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Happening in Pocatello keeps locals informed with a weekly rundown of the city’s biggest news, events, crime reports, sports highlights, school district updates, weather, traffic issues, and restaurant talk. Hosts Mark and Joline bring a raw, critical edge that cuts through the noise and makes staying informed unexpectedly fun.
JOLEEN: Welcome to 'Happening in Pocatello' for Monday, September 7th, 2026. Today, we're tracking a nail-biting win for the Poky Thunder, a leadership shakeup at Century High, and some sketchy calls targeting ISU students. I'm Joleen.
MARK: And I'm Mark. It's Labor Day, so while you're ignoring your emails and burning hot dogs, we're looking at why the city wants ten years to figure out the University area. Let's get to it.
JOLEEN: We've gotta start with Benjamin Cody taking the reins at Century High School. He's officially in the big chair now that the school year's in full swing, and honestly, the guy's practically a local legend. He's been the assistant principal there for years, and now he's succeeding Sheryl Brockett after she retired this summer. He's a Highland grad, but we won't hold that against him since he's been a Diamondback at heart for over a decade. It's actually a pretty cool full-circle moment for a guy who grew up right here in the Gate City and even got his degrees from ISU.
MARK: It's nice to see someone who actually knows where the bathrooms are getting the job, I guess. Usually, these districts like to fly in some 'expert' from three states away who spends the first six months trying to find a decent coffee shop. Cody's been in that building for fourteen years, so at least he knows which lockers have the permanent smell of old gym socks. But he's got his work cut out for him. Century's always been the school that's trying to maintain that 'new' feel even though it's been around since 1999. He's talking about 'building systems' and 'professional collaboration,' which is just educator-speak for 'I'm trying to make sure the kids actually show up to class.'
JOLEEN: Oh, stop it. He's actually very focused on special education and instructional alignment. It's not just about showing up. He's been part of the administrative team there for a while, so it's a smooth transition, which is what those students need. And speaking of long-term plans, the city's finally moving forward with that 10-year plan for the residential area around Idaho State University. They're looking for public input to figure out how to handle the growth and the aging housing stock in that neighborhood. It's about time they looked at the University area as more than just a place to park and get a ticket.
MARK: A ten-year plan for the University area? That's optimistic. Most of those houses have been held together by prayer and cheap siding since the Nixon administration. By the time they finish a ten-year plan, we'll probably be commuting via jetpack or at least a very aggressive scooter. I'm curious what 'public input' they actually expect. It's usually three people complaining about street lights and one guy who wants to turn his lawn into a gravel pit for his five broken-down Subarus. If they want to fix that area, they've gotta figure out how to make it livable for people who aren't currently surviving on ramen and caffeine.
JOLEEN: Well, the goal is to make it a place where people actually want to stay after they graduate. We've got so many great neighborhoods, but that core area around ISU needs some love. Speaking of the university, though, we've gotta talk about the crime report. The Pocatello Police are putting out a massive warning for ISU students. Scammers are calling people and pretending to be from ISU Public Safety. They're telling students that 'evidence' was found in their cars and that they're under investigation. It's classic fear-mongering to get people to hand over money or personal info.
MARK: It's the oldest trick in the book, yet people still fall for it because nobody wants to be the person who gets arrested for a bag of 'evidence' they didn't know they had. If someone calls you claiming to be a cop and demands payment over the phone, hang up. It's that simple. Real cops don't take Venmo or iTunes gift cards. They just show up at your door and make your neighbors look at you through their blinds. The fact that they're targeting students who are already stressed about midterms and laundry is just bottom-feeder behavior. If you're that worried, call the actual campus safety number back yourself. Don't trust the caller ID, because that's easier to fake than a smile at a tax audit.
JOLEEN: Exactly. And there's another scam involving virtual kidnapping. They're using AI now to mimic voices of family members. It's absolutely terrifying. They'll call and say they've got your kid or your sibling and demand a ransom. They play audio that sounds just like them crying. If that happens, you've gotta stay calm, try to reach the person they supposedly have on another line, and call the police immediately. It's disgusting how they're using technology to pull at people's heartstrings like that.
MARK: It's the tech-bro version of being a piece of shit. We're at the point where you can't even trust your own ears anymore. I miss the days when scams were just an exiled prince from a country I couldn't find on a map asking for a five-hundred-dollar wire transfer. Now you've got robots pretending to be your crying niece. It's an absolute circus out there. Just assume any urgent call from an unknown number is a lie. If it's real, they'll leave a voicemail or send a carrier pigeon.
JOLEEN: Let's move to something a bit more appetizing. We decided to hit up a true Pocatello icon this week. We're talking about Buddy's Italian Restaurant on East Lewis Street. They've been open since 1961, and if you haven't been there, you're basically not a resident. We're looking at their legendary salad and that pink dressing that people would probably bathe in if they could. They've got Bobette Heath, who's been making the sauces and dressing since the mid-seventies. That's forty-five years of garlic consistency.
MARK: The place is a time capsule, and I don't mean that in a bad way. It's the kind of spot where you walk in and immediately know you're going to smell like garlic for the next three business days. They call it 'Buddy's Breath,' and it's a badge of honor in this town. If you go on a first date to Buddy's, you're either getting married or you're never seeing each other again. The garlic bread is local from Paloukos Bakery, and it's basically a delivery vehicle for butter and happiness. But let's be real, the salad is the main event. It's got those chunks of blue cheese and the dressing that defies the laws of physics. It's not fancy, it's just consistently good.
JOLEEN: It really is. I saw a review from someone who drove three hours just for the baked ziti and the spumoni. They've also added fried mozzarella a couple of years ago, which is a nice touch for a place that's sixty-plus years old. It's just a great community spot where you see everyone you know. They've managed to keep the prices decent and the portions huge. You're always going home with a box that weighs three pounds. Just don't get the burger. Who goes to an Italian legend and orders a burger? That's on you if it's mediocre.
MARK: Order a burger at a pasta joint and you deserve whatever dry, pressed patty they throw at you. That's like going to a steakhouse and ordering the garden salad. You're there for the carbs and the 'Buddy's Breath.' It's one of the few places in town that hasn't changed its vibe to appeal to some corporate aesthetic. It still feels like the place where your parents probably had their first fight over who got the last ravioli. It's honest food, and in a world of 'deconstructed' whatever, I'll take a plate of spaghetti and meatballs any day.
JOLEEN: Totally agree. Now, speaking of things that hit hard, let's talk about the Pocatello Thunder. They had a massive game this past Friday against Nampa. It was a total nail-biter, but Poky escaped with a sixteen to fourteen win. After that tough loss to Hillcrest the week before, they really needed this. It was one of those games where the defense really stepped up when it mattered. It wasn't the prettiest win, but a win's a win, especially on the road.
MARK: Sixteen to fourteen. That's a score that says 'we spent the whole night punting and hoping for the best.' But hey, they found a way to win. After getting hammered by Hillcrest thirty-two to seven, I'm sure the coaching staff was just happy to see some life in the offense. High school football in Idaho is always a grind once you hit September. Everyone's got bruises, and the turf is starting to feel a lot harder than it did in August. They've got Twin Falls coming up soon, and that's going to be another test of whether this team can actually put together a scoring drive without relying on the kicker's leg and a prayer.
JOLEEN: I think they've got the momentum now. And over at Idaho State, the Bengals are actually making waves. The volleyball team beat Wichita State recently, which was a huge win since it was against coach Chris Lamb's former mentor. The football team even cracked the national top twenty-five rankings for the first time in years, though they're dealing with some injuries. It's an exciting time to be a sports fan in Pocatello. We've got more than just the wind to talk about.
MARK: Let's see if the Bengals can stay in those rankings once the conference play starts. That's when the wheels usually start to wobble. But for now, we'll take the pride where we can get it. Just don't get too high on the horse. We're one bad Saturday away from 'well, there's always next season.' It's the Idaho way. You hope for the best but keep your expectations at sea level so you don't get disappointed when the defense decides to play like they're in a choreographed dance recital.
JOLEEN: You're such a pessimist. They're playing well! And if you want to see some real athleticism, the forty-sixth annual Pocatello Pump is happening this weekend, September twelfth. It's a rock-climbing competition at Ross Park, and it's one of the oldest in the country. People come from all over to climb the basalt cliffs. It's actually a really cool spectator event even if you're like me and prefer to keep your feet firmly on the pavement.
MARK: The Pocatello Pump. Every year I watch people scale those rocks and I just wonder why. There are perfectly good trails you can walk up to get to the same view. But no, they've gotta do it the hard way. It's impressive, I'll give 'em that. It's a huge deal for the local climbing community. If you go, expect to see a lot of chalk dust and people with forearms the size of my thighs. It's definitely better than watching more road construction, which is the only other 'sport' we've got going on right now.
JOLEEN: Speaking of road construction, we've got some updates for the week of September 7th. The Benton Street Bridge is still the main headache, but they're supposedly in the home stretch, aiming to finish by the end of the month. Also, East Carter Street is finally supposed to be opening back up after that water main project for the new ISU Physician Assistant building. But don't get too excited, because there's still work happening at Hiline and El Rancho, and the Johnny Creek sewer project is going to haunt us through October.
MARK: The Benton Street Bridge is like that house guest who says they're leaving on Sunday but is still on your couch two weeks later. I'll believe it's finished when I can drive across it without seeing a guy in a neon vest staring at a hole in the ground. And the Johnny Creek project? That's just a classic. I'm starting to think 'sewer service' is just code for 'we found something weird buried down there and we don't know what to do with it.' Just avoid those areas if you value your sanity and your suspension. If you're trying to get to the university area, maybe just walk. It'll probably be faster.
JOLEEN: And there's concrete work starting on Yellowstone Avenue too. They're going to have single-lane closures, so that's going to be a mess. It's basically the season of the orange cone. You've just gotta plan ahead. Or, you know, buy one of those houses in the university area we were talking about and never leave your block. The real estate market's actually interesting right now. Median prices are hovering around three hundred and thirty-nine thousand dollars, which is a bit of a cooling trend from the peak, but it's still tough for first-time buyers.
MARK: Three hundred and thirty-nine thousand. For that price, you better be getting a house that doesn't need a new roof and a priest to exorcise the plumbing. The inventory is actually up a bit, about seven percent, so buyers have some choices, but homes are sitting on the market longer--average of about fifty-four days now compared to twenty-something last year. It's a 'reset,' as the economists like to say. Which is just a fancy way of saying 'nobody can afford the interest rates and the asking prices at the same time.' If you're selling, you've gotta actually fix the leaky faucet now. You can't just slap on some gray paint and call it a luxury remodel.
JOLEEN: It's definitely becoming more of a balanced market. But with the University area 10-year plan, we might see some of those older properties get the investment they need. It's a long game. If you're looking for something to do this weekend while you ponder your mortgage options, don't forget the Bengal Block Party on Friday, September eleventh. It's the grand finale of ISU's welcome week, and they're shutting down MLK Drive for a huge community celebration. Food, music, and the whole Bengal vibe. It's always a good time.
MARK: A block party. Nothing makes me feel older than a bunch of college kids celebrating the fact that they've successfully avoided a real job for another semester. But it's good for the town. It brings some energy back after the summer quiet. Just be prepared for the parking nightmare. If you think finding a spot in Old Town is hard, try doing it when half the university is out in the street. Also, the Marshall Public Library is celebrating twenty-five years of their Poetry Wall all month. So if you want to feel sophisticated while you eat your street tacos, go read some local verses.
JOLEEN: I love the Poetry Wall! It's such a great way to showcase local talent. And the weather for all these outdoor events is actually looking pretty decent for September. Today, Labor Day, we're looking at a high of sixty-nine and sunny. It's going to be a bit breezy with gusts up to twenty-two miles per hour, but honestly, that's just a light tickle for Pocatello. Tonight it drops down to forty-six, so it's definitely feeling like fall.
MARK: Sixty-nine degrees. That's the perfect temperature for people who can't decide if they want a sweater or a t-shirt. But the heat's coming back. Tuesday it hits seventy-five, Wednesday eighty-one, and by Thursday we're looking at a high of eighty-four. It's like summer's trying to get one last punch in before it gives up. Thursday night stays warm around fifty-nine, but then we start to cool back down into the high seventies and low eighties for the weekend. No alerts, no smoke warnings for once, just clear Idaho skies. It's almost suspicious.
JOLEEN: Don't jinx it! Saturday night has a slight chance of light rain, about twenty percent, with a low of fifty-one. Then Sunday we're back to a high of sixty-eight. It's basically the perfect weekend for the Pocatello Pump and the Bengal Block Party. Just bring a light jacket for the evenings. We're definitely in that transition period where you have to dress in layers if you want to survive the day without either freezing or sweating through your shirt.
MARK: The 'Pocatello Layering Season.' I've got a system. Flannel over a hoodie over a t-shirt. By noon I'm down to the t-shirt, and by five I'm back in the hoodie. It's a lot of laundry, but it's better than getting caught in a sudden breeze that feels like it came straight off a glacier. At least the sun's staying out for the most part. It's a good week to get your lawn mowed one last time before you start procrastinating on raking the leaves.
JOLEEN: I'm not ready for the leaves yet! I'm still trying to enjoy the last of the farmers markets. The Portneuf Valley Farmers Market is still going every Saturday at Lookout Point until October. It's the best place to get those fall veggies and maybe some locally made crafts. It's been a busy season, and it's not slowing down yet.
MARK: It's a marathon, not a sprint. We've got the Oktoberfest coming up later this month too, so keep your lederhosen ready. But for this week, just keep an eye on your phone for those scammers and keep an eye on the road for the cones. It's the same old Pocatello shuffle, just with different names in the principal's office and a slightly more expensive housing market.
JOLEEN: That's a wrap for today. If you've got a story we should cover or a restaurant we need to check out, email us at pocatello@thehappeningnetwork.com. Make sure you follow or subscribe so you don't miss any of the local chaos. We'll be back next week to tell you what else is going on in the Gate City.
MARK: Assuming the Benton Bridge doesn't swallow me whole before then. Have a good Labor Day, Pocatello. See ya next Monday.