This is kind of in the "Hey, did you know?" department. I'm looking into the economic impact of the Idaho Falls Regional Airport, and found these facts and numbers in the 2010 Idaho Airport System Plan.
IFRA is the third largest airport in the state, behind Boise's Gowen Field and Hailey's Friedman Memorial.
Total Employment: 1,269
Total Payroll: $31.5 million
Total Economic Output: $103.1 million
On the historical side of things (which I love) here are a few things worth noting:
The airport first got its operating license in 1938, after the first hangar, administration building and tower -- all made of hand-hewn white pine -- were built by the Works Project Administration.
The airport as we know it was laid out by H.P. "Pete" Hill, who was appointed manager in 1953. Hill, who died in 1999, was the son of an aviation pioneer and had a flying license that was signed by Orville Wright.
Sport Clips in Pocatello has relocated to the Rail Crossings Shopping Center, near Costco. Offering quality haircuts for men and boys, Sport Clips is a sports-themed business with flat-screen TVs showing games throughout the salon.
The local owner is Larry Asay, owner of the Sports Clips in Idaho Falls also. Sports Clips' new address is 231 West Quinn Road.
"Sport Clips represents the high quality of tenant that we are attracting at Rail Crossing," said Eric Isom, chief development officer of BV Properties, which owns the shopping center. "We look forward to watching our tenant list grow as we offer attractive lease deals in this quality shopping center project."
The Pocatello Sport Clips' hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The salon is closed Sundays.
For more information on Rail Crossings, Sport Clips or BV Properties, call Liza Leonard at (208) 523-3794 or visit www.ballventures.com.
There was an interesting piece in the New York Times this weekend, "My Faith Based Retirement," about financial planning and Baby Boomers. The largest generation in American history, of which I am part, is hurtling toward decrepitude. Let the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth commence.
I like to think my wife, Karen, and I have done a semi-responsible job of planning for old age. We both have 401(k) plans that we have not raided (not that the temptation hasn't presented itself.) I wholeheartedly agree with the statement in this article that most ordinary people are not mentally equipped to handle their finances.
Helen Keller (1880-1968)
The biggest mistake I think we made was refinancing four years ago, switching from a 15- to a 30-year mortgage so we could get some cash to put a new roof on the house, replace the rotting deck out back and remodel a bathroom. Alas, we didn't have a family member who could lend us $20,000.
Still, that's nothing compared to the last six months, during which we've come face to face with how fragile any middle class family's finances really are. The week after Thanksgiving, we discovered a tumor in Karen's abdomen. Surgery and chemotherapy followed. Even with insurance, it has cost us $15,000 out of pocket. If we hadn't had insurance, we'd be pretty well wiped out.
In a situation like this, money takes on an unreal quality. What I think about more than anything is our dreams, what it would cost to realize them, and how little time we really have left. Should I take $13,000 and go to Nashville to record the 15 or 20 good songs I've written in the past 30 years? Or should I save it for the privilege of eating cat food when I'm 85?
You can spend your money on a dream or you can spend it on a nightmare.
My friend Patti Sherlock, a writer and cancer survivor, were talking Sunday morning at coffee hour about how illness acquaints a person with the fragility of life and the pointlessness of worry. She shared with me this quote from Helen Keller: "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist
in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding
danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is
either a daring adventure, or nothing."
Diana Shaltry, administrative assistant for
the Very High Temperature Reactor Technology Development Office, was selected as the 2012 Administrative Professional of
the Year by the Eagle Rock Chapter of the International Association of
Administrative Professionals.
Shaltry was nominated by the entire group
she supports at the Idaho National Laboratory and was honored at the 2012
Administrative Professionals Seminar at the Red Lion in Idaho Falls.
Shaltry has worked at the INL for nearly
four years. Her boss, David Petti, said the first interaction many people
have with the VHTR program is through Shaltry. “She has exceeded all our
expectations in successfully working not only on day-to-day affairs of
the program, but also in interacting with stakeholders," he said.
As winner of the award, she received a special gift package, recognition by her peers at
the award luncheon and free admission to the seminar.Administrative Professionals Day marked its
60th anniversary on April 25.
We visited the city of Idaho Falls Building Department office Thursday morning to find out whether there was anything new to report. There wasn't anything big, but there were a few things worth relating.
Carl's Jr. filed Wednesday for a certificate of occupancy for its Northgate Mile restaurant. The opening was originally planned for April 16, but there were delays in getting the parking lot finished and engineering the storm water collection system. The restaurant is taking applications.
Teton Pharmacy has filed a site plan and building plan Wednesday for a new building on Jafer Court, south of Bonaventure Senior Living on Hitt Road. The main floor will be 5,350 square feet, the basement about half that size.
Rosemark Women's Care Specialists is looking at moving to a new location, at the corner of Potomac and Fountainbleu. The plat has been recommended for approval by the Idaho Falls Planning and Zoning Commission, and is scheduled to go before the City County at its May 10 meeting.
Last of all, Dr. Slaughter's House of Terror is moving to a new location at 680 First St., next door to Bowl-ero (the old Buttrey Food & Drug, later LifeLink). A sign has already been put up advertising a Friday July 13 opening. Thursday morning we stuck our head in to hear circular saws and hammers (though no chainsaws; that must come later), with plenty of framing already done. The city building officials were very curious to learn of this, since they had seen no permits. We're sure the matter will be resolved to everyone's satisfaction, if it hasn't been resolved already.
