New bus service + Free Fishing Day + Boise Valley People

Hello Friday. Gretchen Parsons here with your rundown.

Good morning. Today we have information on Idaho’s annual Free Fishing Day. But first, details on a new bus route servicing Boise and Portland.

> First Up Today

Bus company expands to provides service from Boise to Portland

A Bus company just expanded to Boise, shuttling passengers from the City of Trees to Portland, Oregon daily.

FlixBus’s new Portland-Boise line services Boise and Nampa with stops in Oregon such as Portland, Hood River, The Dalles, Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker City, and Ontario.

The new route will run one trip daily in each direction. According to a news release, Portland-bound trips will depart from the Flying J Travel Plaza in Boise at 8 a.m. with stops in Nampa (8:30 a.m.), Ontario (9:15 a.m.), Baker City (9:45 a.m.), La Grande (11:10 a.m.), Pendleton (12:15 p.m.), Hermiston (1:15 p.m.), The Dalles (4:10 p.m.), and Hood River (4:45 p.m.) before arriving in Portland by 5:55 p.m.

To catch a ride from Boise to Portland, tickets start at $61.99.

As BoiseDev reported last month, Megabus also expanded to the Treasure Valley, linking cities in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, and Washington. The route that includes Boise connects as far north as Spokane, Washington and south into Salt Lake City, Utah.

This weekend marks annual Free Fishing Day

For those interested in learning to fish, this Saturday is a great day to start.

The second Saturday in June each year is Free Fishing Day, meaning a fishing license isn’t required to cast a line in the water. Fish and Game offers this annual freebie as an opportunity for novice anglers to learn a sport that’s fun and inexpensive.

To prepare for the big day, Idaho Fish and Game has stocked 500,000 catchable rainbow trout at community ponds, local reservoirs, and nearby lakes throughout the state. The trout are about ten to 13 inches.

Fish and Game staff will be at Kleiner Pond in Meridian with fishing and tackle bait for people who don’t have their own from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. They will also be available for some pointers on casting and fishing techniques, as well as fish identification. Staff will also be at Fischer Pond in McCall and Legacy Park Pond in Moutain Home during the same time frame.

Outside of Free Fishing Day, kids 13 and younger don’t need a fishing license in Idaho.

(Photo: Paulo Pescada/ Unsplash)

Return of the Boise Valley People

The Return of the Boise Valley People is happening this weekend.

At this annual event, tribal descendants from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Fort Hall, Idaho; Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, Owyhee, Nevada; Burns Paiute Tribe, Burns, Oregon; Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, McDermitt, Nevada, and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Warm Springs, Oregon join together to share stories, oral history, traditional customs, and pray for their ancestors. The event goes through Sunday.

According to a news release from the City of Boise, ever since their forced removal from the Boise Valley by soldiers in 1869, the descendants of the respective tribes have continuously come back to Eagle Rock Park, which is located near Chief Eagle Eye Reserve. This park holds deep spiritual significance for them as their traditional gathering place. A formal gathering known as “The Return of the Boise Valley People” was established in 2011.

Today from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the public is invited to share in the history and culture of Indigenous Idahoans at Eagle Rock Park. At 11 a.m. a traditional clothing show is scheduled where each tribe is encouraged to participate and wear their traditional clothing such as wing, cloth, shell or buckskin dresses. Men are encouraged to wear their traditional attire. A barbecue is scheduled at noon and a tribal walking parade will follow featuring the five tribes.

On Saturday, there are activities at Eagle Rock Park and Gowen Field for Boise Valley tribes. You can read more about the event here.

> Happening Today

• Fuel-Up Friday: The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Ada County is $4, nine cents higher than last week. The national average is at $3.56, one cent lower than last week.
• Increased Patrols: Boise Police says it’s ramping up motorcycle patrols throughout the city to address “problem driving behaviors.” In a 6-hour time period last Thursday on State St., BPD issued 12 speeding citations in addition to other tickets.
• Tax Calculator: According to a news release, the Idaho State Tax Commission’s property tax calculator won’t be available to help Idahoans estimate their property taxes for 2023 as a result of recent legislation. The calculator is normally available starting in mid-June.

> BoiseDev Reports

‘Locally built model’: New bike park planned for McCall

A bike park that will be similar to the Boise Bike Park in the Military Reserve Area is planned for McCall. Autum Robertson has the details on what we know so far.

Kum & Go could open near Roosevelt and Middleton in Nampa

Convenience store chain Kum and Go is planning a Nampa location. BoiseDev intern Mariela Esquivel-Rodriguez has details on the initial plans.

VRT pushes back decision on route changes, City of Boise approves one-time funding to stave off service hour cuts

VRT is back to the drawing board after it announced it would reorganize the Treasure Valley’s bus network. The agency has been collecting feedback from riders and non-riders alike on the plan in recent weeks with the goal of locking in the changes by August. But as Margaret Carmel reports, that now won’t happen until October.

Two large warehouses planned directly across from Boise Airport

As Don Day reports, a 22-acre site south of the Boise Airport could be home to two large warehouses.

Overton is running for a seat on the Meridian City Council

John Overton, who was appointed to fill Treg Bernt’s seat on Meridian City Council after Bernt left for the state senate, hopes to retain his seat. More on the announcement from Autum Robertson.

> Link-worthy

• Reentry Process: The Idaho Capital Sun reports on the process inmates go through when reentering society; finding nonprofits and state programs are key.
• Abortion: As of May 31, the Idaho court system had no record of any person being charged under the state’s new criminal abortion statute, according to a data request from Idaho Reports. Read more The Idaho Press.🔒
• Branden Durst: According to Idaho Education News, West Bonner School District trustees selected former state superintendent candidate Branden Durst to lead their schools in a 3-2 decision on Wednesday night.
• UI Victim: KTVB reports on the dedication of “Kaylee Jade Day,” a day where people can honor Kaylee’s life and legacy by purposefully doing something they love to do.

> Things To Do

• Back County Gear & Beer: Green Acres Food Truck Park is hosting a consignment sale Saturday with lightly used hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor gear from noon to 4:30 p.m. As usual, there will be live music, food trucks, and beer.
• Backpacking 101: The Meridian Library on Cherry Lane is hosting a Backpacking 101 class on Saturday for people wanting to know the best places to backpack this summer and how to prepare. The free class is from 1-2 p.m.
• Dig into Geodes: Bring the kids to the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology for a fun time of geode-cracking, a short and easy geo-hike on the nearby hillside, and a walk-about with guides in the museum. The event is on Sunday from 10:30 – 11 a.m. Kids are free and adults are $5. More details here.
• Permanent Jewelry: There’s a permanent jewelry pop-up at Mad Swede in downtown Boise on Sunday from 2 – 5 p.m. where you and someone special can get a permanent bracelet, necklace, anklet, and more.

> Zamzows Pet of the Day

Meet Alice, the 100-pound Bernese Mountain Dog, one of my favorite breeds! Owner Melissa Boyd says Alice is very cuddly and naughty. She just turned one!

Submit your pet’s photo here, and we may feature it each weekday! Plus, our friends at Zamzows will send along a prize to the winning pet (owners)!