HOW'S THIS FOR A PLAN?

Tuesday, January 6th from 3:30 to 5:30 is the
Celebration of Service party for Gem County Commissioners,
Lan Smith and Carlos Bilbao.
At 6:00 is the meeting to discuss the
changing the name of Squaw Butte.
Both of these are being held at the Gem County Courthouse.

Why not stop in and show your appreciation to Lan and Carlos, then attend the meeting to voice your opinion on Squaw Butte's name change?

WE LOVE OUR SQUAW BUTTE

On Tuesday, January 6 at 6PM  the Gem Community Comprehensive Plan will be open for public comments. The Gem County and Emmett council will hold a public meeting to discuss revisions to Chapter 7 (Historic and Cultural Resources for Gem County)...Up for discussion..having Squaw Butte referred to as The Big Butte.  This meeting will held at the Gem County Court House.  We love our Squaw Butte, let's attend this meeting and make it perfectly clear that we want her name to stay as it is!!
**I received this information from a FB post

GLENN NEWELL'S OBITUARY

Here is the obituary for Glen Newell.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Glenn's family and friends.

OLA COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 2014

The rain didn't keep the standing room only audience away from the Ola Community Christmas Program. It is always a treat to see the beautiful faces of our children as they sing and preform their skits.  As I watched  them playing their recorders, I couldn't help but think that we have many future musicians.  We had several community members give the gift of their talent also.  The audience was made up of not only parents and grandparents but future Ola School students and past students reliving the familiar songs and carols.  The highlight of the program was the retelling of the Christmas story and the placing of the Nativity scene.   To top off the evening Santa came to wish one and all a Merry Christmas.  Mrs. Sutton summed up the evening "Incredible".   We are so blessed to live in Ola.

MERRY CHRISTMAS OLA

MERRY CHRISTMAS OLA
This is really a special time of year. I know many will be celebrating the holiday season or winter
break and not the birthday of Jesus. Whatever this time of year is called or however it is celebrated,
without Jesus being born in a stable over two thousand years ago there would be no holiday season.
I was listening to the Christmas Carol “The Little Drummer Boy” and a thought struck me. We
usually give gifts at a new birth or to celebrate someone’s birthday, but I’m like the “Little Drummer
Boy”, what gift do I have to give worthy of a King? The only thing I could come up with is
myself. Jesus came to die on the cross for our sins so we could gain forgiveness from God. If all I
have to offer the King is myself, that means all of me. That means I can’t hold back by not
forgiving others as God forgave me.
This special time of year becomes more special without the burden of unforgiveness in our hearts. In
truth, life becomes more enjoyable without that burden.
Keep praying for snow in the mountains and a continued strong cattle market.
Merry Christmas
Russ

OLA COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, SATURDAY 7PM AT THE OLA HALL

The HEAVY equipment passing through Ola is going up to the county gravel pit on Second Fork

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Christmas Eve Services

At the Ola Church

6PM

If anyone would like to participate by singing your favorite hymn

 or reading your favorite story/passage,

please contact Nathan at 584-3287.

PICTURES WITH SANTA AT THE PET ADOPTION LEAGUE

Rufus with Santa.  Rufus asked Santa to bring him a larger couch for Christmas.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Fire Marshall Sandahl!

The new Idaho State Fire Marshall is

 Gem County's very own Knute Sandahl.

 A great and well deserved promotion!

 Congratulations Fire Marshall Sandahl!

Sweet Montour Elementary School has cases of oranges and grapefruits available at The Triangle, 50% of the cost goes directly to the school, the fruit is FRESH picked earlier this week, stop in and get yours before they are GONE! $25/case checks made out to Sweet PTO, thank you!

I sincerely appreciate the genuine kindness that this community so generously shared, and received, from my father. Thank you for caring, and for sharing your hearts and homes with him. ~Theresa Mae Funk

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE

Teresa Baker

Public Information Officer

Headquarters 

700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian 83642

(208) 884-7122

Fax  (208) 884-7087

For Immediate Release: 12/8/2014 6:00 p.m. 

MERIDIAN - On Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 6:09 p.m., the Idaho State Police investigated a one vehicle crash on SH52 at milepost 49 at the Gem County and Boise County line.  A 17 year-old female from Sweet was traveling westbound on SH52 in a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu when she drove too close to the edge of the roadway and the front tire of the vehicle drove off the shoulder of the highway.  The driver then overcorrected, lost control of the vehicle and it went off the opposite side of the road and down a 42 foot embankment.  The vehicle then struck some boulders along the embankment, overturned, the airbags deployed and the windows busted out of the vehicle.  The vehicle  came to rest upside down in the Payette River.  

The driver unbuckled her seatbelt and was able to exit the vehicle through the passenger side window and swam to the shore of the river.  She climbed up the 42 foot embankment and was finally able to flag down a passing motorist after four vehicles passed by her.  The driver was not injured in the crash.  

Idaho State Police were assisted by the Gem County Sheriff's Office, Gem County EMS and Gem County Auto and their dive team that pulled the vehicle from the river. 

The crash is under investigation.

There is a group in Emmett called Teen Elf. They are providing Christmas presents for teens 13-18 years old who need them. 

If you know of teens call Tonja at 631-3124 with information.

Dave's obituary as printed in the Messenger Index.  HERE

SIDES, SALADS AND/OR DESSERTS...

The Memorial Service for Dave is this Friday, dinner will be served at the Ola Hall following the graveside service being held at the Ola Cemetery. Your contribution of sides, salads and/or desserts would be greatly appreciated.

PLEASE NOTE: The Ola Hall will be open at approx. 8AM on Friday so that those attending the Service in Emmett can drop off their items before hand. Otherwise, please have your items to the Hall about noon. Thanks!

OLA LADIES CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY CANCELLED

The Ola Ladies Club Christmas party to be held this Saturday, December 13, has been cancelled. This year, in leu of gift exchange, we were going to donate to the Ola School. If you would like to still do so, make checks payable to the Ola School and mail to Judie McCaulou-P.O. Box 54, Ola, Idaho 83657. Thank you for your generosity!

POSSIBLE HOPE FOR THAT AWFUL CHEATGRASS

Here's a news article about the continued efforts for ridding our lands of that awful cheatgrass.  Click HERE to read.

DAVE'S OBITUARY PRINTED IN THE IDAHO STATESMAN

Dave Poole's obituary from the Idaho Statesman.  HERE

Relay For Life meeting tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 10AM. This meeting will be held at the Ola Hall.

MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR DAVE

Memorial Services for Dave Poole

will be 

Friday, December 12 at 10AM at

Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett

followed by a grave side service at the Ola Cemetery.

A dinner at the Ola Hall will follow.

Interested in becoming a Ham Radio Operator?  Rick Barber will be offering classes in February 2015.
If you are interested or have any questions contact him at red.mist.222@gmail.com.

YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU

Approx. 50 residents from the Sweet, Ola and Montour communites attended last night's Emergency Preparedness meeting at the Sweet School.  Members from Gem County Sheriff' dept., GCFD#2, GCFD#1, EMS, Gem County Commissioners, Gem County Emergency Management and Sweet-Montour Ladies Auxiliary all took a moment to introduce themselves and tell us a little about themselves and the role they play in an emergency situation. Also discussed was the immediate need for trained volunteers in both fire departments (Sweet and Ola) and EMS.  As our communities grow, our emergency service needs increase.

Bill Arsenault led a very informative
 meeting on emergency preparedness.

As a group we also discussed some simple steps that you can take to prevent an emergency from turning into a tragedy.   Get to know your neighbors, do you know how to reach them if you see or hear something that isn't "right"?  Are your house numbers visible in the event the ambulance is dispatched to your home?  Do you have your GPS coordinates handy if Life Flight needs to transport you or someone you love?  

Bottom line is your community really needs you to get involved. 

Want to volunteer?  Here are the people to contact....

Ola Fire Department

Denny-584-3522

Sweet Fire Department

Kevin-584-3324

EMS classes

Bill-365-3685

Many thanks to Myra Church for organizing this very important and informative meeting.

SAD NEWS!

Sad news this AM, Dave Poole passed away last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with Katie and family.

SANTA PAWS AT P.A.L.

Saturday, December 13th Santa is coming to P.A.L. in Emmett. This annual "Santa Paws" event is a great way to support our local animal shelter. Bring your special pet in for a photo with Santa. Refreshments will be served. Stop by P.A.L. between 10 and 3 Saturday, December 13th. All proceeds benefit the Pet Adoption League-1526 N. Washington St.-Emmett.

GRANT PROVIDES EQUIPMENT

Grant improves emergency response services in Gem County!

Click HERE for KBOI report.

SWEET, OLA, MONTOUR

Learn about medical emergencies, wildfire preparedness, disaster response as well as opportunities to volunteer on the Sweet Ambulance or with Gem County Fire District #2.
Our communities are growing and we need your help when tragedy and disasters present. The 2014 fire season and numerous medical emergencies in our area recently are a wake-up call to all of us.
Listen to speakers from:
Gem County Sheriff’s Department Gem County Fire-EMS
Gem County Emergency Management
DATE: Tuesday, December 2, 2014 TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Sweet School
For more information, please contact:
Myra Church, 584-3703 or email her, churchent1@gmail.com.

Ola fire gets cell phone booster - Emmett Messenger-Index: News

Ola fire gets cell phone booster - Emmett Messenger-Index: News

USPS DEADLINE FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY

United States Postal Service deadlines for Christmas delivery:

December 20th for First Class Mail and Priority Mail

December 23rd for Priority Mail Express

(this is based on the info provided by the USPS)