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.
RELATED | Movie premiering in eastern Idaho tells story of local missionary who led evacuation out of Nazi Germany
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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Idaho
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 4 on Dec. 7, 2025
Looking to win big? The Idaho Lottery offers several games if you think it’s your lucky day.
Lottery players in Idaho can chose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Lucky For Life, 5 Star Draw, Idaho Cash, Pick 3 and Pick 4.
Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.
Here’s a look at Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 7 drawing
Day: 7-5-6
Night: 9-5-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 7 drawing
Day: 7-1-3-8
Night: 0-4-9-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 7 drawing
05-08-11-12-34, Lucky Ball: 04
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from Dec. 7 drawing
03-10-12-13-39
Check Idaho Cash 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.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
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.
Idaho
Idaho Business Review honors professionals in the region
The Idaho Business Review named more than 15 entrepreneurs, academics, medical providers and experts from north central Idaho to its 2025 Idaho 500 list.
The list recognizes the most influential and accomplished professionals throughout Idaho, according to the website of the Idaho Business Review.
“Our editorial team carefully selects 500 outstanding individuals who are driving innovation, creating jobs, building communities, and making Idaho a better place to live and work,” according to the website.
The people from this region on the list are:
Aviva Abramovsky, dean, University of Idaho College of Law.
Eric Steven Anderson, associate director of employer relations, co-op & experiential learning, UI Career Services.
Dr. Mary Barinaga, assistant clinical dean, Idaho WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) Medical Education, Moscow
Rachael Bickerton, director, government & external relations, UI College of Agricultural & Life Sciences.
Liz Bryant, director, North Idaho Area Health Education Center, Moscow.
Xiaoli Etienne, professor and Idaho Wheat Commission endowed chairperson in commodity risk management, UI Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.
C. Scott Green, UI president.
Idaho
9 local 7th-graders to represent eastern Idaho at national FBU tournament – East Idaho News
EASTERN IDAHO — A handful of local middle-school football players have been traveling to and from Boise every weekend for the last two months, all in preparation for a massive football tournament later this month on the other side of the country.
Team Idaho will compete in the Football University (FBU) National Championship in Naples, Fla., Dec. 18 to 22. And nine members of that team will represent not just Idaho, but eastern Idaho, according to Chasity Snowden, whose son, Titian, is among the nine-player eastern Idaho contingent.
Snowden described the tryout process, saying that she and the other eastern Idaho parents were concerned their boys would not be able to separate themselves from a pack of primarily Boise-area athletes. But by the end of the tryouts, those concerns were eased, as their nine kids spent the entire tryouts “standing out,” she said.
“They take this seriously — these kids do. They’re so committed,” Snowden said.
FBU is “the nation’s leader in football camps, events and showcases,” according to their website. Among the camps and showcases they host is the FBU National Championship.
Team Idaho, which includes the eastern nine, along with players from the Twin Falls area, northern Idaho and primarily the Boise area, has been practicing for two weeks in Boise.
And while some of the local families have been able to make the weekly trip, some of the boys have been carpooling with Duane Rawlings, an SIYFL board member and Team Idaho coach. Rawlings, Snowden said, rents a car every weekend allowing him enough room to assist in transporting any of the boys in need of a ride.
In addition to the weekly practices, several of the boys, including Titian, do additional training. Titian, Snowden explained, participates in strength and agility training, as well as defensive line training, three times a week. In his free time, he watches YouTube videos of football players, including some that he will face at the FBU National Championship, looking for areas where he can improve his own play.
“He is very, very serious about this, and he’s kind of even taken a leadership role as well … it’s been really cool to see,” Snowden said.
And when he isn’t working on his skills, Titian, along with his teammates, is working toward raising money to pay for the team’s big trip.
Team Idaho has done several fundraisers, including a raffle ticket sale.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at this Venmo:

Donations to the fundraising efforts can be made at the same Venmo.
For more information about the raffle and the prizes available, visit Chasity’s post in the East Idaho News – Sports Facebook group — here.
Idahoans do not have to travel to Florida to see Team Idaho take on the competition. The FBU National Championship, Dec. 18-22, will be live-streamed at the FBU website — here.
Our attorneys tell us we need to put this disclaimer in stories involving fundraisers: EastIdahoNews.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries.
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