Idaho

Wounded 73-year-old survives 5 days in snowy Idaho backcountry without food or shelter after his raft flips

Published

2 years ago

May 28, 2024

Wounded 73-year-old survives 5 days in snowy Idaho backcountry without food or shelter after his raft flips

A 73-year-old boater whose raft capsized survived in the snowy Idaho backcountry for five days without food — before he was found just after he had given up and rescued, according to authorities.

Thomas Gray’s incredible tale of survival — which included eating snow, drinking creek water and hiking 23 miles with an injured leg — began during a three-day trip earlier this month on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

He was rafting down Dagger Falls on May 18 to meet his wife the next day when his boat flipped over, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office said.

Thomas Gray, 73, survived in the Idaho backcountry for 5 days after his raft fell apart on the Salmon River. KSL.com

Gray was thrown to the base of the falls and forced to swim to shore with the raft out of reach.

The septuagenarian, who had suffered a leg injury, hiked toward a launch site where he found shelter in an outhouse for two nights, the sheriff’s office said.

During the day, he unsuccessfully looked for other floaters on the Middle Fork.

After coming up empty, he then walked toward another location, the Fir Creek Pass, and found shelter at a snowmobile club trailer. While there was a wood stove in the trailer, Gray couldn’t find any matches, the sheriff said.

Meanwhile, authorities were furiously searching for the missing man after his punctured cataraft was discovered in the water.

After a night in the trailer, Gray continued on his journey toward the pass, but “became too exhausted” and laid down in the snow.

He hadn’t eaten food in days and was only relying on taking bites of snow and drinking water from the creeks to hang on, the sheriff’s office said.

Gray relied on taking bites of snow and drinking water from the creeks to survive. christiannafzger

“Tom was totally exhausted; he decided this was it. He just laid down in the snow and said a prayer,” said Custer County sheriff’s marine deputy John Haugh, according to KSL.

“He was resigned that this was not going to end well.”

But as he lay there in the snow, the owners of an excursion business spotted him.

Steve and Annie Lentz, of Far and Away River Adventures, quickly reached him with their vehicle and first responders who were on board rendered aid.

“If they hadn’t come along, he probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer,” Haugh said, according to the station. “He was in pretty bad shape when they got him.”

Gray’s younger brother, Robert Gray, actually died in 2022 when his raft flipped over in around the same area, Haugh reportedly said.

“Tom called me and said I was his ‘lifesaver,’ but I said, ‘No, I’m just your Uber deputy,’” Haugh said.

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Idaho

JFAC approves Idaho National Guard education funding

Published

6 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

JFAC approves Idaho National Guard education funding

BOISE — The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted Friday to partially restore funding to the Idaho National Guard’s education reimbursement program. The near-unanimous vote arrives after the body twice voted against making the reimbursement funding available but failed to come to a consensus on Idaho Military Division enhancements.

With this matter unresolved, JFAC once again took up the issue of funding for the National Guard’s State Education Assistance Program (SEAP), which provides enlisted soldiers and airmen up to $8,000 per year for tuition and fees at Idaho institutions.

Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian — who has repeatedly voiced support for restoring the reimbursement funding — brought forward the motion Friday to provide a general fund enhancement of $190,800 to SEAP for fiscal year 2027. This amount allows the program to maintain 69% of funding, up from the 39% it would have been reduced to as a result of JFAC’s 5% cuts for next fiscal year.

Though the vote sailed through without comment from committee members Friday, Petzke has couched the funding as necessary as Idaho lags behind neighboring states (including Oregon, Washington and Utah), which each offer 100% tuition reimbursement through their own education programs.

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Idaho

Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Pick 3 on March 6, 2026

Published

18 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 6.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 6 drawing

08-19-26-38-42, Mega Ball: 24

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 6 drawing

Day: 9-3-1

Night: 9-7-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 6 drawing

Day: 9-9-2-9

Night: 9-0-8-0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from March 6 drawing

20-21-31-35-38

Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 6 drawing

04-10-29-48-50, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Idaho

Lewiston advances to title game of Idaho Class 5A boys basketball stat…

Published

1 day ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Lewiston advances to title game of Idaho Class 5A boys basketball stat…

The Bengals held off the Wildcats in a game played at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

With the win, Lewiston (22-3) earned a spot in the 5A championship game, scheduled for 5 p.m. PST Saturday at the Idaho Center. The Bengals will play the winner of today’s other semifinal game between Bishop Kelly and Preston.

Lewiston will try to capture its first boys basketball state title since 2009.

This story will be updated.

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