🌱 Boise Government Growing + New Park + Holiday Tipping Story

Morning, Boise! Let's get you started this Thursday with everything you need to know going on around Boise today.

A Boise man may spend the rest of his life in prison after a traffic stop, and if you are looking for change in careers, the city is opening up new positions. A few of those new city jobs may be servicing the city's newest approved park, and a local waitress ended her shift very happy recently. We end with a youth group attempting to help out neighbors only to be pulled out of a vehicle by their hair and threatened with a gun by the local sheriff.

First, today's weather:

A little snow. High: 37 Low: 29.

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Here are the top stories in Boise today:

1. A Boise man faces a possible life sentence in prison after a traffic stop last week. CBS2 news staff report 53-year-old Douglas Mather was arrested with four guns, more than a thousand Fentanyl pills, more than a pound of cocaine, and over a half-pound of meth. Mather is out on bail. (Idaho News)
2. Your city government is growing. BoiseDev senior reporter Margaret Carmel was present when Boise Mayor Lauren McLean presented Boise City Council with a slate of interim budget changes to add over a dozen full-time positions. (boisedev.com)
3. A new park is coming to Northwest Boise residents. According to KTVB staff, the city approved funding for a new park on a 1.4-acre parcel of city-owned land off of Gary Lane. (KTVB.com)
4. Visiting restaurants around Boise, we all experience some terrific service. A server at Applebee's in Garden City, soon to have surgery and unable to work for some time, was left a $1,000 tip by a Boise family. LITE-FM's Nikki West has the story, perfect for the holidays. (liteonline.com)
5. An Idaho sheriff is facing charges of felony aggravated battery, felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor exhibition of a gun stemming from an incident where he attacked members of a youth group involved in leaving turkeys on doorsteps around the neighborhood. In an interview, parts of reported by IdahoCapitalSun's Eric Grossarth, Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland mentioned "drunk Indians drive down my cul-de-sac" and "reservation people around us that are not good people." (idahocapitalsun)

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Today in Boise:

• Capital High School will conduct pictures of those involved in the Music Department on Thursday. (8 a.m.)
• The Garden City Public Library will hold a Community Legal Clinic. (4 p.m.)
• Boise High School will hold the school's annual Quad Band Holiday Concert Thursday evening. (6 p.m.)
• Join local expert Louisa Evers for an overview of the 15 most common birds you might see at your feeders in the Treasure Valley this winter and how to attract them. (7 p.m.)
• The Boise Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a meeting on Thursday. (4 p.m.)

Boise Fact of the Day:

The City of Boise employs over 2,500 people.

From my notebook:

• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "With the recent heavy snow event, our snow water equivalent (liquid inside the snowpack) was brought to around normal for some watershed basins, compared to the 30-year average." (Facebook)
• Radio Boise: "We are thrilled to announce that beginning in January 2022, Alyssa Pearson will be taking over as our new general manager! Alyssa Pearson is a born and raised Idaho spud with a deep love of music and a penchant for bad puns." (Instagram)
• Boise Contemporary Theater: "“I cannot tell you what an experience it was to witness such amazing talent depicting a most poignant and heartwarming event in history. The timing for this play was perfect." (Instagram)
• Boise State Public Radio: "The growing pains in McCall have been felt acutely during the pandemic. This summer Morning Edition and Idaho Matters were able to visit with the community to learn more about how a severe housing shortage is affecting quality of life." (Facebook)
• Public Information Officer Ellen Mattila, City of Eagle: "Hiring: Grounds Maintenance Technician — The Eagle Public Works Department is hiring a full-time Grounds Maintenance Technician. The position cares for all aspects of city parks and facilities." (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. See you all tomorrow morning for another 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.