Treasured Valley

Canyon fair opens, excessive police force, Bible plans, mojitos and the history of ‘tator salad…

The Treasure Valley:

• Canyon fair opens today. Thousands will converge on the Canyon County Fairgrounds in Caldwell today through Sunday for the Canyon County Fair. This year’s event includes a traditional mix of livestock competition and kids’ contests along with the popular carnival, exhibits and wide variety of fair food.
• BSU player suspected of DUI, crashing car. Authorities say Michael Atkinson was arrested at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday when a witness said a driver hit a barrier at Vista and Canal streets in Boise.
• Former Canyon Commissioner Vasquez files for bankruptcy. Former Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on July 16.
• DBA to Organize Downtown Neighborhood Association. Boise’s Downtown Business Association is pulling together a new board comprised of downtowners to form a neighborhood association: the Downtown Neighborhood Association. BW writer Tara Morgan wrote about the so-called DNA and the new downtown residential scene a few months ago.
• Boise ombudsman says police officer used excessive force in an arrest this year. A report issued Wednesday by Boise Community Ombudsman Pierce Murphy found that a Boise police officer who used a Taser on a suspect’s buttocks violated the police department’s use-of-force policy.
• Man stunned with Taser plans to sue Boise Police Department. A man who who was shocked at least twice by a Taser stun gun during his arrest at a Boise home in February – and threatened with additional shocks to his anus and genitalia – plans to sue the Boise Police Department for excessive use of force.
• Toxic Algae Impacts Lake Lowell. Lake Lowell, which is usually packed in the summer, sits nearly empty.
• Man Crashes Into Boat Store. One man is arrested after crashing his car while drunk and taking off.
• Would public health pay for Stockdale surgery? Several Treasure Valley radio stations had no problem raising money for Ryan Stockdale’s $100,000 surgery Wednesday night. Some wonder if a government-run health plan would be so generous.
• Home is where the gavel is? The Idaho Supreme Court is considering whether judges must always make their bed in the same counties where they officially sit.
• Hailey holds vigil for Bergdahl. The crowd’s support for Bergdahl continues to grow, and so does their hope. Side by side, friends and strangers walked together with ribbons on at the park.
• Governor Praises Plans for Viticultural Research Center. Governor Otter is praising plans to create a new viticultural research center in Eagle.
• Scott K. Petersen: Meridian School District should reverse rushed, uninformed judgment. I would like to add some firsthand input to the recent Centennial Patriot Wrestling Bikini Top Car Wash issue. I agree that the Meridian School District is not being fair in how it passes down its judgment.

Politics:

• Idaho Press-Tribune: Speaker takes right tack on financial disclosure. How much money do you make? That can be a very sensitive question, which can provoke a wide range of responses. Just ask city of Nampa employees, some of whom reacted rather negatively when the Idaho Freedom Foundation gathered names, positions and salaries of city employees to post online.
• Kevin Richert: Let the facts do the talking on mercury. Perhaps you missed it, but Gov. Butch Otter really doesn’t want 17,000 tons of mercury stored in Idaho.
• State mulls charters Bible plans. Advocates and opponents attended a state charter commission meeting Wednesday to voice their opinions about Nampa Classical Academy’s plans to incorporate the Bible in classroom lessons. State officials will also work with the school to examine whether the Idaho Constitution could prevent the use of the Bible as officials have planned.
• Dems plan free gun raffle at fair. Canyon County Democrats will hold a free raffle for a rifle at this year’s Canyon County Fair. Party Vice Chair Thaddius Wenderoth plans to donate the gun, a Remington 710 30/06 with a Nikon 3×9 scope, because he was tired of having to defend his stance as a Democrat to fellow gun owners, a press release from the group stated.
• 43rd State Blues: States’ Rights or Second Amendment.

Booze:

• Indian Creek Winery has some new digs, on the internet that is, check out their new site.
• Wine Advice: Proper storage is critical. There are five major enemies of wine: air, temperature, humidity, time and light.
• Eat Boise: Mojitos.
• Tailor Your Ice to Your Drink. Chill out with the right size chunks.
• Happy Hour: The Peony.

Grub:

• Potato salad: The taste of summer. Their origins are murky, but authorities agree that the potato salads we know today first became popular in America in the second half of the 19th century.
• Serious Eats: Should Hot Dogs Carry Warning Labels?
• ‘Wich of the Week: Goat Cheese With Avocado and Celery.
• VeganYumYum: BLT Salad.
• Review: Pineapple Jerky.