07-27-08 -- In Remembrance: ’Tish’ Koto always had friends in mind

BY DAVID KENNARD - dkennard@idahostatesman.com

Born near Salem, Ore., Tsuchi "Tish" Koto grew up during a confusing time in U.S. history.

The Fruitland resident died May 9 from complications related to cancer.

At the end of 1941, when Tish was 20 years old, the nation changed forever.

Japan declared war on America by bombing Hawaii in December 1941. Young men flocked to recruiting stations to sign up for the military.

By the beginning of 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the evacuation of more than 120,000 Americans of Japanese heritage.

Tish and her family were among those affected by the growing anti-Japanese sentiment and growing fear, especially on the West Coast, that anyone of Japanese descent could be a spy. More than two-thirds of those put in the camps - officially called relocation centers - were U.S. citizens and about 10 percent were in the military.

Around the same time Earnest Koto, a young man living in Ontario, enlisted in the military.

While waiting for deployment orders to France, he signed on with Morrison-Knudson to build barracks and facilities to house those who were moved to 33,000 acres of arid south Idaho desert.

Tish and her family arrived at the relocation camp of Minidoka on Sept. 7, 1942.

"What a town!" Tish says in the journal she kept during her train ride from the lush Oregon Coast. "Only one depot just recently made."

Mike Koto, Tish's son, said he's not sure how his mother and father met. But he said internees were often allowed to attend social events involving those from outside the camp.

"She looked at it as an adventure," Mike said.

Her travel log supports that as she writes about the "Special Train Ride" and places the train stopped or passed along the way.

"Multnomah Falls, 4:50 p.m.; Horsetail Falls, 4:53 1/2 p.m.; Bonneville 5 p.m.; They sure fixed the roads nicely (Eagle Creek Forest)," she wrote.

Earnest and Tish were married after the war in 1947 and made their home in Shoshone where Ernie and his brother, Tom Koto, owned the Boston Cafe.

After Tish's seven-year battle with tuberculosis beginning in 1949, Tish and Earnest moved their small family to Twin Falls, where the brothers opened Koto's Cafe. Tish worked in the kitchen at the cafe until she retired in 1977.

In her later years, Tish moved in with her oldest son.

"That is part of the family tradition," Mike said. "To care for older family members."

Keeping family close was part of who she was, Mike said.

"When we were sorting her things after she died we found hundreds of cards she was planning to send out to friends," he said. "They were just notes to say, 'Hello. I'm thinking about you.'

"That's how she was."

Childhood memories of the Oregon Coast prompted trips as often as she could get away. Her last visit was just months before she died.

Family and friends said Tish never mined talking about her stay at Minidoka, but her life was known for much more than what many consider a dark part of American history.

She was well known for service through her church, especially coordinating and cooking meals for various functions.

Tish also enjoyed her garden, providing flowers to friends and church members.

The things she treasured in life most were her faith, family and friends.

David Kennard: 377-6436

In Remembrance is a weekly profile on a Treasure Valley resident who has recently passed away. To recommend a friend or loved one for an In Remembrance, e-mail dkennard@idahostatesman.com.

07-13-08 -- Surveyor met the love of his life in Thailand, settled in Idaho

BY DAVID KENNARD - dkennard@idahostatesman.com
Doug Kimmel, a young man serving in the Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War, looked forward to his regular trips across the shared base to the office of a pretty young Thai girl named Kathy.

She was suspicious of the handsome young American "because he was always trying to talk to her," said Dara Kimmel, Doug's daughter, who now lives in Seattle.

Then one day he came in and told her that it was a special day in America and asked if she would like to have dinner with him.

Kathy had learned a little English in school, but not enough to carry on a conversation with her suitor, certainly not enough to speak to him during a date.

"It was Christmas," Dara said. "And she said she would go, but her brother came along to translate."

She said that during that first "date," Kathy mostly sat quietly while her brother and her future husband chatted.

Not long after that, Doug came across the base to see Kathy again; this time he was in his full uniform. He shook her hand and then asked if he could write to her. He was going back to America.

During the next few months, he would write letters to her and she would occasionally write back.

Then came the letter from America with a marriage proposal. Kathy ignored it.

The letter was followed by a visit by officials from the U.S. Embassy in Thailand telling her that a man in America had asked her to marry him.

She didn't know what to tell them at the time, but she soon found her answer in a drug store window while shopping in Bangkok.

The answer was written on the face of a picture postcard. It showed a gypsy looking into a crystal ball with the word yes displayed on it. She had her answer, bought the card and sent it to Kimmel in America, Dara said.

While making arrangements to fly to the United States, Kathy's mother gave her some gold jewelry and told her daughter that if Kimmel didn't show up or if he treated her poorly, she was to sell the jewelry and come home.

Doug and Kathy were married for 32 years before Doug died of brain cancer at age 61 on June 20 at their home in Boise.

After college, Doug spent two years in Nepal with the Peace Corps. He joined the Air Force in 1972. Later, Doug went to work for the Bureau of Land Management as a surveyor and worked in Oregon and then Idaho, where he and Kathy raised their daughter.

"We had a great family. I feel closer because it was just the three of us," Dara said, explaining that she saw extended family only occasionally.

"He loved being outdoors," Dara said. "He was super fit. He liked to hike and take us to places where he had surveyed."

She said she and her dad enjoyed high adventure hikes that took them to Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier in Washington, as well as hikes closer to home.

Kathy never had to sell her mother's jewelry, and the family returned to Thailand many times to visit her family, Dara said.

"He loved Thailand," she said. "And mom's family loved my dad."

David Kennard: 377-6436

In Remembrance is a weekly profile on a Treasure Valley resident who has recently passed away. To recommend a friend or loved one for an In Remembrance, e-mail dkennard@idahostatesman.com.

July 13, 2008 -- Surveyor met the love of his life in Thailand, settled in Idaho

By David Kennard, The Idaho Statesman

Doug Kimmel, a young man serving in the Air Force in Thailand during
the Vietnam War, looked forward to his regular trips across the shared
base to the office of a pretty young Thai girl named Kathy.
She was suspicious of the handsome young American "because he was
always trying to talk to her," said Dara Kimmel, Doug's daughter, who
now lives in Seattle.
Then one day he came in and told her that it was a special day in
America and asked if she would like to have dinner with him.
Kathy had learned a little English in school, but not enough to carry
on a conversation with her suitor, certainly not enough to speak to
him during a date.
"It was Christmas," Dara said. "And she said she would go, but her
brother came along to translate." She said that during that first
"date," Kathy mostly sat quietly while her brother and her future
husband chatted.
Not long after that, Doug came across the base to see Kathy again;
this time he was in his full uniform. He shook her hand and then asked
if he could write to her. He was going back to America. During the
next few months, he would write letters to her and she would
occasionally write back.
Then came the letter from America with a marriage proposal. Kathy
ignored it. The letter was followed by a visit by officials from the
U.S. Embassy in Thailand telling her that a man in America had asked
her to marry him.

She didn't know what to tell them at the time, but she soon found her
answer in a drug store window while shopping in Bangkok. The answer
was written on the face of a picture postcard. It showed a gypsy
looking into a crystal ball with the word yes displayed on it. She had
her answer, bought the card and sent it to Kimmel in America, Dara
said.
While making arrangements to fly to the United States, Kathy's mother
gave her some gold jewelry and told her daughter that if Kimmel didn't
show up or if he treated her poorly, she was to sell the jewelry and
come home.
Doug and Kathy were married for 32 years before Doug died of brain
cancer at age 61 on June 20 at their home in Boise. After college,
Doug spent two years in Nepal with the Peace Corps. He joined the Air
Force in 1972. Later, Doug went to work for the Bureau of Land
Management as a surveyor and worked in Oregon and then Idaho, where he
and Kathy raised their daughter.
"We had a great family. I feel closer because it was just the three of
us," Dara said, explaining that she saw extended family only
occasionally. "He loved being outdoors," Dara said. "He was super fit.
He liked to hike and take us to places where he had surveyed."
She said she and her dad enjoyed high adventure hikes that took them
to Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier in Washington, as well as hikes
closer to home.
Kathy never had to sell her mother's jewelry, and the family returned
to Thailand many times to visit her family, Dara said. "He loved
Thailand," she said. "And mom's family loved my dad."

07-12-08 -- Travelers lose four ExpressJet flights to California

BY DAVID KENNARD - dkennard@idahostatesman.com

Boise travelers will lose four daily nonstop flights to Southern California in September because ExpressJet plans to cease commercial flights.

ExpressJet Airlines says rising fuel costs forced its decision to suspend flying under several lines after Sept. 2.

The carrier has two nonstop flights from Boise to San Diego and two to Los Angeles/Ontario.

"We regret losing their service," said Larissa Stouffer, a spokesman for the Boise Airport.

ExpressJet says it agreed to terminate its agreements with Delta Air Lines effective Sept. 1 and will cease its branded commercial passenger flight operations on Sept. 2.

"On behalf of everyone at ExpressJet Airlines, I would like to express our gratitude to the communities that provided such a warm welcome and were always supportive of our branded service," said Jim Ream, president and chief executive officer. "If we had any other choice, we would not take this difficult action. However, rising fuel prices has made the operation impossible to sustain."

Boise travelers planning a trip to San Diego and Los Angeles can find flights on other airlines, but none offer nonstop service.

"They represented a small percentage of our passenger service and daily flights, but other carriers will accommodate passengers going to those destinations," Stouffer said.

Tickets on ExpressJet Airlines for travel before Sept. 2 will not be affected, the airline said. The company will continue selling tickets for any customers who want to travel before Sept. 2.

Customers holding tickets for a flight after Sept. 1 should contact ExpressJet Reservations at 888-958-XJET (9538) to request a refund.

David Kennard: 377-6436

07-08-08 -- 2 people hurt in plane crash northeast of Yellow Pine

Photo provided by LA Gordon

A small plane sits on the wreckage of a pickup truck on the airstrip in Big Creek.

BY DAVID KENNARD - dkennard@idahostatesman.com

Two people were hurt Monday after a small plane crashed at a mountain resort north of Yellow Pine.

According to a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, one person sustained serious injuries and the other person had minor injuries after the plane came to rest about 75 feet past the airstrip in Big Creek.

Both people were flown by air ambulance to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for treatment. Officials have not released the names of the injured.

Cascade Rural Ambulance and the Valley County Sheriff's Department responded to the crash site in the Payette National Forest on the edge of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, according to a sheriff's spokesman.

Officials did not say whether the plane was taking off or landing at the time of the crash.

According to Allen Kenitzer with the FAA, the owner of the Mooney single-engine plane, which was built in 1965, is Kjell W. Nielsen of San Diego.

According to National Transportation Safety Board records, the plane was involved in another crash in 1967 when the pilot failed to deploy the landing gear while landing at an airstrip in Chico, Calif.

An investigation by the NTSB will begin as soon as an investigator arrives at the crash scene, Kenitzer.

"He'll begin by talking to the people in the airplane, who, thankfully, survived," Kenitzer said. He said a preliminary report will be released in about two weeks.

Two crashes have taken place recently at the Big Creek airstrip. In both cases, everyone involved survived.

In August 2007, a pilot was hurt when his two-engine Piper overran the departure end of the runway and slid down an embankment.

In July 2006, a pilot was hurt when his single-engine Cessna collided with trees during takeoff at the airstrip. The pilot and two passengers received serious injuries.

David Kennard: 377-6436

07-01-08 -- Treasure Valley setting up for perfect heat storm

PLAN AHEAD

Forecasters say the heat will remain in the high 90s through Thursday.

Friday, Independence Day, is expected to drop to 93 degrees.

The holiday weekend also is expected to remain hot and dry with highs in the mid to high 90s.

BY DAVID KENNARD AND PATRICK ORR - local@idahostatesman.com

A forecast of scorchingly hot weather, low relative humidity and wind is a recipe for grass and brush fires in the Foothills and other parts of the parched Valley.

And when you add the purchase of (often) illegal fireworks and Fourth of July rowdiness - well, fire officials are concerned.

It's not like nature needs any help starting fires.

Look at Sunday. A record high of 105 degrees, a blazing sun and a venting propane tank led to a disastrous fire that claimed two homes in East Boise.

And fire officials are still trying to figure out what started a brush fire that burned about 3 acres near Camel's Back Park and 8th Street, though they think it was human-caused.

With the Foothills pretty much dried out, a grass or brush fire started by a careless person is the kind of problem that Boise firefighters and wildland firefighters with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service desperately want to avoid this week. So they are urging people to be careful, especially if they choose to light off fireworks this weekend.

Firefighters also want to remind people that all fireworks are banned in the Foothills.

And if you are caught with illegal fireworks, you face the possibility of a $100 ticket, $40 in court costs and having your stash confiscated. Boise fire inspectors will likely have several patrols active Friday night after the city fireworks display at Ann Morrison Park.

SUMMER HEAT

Sunday's record-setting 105 degrees comes just 20 days after snow fell over the Treasure Valley.

"More extreme weather is expected as the climate changes," said Valerie Mills, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boise. "The so-called global warming has different changes for different places."

In Boise, that translates to hot, dry days at least through summer and fall and possibly into the winter months as well, Mills said.

The Pacific Ocean's La Nia that brought so much snow and rain to the Northwest during winter months may not be around to help us next winter.

And it will provide no relief from the heat during summer.

What we can expect is more hot days and very little rain, she said.

Escape from the heat may be difficult without going to some extreme - or running the air conditioner.

An escape to the high country is one option, but even with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees cooler than in the Treasure Valley, an 85- or 90-degree day in McCall is still very hot.

In most cases, the higher you climb, the cooler the temperatures will be. Ketchum and Stanley are forecasting highs in the mid to high 80s this week.

Temperatures along the Boise River may keep you cooler. Even a slight breeze blowing across the 55-degree water lowers the temperature along the shaded Boise Greenbelt 10 or 15 degrees.

AIR QUALITY

For many people, especially those with breathing difficulties, spending time outside won't be an option.

The rising air quality index already has pushed the Treasure Valley into the moderate category, triggering a yellow air-quality alert.

Leonard Herr, regional air quality manager with the Department of Environmental Quality, said poor air alerts could come as soon as Tuesday if the air quality index rises above 60, which would spark a ban on open burning in the Valley.

On Monday, the index was forecast for 55. If it rises above 100, which could happen as smoke from California fires moves into the area, the DEQ would issue an orange alert, one level below a red alert, or "unhealthy" category.

Last Fourth of July, the DEQ issued a red alert when smoke from fireworks thickened the air.

When the air gets that bad, it makes it difficult for everyone - not just those sensitive to poor air quality - to experience health effects.

David Kennard: 377-6436