POCATELLO — City officials have issued a health advisory after high levels of E. coli bacteria were detected in the waters of City Creek in west Pocatello.

According to a news release from the city of Pocatello, the E. coli bacteria in the water has been caused by dog waste left near or in the stream.

“While it’s fun to take your dog on your outdoor adventures, this situation shows why it’s extremely important to clean up after them,” Hannah Sanger, science and environment division manager for the city of Pocatello, said in the news release.

Sanger said that the city has had issues with pet owners leaving their dogs’ waste behind on the trails and other areas near the creek.

Pocatello officials said the City Creek area is still safe for recreational activities such as hiking and biking.

However, they advise people to avoid wading in the creek and to avoid ingesting the creek’s water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, E. coli bacteria can cause diarrhea, vomiting, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia. Infants, children and senior citizens are most susceptible to E. coli-related illnesses.

Pocatello’s city code requires residents to pick up waste deposited by pet dogs. However, officials will be looking into ways to improve compliance with the city code.

Sanger said that in addition to enforcement, the city could install more signage, add more garbage containers and close off areas where dog waste could fall into the creek. She is also asking recreationists who use City Creek to remind other trail users to pick up after their pets.

Sanger expects City Creek’s E. coli levels to decrease in about a month, when the weather gets colder and there’s fewer people out on the trails.

Residents with questions about the advisory are asked to contact Sanger at 208-234-6518 or hsanger@pocatello.us.

Health officials are warning outdoor enthusiasts about the discovery of potentially toxic algae found in a popular East Idaho lake.

A health advisory was issued for Henrys Lake on Aug. 7 by the Eastern Idaho Public Health and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. According to the agencies, the presence of Microsystis, Dolichospermum and Aphanizomenon, which are blue-green algae species that have the potential to produce dangerous toxins.

“People recreating near Henrys Lake and Upper Island Park Reservoir are advised to avoid swallowing or inhaling water and to avoid direct contact with water containing visible algae,” a news release from Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

The agency also said that the toxins cannot be removed by boiling or filtering the water. Anybody who decides to eat fish caught in the area are advised to remove all fat, skin and organs before cooking.

Those who are directly exposed to blue-green algae can experience skin and eye irritation, nausea, diarrhea, numbness of the hands and feet, and/or difficulty breathing. People who experience these symptoms should contact a doctor immediately.

Animals who come into contact with blue-green algae could experience muscle spasms, decreased movement, labored breathing, convulsion and death. Pets who exhibit these symptoms need to be taken to a veterinarian immediately.

According to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, blue-green algae, which can create an unpleasant odor, are microscopic bacteria that occur naturally in healthy bodies of water. The physical appearance of the algae is unsightly, and it causes thick green mats along the shorelines. However, the blue-green algae occurs in water conditions that are common during the warmer summer months.

Anybody with questions about blue-green algae should visit www.deq.idaho.gov/water-quality/surface-water/recreation-health-advisories/blue-green-algae/ or contact Andy Olson, water quality analyst at the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, at 208-528-2650.

INKOM — Pebble Creek Ski Area will be open to the public for the historic Great American Eclipse on Aug. 21.

The Inkom ski resort is giving solar eclipse watchers a chance to bask in the shadow of the moon at an elevation of 8,560 feet.

Check-in for camping spots will begin at noon on Sunday, Aug. 20. The cost for the night for trailer campers and RVs will be $35, while tent camping will be available for $15 for the night. All of the campers will receive a 33 percent discount on lift tickets the day of the eclipse.

However, no open fires will be permitted, only propane.

On Aug. 21, the day of the eclipse, the lodge will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with food and beverages available.

Sunshine lift tickets will be available for $15 per person and $30 per family. However, downloading will not be available, so attendees should plan on hiking down. Lift rides are not available to children ages 6 and under.

Special eclipse glasses will be available in the lodge.

BLACKFOOT — A wild moose just didn’t seem to want to leave Blackfoot earlier this week.

It took two tranquilizer darts — one on Monday evening and another on Tuesday morning — before conservation officers could successfully move the moose out of the city and back into the wild.

It all began at approximately 9 a.m. Monday, when the Idaho Department of Fish and Game received a call about an adult cow moose roaming around a residential area in Blackfoot.

Blackfoot police officers had chased the animal from an area near the state hospital. But by the time Fish and Game personnel arrived, the moose had disappeared.

Then, later that evening at approximately 7 p.m., the moose re-emerged in Blackfoot. This time, officials with Fish and Game, the Blackfoot Police Department and the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office kept the animal contained in an area near Rich Lane.

However, before Fish and Game officers could hit the moose with a tranquilizer dart, it got spooked and ran off.

Eventually, conservation officers caught up with the moose and hit it with a dart. The animal responded by bedding down, but every time it was approached by officers, it stood up.

A statement from Fish and Game said that because the moose was agitated from being hazed throughout the day, its adrenaline response was probably strong enough to override the effect of the drug in the dart.

The animal eventually moved to a pasture area where it bedded down again. Fish and Game officers decided that because the sun had just set, it was deemed unsafe to both the general public and the officers to try to move the moose in the darkness of the night.

The moose remained under watch until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, when it was darted a second time after it arose and started moving around.

This second dart successfully tranquilized the animal, allowing Fish and Game officers to successfully transport the moose to an undisclosed remote area of Southeast Idaho.

POCATELLO — This summer, the city of Pocatello will host a series of town hall meetings about the impact of the Aug. 21 Great American Eclipse.

According to a city of Pocatello press release, the meetings will address how the city plans to handle the upcoming astronomical event and the impact it could have on area residents and businesses.

Both the general public and local business owners are invited to the meetings, where city officials will also listen to any concerns from residents regarding the eclipse.

The upcoming eclipse will be viewable at multiple locations across the country. However, the Snake River Valley in East Idaho was recently listed by GreatAmericanEclipse.com as one of the top places to view the event.

That’s due to the prospect of good weather and the large number of roads that allow for maneuverability in case of heavy cloud cover.

According to an article by the Washington Post, the Idaho Falls area has a 78 percent chance of having viewable conditions on the day of the eclipse, which is one of the highest percentages in the entire country.

The event is also expected to bring hundreds of thousands, possibly more than a million, eclipse chasers to East Idaho.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many people not just in the United States but around the world,” said Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad in a press release. “We want our businesses to be prepared and all residents ready that day-to-day life may be impacted by the influx.”

This sudden influx of people coming into the region is expected to put a lot of pressure on the local infrastructure, with officials preparing for heavy traffic and possible disruptions to cellphone services.

Law enforcement, public health and emergency personnel from multiple East Idaho counties are currently working with other state agencies to prepare for any emergency situations that might occur during the Aug. 21 eclipse.

According to the Associated Press, the Idaho Transportation Department will also suspend construction projects and maintenance on most highways during the weekend of the eclipse to help ease traffic congestion.

Though totality will be between Shelley and north of Dubois on the morning of Aug. 21, local officials said the Gate City area will still feel the impact of so many visitors coming into the area and will need to be prepared.

“Pocatellans have an amazing sense of hospitality and we want to make sure we put our best foot forward for our guests,” Blad said in a press release. “I know of a couple from Denmark who booked their accommodations in Pocatello a year in advance.”

The public meetings will be held in the Pocatello City Council Chambers located at 911 North 7th Ave. The meeting dates with various industries include:

• July 11, 8 a.m. (Hotels/motels)
• July 12, 3 p.m. (Restaurants/convenience stores)
• July 15, 10 a.m. (Public town hall)
• July 24, 11 a.m. (Tow truck companies)
• July 28, 8 a.m. (Restaurants/convenience stores)
• Aug. 8, 6 p.m. (Public town hall)

The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a bank robber dubbed “The Great Outdoors Bandit.”

Since late last year, the unidentified thief has struck two banks and two credit unions in Idaho and Utah. According to the FBI, authorities have nicknamed the robber “The Great Outdoors Bandit” because of the outdoorsy attire he wore during each crime.

The first two robberies occurred on the same day in Southwest Idaho.

On Dec. 21, the suspect robbed the U.S. Bank located inside the Alberstson’s store at 10500 West Overland Road in Boise. According to the FBI, he waited in line before he gave the teller a note demanding cash. He then took the money and fled the scene on foot.

About 15 minutes later, the suspect then robbed the Idaho Central Credit Union at 1615 South Celebration Avenue in Meridian. Again, he approached the teller with a note demanding cash, then took the money and fled on foot.

The third robbery occurred on March 24 at the Bank of the West located at 9140 East Emerald Street, Suite 100, in Boise. After taking the money, the suspect was seen entering a dark-colored, two-door coupe, which the FBI said could be a Suburu Outback or Legacy.

The fourth robbery perpetrated by the suspect occurred on May 24 at the Alpine Credit Union located at 351 East 800 South in Orem, Utah.

During the last two robberies, he was seen placing the cash in a brown bag that he was carrying.

The FBI said the suspect wore the same dark sunglasses and green Cabela’s baseball cap at each of the robberies.

He is described as being between the ages of 30 and 50, with black hair, a medium complexion and a skinny build.

He is between 5 foot, 4 inches to 5 foot, 6 inches tall and weighs between 140 and 160 pounds. The FBI said he is possibly Hispanic, Native American or Middle Eastern. He sported black facial hair in each of the robberies.

Anybody with information regarding these robberies or the identity of “The Great Outdoors Bandit” is asked to call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 833-291-4306.

POCATELLO — A Pocatello hiker was found safe after spending a night lost in the Scout Mountain area south of town.

According to the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, 22-year-old Kooper Smith was reported missing late Sunday night by a friend. Authorities said Smith had not returned from a hike earlier that day.

Officials with the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Bannock County Search and Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service responded to the Scout Mountain area and located Smith’s motorcycle, which was unattended near one of the trailheads.

Rescuers searched for Smith using four-wheelers well into the late-night hours. However, authorities said Smith was found safe about 6 a.m. Monday morning after spending the night in the wilderness.

BOISE — The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is searching for two suspects in a potential chukar poaching case.

On Friday, the agency released photos of the suspects, which shows the two suspects at the Boise River Wildlife Management Area on March 18. In the photos, one suspect is carrying a shotgun and a cleaned chukar hanging from his belt, 46 days after chukar season closed.

Fish and Game also said that this was during the timeframe when the Boise River Wildlife Management Area was closed to all public entry to protect wintering big game animals.

Based on the photos, Fish and Game said both suspects may be wildlife firefighters, and one suspect might be currently or previously serving in the military.

If you have any information regarding this potential chukar poaching case, please call Fish and Game’s Southwest Regional Office at 208-465-8465.

There are 59 national parks encompassing millions of acres throughout the United States. And if you’re a senior citizen and love the outdoors, you can get into these parks for the rest of your life for only $10 — but not for long.

According to the American Association of Retired Persons, the fee for a lifetime pass for citizens 62 and older will increase from $10 to $80 before the end of 2017. An annual pass will cost $20, which they can apply to the cost of a lifetime pass at a later point if they decide they want one.

The National Park Service said it is not sure when in 2017 the price increase will go into effect. However, the federal agency did say the price hike is not expected during the next few months, which gives senior citizens a small window to lock in the $10 rate. The AARP said that the park service is spreading the word on the price increase informally.

If you purchase a lifetime pass before the change goes into effect, it will only cost $10 at any of the parks. There are numerous locations across the country where a pass can be purchased in person. To see the list, click here.

If you purchase the passes online, an additional $10 service charge will be added.

The extra money raised by the fee hike will help pay for projects and enhancements at the parks.

The senior pass not only provides access to national parks, but also more than 2,000 sites managed by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Authorities have identified a headless body found in the Snake River near the Idaho/Washington border last month.

According to the Lewiston Tribune (http://tinyurl.com/lpfbb4o), police believe the body belongs to Gary L. Thompson, who was presumed to have drowned in 2008. The Potlatch man disappeared in the Clearwater River while fishing alone.

The headless decomposed body was found in the Snake River two weeks ago in eastern Washington near the town of Clarkston, which is located west of Lewiston, Idaho. Police also said that the man’s head appears to have come off during decomposition. No foul play is suspected.

The case was solved thanks to a set of keys found in the missing man’s pocket. After police contacted Sharon Thompson, the missing man’s wife, she drove her husband’s old pickup truck to see if the found keys would work, and the engine started right up.

Sharon also identified a money clip and other items found with the body.

Gary L. Thompson disappeared in May 2008 when it is believed that he fell off his boat while fishing the Clearwater River near Spalding, located approximately 15 miles east of where the body was found. Authorities believed he had drowned.