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GA Johnson Construction’s latest proposal for a new Fall River County jail is roughly half the cost of their earlier design for a ‘justice center’; the site across the street from the courthouse remains the same. Courtesy graphic

GA Johnson Construction’s latest proposal for a new Fall River County jail is roughly half the cost of their earlier design for a ‘justice center’; the site across the street from the courthouse remains the same. Courtesy graphic

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Commissioners receive revised new jail proposal of $10.5 million

Beth Bogart
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS — Most of the July 16 Fall River County Commission meeting was devoted to nonprofit entities presenting their annual budget requests: amounts in the thousands. Only at the end did the biggest budget item — a $10.
A Caterpillar skidder lays on its side along Hot Brook Canyon Road after it slipped off of a flatbed trailer while being unloaded last Thursday, July 16. Photo courtesy Andrew Kerr

A Caterpillar skidder lays on its side along Hot Brook Canyon Road after it slipped off of a flatbed trailer while being unloaded last Thursday, July 16. Photo courtesy Andrew Kerr

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Washington man pinned under skidder in equipment accident

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – A 24-year-old man from Vancouver, Wash., was seriously injured while unloading a 35,000-pound skidder to a private residence, approximately 2 miles out on Hot Brook Canyon Road last Thursday, July 16.
Pictured above is what remains of the Jalapeno’s Grill kitchen after a fire, which started in a nearby prep area, burned most of western half of the building and caused extensive smoke and water damage throughout the rest of the structure. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Pictured above is what remains of the Jalapeno’s Grill kitchen after a fire, which started in a nearby prep area, burned most of western half of the building and caused extensive smoke and water damage throughout the rest of the structure. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

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Jalapeno’s Grill hopes to rise again from the ashes of its July 6 fire

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – As soon as the fire department gave clearance for the ownership and staff of Jalapeno’s Grill to go back into their building, they went back to work.
Camilo Ruiz (30) was four months into his solo trek from Orlando to Seattle, pushing his 100-pound cart, when he took a detour to Hot Springs for a respite enjoying the waters for a few days starting July 10. Photo by Beth Bogart/Fall River County Herald-Star

Camilo Ruiz (30) was four months into his solo trek from Orlando to Seattle, pushing his 100-pound cart, when he took a detour to Hot Springs for a respite enjoying the waters for a few days starting July 10. Photo by Beth Bogart/Fall River County Herald-Star

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Cross-Country walker makes detour to explore all Hot Springs has to offer

Beth Bogart
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS -Walking since March 9, when he left his Orlando, Fla., hometown on a cross-country trek, Camilo Ruiz spent several days earlier this week relaxing in Hot Springs –– a detour he made from his initial itinerary when he noticed the town’s name on maps.
Sue Olofson greeted her customers through this mail window for the past 30 years at Smithwick Post Office when they came to get their mail, drop off packages or just stop in to chat. Photo by Charity Maness / Fall River County Herald Star

Sue Olofson greeted her customers through this mail window for the past 30 years at Smithwick Post Office when they came to get their mail, drop off packages or just stop in to chat. Photo by Charity Maness / Fall River County Herald Star

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At nearly 90-years-old, Sue Olofson retires from Smithwick Post Office

Charity Maness
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Body SMITHWICK – On July 3, 2026, soon-to-be 90-yearold Sue Olofson said goodbye to her beloved Post Office in Smithwick after serving the community since 1992.
The United Church on 4th Avenue in Edgemont is hosting its 100th Anniversary servicing the township and surrounding areas since 1926 when the three-story building was completed and dedicated. Pictured are members before the church building as it now stands. The service and event begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19. Photo by Lance Borde/Fall River County Herald-Star

The United Church on 4th Avenue in Edgemont is hosting its 100th Anniversary servicing the township and surrounding areas since 1926 when the three-story building was completed and dedicated. Pictured are members before the church building as it now stands. The service and event begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19. Photo by Lance Borde/Fall River County Herald-Star

Edgemont United Church to celebrate its centennial

Lance Borde
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Body EDGEMONT – The Edgemont United Church is having a centennial celebration this year and the church will have an open house to celebrate its milestone on Sunday, July 19, where all are invited to partake in the church building’s 100th anniversary.
About an hour after the blaze was reported, and a half hour after fire crews had been pouting through a hole they cut in the roof, a thick cloud of dark smoke completely envelops the Jalapeno’s Grill building along Hwy. 18 in Hot Springs on Monday morning, July 6. Photo by Beth Bogart/Fall River County Herald-Star

About an hour after the blaze was reported, and a half hour after fire crews had been pouting through a hole they cut in the roof, a thick cloud of dark smoke completely envelops the Jalapeno’s Grill building along Hwy. 18 in Hot Springs on Monday morning, July 6. Photo by Beth Bogart/Fall River County Herald-Star

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Fire torches Jalapeno’s Grill, two evacuated from building

Beth Bogart
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS — Former School Resource Officer Thomas McMillan could not have anticipated that his last day working for the Hot Springs Police Department, before moving to the Fall River County Sheriff’s Office, would include helping rescue two men from the burning Jalapeno’s...
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