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SGT. Tanya Stitt Receives the Idaho Cross


On Thursday July 30 th I presented SGT Tanya Stitt with the Idaho Cross award to honor her brave actions helping a fellow resident in Hailey Idaho. The Idaho Cross is given to military men and women who assist civilians while they are in a civilian setting. Thanks to SGT Stitt's prompt actions she prevented the excessive harm, possible paralysis and potential death of a Hailey resident. She was the first to arrive to a vehicle rollover accident in Camas County. She immediately assisted a victim who was crawling out of the vehicle window and provided aid by stabilizing their neck. She understood the seriousness of the situation and reassured the victim who appeared to be going into shock. Her actions insured a safe and stabilized situation until the paramedics arrived. I am incredibly proud of SGT. Stitt and was honored to present her with this award. SGT. Stitt's actions reflected great credit upon herself, the Idaho National Guard, and our great state. Once again, on behalf of all Idahoans thank you SGT. Tanya Stitt.
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Happy Jaialdi!  


I was honored to welcome the President of the Basque Country Iñigo Urkullu, The premier of the Bizkaia Territory Unai Remeteria, and the rest of the Basque delegation to Idaho and the State Capitol on Wednesday July 29 th to celebrate the beginning of Basque cultural week - Jaialdi - and to discuss future collaborations between Idaho and the Basque Country. The cultural heritage of the Basque people in Idaho is an integral part of who we are as a state and It was a privilege to be able to entertain their leadership through such a culturally festive time. More than 16,000 people of Basque heritage live in the State of Idaho, and President Urkullu said he hopes his visit will improve upon an already very special relationship. We also signed a proclamation celebrating the Basque culture and honoring the Jaialdi festival all across the state. Thank you to everyone from the Basque delegation who visited our great state during these festivities and I hope everyone in Idaho can join us in celebrating Jaialdi!
Governor Otter declares Basque Culture Week in Idaho with Basque President Iñigo Urkullu

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Butte County Capital for a Day 


On Tuesday, July 28 th I travelled to the Butte County community of Arco to host my 83 rd "Capital for a Day." This provided Butte County residents an opportunity to have open discussions about government issues and public policy with me, members of my Cabinet, and other senior State officials. Joining me in Arco was our Lt. Governor Brad Little, Idaho Department of Parks Director David Langhorst, Idaho Office of Energy Resources Administrator John Chatburn and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Director John Tippets. We also had representatives from the State Board of Education, Idaho Department of Transportation, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Idaho Department of Water Resources, and the Idaho Department of Commerce. I would like to thank the State officials who joined me in Butte County, as well as the Arco residents who opened up their home to us. The day brought about many productive conversations about the past, present, and future of the wonderful Arco community.

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Snake River Stampede 

Idaho has a long and robust history of competitive rodeo- and much of that is thanks to the Snake River Stampede, which has provided a venue for competitive rodeo action and entertainment in Idaho for a hundred years! On Wednesday July 15 th First Lady Lori Otter and I were honored to help present the award of Miss Rodeo Idaho to Heather Skovgard.

On Thursday, July 16 th, First Lady Lori Otter and I had the great privilege of riding in the Grand Entry of the "Patriot Night at the Rodeo," joining along in the celebration as the Snake River Stampede entered into its 100 th year of horse-bucking action. I also competed in the Team Roping event.

I had a great time at the rodeo, and I would like to thank all the individuals who have made the Snake River Stampede thrive as a top 10 regular season professional rodeo. I would also like to thank the thousands of people who came to cheer me and Lori on, as well as those who came from all around the world to attend the rodeo events.

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New Appointments to the State Board of Education 

Today I announced the appointments of Dr. Linda Clark and Emma Atchley to the State Board of Education.

 

Dr. Linda Clark is a career educator and superintendent of the West Ada School District. She embodies the passion and dedication of Idaho's professional educators. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in education and our K-through-Career concept. She also understands the importance of providing the very best educational opportunities for Idaho citizens.

Dr. Linda Clark 

In addition to her work in leading Idaho's largest school district with 36,000 students, she recently served for two years on the Governor's Task Force for Improving Education where her leadership and work were invaluable. I know she shares my commitment to implementing the 20 recommendations to improve education in Idaho as we work to reach the goal of enabling 60 percent of our citizens ages 25-34 to attain a post-secondary degree or certificate by 2020.

Emma Atchley 

Emma Atchley, a business woman and potato grower from Ashton, is being reappointed to serve a second term on the board. She is currently Vice Chair having served as Chair in 2014-2015. She has been a true champion of education in Idaho. Her leadership during the work of the Task Force and her advocacy for our education system will continue to benefit the students, families and communities of our state.

 

Linda, replaces Rod Lewis of Eagle on the eight-member Board of Education. I extend my sincere thanks to Rod Lewis for his 15 years of service to Idaho. His efforts have led to significant improvements in education, and our students and state are stronger today for his hard work and dedication.

 

Lewis finished his third term on the Board effective June 30, 2015. Clark and Atchley's five-year terms run until June 30, 2020.

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Spotlight Agency:
Governor's Office of Species Conservation

The Gem State is celebrated for its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife. With that in mind, The Idaho Governor's Office of Species Conservation (OSC) is committed to preserving Idaho's economy and way of life while coordinating programs aimed at recovering species listed as threatened, endangered and candidates under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). OSC was established within the Executive Office of the Governor during the 2000 Idaho Legislative Session. The office has played a central role in coordinating conservation efforts between state and federal agencies and private landowners. OSC staff members work alongside Idahoans and governmental agencies to balance recovery strategies with the State's economic vitality.

 

One of OSC's largest priorities is implementing a conservation strategy for greater sage-grouse in an effort to preclude the need to list the species under the ESA. Greater sage-grouse is a landscape species that if listed, could negatively affect the economies of 11 western states, including Idaho. The US Fish and Wildlife Service designated greater sage-grouse as a "candidate" species in 2010 due to threats from energy development and wildfire. In response, Governor Otter created a Sage Grouse Task Force in 2012 to develop a strategy to address the threats to the species and avoid a listing. The Task Force's work culminated into a "preferred alternative" for conservation efforts on federal lands. While we work to complete the planning effort for conservation actions on federal lands, the state is shifting focus to the development of a conservation plan for sage-grouse on state managed lands.

 

OSC, along with our partner agencies, has been working hard to complete and implement conservation actions for greater sage-grouse in Idaho. We are also working collaboratively with the Department of Interior and other western states to ensure there is a coordinated effort across all 11 states to conserve greater sage-grouse. An unprecedented level of cooperation on one the most complex natural resource planning efforts ever undertaken in the west will be key in averting a listing and maintaining state sovereignty over this iconic species.