Rigby-made Blue Ice vodka earns "gluten free" label designation

Blue Ice Vodka, an American potato vodka produced at Distilled Resources, Inc. near Rigby, has become the first spirit brand in the country to feature a "Gluten Free" designation on its package label.

A Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is required for all alcoholic beverage labels. To receive the designation, a product must meet all the bureau's testing standards.

Gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, can trigger a digestive disorder called celiac disease, one of the most common genetic autoimmune conditions in the world -- and one that often goes undiagnosed. It is estimated that as many as one in 141 Americans, or about 1 percent of the population, has celiac disease. The only existing treatment is a gluten free diet.

"Three years in the making, federal approval to officially label Blue Ice Vodka as gluten free is another progressive step for the industry and for all of those who suffer from gluten intolerance," said Gray Ottley, director of Distilled Resources, Inc. Previous to "Gluten Free" COLA approval, gluten free claims by spirit companies have been prohibited on package labeling. Blue Ice Vodka bottles featuring the new packaging are now in market nationwide.

Vodka can come from a variety of sources -- potatoes, wheat, corn, even grapes. If you're gluten intolerant, you don't want to buy vodka made from wheat. Here are some other brands that have been identified as gluten free, even if they haven't yet been officially labeled:

• Bombora vodka. A grape-based vodka imported from Australia.
• Chopin vodka. The company makes three varieties of vodka: wheat, potato and rye. The potato-based vodka comes in a bottle with a black cap and lettering.
• Ciroc Ultra Premium vodka. Another premium vodka, also made from grapes. Ciroc's plain vodka is considered gluten-free.
• Cold River vodka. Made in Maine, Cold River comes in two flavors: plain and blueberry (made with real Maine wild blueberries). Both are considered gluten-free. Interestingly, the company also makes an unusual potato-based gin..
• DiVine vodka. Made from grapes by a winery in southwest Michigan. The winery/distillery does not process any gluten grains.
• Glacier vodka. Also made from potatoes in Rigby by Distilled Resources.
• Luksusowa vodka. Poland-crafted Luksusowa (which means "luxurious" in Polish) is the top-selling potato vodka in the world, according to distributor W.J. Deutch & Sons.
• Monopolowa vodka. This potato-based vodka originated in Poland and now is distilled in Austria.
• Smirnoff vodka. Distilled from corn, and the company's plain vodka should be safe. Beware, however, of Smirnoff Ice beverages — they are malt-based and not gluten-free.
• Tito's handmade vodka. Tito's is made in Texas from corn.

Blue Ice Vodka is owned by 21st Century Spirits based in Los Angeles, Calif. For additional information, visit www.blueicevodka.com.

Smart PJs getting worldwide media attention

We first reported on Juan Murdoch and Smart PJs before Christmas. It seems that the scannable pajamas are creating something of a buzz.

Here is the link to a video that appeared yesterday on Slate.com: http://www.slate.com/blogs/trending/2013/04/25/bedtime_story_pajamas_barcode_covered_bed_wear_links_with_app_to_read_bedtime.html.

Kind of snarky, if you ask me, but it was Oscar Wilde who said, "There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." Even the headline, "Creepy or Awesome? New Pajamas Hardwired With Bedtime Stories"concedes that Murdoch, an agent with Keller-Williams East Idaho, had a unique idea.

Murdoch said that while he has yet to recoup his initial investment, the phone is ringing off the hook. "It's going nuts," he said Thursday. "I've done three interviews with broadcasting companies from the UK today!" He's also been contacted by the Today Show.

Inkley's awning gone from downtown building

Walking downtown on Wednesday (and what a beautiful day it was), I noticed the old blue-white-and-rust Inkley's awning had been removed from the building at the corner of Park Avenue and A Street. Downtown beautification continues apace. Inkley's closed in 2007, in case you like to have information like that on file.

Chiles resigns from CEO post with Greater Idaho Falls chamber

Robb Chiles, who has been CEO of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce for the past decade, resigned from his position Tuesday. The resignation was immediate and made public in a press release this morning.

Jim Hammon, chairman of the chamber's executive board, said he and the board will be responsible for the day to day operations until an interim director is appointed. A committee has been formed to find a new CEO, he said.

The press release said Chiles had resigned to "pursue other interests." Efforts this morning to reach Chiles were unsuccessful.

The shakeup comes at a busy time of year for the chamber, which started taking registrations Friday for its annual Fourth of July parade and the Liberty Festival that afternoon on the Snake River Greenbelt. Other chamber-sponsored events coming soon include A Taste of Idaho and the annual golf tournament.

"We are working hard to make sure events this summer go off without a hitch," Hammon said.

Construction activity in Idaho Falls off to healthy start for 2013

Click on chart to enlarge

Looking at the first three months of building permits issued in the city of Idaho Falls, things are off to a healthy start, with more than $17 million in projects on the rails.

In fact, the number is bigger than the first quarter of 2012, which was slightly more than $2 million in valuation. But when you look at the year-to-date construction number from April last year, $34 million and change, you know the city has a long way to go before it tops 2012.

By the end of the year, the building department recorded $83.5 million in permits, a number bigger than even the pre-crash year of 2007, when $51.4 million in new permits were issued. Of the 2012 total, $58.2 million -- nearly 70 percent -- was commercial construction.

The bump in March 2013 came from one of two new elementary schools in Idaho Falls School District 91. As was the case with Dora Erickson and Ethel Boyes last year, new schools are being started this year to replace Longfellow and Edgemont Elementary.

Beyond that, we'll be keeping tabs on anything new going in, be it Carl's Jr., Panda Express, Scientech, Teton Volkswagen or anything you might dare to hope for.