I was sent an email with information about Weiser and thought I should pass it on to you today, Weiser is pronouncedwee-zer. It is a rural community in Southwest Idaho of approximately 5,300 people. I grew up in Halfway, Oregon, town of 500 people, Weiser would be considered a big town compared to Halfway, Oregon. Weiser is located on the Idaho/Oregon boarder and is separated by the Snake River. It sits right on Highway 95 that runs North and South through Idaho all the way from Canada to Mexico. Did you know that? Highway 95 crosses over Interstate 84 approximately 25 miles south of Weiser. The Boise airport is about 72 miles or 1 1/4 hours SE of Weiser. Being at about 2,100 feet Weiser has an average temperature during June around 83 degrees. Hoping we see 80 degrees in Hells Canyon this weekend…Most days are very warm in Weiser with an occasional dummer downpour.

Come check out Weiser and the Weiser Fiddle Fest June 22-27. Don’t forget to book your airboat tour, 1-800-422-3568.

Swan Falls Excursions owner Mark Yates smashed a bottle of champagne Saturday on the bow of his first airboat, the Rio Vaquero, and sent it on its maiden voyage from Walters Ferry to Swan Falls Dam and back.

This portion of the Snake River has a few mild rapids and a lot of scenery and history to view.

“That was the draw,” Yates said. “The section of river is a beautiful section, and nobody knows about it.”

The tour takes in dramatic cliffs and numerous “melon” boulders that were shaped by the Lake Bonneville flood about 15,000 years ago.

It also passes Celebration Park, Idaho’s only archaeological park, where up to 10,000 years ago Native Americans hunted and left petroglyphs on the rocks.

Travelers also glide over the spots where settlers crossed to follow the Oregon Trail’s southern route and steamboats carried supplies and miners in the 1800s. And they pass under the magnificent Guffey Railroad Bridge, built in 1897 by Nampa benefactor and miner Col. William Henry Dewey as part of the Nampa & Owyhee Railroad.

A few miles before Swan Falls Dam, the river enters into the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, where wildlife abounds.

Yates, who also is a co-owner of Hells Canyon Adventures, said he created Swan Falls Excursions because he wanted to branch out on his own. However, he’s offering employees the opportunity to become part-owners.

As the business grows, he hopes to offer a daily schedule in the summer.

Sandra Forester: 377-6464