🌱 Unsolved Boise Murder + Idaho Baby Mail + Bengal Coach's Arrest

Welcome back, Boise! I'm here in your inbox today to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Here we go.

Welcome to the Saturday edition of the Boise Daily. We start with a story 10 years in the making and still with no answers. A man who placed Boise on the map for a great cause is dead after a recreational accident, and Bengal football is national news, but not for their play on the field. If you ever wanted to just mail your child off, you had the chance years ago. Finally, take a look back as we provide the timeline of Chad Daybell and Lori Valley Daybell.

First, today's weather:

Cooler with a shower or two. High: 69 Low: 57.

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Here are the top stories in Boise today:

1. Almost a decade ago, a house fire took place on Randolph Drive, a neighborhood within walking distance from Borah High School. Found in the home was 74-year-old Phyllis Ward, a victim of multiple blows to the head with an object. The Ward case was deemed a homicide by the Boise Police Department. KTVB-TV's Tristan Lewis reports now, almost 10 years later, no arrests have been made and the family lives with many questions and few answers. (KTVB.com)
2. In 2009, the world was watching Boise as the city hosted the Winter Special Olympics. Boise beat out Reno, Nevada, Schladming-Graz, Austria, and Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany to host the games in large part due to the efforts of James Grossman and his ability to raise $7 million in two weeks. BoiseDev managing editor Gretchen Parsons looks at the man who recently died in a kayaking accident and his legacy to athletes with special needs and his involvement in developing Boise's Hidden Springs community. (boisedev.com)
3. Football in Idaho is currently making national news, but not for the right reasons. CBS2 carries an Associated Press story of Idaho State assistant football coach DaVonte’ Neal's arrest in connection with a 2017 drive-by murder in Arizona. Neal currently sits in the Bannock County Jail awaiting extradition on charges of one count of first-degree murder, one count of drive-by-shooting, and one count of discharging a firearm at a structure. Idaho State University has announced Neal was placed on administrative leave with plans to terminate his contract underway. (idahonews)
4. Idahoans have always looked for ways to innovate and save some cash, but parents in 1914 took that to a new level. KIDO-AM's Ryan looks back at a time babies were transported around the state by parcel mail. This is not a hoax — drop the kid in a burlap sack, slap 15 cents postage to cover the costs and your child was on their way to a destination. The USPS shut down the baby delivery after two years although all the packages made their way safe and without incident. (kidotalkradio)
5. Certain stories are just so expansive with so much coming at the reader that we all lose track of the past. The Boise Daily has decided to use this week's update on the Chad Daybell/Lori Vallow Daybell case with an expanded timeline of the case by East Idaho News staff. The article takes the reader back to Chad Daybell's marriage in 1990, when and where Chad and Lori met, the death of Lori's brother, moves to Idaho, and the search for the children. (eastidahonews)

Today in Boise:

• Pets of all kinds and shapes and their families are welcomed Saturday morning at the Family Pet Expo taking place at Expo Idaho. (10 a.m.)
• Be prepared to see lots of little runners coming down Capital Boulevard as the Capitol Classic Kids Run takes place Saturday morning. (10 a.m.)
• After the kids are done with the race, a short drive away is the Boise Greek Festival and a plate of Gyros, Souvlaki, Dolmades, Pastitsio, Baklava, and Kourambiethes. (11 a.m.)
• If the adults are still not full, visit Watson's Mystery Cafe and Spirits for an afternoon of Brisket, Brunch, and Blues. (1 p.m.)
• Boise residents can cap off Saturday with a visit to the Green Acres Food Truck Park for the Idaho Brewshed Beer Festival, sponsored by Idaho Rivers United. (4 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Idaho Humane Society: "Update: adopted! Jazz is still waiting to find her family! She has been on the adoption floor since April 16 and is our longest-term dog right now. If you're interested in meeting Jazz, come visit our adoption center." (Idaho Humane Society via Facebook)
• Boise State University: "A team of students from Boise State University was one of 10 national teams selected to advance to the next phase of the @nasa 2022 Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students (SUITS) Artemis Student Challenge." (Boise State University via Instagram)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Despite seeing lots of May showers and even some snow, #drought conditions across the region have seen little improvement heading into the summer. For more details, check https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu...." (US National Weather Service Boise Idaho via Facebook)
• Boise State Public Radio: "Boise author Malia Collins recently collaborated on a new book featuring story quilts made by artisan refugees who have resettled in Boise. In 2020, Collins was named the Idaho Writer in Residence by the Idaho Commission on the Arts." (Boise State Public Radio via Facebook)
• Zoo Boise: "Visited Mellisa Paul on KTVB Idaho Today earlier this week to chat about Butterflies in Bloom, our new tiger, and other Zoo Boise summer events:"
• (Zoo Boise via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Boise Daily? Contact me at john.braese@patch.com