06/27/08 Gannon services; fireworks ban

Governor Butch Otter says Tom Gannon was 'a fine state senator, able chairman and a dedicated public servant.' State Senator Gannon died on Tuesday in a Boise hospital. The three-term Republican from Buhl was the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Affairs Committee. A retired naval officer Gannon battled health problems recently and five weeks ago had bile duct surgery. His wife says Gannon, a prostate cancer survivor died of liver cancer. Funeral services for Tom Gannon will be held Saturday at 11 am at the Buhl High School. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is taking action to keep Idaho's public lands safe from human-caused wildfire this summer. A new BLM Fire Prevention Order makes fireworks illegal to use or possess on the nearly 12 million acres of Idaho public land managed by the BLM. We're heading into the hottest months of the year, vegetation is drying out and the US Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands also prohibit fireworks on the public lands they manage. Violation is a Class A misdemeanor, and subjects can be cited and fined, possibly made to serve jail time. In addition, violators who start a wildfire can be held liable for all suppression and damage costs. The Fire Prevention Order will remain in effect until October 20th. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott