My first ride with Uber ... 'This is Blowing My Mind'

Uber driver Bill Beal

I took my first ride on Uber the other day, when I had to get my car from C&S Auto, where they were replacing the power steering pump in my 2004 Subaru. No one was home to give me a ride and I needed to be somewhere by noon, but also I'd wanted for a while to find out what the Uber experience was like -- and report to you, of course, because perhaps a few of you might actually be curious.

I downloaded the app on my iPhone 5s, indicated I needed a ride and waited. In less than 10 minutes, a silver late-model Ford Escape pulled into my driveway.

Behind the wheel was Bill Beal, 68, an Uber driver since January this year. Beal came to Idaho Falls in 1979 after “prematurely retiring” from the auto industry. He picked eastern Idaho because he is passionate about trout fishing.

In the years he has been here, he has sold cars and real estate, worked in restaurants and guided on the river. He said he was attracted to becoming an Uber driver because he could work the hours he wanted.

“This beats cabin fever,” he said. “If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be at home hollering at the television.”
As for the money, “I don’t think I could make a living at it,” he said. “If you lived in a place like San Diego I think you could keep busy all the time, but not here.”

His fares typically range from $6 to $10 (mine was $12.76, and will be counted as a business expense), but he once had a rider who wanted to go to Island Park. He drives mainly during the day. He could make himself available at nights, but isn’t sure he wants to deal with people coming out of bars.

Another thing he has gathered from his conversations with riders is that they tend to be either young or originally from somewhere other than Idaho Falls.

At 68, Beal said he never really thought much about what could be done with a mobile phone until he became an Uber driver. “This is new to me,” he said. “This is blowing my mind.”

As a footnote, let me add that after he left me at C&S Auto I realized I’d left my iPad in his vehicle. Luckily, I still had my phone, and the app allowed me to call him. He was back in five minutes at no extra charge.

All in all, the trip was 3.8 miles and took 10.38 minutes. I rated him 5 stars.

Museum of Idaho director to take over Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park

David Pennock

Longtime Museum of Idaho executive director David Pennock is turning his attention to another community institution, the Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park. Effective April 4, Pennock will take the reins there as executive director.

A native of Idaho Falls, Pennock returned in 1999 to develop the Museum of Idaho and became executive director in 2003. Since its opening, the museum has averaged more 104,000 visitors annually, including more than 18,000 school children on organized tours from 17 Idaho counties each year. The museum has a $1.3 million annual budget.

Pennock has a Ph.D. in systematics and ecology from the University of Kansas, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in zoology from Brigham Young University. "With the museum, you'd think I was a history person, but my degrees are in biological sciences," he said. He is a published researcher and has taught various graduate and undergraduate courses at the University of Kansas, University of Arkansas and Fort Hays State University. He and his wife, Gisele, have six children.

During Pennock’s tenure with the Museum of Idaho, $20 million has been raised through grant writing, donor development, memberships and corporate sponsorships, with over $950,000 raised for facility improvements.

"We owe David a deep debt for creating and growing the Museum of Idaho," said Linda Guinn Montgomery, who chairs the museum’s board of directors. "Without David's vision, hard work and enthusiasm, the museum would not be able to serve the 100,000 people a year we see. We are very sad to lose his leadership; however, we are delighted with his new opportunity with the Idaho Falls Zoo. We wish him the very best in his new role."

The museum board is organizing a search for a new executive director.

Pennock began working as a consultant for the Idaho Falls Zoo in 2015 to develop a 5-year strategic plan for zoo operations. He said he sees a lot of opportunity to grow the zoo programmatically and to enhance the economic benefit it brings to the community.

"This is something that is well-established, well-loved and well-supported," he said. "It's extraordinary for a community our size to have something like this. There's already a great foundation, and I want to see whether we can't take it another step."

“Dr. Pennock’s experience with the Museum of Idaho, various local non-profit boards and community outreach, coupled with his education, make him uniquely qualified to lead this important community resource, said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper.

Ace Hardware, Marketplace Home Furnishings coming to West Broadway

The scene last week at Dan's Ace Hardware on West Broadway.

It’s been years since Rite Aid Drug closed on West Broadway, but the space finally has a new lease on life. Two leases, in fact.

Dan’s Ace Hardware will be opening its 14,000-square-foot store at 1747 West Broadway on Thursday. This is the fifth store Dan Moldenhauer of Rexburg has opened. Others are in Rexburg, St. Anthony, Lava Hot Springs and Garden City, Utah. The store has a sales floor of 11,711 square feet.

This doubles the number of family-owned hardware stores on the west side, as Rocknak’s Hardware Plus has been there since 1995.

In the other half of the Westfield Plaza building, Marketplace Home Furnishings is eyeing an opening in the middle of March. The store is owned by Dave Collette,  D.J. Collette, and Barry and Sue Landon. Although they have extensive experience in property management and business this is the first furniture store for them.

“We don’t plan on making it a chain,” Barry Landon said. The store will carry such brands as Elements, Folio 21, Urban Roads and Palliser. Sue Landon is doing most of the buying, and it is she who is calling the shots in terms of display and presentation.

“We want it to be a new kind of furniture store,” she said. “There will be a ton of accessories, a really big variety. This is a brand new opportunity that came about. We’re happy to be bringing something new to the west side and hoping people will make a trip out here to see what we have to offer.”

Bish’s RV buys Brockman’s in Jerome

Bish’s RV announced this week it has bought Brockman’s RV in Jerome, which had been in business for more than 45 years, building a strong reputation for great customer service and competitive prices.

Mindful of that reputation, Idaho Falls-based Bish’s is keeping the existing staff. “Brockman’s business values went hand-in-hand with the values we hold,” said Troy Jenkins, president of Bish’s. “We want to continue that
legacy that Steve Brockman started.”

A huge selling feature for Bish’s RV was that Brockman’s RV is a Jayco-only dealership. Currently, Bish’s RV sells Jayco products at three of its locations, but was lacking the ability to sell the brand in the Twin Falls area.

“We’ll continue to keep this location a Jayco-only dealership,” said Kacey Jensen, Bish’s RV’s regional director. “We’re excited to now offer Jayco products to our existing customers in the Magic Valley.”

A grand opening in April is planned to coincide with the Annual Jayco Days sales event to welcome the new location to their dealership line-up. With this acquisition, Bish’s now has four locations in Idaho, making it the largest RV dealer in the state.

For more information about Bish’s RV, visit www.bishs.com.

INL hosting high school students for tours, education

Idaho National Laboratory will host high school students from throughout the region Friday at a new event designed to support the federal My Brother’s Keeper initiative.

President Obama announced the MBK initiative in 2014 to address opportunity gaps faced by disadvantaged and minority youth. INL added it this year to the roster of events it sponsors to interest students in the potential for a career at the national laboratory. The goal of the event is to break down stereotypes about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers and provide students with role models and mentors to follow.

Workforce development is one of the great challenges right now, said INL Director Mark Peters. “It’s vital that we engage students now and make sure they are aware of the incredible opportunities right here in Idaho, along with the education and training needed to take advantage of them.”

Students will participate in a full day of hands-on activities and laboratory tours, interact with research scientists and nuclear engineers, and learn about STEM careers and opportunities for post-secondary education and internships. MBK will engage students in STEM activities relevant to the mission of INL and related to the curriculum they are learning in school.

“Too often, students, parents and teachers are not aware of the opportunities available in their own backyard,” said Amy Lientz, INL’s director of Partnerships, Engagement and Technology Deployment. “In the end, this type of event builds interest in STEM careers and helps to grow our talent pipeline, enabling a sustainable future workforce.”

This year’s event will be held at the Energy Innovation Laboratory in Idaho Falls, and in several other INL facilities.