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More News American Falls girl found safe in Pocatello Second Idaho prisoner kills himself in just over a week Study could change funding, organization of charter schools Southeast Idaho Sports Sports

Franklin Mayor Robert Wilkinson's tiny city near Idaho's border with Utah could prove to be a trendsetter - granted enacting high fees on development is a dubious

distinction.

Anyone interested in adding another home to Franklin - population 641 - must pay an $8,000 fee to hook up to city water and sewer service.

Such fees, intended to offset the impacts of development on utility capacity, are becoming commonplace throughout Idaho and the West. But Franklin's new hookup fees are more than double the going rates in Meridian, Rexburg, Mountain Home, Blackfoot, Caldwell and elsewhere in the state.

Pocatello leaders are proposing to raise the Gate City's hookup fees from a combined $333 for a single-family home to $4,170.

Critics of raising the fees so drastically are sure the result would be slowed growth and unaffordable property values.

At least in Franklin, that doesn't appear to be the case.

“People don't like to pay the money, but we've got a developer who's putting in 270 acres of homes as we speak, and he's happy to have community services to hook up to rather than digging septic tanks,” Wilkinson said.

American Falls girl found safe in Pocatello

By Journal Staff

POCATELLO - The missing 13-year-old American Falls girl has been found and is currently in police custody, according to family members.

Kassandrea Castaneda was picked up by Pocatello police about 11:30 p.m. Friday at the Old Town bus station, according to family members.

Pocatello police would not comment about the case. Authorities in Power County confirmed that the girl had been taken into custody in Pocatello.

HOMETOWN HEROES: Sergeant looks forward to retirement, grandkids

By Journal Staff

Name, rank and hometown: Paul Manning, sergeant, raised in Denver, Colo.; lived in Pocatello since 1974.

Organization: Pocatello Police Department

Years of service: 24 years

Most memorable experience on duty: Apprehended an armed bank robber as he was leaving the bank. (without back up).

Why you serve: No two situations are ever the same. You have to think on your feet and be creative.

Family names and ages: Wife-Renee; children: Sabrina, 24, Dustin, 22, Shane, 18, and Makenna, 15.

Future plans: Retirement, LDS Mission, Grandkids

Hometown Heroes is an Idaho State Journal Sunday feature aimed at honoring local men and women who serve in police, emergency services and military units. To suggest a Hometown Hero, contact Journal reporter Casey Santee at (208) 239-3132 or csantee@journalnet.com.

Technology connects troops to those at home

By Capt. Christopher Warner - For The Journal

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is technology. I've grown up with computers and gadgets all my life, but it amazes me how much easier communication is these days, because of technology.

Imagine that back in the Gulf War, the Internet was really just taking off and soldiers didn't really use e-mail as a form of communication.

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