
Get this in your inbox each day
Hello Wednesday. Gretchen Parsons here with your morning headlines.
Good morning. There will soon be a new space in Garden City to have a drink on the patio, we have the details. Plus, a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses is in need of volunteer camp counselors.
- Today: 91° ☀️ Hot and sunny.
Idaho’s most-read morning news! Have a friend or colleague you think should get Idaho First? They can sign up (free of course) at BoiseDev.com/idaho-first. Forward this to a friend and let them know!
First Up Today
Wepa to open rooftop bar

A popular Puerto Rican restaurant in Garden City will soon open a new rooftop patio. Wepa Cafe, situated at the corner of 35th and Clay streets, is closed this week as owner Art Robinson prepares to launch the new space. Robinson says the second-story patio will be able to accommodate about 25 people. There will be a bar serving beer, wine, and canned cocktails while salsa music plays. Customers can order from a modified menu, which will consist of mostly appetizers.
“We’re just super excited to take this to the next level,” Robinson said. “We opened the restaurant and about nine months ago and it’s been doing well.”
Wepa will reopen on Tuesday, June 28 but the rooftop patio won’t open until several days later. Robinson didn’t have an exact date but said it would open within the week.
Once open, patio hours will be during the evenings on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. The space will also be available to rent out for private events. The City of Caldwell will soon have a new leader heading its police department. Rex Ingram will be sworn in as the Caldwell Chief of Police on Friday, July 1. He was voted in unanimously at a city council meeting this week.
Ingram comes to Caldwell from California where he worked for the Los Angeles Police Department for over 20 years, according to a news release. Ingram is also bilingual and currently lives in the Treasure Valley with his wife Venissa and two sets of twins. “I am excited for this opportunity to lead the men and women of the Caldwell Police Department (CPD) who represent what the badge means, no matter what the badge looks like in this world. I look forward to working with those at CPD to restore professionalism, and community trust, to keep Caldwell moving in the right direction, and make sure we are all in this together, as it is a collaborative effort”, said Rex Ingram
Former Caldwell Chief of Police Frank Wyant retired this past March. His retirement came several weeks after city officials confirmed officers in the department were under investigation by the FBI. Wyant was not among those being investigated.
Idaho’s Camp River Run is looking for a group of special volunteers to sign up as counselors for its upcoming summer camp. For those unfamiliar with the non-profit, Camp River Run provides a summer camp in McCall for kids ages seven to 17 who have a life threatening illness or disabling medical condition. The camp is four days and will take place July 21 – 24 this year. There are 26 registered campers, 14 boys and 12 girls. Each camper needs to be assigned a counselor of the same sex. So far, the camp has just 9 confirmed counselors, six males and three females.
Camp River Run Executive Director Amanda Stone says the ideal volunteer counselor is someone who is fun and loves kids.
“They basically need to be a cheerleader, encourager, and best friend for four days,” Stone said.
Volunteers must also be at least 17-years-old, pass a background check, and take an online CPR class if not already certified. Anyone interested can fill out an application here or email Stone with questions at [email protected].
Ahead of the four-day camp, counselors will attend a meet and greet on Saturday, July 9 to get to know the campers and their families.
BoiseDev is helping promote Camp River Run through our Boise Boost initiative.
The Idaho Land Board voted unanimously to move forward with the auction of of lots on Cougar Island in Payette Lake near McCall. Each parcel will be auctioned individually, and then a separate auction will be held for the whole island. If the whole island auction fetched a higher price than the sum total of the individual parcel auctions, one bidder could get the entire thing. Learn more about the auction on BoiseDev.
Two out of three county commissioners voted to approve a ban on fireworks of any type in areas of unincorporated Ada County without a fire district. This is the same resolution Ada County passes every fire season in order to try and tamp down on fire danger. Read why Commissioner Ryan Davidson was a no vote from Margaret Carmel.
Mondelēz International is acquiring Clif Bar, which has a manufacturing plant in Twin Falls. When the plant opened in 2016 it created more than 200 jobs and requires a large amount of organic ingredients, which are often supplied by local grain growers. Read what the move means for the local facility from BoiseDev intern Morgan McDonough.
A new movie theatre will replace the closed Edwards Cinemas in downtown Boise. An expansion and remodel are planned. Don Day has the details on seating upgrades, including “chaise loungers for two.”
Meet Penny! And what a gorgeous coat she has. Owner Tamera Tate says Penny loves to sit on the back porch and watch for other dogs and squirrels.
Submit your pet’s photo here, and we may feature it Monday-Thursday! Plus, our friends at Zamzows will send along a prize to the winning pet (owners)!Caldwell names new Chief of Police
Camp River Run looking for counselors for upcoming camp
Happening Today
BoiseDev Reports
On the block: Land Board says it will auction McCall’s Cougar Island
Ada County Commission votes 2-1 for foothills firework ban
Leading snack bar company to acquire Clif Bar plant in Twin Falls
Village at Meridian theater owner plans new location in Downtown Boise
Link-worthy
Things To Do
Pet of the Day