Idaho Falls chamber names Michelle Holt new CEO

Michelle Holt

Michelle Holt has been named the new chief executive officer of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Holt has worked as executive director of Lost Rivers Economic Development since 2005, and has more than 20 years in non-profit organizations, with experience in board development, grant writing, fund-raising and economic development. She has served as chairwoman of the Lost Rivers Medical Center Board of Trustees in Arco; as past president of Eastern Idaho Economic Development Partners and the Idaho Economic Development Association; and in various roles in local education.
 

Acting CEO Kerry McCullough will resume her previous role as programs and events coordinator until the chamber's July 4 activities are over, at which time she will begin full-time as the city of Idaho Falls' public information officer. McCullough will continue to serve as a volunteer on the chamber's Taste of Idaho and annual golf tournament planning committees and board of directors.


Holt will begin work on hiring a new programs and events coordinator and working with the staff on the upcoming Independence Day Parade and Liberty Festival on the Falls.

Relay for Life organizers want people to paint the town purple

Starting today, Idaho Falls residents may notice the color purple appearing in windows, on bridges and in banners, all in support of the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life event. Through June 30, people are being encouraged to decorate their homes, businesses and vehicles with purple, all part of a warm-up to the actual event, which is scheduled for July 12 at Bonneville High School's Thunder Stadium.

Relay for Life events happen all over the world to raise money for cancer research, promote awareness of the work being done and recognize the struggles past and present of patients and the people caring for them.

Leading up to the event, teams raise money with car washes, garage sales, fashion show, and special events like "Dancing With the Idaho Falls Stars."

"We recognize that many small local businesses and individuals do not have the means within their budgets to support the annual Relay For Life fundraising event," said Liza Leonard, this year's  chairwoman. "Paint the Town Purple was created with the goal of involving more people without overwhelming them with the expectations of substantial donations. This event is to help generate cancer awareness in fun and creative ways, while bringing the community together."

A person can do anything from dressing up in purple to offering a special discount on all purple items or add a vinyl sign to their window.

"We are not all personally affected with cancer, but if we come together we can help raise the spirits of those battling with the disease and restore hope for many," Leonard said.

For questions or to get involved, call (208) 201-4133 or email lizaleonard@hotmail.com. The local Web link is relayforlife.org/idahofallsid.

D Street underpass project hits 'rocky' patch

The view Thursday from the top of the big hole at D Street and Yellowstone Avenue

Anyone who has driven on North Yellowstone Avenue since Wednesday has most likely noticed the big pile of rocks in the hole where the D Street Underpass used to be.

Crews blasted into 10 feet of basalt at 2 p.m. Wednesday to clear away space for the new bridge's footings, said Kelly Kofoed of Cannnon Builders, the city of Idaho Falls' contractor on the project.

The stones will be hauled away to a Landon Excavating pit. The tree immediately south of the stone tower is also slated to be removed next week. The city wanted to save the tree, but the excavation around the tower, which is actually a pump station dating back to around 1910, damaged too much of its root system, Kofoed said.

Building a bridge is a lot different than building a house or office building. "It's kind of like building a house around your wife while she's making dinner," Kofoed said. Cannon has also been the contractor on the John Adams Parkway bridge over the Idaho Canal, due to be finished in  July. "We had to go deep for the footings at the same time we had traffic going over it every day," he said. In the D Street project's case, train traffic had to be re-routed with a "shoefly," a four-month undertaking by itself. The new underpass is scheduled to open sometime in 2014.

The D Street excavation has yielded all sorts of interesting things: masonry foundations from buildings that made up the Oregon Short Line Railroad depot, which was torn down in 1964, and old tools that had been discarded by railroad workers decades ago.

Kofoed said he and his crew were the first people since the '60s to set foot inside the pump station. There was a hardwood floor that had rotted and a lot of sludgy water in the foundation, which goes down 30 feet. "I'm sure the old pumping equipment is in there," he said.

C&S Auto Repair looking to expand staff

Inside the garage at C&S Auto Repair

C&S Auto Repair (where I have been taking my cars since 2009) is looking for a three or four mechanics motivated to put in long hours and learn new skills.

"I've got the work; I need the manpower, people who know their stuff," said Shana Poulsen, who owns the business with Chris Neal, who heads the current team of five mechanics. "What they need to understand that this is flat rate. The harder they work, the more money they are going to make."

Neal and Poulsen moved in September 2012 to their current location, 2435 E. Iona Road. With 9,834 square feet, the new shop has more than twice the space they had on Ammon Road, and positioned within sight of the roundabout at Hitt and Iona Roads.

They're about to get OE-specific scanners for Chrysler, Ford and GM vehicles. Neal's specialty all along has been GM electronics, and they rebuild instrument clusters for $150. "It's been kind of a hot area for us," Poulsen said

For more information, call (208) 524-2770 or visit their Web site at www.candsautorepairllc.com.

Chamber After Hours at Bill's Bike Shop's new location

The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours this week will be held Thursday at the new Bill's Bike Shop, 930 Pier View Drive, from 5 to 7 p.m.

It will be catered by Stockman's Restaurant. There will be ample opportunities to network, and drawings for prizes. Members and non-members are invited to attend.

For more information, call 523-1010.