MARK: Welcome to Happening in Pocatello for Monday, October 26, 2026. I'm Mark.

JOLEEN: And I'm Joleen. Today, the Bengals finally break their skid in the Dome, a local business owner saves birthday parties after a sudden closure, and we've got a soggy Halloween forecast.

MARK: It wouldn't be a Pocatello holiday without the sky trying to ruin it, but let's start with the mess over at Extreme Rush. They've closed their doors just months after a grand reopening, leaving a lot of local parents holding the bag and some useless gift cards.

JOLEEN: It's honestly heartbreaking for those families who had parties planned, but Sloan Dalley over at The Shindig is stepping up. She's helping out those who got stuck with gift cards for a place that basically disappeared overnight. It's that small-town support that makes this place great.

MARK: Yeah, it's a nice gesture, even if it's cleaning up someone else's shitty business planning. Extreme Rush is claiming it's 'maintenance and reorganization', which is usually corporate speak for 'the bank account is a fucking desert'. If you're reorganization involves locking the doors and ghosting birthday parties, you're probably doing it wrong.

JOLEEN: Mark, don't be such a cynical prick. Sloan didn't have to do anything. She saw people getting screwed over and decided to help them get their night of fun back.

MARK: yeah

JOLEEN: It's about community, not just the bottom line. But you're right that the timing is absolute garbage for those kids.

MARK: It's always a reorganization when the money runs out. We've seen this movie in the Gate City before. One day you're the hottest new spot for kids to get sweaty and break a limb, the next day there's a padlock on the door and a cryptic post on Facebook. It's a tough market for those big indoor centers, especially when people have to choose between a jump pass and, you know, eating.

JOLEEN: Well, at least someone is looking out for the families. On a much heavier note, the community is mourning Laura Blad, the wife of former mayor Brian Blad. She passed away yesterday after a six-year battle with cancer at just 56. She was such a fixture at ISU and in our local government circles for a long time.

MARK: It's a huge loss. Six years is a hell of a fight. Brian was the mayor here for what felt like forever, and Laura was always right there with him. It's one of those moments where politics doesn't matter, just the fact that a family that's given a lot to this city is hurting.

JOLEEN: yeah Exactly. Our thoughts are definitely with the Blad family this week. She really was a pillar in the community, and her impact at Idaho State University isn't something that's going to be forgotten anytime soon.

MARK: Moving from heavy news to the just plain weird, Fish and Game had to play traffic cop on the I-15 and I-86 interchange on Friday morning. Two adult moose decided the island in the middle of the freeway was the place to be. It didn't end well for the moose.

JOLEEN: Oh, that was so sad to see. They had to lethally remove them because there was just no safe way to get two massive animals out of that high-traffic area without causing a total disaster. Can you imagine driving to work and seeing that in the interchange?

MARK: Honestly, with the way people drive through that interchange, the moose were probably the most predictable things on the road. It's a nightmare spot even without livestock in the median. Fish and Game caught a lot of shit online for the decision, but you can't exactly talk a moose into a trailer when they're surrounded by semis going eighty.

JOLEEN: I hate that it had to happen, but safety comes first on the freeway. It's a reminder that even though we're in the city, the wild stuff is always just a couple of miles away. Speaking of safety, Pocatello Police and District 25 had to deal with some reports of threats over at Irving Middle School last week. They did a full investigation and found there was no actual danger, but it definitely had parents on edge.

MARK: It's the new normal, I guess. Every whisper on Snapchat turns into a full-scale tactical response. It's good they didn't find anything, but it's a shitty way to spend a Friday morning for those teachers and students. I'm skeptical of every 'no danger' report until the week actually ends without an incident, but they seem to have handled it professionally.

JOLEEN: They really did. The communication was fast, which is all you can ask for in those situations. I'd rather they overreact than ignore something. It's better to have a boring day than a tragic one.

MARK: right Let's pivot to something that isn't a bummer. If you're looking for a place to eat that isn't currently locking its doors for 'reorganization', I was looking into The Bridge over by the river. It's one of those spots that really takes advantage of the scenery we have here, even if the Portneuf is more of a creek than a mighty river most of the year.

JOLEEN: Oh, I love the atmosphere there. The deck is fantastic, though we're getting into that time of year where you're basically gambling with hypothermia if you sit outside. But their food is always solid. Their burgers are massive, and they actually know how to cook a steak without turning it into a hockey puck.

MARK: The price point is always the sticking point for me. It's a bit of a splurge for Pocatello, but you're paying for the fact that you aren't staring at a parking lot or a strip mall while you eat. Their appetizers are the real winner, though. If you don't get the nachos, you're basically failing at dining. They're large enough to have their own zip code.

JOLEEN: And they have a great local beer selection. It's nice to see a place that actually supports our local breweries instead of just tapping the usual corporate light beers. It feels very 'Gate City' in there--unpretentious but still high quality. Just don't try to go on a Friday night without a plan, because that place gets packed.

MARK: Yeah, if you show up at six o'clock on a Friday without a reservation, you might as well just go to the drive-thru down the street, because you'll be waiting until breakfast. It's good to see a local spot thriving, though. We need more of that and fewer empty shells of 'Fun Zones'.

JOLEEN: Let's talk sports, because the Bengals actually gave us something to cheer about this weekend. They absolutely dismantled Portland State on Saturday at the ICCU Dome. A 38-8 rout. It felt like we were watching a completely different team than the one that's been struggling lately.

MARK: Jordan Cooke was a man on a mission. 334 yards through the air and two rushing touchdowns? That's the kind of production we've been waiting for. The defense finally showed up too, holding the Vikings to just 57 yards in the first half. It's a hell of a lot easier to win when the other team can't move the ball past the concession stand.

JOLEEN: It was so satisfying to see. And just this morning, the Big Sky announced that Jordan Cooke and Trehsyn Fesili were named the Players of the Week. Fesili was a beast on that defensive line. He was all over the place.

MARK: yeah

JOLEEN: It's about time they got some conference recognition. That win snapped a three-game losing streak, and you could just feel the relief in the Dome.

MARK: It's amazing what happens when you don't turn the ball over every five minutes. Coach Cody Hawkins has been preaching consistency, and they actually delivered it. They looked like a team that belongs in the top half of the Big Sky. Now the trick is doing it again next week. One win is a fluke; two wins is a trend.

JOLEEN: Well, they've got some momentum now. And it wasn't just football. The Idaho State Sports Hall of Fame inducted its 2026 class on Saturday too. It's always cool to see former legends like Chelsea Pickering Hooker and Hailey Breakwell come back. They've really built a solid legacy here, and it's nice to honor that history.

MARK: Hailey Breakwell was a monster on the softball field back in her day. It's good they're keeping that tradition alive. It reminds the current athletes that people actually pay attention even after you graduate. Or it reminds them how old they're getting. One of the two.

JOLEEN: Don't forget about the women's volleyball team. They had a bit of a rollercoaster. They beat Montana in four sets on Thursday--outblocked them eleven to five--but then they traveled to Bozeman and lost to Montana State in four on Saturday night. That was a big one for the standings, too. Now they're fighting for that second-place spot.

MARK: Losing to Montana State always stings, but the Bobcats are tough at home. Shroyer Gym is a loud, shitty place to play if you're the road team. The Bengals hit over three hundred against Montana, then struggled to find that same rhythm in Bozeman. It's that consistency thing again. It's the curse of ISU sports across the board.

JOLEEN: And on the high school side, we have to give a huge shout-out to the Pocatello High girls soccer team. They won the state title! They beat Kuna with a golden goal from Gonzalez. That's their second title in three years. Those girls are building a freaking dynasty.

MARK: Winning on a golden goal is the most stressful way to end a season. It's basically a heart attack followed by a trophy. Good for them, though. Poky High has always been a soccer powerhouse, but two titles in three years is impressive in any division. They're making the rest of the school district look like slackers.

JOLEEN: Hey, Highland and Century have had their moments too, but this is Poky's year. It's great to see that level of talent coming out of our local programs. It keeps the college scouts coming around, which is good for everyone. But while those kids are winning trophies, we're all still losing our minds in traffic.

MARK: God, the Hiline and Pearl intersection is still a disaster. They closed the south side of that intersection last week, and the detours are apparently just suggestions for most people. I saw three people try to turn into a closed lane yesterday like they expected the orange barrels to just move for them. They're calling it the 'Hiline Road and Signalization Improvement Project', which is just a fancy way of saying they're spending two million dollars to make sure we're all fifteen minutes late for work. I know we need the new signals, but closing the south side while Pearl Street is still being excavated feels like a cruel joke.

JOLEEN: yeah It's a strategic initiative grant from the state, Mark. At least we aren't paying for the whole thing out of our own property taxes. They're doing the curb and gutter work on the north side now, so hopefully that means the end is in sight. But yeah, if you're driving near El Rancho Boulevard, just don't. Find another way.

MARK: There is no other way. That's the problem with Pocatello. If you close one major intersection, the whole city turns into a parking lot. It's like a game of Tetris where all the pieces are SUVs and nobody knows how to use a blinker. And don't get me started on the real estate market. It's a 'buyer's market' now, but that's only because nobody can afford the interest rates to actually buy anything.

JOLEEN: It's definitely slowed down. We're still seeing those median prices around three-fifty, but houses are just sitting there. It's that seasonal slump mixed with everyone waiting for the election to be over so they can see if the world is going to end or not. If you're looking to buy, you have leverage, but you better have a healthy down payment.

MARK: It's a great time to buy if you're a millionaire who doesn't care about lighting money on fire. For everyone else, it's just another winter of staying put. We're at a twelve-year low for sales. That's not a 'market adjustment', that's a 'market coma'. People are just hunkering down, which I guess is appropriate given the weather report.

JOLEEN: Speaking of hunkering down, let's look at the forecast. It's a weird one for Halloween week. Today we're seeing a high of sixty-two, which is actually quite nice, but don't get used to it. The rain is moving in tonight with a seventy percent chance of precipitation.

MARK: Perfect. Just when you think you can enjoy the fall leaves, the sky decides to turn them into a soggy, brown mess on your driveway. Tomorrow we drop to fifty-one and stay cloudy. It's that gray, oppressive Pocatello sky that makes you want to stay in bed until April.

JOLEEN: It's not all bad! Wednesday and Thursday look decent. We'll see some sun on Wednesday with a high of fifty-four, and Thursday actually gets back up to sixty. That's your window to get your yard work done or finally put up those plastic skeletons you bought three weeks ago.

MARK: And then, of course, the weekend arrives. Friday and Saturday are looking like a total wash. We've got a forty percent chance of rain on Friday and sixty percent on Saturday. If you're planning on taking the kids trick-or-treating on Saturday night, you might want to consider costumes that incorporate a yellow raincoat or a wetsuit.

JOLEEN: It's so annoying! Every year it's either freezing cold or raining. Saturday's high is fifty-four, but by the time the sun goes down and the candy starts flowing, it's going to be in the thirties. There are going to be a lot of disappointed kids whose elaborate costumes are hidden under heavy winter coats.

MARK: That's the Pocatello tax. You want to be a superhero? You're going to be a superhero in a parka. It builds character. Or pneumonia. One of the two. Sunday doesn't look much better either--fifty percent chance of rain and a high of fifty-two. It's just going to be a wet, miserable end to October.

JOLEEN: Well, we still have some community events to look forward to, even with the rain. Downtown is still planning their trick-or-treating events, and there are plenty of indoor parties if you want to avoid the puddles. Just keep an eye on the local business pages, because some of those outdoor things might get moved around if the rain gets too heavy.

MARK: Check the status before you go. Nobody wants to stand in a rainy parking lot in a wet cardboard box costume. It's a bad look. And if you're driving on Saturday night, please watch out for the kids. Between the rain, the darkness, and the sugar-high toddlers, it's a recipe for disaster on the roads.

JOLEEN: Definitely. Slow down, especially in the neighborhoods. No one needs to get to a Halloween party ten minutes faster at the expense of a kid's safety. Let's keep it a fun weekend, even if we're all a little damp.

MARK: Damp is the official state of being for Pocatello in late October. Anyway, that's the news for this week. It's a mix of big wins in the Dome, some community kindness, and the usual traffic and weather frustrations.

JOLEEN: We'll be back next week to see if the Bengals can keep the streak alive and if the moose have finally figured out how to stay off the freeway. In the meantime, if you have a story or a tip, you can reach us at pocatello@thehappeningnetwork.com.

MARK: Make sure to subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform so you don't miss an update. Stay safe out there, Pocatello. Don't let the rain ruin your sugar rush.

JOLEEN: Have a great week, everybody! We'll see you next Monday.