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Downey Happenings 4/6/02 by Penny Greaves

Downey-It was a horrifying experience for Elder Scott Saunders, son of Paul and Sharleen Saunders of Downey.
Scott is serving an LDS mission in Managua, Nicaragua, and has been in the country only a few weeks. Last week, as he and several other missionaries were walking down a city street, they saw a hit-and-run driver strike a woman pedestrian who was crossing the street.
The quick-thinking elders tried to give first aid and called authorities, but the woman died. It was a very sobering experience for the young men, who find life doesn't have the same value as it does in the good old USA.
Ruby and Henry Jemmett of Arimo celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last week with a family gathering, including daughter Connie Johnson of Downey. Ruby is now a resident of the Downey Care Center Assisted Living.
The couple was married in Pocatello on March 28, 1942, by Bishop Grant Stowell. They lived in Blackfoot until 1960, then moved to Arimo. Both were employed by Marsh Valley School District #21 until they retired.
The were instrumental in the formation of the Pocatello Farmer's Market and raised a huge garden in the summer to sell produce. They were famous for their berries-raspberries and strawberries that were just bigger, prettier and sweeter than anywhere else.
Henry is an avid carpenter who has built scale model replicas of pioneer cabins and stores that once dotted the southeastern Idaho countryside, and Ruby did exquisite handwork, including hats and quilts, until the onset of Parkinson's Disease.
The two have eight children, 33 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. Ruby welcomes visitors at the Care Center, where Henry and Connie are frequent visitors.
Downey's new website (www.downeyidaho.com) is getting more complete each week as webmaster Ann Yearsley gathers information and photos. It is far from complete, but already looks great and is a real asset to the community. It now contains photos of all buildings for sale in town, a listing of many businesses (Chamber members are listed free), and a history of Red Rock Pass, among others. Keep checking to see what's new each week.
I'd like to put in a plug for the 18th Annual PAEYC Early Childhood Conference in Pocatello on April 19 and 20. This event is for teachers, professionals in the early childhood field-and parents-from allover the mountain west.
Participants are given the latest information on early childhood issues such as brain research, parenting skills, early literacy, and related fields. There will be keynote speakers each day and a concert for the community.
Speakers include Dr. Alexandra Delis-Abrams, an expert in the field of early childhood education and communication of feelings; and Dr. Mary Rivkin, an associate professor at the University of Maryland.

The concert, by the Masankho Kamisi Band, will use dance theater, music drumming and storytelling during their presentation. Professional credit is available for attending both days of the conference, and educationally geared vendors will be on hand with materials and supplies for young children.
Workshop classes will include such subjects as speech and language, money handling, art, the importance of touch, science, yoga, music and math.
Parents of young children are welcome to attend. For more information, call Barbara at 237-1323, or e-mail at pocatello_aeyc@yahoo.com.
I had an intimate opportunity to see part of the conference in action last week as I attended the awards assembly for some thirty kindergarten-fourth grade students whose art work is being used on conference posters, flyers and name tags, as well as the conference catalogs.
Of course, the most interesting child receiving an award was my granddaughter, Jordyn, daughter of Keralee Greaves, a first grader at Ellis Elementary in Chubbuck. Her art work will be used on the name tags worn by participants.
Each winner received a gift bag of Crayola markers, sidewalk chalk and paper to encourage future projects. Parents can gain as much from the conference as professional educators, say educators, and are welcome to attend.
Dale and Joanna Koester have returned from a brief trip to St. George, Utah, and Dewey and Ila Mae Cunningham have returned from spending the cold winter there, and will be home in Downey for several months.
Max and Joanne Nielsen have returned from wintering in Mesquite, Arizona, and will be in Downey for several months. Their daughter and family, Jesse and Julie Anderson and children, spent the Spring Break week last week with them in Mesquite, enjoying the sights in the area.
Krista Hansen, daughter of Mel and Margie Hansen of Downey, exchanged wedding vows April 5 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They were honored at a reception that evening in Downey. The bridegroom is Taylor Jensen, son of Gardell and Leslie Jensen of Great Falls, Montana.
Krista is a Marsh Valley High School graduate and is currently attending Utah State University in Logan, where she is a senior in public relations. Taylor is a graduate of Great Falls High School who served an LDS Spanish-speaking mission in Houston, Texas. He, too, is attending USU, where he is in the master's program.
Joe Bloxham, owner of Downey Lumber Company, met with the Downey City Council in March to protest building materials purchases that he had not been given the opportunity to bid. His special concerns were the new public restrooms at City Park and the soon-to-be-built restroom/shower complex at the R.V. Park north of the fairgrounds.
Bloxham said the city was purchasing materials from out-of-town sources and he was not allowed to bid. He also accused the city of purchasing materials and stockpiling them rather than buying locally.
Mayor Eugene Webb answered Bloxham's accusations by stating that no supplies have yet been purchased for the R.V. Park project, and none have been stockpiled. Only $6000 of the grant money has been spent thus far, he said, and that was for architectural drawings. The city is currently waiting to see if Bannock County will participate financially in the project, since it is being built on county-owned land. Webb said the facility may not be built at all if no funding is found.
Webb also suggested that Bloxham check his source and get facts straight, since he was inaccurate on some things. He said that the City Park project was done with budgeted park funds which had been saved over several years to do the restrooms, and that regular monthly checks were approved for materials purchased at Downey Lumber.

All expenditures, he said, are discussed in City Board and approved before the fact, as are all city projects. Webb said the city has an agreement with Bannock County on the building and use of the R.V. Park and adjacent facilities such as the dumpsite and restrooms.
Bloxham also suggested that former Mayor Ila Mae Cunningham had instructed city workers not to purchase goods at his store, but maintenance man Tony Hancock said he had not received such instruction. The businessman said there "is a bunch going on here, and the last Mayor done things that haven't been accounted for."
Webb said that was enough for the night and asked Bloxham to come back if he had more information, and to make sure it was valid. Bloxham said he wanted to know where money was spent.
The mayor then moved on to other subjects, and explained to the Council how the budget works, and what each particular fund is about. He answered several questions by councilmen.
City Arborist Wendy Anderson explained to the council how she had been able to pass the certified arborist test. She will have to get 30 CEU's every three years to keep the certification. The Council voted unanimously to pay the $145 for membership in the Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Aborculture
This will provide credit classes for Anderson to keep certified, and she will, in turn, assist residents of the city with their questions about trees for this climate. She is currently working on a booklet that will provide information about the trees suited for Downey and how to care for them. This should be ready by Arbor Day, she said.
Mayor Webb reported that the city has one year to implement the water study which will be paid for by a recent grant. The engineer will attend a future meeting to discuss procedure. Hancock said it is still difficult to get up to Nine Mile Springs, which is a major source of city water.
The water system's telemetry program went out, and Hancock has been able to repair it. It tells how much water is in the storage tanks, and Hancock suggested they need a computer just for the telemetry system.
Councilman Lonny Dahlke will gather information on the software, and will contact sources to see if city costs can be reduced.
Councilman Ralph Riser reported on the condition of the airport grant. Former Aeronautics Division agent Wayne Pickerell has retired, and the new agent told Riser his reports say Downey's Hyde Airport is in good condition and the earliest Downey could expect a grant is 2004 or 2005.
Riser explained to him that the airport is in need of work on the runway, and there has not been adequate money for snow removal this winter. He said the Division may be able to come up with $2000 in emergency funds.
Mayor Webb has spoken to county commissioner Jim Guthrie, who suggested the figures be sent to the county to see what funding is available. Riser said he told the Aeronautic's representative that the city may have to close the airport if funding is not found. It is the only airport in Bannock County.

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