Enjoy the latest Neal Larson Show Parody!
Full Post Style
Public weighs in as Caldera Flats subdivision appeal advances in Fremont County">Public weighs in as Caldera Flats subdivision appeal advances in Fremont County
Island Park, ID (KIFI) – A proposed subdivision near Henry’s Lake is back under review as a developer appeals a denial from county officials—and time is running out for the public to weigh in.
DK Land LLC, a development group based in Dillon, Montana, is appealing the Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission’s decision to deny the Caldera Flats subdivision.
The proposed Caldera Flats subdivision would bring 32 residential lots to about 160 acres near Henry’s Lake. The project was previously denied by the Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission in July of 2025, but the developer, DK Land LLC, has since filed an appeal—putting the decision in the hands of county commissioners.
At the center of the appeal is whether the county made the right call in denying the project.
Supporters of the subdivision argue that the proposal complies with the Fremont County development code and say property owners should be allowed to build if regulations are followed.
Opponents, however, point to concerns about protecting rural character, wildlife habitat, and environmentally sensitive land in the Island Park area.
Public Input Deadline
Before commissioners make a decision, the public still has a chance to weigh in.
Fremont County officials say written comments can be submitted to Planning and Zoning, which will be included in the official record reviewed during the appeal process. Written comments for consideration by the BOCC may be submitted in person or by US mail at the Fremont County Clerk’s office, 151 W. 1st North, Suite 12, St. Anthony, ID, 83445, no later than noon, May 13th, 2026.
After the comment deadline, the Fremont County Board of Commissioners will review the full record, including staff findings, public testimony, and submitted evidence.
A public hearing is expected later this month, on May 20th, where commissioners could:
- Uphold the original denial
- Reverse the decision and allow the project to move forward
- Or send the application back for further review
The Caldera Flats proposal highlights an ongoing debate in Fremont County—balancing growth and development with the preservation of open space and sensitive areas in Island Park.
As the appeal moves forward, this month’s upcoming deadline marks one of the final opportunities for community members to have their voices heard. The outcome could shape not only the future of the Caldera Flats project but also how Fremont County balances growth and development with the protection of its rural character and natural resources.
To submit a comment, click here. If you are interested in following the appeal process of the Caldera Flats subdivision, visit the Fremont County website here.
Idaho Falls Farmers Market returns for the season">Idaho Falls Farmers Market returns for the season
IDAHO FALLS, ID (KIFI)– The Idaho Falls Farmers Market is back for the season, bringing local vendors and community members together every Saturday from May through October – rain or shine.
Located along Memorial Drive in downtown Idaho Falls, the market features more than 130 local vendors, farmers, ranchers, and artisans from across eastern Idaho.
Vendors and customers say the market is about more than shopping – it’s about supporting the local community and small businesses.
“The community support is really amazing,” Casey Etheredge, owner of Ethers Edge said. “It’s so important for the community to support these small businesses because without the community support, we wouldn’t have the farmers market. We wouldn’t have all this amazing stuff happening every Saturday.”
Visitors can shop for fresh fruits, and vegetables, locally made food, flowers, handmade crafts, and other products throughout the market.
“We really love supporting local vendors, local folks, small businesses,” Jacob Hackman, customer said . “I think that’s the backbone of our economy. This is an opportunity for us to get together as a community and support the local vendors.”
For vendors, the weekly market also creates opportunities to connect with both local residents and tourists visiting eastern Idaho.
“The farmers market allows me to interact with so many people,” Chris Salmond, owner of Burger Smith said. “It’s kind of like a mini fair. A large amount of people come out, we get to see tons of tourists, and it’s a wonderful experience.”
Vendors also say the market helps strengthen community connections beyond business sales.
The Idaho Falls Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will run through October in downtown Idaho Falls.
5.1.2026 – S4C: Ruth sings Adele — Also:Election Integrity, Candidate Records, Studio Performance">5.1.2026 – S4C: Ruth sings Adele — Also:Election Integrity, Candidate Records, Studio Performance
We’re officially in that “two-and-a-half weeks to Election Day” stretch, and it feels like the volume keeps turning up—forums everywhere, social media at peak car-wreck energy, and a lot of people showing sides of themselves that aren’t exactly their best. We talked through why we keep coming back to voting records and scorecards, even when people hate them: it’s the scoreboard. Context matters, sure, but pretending the score doesn’t exist just protects politicians from accountability. Neal also shared some numbers he ran that suggest East Idaho’s voting outcomes in Boise don’t match how conservative the region actually is, and that the only real fix is turnout—especially from conservatives who’ve been a little too apathetic while moderates/left-leaning voters show up consistently.
We also hit the fatigue point Julie mentioned—how exhausting it is watching people fight without decorum, and how frustrating it is when candidates run as Republicans while not actually intending to govern anywhere near the party platform. From there we got into why the longer-form debates have mattered (dark money, misleading campaign claims about votes and budgets, and how soundbites can distort what really happened). We closed out with a strong Studio 4 Cover performance from Ruth Holland (Ruthie dot Holland), a quick local note on the Shilo Inn closure in Idaho Falls, and then a wider-ranging grab bag: AI’s growth pains and energy demands (and why INL/nuclear keeps coming up), skepticism about AI tools “steering” results, and a reminder that “unfunded promises” from politicians deserve the same scrutiny as unfunded mandates. We ended on a sharp example of why taxpayers are skeptical: a Valley View school land deal under criminal investigation after trustees approved paying $5M for land appraised at $2.87M—exactly the kind of thing that makes “we need more funding” a harder sell.
### Highlights
– Why voting records/scorecards are the “scoreboard,” and why context can’t replace accountability
– East Idaho’s conservative identity vs. what the voting data suggests happens in Boise
– Studio 4 Cover: Ruth Holland performs Adele’s “When We Were Young” (and nails it)
– Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls closes abruptly; questions for the Snake River Event Center
– AI: data centers, power/water concerns, and why the “energy problem” may be solved by AI (or nuclear)
– Valley View school land purchase raises fraud concerns and a criminal investigation
Let’s talk advertising. When you want to advertise on the radio, you call the station, right? But what about Facebook, Instagram, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, and other streaming platforms?
You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing.
Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today.