Kari Dequine Harden, Steamboat Pilot & Today Journalist Profile

Articles

Sun Valley, Ketchum lobby for extended highway construction hours

2 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden |Jay Westcott

In response to severe traffic backups caused by the Idaho Transportation Department’s reconstruction of state Highway 75 between roughly Elkhorn Road and River Street, the Sun Valley and Ketchum city councils last week agreed to issue letters of support for longer work hours in order to speed completion of the project. Construction hours are currently scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Sun Valley to ask voters for LOT renewal

2 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

Sun Valley City Council members on Thursday agreed with a staff recommendation to ask voters in November for a 25-year renewal of the city’s base local-option tax. The revenue generated by the tax is “critical to the functioning of the city—there is no doubt,” said Sun Valley City Administrator Jim Keating.
County planner: Discovery Land development in Stagecoach ‘absolutely not a done deal’

2 weeks ago | steamboatpilot.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The Routt County Planning Department continues to review additional materials submitted in early May for the Stagecoach Mountain Ranch application following a “notice of incompleteness” issued in April, according to Senior Planner Alan Goldich.
Commission declines to quicken review of Land Trust funding request

3 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The Blaine County commissioners on Tuesday declined to expedite the review process for two applications for the bulk of the remaining $464,500 in the levy-generated Land, Water and Wildlife Fund. Former commissioners Larry Schoen and Sarah Michael had requested an expedited process for an application submitted May 5 by the Wood River Land Trust that is seeking $400,000 toward the purchase of the 2,300-acre Hailey Hot Springs Ranch, formerly Democrat Ranch.
Blaine County to launch fire risk assessment program

3 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The Blaine County Board of Commissioners recently approved the purchase of a new software program that can assess potential wildfire risks to homes located within the wildland-urban interface, which includes many areas in the county. The software will cost a maximum of $6,000 for the remainder of this fiscal year. This will be a trial period in terms of community buy-in and data collection, said Blaine County Disaster Services Coordinator Chris Corwin at a May 27 meeting.
Mandates or incentives? SV looks to reduce fire risks

3 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

In an effort to further reduce the risk of wildfire to the community’s infrastructure, the Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission on May 22 discussed ways to encourage better building practices through amendments to existing code.
BCSD, teachers union ratify 1% pay increase

3 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

After four days of negotiations, the Blaine County School District and Blaine County Education Association ratified a new master agreement for the 2025-2026 school year awarding teachers a 1% pay increase. BCSD also committed to an across-the-board 1% increase for classified and administrative employees. “The negotiations team worked incredibly well together,” BCSD Superintendent Jim Foudy said in an emailed statement.
County commissioners won't speed up Hot Springs Ranch funding request

3 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The Blaine County Commissioners on Tuesday declined to expedite the review process for two applications for the bulk of the remaining $464,500 in the Land, Water and Wildlife Fund. Former commissioners Larry Schoen and Sarah Michael had requested an expedited process for an application submitted May 5 by the Wood River Land Trust that is seeking $400,000 toward the purchase of the 2,300-acre Hailey Hot Springs Ranch, formerly Democrat Ranch.
SV City Council's demand falls flat with P&Z

4 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commissioners voted on May 22 to unanimously reject direction from the Sun Valley City Council to legally require a minimum of three affirmative votes to approve any design review application. Five commissioners serve on the P&Z. Commission Chairman Ken Herich maintained the council’s proposed “Ordinance 581” was trying to “solve a problem we don’t have,” and took issue with the suggestion the commission was not functioning as it should.
Valley theaters push boundaries

1 month ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

Multiple professional theater companies operate in the Wood River Valley, generating a wide variety of performances to suit all tastes, said Brett Moellenberg, a creative director who has worked for three of the companies. The valley’s theaters amplify voices and push boundaries. They put on classic productions, bring plays into schools and host theater camps. They make audiences laugh, celebrate the holidays and present fresh takes on the iconic work of Shakespeare.