🌱 101 Words Contest + Burger Debate + Snow Warning

Happy Friday, people of Boise! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

Welcome to the Friday edition of the Boise Daily. We start with bad news for water users in Eagle, residential customers soon to see dramatic increases in their monthly water bills. The snow is heading for our mountains this weekend, and we ask the burning question of which burger joint should enter Boise next? A Caldwell man is heading to prison for five years after the vehicular death of another man. For the writers out there, a contest is open for you if your story is really, really short.

First, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 38 Low: 32.

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Here are the top stories today in Boise:

1. Water rates in Eagle will rise after a French company, after a long legal battle, purchased the locally owned Eagle Water Company. BoiseDev senior reporter Margaret Carmel explains the reasoning behind rates tripling for residential customers. (boisedev.com)
2. If you are heading to the mountains this weekend, be prepared. KBOI-AM staff report a Winter Storm Watch is in effect this weekend for our local mountains with most areas expected to receive 1 to 2 feet of snow. This may be bad for travelers, but great news for a drought-stricken state needing water for the upcoming summer. (670 KBOI - Boise Local News)
3. If you are eating out, the choices in Boise are numerous. Recent rumors state In-N-Out is looking to the Treasure Valley for expansion. LITE-FM's Chris hears from listeners on the debate if locals want In-N-Out or Whataburger. Feel free to leave us a comment on your thoughts of Boise's next burger chain. (liteonline.com)
4. KTVB-TV staff report a Caldwell man has been sentenced to five years in prison for a crash that resulted in the death of a man. Pedro J. Avalos, 31, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with five years fixed for an incident where, with a child in his car, Avalos drove between 119 and 129 mph with a blood alcohol level of .134 before hitting and killing 35-year-old Adam Hawthorne. (KTVB)
5. Can you tell an award-winning story in 101 words? The Boise Weekly's 20th annual Fiction 101 contest is now open and looking for writers able to convey a great story in just a few words. Take a look at last year's winning submissions and get to writing. (BoiseWeekly)

Today's Boise Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Boise!

Today in Boise:

• Located in the small, quaint town of Glenns Ferry, you will enjoy a historic atmosphere, gourmet meal and a terrific adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol." (6 p.m.)
• The Capital High School girls varsity basketball team will take on Eagle High School on Friday evening. (7:30 p.m.)
• The Kerry Hill Winery will hold a USBCHA Sanctioned Sheep Dog Trial starting Friday, featuring some of the top canines from around the United States. (8 a.m.)
• The Idaho Wildlife Federation will host an End of the Year Bash at Lost Grove Brewing in Boise on Friday. At the end of each year, the Idaho Wildlife Federation invites our supporters to share a beer with us to celebrate the year's conservation victories. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Boise's Best Bites!: "I’m lucky enough to work for a company that gives employees volunteer PTO days and extra lucky enough to be able to do those days with my boys. You can schedule to volunteer at @idahofoodbank online." (Instagram)
• Idaho Humane Society: "Thank you adopters for bringing 628 pets into your forever homes, including some adorable sheep and one goofy goat. We also saw a huge amount of pet food distributed (over 7,000 pounds!) through our pet food pantry." (Facebook)
• Boise Rock School: "Join us tonight for Adult Rock Night from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Boise Rock School. Twenty dollars gets you rockin’ and includes refreshments. Open to all ages and abilities! #boiserockschool #rockscool #boiserocks #junoarts" (Instagram)
• Boise Parks and Recreation: "Another important reminder to please stay off muddy trails to prevent damage. It's a great time of year to use the Boise River Greenbelt or paths in our many parks if you're looking to walk, run or ride!" (Facebook)
• Ballet Idaho: "'The Nutcracker' was an utterly exhilarating return to the stage and we hope it brought you as much joy as it did us! If you want to make the magic last a little longer, now is the perfect time to watch our film taking you behind the scenes." (Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Wilderness Ranch: "Dog sitting? My daughter is looking for a place for her (friendly and well-behaved) dog to stay from Dec. 26-Jan. 2 (or so). She is willing to pay boarding cost. PM me if you are interested or know someone." (Nextdoor)

Loving the Boise Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
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• Send me a news tip or suggestion at john.braese@patch.com

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— John Braese

About me: Welcome to the Boise edition of patch.com. I am the community editor in this exciting endeavor for the Boise area. I was born and grew up in Boise, attending Bishop Kelly High School before graduating from Borah High School more than a few years ago. I have seen Boise grow substantially in the last few years, but still maintain my hometown appeal. I want to hear about what is important to you and the stories you wish to see on patch.com. Feel free to reach out to me via email at john.braese@patch.com or drop me a phone call or text at 208 954-9585.