Images Southern Idaho: 2009

imagessouthernidaho.com the definitive relocation resource video 2008 | View some of the Magic Valley’s

imagesmagazine. photos See more community images from our prize-winning photographers.

marvels in the video gallery.

facts & Stats Find schools, an interactive map, and important facts and figures.

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Southern Idaho

Sturgeon General Chef puts wild spin on fresh-caught fish

MOOOVE OVER, POTATOES Dairy, other commodities boost thriving ag sector

AIR OF DISTINCTION Outdoor recreation spans the seasons

sponsored by the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce | 2009

2009 EDITION | VOLUME 4 T TM

SOUTHERN IDAHO

20 CO NTE NT S F E AT U R E S 12 A (DIVERTED) RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT For more than a century, the canals have brought life to the area in and around Twin Falls.

24 BRIDGING THE GENERATIONS A growing number of people are moving to Southern Idaho and bringing their extended families with them.

26 DOWNTOWN BOUND 16 MILKING IT FOR PROFITS Now the state’s top agricultural commodity, the dairy sector in Southern Idaho continues to expand its presence throughout the region.

Downtown Twin Falls is thriving with an irresistible mix of charming shops, tantalizing restaurants and highly anticipated annual events.

30 STURGEON GENERAL 20 AIR OF DISTINCTION From rush to relaxation, the region’s outdoor recreation spans the seasons.

Chef Kirt Martin shares his culinary talents for fresh-caught fish and wild game at his Hagerman restaurant and through online cooking videos.

ON THE COVER Photo by Jeff Adkins Canoeing on the Snake River

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Now Showing in Our Video Gallery

Sit back and enjoy a preview of Southern Idaho amenities.

Explore its landscapes, cultural offerings, food and fun.

See its downtowns, neighborhoods, parks and attractions.

Experience the history, hot spots and local happenings.

Southern Idaho is rated L for Livability.

imagessouthernidaho.com

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SOUTHERN IDAHO

D E PA R TM E NT S 10 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Southern Idaho culture

43 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Southern Idaho

47 Sports & Recreation 49 Arts & Culture 51 Education 53 Health & Wellness 55 Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know

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49 SOUTHERN IDAHO BUSINESS 34 Mooove Over, Potatoes Dairy, grains and other commodities boost the region’s thriving agricultural sector.

38 Biz Briefs This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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41 Chamber Report 42 Economic Profile

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imagessouthernidaho.com THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

SOUTHERN IDAHO SENIOR EDITOR JESSY YANCEY COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITOR LISA BATTLES ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAMELA COYLE, CHRIS FLETCHER, MICHAELA JACKSON, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA MOZO DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON SENIOR INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER JAREK SWEKOSKY SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN M CCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER JESSICA MANNER GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER, JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN AD TRAFFIC MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITORS/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS, BILL McMEEKIN MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

What’s On Online nl

SIGHTS TO SEE Take a tour of some of the sights that put the “magic” in Magic Valley, including Balanced Rock and Shoshone Falls. Watch this and other quick videos in the Interactive section.

RELOCATION Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.

PHOTOS We’ve added even more prize-winning photography to our online gallery. To see these spectacular photos, click on Photo Gallery.

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

FACTS & STATS CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

Images Southern Idaho is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce 858 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. • Twin Falls, ID 83301 Phone: (208) 733-3974 • Fax: (208) 733-9216 www.twinfallschamber.com

Go online to learn even more about: • Schools • Health care • Utilities • Parks • Taxes

LOCAL FLAVOR Wild game and fresh-caught fish inspire Chef Kirt Martin, who runs a restaurant in Hagerman. Get a taste of local flavor in our food section.

VISIT IMAGES SOUTHERN IDAHO ONLINE AT IMAGESSOUTHERNIDAHO.COM ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE Images gives readers a taste of what makes Southern Idaho tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

“Find the good – and praise it.”

– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

Member Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

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HOMES • RANCHES • DAIRIES • FARMS • FARM MANAGEMENT RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES • TAX DEFERRED EXCHANGES

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(208) 733-0404 • WWW.RJREALTY.COM

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Almanac

Spe Spelunking Sho Shoshone

Fast Facts Q Twin Falls County was named for the falls of the Snake River. The surrounding area is known as the Magic Valley.

How cool is that?

Even when the temperature Eve outdoors is 90 degrees, the Shoshone outdo Caves remain a cold 30 degrees Ice Ca Fahrenheit. For that reason, coats Fahre hang on hooks outside the gift shop for v visitors to borrow as they enter the interesting attraction.

Visitors are first met at the V entrance by a dinosaur statue en ridden by a hairy caveman. From ri there, the caves include a rocky t trail and several hundred yards t of o wooden walkways that are a few inches above the ice.

The caves’ sole attraction is the th ice, and Shoshone is open from fro May to September.

Q The National Pioneer Hall of Fame was established in 2005 in Burley. Among its inductees are Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.

Q The world-class Faulkner Planetarium is located on the College of Southern Idaho campus.

Q Skandi-Dag Skandinavian Festival is held each June at Freedom Park in Burley.

Q The Gooding Basque Cultural Center serves a multicourse Basque supper on the first Friday of each month.

Q Snowmobiling is available on roads in the City of Rocks when weather permits. City of Rocks encompasses 14,407 acres of land.

Q The entire community of Oakley is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Founded in 1878, many of the city’s Victorian buildings date to the 1880s.

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Evel Knievel Leapt Here It was Sept. 8, 1974, when American motorcycle daredevil Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel attempted to jump Snake River Canyon at Twin Falls.

Knievel used a motorcycle powered by a steam engine, but upon takeoff the parachute accidentally opened, causing the bike to drift down into the canyon.

The motorcycle and Knievel landed only a few feet from the water, on the same side where the launch took place. He sustained only minor injuries.

The ramp on the south rim of the Snake River Canyon is still visible today.

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Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow The Herrett Center for the Arts & Science features everything from exhibits on the ancient Americas to a high-tech planetarium.

The nonprofit museum is on the main campus of the College of Southern Idaho, and its purpose is mostly educational. It offers programs to elementary, middle and high school students, as well as college students and the adult community.

The unusual center also collects natural history artifacts with an emphasis on the prehistoric American continents. In addition, it displays local art and features a mock jungle.

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Baaing for Three Days MSN Travel calls Trailing of the Sheep Festival one of the top 10 fall festivals in the world.

The event takes place in Hailey and Ketchum every October, with a weekend full of Basque food, culture, dancing and many sheep. The 13th annual celebration is scheduled for Oct. 9-11, 2009.

The three days highlight the contributions made by Western sheepherders who settled in the Wood River Valley of Idaho. Activities include wool shearing, spinning, weaving, herding sheep demonstrations and a Trailing of the Sheep Parade that features hundreds of the animals moving along Main Street.

Southern Idaho | At A Glance POPULATION (2007 ESTIMATE) Cities: Twin Falls: 41,510, Burley: 8,984, Jerome: 8,827, Hailey: 7,844, Rupert: 5,075, Buhl: 4,037, Gooding: 3,208, Kimberly: 3,010, Heyburn: 2,691, Wendell: 2,419, Filer: 2,004, Shoshone: 1,565, Hansen: 959, Paul: 918, Hagerman: 768, Hazelton: 728, Oakley: 696, Minidoka: 118 Counties: Twin Falls: 73,058, Blaine: 21,560, Cassia: 20,960, Jerome: 20,066, Minidoka: 18,564, Gooding: 14,250, Lincoln: 4,497 LOCATION The largest city in south-central Idaho, Twin Falls, is about 30 miles north of the Idaho-Nevada state line and roughly midway between Boise and Pocatello.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce 858 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. Twin Falls, ID 83301 Phone: (208) 733-3974 Fax: (208) 733-9216 www.twinfallschamber.com

Hit the Jackpot Feeling lucky? Jackpot is only a 45-minute drive from Twin Falls.

The Nevada gaming destination is less than a mile from the Idaho border on U.S. Route 93 and is popular among residents of Idaho and other neighboring states.

Jackpot is often considered part of the greater Twin Falls region.

The largest casino in the unincorporated town is Cactus Petes Resort, with more than 26,000 square feet filled with hundreds of tables and machines.

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Rupert

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TW IN FALLS A NEVADA

Jackpot

CASSIA UTAH

WATCH MORE ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Southern Idaho at imagessouthernidaho.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

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A (Diverted)

River Runs 12

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The sun sets over the canal at Milner Dam, which irrigates the area near Burley and also produces hydroelectricity.

Through It CANAL SYSTEM BRINGS STEADY, SECURE WATER SUPPLY TO AREA

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STORY BY JOE MORRIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

W

hile they may not be as famous as the canals in Venice, the ones in Twin Falls are good enough – and then some – for the locals.

For more than a century, the canals have brought life to the area in and around Twin Falls. Born of the 1894 Carey Act, which allowed the setting aside of federal land for private investors, the irrigation system has been operated by the Twin Falls Canal Co. since 1909. The canals draw from the Snake River, as well as return flows from Deep Creek and Cedar Draw, providing a consistent supply of water to the area’s flourishing agricultural sector as well as its municipalities.

It’s impossible to overestimate when characterizing the impact the canals have had on the region, according to Elizabeth Thomas, executive director of the Jerome Chamber of Commerce.

“If they hadn’t been built, Jerome wouldn’t be here,” Thomas says of the North Side Canal Company system, which was built in tandem with the southern, or Twin Falls, version.

“Jerome has diversified in the years since the canals were built, but we’re still very much an agricultural-based community,” she says. “We have a huge manufacturing sector, and a lot of that is related to the agricultural and dairy business, neither of which would be here without that water. It really is our gold.”

The canals solidified the area’s economy by providing a steady stream of water, says Dr. Russ Tremayne, an associate professor of history at the College of Southern Idaho. Tremayne is coauthor with J. Howard Moon of A History of the Twin Falls Canal Company, a detailed exploration of how the canals came to be, and how the system has grown and evolved over its first century.

“This place was along the Oregon Trail, and it was just a

place to get through,” Tremayne says. “Its modern history begins with the canal company.”

The canals are one of the largest water-reclamation projects ever undertaken in the United States, he points out, noting that the agricultural areas they helped create still exist even while new industry has moved in to take advantage of the water supply.

The ongoing goal of both the canal company itself as well as the water’s end users is to not overtax the source, Tremayne says, which has led to reexamining wintertime use of the canals and other measures that will allow the supply to go further without increasing the actual flow.

The canal company continues to ensure that the water circulates to the places it’s needed, according to Brian Olmstead, general manger of the Twin Falls Canal Co. He took his position in March 2008 after the retirement of longtime manager Vince Alberti.

“We delivered a full supply of water to farmers in the summer of 2008, and we’ve got a good supply to carry over into next year [2009],” Olmstead says. “We finished the Midway Power Plant last year, and that’s now run a full season of water production on the Low Line canal and operated very smoothly and efficiently.”

In addition to the new power plant, the company also completed two water-quality wetland areas in late 2007 and early 2008, and continues ongoing work on the canal banks every winter. Like Thomas, Olmstead sees the canals as the arteries for the area’s lifeblood.

“Without the water that’s delivered in those canals, this would be a very brown, dry valley,” Olmstead says. “We get less than 10 inches of precipitation a year, so if there’s anything green here, it’s mainly due to these canal systems.”

Jon Crane, top left, of the Twin Falls Canal Co., operates the diversion dam at the Forks, top right, where the main canal splits off in two directions just south of Hansen. Area farmland reaps the benefits of this irrigation system.

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Milking It for

Profits DAIRY INDUSTRY CONTINUES RAPID REGIONAL GROWTH

STORY BY JOE MORRIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

N

ow the state’s top agricultural commodity, the dairy sector in Southern Idaho continues to expand its presence throughout the region.

Individual dairymen, cooperative ventures and well-organized industry groups indicate the dairy producers’ strength, as do several large-scale developments for milk production and preparation. One of the most notable of these is the $80 million Idaho Milk Products facility in Jerome, which employed 65 people following its December 2008 opening, expanding that over a three-year period as the plant moves to full capacity. The facility is a cooperative effort between the city of Jerome and the Northside Development Group, a group of dairy producers.

The new plant will produce a variety of products, including whey proteins that will help diversify the area’s dairy industry going forward, making it more competitive. As in any business, being able to make those moves that are affected by the market is essential, according to John F. Martin, business

manager for Idaho Milk Products Inc. “The processing extension is an innovation-driven dairy and nutrition business in which 3 million pounds per day of guaranteed milk supply are processed into highly valued ingredients for the food/beverage/nutrition markets,” Martin says. “The dairies currently supply over 2.7 billion pounds of milk annually to domestic processors.”

As the new IMP facility begins operations and others follow in its wake, Martin says the future for the dairy industry in Southern Idaho continues to be very bright.

“Feed and fuel prices, continued environmental awareness and investment, as well as product demand due to global market influences will cause the dairy industry to contract and expand just as it has in the past,” he says, “but I believe the industry is ripe for continued process improvement and investment.”

IMP’s development efforts will focus on butter production as an extension of its milk processing capacity, says Martin, adding that future growth will key into the company’s own production

The dairy industry is thriving in Southern Idaho, thanks to new operations such as the $80 million Idaho Milk Products facility, which processes milk and butter in its stainless steel milk silos, bottom left, and pipes, top right.

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timelines, as well as market demand.

“If market conditions remain favorable, and when we meet our production timelines and efficiencies, it is very likely that future growth, both in the form of expansion and new facilities is possible,” he says. “The majority of the IMP owners are also part of the Northside Development Holding Co. LLC, which has plans to oversee the development of the entire business park area in which the IMP milk plant and the Northside granary reside.”

Such optimism is welcome indeed at the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, which has been promoting the state’s dairy interests since 1944.

“The industry has grown tremendously in the last seven or eight years,” says Bob Naerebout, executive director.

“Our milk production through August 2008 equaled the production for all of

“Our milk production through August 2008 equaled the production for all of 2001; the industry has grown that much.”

2001; the industry has grown that much.”

Naerebout attributes the increase to high-quality feed that’s been available in recent years, as well as new plants coming online and more producers getting into the marketplace. And, he adds, there’s still plenty of room for expansion at all levels of the process.

“There’s growth potential within the herds, increasing production per cow,

and growth potential with the larger operations,” Naerebout says. “The only limiting factor there is to make sure that we have the processing capabilities, and to ensure that everything’s being taken care of on the environmental side.

But we have a very proactive dairy industry in Idaho, and we know how to implement the best economical and management practices.”

Regional dairy farms use testing equipment to ensure their milk is of the highest quality. The Magic Valley produces around 7.75 billion pounds of milk annually worth over $900 million at the farm, according to the Idaho Dairy Council.

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Say Cheese CHALET SHOWCASES GOSSNER’S VARIED DAIRY PRODUCTS

I

f you’re in Heyburn and have a sudden hankering for beef jerky or pepperjack curds, or maybe some award-winning ice cream, stop by Gossner’s Magic Valley Chalet to satisfy your craving.

The chalet, which is a retail store for the nearby Gossner Foods plant, is downstairs from the Upper Crust Bakery and Grill. Both are owned by Dave and Sandy Thomas and operated by their son, Brett.

Dave Thomas is a longtime plant manager at Gossner, so the family is very familiar with the products they sell, says Brett Thomas.

“We’re in our third year and are really going strong,” he says.

“We opened the restaurant a year ago, and that’s been doing really well. Now, we’re looking to expand more into the bakery, producing things that will complement the cheese that we have downstairs.”

The fresh curds are available in different flavors on Mondays and Fridays, while the ice cream is carried pretty steadily. In fact, the chalet’s ice cream holds the blue ribbon from the Idaho Dairymen’s Association competition. That said, it’s all about the cheese at Gossner’s Chalet – and there’s even a free sample bar.

“We have the widest selection of cheese in the valley, and we even do a small specialty line,” Thomas says, noting that products come from both the Heyburn and Logan plants.

“We’ve also got the shelf-stable milk, which people really go crazy about because they can take it camping or store it for about a year.”

Visit www.gossner.com to learn more.

– Joe Morris

S O U T H E R N I DA H O

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Air of Distinction 20

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FROM RUSH TO RELAXATION, THE REGION’S OUTDOOR RECREATION SPANS THE SEASONS STORY BY MICHAELA JACKSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

B

ungee jumping? Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Skydiving? Child’s play. The problem with these adrenaline-inducing sports is that they just aren’t, well, illegal enough.

That might be the type of story you get from BASE jumpers seconds before they hurl themselves off the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, just hundreds of feet above the Snake River. The only man-made structure from which it is legal to jump without a permit, the spot

draws hoards of thrill-seekers looking for the ultimate rush.

And in the three seconds before their parachutes open, many are thinking the same thing: Outdoor recreation in Southern Idaho is unbeatable.

The state offers a smorgasbord of fresh-air activities for everyone from the casual outdoorsman to the ultimate daredevil and everyone in between.

Active types who are looking for an extreme recreation experience that doesn’t involve reliance on parachute

success can strap on their skis and head to remote slopes for heliskiing, which involves skiing a mountain that is only accessible by helicopter.

“Heliskiing is about the most exciting, adventurous and exclusive approach to the sport of skiing,” says Bert Witsil, a sales executive at Sun Valley Resort. “A skier can heliski virtually any peak you can fly a helicopter to.”

A helicopter ferries a group of skiers and guides to the top of rural mountains and meets them at the bottom once they

A BASE jumper glides over the Snake River after leaping from the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls. Above left: Canoeists Ken and Betsy Wiesmore paddle up the Snake River. Above right: Wildflowers grow among the volcanic rocks at Inferno Cone at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, located less than two hours from Jerome.

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The Pioneer Mountains, which span about 50 miles near Craters of the Moon, feature trails and lakes for peaceful yet exhilarating treks into the Idaho wilderness. Right: Several area resorts draw skiers to Southern Idaho in the winter. Below: Water flows through the rock formations at Pillar Falls.

have skied down the slope. Accessible peaks are innumerable throughout Sun Valley, creating the perfect atmosphere for heliskiing.

“We have a wide range of slopes and terrain perfectly suited for backcountry skiing and the most experienced heliski guides in the world, as the sport was founded here,” Witsil says.

For those a little more grounded, traditional skiing abounds in the area, along with an array of other warm- and cold-weather activities.

“We have the variety of trails, canyons to climb, or rivers or streams to play in,” says Debbie Dane, executive director of Southern Idaho Tourism. “The choices are endless, and the landscapes are truly amazing.”

She suggests wildflower watching at Craters of the Moon National Monument in the spring, hiking or cycling along the area’s countless trails whenever the weather is warm and enjoying the picturesque scenery of winter in the Magic Valley.

“We have four seasons, and each S O U T H E R N I DA H O

season provides unique recreation opportunities,” Dane says. “We don’t have to travel far to have fun.”

The Snake River is also a major attraction, offering everything from fishing to kayaking. It runs through Twin Falls and Mini-Cassia, which is near the popular City of Rocks National Reserve in Castle Rock State Park.

The monument offers hiking and mountain biking trails, but rock climbing is the main crowd-puller. The City of Rocks attracts between 80,000 and 90,000 people each year.

“People do want to come to our area because of the recreational opportunities that we have,” says Kae Cameron, executive director of the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone.”

WATCH MORE ONLINE | Enjoy a quick video of Twin Falls residents canoeing on the Snake River at imagessouthernidaho.com.

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Bridging

the

Generations AREA AMENITIES APPEAL TO ALL AGES

JEFF ADKINS

JEFF ADKINS

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STAFF PHOTO

S O U T H E R N I DA H O

STORY BY CHRIS FLETCHER

W

hen Doris Christison moved to Southern Idaho from trendy Folsom, Calif., several years ago, she had a lot of people to please.

Her elderly mother, a Hammett resident, was ill and needed Christison nearby. Her husband dreamed of a home in a rural setting, where they could garden and keep horses. His mother, who joined them from Arizona, needed a senior living community where she could make friends and maintain her independence. Christison hoped for a place her California grandchildren would be happy to visit.

“You have to go where you’re needed, and unfortunately it’s our generation that seems to be taking care of everybody else,” she says.

Christison’s predicament, though varying from the classic description, is similar to that of a mushrooming demographic – the so-called “sandwich generation,” comprised of baby boomers and others caring for both parents and children.

Christison is also representative of an increasing number of people moving to Southern Idaho from states such as California, Washington and Arizona who are bringing their extended families with them, says Camille Murphy, sales director for Bridgeview Estates in Twin Falls.

Murphy has worked for four years at Bridgeview, which is now home to Christison’s mother-in-law. It offers a full continuum of care – independent residences, assisted living and medical care staff under one roof.

Despite expansion, all of Bridgeview’s independent living apartments have been snapped up. There’s now a waiting list, but developers are planning a similar facility across town, Murphy says.

The comparatively low cost of living adds to the region’s growing popularity.

“It’s much less expensive to live here,” says Christison, who settled in Buhl, a town of about 4,000 just west of Twin Falls.

“When we sold our house in Folsom, we bought five acres and a larger house and paid for it, so that definitely helped in making the change.”

Besides the financial draw, entertainment options for all ages also appeal to extended families, Murphy says. An

abundance of retailers, restaurants, parks and other amenities can be found in Twin Falls, a city of just over 40,000 residents, with casinos, skiing and other attractions within a few hours’ drive.

Emblematic of the area as a generational crossroads is the Perrine Bridge, which spans the majestic Snake River Canyon less than 500 yards from Bridgeview. The facility’s residents can watch the mostly younger daredevils leap from the bridge, the only legal year-round BASE jumping site in the nation.

“They call it ‘Bridgeview’ for a reason,” Murphy says.

The bridge is one of many unique attractions in the area, which features annual events such as the Snake River Canyon Jam each Father’s Day weekend, Christmas in the Nighttime Sky every November and Art in the Park in July.

Christison says her mother-in-law particularly enjoys Twin Falls’ weekly municipal band concerts in City Park during the summertime.

“They call it ‘Bridgeview’ for a reason.”

The College of Southern Idaho contributes both cultural entertainment and community support. Besides plays, musical performances and art exhibits, the campus boasts the Faulker Planetarium and Centennial Observatory, home to one of the world’s largest handicapped-accessible public telescopes.

The college’s Office on Aging offers numerous free services for seniors and support for families. Its volunteers provide transportation, exercise classes and other benefits to residents of Bridgeview and throughout Southern Idaho.

Christison says she has found something for every member of her family in the Twin Falls area, including a skate park for her 13-year-old grandson.

But what she enjoys most is the small-town atmosphere.

“Everybody takes care of everybody else,” she says.

Top: Ray Salzer and Phyllis Cooper joke around at Bridgeview Estates, the senior community where they both reside.

Bottom left: Bridgeview Estates is located on the south side of the Snake River Canyon with a view of the Perrine Bridge. Bottom right: The Twin Falls area has activities for all ages, including a skateboarding facility in Harmon Park.

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Downtown

Bound FORGET ALL YOUR TROUBLES, FORGET ALL YOUR CARES AND GO DOWNTOWN

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STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

T

he words of Petula Clark’s hit song “Downtown” certainly ring true in Twin Falls. While historic downtowns across the nation struggle to attract business, downtown Twin Falls is thriving with an irresistible mix of charming shops, tantalizing restaurants and highly anticipated annual events.

“Our downtown is more than 100 years old, and it went through a time in the ’80s when it seemed like all the shopping was going to malls,” says Melinda Anderson, economic development director for the city of Twin Falls. “But people started realizing they loved downtown and wanted to make it better, so they began working to put in downtown lofts, housing and offices.

We’ve got a pretty great mix of retail and dining, too.”

The heart of downtown, Main Avenue is home to galleries, antique shops,

salons and specialty stores that provide everything from musical instruments and archery equipment to kitchenware and scrapbooking supplies.

Jensen Jewelers opened on Main Avenue in 1956, making it one of downtown’s oldest establishments.

“We’ve grown a lot from Main Street, Twin Falls – we now have 15 stores in five states,” says Tony Prater, chief executive officer for the business. “Our original store was downtown, and we still love that location because it lets us be involved in all the core community events.”

Jensen Jewelers is the No. 1 retailer of elk ivory jewelry in the nation and sells the unusual product internationally from its downtown Twin Falls location.

“Elk have remnants of tusks in their mouths – their back teeth are ivory as opposed to bone, so it’s long lasting,” Prater explains. “Our downtown store makes rings, pendants and other types of

jewelry from it, and it’s a very unique line because not many jewelers carry it. Our little downtown Twin Falls store is one of the top volume stores in our chain.”

Lively restaurants such as Pandora’s and O’Dunken’s Draught House also entice people to come downtown.

“O’Dunken’s is very popular and has wonderful pub food,” Anderson says.

“Pandora’s is located in an old flour mill that was rehabilitated about 10 years ago, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. We have quite a number of international restaurants as well.”

Downtown is especially energetic the first Friday of each month when businesses stay open late and welcome people to shop, eat and socialize.

“Our First Fridays event has been very successful with getting people downtown,” Anderson says. “Rudy’s gourmet kitchen store offers food and live music and showcases wine and beer.

A sign honors the centennial of Twin Falls, which was established in 1904 on the site of the present-day downtown district. Left: Adam Crofts of Great Riff Jazz plays the upright bass during the weekly Jazz Tuesdays at Pandora’s.

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“Downtown is a great gathering place for friends and neighbors.”

And Jensen Jewelers and the Magic Valley Arts Council have an art show and other fun things.”

Annual downtown events include a series of six summer concerts near the fountain on Main Avenue in June and July; Western Days, which celebrates Twin Falls’ Western heritage with a parade and festival the weekend after Memorial Day; Oktoberfest, which includes apple-eating and pumpkincarving contests, live entertainment and children’s activities the first weekend in October; and the Christmas Light Parade, always held the first Friday of December.

“Downtown is a great gathering place for friends and neighbors. Kids love to play in the fountain,” Anderson says.

“People love strolling along Main Avenue and looking in all the shop windows.

There’s an amazing tree canopy along Main that gets really beautiful when the leaves turn in the fall.”

It’s that kind of wholesome, inviting atmosphere that has kept Jensen Jewelers and other businesses flourishing downtown for decades.

“The other thing that’s contributed to our longevity is our people,” Prater says. “We have people who have worked for us for over 50 years. Our customers being able to come in and see the same smiling faces year after year has made all the difference.”

At Pandora’s, a bartender pours the Biere de Garde farmhouse ale made by the local Trail Creek Brewing Co. Top: Morning on Main Avenue North

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General

FRESH FISH, WILD GAME GIVEN A FRENCH SPIN

BY HAGERMAN CHEF

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STORY BY JESSICA MOZO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

W

hen it comes to cooking, you might say Chef Kirt Martin likes to walk on the wild side. And his zeal for unusual foods is evident at Snake River Grill, his Hagerman restaurant that has become a dining destination for folks in Twin Falls and the surrounding area.

“Most of our products are produced here in Idaho, whether it’s Kurobuta pork, Kobe beef, sturgeon or trout. And we get our seasonal fruits and vegetables from the local farmers’ market,” says Martin, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Ottawa, Canada. “Sturgeon is an extremely popular item on our menu because very few restaurants serve it. We serve it grilled or breaded and fried with your choice of side.”

Tender, golden-brown alligator bites are one of Snake River Grill’s best-loved appetizers. Breakfast includes homemade sausage, omelets filled with fresh veggies and, of course, Idaho hash browns. And the ever-popular dessert menu offers everything from homemade pies to eight types of cheesecake.

“My wife, Carol, does all the pies, so when we say they’re homemade, we mean it,” says Martin, a third-generation cook who moved to Idaho in 1988 from Minnesota, where he ran a family restaurant. He opened Snake River Grill in 1995.

“I found a little piece of heaven here and started over,” Martin says. “I don’t take this for granted. I’ve lived in cities, and here I have 10 acres and a wonderful place to raise my 3-year-old triplet sons – Daniel, Andrew and Benjamin.”

His eatery’s unusual cuisine stems from a background in French cooking and a love for hunting and fishing.

“Idaho is a mecca of wild game, and I like to take it back to classic French techniques,” he says.

From 1999 to 2002, Martin shared his culinary talents with the world by hosting an Outdoor Channel show called “Cooking on the Wild Side,” where he demonstrated how to prepare flavorful fish and wild game dishes, from locally caught sturgeon and steelhead trout to elk, pheasant and tarragon goose. The show was ranked sixth most popular out of 150.

Since then, Martin has transitioned to online cooking videos that viewers can watch at their convenience, even on a laptop while cooking along with him. The videos also allow the online audience to choose recipes, submit questions or download the videos to an iPod to take into the backcountry.

“It’s pretty amazing,” says Martin, noting that the videos have been watched in over 53 foreign countries.

Martin made his fourth trip to China in 2008, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a consulting chef.

“That market is really opening up,” he explains. “We go to Macau and Hong Kong and show American cooking demos.”

Back in Hagerman, Snake River Grill continues to thrive with the support of hungry patrons looking for cuisine that’s refreshingly new, locally produced and impeccably prepared.

“The support has been very good,” Martin says. “We put a lot of love into this place. It’s my passion.”

Kirt Martin, chef-owner of Snake River Grill in Hagerman, specializes in preparing local wild game and fish, and he also hosts a related online cooking show. Left: Smoked sturgeon in a mushroom and white cheddar cream pasta sauté

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Business

Mooove Over, Potatoes DAIRY, TROUT AND OTHER COMMODITIES BOOST REGION’S THRIVING AG SECTOR

STORY BY PAMELA COYLE

S O U T H E R N I DA H O

JEFF ADKINS

P

otatoes may be the root of Idaho’s agricultural notoriety, but these days there’s a new cash cow in town.

Overall, Idaho has kicked New York out of third place among the nation’s top milk-producing states, behind California and Wisconsin.

Stouder Holsteins, a family-owned and operated business, got in on the early years of the area’s dairy industry.

“The whole family wanted to move out of Southern California,” says Bill Stouder, a veterinarian who comanages the company with his wife and three sons. “We had this dream that we wanted to milk cows.” So, 25 years ago, the Stouders relocated to the Wendell area.

They started with 200 cattle, which had quadrupled by 2005. That year, they bought out another farm and now have about 2,000 cows – and the entire region has followed a similar path of expansion.

John Gibson, a vice president with Farmers National Bank in Twin Falls, has also watched the agriculture industry evolve for years. Sheep used to be a bigger component, he says, but cattle started making a move in the 1970s.

“It was discovered as a good place for

Bill Stouder owns Stouder Holsteins in the Wendell area. The dairy farm has around 2,000 cows. Left: Southern Idaho has seen a shift from potatoes and sugar beets to higher-priced commodities, including corn. PHOTO BY IAN CURCIO

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top producer of trout in the United States, accounting for about 400 jobs, not including seasonal shifts.

“All [of the state’s] trout production and three-quarters of milk production is found in the south-central region of Idaho,” says Jan Roeser, a regional economist with the state labor department, who notes a shift from potatoes and sugar beets to higher-priced commodities such as grains, corn and alfalfa.

Agriculture directly and indirectly plays a role in two-thirds of the roughly 95,000 jobs in Southern Idaho, as this sector has a robust multiplier effect.

Economic Modeling Specialists Inc., for example, estimates that every job in cheese manufacturing creates another 7.44 indirect jobs, and the multiplier for milk processing is 6.62 indirect jobs.

“These are tremendous industries for Idaho because they utilize locally grown products and export them to

other parts of the nation and world,” Roeser says.

High Desert Milk has started processing in Cassia County. Rite Stuff Foods moved its headquarters from California to Jerome, where Idaho Milk Products is also setting up shop. And WOW Logistics, a distributor, picked the region over several others in the Northwest for a new hub, citing the proximity to milk and cheese producers, as well as a qualified workforce. The facility is the company’s first major one outside its home state of Wisconsin.

Utah-based Gossner Foods operates a cheese processing plant in Heyburn leased from the neighboring city of Burley. The economic impact of the company is a boon to both cities.

JEFF ADKINS

cattle, with good climate and cheap feed,” Gibson says.

The increase shows in Idaho’s milk production, according to Gibson.

“In 1977, we were 17th,” he says.

Job growth in dairy animal production grew 7.5 percent in Idaho from 2005 to 2008, totaling about 4,000 jobs, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.

Those are just the jobs covered by unemployment insurance; uncovered workers, which includes self-employed workers and seasonal hires, add up to thousands more.

And the growth is not just in dairy farms. Cheese manufacturers, such as Gossner Foods Inc. in Heyburn and Brewster Dairy in Rupert, are moving in. Idaho will always have potatoes, but its agricultural base, particularly in the south, has diversified.

Idaho remains a strong producer of dry beans and feed corn. It also is the

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY FLANAGAN/JOYCE LAVENDER RANCH

Business | Biz Briefs

Founded in 1999, Valley View Lavender Farm gives visitors the chance to dig their own field plants for landscaping.

The farm, which sells a variety of lavender products, also hosts an annual festival each July to celebrate the flower.

LESSONS ON LAVENDER You’ve heard of lavender oil, lotion and bubble bath, but what about lavender chicken? Or ice cream? Or margaritas?

Valley View Lavender Farm in Buhl wants to change that. The farm raises thousands of lavender plants each year, and they are dedicated not only to sharing the beautiful plants with their neighbors but also to educating people about the diverse joys of lavender, largely through their Web site.

People who visit the farm can take a guided tour or wander the fields and collect lavender bundles themselves. An annual festival features demonstrations on lavender wreath making and oil distilling. A gift shop on the property deals in all things lavender, from the traditional, such as soaps, to the unconventional, like honey.

“We make all our own products: bath and beauty and home décor,” says Dana Jackson, who helps run the farm that her mother and stepfather, Al and Peggy Armstrong, started 10 years ago.

“My mom calls it a hobby run amok.”

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Learn about cooking with lavender, shop for products or post questions at www.valleyviewlavenderfarm.com.

RE-TREAT YOURSELF When Heather Mortensen and her husband, Troy, purchased the campus of the Albion State Normal School in 2007, they took charge of an educational and historical landmark for the region.

The Mortensens and their five children moved to Albion from Boise to open a retreat at the college, which was closed nearly 60 years ago. They began by remodeling Miller Hall, a men’s dormitory, into an 8,000-square-foot gathering place for family reunions, weddings and corporate retreats.

Known as Campus Grove at Albion, the conference and retreat center is 20 minutes from the Pomerelle ski resort and 40 minutes from City of Rocks National Reserve. The grounds include sporting and recreational activities enveloped in a serene environment.

“Campus Grove is unique because of its historic charm and the beautiful

quality and atmosphere of the remodeled Miller Hall,” Mortensen says. “We have many ideas and plans for the historic college that will take time, patience and a great financial commitment. This will be a lifelong endeavor.”

OAKLEY’S SPECIAL STONE Around the world, people remodeling their kitchens or putting in swimming pools owe a debt of gratitude to the tiny town of Oakley.

The Cassia County community is a force to be reckoned with in the quartzite industry, which goes head to head with stones like granite in architectural and home improvement projects. Quartzite is found all over the world, but the stone mined in Oakely is special.

“The thinness of the stone is really unique to this area and has made it a really popular stone worldwide,” says Jim Burch, who, with his brother, Dave, owns Oakley Valley Stone Inc., the business their grandfather started 60 years ago.

It’s of the oldest stone yards in the area.

The thin quality of Oakley’s quartzite S O U T H E R N I DA H O

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston makes french fries in two area cities.

WHERE FRIES ARE KING Ask just about anyone: Potatoes are great, but french fries are better.

That’s why Southern Idaho doesn’t mind that their neighbors to the north pop out more spuds: The southern region has the state’s market on french fries cornered.

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston operates french-fry factories in Twin Falls and nearby American Falls.

Lamb Weston has been recognized as a leader in frozen potatoes for more than 50 years, making their debut on the fry market in American Falls. Today, they distribute their products to more than 110 countries around the world, spreading the joy of shoestring, crinklecut as well as many other frozen potato and appetizer products.

There’s a good chance the next fry you eat may be from Twin Falls; the plant produces a whopping 72 billion fries each year.

EVENTS WITH A VIEW If you’re looking for a one-stop shop in dining and events, with a picturesque setting thrown in for good measure, Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center runs the best game in Twin Falls.

The 21,800-square-foot facility is perched alongside the Snake River Canyon, offering scenery as breathtaking as the food is delicious.

“It’s a beautiful view,” says Dan Willie, who owns the center with his wife, Sonja.

“There’s nothing like it in Southern Idaho for sure, and I don’t know where you’d have to go to find something as pretty.”

The full-service restaurant offers casual fine dining and an exquisite Sunday brunch, while the lounge features live jazz. The banquet hall, which seats 400, hosts everything from weddings to charity auctions. The atmosphere is exquisite throughout the property. A large fire pit and soothing waterfalls and streams accent the surrounding natural beauty.

“The ambience is very, very nice,” Willie says. “It’s a really beautiful spot.”

– Michaela Jackson S O U T H E R N I DA H O

JEFF ADKINS

makes it more suitable for shipping long distances at reasonable rates.

“Oakley’s loaded to the gills with the stone,” says Burch.

Jeffrey J. Hepworth, P.A. & Associates and William R. Hollifield, of counsel Attorneys at Law

Peter Hatch and Alex Caval Associates

Ethical, Effective & Efficient Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Municipal Law

Catastrophic Injury Cases

Real Estate & Ranch

Business Litigation

Slip & Falls

Construction Litigation

Criminal Defense

Creditors’ Rights (208) 734-0702 161 5th Ave. S., Ste. 100 Twin Falls, Idaho

I M AG E S S O U T H E R N I DA H O . C O M

39

Business | Chamber Report

Allied for the Future WORKFORCE TRAINING A TOP PRIORITY FOR NEW ORGANIZATION

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It’s a tall order, but a $5 million grant is helping the organization realize its early goals and set ambitious new ones focusing on career awareness.

“Our collaborative effort is key to the success of this, and we’re building a new approach that starts with younger students,” Barigar says. “You’ve got an eighth-grade student who’s not sure what career to choose, and we know that in six years our local industries are going to need certain skilled workers. Now, through job shadowing and other career development we can get these students into the pipeline early.”

This combination of early outreach and ongoing training and development is ideal for growing a workforce, says Jan Rogers, executive director of SIEDO. “Whether you’re dealing with expansion or new business coming into the region, that’s going to come up quickly,” Rogers says. “There’s a lot of pressure on our local companies when it comes to worker recruitment and retention. They know there needs to be a plan in place for training and retaining the employee base.”

While still in its early days, the WDA is already demonstrating a willingness to back employer needs.

“The WDA is a good tool for us to set up and address the workforce development issue,” adds Barigar. “This will let us meet our employers’ needs and also enhance our community.”

– Joe Morris

JEFF ADKINS

ith a combination of federal funds and local initiative, Southern Idaho’s economic development organizations are working together to improve the area’s workforce.

A summit held in late 2007 brought together industry representatives, government leaders and economic development organizations such as the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce and Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization to look at the region’s growth. One major topic was employee development and preparing workers for new and emerging area industries.

“We wanted to be more proactive and not just react to the issues,” says Shawn Barigar, president and chief executive officer of the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce. “We sat down with industries and helped them see the vision of what they’re going to need down the road and help them to grow that workforce now.”

From this meeting of the minds came the Workforce Development Alliance, tasked with addressing current and future workforce needs, identifying concerns, developing strategies and creating opportunities for the region’s existing and future employer base.

An early WDA initiative is to create more training and outreach programs for students not pursuing a four-year college degree, in addition to developing more career centers to address ongoing workforce training and development.

Welding technology students at the College of Southern Idaho learn skills to enhance the workforce.

S O U T H E R N I DA H O

I M AG E S S O U T H E R N I DA H O . C O M

41

Business | Economic Profile

SOUTHERN IDAHO BUSINESS CLIMATE Job creation here has made Twin Falls one of the state’s most robust economic engines in recent years. Good work prospects for job seekers and a moderate climate for retirees have helped keep Twin Falls County’s population on a steady growth curve.

TAXES

6% State Sales Tax

6% Total Sales Tax

1.741% Residential Property Tax

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW Per capita income has increased from $19,365 to $26,196, or 35 percent.

Twin Falls ranks 13th out of Idaho’s 44 counties for per capita income.

New industrial areas being developed on the south and east areas of town will add to the easy transportation access for local businesses.

TRANSPORTATION Twin Falls Airport 492 Airport Loop Twin Falls, ID 83301 (208) 733-5215 Trans IV Bus P.O. Box 1238 Twin Falls, ID 83307 (208) 736-2133

EDUCATION

1

ECONOMIC RESOURCES Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce 858 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. Twin Falls, ID 83301 (208) 733-3974 www.twinfallschamber.com Historic Downtown Twin Falls P.O. Box 2772 Twin Falls, ID 83301 (208) 734-2113 www.twinfallsid.org

Twin Falls Economic Development P.O. Box 1907 Twin Falls, ID 83303 (208) 735-7240 www.southernidaho.org

GOVERNMENT OFFICES County Planning & Zoning 246 Third Ave. E. Twin Falls, ID 83301 (208) 734-9490 City of Twin Falls 321 Second Ave. E. Twin Falls, ID 83301 (208) 735-7281 www.tfid.org Twin Falls County 425 Shoshone St. N. Twin Falls, ID 83303 (208) 733-2499 www.twinfallscounty.org Industrial Sites Link www.southernidaho.org/ realestate

Southern Idaho Economic Development P.O. Box 1238 Twin Falls, ID 83303 (208) 324-7408 www.southernidaho.org

MORE EO ONLINE imagessouthernidaho.com m

Number of Community Colleges

7,543 Community Colleges Student Total

42

I M AG E S S O U T H E R N I DA H O . C O M

More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

S O U T H E R N I DA H O

Stay

&Play

In Southern Idaho

This Place Rocks Row, Row, Row Your Boat Rivers and falls offer relaxing retreat

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Stay & Play In Southern Idaho

Go fish!

VARIED LANDSCAPE OFFERS UNIQUE ANGLING OPPORTUNITIES

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The mountain waters offer up cool-water caches, while the Snake River Canyon and other areas provide plenty of opportunity for warm-water fishing. And that’s where the big fish are, Hatch says.

“We’ve heard of white sturgeon that can grow up to nine feet long,” he says. “But we get a lot of people who come here specifically for the salmon and steelhead, which aren’t quite so big.”

In and around the Snake River there’s also the opportunity for guided fishing trips, so if you do haul in that minivan-size sturgeon you’ve got someone to hold the camera for proof.

“We’ve also got some premier, world-class rainbow and brown trout fisheries in the area and phenomenal fly and spinrod fishing places along the Silver Creek and Wood River,” Hatch adds. “And the Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir just about 35 miles south of Twin Falls has walleye, perch, bass, rainbow trout, even crawdads. It’s a pretty spectacular place; the state record was set there with a 17-pound, 6-ounce walleye.”

The list of prime spots, not to mention the variety of fish, ensures the Magic Valley’s place on many Top 10 fishing lists.

But above and beyond the fishing, the incredible natural surroundings are reason enough to visit.

BRIAN M C CORD

rom high-altitude lakes to lowland rivers and reservoirs, the Magic Valley is an angler’s oasis.

The valley is deservedly known as one of the premier fishing spots in Idaho, a state that lures tourists from around the world. The region’s waters yield an impressive catch – from trout in the mountain lakes to ocean-run salmon.

Best of all, with most of the area’s fishing spots in the public domain, access is free and permits are reasonably priced. The Idaho Fish and Game Department has even developed Family Fishing Water regulations, creating yearround seasons and special catch quotas in some areas.

“We get tourists from all over the United States and other countries, and many of them have come here specifically to fish,” says Kelton Hatch, regional conservation educator for the Idaho Fish and Game Department’s Magic Valley Region. “In the Magic Valley, they can go anywhere from the pine-covered mountain slopes to the desert and the canyon lands, so they’ve got a lot of variation in topography to explore.”

Some of the best-known spots for taking prize fish include: Anderson Ranch Reservoir, Big Wood River, Carey Lake, Lake Cleveland, Little Camas Reservoir, Little Wood Reservoir, Magic Reservoir, Silver Creek and the Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir.

Southern Idaho’s rivers and lakes offer excellent opportunities for catching trout, big browns, rainbows and whitefish.

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Take a

STAFF PHOTO

HIKE – and more TRAILS OFFER CHANCE TO SWIM, BIKE, RIDE HORSES, EVEN SNOWMOBILE

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oing for a hike in Southern Idaho? You might want to think about taking along swim trunks, ankle clips, maybe even a saddle.

OK, so the saddle may be a little awkward, but with horseback riding as one of many added options on trails in and around the Magic Valley, it’s good to be prepared. Of course, if you just want to take in the views, there’s plenty of opportunity for that as well.

“We’ve got the Phantom Falls Trail, the Independence Lakes Trail and the Rim View Trail over in the South Hills,” says Zeke Zimmerman, outdoor recreation planner for the Sawtooth National Forest. “Those are all primarily known for the vistas, but there are four high-mountain lakes on the Independence that are good for fishing.”

The Phantom Falls also is known for the wall writing along the cliffs that are visible as the trail winds up to the falls.

Any of the Sawtooth’s trails are approved for horseback riding, crosscountry hiking and biking. Motorized vehicles such as snowmobiles, while

allowed during the appropriate season, do have to stick to the trails, many of which are groomed for their use during the winter, Zimmerman says.

The opportunities are equally plentiful on non-forest land, notes Max Yingst, outdoor recreation planner for the Bureau of Land Management’s Jarbidge field office.

“There are a lot of opportunities for hour or less hikes along the canyon rim trail above the Snake River,” Yingst says.

“And if you go a little farther, to the north side of the canyon, there’s the Niagara Springs Wildlife Management Area, a wildlife management area that has excellent viewing from the bottom of the canyon. It’s a wetlands area and a really interesting place to spend an afternoon.”

Other interpretative hiking trails include those around the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, Yingst says.

All of the lands administered by the state and federal authorities are open to biking, horseback riding, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles as well as foot traffic, but there are some seasonal and

other restrictions. With that in mind, it’s best to check in advance to make sure the trails are both open and accessible before loading up more than a backpack, Yingst cautions.

“Contact the city, state or federal entity and they can steer you in the right direction,” he says. “There are trailhead facilities with all the amenities, and … depending on what type of endeavor you’re looking for, you’re probably going to be able to find the right spot.”

This special section is published for Southern Idaho Tourism by Journal Communications Inc.

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

For more information, contact: Southern Idaho Tourism P.O. Box 5155 • Twin Falls, ID 83303-0443 Phone: (208) 732-5569 • Fax: (208) 732-0443 www.visitsouthidaho.com ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080.

All rights reserved. No portion of this special advertising section may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

On the cover: The Snake River. Photo by Jeff Adkins

Canyon Rim Trail is one of many regional excursions for outdoor enthusiasts.

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Stay & Play In Southern Idaho

Park it here RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, NATURAL AREAS DOT SOUTHERN IDAHO LANDSCAPE

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he Magic Valley’s raw natural beauty gets a lot of attention, but municipalities throughout the area have tamed nature a bit, creating multiple parks and recreation areas that are community gathering places and much more.

TWIN FALLS Twin Falls itself has invested heavily in its parks system, with such wellknown properties as Dierkes Lake, which includes swimming areas, covered shelters and a hiking trail and Cascade Park, equipped with playground equipment, tennis courts and picnic tables.

There’s also the famous Shoshone Falls Park, with additions and expansions

taking place all the time, says Dennis Bowyer, parks and recreation director.

“We just finished a lot of upgrades at Shoshone Falls, about $250,000 worth,” Bowyer says. “We’ve redone the admission area and now have three kiosks with a lot of history and interpretive information by the main overlook.”

The city has a park ordinance that’s been in place for three years, requiring developers to either donate parkland in new developments or contribute to a fund to develop outdoor green space.

This allows the city to add parks as the city grows, including the three or four that are coming online in the next year or so. And then there’s a huge tract of land near Auger Falls in the very early

Above: A fountain flows early in the morning at City Park in downtown Twin Falls.

stages of development.

“We’ve got about 550 acres down at the new wastewater treatment plant, and that’s a big project,” Bowyer says.

“We’re hoping to develop the wetlands there and add a trail system and maybe a couple of smaller shelters; we’d like to keep it as more of a nature area.”

SHOSHONE Over in Shoshone, the Mary L. Gooding Memorial Park is proof that a small city can have a big attraction.

The three-acre park’s land dates back more than 100 years and has long been the site of many local activities. The park plays host to a fiddler’s jamboree in July, as well as various musical

PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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festivals throughout the year, according to Mary Kay Bennett, city clerk and treasurer.

“It’s just beautiful, and we’ve always got people signing up to reserve space in January for the whole year,” she says.

HAILEY The city of Hailey is determined to be the greenest area around based on the sheer volume of parks it has added and revamped in the last decade. Nine new neighborhood parks, almost 200 acres of protected green space, bike paths, a community trail and more are the high points of a bustling parks and greenways system that’s only getting started.

“We’ve been trying to do more with our parks, especially [Roberta] McKercher Park, which is the gateway to the city,” says Tom Hellen, public works director. “We also have an antique fair and market that runs there on July 4 and Labor Day, and we have other events there throughout the year.”

The city’s focus on its parks system is in direct response to citizen requests, and the public has been very clear that parks and outdoor opportunities are a high priority .

“People want that kind of amenity, and we’ve got an ordinance that requires developers to contribute to our park system with either land or in-lieu fees, so we’ve got some money coming in,” Hellen says. “We’re just finishing up a new, 9-acre park with a soccer field and baseball diamond, and we’ll be taking over about six smaller parks when the

city annexes some land that it’s looking at. But they’re a part of our tourism [industry], and people use them a lot throughout most of the year.”

HEYBURN In Heyburn, it’s all about the trees.

The city is in the midst of developing an arboretum adjacent to Riverfront Park. There are 48 different varieties already planted, and the city has just given approval to expand the newly created Heyburn Arboretum to 20 acres, says Earl Andrew, city forester and grant administrator.

“The trail that we’ve put in goes all along the Snake River and makes a loop back, so it’s about a mile-and-a-half walk,” Andrew says. “Now that we’ve got the new land we’re just going to keep on adding trees, so it’s going to be quite a deal. We’ve designed the layout in four phases, so we’re looking to have it done by 2012.”

In addition to trees native to Southern Idaho and the Magic Valley, Andrew says the arboretum will soon be home to magnolias, bamboo, evergreens and trees from around the world that’ll be able to adapt and grow in the area. And even before it’s finished, the arboretum is sure to get a lot of attention.

“We’re a small town, and this is our biggest development in a long time,” Andrew says. “The Idaho Community Forestry Advisory Council looked at our design, and they assured us that if we do all this we’ll definitely be a destination stop for tourists.”

BRIAN M C CORD

Mountain biking at Sawtooth National Forest

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Rockin’ the Cradle WORLD-CLASS PARK MAKES BUHL A SKATER’S PARADISE

I

t all started with two young boys who had a dream.

Well, and a mayor with a can-do attitude.

“I had two junior-high boys come to me with a little, rough drawing,” says former mayor Barbara Gietzen, who was in office from 1998 through 2006.

“They said they would really like a skate park, and it just became a priority for me. We didn’t have a facility like that for the kids, and some things were happening that made it a possibility.”

The city was in the process of buying back some HUD property for $1, but had to use the proceeds generated from its resale for a youth and/ or recreation project. That eventually generated around $55,000 for the park, an amount that grew to $125,000 with more city monies, grants and plenty of community fund-raising efforts.

“The Buhl Highway District did all the groundwork, leveling and removal of rock, and the area farmers and civic organizations did a lot of work as well,” Gietzen says.

“We’ve since put in another $5,000 worth of streetscape and more slopes, all with community work.”

The skate park features the world’s largest cradle, according to Dreamland Skateparks, the company that built the park.

Since the facility opened in 2005, it has played host not only to local skaters but such legends as Tony Hawk.

Stay & Play In Southern Idaho

If the

Shoe Fits …

WINTERTIME STILL MEANS PLAYTIME WITH NATIONAL MONUMENTS’ SNOWSHOE TOURS

S

ure, there’s plenty of terrific hiking to be had at the City of Rocks National Reserve and Craters of the Moon National Monument, but you’ve got to get there during the summertime, right? Not anymore. Both parks offer snowshoe excursions during the winter months.

At City of Rocks, tours can be a one-day event or part of a package deal encompassing a whole weekend.

“We focus most of our snowshoeing around Castle Rocks because it’s really hard to get all the way to City of Rocks sometimes,” says Wallace Keck, park superintendent for City of Rocks National Reserve. “But people can go as far as they want, even though it can be quite strenuous.”

Groups of up to 20 people can contact park staff for a guided tour, which usually runs a five-mile loop around the Castle Rock formation.

There’s a shorter route as well for those who want the experience but aren’t seasoned snowshoers. And then there are the weekend deals, one of which is all about romance.

“We have the Valentine Excursion, which we package with [other] local businesses,” Keck says. “You get a motel room, steak dinner with candlelight, chocolate, flowers, all that, and then the snowshoeing and a soak in hot springs.

It books up pretty quick.”

The other event, the Winter Junior Ranger Camp, is less romantic but not without its own flair. Participants hike, cook hot dogs over an open fire and track wildlife on the overnight kidfriendly experience.

After conquering City of Rocks, head to the moon. The Craters of the Moon National Monument, to be exact, where more snowshoe adventures await.

The park offers winter ecology workshops that include a snowshoe walk and workshop, as well as SnowSchool, a one-mile, ranger-led snowshoe walk for schoolchildren.

“We’ve been doing this for many years, but the programs for educational groups are somewhat new,” says Ted Stout, chief of interpretation for the

monument. “That program has been increasing every year, and we had about 400 kids who came out for the ranger walk last year.”

For more information on the parks: Craters of the Moon National Monument, www.nps.gov/crmo.

City of Rocks National Reserve www.nps.gov/ciro/.

The winter season offers new and exciting opportunities for hikers.

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Stream Gently down the

RIVERS AND FALLS OFFER PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVE TO WHITEWATER RAFTING ADVENTURES

The calm waters under Shoshone Falls are perfect for paddling.

JEFF ADKINS

F

or many people, there is nothing like the thrill of being hurled about in a strong current, clinging to rafts, paddles and fellow adventurers as they are swept downstream.

But for others, there is joy in canoeing or kayaking on calmer waters. For this group, the region’s many rivers and streams offer the perfect retreat.

One such place is Centennial Waterfront Park in Twin Falls, where Don Mays owns and operates Snake River Canyon Tours.

“We do a lot of trips out of here,” says Mays, who has been the park’s boating concessionaire since 1995. “We’re doing more canoes and kayaks than ever before, because people aren’t traveling as much, taking long vacations. They find out they can come down here and rent a boat, go out for the day, and they really like that. And we also have a lot of older people, new retirees, moving into the area and they’re coming down to learn to canoe and kayak.”

Mays also offers folks the large, pontoon boats, which can hold 12 to 14 people and are very popular for group events.

“A lot of people like those, and we use them for the tours,” he says.

“The economy has hurt a lot of places, but we’re still getting people down here and taking those out.”

Indeed, casual boating on the river is one of the area’s best-kept secrets, says Kali Van Leeuwen, Parks and Waterways Director for Twin Falls County.

“We’ve had the concessionaire down there for a while, because people like to rent the canoes and kayaks,” Van Leeuwen says. “They will go out to Pillar Fills, take the canoe out, hike around, then get back in and make their way up to Shoshone Falls. It’s a great day, and a lot of people are discovering that now.”

In addition to Shoshone and Pillar falls, other popular mild-water destinations include Star and Auger falls as well as the Salmon River.

Centennial Park is designated a non-motorized portion of the river, so it’s peaceful and quiet from start to finish. Given the area’s multiple locations for whitewater and speed boating, Centennial is an oasis that more and more people are bound to tap into.

“Canoeing and kayaking have become more popular in these last few years, and we’re looking at doing a ramp and dock for nonmotorized boats,” Van Leeuwen says, “It’s time we did something specifically for them because there are always people down there in the water.”

– Stories by Joe Morris

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Stay & Play In Southern Idaho FEBRUARY 14

JULY 3-4

JULY 29-AUGUST 2

Sophie Milman in concert

Buhl Sagebrush Days

Camas County Fair

Location: CSI Fine Arts Auditorium Contact: Camille Barigar (208) 732-6288

Location: Downtown Buhl Contact: (208) 543-6682 or www.visitsouthidaho.com

Location: Fairfield, Contact: (208) 764-2230 or www.visitsouthidaho.com

Bearfoot in Concert

JULY 4

AUGUST 8

Location: CSI Fine Arts Auditorium Contact: Camille Barigar (208) 732-6288

Glenns Ferry Parade

Three Island Crossing

Location: Glenns Ferry Contact: Dale Smith (208) 366-2710

Location: Three Island State Park, Glenns Ferry Contact: Dale Smith (208) 366-2710

Tom Rush in Concert

JULY 4

AUGUST 10-15

Location: CSI Fine Arts Auditorium Contact: Camille Barigar (208) 732-6288

Rupert 4th of July Parade & Celebration

Cassia County Fair and Rodeo

Location: Rupert Square Contact: (208) 436-5643

Location: Cassia County Fairgrounds, Burley, Contact: (208) 678-9150

Gooding County Founders Day

JULY 4

AUGUST 22

Location: Gooding Contact: www.gchshome.org/events.htm Visitsouthidaho.com

Independence Day Celebration

Joe Mama’s Car Show

Location: Albon Contact: (208) 673-6243

MAY 5

Location: Jerome, Contact: Orlan Stearns, (208) 733-3035 or www.visitsouthidaho.com

JULY 4

The Hot 8 Brass Band

Independence Day BBQ

MARCH 4

MARCH 27

MAY 2

Location: CSI Fine Arts Auditorium Contact: Camille Barigar (208) 732-6288

2009 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY 23 Memorial Weekend Celebration/ Fossil Days Parade Location: Hagerman City Park Contact: (208) 837-9131 www.hagermanchamber.com or www.visitsouthidaho.com

JUNE 6 Skandi Dag Festival Location: Heyburn Riverside Park, Heyburn, Contact: (208) 677-4524

JUNE 6 Viking Man Triathlon Location: Heyburn Riverside Park, Heyburn, Contact: (208) 677-4524

JUNE 6-7 Camas Lilly Days & Art Fair Knobby Tire Bike Race Location: Fairfield, Contact: www.visitsouthidaho.com

JUNE 6-7 Mini-Cassia Auto Collectors Show Location: Cassia County Fairgrounds, Burley, Contact: (208) 638-5587

Location: Hagerman/ Senior & Community Center Contact: (208) 837-6120 www.hagermanchamber.com or www.visitsouthidaho.com

JULY 4 Fireworks in the Park – Fairfield www.visitsouthidaho.com

JULY 11

SEPTEMBER 2-7 Twin Falls County Fair and Rodeo Location: Twin Falls County Fair Grounds, Filer, Idaho Contact: (208) 326-4396 www.visitsouthidaho.com

Perrine Bridge Festival – TBA www.perrinebridgefestival.com

SEPTEMBER 12 Buhl Trout Festival

Location: Declo, Idaho Contact: (208) 654-2124

Location: Downtown Buhl Contact: Buhl Chamber of Commerce (208) 543-6682 or www.visitsouthidaho.com

JULY 1-12

SEPTEMBER 11-12

Shoshone Arts in the Park

Blues in the Park

Shoshone City Park Contact: julieingram@cableone.net

Location: Hagerman/Billingsley State Park Contact: (208) 837-4522 hagermanchamber.com or www.visitsouthidaho.com

Declo Days

JULY 13-18 Elmore County Fair Location: Glenns Ferry Contact: Jean Mullen (208) 366-7345

JULY 20-25 Lincoln County Fair Location: Shoshone, Contact: (208) 886-2406 or www.visitsouthidaho.com

JUNE 19-20

JULY 24-25

Magic Valley Dairy Days

Oakley Pioneer Days

SEPTEMBER 18-19 Last Blast on the Grass, Car Show and Swap Meet Location: Hagerman Id/City Park Contact: (208) 837-9131 hagermanchamber.com or www.visitsouthidaho.com

SEPTEMBER 25-26 Glenns Ferry 100th Year Celebration

Location: Wendell City Park Contact: www.visitsouthidaho.com

Location: Oakley Contact: (208) 431-3292

All Class Reunion Location: Glenns Ferry Contact: Dale Smith (208) 366-2710

JUNE 18-21

JULY 25

SEPTEMBER 26-27

Jam in the Canyon Weekend

Spudman Triathlon

Thousand Springs Festival

Location: Centennial Waterfront Park, Twin Falls, Contact: Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce 208 733-3974 www.twinfallschamber.com

Location: Burley Golf Course Boat Docks Contact: (208) 436-9016

Location: Hagerman/Ritter Island Thousand Springs State Park Contact: (208) 734-4973

JULY 28-AUG. 1

DECEMBER 19-20

JUNE 20-21

Minidoka County Fair

Dog Sled Races – Fairfield

Snake River Heritage Days

Location: Rupert Fairgrounds Contact: (208) 436-9748

www.visitsouthidaho.com

Location: Cassia County Fairgrounds, Burley, Contact: (208) 678-4742

JUNE 26-28

JULY 29-31

Idaho Regatta

Idaho International Folk Dance & Music Festival

Location: Burley Boat Docks at Golf Course, Contact: (208) 312-3133

Location: King Fine Arts Center, Burley Contact: (208) 878-4646

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Portfolio

Gleaming From a Distance TWIN FALLS TEMPLE ADDS ARCHITECTURAL GRANDEUR TO SCENERY

T

he Twin Falls Idaho Temple, a place of worship for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a site to behold.

Towering more that 150 feet at its highest point, the gleaming white marble structure can be seen from as far away as 10 miles.

The 31,500-square-foot temple was completed in summer 2008, and, like any temple worldwide, briefly opened to the public immediately following its construction. The open house drew nearly 160,000 people through the temple’s doors in five weeks. Organizers had only been expecting 125,000.

“It’s a beautiful building, and a lot of people found out about it and came here just to see it,” says Terry McCurdy, public affairs director for Southern Idaho for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Temples are distinct from everyday houses of worship for Latter-day Saints.

Treated with the utmost reverence, they host sacred ceremonies like marriage.

The special place they hold in the Mormon faith demands that only members in good standing of the LDS church are allowed inside the impressive buildings. Following their open houses, temples are closed to the public, accessible only by LDS church members, which is why the open house is such a unique opportunity for a community.

“The open house is there so that people can go to and see the inside of the temple,” McCurdy says.

The Twin Falls Idaho Temple, just south of the Snake River Canyon, is now open to LDS church members only. But from the outside, it remains an imposing visual on the Magic Valley landscape.

WATCH MORE ONLINE | See a quick video of the immaculate Twin Falls Idaho Temple at imagessouthernidaho.com.

Opened in 2008, the Twin Falls Idaho Temple was the fourth temple for Latter-day Saints built in the state.

PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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Portfolio

The Best of the Burger-Makers

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JEFF ADKINS

and disputes often spell demise for a lot of businesses, but not for Foothill Café in Hansen.

When there was a question a couple of years ago about whether the small eatery had a right to be on the land where it sat, the owners just picked up and moved their building about 50 feet. Naturally.

But that’s the kind of step one must take when, according to the local paper, you serve up the best burger in the Twin Falls area. The people must have their hamburgers, land dispute or not.

“You’re in it to win it once you borrow the money, you know what I mean?” quips Brian Wilson, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Kimberly.

Foothill Café is the kind of spot that’s garnered a following over the years. Regular customers frequent the restaurant, creating an air of familiarity.

And that amicable atmosphere is exactly what turns newcomers into regulars.

“Everyone knows each other,” Wilson says. “It’s just friendly, like lots of little cafés in little towns are. And I think our food product is, for the money, bar-none in the valley as far as I’m concerned, and as far as a lot of our customers are concerned.”

Foothill Café is known for its hamburgers, but the menu caters to a more diverse palate as well.

“We do a daily special from lasagna to eggplant Parmesan to shepherd’s pie,” Wilson says. “Whatever we feel like cooking.”

Customers can also get breakfast anytime of the day, and every last dish – breakfast and otherwise – is made from scratch.

“It’s a handful, but that is what keeps the quality high,” Wilson says.

And after all, quality is nonnegotiable when you’re defending a reputation as the best in the business.

Named the best burger in the area by the Times-News, Foothill Café’s award-winning hamburger is topped with avocado, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayonnaise.

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Symphonic Splendor for Half a Century hen Twin Falls celebrates the Magic Valley Symphony’s 50th anniversary during their 2009-10 concert season, they won’t just be celebrating 50 years of music.

They’ll also be honoring 50 years of ingenuity, dedication and good oldfashioned hard work.

“Twin Falls is a long way from anywhere,” says Paula Sinclair, a French horn player and publicist for the symphony. “From the very beginning, back when distance really was a huge factor, the people that settled in Twin Falls realized that if they were going to have some of the things that they were accustomed to, they were simply going to have to create it in Twin Falls.”

A small band of musically inclined pioneers gathered at the edge of civilization to fill the cultural hole in their then-isolated town, and the fruit of their efforts was the Magic Valley Symphony’s inaugural performance in the fall of 1959.

Today, the symphony of roughly 45 musicians plays four concerts each year.

They don’t play for money but simply for the love of music. Everyone who lifts a bow or blows into a woodwind is a volunteer. Teachers, insurance agents, retirees and salesmen populate the concert stage, but the music isn’t any less professional – or less popular – for the lack of full-time musicians.

“Here we are, in a small town on the remote high desert, and we get together to play Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff,” says Sinclair, who has a day job as an attorney. “We play almost everything in the classical repertoire.”

The symphony’s only employee is director Theodore Anchor Hadley, who has held the position of leadership for roughly 18 years. The 50th anniversary concert season will feature a performance with Allen and Laura Vizzutti, daughter and son-in-law of one of the symphony’s founders, as special guests. The performance will be a nod to the cooperation

A Two High School Town E

TODD BENNETT

lbow room for students in the Twin Falls School District is about to increase twofold.

The brand new Canyon Ridge High School is currently under construction, and the project hasn’t begun a moment too soon. The new school will significantly ease space constraints at Twin Falls High School, from which many

A new high school is under construction in Twin Falls.

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that birthed the music in the first place.

“It takes a whole community to support a symphony,” Sinclair says. “Pride doesn’t begin to capture the spirit of the sense of accomplishment of coming together to perform really good music.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM CRITCHFIELD

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Symphony director Theodore Hadley

students will transfer to the new high school.

“With the opening of Canyon Ridge High School, the opportunities for our high school students will instantaneously double,” says Beth Pendergrass, community relations specialist for the Twin Falls School District.

“These projects are providing for growth and opportunity.”

In addition to enhancing the learning environment and offering broader athletic possibilities for students, the newly reorganized high schools will jointly offer students six specialty academies in fields like agriculture/ science, information technology and graphic design arts.

The new high school is part of a $50 million bond levy package passed in spring of 2006 that also includes six elementary school multipurpose rooms and remodeling projects at Twin Falls High School.

Part of the improvement project is a reorganization of the elementary and junior high schools. Sixth graders who currently attend Twin Falls’ elementary schools will be combined with seventh and eighth graders from the current junior highs to create new middle schools. Freshmen in the junior highs will join the high schools, eliminating altogether the need for junior highs.

“This transition of students will provide much needed space in each of our schools,” Pendergrass says.

Canyon Ridge High School is expected to be open for class by the fall of 2009.

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Portfolio Many historic buildings dating to the mid-1800s still stand at Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite.

Preserving Pioneer Spirit

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JEFF ADKINS

hen many people think of the Oregon Trail, the only images that come to mind are pixilated covered wagons on the scroll-screen interface of an old computer. The iconic game created such strong impressions that it’s easy to forget that the Oregon Trail was a real route, traveled by real people.

Monuments to the period still exist along the trail, though, bringing history to life for curious visitors. Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite in Hansen is among the stopping points that still attract locals and tourists today, thanks in large part to Friends of Stricker Inc. This nonprofit group maintains the grounds, which include the first trading post in the Magic Valley and the oldest building in the Twin Falls area, which was built in 1865.

“This little site in Rock Creek was the first trading post, and it’s where the Magic Valley started. The seeds were planted here to grow this whole area,” says Curtis Johnson, president of Friends of Stricker Inc. and great-great-grandson of Herman and Lucy Stricker, who settled in the area in the 1870s.

Twenty-five years ago, the site received historical designation, and interest in the region remains high. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people go to see the station and home site each year. The group also holds annual events on the site to raise attention. Every May around Mother’s Day, locals gather to celebrate the holiday and the birthday of Lucy Stricker.

“It really is an important part of history,” Johnson says. “Every year, we have so many school kids who come here on field trips, and they really get to live the history because it happened right there. They don’t read about it in a book, they don’t see pictures – they get to come right to the site and see where people traveled the Oregon Trail.”

– Stories by Michaela Jackson

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Sports & Recreation

Green With Envy OVER A DOZEN COURSES DRIVE GOLFERS TO THE REGION

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difficulty level suited to them.

“Most golf courses are built on relatively flat land, but these are not; they go up and down and around, and they just provide extraordinary scenery,” Richards says. “It’s kind of like going hunting with a camera: It’s just so fun to go out and shoot pictures that you don’t actually shoot any animals. The golf course is the same way. You can actually just walk or ride through the course and enjoy the views and never hit a golf ball because they are so spectacular.”

The joy of Southern Idaho’s golf courses – in the canyon and above it – lies in their accessibility as much as their beauty. Richards, who is a 45-year veteran of the game, spent nearly 15 years living in the Portland and Seattle areas, and he’s convinced that a small-town feel goes a long way, whether in Twin Falls or other scenic courses in nearby cities such as Burley, Gooding, Jerome and Rupert.

“There are no crowds, not a lot of people,” says Richards, “and it’s easier to get on the golf course because we don’t have the population that bigger cities do.”

At the end of the day, whether you’re looking for a hasslefree game or a course where you can lose yourself just staring at the landscape, you’ll find it in Magic Valley. The only hazard is getting too spoiled to play on anything less.

– Michaela Jackson

JEFF ADKINS

here’s golfing. There’s golfing like you mean it. And then there’s golfing in Idaho’s Magic Valley.

The well-endowed region boasts 14 golf courses, 11 of which are within 50 miles of Twin Falls.

“I’ve played golf in a lot of places, and this is as good as any,” says Bob Richards, an avid golfer who also happens to be the former chairman of Southern Idaho Tourism. “They add to the enjoyment of the area.”

The area’s marquee attractions are the three golf courses, including Blue Lakes Country Club, Clear Lake Country Club and Canyon Springs Golf Course, that wind their way through the bottom of the Snake River Canyon.

“The scenery at all three of these courses is just spectacular, which provides a visitor to this area with some pretty unique golf, something that you just don’t find in other areas of the country,” Richards says.

The courses, which are somewhat insulated from the weather by the canyon’s walls, claim the added benefit of being open nearly year-round.

Golfers from other parts of the region, including Sun Valley, retreat to the canyon’s courses when the weather turns cold and other courses are buried in snow.

The greens offer golfers a lot more than a stimulating course, though players of nearly any skill level will find the

Golfers play an early morning round at Canyon Springs Golf Course, located at the bottom of the Snake River Canyon.

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Arts & Culture

Seeing Double at Canyon Rim TWINS STATUE ACTS AS PUBLIC ART, TOURIST DESTINATION

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hen the Magic Valley Arts Council set about obtaining the first piece of artwork for the new Canyon Rim Public Art Project, a two-for-one approach wasn’t part of the plan.

After a national call for submissions, the council, whose project partners include the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s beautification committee and the Twin Falls Parks and Recreation Department, chose a submission from Coeur d’Alene artist David Clemons. His subject? Twins.

“We were looking for a project that would kick off our art in public places program, which through the city of Twin Falls dedicates municipal funding to arts projects in the community,” says Stacy Madsen, executive director of the arts council. “We had initially talked about doing something functional, like a water fountain, and then we decided

that we’d like to see an actual piece of sculpture that would celebrate the community, a thing of beauty that people could see, and what we hope is the first installation in a sculpture walk at the canyon.”

Located at the Perrine Bridge Trail View Point, Clemons’ sculpture of twins seems to soar out of the canyon rock and head skyward. The piece is a stunner, and since its April 2008 installation, it has been a bigger hit than the council, or the artist, could have imagined.

“People tend to take a strong position on public art, either loving or hating it,” Madsen says. “Everyone has really embraced this art, even those who weren’t too sure about it back when we were seeking input on the project. It represents the community in a beautiful way, and they have responded to that.”

And that’s what Clemons says he had in mind all along.

“Sometimes communities can be a little jaded by artists who come in and assume that the community’s job is to love their vision, their view, whether they understand it or not,” he says. “To me, it’s the community’s art, and it should serve them. It’s good if the piece gets a discussion going, but there’s much more to art than that. I don’t want to create introverted art that’s about my introspection, but art that’s extroverted, that reaches out to people.”

The very public piece also helps elevate the arts council’s profile, according to Madsen.

“Doing public pieces like this can bring a lot of good, positive response to us, and to our programs,” she says. “We are finding now that people are thinking of us when they are looking to get involved in community programs, and that’s the response we were hoping for.”

– Joe Morris

The Twins by Idaho artist David Clemons overlooks the Snake River Canyon and the Perrine Bridge.

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PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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Education

A Healthy Learning Environment CSI, BUSINESSES PARTNER TO TRAIN AND RETAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

S O U T H E R N I DA H O

“We’re now obtaining graduates twice a year and also getting clinical site rotations while the students are training,” Tremblay says. “CSI really is here to serve the community, and they will continue to be an extremely valuable partner to us.”

And with an eye on the bottom line, because new facilities don’t come cheap, look for a building that’s ready to expand and be used in unexpected ways.

“We designed some flexibility into this building so we won’t have to start over or remodel it in 10 years,” says Sudgen.

“Our new building is designed to anticipate change, whatever that might be.”

– Joe Morris

BRIAN M C CORD

E

ven before it officially opens, the College of Southern Idaho’s new health sciences and human services building is already one of the busiest sites on campus.

The $21 million facility will serve multiple roles for the college, acting as both classroom and research facility as well as a community partner. CSI students will rub shoulders with local medical and other professionals in the hallways as they attend continuing education and other training sessions that will be held in tandem with regular, for-credit classes.

At least that’s the vision, and campus planners have done everything in their power to design a building that will live up to those high expectations when it opens in 2010, says Dr. Mark Sugden, instructional dean for the college.

“The college’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for students in Southern Idaho, and another way of stating that is to make sure we’re providing training programs that will meet the employment needs of the area,” says Sugden, adding that a shortage of health industry workers prompted the collaboration.

In the earliest stages of planning, both for the new building and the college’s overall health-related curriculum, CSI turned to its longtime partners in the medical community. The goal was not only to create a new learning environment on campus, but also to establish a pipeline of sorts through health academies within the region’s high schools, a training program that would give those students a head start at the collegiate level.

And it is a program that the area’s medical providers are eager to join.

“CSI’s health sciences and human services programs have been very responsive to industry needs as far as expansion of programs,” says Jody Tremblay, director of community relations for St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center. “It began with the LPN program and the ADRN program, and over the years they have added the radiology tech, surgical tech, dental hygienist and other programs, and there will be additional ones launched with the new building.”

That working synergy between the college and local physicians, clinics and hospitals is also what led, in a roundabout way, to the new building.

Sugden says the department grew out of its space after increasing nursing and health-related programs, resulting in the governor recommending funding approval for a new building.

When the new facility comes online, look for even more ties between the campus and the medical community, to the enrichment of both.

The College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls

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Health & Wellness Hikers get some evening exercise on the Snake River Canyon rim trail on Twin Falls’ north side. PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

Step-By-Step to Living Well LOCAL HOSPITAL, COLLEGE GET PEOPLE ON THEIR FEET

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n Southern Idaho, membership IDs, personal trainers and monthly bank drafts from the local gym aren’t necessary to stay in shape.

Here, a good fitness session can be as simple as venturing outdoors.

Walking and biking trails crisscross the region, offering residents an opportunity to stretch their legs and get some fresh air. When the weather’s nice, you might forget that it’s exercise. Throw in S O U T H E R N I DA H O

a great view – such as the one from the canyon rim in Twin Falls – and you’re practically on vacation.

“You see people out there that are using it year-round, even during the wintertime,” says Dennis Bowyer, director of parks and recreation for Twin Falls, referring to the city’s trails that run alongside the Snake River Canyon.

“There is definitely a health benefit,” he continues. “We see a lot of people

walking their dogs or riding their bikes.

It’s a great little workout.”

The city’s trails, which total about four miles, are not the only place in the region to enjoy the local view while burning calories.

Employees of St. Luke’s Hospital Magic Valley have the benefit of a canyon-side walking trail in their own backyard, so to speak.

“I know that our employees are sometimes working long shifts, and they have kids at home and dinners to make. I thought if we had a walking trail right here, they could take advantage of even a 15-minute walk at lunch,” says Jane Slickers, a registered nurse and employee health nurse at St. Luke’s who spearheaded the installation of the hospital’s trail.

Another group of Idahoans with no excuse not to exercise are the students at the College of Southern Idaho. A crushed red rock trail is a popular feature on campus, frequented by everyone from physical education students to neighborly dog walkers.

“The trail is a total of five miles, depending where you start and which loops you take,” says Scott Rogers, director of campus recreation at CSI. “All along the trail is a fitness system, which includes exercise stations for a total body workout.”

A hop, skip and a jump away, Hailey residents take advantage of an old railroad bed to stay moving. The 12-mile trail is paved, and when the weather’s warm, folks enjoy lazy strolls, vigorous bike rides and everything in between. In the winter, when snow covers the ground, cross-country skiing is a popular way to get a workout.

Summer or winter, the area’s many trails are rarely empty.

“During lunch, before work, after work, there are always people on the trail,” says Jim Spinelli, executive director of the Hailey Chamber of Commerce.

“They are kind of wellness-rounded here.”

– Michaela Jackson I M AG E S S O U T H E R N I DA H O . C O M

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Health & Wellness

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S O U T H E R N I DA H O

Community Profile

SOUTHERN IDAHO SNAPSHOT Twin Falls County is the most populous of the seven Southern Idaho counties and has grown steadily over the past decade.

The population has increased from 60,998 in 1996 to 71,575 in 2006, an increase of 17.3 percent. The area has swiftly become a regional retail hub, and the population has increased accordingly.

Southern Idaho has abundant natural resources and unique recreational opportunities.

EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW Each community in the Magic Valley offers quality K-12 education through its local school district.

The College of Southern Idaho offers community college courses and degrees on the main campus in Twin Falls, as well as through outreach centers in Hailey, Gooding and Burley.

Idaho’s public universities — the University of Idaho, Boise State University and Idaho State University — and the private Northwest Nazarene University each offer programs on the College of Southern Idaho campus in Twin Falls, allowing students to achieve a bachelor’s or master’s degree without leaving the Magic Valley.

HOUSING

$135,000

MEDICAL FACILITIES

CLIMATE

St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center 650 Addison Ave. W. Twin Falls, ID 83301 (208) 737-2000 www.mvrmc.org

9.44 inches

St. Benedict’s Family Medical Center 709 N. Lincoln Ave. Jerome, ID 83338 (208) 324-4301 www.stbenshospital.com

January Low Temperature

Minidoka Memorial Hospital 1224 Eighth St. Rupert, ID 83350 (208) 436-0481 www.minidokamemorial.com Cassia Regional Medical Center 1501 Hiland Ave. Burley, ID 83318 (208) 678-4444 www.intermountain healthcare.org

Average Annual Precipitation

21 F 37.8 F January High Temperature

56.3 F July Low Temperature

88.6 F July High Temperature

St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center 100 Hospital Drive Ketchum, ID 83340 (208) 727-8800 www.stlukesonline.org

MORE EO ONLINE imagessouthernidaho.com m More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

Average Home Price

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