SHARE:  

Wendell Idaho Newsletter Winter/Spring 2024

Please send all comments regarding the newsletter to info@wendell.id.gov.

2023 Year in Review

2023 brought a lot of new changes to the Hub City. A new Valley Country Store continued construction and a new Maverik location was completed. The building of Hub City Park, a new park on the west side of the city, was begun. Flag Plaza on Idaho Street was started and finished and in December it played host to Wendell's first community Christmas Tree. Besides those big projects, the city was hard at work taking care of other tasks and issues- see the graphic below for a few of those numbers!

Wendell Hosts It's First Christmas Tree

The recent completion of Flag Plaza, a collaborative effort between the CIty and the School District, provided the perfect location for a Christmas tree on Idaho Street. A 14 foot tall Christmas tree was ordered and erected. On December 1, 2023 the City of Wendell hosted it's first Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony which was held during a small snow storm and was well attended by over 100 Wendell residents. Hot cocoa and cookies were provided by local businesses. The community was led in a few Christmas carols around the tree. Mayor Vipperman honored a few community members who "light up" Wendell with their dedication and service. The snow slowed and the tree was lit after a small countdown. It shown brightly downtown all through the month of December.

Wendell Crew digs out Hub City

from over 8 inches of snow

In January the City of Wendell was hammered by a severe winter storm which brought over 8 inches of snow combined with strong winds. Our Wendell Public Works Crew started preparing days before by servicing trucks and plows and mixing salt and sand. The first night they began plowing at 1:00am, worked through the day, and were working on our plows until 10:30pm. Two of the city's plow trucks are over 37 years old and require a lot of skill and care to keep them going. The second day began early at 5:30am. When the storm slowed they went home to rest and were back at 5:00pm ready for the worst of it. They hit the streets until 11:00pm when lack of visibility required that they stop. The next morning was another early one while they dug the sleepy city out from under the snow. We kept the public updated via the city Facebook page and received so many kind messages of support all weekend. Wendell truly is the best!


Love the Hub Campaign Highlights our City's Namesake

Let’s talk about the guy that our fair city was named for. Did you know that he was a World War I veteran? That he graduated with honors from Princeton University? That he worked in Washington DC and is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery? That Wendel had a brother named Jerome?


From the Wendell Centennial Publication we learn, “When the North Side tract was surveyed and prepared for land entry in 1906-1907, William S. Kuhn had two town sites surveyed in the second segregation. The two towns were named “Jerome” and “Wendell” for Kuhn’s sons Jerome Hill Kuhn and Wendel Speer Kuhn. Wendel was 15 years old in the fall of 1907 and his brother just 9 years old when the town lots in their namesakes were sold.


Wendel Speer Kuhn was born November 1, 1892 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the first child of William S. Kuhn. The name Wendel comes from Germany and means “Conqueror or leader of people” or “Crowned with honor, glory”.


Young Wendel Kuhn graduated with honors from Princeton University in 1914. He was an exceptional athlete and ranked among the top five amateurs in tennis and golf during his college days. At Princeton he played four years of varsity hockey and captained the university’s 1913 championship team.


He was commissioned Lieutenant with the first Officer’s Training Camp at the Presidio near San Francisco and served in France during World War I.


Wendel spent considerable time in Idaho in connection with his father’s business interests and even lived in the City of Wendell for some time. He later moved to Chicago where he joined a brokerage firm and was married. In 1942 he moved to Washington DC and worked for the War Production Board and then for the Navy Re-negotiation Board where he received the Meritorious Civilian Award. He retired from civil service in 1960 and died in Massachusetts in 1964.


Wendel’s son, Wendel Speer Kuhn Jr. says his father talked often of his enterprises in Idaho but cannot explain why the town was named “Wendell” with two L’s when the name is properly spelled with only one. When the town plat was dedicated to Lincoln County in July 1908 it was clearly spelled WENDELL.


Have you ever wondered about our town name? Did you know that Wendel and Jerome were brothers? 

Updates

Hub City Court waiting for striping

Our brand new basketball court in City Park is usable but still a very blank canvas right now. Plans are in the works for the Wendell High School art department to add a logo to the center court and official striping to make it even better!

Hub City Park Almost Ready for it's Debut

Hub City Park had a hold-up waiting on some play equipment last fall which put us out until the spring to officially open it up. As soon as weather allows some grass and wildflowers will be seeded, the roof will be installed on the picnic shelter, the last loose ends will be tied up and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be scheduled!

Reminders

Wendell is Here to Help


Wendell's local food bank, Community Helping Hands, is open every Tuesday from 11am-2pm and every Thursday from 2pm-5pm. They are always excepting donations and those can be dropped off while the food bank is open.


If there is anyone in your life who could benefit from the food bank please pass on the information. Everyone in our community deserves food security.



ALL LICENSES DUE


If you are a business owner or dog owner, licenses for 2024 are DUE NOW.


Stop by City Hall to avoid any issues and make sure that you're current!

Now You Can Pay Your Bills Online


As a way to offer you more choices in how you pay your bills, City of Wendell now lets you make make payments online. It's simple to use. Every month we'll send you a reminder email you let you know when your bill is online. Then you just log into your account at xpressbillpay.com or use the mobile app to view your bill. To sign up, go to wendell.id.gov and follow the instructions there, or go to www.xpressbillpay.com

Did You Know?

Early Weed Control

One thing that grows easily in our harsh desert environment? Weeds! Early spraying can be critical in keeping them under control. Property owners are responsible for weed control from the middle of the street to the middle of the alley.


When the soil temperature has reached 50 degrees or higher, weeds will start germinating. Once the temperature has stayed around the 50-55 degree range for at least one week, weeds will slowly begin to emerge from the soil.


Applying a pre-emergent herbicide is a method of preventative weed control that should be performed early into the spring season. It produces a chemical coating that layers the soil, preventing seeds from germinating, and weeds from growing. When it comes to applying pre-emergent herbicides, timing is everything! As mentioned above, you want to wait until the soil temperature has hit at least 50 degrees before applying. But don’t wait too long! Pre-emergent herbicides will not have any effect on weeds after they have begun growing.

Get Your Lawn Ready for Spring

Before you start adding fertilizer or aerating your lawn, you need to clean it up. Over the fall and winter, twigs, branches, and leaves fell and they need to be removed. Wait for a day when your lawn is dry as raking wet soil can dislodge your grass. Begin with clearing large debris like outdoor toys and trash that has made a winter home on the lawn. After that, rake again to remove dead grass, smaller twigs, and leaves. You want to start with a clean canvas as you prepare your lawn for summer.


  • Once the snow begins to thaw, you may notice that your lawn has developed some nasty spots or rings. Lawn fungi tends to pop up in spring in both the Treasure Valley, Boise, and in East Idaho. Removing thatch gently by hand and applying lawn disease treatments can help.


  • In Idaho the best time to aerate your lawn is either spring or fall. If you choose to aerate in the spring, core aeration can help bring your grass out of dormancy quicker and look better during summer. Lawns that come with a new home often have a stripped topsoil leftover from construction. This leaves your new lawn with a poor growing environment. Aerating the grass can break up the compacted soil and allow nutrients to reach the roots.


  • Your lawn's pH balance is important for it's overall health. For Idaho, your soil's pH should be around 6-7. If it is lower, your lawn could probably use lime treatment to restore pH balance.


  • Overseeding your lawn is recommended if your grass is looking thin or bare. When overseeding make sure the ground has been moistened beforehand.


  • Idaho has an arid climate which means there are less nutrients available to your grass. Fertilizing in late April and early May can give your lawn the boost it needs to start the growing season. Try to spread the fertilizer one half to one pound of fertilizer per 1,000 sq. feet of lawn. Be careful not to overwater or over-fertilize your lawn because it may encourage the growth of lawn fungus that create brown patches in your grass.


  • Spring is also the right time to apply pre-emergent weed control anywhere in Idaho. Grassy weeds, broadleaf weeds, and crabgrass will begin to pop up around this time. Use a weed control treatment to stem the tide of emerging weeds.



Can You See Yourself In Planning and Zoning?


Current estimates have our city's population reaching 4,500 people in the next 20 years. As our City continues to grow we're seeing more and more need for an official Planning and Zoning Committee.


A planning and zoning committee's responsibility is to help plan growth within the community and the city's area of impact. They advise the City Council and the public in regards to land use and planning and zoning regulations. They review building requests and help resolve zoning complaints. They work on a volunteer basis and hold regular meetings. If you'd be interested in helping Wendell in this capacity please email info@wendell.id.gov.


Mayor's Message

In December we prepared for our first ever Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. As I drove to Flag Plaza to get ready for it I noticed the heavy snow falling down in huge, wet chunks and I thought, "No one is going to come." We set up burn barrels, tables for refreshments, podiums, and stereo equipment- all of which were almost immediately covered in thick white snowflakes.


As the sun set, people began showing up. They accumulated around the burn barrels for warmth and formed lines to get hot chocolate and cookies. I was approached for hugs and pictures- despite the weather everyone seemed to at least be feeling jolly. I asked my husband to take an unofficial head count- we had over 100 people in attendance!


After there were a few speeches, Councilman Shaun Spencer led the entire group in a few Christmas carols. The snow slowed down and I watched in amazement as over 100 Wendell residents sang Silent Night together around a beautiful tree. Thank you for that moment. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for making this community the very best.

Mayor Rebecca Vipperman

Community Calendar

Wendell Senior Center Breakfast- 3rd Saturday of each month 8:00am-10:00pm

Wendell Senior Center Exercise Classes- M/W/F 9:30 am

Wendell City Council Meetings- every 1st and 3rd Thursdays 6:30pm


FEBRUARY 14- Valentines Day

FEBRUARY 19- Presidents Day (City Hall closed)

MARCH 17- St. Patrick's Day

MARCH 25-29- Spring Break

APRIL 1- April Fool's Day

APRIL 15- Tax Day

APRIL 22- Earth Day


Want to see your event included in the next newsletter? Email info@wendell.id.gov

Important Numbers

WENDELL CITY HALL 208-536-5161

GOODING COUNTY SHERIFF NON-EMERGENCY 208-934-4421

WENDELL CITY FIRE- 208-536-5431

WENDELL HIGHWAY DISTRICT- 208-536-6157

IDAHO POWER 800-488-6151

IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT 208-334-8000

NORTH CANYON MEDICAL CENTER 208-543-4785

POISON CONTROL- 1-800-222-1222

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE-988

SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES- 800-922-3406

FINDTREATMENT.GOV- find a provider for addiction and mental illness

Is the content of this email relevant to you?
Yes
No
Facebook

Please send all comments regarding the newsletter to info@wendell.id.gov.