Excitement is building for the opening of one of the top 10 professional rodeos in the nation, the Snake River Stampede, which will run at 7:30 p.m. July 17-21, plus a noon matinee on Saturday, July 21.

Nampa Kiwanis Club President Jennifer Pennington proudly announces that her service organization’s annual Steak Fry will set the old West mood from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, in Lakeview Park. And it will be offering grilled chicken breasts.

The delicious sirloin steaks for which it is famous also will be available, plus all-beef hamburgers, but according to club Vice President Benjamin Harris, a Washington Trust Bank branch manager, the club wanted to add the option of chicken. The meal also will include baked potatoes, rolls and butter, fried rice, coleslaw, punch and ice cream bars.

Expert cook Ed Schiller will be grilling the sizzling steaks; Phil Petersen is in charge of the foil-wrapped bakers.

Musical entertainment will be by the JB Duo Band, with drummer Jim Sample of Caldwell and pianist Bob Law of Wilder. There also will be free face painting for the kids, and a fun car show, organized by Scott Wallace of the Heap Herders Club.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for hamburgers for children 12 and younger. They may be purchased from any Kiwanis member or at the park entrance, and Visa and MasterCard are accepted. For more information, call Ben at 994-2891.

JULY BRINGS OLD-TIME CUSTER BACK TO LIFE

For one day, Saturday, July 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors are invited to the colorful Western mining town of Custer, 13 miles northeast of Stanley. The Land of the Yankee Fork Historical Association members dress up as pioneers, offer tours, music by the Gem State Fiddlers and melodramas.

Dan Fansler, association president, says crafts will be displayed and sold at the saloon gift shop, along with quilting and blacksmithing demonstrations. Door prizes will be given out throughout the day, and there will be Dutch oven cooking demos and samples, as well as homemade ice cream.

“Hopefully we will have a great season with the new road completed. I think it will attract a lot of campers, and maybe make up for the slow season last year due to the road construction,” Dan said.

Dan reported that there will be shootout skits by the Rattlesnake Station from Boise, and the professional Gold Panners from Idaho Falls will give hands-on lessons. Board member and editor of the association newsletter, Blanche-Laura Herrick, said Custer’s major gold strike happened on Jordan Creek in 1870. By 1871 there were 50 miners at Custer. The major rush to the Yankee Fork began in 1876, and the Custer Mill was credited with $8 million in gold.

Blanche said you cannot drive to Custer, but when you park near the Yankee Fork Dredge, the second largest dredge ever to work in Idaho, a free bus will shuttle you to Custer and back. To reach the dredge, turn off Idaho 75 at Sunbeam and follow the Forest Service road for 12 miles.

NAMPA MINISTRY NAMED A FINALIST

John Boyd, president and CEO of Nampa’s Mission Aviation Fellowship, announces that MAF is one of 20 nonprofit organizations named as finalists for a grant from Lightspeed Aviation Foundation.

MAF is a global missions group that supports missionary families around the world, helping isolated people from Africa to Haiti with aviation services for medical supplies and other projects.

According to the newsletter, “Flight Watch,” the final grant recipients will be selected by aviation enthusiasts who vote online at www.lightspeedaviationfoundation.org. The top five charities each will receive a grant for $10,000.” To vote for MAF, visit the site before Nov. 2. Winners will be announced in November.

Marie D. Galyean is a journalist and freelance writer who has lived in Canyon County for more than 35 years. Do you have any news about West Treasure Valley people, events and other subjects of interest? Email your ideas and stories to riedevine@cableone.net.