Online education project hires two veteran Idaho journalists

Clark Corbin

Idaho Education News, an online news operation funded by a grant from the J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation, has hired Post Register statehouse reporter Clark Corbin and Idaho Statesman editorial page editor Kevin Richert.

Jennifer Swindell, a former Statesman staffer, is the editor of idahoednews.org, the newest venture for the Idaho Leads Project, which up to now has focused on finding and highlighting “best practices” at Idaho school districts.

Kevin Richert

The project, which is under BSU’s Center for School Improvement & Policy Studies, received an 18-month $3.85 million grant from the Albertson Foundation, according to its website. According to a press release, its goals are to “support and enhance the advancement of educational improvement and reform in Idaho, and second, to share, in an easily accessible manner, best practices to all interested districts, schools and charters.”

The Web site’s articles are free to all users and available for distribution on other platforms or Web sites so long as proper attribution is included.

Richert, who worked for the Post Register in the '80s and '90s, has a farewell blog post here at the Statesman's Web site.

As a footnote, I've played softball with Clark and whiffleball with Kevin. Both of them have mean arms. I wish them well.

Work begins (at last) on D Street underpass

Cars and trucks lined up at the D Street underpass

Today is brought to you by the letter D.

Two words that begin with D are "decrepit" and "dangerous," both of which can be said of Idaho Falls' D Street underpass.

The subway under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, part of the original layout of the depot that was demolished in 1964, has been deteriorating for as long as anyone can remember. Many a motorist can relate the dread they have felt waiting for the light on Yellowstone to change while a train rolled overhead.

The news today is that work to replace the structure with a wider, safer structure is finally underway, as evidenced by a crane and land grading.

City of Idaho Falls Spokesman Brad Huerta said part of the holdup has been due to the tracks being a main line for the railroad, which must adjust its schedule while any work is done. Then there is the pace at which the railroad works. A contract was awarded last year, with construction work scheduled to begin in the fall, but was delayed Union Pacific took its time signing the final agreement.

In the railroad's defense, it can't shut down the line for the months that the project is expected to take. A "shoefly" -- a contrivance for throwing the track temporarily to one side -- has to be built first.

The public can expect the underpass to be closed periodically as the work progresses. The cost of the project has been estimated at $5.5 million. It is expected to take a yer to complete.

The city's reconstruction plan

Togo's Great Sandwiches expanding into Idaho, seeking franchisees

Togo's, a San Jose-based sandwich chain, has signed a franchise agreement to develop five restaurants in the Boise market over the next several years, and is also targeting cities such as Portland, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City for future development.

This begs the question, given eastern Idaho's penchant for chain restaurants, are there any enterprising would-be franchisees who want to explore the possibilities for eastern Idaho? I do not know whether our area is on the company's radar screen, but in 2011, while it was celebrating 40 years in business, Togo's announced its goal to grow the brand to 400 restaurants by the close of 2015. To help fuel growth, Togo's offers new and existing franchisees access to $15 million in financing for qualified candidates to both build new restaurants and for transfers.

"As we head into 2013, we will see strong growth for Togo's in California, Idaho, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Arizona,"said Tony Gioia , chairman and CEO of Togo's Holdings, LLC.

Here's a link to their Web page: http://www.togosfranchise.com/.

Rigby-made vodka to be served at Obama inaugural reception

Republicans may be fleeing Washington, D.C., as President Obama's second inauguration approaches, but eastern Idaho will be there in spirit.

American Harvest Organic Spirit, a new brand of vodka distilled near Rigby, will be served as the only vodka at the Presidential Inaugural Candlelight Reception. The event, Monday night at the National Building Museum, will be for National Finance Committee members and their guests. It will be the only inaugural event that President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, will all attend.

American Harvest is made for Sidney Frank Importing Co. by Silver Creek Distillers, a company that took over a closed-down ethanol plant in Jefferson County near the Snake River in 1988. Unlike Blue Ice and Teton Glacier, also made there, American Harvest is distilled from organic winter wheat, not potatoes.

The brand will be available nationwide in March.

Teton Volkswagen hosts I.F. Chamber for ribbon cutting

Teton Volkswagen owner Mario Hernandez shows an artist's rendering of the dealership that will be built next to Teton Toyota on Sunnyside Road. The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at the dealership's temporary location on Outlet Boulevard. Hernandez said they will break ground at the permanent location as soon as the weather allows, adding that he is hopeful it will be finished by the end of the year.