Aug. 1, 2009 - Utah Business

July 1, 2008 - Utah Business

May 22, 2009 -- Scouts prepare for Memorial Day

The Morning News / David Kennard
Erin Bewley of Girl Scout Troop 100 in Blackfoot place flags at the Groveland Cemetery Friday with other members of her troop in Preparation for the Memorial Day ceremony Monday.

May 2, 2009 -- Working dogs

Photo by David Kennard

BLACKFOOT — Hitch works with J.B. Hodge of Pingree Saturday at the East Idaho Horse Expo at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds in Blackfoot. Hodge participated in the working dog demonstration showing how riders and dogs work together to move cattle.

April 21, 2009 -- River on the rise: Officials forecast even higher water in coming days

The Morning News / David Kennard

Mario Martinez of Blackfoot spends a sunny afternoon at the water’s edge near Twin Bridges park on the Snake River west of Blackfoot. The river has been rising as warm temperatures melt snowpack in the high country.

By David Kennard
dkennard@cableone.net

BLACKFOOT — If you’ve driven across any of the bridges west of town recently you’ve seen some pretty high water.

Spring thaw in the high country has sent water into tributaries and reservoirs at the headwaters of the Snake River.

As reservoirs fill, water managers are forced to release water so they can accept more snowmelt.
Forecasters are calling for more warm weather in the valley in coming days, but said temperatures will remain cold during the night, which will slow the release of water.

National Weather Service officials said Friday they expect the Snake River in Blackfoot to rise to 9.63 feet sometime on Sunday. The river is considered to be at flood stage when it reaches 10 feet.

At the current rate, local residents could see water in low lying areas in the next few days, but NWS forecasters said they expect river levels to drop slightly at the beginning of the new week.

The National Weather service monitors the water level remotely from a United States Geological Survey station near the twin bridges west of Blackfoot.

Similar stations are located all along the river.

The stations help water managers determine how much water to release from local reservoirs to both keep the water in the channel and keep the reservoirs as full as possible heading into the hot summer months.

April 8, 2009 -- Rodeo Action at the DNCFR

Photos By David Kenard
Rodeo action
ABOVE: Saydee Arave from Shelley gets a lift from Dusty Tuckness Wednesday at Holt Arena after her ride in the Mutton Bustin’ event on opening night of the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. The rodeo brings top contenders from 12 circuits to compete at the three-day event. The rodeo runs through Saturday.

April 4, 2009 -- Jobless rate holds steady: Bingham County outperforms closest neighbors, state, nation

By DAVID KENNARD
dkennard@cableone.net

BLACKFOOT — Bad economic news continues to pour in across the nation, but here in Bingham County, residents got some news that for a change wasn’t bad.

For the first time in more than a year, the unemployment rate didn’t go up in Bingham County.

Standing at 5.4 percent, the jobless rate is still much higher than it was a year ago (3.3 percent) but local experts see the report from the Idaho Department of Labor as confirmation that the local economy is much different than it is nationally.

“It is good news,” said J. Brandon Bird, executive director of Bingham Economic Development Corporation.

Bird said Friday that much of the success in Bingham County comes from regional economic development initiatives.

In his address Friday at the Community Economic Development Forum, he said wooing new business to the county is the “sexy side” of his job.

“But the real work is growing existing business,” Bird said. “Sixty-five percent of our work is helping existing companies grow.”

The monthly jobless report came on the same day that the national unemployment rate rose to 8.5 percent, the highest rate in more than 25 years.

And statewide, the unemployment rate rose to 7.1 percent, up from 6.8 percent a month earlier and 4.1 percent a year ago.

According to Bob Fick with the Idaho Department of Labor, Idaho’s economy had not lost jobs between February and March since World War II.

“Unemployment benefits payments approached $60 million in March, intensifying the pressure on the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund,” according to a statement released Friday by Fick’s office.

And he said, according to department analysts, there is little evidence to suggest Idaho’s employment picture will improve in the next several months.

Friday’s report showed the Bingham County outperformed neighboring counties which all say an increase in unemployment.

Bannock County saw its jobless rate climb from 5.6 percent to 5.8 percent during the last month. And Bonneville County climbed to 5 percent, up only slightly from 4.9 percent a month ago.

The unemployment rate in every county was higher in March than a year earlier with 21 of Idaho’s 44 counties recording a rate decline from February. Clearwater County had the highest rate at 16.5 percent. Other double digit counties were Adams at 14.9 percent, Benewah at 15.9 percent, Shoshone at 11.6 percent, Boundary at 12.8 percent and Valley at 12.4 percent. Only three Idaho counties reported double digit rates in March 2008.

Just two counties posted rates at or below 4 percent last month. Owyhee County had the lowest rate at 2.9 percent, and Teton came in at 3.9 percent. A year ago, 23 counties had rates below 4 percent.

According to labor officials more than 6,500 manufacturing, primarily in high technology, and 8,300 construction jobs were lost over the past 12 months along with 9,400 transportation and warehousing jobs, 8,600 jobs in professional and business services and 2,600 in leisure and hospitality, mostly in restaurants and bars. The limited bright spot was 1,900 new jobs in health care.

Phantom Pack Centerpiece illustration

March 13, 2009 -- Sayer shares Premier vision: ISU honors Blackfoot business leader

The Morning News / David Kennard

Doug Sayer, president of Premier Technology, speaks at the annual Business Leader of the Year award Thursday at Idaho Sate University.

Sayer shares Premier vision

By David Kennard
dkennard@cableone.net

POCATELLO -- Idaho State University students, faculty and invited guests Thursday got a flavor of Douglas A. Sayer's vision.

The president of Premier Technology was honored as the University's Idaho Business Leader of the Year, an award bestowed by the school since 1959.

Sayer is the owner of Premier Technology in Blackfoot.

In the last few years the company, which employs about 350 people, has seen continued growth in designing and manufacturing high quality equipment for industries from mining,
chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing to the departments of Energy and Defense, and become a recognized leader in the nuclear industry.

Speakers attending the festivities under the rotunda of the L. E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center said Sayer was the ideal recipient on the 50th anniversary of the award.

Sayers thanked those who spoke about his accomplishments, but said he looked at the award not as recognition for past work, but as an assignment to inspire future business leaders -- especially those attending the College of Business at ISU.

He said it would be the task of today's students, as well as business leaders to lift the nation out of its current economic woes.

Speaking about the economy, Sayers said, "I won't use the 'R' word. ... I'm calling this a depression."

He blamed the economic climate on the fact the "America has become a nation of consumers," and said waiting for the government to solve the problem was not a solution.

"The rest of the country is looking to us to solve the problem," he said indicating that Idaho was an example of hard word and integrity.

"This country was built on the backs of people who left their home country," Sayer said. "I know that DNA still exists in our country today."

Sayer was introduced by J. Brandon Bird, executive director of Bingham Economic Development Corporation in Blackfoot.

He said Sayer was in good company, acknowledging those who had been honored by the school in the past.

"Most (of the awards) are given when they (recipients) are gray and past their prime," Bird said. "Well you are gray, but you are not past your prime.

"As great as the accomplishments are today, they will be even greater in five or 10 years from now."

During his remarks, Sayer thanked those who came to support him, including family members and company customers. He also gave credit to the people in his company.

"It is not what I am or what I've done that makes this special," he said. "but those that have spent time supporting us."

March 9, 2009 -- Winter brings dangerous roads

The Morning News / David Kennard
Emergencey crews work on the scene of a rollover crash Sunday at the south Blackfoot Exit on Interstate 15. No one was hurt in the crash.


Winter brings dangerous roads

By DAVID KENNARD
dkennard@cableone.net
BLACKFOOT — Emergency crews responded to several crashes Sunday night following the light snow that fell in the area.
The precipitation dropped wet snow late in the day that combined with sub-freezing temperatures as the sun went down to make roads extremely slick.
Bingham County Sheriff’s deputies responded to two crashes within about an hour of each other at the south Blackfoot exit.
No injuries were reported, but one single-vehicle crash totaled a Toyota pickup truck that rolled off the road just north of the overpass.
Bingham County emergency dispatchers said local law enforcement officials were busy responding to multiple -- but minor -- crashes.
Blackfoot Fire Department officials said they were called to the scene of several crashes, but no one was seriously hurt on slick roads Saturday night.
The National Weather Service said local drivers could expect to see slick roads through the day today as a winter weather system moved through southeast Idaho.
Meteorologist Jeff Hedges with the National Weather Service in Pocatello said a winter storm warning was issued for the mountains south of Pocatello through Monday. The storm was expected to drop as much as 10 inches of snow in the high country.
Hedges said up to 2 inches of snow is expected to fall locally today and tonight before clear weather arrives sometime on Tuesday. He said the next chance for measurable accumulation would be Sunday.

Vienna Boys Choir visits Blackfoot

Morning News Photo by David Kennard
Members of the Vienna Boys Choir amazed a nearly packed house Wednesday at the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center. The all-boy choir, conducted by Andy Icochea Icochea sang a wide variety of songs that spanned the choir’s 500-plus year history, including pieces from their most recent motion picture “Silk Road.” The choir traces its origins to 1498, the year Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg called for select choristers to provide musical accompaniment for Vienna’s court. About 100 choristers, trebles and altos between the ages of 10 and 14 are split into four touring groups, which present about 300 concerts annually worldwide. Members are selected mostly from Austria.

Jan 30, 2009 -- Klondike Derby

Jan. 17, 2009 - Blackfoot grad honored by French

By David Kennard
The MORNING NEWS
dkennard@cableone.net
PARIS, France — As a kid growing up in Blackfoot, Paul Zilk had dreams like every other child.

He played in the high school band and was a varsity tennis player at Blackfoot High School. He even worked on the school newspaper for a time.

But on Sunday, the 1975 BHS student class president will stand on a podium before some of the world’s most notable entertainment industry leaders and be awarded one of the most prestigious honors bestowed by the French government.

The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature) is given to individuals who have demonstrated significant contributions to the world of arts and literature.

France, considered by many as the center of world culture, presents the award to only a limited number of individuals every year.

And when the French Minister of Culture Christine Albanel pins the medal on the Zilk’s lapel Sunday he will join an exclusive group of entertainment and cultural leaders that include Martin Scorcese, Clint Eastwood, Bob Dylan, George Clooney, Bruce Willis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and many others both in and out of the spotlight.

“This is one of the most important honors of my life,” Zilk said from his office in Paris.
Zilk, the CEO of Reed MIDEM, one of the world’s leading tradeshow and events companies, is based in Paris. The company is responsible for three major shows devoted to television and music businesses.

Similar to the annual film festival in Cannes, France, which honors filmmakers and actors, Reed MIDEM focuses on the business side of entertainment and culture at events in Cannes and other locations throughout the world.

Zilk, who has lived in Europe for the last 21 years, the last five in France, said the honor he will receive on Sunday is made more special because of his early years growing up in Blackfoot.

He said a few key events took him from his small eastern Idaho roots to a life in international business. And, he said, he doesn’t mind standing as an example to young people who have a desire to persue similar dreams.

“We’re a humble town,” Zilk said of Blackfoot. “And maybe there is a kid out there who wants to do something more.”

During his senior year at Blackfoot High School, Zilk met up with a college student who he learned was going to Princeton University. Through a conversation Zilk learned that “for someone with good grades, there is another world out there.”

He spoke to his school counselors and decided he wanted to attend an ivy league school, he said. He chose Harvard.

When he entered college he said he wanted to enter politics, having always considered U.S. Sen. Frank Church (D-Idaho) one of his idols.

He worked as a college intern for Gov. Cecil Andrus in Boise, but eventually changed tracks and entered Harvard Business School.

After graduating with an MBA degree, he worked in various marketing positions for several notable companies in the U.S.

From 1992 to 2000, Zilk headed the international business of the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he established and managed NBA offices throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Australia, according to his public biography.

“When I talk to kids that’s what they like the most,” he said.

He has worked in his most recent position with Reed MINEM for the last seven-plus years in France, where he has raised his family.

“My wife is French, my kids are French, but I never forgot what happened to me,” Zilk said.

He said he has fond memories of growing up in Idaho, where he attended Jason Lee Memorial Methodist Church with his family. “We still consider that our church.”

He said the high honor by the French government is exciting for him, not so much because of the prestige, but more because he remembers how a chance encounter sparked an interest that lead him to a life he never dreamed of as kid growing up in Blackfoot.