Good morning, Emmett. Here’s what happened around town this week.

City & County

Merrill’s Pit gets the green light — with a long list of new conditions. Gem County commissioners unanimously approved the controversial 393‑acre Merrill’s Pit gravel project near Star Lane and Sales Yard Road, but only after adding (and discussing) a detailed set of conditions around dust control, road safety, noise, and water monitoring. Before hauling and Phase 1 can begin, commissioners said the project still needs key pieces in place — including design approval for Star Lane, ITD permitting for the highway intersection, and a clarified road mitigation agreement.

Schools

No new school district updates surfaced publicly this week beyond the usual meeting listings. (The next regular school board meeting on the district’s schedule is Monday, July 13.)

Community

Independence Day / America 250 weekend is now in the rearview mirror. If you went to the parade, a concert, or the fireworks at Gem Island, I’d love to hear how it went — this week’s public coverage was light on hard numbers, so we’ll keep an eye out for any official recaps.

Quick Notes

• City Council meetings: The City of Emmett’s meeting page now lists a July 7 special meeting in its 2026 agenda list. If you’re watching a specific city topic, it’s worth checking that page for the newest agenda and packet.

Sports

Summer is usually a quieter stretch for school sports coverage. If you know of local Little League, youth tournament, or summer ball results that should be on the community radar, reply and I’ll include them when credible scores/results are available.