Current Developments

Victor fire house to open

2011-05-18T09:28:00.001-06:00

Extract from the Teton Valley News

Posted: Thursday, May 12, 2011 9:12 am Rachael Horne TVN Staff.

The Teton County Fire Protection District is hosting a grand opening of the newly remodeled fire station in Victor on May 26.

Fire Chief Mike Hoyle said they will now be able to respond much faster and provide better service to the south end of the county. The Fire Department is now able to house two firefighter/ EMTs seven days a week and 24 hours a day at the Victor station. Hoyle said they were able to do this with the current staff they have in place.

The station already housed a truck and several pieces of equipment, but Hoyle said they relied tremendously on volunteers to respond to an incident. The remodel has provided housing and a place to fix meals. Being in Victor will decrease response times. Hoyle said it currently takes them about 10 mintues to respond and used Victor Elementary as an example. He said now instead of 10 minutes, they can get there in one minute.

The station remodel was funded with money received from several organizations to mitigate the impact of development in Teton County. The remodel was completed by the firefighters currently employed by the Fire District.

Currently there is a staff of about 20 firefighters/EMTs.

When development was booming, there was talk of setting up a fire house in the north end of the Valley, but Hoyle said that's been put on hold for now.

The open house is being held on May 26 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Children are encouraged to attend and see the fire trucks. Firefighters will also be on hand to answer any questions. Refreshments will be served.

New city center planned with land purchase

2011-05-11T10:53:00.001-06:00

May 04, 2011
By Jeannette Boner - Re-posted from The Valley Citizen

The Victor City council will entertain a land purchase agreement for the old depot and surrounding property next Wednesday evening, May 11. Photo illustration/Google Maps

There is a picture of the Victor Depot hanging in Bill Knight’s office at Victor City Hall. Within the frame, the black and white photo, taken around 1915, is a snapshot of history and an identity by which Victor become known as: the end of the line, a place to come home to. But perhaps as well, this is also a picture of what may again redefine the south end. By looking at the past, could the old depot play a larger role in the city’s future?

“The depot is the one of the most iconic buildings in the valley,” the Victor City Planner said on Tuesday. “The point is, you look at a town like this and the theme for decades is that it was a railroad town. The idea was to get this back into the public sector.”

The Victor City council agreed, voting unanimously last Wednesday evening, to negotiate an offer to purchase the old depot and surrounding land with the overall plan that the building will become the city center complete with municipal offices, an interpretive center, public parking, and street and sewer upgrades.

And resting against an easel just below the black and white photo is the beginning of those plans.
Overlaying a map of the city are drawings that Knight presented to the council that officials hope will encourage new business and economic development for downtown. Knight added that this project would not distract from Main Street but reinforce it.

“This is a big project to get this back into shape,” Knight said of the building that is currently used as an apartment complex. “Hopefully as this develops it will spread throughout the city. This is a development project and was always intended to jump start business.”

This idea was born more than a decade ago when city leaders, under former mayor Don Thompson, dedicated an economical development fund with the anticipation that the city would use the money for a business park. City Clerk Craig Sherman said with property prices at a reasonable rate, the idea for the city center was feasible. Although plans for reconstruction have not even hit a professional architect at this point, purchasing the building and the land is the first step in the process. In true Victor style, having all the plans in place as proven successful such was the case for the ice arena and transit center at Pioneer Park.

The purchase price of the depot is a commercially appraised value of $416,000 and includes the depot and 2.2 acres of commercially zoned property. The city has about $200,000 in its economic development fund and will plan to borrow money from other city funds said Sherman. Additionally, the project will fall under the newly established Urban Renewal District for the city. Tax revenue captured through the revitalization project will go back into the project.

Next Wednesday the city council will entertain the purchase contract from current owner, Wilson resident John Wasson. The meeting will be at city hall May 11. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. with the land acquistion starting around 8 p.m.

After the city purchases the property, they will take over the building becoming essentially landlords for those who are currently renting apartments in the building. Knight stressed that due to the long term planning that is needed for this project, no one is in danger of losing his or her living space in the near future.

After next Wednesday’s meeting, Knight said the next step is for an architect to render a prospectus that could be used to secure grants, state and federal funding for the project.

Center eyes summer start, big-name exhibits

2011-03-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

Ken Levy TVN Staff Teton Valley News

Although likely a long shot, ground could be broken for the Scenic Byway project during this summer's Main Street road project, according to Reid Rogers, project coordinator.

Rogers said drawings for the roughly $1.2 million project - also known as the Greater Yellowstone Region Geotourism Center - could be ready quickly, following Idaho Transportation Department approval of the choice of architects.

Once that approval is set, negotiations for cost and timelines would begin.

"If this is granted we will proceed to negotiate with the lead candidate on an architectural services contract," Rogers said. "The group is L-8 Group, Inc., Architects and Planners; Siegel Planning Services LLC; Tahran Architecture and Planning LLC, MD Nursery and Landscaping, Inc., and Nelson Engineering."

Quickly, in this case, could mean April or May. The Main Street project is due to begin as soon as weather permits.

"Because so much effort has already gone into designing the exhibit space and, conceptually, the outside and lighting specifications, we aren't starting from ground zero," Rogers said.

The architectural team needs to be very specific about the construction contract they want, said Rogers. Construction bids could go out in time for a July construction start, close to when the Main Street project is due for completion.

"They could build it in four months, and it could be open in late fall," said Rogers.

The GYRGC, which includes exhibit space and a plaza, is due to be built in front of the Driggs City Center.

Numerous variables, from scope of construction to exhibit details, could make that a soft opening, with an official opening possible in Spring 2012.

"You want to be in a position come next April or May that you're wide open for business, and you've had several months to publicize it, so that the summer of 2012 sees a significant difference. I don't see any reason why that wouldn't be the case," Rogers said.

The city's Urban Renewal Agency has already put up 25-30 percent of its roughly $425,000 match, he said. The agency is looking at a $1 million line of credit with Wells Fargo, which it hopes to get before new UR laws go into effect that could hamper their ability to obtain that credit, "and while interest rates are still at 3 percent," said Rogers.

Regarding funding other aspects of the center - furnishings, exhibits, staff - Rogers said a capital drive is on, targeted at foundations and federal agencies that would take the building to its potential, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) construction standards, geothermal and other features that are "a little more costly than just a plain Jane building," he said.

"We're going to go after specific grants for energy conservation and an improved physical plan to see if we can get some of that done with additional construction money," he said.

While not naming names, Rogers said others want to see the center succeed.

"We haven't been discouraged everywhere we go," he said.

Regarding the plaza portion of the project, Rogers said the goal is to be sensible with it, and, if money is left over from that portion, it could go back into the building fund.

For example, $50,000 of the plaza budget was earmarked for art.

"We can go out and look for a donor for a sculpture or a fountain," he said. "We could cut the plaza budget down by outsourcing the art and amenities."

Exhibits: Big names, large scale

Fourteen exhibitors are lined up for the GYRGC, and about half of those are nearing completion, said Rogers.

Private donors could step up to sponsor some of those exhibits. With about $185,000 budgeted for exhibits overall, he hopes donations could triple that amount to allow for first-quality exhibits throughout the center.

"That's going to have to get funded by nice people out there," he said.

One of the exhibits is of the scenic byway itself, including the Yellowstone-Grand Teton Loop. He estimated producing that exhibit could cost $20,000 for design and manufacture, which would come out of the GYRGC budget.

Besides information and exhibits about mountain men and trappers who called the area home, look for the Thomas Moran-William Jackson gallery to be one of the first - and most impressive - exhibits in the GYRGC. Painter Moran and photographer Jackson were part of the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, which helped create Yellowstone National Park.

"If you take the whole Geotourism thing as preservation and sustainability, probably the greatest example in the world is the creation of Yellowstone National Park," Rogers said. "We decided to do a collection of work the two of them did as they came through Idaho. This is not only a visual masterpiece but historically accurate."

About 20 Moran pieces are coming to the Geotourism center, he said, with about 15 of Jackson's photographs.

Two reproduction works for the exhibit are among the most important pieces of art in the United States, according to Rogers.

The principal piece is a reproduction of Moran's Yellowstone Canyon. The Smithsonian is providing a 12-foot-long, high-definition replication of it on canvas.

The Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa is providing a 10-foot long reproduction of Moran's Shoshone Falls.

Other exhibits could include a recreational display on television screens keyed to seasonal opportunities, for which major sponsors are being sought. Another would link the center to major museums in the area.

Another exhibit in the concept stage could cover the story of the Native Americans who were here first. But the Sho-Ban tribe has never recorded its earliest history, Rogers said. They may get the chance to tell their story at the center. Both National Geographic and PBS want to do the story.

"That's a major historical undertaking by itself," Rogers said, and said he's meeting with the tribe to discuss the details.

According to National Geographic, which developed the concept, geotourism is defined as tourism "that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents."

To contact Ken Levy e-mail

reporter3@tetonvalleynews.net.

Trail users following path to consensus

2011-02-17T10:17:00.001-07:00

Posted: Thursday, February 17, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 3:51 pm, Wed Feb 16, 2011.

Trail users following path to consensus Ken Levy TVN Staff Teton Valley News | 0 comments

Victor Mayor Scott Fitzgerald said the surest path to economic viability is a viable trails system.

“Our number one asset is our connection to our public lands,” said Fitzgerald, who initiated the Southern Valley Trail Project last summer. As connections to nature, “trails are an important economic driver for our area.”

The project is gathering a comprehensive collection of input from snowmobilers, mountain- and dirt bikers, hikers, skiers and horse and cattle users on their perspectives on how to best use and enhance the trail system through the southern Teton Valley.

The areas in question include Forest Service land adjacent to Victor from Grove Creek to Mud Lake “that wraps around the southern border of Victor,” Fitzgerald said. “The intention is to focus on trails, and trailheads, that are quickly and easily accessible at the southern end of Teton Valley.”

Once all user groups reach a consensus on how the system can best serve everyone, their input will go to the Victor City Council, which will present recommendations to the U. S. Forest Service Teton Basin Ranger District. The hope is to include the recommendations as amendments to the Big Hole subsection of the USFS travel plan.

Jay Pence, district ranger, said amending the existing plan could be a lengthy process, taking up to a year or longer.

“We don’t want to rush this,” Fitzgerald said. “We want to make sure we hear back from everyone.”

Getting consensus requires the groups to find areas of compromise and a better understanding of each other’s needs, he said. No one wants to see loss of access to prime trail links.

“My main concern is losing the snowmobile accesses we’ve always had,” said snowmobile enthusiast Wade Kaufman.

Snowmobilers have to battle common misperceptions about them, he said, including the vision of snowmobilers “chasing wildlife down to their ultimate sweaty death. It’s completely false.”

One or two bad apples in any user group can cause a really bad confrontation, Kaufman said. Complaints usually come from those who are irritated that snowmobilers are there, interfering with their wilderness experience.

“A lot of people don’t like motors, and that’s what it comes down to,” he said. “In our group, we try to make a more concerted effort to slow down when we see people hiking and skiing. All it takes is a kind gesture to create that bridge. If we build walls, we’ll lose our bridges.”

The bottom line for Kaufman is that all trail users maintain their present accesses.

Zach Smith, representing the hikers' group, said he sees trail issues as resolvable, and that problems with snowmobilers and other motorized users are the exception, rather than the rule.

It's not the goal of the project to shut down motorized trail users, but rather to keep open the trails being used and maximizing the possibilities of activities in the southern part of the Valley, he said.

"Keeping a balance of activities is key," Smith said.

Most of his friends in the motorized user groups are into everything, and don't want trails shut down.

"They like the variety," said Smith. "Nobody in the user groups belongs to just one. They want to keep everything open to everyone."

Originally scheduled to come before the Victor council in March, the SVTP data are still being sifted and fine-tuned, which could push back a hearing date.

Fitzgerald envisions a master plan developed for the whole south end of the valley, including working collaboratively to implement the plan once consensus is reached. The project still needs to hear from ATV users.

The USFS did a travel plan for the region in 2006. Fitzgerald said the plan, as it is, could be enhanced and strengthened through the project's recommendations.

"It can be a living document," he said, "and it's made to be amended and refined."

Fitzgerald said he'd like to see this as a pilot project that could spread countywide, involving collaboration between the municipalities and the county.

"We're all land managers, and we should be interacting and coordinating with each other," he said. "A strong, diverse trail network is a very attractive community asset. Every time we can build a better network of trails in Teton Valley, we're going to strengthen our local economy."

No requests for funding are envisioned at this point, and all trail enhancements and maintenance would still depend on community involvement. Grant applications could be made for specific projects in the future.

To contact Fitzgerald call (208) 787-2940 or email scott@victorcityidaho.com

To contact Ken Levy e-mail reporter3@tetonvalleynews.net.

Snovember amps up ski season

2010-12-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

Rachael Horne TVN Staff

It seems almost everyone’s in agreement that this November was one of the best on record for snow sport enthusiasts. With stoke for the winter at an all time high this early in the season, Mother Nature has given skiers and riders plenty to rejoice about. The 2010-11 winter season is already one for the record books.

For the first time ever, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opened all lifts and the tram to the public in November. The Mountain opened with 130 inches at the top of Rendezvous Mountain Saturday, a resort record for opening day.

Grand Targhee opened a week ahead of the planned opening and had 100 percent of their terrain open Friday with the Sacagawea lift spinning. Targhee is reporting a season total of 124 inches and a snow depth of 48 inches as of Tuesday and more snow is forecasted for the week.

“This has been one of our best openings on record and our guests have been happily enjoying mid-season conditions during our opening week,” said communications director Shannon Brooks Hamby last week.

At Jackson, one man was so excited for the early opening he showed up on the tram dock at 11:30 Friday night with a bivouac sleeping bag and camp stove to be the first in line for the historic opening. The tram line grew quickly Saturday morning, but by late morning there was hardly a wait. Conditions may have looked and felt like mid-winter, but crowds did not. Whoops and hollers could be heard across both sides of the Tetons, as skiers found powder stashes usually reserved for later in the season.

"This is the beginning of a season without equal in Jackson Hole history," JHMR President Jerry Blann said in a release.

At Monday night's Avalanche Awareness night in Driggs, presenter Don Carpenter said Exum Mountain guide Rod Newcomb has dug a pit every Thanksgiving Day in Avalanche Bowl on Teton Pass since the 80s. At 136 centimeters that day, it was the deepest he's ever measured.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Services stations, Jackson Hole's snow pack was 32 percent above normal on Monday. Phillips Bench on Teton Pass measured 53 percent above normal.

JHMR spokesperson Zahan Billimoria calculated that Rendezvous Bowl has received 47 percent more snow during La Niña years.

Last year's thin early season snow pack left unfavorable conditions for the first few months of the season and hazardous avalanche conditions for much of the year.

Snow King Mountain is also opening early this year. The Cougar chairlift will be running starting Saturday, with the Summit chair scheduled for Wednesday and Rafters open Dec. 18. Night skiing begins on Dec. 22.

All the early season snow was not without its drawbacks for some, however. The days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday saw roads in and out of the Valley closed. Produce and milk were running out at Broulim's in Driggs as the grocery store hadn't had a delivery truck show up for three days.

More snow is forecasted for the rest of the week, and some hope, for the rest of the winter.

To contact Rachael Horne e-mail reporter2@tetonvalleynews.net.

Targhee to open this weekend - ValleyCitizen - Teton Valley's Local News Source

2010-11-18T08:34:00.001-07:00

Targhee to open this weekend - ValleyCitizen - Teton Valley's Local News Source

November 17, 2010
By Hope Strong

A week full of storms allows resort to offer lift service early.

Accumulation.

That’s five syllables sure to put a smile on the face of any valley resident who has been anxiously awaiting opening of the local ski hill.

After a series of storms blanketed the region over the past week, the valley floor was scoured by winds, but snowpack was bolstered up at Grand Targhee Resort to the point that early opening became a reality Wednesday after mountain operations gave their thumb’s up.

Reporting a mere inch Thursday and Friday of last week, accumulation increased over the weekend, adding another six inches to the already decent snowpack. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week saw an average of six inches a day fall, enough to fl ip the switch on both the Shoshone and Dreamcatcher lifts by Saturday. A total of 72 inches of snow has fallen at Grand Targhee Resort this season, with a base depth of 38 inches reported as of Wednesday.

In order to accommodate those in search of a first chair, the Teewinot Lodge will be available Friday night prior to the opening of Fred’s Mountain. That’s 46 rooms with a pair of queen-sized beds apiece. Do the math, and there are around one hundred folks who won’t have to play cat and mouse on the road up to Targhee for their spot in the lift line.

In addition to Shoshone and Dreamcatcher, Ricks Basin will be open and groomed for cross-country skiing. Rental and retail shops will also be open, as well as limited food and beverage options, though the Trap Bar will be open throughout the weekend.

All skiers and riders are advised that early season conditions still exist on the north face of Fred’s Mountain.

This is the first time Grand Targhee Resort has opened early in the memory of most on the mountain.

Jackson Hole Daily | Park logs another record

2010-11-09T11:26:00.001-07:00

Jackson Hole Daily | Park logs another record

By Cory Hatch, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

November 9, 2010

Yellowstone National Park broke yet another visitation record last month, probably thanks in part to unseasonably mild and sunny weather, officials announced Monday.

The park saw 189,072 recreation visitors in October, up nearly 53 percent from the same month last year, which saw 123,867 visitors.

October marks the fifth month in a row of record visitation numbers.

In September, Yellowstone broke its all-time annual visitation record. The number continued to increase through October to 3,605,977 recreation visits to date this year, an increase of more than 10 percent over 2009.

The previous October record came after the fires of 1988, Yellowstone public affairs assistant Linda Miller said. Miller said that year’s bump in visitation was likely due to people’s curiosity in the aftermath of the huge blazes.

This year’s October was probably bolstered by the good weather, she said.

“We’ve had a few little squalls blow through, but overall it has been incredibly mild and beautiful,” Miller said. “I’ve lived here 30-some years, and I don’t remember ever having a fall this long with the temperatures we’ve been having. I’ve still got tomatoes in my little greenhouse that haven’t frosted.

“I think a lot of people who came were regional folks who were watching the weather,” Miller said.

Another possible factor in the substantial jump in October visitation over last year could be road construction.

“Last year, the road between Madison and Norris was closed. That affected things pretty significantly,” Miller said, adding that last year it was cold in early October.

This year’s mild fall lasted right up until many of the park’s roads closed for the season Monday, Miller said.

“It just happened that the weather stayed nice through the weekend,” she said.

Yellowstone’s roads are closed for the season at the South, West and East entrances. The road from Gardiner, Montana, through the North Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction, the Lamar Valley and Cooke City, Montana, is open to wheeled vehicles through the winter.

At Mammoth Hot Springs, the Yellowstone General Store, post office, medical clinic and Albright Visitor Center remain open all year.

Fuel is available 24 hours a day all year at the Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction service stations.

On Dec. 15, most unplowed roads in the park open to oversnow travel.

The park’s East Entrance road opens to oversnow travel Dec. 22.

Resort adds backcountry gate

2010-10-14T10:11:00.000-06:00

Grand Targhee Resort is installing a new backcountry gate this season, allowing skiers to access Forest Service land whenever they want. The access is being called the Scotty's Gate, named after a couloir on the backside of the resort. The new gate will be located at the bottom of the Mary's Nipple bootpack, in front of the Mary's Nipple gate. The Mary's Nipple gate will move farther south to allow for the backcountry access gate.

The backcountry gate has never been done at Targhee. The concept is like that at Jackson. In 2000 Jackson introduced its open-gate policy allowing riders to access the backcountry via gates located at various places on the mountain.

Targhee has had the Mary's Nipple access, but that was not always open because it lies within the resort's permit boundary, and avalanche control was done by the resort's ski patrol. That's the big difference people don't often understand, said Kurt Kluegel, the Forest Service liaison with Targhee in the Teton Basin Ranger District.

"In the past, access to the backside of the resort was dependent on whether Mary's Nipple was open - skiers and riders exited the resort boundary into the backcountry from an area beyond the resort boundary into the backcountry from an area beyond the Mary's Nipple gate," said Ski Patrol Director Joe Calder in a press release. "The new gate location provides consistent access to the backcountry, allowing experienced guests to exit our boundary at any time, independent of patrol operation on Mary's Nipple."

The Scotty's Gate will be out of the way of avalanche control and open to riders at all times, regardless of whether the Mary's access is open or not. Now the decision to stay in or out of bounds rests squarely on the shoulders of its customers.

An incident near the end of the ski season last year led to debate about whether the resort could control public access to a national forest. Two skiers ducked the resort boundary past Mary's Nipple when a closure was in effect. Both had their passes pulled by the resort and were issued citations by the Teton County, Wyo. Sheriff's Department. One of the skiers was slapped with a no trespass order at Targhee until the resort sees it fit to lift the ban.

Kluegel said he's been pushing for the resort to install a gate for the past six years and that the Forest Service fully supports the gate. His job, he said, is to ensure that people have access to Forest Service land and this gate helps accomplish that.

The north end of the resort won't have an access gate. Kluegel said resort officials felt like it wasn't a safe backcountry skiing option. The access to the South Leigh drainage is also difficult to access if people get stuck out there. A man died last season after skiing past the northern resort boundary after becoming disoriented on the mountain.

To help sharpen backcountry skills, Targhee has added a new Beacon Park this year, thanks to a donation from Christian Santelices and efforts from GTR Ski Patrol. In the park, guests are able to practice finding buried avalanche transceivers at the base of the resort. GTR ski patrol will activate three different beacons each day for practice. Guests must wear their own beacons, and patrol-led clinics will be scheduled throughout the winter.

Grand Targhee will begin winter operations on Nov. 26.

Posted: Thursday, October 14, 2010 12:00 am | Updated: 3:21 pm, Wed Oct 13, 2010.

Rachael Horne TVN Staff

Creamery begins making raw-milk cheeseshare

2010-09-30T11:54:00.000-06:00

Creamery begins making raw-milk cheese

Posted: Thursday, September 23, 2010 12:00 am | Updated: 3:53 pm, Wed Sep 22, 2010.

Ken Levy TVN Staff |

Teton Valley Creamery has begun making raw-milk cheese. But plan on waiting awhile before you get to taste it.

With a new aging room featuring computer-controlled temperature and humidity, and a 175-gallon Holland-made cheese vat, cheese maker Kristopher Malling made his first wheels of washed-rind and mold-ripened raw-milk cheeses Sept. 17.

The washed-rind variety, which ages 3-4 months, has a brevi bacteria growing on the outside. With its orange-red color, the bacteria add a strong pungency to the cheese.

"I'm going to try to keep it so it's not too pungent," Malling said. "You can control that by the way you age it. I'm looking at the milder end, but the inside is going to be nice, semi-firm and creamy, and the outside will have some earthiness and pungency to it."

Malling is also making mold-ripened cheese. A white mold will grow on the he said.

“You get an earthy, mushroomy flavor right around the outside,” said Malling. On the inside, the blue mold will add a sharper flavor.

Although both styles are aging in the same room, accommodations had to be made for the second variety.

“We create a microclimate by closing those cheeses off to raise the humidity,” which allows mold-ripened and washed-rind cheeses to age in the same room, he said.

Look for whole mold-ripened cheeses to be ready in two months. By law, raw-milk cheeses must age a minimum of 60 days, he said.

Although aging ultimately helps determine a cheese’s flavor, the process starts with the freshest raw milk available. Malling gets his milk from Holsteins at the Wright Dairy on Stateline Road just hours before he begins the cheese-making process.

“This milk was still in the cow this morning,” he said. “It’s really good for the startup.”

Malling hauls the milk in 10-gallon milk cans. Once the milk is added to the cheese vat, rennet — an enzyme — is added to the milk and coagulates it into a custard-like consistency. Cutting blades separate the curds from the whey, and the curds are stirred and cooked, and drained of the whey. The curds are then packed into cheese wheel molds and pressed for three hours.

The whey is not discarded. TVC pumps the whey into a tank, which goes back to the Wright ranch for use as pig feed. Whey can be used in any number of ways, he said, including whey powder, sparkling beverages and ricotta.

“Within a few hours of going into the vat, the milk is converted into cheese curds, compressed and left overnight. Then it goes into the brine, and into the aging room for the rest of its life,” he said.

Temperature, airflow and humidity are carefully controlled in the aging room. All of these factors determine how the cheese ages.

“It depends on what kind of cheese you’re making,” he said.

TVC continues to make cheese curds from fresh milk pasteurized minimally at 145 degrees for 30 minutes. The creamery’s gelato pasteurizes at higher temperatures. Curds are made from fresh milk and lactic cultures, which create lactic acid and allow the milk to ripen. Rennet is added to coagulate the milk very quickly and firm up the curd while helping to expel whey.

Malling said cheese curds come in a cheddaring variety and Dutch-style or Gouda-style curds. Garden herb, spicy and plain flavorings are added to these textures.

Eventually, TVC will make a pasteurized cheese for local distribution, from which it will draw its curds.

“They’ll be a byproduct of a natural process and a natural cheese,” he said.

TVC plans to market its artisan cheeses nationally, but local markets are also a priority.

TVC has room for yet another aging room, Malling said, and the goal is to build it to accommodate Alpine-style hard cheese that will age for 8-12 months.

The creamery opened on July 4. The building, a former 1930s gas station, was also a city of Driggs building until the Hokin family invested in the building.

Dutch cheese maker Fons Smits, who is married to TVC owner Lauren Hokin’s cousin Eileen, helped convince the family to start the creamery. Malling worked in Indiana with Smits, who is a dairy technologist.

“This is a typical alpine dairy area,” said Smits.

Smits has served as an advisor during the creamery’s cheese-making startup.

“We’re still fine-tuning the process,” he said.

To contact Ken Levy e-mail reporter3@tetonvalleynews.net.

Jackson Hole Daily | Yellowstone visits soar

2010-09-09T09:50:00.000-06:00

Jackson Hole Daily | Yellowstone visits soar

By Cory Hatch, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

September 9, 2010

Yellowstone National Park smashed yet another monthly visitation record in August, putting the park on track to break the all-time visitation record in 2010.

Park officials say 854,837 recreation visitors entered Yellowstone last month, compared to the previous record of 773,307 set in 1995, an increase of 9.5 percent. Compared to August, 2009, which saw 752,983 recreation visits, the park saw a 13 percent jump.

The park also set records in June and July, and has hosted 2.8 million people so far this year, an increase of 8 percent over 2009’s year-to-date total. Last year was an all-time record for the park, and Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said he thinks that record will be broken again.

“If we have an average September we’ll break our all-time visitation record,” he said. “It certainly has been a big summer any way you look at the numbers.”

The South Entrance, which serves people going into Yellowstone from Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole area, was up 11 percent for August, and is up nearly 6 percent year-to-date compared to last year.

While the visitors are welcome, Nash said the crowds have taken a toll on park and concession workers.

“Our staff, to an individual, will tell you that this has been a challenging summer,” he said. “More visitors do mean more demand on services.

“Our visitor centers are busier; our law enforcement rangers have responded to more traffic accidents,” Nash continued. “Visitors are likely to have found longer lines at entrance stations. We’re certainly doing our best to respond, but everybody has been very busy.”

Visitors this summer needed to plan earlier to find campsites and hotel rooms, Nash said.

Several factors have likely contributed to the increase in visitation, including the troubled economy.

“You can be more flexible and stretch your money further planning a trip to this area focused on Yellowstone and Grand Teton than you can by taking many other vacation trips,” Nash said.

Marketing efforts by the states and by the park’s gateway communities have also probably helped, along with the Ken Burns documentary on parks featured on public television, Nash said.

“We know we’re a draw,” Nash said, but gateway communities are key partners.

Stimulus funds could bring regional transportation to and from Teton Valley

2010-08-12T10:30:00.000-06:00

Posted: Thursday, August 5, 2010 12:00 am | Updated: 8:22 pm, Wed Aug 4, 2010.

Ken Levy TVN Staff |

A major regional transportation initiative that would link the Teton Valley with Idaho Falls, Jackson and the national parks, Grand Targhee Resort and beyond depends on a TIGER.

Teton County is the project sponsor, along with the cities of Driggs and Victor, seeking to garner about $10 million in TIGER II funding for the project.

Administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, TIGER II (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) is a competitive grant program for "projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region," according to the DOT.

The funds would be used for pathway projects, park-and-ride facilities, bus service and bus facilities, according to Driggs Mayor Dan Powers.

"The idea is to establish a real public transportation system here in Teton Valley," he said, "and going out to the bigger communities, such as Rexburg and Idaho Falls."

The project would provide fixed-route bus service between Idaho Falls Airport, the Idaho National Laboratory and Jackson, along with Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, according to Kathy Rinaldi, Teton County commissioner. It would also "complete the 300-mile ‘Grand Bikeway' with approximately 50 miles of pathway and bike lane improvements between West Yellowstone, Mont. and Jackson Hole, via Driggs. The goal for the project is to promote economic stimulus through seamless mobility for residents and visitors," she said.

The program, according to Rinaldi, would enhance public transportation by providing needed infrastructure to expand and improve scheduled service. This would include a bus storage and maintenance facility in Driggs; five park-and-ride areas; seven buses with "real-time locator(s) and onboard Wifi," and multiple pathway connections.

The Pioneer Park Transit Center in Victor would tie into the regional transportation program by providing needed infrastructure to the overall system, according to Rinaldi. Funded by nearly $360,000 in stimulus funds through the Idaho Transportation Department, the project is being built by MD Nursery and Landscaping.

The multimodal transportation center's roughly 1.5-acre parking lot will accommodate 114 vehicles for commuters and carpoolers, according to Bill Knight, planning director for the City of Victor. Commuters can catch the START bus from the center. It should be operational by the third week in August, he said.

Separate grant funding is being sought for the second phase of the Victor center, which would include a 1,500 square-foot all-weather shelter, designed by Megan Powers and Rick Baldwin, that would reflect the city's architectural and transportation history, said Knight.

The facility would be the regional system's transit anchor point for the southern end of the Valley, he said.

The regional system would tie into Grand Targhee as well, and having bus service up to Targhee is a key element of the proposal, according to Powers. It would allow visitors to stay in Driggs and take the bus up to Targhee.

"Targhee would likely enter into an agreement with TRPTA (Targhee Regional Public Transportation Authority) to provide shuttle service from Driggs to the resort for both our guests and our employees," said Christina Thomure, sustainability director for Grand Targhee. "Having a local fixed-route system in Teton County, Idaho would help to improve mobility between Idaho Falls, Jackson, Salt Lake, and beyond with Driggs, which helps to bring more people to the area."

A preliminary application for the grant was filed July 26, according to Rinaldi. A full application detailing where the money would go, the economic development and environmental benefits and other components is due by Aug. 23.

"The county would be the administrator of the project, with the costs of administering included in the grant," Rinaldi said. "Because we are considered a rural community, no match is required. The minimum grant size is $1 million."

Results of the grant application won't be known until at least Sept. 15.

"We see this as a regional transportation effort," Powers said."We look at it from the greater Yellowstone-Teton perspective, making it part of this transportation scheme for the whole area. "

To contact Ken Levy e-mail reporter3@tetonvalleynews.net.

Jackson Hole Daily | Yellowstone records busiest month ever

2010-08-05T10:59:00.000-06:00

Jackson Hole Daily | Yellowstone records busiest month ever

By Cory Hatch, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

August 5, 2010

More people visited Yellowstone National Park in July than in any other month since the park was established in 1872, National Park Service officials announced Wednesday.

The total of 957,000 recreation visitors entered the park’s gates, breaking last July’s record by 60,000 people, or 6.4 percent. June was also a record for that month in the park with 694,841 people.

“We set all kinds of records,” Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said. “This is the second record month in a row that we’ve had a visitation record, the second year in a row that we’ve had a record July. It’s the all-time-high visitation for any month, and it’s the first time that our visitation for the first seven months of the year has topped the 2 million mark.”

The record number of visitors is attributed, in part, to the slow economy, Nash said.

“It may be a bit counter-intuitive, but I believe national park visitation benefits from our current national economic situation,” he said. “Visiting national parks is a great value, and you can plan a trip to places like Yellowstone and Grand Teton more easily reflecting your time and your wallet than you can many other vacation destinations.”

The South Entrance, the park’s gateway from Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park, recorded more than 210,000 visitors last month, up from 195,000 for July 2009, an increase of 7.9 percent.

“That continues to be the second-busiest entrance to Yellowstone,” Nash said.

Park employees have noticed the increase in visitors, Nash said.

“Everyone I’ve spoken with, no matter their job in the park, has talked about how busy they are in their respective job and how busy the park is,” he said.

Visitors are likely to notice a shortage of hotel rooms and campsites, as well as traffic congestion.

“If you’re looking for a room [or a campsite] in the park, we’re full in the early morning,” he said.

The chances of visitors experiencing a wildlife jam are also much greater than in years past, Nash said.

“This has been an extraordinarily good year for wildlife viewing,” he said.

So far this year, Yellowstone has shown increases in visitation compared with 2009 every month except May. Last year was a record year with more than 3.3 million visitors.

Driggs Drive-In Goes Digital - Local News Story - KIFI Idaho Falls

2010-07-22T10:33:00.000-06:00

Driggs Drive-In Goes Digital - Local News Story - KIFI Idaho Falls

By Brett Crandall, Local News 8 Reporter

POSTED: 5:12 pm MDT July 9, 2010

UPDATED: 10:06 pm MDT July 9, 2010

DRIGGS, Idaho -- While most drive-in movie theaters across the country are going under, the Spud Drive-In in Driggs is getting an upgrade. The 50's-themed theater is finally entering the 21st century.When you go to the movies it’s not just for the popcorn, the candy or the drinks, but to see the picture on the larger than life screen.That’s why the Spud Drive-In has invested in becoming America’s first digital drive-in."It’s just unbelievable,” said drive-in manager Keith Zednik. “I mean if you've ever watched a Blu-ray player at home on your plasma or high definition television, you now get to see that on this 34 foot high, 76 foot wide screen. It’s just amazing."For 57 years, the drive-in has become a big part of the small community and Zednik wants it to last for 50 more."It’s definitely an expense we didn't even think twice about,” said Zednik. "It’s definitely worthwhile."The new digital system not only gives a more crisp and clear picture but also allows you to arrange the videos and trailers in any sequence you want, unlike a roll of 35 mm film.While three weeks ago, "Toy Story 3" came on five reels of film, this week, "Despicable Me" came on a computer hard drive.Zednik said 20 years down the road when someone Googles first digital drive-ins, the Spud Drive-In in Driggs, Idaho, will be the one to remember."Just being the first, just being on the frontier, we don't want to be the guys left behind,” said Zednik. "You don't want to be the guys who has the 100th digital drive-in, there's really no nostalgia to that."But despite now being the first to go digital, Zednik said its the nostalgic atmosphere that sets his drive-in apart."It brings you back to the 1950s but yet everything we've done is 21st century," said Zednik.The drive-in will also be the first outdoor theater to show movies in 3-D when its new projector arrives next month.Zednik also hopes to eventually open a museum featuring the drive-in's history."Despicable Me" and "Robin Hood" will be on tonight’s first showing in digital format.For more information on the country’s first outdoor digital theater go to http://spuddrivein.com/

I scream, you scream - ValleyCitizen - Teton Valley's Local News Source

2010-07-22T10:28:00.000-06:00

I scream, you scream - ValleyCitizen - Teton Valley's Local News Source

Teton Valley Creamery keeps it real.

LEFT: Grace Lowe and Kris Malling will continue to run the show at the new Teton Valley Creamery in Driggs as the operation adds cheese to the menu. CITIZEN PHOTO / HOPE STRONG

Many have marveled with mounting curiosity as the site of the old Driggs City Hall has been transformed over the past weeks. The iconic art deco building in downtown Driggs received a green racing stripe last week, punctuating an impressive remodel for a business that will capitalize on local flavors to develop dessert and cheeses worth waiting for.

Open the door to Teton Valley Creamery and find quickly that what’s happening inside the building is even more impressive than what has happened to the outside. A quick tour of the facility by Dairy Technologist Fons Smits reveals that the first of three huge walk-ins is used to store local milk from Steve Wright’s dairy, the sole source of the Creamery’s main ingredient.

The second walk-in is cold enough to make even a valley winter night blush. Kept at -25 degrees, the flash freezer is used to keep the Creamery’s primary product crystallized. Different than regular ice cream, Smits has worked with Creamery manager Kris Malling to develop gelato, Italian-style ice cream that is made exclusively with whole milk rather than cream, reducing butterfat content of the finished product from around 14 percent to just under 3 percent.

“This is just the first start,” Smits said with a hint of his native Netherlands. “We are still in the stage of testing flavors, but it all about getting the best ingredients together with the right equipment.”

Smits, who is married to a cousin of the Hoken family that owns the Creamery, runs his own show at Traders Point Creamery in Indiana. He has produced award-winning cheeses and received international acclaim in the industry, and that will translate into a sweet reward for local residents. Under the tutelage of Smits, Malling with keep Teton Valley in gelato and cheeses long after Smits returns east.

The small team of milk processors anxiously awaits cheese-making equipment from Europe, at which time the new operation will be fully transformed, producing not only gelato but also a variety of cheeses.

“We now have cheese curds or sweet cheese, but that is just the start of it,” Smits said. “Our cheeses will all be based on raw milk, with a variety of products aged from two or three months to longer-aged cheeses that will need eight months before they are ready.”

The third walk-in in the Creamery awaits a specific piece of equipment that will control the temperature, humidity and every other element important to aging cheese. Much more involved than just letting it sit, Malling will handle the cheeses throughout the aging process to ensure a consistent product of the highest quality.

While cheese is somewhat in the future for the new Creamery in Driggs, their frozen confections are creating quite a buzz in the community that has translated into a booming little business. Mallings’ girlfriend, Grace Lowe, has watched lines form out the door as people satisfy their curiosity and their sweet tooth as she waits for them to figure out that a pick-up window was installed on the south wall for quick access.

Sold out of huckleberry this week, Malling and Smits are working to establish a steady supplier of the elusive berry. One flavor down, the Creamery is flush with Deep, Dark Chocolate that hovers somewhere between pudding and brownies. Also on the board is Brown Sugar Vanilla, Strawberry, Dulce de Leche and Cappuccino Dream that is made with coffee from neighboring Pendl’s Bakery.

“It is the local part that is taking over the food sector,” Smits said. “We are finding out what kind of stuff we can get locally here in the valley to incorporate into our products. Local honey, red raspberries and cherries are on the list, but it’s impossible to think of everything yourself. We are open to suggestions.”

As a small operation, Teton Valley Creamery is open to creating small batches custom flavors for specific events or creating flavors people may want with ingredients they provide. Teton Thai, for example, will provide the green tea used in a gelato of the same name featured at the popular restaurant in Driggs.

“We are looking forward to thinking outside the box,” Smits said. “We want to be creative with seasonal flavors. Maybe we will do a batch using pumpkin in October.”

Whatever comes out of Teton Valley Creamery is sure to be the icing on the cake for a block in Driggs that keeps growing with businesses fine-tuned to specific tastes.

Music on Main - Starts Tonight! Get down to Victor ID

2010-07-15T09:34:00.002-06:00

Teton Valley and Jackson Hole residents and visitors - get out and dance tonight!

Music on Main kicks off tonight at Victor City Park.

The concert series is free and runs from 6.30pm to 9.30pm all summer long. Tonight's concert will be opened by Rotating Superstructure, a local Jackson indie rock band. Calle Mambo are the feature act of the night and are renowned as the Premier Afro-Cuban, Latin, Salsa band in the Rocky Mountain Region. Calle Mambo has blended several musical styles, Dance, Latin, Rhythm, Jazz, Salsa. Get out there and enjoy some great, free music!

For info on upcoming bands and dates, go to http://www.tetonvalleyfoundation.org/music-on-main.php

Stump branches out - ValleyCitizen - Teton Valley's Local News Source

2010-07-08T09:43:00.000-06:00

Stump branches out - ValleyCitizen - Teton Valley's Local News Source

July 07, 2010
By Mike Polhamus

Local extreme ski cinematographer produces historical documentary.

LEFT: Gregory Stump in his Victor studio, where for the past three years he has labored to create his magnum opus. COURTESY PHOTO

After spending his early years on the world cup freestyle ski circuit before traveling the world to document what was then the sport’s most extreme limits, legendary filmmaker Greg Stump has settled down in Victor, where he is currently working deep into the night on his first new ski film in over a decade. Stump’s later work runs the Hollywood gamut, from music productions for Willie Nelson to Superbowl commercials for Disney, but he said he needed to make one final ski film before he can move on.

Legend of Aahhhs (the name comes from the most widely hailed work in his oeuvre, Blizzard of Aahhhs), slated for release this fall, is Stump’s parting tribute to the ski film genre, he said. Reputed to have introduced extreme skiing to the American lexicon, Stump is once again attempting to redefine ski cinematography, this time with a historical documentary of the ski film itself.

“I’m trying to create a piece of entertainment,” he said. “Something enjoyable to watch. Something you want to watch. That’s goal number one. The second thing is to tell the history of this particular story – the story of ski movies. For the most part, it’s true.”

As if to clarify the point, he explained that the movie’s byline is “A true fable.” The film is largely historical footage (particularly if you consider the 1980’s to be ‘historical’), from the 1930’s to the present. Stump said he shot little new action footage, in part because skiers sent him footage of their own, and in part because Stump has lost his zeal for the genre he helped invent.

“I have no desire to go out and shoot extreme stuff,” he said. “One of the reasons I got out of it was because it was just a matter of time before someone got seriously injured or died through my lens.”

“The only reason no one got hurt on my shoots was because we were lucky,” he said.

Stump said he decided to stop filming dangerous stunts after an incident involving ski legend Scot Schmidt and snowboard icon Craig Kelly.

“I’ve only been really, truly afraid three times while filming,” he said. “Those have been when I hear Scot Schmidt on the radio, and he’s afraid.”

Stump said he was filming Schmidt and Kelly (who was killed in an avalanche five years later) in British Columbia in 1995, when the skiers were trapped beneath a cliff by persistent rockfall.

“I made a pact with God,” Stump said. “I said, ‘If you get these two off this cliff safely, I will never film another ski or snowboard movie where somebody’s life is in danger’… They got down safely, and I was like, ‘That’s it, I’m done.’”

Though ski cinematography today sometimes depends on footage of risky behavior, Stump said he doesn’t need it to make a compelling ski film.

“The action, the cinematography today, it’s incredible – it’s far superior to anything I was shooting,” he said. “But the presentation, the music, the narration, the structure, as a piece of entertainment, I think has been really stagnant. The stunts are incredible, but I don’t care about the people in the movie – it’s just vapid bro-speak.”

In contrast, Stump said, The Legend of Aahhhs “is really about the story.”

Stump said he hopes the story in Legend of Aahhhs will transcend the ski movie category and gain respect as a film on its own merits, similar to the surf movie Riding Giants and the skateboard movie Dogtown and Z-Boys.

“I’m not even sure what this is, it’s so far off from a typical ski movie,” he said. “It’s sort of like sitting and having a conversation… but with the way the music is, the thing’s almost like a rock album.”

Edited from 150 hours of interviews with such historical figures as Warren Miller, Otto Lang, Dick Barrymore, Dick Durrance and John Jay, the film’s musical score showcases modern musical talent like Lukas Nelson, Hall and Oates, and Death Cab for Cutie.

“I’m old enough now that I’m not working for any other reason than to make it perfect,” Stump said.

To make it perfect, Stump has been producing the film out of his home studio in Victor for the last three years (originally slated for release last year, Stump said it’s “one of those things where you open one door and there’s ten more doors, then you open one of the ten and there’s ten more doors”); and he plans to release it this fall.

“I’ve been thinking how fortunate I am to be in a work situation like this,” he said. “I’m sitting in beautiful, pristine Victor, I don’t bother the neighbors, I go to the store, take a run, ride my bike and work here. Most projects don’t have that luxury.”

15th Annual WYDAHO Bike Race

2010-07-01T10:12:00.000-06:00

15th Annual WYDAHO Bike Race

Saturday, July 03, 2010

The Wydaho cross country mountain bike race will start at 1:00pm on Saturday July 3rd. The race will have a expert, intermediate and beginner class races. The experts will race 3 laps of the 7 mile loop of Rick’s Basin trail, the intermediates will race 2 laps- 14 mile total and the beginners will race one 7 mile lap. The after race party will be held on the main plaza, with each racer getting a free BBQ lunch and entry into a raffle. As the adults kick back after the race it’s time for the kids to let er rip as we hold our kids race around the base area. The kids race will start at 3:30pm. We also are holding a “Huffy Bike” toss and hill climb for bikes for fun. Registration for the bike race will be the day of on the main plaza (9:00 am- 12:30 pm) the entry fee for the bike race and BBQ is $35.

General Description: Cross country (mostly single track and double track) circuit race; expert: 21 miles, intermediate: 14 miles, beginner: 7 miles. Starting elevation is 8000 feet. Helmets must be worn at all times when riding at Grand Targhee Resort.

Categories: Expert, Intermediate, Beginner and Kids 6-12

Registration: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm morning of race; $35

Lisa Smith-Batchen breaks the mold - ValleyCitizen - Teton Valley's Local News Source

2010-06-24T10:00:00.003-06:00

LEFT: Lisa Smith-Batchen, center, is joined by friends and supporters as she walks a 2.5 mile loop around Teton Village’s Shooting Star in Jackson on Friday. Smith-Batchen is the first person to run 50 miles in each of the 50 states to raise $1 million for orphaned children in America and abroad. PHOTO COURTESY PRICE CHAMBERS

Driggs resident and famed ultra-marathoner Lisa Smith-Batchen finished her record-setting 2,500-mile run Saturday at The Spud, welcomed back by a crowd of well-wishers after a 62-day effort to run 50 miles in all 50 states and raise $1 million for orphans in the U.S. and abroad.

In addition to breaking an endurance running record, Smith-Batchen broke her foot and a toe as well, injuries she described as “a blessing in disguise, because it will let me move forward more gracefully.”

“Sunday night was my first night home, and I woke up at 5 a.m., soaked in sweat, running in my sleep,” Smith- Batchen said. “I did the same thing today. You cannot turn it on and off that quick.”

Smith-Batchen is not the type to sit still for long. She’ll be back at Dreamchasers next week, teaching classes to local fitness enthusiasts. She said she also looks forward to writing a book, and possibly doing speaking events.

“I want to help others realize their dreams, to help others use their gifts,” she said.

“I know what my passions are, I know my purpose – that’s why I could do this,” she said. “You owe it to yourself to find out what your passions are, and organize it – and you can’t do it all at one time, because then you’ll never finish – or you’ll never figure out what in your heart is truly yours to do.”

Smith-Batchen said that although she still plans to raise money for needy children, she’s now retired from racing.

“I have no desire to beat anybody, I have no desire to set any record,” she said. “What’s the point? A race is to challenge yourself – I’m never going to go any faster, I’m never going to go any further.”

“I can’t wait to be on the other side of the race,” Smith-Batchen said. “So many people have given me so much in this sport. It’s my turn to give back to those people.”

One of those people is her husband, Jay Batchen, who is leaving soon to run a race in California.

“He’s been so supportive – it’s his turn now,” said Smith-Batchen. “I told him, ‘When I get home, you’ve got to give me a few days.’ He leaves Thursday.”

Smith-Batchen also said she intends to spend some time with her two daughters.

“I’m so excited to wake up on Saturday mornings, when you’re supposed to do a long training run, and sit eating chocolate chip pancakes with my kids and watching a movie,” she said.

Smith-Batchen will also spend the next several weeks recuperating a broken foot and broken toe, injuries she suspects she sustained while on the Texas leg of her run. Undeterred by the fractures, she ran the remaining 1300 miles in constant pain.

“When I knew my foot was pretty bad, I wanted to continue,” she said. “It wasn’t pretty – I was a disaster – but I knew in the end it would be able to heal.”

“I definitely got a sense of what suffering is, but I always knew I’d be able to get out of it at the end of the day,” she said.

“It drives me crazy when people say, ‘She’s crazy to run on a broken foot,’” Smith-Batchen said. “If that was my only hold-up, why would I stop, when I know it will heal?”

“I had Badwater [an ultra-marathon in California, from Death Valley to Mount Whitney] in three weeks, and I was looking forward to that being my real retirement from racing,” she said. “I’ve never been fitter than I am now. I’m fi t, I’m lean – if this foot wasn’t hurt right now, watch out, man.”

Smith-Batchen said Teton Valley Health Care orthopedist Mo Brown called her Monday morning to talk with her about her injury and the upcoming race.

“I said, whatever Mo Brown tells me, that’s what it is, and he said, ‘Lisa, there’s no Badwater, and I’m going to put a hard cast on you if you don’t listen.” Smith-Batchen cancelled her plans to run the Badwater race, and Brown is allowing her to recover in a soft brace.

“It’s hard to think you’re the fittest you’ve ever been in your life, and you can’t do something with it,” she said. “But I did do something with it.”

Source: Valley Citizen, 6/24/10. Author: Mike Polhamus

TARGHEE OPENS FOR THE SUMMER NEXT WEEKEND!

2010-06-17T09:29:00.005-06:00

The folks at Grand Targhee announced their Summer Opening next weekend. Here's clip from their press release;

"Looks like the weather tides are turning this week, perfect timing for the opening of the summer season next weekend. The Dreamcatcher Chairlift will run from 10 am to 4 pm daily starting Saturday, June 26. Accessibility to trails will depend on snowmelt - we will let you know how it's looking next week. Downhill trails won't be open, but XC riding could be good in Rick's Basin."

For more information on activities and events at Grand Targhee, go to their online magazine.

Glenn Beck to headline July 4th Celebrations in Teton Valley

2010-05-27T09:39:00.001-06:00

re-posted from the Valley Citizen article dated May 26, 2010, by Jeannette Boner

David Huntsman, one of three partners in the Huntsman Springs development, confirmed Tuesday that nationally-acclaimed radio and television political pundit Glenn Beck will be headlining the July Fourth weekend celebrations in Teton Valley.

“We’re excited to have him and he’s excited to be here,” Huntsman said.

Beck’s “The Glenn Beck Program,” three-hour radio program is currently America’s third highest-rated national talk show. As the newest member of the Fox News Channel, he recently launched his television program aptly titled “Glenn Beck.”

see the full article at http://valleycitizen.com/stories_news_detail.php?pkStories=196

Targhee expansion deadline extended

2010-05-19T12:05:00.000-06:00

Posted: Thursday, May 13, 2010 9:35 am | Updated: 11:28 am, Thu May 13, 2010.

Lisa Nyren, Teton Valley News

Teton County Wyo. Commissioners last week granted Grand Targhee Resort an extension on its proposed expansion.

Commissioners voted to extend the expiration of the resort's master plan until Feb. 4, 2013, a year sooner than applicant and resort owner Geordie Gillett had requested.

The board originally approved the expansion project in 2008, with a set master plan expiration date of Feb. 4, 2011.

The George Gillett family proposed expansion plans more than five years ago. On the western slope of the Tetons, the ski area sits at about 8,000 feet and is surrounded by national forest and wildlands that are home to grizzlies, wolverines and other rare species.

The resort now contains 96 lodging units that are rented to guests and it has limited commercial space.

With the 2008 approval, the Gilletts can have as many as 450 units, including employee housing, on site. Most of those units, 360, must be designed as short-term lodging. Grand Targhee may also build 150,000 square feet of space for commercial and resort services, amenities and support uses.

Thirty-six conditions were put upon the 2008 approval.

To contact Lisa Nyren e-mail editor@tetonvalleynews.net.

Victor gets Music on Main

2010-04-20T10:50:00.000-06:00

Teton Valley News
Posted: Thursday, April 15, 2010 10:49 am | Updated: 11:52 am, Thu Apr 15, 2010.

On Tuesday, April 13, the Teton Valley Foundation Board of Directors voted unanimously to present the 2010 Music on Main concert series at Victor City Park in downtown Victor, pending Victor's approval of the necessary city ordinances.

According to a press release issued Thursday morning, "this decision was made following a thorough review of the proposals and subsequent clarification of details of each proposal. This decision was not taken lightly; therefore additional time was needed for the board to make a fully informed decision."

For the past few months, the Teton Valley Foundation has been considering sites in Driggs and Victor, and last month suggested the possibility of having the concert series split between the two cities, with three weeks in Driggs and three weeks in Victor.

Music on Main began in Driggs at the site where the Colter building now stands. Last year, Driggs officials dug up the parking lot in front of the city building, put grass down and hosted the concerts on city property.

"We want to thank Mayor Dan Powers, Mayor Scott Fitzgerald, the Driggs and Victor City Councils, and all the staff and committee members for the time and effort they put in to creating several excellent proposals for Music on Main venues," said TVF Executive Director, Jeff Potter. "We also thank everyone involved for their patience and understanding throughout this process. A final decision was delayed until now because we felt we owed it to the City of Driggs, our gracious host for the first four seasons of Music on Main, additional time to seek clarity on some critical issues."

"Victor City Park is a beautiful, grassy park with ample space to accommodate the growing crowds at Music on Main," Potter said. "Victor City Park is centrally located near businesses, has adequate on-site facilities for producing the concerts, requires no capital improvements, and is a long-term location that is not subject to development or potential changes in use. Based on the proposals submitted and the details that were identified throughout the process, we are confident that this is the best decision for the continued growth and success of the Music on Main Concert Series."

"We look forward to seeing all the same familiar faces every Thursday, and hopefully many new ones, at the 2010 Music on Main Concert Series in Victor City Park beginning July 15."

Record Number of Visitors Enjoyed Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

2009-11-16T11:00:00.004-07:00

The National Park Service has reported record visitor numbers this year for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks.

The park service reports "Yellowstone National Park hosted a record number of visitors this summer. Nearly 2.3 million people came to the park during June, July and August, up 124,000 over the previous summer record of 2,173,371 set back in 1999."

"The West Entrance remains the park’s busiest, with 1,090,306 visitors for the year; and nearly 300,000 in August alone. The greatest percentage increase in visitation was again recorded through the East Entrance, up 16.3 percent from August 2008."

Grand Teton National Park also recorded an increase in visitors of over 9%.

Driggs Rated 20th in the Top 100 Adventure Towns by National Geographic

2009-10-14T09:13:00.003-06:00

The October 2009 issue of National Geographic's Adventure Magazine rates Driggs, Idaho in 20th position amongst the top 100 Adventure Towns in the US.

Incredibly, Driggs beat out Jackson Hole WY at 37th position!

Driggs lies in the middle of Teton Valley just 10 miles north of Trail Creek Crossing in Victor.

To review the full list, go to http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/weekend-getaways/best-adventure-towns-list/1

Not Just Another Mountain Town - Why Teton Valley Idaho is a hidden jewel in the Gem State

2009-07-10T09:21:00.003-06:00

Positioned on the western side at the foot of the Teton Range, Teton Valley Idaho represents not one, but four superb mountain towns nestled in the midst of a steadfast rural, agricultural and ranching community.

At the northern end of the Valley lies the City of Tetonia, ID population 247 (2000 census). At the center of the Valley lies the City of Driggs, ID population 1,100 (2000 census).
At the eastern edge of the Valley lies the Town of Alta, WY population 400 (2000 census).
At the southern end of the Valley lies the City of Victor, ID population 840 (2000 census).

Each location offers a its own diverse flavor of mountain town living, centered around the principal theme – “…go outside and play…”

As you commute to your job during the week, or commute to your favorite park to play on the weekend, consider these Teton Valley facts;

1-2 minutes drive to: World Class Fly Fishing; Cross Country Skiing;
15-30 minutes drive to: Grand Targhee Resort; championship Golf; Hiking, Mountain Biking
15-45 minutes drive to: Upland Game + Bird Hunting;
30-45 minutes drive to: Jackson Hole WY; Grand Teton National Park;
90-120 minutes drive to: Yellowstone National Park

Ever considered shifting gears during your commute? National Geographic has. In April 2009, National Geographic announced that Driggs, ID would be the home of the first Geotourism Center in the US. Teton Valley lies within the Greater Yellowstone Region, and its selection as a center for sustainable tourism reinforces the beauty and significance of this region. Confused? Here’s a simple explanation of Geotourism provided by National Geographic. “Geotourism is the kind of travel that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.”

Teton Valley Idaho is evolving from a once predominantly rural/ag./ranch community into one that includes recreation based tourism. This transition has brought both public and private development projects.

Private development tends to garner ample media coverage, and Teton Valley’s growth has generated its fair share of News through large scale projects including the Grand Targhee Expansion; Huntsman Springs; Teton Springs; Teton Reserve; Teton Saddleback Vistas, among many others. Each of these projects reflect different phases of the development cycle, some are complete pending construction of homes on previously sold lots; some are being completed in phases; others are yet to break ground.

Public development has gained momentum over recent months and threatens to rival the pace of the private folks. Idaho Transportation Department’s investment in Scenic Byways during 2009 will work in parallel with National Geographic through the construction of the new Geotourism Center; Urban Renewal funds will see streetscape improvements constructed in Driggs; Teton Basin Ice + Recreation will soon commence construction on the new Ice Arena in Victor as soon as Steel is delivered, whilst the new Transit Facility will be constructed alongside the Ice Arena this summer.

Forward planning continues in Victor with the work of Envision Victor, an organization created following the receipt of a $100,000 grant from the Orton Family Foundation to guide the Community through a detailed planning process

“Envision Victor seeks to implement a new kind of planning in our City, a process that is focused on engaging our citizens, bridging our divisions, and honoring our shared values, in order to realize a vibrant and enduring Victor for years to come. The first phase of the project will last two years, but we hope it will continue well beyond.

The Goals and Objectives of Envision Victor are summarized as;
• Engage and connect all segments of the Victor community
• Describe and articulate the City’s Heart and Soul
• Enhance a sense of belonging
• Enact a new model of planning and decision making
• Develop a land use plan that incorporates visions and values of its citizens
• Strengthen the ability of the Citizens to integrate the ideas of the Citizens into tangible products such as transportation, capital improvements and main street plans

Construction will commence in mid July 2009 on a Bike Park in Victor. An initiative of non-profit Victor Velo, City of Victor has approved development of a bike park within the boundaries of Pioneer Park. An in‐town bike park is designed to pack as much fun as possible into a small space while teaching the youth of Victor Idaho about the lifetime sport of cycling. Victor Velo will begin the construction of a pump track & set of dirt jumps as the next step towards a multi‐discipline cycling facility unique to Southeast Idaho. A pump track is a cycling feature that looks similar to a skate board park, but made of dirt, and is designed to accommodate cyclists of all ages and skill levels.”
With so much activity on the horizon in an otherwise dark economic environment, it is imperative that growth Teton Valley is managed with the degree of stewardship deserving of the Greater Yellowstone Geotourism region.

With its many wildlife corridors and unspoiled vast wilderness areas, this delicate ecosystem, combined with unparalleled recreation has been seeking a way to harmonize with one another. Recent changes in City and County Planning Ordinances has cast a might tighter net across growth and will result in more intensive scrutiny of development proposed in designated wildlife corridors and wetland areas, potentially making development in those areas difficult and costly.

To learn more about Development + Business opportunities in the Teton Valley and Jackson Hole region, contact Meagan Hill, NAI Jackson Hole (307) 734-8700, meagan@naijacksonhole.com

To receive a copy of a power-point presentation detailing Teton Valley’s growth and supply, including economic changes, contact Julie Bryan, Broker/Owner of Windermere Real Estate/Teton Valley/Jackson Hole. jbryan@windermere.com 307-699-0205

Order or Download a copy of National Geographic’s Greater Yellowstone Geotourism Map at http://www.yellowstonegeotourism.org/order_yellowstone_mapguide.php

Download a copy of the Commonsense Guidelines to Living in Teton Valley at http://www.tetonvalleyadvocates.org/resources_handbooks.php

Written by Meagan Hill with contributions from Julie Bryan

10 Things That May Lie Ahead for Southern Idaho's Future - By Cynthia Sewell, Idaho Statesman

2009-06-25T12:35:00.001-06:00

Published: June 25, 2009

Between now and 2050, a researcher says we should expect a lot more people, new kinds of housing booms and changes in the way we work and play.

The Snake River corridor from Idaho Falls to Ontario could double in population over the next 40 years, a Utah researcher says.

A series of social, economic and financial trends will bring more people to southern Idaho and transform the region's housing market, said Arthur C. Nelson, a professor and director of the Metropolitan Research Center at the University of Utah.

The new people and aging commercial buildings will demand about $400 billion in construction between now and 2050, he estimates.

According to his eye-popping keynote speech, "Mega Trends of the Snake River Corridor," presented last week at the New West planning conference at Boise State, the roughly 350-mile-long stretch could become a series of metropolitan areas stitched together by the freeway and railway.

Nelson talked to the Statesman this week about the 10 things he thinks will shape Southern Idaho's future.

1. WESTWARD HO
Idaho and other Western states are projected to remain the nation's fastest-growing states.

2. QUALITY OF LIFE
Many seniors, families and young professionals will be looking for the same thing: slower pace, recreational opportunities, clean air and water.

3. CHANGING HOUSEHOLDS
Idaho's senior population and homes without children will increase.

4. MOBILE JOBS
Newcomers will bring their own jobs. Instead of moving to their job, people will choose where they want to live and bring their job with them via telecommuting, working from home and utilizing technology not available 20 years ago.

5. LONGER LIVES
Healthier lifestyles and better health care mean people will live longer. Already, insurance actuarial tables have been extended from 100 years to 120 years. Aging populations will have different housing and transportation needs.

6. SUBURBAN FLIGHT
In the past few decades people fled urban areas for isolated suburban living. Now people are breaking from the past and returning to cities to get out of their cars and enjoy amenities and services not found in suburbs.

7. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
The entire corridor is already connected by a freeway and a railway, providing necessary infrastructure for a cross-state and local public transportation network.

8. HOUSING FINANCES
Changes in lending practices will mean less demand for $1 million-plus homes and more demand for smaller homes on smaller lots and an increase in renters.

9. BETTER TECHNOLOGY
Communication improvements have improved regional social and economic networks.

10. GREEN MOVEMENT
More efficient water, energy, land-use and transportation practices will help ease growth's strain on natural resources, air and water quality, and farmland.

Development Costs Set to Rise in Jackson WY

2009-05-19T15:03:00.004-06:00

The Jackson Town Council is considering implementing a system that would see builders pay additional fees on commercial developments that do not meet new energy efficiency measures.

The system is intended to encourage builders to implement new energy efficiency measures into the design and construction of their buildings, in lieu of paying the additional fees.

Energy efficiency measures would generate credits with the total number of credits used to determine if additional fees are due.

Proposed Fees for Residential are:
- $4/sf for every foot above 2,500sf;
- $8/sf for every foot above 5,000sf.

Proposed Fees for Commercial are:
- $4/sf for every foot above 10,000sf, for buildings up to a max. of 20,000sf;
- $8/sf for every foot above 20,000sf for buildings over 20,000sf plus a $10,000 flat fee.

Source: Jackson Hole Daily, Monday May 18th 2009

490 Applications for 7 Affordable Homes in Jackson Hole

2009-04-28T09:45:00.003-06:00

Housing affordability continues to be a challenge for many residents of Jackson Hole as evidenced by the 490 applications received for 7 affordable homes in Wilson, at the base of Teton Pass.

Homes were priced between $155,000 and $233,000 placing them well within the range of housing options available in the Victor marketplace.

With limited land supply and a Draft Comprehensive Plan currently working through Public Consultation, Jackson Hole will continue to face challenges in addressing Affordable Housing.

With the bedroom community of Victor, ID just 20 minutes drive over the Pass from Wilson, home seekers have plenty of incentive to broaden their search.

Information Courtesy of Cara Froedge, Jackson Hole Daily.

Jackson Hole Ranks 3rd in the World for Adventure

2009-04-28T09:39:00.003-06:00

Tourism Review.com ranked Jackson Hole, WY 3rd in the World behind Valdez, AK and Vancouver, BC as an Adventure Sports Destination.

The article reads;
"Outdoor sports have become a massive hit in the last decades and people are thus searching for better places for their leisure activities. Over the years, certain places with particularly good access to rivers, mountains, surf, and other natural features have cultivated entire communities based on outdoor recreation."

Jackson Hole is the #1 destination in the Continental US and for many states, well within summer driving distance, making it also the #1 destination for your family vacation this year.

So stop by for a visit this summer. Call our office for advice in planning your trip.

National Geographic puts Valley on the Map

2009-04-28T09:29:00.002-06:00

National Geographic has released its newest geotoursim map guide, which features the Greater
Yellowstone Region. On that map lies a yet-to-be-built Greater Yellowstone Geotourism Center in Driggs. This gives Driggs a tourism endorsement from National Geographic that’s “worth its weight in gold,” said Chamber of Commerce President Reid Rogers, who is spearheading the initiative.

The map effort sparked an initiative by Rogers to establish a geotoursim center in Driggs. And though the center is on the map, it could be sometime before an actual building exists. Rogers explained that the Teton Scenic Byway Committee had similar goals to that of the geotourism map project. The byway committee, of which Rogers is a member, has received federal grant money for a gateway center for eastern Idaho. Since the project had similar goals, Rogers approached National Geographic and they agreed to endorse the project if they called it a regional center. Rogers said as far as actual construction of the building, National Geographic wouldn’t be responsible, but would provide several indoor exhibits such as an interactive Web station, a 3-D map of the Tetons and life-size maps and descriptions of geotourism.

But getting the actual building has several hurdles. Rogers said they are waiting to hear if they’ll receive grant money for a Community Development Block Grant. Part of that grant would provide money for some infrastructure needs that could potentially tear apart ground in front of the current city center. Rogers said they are also working with the Idaho Department of Transportation which is eligible for some funds to improve Highway 33 in 2011. Rogers said it would make sense to coordinate all those projects since they are nearly in the same spot. But now that the geotourism center is on the map, there “is more incentive to hurry,” he said. He said he hopes to possibly start construction by this fall.

Information courtesy of Rachael Horne, Teton Valley News.

Lodging Tax Receipts Up in Teton Valley

2009-04-10T08:43:00.002-06:00

Extract from the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Activity and Events Report –March, 2009

The state reported the status of lodging tax collection from July, 08 to January, 09. Much of the state was down in collections which is not a surprise given the current condition of the economy. The state forecasts a total decline in lodging revenue of 15% year on year (July 08 to January
09.)

For the above seven month period, however, four of the seven state regions posted overall declines. North Idaho and the two eastern Idaho regions posted a gain of which our region was the clear winner, up 2.26% overall. Of the tourism and regional hot spots, Coeur d 'Alene was up 1.82%, Ada County was down 12.97%, Valley County was down 6.20%, Teton County was up
10.92%, Bonneville County was up 1.83%, Blaine County was down 3.65%.

It is gratifying to see that the efforts the TVCC and our community have been putting forth did come back in a quantitative way and showed us that we are headed in the right direction.

Scott Fitzgerald - Victor's New Mayor

2009-02-23T15:47:00.001-07:00

Scott Fitzgerald has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Victor. The Mayor's position became available after long term Mayor Don Thompson moved out of the City area.

Welcome Scott!

Jennifer Zung Wins National Association of Women Business Owners, Business Woman of the Year - Idaho

2009-01-26T08:42:00.004-07:00

Jennifer Zung holds the National Association of Women Business Owners, Business Woman of the Year Award for Idaho.

Congratulations Jennifer!

Project Designer Nominated for State Business Award

2009-01-23T10:05:00.003-07:00

Jennifer Zung, owner of local small business Harmony Design and Engineering, was nominated for the Idaho Chapter's National Association of Women Business Owners, Business Woman of the Year. Zung is one of three finalists who will be traveling to Boise this weekend for the Gala Awards event.

Zung has grown her small, two-person business into an eightperson firm in little over two years. Harmony Design and Engineering has grown not only into a successful company but also a role model for community involvement and sustainable business practices. Zung serves on the Design Review Board for the City of Diggs and is a member of the Teton Valley Engineering Association. In addition to belonging to many local and regional organizations, Zung also donates her time to many local nonprofit organizations.

(Information courtesy of the Teton Valley News, Thursday January 22 2009)

Jennifer and her company have worked on the Trail Creek Crossing project, providing services including Master Planning, Civil Engineering, Landscape Design and Flood Plain Analysis.

Trail Creek Crossing wish Jennifer the best of luck at the Awards Ceremony this weekend.

Interest Rates Drop to 5.03% - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008-12-31T14:50:00.003-07:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 31, 2008) — The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 26, 2008.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 5.03 percent from 5.04 percent, with points increasing to 1.24 from 1.17 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.

Victor Receives a 2 Year, $100,000 Planning Grant

2008-12-30T10:54:00.002-07:00

"Victor, Idaho, may seem like a sleepy little town, but the Vermont-based Orton Foundation, recognizing the city’s unique qualities, has chosen Victor as one of four communities nationwide in which to pilot its Community Heart and Soul planning program.

With a $100,000 grant from the Orton Foundation and a matching commitment from the Victor City government, Victor is poised to engage in a planning process over the next two years that seeks to ensure smart, inclusive, community-oriented growth into the future.

The grant will fund a series of planning activities, create two part-time positions with the city, and develop implementable timelines for the vision that emerges from the planning process. The two-year grant, with possibility of an extension, will focus on providing a transportation plan, capital improvement plan, design guidelines for downtown and implementation schedules.

Main Street will receive particular attention as the heart of Victor and the most visible symbol of the city’s identity.As part of the matching contributions required by the foundation, the city will hire a part-time project coordinator and a part-time grant writer for the next two years."

By Rebecca Watters, Teton Valley News, Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Teton Valley History - Pierre's Hole

2008-12-29T16:06:00.004-07:00

Teton Valley was originally known as Pierre's Hole. Rich in beaver, it was a favorite stomping ground for British + American fur traders and trappers between 1819-1840.

Pierre's Hole was the scene of the annual rendezvous of mountain men and suppliers - The Great Rocky Mountain Fair - in 1932.

Teton Valley was permanently settled in 1882.

Information courtesy of Teton Scenic Byways.

Winter Construction Status

2008-12-12T13:18:00.008-07:00

With the first major winter storm for the 2008/2009 season bearing down on us this weekend, we are fortunate to have completed all of the concrete construction activities for this year.

A relatively mild Fall allowed us to work through mid November and complete our Concrete Footings + Foundation Walls without hindrance from snow.

At this time, we have prepared the entire job site for the winter conditions. We are now busy having sub-contractors bid on the various segments of construction that will occur next year.

With the New Year just around the corner, it's time to reflect on the #1 milestone achieved by the project team in 2008....

#1 Milestone - CONSTRUCTION!

After days, weeks and months of planning, design, entitlements and meetings, meetings, meetings, meetings, there is one single milestone that provides an enormous level of satisfaction to each and every member of the project team - CONSTRUCTION!

That which has been visualized 1,000's of times through sketches, spec. books, elevations and sections is now reality. The Concrete Footings + Foundation Walls shown in this picture and visible to every person that passes by the job site, reveal just how big and majestic this project will be.

Introducing - Nery Ortiz - Architectural Drafter - Dubbe-Moulder Architects

2008-12-01T10:08:00.003-07:00

Nery Ortiz received her Architectural Drafting degree in 2001, applying her skills at two design firms before starting her career at Dubbe-Moulder Architects in 2004. Nery’s commitment to detail and consistency has led her to become a valuable member of the team. Her ability to adapt to any assignment and her capacity to work in a team driven environment has led to the success of many projects, including Trail Creek Crossing.

Raised in Teton Valley, Idaho, Nery grew up with the grandeur of the mountains in her backyard. She has participated heavily in both skiing and snowboarding, starting at a very young age. Her love of the outdoors is not confined to snow sports, as she also loves to fish.

Nery was a member of the first Teton High School female soccer team, and hopes that someday the Teton Valley will offer a women’s soccer league to any takers. Her competitive spirit would surely make this type of endeavor a success!

Introducing - Clayton Davis - Project Manager - Dubbe-Moulder Architects

2008-11-21T15:43:00.003-07:00

Clayton Davis’ role as Project Manager for the Trail Creek Crossing development has given him a chance to show off both his design talent and his leadership skills. His prior experience has included historic renovation and preservation projects, custom homes, and land planning projects.

Clayton’s love of the outdoors propelled him to complete a solo trek to both Annapurna and Mt. Everest Base Camp. Originally from Pennsylvania, he arrived in Idaho’s Teton Valley in 2005 searching for world-class powder. Like most skiers that come here, he was not disappointed! In addition to skiing, mountaineering, backpacking and white water canoeing, Clayton also finds occasion to jump on his mountain bike and traverse the many trails here in Teton Valley.

When this former Eagle Scout finds “down time”, he can be identified by his faded and beat up Philadelphia Phillies ball cap and a tattered Hawaiian shirt. His life was recently made even more worth living when he witnessed the victory of the Phillies over the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series. When they do it again in another 28 years, Clayton will more than likely be found celebrating under a swath of gray hair on Long Beach Island.

Introducing - Ben Weisbeck - Architectural Drafter - Dubbe-Moulder Architects

2008-11-14T18:45:00.004-07:00

Ben Weisbeck’s vocational background is based in the construction field. From pouring concrete to framing, his exposure to the build process has run the gamut. After having achieved his Bachelor Degree in Architectural Technology, Ben is now driven to pursue the design side of the design-build industry.

Since starting at Dubbe-Moulder Architects in July of 2007, Ben has been assigned to multiple high end residential projects in addition to tackling drafting work for Trail Creek Crossing. During his employment at DMA, he has demonstrated admirable problem solving skills and an innate ability to communicate effectively at all levels of a project.

Originally from Upstate New York, Ben started cross country skiing at the age of 3, while he managed to work his way into downhill by the time he was 7. The motivating factor for him to move to Jackson Hole was to “experience some of the best skiing in the lower 48”. Unfortunately for Ben, he sustained a case of tendonitis to his ankle during his very first ski season in Jackson Hole. This battle wound brings him one step closer to becoming a local.

Introducing - Kurt Dubbe - Principal - Dubbe-Moulder Architects

2008-11-14T18:41:00.003-07:00

After almost thirty years in the architectural industry, Kurt Dubbe has established himself as a key player in the Jackson Hole, Wyoming architectural community. In addition to maintaining his role as principal at Dubbe-Moulder Architects for over ten years, his passion for historic preservation has led him to be assigned as the Wyoming advisor for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Kurt turns a critical eye toward the character of the building, sustainability issues, and budgetary limitations. Having completed hundreds of projects throughout his career, he is well-versed in guiding interdisciplinary teams through complex and unique project related issues. This ability has proven especially critical on the mixed-use development of Trail Creek Crossing.

When Kurt is not focused on his vocation, he likes to enjoy a tasty microbrew. Additionally, he is adept at woodworking and has been designing and constructing his own furniture for years.

Engineering System Solutions - Our Design Engineers

2008-11-10T13:13:00.002-07:00

Engineering System Solutions unites multiple engineering disciplines to create a higher quality product for our clients. ES2 provides the following consulting services: Structural, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical Engineering. These services are performed in-house providing clients with a greater opportunity to put more of what makes ES2 great into each project. With collaborative efforts between disciplines, ES2 has found that including multiple disciplines within a project further accommodates the needs and wants of the client. The needs and wants of the client can also be met in a timely fashion due to the collaborative efforts in-house. Additionally, if a client needs questions answered, they only have to call one company – ES2.

ES2 is again a pioneer in the engineering industry. In conjunction with the various consulting services mentioned above, ES2 offers in-house Structural Steel Detailing. Structural Steel Detailing allows ES2 to collaboratively and collectively design the structural aspects of a project, while completing the Structural Steel Detailing. Practical and cost-savings construction methods, RFI elimination, and more accurate bids are few advantages this program offers clients.

Combining services is just one more way to provide Value, Quality, and Service to clients. Earning business, trust, and loyalty from clients is the ultimate goal and what ES2 strives for on a daily basis.

Photo Names (from L to R): David Porter, Hugh Staiger, Markell Bateman, Justin Judy, Kelden Boren.

Introducing Kelden Boren, Electrical Engineer - Engineering System Solutions

2008-11-07T12:24:00.004-07:00

Name: Kelden “fre$h” Boren

Role:

- Electrical Engineering Principal for 2-1/2 years at ES2

Experience:

- 8 years of electrical engineering

- 12 years as a Licensed Journeyman electrician, involved in the electrical construction trade

Responsibilities:

- Electrical design of Trail Creek Crossing including; power distribution, site lighting design and photometric study

Other Skills

- LEED Accredited Professional who has completed several LEED buildings and enjoys helping with “green” design

Past Work Experience:

- mixed use commercial/residential buildings

- shopping centers

- retail stores

- medical buildings

- custom residences

Other Interesting Info:

- In my previous life I worked on the design of several buildings for the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park

- I am the biggest Cleveland Indians fan in Idaho – Go Tribe!

Friends of the Teton River Partner with Stakeholders to Restore Trail Creek

2008-11-07T12:18:00.005-07:00

Reproduced with permission from Friends of the Teton River.

If you have difficulty viewing this image, please contact us for an email copy.

Progress Report - Concrete Footings + Foundations

2008-10-23T15:06:00.003-06:00

R+M Concrete are nearing the end of their work building the concrete footings and foundation walls. Today's progress photos show sections of wall covered in blankets. These walls were poured on Tuesday and once the intial concrete strength test is completed, forms will be removed and blankets reinstated until design strength is achieved.

We expect to complete the Concrete by mid-November.

Glenn Hudson, Project Superintendent, Larkspur Construction Inc.

2008-10-23T14:55:00.005-06:00

Over the past 3 months, Glenn Hudson has been our 'go to guy', managing the construction activities in the field.

Glenn brings over 30 years of construction experience on projects throughout the US including a Titanium Plant; Roads + Bridges; Rapid Transit (Subway Systems); Wastewater Treatment Plants; Cogeneration Plants (Energy Sector); Coal Mine Development; and several Residential Home Remodel's.

Steady Interest in Sales + Leasing

2008-10-01T12:14:00.003-06:00

Trail Creek Crossing is pleased to report a steady flow of interest in the sales and leasing of commercial space.

From the encouraging feedback we have received so far, it is clear that our local business owners have a solid understanding of market cycles; they understand the importance of business planning; and they are excited about the chance to be part of a new location where they can gain from the synergies created by clustering several businesses under one roof.

Existing Jackson Hole, Idaho Falls and Rexburg businesses recognize that many of their current and future customers reside in Teton Valley and therefore having a place of business in Teton Valley gives them the best opportunity to service their customers.

Concrete Foundation Work Commences

2008-09-12T12:59:00.006-06:00

Concrete is here!!!!

Over the past 2 weeks the team at R+M Concrete have begun the task of forming, reinforcing and placing concrete in the foundations at the south of the building. R+M will move on to foundation walls over the next week, before repeating the sequence in the center and eastern wings.

Here's a movie clip of R+M Concrete's team in action.

Building Pad Completed

2008-08-27T16:46:00.004-06:00

The Building Pad is completed, compacted and ready for foundations!

Over the past 2 weeks, we have brought in many loads of gravel, compacted and repeated in 8" layers. Our Engineers have conducted field tests on the compacted material and we are now moving onto our concrete scope of works.

Meanwhile in the background, out of sight, work is proceeding on the detailing and fabrication of the structural steel.

Tin Cup Challenge

2008-08-27T16:34:00.004-06:00

A few weeks back, the Community Foundation of Teton Valley held the very first Tin Cup Challenge. The event held on Saturday July 19th 2008 was the culmination of the Valley's fund-raising efforts for local non-profits.

Over 400 people participated in events held on the day including a marathon, half-marathon, 10km, 5km and diaper derby races.

Just this week the Community Foundation of Teton Valley held the Non-Profit Award Presentation evening and announced that the Tin Cup Challenge had raised over $900,000! This was an incredible achievement for the first year of the event.

Congratulations to the Community Foundation of Teton Valley, Volunteers and Race Participants for a tremendous event.

Why Build a Mixed-Use Development?

2008-08-22T09:17:00.008-06:00

Mixed-Use Development is a term used to describe buildings that incorporate more than one type of occupancy. These types can include residential, office, retail, wholesale, and many others.

In the early parts of our history, mixed-use development was a very common form of construction commonly found on Main Street's in every town and city where a shopkeeper would have their residence immediately above their place of business.
With the invention of the motor car, the need to live in close proximity to your place of business diminished and thus the evolution of suburbia.

There are good and bad aspects of every type of development. We have all had the opportunity to experience the less positive aspects of surburban living as we sit idle in traffic during our daily commute. For those fortuntate to live in Teton Valley, this experience will be unfamiliar. And therein lies the key to the selection of Mixed-Use Development for this project.

Teton Valley is a place of extraordinary natural beauty. It is one of the last places in the US that does not 'feature' an interstate motorway connecting suburbia with various places of business. As members of the Teton Valley community, it is our responsibility to embrace the beauty and amenity available, and ensure that 'growth' is managed in a sustainable fashion.

There are a number of key sustainable benefits in building a Mixed-Use Development;

minimizing vehicle trips - by positioning commercial services within walking distance of home and businesses, people are less likely to use their car to run errands.

exercise - hopefully I haven't shocked anyone yet, however, reducing small vehicle trips lends itself to walking between errands, perhaps even using stairs, all simple forms of exercise that had been lost in our past car centered habits

communication - when we step out of the time capsule that is our SUV or truck we create the opportunity to meet/greet/communicate with our neighbors

safety/security - one less vehicle on the road is one less chance of a traffic accident, equally, buildings which feature a constant level of activity involving people moving in and around places of business provides an inherent level of surveillance.

carbon footprint - it took 5 points before I hit specificially on the 'green' stuff. A multi-storey building has a smaller footprint on the earth which reduces the amount of earth disturbed in construction and associated landscaping. These elements reduce the amount of heat that is rejected from impervious surfaces thereby reducing the contribution to global warming; also, multi-storey buildings offer energy efficiencies by integrating building systems and realising the compound benefit of successive insulated floors which ultimately reduces carbon emissions;

density - slightly higher densities provide the critical mass that our public infrastructure yearns for in an effort to support public transportation

......many more......

So, these are some of the reasons to build a mixed-use development. There are a number of other benefits that we will talk about in future posts.

Excavation + Compaction of the Building Pad

2008-08-15T11:03:00.006-06:00

In late July our Contractors worked to clear undergrowth and unstable surface material ready for excavation to begin.

Now, our Contractors are working through a detailed sequence of layering and compacting the earth in order to prepare the Building Pad for construction of the foundations.

In keeping with our Environmental Plan, Contractors are have a water truck passing over the work site to keep the dust under control during these warm and breezy summer days.

Work Commences at Trail Creek Crossing!

2008-07-24T10:25:00.005-06:00

Work has commenced on the construction of Trail Creek Crossing's first building.

Contractors began with the installation of Erosion and Sediment controls including silt fence and wattles. These controls are required by the Environment Protection Agency, and are used to prevent construction debris from contaminating nearby waterways.

Large equipment is being used to remove surface growth material and top soil in preparation for the detailed excavation of foundations.

Teton County Fire District - Training Day

2008-07-24T10:14:00.003-06:00

On July 12th, Teton County Fire District took the opportunity to use the old house on the Trail Creek Crossing property for a day long Training Exercise. The Live Fire Training Exercise focused on fire attack skills; horizontal ventilation skills; drafting skills and leadership.

Once the tactical training exercises were completed, the Fire District burned the entire house. Fire Chief Mike Hoyle noted that the house was fully engulfed within 10 minutes of the fire commencing.

For those of us observing the exercise it was frightening to see how quickly a home can be taken by fire. If you don’t already have a fire management plan in place for your house, please make it a priority. Keep a defensible space around your property; keep a fire extinguisher and fire blanket accessible inside your house and most importantly, make sure your family knows what to do.

Special thanks to the dedication and commitment of the volunteers at the Teton County Fire District.

New blog

2008-07-23T21:59:00.000-06:00

Teton Land Development Group is proud to present a new addition to their website in the form of a blog which will be updated with news and information about the developments of the Trail Creek Crossing site in Victor, Idaho.