Hagerman, ID

Hagerman’s Own Chef Martin featured in Times News Article

Kirt Matin has been hosting an afternoon cooking class here in Hagerman that has been getting rave reviews.  Now he is featured in this Times News article.  I applaud Kirt for his use of local ingredients and his positive outlook always looking for ways to sharing his extensive knowledge.  If you haven’t had a chance to attend one of his cooking classes, be sure to put it on your schedule.  Your in for a delightful treat.

Yaks in Hagerman, Idaho

Hagerman’s Mark and Tina Bolduc have been raising Yaks for meat and fiber for three  years.  Read more about it in this article on the Times News Website.

Gooding’s North Canyon Medical Center Update

Board members took a tour of the soon to be open North Canyon Medical Center in Gooding this morning.    With the ribbon cutting coming up on February 12th, it is all but complete with most of the equipment , artwork, and furnishings in place.    What an impressive facility!  Administration is to be congratulated for a great job.  The public will be able to take tours on February 12th following the 2 PM ribbon cutting and again on February 13th.  After public tours are complete the process of sterilization will begin to prepare the facility for its opening on March 2, 2010.  If you can’t attend the public tours, here are a few pictures to show you what to expect.

North Canyon Medical Center UPdate

Another Wonderful Update on our New Hospital

Earlier this week, we received fire & safety Certificate of Occupancy

Today, we received verbal approval by the Department of Health and Welfare for Hospital Occupancy (they were very impressed)

We have some final minor inspections for the pharmacy, but at this point we can occupy the facility and provide healthcare services.

Final signoff by administration will most likely occur late next week, after the contractor completes all the final painting and cleaning touchups.

Furnishings are 90% installed. Artwork shows up tomorrow, and our Big Rock with our logo has been placed at the front circle (go check it out!)

Final equipment comes now through the 3^rd of February.

Sunday at Midnight begins our big IT changeover. I wish everyone the best of luck!

Earl Fitzpatrick

CEO

Partners In Healthcare, Inc.

dba Gooding County Memorial Hospital

dba North Canyon Medical Center (opens 3-2-10)

1120 Montana Street

Gooding, ID 83330

(208) 934-4433 X1105

(208) 934-8760 (fax)

(208)

358-0733 (cell)

earl.fitzpatrick@ncm-c.org

“Quality Care Close to Home”

Fly Fishing Derby Planned

Clear Lake Country Club is planning a Fly Fishing Derby on February13th.  It sounds like a fun event.  Register early as there is a limit to how many can enter.  Read more at Magic Valley Fly Fishers.

Good News! Idaho has a Plan to Keep Parks Open

I was glad to read the article  in the Times News written by Ben Botkin that stated  “Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and Idaho Parks and Recreation Department Director Nancy Merrill announced on Friday plans aimed at shifting the agency’s dependence away from the state’s general fund and making Idaho’s parks more self-sustaining through business plans tailored for each park. . . . “  This welcome plan should have been addressed years ago before they become a drain on our state’s general fund.  According to the article the plan will go before JFAC on February 1.  I have said in several conversations that if they raised the fees slightly, it would help with the cost.   I’m certainly willing to pay $1 more to camp in a state park.  The article didn’t mention any changes to the cost of the annual state parks pass, but a small increase there certainly shouldn’t affect sales.  Until now, I figured very few would even buy the annual pass, not knowing if there were going to be very many state parks still open.  Cudos to those who have worked hard and provided input to come up with a plan.  As a Hagerman resident I am pleased that we will not be looking at closure of the state parks in our area.  Read the entire Times News article.

Bird Viewing in Hagerman Idaho

I am not a very knowledgable birder, but do enjoy spotting and photoing the myriad of birds seen in the Hagerman Valley.  Last Saturday we went for a drive so some of our favorite sites and saw this bird that I thought was and egret.  In pulling out my bird book found that I was right.  We also saw quite a few swans some of which are shown in the other photo

.

Learn more about Magic Valley Communities

When considering moving to a community it is helpful to see what is going on in that commmunity at the governing and Chamber of Commerce levels.  We are would like to provide links to the Magic Valley community websites and blogs below:
City of Hagerman
Hagerman Chamber
City of Jerome
City of Kimberly
City of Buhl
City of Twin Falls [...]

Idaho Budget Cutting could negatively affect Recreational Opportunities

I just read about another wonderful state park that is in jeopardy of loosing its funding from the State of Idaho.  That park is Harriman State Park located in Island Park.  It is a wonderful park along the banks of the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, home of beautiful, elusive rainbow trout, wildlife, birds, history.  Over the years I’ve visited it in the winter on cross country skis, and in the summer while fly fishing.  It would be a shame to see this park and others in our great state go by the wayside because of budget cuts.  Other parks that are threatened include Thousand Springs State Park Complex  in the Hagerman area.  Communicate with your legislators about these parks and their importance to our communities.  Read more about Hariman State Park, Thousand Springs State Park Complex

Legislative and governor contact information:

Governor

Representative Donna Pence
Representative Jim Patrick
Representative John "Bert" Stevenson
Representative Leon Smith
Representative Maxine Bell
Representative Scott Bedke
Representative Sharon Block	
Representative Stephen Hartgen
Representative Wendy Jacquet
Senator Bert Brackett
Senator Chuck Coiner
Senator Clint Stennett
Senator Dean Cameron
Senator Denton Darrington	

North Canyon Medical Center in Gooding, Idaho Will Provide . . .

. . . Medical care in an all new, spacious facility using state of the art equipment openning 3/2/10.  This 50,000 square foot medical center will house 15 spacious private inpatient rooms with wireless access and family sleeping space, digital diagnostic imaging, and an emergency room with 2 trauma bays and 6 exam rooms.  Also available will b e 2 spacious operating rooms in the large surgical suite for the 8 surgeons who will be providing services at the facility.  These services will be provided  with paperless electronic charting  enabling integrated clinic and hospital records. Also available will be a Charity Clinic for the working poor or recently unemployed.  The clinic will be provide a variety of services through volunteer efforts of physicians and nursing staff.  The Charity Clinic is slated to start in mid-March 2010 operating on Thursday evenings except Holiday for 2 hours.  Learn more at your community hospital’s new website and from this presentation:  North Canyon Medical Center and Charity Clinic.

Next Page »