Idaho
Shop with a Cop brings smiles to children in Idaho Falls and Ammon – East Idaho News
A Shop with a Cop recipient playing with a police radio during the parade. | Jessica Clements, Idaho Falls Police Department
IDAHO FALLS — The community was greeted with the wail of police sirens early Saturday morning.
But there was no emergency in Idaho Falls.
The dozens of police cruisers and SUVs that traveled from the Eagles Lodge, on Hemmert Street in Idaho Falls, to Target, on Hitt Road in Ammon, were part of the annual law enforcement parade for Shop with a Cop.
Inside each of those vehicles, was a deserving child who had just eaten a warm breakfast with an officer, trooper or deputy and was now on their way to see Santa and go shopping for their families.
Bonneville County Sheriff Sgt. Bryan Lovell told EastIdahoNews.com that 31 kids were involved this year, and each of them had been exposed to traumatic or abusive situations where law enforcement may have had to get involved.
“We have a lot of fun and make a lot of noise, but this also builds relationships between our officers and these kids,” Lovell said. “Hopefully, whatever negative experience these kids have had (with law enforcement), we can turn it into a positive today.”
The sheriff’s office receives community support and donations to make the program happen every December. Each child receives a couple hundred dollars to buy gifts for their family. The program is now in its 31st year.
RELATED | Hundreds of kids helped after 30 years of Shop with a Cop
EastIdahoNews.com spoke to a number of the officers and children while they were shopping for their families. Many of the officers say it is a highlight of their year, and the kids were all smiles.
One of 11-year-old Olivia Collin’s favorite movies is “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” so she got to blast the music in the patrol car on the way to Target.
“The best part was getting to play with the sirens and stuff in the car,” she said.
In a somewhat rarer instance, Olivia’s mother Jessica Jensen, also got to participate in the experience.
“I think its absolutely amazing,” Jensen said. “It’s a good way for kids to see that cops aren’t just this scary thing that’s going to pull you over. They care and are real people, and can have fun with you and provide a safe space.”
Probation and Parole Officer Brynn Henricksen participated in the Shop with a Cop program for the first time on Saturday. She said her experience with 10-year-old Lilian was incredible.
“I love it. I can’t even begin to explain how full this made my cup this year,” she said. “Just seeing the joy, seeing them have fun, smile, laugh and experience a good time makes me really happy.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Shop with a Cop can contact Lovell at blovell@bonnevillecountysheriff.gov.
=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.
-
North Dakota2 minutes agoFargo woman convicted in North Dakota fraud case now faces charges in Minnesota: A deeper dive
-
Ohio9 minutes agoProperty transfers in Marion County, sales range from $40K to $415K
-
Oklahoma12 minutes agoWhat are the Oklahoma City Thunder getting in Kentucky star Otega Oweh?
-
Oregon17 minutes agoOregon Announces $49 Million Payout to Inmates for Handling of Pandemic
-
Pennsylvania24 minutes agoPa. sees growth in over-65 residents, but overall population stagnates
-
Rhode Island27 minutes agoGETTING SUPPORT AT THE FORT – Jamestown Press
-
South-Carolina32 minutes ago250 years later, Revolutionary War artifacts still tell South Carolina's story
-
South Dakota39 minutes agoUS Rep. Dusty Johnson looks ahead after primary defeat
