Progress on Dad's at Hitt and Yellowstone

Construction this week at the new home of Dad's Truck Stop, at Hitt Road and U.S. 26

For those of you who haven't been out to this end of town, here's the latest progress from Hitt Road and U.S. 26, where Dad's Travel Center is moving into a new building.

Located on 47 acre, the 3,000-square-foot store is to be a smaller version of what they have south of Idaho Falls at Exit 113, said Kevin Bird, the company's general manager. Doug Andrus had planned to develop the site in 2007, but when the economy went into recession they decided to hold off. Push came to shove, however, as the 10-year lease on the store across the road neared expiration. That was when they decided this year was as good as any to build, Bird said.

The contractor on the project is Bateman-Hall, which just recently completed the new Stinker Station at First Street and Holmes Avenue.

The 11,000-square-foot Dad's south of Idaho Falls is home to Frontier Pies. Bird said they plan to have a food vendor in the new store.

Stinker manager shooting for Friday morning opening for new store

The new Stinker Station at First Street and Holmes is likely to be open Friday morning. At least that was what territory manager Erwin Estrada, above, was shooting for at lunchtime Thursday. Backhoes tore into the old store on July 23, and the parking lot has since been repaved. Company President Charley Jones said in July they were shooting for an opening shortly after Labor Day, but Estrada said they have really borne down on the task at hand. "Just working hard and having great people," he said.

Idaho Falls Rotary clubs host "Pitching for Polio" benefit at tonight's Chukars game

Tonight, the Idaho Falls Chukars will be “Pitching for Polio,” a Rotary International-sponsored event coming to Idaho Falls for the first time. For every ticket sold by a Rotary member, $2 will be donated to the cause of polio eradication. 

Rotary International has been in the forefront of the effort to rid the world of polio, once a scourge everywhere. Vaccines to prevent polio were invented in the 1950s and many Baby Boomers in the United States can remember the nurse giving them sugar cubes in elementary school. Today, polio is a threat in only a few underdeveloped countries.

Rotary has been on the front lines of making polio a memory everywhere, once and for all. The most prominent person in the effort is Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Click here to check out his video.

Guests at tonight's game include the Rotary’s governor and assistant governor of District 5400, which includes all clubs in the state of Idaho and a small portion of Nevada. Typically, this annual event is held in Boise. This is the first time ever that Idaho Falls has hosted it.

Maltese CrossFit plans fund-raiser to benefit Hotshot firefighters' families

Maltese CrossFit of Idaho Falls is holding a workout fund-raiser Saturday morning, 9:30 to 11:30, to help support the families of the 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighting team who died June 30 while fighting a wildfire near Yarnell, Ariz.

Donations may be given at the event or through the CrossFit Web site, https://hotshots19.crossfit.com/. This is part of a nationwide effort that had raised more than $38,000 this morning.

If you want to contribute your sweat, all are invited to take part in the Hotshots 19 workout, which includes six timed rounds of:

• 30 Squats
• 135 pound power clean, 19 reps
• 7 strict pull-ups
• Run 400 meters

Workout weights can be modified for each individual.

Maltese Crossfit is located at 2420 S. Yellowstone Highway, Unit G. For more information, call 360-9423.

Idaho Falls Winger's to close Saturday

An all too familiar sight? Winger's in Idaho Falls will be closing.

We confirmation today that after 14 years in Idaho Falls, and barring any intervention from the parent company, Winger's on Hitt Road will be closing Saturday.

Before you say anything, ask yourself when was the last time you ate there. As much as I liked their wings, I think my last foray was with Marty Trillhaase, the Post Register's former editorial page editor who left the newsroom for Lewiston in 2009. ("I'm heartbroken," he said, when I called him to break the news. "That was my favorite restaurant in town. What's left? The Sandpiper?")

Manager Melvin Davis said declining business and rising food costs are the reason the restaurant is closing. "It's possible that corporate could pick us up, but I don't know," he said.

The Winger's brand is owned by the Slaymaker Group of Salt Lake City. The Idaho Falls location was a franchise operation.

As a footnote, I find this link interesting -- http://wingersidahofalls.blogspot.com/ -- a blog that began on Jan. 4 this year with two posts and posted for the last time 10 days later. In April, it became certified gluten free, according to its Facebook page.

All that's left is whether I want to have a "Last Supper" there Friday night. If I do, I will be sure to Instagram a picture of my messy fingers.

Keep Britni in Africa: Saving the World One Safety P...

Going by the numbers and a few conversations I've had, there's a fair bit of interest in Britni Storer's African adventure, so I'm sharing this Aug. 26 post from her blog.

Keep Britni in Africa: Monday, August 26th: Saving the World One Safety P...: Our days are so packed with activities that I find myself trying to cram in a blogging moment to whenever I can. Our internet is so spotty, ...

You're welcome to browse all the other posts and pictures. There's some fairly extraordinary stuff there.

New restaurant, Rusios, slated for opening Sept. 4

Rusios owner Tony Blakeslee, in front of the new restaurant's free-standing gas fireplace. The restaurant is scheduled to open Sept. 4.

Rusio's, a new restaurant at 1610 E. 17th Street, will be opening Sept. 4, the Wednesday after Labor Day.

Owner Tony Blakeslee said that with people off to the Eastern Idaho State Fair the week after Labor Day is great timing for a soft opening and getting things squared away. Blakeslee's restaurant experience includes years of managing Chili's and Texas Roadhouse.

Blakeslee and his wife, Sunnie, took their inspiration for Rusio's from Zupa and Paradise Bakery in Qgden, Utah. The menu will feature soup, salad and sandwiches, all made from scratch.

Rusios has 5,600 square feet, including a banquet room that can seat up to 50 and is equipped with a full audio-visual set-up. Blakeslee said he has already booked 12 Christmas parties in the banquet room.

In the main room, there are several TV screens and a large free-standing stone fireplace. Good food is only part of what keeps a restaurant in business, he said. "You're selling an experience now."

To keep up on Rusios progress, here is a link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CafeRusios