First day of school will be Monday. Please watch out for our children

I don’t know if you are like me or not, but it does not seem that we should be on the tail end of summer already. Spring was just wet and cold and seemed to take a long time to warm up. I think our gas heater was still running in mid-May. And now, it’s already time for school to start next week.  

 After last week’s cool days, it is hot this week and supposed to be back in the 80’s next week. Well, I guess that is Idaho weather for you! It’s just hard to predict from hour to hour, let alone from season to season.  Just hope we have a beautiful fall!

 With school starting next week, there will be more little people on the streets and teenagers in cars in the mornings and mid-afternoons.  So please be aware and watch out for the young pedestrians as they go to and from school. Also, please be aware of the increased traffic and be a bit more patient. Our children are our future, and we must do all that we can to protect them.  

 On a different note, I’ve been getting quite a few people asking when Maverik will be starting their new store project on the south side of the Weiser River Bridge. I’m still not aware of what the timeline is.  However, Maverik did purchase the building permit this week, so we may start seeing some activity before too long.  

 As for the RV park that is to go across the highway from the Maverik project, there has not been much word coming from the owners. But I will keep you updated as I receive information.  

 There is also a business in town that is planning a major expansion, only this one will be a little more out of sight. The expansion will be to Treasure Valley Farms south of the railroad tracks off from W. Third St. Apparently, Treasure Valley Farms has significantly expanded the number of onion acres they farm in Washington, and they need a bigger facility to process the onions.  

 This project will rearrange how you get to the City’s Water Plant on Mortimer’s Island since the new construction will be where the existing road sits. Instead, a new road to the water plant will be created at Treasure Valley Farms’ expense that will be closer to the slough on the south side of that property. The City is in the final stages of obtaining the necessary permits from the Department of Environmental Quality to allow a road to be closer to the water.

 In City news this week, the water department employees will be exercising water valves in the streets over the next couple of weeks. You may be wondering why valves need to exercise. Well, just like you and me, the valves tend to get stiff without a little workout. So, each year, the water crew goes through town and completely opens and closes all 963 valves in the City. Since most of the water lines are in the middle of the street, that’s where the crew will be working. So, while you are watching out for the little ones going to and from school, please watch out for the big ones who are in the middle of the road. 

 Well, that’s it for this week. Hope you make it through these next few days of heat. Cool ones are supposed to be coming.