Word on the Street

The Mayor's Missive | October 3, 2025

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR WOOLY FRIENDS

It is that time of year to gather, celebrate, and preserve the history and culture of sheepherding in Idaho and the West! Trailing of the Sheep events take place next week from Tuesday, October 7, through Sunday, October 12. On Sunday at noon, we welcome the sheep onto Main Street for the city-sponsored Big Sheep parade. This procession through downtown first hit the streets of Ketchum 29 years ago and has become a beloved tradition for our community. Please note that there is much more to enjoy in Ketchum Town Square before and after the parade—whether it be sampling some sheep cheese or shopping for woolen crafts or blankets. I hope you can stop by and welcome our woolly friends! Please remember that for the safety of spectators and animals alike, the parade is one of the few events in Ketchum where dogs are not invited. Learn more about the events at trailingofthesheep.org.

WARM SPRINGS PRESERVE TEMPORARY CLOSURE BEGINS TODAY

Work to implement the Warm Springs Preserve Master Plan is in full swing, and we are racing to get all the heavy lifting done before the snow flies. For those of you who have been out to the Preserve, you will have noticed a massive amount of earth being moved towards the goal of riparian and floodplain restoration around the creek. Due to the substantial amount of machinery required in the coming weeks, we will be closing the Preserve from October 3 through 11 for public safety (although the closure may be extended if the inclement weather delays the work). Thank you for your patience. I am sure it will be worth it!

SUBSTANTIAL SIDEWALK INVESTMENTS PROPOSED

A proposal will be presented before the City Council to engage a contractor for the design and construction of several sidewalks in the community core. This is all part of our ongoing effort to increase walkability around town and to bring our sidewalks towards ADA compliance. I believe that investing in our town’s infrastructure is the foundation of effective municipal governance and am hopeful that this funding request will receive council support.
 
With winter around the corner, there is no time to rest!

Cheers,

Neil

To read the rest of Issue No. 184 of the Word on the Street, click here.