POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Bannock County Coroner’s office and Pocatello Police have identified the woman who was killed in an accident Saturday night.
Lena Phelps, 29, of Pocatello was injured when a pickup ran a red light and hit the car she was riding in.
It happened around 7 p.m. at the intersection of North Arthur Avenue and West Clark Street. A man was also injured in the accident. His condition is unknown.
Officers said Guy Guerrero, 25, of Chubbuck, is facing an aggravated DUI charge for causing the accident.
Guy Guerrero
Guerrero and his passenger suffered minor injuries.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho grass and plants normally lie dormant under the snow this time of year; however, this warm weather is causing some confusion, even for our plants.
Some people are reporting that their tulips and irises are starting to pop up. Homeowners are wondering if they need to start mowing their lawns. Gardening experts are telling people not to worry and just let nature take its course.
“Just be patient. It’s winter, and January is usually the coldest time of the year around here. Stay off the lawns. No heavy traffic on lawns. And try not to water anything. Just wait and be patient,” said Sheri Ellis, owner of Four Seasons Garden Design.
Ellis says do not water or mow your lawn right now, as that will cause it to grow more. She says there is a risk of damage to early-blooming ornamental trees and shrubs, but nothing can be done about it until spring.
SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI) – Swan Valley Fire was called to a trailer house fire Monday afternoon where they found flames coming from a bedroom window.
The fire started around 12:50 p.m. at 3481 Swan Valley Highway. Firefighters quickly arrived. But as they started fighting the fire, the homeowners tried to go back into the burning trailer to recover items. Firefighters had to physically stop them.
Crystal said the homeowners attempted to re-enter the buildings several times after being told to stay back for their own safety.
Fire Chief Travis Crystal said two mobile homes were joined together. Crystal said at one point, one of the homeowners climbed a ladder and was on the roof with an ax, trying to keep the fire from spreading to the attached house. Firefighters were attempting to spray water on the buildings at the time. There are conflicting reports on whether or not the man was knocked off the building or if he jumped.
When he was on the ground, he was restrained by firefighters. Chief Chrystal says that during that altercation, one of the firefighters was punched in the face. The firefighter was treated on the scene and released. The homeowner who was on the house is being treated at a local hospital for injuries he sustained in the fall.
Bonneville County officers are contacting all parties, including eyewitnesses, to determine what happened.
After their investigation is complete, they will talk with the prosecuting attorney to determine if any charges will be filed.
“In all of my 26 years as a firefighter, I’ve never had someone try to impede firefighting efforts like this by causing a physical disturbance and assaulting a firefighter,” Travis Crystal, Swan Valley Fire Chief, said.
The fire caused $100,000 damage to the structure and another $30,000 for the contents.
We continue to observe dry northwest winds as we wrap up the final days of 2025. A high-pressure ridge will remain in control through the middle of the week, keeping conditions dry overall. However, we’ll occasionally see high- and mid-level clouds drifting through the region.
On Tuesday, sunshine takes the spotlight as temperatures rise slightly, with afternoon highs near 36 degrees. Winds will remain light from the north-northeast at approximately 5 mph, resulting in a calm but agreeable day.
Wednesday will bring slightly more cloud cover, especially in the afternoon and evening, but dry weather will continue. High temperatures will climb to approximately 40 degrees, and winds will be light, starting from the east-northeast at around 5 mph before becoming calm later in the day.
By Thursday, the pattern begins to shift as high pressure weakens and wetter weather approaches from the west. Skies will be mostly cloudy, with a chance of rain and snow developing during the afternoon. Highs will top out near 39°. That chance for mixed precipitation continues into Thursday night, mainly before 11 PM, with mostly cloudy skies and overnight lows falling to around 29°. The probability of rainfall during this period rises to approximately 30%.
Looking ahead to Friday, there remains a chance of rain and snow, with highs in the lower 40s.
