VanderSloot represents Idaho on list of nation's wealthiest

Every year, Wealth-X, a Web site that reports on the rich, releases a list of the wealthiest person in every state.

The list is mostly made up of multi-billionaires, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Larry Ellison. Idaho’s own Frank VanderSloot, the Melaleuca magnate, comes in at No. 40, with an estimated worth of $1.2 billion.

There are nine states with no billionaire residents, including Utah, New Mexico, Mississippi, South Dakota, Maine, Hawaii, Alaska, Wyoming and my home state of Delaware. This last one I find surprising, as it is the home of the DuPonts, one of the nation’s oldest and richest families. The only explanation I can think of is that the story is focused on individual wealth.

You can read more at this link: Read more: The Richest Person in Every State.

7N Ranch plans grand opening for new bike park

One of the jumps at the 7N Ranch's new bike park.

7N Ranch near Heise has installed a bike park, with tracks, jumps, bumps for people of all levels and technical abilities.

To mark the occasion, they will having a grand opening on Memorial Day weekend, May 23 to May 25, featuring half-price passes. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., individual day passes will be $5 and family passes will be $12.50.

The park features a flow track, jumps, pump track, cross-country, downhill track, free ride track and a bump run. The weekend will also feature a bike expo, with exhibitors and food.

Anyone looking to buy tickets or find out more can visit the 7N Ranch Facebook page, right here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1581977278722316/

Kool Beanz, Noodles and Company now open

Kool Beanz at Snake River Landing.

This past week has seen two new additions on the food and beverage front in Idaho Falls.

Noodles & Company opened Monday at The Grand Teton Mall, at 1870 S. 25th East. The company has more than 450 restaurant locations across the United States, serving 25 fresh dishes. For a look at the menu, follow this link.

The 2,800-square-foot Grand Teton facility offers seating for 72 guests inside the dining room and 20 guests on the outside patio. The restaurant is open from 10:20 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To place a take-out order, call (208) 528-7366 or order online at noodles.com/orderonline.

At Snake River Landing, Kool Beanz has opened where Bella Vita used to be. There is a new look and a new menu, featuring gourmet coffee, teas, smoothies, desserts, artisan panninis, bagel breakfast sandwiches, craft beers and fine wines.

Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visit their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/KoolBeanzCafe/info?tab=page_info

Noodles and Company on Hitt Road

Ron Sayer plans school fund-raiser

Ron Sayer’s Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge is planning to team up May 18 with parents and teachers at American Heritage Charter School for a “Drive for the Kids” fund-raiser, to help raise money in support of the school’s activities.

During the school’s spring concert, parents and guests will have the opportunity to earn a $10 contribution for the school from the Chrysler brand by taking a test drive in a new 2015 Town & Country, Chrysler 200 or Chrysler 300. Any licensed driver, age 18 or older, may drive and earn $10 on the school’s behalf. Ron Sayer will provide 2015 model Chrysler brand vehicles, along with volunteers from the dealership, to help the school with the test drives.

This is the seventh year Ron Sayer has been doing “Drive for the Kids” at Idaho Falls area schools, raising more than $30,000 overall.

All test-drive participants will also be entered into the 2015 National Giveaway for a chance to win $45,000 toward any eligible FCA US LLC Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, FIAT, or Alfa Romeo vehicle.

Chrysler introduced the “Drive for the Kids” program in 1993, becoming the first automotive manufacturer to reach out in direct support of local schools. Since then, Chrysler dealers have worked with parents and educators across the nation to contribute over $6 million to schools in communities where Chrysler does business. For more information, visit www.drive4kids.com.

INL picks two teams for DOE commercialization program

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., is working with six national labs, including INL, identifying innovative technologies with potential for commercialization.

Idaho National Laboratory has selected two teams to participate this year in the Department of Energy’s Lab-Corps Program.


Last fall, DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy selected proposals from six national labs, including INL, for a $2.3 million pilot program called Lab-Corps, which is designed to accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies.

“Our program is designed to immerse each three-person team in an approach to learn about successfully commercializing their discoveries to the private sector,” said INL Lab-Corps leader Tammie Borders, in a press release this week.

INL reviewed several technologies for the Lab-Corps program that promise advancements in sustainable transportation, renewable power and energy efficiency lab technologies. The winners were Matthew Balderree, who's technology is an application that facilitates material inspection of wind turbine blades using unmanned aircraft, and Brant Peery, who developed technology that compiles data from databases in different formats and presents it in a user-friendly way.


“DOE’s Lab-Corps program offers a new pathway to advance greater collaboration between industry and national laboratories,” said INL Associate Laboratory Director Steven Aumeier. Modeled closely after the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program, Lab-Corps is managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and seeks to strengthen the impact national laboratories have on the nation's energy resources. The technology accelerator and training curriculum enables lab-based teams to gain direct market feedback on their technologies and pursue commercialization opportunities.


“Each team has an INL researcher, an entrepreneurial lead and an industry mentor,” Borders said. “The entrepreneurial lead and the industry mentor are selected from talented business leaders who work outside of INL in order to offer a fresh perspective for the team.”


INL’s pilot program capitalizes on previous work with the Idaho Technology Council, Boise State University and Renewable Technology Ventures. These groups have assisted in identifying potential entrepreneurial leads and industry mentors for the teams.


During the seven-week training provided by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, each team will visit companies in the appropriate market sectors and meet face-to-face with customers. “We are expecting highly energetic teams who will hone their new entrepreneurial talents and gain exceptional insight into commercializing innovative technologies in the private sector,” Borders said.

Energy Department Announces New Lab Program to Accelerate Commercialization of Clean Energy Technologies