From the category archives:

Teen Topics

Triple-dog dare

Thumbnail image for Triple-dog dare by Joe Plumber December 8, 2009

One of the newer features of Idaho Falls Today is the local news feeds on the mid to lower left side of the page. Skimming through, I noticed a story titled “Boise boy licks metal pole, gets stuck.” Instantly, I recalled the scene from “A Christmas Story” where one boy triple-dog dares another to lick [...]

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‘The Blind Side’

Thumbnail image for ‘The Blind Side’ by Guest Writer December 2, 2009

Actress Sandra Bullock says meeting Leigh Anne Tuohy, who she portrays in The Blind Side, showed her there really are some Christians who “walk the walk.”
The film, which opened the week before Thanksgiving, presents the true story of the Tuohys — a well-off white family in Tennessee — who welcome a homeless black youth into their [...]

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Meetings planned to discuss Idaho Falls School District 91 bond proposal

by Joe Plumber November 4, 2009

The public will have a chance to learn more about the Idaho Falls School District’s $84.5 million bond (to be repaid over a 20-year period) proposal during two schoolhouse meetings scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Theresa Bunker Elementary School and 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Ethel Boyes Elementary School.
The bond election [...]

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Prohibiting Sex Offenders from Attending Church

Thumbnail image for Prohibiting Sex Offenders from Attending Church by Kevin M. Wrathson October 22, 2009

According to the Associated Press,  new laws passed in the state of North Carolina last year made it illegal for a convicted sex offender named James Nichols to attend worship services at his Baptist church due to the presence of a daycare facility on the grounds.  On March 28, 2009, he was arrested at his [...]

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Does the Majority Really Decide Who Sits in the Oval Office?

Thumbnail image for Does the Majority Really Decide Who Sits in the Oval Office? by Kevin M. Wrathson October 16, 2009

A group called called National Popular Vote is a corporation that was founded by, among others, John Koza (inventor of the scratch-off lottery ticket) for the purpose of promoting the establishment of an interstate compact which would change the way our nation elects its president.  According to Mr. Koza, who has written and published a [...]

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Double Standard on Teacher Sex Scandal?

by Neal Larson September 10, 2009

Originally Posted at LarsonShow.com

By now you’ve probably heard about the arrest of Kari Atkinson, the Sandcreek Middle School P.E. teacher who now faces five lewd conduct charges. She’s accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy.
I’ve been watching the scores of comments roll in at Local News 8’s website, and I’ll save you [...]

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Driving While Texting/Talking vs. Drinking and Driving

Thumbnail image for Driving While Texting/Talking vs. Drinking and Driving by Alice September 3, 2009

Just curious to see where people stand on this issue.
Statistics say that driving while on a cell phone or, even worse, texting, is more dangerous than drunk driving. Before you ask, no, I don’t have a link for these statistics, and I’m prepared to hear about it.
Don’t think for a minute that I am condoning [...]

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Free Argentine Tango Lessons

by idahofallstangoclub August 3, 2009

Free Argentine Tango lessons in Idaho Falls, ID.

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Event – And ALL Kids Play Free!

by Snake River Shoot-Out July 20, 2009

Registrations will be accepted through Tuesday for the 1st Annual Snake River Shoot-Out 3-ON-3 Basketball Tournament, which will be held this Friday and Saturday outdoors at Skyline High School.
There are more than 40 brackets for players of all ages (7 and up), including youth (17 and under), adult, co-ed, senior, family and corporate brackets. All [...]

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TODAY BETWEEN 11-2….DON’T FORGET!!!

by Dennis Jones June 22, 2009

Register your team (or your kids team!) for the Sanke River Shoot-Out 3-ON-3 Basketball Tournament, today between 11-2 at the Subway Sandwich Shop inside the Idaho Falls Wal-Mart and automatically be enterred into a drawing. EACH MEMBER of the team who is drawn at the end of the day will take home one of the [...]

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Bonneville School District 93 is considering a four-day school week. What are your thoughts?

by Joe Plumber February 12, 2009

According to the PR and KIDK (Ch. 3), “District 93 is looking at making the switch to 4 day school weeks because it needs to trim its budget. So far, the district is estimating it would save around $1M to $1.5M.” (http://www.kidk.com/news/39476397.html)
To assist fellow IFT readers, I visited http://www3.d93.k12.id.us/ in an attempt to provide [...]

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Three Steps to End Our War on Drugs

by Joe Vandal April 13, 2008

I am surprised nobody has yet written an article at IdahoFallz.com about America’s decades-old War on Drugs. I read many comments where site users express their desire to read and discuss the Drug War. I personally waited to write about it because people who bring up the topic tend to be quickly smeared as “another [...]

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ISATs Increasing Drop-Out Rate?

by music_girl March 22, 2008

Graduation is quickly approaching. For the seniors of 2008, this event signifies entry into the real world, freedom, and endless possibilities. For the administrators at School District 91, however, this is the first year of students whose graduation will be relying on their ISAT scores. My mother, a teacher in an elementary [...]

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Stay-At-Home Parenting

by Nemesis February 25, 2008

A high school student wrote a column in the Post Register in January, about the virtues of feminism. One of her issues was around the choices of career by her peers. In an informal poll, she asked the “what do you want to be when you grow up?” question, and one response surprised [...]

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Will Concealed Weapons or Media Reform Make College Campuses Safer?

by Joe Vandal February 15, 2008

Yesterday our nation experienced yet another tragic school shooting. We can now add Northern Illinois University to the roster with Virginia Tech, Shepherd University, University of Arizona, Appalachian School of Law, University of Arkansas, San Diego State, University of Iowa, and the University of Texas. How can America or Idaho protect ourselves against future school [...]

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Should we reward people for doing what they should anyway?

by Joe Vandal February 14, 2008

I am conflicted over this Local News 8 report that our Idaho legislature is considering a bill to reward kids for staying drug free. Some lawmaker (anyone know who it was, and their party affiliation?) has put a bill up that would grant a $2,000 Idaho college scholarship for students who pledge to stay off [...]

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How would you improve the Idaho Falls Public Library?

by Joe Vandal February 6, 2008

I think our Idaho Falls Public Library is awesome. I lived in Nampa for six months (the drive-by capitol of Idaho), and Idaho Falls’ library is ten times better than Nampa’s library. The IFPL is not like a full university library (an amazing experience), but we are very fortunate to have a great city location, [...]

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Is Idaho Tough Enough on Teacher Sex Crimes?

by Joe Vandal January 27, 2008

As a former public educator, I am shocked at the seeming abundance of teacher-pupil sex crimes lately. Fifteen other states are considering stronger penalties, and I wonder if we should also? Should Idaho preemptively change some laws to catch this problem before it becomes a problem? Is Idaho tough enough on teacher sex crimes?
Should Idaho [...]

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Support Your Local High School?

by music_girl January 6, 2008

Perhaps your first question when you read the title of the article was ‘I don’t have any kids attending high school, so what on earth do they have that would interest me?’, or even ‘Why should I support the high school?’ It is a fact, after all, that most of the people who attend high [...]

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Handicapped Parking Permit Reforms Needed

by Joe Vandal January 4, 2008

Is everything kosher with the handicapped parking system?
I never park in the handicapped-marked spaces, even if I have to park in the north forty. I’ve had disabled friends and could not imagine taking their close spot so my healthy legs could save a mere minute of walking.
However, we see people all the time who do [...]

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Idaho should be praised and modeled for low teen smoking rate

by Joe Vandal December 31, 2007

Our local KIDK News 3 affiliate recently carried an Associated Press story that Idaho was criticized by a Washington anti-smoking group because they do not think we spend enough money on teen anti-smoking efforts.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says Idaho spends too little of tobacco taxes and our 1998 tobacco settlement proceeds on discouraging [...]

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Where is District 91 School Board Leadership?

by Joe Vandal December 22, 2007

The Post Register reported this morning that the Skyline High School student council is debating rules to reduce sexually-charged activities at school dances. The rules prohibit grinding, straddling, bending over, touching sexual body parts, making out, and removing clothes during dances. The student council has not voted on this issue yet, and I think [...]

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Relinquishing Parental Control

by Mike October 19, 2007

The Portland, Maine School Committee approved a plan that allows the health center of King Middle School to provide birth control pills and patches to students in the sixth grade. Parental consent or knowledge is not required. In fact, it is outlawed. Under Maine state law, once a parent has signed a waiver allowing a [...]

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Should Idaho Ban Text Messaging While Driving?

by Joe Vandal September 4, 2007

Should Idaho ban text messaging while driving?
It seems there are more and more reported stories of accidents resulting from young people text messaging while driving. Washington state banned texting while driving (TWD) last May, and six other states are reportedly considering a similar ban. I recently read a study saying 91% of Americans believe text [...]

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Guns and Chocolate Chip Cookies: The Answer to America’s Problems?

by BuddhAllahrist April 21, 2007

One fairly hot topic around the country and in Eastern Idaho is the Issue of Gun Control. Always sure to warm things up, just bring this topic up at your next company picnic. The topic becomes even warmer and begins to get ‘red hot’ just after any horrific ‘gun related’ tragedy takes place [...]

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