Idaho
Tenants of historic Pocatello building opening what they say is Idaho's largest indoor soccer complex – East Idaho News
Do you want to know what’s happening in the eastern Idaho business scene? We’ve got you covered. Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley.
BIZ BUZZ
POCATELLO
Idaho’s largest indoor soccer facility will be housed in Pocatello’s old Naval Ordnance Plant
POCATELLO – A historic building on the north side of Pocatello will soon be the home of what a local soccer club says is Idaho’s largest indoor soccer facility.
The 120,000-square-foot Portneuf Valley Soccer Club Sports Complex is slated to open in March inside the old Naval Ordnance Plant at 669 Quinn Road.
Greater Idaho Falls Chamber CEO Paul Baker is the club’s executive director and he tells EastIdahoNews.com the soccer complex will accommodate student and adult leagues throughout eastern Idaho.
“We have a certain amount of time carved out for PVSC teams, but we’ve had lots of folks reaching out about adult leagues, co-ed leagues, and other sports clubs wanting to use the facility,” Baker says. “Players for any sport can use the facility in Pocatello.”
There will be four 9v9 size fields (slightly smaller than a full size soccer field) with netting and padding lining the outside. There will also be an area for coaching and a seating area for spectators. A store, office space, conference rooms and classrooms for coaches and soccer club staff will occupy the rest of the space.
RELATED | Idaho Falls Chamber’s new CEO outlines goals for the future
Baker, a native of England, has been involved in coaching soccer for many years. Before moving to Idaho Falls in 2021, he reached out to Idaho Falls High School Soccer Coach Ryan Cook because his son was interested in joining the team.
Baker’s son ended up finishing high school in England, but Baker continued networking with Cook. They developed a friendship and Baker later helped him coach the Idaho Falls team.
Cook recently became a soccer coach in Pocatello and that’s when Baker was introduced to the Portneuf Valley Soccer Club.
The lack of indoor facilities for soccer and other sports is what prompted Baker to pursue this project.
“I’ve been working behind the scenes with the president (of the club) and the board, trying to get the structure right and get them in a good financial position to invest in a facility like this,” Baker says.
RELATED | Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce celebrating 120th anniversary
Brent Wilson with TOK Commercial brought the old Naval Ordnance building to his attention and Baker liked what he saw.
“It’s a little quirky in its layout and the building is old, but there’s something nice about converting a building of historical importance and bringing young people inside to play sports,” he says.
The fact that it’s visible from Interstate 15 and is centrally located off Yellowstone Highway is another thing that appealed to him.
RELATED | New company acquires 23-building campus in Pocatello that will be called ‘Titan Center’
The space is one of 23 buildings that make up what is now the Titan Center. Industrial Realty Group bought the property in 2021 in hopes of attracting commercial tenants. The soccer complex will be the site’s first occupant to begin operation.
“The site has an incredible history, but we truly believe the best is yet to come,” IRG President Stuart Lichter said in a 2021 news release.
The building’s history and future in Pocatello
The Naval Ordnance Plant was first commissioned in 1942 and was used to manufacture and refurbish guns for battleships fighting overseas during World War II.
RELATED | Fifth naval ship to carry Idaho’s name will be christened and begin maiden voyage next month
That same year, the U.S. Navy selected about 173,130 acres of land 60 miles northwest of Pocatello as a naval proving ground, a place to fire and test the reconditioned battle guns taken from the Pocatello plant.
This desert site near Arco is now the home of the Idaho National Laboratory.
RELATED | How a naval proving ground became a national lab that’s ‘changing the world’s energy future’
The Pocatello plant was decommissioned in the 1950s. It sat vacant for many years.
Baker plans to highlight its history for those who visit.
“There’s some original signage in the building that we want to restore and make sure there’s still some historical reference to what took place in that ordnance plant,” says Baker.
A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held once it’s complete.
The indoor aspect is phase one of the project. Baker’s goal is to add outdoor fields in the near future.
As the initial phase winds down, Baker is excited to unveil it to the community and to give local athletes a place to play year-round.
“This facility is a game-changer for soccer in eastern Idaho,” PVSC President Cristie Stone says in a news release. “It’s a testament to the vision and commitment of our club, our partners, and the community. We’re investing in our players and are determined to raise the bar for soccer in Idaho.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
New indoor pickleball courts opening in old Pocatello retail space
Castle under construction in Pocatello will be a venue for weddings and parties
Local Big Lots preparing for closure amid deal to keep some stores open
Outdoor ice rink promises a magical experience for visitors of all ages
=htmlentities(get_the_title())?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=get_permalink()?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=htmlentities(‘For more stories like this one, be sure to visit https://www.eastidahonews.com/ for all of the latest news, community events and more.’)?>&subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20EastIdahoNews” class=”fa-stack jDialog”>
PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.
The case, which has drawn national headlines, concerns Andrea Renee Shaw, a 23-year-old Payette mother who in May 2025 said her 18-month-old fraternal twins died the same day, after receiving routine childhood vaccinations. In January, Shaw joined as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with several other plaintiffs claiming vaccine injury or death.
Kennedy, who now serves as secretary of Health and Human Services, is no longer part of the group after taking on the cabinet position, as was reported by the Associated Press.
In Idaho, the twins’ deaths prompted a 14-month investigation by the Payette County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29, the investigation yielded a grand jury indictment of Shaw on two counts of first-degree murder by suffocation. If convicted, Shaw can be punished by up to life in prison or the death penalty, and the court would have the ability to order the penalties be served consecutively, or back to back.
Tuesday’s arraignment at the Payette County Courthouse was primarily attended by Shaw’s relatives and members of the media. Payette County Judge Kiley Stuchlik, who serves Idaho’s Third Judicial District, presided.
A key consideration for Stuchlik on Tuesday was a request from Joseph Filicetti, the legal counsel for Shaw, to have her bond reduced from $2 million to $100,000. Filicetti said this would allow for Shaw to care for a newborn girl, who, according to court documents, was born by caesarean section on June 25, four days prior to Shaw’s grand jury indictment.
State prosecutors objected to the motion for bond reduction, noting at hand was a potential death penalty case and asserting, unlike her husband, Shaw’s story repeatedly changed during questioning. Prosecuting Attorney Mike Duke said releasing Shaw would ultimately put the newborn’s safety at risk.
“That child is the most at risk. We do not think she should be allowed to be anywhere near any children, let alone her own children,” Duke said.
Stuchlik decided to revoke bond entirely, stating Shaw posed a “risk of safety” to the newborn child that was not known to Stuchlik or prosecutors when the $2 million bond was initially set.
Also for consideration Tuesday was a request to have grand jury transcripts of witness testimony provided to prosecutors and defense counsel to prepare their respective cases.
Idaho
Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.
The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.
However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.
The proposed ordinance would:
1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.
2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.
3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.
4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.
“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”
But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.
“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”
At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.
“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.
But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.
“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”
The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.
Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.
For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.
-
Massachusetts5 minutes agoMassachusetts Broadband Institute distributes devices to underserved communities
-
Minnesota11 minutes agoSmoke from wildfires in Minnesota and Canada exposes millions to dangerous air quality
-
Mississippi17 minutes agoHow permanent daylight saving time would impact Mississippi
-
Missouri23 minutes agoMissouri reports 43 cases of parasitic infection that’s sickened thousands nationwide
-
Montana29 minutes agoGovernor Gianforte Announces Montana Ranks as Top 10 State for Job Growth
-
Nebraska35 minutes agoRoanoke County teen heads to national rodeo finals in Nebraska
-
Nevada41 minutes agoNevada’s modern boomtowns are these fast-growing cities, study said
-
New Hampshire47 minutes agoNH Forests: A Story of Revival and the Challenges Ahead: Business NH Magazine
