Idaho ranks 26th in Bloomberg STEM survey

Doing a routine sweep for stories about Idaho (in the newspaper business this would be called "sorting the wire"), we ran across this May 14 story from Bloomberg ranking the states with the highest concentrations of professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Idaho tied for 26th in Bloomberg's STEM Index. The state has lost 0.41 percent of its science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs since 2001.

The ranking was based on STEM professionals as a percentage of:

• Those nationwide (2012): 0.49%
• The state's population (2011): 2.16%
• The state's employed (2011): 4.75%

Separately, the average pay for STEM professionals in Idaho was $64,583 in 2011. Medical scientists, not including epidemiologists, were the highest-paid with an average salary of $154,990.

Here's the link to the story: Left Brainiest States of the Union: Red, White and Nerdy

Arts Council launches $241k drive to finish youth "ARTitorium"

Architect Keith Kennedy's rendering of the floor plan of the "ARTitorium on Broadway," once the Rio Theater. To learn more about the plans, follow this link: ARTitorium. 

The Idaho Falls Arts Council started a fund-raising drive this morning to raise $241,000, the amount it says it needs to reach its goal for remodeling the old Rio Theater into the "ARTitorium on Broadway."

A group of anonymous challenge grant donors have promised a matching amount but set a Sept. 30 deadline on the effort. If the money is raised, the combined $482,000 will allow the Arts Council to spend $1.53 million on the facility and have it open by late summer 2014.

The drive has been named the “Phantom 2.0 Challenge,” in reference to a similar challenge grant campaign in the 1990s to finish the Miles and Virginia Willard Arts Center

The plan is for a technology-driven arts center for youth, a tourist attraction, and a great step forward in downtown revitalization. The plans for the main floor include interactive art stations, including a lighted motion wall, virtual art gallery, gigantic magnetic wall, computerized animation kiosk and life-size green screen. Most of the interactive art stations are being developed by Protozone Interactives, whose clients include The National Museum of Art, The San Francisco Exploratorium and The National Museum of Science and Industry.

The second floor, once the Rio's balcony, is to be renovated into a 170-seat performing arts theater and recording studio.

The $241,000 gift is being donated by a small group of arts supporters who will reveal their identities once the matching funds are raised. While the deadline is Sept. 30, pledges can be paid over a multi-annual period.

“Despite having gone through the worst recession since the Depression, the Arts Council had already successfully raised over $1 million towards this project," said Carrie Getty Scheid, who is co-chairing the challenge grant fund-raising with Mary Lynn Hartwell. Anyone interested in making a pledge or donation should contact Scheid at cscheid@Q.com or (208) 206-9506. Donations also can be mailed to the Idaho Falls Arts Council, 498 A Street, Idaho Falls, ID  83402.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I, Paul Menser, was the Phantom of the Colonial in the 1990s and was asked to reprise the role for this funding effort. Here are the parody lyrics that finally came to me around 3:45 this morning, which I sang from the balcony a few hours later to a warm if not exactly thunderous reception:

Me, as the Phantom. Pretty slick, huh?

(To the tune of "Music of the Night")

Everybody likes their children smart
That's why every kid needs lots of art
Painting, dance and song make the day a lot less long
Is it too much to be offering them some?
So dig deep for the ARTitorium.

This old place has been sitting vacant long enough
Don't you think we could show a little pride
If we did something nice with it inside?
('Course I'd have to find another place to hide.)

We're all crazy if we do not do this.
Don't make me think you're completely clueless.
Show me you've got taste; don't let this chance go to waste
I don't want to have to wait till kingdom come
So dig deep for the ARTitorium.

I asked the TV reporters who were there to send me video of this performance. If that happens, and I like what I see, I will post it. This is the age of YouTube and social media, after all.

Millgate takes first place for Environment Reporting

Kris Millgate

Congratulations to Kris Millgate for taking first place in the Environment Reporting -- Daily Print category at the Idaho Press Club banquet, which was held Saturday night in Boise. Millgate took the honor for a story she wrote for the Post Register, "Return of the River."

Millgate started her multi-media company, Tight Line Media, in 2006 after leaving traditional TV journalism. In addition to the weekly "Time Out" segments that air on KPVI-TV, she is a documentary film-maker. Her film "Sanctuary," about recovering elk habitat in New Mexico, won best outdoor story from the Outdoor Writers Association of America and is on tour this year with the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

For a full rundown of all the awards she has won, visit this link: Tight Line Media Awards.

Work well underway on D Street Underpass

We don't know if you've wondered what's going on with the D Street Underpass, but to save you the trouble of getting out of your car we climbed up there and took a photo. Basically, a berm has been constructed and tracks are being laid for trains to use while the old, decrepit bridge is torn down and a new one built. It will be next year before this is finished, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone considering the bridge over the canal on John Adams Parkway has taken more than six months and still isn't done.

Smith Group submits plat; decision expected next week

The Porter Canal, covered so the land can be developed. The sign for Teton Toyota is in the background.

Here's a photo update from the ground on the south side of West Sunnyside Road, where the Smith Group plans to relocate. The canal has been capped with concrete, which will allow developers to pave the land in preparation for the Honda and Chevrolet dealerships.

On Wednesday morning, the Bonneville County Commission held a public hearing on platting the 19 acres. About six people testified, and a decision is expected next week, County Planner Steve Serr said.

Unlike Teton Toyota across the road, the ground is not in the city of Idaho Falls, nor is it contiguous to any ground within city limits, which would require it to be annexed and hooked up to city utilities. It will be hooked up to the regional wastewater system that terminates outside Shelley, and the water will come from Doug Andrus Trucking's development three miles to the south.

The ground is within the area of impact the city and county agreed on years ago, a document mandated by the state and intended to addres ground that might eventually be incorporated. That agreement did not come without a struggle -- I attended a lot of meetings and plenty of ink on the divergent views Idaho Falls and Bonneville County have with regard to the value of being incorporated into a municipality. Since this is a blog where I am at liberty to offer opinions now and then, I've noticed a fair amount of territorialism over the years.