Registration opens Monday for the North Idaho Women and Their Money Conference, a free event designed to promote financial confidence and competence for women of all ages and walks of life.

“It’s so fascinating; the demographics are all over the board for who this is for,” co-organizer Teresa Irish said in an April 18 phone interview.

The inaugural conference will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 9 at North Idaho College. The day will feature sessions exploring such topics as entrepreneurship, building wealth, insurance and creating plans for financial stability as well. Educational exhibits and resources will be on site as well.

A keynote presentation will be delivered by New York Times best-selling author and nationally recognized money expert Ellen Rogin, who will also participate in a breakout session.

“We’re really excited,” Irish said. “She’s very down to earth. She has such a commonsense approach to communication about money that makes you feel like it’s a commonplace topic we should all be able to talk about.”

Irish said Rogin is very disarming for people, a quality that makes a sometimes frustrating and formidable topic not so intimidating.

“Her laid-back style will make you think, ‘This isn’t that hard,’” Irish said.

The conference will have seats for 500 guests, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The conference committee set a goal of welcoming 400 participants, but overwhelming community interest and support led organizers to expand the event.

“Understanding the basics of financial terms and strategies will help bring a person to a feeling of security and provide a launching pad to achieve other life goals,” co-organizer Jan Tymesen said. “It is our privilege to offer this to the women of North Idaho.”

Irish said the conference is for women who want to learn, connect and grow.

“Whether starting out, starting over, balancing life as a single mom, planning for retirement, this isn’t just about money,” she said. “It’s about confidence that comes with knowledge, informed decision making and realizing your goals and dreams are within reach.”

Those who attend the North Idaho Women and Their Money Conference will also be given opportunities to earn $1,000 NIC scholarships that will support vocational training, workforce development and credit-based educational programs. Attendees can include their interest in being considered for a scholarship directly on the registration form. At the close of the conference, winners will be randomly selected and announced live, adding a meaningful and memorable moment to an already empowering day. As contributions to the scholarship fund increase, so does the number of scholarships to be awarded to the 500 women attending the conference.

“We are blessed to be a blessing and to help others create lasting value in their own lives,” Tymesen said. “We understand that financial literacy is a key driver of economic stability and empowerment. We are honored to support this conference with our time, talents and treasures.” 

Visit northidahowomenandtheirmoney.com for registration details and info.

The following is a news release from the city of Idaho Falls.

IDAHO FALLS – The City of Idaho Falls will be closing Anderson Street between Boulevard and Holmes Avenue beginning Sat., April 26, to allow crews to access and replace a waterline near the intersection of Anderson & Holmes. The closure is part of a critical infrastructure project aimed at ensuring the continued reliability of the city’s water system.

Local businesses will remain accessible from the Science Center during the closure. Drivers are advised to reduce speeds, obey all traffic control signage, and remain alert for construction crews working in the area.

The City of Idaho Falls thanks residents and businesses for their understanding and support during this necessary improvement to the city’s infrastructure.

For further information, contact the City of Idaho Falls Public Works Department at (208) 612-8250.

Paul Wuthrich as Alma Richards in a scene from “Raising the Bar,” a new film about a Utah boy who set an Olympic high jump record in 1912. Watch our interview with the film’s director in the video above. | Courtesy photo

IDAHO FALLS – A new film premiering in eastern Idaho next week tells the true story of a track and field star from Utah who set an Olympic high jump record in 1912.

“Raising the Bar: The Story of Alma Richards” premiered in Utah on Thursday and will be released in local theaters on May 2.

T.C. Christensen is the filmmaker behind the project. He’s the director of titles like “Escape from Germany,” “The Fighting Preacher,” and “The Cokeville Miracle.”

In a conversation with EastIdahoNews.com, Christensen explains the appeal and significance of this story and the reason he wanted to bring it to the screen.

“There wasn’t another person out here in the West to win a gold medal in the Olympics for 88 years after him,” Christensen says. “This was really a spectacular moment.”

Richards didn’t know anything about the sport until shortly before he arrived at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. He was in high school at the time and acquired his athletic ability jumping over fences chasing jackrabbits in his hometown of Parowan, a small town in southwestern Utah.

Like many high school students, Christensen says Richards wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life and this set him on an unexpected career path that left a lasting mark on sports history.

“He went to high school one day and they had a new coach. The coach said, ‘Hey, you’re big’ — he was a big kid — ‘Why don’t you come out for track?’ Alma didn’t even know what he was talking about … but he went out and two years later found himself on the greatest athletic stage in the world,” Christensen says.

This aspect of Richards’ story is what Christensen says gives the film universal appeal.

It’s also a story Christensen is personally invested in. He grew up hearing stories about Richards from his grandmother, who lived with him and his siblings as kids. His grandmother is Richards’ sister, which means the protagonist in the film is Christensen’s great uncle.

Although Christensen is related to the film’s subject, he says making this film wasn’t about nepotism or personal attention. It was the story, first and foremost, that was appealing to him.

The obstacles his great uncle had to overcome were seemingly insurmountable, he says, and “so outlandish … audiences are going to think I made them up.”

“That’s what makes for a good story,” says Christensen. “At the end of the film, there’s a bit of a twist. You’ll think his purpose in life is ‘X’ … and it’s not. He finds an even higher purpose in life.”

“Raising the Bar” has been in the works for the last four years. Christensen began the initial production in 2020 and experienced some delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RELATED | Movie premiering in eastern Idaho tells story of local missionary who led evacuation out of Nazi Germany

Paul Wuthrich, who had the leading role in “Escape from Germany” — Christensen’s most recent film — plays the part of Richards. Wuthrich could not be reached for comment, but Christensen explains why he cast him in this role.

“This was a hard part to cast because the guy playing Alma not only needs to be a good actor, but also needs to be athletic and be able to fit into our parameters (for a low budget film),” Christensen explains. “This is now the fourth film I’ve done with Paul and he’s just terrific.”

Christensen is making a trip to eastern Idaho next week for the film’s premiere. He’ll be speaking at Brigham Young University-Idaho and interacting with movie-goers for a Q&A in Rexburg and Idaho Falls.

Christensen is excited for audiences to see the film. It will premiere at Paramount 5 in Rexburg, Paramount Theater in Idaho Falls and at the Blackfoot Movie Mill.

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTENSEN IN THE VIDEO ABOVE.