2013 | SPONSORED BY THE TWIN FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SOUTHERN IDAHO TOURISM

livability.com/twin-falls/id

Southernidaho

Cream of the CropChobani yogurt plant means big business

WATER YOUTHINKING River lures boaters, paddlers & anglers

FORE EVERMORE

Golfers tee off at a dozen local courses

http://www.visitidaho.org

http://www.visitsouthidaho.com

http://www.southernidaho.org

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 3

CONTENTS

Things to Do12 Recreation WaterYouthinking SnakeRiverluresboaters, paddlersandanglers.

16 Golf Foreevermore Golfersteeoffatadozen localcourses

20 Arts & Culture Pleasingtotheeyes, ears&Soul

22 Sports & Recreation takeitallin

24 Local Flavor SuperSelections

ontheCoverResidents take to the Snake River with their paddleboards and kayaks in Burley. Photo by Todd Bennett

12

9 Welcome to Southern Idaho An introduction to the community

Southernidaho

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 3

GetthediGitaLMaGaZineIt's loaded with links to more great info about Southern Idaho! Telling your community’s unique story has never been so easy.

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE TWIN FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SOUTHERN IDAHO TOURISM

livability.com/twin-falls/id

Southernidaho

Cream ofthe CropChobani yogurt plant

means big business

WATER YOUTHINKINGRiver lures boaters,

paddlers & anglers

FORE

EVERMOREGolfers tee off at a

dozen local courses

TakE iT wiTh yOu

Easily share an interesting article, stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook, Twitter or via email.

CliCk arOuNd

Click on the web addresses in the copy to enjoy immediate access to each website.

SprEad ThE NEwS

Broadcast your community's positive image by placing the magazine on your website, blog or newsletter.

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L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 5

2013edition voLuMe8

Content Director|LisaBattlesContributing Writers|BarbaraBiehler,CaryEstes,

JoeMorris,BraxtonShoop,CarolStuartContent Coordinator|JessicaWalker

Staff Writer|KevinLitwinProofreading Manager|RavenPetty

Lead Designer|EricaLampleySenior Graphic Designers|StaceyAllis,

LauraGallagher,KrisSexton,JakeShores,VikkiWilliams

Graphic Designers|KaraLeiby,KaceyPassmoreCreative Technology Analyst|BeccaAry

Lead Photographer|ToddBennettSenior Photographers|JeffAdkins,BrianMcCord

Staff Photographers|MichaelConti,MartinB.CherryColor Imaging Technician | AlisonHunter

Integrated Media Manager|WillZanetisSales Support Project Manager|SaraQuint

Ad Production Manager|KatieMiddendorfAd Traffic Assistants|KrystinLemmon,PatriciaMoisan

Web Project Manager|DavidDayDigital Project Manager|JillRidenour

Web Development Lead|YamelHallWeb Designer II|RichardStevens

Web Product Manager|JohnHood

Chairman|GregThurmanPresident/Publisher|BobSchwartzman

Executive Vice President|RayLangenSenior V.P./Sales|ToddPotter

Senior V.P./Client Development|JeffHeefnerSenior V.P./Operations|CaseyHester

V.P./Sales|JarekSwekoskyV.P./Content Operations|NatashaLorens

Audience Development Director|DeannaNelsonCreative Services Director|ChristinaCarden

Distribution Director|GarySmithPhotography Director|JeffreyS.Otto

Web Services Director|AllisonDavis

Controller|ChrisDudleySenior Accountant| LisaOwens

Accounts Payable Coordinator|MariaMcFarlandAccounts Receivable Coordinator|DianaGuzman

IT Director|DanielCantrell

Executive Secretary|KristyDuncanHuman Resources Manager|PeggyBlake

Receptionist|LindaBishop

Livability Southern IdahoispublishedannuallybyJournalCommunicationsInc.andisdistributed

throughtheTwin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce anditsmemberbusinesses.

Foradvertisinginformationortodirectquestionsorcommentsaboutthemagazine,contact

JournalCommunicationsInc.at(615)771-0080orbyemailatinfo@jnlcom.com.

Formoreinformation,contact:Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

858 Blue Lakes Blvd. North • Twin Falls, ID 83301Phone: (208) 733-3974 • Fax: (208) 733-9216

www.twinfallschamber.com

visitLivability Southern Idahoonlineatlivability.com/twin-falls/id

©Copyright2012JournalCommunicationsInc.,725CoolSpringsBlvd.,Suite400,Franklin,TN37067,(615)771-0080.Allrightsreserved.Noportionofthis

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CONTENTS

Living 26 Neighborhoods FindYourPace SouthernIdaholiving canbeurban,rural &everythinginbetween

30 Sports aFamilyaffair Passionforhigh schoolsports bridgesgenerations

35 Education Smartapproach

37 Health CaringCommunity

39 CommunityProfile

Business42 Working Here itallWorksout Regionaleconomy maintainssteadygrowth

44 Development CreamoftheCrop Chobaniyogurtplant meansbigbusiness

47 Chamber Report hammertime

49 economicProfile

30

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

plEaSE rECyClE ThiS magaziNE

Southernidaho

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 5

http://www.firstfd.com

CONTENTSlivability.com/twin-falls/id

Visit the website for more great photos and stories about Southern Idaho.

Livability.com Follow us @livability Like us at facebook.com/livability Follow us at pinterest.com/livability

Things To Do Find the must-do attractions, activities and dining in Southern Idaho.

LivingLearn about Southern Idaho’s schools, health care, education and neighborhoods.

BusinessGet info on top employers, jobs and success stories in Southern Idaho.

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE TWIN FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SOUTHERN IDAHO TOURISM

livability.com/twin-falls/id

Southernidaho

Cream ofthe CropChobani yogurt plant means big business

WATER YOUTHINKINGRiver lures boaters, paddlers & anglers

FORE EVERMORE

Golfers tee off at a dozen local courses

digital magazine

Read it online and quickly share articles with friends.

FaCtSGet data fast on population, climate, workforce, cost of living and more.

PhoTos anD viDeos

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 9

aT a glaNCE

Natural blessings and a comfortable pace make Southern Idaho the perfect refuge from the challenges of larger metropolitan areas.

dEEp rOOTS iN agriCulTurEAs evidenced by its jaw-dropping

scenery, Southern Idaho is a favored child to Mother Nature. Yet, she had some help when it came to capitalizing on the region’s abundant agricultural commodities.

Southern Idaho began as an agricultural center when in 1893, entrepreneur I.B. Perrine convinced private financiers to build a dam on the Snake River along with a corresponding canal system to irrigate the area. This work culminated in the 1900 founding of the Twin Falls Land and Water Co. and the subsequent completion of Milner Dam in 1905. The City of Twin Falls served those pioneering farmers who homesteaded the irrigated lands of the fertile Snake River Plain.

pErFECT BlENd OF amENiTiESThe same vision, ambition,

imagination and hard work of those pioneers lives on in the region’s business community – from the large food-processing company to the small mom-and-pop shop. As a result, Southern Idaho has grown into one of the world’s most productive farming regions – an area that comprises several rural towns along with the small urban center of Twin Falls.

Positive and progressive thinking, insightful community planning and welcoming, friendly people have encouraged healthy growth while preparing wisely for additional expansion. Meanwhile, residents enjoy world-class outdoor recreation in one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the country.

It all adds up to a perfect balance for living, working and playing.

Southern IdahoA qUICK, COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Minidoka

Buhl

Gooding

Hagerman

Burley

Jerome

Rupert

NEVADA UTAH

to Hailey to Sun Valley

Jackpot

Twin Falls

Albion

Heyburn

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TWIN FALLS

LINCOLN

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiONtwinFallsareaChamberofCommerce

858 Blue Lakes Blvd. North Twin Falls, ID 83301 phone: (208) 733-3974Fax: (208) 733-9216

www.twinfallschamber.com

lOCaTiONLocated in Southern Idaho, 130 miles from Boise, Twin Falls is best known for Shoshone Falls, the Niagara of the West. Due to its location, Twin Falls also boasts a thriving agriculture-based economy and outdoor adventures.

pOpulaTiON

44,564

aNNual raiNFall

9”

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy Boise, 130 miles Salt Lake City, Utah, 224 miles Reno, N.V., 454 miles

National Average: 30”

Twin Falls made Livability.com’s list of

top10 deathdefyingCities.

aCCoLade

Southern Idaho

TimE zONE

Mountain

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 9

Sightseeing

gO CruiSiNg

Covering nearly 70 miles through the Snake River Canyon,thousandSpringsScenicByway stretches between Hagerman and Twin Falls. Those who take the drive can spot several natural springs: Hagerman Fossil Beds, Malad Gorge, Shoshone Falls and more.

Hiking

TraVErSE ThE TrailS

CratersoftheMoonnationalMonument&Preserve has nine hiking trails for guests to explore the surreal scenery on foot. The longest trail, Wilderness Trail to Echo Crater, covers eight miles, while the shortest, Spatter Cones, only spans a tenth of a mile.

Food

diNE wiTh a ViEw

Known for its gorgeous Rim views, the Canyonridge is home to restaurants perfect for taking it all in including Elevation 486 and the Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center. Diners can enjoy entrees such as steaks, seafood and pasta at both restaurants.

Sweet Treat

graB a BiTE

People love the ShoshoneSnackBar‘s famous mile-high soft serve ice cream cones. Open daily, the eatery also serves up other standard grill fare such as burgers, corn dogs, burritos, french fries and tater tots for diners in search of a whole meal.

thinGStodoSouthern Idaho’s must-do attractions, activities and dining

Take a LeapThe PerrineBridge in Twin Falls spans the Snake River Canyon 486 feet above the canyon floor, making it an ideal place to BASE jump. Scared to go it alone? Grab a partner and try tandem BASE jumping.

10 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 11

Racing

FEEl ThE ruSh

MagicvalleySpeedway in Twin Falls presents NASCAR-sanctioned racing weekly during the spring and summer. The quarter-mile track is open to stock car racing, trailer races and more. The speedway also hosts parties in its Pepsi Pavilion.

Fishing

gO FiSh

Drop a line into the Snakeriver to catch smallmouth bass, white sturgeon and steelhead trout, among others. Additional top local fishing spots include Crystal Lake, Salmon Falls Reservoir and Oakley Reservoir.

ThiNgS TO dO

Cycling

SpiN yOur whEElS

Southern Idaho’s many bike trails winding through beautiful scenery make it ideal for cyclists. Those who prefer to bike with friends can join the SouthernidahoCyclingKlub, which embarks on group rides on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m.

Rockclimbing

rEaCh FOr ThE STarS

Cityofrocksnationalreservehas long been a favorite for rockclimbers from throughout the world. Meanwhile climbers can take climbing lessons at the adjacent CastlerocksStatePark, the state’s newest park.

Treat Your EyesShoshoneFalls, often called the “Niagara of the West,” is 212 feet high – actually 45 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Besides seeing the falls, visitors can enjoy the hiking trails and playgrounds at the Shoshone Falls/Dierkes Lake Complex nearby.

10 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 11

SNAkE RIvER LuRES BoATERS, pADDLERS & ANGLERS

You ThinkingWater

ThiNgS TO dO

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 13

The executive director of the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce says she waterskied basically every summer day back in college, and it is still one of her favorite pastimes now that she is married with a family.

“The Snake River has always been my favorite place for outdoor fun,” Cameron says. “There are enough calm, smooth, ideal spots for waterskiing, with the prime season being June through August. And with the technology of wetsuits, I’m seeing more people on the river as early as May

and as late as September and October. River recreation is one of my favorite parts of living in Southern Idaho.”

Cameron says wakeboarding, jet skiing, canoeing and kayaking continue to grow in popularity.

“Fishing is another big attraction with bass fishing tournaments most weekends throughout the summer,” she says. “There are good catches of smallmouth bass as well as catfish, trout and carp. People even ice fish upriver at Lake Walcott during the winter months.”

When Kae Cameron smells the Russian olive trees in bloom, she knows summer has arrived – time for waterskiing the Snake River.

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 13

Burley

Hagerman

Kayakers enjoy a sunny afternoon cruise along the Snake River in Twin Falls.

SnakeriverSnakeriver

SnaPShot

For a more relaxing day on the

water, take a dinner cruise or river

tour on the Snake River Queen.

Twin Falls

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14 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 15

NaTural aSSETSThe 13th largest river in the

United States, the Snake River is critical to the multibillion-dollar agricultural industry here, but it also creates a steady stream of customers for other local businesses, too.

“We sell fun and are fortunate to be located only five minutes from the Snake,” says Carol Warr, a long-time resident and business manager for Idaho Water Sports in Burley. “Our company sells power boats, waterski equipment, wakeboard equipment and five different kinds of kayaks, and I personally like kayaking the best. I often start at the Perrine Bridge and kayak far upriver because people can’t take power boats up there. It’s so quiet – I often see fish jump.”

STaNdup paddlEBOardiNgWarr says a newer activity that

has become popular over the past year is riding standup paddleboards.

“Women especially like them,

with groups of women often paddling together for exercise because it’s a low-impact workout,” Warr says. “You stand on an 11-foot-long board and paddle along, going upriver and downriver without a lot of work involved. In fact, early-morning summer classes have popped up specifically to introduce people to standup paddleboarding.”

Warr adds that Idaho Water Sports arranges for professional instructional clinics on waterskiing and wakeboarding. The company also schedules several “demo days” that allow the community to try out items such as kayaks, wakeboards and standup paddleboards, and hosts an annual wakeboard competition, Wake in the Snake.

“Southern Idaho is lucky to have a gem like the Snake River, with its waterfalls, canyon vistas, sport fishing, and water for agriculture,” Warr says.

by Kevin Litwin, by staff photographer

Todd Bennett

“The Snake River has always been my favorite place for outdoor fun ... River recreation is one of my favorite parts of living in Southern Idaho.”

kaE CamErON,MINI-CASSIACHAMBER

OFCOMMERCE

Wakeboarding on the Snake River

Standup paddleboarding recently emerged as a river recreation trend.

SNAKE RIVER LURES BOATERS, PADDLERS & ANGLERS

You Thinking

WaterThe executive director of the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce says she waterskied basically every summer day back in college, and it is still one of her favorite pastimes now that she is married

with a family.“The Snake River has always been my

favorite place for outdoor fun,” Cameron says. “There are enough calm, smooth, ideal spots for waterskiing, with the prime season being June through August. And with the technology of wetsuits, I’m seeing

more people on the river as early as May

and as late as September and October. River recreation is one of my favorite parts of living in Southern Idaho.”Cameron says wakeboarding, jet skiing, canoeing and kayaking continue to grow in popularity.“Fishing is another big attraction with bass fishing tournaments most weekends throughout the summer,” she says. “There are good catches of smallmouth bass as well as catfish, trout and carp. People even

ice fish upriver at Lake Walcott during the winter months.”

W hen Kae Cameron smells the Russian olive trees in bloom, she knows summer has arrived – time for waterskiing the Snake River.

THINGS TO DO

l ivabil it y.com/ t win-fall s/id 13

Readitonlineoronyourtabletandquicklysharearticleswithfriends

digiTal magaziNE

14 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 15

ThiNgS TO dO

Hit a Long ShotGolfers at the CanyonSpringsGolfCourse, which is located in the Snake River Canyon, enjoy majestic canyon views while playing 18 holes. The club is open year round and challenges all players, no matter their skill level.

16 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 17

MAGIC vALLEY GoLF vENuES CoMBINE BEAuTY WITH CHALLENGING pLAY

EvermoreFore

“Golf is a popular sport throughout Idaho,” says Steve Meyerhoeffer, head golf professional and manager at Twin Falls Golf Club, which opened in 1939.

Meyerhoeffer describes the Twin Falls Golf Club course as “a nice bluegrass layout with 5,200 yards and a par 68,” adding “my favorite hole is No. 17, a 190-yard par-3 with a small, green trap on the left and out-of-bounds on the right. It’s very scenic.”

A Twin Falls native, Meyerhoeffer knows the local golf scene well. And prior to taking his current position in June 2011,

he served as golf pro for 16 years at Clear Lake Country Club in Buhl, an 18-hole, semi-private course that allows flyfishing in its 15-acre spring-fed lake across the street.

“Clear Lake is beautiful because it is situated in rolling hills along the Snake River, and offers great views thanks to its wildlife setting,” he says.

Besides managing local courses, he coaches the boys and girls golf teams at Twin Falls High School. The TFHS boys golf team won the Idaho state championship in 2011 and 2012, and

A golfer could play at a different course every day for nearly two weeks straight in Southern Idaho. A dozen distinctive courses await throughout the area, each

with unique features.

16 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 17

Top Tee DestinationBlueLakesCountryClub is a year-round, private 18-hole course located in the Snake River Canyon. Golfers enjoy scenic views of the Snake River as well as the Perrine Bridge, which stands over the course behind the fourth green.

18 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 19

is favored to win the 2013 title. The girls team finished second in the state in 2012, but has lost three players to graduation and is rebuilding in 2013, Meyerhoeffer says.

Twin Falls competes against high schools such as Burley, Jerome, Canyon Ridge, Minico and Wood River, then competes in the state tournament against traditional powers from Boise, Lewiston, Moscow and Pocatello.

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Take a SwingtwinFallsGolfClub golfers enjoy a warm sunny afternoon of play. Amenities at the club include PGA staff, a driving range, chipping and putting greens and a snack bar.

“The cost of play in Southern Idaho is reasonable, and the courses are always in good shape and are challenging.”

STEVE mEyErhOEFFEr, TWINFALLSGOLFCLuB

HEADGOLFPROFESSIONAL

FrOm TEE TO grEENAnother notable course, the

Canyon Springs Golf Course in the Snake River Canyon has stunning views along its 18-hole layout.

Meanwhile, Jerome Country Club, named “Readers Choice best course to play” by the Twin Falls Times-News, is open to the public, has PGA head professional, Troy Vitek, plus the Caddy Shack Restaurant & Bar.

Other courses throughout Southern Idaho include 18-hole Burley Golf Course and nine-hole Pebble Ponds Golf Course in Filer.

“The cost of play in Southern Idaho is reasonable, and the courses are always in good shape and challenging,” Meyerhoeffer says. “There was an overall attendance drop from 2008-2011 due to the economy, but 2012 has seen a reversal of those numbers. Let’s hope it’s the start of a new trend because golf is one of the great aspects of living in the Magic Valley.”

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Todd Bennett

18 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 19

pleasing to the Eyes, Ears & SoulANNUAL CONTEST PUTS WORKS BY LOCAL ARTISTS FRONT AND CENTER

Excellent performing arts venues, theater groups and a spirited new visual arts competition top the list of local arts highlights in the Magic Valley. By Kevin Litwin

Education & outreach

prOgramS aNd EVENTS

The magic Valley arts Council promotes art and cultural experiences throughout the greater Twin Falls area, and is now headquartered in the new Twin Falls Center for the Arts on the Snake River Canyon rim. One of the council’s biggest successes is a Canyon Rim Public Art Project that placed a major sculpture at the Perrine Bridge Trail View Point. Other programs include Arts on Tour, Kids Art in the Park, the Missoula Children’s Theater, Second Century Photo Contest, Brown Bag Lectures at Twin Falls Public Library, Summer Chalk Walk, and First Friday gallery events every month beginning in February.

visual Arts

arT & SOul

A new contest called art & Soul of the City, magic Valley has art attracted more than 200 entrants in 2012, which was a beautiful sight to patrons as well as the contest’s sponsor, art guild of magic Valley.

Each year, the organization awards $10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second, and splits $14,500 among 13 more winners. The event, created to raise arts awareness in Southern Idaho, happens in late April to early May and involves artists displaying their work in various area businesses over nine days. During that time, the public visits the business to view the art and casts votes for favorites.

Music & Theatre

pErFOrmiNg arTS

howells Opera house, located in small-town Oakley, was built in 1907 by Judge Howells. Today the renovated building is managed by the Oakley Valley Arts Council and hosts plays, musicals and other performances.

Southern Idaho is also home to the Magic Valley Symphony and the Sun Valley Symphony. Both symphonies sponsor youth orchestras and music camps.

ThiNgS TO dO: ARTS & CULTURE

“The Orpheum is a great date-night movie spot. Very old school single theater setup but nice ambiance and crowd.”

aNThONy diaz, YELP

Herrett CenterThe College of Southern Idaho’s main campus is home to herrettCenterfortheartsandScience, a museum that exhibits anthropological artifacts, natural history specimens and fine art co-sponsored by the College of Southern Idaho Art Department and Associated Students of CSI in its Jean B. King Gallery of Art. Guests to the center may also look to the heavens for inspiration in the Faulkner Planetarium and its state of the art Centennial Observatory, which seats 144 people under a 50-foot dome.

20 SOU THERN IDAHO

PerForMinGartSThe JuniorMusical

PlayhouseCompany (a.k.a. JuMP Company) provides an opportunity for students in grades 1-12 to participate in two annual musical theater productions. Meanwhile, other performance groups and venues in the region include Dilettante Group of Magic Valley, Magic Valley Little Theater, Company of Fools, and King Fine Arts Center in Burley.

20 SOU THERN IDAHO

Chartered Flights • Aircraft Management Aircraft Maintenance • U.S. and Canadian Service

208.308.1852 • www.paviation.com

ThiNgS TO dO: SPORTS & RECREATION

Take It All InExPERIENCE STUNNING LANDSCAPES & WILDLIFE WATCHING THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN IDAHO

It’s easy to enjoy Southern Idaho’s natural landscape, which is great for popular outdoor activities including rock climbing, camping, water recreation and even snow skiing. By Braxton Shoop

Climbing & Hiking

CaSTlE rOCkS

Couched in Big Cove, Castle rocks State park is located two miles northwest of Almo in southern Cassia County. Castle rocks is a newer park that features massive granite spires. These spires offer rock climbing, rivaling nearby City of Rocks National Reserve. The region’s landscape also allows for more laid-back recreational activities such as hiking, horseback riding and picnicking, and is well known for its wildlife. Birdwatchers may see the common snipe, sandhill crane and sage grouse.

“Be sure to visit Shoshone Falls, which gets going in the spring during the annual snow melt and displays a great show until the water runs out. It is the Niagara of Idaho. Places like this remind me of the underground coolness of living in Idaho.”

daVid FOSTEr, YELP

Climbing and CampingThe Cityofrocksnationalreserve offers adventurous rock climbing with 500 routes that ascend

granite monoliths, which can reach more than 60 stories high. Located about two miles north of the Magic Mountain Resort, the Twin Falls Area Hiking Trail offers numerous outdoor activities including camping, fishing, hiking and bird watching.

22 SOU THERN IDAHO

Chartered Flights • Aircraft Management Aircraft Maintenance • U.S. and Canadian Service

208.308.1852 • www.paviation.com

Camping

TakE iN ThE SCENEry

Thousand Springs State park includes historic structures at Ritter Island and Bonnieview, as well as the beautiful natural scenery of the Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve, Niagara Springs and Crystal Lake. 1000 Springs resort on the bank of the Snake River offers campground facilities, a picnic area, boat ramp and hot-springs heated indoor pools.

Winter SportsActive types who embrace all seasons will be right at home on Southern Idaho’s snowmobile trails and at its prominent ski resorts. The albionareaSnowmobiletrails feature approximately 30 square miles of trails that vary in difficulty. The GoodingCountySnowPark provides access to a snowmobile trail that covers 150 miles of land. The MagicMountainresort has several ski trails as well as its own tubing trail. And, located in the Sawtooth National Forest, the PomerelleMountainresort allows access to 24 slopes.

22 SOU THERN IDAHO

ThiNgS TO dO: LOCAL FLAVOR

Super SelectionsSOUTHERN IDAHO RESTAURANTS OFFER DINERS DELICIOUS FOOD OPTIONS

If you’re looking for great eats, you can find all your favorites in Southern Idaho. Here’s a sampling of local favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. By Barbara Biehler

Breakfast

FOr STarTErS

In Twin Falls, stop in the Buffalo Café for the Buffalo Chip skillet, a combination of fried potatoes, green chiles, sour cream, tomatoes, cheese, green onions and an egg on top.

The landmark depot grill also has a great breakfast dishes and perhaps is most famous for the Train Wreck, an enormous 4½-pound platter of pancakes, sausage and eggs.

Treats

TrEaT yOurSElF

Have a glass of Cloverleaf Creamery’s chocolate milk. “We use a gourmet chocolate powder and pure cane sugar to give the best chocolate flavor to our chocolate mix,” says Eric Stoltzfus, the creamery’s plant manager of CloverLeaf Creamery. “That’s what makes our chocolate milk different.”

Dinner

a NighT OuT

Drive out to scenic Snyder winery in Buhl for a steak cooked with special seasoning. Order the 2-inch New York strip, 2-inch rib eye or 3-inch filet mignon. Enjoy your steak in the dining room, or dine outdoors in the summertime.

Long-time favorite, jaker’s in Twin Falls features Northwest-grown USDA choice beef, so try the Cajun bacon-wrapped sirloin or the Double R ranch prime rib, with au jus and a creamy horseradish sauce.

Lunch

amEriCaN FaVOriTES

Southern Idaho restaurants put their own special spin on these classic dishes. Enjoy a side of French fries with fry sauce, a regional specialty. arctic Circle, a burger chain with locations in Twin Falls and Buhl, claims to have invented this sauce, but many local restaurants serve their own flavorful versions.

Stevo’s in Heyburn serves a spicy fry sauce on their burgers, steaks and fries, while Shoshone Snack Bar features burgers, fries, hot dogs, and signature mile-high ice cream cones. Al’s Frostop in Paul serves made-to-order burgers and is known for its onion rings and frozen treats.

Lettuce, Tomato and Local HistoryFor a great deli sandwich, thetwinFallsSandwichCo. on Main

Avenue serves more than a dozen varieties, including the Evel Knievel, a daringly spicy concoction involving turkey, pepper jack cheese, jalepenos, and chipotle mayo -- a fitting homage to the daredevil who attempted to leap the Snake River Canyon here in 1974.

“Buffalo Cafe is the best place for breakfast if you are in Twin Falls. It is a local tradition, so don’t go here expecting chain restaurant decorations or tutti-frutti food. The Buffalo serves stick-to-your-ribs comfort food.”

darCi BaliuS, YELP

24 SOU THERN IDAHO

See more photos that showcase Southern Idaho’s many amenities at livability.com/twin-falls/id.

A Welcoming Siteart and unique architecture welcome visitors to the herrettCenterforarts&Science on the main campus of the College of Southern idaho in Twin Falls.

LivinGSchools, health care, education and neighborhoods in Southern Idaho

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 25

SouTHERN IDAHo LIvING CAN BE uRBAN, RuRAL & EvERYTHING IN BETWEEN

liViNg

Find YourPaceAsk anyone living in Southern Idaho why they chose this

spot, and then settle back for a nice, long conversation.

26 SOU THERN IDAHO

From the city life of Twin Falls to smaller, nearby towns such as Jerome, Burley, Rupert, Buhl and Gooding, the ability to have urban amenities with a small-town feel is a big draw. Get a little farther out, into the communities of Kimberly, Heyburn, Wendell, Filer, Shoshone, Paul, Hansen, Hagerman, Oakley and Hazelton, and that small-town feel tops the list, but those folks like being near the city life, too.

Then go all the way out into the country, into spots such as Almo, Albion, Elba and Castleford, and it’s all about having the wide, open space but still being near enough to civilization to stay connected.

Long story short, this is a place where everyone can find his or her pace and settle in for the long haul.

TwiN FallS OFFErS urBaN amENiTiESTake Mike and Marti Mauhl, who came to Twin

Falls because it was halfway between a getaway home

in Arizona and the Pacific Northwest, where their children live. A quick look-see turned into several return trips and, eventually, a home purchase.

The Mauhls liked the refurbished downtown area, the many cultural amenities and availability of high-quality medical care.

Small-TOwN rESidENTS pull TOgEThErIn Rupert, Joel Rogers is a local boy who grew

up, struck out on his own and then wound up finding everything he wanted at home.

“The last thing I wanted to do was stay here,” says Rogers, who is chief operating officer at Minidoka Memorial Hospital. “After school, I decided to come back just for a little while … and have stayed for another 35 years.”

When he recruits potential employees for the hospital, Rogers fields questions about quality of life

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 27

“We decided to visit, and eventually bought a house because we’d found the people to be so friendly, and there was so much to see and do here.”

marTi mauhl, TWINFALLSRESIDENT

Take a BreakCharlie and Lori Creason spent several years turning an old bank in Rupert into thedriftinn, which includes the restaurant henry’s.

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here. He promotes the outdoor activities, but also the sense of community.

“Often in an urban area, problems are left to someone else,” he says. “Here we know that if something needs fixing, it’ll be up to us to do it. That’s a real plus, because it keeps everyone involved in making the town better.”

rural arEaS SuppOrT agriCulTural liFESTylE

Another native who wouldn’t dream of leaving is Karma Fitzgerald, who along with husband Clem is raising three children north of Shoshone. A Magic Valley native, she “tried to move away a couple of times, but kept coming home.”

“I’ve been here 17 years now and really wouldn’t go anywhere else,” she says. “I like the rural, agriculture-based lifestyle. My husband is co-owner of 4-Bros Dairy, so we have built our lives around operating a business in a rural area.”

OpEN raNgES giVE SENSE OF SpaCE

Out on the edge of the High Desert is Castleford, where Twin Falls County Commissioner Terry Kramer is the fourth generation of his family to farm the land. The plentiful hunting, fishing and other recreational opportunities are a big draw for Kramer, as is the sense of wilderness.

“It’s nice to be on the edge of the developed area, because it’s kind of a wilderness out there,” he says. “It’s really a private recreation area for my family, and we’ve gotten used to being out in the country, where you can really have your own space.”

by Joe Morris by staff photographer

Todd Bennett

Check out more fun things to do in Southern Idaho at livability.com/twin-falls/id.

Even wildlife finds comfort in Southern Idaho’s wide-open spaces and inviting natural landscape.

28 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 29

liViNg

pASSIoN FoR HIGH SCHooL SpoRTS BRIDGES GENERATIoNS

A FAMILYAffair

30 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 31

“You look at the record books for these schools and you’ll see the same last names over and over again,” says Jason Carter, the sports director for KMVT-TV in Twin Falls. “And then you go to a game and there will be younger brothers and children playing the same sport and trying to break those records. There will be parents, grandparents and little kids in the stands watching the games. It’s really a family-oriented, community-oriented sports scene.”

The College of Southern Idaho has the only collegiate sports program in the region, and there are no major professional sports teams in the state. So high school sports are where most people go to cheer on their favorite teams.

“If you’re not at a football game around here on a Friday night in the fall, you’re missing out,” Carter says. “It’s the same way with a lot of the other sports as well like basketball and wrestling. It’s a big deal in the community. Everybody around here loves it.”

Throughout Southern Idaho, many sons and daughters do not merely follow in their parents’ footsteps, but in their cleat

marks and sneaker prints. High school sports is an important part of life in most Southern Idaho communities, and participation in those sports is a love affair that is passed down from generation to generation.

SnaPShot

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Allyn Reynolds has spent nearly 30 years coaching football at Twin Falls High School, so he knows firsthand what the sport means to the community.

“It might not be Texas football, but it’s important enough,” Reynolds says. “The school supports it. We offer three programs, and our numbers are good. We usually have more than 100 players.”

8-ON-8 FOOTBallThe love of football extends

into the smaller communities that do not have enough students to play traditional 11-on-11 football. The solution is an 8-on-8 game that Carter says is a thrill to watch.

“They may have a lack of numbers, but there is never a lack of interest,” Carter says. “You literally will have the entire town out for a high school football game. And the field is so wide open that anything can happen. The final score is usually something like 50-45. It’s unbelievable fun to watch those games.”

ThE CrEaTiON OF a riValryCompetition between schools

increased a few years ago when student enrollment at Twin Falls High became so large that a second high school, Canyon Ridge, opened. This resulted in a natural rivalry between the two city schools.

In addition, since Twin Falls’ enrollment was reduced, the school was placed in a conference that enables it to play some of the smaller schools in the region rather than having to travel to larger cities several hours away.

“Most of the teams they play are now within an hour’s drive of Twin Falls,” says Scot McNeley, part-owner of Donnelley Sports. “That created rivalries that did not exist in the past, which is great from a business standpoint. When school starts we always see an increase in spirit wear. Everybody wants to show support for their school.”

by Cary Estes by staff photographer

Todd Bennett

Rivalry on the GridironTwin Falls High School takes on Nampa High School during a Friday match-up. High school football draws big crowds as the area’s most popular sport. New rivalries and an increase in school spirit occurred when a new high school opened in Twin Falls in 2009.

There will be parents, grandparents and little kids in the stands watching the games. It’s really a family-oriented, community-oriented sports scene.”

jaSON CarTEr, KMVT-TVSPORTSDIRECTOR

LIVING

PASSION FOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS BRIDGES GENERATIONS

A FAMILYAffair

“You look at the record books for these schools and you’ll see the same last names over and over again,” says Jason Carter, the sports director for KMVT-TV in Twin Falls. “And then you go to a game and there will be younger brothers and children playing the same sport and trying to break those records. There will be parents, grandparents and little kids in the stands watching the games. It’s really a family-oriented, community-oriented sports scene.”

The College of Southern Idaho has the only collegiate sports program in the region, and there are no major professional sports teams in the state. So high school sports are where most people go to cheer on their favorite teams.

“If you’re not at a football game around here on a Friday night in the fall, you’re missing out,” Carter says. “It’s the same way with a lot of the other sports as well like basketball and wrestling. It’s a big deal in the community. Everybody around here loves it.”

T hroughout Southern Idaho, many sons and daughters do not merely follow in their parents’ footsteps, but in their cleat marks and sneaker prints. High school sports is an important part of life in most Southern Idaho communities, and participation in those sports is a love affair that is passed down from generation to generation.

SNAPSHOT

Donnelley Sports in downtown Twin Falls specializes in athletic apparel and equipment.

30 Southern IdAho

LIvAbIL It Y.coM/ t wIn-FALL S/Id 31

Readitonlineoronyourtabletandquicklysharearticleswithfriends.

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L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 33

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 35

liViNg: EDUCATION

Smart ApproachSTUDENTS HAVE CONVENIENT DEGREE OPTIONS

With quality public and private options and the ability to earn four-year degrees at CSI in Twin Falls, Magic Valley students can fully complete a rich educational continuum. By Kevin Litwin

public Schools

TwiN FallS SChOOl diSTriCT

It serves 7,400 students and has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one alternative middle school, two high schools and one alternative high school.

jErOmE SChOOl diSTriCT

More than 3,500 students are enrolled in the Jerome School District. Schools include Horizon, Jefferson and Summit elementary schools, Jerome Middle, and Jerome High School.

miNidOka COuNTy SChOOl diSTriCT

MCSD is home to Acequia, Heyburn, Paul and Rupert elementary schools; East Minico and West Minico middle schools; Minico High School; and Mt. Harrison Jr./Sr. High School.

CaSSia COuNTy SChOOl diSTriCT

The district is home to Burley, Declo, Oakley and Raft River high schools, and Burley and Declo junior high schools. The elementary schools are Albion, Almo, Declo, Dworshak, Mountain View, Oakley, Raft River and White Pine. There is also Cassia Alternative High, Cassia Tech Center and Newcomer Center Preschool.

BlaiNE COuNTy SChOOl diSTriCT

This district features eight schools including Carey School that educates K-12 students. Other public schools are Bellevue Elementary, Ernest Hemingway Elementary, Hailey Elementary, Woodside Elementary, Wood River Middle School, Silver Creek High School and Wood River High School.

idahO digiTal lEarNiNg aCadEmy

Sponsored by the State of Idaho, IDLA is an online school for grades 7-12 that addresses the educational needs of all traditional, home-schooled, at-risk and gifted learners.

Joint programs for College StudentsMagic Valley students can earn four-year degrees from Boise

State, Idaho State or the University of Idaho without ever leaving Twin Falls. An extended studies program at CollegeofSouthernidaho in Twin Falls allows students to complete their first two years of study at CSI, then take junior and senior courses on campus from one of the three universities.

“BSU, ISU and Idaho offer different programs so they don’t compete against each other,” says Shari Stroud, coordinator of extended studies for BSU at the College of Southern Idaho campus. “For example, students can earn Boise State degrees in accounting, general business, criminal justice and social work, while Idaho State offers degrees in elementary education and so forth.”

CSI’s enrollment is 10,000 students and it offers 115 degrees.

k-12 options

priVaTE SChOOlS

Southern Idaho private schools, all in Twin Falls, include Lighthouse Christian School (K-12), St. Edward’s Catholic School (PreK-6), and Twin Falls Christian Academy (PreK-12).

CharTEr SChOOlS

There are three charter schools in Magic Valley: Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls (all grades); Wings Charter Middle School, also in Twin Falls and accommodates students with learning differences; and Heritage Academy Charter School in Jerome, which serves K-6 students.

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 35

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Dr. Christensen has special training in minimally invasive surgery. Trained in 2003 and using almost exclusively a minimally invasive approach to spinal surgery over the past two years has resulted in shorter hospital stays and much faster recoveries than standard spine procedures. Patients come from a 200-mile radius to experience this revolutionary approach to spine surgery.

You can experience this same world class care right here in the Magic Valley.

Call for an appointment today.

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 37

liViNg: HEALTH

Caring CommunitySOUTHERN IDAHO’S MEDICAL FACILITIES PROVIDE A HEALTHY RANGE OF SERVICES

Thanks to hospitals and medical centers staffed by excellent physicians and equipped with top-notch technology, Southern Idaho residents count on quality care. By Kevin Litwin

CaSSia rEgiONal mEdiCal CENTEr

Located in Burley, Cassia regional medical Center is operated by Intermountain Healthcare. Services include 24-hour emergency, critical care, family practice, surgery, rehabilitation and a sleep lab. Cassia Regional Medical Center, with 300 employees and 35 staff physicians, also has a birth center and provides OB/GYN services.

ST. lukE’S magiC VallEy mEdiCal CENTEr

St. luke’s serves eight Southern Idaho counties and parts of northern Nevada. In 2006, Twin Falls County residents voted to partner St. Luke’s with the Magic Valley Regional Medical Center, and a brand new, state-of-the-art St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center opened in Twin Falls in 2011.

The 700,000-square-foot hospital is touted as the most advanced in Idaho and features 160 physicians. There are private rooms, an emergency department, women’s and children’s center, and in-patient rehabilitation center.

A medical plaza is attached to the hospital, and also connected is St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute cancer clinic. As for the new medical center itself, features include an efficient layout of nursing areas, a cardiac catheterization lab, and a second linear accelerator has been added, avoiding disruptions in a cancer patient’s treatment cycle.

In late 2011, St. Luke’s partnered with St. Benedict’s Family Medical Center in Jerome, and St. Luke’s officials promise to run the hospital as caringly and efficiently as it has operated since first opening in 1952. The rural health facility is called St. Luke’s-Jerome and features all of the top medical services that St. Luke’s has always offered.

miNidOka mEmOrial

Hospital services offered at the medical center in Rupert include surgery, obstetrics, treatments and home health. A top employer in the region, minidoka memorial is a long-term care and rehabilitation facility employing more than 200 people. In 2012, the facility unveiled the first phase of its upgraded and improved emergency room, which is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2013.

NOrTh CaNyON mEdiCal CENTEr

North Canyon in Gooding, a multimillion-dollar facility that opened in 2010, offers private rooms, an all-digital health records system, emergency room, surgery and diagnostic imaging. North Canyon Medical Center is built for expansion so it can grow with the community.

Cassia Regional Medical Center in Burley, ID

Check out more fun things to do in Southern Idaho at livability.com/twin-falls/id.

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 37

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Twin Falls County Fairwww.tfcfair.com

38 SOU THERN IDAHO

97th Annual TWIN FALLS COUNTY FAIR & Magic Valley Stampede

August 28-September 22013

Known for its entertaining, educational and lively activities. This year, our goal is to make the fair as impressive as ever, which means making it grow and prosper, while maintaining a strong agriculturally based,

family-oriented atmosphere.

CARNIVAL • ANIMALS EXHIBITS AND MUCH MORE

ThiS SECTiON iS SpONSOrEd By

CoMMunitYProFiLe COST OF liViNg

$38,354Median Household Income

$126,426Median Home Price

$642Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSpOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmpEraTurE

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EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

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Closest Airport: Magic Valley Regional

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38 SOU THERN IDAHO

See more photos that showcase Southern Idaho’s many amenities at livability.com/twin-falls/id.

plastics ManufacturinghilexPoly, pictured, in Jerome manufactures plastic bags and agricultural films, also focusing on recycling to reduce plastics’ impact on the environment. Another company, Polytech, uses polyethylene to make calf hutches for the dairy industry.

40 SOU THERN IDAHO

BuSineSSInfo on Southern Idaho’s top employers, jobs and success stories

L IVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 41

BuSiNESS: OVERVIEW

It All Works outREGIONAL ECONOMY MAINTAINS STEADY GROWTH

Southern Idaho’s business climate is rich with agricultural heritage, but there is much more to the overall business sector. By Kevin Litwin

Warehousing and Distribution

dairy STOragE

wOw logistics in Jerome began operations in 2002 with 232,650 square feet and has grown to 450,000 square feet. It runs a distribution center that is a multitemperature warehouse with storage areas to primarily serve the dairy industry.

Manufacturing

r.V. iNduSTry

dutchmen manufacturing in Burley builds recreational vehicles and campers as well as light truck and utility vehicle parts, and the company has annual revenues surpassing $100 million. jayco manufacturing in Twin Falls also makes RVs and campers along with related parts and equipment, and has a staff of approximately 150 employees.

Food production Six progressive dairies combined in 2001 to form highdesertMilk in Burley, pictured here, which oversees more than 25,000 cows and markets 1.8 million pounds of milk each day. Meanwhile, ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston in Twin Falls makes a line of french fries and prepared potato products.

42 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 43

Food production

Big COmpaNiES

gossner Foods in Heyburn was founded in 1966 as a Swiss cheese plant, and today more than 30 varieties of cheese carry the Gossner name. Brewster dairy is housed in a former Kraft Foods facility in Rupert, and Brewster’s product line includes skim-barreled cheese (orange color) used by Kellogg Foods for its Cheez-It Crackers. rite Stuff Foods in Jerome uses Idaho russet potatoes for products such as fried skins, mashed potatoes and fried potatoes filled with bacon, cheddar, mozzarella or pepper jack cheese. And jerome Cheese Co. makes cheddar, Monterey Jack, colby and reduced-fat varieties that are packaged in 40-pound blocks, 500-pound barrels and 640-pound blocks.

amalgamated Sugar Co. in Twin Falls works with beet sugar, cane sugar and refining, and has annual revenues topping $100 million.

CaNyON parkCanyon Park in Twin Falls is a commercial development that features retailers such as Best Buy, Old Navy and T.J.Maxx, and restaurants including Outback Steakhouse and Golden Corral.(208) 421-8296

amalgamaTEd Sugar CO.With plants in both Twin Falls and Paul, Amalgamated Sugar Co. refines sugar beet and produces brown sugar, extra fine granulated sugar, industrial coarse sugar and more.www.amalgamatedsugar.com

FrEEdOm auTO FiNdErSHome to employees with more than 50 years of experience in the automotive retail industry, Freedom Auto Finders in Twin Falls helps clients find and purchase vehicles. www.freedomautofinders.com

magiC VallEy CiNEma 13Magic Valley Cinema 13, the Twin Falls area’s newest movie theater, features stadium seating, large screens, and digital projection and sound in 2D and 3D. www.cinemawest.com

BluSh FlOralBased in Twin Falls, Blush Floral creates floral decorations for weddings, special events and more. Each arrangement and bouquet features locally grown flowers.www.blushfloralboutique.com

Business Spotlight

Downtown Twin FallsIndustry and agriculture are a big part of Southern Idaho’s economy, but another contributor is historicdowntowntwinFalls. The eclectic district is home to a mixture of shops, galleries and restaurants, and it hosts a variety of community events.

Gauge Southern Idaho’s business climate at livability.com/twin-falls/id.

42 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 43

BuSiNESS

YoGuRT pLANT Coup STIRS up MoRE BuSINESS FoR DAIRY-RICH REGIoN

CroPCream of the

At nearly 1 million square feet, the Twin Falls facility is expected to be the world’s largest yogurt factory when completed in 2013. Landing the project over Nevada and California was a coup and happened primarily due to the quality and quantity of Southern Idaho’s milk production.

“We can’t make yogurt fast enough,” Chobani’s Internal Communications Manager Melissa Stagnaro says.

ChOBaNi ExpaNdS iNiTial iNVESTmENTNew York-based parent company Agro-Farma’s initial

investment was announced at $128 million and 400 jobs. But Phase I quickly doubled in size and dollars, and will need a workforce of 500 as soon as 2013.

“We thought we had a hold of Jaws, and in fact we had Moby Dick,” says Jan Rogers, executive director of Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization. “If we had

Chobani’s new $300 million Greek yogurt plant in Southern Idaho is not just churning out work for construction

and production but also an extraordinary amount of jobs for the region’s dairy industry.

44 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 45

known we were going after Moby Dick, we might have passed out halfway through the thing.”

The company has had yogurt on the shelves only five years, but has grown from five employees when it began in 2005 to 1,200. Even with a $250 million investment, the 90-year-old New York facility can’t match demand for the health-craze food with twice the protein of regular yogurt.

“lt’s like a dream to really be able to lay out the facility how we want it laid out, because we’re always scrambling for capacity in New York,” Stagnaro says. “This will give us the opportunity to really bring some innovations.”

milk prOduCErS’ priCES iNCrEaSE

It also brings Chobani’s western production to the No. 3 milk-producing state’s top-ranked region. The yogurt factory is projected to

Groundbreaking CeremonyChobani CEO & Founder Hamdi Ulukaya (center) was joined by Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, Idaho Lt. Governor Brad Little, Twin Falls Mayor Don Hall, other local dignitaries and Chobani executives at the site of Chobani’s newest factory on Monday, December 19, 2011.

44 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 45

Voted Best Golf Course in the Magic Valley 2012

649 Golf Course Rd. • Jerome, ID 83338 (208) 324-5281 • www.jeromecountryclub.com

PGA Professional: Troy Vitek

MeMbeRshIPs AVAIlAble

“All the other factors could have been right, but if this community wasn’t a good fit, it wouldn’t have been a good place for us to come, and this is really just perfect.”

mEliSSa STagNarO, CHOBANI

spur 3,165 total jobs and nearly a half-billion-dollar impact.

“The multiplier effect for this kind of business in our market is huge,” Rogers says. “It’s very high because they’re actually buying the raw product.”

Since Chobani’s choice, four to five more dairy-related companies are considering Southern Idaho. Herds can quickly be increased, production and processing can expand on the east, and population should grow, Rogers says.

“When you get a major processor in here that has that type of consumer brand recognition, it’s ridiculous what it does for your exposure,” she says.

jOB grOwTh FOr TwiN FallSLocal subcontractors including

Gordon Paving have been getting a big payoff with about 1,000 construction workers on site daily.

Chobani is also already involved in community and charitable enterprises as well.

“This community is a little under 45,000 and it supports about 180,000 in the region,” Rogers says. “That’s not even as big as a suburb of Dallas, but a $300 million capital-expansion project with 500 jobs is big anywhere.”

Chobani’s chose Twin Falls due to the “fresh, wholesome milk,” the people fitting in with the “culture at Chobani, our nothing-but-good philosophy,” and the community, Stagnaro says.

“All the other factors could have been right, but if this community wasn’t a good fit, it wouldn’t have been a good place for us to come, and this is really just perfect,” she says.

by Carol Stuart by staff photographers

Todd Bennett & Brian McCord

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant.

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46 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 47

BuSiNESS: CHAMBER REPORT

It’s nice to anticipate something, and the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce hopes to break ground on a new headquarters building in 2013.

Shawn Barigar, president/CEO of the Twin Falls chamber, says the building’s design is completed, leaving the final cost and timetable details to be worked out between the chamber and a private business partner that is developing sites in the canyon rim area.

“Our current chamber office is about two miles from the existing Buzz Langdon Visitor Center, and we would like both entities under one roof,” Barigar says. “The new building will be near the current visitor center on the canyon rim next to Perrine Bridge, and the facility will also feature an interpretive center to showcase the area’s rich history.”

CaTEr TO mEmBErSThe chamber also recently

completed a five-year plan that refocuses its efforts on members’ specific business needs. Through regular one-on-one contact from chamber staff members, businesses can convey needs that would help them be more successful now and into the future.

“New committees led by chamber board members are identifying specific work plans to meet members’ needs in the areas of economic development, agribusiness, public policy and tourism,” Barigar says. “The chamber is also part of our community’s Ready Team that works with public and private partners to help existing businesses expand and recruit new industry to Twin Falls.”

Barigar adds that the chamber is also in frequent contact with local and state officials and the federal government to ensure that laws and regulations for the Twin Falls area are business-friendly, to thereby encourage business expansion and recruitment.

“We communicate with our membership to identify trends and create action plans to meet their needs,” he says.

happy 108Th BirThdayAs for the chamber itself, it

is now in its 108th year, having formed in 1905.

“Nearly 900 member businesses

have come together to advance the commercial, financial, industrial and civic interests of the Twin Falls area, and our chamber remains the business voice of the community,” Barigar says. “We work closely with organizations and private and public sectors to promote job opportunities in the Magic Valley.”

by Kevin Litwin

Hammer TimeCHAMBER MEMBERS, STAFF ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDING

46 SOU THERN IDAHO LIVABIL IT Y.COM/ T WIN-FALL S/ID 47

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36 intermountAinspine &orthopAediCs

46 JeromeCountryCluB

38 JoslinfieldmAgiCvAlley regionAlAirport

23 preCisionAviAtioninC.

32 prudentiAl

2 snAkeriverent

C2 southernidAhotourism

21 southernidAhotourism herrettCenter

4 st.luke’sJerome

8 st.luke’smAgiCvAlley mediCAlCenter

39 twinfAllsCountyfAir

Top 10Cities toDefy Death

Introducing the Livability.com Top 10 Lists New lists every month | Not your average lists | Not your average website

Twin Fallsmade the list.top 10 Cities to defy deathSee more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.

sTiLLWaTeRoklahoma

FaYeTTeviLLenorth Carolina

savannahgeorgia

CoRPus ChRisTiTexas

TWin FaLLsidaho

BenDoregon

gLasgoWKentucky

RoCK sPRingsWyoming

TRaveRse CiTYMichigan

ogDenutah

eConoMiCProFiLe

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOp EmplOyErS

$29,999 and under

$30,000-99,999

$100,000+

St. Luke’s Magic Valley Regional Medical Center

College of Southern Idaho

Twin Falls School District

EduCaTiON lEVEl

High School Graduate

Associate’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

TaxES

6%State Sales Tax

1.74%Residential Property Tax

wOrkFOrCE

75%White Collar

25%Blue Collar

SCOrECard

$1BAnnual Retail Sales

$104MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

4,525Total Number of Firms

TraNSpOrTaTiON

1,000+

1,000+

500- 999 Eastern idaho railroad

watcocompanies.com/ railroads/eirr/eirr.htm

www.AIM-Ins-Solutions.com

Accreditable Insurance Management

AIM Insurance SolutionsGuiding you to the best solutions for all your insurance needs

AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • FARMS • BONDS • LIFE • HEALTH

588 Addison Ave. W. • Twin Falls, ID 83301 • (208) 944-2727

ThiS SECTiON iS SpONSOrEd By

Five generationsAnd we’ve only just started!

108 years

“Over one hundred years ago, D. L. Evans started the bank

in Idaho, with $25,000 and a dream.

Despite the floods, droughts, and the Great Depression, we continue to grow and

prosper throughout Idaho.”

John V. Evans, Sr. Former Governor of Idaho

We’re looking forward to the next hundred!

ALBION BOISE BURLEY HAILEY IDAHO FALLS JEROME KETCHUM MERIDIAN NAMPA POCATELLO RUPERT TWIN FALLS

www.dlevans.com

Member FDIC