Idaho
The Idaho Center for Outdoor Education has a new yurt and it was a community effort
Idaho Center for Outdoor Education sits on 87 acres owned by the Basin School District in Idaho City, where they bring students for a variety of learning activities in the fall, winter, and spring.
The vision of the ICOE is to encourage students to care about the environment by using a beautiful setting and several partners in a hands-on learning style. Junior Kennedy Smith has never missed an ICOE day during her time in the Basin School District.
“There are so many activities and things you learn from being in the mountains,” said Smith. “It’s awesome.”
On Thursday, the community had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce a brand new yurt that will be used as a classroom at the Idaho Center for Outdoor Education. It will come in handy, especially during the winter.
This new 30-foot yurt was paid for through a $30,000 grant from the Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation.
“We are just grateful because it would have never happened without that support,” said Jaime Pilkerton of the Basin School District. “Once we had the yurt, we had to figure out how we were going to get it up, do the ground prep, and the pad. It has been a community-wide effort.”
A number of donors came together to help raise funds for the project. Elite Builders and the Callahan family volunteered their time to build the foundation, and then they went to work constructing the yurt with the help of students in the district’s construction and trades class taught by Tom Standerwick.
“My class and I were drilling holes in the concrete, and after that we were putting up the walls,” said Smith. “The tarp was the hardest part because we had to have scaffolding inside and outside. Putting it up was hard work, but it paid off.”
The yurt will add to the educational experience in the Basin School District, but districts outside of Idaho City can also use the IOEC. The public can also access this area, which features a disc golf course, an ADA hiking trail, a zipline, and a 3D archery range.
“I can’t wait to see where future schools and our school goes with it,” said Smith. “I think it is awesome.”
MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (CBS2) — A joint investigation by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and the Mountain Home Police Department has led to the arrest of a man accused of multiple sexual offenses in Elmore County and the city of Mountain Home.
An arrest warrant was issued on June 10, 2026, for Dillon Thorpe following an investigation conducted by Elmore County Sheriff’s Office detectives. Thorpe was taken into custody on June 11, 2026, on a warrant by the Idaho State Police.
Thorpe is charged with rape, child enticement, lewd conduct with a minor, and sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16.
Authorities said additional details about the investigation will not be released at this time because of the nature of the crimes and to protect the privacy of victims and witnesses.
Law enforcement believes there may be additional suspected victims and/or witnesses who have not yet been identified. Anyone with information or evidence relevant to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office or the Mountain Home Police Department to make a report.
DENVER (KDVR) — Three Colorado motorcyclists died on Tuesday in northern Idaho after a pickup truck driver, also from Colorado, hit all three while trying to pass another vehicle, according to the Idaho State Police.
The crash happened at about 4 p.m. Tuesday outside the town of Kooskia on U.S. 12, police said. The pickup truck driver, identified as a 60-year-old Colorado Springs woman, was headed west on the highway when she crossed the double yellow line in a no-passing zone while trying to pass another vehicle.
She then collided head-on with the three motorcycles that were headed east on the highway.
The three motorcyclists died at the scene. The Idaho County Coroner identified the motorcyclists as: Ethan Powers, 35, of Timnath, Jeremy Coleman, 45 of Berthoud, and Nathan McCormick, 26, of Loveland.
The Colorado Fraternal Order of Police later identified Coleman and Powers as a sergeant and deputy with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and McCormick as Coleman’s son-in-law.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, coworkers, and the members of FOP Lodge 4 as they face the difficult days ahead,” the union said. “The law enforcement profession is built on service, sacrifice, and commitment to others. Sgt. Coleman and Deputy Powers dedicated their lives to protecting their community, and their impact will continue to be felt by those who had the privilege of serving alongside them.”
The truck driver was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation before being released then arrested. She was booked into the Idaho County Jail on probable cause for three counts of vehicular manslaughter, police said.
The following is a press release from the Idaho State Police:
The Idaho State Police (ISP) is investigating a three-fatality crash that occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, on U.S. Highway 12 near milepost 113 east of Kooskia.
The preliminary investigation indicates a 2019 Ford F-150 was traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 12 when the driver attempted to pass another vehicle in a marked no-passing zone. The pickup crossed the double yellow centerline and collided with three motorcycles traveling eastbound.
The three motorcyclists sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.
The 60-year-old female driver of the Ford, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. Following her release, she was arrested and booked into the Idaho County Jail on probable cause for three counts of vehicular manslaughter.
The Idaho County Coroner’s Office will identify the deceased and determine the cause and manner of death.
U.S. Highway 12 was closed for approximately six and one-half hours while emergency responders assisted at the scene and investigators processed evidence.
ISP was assisted by the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho County Coroner’s Office, the Idaho Transportation Department, and local fire and EMS personnel.
The crash remains under investigation.
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