| September 4, 2009
2009 Patriot Day 9/11 Flag Memorial Display
September 9-19, 2009 • Hosted at Crossroads Point Business Center®
 Crossroads Point Business Center® is once again hosting a Patriot Day Flag Memorial with over 3000 flags. These 3' x 5' flags stand 8 foot tall in perfect rows and columns to honor of the lives lost in the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001. This celebration also serves to honor the men and women who defend our freedoms. The living memorial will be a patriotic tribute to the strength and unity of Americans.
A breathtaking display of patriotism and unity, this community project is free to all who wish to participate and heal together from the heartache of a nation attacked. Everyone is welcome.
This community event will only run from September 9 - 16, 2009 at the Crossroads Point Business Center® in Jerome, ID (Exit 173, across the street from Flying J at the US 93/I-84 interchange).
Please join us – this event is not to be missed!
Read the Story of the Idea at the official website for more information on the history of the Healing Field.
For more information about the Patriot Day Celebration or Healing Field, contact event organizer Blair Crouch by email or phone at (208) 324-6644.
September 4, 2008
Giving it Another Go
Six Years in, St. Benedicts Takes Another Stab at a New Home
By Nate Poppino, Times-News writer
Officials with St. Benedicts Family Medical Center already planned once for a hospital at Crossroads Point®, near the intersection of Interstate 84 and U.S. Highway 93.
But as the project moved forward, funding options fell apart at the last minute and everything came to a screeching halt, CEO Al Stevenson said.
It wasn't the death of the project. But the hospital's plans were largely put on hold until January, Stevenson said. And now that things have begun to progress once again, officials are being as careful as they can to make sure the project is done right.
So far, he said, it has been.
"It's all looking positive so far," Stevenson said Wednesday of financial and market studies regarding the proposed facility.
After months of tight lips, hospital officials announced last week that plans were moving again for the new, up to 25-bed replacement for the current hospital's Jerome location. Stevenson, who was hired in late 2005 and missed the first attempt to build a new St. Ben's, shared more information Wednesday morning, including the results of a market survey he said will help architects determine the new building's needs.
Those results, he said, are good. Emergency room visits, for example, are projected to rise from 7,500 a year to 10,000 in five years, he said, showing a need. Similar increases are seen in other areas of the hospital, and that's assuming most factors stay the same. St. Benedicts continues to serve as a critical-access hospital, a designation for rural facilities specializing in acute care, while nearby and far-larger St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls continues as the major trauma center for the area.
The new building could be 60,000 to 70,000 square feet based off of the market study and other data, Stevenson said. But officials won't know for sure until designs are drawn up and a space needs study is finished. The hospital is currently evaluating architects to select who will draw up the plans, largely people from the Pacific Northwest, Stevenson said.
Things aren't like they were when St. Benedicts first made its plans known in 2002. In the six years since, the formerly county-owned Twin Falls hospital was sold to St. Luke's, while Gooding County Memorial Hospital secured funding and a new nonprofit home for its own new facility.
Construction materials costs have jumped several times. And today's financial market is more restricted than in years past, Stevenson said, with lenders tightening borrowing requirements.
Officials are confident they'll be able to raise the needed money, he said - likely at least $30 million, spokeswoman Christy Davies said, though officials have yet to make a firm estimate this year. But it won't be as simple as it was before.
"It will take a lot of work," Stevenson said, adding that he hopes to have the project's finances worked out in six to nine months.
St. Benedicts itself was sold to a Minnesota company in 2007. With the Twin Falls, Gooding and Jerome hospitals all under new ownership, Stevenson said, the door was opened to talk of collaboration and the needs of the region.
It's once again a departure from the past. There was a time when the Twin Falls and Jerome hospitals were at odds over the latter's plans to expand. Former Magic Valley Regional Medical Center CEO John Kee even tried early on to get St. Benedicts' critical-access status revoked if it moved to the Crossroads Point® site.
Now, all three hospital CEOs have met on a regular basis to plan for the future together, St. Luke's Magic Valley CEO Mark Schwartz said. Ideas include St. Benedicts enhancing its rehabilitation services to compensate for St. Luke's closing its transitional care unit last year, Stevenson said.
The talks are valuable, Schwartz said, given the similar goals of all three hospitals.
"There's good rationale for doing what we're doing in all three communities," Schwartz said.
Nate Poppino may be reached at 208-735-3237 or npoppino@magicvalley.com.
June 22, 2008
The North Side Inn to Rise Again
By Blair Koch Correspondent
 JEROME - One hundred years ago construction began on the hotel Idaho, which was later called The North Side Inn.
The grand hotel entertained perspective buyers for North Side tracts sold through the North Side Land & Water Co. and become a landmark destination along the highway between Boise and Pocatello.
But time took its toll, and in 1966 the hotel was torn down but never forgotten.
In 1994 Arlen Crouch purchased a 497 acre plot on the west side of the Interstate-84 and Highway 93 intersection, now known as Crossroads Point®. Crouch, of Jerome, remembered The North Side Inn in fully glory. Even before the land for Crossroads Point® was purchased he dreamed of resurrecting the inn.
On Thursday, that dream became reality with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Heritage Centre.
The Heritage Centre is designed to replicate the North Side Inn on the inside and out.
"The Heritage will have the two spheres and full wrap around terrace, it was designed to look just like the North Side Inn," said Project Manager Brandon Hoobler, with Dragt Construction, of Filer. "It is going to connect us back to where we were in 1908, the hotel was here from the beginning, and was a major draw for Jerome. Everyone was sad to see it go and we are glad to be a part in bringing it back."
Building the Spanish-Colonial style structure is quite an undertaking for Dragt Construction, said Hoobler, as the 13,500 square foot, three-story facility marks one of the largest projects for the company.
Dragt Construction will own the building and oversee renting out professional office space.
"We're ready. We have verbal confirmation for about 60 percent of the rental space. We are moving Dragt headquarters from Filer to the building and envision it being a professional center with lawyers, architects, doctors, realtors and title companies, business like that."
Once Heritage is completed in February, Dragt plans to build the Legacy - another office building with a style similar to the Heritage that will be located nearby.
"(The Legacy) will be a 19,000 square foot, sister building," said Hoobler.
Heritage sets a higher standard for new buildings and remodels in Jerome, said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Elizabeth Thomas.
She also said that the building and the business park that surrounds it will bring new businesses and jobs to the region.
Crouch said he is excited to see his dream of bringing the architectural marvel of The North Side Inn back to Jerome County.
"I saw the building in operation and it was a tragedy to take it down. I've always wanted to reduplicate it," he said. "I remember, when you walked into it, all were in complete awe of the building. It stood out and was an absolute marvel to be appreciated."
Resurrection of the North Side Inn is a historic passage for Idaho, said David Leroy of Boise. Leroy, former Idaho Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, is now a Boise attorney and chairman of the Idaho Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
"Never before in Idaho history has anybody ever reconstructed a commercial building. This event is important, it shows a new corner being turned in Idaho's future," Leroy said. "So often we appreciate things historic in the abstract but to touch an artifact, walk down a historic hallway; we'll really get to go back in time. This is not just a commitment to commerce but a commitment to what Idaho was and should remain."
The 500-acre development at Crossroads Point® is the largest Planned Unit Development in Idaho, and it will be built along the second busiest intersection in the state, Crouch said.
Joe Herring, Region IV Development Director, said Crossroads Point® is the kind of diversified business development the area needs.
"This whole development will help bring a new caliber of business to the area. With the Wingate Hotel that is already here at Crossroads, it brings a whole new caliber of lodging to the market and the businesses at Crossroads will do the same thing," Herring said.
Blair Koch may be reached at 208-543-0910 or blairkoch@gmail.com
March 2, 2007
Jerome Hospital Sold
Minnesota-based Benedictine Health System Taking Over
By Sandy Miller, Times-News writer
JEROME: St. Benedicts Family Medical Center has a new owner.
The Boise-based nonprofit Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center announced Thursday it has transferred ownership of the 25-bed critical access hospital to Benedictine Health System, a Catholic health care organization based in Duluth, Minn. BHS owns nine acute-care hospitals, including two others in Idaho - Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino and St. Mary's Hospital in Cottonwood. It also owns or manages more than 50 long-term care facilities of various types, including nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and independent living facilities in eight states.
How the ownership transfer will affect St. Benedicts' plans to build its new 25-bed hospital at Crossroads Point® is unknown. However, Bryan Craig, who sits on the hospital's board, said the hospital intends to go forward with its plans to build.
"Obviously, with a new parent there's no guarantee, but that's what the intent is," Craig said Thursday.
Saint Alphonsus had been working to secure financing for the new $20-plus million hospital and it looks as though BHS plans to continue on that path.
"We intend to focus our efforts on revisiting the current facility design to see if it meets the community's future needs, and embark on the goal of attracting the right financing to build a replacement hospital," said Dan McGinty, senior vice president of BHS in a news release.
The transfer of ownership will have little impact on patients, hospital staff and physicians, McGinty said.
Saint Alphonsus will retain one seat on the St. Benedicts Board of Directors.
So why did Saint Alphonsus decide to transfer ownership of St. Benedicts?
"We considered how to advance health care services in Jerome, and determined that a Catholic partnership based on our clinical strengths and BHS' special expertise operating long-term care and rural health care facilities made the most sense," said Sandra Bruce, president and chief executive officer at Saint Alphonsus, in the news release. "We will continue to play a significant role with ongoing clinical collaboration to ensure that St. Benedicts and other rural community hospitals have access to our critical care services, specialty physicians and state-of-the-art technologies.
Father Norbert Novak, chairman of the St. Benedicts Hospital Board, said the board is "excited about this change in sponsorship and governance."
"We are appreciative for all who have worked so hard to make this transition a reality," Novak said in the news release.
Times-News Business Editor Sandy Miller can be reached at 735-3264 or by e-mail at smiller@magicvalley.com.
December 7, 2006
Wingate Inn Coming to Crossroads Point Business Center®
 Crossroads Point Business Center®, located at the I-84 US Highway 93 in Jerome County, announced today that Wingate Inn will be coming to the center with a 100 room Hotel. Arlen B. Crouch, owner of Crossroads Point®, said: “We are very excited to have such a great hotel coming to Crossroads Point®. This will be a tremendous addition for all of Magic Valley. It also demonstrates the quality of businesses that are coming to Crossroads Point®.”
David Davenport, Wingate Inn Vice President, said: “We are very eager to come to Magic Valley. We see tremendous potential for the Hotel and are excited to be part of the Crossroads Point Business Center®.” Mr. Davenport said the hotel will have The Wingate Inn Advantage which includes:
- Free High-speed wired and wireless internet to all rooms
- Free access to the 24-hour business center
- Free use of fitness room and whirlpool
- Free faxes, copying, and printing
- Free local calls and long-distance access
- Free expanded continental breakfast
- Free delivery of USA Today to each occupied guest room
The luxury hotel will have 100 rooms, three conference rooms, an executive boardroom and a sundries shop. Construction will start March 1, 2007 with a completion date expected for March 1, 2008. The ownership of the hotel will be VanDur Properties LLC.
Wingate Inns International is an original, new construction-only, mid priced hotel chain without food and beverage. The first Wingate Inn hotel was opened in 1996. Today, there are over 180 hotels open and under development in United States and Canada. Wingate Inn hotels were designed based on input from seasoned travelers, travel agents and hotel developers.
August 23, 2006
The 2006 Healing Field 9/11 Flag Memorial Display
September 7-20, 2006 • Hosted at Crossroads Point Business Center®
 Crossroads Point Business Center® in Jerome, ID will once again be the host city to a Patriot Day Healing Field Flag Memorial of 3000 flags. These 3'x5' flags will stand 8' tall in perfect rows and columns across a field of green and will stand in honor of the lives lost in the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001. This living memorial will fly as a patriotic tribute to the strength and unity of Americans.
A breathtaking display of patriotism and unity, this community project is free to all who wish to participate and heal together from the heartache of a nation attacked. For more information on the history of the Healing Field read the Story of the Idea.
Everyone is invited to participate in this community event on September 7-20, 2006 in Jerome, ID at the Crossroads Point Business Center®. Bring a camera and your family. Help us remember, honor and heal.
Sponsor it, Own it, Take it Home and Fly it Proudly
The Healing Field patriotic flag memorial is hosted by Crossroads Point Business Center®. The flags need your sponsorship. You can sponsor a flag and after the event you can take your flag home to continue your tribute and honor to our great country. Each 3'x5' flag comes with and eight foot pole and the rebar to post it in your lawn. The funds raised from the sale of the flags will be donated to local charities.
Volunteer: volunteers from the community are invited to help assemble the flags and place them on the field. If you or your organization would like to be a part of this moving event contact: Arlen Crouch at 208-280-6644 or email arlencrouch@aol.com
Help us keep alive the memories from the event, and everything that each of these flags represent! |
