Idaho National Laboratory
In 2019, Idaho National Laboratory will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of nuclear energy research and innovation in Idaho.
In 1949, the Atomic Energy Commission selected the eastern Snake River Plain as the location for the National Reactor Testing
Station (NRTS) and its mission of understanding how to harness the power of the atom for peaceful use. That year, on the Idaho
desert, the entirely new industry of commercial nuclear energy was born.
As we observe that anniversary in the midst of a worldwide nuclear energy resurgence,
INL is poised to double down on the mission that began all those years ago. Two reactors
that helped drive innovation over the decades will continue the work: the Transient Reactor
Test Facility (TREAT), built in 1959, and the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), built in 1967.
While these existing test reactors have steady users, INL’s status as a site to demonstrate
new reactor concepts has gained traction. Licensing activities continued for the Carbon Free
Power Project, a small modular reactor (SMR) collaboration between NuScale Power and Utah
Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS). If the team’s plan comes to fruition, the first
SMR plant in the nation could be operating at the INL Site by the mid-2020s.
Doug Andrus Distributing Company
Doug Andrus Distributing is a quality-minded company that was organized in 1937 by Doug and
Veatrice Andrus during a time when succeeding at anything depended on long and difficult
hours of work. The company, which had grown to 6 trucks was purchased by two of their sons,
Doug and Heber, in the mid 70’s. They were raised with the philosophy that hard work, making
smart decisions, and surrounding themselves with quality people could bring success, even in tough times.
The company, based in Idaho Falls, ID has grown to its current size of over 270 trucks and
500 trailers and provides service to customers throughout the United States and Western
Canada. The third generation of Andrus is now involved and is managing the operations of
the company. The words “Always Ready to Serve You” have been at the heart of the company
since its inception.
Bank of Commerce
The Bank of Commerce was opened on August 3, 1959 in Idaho Falls, Idaho by a group of
local businessmen who felt there was a strong need for a community bank in this area to
serve small businesses and the agricultural sector. In 2018, their employees donated
over 8,100 hours to community causes and are committed to staying engaged in the
communities they serve.
The group pooled $8 Million in capital to fund their vision. Today, the bank has grown
to over $1 Billion in assets, serves over 26,000 customers and employs over 200 people.
The main branch of the bank was located at 1020 Northgate Mile. Since then, several
branches have opened across Southeastern Idaho, including Idaho Falls, Shelley, Rigby,
Ririe, Mud Lake, Rexburg, Driggs, Blackfoot, Pocatello, American Falls and Dillon, Montana.
The Bank of commerce has earned a five-star rating from Bauer Financial for 29 consecutive
years and has been called one of the strongest banks in the nation by Money magazine, a
rare designation requiring strict standards for equity, profitability, liquidity and
problem loans. Additionally, The Bank is consistently rated in the Top 100 Banks in
Agricultural Lending nationwide (Source: FDIC statistics).
Colonial Theater/Paramount Theater
Local historian, Terry Miller, is involved in a commemorative 100 anniversary book to be
published regarding the old Paramount Theater, now the Colonial Theater. He provides the
following information.
Owned by prominent local doctor C. M. Cline, financed by the Farmers and Merchants
Bank of Idaho Falls and built by the North Pacific Construction company, work began
in 1918 and by November 10th of the following year, the curtain rose on the $175,000
Colonial Theater billed as the “biggest and finest theater in Idaho.” By the late 1920s,
Vaudeville and touring stage companies were dying and so was the Colonial’s original focus.
The stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression ended local ownership when Fox
studios bought the theater and changed its focus, appearance, and name. Outside the
horizontal “Colonial” marquee became the vertical “Paramount” – a name that spotlight
the facility for the next 60 years.
Everything old is new again was the theme of the building with new owners, more
remodeling, upgrading of fixtures and equipment in 1940, and 1953. The houselights
went dark in 1989, the roof leaked, the furnishing rotted, it was home to hundreds of
pigeons and there was talk of demolition and creation of a parking lot.
In 1994, Dick Clayton, St., and his son Steve donated the theater to the Idaho Falls Arts
Council, a private nonprofit organization, which launched a successful $4.2 million dollar
campaign and renovated the theater and the adjacent buildings into a visual and performing
arts center for the region. On March 13, 1999, the renovated 988-seat Colonial Theater
reopened to the public. Today, the Colonial Theater is one of three large theaters of
historical significance which still remain in Idaho. In 2014 alone, the Colonial Theater
played host to over 25,000 patrons. The centennial season of the theater will begin this
fall of 2019, with a year-long series of special events and performances.