Candice Lee Stacey

By Journal Staff

POCATELLO — A Fort Hall woman was arrested and charged with car theft, and the vehicle was recovered thanks to GPS technology.

Candice Lee Stacey, 35, is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. She remains incarcerated at the Bannock County jail. A $5,000 bond was set in the case, and a preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 9.

According to police reports, the car was reported stolen at about 4:15 p.m. Monday.

The owner of the vehicle notified his insurance company, which managed to use GPS to locate the vehicle.

Chubbuck police spotted the car at 4845 Yellowstone Ave. just after 9 p.m., and detained Stacey until Pocatello officers responded to the scene and took Stacey into custody.

Ruben Guzman with Guzman Insurance in Pocatello said some insurance companies provide a device that monitors driving habits like average rate of speed, how any normal miles driven, auto maintenance and GPS.

Good drivers are rewarded with lower rates. The device helped police locate the vehicle within hours of it being reported stolen.

Guzman Insurance sells policies for 27 different insurance companies, and Guzman said both Progressive and Safeco auto insurance offer the monitoring systems.

By Journal Staff

POCATELLO — A 19-year-old Fort Hall man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on Tuesday as part of a plea agreement.

Joaquin Broncho, who was originally charged with second-degree murder, faces up to 15 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced in May at the federal courthouse in Pocatello, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

On Aug. 29, 2014, Broncho and others were involved in a fight outside of a home on the Fort Hall Reservation, according to the news release. Broncho, who obtained a knife from the house, fatally stabbed Joey Runninghorse during the incident.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fort Hall Police Department investigated the case, according to the news release.

By Journal Staff

A Blackfoot teen suffered injuries Wednesday morning when he crashed his vehicle to avoid running over a dog on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, state police reported.

Logan Eskelsen, 18, was transported via private vehicle to Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot following the 6:35 a.m. crash on U.S. Highway 91 at Cemetery Road north of Tyhee. A condition report on Eskelsen was unavailable from the hospital on Wednesday evening.

State police said Eskelsen was traveling southbound in his 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee when he swerved to miss a dog in the roadway. He didn’t hit the dog but he did lose control of his vehicle. The Jeep Grand Cherokee flipped and ended up in a roadside ditch.

Eskelsen was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The wreck remains under investigation by state police.

By Journal Staff

Idaho State Police investigated a two-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 north of Fort Hall on Tuesday about 8:03 p.m.

The accident happened when Floyd E. Gross, 74, of Chubbuck, was driving a 1978 Chevrolet pickup and entered the northbound lanes of I-15 from an emergency crossover.

Then Kevin M. Johnson, 23, of Burley, who was driving a 1999 Honda Accord north on I-15, impacted the rear of the Gross’ vehicle.

The passenger in Gross’ vehicle, Zeth A. Beesley, 23, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, was taken by ground ambulance to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.

Johnson was taken by private vehicle to an unknown medical facility. Johnson was wearing a seat belt. Neither Gross nor Beesley were wearing a seat belt.

The right lane of I-15 was blocked for about an hour and a half as the crash scene was cleared.

This crash is under investigation by Idaho State Police.

By Journal Staff

Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving forward with plans to take grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Area off the Endangered Species Act list, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are staunchly opposed.

“The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are not, and will not, be involved with any collaborations that seek to further the proposed delisting of the Yellowstone grizzly bear, and this position must be made plain in any presentation,” a press release from the Fort Hall Business Council reads.

The business council said it not only opposes delisting of the bears, it totally rejects any plans for Idaho Fish and Game to offer trophy hunts for grizzly bears if the animals lose Endangered Species Act protections.

“No grizzly bears will be hunted on Shoshone-Bannock lands, and the Shoshone-Bannock will oppose any attempts to hunt grizzlies in their recognized ancestral homelands,” the tribal news release said.

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes retain a seat on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee), and the declaration withdraws any perceived support for delisting the grizzly bear that has previously been presented by the IGBC.

The IGBC said it is encouraged by the announcement by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that it is beginning the final step in the process to delist the Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population. According to James Unsworth, IGBC chairman and director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Yellowstone grizzly population has met and exceeded all biological goals set forth in the recovery plan.

In 1975, the Service listed the grizzly bear as a threatened species in the lower 48 states under the Endangered Species Act. There are five areas where grizzlies remain today, including the Greater Yellowstone Area.

The 1993 grizzly bear recovery plan outlined three demographic recovery criteria to be met before considering delisting the Yellowstone grizzly. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now believes that criteria has been met and the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming can take over management of the bears outside of Yellowstone National Park.

That could pave the way for limited grizzly bear hunting.

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are clear in their opposition to this potential hunting activity.

“Following the grizzly bear management plans of the federal and tri-state governments of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana — all of which advocate trophy hunts for grizzlies — would not only represent a threat to tribal sovereignty, but also contravene the American Indian Religious Freedom Act,” the business council news release states. “The grizzly is a spiritual animal, intricately tied to the ceremonies and practices of the Shoshone and Bannock peoples.”

By Journal Staff

POCATELLO — Charles Eugene Allhands, 52, of Fort Hall, was sentenced Monday to eight months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Allhands to serve three years of supervised release.

Allhands pleaded guilty on Dec. 9.

According to the plea agreement, on March 8, 2015 Allhands sold methamphetamine to an individual at Allhands’ residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department, the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

FORT HALL — Randy Burnham has joined the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center as its new IT director.

Burnham comes to Fort Hall Casino from the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians and Seven Feathers Casino Resort, where he worked as the IT Operations and Infrastructure Manager. Under this tenure, Burnham had oversight of the infrastructure, help desk, and special IT projects’ teams.

Prior to casino operations, he managed at Rio Networks, a large Internet service provider. Rio supported more than 4,000 customers over a large intra-state network. Along with simultaneous ISP operations, Burnham managed the oversight of the construction process of a 12,500 square foot data center.

He comes to Idaho as a graduate of Oregon State University with a bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis in managing information systems. In 2012, Burnham graduated from Southern Oregon University with a master’s in management, which afforded him further growth and professional opportunity in leading highly technical teams.

He and his family are looking forward to becoming members of the Fort Hall community and contributing members of the local area.

News Relase

King of the Cage, the leader in casino mixed martial arts entertainment, will debut at Fort Hall Casino in Fort Hall, Idaho with another world-class mega-event inside the Chiefs Event Center at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center.

The show will be headlined by a Lightweight (155 pounds) showdown between Aaron Sutton and Darrell Flores and will feature some of the sport’s most ferocious competitors on Saturday, May 21, 2016.

The main event in the 155 lb. Lightweight Division, will feature Aaron “The Savage” Sutton from Pocatello, Idaho (Team Davis) fighting Darrell Flores from Boise, Idaho (Combat Fitness / SBG).

One of the co-main events also in the 155 lb. Lightweight Division will feature two local fighters making their professional debut… Storm Anderson from Bellevue, Idaho vs. Elmer Umarov from Boise, Idaho.

Another of the co-main events in the 145 lb. Bantamweight Division will be Ryan Landis from Green River, Wyoming battling Justin Erickson from Pocatello, Idaho.

Other featured fighters on the card will include Shay Baron, Irving Ortega, Colton Montgomery, Tristin Maes, Tyson Craig, Lucio Rivera, Rui Medina, Paul Crawford, Ethan Beard, Joe Valenzuela, Joe Aguirre, Mark Cruse, Julie Daniels and more.

This event will be broadcast in over 50 million U.S. households on MAVTV (214 Direct TV, 810 Verizon FiOS). Check your local cable provider for cable station in your area.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and fights start at 7:30 p.m. Reserve seating, VIP, and ringside tickets are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.shobangaming.com or at the Fort Hall Casino box office. Event card and schedule are subject to change.

Tanisha Phelps

By Journal Staff

POCATELLO — A Fort Hall woman who knifed a 72-year-old female in a wheelchair in December 2014 has pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

Tanisha Phelps, 19, entered her guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Pocatello on Monday. Phelps was indicted on the charge by a federal jury in Pocatello on Jan. 27, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson said Phelps entered a guilty plea based on an agreement with the prosecution and will appear for sentencing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill on June 23.

According to the plea agreement, on Dec. 14, 2014, Fort Hall Police were called to a private residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation regarding a possible stabbing.

Officers arrived and found that the defendant had cut the wheelchair-bound victim on her forearm with a knife. The victim told police that the defendant was mad because her music had been turned off and she had told the defendant to go outside and “cool off” before the attack took place.

Phelps then punched the victim in the forehead with her fist and grabbed two kitchen knives. Phelps proceeded to cut the victim’s forearm with one of the knives causing it to bleed. Phelps admitted to cutting the victim during an interview with Fort Hall police and the victim was treated for her injuries.

The charge of assault with a dangerous weapon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. Attorney’s Office press release

POCATELLO — Lyle Plentywounds, Sr., 60, of Fort Hall, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to assault on an officer, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Plentywounds was indicted by the federal grand jury in Pocatello on July 28, 2015.

On June 23, 2015, officers from the Fort Hall Police Department responded to a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation on a report that the Plentywounds was causing a disturbance at that location. Officers arrived at the location and found Plentywounds to be intoxicated, which is a violation of Tribal law. Officers took Plentywounds into custody. While officers were taking him to the patrol car, Plentywounds struggled with the officers and kicked an officer in the leg. Under the specific federal law that Plentywounds pled guilty to violating, Fort Hall police officers are considered “federal officers.”

The charge of assault on an officer is punishable by up to eight years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Plentywounds is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2016, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Journal Staff

FORT HALL — Firefighters are trying to extinguish about 60 hay bales that are burning on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

The fire is just off Mission Road south of the Fort Hall town site and was reported by a passerby around 4:45 p.m. Saturday. Fort Hall Fire Chief Brian Briggs described the fire as potentially suspicious and said its cause is under investigation.

At 5:10 p.m. Saturday Chubbuck firefighters were dispatched to the scene to help Fort Hall firefighters extinguish the burning hay bales.

As of 7:30 p.m. the fire was contained but still burning and firefighters said they expected to remain on the scene overnight and all day Sunday until the flames are out.

The fire has not resulted in any injuries and the flames are not threatening any structures, firefighters said. The smoke from the fire could be smelled Saturday night as far away as north Pocatello.

Damion Ryan Loneman

By Debbie Bryce
For the Journal

POCATELLO — A man charged with kidnapping and aggravated battery in connection to an April 6 stabbing case will face federal charges in the case.

During a preliminary hearing on Wednesday in Pocatello, Bannock County Prosecutor Steve Herzog dismissed the state’s case against Damion Ryan Loneman, 32, clearing the way for federal charges to now be filed.

Herzog said that because the stabbing, which sent Jeremy Baldwin to the hospital with a wound to his leg, occurred on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, it falls under the jurisdiction of the federal court.

A federal hold is in place, and Loneman will remain incarcerated at the Bannock County jail until new charges are filed.

Loneman was represented by Pocatello attorney John Souza.

Elacia Marie Potter, 31, is charged as a principal to kidnapping and principal to aggravated battery.

Potter appeared in front of Sixth District Magistrate Rick Carnaroli on Wednesday and waived the 14-day time limit for a preliminary hearing to be held in her case.

She was represented by Pocatello attorney Doug Dykman during the hearing.

Carnaroli set a new preliminary hearing for April 27. Potter remains incarcerated — a $450,000 bond was set in the case.

Loneman and Potter were arrested in the Chubbuck Wal-Mart parking lot on April 6.

Pocatello police are heading the investigation, and detectives said a third suspect in the case remains at large. But they have not yet released that person’s name.

On Wednesday, Lt. Ian Nelson said no new information is available about the case.

By Cydney McFarland
cmcfarland@journalnet.com

FORT HALL — First-responders, medical professionals and educators gathered at the Shoshone Bannock Hotel and Events Center in Fort Hall recently for the Regional Readiness Rendezvous. The two-day event was meant to address how Southeast Idaho could be prepared to deal with anything from a natural disaster to an outbreak.

The was the second year for this event, which is meant to focus on areas that had been highlighted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as national areas of weakness, according to Devin Hughes, the healthcare liaison with Southeast Idaho Public Health.

On the first day, local epidemiologists and doctors discussed how hospitals and first responders in Southeast Idaho can deal with infectious diseases — specifically Ebola and Zika, which have been making headlines because of recent outbreaks.

Hughes said the presentations focused on how to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases and then how to best contain and treat them in the event of an outbreak. However, with Ebola mostly under control in Western Africa and Zika not able to be transmitted by Idaho’s mosquito species, any outbreaks are highly unlikely.

“Of course, it’s better to be prepared should a situation arise,” said Hughes. “Especially with travel, a Zika case here isn’t out of the question.”

There were also discussions on medical shelters — a bit of a halfway point for people too sick to go to a shelter but not sick enough to be in the hospital — and organizing Multi Agency Response Centers, or MARCs, to deal with a variety of emergency situations.

Possibly the most popular topic — bringing in everyone from first responders to teachers to the Department of Correction — was the public health and behavioral health response to a mass shooting.

DeWayne Hatcher, a SERV-OR systems coordinator, who had responded to the Umpqua Community College shooting in Oregon presented on this topic.

While the Rendezvous is only in its second year, Hughes said they plan to make this a yearly event, allowing local partners to come together to make sure Southeast Idaho is prepared for anything that may come its way.

By Journal Staff

A Fort Hall man died in a two-vehicle accident Saturday night at the intersection of Ballard Road and U.S. Highway 91 on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, according to a news release from Idaho State Police.

Anthony Jim Jr., 38, of Fort Hall, died of his injuries at the scene of the crash, according to state police.

The accident happened shortly before 10:49 p.m. when Jim was driving a Pontiac Grand Am east on Ballard Road. He failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection with Highway 91, state police report.

Then Forrest Watkins, 56, of Pocatello, who was driving south on Highway 91 in a Dodge Intrepid, struck Jim’s vehicle.

Watkins and a female passenger in Jim’s vehicle were transported by ground ambulance to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.

Watkins was the only occupant of the two vehicles who wore a seat belt. Both lanes of travel were blocked for about four hours.

The crash is currently under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

Patrick Yokio Kima

By Debbie Bryce
For the Journal

POCATELLO – A third suspect was arrested Tuesday in connection to an April 6 stabbing and kidnapping.

Patrick Yokio Kima, 42, of Pocatello, was arrested on West Sublette Street Tuesday at about 3 p.m. on a warrant charging him with kidnapping and aggravated battery.

Kima was arrested by Pocatello police and U.S. Marshals. Police said he was listed on the city’s Top 10 Most Wanted list for his alleged role in the stabbing and kidnapping, though authorities had not released his name to the public prior to a Wednesday morning press release about his arrest.

Two other suspects, Damion Loneman, 32, and Elacia Potter, 31, were arrested in the Chubbuck Walmart parking lot on April 6.

Loneman was charged with kidnapping and aggravated battery and Potter is charged with principal to aggravated battery and kidnapping.

Because the stabbing occurred on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, charges against Loneman in Bannock County were dismissed and he will face federal prosecution in the case. A preliminary hearing in Potter’s case is set for May 18 in Bannock County court.

It’s unclear why she is still being charged in Bannock County court if Loneman’s case is being federally prosecuted. Kima is also being prosecuted in Bannock County court, at least for now.

The victim, Jeremy Baldwin, sustained a stab wound to his leg during the kidnapping.

Authorities have not released information on how the crime occurred.

Baldwin said last month that he has been advised not to discuss his case, but he said he met the defendants through another individual.

Kima will be arraigned on Wednesday. A $450,000 bond was set in his case.

He’s currently being held at the Bannock County Jail.

News Release

FORT HALL — Nationally recognized author and community development strategist Peter Kageyama will be speaking at a Fort Hall luncheon for the Eastern Idaho business community June 8. The event, hosted by Idaho Housing and Finance Association, is “Creating Quality Places Where People Want to Live, Work and Play,” and will be held at the Shoshone-Bannock Event Center at 777 Bannock Trail in Fort Hall from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Kageyama, author of “For the Love of Cities” and “Love Where You Live” will provide an in-depth exploration of the importance of building great places including attracting and retaining a dynamic workforce, focusing on a city’s most authentic elements to promote its strengths and promoting better collaboration between multiple generations. He will also share ideas on how cities can work together with their citizens, businesses and universities to spur economic development and make their cities better.

Tickets are $15 and include lunch. Registration is required at http://bit.ly/forthallkeynote-nr. For more information, call 208-331-4743.

The event is hosted by Idaho Housing and Finance Association and supported by Pocatello-Chubbock Chamber of Commerce, Greater Pocatello Association of Realtors, Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce, Greater Blackfoot Association of Realtors, Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce and Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors.

Demitrius Gomez

By Journal Staff

Demetrius Anthony Gomez, the suspect in a Fort Hall homicide, was arrested and brought into police custody Wednesday evening.

According to Captain Mark Massey of the Fort Hall Police Department, a federal search warrant and a federal arrest warrant were served at a residence on Harrison Avenue in Pocatello.

Authorities found Gomez at the residence, and he was taken into custody without incident at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Massey said some of Gomez’s family members were detained, but he did not provide any further details on Wednesday night.

Law enforcement agencies involved with the arrest on Wednesday include the Fort Hall Police Department, the Pocatello Police Department, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.

As of Wednesday evening, Gomez was in custody in Fort Hall.

Gomez is the suspect in the murder of 35-year-old Tyrone Diaz of Pocatello. Diaz was killed by a shotgun blast on Monday evening at a residence on B Street near the Fort Hall Elementary School. Police responded to the residence at about 6:45 p.m., where they found Diaz already deceased.

Authorities across the region launched a massive manhunt for Gomez, who was regarded as armed and dangerous. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes issued a statement on Tuesday offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the Gomez’s whereabouts.

Michael Angelo Miera

Two suspects were arraigned in Sixth District Court Tuesday after a vehicle chase on Monday that injured a police officer.

Michael Angelo Miera, 26, and Janeal Elizabeth Miera, 19, who are cousins, were arrested after a high-speed chase initiated by Bannock County deputies with assistance from Fort Hall police.

The chase started at Rio Vista and Tyhee roads northwest of Chubbuck, where a traffic violation led deputies to try to stop the 2013 Toyota Tacoma that Michael Miera was driving. Then it continued into the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

Fort Hall Criminal Investigator Kelly Taufer tried to deploy spike strips to pop the suspects’ vehicle tires near the intersection of Reservation Road and Highway 91. But witnesses said Michael intentionally swerved to strike the officer.

Taufer was transported to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello. He sustained injuries to his arms and legs, and was treated and released.

Michael Miera is charged with aggravated battery and eluding an officer, both felonies.

Sixth District Magistrate Paul S. Laggis told the defendant that if convicted of those charges, he could face a combined prison term of 20 years and a combined fine of $100,000.

Laggis set a preliminary trial in the case for May 26. Bond in the case was set at $40,000.

Michael Miera, a registered sex offender, was released from the Idaho Department of Corrections in September 2015.

He is currently listed as non-compliant on the Idaho State Police Sex Offenders Registry. Michael Miera had three outstanding warrants for his arrest.

In June 2008, Michael Miera was sentenced to two years fixed and 10 years indeterminate for a charge of lewd conduct with a child under 16. He pleaded guilty to the charge that was filed in Fremont County.

Bannock County Prosecutor Steve Herzog said Miera also has a charge in Bonneville County for petit theft and an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on an inattentive driving charge in Bannock County.

Miera’s previous criminal history includes drug charges in Bingham County, and a grand theft charge in Bonneville County.

Janeal Elizabeth Miera

Neither Michael Miera nor Janeal Miera are Shoshone-Bannock Tribal members.

Herzog said because the injured officer was a federal agent, federal charges could still be filed in the case.

The prosecutor said the increase in violence toward local officers concerns him. He said it undermines the security of the Southeast Idaho community.

Herzog said he’s communicating with federal officials and all reports will be reviewed once the investigation is complete before determining if federal prosecution is appropriate.

During the vehicle chase, after striking Taufer, Michael Miera continued south on U.S. 91, which eventually turned onto East Chubbuck Road. The suspects crashed through a construction barrier and continued on toward Olympus Drive.

Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said deputies saw the chase going toward children on the nearby bike trails. So a deputy ended the pursuit by performing a PIT maneuver, bumping the suspect’s pickup and causing it to roll multiple times.

Nielsen said the deputy acted out of fear for the safety of the children.

In a press release Tuesday, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes said Taufer has served the Fort Hall community for eight years as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, and currently as a criminal investigator with the Department.

The Fort Hall Police Department also thanked the surrounding law enforcement agencies for their assistance and support.

The intersection at U.S. 91 and Reservation Road was shut down for about two hours after the incident Monday.

By Debbie Bryce
For the Journal

FORT HALL — With a record of 9-9, mixed martial arts fighter Aaron Sutton said he likes the physical challenge of the sport.

A 2005 graduate of Snake River High School, Sutton lost his main event match Saturday during the King of the Cage in Fort Hall.

The show featured 10 fights and packed the event center at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel.

Sutton, 29, is a native of Blackfoot and has been involved in MMA for the past 11 years.

His parents are Robert and Melissa Sutton. But Aaron said they missed his main event match because they stayed home to babysit his 2-year-old daughter, Olivia.

“They usually come whenever they can though,” Aaron said.

Aaron and his fiancé, Rachel Stevens, are expecting their second child, a boy, in July.

He fights for and trains with Darrin Davis with Team Davis MMA of Idaho Falls. Team Davis brought four fighters to Saturday’s contest.

To be able to perform at his peak inside the cage, Aaron said he works out four times a week. His training includes weight lifting, cardio routines and sparring.

His martial arts training includes Muay Thai and jujitsu. He’s also done a little boxing. But Aaron said the skills he developed as a high school wrestler contribute most to his ability as an MMA fighter.

Before each fight Aaron, said he tries to relax and stay calm. He consumes energy drinks to give him an extra boost in the cage.

MMA fighting is a full-contact sport that allows the use of striking, kicking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground.

Matches are won either by a knockout or submission. Fighters work to get their opponent to the ground and get them into a choke hold, forcing them to tap out, or submit.

Aaron said the referee can also call the fight.

He lost his match Saturday to Jason Gray, of Enumclaw, Wash.

To prepare for the fight, Aaron said he watched videos of Gray in the cage.

“We didn’t know much about him, but we knew he was a wrestler,” Aaron said.

Fights last for three rounds of no more than five minutes each. All bouts are evaluated and scored by three judges who look at the fight from different locations around the cage.

Saturday’s event included a woman’s match. Pauline Macais of Los Angeles defeated Julie Daniels of Bellevue.

The ninth bout between Storm Anderson of Bellevue and Darneal Stephens of Idaho Falls got the crowd on their feet and kept them there.

Anderson won the fight in three rounds. And a crowd of about 40 people, all wearing Storm Anderson T-shirts, exchanged high-fives and hugs at the side of the cage.

Launched in 1998, King of the Cage has held 434 events and presided over approximately 2950 matches.

Phillip Baldwin

On June 18, 2011, Cpl. Phillip Baldwin was on a security patrol in Kajaki, Afghanistan, with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

Baldwin, a native of Fort Hall and a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, stepped on an improvised explosive device, which resulted in the loss of both his legs and injury to his left hand and right hip.

Next week, five years to the day after the incident that changed Baldwin’s life forever, the national nonprofit organization Homes for Our Troops will kick off the building of a specially adapted home for Baldwin.

A community kick-off event is set for June 18 at 10 a.m. at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Events Center in Fort Hall.

The public is welcome to attend the special event.

Vickie Baldwin, Phillip’s mother, said the four-bedroom, two bath home is being built near Sheepskin and Bannock roads, and the foundation for the home has already been poured.

Vickie said the house will be more than 3,000-square-feet and will include major special adaptations such as widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower and kitchen amenities such as pull-down shelving and lowered countertops.

The one-level home will also alleviate the mobility and safety issues associated with a traditional home, including navigating a wheelchair through narrow hallways or over thresholds or reaching for cabinets.

Vickie gave the 1.5 acre lot that the home is being built on to Phillip.

In a press release Thursday, Patty Catalano, marketing director for HFOT ,said the group relies on contributions from donors, supporters and corporate partners to build each veteran’s home.

Community members may hold fundraisers or make donations toward completion of the home. To learn more about Homes for Our Troops, go to www.hfotusa.org.

There is a long and proud tradition of military service in the Baldwin family, both of Phillip’s grandfathers served, Vickie retired from the U.S. Air Force, and two of Phillips brothers served with the U.S. Marine Corps as well.

Phillip’s father has served as a law enforcement officer for the past three decades as well.

Vickie said she is proud of her son.

“He’s doing all right,” Vickie said. “He’s come a long way in the past five years.”

Now medically retired, Baldwin is a marksmanship instructor and is active in his community, often speaking at local elementary schools.

Phillip has an 8-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, and he said his message to young people is simple: If you are dedicated and committed, anything is possible.

His new home will make life easier for Baldwin and his family.

“I’m pretty handy, and I can do everything now, but this will make it easier,” Phillip said.

He learned about Homes for Our Troops while he was recovering from his injuries in San Diego in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Phillip and his brother traveled to Boston to meet with HFOT officials.

Phillip said he plans to move his family into his new home in August.

“There are a few things that still need to be worked out, but everything is falling into place,”Phillip said. “We’re pretty excited.”

In his spare time, the Marine said he enjoys hunting, shooting, fishing and camping with his family.

Phillip said it feels good to have his service and his sacrifice recognized.

“I’m grateful, and I’m honored that they are doing this for me and my family,” Phillip said.