IDAHO FALLS — Community members are invited to walk through the newest exhibit on display at The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho.

The exhibit, known as “Thomas D. Mangelsen: A Life in the Wild,” is sponsored by Green Kids Club and is produced by David J. Wagner, LLC. It features forty classic photographs taken by the renowned nature photographer. Mangelsen’s work will be on display from Jan. 12 to March 30. Chloe O’Laughlin, a spokeswoman for the art museum, said this is his “legacy exhibit.”

“He’s been a photographer for 40 (plus) years but these are specifically the shots that are either the most well-known to the public or the most personal for him,” O’Laughlin explained. “They are giant photos. The photos you can find online of his stuff don’t even do it justice when you get to actually see them in person. The detail is unreal.”

She said the photos include shots of grizzly bears, eagles and moose in Yellowstone, as well as shots from his African journeys of cheetahs, jaguars, tigers and a gorilla.

“There’s a lot of variety in this exhibit of his career but also what he’s done for the areas he’s been to,” O’Laughlin mentioned. “There’s a very detailed description for each photo as well.”

On top of the exhibit, the art museum is holding a “Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife” meet and greet event Jan. 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. The event is sponsored by “Bruce Miller: Naturally Wild Photography.” There will be a selection of Mangelsen’s books available for community members to have signed, and local bar XVIII will cater the wine and whiskey tasting and refreshments.

“It’s going to be a stellar event,” O’Laughlin said. “It’s really rare for people to be able to get in contact with someone who is so well-known in the photography industry and the conservation industry as well.”

She added, “It’s going to be a fascinating night to see him retell his stories of how he’s waited hours in the snow to get this particular shot or how he had to hike this many miles to find this family of cheetahs. It’s going to be exciting.”

Tickets for the “Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife” are $80 for members and $100 for non-members. Spots are limited and people are encouraged to buy tickets early. Meet and greet tickets can be purchased here. For more information on hours and admission prices to the exhibit, click here.

Along with “Thomas D. Mangelsen: A Life in the Wild” exhibit, two additional exhibits are also on display in the studio galleries and corridor. There is The Art of Jason Wunderlich, who is a watercolor painter, and TAM’s Museum Artists Group Show which features sculptures, oil, watercolor and graphite work, which are all for sale.

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A LETTER FROM THE PAST — It’s not uncommon for mail to get lost or delivered later than expected, but one family is grateful to have recently received a letter that was lost for 80 years.

The letter, addressed to an Illinois couple, Lavena and Louis George, was postmarked June 23, 1943, but never made it to its intended recipients. The letter randomly turned up at a post office in DeKalb, Illinois, on Dec. 18, 2023.

Since re-appearing, the letter and the story behind the letter has gotten attention from news outlets and people across the world.

“A message from the past seemingly showing up out of nowhere, that’s pretty incredible,” Jeannette George, daughter of Lavena and Louis George, told 23 WIFR. “Everybody was Gobsmacked like what is this?”

A DeKalb postal worker who came across the letter went the extra mile and tracked down surviving members of the George family. The worker found an obituary online for Lavena from 2012 and then got in touch with the family by using social media.

The letter was delivered to Grace Salazar, Jeannette’s sister. Grace and Jeannette are the only two surviving children.

As they read the letter, they discovered it was sent from Louis’s first cousin. She was sending her condolences to the couple who’s daughter died from cystic fibrosis.

“It put me in touch with my parents grief and the losses my family went through before I was even born,” Jeannette explained.

The post office employee said the most likely reason why the letter wasn’t delivered in the first place was because it was missing a house number on the envelope.

RELATED | Letter from 1943 resurfaces; daughter says it reconnects her to family

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IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Jan. 8 to Jan. 14 in east Idaho history.

1900-1925

FORT HALL — A man who missed his train in Pocatello and started walking to Blackfoot was found dead, the Blackfoot Idaho Republican reported on Jan. 10, 1908.

George Beckley was traveling from Delta, Colorado, to Blackfoot to eat Christmas dinner with his wife and kids. He missed his train in Pocatello on Christmas morning and started walking to Blackfoot.

“He took the wrong road, and in the evening, met an Indian on Fort Hall Bottoms who invited him to his camp,” the paper explained. “The invitation was declined, although, the Indian says, the poor old gentleman was so exhausted he was tottering.”

The article continued, “He asked for some matches, which were given him, and he started in the direction which the Indian directed him to take to get to Blackfoot.”

A quarter of a mile away, Beckley threw away his overcoat and two miles father, he walked into a little inclosure on a knoll and laid down. That is where Beckley’s body was found Jan. 8, 1908.

“The Indian who gave him the matches knew nothing of the search for a missing man, until Monday of this week, when he found the coat,” the article stated. “After making a search for the man, he went to Ross Fork and reported to Major Caldwell what he had seen and found.”

Beckley had a son and two daughters living in Blackfoot. His wife had been in Blackfoot for several weeks.

“She, as well as the other members of the family, are suffering a terrible trial, and the sympathies of the whole country are theirs in this unfortunate and unpreventable loss of the father,” the Blackfoot Idaho Republican wrote.

The remains were taken to Pocatello and were shipped to Colorado for burial.

1926-1950

JEFFERSON COUNTY — Jefferson County had no fatal car accidents during the year 1941, The Rigby Star reported on Jan. 8, 1942.

The county was one of six counties in Idaho to have a perfect record for the year. Jefferson County’s record for 1941 was the “first clear record” in several years. Four car fatalities happened in 1937, seven in 1938, five in 1939 and two in 1940.

1951-1975

RIGBY — Window panes and other targets in Rigby were being shot at by BB guns, The Rigby Star reported on Jan. 8, 1959.

The paper said since Christmas, “the effect has been most noticeable.”

“Peace officers desire to alert all parents who have boys or girls possessing BB guns to place a restraint upon their use in this respect, and to caution them of the danger they place themselves in if they persist in destroying public property,” the article mentioned.

1976-2000

POCATELLO — Two thieves stole a snowmobile off the front lawn of a Bannock County prosecuting attorney’s home, the Idaho State Journal reported on Jan. 13, 1977.

Around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, the thieves hot wired the snowmobile belonging to Garth Pincock and headed west to a frontage road east of Interstate 15. From there, the pair went south into the foothills.

“Using two snowmobiles and a four-wheel drive vehicle, Pincock, a neighbor and local police officers gave chase,” the Journal said. “Following the snowmobile tracks, authorities led by Pincock, recovered his machine in a gully.”

Near Pincock’s snowmachine, another snowmobile with a Wisconsin registration was found abandoned.

“The chase continued as Pincock’s posse followed the thieve’s foot tracks,” the paper reads. “However, those ended at the east end of Ardella Street where the pair apparently were picked up by another four-wheel drive vehicle.”

The Wisconsin snowmobile was impounded by police. Pincock’s $500 snowmachine had $200 to $300 worth of damage. Another snowmobile in Pincock’s yard was also vandalized.

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IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Jan. 1 to Jan. 7 in east Idaho history.

1900-1925

SALMON — A father, mother and four children died in a house fire in Salmon, The Rigby Star reported on Jan. 6, 1916.

The “terrible happening” involved Arch Eckersell and his family. The article said “word was telephoned here” from Salmon to Ad Eckersell informing him that his brother and his brother’s family died.

“No particulars were received other than the house, which was located in the outer edge of town, was seen to be on fire about 5 o’clock that morning,” the paper explained. “Neighbors hurried to the home, but too late to be of any use, as the floors had fallen in as well as the roof, carrying the members of the stricken family with them.”

It was believed the fire started on the lower floor because that part of the home “burned away.” The article said the fire dropped “the floor of the second story where the members of the family slept, into the flames, causing their death, provided they had not all died before the walls of the house fell in.”

“It was one of the coldest days of winter and as it is dark at that time of the morning, the fire was not noticed until too late for anyone to render any assistance,” the paper explained.

Ad was told the remains of the six members of the family were placed in one casket and would be taken to Rexburg, “the old home,” for burial.

1926-1950

REXBURG — A Rexburg business was robbed of approximately $50, The Rexburg Standard reported on Jan. 4, 1934.

The robbery happened at the Buick Company sometime between midnight on New Year’s Eve and 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Tools and small items from the stock room and office were stolen, as well as $2.50 was taken from the cash register.

“The thieves entered through the shop, broke a large plate glass window between the shop and the office and made off with the loot,” the paper wrote. “The padlocks on the front door and the tool box were stolen.”

The article said “the clues point to the work of amateurs.”

1951-1975

HAMER — A “rabbit drive” took place near Hamer where more than 5,000 rabbits were killed, The Rigby Star reported on Jan. 3, 1952.

“This was the sixth to have been held so far this winter,” the article stated.

Another drive was scheduled for that upcoming Sunday at the bird refuge near Hamer.

“Hot chocolate and doughnuts will be served to those participating,” The Rigby Star said. “Members of the Eastern Idaho Rabbit Control association expressed their appreciation to all who joined in the drive against the pests.”

1976-2000

POCATELLO — There were “numerous fender benders” in Pocatello due to blizzard conditions and one of the accidents involved an ambulance, the Idaho State Journal reported on Jan. 4, 1977.

The ambulance was en route to a call when the accident happened. The driver of the ambulance was trying to back up when the wheels went into ice ruts and hit a parked car. Damage to the car was minor, according to officers. The ambulance suffered roughly $200 worth of damage.

The post Looking back: Family of 6 dies in house fire, ‘rabbit drive’ held and $50 robbery at Rexburg business appeared first on East Idaho News.

MONSTER WAVE — A video of a “rogue wave” in California that swept people off their feet went viral over the weekend.

Colin Hoag filmed the video Dec. 28 and shared it to his Facebook page where it has over 44,000 views on his Facebook alone. Countless news outlets have shared the heart-stopping footage.

Hoag’s caption said the video was filmed at the seaward wall in Pierpont, which is in Ventura, California.

In the video, waves are seen approaching land as people begin to run away from the water. The explosive waves quickly flood the streets and video shows the water slam into a hotel near the shore.

“Everybody was running for their lives and screaming,” Hoag told Inside Edition. “I’ve seen big waves but I’ve never seen something that looked similar to a tsunami.”

Inside Edition shared more footage of the waves knocking people to the ground, including kids trying to run for cover. Nine people were taken to the hospital, according to KTLA5.

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IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Dec. 25 to Dec 31 in east Idaho history.

1900-1925

RIGBY — There was “much complaint” being made about “youngsters who … persist in getting on sleighs,” The Rigby Star reported on Dec. 25, 1919.

The paper said the boys on the drays, which were used to haul goods, have “repeatedly thrown the children off their sleighs in order to keep them from getting injured.”

“They still persist in climbing on the runners,” the article stated. “And of course, if one should fall beneath the runners, it ‘would be the fault of the drayman,’ and not the disobedient children who are allowed to run about the streets and menace the draymen and those driving sleds to and from town.”

1926-1950

IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls man “narrowly escaped a perilous night” in the snow on the hills after breaking his leg, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Dec. 26, 1934.

Thomas Robinson was riding a horse when somehow the animal fell on him and shattered his leg in two places.

“Robinson was left alone on a seldom frequented road on Flint hill,” the Post Register wrote.

Donald Randberg, a mail carrier to Bone, was traveling in a sled — the road was impossible for cars to travel on — when he spotted Robinson. He picked the man up after dark and brought him into town.

“Robinson was reported as resting well, little affected from the long exposure,” the paper added.

1951-1975

POCATELLO — Babies born on Christmas Day were highlighted in the local paper, the Idaho State Journal reported on Dec. 26, 1951.

The first baby born in Pocatello on Christmas in 1951 was a boy named Robert. He was the son of Rev. and Mrs. Dickson. He was born at 2:35 a.m. at St. Anthony’s hospital “as Santa was in the midst of delivering his presents.”

Later that morning at 8:40 a.m., Mr. and Mrs. John Sonna welcomed a daughter at the same hospital.

1976-2000

SODA SPRINGS — “Strange happenings” were reported in the Wood Canyon area, approximately three miles east of Soda Springs, the Caribou County Sun reported on Dec. 30, 1976.

In the early hours of Dec. 19, law enforcement were involved in a search for what was reported as a possible downed aircraft in the vicinity of Wood Canyon.

“Various sightings had been made on what appeared to be an aircraft over the mountains above Wood Canyon,” the article explained.

Sheriff-elect Kelly Izatt was driving in his own private vehicle and was communicating with officers on a radio. He said he was at the top of Wood Canyon coming back down when Idaho State Police officer Dennis Abrams, who was in front of Izatt, reported an “object that he couldn’t identify off to the side of his vehicle.”

“Apparently the object was stationary and then moved off to the west and north from Abrams position,” the Caribou County Sun wrote.

Izatt said it was a clear night and no moon but because of the position of the hill, he said he was unable to see Abrams’ vehicle and the object.

Another state police officer reported to be “tracking an object north of Soda Springs” and a Soda Springs Police officer said he saw something that “looked similar to a shooting star about 11:30 p.m. Saturday night.”

“It came across in a northerly direction, stopped momentarily, and then continued on,” the paper said.

A spokesman for ISP in Pocatello said a “very crude homemade bomb” was found on the Wood Canyon road but not in the general vicinity of the sighting. He said the bomb looked like a part of a car muffler and black powder had been used as the explosive.

“Abrams, who made the closest and most accurate sighting, has been out of the Soda Springs area, and could not be reached at press time,” the paper added. “Much of the information being passed around this area is rumor based on very little fact.”

It continued, “The real fact remains that a trained law enforcement officer made a sighting at very close range of an object that could not and has not been identified. Other observances made that night by law officers and others may or may not have had anything to do with the incident in Wood Canyon.”

The paper said this may “never have a logical or satisfactory answer.”

“It will probably just be recorded as another ‘sighting,'” the article reads. “It seems very difficult though, to ignore the facts.”

The post Looking back: ISP officer reports an ‘object that he couldn’t identify’ was ‘off to the side of his vehicle’ before it moved away appeared first on East Idaho News.

A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION — A Michigan mom had two special reasons to celebrate this month after welcoming a baby girl who then accompanied her across the stage at her college graduation.

Grace Szymchack planned to attend her Dec. 15 commencement at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, three days before she was due, according to ABC News. Plans changed when her daughter Annabelle arrived early.

“The doctor made it sound like she didn’t think I was going to make it to the 18th so we were hoping that she’d come early enough that I could still walk right after graduation,” Szymchack said.

Szymchack delivered Annabelle on Dec. 6, and 10 days later, Szymchack and her newborn baby were at the graduation ceremony.

A video of Szymchack that shows Annabelle tucked inside her mom’s graduation gown has gone viral. Comments on the video shared by Inside Edition praise the mother for her “hard work” while acknowledging the “beautiful moment.”

“It was important for me to walk because I’ve been working on this degree for a long time,” Szymchack said. “And with lots of support from my husband and family, I was determined to actually walk and I wasn’t ready to leave (Annabelle) with anyone yet.”

Szymchack, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, said Annabelle slept the entire time. She hopes her story can inspire other parents, especially moms, who want to receive their college degree.

“I hope it inspires other moms … to go back and finish the degree that they want or to start the degree that they have been hoping for,” she said.

The post You have to see this! Mom walks at college graduation with her 10-day-old baby appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Dec. 18 to Dec. 24 in east Idaho history.

1900-1925

RIGBY — Dozens of people helped haul sand from the Buttes, northwest of Rigby, for the stretch of highway between Ucon and the Jefferson County Line, The Rigby Star reported on Dec. 20, 1923.

The hauling of sand was “as per the agreement entered into between the Jefferson and Bonneville County commissioners.”

“The sum of $1.10 per yard for hauling is paid for the haul to Ucon, and the outfits are averaging four yards per load,” the paper mentioned. “Although some with four horses and trailer are making seven yards.”

The Bonneville County commissioners were “taking advantage of the offer” made by Jefferson County to extend the sanding beyond Ucon to the pavement in Bonneville County.

“This will make a total of five-and-a-half miles of newly sanded road for our neighboring county, surfaced by the excellent material which is used for Jefferson County’s highway,” the article states. “The highway should be in excellent condition next summer following the packing of the material by the winter’s snow.”

The stretch of road was supposed to be completely sanded by Jan. 10, 1933.

1926-1950

IDAHO FALLS — Christmas baskets were being filled for local families in need, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Dec. 23, 1936.

The Salvation Army was putting the “cheer baskets” together and planned to distribute around 150 baskets to Idaho Falls families on Christmas day.

“Approximately 1,000 units of renovated toys and play things, rebuilt by local city firemen will be distributed at the same time Christmas baskets are given out,” the Post Register explained. “Toys made to look almost like new will go to families that have children.”

Close to three hundred items of clothing were also going to be handed out. The food used to fill the baskets was made possible because of The Post-Register’s “Goodfellow fund,” which collected over $600.

1951-1975

POCATELLO — A seven-year-old boy fell asleep at a Pocatello movie theatre and was trapped inside, the Idaho State Journal reported on Dec. 20, 1951.

Pocatello Police said Joe Diaz apparently fell asleep and when he woke up, he was alone in the building.

“Joe pounded on the theater door and finally was released about 1 a.m. when a passerby heard the pounding,” the Journal mentioned. “Police were notified and they, in turn, called the theater manager.”

1976-2000

SODA SPRINGS —A Christmas Day Friendship Dinner was going to be held in Soda Springs for “all lonely people of any age,” The Caribou County Sun reported on Dec. 23, 1976.

The goal of the free dinner was for locals to “celebrate Christ’s birthday with all who might not have family near them.”

“We are told in Romans 12:13 that ‘We should be given to hospitality’ and we are admonished in Hebrews 13:2 ‘To be not forgetful to entertain strangers,'” the article reads. “As Tiny Tim would say, ‘God bless us everyone.'”

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AN UNEXPECTED ENDING — Passengers on a hot air balloon were taking a ride in the sky to celebrate a birthday, but they didn’t imagine it coming to an end the way it did.

Arizona homeowner Kara Giugliano recorded the moment the hot air balloon — with a pilot and eight passengers on board — snagged a light pole next to her backyard causing the balloon to deflate.

“It just ripped,” she is heard saying in the video filmed on Dec. 7 in Phoenix.

The footage shows the balloon fall into Giugliano’s backyard and onto a portion of her home.

“I’m right under here. What do I do?” Giugliano said. “Oh my gosh! It’s on top of our house!”

Giugliano ended up running outside to try and help the passengers. She told Inside Edition she often sees hot air balloons passing over her home but never ending up on her property.

“It was overwhelming. It was wild. It was chaotic,” she added.

The pilot for Hot Air Expeditions was getting to the end of his fuel supply, and was planning to land in a vacant lot next to the home when the accident happened.

No injuries were reported.

The post You have to see this! Massive hot air balloon snags light pole, lands on woman’s home appeared first on East Idaho News.

SUGAR CITY — Two Rexburg men recently opened up an outdoor ice-skating rink in Sugar City with the hope to make Idaho winters something that more people enjoy.

Rink 99, which is located at Veteran’s Park, was started by Jeff McClure and Matt Pyles. The rink opened Wednesday, and features real ice, a big rink that’s 55 feet by 105 feet and a smaller rink that’s 20 feet by 40 feet for those learning to skate that are nervous of starting on the bigger one.

“People either love or hate the winter, and we’re trying to give more reasons to love the winter and get out and do stuff in the wintertime,” Pyles told EastIdahoNews.com. “There’s really nothing to do in the wintertime inside of Sugar, but now, people can ice-skate. It gives a little bit more light to the dark time that people have.”

The idea to start Rink 99 came after McClure moved to Rexburg from Washington a few years ago. Pyles helped him move in and noticed all his hockey gear and asked McClure if he played hockey. He remembers McClure saying yes and that if he was going to live in Rexburg and have to deal with the cold, he was going to have a skating rink in his backyard.

For the last few years, Pyles and McClure have played hockey in the winter about three times a week in McClure’s backyard on a rink he purchased, which is now the small rink at Rink 99.

“We wanted to make it bigger,” Pyles explained. “Jeff talked to the city of Sugar about doing it there and they were like, ‘You’re going to do something in Sugar? Not Rexburg?’ (McClure) said, ‘Yeah.’ … The city of Sugar has been awesome with us.”

Pyles said they use a John Deere tractor that has a Zamboni attachment and that McClure keeps the ice in “perfect condition.”

The rink is currently operating under temporary hours until Jan. 1 or until it’s under 32 degrees all day. Temporary hours are Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Regular hours will be Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. There is no age limit and everyone is welcome to skate, according to Pyles.

Drop in hockey is also offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. All ages are invited to play.

“We want to be open as much as we can,” Pyles added.

Prices range from $5 to $9 and all prices include skates. Hot chocolate, gatorade, chips, candy and hand warmers are available to purchase too.

“Come skate. It’s easy to learn. You don’t need to be really good,” Pyles said. “It’s a great experience to enjoy what eastern Idaho weather gives to us.”

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