Developer plans May 25 opening for Idaho Falls Marriott Residence Inn




Work recommenced in January on the Idaho Falls Marriott Residence Inn.

 The Salt Lake development company that has taken over the Marriott Residence Inn by the Broadway Bridge in Idaho Falls is shooting for a May 25 opening.

“We feel like we are on track, although there are a lot of things that have to fall in place,” said John Brunt, the project manager for Woodbury Strategic Partners. “We want to have it open for Memorial Day and the summer tourism season.”

Work on the 98,700-square-foot hotel ground to a halt in 2008, when the original developers, McNeil Development, ran into financial trouble in connection with the failure of Arkansas National Bank. Brunt said one thing that made it easier for them to restart the project was the fact that McNeil had enclosed the building, which kept out water that might otherwise have gotten in and caused major damage.

Still, there were repairs to be made and Marriott’s standards had evolved in the time the project was in limbo. Once the six-story hotel is finished, Brunt said the estimated cost will top $20 million.

The hotel has 108 guest rooms, two meeting rooms, a large exercise room and pool. “There’s a lot more common area than a typical Marriott Residence Inn,” Brunt said. Although the exterior is in keeping with the other buildings of the Taylor Crossing development (a style Brunt described as “eclectic classical”), the interior will be more modern and streamlined.

Broulim's receives award for beef marketing efforts

Broulim's Fresh Foods, a seven-store grocery chain based in Rigby, was recognized Thursday with a  National Retail Beef Backer award at the 2012 Cattle Industry Annual Convention & NCBA Trade Show in Nashville.

Funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, the award is given in recognition of grocery establishments that do an outstanding job of marketing and merchandising beef in the meat case.

Broulim's received the award in the Independent Retailer category for the second year in a row. According to the notes in the announcement, "customers shopping at Broulim's can count on employees to have knowledgeable information on new beef cuts, recipes, safety, labeling and even the production process that goes into delivering a quality product."

The Beef Checkoff Program was written into the 1985 Farm Bill. It assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, and a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the program under USDA approval.

Energy Advocate Award winners announced for 2012

The Partnership for Science & Technology has announced its 2012 Energy Advocate Award winners. The award is given in honor of the winners' committment to energy initiatives, nationwide and in the community. They will be honored at an awards luncheon on Feb. 21 at the Red Lion hotel.

• National Energy Advocate Award Winner : DOE Office for Nuclear Energy
• Local Energy Advocate Award Winner : Teri Ehresman, INL Liaison for Nuclear Programs
• Nuclear Energy Advocate Award Winner : Dr. Kathryn McCarthy, INL Deputy Assistant Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science and Technology
• Energy Education Advocate Award Winner : Ken Erickson, Eastern Idaho Technicial College

Idaho Falls seafood restaurant plans Feb. 6 opening

Captian's Cove, at 2040 Channing Way, announced today on its Facebook page that it plans to open Monday, Feb. 6.

Hours will be Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are advised. The phone number is (208) 552-0702, the same number the restaurant had when it was Buddy's.

General Manager Sherri Biorn and her head chef, Jon Wilson, have prepared a menu featuring hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood. All sauces, dressings, and desserts are all made fresh every day, in house.

To keep up with their latest postings, the restaurant's Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/buddy's-idaho-falls#!/profile.php?id=100001585400287.

Skyline students seek sponsor for Big Band Jazz Dance

Time to get your zoot suit out of mothballs. Skyline High School will be having a Big Band Dance on Feb. 18 at the Idaho Falls Elks Club, a benefit to help raise funds for the trip to Anaheim, Calif., that the Jazz and Symphonic Bands plan to take this spring.

As with any benefit, the less they have to spend on the event the more they get to keep for the trip, so they are looking for a sponsor in addition to American Fabrication, Inc., band director Bob Dunmire said.

There is no admission to the dance, but the recommended donation is $5 per person or $8 per couple. Music will be by the EITC Jazz House Big Band, directed by Doug Wareing, and the Skyline High School Jazz Band. Punch and desserts will be provided, and there will be a silent auction and raffle.

The dance begins at 7:30 p.m., but free dance lessons will be provided at 6:30 by Swing Junction (http://swingjunction.blogspot.com/)

If you would like to support the band, contact Dunmire at (208) 525-7770 or by email at
dunmrobe@d91.k12.id.us.