Idaho is unique on many counts, but this one is exceptional because it was exceedingly rare at the time.  The other day, I saw a story about the new wildlife license plates now available at the state DMV.  One was designed by a local artist, and she’s carrying on a grand tradition.

You see when states were adopting mottos and flags after the Civil War, there was a sameness to what we were seeing.  Many even believe we need to update some of the designs, and many states have redesigned flags.  After all, as some of our neighbors reasoned, there’s nothing more exciting than a beehive on cloth!

State seals may not be nearly as visible as a flag, and therefore less likely for changes demanded by cultural critics.  And if you plan to challenge Idaho, then you very well could offend the woke mob as being misogynistic.  You see, Idaho’s state seal was designed by a woman.  That wouldn’t be unusual in 2024, but it surely was in 1891.  You can read all the details by clicking here.

Emma Green is to this day, the only woman in America to have birthed a seal design.

Our schoolchildren may learn about it when young, but by the time many reach adulthood, it may be forgotten among all the other things they’ve learned to navigate life, it should be a sense of pride, especially for young girls with big dreams.

Kids, you can accomplish great things if you have the desire and a sense of service.

Angry Adults and Kids

The lead attorney for Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, now will simultaneously lead the defense in a second high-profile North Idaho capital murder case. 

Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s top public defender, was assigned Wednesday to head up the defense for Skylar Meade, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman. The Idaho prisoner is charged with killing a Juliaetta man in Nez Perce County after escaping from corrections officers at a hospital in Boise during a shootout in March.

Like Kohberger, Meade, 32, faces the death penalty if found guilty by a jury. Kohberger’s murder trial is scheduled to start in June 2025, while Meade is set to be arraigned Thursday at the Nez Perce County Courthouse. 

Initially, Lewiston-based private attorney Rick Cuddihy was assigned to represent Meade. But Cuddihy is qualified only to act as co-counsel in a death penalty-eligible defense, which required appointing a lead to join him on Meade’s case. Taylor is one of 13 public defenders in the state approved by the Idaho Public Defense Commission to work as the lead in a death penalty case. She’s also the only one of the group based in North Idaho.

Taylor left her position last month as chief of the Kootenai County Public Defender’s Office and has transitioned into private practice, court records showed. Attorney Jay Logsdon, who is co-counsel on the Kohberger defense team, is now acting as Kootenai County’s interim chief for the Public Defender’s Office. 

A representative at Taylor’s office declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday by the Statesman. Taylor also did not respond to an email seeking comment.

EMMETT, Idaho — The Paddock Fire burning in a rural area splits three Idaho counties. Gem, Payette, and Washington. It was very active Wednesday night, but fire crews worked fast and hit it hard with everything they had. By Thursday morning things were significantly safer for homeowners on the southern edge of the fire.

RELATED | Crews arrive to fight 153,237-acre Paddock Fire amid Level 3 evacuations

• Paddock Fire is burning in three Idaho Counties: Washington County, Gem County, and Payette County.
• Fire Crews worked through the night to control the flames as the fire continued to spread in the area.
• A local beekeeper’s 72 hives survived the fire despite the spreading flames.

(Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)

It doesn’t take long to see and smell the damage the Paddock fire north of Emmett has already done. Well over one hundred thousand acres, the fire has attracted firefighters from all over the West. Elko County Fire Chief Matt Peterson and his crew rolled in last night.

“So, we got on the line last night about 1:00 we did some securing of the lines, from feedlot to the red barn. We secure the line as we go, it’s not 100 percent secure, we’ll work through the day shift and if it doesn’t move we want to put containment lines on the map. These ranchers last night were so happy to have us here and being able to help them, they showed us they into the fire they helped our bulldozer get in there it was awesome.”

Bulldozers are essential for fighting fires whether it’s new or old line, they can stop a fire in its tracks. The handful of homeowners were fortunate to get the help they needed. A herd of cows found safety and yes even the birds and the bees made it.

“We got a call last night and there was a roadblock down there the bees are important but it’s not worth risking a life over it. We weren’t prepared for it normally we come in here and get them out, but it came in so fast we didn’t have a chance to get them out. The question is how do you move hundreds of thousands of bees out here, with trucks and fork lifts. I can get the out of here in hours so.”

All of Kory Hamilton’s 72 hives did not lose a drop of honey.

The fire still has hot spots, and there are plenty of fire crews on the roads, so if you have to be in the area, use caution.