constitution

June 4, 2023

On Monday, June 5, the group “Patriots for Liberty & Constitution” will continue their discussion of Mattias Desmet’s The Psychology of Totalitarianism.   The discussion will be led by Art da Rosa.

According to the event notes, “We will be discussing Chapter 7, The Leaders of the Masses. Please read ahead of this thought-provoking chapter. It discusses the quality of leaders within a Totalitarian system. To add to the discussion and for comparison purposes, Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals will be presented. No reading assignment from his book will be included.”

The group meets at Mountain Valley Baptist Church, 202 S. 7th Avenue in Pocatello, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

For more information, click here.

 

 

 

Community Advisory: Dangerous River Conditions on Portneuf River

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(City of Pocatello Press Release, June 2, 2023)

Due to the high levels and fast-moving water, please exercise extreme caution near rivers and creeks. The Portneuf River is 10.5 feet deep and is flowing at 1,060 cubic feet per second (cfs), making for dangerous conditions. This time last year the Portneuf River was flowing at less than 200 cfs. The Pocatello Fire Department is also asking people to keep children and pets away from local waterways. Please call 911 immediately if you see someone in trouble.

“My goal right now is to remind the community of the dangerous conditions on the Portneuf River due to the heavy amount of snow runoff we have seen in the last several weeks,” said Mayor Brian Blad. “We expect these conditions to continue for some time, so please be careful around the river.”

“As a reminder, never drive around the barriers blocking flooded roads. A mere six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult and it takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars,” said Pocatello Fire Chief Ryan O’Hearn.

Before getting on the water, know the flow condition of the river by visiting the USGS National Water Information System. You can also check the weather and local radar by visiting the National Weather Service.

 

 

City of Pocatello Calendar, June 5-9, 2023

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City of Pocatello City Hall

June 3, 2023

MONDAY, JUNE 5

  • No Meetings Scheduled

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

  • 1:30 p.m.: Site Plan Review, Iwamizawa Conference Room
  • 2:00 p.m.: Center Street ADA Projects Bid Opening, Paradice Conference Room
  • 6:30 p.m.: Pocatello Arts Council Meeting, Council Chambers

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7

  • 6:30 p.m.: Historic Preservation Commission Meeting, Council Chambers

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

  • 9:00 a.m.: City Council Work Session, Council Chambers
  • 5:30 p.m.: Hearing Examiner, Council Chambers

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

  • No Meetings Scheduled