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MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (KIFI)– A mid-air collision during the second day of the Gunfighter Skies Air Show forced a lockdown at Mountain Home Air Force Base on Sunday, May 17.

The Mountain Home Air Force Base Gunfighters confirmed the lockdown in a Facebook post following the incident. According to Boise CBS affiliate KBOI, the collision involved two EA-18G Growlers around two miles from the base. All airmen involved successfully ejected and parachuted to safety; no major injuries have been reported.

The Mountain Home Police Department announced on Facebook that the remainder of the air show has been canceled. Police are asking the public to avoid the area and refrain from traveling toward the base at this time.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

A History of Incidents

This weekend’s event marked the highly anticipated return of the Gunfighter Skies Air Show after an eight-year hiatus, following a 2018 incident where a veteran hang glider pilot died after crashing onto the runway. Before that, during the 2003 show, a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds jet crashed. Fortunately the pilot successfully ejected before impact.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide more updates as new information is made available.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– 1 in 7 children in the United States has their mental health issues overlooked. The main reason their mental needs are not noticed is because children do not communicate like we do. Instead they use tools, such as toys, games, and art.

“Many children experienced, like, abuse, neglect, divorce, bullying, violence. Those are some of the things that give kids instability, community trauma,” Dr. Tamara Pettingill, the clinical social worker & director of Pettingill Counseling. “Kids are under a lot more stress nowadays, I think, than they were before. And so it’s important to address that. And sometimes they do get overlooked”

If you notice your child may be having mental health issues, that does not make you a bad parent and you should not fear judgement.

“You’re not a failure,” Dr. Pettingill said. “Parents are doing the best that they can. And we’ve got a lot of, things that we have to take care of, along with not just one child, but more children. And then usually parents are working, trying to make a living. And so no, parents are not failures. They’re doing the best that they can with the, skills that they have.”

Research by the National Institute of Mental Health has found that play therapy helps children communicate their emotions. Play therapy involves playing, whether with toys, games, art, etc.

“The therapy gives children basically self-esteem, self-worth, similar to, you know, work through their feelings,” Dr. Pettingill stated. “They validate and give tools for healing.”

Mental health professionals encourage parents, guardians, and grandparents, to pay close attention to their child’s emotional well-being. Taking care of emotional problems now could prevent many problems in their adult future.

Resources:

National Institute of Mental Health : Children and Mental Health

Mayo Clinic : Know the signs of mental health in children

National Alliance on Mental Health : The Warning Signs

SUGAR CITY, Idaho (KIFI) — A suspected drug dealer believed to be responsible for a Sugar City student’s drug overdose earlier this year was arrested last week. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office shared news of the arrest in a Facebook post on Monday morning, May 18th.

The arrest brings an end to a multi-month investigation that began in January, when School Resource Officers (SROs) in Sugar City were told that a juvenile had been hospitalized following a drug overdose. According to MCSO, the overdose took place outside of school hours.

Following the incident, SROs partnered with detectives from the sheriff’s office to investigate the source of the drugs and find the individual responsible for distributing them.

“The deputies assigned to our schools take their responsibility to protect students very seriously, both on campus and within the community,” the Madison County Sheriff’s Office stated in the post. “Their commitment to the safety and well-being of our youth extends far beyond the school day.”

Monday morning, May 18th, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook that its SROs had arrested the suspected drug dealer last week.

Investigators have not yet released the name of the suspect or the specific charges they face. Local News 8 is actively working to confirm further details surrounding the arrest and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

An arrest or formal charge is merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Trio program at Idaho State University works with veterans to ensure they get the resources they need. This Saturday, May 16 was their second annual Veterans and Military Family Resources Fair.

The fair is designed to bring together military families in the community and provide them with all kinds of connections to local organizations. Vendors had booths for mental health help, programs for veteran community involvement, and even senior home care. Idaho Central Credit Union was there to help veterans set up accounts and seek financial advising.

“As a veteran, there are a lot of resources available, and sometimes it’s really difficult to navigate those resources and know what you qualify for,” said Russell Adams, volunteer with the Wounded Warrior Project. “Being here is important to help veterans understand what is available for them.”

The fair came to the Bennion Student Union Building at the ISU Idaho Falls Campus this year, which organizers say helped with having enough space for vendors.

“We also had a lot more support from our partners in the community, so we’ve had a lot of organizations set up and try to provide resources for the families,” said Emily Wunderlich, advisor and recruiter for Trio. “It’s been a lot easier to fit everyone in, and it’s been a lot of really positive connections with people that are here.”