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Sun Valley Suns show off Idaho’s hockey culture

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Sun Valley Suns show off Idaho’s hockey culture


HAILEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Hockey may not be the most popular sport being played in Idaho, however, the sport’s culture is alive and well in the Wood River Valley, and KMVT caught up with the Sun Valley Suns.

“You know when I think of the game and how much it’s ingrained into my life and the passion, I’ve always had for it, I feel grateful for it,” said John “Cub” Burke, the Suns President of Hockey Operations.

“It’s really special being a Sun Valley Sun and a member of that fraternity, and it’s been so long, and there’s so many alumni that people all over the country know about us. That’s special in itself, but it’s just the game, appreciating and loving the game.”

The Sun Valley Suns are a semi-pro hockey team that got their start in the 1970s when future San Jose Sharks owner George Gund purchased a plot of land to develop an ice rink in Hailey.

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When the rink was completed in 1975, a group of men met up to skate, not knowing that this group of eight would become the founding fathers of the Sun Valley Suns hockey team.

Nearly half a century later, some inaugural team alumni continue to be a big reason why the team has been around for nearly half a century.

“How tight-knit those alumni stay together, how much they back us and are benefactors in the community for jobs and just looking out for one another and giving back to the community, the youth hockey program watching that grow here. Just the whole culture, the family that’s kind of expanded beyond this game to be a very integral part of this valley. That’s what’s so special and keeps all of us coming back and going,” said Max Tardy, an eighth-year forward for the Suns.

Many of the alumni and current players alike are transplants to the Wood River Valley having originated in more typical hockey markets like Minnesota or Massachusetts, and many have experience playing Division One college hockey or professionally, whether in Europe or the United States.

The old guard of Sun Valley Suns helped grow the program into the team they are today and continues to attract and recruit players from nationwide to suit up for the squad, some for upwards of ten years like defenseman Mike Curry.

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“I get to work remotely, which is nice and has allowed me to be out here as long as I can, and the experience out here has been great,” Curry said.

“I didn’t know much about this place, and I had a mutual friend who had been out here before and I was living in Minnesota and wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, and so I heard about this and got to play hockey and come out and snowboard and obviously get to work out here so it seemed like a no-brainer.”

Every team needs a coach, and for the Suns, that distinction belongs to former player Ryan Enrico, who took over the job from current President of Hockey Operations and Suns legend John “Cub” Burke in 2021

“I played for 17 seasons, and you get older, and new younger guys come in, and then COVID hit, and we canceled the season, so that was a year lost, and that was a good time for me to step aside.

our old coach, John “Cub” Burke, he had been doing this a long time and wanted to step aside, so it was a natural transition for me,” Enrico said.

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While the players and coaches make up the product on the ice, no team would continue to exist for almost 50 years if it wasn’t for the fans.

On most game nights, the Suns boast capacity crowds of nearly a thousand people.

Something defenseman and team general manager Sean O’Grady enjoys the most about being a Sun.

“I think one of the things I’m most excited about is seeing people from all different walks of life show up to enjoy hockey. That’s something that really kind of embodies the whole reason why we do this in the first place,” O’Grady said.

“It’s a blast for one, all the guys are having fun, and then seeing all different kinds of people show up to the games is really a special time for all of us.”

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The Sun Valley Suns play their games on Friday and Saturday nights and have ten total games remaining, eight of which are at home. If you have never seen a hockey game in person going to a Sun Valley Suns game is a great way to get your feet wet with the sport and a lot of fun as well.



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Idaho

Statewide trout stocking highlights for August 2024

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Statewide trout stocking highlights for August 2024


Alturas Lake – 1,740 rainbow trout

This alpine lake is located in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is approximately 21 miles south of Stanley and 30 miles northwest of Ketchum.

Bayhorse Lake – 2,000 rainbow trout

Anglers will find good catch rates at this drive-in mountain lake. Primitive campsites are available. While you’re in the area, check out Little Bayhorse Lake. The two lakes are connected by a mile-long hiking trail.

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Little Bayhorse Lake – 1,000 rainbow trout

Anglers will find good catch rates at this drive-in mountain lake, either from shore or a small boat. 

Cape Horn Lake #1 – 400 rainbow trout

This is the larger of two picturesque lakes endowed with fish, lily pads, and frogs. Especially well-suited to float tubes or a small boat, this lake offers limited shoreline access. The area is good for wildlife viewing and is Stop #20 on the Idaho Birding Trail. Camping is available at nearby Forest Service sites. No facilities are available here.

Hayden Creek Pond – 800 rainbow trout

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This is a family-friendly fishing area in the high desert along Hayden Creek. Anglers will find ample bank fishing opportunities and a dock for anglers with limited mobility.

Meadow Lake – 1,800 rainbow trout

At over 9,100 feet in elevation, this is the highest mountain lake you can drive to in this region. The snow-melt lake is a beautiful setting for a fishing and camping weekend with unique wildlife viewing opportunities. A Forest Service campground next to the lake offers a stunning view of the surrounding Lemhi Mountains.

Salmon River – Fish will be stocked as follows:

  • Section #6 – Lower Stanley to Sunbeam Hot Springs – 400 rainbow trout
  • Section #7 – Sunny Gulch Campground to Stanley – 400 rainbow trout
  • Section #8 – Decker Flats to Buckhorn Bridge – 800 rainbow trout

Stanley Lake – 1,100 rainbow trout

Here is a large mountain lake you can drive to. This is a popular spot known for its breathtaking views of the Sawtooth Mountains. It offers great camping, fishing, and places for kids to explore nature.

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Valley Creek – 500 rainbow trout

Take a break from the Salmon River and try out your casting skills fishing this creek that offers astonishing views in every direction!



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Idaho’s LEAP Housing to develop affordable housing units in Teton County • Idaho Capital Sun

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Idaho’s LEAP Housing to develop affordable housing units in Teton County • Idaho Capital Sun


LEAP housing is creating affordable housing units in Teton County, and those interested in buying and building their own home can apply to the program now.  

LEAP Housing is an Idaho-based nonprofit whose mission is to develop and preserve affordable housing while providing services to increase housing stability. It has partnered with groups in Boise, Nampa and Mountain Home to build affordable housing. For the first time, the nonprofit is making its way to eastern Idaho. 

The nonprofit is partnering with Sustainable Trades + Housing Partners, an affordable housing organization based in Driggs, to build a housing community of eight homes in Victor.

The selection process for homeowners will begin immediately, and interested individuals can apply on the LEAP Housing website

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Who qualifies for affordable housing units through LEAP Housing?

Applicants must meet income requirements. Only income-qualified homebuyers at or below 80% of the area median income are eligible for the program. For example, a household of four making $68,300 or less would qualify for the homeownership opportunity. 

According to LEAP Housing, the buyers are the builders, meaning those participating in the program will build their own homes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Mutual Self Help Program. The federal program brings below-market rate interest loans to home buyers and credits them with the sweat equity contributed directly to the project. 

This is the first USDA Mutual Self-Help program project LEAP is working on, LEAP Housing asset manager Becca Mathias told the Sun. 

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Teton Region native Lindsey Love leads Sustainable Trades + Housing Partners and will direct and train each homeowner on building the homes. 

“The development is a beacon of hope for many in the community who have struggled with housing affordability,” Love said in a press release. “These homes will not only provide housing stability in our community but will also empower residents by involving them directly in the construction process. By building their own homes, future homeowners will gain valuable skills and a sense of ownership and pride in their community.”

LEAP Housing will oversee the development of the affordable housing community. They will guide and support homebuyers during the construction process. 

Bart Cochran, CEO of LEAP Housing, said this project is a significant step forward for Victor and Teton County. 

“We are committed to providing affordable housing solutions that are both sustainable and community-driven,” Cochran said in a press release. “These homes represent our dedication to innovative, eco-friendly building practices and the empowerment of residents throughout the state of Idaho.”

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Cochran said this housing model is collaborative, and it serves to inspire other communities to address the affordable housing crisis with innovative and sustainable solutions. 

“Through partnerships, endurance, and unused funding pools, it is possible to create affordable housing in resort and rural communities throughout Idaho,” he said.



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Green 'Power Rangers' actor wanted in Idaho parking dispute battery case

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Green 'Power Rangers' actor wanted in Idaho parking dispute battery case


Police in Idaho issued a misdemeanor arrest warrant for the actor who played the green ranger in the “Power Rangers” movie franchise in connection with the alleged battery of a man in a dispute over a parking space, authorities said Wednesday.

A truck linked to a man, identified as Hector David Rivera, was parked in a spot for people with disabilities at the District 208 shopping center in Nampa on Friday when a man confronted him, city police spokesperson Carmen Boeger said.

The victim, a man in his 60s who uses a walker, took pictures of the license plate of a pickup truck that was parked in the disabled spot. Video shows a man push the victim to the asphalt and then stand over the victim and utter “harsh words,” Boeger said.

After having pushed the man down, the man left him on the ground and drove away in a four-door truck with Texas license plates, police said on Facebook.

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​Nampa is a city with a population of more than 100,000 people about 20 miles west of Boise, in southwest Idaho.

Investigators were able to identify Rivera through the help of dashcam video of the incident and a request for help from the public, police said.

Rivera has not turned himself in, and authorities have not found him, police said late Wednesday.

Rivera and his representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



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