Gov. Otter Remembers 2012’s Fallen

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's State of the State speech had a more-upbeat fla vor than editions he's given during the depths of Idaho's economic malaise. But the Republican governor acknowledged Monday that for some families, 2012 was a year of tragedy.

Six members of the military died: Lance Corporal Kenneth Cochran of Canyon County; Sgt. Daniel J. Brown of Twin Falls; Specialist Chris Workman of Rupert; Specialist Cody Moosman of Preston; Specialist Ethan Martin of Bonners Ferry; and Private First Class Shane Wilson of Kuna.

Meanwhile, Anne Veseth, a young U.S. Forest Service firefighter from Moscow, was killed in August fighting a wildfire in Clearwater County. Otter cited Veseth's sacrifice as he announced an effort to create four new state-affiliated volunteer firefighting organizations, with about $400,000 in public funding from Idaho.