Plaza Lanes a shell of its former self

There wasn't much new to report today, so we hit the streets to take some pictures. Obviously the old Plaza Lanes on North Yellowstone is about ready to be torn down. Once the site is cleared, Tacoma Screw Products will be building its third Idaho store. Construction should start in about a month.

Yasaitis promoted to vice president at Bank of Idaho

Jack Yasaitis

Bank of Idaho has promoted Jack Yasaitis to the office of vice president/manager of Bank of Idaho Mortgage, Idaho Falls operations.

Yasaitis joined the bank's mortgage operation in 2004. His responsibilities include management of the main downtown mortgage department, as well as the bank's satellite mortgage offices in Idaho Falls, on Merlin Court and Jenny Lee Drive.

He is a graduate of Skyline High School and Idaho State University.

Panda Express to build second restaurant in Idaho Falls

Panda Express is waiting for the permits, but plans to start work very soon on a second restaurant in the Idaho Falls area. The plans for the 2,615-square-foot restaurant are on file at the city of Idaho Falls Building Department.

Like the first, on Hitt Road, this one will be near a Wal-Mart, at 720 South Utah Avenue, right where Pioneer Road intersects. It is being developed by Michael Cadell of Rosemead, Calif., who has plenty of experience. Going by his LinkedIn profile, Cadell is facilities manager for more than 125 restaurants in Panda Restaurant Group's Central California and Valleys regions. As construction project manager for the Northern and Central California and San Francisco Bay Area regions, he has built or remodeled more than 40 locations in three years.

The company itself dates back to 1973, when Andrew Cherng and his father, Master Chef Ming-Tsai Cherng, established the first Panda Inn restaurant in Pasadena, Calif., to serve gourmet Mandarin and Szechwan cuisine in an upscale, casual-dining atmosphere. The success of that restaurant provided the springboard for the launch of Panda Express in 1983, fulfilling Andrew Cherng’s vision of a restaurant that combined the gourmet cuisine of Panda Inn with a fast-casual format. The first Panda Express opened in the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, Calif.

INL to dedicate Energy Systems Laboratory today

The Idaho National Laboratory's new Energy Systems Laboratory.

The Idaho National Laboratory will have special guests on hand today at 2 p.m. for the dedication of the Energy Systems Laboratory on its Idaho Falls Research and Education Campus, 750 University Blvd.

The ESL is where research is done on ways to integrate low-carbon energy into America’s electrical grid. This includes everything from biofuels research to electrical vehicle performance evaluation.

The dedication program will include remarks in the following order from:
A representative from the State of Idaho
U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson
Battelle Memorial Institute Executive Vice President Ron Townsend
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dennis Miotla
Department of Energy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Renewable Energy Steve Chalk

At the event, the INL representative for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design will announce the certification of the Energy Systems Laboratory. The LEED program recognizes the implementation of practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Chamber seeking nominations for "Distinguished Under 40" award

Thursday is the deadline for "Distinguished Under 40" nominations. Every year the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce's Young Professionals Network honors 10 men and women who will be the decision-makers of tomorrow. Winners are profiled in Idaho Falls Magazine and recognized at the awards ceremony July 30 at Hotel on the Falls.

The nomination for the award can be found here: http://www.idahofallschamber.com/wwwroot/userfiles/files/distinguished_under_40_nomination_form.pdf