Last summer, many communities including Kuna were forced to shut-off irrigation earlier than usual in response to low water levels. Despite last summer’s water troubles, current snow levels look promising, with the snow pack in southeast and southwest Idaho ranging from 80 to 90 percent of normal. In central and northern Idaho many basins are above normal including the Salmon, Payette and Weiser basins.

In February 2007 NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported La Nina conditions as shown by satellite pictures taken by the Jason altimetric satellite. La Nina has come to fruition, causing Idaho’s promising snow pack.

El Nino and La Nina are essentially opposite cooling and warming patterns (see satellite images left) that originate in the Pacific Ocean and effect weather patterns all over the world, especially impacting the weather patterns in the western United States.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a “normal” year, the trade winds blow westward and push warm surface water near Australia and New Guinea. During an El Nino event, the trade winds weaken and warm, nutrient-poor water occupies the entire tropical Pacific Ocean. Heavy rains that are tied to the warm water move into the central Pacific Ocean and cause drought in Indonesia and Australia.

According to the NOAA, during a La Nina event, the trade winds are stronger and cold, nutrient-rich water occupies much of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Most of the precipitation occurs in the western tropical Pacific Ocean, so rain is abundant over Indonesia. Typical La Nina winter weather patterns include very cool, wet conditions in the Pacific Northwest, and unusually dry conditions in the Southwest and Southeast. The NOAA reports that since 1975, La Ninas have been only half as frequent as El Ninos. Further, a La Nina episode may, but does not always, follow an El Nino. La Nina conditions often peak in January, and current conditions appear to have followed that same pattern this past month.

While La Nina is bad news for Idaho’s neighbors to the south–it has proven to be just what Idaho needs in order to negate the effects of the persistent drought conditions Idaho has experienced the last several years.

It remains to be seen how long the current La Nina will last–according to the NOAA, conditions could go on for another month or another year.

As we all gear up for the holiday season, I am humbly asking for your help on behalf of Mom. For the last several months Mom has been totally out of questions to answer. We’ve been recycling her old questions just to keep the column alive–but this isn’t going to work for much longer!

From the website stats, I see Mom’s column gets a lot of reads–i.e. I know people like it. But, without fresh questions the column will not continue. All questioners are anonymous and Mom can answer nearly any question you can think of from cooking to kids, to making the best decisions on quandaries of the heart and mind. Also Mom does get to feeling a little under-appreciated if she isn’t asked for advice–you know how that is. You can send your own questions via askmom@kunachronicle.com.

On a side note, Kuna Chronicle will be adding a recipe column. We’ll be kicking off this column with a delicious vegetable casserole recipe this week (stay tuned!) but from this point forward we will publish reader recipes too–so break out those family favorites and if at all possible send a nice digital picture with your submission of the finished dish (.jpg, .gif, etc.). Unless you want to remain anonymous, we will credit you as guest writer of your submission. Don’t forget to add a paragraph or two discussing the history of your recipe.

All recipe submissions can be sent via news@kunachronicle.com.

The accident happened around 6:45 a.m. Dispatchers said a semi-trailer and a car collided head on.

The Jeep was traveling northbound, when it veered off course and crossed three lanes of traffic. The driver of the Jeep, a 20-year-old white male, was killed in the accident.

As of now investigators say they don’t know what triggered the accident. As of 8:58 a.m., the southbound lanes of Meridian Road remain closed. One northbound lane is open.

Along with vendors and entertainment, the committee needs volunteers for helping with various events during the weekend and also needs donations to help fund the weekend–especially the fireworks on Friday night and the Kuna Kidz Carnival.

Sponsors will be given an official Kuna Days Donation Certificate for display in their businesses and will be listed on schedules handed out during the weekend. All donations are tax deductible.

Sponsorship levels ar as follows:

FIREWORKS

• $1,000 donation “Grand Finale”
• $500 donation “Fire Ball”
• $250 donation “Big Boom”
• $100 donation “The Rocket”
• $50 donation “The Ghost Bomb”
• Other amount “The Salute”

KUNA KIDZ CARNIVAL

• $1,000 donation “Big Kidz Sponsor”
• $750 donation “Get Wet Sponsor”
• $500 donation “Bounce House Sponsor”

(Kidz Carnival sponsors will also be listed outside the entrance to the Carnival.)

Every week leading up to Kuna Days the Kuna Days committee will have a Tuesday meeting at 6 p.m. As always, anyone interested is welcome to come to any of the meetings. For more information visit www.KunaDays.com or contact Wendy Carr by phone at 922-9272.

If you have community stories, happenings or events please submit them via news@kunachronicle.com.

The Treasure Valley Young Marine unit accepts youth ages eight to 18. The Young Marines are open to all youth.

Prior to becoming a young marine members must go through a “Boot Camp” lasting 26 hours. During this period recruits are taught basic drill movements, Young Marine history and knowledge.

Although the Young Marines is not a recruiting service for the U.S. Marine Corps, the Young Marines use the same Marine Corps military values and training as a foundation for their training program.

Every Young Marine recruit and his/her parent/guardian is required to attend one of the orientation nights prior to “Boot Camp.” Orientation is held so the Young Marine coordinators can introduce themselves to the youth and adults, explain what the program is about, complete required administrative forms and fit the new recrutis for uniforms. Orientations are held at Gowen Field in building 916.

For more information contact the Treasure Valley Young Marines via LAN_EMAIL_SUBS or visit them on the web at idtvym.com.

Cheryl McCord has been the chief organizer of Kuna’s Farmers Market at Sandstone Plaza since 2005. Since then, the Market has continued to grow and flourish with new vendors every year. Past Farmers Market articles may be accessed in Kuna Chronicle’s Community pages.

As a part of its mission to make fresh, local produce and food available to more families, the Kuna Farmers Market is now accepting the Idaho Quest Card for food stamp purchases. Child support funds on the Idaho Quest Card can also be used at the Market.

Sara Brosier, a Market volunteer, will be leading an outreach program on the new service. If your community group, church, or organization would like more information or would like to schedule a presentation, contact Sara at 697-4111.

Market hours are from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday through October. The Market is located at the Sandstone Plaza parking lot at the west end of Main Street, downtown Kuna.

For more information contact Cheryl McCord at 922-5113 or visit www.KunaFarmersMarket.com.

The crews will first train for three months at Fort Sill, Okla., before heading to Kuwait for nine months. Their mission is to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, Guard officials said.

The Idaho Guard hosted a farewell ceremony at Gowen field on Sunday morning for the Black Hawk crews which was attended by over 200 people–friends and family of the crew members, members of the military and the local community.

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter attended and spoke at the farewell ceremony along with the Idaho Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Lawrence LaFrenz, Col. Garshak and Col. Shawver.

Last Sunday Union Pacific’s Steam Locomotive No. 844 came through Kuna on her way back to her home base in Cheyenne, Wyo., from Tacoma, Wash.

No. 844 made the Memorial Weekend run to help celebrate America’s railroad heritage. The history of the “Living Legend” as she is known among railroad enthusiasts, began in 1944 when she was delivered to Union Pacific and became the last steam locomotive built for UP.

No. 844 made a stop in Nampa (pictured left) on Saturday and was open for public display for the day. The locomotive left Nampa on Sunday morning and came through Kuna without stopping. Sight seers dotted the hills around the UP track running through Kuna, waiting for No. 844 to blast by for a rare photo op.

Two such visitors were Eddie and Terrel Pinson of Boise (pictured right). Terrel said No. 844 brought back memories from her youth when she used to travel by train. “There’s nothing like it,” she said. And, according to No. 844’s conductor, it may be the last time Kuna sees a steam engine come through.

At the King Road crossing south of town people waited for the “Living Legend” to speed by. Children and adults alike placed coins on the track hoping for a flattened souvenir. Terrel sacrificed a quarter to No. 844’s wheels.

Historically, No. 844 began her career with Union Pacific as a high-speed passenger engine pulling such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger. Between 1957 and 1959 she was placed in freight service in Nebraska after diesels took over all passenger train duties. In 1960 No. 844 was saved from being scrapped and held for special service.

For more information on Union Pacific’s historical locomotives visit UP’s Historical Locomotives page at www.uprr.com.

Kuna Chronicle would like to thank Terrel Pinson for sharing her photos for this article.

The 16 to 20 page paper will continue to be mailed to all households in the 83634 (Kuna) and 83641 (Melba) zipcodes as long as Paul can financially sustain the mailings.

Paul said he hopes advertisers will be plentiful enough that his business can financially manage the direct mail campaign indefinitely.

According to Paul’s research, the single-copy reach of the South Valley Press will be greater than any community newspaper in Idaho, effectively making it the largest community newspaper in the state.

Paul’s current news website www.kunamelbanewsonline.com boasts over 500 members–a number Paul expects to grow once South Valley Press hits mailboxes the first part of July. For the first issue Paul will be focusing on Melba’s Olde Tyme Fourth of July including a four-page pull out highlighting the event.

In addition to direct mail copies South Valley Press will be available over-the-counter at select retail locations in Nampa and Meridian for 50 cents a copy. Paul estimates retail distribution will account for about 10 percent of the total 8,000 papers to be delivered before the Fourth of July holiday.

Paul is a newcomer to the print newspaper business but does have a long-time connection to the south valley area, growing up and attending school in both Kuna and Melba. Paul said he wants to encourage local writers and journalists to help fill content and already has a few members of his impromptu “South Valley Press Club.”

Paul said that though he wants South Valley Press to be a financial success, the paper really is a labor of love. “I take the process seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously…usually things that work just work.”

For more information on South Valley Press visit www.myspace.com/southvalleypress.

Hundreds of family members, friends, and dignitaries waited in the rain as the 25th Army National Guard band played marches to welcome the soldiers home.

The battalion has served in Afghanistan since February 2006 on a mission that included combat in Apache helicopters, troop and equipment transport and medical care to soldiers and Afghan civilians.

Some Idaho guard members said the 1-183rd’s deployment was overshadowed by the 116th’s deployment to Iraq in 2004. Sergeant first class James Sterner of the 25th Army Band said the 183rd has gotten very little press and public attention. “They deserve our support…that’s why [the 25th Army Band] is here.”

The 1-183rd’s deployment was one of the largest in Idaho since October 2001.

The next homecoming, the second of three, is set for sometime this Saturday. No further details are being given out.