Gold's Gym plan to remodel TSR still on hold

The plans at the city of Ammon building department office for Gold's Gym in the old TSR building.

We stopped by the city of Ammon building department office this morning to see what sort of action might be happening (not much) and to ask if there were any new developments with Gold's Gym.

Bob Roberts, who operates the Gold's Gym in Twin Falls as well as here, filed plans with Ammon in March 2011 to remodel the TSR building at 2363 Eagle Drive. Since then, there has been little action.

Our efforts to reach Roberts today were unsuccessful, but here are the specs on the project, according to the plans:

Gym and locker area: 30,760 square feet, main floor; 2,995 square feet, mezzanaine
Business area: 4,000 square feet
Day care: 1,500 square feet
Storage: 22,560 square feet
Occupancy: 773

Rural broadband summit set for Oct. 16 in Idaho Falls

The Idaho Rural Partnership and the state of Idaho will host the first LinkIdaho Broadband Summit on Oct. 16 in Idaho Falls. The event will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at the Idaho National Laboratory's Idaho Falls campus, 995 University Boulevard. The keynote speaker will be Syringa CEO Greg Lowe.

Organizers say the summit is a chance to learn what Idaho is doing to assess and advance the availability and use of high-speed Internet in rural areas

The event will include representatives from sectors such as education, health care, economic development, public safety and libraries.

LinkIdaho is funded by the state Department of Commerce's state broadband initiative grant program. The summit will be at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at the Idaho National Laboratory's Idaho Falls campus.

To register, visit http://www.idahodashboard.org/2012_summit. Direct questions about registration to Mike Field, LinkIDAHO State Broadband Coordinator, (208) 332‐8699 or e-mail mike.field@irp.idaho.gov.

Lunch is $10, payable by mail or at the event.
    
   

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/09/27/2290601/rural-broadband-summit-planned.html#storylink=cpy

Gallatin Public Affairs names Kotek office managing partner

John Kotek

John Kotek, a partner with Gallatin Public Affairs and an expert on energy policy and facility siting, has accepted the office managing partner position in the firm’s Idaho office in Boise.

He takes over from Marc C. Johnson, who managed the Idaho office for 18 years and was Gallatin’s president for five years. Johnson will remain a partner in the firm and continue to consult with clients, engage in business development and serve on the board of directors.

Kotek has been a Gallatin partner since 2009 and has an extensive background in energy policy. He serves on Gov. C.L. “Butch” otter’s Leadership in Nuclear Energy Commission and is Communications Task Force chairman for the Idaho Strategic Energy Alliance.

Kotek recently completed a two-year stint as staff director of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future. The commission’s report earned widespread praise, and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has introduced legislation to implement its recommendations.

Kotek also has worked on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow, has served in the U.S. Department of Energy – including as deputy director of the DOE’s Idaho Operations Office – and worked for the Argonne National Laboratory.

Fisher's Document Systems adds two employees

Russell Slack

Allan Jemmett

Fisher’s Document Systems has added two employees to its Idaho Falls office.

Russell Slack works as an account manager. He has a background in finance. Slack participates in several civic organizations, including sitting on the boards of the Ammon City Council, the Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation, Stevens-Henager College and the Chamber of Commerce.

Allan Jemmett works as the lead field service engineer. He has 27 years of experience in the industry in southeastern Idaho.

I.F. Power open house set for Saturday

Hot dogs ... bucket truck rides ... it's time once again for Idaho Falls Power's annual open house, Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

Come joint the fun and learn about what your local power company is up to. In addition to the aforementioned fun, this year’s open
house will include hydroelectric plant tours and safety demonstrations, free refreshments, door prizes, entertainment and kids’ activities.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our neighbors to come and learn first-hand about Idaho Falls
Power and all of the great services they provide,” said Mayor Jared Fuhriman.

As in the past, everything will take place at 140 South Capital Avenue. For more information, call 208-612-8430.

Some more thoughts on store closings

We're still trying to get the skinny on whether Staples' announcement Tuesday that it was closing stores will have any effect locally. Based on the fact that Best Buy, Kmart and Sears are still here, I'd say no. But times are changing.

In the meantime, here's an interesting link from last week to put things in perspective. I found this paragraph in particular to be enlightening:

Many experts believe that the number of retail establishments per capita in the United States was excessive even before the economy recessed. According to the 2007 Economic Census, there were 1,122,703 retail establishments in the United States and a total of 14.2 billion square feet of retail space. That means that there is approximately 46.6 square feet of retail space per capita in the U.S., compared to two square feet per capita in India, 1.5 square feet per capita in Mexico, 23 square feet per capita in the United Kingdom, 13 square feet per capita in Canada, and 6.5 square feet per capita in Australia.

http://retailindustry.about.com/od/storeclosingsandopenings/a/2012-Store-Closings-US-Retail-Industry-Liquidations-Roundup-Chains-Going-Out-Business.htm?p=1

Don't hold your breath waiting for Costco

Here I go, raining on the Costco parade. I found this list of store openings that goes well into 2013, with no mention of Idaho Falls. The source is a blog called Addicted to Costco. Here is the link: http://addictedtocostco.com/costco-locations/comment-page-55/#comment-131679

You might notice a lot of commenters from all over the country saying the same thing people are saying here: "We want Costco!" Take a number, I guess.

New Locations: (Updated 2012.09.11)

TAOYUAN, TAIWAN August 30, 2012
ULSAN, KOREA August 31, 2012
WHEATON, MD October 18, 2012
WEST EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA October 19, 2012
WEST FARGO, ND October 23, 2012
BAXTER, MN October 24, 2012
SPANISH FORK, UT October 25, 2012
FARRAGUT, TN November 9, 2012
CONCORDVILLE, PA November 10, 2012
EAST PEORIA, IL November 14, 2012
SUN PRAIRIE, WI November 15, 2012
ROCHESTER, MN November 16, 2012
DRUMMONDVILLE, QUEBEC, CANADA November 27, 2012
OSHAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA November 28, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. November 29, 2012

Tentative opening dates:

THURMASTON, LEICESTER, UNITED KINGDOM End 2012/Early 2013
GWANGMYEONG STATION, SEOUL KOREA January 2013
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN March 2013
UKIAH, CA Late 2012/Early 2013
ALEXANDRIA, VA Early 2013
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA Spring 2013
SOUTHAMPTON, UK Spring 2013
NEW ORLEANS, LA Summer 2013
RINGWOOD, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA Summer 2013
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY Mid to Late 2013
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA Mid to Late 2013
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA Mid to Late 2013
GUELPH, ONTARIO, CANADA Fall 2013
YORKTOWN, NY Fall 2013
BATON ROUGE, LA 2013
SIOUX FALLS, SD 2013
CEDAR PARK, TX Late 2013/Early 2014
ST. ALBERT, ALBERTA, CANADA 2013
NAPA, CALIFORNIA Late 2013
WICHITA, KANSAS Late 2013