"I feel a great disturbance in the Force ... "

I'm well aware of BizMojo Idaho readers' never-ending interest in franchise restaurants, so here are a few links I thought might be interesting for a Monday morning.

"Strange Burgers Invade the Fast Food Universe," would be worth reading if only for the description of the "Dark Vador" and one consumer's critique of it.  http://www.allbusiness.com/print/16773368-1-9a0bs.html

On a more serious note, next comes an article that explains a lot about franchising, from a Web site I frequently look at for new ideas. http://www.allbusiness.com/wrong-way-franchising-success/16750086-1.html

Explaining Idaho's lower gas prices

We've gotten five or six entries in the Guess-the-Price-of-Gas contest. You have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to guess the lowest local price of regular unleaded on the Friday before Memorial Day. Whoever comes closest wins a $10 gift certificate to Carl's Jr.

In the meantime, here's some more information on gas prices. Hard as it may seem to believe, Idaho for now has some of the lowest prices in the nation, said AAA Idaho spokesman Dave Carlson.

U.S. demand for oil and refined products has been 5 percent to 7 percent lower this year and supplies are good, yet prices are surging. That could mean there's fear that oil supplies could be disrupted in the Middle East. Or it could mean investors are banking on good growth gains in economies around the world, Carlson said Friday in a statement.

Investors have helped push oil prices well above last year's numbers, and today's national average price for regular grade gasoline is $3.65, a full 42 cents more per gallon ahead of last year's record pace. Idaho's average price is on the rise too, up 8 cents in the past week to $3.23, but 42 cents lower than the average price. Idaho's average price is fifth lowest in the U.S.

"Oil is collecting a premium price, but all you have to do is look at where Idaho is compared to its neighbors to see something is drastically different this year in the regional scheme of things," Carlson said.

Oregon's average price Friday is $3.83 and Washington is at $3.78. But Wyoming ($3.08), Utah ($3.16) and Montana ($3.20) all have prices in the range of Idaho's $3.23 average.

What gives? It's all about where the gas is being refined. Refineries on the West Coast are likely paying more than $125 a barrel for the oil they use, but Idaho and other Rocky Mountain states have access to cheaper oil coming out of Canada and North Dakota, priced closer to $80 a barrel.

"The rapid escalation in oil prices in the past several weeks has yet to be accounted for at the retail level, so prices everywhere will continue to rise," Carlson said. Barring major market changes, gas prices are expected to rise between now and mid-May. Idaho's prices peaked at $3.79 the first week in May a year ago.

"We think it's reasonable to assume that some states will hit average prices well above $4, but barring refinery shutdowns, it's possible Idaho and some states might stay below that mark," Carlson said.

Here's a breakdown on pump prices around Idaho from Friday:

Boise: $3.23
Coeur d'Alene: $3.28
Pocatello: $3.08
Idaho Falls: $3.07
Nampa: $3.24
Twin Falls: $3.20

Send your Memorial Day predictions to bizmojoidaho@gmail.co.

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/02/24/2008243/idaho-gas-prices-climb-on-higher.html#storylink=cpy

Work planned this summer for Pancheri overpass, Memorial Drive

It's not too early start looking forward to summer, and one thing we can expect is a couple of big road and bridge projects in Idaho Falls.

Downtown, the remodeling of Memorial Drive is due to start July 5. "We didn't want to tear it up before the Fourth of July celebration, but we'll be getting to it the day after," said Bob Everhart, executive director of the Downtown Development Corp.

The remodeling will reduce Memorial to one lane between A and D Streets and moving parking for the Bonneville County Courthouse to other spots. If all goes as intended, there will be a much more appealing area along the river, with downtown and the Greenbelt fully integrated.

The other big project within city limits will be the replacement of the 50-year-old Pancheri Overpass. That two-lane bridge, especially exciting in icy weather, was built in 1962, the same I-15 reached Idaho Falls, and has long since reached what transportation types euphemistically call its "design life."

The replacement will be a wide structure, featuring two lanes of traffic and a bike/pedestrian path in each direction of travel. The old bridge won't go down until two lanes of the new bridge are open. The replacement bridge will improve traffic safety and flow, reducing congestion between Utah Avenue and Blue Sky Drive, a distance of just under a mile. The transportation department expects to complete the bulk of the work by year end.

The project will also include improving Pancheri Drive through its intersection with Blue Sky Drive and installing storm-water treatment and control systems.

Participants in the federally funded project are the Idaho Transportation Department, Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization, Bonneville County and City of Idaho Falls. The project is part of a plan by BMPO, Bonneville County and Idaho Falls to upgrade the corridor between Yellowstone Highway and Bellin Road in Idaho Falls.

And now for a word on gasoline prices ...

This week the Dow Jones Industrial Average nosed above 13,000 for the first time since May 2008. Are happy days are here again?

You may recall where gasoline prices were in May 2008: They were approaching $4 a gallon, which is where they appear to be headed now. Yes, by the beginning of summer you may need a second mortgage to gas up the old SUV, pickup or minivan, not to mention your ATV, JetSki or lawnmower.

I don't think there's anything that gets Americans more riled up than high gasoline prices, and I'm speaking as someone who remembers when it cost less than $10 to put 20 gallons in a 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS. Supply and demand and speculator nervousness always get cited as the root causes of rising prices, and that may be true. But there's always a general suspicion among folks at the pump that somehow the fix is in. Of course if Iran's mullahs decide to sink a tanker in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz, all bets will be off.

For your convenience, I've added a gas price widget to the right side of the page so you can keep up. For the next week, e-mail me what you think the price of unleaded regular will be the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The address is bizmojoidaho@gmail.com. Entries will be accepted through 5 p.m. Feb. 29. The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to Carl's Jr.

By the way, I noticed that Stinker has begun selling gas with an octane rating of 85, when the lowest they used to sell was 87. All by itself, this is a sign of the world in decline.

Bannock County Development names new director

John Regetz

John Regetz has been hired as the new Bannock County Development Corp. director in Pocatello.

Regetz has spent nearly his entire career in economic development in the Midwest and South Dakota. His last stop, at the Michigan City Economic Development Corporation in Indiana, lasted about six and a half years.

The Bannock County Development Corp. lost its director when Gynii Gilliam went to work for the Idaho Department of Commerce.

Regetz said that he has experience working with industries that would fit in well with Pocatello’s economy, including the high-tech and national computing sectors in Urbana, Ill.; and “advanced manufacturing” in Michigan City.

“The whole scope of my career seems to have been preparing me for this position,” Regetz said.

The Bannock County Development Corp. works with companies, governments and other organizations to coordinate economic development efforts within the county.

Regetz will start on March 19.