Sun Valley Playwrights Residency to Offer Free Play Readings and More

When Ida Armstrong begins to spend all of her children’s money, her son is forced to assume the unwanted role of “The Treasurer.” And that arrangement becomes untenable as he begins questioning his devotion to her.

Animals to Receive Blessings

Celebrate St. Francis Sunday with the Blessing of the Animals.

Trailing of the Sheep Festival to honor John Peavey, Volunteers Needed

When the Trailing of the Sheep Festival launched 28 years ago, it was Flat Top Sheep Rancher John Peavey taking the mic in his hand as he told stories of faithful sheepdogs who went above and beyond duty and other tales of the range.

Poodle Skirts, Milk Shakes  and Elvis

Creaky bones and sore hips went out the window Tuesday night as 150 young at heart twisted to Chubby Checker and twirled their poodle skirts to the chalypso as a jukebox blared out “Yakety Yak.”

Cuddle Up to a Snowplow and Check Out the Five Alarm Chili

Check out some of the best chili in the valley and meet the fleet at the same time.

Kiwanis, City of Hailey Break Ground for New Stage at Popular Park

Kiwanis Club members and representatives of the City of Hailey went out to stage a groundbreaking Monday night. But the contractors beat them to the punch.

Sawtooth Botanical Garden Premieres Wine Float Amidst Hydrangea

In the beginning it was a horse pasture—five acres in what was called the LeBaron Estates.

Join River Walk Tonight to Learn of Big Wood River Challenges

Learn about the Big Wood River and the challenges it faces tonight during a River Walk.

Fire Ravages Bigwood Home

Occupants of a home in the Bigwood neighborhood of Ketchum escaped from their home just before it became engulfed in flames early Wednesday morning.

PeakFit Demonstrate Pelvic Exercises for Ski Season

With ski season just two months away, it’s time to focus on your pelvis. Join instructors from PeakFit in Hailey as they share exercises in today’s Eye on Sun Valley video that’ll help you schuss down the slopes.

Trailing of the Sheep to Have International Sheepdog Trials Judge

The 28th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival from Oct. 2-6 will feature a variety of new programming and faces as part of its robust schedule of events. Among the new looks: A renowned international judge for the National Qualifying Sheepdog Trials, a Sheep Tales Gathering panel discussion on The Future of Conservation In a Crowded West, and a “Sheep Reads” book discussion on Ivan Doig’s This House of Sky – Landscapes of a Westen Mind.

Caritas Chorale Promises Tricks and Treats at Concert

The Caritas Chorale will hold “A Caritas Fundraising Concert: Full of Tricks and Treats” on Oct. 27.

The Night Averell Harriman Jumpstarted a Wedding Proposal

In August of 1939, two members of the Northwest’s “ski royalty” announced their engagement in Sun Valley.

100 Men Who Care Hands Out $20,000 in Donations as It Looks Toward October Meeting

100 Men Who Care exceeded $20,000 in gifts in its latest round of grant making.

POWER Engineers Shareholders Approve Company Merger

POWER Engineers, Inc. shareholders have voted to approve the company merger with premiere professional consulting firm WSP.

Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho Introduces Itself to the Wood River Valley

It was born out of negativity and misinformation. Now, nine years later, the Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho is creating friendship and understanding across different cultures and different backgrounds as it combats racism and celebrates diversity.

Hailey Rotary Club Makes Two Huge Donations

Seniors and children got a boost from the Hailey Rotary Club recently, thanks to the hamburgers and hot dogs people have consumed at the summer rodeo for years.

Learn of Hailey’s History on Free Walking Tour

Hailey historian Rob Lonning will offer a free Walking Tour of Historic Hailey from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.

Andrew Dunning’s Quail or Chicken Thighs

Sun Valley resident Andrew Dunning has three passions: extreme kayaking, paragliding over Europe and preparing spectacular meals as a private chef.

Irish Native Named to Blaine County School District Board

The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed Leah Scarnegi to fill the Zone 3 board seat, which represents east Hailey.

New OBGYN Doctor Continues to Be Amazed by New Life

St. Luke's Wood River is pleased has added Dr. Michelle Eide to its OB/GYN clinic.

Idaho Rivers Offer Inspiration for Artists, Poets and Songwriters

The creatives who hit Idaho’s River of No Return this past month had an itinerary like no other, built around the Salmon River.

Mythbusting Immigration

A presentation and panel discussion confronting the myths and facts about immigrants in Blaine County and the United States will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Ketchum’s Community Library.

Take the Forest Service Park Quiz

Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw was elated to be able to tell those attending the September Coffee Talk at the Sun Valley Culinary Institute that Wood River Valley residents would soon be able to drive Ketchum’s Main Street from start to finish after a months-long road construction project.

Jonathan Dely Turns Back on Wall Street to Perform Music Neopolitan

Jonathan Dely set his sights on becoming an investment banker on Wall Street at an early age, inspired by the careers of his friends’ parents on Long Island, N.Y.

Julie Weston to Discuss Her New Mystery Novel Set on the River of No Return

Hailey author Julie Weston will present a free talk on her new book “Salmon Moon: The River of No Return” at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at the Sun Valley Museum of Art in Ketchum.

Chili Chefs Wanted for Cook Off

The Hailey Fire Department and The Chamber will present their 7th annual Chili Cook Off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. The cookoff will be held outside Friedman Memorial Airport at the crossroads of Airport Way and Broadford Heights Road.

Parachuting Beavers Possessed Unique Adaptations

We normally think of beavers as submersible creatures happy to take refugee from the world in the ponds and beaver lodges they create. But in the late 1940s Idaho beavers became airborne as Idaho Fish and Game Department removed them from urban areas where they were believed to be creating problems and parachuting them into what is now the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

Business After Hours with Dr. Crais

Dr. Tom Crais will sponsor an upcoming Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at his office at 315 S. River St. in Hailey.

Central Idaho Renaissance Faire Moves to Hailey This Weekend

Lions Park in Hailey will travel through a time warp back to the days of troubadours, sword fights, Celtic music and Renaissance games when the Central Idaho Renaissance Faire moves to Hailey from Carey where it has been these past few years.

Wood River Land Trust Celebrates 20 Years of Howard Preserve with Picnic and Cleanup

Seven years ago, the Wood River Land Trust threw a community picnic in Howard Preserve, celebrating the preservation of a valuable riparian area along the Big Wood River through Bellevue that had been precipitated in part by a quarter-million dollars that the Land Trust put up to purchase the land from John Burton Howard III in 2004.

Recovery Coaches Say Human Connection Vital to Recovery

A discussion on recovery will be offered on Thursday, Sept. 19, by Men’s Second Chance Living and the Community library.

Senior Games to Feature Pickleball, Golf and Cornhole

Start polishing your pickleball swing, double down on your cornhole toss and wax your golf clubs.

Billy Elliott The Musical Features Music of Elton John

The Tony Award-winning musical “Billy Elliott” is set in a hardscrabble mining town in northern England where miners are barely eking out a living. But Brett Moellenberg sees a lot of parallels to the Wood River Valley.

Susan Bauer-Wu to Discuss End of Life Planning

A fresh take on end-of-life planning will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Ketchum’s Community Library.

Free English Language Learning Classes Offered

Three popular English language learning classes are returning to the Hailey Public Library this fall after a summer break.

Uncharitable Challenges the Rules for Nonprofits

Dan Pallota turned the world of fundraising on its head with multi-day bike rides to raise money for AIDS research and group runs to raise money for breast cancer research.

Gas Line Work to Close Trail Creek Bridge for Four Weeks

Main Street between the Limelight Hotel and Ketchum is now paved following a summer of road construction.

Sun Valley Native to Screen Debut Feature Film Preconceived

Sun Valley filmmaker Kate Dumke will screen her film “Preconceived” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at The Argyros.

Silver Creek-Hemingway, a Villain and a Sale

In 1940, Sun Valley expanded recreational opportunities for its summer and fall visitors on Silver Creek, 25 miles southeast of Sun Valley near Picabo.

Papoose Club Invites Community Open House

The Papoose Club is inviting the community to an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at La Cabanita, 115 S. Main St.

New Study Shows Preferences of Those Seeking Housing in Blaine County

A new look at Blaine County’s housing needs and the impact of new development will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Ketchum’s Community Library.

Silver Creek Lured Many to Sun Valley in Resort’s Early Days

Averell Harriman initially planned Sun Valley to be a ski resort open only in the winter. But, once it opened during the winter of 1936-37, it remained open in the summer of 1937, and summers became a strong season, attracting vacationers from all over the country.

Gimlets in the Garden Takes Form of BBQ Bash

Enjoy a barbecue at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden when the garden hosts its annual Gimlets in the Garden.

SNRA Seeks Volunteers for Cleanup Project

The Bench Lake Fire and Wapiti Fire near Stanley have kept many out of the area this summer. Now, environmental organizations are asking fans of the Sawtooth Mountains to come, anyway.

Sun Valley Culinary Institute’s New Culinary Director Dials up the Eating Experience

Tasty, innovative food is important to Jorge de la Torre, the new lead chef instructor at the Sun Valley Culinary Institute. But so is the experience.

Hailey Hispanic Heritage Festival to Feature Music, Dancing and Games Friday and Saturday

The Hailey Public Library will launch Hispanic Heritage Month with a family friendly kickoff from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at Town Center West.

Endowment Fund to Carry Forth Dr. Terry O’Connor’s Legacy

St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation has established an endowment fund to carry forward the legacy of Dr. Terry O’Connor.

Shoshoni Members Color Sun Valley Festival Meadow with Native Dances

Their ancestors moved up and down the Wood River Valley for centuries before white man came, stopping to fish, hunt and gather medicinal plants. And during Wagon Days members of the Northern Shoshoni tribe now living at the Fort Hall Indian Reservation near Pocatello returned to the Wood River Valley to showcase some of their native dances during the annual Wagon Days celebration.

Ben Frank Memorial Ride Challenges All Comers to Revel in Life Along the Harriman Trail

A new Ben Frank Memorial Ride on the Harriman Trail will encourage bicyclists to get out and enjoy the fall colors while honoring the memory of a man who loved the trail and the picturesque Boulder Mountains he passed as he rode it.

Wolverine Response to Backcountry Recreation Under the Microscope

The wolverine is a muscular carnivore known for its ferocity and extraordinary strength, which enables it to kill prey many times larger than itself. It’s the mascot of Wood River High and Middle School sports teams.

Bigwood Golf Course Undergoes Remodel Fifty Years After Its Founding

Lyndsay Lyle and her husband Christopher moved to Sun Valley from the San Francisco Bay area four years ago after comparing the attributes of eight mountain towns on a spreadsheet.

Ketchum’s American Legion Invites Public to Gala

Paralympic ski and handcycle medalist Muffy Davis will be the guest speaker at the Ketchum American Legion’s third annual Gala Fundraiser.

Frog Fire Forces Evacuations Near Challis and  Clayton

The Custer County Sheriff has issued evacuations for the Boulder Creek turnoff to the Germania Creek trailhead and the Livingston Mine near Railroad Ridge as the Frog Fire grows out of control.

SVMoA Exhibition Celebrates Idaho Rivers

Marty Lyon likes to think that his painting of Idaho’s famed Silver Creek offers a different perspective from most photographs and paintings of the clear mountain spring that attracts fishermen from around the world.

BCRD’s FitWorks Offers Chance to Try Equipment, Classes for Free

The Blaine County Recreation District is offering free access to its fitness classes and gym equipment from Wednesday, Sept. 11, to Saturday, Sept. 21, to give people a chance to try out the equipment and see what’s new on the fall schedule.

Pump Track Challenge to Include Trophies and Medals

Boys and girls from preschool to 6th grade are invited to take part in the 4th annual Pump Track Challenge.

Hemingway’s Grave-What Was Left

Duella Scott-Hull visited Earnest Hemingway’s gravesite while teaching at Fort Peck and pursuing graduate studies at the University of Montana. While here, she recalls, she sat at Hemingway’s grave, a gin and tonic in hand, and typed her dissertation on “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”

Galena Lodge to Close Chapter on Summer Season

No doubt residents of Stanley can’t wait to see the snow fall after having to suffer through two humongous fires, including the Bench Lake Fire which threatened Redfish Lake and Lodge, and the massive Wapiti Fire, which threatened the equally beautiful Stanley Lake, as well as the town itself.

Free Knitting Classes Start Up

Hailey Public Library will bring back its free Learn to Knit class beginning Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Wagon Days 2024 Highlights in Eye on Sun Valley Video

Cowboy poets waxed eloquently about strawberry roans, and children got to try gold panning outside the Wood River Museum. And 14 tall muscular Shire draft horses, tasked with taking over the job of the 20-mule team, won the admiration of hundreds of parade goers as they watched the rare horses pull several of Ketchum’s iconic ore wagons down Sun Valley Road.

Uncharitable Film to Challenge Traditional Philanthropy

Sally Gillespie is executive director of the Spur Community Foundation, which is kicking off a new campaign revolving around generosity and nonprofits.

Advocates Receive a Million Dollars Toward Housing

The Advocates took a major step this week toward its goal of building 20 additional transitional housing apartments, thanks to a $1 million contribution from Idaho Housing and finance Association.

Trailing of the Sheep Festival Supporters Watch as Lamb Emerges from Paint

Alex “Revel” Ruiz took the stage at The Argyros, a paint-splashed bucket of paints and paintbrushes on the floor.

Brain and Body Connection to Be Explored

Mental health and its effect on cognition and physical health will be the subject of the next Miracle of the Mind talk at 4:30 p.m. (note the unusual time) Monday, Sept. 9, at Ketchum’s Community Library.

Giant American Flag to Commemorate 9 11 in Twin Falls

The Magic Valley will commemorate 9/11 by stringing a mega-flag across the Snake River Canyon near the Perrine Bridge at the entryway to Twin Falls.

Cubby West Spain Paints Familiar Landscapes

Cubby West Spain grew up painting the nature she saw outside her home in Atlanta, Ga. Now living in Ketchum, she is painting the mountain landscapes surrounding Sun Valley. You can see many of them at  Hemmings Gallery, 340 Walnut Ave. The gallery is currently showing an exhibition of Spain’s work called “Backyard Prophecies.” And you’ll have no trouble identifying the pieces. Learn about Spain in today’s Eye on Sun Valley video.

Sock Hop to Stoke Fun while Helping a Good Cause

Shimmy into your poodle skirt, lace up your saddle shoes and get ready to go to The Hop!

Sun Valley Tour de Force Online Auction to Benefit Hunger Coalition and Others

Sun Valley Tour de Force is holding a fundraiser auction for its beneficiaries through Monday, Sept. 9.

The Shoshoni Dance So People Will Know We’re Here

Before white man entered the Wood River Valley, members of the Northern Shoshoni band came through fishing the Big Wood River, hunting in the woods lining the northern slopes of the mountains and gathering plants for medicinal purposes.

Glendale Fire Evacuee Impressed by the Speed of Fire

Rob and Melody Anderson had just returned home to get medication for their horse whom they are treating for an injury Tuesday afternoon when the wind kicked up.

Morgan Ballis Files Charges Against Opponent

A candidate for Blaine County Sheriff has filed criminal defamation charges against his opponent for what he says are false and misleading claims targeting he and his family.

Glendale Fire Was Apocalyptic

Vance Hanawalt could see the plume of smoke rising above the hills near Rock Creek Canyon at 2 p.m. Labor Day—about 15 minutes after the fire was believed to have been sparked by lightning.

Glendale Fire Erupts Again After Lull

Those fighting the Glendale Fire felt pretty good about it Tuesday morning after a quarter inch of rain fell on the fire Monday night, tamping it down.

Dirce Flores to Teach Oaxacan Dances to Adults

The Hailey Public Library has invited traditional dancer Dirce Flores to teach a free dance class for adults in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Glendale Fire Prompts Evacuations Near Hailey

A fast-growing fire in the hills west of Glendale Road prompted the evacuation of those living west of Rock Creek Road in Croy Canyon at 7 p.m. Monday evening.

Coffee Talk Entertains Interesting Discussions

If you had come to the last Coffee Talk, you would have learned that the Idaho Transportation Department plans to get started on its road construction project from Elkhorn Road to River Street in Ketchum…gulp…right after President’s Day Weekend.

Bull Moose Caught in a Moment of Contemplation

With all the chaos happening around us, we thought we’d leave you on a happier note—a reminder of why we live here, fires and all.

Rock Creek Residents Ordered to Evacuate

The Blaine County Sheriff has told residents in Rock Creek Road west to evacuate because of the growing Glendale Fire south of Bellevue. This includes Rancho Cielo Road up to and including Red Elephant Gulch Road west of Hailey.

Firefighters Tackling Fire West of Glendale Road

Firefighters have responded to a fire in the Bellevue Triangle area of Glendale Road and Browns Lane.

Sawtooth Botanical Garden Tour Video Offers Peek at Creative Green Thumbs

Some viewers were unable to watch Eye on Sun Valley’s video tour of the Sawtooth Botanical Garden’s Garden Tour, which was posted earlier. So, we’re rerunning it.

Hemingway Seminar to Offer Glimpse into Pirates, Rum Running and the Haves and Have Nots

In 1937 Ernest Hemingway penned “To Have and Have Not,” a novel about a fishing boat captain in Key West, Fla., who is forced to run contraband between Cuba and Florida during the Depression.

The Shoshone Project Organizes Public Tour of Shoshone and Richfield Facilities

Organizers of The Shoshone Project are organizing a tour of agencies that the project has been funding.

Wagon Days Gets Last Minute Entry Thanks to Newborn Buffalo

The focus was on the 22 Shire draft horses that stood nearly 6 and a half feet tall, weighed 2,400 pounds and were pulling Ketchum’s tall skinny ore wagons down the street.

Wagon Days Parade a Homecoming for Some

It’s not uncommon for youngsters to bring stick horses to Ketchum’s Wagon Days Parade.

Black Bear Causes School Lockdown

Students at Alturas Elementary School were ordered to shelter in place on Thursday as a young adult black bear was reported near the Hailey school.

Muleskinner Bobby Tanner Resurrected a Dying Art

For the past two decades, 20 determined mules have pulled the Big Hitch ore wagons in Ketchum’s Wagon Days Parade, doing their “dance of the mules” as they stepped across the chain that they were hooked to. That duty will go to 14 Shire draught horses owned by Gilbert, Ariz., rancher Troy Haviland in today’s Big Hitch Parade following the unexpected death of muleskinner Bobby Tanner this summer.

Sip and Shop to Benefit Volunteers on Wapiti Fire

J. McLaughlin dress shop in Ketchum will hold a Sip n’ Shop today--Saturday, Aug. 31--to benefit the volunteer firefighters who have spent much of this summer fighting first the Bench Lake Fire near Redfish Lake and, now, the Wapiti Fire, which started in Grandjean July 24 and now threatens the tiny resort community of Stanley.

Bellevue Labor Day Celebration to Feature Peaveys and County Western Music

The late Flat Top Sheep Rancher John Peavey will be honored as the grand marshal in Monday’s Labor Day Parade in Bellevue.

Mural Offers Main Street Motorists a Sweeping Glance at Sun Valley History

It was three years in the making and shows two centuries of life in the Wood River Valley.

Sun Valley Culinary Institute Holds Open House Tonight, Solicits Donations for Firefighters

The Sun Valley Culinary Institute is serving up some gourmet chuckwagon grub during a Wagon Days Open House from 5 to 7:30 p.m. tonight—Friday, Aug. 30.

Sun Valley Resort Features Free Movie, Western Hat Pop Up and More Over Labor Day Weekend

See an outdoor movie and design your custom cowboy hat at Sun Valley Resort this Labor Day Weekend.