Idaho
Idaho Falls 8th grader, one of top middle school football players in country, competes in All-American Game – East Idaho News
IDAHO FALLS — Hunter Portmann, at roughly 6-foot and around 200 pounds, was selected as one of the top eighth-grade football players in the country, taking part in the Middle School All-American Game last week.
The Idaho Falls resident, and soon-to-be Thunder Ridge Titan, said he has been playing football since he could walk, and given his size, he has always played on the defensive line. He has “come to love” being a lineman, he said, and prefers defensive tackle to defensive end because, “I just have a better build for interior, I can power through a lot of guys.”
Several months ago, Hunter’s father, Aaron, submitted game film, statistics and physical measurement of his son for consideration for the All-American Game. Eight days later, he received notice that Hunter had been one of 36 players selected to take part in the game, held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Aaron said he was “obviously beaming” upon receiving the email, and immediately forwarded it to his son.
“I’m always proud of my boys, and they’ve always gone above and beyond what I’ve ever expected of them,” Aaron said. “But (Hunter’s) put in the time, he works with a trainer two or three times a week … and he has flourished through that training.”
Aaron went on to explain that Hunter has long been in the athletic shadow of his older brother, Ryder. The sophomore just finished his second season as Thunder Ridge’s varsity quarterback — an injury-plagued season that left Ryder and his teammates hungry for an improved season next year.
So, this acknowledgement, if nothing else, at least allowed a light to be shone on the younger Portmann brother.
“I was just so excited for him, that his hard work paid off,” Aaron said.
But the experience offered much more than just a little recognition.
Hunter said he learned “so much” while playing with some of the best eighth-grade football players in the country, for some of the best coaches the game has to offer.
“It was pretty cool,” the youngster said. “It was good to experience going against competition that’s way, way more experienced.”
Hunter explained that the event brought the players together for five days of training, capped with a game that pitted his team, the “Black Team” against the “White Team.” The game, which was won, 14-6, by the White Team, is available for viewing on YouTube — here (Hunter is 92 in black).
Not only did he get a chance to put his skills as a defensive tackle on display, he also got some reps at offensive guard. All told, Hunter feels like he put together a great performance on a huge stage, against the best competition he could ask for.
He explained that while he never recorded a sack, he did get a tackle for a loss, and broke up one pass attempt while also registering a few quarterback hurries. As an interior defensive lineman though, his value to a team is not often measured by statistical performance, but by his ability to control the line of scrimmage, which is something he felt he did well all game.
“Being not the biggest kid there, I still held my ground pretty well — I was able to hold my ground against any kid there,” Hunter said.
And the biggest takeaway was the confidence the game and being selected for it brought. Despite his size, Hunter admitted that he has always lacked confidence in himself.
Perhaps it is being the younger of two brothers — with an older brother who has been a two-sport star (baseball and football) all his life — but he has never been certain of his place at the athletic table.
“I think I’ve always just put too much pressure on myself,” he said. “But going into that Florida game, I just let all that pressure go, and I played way better — that was probably the best game that I’ve ever played. … I want to have more experiences like that”
He came away from the game with the self-confidence he has long lacked, and the understanding that he needs to mature as a player to be among the top-tier of the already elite.
Packing on a little more muscle, he added, won’t hurt, which has already taken his focus as he has begun lifting with the Thunder Ridge team.
Aside from football, the trip provided some off-the-field time that Hunter will always cherish.
This is the first time he has been to Florida — aside from a family trip when he was a toddler. It was also offered rare one-on-one time with his mother. So when he wasn’t working at the field, he was taking in some sights, and sun, with mom. He even used the money his father gave him for the trip to take his mother out for dinner.
But for all the joy the trip with his mom brought, it was, in the end, a business trip. One he is already looking to build upon.
With Ryder recently being named a three-star recruit, according to Aaron, Hunter’s older brother has several recruiting visits planned to universities this summer, and Hunter will tag along, looking to get his name out there early — and perhaps soak up even more of those great experiences.
=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”>
PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.
The case, which has drawn national headlines, concerns Andrea Renee Shaw, a 23-year-old Payette mother who in May 2025 said her 18-month-old fraternal twins died the same day, after receiving routine childhood vaccinations. In January, Shaw joined as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with several other plaintiffs claiming vaccine injury or death.
Kennedy, who now serves as secretary of Health and Human Services, is no longer part of the group after taking on the cabinet position, as was reported by the Associated Press.
In Idaho, the twins’ deaths prompted a 14-month investigation by the Payette County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29, the investigation yielded a grand jury indictment of Shaw on two counts of first-degree murder by suffocation. If convicted, Shaw can be punished by up to life in prison or the death penalty, and the court would have the ability to order the penalties be served consecutively, or back to back.
Tuesday’s arraignment at the Payette County Courthouse was primarily attended by Shaw’s relatives and members of the media. Payette County Judge Kiley Stuchlik, who serves Idaho’s Third Judicial District, presided.
A key consideration for Stuchlik on Tuesday was a request from Joseph Filicetti, the legal counsel for Shaw, to have her bond reduced from $2 million to $100,000. Filicetti said this would allow for Shaw to care for a newborn girl, who, according to court documents, was born by caesarean section on June 25, four days prior to Shaw’s grand jury indictment.
State prosecutors objected to the motion for bond reduction, noting at hand was a potential death penalty case and asserting, unlike her husband, Shaw’s story repeatedly changed during questioning. Prosecuting Attorney Mike Duke said releasing Shaw would ultimately put the newborn’s safety at risk.
“That child is the most at risk. We do not think she should be allowed to be anywhere near any children, let alone her own children,” Duke said.
Stuchlik decided to revoke bond entirely, stating Shaw posed a “risk of safety” to the newborn child that was not known to Stuchlik or prosecutors when the $2 million bond was initially set.
Also for consideration Tuesday was a request to have grand jury transcripts of witness testimony provided to prosecutors and defense counsel to prepare their respective cases.
Idaho
Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.
The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.
However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.
The proposed ordinance would:
1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.
2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.
3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.
4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.
“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”
But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.
“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”
At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.
“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.
But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.
“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”
The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.
Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.
For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.
-
Montana4 minutes agoGovernor Gianforte Announces Montana Ranks as Top 10 State for Job Growth
-
Nebraska10 minutes agoRoanoke County teen heads to national rodeo finals in Nebraska
-
Nevada16 minutes agoNevada’s modern boomtowns are these fast-growing cities, study said
-
New Hampshire22 minutes agoNH Forests: A Story of Revival and the Challenges Ahead: Business NH Magazine
-
New Jersey27 minutes agoNJ Spine Doctor, Daughter, Granddaughter Killed In Plane Crash, Police Say
-
New Mexico34 minutes agoMcCauley Springs Fire Reaches 100% Containment
-
North Carolina39 minutes agoMassive great white shark spotted off NC coast. See where its headed
-
North Dakota46 minutes agoNeighbors, not competitors
