The Times-News from Twin Falls, Idaho • 17

TT Inside Obituaries C2 IdahoWest C4 Classified C4-10 Beetlemania: Enironmentalists say Forest Service explanation bugs them. PageC4 gig val: City Editor. Kevin Ridierl- 733-0931, Ext. 234 The Times-News Monday, March 29, 1999 Section Ma LEY Stay tuned for change Around the valley City of Twin Falls makes magazine cover TWIN FALLS Downtown Twin Falls made the March front cover of The Parking Professional, a magazine for municipalities and corporations that provide parking and equipment The cover photo shows several of downtown's 1998 Christmas "gum ball meters." The red and green gum ball machines were placed on the parking meter poles by Western 'Music, a Twin Falls vending company, with the cooperation of the Downtown Business Improvement District "The Parking Professional strives to represent the best in the world of parking. The minute I saw the picture of the gum ball meters, I knew I would put it on the cover.

I felt that every one of our readers would want to know about the Twin Falls, Idaho, promotion," editor Licia Cobo said, according to a downtown BID news release. Gable TV deregulation may not spark Magic Valley rate increases in near future By Steve Crump Times-News writer "This isn't going to affect basic cable service," said Reynolds, whose company is south-central Idaho's second-largest cable provider. "That's still regulated by the FCC, and I expect it will be for a long time." Premium channels such as HBO and Showtime were never subject to federal price regulation. Nor are the services of wireless cable or satellite TV companies. When cable price controls took effect in 1993, after a 1992 law that regulated the industry, rates initially went down, saving customers bil- lions of dollars.

TWIN FALLS Starting Thursday, the ceiling comes off the price of some of the most popular cable television service. But if your monthly bill goes up, it probably will be later rather than sooner. "We're not planning any rate adjustments," said Vince Thompson, who runs Telecommunications operations in the Magic Valley. "Frankly, I don't think most cable operators will anytime soon." Cable TV rates -except for the most basic package of broadcast and a few cable channels will be freed from the. Federal 'This is not a good time for cable operators to raise their rates on expatided basic.

-Mike Reynolds, TCA Cable But near the end of 1994, the FCC bent to political pressure and revised the rules to give cable companies much more leeway to increase rates to pay for higher business costs, such as program- More than 75 of the machines were placed on Main Avenue from Thanksgiving to New Year's. The machines dispensed gift certificates and prizes from downtown businesses, as well as gum balls. The machines probably will be put -out again in time for-Western Days, 3HD director Randy Bombardier said. BID plans to make them a fix-; ture for major downtown events. City council considers work force improvement TWIN FALLS Consideration of how to continue recruiting, training and retaining a qualified work force in Twin Falls is up for discussion Monday by the Twin Falls City CounciL Communications Commission's price controls under a 1996 telecommunications law.

The law sunsets the FCC's price regulations Wednesday. Cable prices have risen 21 percent since the law's enactment, consumer groups say. "This is not a good time for cable operators to raise their rates on expanded bask," said Mike Reynolds, manager of Ketchum-based TCA Cable, which serves the Wood River Valley. "There's lots of competition out there." Eighty-seven percent of TCI subscribers have expanded basic service in combination with basic service, Thompson said, and Reynolds added it's a "big part" of his company's business. Such packages include many popular cable TV channels, such as Discovery, CNN, MTV and ESPN.

TCI subscribers in Twin Falls pay $28.49 a month for 47 channels, which includes the basic service package plus expanded basic. TCA customers are charged $28.17 for 34 channels. Nationally, consumers now pay on average about $31 a month for regulated cable TV services, including set-top box and remote control rentals, the Consumers' Union estimates. ming. By summer 1996, cable rates were spiking up.

The industry says that with each rate increase, customers have gotten more channels, improved service and better picture and sound quality. The most recent cable TV rate increases are getting smaller, though they still run well ahead of inflation. For the year ending Feb. 28, cable TV prices rose 4.9 percent, while overall inflation increased 1.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent figures. "We've only had one adjustment in the last two years," said Thompson, whose company is south-central Idaho's largest cable provider.

"Competition tends to keep rates down," Reynolds aid. "In our service area, we've got a lot of households with (satellite) dishes." TCI serves 19,700 households in Twin Falls, Jerome, Gooding, Cassia, Minidoka, Camas and Power counties. TCA has 5,200 subscribers in Blaine County. Times-News writer Steve Crump can be reached at 733-0931, Ext 223. The council meets at 5 p.m.

in City HalL Work force protection and improvement are among the items the city is focusing on as part of its strategic plan for the next few years, The strategic plan dovetails with the Twin Falls Second Century plan, currently being drawn up with the help of a Fort Collins, consult-ingagency. In other business, the council will consider a request from residents Seth Hampton and Terry Miller for reconsideration of their recently rejected application for an animal permit The council will also consider a proposal to paint new stripes on Fillmore Street between North College Road and Pole Line Road. jj I III NRSTENSHUITZTIM Gary Kaylor, who covers the Wood River Valley for TCA Cable, adjusts an amplifier as part of a regular maintenance program. J-r A place they call 'magic' Popular resort of the 1920s now serves as youth camp 1 rLj: V. By Sam Feltman Times-News correspondent unite Organization for ballroom dancers forms TWIN FALLS The U.S.

Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association is organizing a chapter for recreational and competitive dancers in the Twin Falls area. A local steering committee will be formed to guide the project and enroll members. The basic purpose of each chapter is to create opportunities for affordable ballroom dancing in local communities and educate the public about its physical, mental and social benefits. The local chapter will sponsor monthly social dances for members and the public Each dance will consist of a one-hour lesson followed by three hours of dancing and dance demonstrations. The program includes mixers and line dances.

Chapters also promote ballroom dance training in local colleges and high schools and seek to increase the number of business establishments that offer dancing to the public. Membership is open to singles and jl I A' "1 4 '80s. People have gotten soft, not like folks back then; they didn't mind traveling on dirt roads, heck, they were even disappointed if they didn't get stuck, have a flat, or have to meander through a band of sheep or herd of cattle. The trip to Magic was a long hard one and still is. At one time Magic boasted 20 cabins, a small hotel, a cafe and store.

People came from everywhere for the magical, healing waters. The Hot Springs has gone through many owners over this century. Earlier it was an Indian campgrounds, evidenced by the many artifacts that have been found in the area over the years by former owners and guests. John and Bessie Kuest owned the resort Please see MAGIC, Page C3 JACKPOT It sits on the southern end of Blue Lakes Blvd. The very end; even after you pass Nat-Soo-Paw, and the road turns to gravel and then to ruts about 42 miles south of Twin Falls.

It used to be the place to go to cure your aches and pains or whatever ailed you. It was, and is, called Magic Hot Springs, although some former owners and residents will tell you the magic is gone. "It was what people did in the 1920s, '30s, and '40s," said John Brannen, former caretaker and owner. Brannen was the caretaker while Pete Link owned the resort and then Brannen bought it to try to restore it to its former glory, but it just wasn't what folks wanted to do in- the 1970s and Courtesy pferto Magic Hot Springs, located 15 miles east of Jackpot, was once a popular resort. Today, It's a camp for young people.

The business of baking Students learn cooking couples. Plans are under way to arrange special low-cost lessons for beginners and help the new dancers get started. Anyone interested in helping iorm the chapter should call (800) 447-9047. Compiled from staff reports 's Heyburn gets closer to new city hall By Damian 0. Rodriguez Times-News writer HEYBURN The City Sf Heyburn is one step closer Jo building a new City Hall.

The Heyburn City Council on Wednesday approved $35,000 for architectural fees to draw the blueprints for the proposed building. City Superintendent Roger Denker said the council will dis-; cuss plans to open bids at the next city council meeting April 72 The new building will include a council room and will house the planning and zoning, police and utilities departments, council Please see HEYBURN, Page C3: By Lorraine Cavener Times-News writer RUPERT The smell of homemade bread filters through Minico High School halls daily from Brutus' Bakery and Catering. One of the best things about working at the new enterprise -which opened last month in the school's senior food-service class is working together as a team, students say. "We work with a whole bunch of different people a mixture of people of many different backgrounds," student Alvino Molina said. Those backgrounds are reflected in the mixture of pop and Hispanic music the students play while they mix ingredients, knead bread, roll dough and bake it.

Some tasks are more enjoyable than others, students have learned. Working with his hands and making something everyone can enjoy are Molina's favorite parts of working at the bakery, he said. He hopes to be a chef in a Mexican-American restaurant after college. Before opening the bakery the class listened to several speakers, put together a business plan and took a food-handler class to obtain Idaho health permits, instructor Vicky Edgar said. School-To-Work provided equipment and seed money.

Learning to cook for himself is one of the best aspects, Skyler Mabey said as he mea-Please see COOK, Page C3 Attention pranksters Planning a good April Fool's Day gag? Let us in on it. We're looking to cover the most offbeat April Fool's Day fun in the Magic Valley. If you're planning something, let us know. Call: Kevin Richert, (208) '733-0931, Ext. 234 Fax: (208) 734-5538 e-mail: richert magicval- ley.com LORRAINE CAVENERThe From left, Allssa Jolley, Jodi Jackson and Monica Thrall prepare dough for a project at Brutus' Bakery and Catering at Mlnlco High School.

The venture opened last month in the school's food-service department. COPY.