Popeyes reported coming to area, the question is where?

Here's a box of Popeye's Wicked Chicken. It looks scrumptious!

I’ve always had fun playing detective, but this is a story in which you may have to draw your own conclusions — at least for now.

Making my rounds at the city of Ammon office Thursday, I asked City Planner Ron Folsom, whether there was anything new, especially at Sandcreek Commons, a widespread spot of interest. He told me about the site plan for “Pad E,” the lot on Sunnyside Road between two banks, D.L. Evans and Zions.

No business has been designated for the pad, but judging by the shape of the building and the fact that there is a drive-thru lane going around it, one might deduce that it is going to be a fast-food establishment.

I know better than to ask the developers, Ball Ventures and Woodbury Corp., what is being planned for the ground. It’s their policy to let the business owners make announcements.

Early Thursday evening, I got an e-mail from one of my most reliable news sniffers, Gary Mills, who runs the testing center at Eastern Idaho Technical College. Attached was a link to a TV story out of Twin Falls about Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen coming there.

This is the link: Famous fried chicken restaurant making its way to the Magic Valley.

“The television story says that Pocatello and Idaho Falls are next.  Where?” he asked.

If I were a Magic 8 Ball, I might answer, “Signs point to Sandcreek Commons.” As it stands, I am waiting for an answer from Norcal Cajun Foods, the Bay Area company quoted in the story, which has already opened Popeyes in Boise and Nampa.

EITC Foundation nominated for nonprofit award

The Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation has been nominated for the Idaho Nonprofit Center’s Excellence Award.  

“We know that nonprofits make a difference in communities across Idaho every day and these awards recognize the contribution of the nonprofit sector.” said Janice Fulkerson, the center’s executive director.

EITC Foundation is one of nearly 100 organizations nominated. Six of the organizations will be honored at the Nonprofit Excellence Awards Dinner on Sept. 15 during the center’s annual conference at Boise State University.

The EITC Foundation was established in 1992 to develop positive community relationships, provide scholarship opportunities and support college initiatives.  Earlier this year the awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships at its annual scholarship ceremony. Its most recent fund-raiser, The Great Race for Education, raised over $45,000 for scholarships.

“This community is the only reason we are successful.” said Natalie Hebard, the foundation’s executive director. “We are also extremely fortunate to have 19 wonderful volunteer board directors with a passion for education and helping student achieve their academic goals.”

Majestic Auto Body receives certification

Majestic Auto Body and Glass, 1456 N. 25th East, has been officially certified by Assured Performance, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization specializing in the automotive collision repair market.

Assured Performance works with top automakers to identify, audit and promote collision repair providers that meet best-in-class business standards — maintaining the right tools, equipment, training, and facility necessary to repair Automaker brand vehicles according to the manufacturer's specifications.

In achieving this certification, Majestic becomes part of a worldwide network. According to a press release, less than 5 percent of body shops across the nation are able to meet the stringent requirements to become officially certified and recognized. In Idaho Falls, Dan’s Collision Repair is the only other body shop with the certification.

Majestic is also officially recognized by GM, FCA, Ford, and Nissan.

Advertising Federation plans summer mixer

The Idaho Falls Advertising Federation club mixer will be held on Thursday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Keefer's Island Patio, at the Shilo Inn.

Club members, sales managers, art directors and marketing directors are invited. There will be free appetizers and door prizes.  A drawing for several Eastern Idaho State Fair concert tickets will be held at 6 pm.

Discounted club memberships will be available. Call 569-9468 for more information.

Cellar plans celebration this weekend

At the corner of 17th Street and Ammon Road, The Cellar has been under new management since the beginning of this year.

Under new management since the beginning of the year, The Cellar, 3520 E. 17th St., will be having a celebration Friday and Saturday featuring small plate specials, live music, wine tasting, free desserts and appetizers. Doors open at 5 p.m. each evening.

“I am very excited to have both old and new customers alike come in and try out our new menu, new specials and get reacquainted with some of their old favorites,” said Bryan Hewett, the new owner. “I would like to see The Cellar become the locals’ favorite place to go for all occasions, from just a night out to celebrating new marriages, birthdays and more.”

Scott Hinschberger’s vision for The Cellar dates back to the late 1980s, but it wasn’t until 2004 that he opened it with his son, Bryan Hinschberger.

In January this year, Hinschberger sold the restaurant to Hewett, a Treasure Valley native who discovered a passion for food at a young age. He attended Boise State University where he obtained his degree in culinary arts.

The Cellar seats over 100 people, and can provide banquet and catering services for weddings, receptions, parties, and nearly any celebration of life. Hewett and his staff can cater any event within a 200 mile radius.

New Idaho National Laboratory director named

Mark Peters, formerly Argonne National Laboratory's associate director for energy and global security, has been named the next director of the Idaho National Laboratory, officially taking over Oct. 1.

Mark Peters

He will be succeeding John Grossenbacher, who announced in November 2014 that this would be his last year as INL director. Grossenbacher coordinated the Battelle Energy Alliance bid that resulted in BEA being awarded the INL contract in February 2005.

“Mark’s recognized leadership in all fields of energy research — including energy storage, renewable energy, energy efficiency  and nuclear energy — and national security makes him an ideal choice as the next lab director of INL,” said Ron Townsend, chairman of BEA’s board of managers and also its executive vice president of global laboratory operations. “As the leading research institution for nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure, INL will benefit from the strong leadership and passionate commitment that Mark has demonstrated throughout his career.”

Peters is called upon frequently to provide expert testimony to Congress and to advise in formulation of policies for nuclear fuel cycles, nonproliferation and nuclear waste disposal. He is active in leadership positions with the American Nuclear Society and was recently named an ANS Fellow, the highest honor bestowed by the Society.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Mark on globally significant nuclear energy matters and am pleased to welcome him to Idaho,” said John Kotek, the U.S. Department of Energy’s assistant secretary for nuclear energy. “I look forward to our continued collaboration when he is in his new role as director of INL.”

Peters earned his doctorate in geophysical sciences from the University of Chicago and his bachelor's degree in geology from Auburn University. He has also received extensive management and leadership education and training, including completion of the Strategic Laboratory Leadership Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His full biography is available online at https://www.inl.gov/mark-peters-bio.

Sandy Downs racing season opens Saturday

The racing season at Sandy Downs will be five days this year,

Aug. 22, 23, 29 and 30 and Sept. 13.

Although the legality of historical racing machines is likely to be an issue again at the 2016 Idaho Legislature, they money they have brought in at the Double Down sports bar on Outlet Boulevard has led to a doubling of purse money during the five-day racing season at Sandy Downs, which starts Saturday.

Racing will be conducted Saturday and Sunday this weekend and next, and on Sept. 13. Gates open Saturdays at 4 p.m. with post time for the first race at 5 p.m.  Sunday’s first race will be at 1 p.m., with gates opening at noon.

The opening day card is highlighted by the Hawthorne Futurity trials for 2-year-old quarter horses.  The race series carries a prize estimated at $45,000, the largest seen in Ida Racing’s six years at Sandy Downs.

Saturday’s co-feature will be the trials for the $30,000 (est.) Double Down Derby for 3-year-old quarter horses with its final also on Sept.  For novice fans, the Nationally acclaimed Q-Aces team of handicappers and racing experts will be on hand with free seminars on both days of the opening weekend.

The leading horses, owners, trainers and jockeys in the Northwest are expected to be in action at Sandy Downs. “The effects of historical racing are even allowing us to become a national player in our sport,” said Ida Racing President Jim Bernard. Fans across the country can watch and wager on our races via the IdaBet.com racing site, he said.

Entertainment between races will include mechanical bull rides, a free photo booth, live music and games and prizes from the daily live Colt Whitmore Show.  Kids can enjoy the fun bounce and sprinkler party, and a country barbecue and fair-style food will be available from Lucky’s Grill.

A salute to Armed Forces and Veterans will open each racing day.  Business sponsors and supporters this year include Bingham Memorial Hospital, Coors Light and TEC Distributors, Double Down Betting Bar, IdaBet.com, Sand Hill Radio, The Post Register, Giltner Trucking and Hawthorne Animal Hospital.

Sandy Downs is located at 6855 S. 15 East.  For more information and updates, visit www.IdaRacing.com.

Double Down, 3078 Outlet Blvd., will also offer live coverage of the races and wagering, at  in Idaho Falls.  Visit IdahoFallsSportsBar.com or call (208) 521-4729 for more details.

Some background on historical racing machines in Idaho

Pari-mutuel betting on horses in Idaho has been legal since 1963, and the Legislature authorized simulcasting in 1990. Before July 2011, however, simulcasting was only allowed at live horse racing facilities such as Sandy Downs in Bonneville County. In 2011, however, the Legislature passed a bill allowing simulcast horse betting from other venues, supporters arguing that off-track locations could provide a better atmosphere, food and other incentives to attract paying customers. The 2011 bill did not allow new simulcast betting venues to be set up, but instead allowed existing operations like the one at Sandy Downs to move.

In 2014 the Legislature approved HB220, allowing pari-mutuel betting on historical horse races, which is done on machines. When a player makes a wager on the machine, a race is randomly selected from a video library of over 60,000 previous races. Identifying information such as the location and date of the race, and the names of the horses and jockeys, is not shown.

The player is able to view a "Skill Graph" chart from the Daily Racing Form, showing information such as jockeys' and trainers' winning percentages, and based on this handicapping information the player picks the projected top three runners in order of finish. Many players use a “Handi Helper" feature, which allows the machine to automatically make the selections.

Early versions of the terminals looked like self-serve wagering terminals, but over time some began to mimic slot machines, with symbols on spinning reels showing the results of a player's wager and the video of the actual race relegated to a 2-inch square in the corner of the screen.

In Idaho, this has drawn the ire of anti-gambling forces and also Native American tribes who consider the machines competition to what they offer on their reservation casinos. Earlier this year, Senate Bill 1011 repealed the Legislature's prior approval of the devices, passing the House by a 49-21 vote and the Senate 25-9.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter vetoed the bill in April, and the Senate’s 19-16 subsequent vote to override the veto fell five votes short. Otter has called for a moratorium on any new instant racing machines and indicated that he wants a special investigative team to look into whether the machines violate the Idaho Constitution, which prohibits slot machines.