Rexburg publisher, lawyer tops list of all-time influential Idahoans

Browsing the Web this morning, I found this story in the Idaho Statesman about a new book by Randy Stapilus and Marty Peterson ranking the 100 most influential people in Idaho history.

The names one would expect are there: U.S. Sens. William Borah and Frank Church; potato magnate J.R. Simplot; LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson.

But occupying the No. 1 spot was someone who's name I've never heard in the 30 years I've lived here, and someone from the Upper Snake River Valley: W. Lloyd Adams, a newspaper publisher, lawyer and lobbyist from Rexburg. The book devotes five pages to him and his influence on Idaho government, beginning with his role in electing a Republican governor in 1912 and ending only with his death in 1969

Here is a link to the Statesman story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/10/01/2295270/idahos-influential-100-new-book.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop

W. Lloyd Adams's headstone, in the Rexburg Cemetery. Interesting that he outlived his wife, Belva, by a little more than four months.

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/10/01/2295270/idahos-influential-100-new-book.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop#storylink=cpy

Gold's Gym plan to remodel TSR still on hold

The plans at the city of Ammon building department office for Gold's Gym in the old TSR building.

We stopped by the city of Ammon building department office this morning to see what sort of action might be happening (not much) and to ask if there were any new developments with Gold's Gym.

Bob Roberts, who operates the Gold's Gym in Twin Falls as well as here, filed plans with Ammon in March 2011 to remodel the TSR building at 2363 Eagle Drive. Since then, there has been little action.

Our efforts to reach Roberts today were unsuccessful, but here are the specs on the project, according to the plans:

Gym and locker area: 30,760 square feet, main floor; 2,995 square feet, mezzanaine
Business area: 4,000 square feet
Day care: 1,500 square feet
Storage: 22,560 square feet
Occupancy: 773

Rural broadband summit set for Oct. 16 in Idaho Falls

The Idaho Rural Partnership and the state of Idaho will host the first LinkIdaho Broadband Summit on Oct. 16 in Idaho Falls. The event will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at the Idaho National Laboratory's Idaho Falls campus, 995 University Boulevard. The keynote speaker will be Syringa CEO Greg Lowe.

Organizers say the summit is a chance to learn what Idaho is doing to assess and advance the availability and use of high-speed Internet in rural areas

The event will include representatives from sectors such as education, health care, economic development, public safety and libraries.

LinkIdaho is funded by the state Department of Commerce's state broadband initiative grant program. The summit will be at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at the Idaho National Laboratory's Idaho Falls campus.

To register, visit http://www.idahodashboard.org/2012_summit. Direct questions about registration to Mike Field, LinkIDAHO State Broadband Coordinator, (208) 332‐8699 or e-mail mike.field@irp.idaho.gov.

Lunch is $10, payable by mail or at the event.
    
   

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/09/27/2290601/rural-broadband-summit-planned.html#storylink=cpy

Gallatin Public Affairs names Kotek office managing partner

John Kotek

John Kotek, a partner with Gallatin Public Affairs and an expert on energy policy and facility siting, has accepted the office managing partner position in the firm’s Idaho office in Boise.

He takes over from Marc C. Johnson, who managed the Idaho office for 18 years and was Gallatin’s president for five years. Johnson will remain a partner in the firm and continue to consult with clients, engage in business development and serve on the board of directors.

Kotek has been a Gallatin partner since 2009 and has an extensive background in energy policy. He serves on Gov. C.L. “Butch” otter’s Leadership in Nuclear Energy Commission and is Communications Task Force chairman for the Idaho Strategic Energy Alliance.

Kotek recently completed a two-year stint as staff director of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future. The commission’s report earned widespread praise, and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has introduced legislation to implement its recommendations.

Kotek also has worked on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow, has served in the U.S. Department of Energy – including as deputy director of the DOE’s Idaho Operations Office – and worked for the Argonne National Laboratory.

Fisher's Document Systems adds two employees

Russell Slack

Allan Jemmett

Fisher’s Document Systems has added two employees to its Idaho Falls office.

Russell Slack works as an account manager. He has a background in finance. Slack participates in several civic organizations, including sitting on the boards of the Ammon City Council, the Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation, Stevens-Henager College and the Chamber of Commerce.

Allan Jemmett works as the lead field service engineer. He has 27 years of experience in the industry in southeastern Idaho.