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Joe Vandal

Is Sergeant Evan Vela Guilty or Innocent?

by Joe Vandal January 22, 2008

Most folks have probably heard of the St. Anthony/Rigby soldier Sergeant Evan Vela, who is being held in Kuwait on premeditated murder charges. He has been held since last June, and is scheduled for trial in Baghdad on February 8. He is also accused of premeditated murder, planting evidence on the bodies, obstruction of justice, [...]

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Tracking the 2008 Idaho Legislature

by Joe Vandal January 13, 2008

I hope this article and discussion can serve as a local resource for keeping track of what our legislature is doing this year. I also hope we can somewhat keep score of how southeast Idaho is doing in the legislature, and how our local Idaho Falls representatives and senators are working for us.
Unfortunately, paying attention [...]

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Handicapped Parking Permit Reforms Needed

by Joe Vandal January 4, 2008

Is everything kosher with the handicapped parking system?
I never park in the handicapped-marked spaces, even if I have to park in the north forty. I’ve had disabled friends and could not imagine taking their close spot so my healthy legs could save a mere minute of walking.
However, we see people all the time who do [...]

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Idaho Liquor Law Reforms

by Joe Vandal January 3, 2008

Idaho needs to make a couple major changes to state liquor laws. The most needed change is to prevent private parties holding a liquor license from being able to resell that liquor license. The second change would be to eliminate restrictions on how many liquor licenses can be issued, no matter the population. These two [...]

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Idaho should be praised and modeled for low teen smoking rate

by Joe Vandal December 31, 2007

Our local KIDK News 3 affiliate recently carried an Associated Press story that Idaho was criticized by a Washington anti-smoking group because they do not think we spend enough money on teen anti-smoking efforts.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says Idaho spends too little of tobacco taxes and our 1998 tobacco settlement proceeds on discouraging [...]

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Kudos to Idaho Falls Snow Removal Workers

by Joe Vandal December 27, 2007

This is a couple days late, but I still wanted to give a big thank you to all the folks who have been working so hard at clearing the huge snowfall Idaho Falls received.
The snow began falling on Christmas Eve day, and some of those workers were already out clearing our roads. Christmas Day [...]

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Where is District 91 School Board Leadership?

by Joe Vandal December 22, 2007

The Post Register reported this morning that the Skyline High School student council is debating rules to reduce sexually-charged activities at school dances. The rules prohibit grinding, straddling, bending over, touching sexual body parts, making out, and removing clothes during dances. The student council has not voted on this issue yet, and I think [...]

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The Idaho Falls Grinch Who Stole Christmas Power

by Joe Vandal December 21, 2007

Kudos to the Post Register’s Marty Trillhaase who wrote an opinion piece yesterday pointing out how Idaho Falls city power is shutting off peoples’ power for being late on their bills, despite this being the coldest winter months and despite children, disabled, and elderly folks being in some of those homes.
How do they get away [...]

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Smaller Government with a Unicameral Idaho Legislature

by Joe Vandal December 20, 2007

First, I must credit Bill Craig for his letter to the (Post Register) editor last Sunday, where he made this suggestion and reminded me of the idea. I first read about this idea in Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura’s book, Do I Stand Alone, and I thought it was great. The idea is in support of [...]

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How to Improve Southeast Idaho News Environment

by Joe Vandal December 17, 2007

I got notice that my online subscription to the Post Register expires this Wednesday. I do not think I will pay for a renewal, for a few reasons.
First, I really think I deserve a free subscription, given the huge amounts of free advertising I do for the PR on IFz. I must mention an article [...]

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Planning for an Idaho Falls Events Center

by Joe Vandal December 13, 2007

Yesterday’s Post Register featured Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman suggesting we develop a large multi-use events center. He says Idaho Falls is missing the boat on this opportunity. I noticed this discussion started on the same day that Pocatello announced they are pushing a bond to improve ISU’s Holt Arena. Does anyone else see the [...]

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What would you like for Christmas?

by Joe Vandal December 12, 2007

What do you want for Christmas this year? This can be a philosophical discussion about the meaning of Christmas to you and your family, or it can be a consumer discussion of good vs. bad products and the best places to shop.

First, I to admit I have a problem walking through the Grand Teton Mall [...]

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Dam Removals?

by Joe Vandal December 11, 2007

Should dams be removed? Why or why not, and if so then which dams?

Studies say that northwest salmon runs are down around 90 percent from before the dams were built in the 1960s. Fishery biologists have said for years that the best and probably only way to recover Idaho’s wild salmon is to remove lower [...]

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Why is Idaho Falls City Government Writing Zoological Society Checks?

by Joe Vandal December 10, 2007

Chad Campos abruptly resigned mid-November as president of the nonprofit Tautphaus Park Zoological Society (a 501/503c corporation?). He indicated problems with our Idaho Falls city government interfering with their organization’s finances (including writing organization checks), and personal attacks on his character. Chad Campos is an apparently successful local lawyer with his own downtown firm, so [...]

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Wishlist for the 2008 Idaho Legislature

by Joe Vandal December 9, 2007

I no longer have any delusions that the Idaho legislature represents me, or that anything I wish they would do is actually going to happen. Still, hope floats, and I thought it would be nice to hear everyone’s “wish list” for what they would like to see happen in the 2008 Idaho Legislative session (January [...]

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Why can’t Idaho choose presidential candidates?

by Joe Vandal December 3, 2007

Why is there such a tight stranglehold on America’s presidential candidate selection system? Why do Iowa and New Hampshire have this market locked up? Why is it that other states who attempt to increase their involvement in selecting America’s presidential candidates by moving up their primary dates face such open hostility from both national political [...]

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Lecture: Losing Our Civil Liberties in Times of Crisis

by Joe Vandal November 30, 2007

I attended a lecture Wednesday evening given by Idaho State University professor Dr. David Adler. “Loosing our civil liberties in times of crisis” was delivered in the Idaho Falls Bennion Student Union Building on the Idaho Falls ISU campus. John McGimpsey introduced the event, saying it was sponsored by the Idaho Progressive Students Alliance and [...]

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Idaho Falls is Hostile to Pedestrians

by Joe Vandal November 25, 2007

I was encouraged to see the Community Pathways group recently featured in the Post Register, however our city needs much more help and involvement than one volunteer group. We need civic leaders, citizens, business owners, and developers to get on board with the pedestrian-friendly environment that Idaho Falls is lacking. Some problems are city-wide design [...]

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Idaho Falls Country Club Oversells Itself

by Joe Vandal November 21, 2007

What gives the Idaho Falls Country Club the right to call themselves a country club? Probably their own historical claim and little else. I think the IFCC is overselling itself, and they should fix some things or risk getting buried by a competitor.
This started when a friend told me about his golfing buddy who [...]

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Who is Ron Paul?

by Joe Vandal November 20, 2007

I keep hearing this name, Ron Paul. Google Ron Paul. Ron Paul for President. I see his name bubbling up frequently on Digg.com, and while I do not read the stories, they all seem to herald Ron Paul as exactly what is needed for Americans no matter what political beliefs you hold.
Then this morning [...]

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Moderate Appeal to Democrats: Please Stop this Hillary Nonsense

by Joe Vandal November 20, 2007

Pay attention, Democrats: you must abandon this “Hillary Clinton for President” nonsense, and you must do it immediately for your own good. Failure to do so could motivate most of America to turn their back on the official Democratic party, and to stop listening to liberal ideas. Hear me out on this.

We hear so much [...]

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Civic Lecture: Islam, A View from the West

by Joe Vandal November 7, 2007

Monday evening I attended a unique lecture at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium called Islam, a View from the West. It was given by Dr. Michael Zirinsky (a Boise State University history professor). As Idaho Falls councilwoman Ida Hardcastle did at the lecture beginning, I also want to thank the event sponsors for helping make [...]

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Idaho Needs Revolving Door Policy for Lobbyists

by Joe Vandal November 4, 2007

Idaho needs to put a stop to people jumping from government jobs to lobbying jobs and back to government jobs without any time gaps or ethical considerations.
Right now we have Idaho Governor Butch Otter’s chief of staff, Jeff Malmen, leaving his official (and highly influential) position to work as a lobbyist for the company [...]

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Meet Thomas Hally, Idaho Falls 2007 City Council Candidate

by Joe Vandal November 4, 2007

Editor’s Note: Tom Hally is currently serving on the Idaho Falls city council.
First of the issue of the Police Station I cover on my web site www.hallycouncil.net.
Craig Lords has been a division head for a long time but we have very strong minded dept. heads who work very well with the Council. Craig will [...]

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Meet Sharon Parry, Idaho Falls 2007 City Council Candidate

by Joe Vandal October 23, 2007

Idaho Falls City Council candidate, Sharon Parry, has put in writing answers to common questions asked of her as a candidate. The following are answers particularly asked by readers of IdahoFallz.com. To contact Sharon about other issues, you may contact her at 709-2904 or at sdparry@cableone.net. She will be participating in all of the forums [...]

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