Pioneer League to remain in Idaho Falls

The old grandstands at Highland Park, which were destroyed by fire in 1975. (Museum of Idaho photo)

You can call it wishful thinking, but it is good news that Pioneer League baseball will continue in Idaho Falls.

Major League Baseball and the Pioneer League jointly announced this week that the Pioneer League has been designated a “Partner League” of MLB. Starting in 2021, the Pioneer League will transition from affiliated status to an independent professional MLB Partner League that continues to provide high-quality baseball to the states of Idaho, Montana, Utah and Colorado. All eight members of the Pioneer League – the Billings Mustangs, the Grand Junction Rockies, the Great Falls Voyagers, the Idaho Falls Chukars, the Missoula PaddleHeads, the Ogden Raptors, the Northern Colorado Owlz and the Rocky Mountain Vibes – will continue participating in the league and will maintain their existing team names and brands.

Idaho Falls' relationship with the Pioneer League dates back to 1940, when the Russets, a New York Yankees farm team, began playing home games at Highland Park, where wooden grandstands had been built by the Works Progress Administration the year before. Over 80 years, a dozen Major League organizations have had a farm team here. After Pearl Harbor the Yankees pulled out and the Russets became a co-op team, according to an account in digitalballparks.com. The Brooklyn Dodgers came in 1949 and stayed for one season. They were succeeded in 1950 by their the crosstown National League rivals, the New York Giants, who stayed three seasons.  There was a two-year gap before the Detroit Tigers came in 1954 and remained through 1958. The Pirates came in 1959, followed by the White Sox in 1960 and 1961. The Yankees made a triumphant and brief return for 1962 and 1963, changing the name of the team to the Idaho Falls Yankees, before the California Angels settled in 1964. The Angels remained through 1980, the longest continuous stretch for any one organization.

A spectacular fire destroyed the WPA grandstands in 1975, but a community effort led by Post Register Publisher E.F. McDermott and Club President Eugene Bush, a prominent attorney and state legislator, kept the Angels and the Pioneer League in Idaho Falls. Games were played at McDermott Field until Melaleuca Field was built in 2006-2007. After the Angels left, the club was affiliated with the Oakland A's, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and since 2004, the Kansas City Royals.

As a Partner League, the Pioneer League will collaborate with MLB to provide organized baseball to communities throughout the Western U.S. and Canada. MLB will provide initial funding for the league’s operating expenses, as well as install scouting technology in Pioneer League ballparks to provide MLB Clubs with first-class scouting information on Pioneer League players. The agreement will also include a procedure for player transfers to MLB Clubs. The Leagues also will explore joint marketing, ticketing and fan engagement opportunities.

The Nov. 30 MLB press release followed the late September announcement of the Appalachian League’s evolution into the premier college wood bat league for the nation’s top rising freshmen and sophomores, as well as today’s unveiling of the new MLB Draft League in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia and Ohio. These are both part of MLB’s broader efforts to modernize player development while preserving baseball in the local communities in which it is currently played.

Morgan Sword, MLB’s Executive Vice President, Baseball Economics & Operations, said: “Over the past year, we have worked closely with Pioneer League owners and elected officials to ensure the continued success of baseball in the Mountain West. We’re excited to support this new initiative and look forward to Pioneer League baseball returning in 2021.”

The Pioneer League joins the Atlantic League, the American Association and the Frontier League as an MLB Partner League. Each Partner League covers a different geographic area in the United States and Canada and attracts players of varying levels of experience. All Partner Leagues provide communities with high-quality professional baseball and share MLB’s goal of growing participation and engagement with baseball and softball.

Creating custom wraps | Brandon Seger, Seger Built Signs

Brandon Seger and his father, Merl, of Seger Built Signs

Partnering with his father, Merl, Brandon Seger always knew that one day the two of them would have a business together. While the family still lived in Kansas, Merl Seger owned his own auto body shop and then became a shop teacher at the local high school. He expanded his services in auto body painting to include airbrushing and purchased a stencil machine to cut vinyl. Word got out that they had this capability and they started putting vinyl on windows and other spaces.

Seger Built Signs specializes in custom graphics creating vehicle wraps and signs. Brandon Seger says they are not currently doing pylon signs but the hope is to expand into that service sometime in the future. They also can change the appearance of a vehicle by adding accents, something that used to only be done with paint.

“There's a lot of social media movement around #paintisdead. They are changing the colors of their vehicles and it's all, for lack of a better word, a sticker,” Brandon sid. Vinyl can be used to personalize a vehicle but also to protect it. He explained that he wrapped the bed of his truck in vinyl to protect the paint job. The warranty for vinyl is five to seven years, and when the vinyl comes off the paint will still be fresh.

Some of Brandon's training was learning on the job but he has also had specialized training by 3M and is a preferred installer for that product. He feels that this sets him apart and it also provides him an avenue for a referral from 3M. This doesn't make them exclusive to 3M, but it does verify their expertise.

Brandon's beginnings were in education, and he taught shop in Kansas like his father. “I loved my job as a teacher. My first two or three years was bliss. I loved what I did. Starting a business was always in the back of my mind,” he said. In looking at businesses that were already in the space, it gave them the confidence that they could do it.

“We wanted to come out here (east Idaho). I have family here and I went to school here. I'd always wanted to come back,” Brandon said. He saw the potential for the business in the area and so he moved his family here.

Brandon admits that he has learned lessons along the way. Although his father came to the table with business experience, starting the business full time has brought its own unique challenges. “If I could go back, I'd change (some things). It was eye opening, humbling, and a teachable moment,” Brandon said. He shared how this has changed his perspective going forward and has helped them improve.

“It's been a huge investment for us, and technically I haven't had any income yet. A lot of people are nervous to jump into business. Just go for it,” Brandon said. His advice to others going into business is to do your due diligence and have some savings but take the risk.

Information

For more information on Seger Built Signs visit their website at https://segerbuilt.com/. You can also find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/segerbuiltsigns.

Experts agree ... If you care about local business, wear a mask

Bonneville County's 7-day moving average incidence rate this morning was 97.7, one of the highest in the state. Excluding sparsely populated Clearwater County, Madison County leads Idaho with a rate of 151.1.

The following is a column submitted by the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit America, it devastated our economy. Millions of jobs were lost. Small businesses closed their doors. Domestic retail spending dropped. Industrial production declined. Many of our friends, family members, and neighbors struggled to pay their bills and put food on the table.

Things improved this summer, but we now find ourselves experiencing a spike in cases, locally and across the country. And, once again, the economy is suffering the consequences.

On the day America saw its biggest spike in cases, the Dow dropped hundreds of points. The correlation between the coronavirus and the economy is undeniable.

That is why we are urging all eastern Idahoans to practice COVID-19 safe behaviors: staying home if you are sick, washing your hands, physical distancing from those outside your household, and wearing masks in public places.

Public health experts say wearing a mask is one of the best things we can do to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

It’s important to take these same precautions in the workplace as well as when gathering with extended family and friends, where we tend to let our guards down.

And yet, too many in our communities choose not to wear masks, even as infection rates increase, local hospitals run short on resources to care for all patients needing care, and businesses struggle. As a Chamber board, we’ve heard that many visitors from other states bypass Idaho, customers stay home, and employees in greater numbers are forced to quarantine.

All of us care about our fellow citizens. All of us want a strong economy that allows everyone to prosper. All of us want to be safe, healthy, and happy.

Wearing a mask is easy. It is effective. And it is good business.

That is why the leaders of two of eastern Idaho’s biggest employers have been such vocal advocates for mask wearing. And it’s why so many other local business owners are encouraging citizens to wear masks.

In a recent interview with East Idaho News, Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot talked about how preventive measures, including masks, have helped his company limit the spread of COVID-19.

And VanderSloot emphasized that masking up will help us avoid the worst-case scenario, even wider spread and a lockdown on local businesses.

“Let’s wear masks so we don’t have to close businesses,” VanderSloot said. “Let’s be safe so we can keep the economy running.”

Mark Peters, director of Idaho National Laboratory, has consistently delivered a similar message, telling his employees that INL’s ability to perform its vital national security and clean energy research depends on limiting the spread of COVID-19, in part by adhering to company policies, including wearing masks in INL facilities.

And, as he wrote in a column published earlier this year by the Post Register, all of us can do so much good with a simple gesture of goodwill to those we interact with, including employees at the businesses we frequent.

“If all of us, including INL’s 5,000 employees and their families, committed to wearing a mask when we go out, we would show respect to essential workers and do our part in preventing a new wave of COVID-19, which carries devastating health and economic implications,” Peters wrote.

Unfortunately, a new wave has arrived. It is here. And how we handle it may determine the state of our economy as 2020 turns into 2021.

A mask is a small inconvenience that helps protect our businesses and the people who depend upon them to support their families.

We know this virus is deadly. We know how it spreads. We know that masks are effective in slowing transmission. We know that when COVID-19 cases spike, our economy suffers.

So please, if you care about the local businesses that drive our economy, wear your mask.

Let us all resolve to do the right thing. This is about keeping Idaho open for business.

Signed, Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors including:

Sara Prentice, Idaho National Laboratory


Chip Schwartz, CEO, Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce


Adam Frugoli, Leavitt Group


Frank VanderSloot and Tony Lima, Melaleuca

Chris Sheetz, Harris Publishing


Staci Matheson, The Hartwell Corporation

Elsje R. Johnson, Blue Cross of Idaho


Robert Couch, Parsons Behle & Latimer


Mike Walker, College of Eastern Idaho


Marvin K. Smith, Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley

Geri Rackow, Eastern Idaho Public Health

Catherine Smith, Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation


Rebecca Casper, Mayor of Idaho Falls


Ray Gordon, Apple Athletic Club

Chamber kicks off 'Hope Lunches' campaign

The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce and Elevation Labs have announced a new initiative for supporting underserved families this holiday season, “Hope Lunches.” They are asking businesses and individuals to support the Community Food Basket by donating the cost of a Hope Lunch.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has doubled the number of families the Community Food Basket is serving this year. Realizing that many have had to cancel lunches and meetings, this year, the idea was that canceled lunches could be sent to hungry people.

The Chamber recently cancelled its “Out of the Box” lunches. "We asked our sponsoring businesses and prepaid attendees if they would donate the cost of their lunch or sponsorship to the Community Food Basket and were overwhelmed by the positive responsem" said Chamber CEO Chip Schwarze. "So much so that we decided to reach out to all businesses to support the Community Food Basket."

Michael Hughes, president and CEO of Elevation Labs, volunteered with a $3,000 donation on behalf of his company. "Our hope is that other businesses and individuals will join in and help," he said.

Cash, not cans

By asking for cash donations instead of canned goods, the Community Food Basket can purchase $5 of food for every $1 donated. In other words, a $12 Hope Lunch donation can be turned into $60 worth of groceries. "By giving dollars instead of cans, we can maximize the number of families served," Schwarze said.

All donations will be given directly to the Community Food Basket. Businesses can collect donations from their employees and then call, bring in their donations, or mail a check to the chamber office.  Individuals also can go to this link -- “Hope Lunches” -- to make an online donation.

For more information please contact Schwarze at ceo@idahofallschamber.com or call (208) 589-8888.

For the Love of Powersports | Brandon & Brittany Quinton, H2O Industries

Brandon and Brittany Quinton of H20 Industries

Brandon Quinton got into free-standing jet skis after having a 4-wheeler accident. With a wife and new baby he felt the sport was too risky, so he sold his 4-wheelers. He needed an outlet for his energy, however, so he turned it toward stand-up jet skiing, much like motocross freestyle.

After falling in love with the sport, he saw there was room for improvement with some of the aftermarket products. “Initially I was just riding and it wasn't enough adrenaline, so I moved into the aftermarket jet skis and wanted to do more aerial tricks and stuff which then introduced me to the idea that there's no cover options for these guys,” he said.

One idea for improvement was an electric conversion for the jet ski to increase instant power. It was an expensive venture, so he decided to start with something smaller and build up. That's when he began making covers. “Let's take business plan A and change it to business plan B and do the covers,” he said.

Starting out, he took his idea to a local canvas shop where they made the first cover and also created a pattern for him to make one on his own. Once they got it right, his wife, Brittany. encouraged him to make the cover and take it to market. She has turned out to be a perfect partner, taking care of the finances and acting as a sounding board. Quinton admits that she has brought forward good ideas that he wouldn't have thought of on his own. They do all this with three small kids, each just about one year apart in age.

“The market in Idaho is budding. You're starting to see more stand up jet skis,” he said. It plays naturally into the backcountry snow machine riders, since they can ride the jet ski in the summer when their sleds are put away.

Brandon admits he has no problem talking to people and the collaborations he has made have been from reaching out. “I want to see the sport grow. I'm all about helping the sport grow. I've pushed locally, getting people to ride jet skis,” he said. As a result of developing his knowledge base, people now come to him when they have questions.

In stand up jet skiing, there are competitions where money and prizes are won and there are all ages that compete. H2O Industries even sponsors professional riders that are from Idaho.

Earlier this year they partnered with a company that made the covers, but due to COVID-19 that business shut down. Brandon got word while he was driving home from a vacation with his family.

“By the time I got home, I'd made the decision I was taking my engine out of my jet ski, selling it, selling the rest of the covers, and buying an industrial sewing machine,” he said. He now owns two, and just moved into a new space where he sews the covers himself.

“I have a tendency to overcome whatever issues come my way,” he said.

Quinton's personal life has presented him with challenges over the years and demonstrated his level of tenacity. Growing up, he had to navigate his parents' divorce and the challenge of ADHD, which caused him challenges in school. To cope, it helped to find work where he's able to focus. “If I set tiny goals for myself, I work until that goal is done and then move on. It's the most efficient way for me to go through life,” he said. Still, learning that came only with time.

When he was 18 he was homeless from November through February, living in his vehicle. Some days he had to retreat to a public bathroom hand-dryer for heat. Wrong choices led to him being incarcerated over the course of seven years.

“It was awful," he said. "I finished (my) parole term and then worked. Work is what really got me through it all. While I was in there I had a lot of time for self-introspection.”

The time he served was a catalyst for him to change his core beliefs from failure to success. “It taught me a lot about myself -- when I got out I was different,” he said.

The future for H2O Industries has expanded to include snowmachine covers, with covers for high-end exotic cars to follow. When asked what advice he has for others interested in self-employment, Quinton says do market research and go for it. “Do it better and show people you can do it better," he said. "Just because you're small town doesn't mean you have to stay small town with your ambitions. It's not a small town anymore, because everyone's connected.”

Information

To learn more about High Octane Industries (H2O) visit their website at https://h2oindustries.com/. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook.