🌱 Santa Cops + Boise Warm Up Shelters + Idaho Cannibalism

Good day, neighbors! It's me again, John Braese, your host of the Boise Daily.

For the Boise Daily's faithful readers, if you have failed to pick me up a present yet, here is an idea: in this holiday season, tell one of your friends or family about the Boise Daily. Let just one more person know where you wake up and pick up all the news for the day. Share with your loved ones and friends the Boise Daily.

That one family or friend will then know stories like today's Santas with a badge story or Boise's newest college graduates. You will provide them the news of a local trail closed to the public due to mud or the story of where the Boise homeless can go during the day to stay out of the cold. Be warned though — do not allow your family or friend to read Idaho's recent cannibalism story while sitting down to dinner.

First, today's weather:

A couple of showers. High: 46 Low: 41.

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Here are the top stories today in Boise:

1. The Ada County Sheriff's office went undercover recently, not to purchase drugs or buy stolen items, but to play Santa to 15 families in need. CBS2 news staff report on the undercover cops stepping in and paying for purchases at a local Walmart. (Idaho News)
2. Boise State University announced 2,407 graduates will celebrate the holidays with new degrees after commencement ceremonies were held Dec. 18. Nearly 60 percent of Boise State’s winter graduates are Idahoans. (boisestate.edu)
3. If part of your holiday plans involved a hike, KTVB staff remind you a hike on the Old Pen Trail #15A should be reconsidered. Due to muddy conditions, the popular trail will be shut down until mid-March. A map of the closed trail is included in the story. (ktvb)
4. Boise’s homeless community will have a new place to warm up this winter. BoiseDev reporter Margaret Carmel writes three homeless nonprofits have joined to open a warm-up day shelter, allowing people to get out of the cold, grab a shower and access programs available in Boise. (boisedev)
5. The Boise Daily is committed to bringing your local news, but at times, a story from a different area of Idaho is so bizarre, Boise readers need to know. The East Idaho News and reporter Eric Grossarth reports a Clark Fork man is in custody and charged with murder and cannibalism after human body parts were found in his microwave. The story involves a police standoff, body parts discovered missing, heated up flesh and an upcoming hearing on Dec. 28. (eastidahonews)

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Today in Boise:

• Boise's Household Hazardous Waste Collection site for Wednesday is Fire Station 12. (Noon)
• Don’t miss a night of hilarious comedy with Mike Masilotti, an internationally touring LA based stand-up comic at Watson's Mystery Cafe and Spirits. Masilotti is co-founder of Third Wheel Podcast Studio and Third Wheel Hollywood and has recently recorded a Dry Bar Comedy Special that will be available in 2022. (8 p.m.)

Boise Fact of the Day:

In 2021's count, social workers recorded 552 people experiencing homelessness in Boise, with 410 of those sleeping in emergency shelters, 69 in transitional housing and another 73 sleeping unsheltered. This is down from a high of 867 total individuals recorded in 2016.

From my notebook:

• Boise Police Department: "Boise Police are searching for a missing, endangered teenager. Keira is 16 years old. She left her house near S. Owyhee Street and W. Hillcrest Drive last night at 2 a.m. and hasn’t been seen since." (Facebook)
• Boise Police Department: "One of the best parts of this job is being invited to events like the Boise Bicycle Project Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway. Spreading joy this time of year is priceless and so is the work of this great organization." (Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Dreaming of a white Christmas? There's a chance of snow around the Christmas holiday, including in valley locations. Here's the chance of snow amounts falling on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day." (Facebook)
• Boise Fire Department: "A few special moments happened over at Station 15 recently. Yesterday, Senior Firefighter Thad Broadhead retired after 25 years of dedicated service to the City of Boise. We thank him for his service and wish him a long and happy retirement." (Facebook)
• Zoo Boise: "Have a passion for wildlife and helping Zoo Boise grow? Zoo Boise is hiring a development coordinator to join our pride. Learn more and apply at https://zooboise.org/about/careers/. : Dan Dykema" (Facebook)
• Ballet Idaho: "Congratulations to Principal Dancer Elizabeth Barreto and her interview with Pointe magazine! Read about her first big 'Nutcracker' break here: https://pointemagazine.com/nutcracker-first-leading-role/" (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— 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.