Good morning, Pocatello.

A local Secret Santa is giving $1 million to deserving people in eastern Idaho this holiday season, and East Idaho News elves will deliver gifts every day until the end of the year.

Sara, the secretary at Ellis Elementary in Chubbuck (a single mother of four facing a leaky basement and a broken gas line), will receive an early surprise as she keeps the school running despite her own challenges.

Trinity Episcopal Church in Pocatello will host a one-hour dress rehearsal on Nov 7 featuring ISU’s Opera Workshop and pianist Diane Yerka performing Gian Carlo Menotti’s one-act opera “The Old Maid and the Thief” — led by Dr. Diana Livingston Friedley.

The rehearsal will be followed by sung compline at 7 p.m. that offers a quiet service with traditional prayers and scripture readings.

A recent survey by IMS showed that Pocatello’s pavement score improved from 72.15 to 75.28 — placing the city’s roads above the national average and reflecting strong maintenance efforts by city officials.

The Idaho Transportation Department is inviting public comments until November 12 on its updated rail plan as it works with Union Pacific to improve safety at crossings — over 1,500 responses have already been received and will help guide future projects.

At a state tournament in Eastern Idaho, the Butte County Pirates claimed their back-to-back 2A volleyball championship with a 36-2 record and lost only one set all weekend.

Local teams — Rockland, Malad and Bear Lake — also earned trophies as Rockland finished second in 1A, Malad ended as runner-up in 3A, and the Bear Lake Bears lost the 4A final in a best-of-three match.

A local fisherman said that hundreds of red kokanee tried to spawn last Saturday at Ririe Reservoir near the Narrows and he caught five males near the Juniper Boat Ramp.

He explained that improved stocking led to better fishing and he planned a few more trips before his boat was winterized — hoping for more good catches before winter.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Systems Admin I Training

Nov 3-7 — HansenAthletics — $2250 — Comprehensive training for aspiring Linux system administrators focusing on essential tools and techniques.

Westminster Griffins vs. Idaho State Bengals Women’s Basketball

11 a.m. — Recreation & Wellness at Reed Gym — Check for ticket availability — Catch the action as the Griffins take on the Bengals in an exciting women's college basketball matchup.

Vienna Boys Choir Concert

7:30-10:30 p.m. — L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center — Tickets required — Experience the enchanting harmonies of one of the world's most renowned choirs.

Object-Oriented Programming in C# Rev. 6.1 Class

Mon-Fri, Nov 17-21 — HansenAthletics — $2250 — Enhance your coding skills with this comprehensive C# programming training class.

The Forgotten Carols Musical

7:30-9 p.m. — Pocatello High School — Cost varies — Experience a heartwarming Christmas musical filled with laughter and touching melodies.