Blaine County put a six-month hold on data centers Tuesday. Nobody has applied to build one here, but commissioners voted 3-0 to stop taking permits while the county writes rules for them.

Also this week: the Trailing of the Sheep's big weekend, a Hailey meeting on the fire-district vote, an opening date for the Observatory, and rain in town with snow up high by Sunday. Here's what's happening.

Top of Mind

Blaine County pauses data center permits for six months

The Blaine County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 on Tuesday to adopt a 182-day emergency moratorium on development permits for data centers, the longest the law allows. Until it ends, the county won't accept, process, or approve an application to build one.

No one has applied. Land use director Rachel Martin told commissioners last week that her department found data centers could fit in the county's light-industrial zones, but only with "carefully considered" regulations. The county has three of those zones: a small one south of Ketchum along Highway 75 near Clear Creek Drive, one just north of Hailey around Bartholomew Road, and a larger one around Glendale Road southwest of Bellevue.

Commissioner Lindsay Mollineaux, who wrote the ordinance, said that without a moratorium, any application that came in would be judged under the current zoning code, which doesn't address data centers. The ordinance lists water use in a region under drought and strict state water management among its concerns, along with energy demand. Supporters of data centers point to jobs, a bigger tax base, and the demand from artificial intelligence.

Next, county staff draft zoning rules: what counts as a data center, how big one can be, and limits on water and energy use. Those go to the Planning and Zoning Commission, then back to the commissioners, with "quite a bit of public input," Martin said.

Source: the Idaho Mountain Express, Oct. 7

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Town Hall

HaileyWhat Hailey's fire vote decides. On Nov. 3, Hailey votes on joining the Blaine County Fire & Rescue district. A yes keeps 24/7 staffing and moves funding to the district's levy, estimated at $51.44 per $100,000 of taxable value from January 2028, and the city drops its own, now about $13.95. A no likely means paid on-call crews again in 2028. Info meeting Thursday, 5:30, City Hall. [city]

KetchumThe Bitterroot plat is up tonight. The City Council holds a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 191 Fifth St W, on the condominium plat for the Bitterroot building at 200 N Spruce Ave, where a developer wants to replace about 30 commercial units with three homes. P&Z approved the plan in August. A separate rule requiring demolished shop space to be replaced could come up in late October. [agenda]

BellevueGannett Ranch reaches the City Council Tuesday. The council's public hearing on annexing 191 acres on Gannett Road, for up to 439 homes plus commercial and flex industrial space, is set for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 115 E Pine St. [IME] [city calendar]

CareyCarey's mayor calls an emergency town hall. Mayor Logan Davis has set an in-person meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. at City Hall on what he calls a "critical financial shortfall": aging roads, water, and sewer lines, plus a debt to the IRS over unpaid payroll taxes that he says the city must pay off. It won't be livestreamed. [IME]

ValleyThe school superintendent will retire in June. Jim Foudy, who has led the Blaine County School District since 2021, announced Wednesday that he'll retire June 30 after 31 years in public education. He said he gave notice early so the board has time for a full search. He's leading the district's effort to build a new Hailey Elementary. [IME]

ValleyEarly voting opens Tuesday. Vote early for the Nov. 3 election Oct. 13 to 30 on the first floor of the Blaine County Courthouse in Hailey, weekdays 8 to 5. The ballot includes the District 26 Senate race, where Bryan Hyde, Shaila Tate, and incumbent Ron Taylor are running, Hailey's fire question, and a local-option tax measure in Ketchum. [county]

MeetingsKetchum City Council, Thursday 5:30; Hailey City Council, Tuesday 5:30; Bellevue City Council, Tuesday 5:30; school board, Tuesday 6, Community Campus; North Blaine County Fire District, Wednesday 10, Sun Valley City Hall. [IME calendar]

Out & About

This week

Thu Oct 8  A conversation with playwright Talene Monahon, a 2026 Pulitzer finalist and the Sun Valley Playwrights Residency's new resident, the Community Library, 5:30, free. Reserve a seat. [info]

Thu Oct 8  Artist Enrique Chagoya in conversation with master printmaker Paul Mullowney at the Sun Valley Museum of Art, 5:30, free. [IME]

Thu Oct 8  Baa-ttle of the Brains, lamb trivia and a lamb chili dinner at the Sun Valley Culinary Institute, 6 to 8, $50. [tickets]

Thu Oct 8  QPR suicide prevention training from the Love Like Ky Foundation at the Y in Ketchum, 6 to 7:30, free. One 90-minute session, no experience needed. Limited to 30; register online. [info]

Thu Oct 8  The Last Wild Buffalo with James "Taco" Tautkus, Americana with some punk in it, the Liberty Theatre in Hailey, 8 p.m., $15 in advance, $20 at the door. [tickets]

Fri Oct 9  Sheep Ranching Q&A, stories from four Idaho ranchers, the Community Library, 2:30, free. [info]

Fri Oct 9  Closing reception for Devin Farrand's "Into the Weeds" at Ochi Gallery, 4 to 6, free. [IME]

Fri Oct 9  Freehub PRESENTS, a touring mountain bike film festival of unreleased shorts, the Liberty Theatre, 6:30, $25. [tickets]

Fri Oct 9  Sequestrado Duo plays La Cabanita at the Mint in Hailey, 6:30 to 9, free. [IME]

Fri Oct 9 to Sun Oct 11  Trailing of the Sheep weekend. Sheepdog trials at 2400 Buttercup Rd, Hailey, daily from 9, $10. Friday: For the Love of Lamb in downtown Ketchum, 4:30, $25, and the Sheep Tales Gathering at the Argyros, 7, $25. [info]

Fri Oct 9 to Sun Oct 11  Sun Valley Antique & Arts Festival, new to the Trailing of the Sheep this year, Champions Meadow, 9 to 6, free. [info]

Fri Oct 9 to Sun Oct 11  Wool Fest classes in spinning, felting, and knitting, $70 to $170. Online registration closed Oct. 4; walk-ins are up to each instructor, $10 extra, cash or Venmo. [info]

Sat Oct 10  Autumn Big Tree Walk with the Idaho Native Plant Society to what may be the biggest Douglas fir in this part of Idaho. Meet at 9 at the Hailey Park and Ride. Free, no dogs, 10 miles of dirt road. [IME]

Sat Oct 10  Folklife Fair and Lamb Fest, Roberta McKercher Park in Hailey, 10 to 4, free to get in. Lamb dishes from local vendors are sold separately. [info]

Sat Oct 10  Big Wood School's Pumpkin Patch and Fall Fest, 100 Saddle Rd, Ketchum, 11 to 1. Pick your own pumpkin, carnival games, a cake walk, a bounce house, face painting, hot dogs, and cider. $1 a ticket or 22 for $20. [info]

Sat Oct 10  Valley Traditional Music Jams, acoustic players of all levels, the Community Library, 2 to 4, free. [info]

Sat Oct 10  Wild Flora Farm's on-farm flower workshop, near Bellevue, 2 to 4:30, $65. A farm tour plus arranging with the last fresh flowers of the year. Bring drinks, food, and a picnic blanket so you can enjoy the farm. [tickets]

Sat Oct 10  A Killer Evening with novelists Ariel Delgado Dixon and Mary Pauline Lowry, both past Hemingway House writers in residence, the Community Library, 5, free. Register online. [info]

Sat Oct 10  Molly in the Mineshaft, newgrass with a Weiser Fiddle Festival champion, the Argyros, 7:30. The festival's ticket block sold out; its page links to Argyros tickets at $30 with a festival code. [info]

Sat Oct 10  Glazed and Plated, the Sun Valley Culinary Institute's lamb dinner on handmade plates, is sold out.

Sun Oct 11  Blessing of the Animals at Emmanuel Episcopal in Hailey, 9:30, free. Bring the dog, the cat, or the fish. [IME]

Sun Oct 11  The Big Sheep Parade, noon, Main Street in Ketchum, free. Before it, a sheepherding history talk at the Limelight at 9:30, and the Happy Trails closing party in Town Square, 10 to 3, both free. No dogs at the parade. [info]

Mon Oct 12  Day of the Dead community workshop: marigolds, calaveras, and breads, with the Sun Valley Museum of Art at the Hunger Coalition in Bellevue, 4, free. Again Oct. 19. [info]

Mon Oct 12  "Heal Faster" with Dr. Victoria Maizes, the integrative medicine physician, on her book, the Community Library, 5, free. Register online. [info]

Tue Oct 13  Hailey library book club: Patrick Radden Keefe's "London Falling," Town Center West, 116 S River St, 5:30.

Tue Oct 13  Trivia Showdown at Whiskey's on Main, spooky edition, 7, free. [IME]

Wed Oct 14  Genealogy workshop with Donna Voyles of the Family History Center in Hailey, the Community Library, 3 to 5, free. Second Wednesdays. [info]

Wed Oct 14  Everything Except Pie: Chef Kathy Lower on the savory and sweet things classic pie dough can do, Sun Valley Culinary Institute, 6 to 8. [info]

Every Monday

10:30  Story time at the Community Library, preschool age, free. [info]

3 to 4  Paws to Read at the Community Library: kids read to therapy dogs, free.

4 to 6  Community Meal at Bloom, 110 Honeysuckle St, Bellevue, free. Thursdays too, noon to 2.

4:30 to 6  Knitting Circle at the Community Library, free. Bring needles and yarn. [info]

6 p.m.  Mindful Mondays, the Advocates' women's support group. Childcare provided. Call (208) 788-4191 for the location.

Every Tuesday

1 to 2  Lunchtime Language Spanish at the Community Library, free.

4 to 9  Teacher Tuesday at Roots Wine Bar, 122 S Main St, Hailey: two house wines plus fries, $30.

5 to 7  Cooking Club / Club de Cocina at Bloom Community Kitchen, free. Register at (208) 788-0121.

5:30  Volleyball in the Park at Atkinson Park, free.

Every Wednesday

10:15  Baby and toddler story time at the Hailey library, free. [info]

Noon to 1  Yoga and meditation with Ryan Redman at the Flourish Foundation, free.

2 to 5  Stitch group at Knit + Needle, free, all levels, drop in. [info]

5 and 6:30  Beginner Spanish at Town Center West through the Hailey library, level one then level two. [info]

5:30 to 7  Craft Circle at the Hailey library, ages 16 and up. Bring any handicraft. [info]

6 to 9, then 9  At Whiskey's on Main: ballroom lesson at 6 ($40, a drink included), open dance 7 to 9, then free karaoke.

Every Thursday

11:30 to 12:30  Pop-In Poetry at the Community Library, free.

4 p.m.  Teens Art Collective at the Hailey library, free. [info]

5 to 7  Stitch group at Knit + Needle again, the evening one. [info]

6:30  Trivia at the TNT Taproom, 271 E Sun Valley Rd, Ketchum. Free, 21 and over.

Every Friday

11 a.m.  Story time at the Hailey library, free. [info]

Every Saturday

10 a.m.  Dungeons and Dragons club for youth at the Hailey library, free. [info]

3:30  Story time again at the Hailey library, free. [info]

Every Sunday

Noon, while supplies last  Tacos and Touchdowns at Whiskey's on Main: $20 all-you-can-eat taco bar.

Most nights

Thu to Sat 5:30 to 8:30, Sun 1 to 4  Live music in the Limelight lounge, 151 Main St S, Ketchum. Free, no cover. [info]

Coming up

Thu Oct 15 to Sun Oct 18  Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival, 37th year: jazz, gospel, swing dancing, and street parades, more than 100 performances across five venues. [tickets]

Fri Oct 16  Funny Business, stand-up and live magic with magician and comedian Damian Regalado and guests, the Liberty Theatre in Hailey, 7 to 8:30. [tickets]

Sat Oct 17  "The Good John Proctor," free readings of Talene Monahon's dark comedy riff on "The Crucible," the Argyros' Bailey Studio, 2 and 6:30. Both are sold out; the Argyros keeps a waitlist. [info]

Sat Oct 17  Dahlia Days at Wild Flora Farm, 10 to 3. Help dig and divide the dahlias for next year; volunteers get coffee, snacks, and tubers to take home.

Sat Oct 17  The Hunger Coalition's Pumpkin Patch at Lookout Farm, 11038 Highway 75, Bellevue, 10 to 2, free or by donation. Pumpkins, live music, food, and room for kids to run. [info]

Sat Oct 17 to Mon Oct 19  Book sale donations for the Friends of the Hailey Public Library, 10 to 4, Town Center West. Books, DVDs, CDs, puzzles, and games; no textbooks, magazines, or VHS.

Mon Oct 19  Meet Ketchum's new police chief, Shane Womack, at his swearing-in and a public meet-and-greet, Ketchum City Hall, 10 a.m. [IME]

Over Galena

Sun Oct 11  Redfish Lake Lodge and its Lakeside Grill close for the season at noon. The Sawtooth Hotel follows after Saturday, Oct 17, and Stanley Baking Co. after Sunday, Oct 18.

Thu  Family movie night at Velvet Falls, free. Kids' film at 6, the older crowd around 8. [info]

Wed 7:30  Trivia at the Kasino Club, 620 Ace of Diamonds.

Mark it down

Tue Oct 20 to Sat Oct 24  Rotarun Ski Swap. Register gear online by Oct 23 at 6 p.m.; drop off Tuesday at Rotarun (5 to 7), Wednesday at Sturtevants Ketchum (4 to 6), or Friday at Sturtevants Hailey (3 to 6). Shop Saturday, 10 to 4, Sturtevants Hailey. Sellers keep 70%. [info]

Sat Oct 24  Sun Valley Glitter Games, Campion Ice House, Hailey, 7 p.m. Sun Valley Suns players team up with local figure skaters. $25, kids 12 and under $15. The $70 family pack ends Saturday, Oct. 10. [tickets]

Sat Oct 24  Teton Gravity Research's "Actually, It Is Rocket Science," the Argyros, 4:30 and 8. [tickets]

The Dirt

River and fish. The Big Wood is down to 126 cfs at Hailey, 67% of the 189 cfs median for the date; a week ago it ran 132, or 73%. Silver Creek at the Sportsman Access is 78 cfs and 53 degrees at 10:45 a.m. Its flow barely moved from last week's 80, but the median for the date climbs fast this month, to 117 from about 104, so it now reads 67% of normal. [USGS]

Rain, and snow up high. Ketchum stays sunny through Friday, highs of 79 and 76. Saturday cools to 65 with a chance of rain after noon, then rain is likely Saturday night through Monday, highs in the mid-50s and lows near 30. The snow level drops to about 8,000 feet by Monday, below the top of Baldy. Sunday's parade is at noon; the rain is most likely after that. [National Weather Service]

Trails. Quigley Loop is closed weekdays, 8 to 4, until further notice while crews build a new connector off Golden Hour on the slope above it. Sheep are also moving through the valley this week: slow down for a band on the road or trail, give the herders room, and keep dogs leashed. [BCRD]

Over Galena. Valley Creek at Stanley is 82 cfs, 90% of its median for the date, and the Salmon below the Yankee Fork is down to 455 from 481 a week ago, close to normal for early October. [USGS]

Open House

Six homes and a shop space are proposed at Second Street and Second Avenue in Ketchum. Owners Marie and Eric Jensen and RLB Architectura want a two-story, 18,675-square-foot building with a basement: four market-rate units, from two-bedrooms to a four-bedroom, plus two community housing studios, a 700-square-foot commercial space pitched as a wellness tenant, and nine parking spaces. P&Z gave the early design positive feedback last Thursday and recommended the council approve combining the lots. Final design review comes after that. [IME]

Table Talk

The Observatory has an opening date: Oct. 30. Ketchum's new Viceroy hotel, at 300 River St E, is booking stays from that night. On the ground floor: Joan, a 65-to-70-seat restaurant and zinc-topped bar named for the late Joan Blank, with Italian-born chef Nicola Cavicchini; and Odin's Corner, a coffee bar with gelato and pastries. The spa follows in mid-November. Instead of one big opening party, the hotel plans a run of small gatherings this fall, and Blaine County residents get 35% off its best room rate with proof of residency. [Eye on Sun Valley] [locals' rate]

Apple's closes for the off-season after Saturday. Apple's Bar & Grill in Sun Valley is open Friday and Saturday, its last weekend until ski season. Reservations are on OpenTable.

Birdie's is done for the year. The snack shack at Bigwood Golf Course closed out its first summer and plans to be back next season.

Know about a new spot or a shuttered one? Hit reply. Tips beat press releases every time.

Help Wanted

HaileyThe Blaine County Recreation District is hiring a seasonal Nordic trail groomer, part-time after-school counselors for its HUB program, youth coaches and referees, and fitness instructors. [postings]

BellevueThe City of Bellevue is hiring a deputy marshal, a full-time city assets operator for streets, parks, and pathways, a water distribution operator, and wastewater treatment operators. [postings]

ValleyThe Blaine County School District needs bus drivers and bus aides, a custodian, special education paraprofessionals, substitutes, and a district office receptionist; that application closes Oct. 16. [postings]

Hiring? Put your opening in front of the whole valley. Email [email protected].

If you do one thing this weekend, catch the Big Sheep Parade on Main Street in Ketchum, Sunday at noon. Bring a rain jacket.

See you next Thursday.

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