Idaho
An Idaho Falls man paralyzed in Swiss skiing crash is one step closer to returning home – East Idaho News
IDAHO FALLS -– An Idaho Falls native who was paralyzed in a skiing accident in Switzerland on Feb. 3 will no longer be stranded in Europe after community members and friends stepped up to help him secure a medical transport back to the United States.
Justin Holman broke his back “in a catastrophic spinal cord injury … shattering his C6 vertebrae” a week and a half ago, his family said in a news release, “paralyzing him from the waist down and leaving him unable to move or control his hands or fingers.”
He received “emergency neck fusion surgery,” at a hospital in Bern but did not receive authorization from his insurer, UnitedHealthcare, for any rehabilitation in Europe or for medical transport back to the United States, the family said in the release.
“Every single day that goes by without rehabilitation is a day that Justin loses in his fight to regain movement and independence,” his brother Stetson Holman shared in the release. “He needs to come home now.”
However, a GoFundMe set up by the family on Thursday took off online, and within 18 hours, enough funding was secured to bring Justin back home.
“Justin will be transported bed to bed — an ambulance will take him from the hospital in Bern, Switzerland, to the airport, where he will fly with two medical professionals by his side for the entire journey,” a GoFundMe update stated on Friday. “If all goes as planned, Justin and (his wife) Jaquoy will arrive in Denver on Sunday!”
In Denver, Justin will be cared for by “in-network specialists at one of the leading U.S. spinal cord rehabilitation centers,” the family said.
As of noon Friday, the family had raised $48,000 of $186,000. The majority has come in small gifts of $10, $20 or $50.
Holman still needs the support of friends and others as he begins a long road to recovery with “hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding bills for the air ambulance ride to the hospital,” his family shared.
To help Justin in his journey to recovery, you can donate to his GoFundMe here.
The family thanks all who have contributed so far “as Justin begins the next phase of his fight,” Stetson said.
=htmlentities(get_the_title())?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=get_permalink()?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=htmlentities(‘For more stories like this one, be sure to visit https://www.eastidahonews.com/ for all of the latest news, community events and more.’)?>&subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20EastIdahoNews” class=”fa-stack jDialog”>
BLACKFOOT — A large contingent of Blackfoot Police officers has cordoned off an area near the Taco Bell on Parkway Drive in Blackfoot.
Police responded around 5 p.m., according to multiple witnesses who contacted EastIdahoNews.com.
EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to Blackfoot Police for details.
We will update this story as we learn more.
=htmlentities(get_the_title())?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=get_permalink()?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=htmlentities(‘For more stories like this one, be sure to visit https://www.eastidahonews.com/ for all of the latest news, community events and more.’)?>&subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20EastIdahoNews” class=”fa-stack jDialog”>
MISSOULA, Mont. — An Idaho Falls angler is back in the Idaho record books after landing a record-setting lake trout at Payette Lake.
Idaho Fish and Game said Dylan Smith caught and released a 43.25-inch lake trout on May 2, setting a new state catch-and-release record for the species. The fish surpassed the previous record of 42 inches.
The catch marks Smith’s second appearance in Idaho’s record books. He previously held the state catch-and-release lake trout record after landing a trophy fish in 2018 before that mark was later broken.
According to Fish and Game, Payette Lake has become one of Idaho’s premier lake trout fisheries thanks to years of management efforts aimed at improving both lake trout and kokanee populations.
Pride Month looks different this June along Boise’s Harrison Boulevard, where a long-standing tradition of hanging Pride flags on lamp posts has been put on hold after a new state law restricted which flags can be flown on government property.
For several years, Pride flags lined lamp posts along Harrison Boulevard in Boise’s North End neighborhood. But Idaho House Bill 561, signed by Gov. Brad Little in March, restricts which flags can be flown on government property, including the City of Boise’s Harrison lamp posts.
In response, a group of neighbors formed Pride North End and launched a distribution effort to help residents show support from their own front yards. The group has been making Pride flags and yard signs available to people who want to display them at home.
“I thought that I would…be a personal example of ‘yes, this is what I do.’ This is what I believe in,” said Edna Schochat, a North End resident.
Pride North End has already distributed more than 900-yard signs and 250 flags. The group’s original donation goal was around $2,000 to order 100 flags and 200 yard signs, but it has exceeded that GoFundMe goal, reaching $10,000 worth of donations.
The group plans to continue holding public flag and sign distributions through the end of the month.
“We cannot just say something without doing something that proves that we mean what we say,” Schochat said.
Pride North End said any leftover funds after materials are distributed will go to local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. A link to the group’s GoFundMe can be found here.
-
Minneapolis, MN3 minutes ago$25 fine for St. Paul woman who assaulted agents at Minneapolis restaurant bust
-
Indianapolis, IN8 minutes agoMan swims out to pickup stuck in White River, prompts emergency rescue
-
Pittsburg, PA15 minutes agoCaps Go Big on Trade Market, Light the Way for Penguins Rebuild
-
Augusta, GA18 minutes agoFinding Solutions: Augusta Training Shop celebrates inclusion, community at ‘Red, White, and Create’
-
Washington, D.C23 minutes agoTrump kicks off America’s 250th celebration with campaign-style rally
-
Cleveland, OH30 minutes ago2 people killed in multi-vehicle crash on SR-176 crash in Cleveland
-
Austin, TX33 minutes agoTexas insurance costs surge 79% in six years as lawmakers question AI impact on rates
-
Alabama38 minutes agoTwo Alabama laws target Mobile blight by speeding sales and giving neighbors first bid
