Idaho
Film premiering in eastern Idaho tells true story of Olympic gold medalist from Utah – East Idaho News
Paul Wuthrich as Alma Richards in a scene from “Raising the Bar,” a new film about a Utah boy who set an Olympic high jump record in 1912. Watch our interview with the film’s director in the video above. | Courtesy photo
IDAHO FALLS – A new film premiering in eastern Idaho next week tells the true story of a track and field star from Utah who set an Olympic high jump record in 1912.
“Raising the Bar: The Story of Alma Richards” premiered in Utah on Thursday and will be released in local theaters on May 2.
T.C. Christensen is the filmmaker behind the project. He’s the director of titles like “Escape from Germany,” “The Fighting Preacher,” and “The Cokeville Miracle.”
In a conversation with EastIdahoNews.com, Christensen explains the appeal and significance of this story and the reason he wanted to bring it to the screen.
“There wasn’t another person out here in the West to win a gold medal in the Olympics for 88 years after him,” Christensen says. “This was really a spectacular moment.”
Richards didn’t know anything about the sport until shortly before he arrived at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. He was in high school at the time and acquired his athletic ability jumping over fences chasing jackrabbits in his hometown of Parowan, a small town in southwestern Utah.
Like many high school students, Christensen says Richards wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life and this set him on an unexpected career path that left a lasting mark on sports history.
“He went to high school one day and they had a new coach. The coach said, ‘Hey, you’re big’ — he was a big kid — ‘Why don’t you come out for track?’ Alma didn’t even know what he was talking about … but he went out and two years later found himself on the greatest athletic stage in the world,” Christensen says.
This aspect of Richards’ story is what Christensen says gives the film universal appeal.
It’s also a story Christensen is personally invested in. He grew up hearing stories about Richards from his grandmother, who lived with him and his siblings as kids. His grandmother is Richards’ sister, which means the protagonist in the film is Christensen’s great uncle.
Although Christensen is related to the film’s subject, he says making this film wasn’t about nepotism or personal attention. It was the story, first and foremost, that was appealing to him.
The obstacles his great uncle had to overcome were seemingly insurmountable, he says, and “so outlandish … audiences are going to think I made them up.”
“That’s what makes for a good story,” says Christensen. “At the end of the film, there’s a bit of a twist. You’ll think his purpose in life is ‘X’ … and it’s not. He finds an even higher purpose in life.”
“Raising the Bar” has been in the works for the last four years. Christensen began the initial production in 2020 and experienced some delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Paul Wuthrich, who had the leading role in “Escape from Germany” — Christensen’s most recent film — plays the part of Richards. Wuthrich could not be reached for comment, but Christensen explains why he cast him in this role.
“This was a hard part to cast because the guy playing Alma not only needs to be a good actor, but also needs to be athletic and be able to fit into our parameters (for a low budget film),” Christensen explains. “This is now the fourth film I’ve done with Paul and he’s just terrific.”
Christensen is making a trip to eastern Idaho next week for the film’s premiere. He’ll be speaking at Brigham Young University-Idaho and interacting with movie-goers for a Q&A in Rexburg and Idaho Falls.
Christensen is excited for audiences to see the film. It will premiere at Paramount 5 in Rexburg, Paramount Theater in Idaho Falls and at the Blackfoot Movie Mill.
WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTENSEN IN THE VIDEO ABOVE.
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FOOTHILLS, Idaho — Areas near the Claremont Fire have been reduced to Level 1 evacuation status, the Boise County Sheriff’s Office updated on Facebook.
“Most of the unburned fuel near the spot fire has been consumed. There may be a pocket or two of unburned fuel that will need to be monitored tomorrow [July 11] afternoon,” BCSO says in an 8:40 p.m. update.
Idaho News 6 will continue to monitor evacuations in the area. To find your evacuation zone, click here.
Investigators are still working to determine what sparked the fire and are asking the public for tips.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | How did the Claremont Fire start? Investigators seek tips after 6,500 acres burn in the Foothills
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Idaho
“We won’t insure you”: Robie Creek homeowners struggle to get home insurance due to wildfire risks
ROBIE CREEK, Idaho — The Claremont Fire has brought wildfire risks to top of mind for neighbors living in places like Robie Creek, where residents saw Level 3 evacuations this week.
Many Idaho homeowners in rural areas like Boise County say they are having their home insurance policies dropped because of wildfire risks, leaving many scrambling to find coverage or going with none at all.
“This one was good — we knew it was coming, the one that was the Valley Fire in 2024 came up behind the hill. It was closer than this one even,” said Christian Dahlstrom, who has lived in Rocky Canyon since 2008.
WATCH | Hear from Robie Creek homeowners about being dropped from coverage with no luck getting re-insured
“We won’t insure you”: Robie Creek homeowners struggle to get home insurance due to wildfire risks
“I was insured since then until last year, so following the 2024 fire or fires, the insurance companies up here started reevaluating and they canceled a lot of folks and I was one of them,” Dahlstrom said.
He and many of his neighbors are now living without homeowners insurance because they can’t find a provider that will offer them full coverage.
“I have contacted every insurance carrier in the phonebook,” Dahlstrom said.
He said his mortgage company eventually insured the home, but only for the value of the mortgage. He could still lose everything if the home were destroyed in a fire.
“One insurance company said yep they’ll insure me but I had to take every single tree off the property. Well, then why am I living in the forest?” Dahlstrom added.
Others in Robie Creek say they are facing similar problems.
“And it’s not even a, well now you have to pay twice as much. It’s a we won’t insure you,” said Oscar Williamson.
Williamson recently bought a home in Robie Creek and said he needed insurance coverage to close on the property.
“We had gone through 40 different insurance companies to try to get it insured and nobody would ensure it they said it was in a high fire area,” Williamson said.
He nearly backed out of the purchase until his mortgage company offered limited coverage similar to Dahlstrom’s.
“You have no choice either run it without insurance or you don’t own the house,” Williamson said. “There should be an easier way of doing this.”
RELATED | “We’re all being canceled”: Idaho homeowners struggle to maintain home insurance amid wildfire risks
This is an issue affecting homeowners across the Treasure Valley and Idaho — residents in Garden Valley and the Boise Foothills have also reported losing coverage because of wildfire risk concerns.
RELATED | Idaho homeowners face insurance cancellations and rate hikes over wildfire risk
Boise Fire Chief Aaron Hummel says they’re working with partners to help reduce risks for homeowners and improve insurability.
“We also we’re trying to do our part with the Western Fire Chief Association, insurance carriers to see what can we do to use some of the contemporary tools to help mitigate some of this challenge,” Hummel said.
They are hoping to use new technology and grant funding to better protect homes in the wildland-urban interface.
“And essentially what we’re trying to do is leverage current AI technology and modeling tools to be very targeted in addressing areas that are vulnerable,” Hummel said.
You can find more information about Boise Fire’s goal to help reduce wildfire risks for homeowners here.
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