As I worked through the photos of Dave and Betty Donaldson, I stumbled on some pictures sent from Dad. Dad, Milo Paul Ross, attended the 1957 Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I thought I would share those photos along with some other items I have scanned related to that trip. Since there were a couple of photos from the 1958 High Adventure Trip, I thought I would include those too.
First, be aware that the Great Salt Lake and Lake Bonneville Councils published a book about their trip. “Onward for God and My Country” was the motto. I have scanned the entire book – it is provided below.
The book says the trip occurred in July 1957. The book provides plenty of photos of the highlights. These few photos show what Dad thought was interesting enough to take pictures.
The trip took them east through a variety of states. Included was Chicago, Detroit, and Palmyra. Stops included the Sacred Grove and Smith Farm. Albany, Springfield, Boston, and New York City.
Dad does not recall the names or even knowing anyone in the photos at Jamboree.
I remember Dad talking about the Statue of Liberty. They climbed the stairs to the crown. He also indicated that at that time they let some of them climb to the torch. It was a very memorable experience. He also mentioned the Empire State Building and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Vice President Nixon addressed the Scouts.
Kammeyer’s supported the Jamboree.
For those LDS Scouts, Harold B Lee and Delbert L Stapley spoke to the boys on Sunday. Here is a letter Dad wrote home while there.
I previously wrote about Dad and scouting. Here is his Eagle Scout picture.
Milo Paul Ross achieved Eagle Scout
Here is a note Grandpa made about this picture.
Milo Ross, Bill McBride, Leon Taylor, Freddy Cox Eagle Announcement
Milo James Ross commented about Milo Paul Ross receiving his Duty to God award on 27 April 1959
Duty to God Award
Letter from Church Headquarters
Here are a couple of the photos from the Colorado River rafting trip. Dad thinks there are more photos. He does not remember or recognize any of the individuals in the photos.
Dad remembered they had to pull out of the river to go around the Glen Canyon Dam construction.
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Both of these were trips of a lifetime. Neither have been forgotten.
This letter was shared with me by Erron Alvey. Erron and I are cousins descending from James Thomas Ross/Meredith and Damey Catherine Graham. I have written about them before. In 2020, I shared that some more photos of James/Jim were found and I hoped that more would be found. Erron is a descendant through Robert “Bob” Leonard Ross, brother to my John “Jack” Ross. Bob’s daughter, Mary, is Erron’s Great Grandmother. It appears that some of Jim’s possessions and photos have come through the generations to her. She provided some photographs and other documents for scanning, I scanned 215 documents in all. Among them, was this letter. Pearlie was married to James Thomas Ross/Meredith Jr. Envelopes suggest Jim was living in Winton, California. None of the letters have an address on them.
The letter is dated 1934. That is right in the depths of the Great Depression. During this time in California, Jim is planning on making his way to the Salt Lake City Temple. There he will make covenants only available in temples. His closest temple at that time would have been St. George. But he has family and friends in Salt Lake City. I don’t know if he made it to Vernal and Lapoint to visit James and Pearlie and their family. But this certainly gives some more insight into the ongoing conversations and relationships that existed. I will share the scans of the letter below. I will also share some of the stash of photos that have come over, unfortunately most are unnamed individuals. Jim was baptized and confirmed 17 April 1898. He received his endowment 20 June 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Damey, who has passed away in 1933, also received her endowment vicariously on the same date. They were also sealed that same date. This letter is 11 months before Jim made the trip and received these ordinances.
Pearlie May Marshall was born 16 September 1892 in Gladesboro, Carroll, Virginia and died 17 September 1976 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah. She married to James Thomas Ross (1895 – 1964) 4 June 1913 in Laurel Fork, Carroll, Virginia. They divorced and she remarried to Ashley Bartlett in Vernal, Utah, 22 November 1938. James Jr and Pearlie had six children: Vesta Virginia Ross (1914 – 2007), Eugene Dale Ross (1915 – 1986), Iola Inez Ross (1918 – 1976), Ernest Howard Ross (1919 – 1922), Sydney Bea Ross (1922 – 2010), and Carma Ross (1924 – 2015). All but Sydney were born in Lapoint, she was born in Rupert, Minidoka, Idaho. Ernest died in Rupert while there.
James and Pearlie Ross
Lapoint, Ut
July 20, 1934
Dear Dad,
We were surely pleased to get your letter as we half been expecting one for some time.
How are you and what are you doing? We are all well as usual and not doing much of any thing.
Are times getting any better down there? Don’t seem to be any better here, besides the water situation is getting serious.
Just enough for gardens and maybe that won’t last.
No hay or grain raised if under the White Rocks Canal and not much under the Government Canal.
Glad you are coming to Salt Lake City to go through the Temple.
Nothing would please me better than to go through with you, but I haven’t a penny now and don’t suppose I will then, but if it is possible I will be there.
One of my neighbors used to work in the Temple. She said you could get some one there to go through with you, but I will if I can get there.
I wish Tom would go and be sealed to you and have our work done but I’ve about given up all hopes.
You must be sure and come on out here whether I can meet you there or not.
It won’t cost much more and we want to see you so bad. The children talk about your a lot. Sydney and Carma are getting to be quite big girls now. Eugene hasn’t grown much since you saw him. Surely sorry to hear Jack had cancer of the stomach. Hope he is better by now.
How are Fannie’s folks?
I wrote her 2 or 3 weeks ago but haven’t heard from her.
Do you still stay with Florence? How are her and her family? Tell her to write and tell all about herself and kiddies.
Where is Orson? How are he and his wife getting along. Where does Mary live and how is her health now.
Dad and Mother are getting quite feeble. They ask about you often. Said give you their love. All the rest are quite well. The depression has hit them all.
Irma and Bill are still here but would like to lie in Calif.
Well, Dad don’t wait so long to write us as we are always anxious to hear from you. Be sure you make your plans to come on here when you come to Salt Lake.
Would like for you to come stay with us. It was not cold here last winter so maybe it won’t be this.
The Burley Idaho Temple Open House ran 3 November 2025 to 22 November 2025. It was an amazing opportunity to invite the local and broader community to walk through a pinnacle of our worship. I attended 5 of the much more individual and personal tours on the 3rd through 5th with public leaders and distinguished guests. I wish everyone could attend these tours, which would often take 45 minutes to 60 minutes for the full tour. Some of these were guided by General Authorities, including Elders Steven R. Bangerter, Karl D. Hirst, and K. Brett Nattress.
On Thursday, the general public was welcome to attend open tours. Our first tour tried to do a small introduction in each room, but about half-way through that was abandoned to keep the lines moving. Every tour I attended afterward did not have any attempted presentations, other than to remind individuals to not take photos and to speak softly.
Amanda sneaked over and caught a personal tour on the 6th.
6 November 2025 – Amanda Ross attended individually
Amanda and I took our family on Friday 7 November 2025.
Saturday morning we attended with some friends. This was my 7th tour that first week!
8 November 2025 – Bud and Karen Marie Whiting, Amanda Ross, James Ross, Aliza Hales, Lea Pierucci Izama, Audra Hales, Aleah Hales, Anson Hales, Brad Hales, Paul Ross
The next weekend, Amanda had a bunch of family come to town and also attend. This Friday night was my 4th tour of the second week.
14 November 2025 – Hiram Ross, Amanda Ross, Lillian Ross, Rowan Hemsley, Margo Hemsley, Bryan Hemsley, Olivia Hemsley, Jill Hemsley, Jack Hemsley, James Ross, Paul Ross, Aliza Ross, Jordan Hemsley, Derek Hemsley
I also got to attend some more times the third week. But my 4th tour in the third week was with my sister and brother-in-law.
22 November 2025 – Paul Ross, Andra and Wes Herbst
That makes 15 trips through the temple for the open house. I was also privileged to do temple security on 5 different occasions, all for the 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM shift. Here are some photos from that opportunity.
4 November 2025
4 November 2025
5 November 2025 – Paul Ross and Kevin Mower for the graveyard shift
10 November 2025 – Paul Ross and Tyson Smith for the graveyard shift
Amanda also got to do a security shift, parking shift, and foot covering (booty) shift.
12 November 2025 – Amanda Ross Parking Shift
12 November 2025 – Amanda Ross Security Shift
Some of the late night security shifts were great opportunities to reflect on the blessings we are now achieving with the ease and access of a temple so close.
When I received my first temple recommend for my own endowment, Paul Idaho Stake President, M. Gene Hansen, invited me to make a commitment to attend the temple every month at a minimum. I took that commitment. I agreed.
In Hazelton, Idaho, it took me roughly 2 1/4 hours to get to the Boise Idaho Temple (speed limits have increased since then); Idaho Falls Idaho Temple was just under 2 hours; Logan Utah Temple was about 2 1/2 hours, and Ogden Utah Temple was 2 1/2 hours. I was endowed in Logan in September 1998 with my Dad. I attended Logan and Boise before going on the mission. But it was at least half a day planning to attend the temple before the mission.
Within the Manchester England Mission is found the Preston England Temple. Attending the temple in the mission required coordination with members as the temple isn’t near public transportation and we relied on members to take us. We could only go on Preparation Day, which was Tuesday. That took some work, but I was able to attend every month of the mission (except for some months where some missionaries had abused the privilege and all missionaries lost temple attendance options for three months). Getting to the temple was within 1 hour for every area in which I served.
I lived in Branson Missouri for a couple of years. Our closest temple for Branson was the St. Louis Missouri Temple. That drive was at least 4 hours one way, often 4 1/2 hours. That required an entire day to be set aside and planned to drive, attend, and return home. Never missed a month in Branson. I sealed my Jonas grandparents together in St. Louis Missouri Temple. The Bentonville Arkansas Temple has been constructed much closer at about 2 hours. The Springfield Missouri Temple will be less than an hour away from Branson.
Amanda and I lived in Richmond Virginia for a couple of years. Our closest temple for Richmond was the Washington D.C. Temple. That drive was between 4 and 5 hours away, depending on beltway traffic. We would often go up and spend Friday night with family, attend the temple that night or in the morning, and then make our way back home. Washington D.C. Temple was closed for a bit, so to make the monthly trip, we had to go to the Raleigh North Carolina Temple. That was almost a 4 hour drive one direction. The new Richmond Virginia Temple is just outside the first neighborhood we lived in and within 10 minutes of the second neighborhood we lived.
When we moved back to Idaho, the Twin Falls Idaho Temple had been dedicated. That dropped the 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive time for all those temples to less than an hour, usually between 50-60 minutes. But it still takes time and planning to ensure I get there every month. This is double now that we also have a commitment to see that Aliza and Hiram are able to attend at least monthly.
Now, with the dedication of the Burley Idaho Temple in January, the temple will be between 5 to 6 minutes away.
Now I have to reevaluate. It seems the once a month commitment is not enough. I think that will remain the absolute minimum going forward for the rest of my life. It also seems I have no reason to not attend to at least one ordinance in the temple at least every week.
To show my gratitude to our Father and our Savior, I intend to attend the Burley Idaho Temple at least daily for the first 30 days it is open after dedication. Which isn’t as much as it seems if you consider it is not open on Sunday, Monday, or Thursday. Still working out what happens after the first 30 days.
For the last three weeks I have found myself regularly humming The Spirit of God and also muttering the Hosanna Shout under my breath. I am looking forward to the dedication of the Burley Idaho Temple on 11 January 2026!
I wrote of Amanda’s great catch of a deal in 2021 that took the Ross family to Alaska. I shared in that post, last year, that we caught a flight to Fairbanks and made our way to Denali National Park. I also wrote about staying with my Uncle and Aunt Doug and Linda Jonas in Anchorage. While I shared photos with Doug and Linda, Brook and Caitlin, Elle and Blye, I thought I better share some more photos of Anchorage itself.
Hiram, Lillie, Aliza, and James at the Anchorage Visitor Information Center
The visitor center stands out in downtown Anchorage as a log cabin reminder of its past. The amazing part was the flowers. Alaska has long daylight hours with mild temperatures. Due to that, the flowers grow large and pretty. You can definitely see that in these flowers.
Lillie, James, Hiram, and Aliza Ross with bear statue in front of Anchorage City Hall
We wandered around the downtown area to get a feel for the town and its sights.
Lillie, Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross in front of downtown Anchorage Federal Building
This Federal Building is not where the Federal Courts are housed. We had to track that building down about four or five blocks away. Here is a picture we snapped there.
Paul and Aliza Ross at Anchorage’s Federal Courthouse
Classic lawyer nerd taking a picture with a Federal Courthouse!
Hiram reading the James Cook Monument
We walked down to Resolution Park. We read about Captain Cook. The monument was installed as part of the 1976 Bicentennial Celebrations.
James Cook was born in Yorkshire, England, on October 27, 1728. He was apprenticed to serve on sailing ships built in Whitby, near his birth-place, to carry coal along the English coast. At age 26, he joined the Royal Navy, took part in actions against France and, through his natural flair for mathematics and science, was promoted “King’s Surveyor” and given command of vessels performing survey work on the coast of Newfoundland.
Chosen as commander to lead an expedition of discovery to the Pacific Ocean, he sailed on his first voyage of exploration (1768-71) to find the continent of Australia as well as Tahiti, New Zealand and New Guinea where he charted coasts and waters previously unknown to the Western World. On his return, he was honoured by a grateful nation, made a Fellow of the Royal Society, and received by the King.
His second voyage (1772-75) to Antarctic and the South Pacific added the Friendly Isles, New Caledonia, Easter Island, Cook Island and New Georgia to the map. In 1776, Captain Cook set out on his third voyage, aboard his flagship “Resolution”, to find a north-west passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic. He surveyed the coast of northwest America and Alaska, but, failing to find the passage to the Atlantic, turned south from the Bering Strait and sailed to the Sandwich Isles where, on the Island of Hawaii, he met his death on February 14, 1779.
James Cook, a farm hand’s son who became a Captain in the Royal Navy and gold medalist of the Royal Society, lives in history as the greatest explorer-navigator the world has known. His real memorial is on the map of the world.
This monument, created by Derek Freeborn after the statue in Whitby, where James Cook began his career as seaman, was donated by The British Petroleum Company as a contribution to the Bicentennial celebration of the United States of America.
Amanda, Aliza, James, and Lillie Ross at Eisenhower Statehood Monument with their flowers
President Dwight D Eisenhower signed Alaska into existence as the 49th State. This monument memorializes that act. It was a culmination of many years of work and something that President Eisenhower took very seriously.
The Alaska Railroad from the Eisenhower Statehood Monument
Lillie, Hiram, Aliza, and Amanda Ross at the Anchorage Alaska Temple
We drove past the temple a couple of times going to and from various places. We had to stop and take some pictures. This temple is being replaced, so it will not be there much longer. The new temple is being built where the Stake Center was next to this Temple. When completed, this will be removed and I believe the new Stake Center will be built. I believe this is the first time in the church where a temple will be formally replaced not on the same footprint.
Amanda and Paul Ross at Anchorage Alaska Temple
Lillie and James with Smokey the Bear at Begich, Boggs Visitor Center
We saw multiple glaciers while in Alaska. We stopped and went through the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. It was interesting to see how close the center once was near glaciers. Now you cannot even see the Portgage Glacier from it. We went and hiked up the Byron Glacier Trail.
Portage Lake
Hanging glaciers up Byrom Glacier Trail
Lillie Ross near melting snow with glaciers in the background
Byron Glacier Trail looking back toward Portage Lake
As you can see, the glaciers have heavily retreated. More of just an alpine trail now with some blue snow/ice above.
Hiram, Aliza, and Lillie Ross on Byron Glacier Trail
Lillie Ross at Brook and Caitlin Jonas’ home in Anchorage
My cousin Brook Jonas lives in this home on the foothills west of Anchorage. If you look closely, above Lillie you can see downtown Anchorage. You can also see Fire Island straight out and what is beyond Anchorage.
At a later time, I will have to write of our trips to Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, and Whittier.
Ross and Hemsley families at October 2025 General Conference
As each child has joined the church at the age of 8 years old, we have made it a goal to take them to General Conference. We took Aliza in 2018, and Hiram in 2022. There is something about literally sitting in the same room as the prophets that is different than listening later, watching from afar, or reading in a magazine. You cannot duplicate the spirit that fills the room when 21,000 people sing We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet! The Tabernacle Choir cannot be duplicated. Period.
It took months of planning, but with the help of family, eight tickets were obtained. We left early Sunday morning to drive down and listen to Sunday morning’s session in Kaysville (Aliza got some road hours for her driving permit too). Before that session was over, we changed into church clothes and drove to Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake Temple under renovation, 5 October 2025
We found our seats as soon as the ushers would let us in. We had a pretty sweet section.
Shortly before the Sunday Afternoon Session began, 5 October 2025
After getting our seats, we took the kids to see some of the sights in the Conference Center.
Jill Hemsley, Paul, Lillian, James, and Aliza Ross
Aliza, James, and Lillian Ross with President Russell M Nelson’s bust
We were surprised to find out President Nelson passed away the weekend before Conference. I found it very interesting to attend a General Conference during an Apostolic Interregnum. I reminded the kids they may never have that chance again.
President Dallin H Oaks and Elders Jeffrey R Holland, Henry B Eyring, and Dieter F Uchtdorf leaving after the Session
We were also fortunate to attend the only session President Oaks spoke. I am very thankful to hear the keys of the Priesthood speak in person. It was a very personal talk, more than I remember him speaking in the past. In the past 125+ years, the Apostolic Interregnum has been very short lived. The opportunity to hear the President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles also speak as the President of the Church in General Conference has not occurred in 74 years. Tradition always has the most senior Apostle being called, sustained, and set apart as the President of the First Presidency/High Priesthood with two counselors called to the same. That may happen today, 12 October 2025, if past precedent holds true.
Amanda, Aliza, and Lillian Ross with Jill Hemsley
I received my first testimony of a Prophet at Utah State University in 1997. I had joined the Logan Institute Choir. President Gordon B Hinckley was coming to speak at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. We had practiced multiple songs. One of which intrigued me, We Ever Pray for Thee. It was while singing that song that President Hinckley entered the arena. Wow. The Spirit overcome me. I have shared that experience many times, especially in the mission. My first testimony of a living prophet. It was as if every cell in my body jumped for joy and vibrated with excitement.
Bryan Hemsley and Hiram Ross at General Conference
My next prophetic testimony was related to Thomas S Monson. I have to admit, I always struggled a bit with President Monson. The story-telling and poems was too mushy for me, or something. I am not sure what gave me a bit of a burr, probably just personality. President Hinckley passed away and within the next week I was attending an endowment session in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple. I was in the prayer circle. It was then that the officiator included President Thomas S Monson in our prayer. As I repeated the words in the circle I felt the confirmation. The Spirit in that moment testified that President Monson was the Prophet upon the earth. I went away rejoicing and all my qualms with personality were lost.
Aliza and Hiram Ross excited to be in the Conference Center
President Monson also fell asleep in time. The next transition was to Russell M Nelson. After my experiences with Presidents Hinckley and Monson, I expected nothing less than another witness as to whether Russell M Nelson was the Prophet on earth. I prayed for the experience. In fact, Brigham Young taught us to expect to obtain a testimony of the Prophet. Well, in our own home watching General Conference in April 2018, we also participated in the Solemn Assembly. It was during that procedure that I again obtained a witness. No questions. In fact, President Nelson in his administration resolved some of my frustrations with church government and organization.
View of the rostrum from the farthest seats of the Conference Center before Sunday afternoon Session
Who will formally be set apart as the next President of the First Presidency? Tradition certainly would indicate Dallin H Oaks, and I expect the same. I also expect to obtain a witness that he is the Lord’s Prophet and Mouthpiece for the whole earth.
Paul Ross enjoying some light refreshments after Sunday afternoon’s General Conference
Since I really only began attending church regularly in 1997, President Hinckley was the only church president I knew for years. However, I will mention, my Grandma regularly spoke of my Great Grandmother’s connection to Ezra Taft Benson in Whitney, Idaho. Interestingly enough, when President Benson died in 1994, I spent the weekend of his funeral at Dustin McClellan’s home. I remember on Saturday, Dustin’s Mom, Bonnie, watching a funeral. I sat down and watched it for a little while. I remember the Tabernacle Choir. I asked her what it was and remember her telling me it was President Benson’s funeral. I felt something at that moment that made me more curious about the man. I still remember that occasion because the Spirit whispered to me. I have since also received a witness of President Benson. I have received one of every President since Joseph Smith.
Bryan Hemsley and James Ross enjoying Conference
Aliza recently attended a fireside in Rupert where President Emily Belle Freeman attended. I hope my children are gaining the golden strands in their testimony tapestry regarding the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were fortunate enough to rub shoulders with President Freeman again and Sister Amy A Wright on Sunday.
Emily Belle Freeman and Aliza Ross in Rupert, Idaho, 21 September 2025
A year ago we attended the open house for the Deseret Peak Utah Temple in Tooele, Utah. I thought I would share some pictures from that open house.
Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Lillie Ross, Shanna Thompson, James Ross, Bryan Hemsley, and Hiram Ross
Deseret Peak is the same design as the Orem Utah Temple and Pocatello Idaho Temple, just different finishing work. I understand that similar designs reduce costs and expenses in the engineering and design, plus it works out the kinks of prior construction.
Deseret Peak Utah Temple
Amanda Ross, Paul Ross, Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Lillie Ross, James Ross, Shanna Thompson, Bryan Hemsley, and Hiram Ross
Paul Ross, James Ross, Amanda Ross, Hiram Ross, Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Lillie Ross, Bryan Hemsley, and Shanna Thompson
A lone pickup leaves the tiny rural town of Minidoka via Broadway Street on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. “The only time we get a crowd is at a city council meeting,” Mayor Julie Peterson told the Times-News.” Now that Minidoka has lost its post office, Peterson says she hopes the town can keep its incorporated status.
DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS
City officials of the tiny town of Minidoka don’t want to end up like their counterparts in Atomic City, Hamer and Oxford.
All three of those Idaho cities have disincorporated over the past five years. Instead of a city council and mayor, county commissioners are now in charge.
“We are fighting,” Minidoka Mayor Julie Peterson said. “Actually, all four city council members, the mayor, and the attorney are doing everything in our power to stay incorporated and to stay compliant with all the government regulations.”
The rural community with a shrinking population sits on 64 acres on the eastern border of Minidoka County, just off Idaho Highway 24 — 13 miles northeast of Rupert and 50 miles southeast of Shoshone.
Idaho Highway 24 near Minidoka is seen Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Minidoka County. Travelers turn right onto Broadway to go into town or left to stay on Highway 24 to go to Shoshone, 50 miles away.
In the dozen or so years that the mayor has lived in Minidoka, she has seen a third of the town’s population disappear, dropping from 112 in 2010 to 75 now.
“Kids are growing up and moving away,” Peterson said.
And now, Minidoka’s post office in the Town Hall is moving out. Later this month, residents will switch to Rupert’s zip code of 83350.
The U.S. Postal Service determined that the Rupert Post Office is “able to fully serve the community,” and the contract post office in Minidoka “is no longer needed,” postal service spokesperson Janella Herron told the Times-News.
“We tried as a city to figure out a way to keep it open,” Peterson said, “but the post office powers that be decided they were just going to close it down.”
The Minidoka Town Hall is seen Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Minidoka County. Until later this month, the Town Hall serves as the tiny community’s post office.
Peterson said she uses the post office for her small business. When it shuts down, she will have to travel to Rupert instead of dropping off her mail in town.
“We’re losing our post office and I know from experience that’s a town killer,” Peterson said.
If the town gave up its incorporated status, she said, Minidoka County could take over the city-owned well and electric provider.
A water tower is seen Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, near Cherry and Broadway streets in the tiny town of Minidoka.
Eventually, “I think the citizens would lose their voice,” the mayor said.
State-imposed budget cap
Few in town “really know what’s going on behind the scenes,” Peterson said. “I don’t think they know the struggles the town is having.”
State law from 2021 is making it difficult for small cities like Minidoka to make plans to grow and pay for infrastructure projects, such as upgrading the city’s well or building a wastewater system.
“House Bill 389 has made it so our really small communities can’t survive and it’s been unfortunate,” said Kelley Packer, executive director of the Association of Idaho Cities.
Speaker of the House Mike Moyle championed House Bill 389 four years ago. The law imposes an 8% annual cap on budget growth for cities across Idaho.
Packer said HB 389 was intended to rein in big cities, but it has hurt small towns the most.
“(Moyle) will not let a solution be heard,” Packer said. “He does not believe the locals. He thinks they are just whining.”
Minidoka City Attorney Paul Ross said HB 389 has been a factor that has led to other cities disincorporating.
“Speaker Moyle and all these pushes that they’ve had to undermine some of these cities and their budgets are totally hammering these little cities,” Ross said.
According to data from Transparent Idaho, Minidoka’s city budget was $167,400 in 2023, with $103,000 in revenue from utility fees and $20,000 from property taxes.
With an 8% cap, the budget can’t grow more than $13,400 per year.
If the people of Minidoka make a strategic, thoughtful plan to grow their city, that cap might make those plans impossible, Packer said.
“One house takes them over that 8% cap now,” she said. “They can’t even — they can’t do it. And that’s what’s happening in these small communities.”
The struggle of a small town
Peterson walks the perimeter of Minidoka with her dog in the mornings.
She picks up garbage if it’s fallen out of dumpsters and uses a spade to pick up goat heads.
“I at least try to help beautify the city up a little bit,” Peterson said.
She was a city councilwoman last spring when the mayor had a heart attack. She became the acting mayor before officially becoming mayor.
The city’s finances were in a bit of trouble when she took over.
A backlog of audits goes back several years, Peterson said. Without an audited budget, cities in Idaho can’t receive state funding.
“They cut you off,” she said. “If you don’t do your audits, if a city doesn’t do their audits, then the state funding … your road tax gets cut off, your sales tax.”
In June, accounting firm Poulsen VanLeuven & Catmull released severalyears‘ worth of audits, going back to 2022.
According to the fiscal year 2023 audit, the city received a $125,000 USDA Rural Development grant with 3.25% interest for its water system in October 2021. As of September 2023, the remaining balance was $37,000.
That aging water infrastructure is expensive to maintain.
Peterson said the city increased electric rates by $3.50 per month, and the water bill went from $35 to $47.
“We had people coming to City Council saying they can’t afford that increase,” she said.
A mural on an exterior wall of the Town Hall depicts Minidoka’s railroad history, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.
What keeps folks living here?
Most of the Minidoka’s residents work in local agriculture. Many are retired and living on Social Security.
Peterson said most residents own their homes free and clear, but they can’t afford to leave.
Besides, “who’s going to buy them out?” she said.
“We’re trying to keep our identity,” she said. “Minidoka doesn’t want to go away.”
Times-News Editor Mychel Matthews contributed to this story.
Here is a photo that I took in 2016. My Grandpa, Milo Ross, had this photo in his collection. We do not know if he picked up at a flea market or knew anyone linked with it. I have tried to do some research on it over time. Initially, nobody could read or decipher the signature.
Here is what we could read
“To my Friend
“Bro. Fred P. Robison. P.M.
“[Illegible] – 33
“D.D.G.M. 1915-1940
Bro. is short for Brother, the term used for all masons. P.M. means past master, a former presiding officer of his lodge, indicating rank in service.
The 33 after the signature denotes he received the 33 degree in the Scottish Rite, an optional side group that Masons can join. The 33 is a significant honor within that organization, but doesn’t really denote rank or authority in most cases.
The D.D.G.M. usually refers to District Deputy Grand Master, a regional officer of the Grand Lodge of the state. They usually oversee several lodges in an area on behalf of the governing grand lodge.
Later, Dad uncovered this tag on the back.
W Harr Walker 6-1-40
This really gave us what we needed to determine who this guy was!
Bellefonte, Central, Pennsylvania is not a large town.
W. Harrison Walker was a lawyer in Bellefonte and served as the town’s Burgess (now known as Mayor) in 1923. He specialized in general law, collections, and estate settlements. An old business directory lists him with the following references: First National Bank of Bellefonte, First National Bank of State College, First National Bank of Howard, The Pennsylvania Match Co, Montgomery & Co, M. Fauble & Son, and Joseph Bros & Co.
Here is more detail about William Harrison Walker. Born 30 August 1874 in Selone, Clinton, Pennsylvania and died 29 October 1951 in Bellafonte, Pennsylvania. Married Caroline E Hoffman (1875 – 1907) 26 March 1891 in Uniontown, Fayette, Pennsylvania. Married Charlotte Robb (1885 – 1971) 30 August 1912 in Greensburg, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.
Sagacity 