Weiser Signal American

02/27/2025

Washington County emergency services were called to a two-vehicle accident at Highway 95 and Couper Lane Thursday morning around 8:45 a.m. No official statement or details have been released from Law Enforcement, but in this photo at the crash scene, rescue crews (lower left) were assisting at a white Dodge Ram that had landed in the ditch on the east side of Highway 95, while a gray Subaru Outback is seen rolled against a power pole. Two ambulances were on scene, and Life Flight was summoned, while both north and southbound traffic on Highway 95 was shut down for a time.

02/20/2025

Press Release from the Idaho State Police:

Two Vehicle Fatality Crash south of Homedale
February 20, 2025
HOMEDALE, Idaho – Idaho State Police (ISP) is investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash that occurred at 6:59 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2025, on US95 at milepost 31, south of Homedale.

A 2013 Kenworth semi tractor hauling an enclosed trailer, driven by a 23-year-old male, from Mexico, was travelling northbound on US95. The trailer crossed over into the southbound lane where it collided with a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by a 65-year-old female, from Parma, Idaho.

The driver of the Ford Explorer succumbed to their injuries. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.

The incident remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

02/20/2025

Wolverines Boys Basketball team set to play in game 4 of the District 3 4A tournament away on Saturday, Feb. 22, against Cole Valley at 7 p.m. Good luck, Wolverines!!

02/13/2025

02/13/2025

Weiser High School's Girls basketball district game with Cole Valley that was to be played tonight, Feb. 13, has been cancelled and rescheduled to tomorrow, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. in the Tom Falash Gymnasium at WHS.

02/06/2025

This week’s heavy snow and rain, followed up with much warmer temperatures from the previous couple of weeks, sent water over roads in several areas outside of Weiser Wednesday afternoon.
Washington County Road and Bridge Supervisor Jerod Odoms described one incident on Cove Road, above the Day Road intersection where water coming off of a field overtook a pond that had frozen during the earlier below freezing temperatures. The rush of water breached the edge of the hill, spilling across the curve in the road and down along the south edge, eating down the borrow ditch and cutting into the shoulder of the road.
Odoms said they were able to divert the water over into an irrigation canal that runs along the north side of the road.
“Normally, water will drain and flow on the south side, but diverting this is keeping the water from flooding anyone out farther down,” Odoms said. “It’s been a couple of hours this has been happening. Just as the weather warmed up, we’ve had a little bit of melt with the rain and everything that’s been coming in.
“We’ve got several spots now,” Odoms added. “I was just on the phone with my guys. They’re getting signs out, some on Sunnyside, some on Weiser River Road, and some out farther on Cove that we’ve got water over the road. The Sheriff’s office has been out taking care of those and keeping us informed. The good thing with this going into the irrigation canal is it’s going right to the river instead of in someone’s yard.”

02/04/2025

Friday snow kept Washington County deputies and tow trucks on the move
Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 14 total slide-offs and accidents on Friday, Jan. 31.
After several weeks of cold temperatures, but clear roads, Mother Nature cut loose with wet, heavy snow that packed down into an icy surface through the day as traffic moved about its business.
Deputies responded to the first call of a semi blocking the southbound lane of Hwy. 95, north of the hill at 9:46 a.m. The driver was assisted in chaining up and was able to move on.
At 10:08 a.m., a two vehicle accident was reported on County Road 70, with lane blockage. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
At 10:29 a.m., a semi spun out on the southbound lane of Hwy. 95 on the north side of the hill. It was chained up and moved to the top of the hill.
At 11:39 a.m., a commercial vehicle was blocking a lane of traffic on Hwy. 95, and was towed up the hill.
At 12:16 p.m., another report of a vehicle spun out on Hwy. 95 at milepost 97. The car got back on the road and moved on.
At 12:53 p.m., a semi slide-off was reported on Hwy. 95 at milepost 102 on Midvale Hill in the center lane. The semi was assisted in getting underway.
At 3:38 p.m., a vehicle accident was reported on Hwy. 95 at milepost 96. Hwy. 95 was shut down until 5:19 p.m., and two of the vehicles were towed.
At 4:08 p.m., a vehicle with a flat tire ¼-mile up the hill was reported. The tire was changed and it was on its way.
At 4:23 p.m., a single vehicle accident/slide-off on Hwy. 95 at milepost 95 was reported. The driver was helped out by a friend.
At 4:56 p.m., a semi spun out about ¼-mile past milepost 95. It was chained up and went on its way.
At 4:57 p.m., another semi spun out in the same vicinity, and was chained up and on its way.
At 4:58 p.m. a slide-off accident was reported at County Road 70 and Pioneer Road. The vehicle was towed.
At 5:30 p.m., a semi slide-off at Midvale Park was reported. The semi was towed out.
At 6:02 p.m., a car slide-off on Hwy. 95 at Jackson Road was pulled out by a neighbor’s tractor.

01/29/2025

From the Weiser School District:

See full story in an upcoming edition of the Weiser Signal American

Weiser School District Board of Trustees are pleased to announce a familiar face as the interim Superintendent. Please welcome Mr. Dave Kerby and his wife Connie back to Weiser. Mr. Kerby spent 20 years in Weiser prior to accepting a Superintendent position at Big Horn School District #4 in Basin, Wyoming.
Mr. Kirby retired from his Superintendent role and has graciously come out of retirement to perform the duties of Superintendent for Weiser through the end of this school year.
The Weiser School District will conduct a nationwide search for a permanent Superintendent starting in February.

Jim Brush
Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Weiser School District #431

01/29/2025

From Weiser Memorial Hospital

01/23/2025

From the Weiser School District
It is with deep regret and understanding that the Board of Trustees have received and accepted a letter of resignation from Superintendent Kenneth Dewlen. His last day will be January 31, 2025.
We are in the process of finding an interim Superintendent that will fill the position until the end of the 2025 school year. We will also go through the correct motions of doing a nationwide search for a candidate that fits our culture and maintains the Pride of the Wolverines.

Jim Brush
Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Weiser School District #431

01/14/2025

Bob Barber was one of many photographers at the Fiesta Bowl. If you were watching the game he was captured on camera when BSU made their second touchdown. The Boise State Broncos were not able to overcome a number of mistakes in their New Year's Eve Fiesta Bowl loss to the Penn State Nitty Lions, 31-14. With the loss, the BSU football team compiled an impressive 12 -2 season. Thanks Bob for the pictures.

12/12/2024

Broken fire suppression line floods roads around WHS
A broken fire suppression line near the Weiser High School Auxiliary gym sent approximately 158,000 gallons of water rushing both ways on Indianhead Road late Wednesday afternoon.
According to a Weiser City spokesperson, at some point on Wednesday, a leak was reported at WHS. The city shut off water to the school and a private contractor hired by WSD had come in and started digging to find the leak. In that process, the equipment operator hit the six-inch fire main for the fire system that goes to the hydrants, breaking it loose.
The water ran for approximately 43 minutes, dropping the city’s reservoir about a foot. The water was reported to be flowing at such a high rate, it traveled up both hills from Indianhead Estates, all the way to Sunset and to West 7th. The water moved both directions on West 7th, flooding down to Pioneer, and into the Whiting subdivision.
Weiser School Superintendent Kenneth Dewlen was not available for comment on Thursday morning, due to an already scheduled day out of the office, but will be back in on Friday, Dec. 13, at which time the Signal American will contact him for more information.

12/07/2024

Friday morning power outage affects 5,625 Idaho Power and City of Weiser customers. According to an Idaho Power spokesman the power went out around 10:30 a.m. and was back on around noon. At the time the spokesperson did not yet know the cause. Washington County and Weiser Memorial Hospital were open with the use of back-up generators. Some businesses closed for the day. More information will be available as we receive it from Idaho Power.

12/07/2024

Sunshine predicted to brighten up the dreary days
By Pat Caldwell
The Signal American
WEISER – Area residents may get relief soon from a week-long inversion as a major storm system is projected to hit the local area by the weekend.
“Sunday looks promising. Some wind is coming in and some moisture. There is, Saturday night, a 30% chance of rain and snow in the Weiser area,” said Bill Wojcik, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boise.
Wojcik said the storm could also potentially help lift the air stagnation alert now in place over much of the Treasure Valley.
“Precipitation helps, it can clean up the air,” he said.
The arrival of an inversion isn’t a new phenomenon to the Treasure Valley. The weather pattern is often a familiar companion to the winter calendar.
The ingredients to create an inversion are simple. An inversion develops when a band of warm air sits above a layer of cold air near the ground. An inversion is the reverse of a typical weather pattern when the temperature drops at a higher altitude.
“Basically, what happens is the air gets trapped. Almost like you have a cap,” said Wojcik.
Wojcik said the high temperature Thursday at Bear Saddle near Midvale Hil was 44 degrees at more than 6,000 feet. The temperature in Weiser at 5 p.m. Thursday was 26 degrees.
A storm does not always mean the end to an inversion, said Wojcik.
“Sometimes, if a storm comes in and it isn’t quite strong enough, the inversion could actually stay,” he said.
He said the storm front moving this weekend will probably be strong enough to end the inversion.
“That’s not a 100% guarantee but it is likely it will scour it out,” he said.
Inversions, he said, typically occur in December in January in the Treasure Valley.
Shorter days during the winter and the angle of the sun also play a role in the formation of an inversion, he said.
“The nights are longer, and it stays colder,” he said.
Carl Smith, Weiser Police chief, said local residents should be careful when driving during an inversion.
“Have as many lights on in your vehicle as possible. Be aware that an inversion can cause freezing fog which can go down on the road and make conditions slick,” he said.

Smith said people should also slow down.
“If you are going to work in the morning please scrape your windshield. Don’t try to drive through a porthole,” he said.
Smith also warned residents about starting their vehicle in the morning to warm it up. He said residents should make sure they lock the car before going back into their house. Leaving the vehicle unlocked while it idles and warms, is a risk he said.
“We’ve had a few vehicles stolen that way,” he said.

12/06/2024

Sunshine could be on its way
By Pat Caldwell
The Signal American
WEISER – Area residents may get relief soon from a week-long inversion as a major storm system is projected to hit the local area by the weekend.
“Sunday looks promising. Some wind is coming in and some moisture. There is, Saturday night, a 30% chance of rain and snow in the Weiser area,” said Bill Wojcik, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boise.
Wojcik said the storm could also potentially help lift the air stagnation alert now in place over much of the Treasure Valley.
“Precipitation helps, it can clean up the air,” he said.
The arrival of an inversion isn’t a new phenomenon to the Treasure Valley. The weather pattern is often a familiar companion to the winter calendar.
The ingredients to create an inversion are simple. An inversion develops when a band of warm air sits above a layer of cold air near the ground. An inversion is the reverse of a typical weather pattern when the temperature drops at a higher altitude.
“Basically, what happens is the air gets trapped. Almost like you have a cap,” said Wojcik.
Wojcik said the high temperature Thursday at Bear Saddle near Midvale Hill was 44 degrees at more than 6,000 feet. The temperature in Weiser at 5 p.m. Thursday was 26 degrees.
A storm does not always mean the end to an inversion, said Wojcik.
“Sometimes, if a storm comes in and it isn’t quite strong enough, the inversion could actually stay,” he said.
He said the storm front moving this weekend will probably be strong enough to end the inversion.
“That’s not a 100% guarantee but it is likely it will scour it out,” he said.
Inversions, he said, typically occur in December in January in the Treasure Valley.
Shorter days during the winter and the angle of the sun also play a role in the formation of an inversion, he said.
“The nights are longer, and it stays colder,” he said.
Carl Smith, Weiser Police chief, said local residents should be careful when driving during an inversion.
“Have as many lights on in your vehicle as possible. Be aware that an inversion can cause freezing fog which can go down on the road and make conditions slick,” he said.
Smith said people should also slow down.
“If you are going to work in the morning please scrape your windshield. Don’t try to drive through a porthole,” he said.
Smith also warned residents about starting their vehicle in the morning to warm it up. He said residents should make sure they lock the car before going back into their house. Leaving the vehicle unlocked while it idles and warms, is a risk he said.
“We’ve had a few vehicles stolen that way,” he said.