Museum of Idaho to award travel package prize to millionth visitor

The Museum of Idaho expects its millionth visitor this summer.

Now in its 10th year, the Museum of Idaho is expecting to hit another milestone this summer when it logs its millionth visitor.
In anticipation, the museum is offering a “Who Wants to Be the Millionth?" prize package getaway. Sponsored by Idaho Falls Regional Airport and Candlewood Suites, the winner will receive airfare to Chicago (valued up to $2,500), a three-night hotel stay and City Passes to five major attractions in Chicago, including the Field Museum, where "A T. rex Named Sue" was originally curated.

“Since we began our yearlong celebration by bringing Sue back, we thought, 'What better way to celebrate our millionth visitor than to send them to the very museum that brought us Sue? Chicago is a great museum city,” said David Pennock, the Museum of Idaho's executive director.

Based on projected attendance numbers and visitor trends, the museum anticipates the winner will be selected within the next couple of weeks. In order to be eligible to win, visitors must purchase an
admission ticket to the museum. (Members of the MOI will be considered as "purchasing a ticket" when they show their entry pass.) The contest is open to anyone who purchases a ticket, but not Museum of Idaho employees, family members of museum employees, and board members.

For more information, visit the Museum of Idaho's Web page, http://www.museumofidaho.org.

Chamber announces "Distinguished Under 40" winners

 

Britni Storer of the Museum of Idaho, one of this year's 10 "Distinguished Under 40" honorees. All 10 will have profiles and photos in the next issue of Idaho Falls Magazine. (Melissa Bristol photo)

The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday will honor 10 men and women with its annual Distinguished Under 40 award.

This year's winners are:

• Liza Leonard, marketing manager, Snake River Landing/Ball Ventures
• Kerry McCullough, programs and events coordinator, Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
• Natalie Hebard, labor relations specialist, INL
• Gina Stevenson, director of development, Idaho Falls Arts Council
• Brad Christensen, director of trading, Yellowstone Partners
• Thomas Heuser, music director, Idaho Falls Symphony
• Lisa Burtenshaw, vice chair, Idaho School Board Association Region IV
• Adam Frugoli, agency sales force development manager, Leavitt Group
• Britni Storer, director of marketing, Museum of Idaho
• Ryan Meikle, attorney, Holden, Kidwell, Hahn & Crapo

The awards luncheon will be at the Hotel on the Falls from noon to 1:30 p.m. Reservations are required by Monday either by e-mail (kmccullough@idahofallschamber.com) or phone (208) 523-1010. Please indicate chicken or beef.

The event is sponsored by Teton Toyota, Idaho Falls Magazine, Premier Insurance, the Idaho Falls Arts Council and the Willowtree Gallery.

Melaleuca expansion expected following block grant to Bonneville County for sewer, road improvements

The stage is set for a major expansion of Melaleuca's operations in the New Sweden area with the announcement of a $399,000 grant to Bonneville County for sewer line extensions, a lift station and roadway widening.

The money, announced Wednesday by Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is administered through the state's Community Development Block Grant program. In addition to the block grant money, Melaleuca is contributing $1 million.

It is intended to support the construction of a new 350,000-square-foot business campus. Melaleuca already has a built a packing plant/warehouse and laboratory in the area, west Interstate 15, near Exit 113
. The new development is expected to create 40 jobs and make 6,600 acres more suitable for small business development.

"(The) state is pleased to be a partner in this effort,” Otter said. “Infrastructure improvements often are a key factor in helping a business expand or recruiting a new company to the area.”



Otter's approval came after an Idaho Economic Advisory Council meeting in Pocatello earlier this month, at which members approved the grant and also $175,000 for waterworks in Clearwater County.

Some wisdom for 'American Idol' wannabes

Meditating on the "American Idol" auditions coming to Idaho Falls, it dawned on me that they're not just looking for good singers. They're looking for really bad singers, too. If you have a hankering to be humiliated in front of millions, this could be your big chance. Alas, I am too old to entertain such dreams.

Everyone's favorite from Season Six, Sanjaya

Think about it, though. Every season, the first five shows seem to be devoted to the judges enduring an endless parade of people with questionable talent. A friend of mine who tried out in Las Vegas several years ago (and who has a very good voice, by the way) said she was shocked by how rigged the process seemed to be. Really bad singers made the cut while the good singers all seemed to have agents with a direct line to the show's producers, she said.

Reality TV? Get real. If you think you have a shot, by all means you should try out. Just don't be too upset if you get more reality than you expect.

Several years ago I went to Salt Lake City when I heard the road production of "Les Miserables" was having auditions. I went for the purpose of writing a story, but figured it would be a better story if I, in the spirit of George Plimpton, tried out myself.

The downtown Red Lion was mobbed. I filled out the paperwork, then waited four hours (I had brought a book to read.) When my time came, I walked into a room with nine other people. Three people at a banquet table looked at us. "You and you, come back at 4. The rest of you, thank you very much."

I was in the "thank you very much" group. Talking later to the producer, I was told I had been "typed out." It was nothing personal. I was either too old, too short or whatever.

I'm guessing the same thing may have happened when I tried out for "Jeopardy!" The show's "Brain Bus" came to Jackson, Wyo., and at the end of the day I was among nine finalists who'd passed the test. We played a mock game so the judges could observe us and take notes. I thought I did pretty well, but the call never came in the year that followed.

This comes from an American Idol blog called VoteForTheWorst.com: "During the initital auditions, the producers of Idol only let certain people through. Many good people are turned away and many bad singers are kept around to see Simon, Paula and Randy so that America will be entertained ... American Idol lets many contestants into the top 24 who have no chance to win. These people are placed in the competition for ratings, and when they start to perform poorly the viewing audience laughs and generally votes them out."

Celt Pub opening in I.F. now looks more like mid-August

Jim McGeachin

Jim and Janice McGeachin had hoped to open their Irish pub on Friday, in time for the birthday of their son, James, but it's not going to happen. They will be celebrating there with the band they hired for the occasion, Swagger, from Park City. But it looks more like The Celt Pub is going to have a soft opening in mid-August, with a grand opening Aug. 24-25.

The project, at the corner of Broadway and Park Avenue, has been bigger and more involved than they ever imagined, said Jim McGeachin. "Before we could do anything, we had to completely gut it," he said. The basement had a dirt floor, so they poured a foundation. Floor joists had been cut to make way for stairs, so they had to do major structural renovation.

The Celt Pub's dumbwaiter

"There wasn't a single wire we could use. It's completely new wiring and new plumbing," he said. There are walk-in coolers in the basement, as well as a dishwashing room served by a dumbwaiter.

With the structural work done, the building has more integrity than it's probably ever had. The hardwood floors are being stained this week.

People have been very eager to know about The Celt Pub's progress. "I've been involved in business my whole life, but I've never been involved in anything with the level of excitement this has," McGeachin said.

He has also become a downtown booster. "I think we're really going to add something and make downtown a place people want to come. At this point, I'm very excited about it. I like a business that I can build with my hands."

The Celt will have six taps devoted to European brews, six devoted to domestic, and 12 for craft beer. It will also serve wine and mixed drinks. Food will be served, although they haven't started interviewing chefs yet.

Visit The Celt's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/The.Celt.Idaho.Falls

Taplines in the basement walk-in cooler