Category Archives: Idaho

Idaho, U.S.

Task Force-DC: Massive National Guard mobilization for the U.S. Capital City!

Video

Since the beginning of January 2025, Air & Army National Guard units have been pouring into the U.S. Capital of Washington-District of Columbia (DC).  Never mind all the other government security organizations who are also deploying there.  This is just a little bit of what the National Guard is doing.

New York National Guard in-process for Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) at the DC Armory, Washington DC. Photo via Sergeant First Class Steven Eaton, 18JAN2025.

As many as 8-thousand militia personnel, from at least 40 states, deployed to Washington DC for Joint Task Force District of Columbia (JTF-DC), as part of the 60th Presidential Inauguration.

On 18JAN2025, Idaho based 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (wearing ‘Snake River Brigade’ patch) gets sworn in as deputies, along with other Guard units from other states. I edited from a video via Technical Sergeant Missy Sterling:

Connecticut National Guard discuss preparations for assigned Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC), 17JAN2025. Photo via Private First Class Emmanuel Gibson.

On 17JAN2025, Virginia Army National Guard used buses and HMMWV to deploy to Washington DC, video via Staff Sergeant Marc Heaton:

17JAN2025, about 1-hundred Oklahoma National Guard personnel deployed for the 60th Presidential Inauguration. Video interviews, via Matthew Hilborn, explains why:

On 17JAN2025, a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130 delivered Idaho Army National Guard personnel to Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland.  About 350 Idahoans deployed.  Video via Technical Sergeant Andrew Enriquez:

District of Columbia Army National Guard inspect their dress uniforms as part of the 60th Presidential Inauguration. Photo via Staff Sergeant Simone Sampson.

On 17JAN2025, Tennessee Air National Guard Security Police and Army National Guard Military Police deployed, video interviews via Sergeant Olivia Gum:

National Guard board a C-17 Globemaster-3, Photo by Sergeant N.W. Huertas, 16JAN2025. About 500 Florida militia personnel will take part in JTF-DC.

On 16JAN2025, Maryland Army National Guard personnel reported for duty in the DC Armory, video via Thomas Lamb:

Pennsylvania Army National Guard gets food from the USO, after arriving for JTF-DC, 16JAN2025. Photo via Sergeant First Class Shane Smith.

Massachusetts Army National Guard helps to in-process other Guard units, in the DC Armory, 16JAN2025. Photo via Staff Sergeant Tyrone Williams.

Wyoming National Guard takes part in riot control training, in preparation for Joint Task Force-District of Columbia, 15JAN2025. Photo via Staff Sergeant Cesar Rivas.

On 15JAN2025, Virgin Islands deployed Army National Guard personnel to the upcoming 60th Presidential Inauguration. Video via Technical Sergeant Andrew Enriquez:

I edited together videos via Vincent De Groot and Technical Sergeant Adam Welch; on 15JAN2025, Iowa deployed Air National Guard medics to the upcoming 60th Presidential Inauguration:

South Carolina Army National Guard board busses bound for Washington DC, 15JAN2025. Photo via Sergeant Duran Jones.

On 15JAN2025, Alaska National Guard C-17 Globmaster-3 delivered National Guard militia personnel from Puerto Rico, I edited video via Staff Sergeant Natalie Filzen:

I edited down a long video (via Staff Sergeant Katherine M. Jacobus); on 15JAN2025, about 140 Illinois Air National Guard Security Police and Army National Guard Military Police deployed, they explain why:

06JAN2025: Militarizing the Police: Army Guard deputized as Capitol Police!

Idaho

Suddenly, The Fog, then just as quick it was gone!

Image

On the eve of the Julian Christmas/New Years, an inversion suddenly descended upon Cotant Park, in Chubbuck, Idaho.

The air was still, it was eerily quiet, not even the road noise from nearby Interstates 15 and 86 could be heard.

The air temperature was between -4 and -3 degrees Celsius, but it felt warm.

Then suddenly, and unfortunately for me, just after midnight as I started taking photos the west wind blew in, sweeping the fog from the park.  If you want the weather to change around here, just wait five minutes, or drive five miles.

Where’s John Carpenter when you need him?:

USACE & Boise: It’s about water, again!

Idaho, U.S.

BSU joins forces with USACE, it’s about water!

Video

“This system has lost its channel-forming flows. Without seasonal inundation, we’re seeing a decline in riparian vegetation like black cottonwood forests and an overall loss of biodiversity.”-Marve Griffith, USACE Walla Walla District

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Boise state University (BSU) are joining forces to tackle the dying Barber Pool Conservation Area (BPCA), which is part of the Boise River system.

The claim is that the BPCA has lost its ‘natural seasonal inundation’ due to the never ending Boise Metro Area construction of buildings and infrastructure upstream. Also, non-regulated human traffic through the BPCA: “Right now, it’s a warren of little trails. If we establish good, maintained pathways, people will use them, and it’ll reduce erosion and protect wildlife.”-Alan Crockett, local taxpayer

The result is that Barber Pool is not recharging, and that plant and animal biodiversity is rapidly disappearing.  The project is not only about restoring the Barber Pool area, but, by expanding the wetland it could also lower the current level of the floodplain.

On 20NOV2024, the USACE and BSU conducted a ‘Public Scoping’ meeting at the Barber Park Education and Events Center, a fancy way a saying they collected comments about the project from concerned taxpaying citizens.

USACE video report by Marcy Sanchez:

The efforts to restore the BPCA are part of the decades old (Cold War era) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

USACE Barber Pool project.

2024: Idaho wants to shutdown 500-thousand acres of farmland?

2023: Just revealed, Idaho got $26million in federal funding for clean-er water?

Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

Syrian Collapse: North Dakota B-52s and Idaho F-15Es over Syria, Truman strike group arrives!

Video

On the 16th of December 2024, Pentagon officials announced that airstrikes had been launched against religious extremists in Syria.

F/A-18F Super Hornet, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, launches from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Pentagon officials also announced that the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) arrived on a non-disclosed station in the U.S. Central Command (CentCom) ‘area of responsibility’, on 14DEC2024.

Idaho’s 389th Fighter Squadron ‘Thunderbolts’ F-15E somewhere over the Middle East.

Idaho’s Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB) 389th Fighter Squadron ‘Thunderbolts’ F-15E Strike Eagles are currently patrolling the Central Command area of responsibility (Middle East).

Idaho’s 389th Fighter Squadron ‘Thunderbolts’ F-15E somewhere over the Middle East.

B-52H somewhere over the Middle East.

Video by Technical Sergeant Philip Bryant, recorded 08DEC2024 (Middle East time, 07DEC2024 U.S. time), showing launch of North Dakota’s Minot AFB 23rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortresses (MT tail code, red stripe on tail) from a non-disclosed location in the “CentCom area of responsibility”:

Syrian Collapse: U.S. Bradley IFVs on hi-alert after prisoner release!

Idaho F-15E Strike Eagles, 2023: Bold Tigers invade Japan?

Idaho, International, Technology

Yankee Lady, the last take-off? Does anybody know what is going on?

Video

In June 2024, the Yankee Air Museum (now called Michigan Flight Museum) sold the Boeing Flying Fortress B-17G “Yankee Lady” to a secret buyer; they refused to say who it was, or where its new home would be.

The evening of 20OCT2024, Pocatello Airport.

According to Air Classics’ Facebook page, Yankee Lady is heading to Chino, California, to be taken apart and shipped-off to Avspecs in New Zealand.

20OCT2024, Pocatello Airport.

During the afternoon of 20OCT2024, Yankee Lady flew over my head while I was mowing the lawn in my backyard, in Chubbuck, Idaho.  It was heading towards the Pocatello Airport (which is actually not in the City of Pocatello), and now so was I.

My video from the evening of 20OCT2024:

I can only assume that the new owner(s) of Yankee Lady were on their way to California.

21OCT2024, Pocatello Airport, Idaho.

Even though there was no local news media announcement about the bomber’s visit the Yankee Lady did have an audience, consisting of the KPIH airport’s Aviation Center‘s employees, the U.S. Forest Service-BLM fire crews, and looky-loos from the Idaho State University’s Aviation Maintenance Technology school.

21OCT2024, Pocatello Airport, Idaho.

Typical windy day in Southeast Idaho:

21OCT2024, Pocatello Airport, Idaho.

According to Air Classics, once Yankee Lady gets a thorough rebuild by Avspecs Limited it is supposed to end up back in the U.S. of A.  It should be noted that Avspecs also has operations in California, so is Yankee Lady actually going to Kiwi-land, or just the land of fruits-n-nuts?

Prop-spinners:

Ready for take-off! 21OCT2024, Pocatello Airport, Idaho.

Start your engines:

21OCT2024, taking off for destinations not known:

On the night of 21OCT2024, I was informed the bomber had landed at the Redmond Municipal Airport, in Oregon.

More B-17 stuff:

U.S. Army Air Force crewmen stand next to a Soviet soldier, the day after the German airstrike.

Germany destroys B-17 bombers in Ukraine!

My recurring encounters with Sentimental Journey: 1986-2021

How to paint your 1:1 scale B-17 Memphis Belle with ‘period correct’ paint

Idaho

Smoke ’em if you got ’em: First ever (legal) Drift Car event, at the Mall!

Video

The Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, Idaho, hosted three SCCA autocross events this year, and for an encore hosted an Inaugural Drift Car event.

Work began on the evening of 04OCT2024, establishing the area of the parking lot that would be used.  Formula Drift-Rudy Hansen, Apex Idaho, Pocatello Car Club, and a host of others, helped make the inaugural smoke show possible.

The cleanest that part of the parking lot has been in decades!

They were still prepping the parking lot the next morning.

Waiting in the wings, 05OCT2024:

Plenty of seating, at a safe distance.

Warming up (teasing) the spectators who were straggling in:

Too bad they didn’t drift this patriotic van.

The pros show you how:

It’s amazing how cars sliding around light poles can hold people’s attention for several hours. One more time:

The event ran most of the day.  For a fee you could view the action from danger-close in the ‘restricted area’, and for another fee you could take a ride (of your life).  Going by the size of the spectator crowd (which was bigger than any of the SCCA autocross events) I suspect (hope) they’ll be a Second Annual Drift Car Show, in 2025.

At the Mall: Early Halloween, Trunk or Treat

Idaho

Early Halloween, Trunk or Treat at the Mall!

Video

While they were busy trying to setup the parking lot for the inaugural Southeast Idaho drift car event, during the evening of 04OCT2024, a handful of cars were sneaking into the Pine Ridge Mall (in Chubbuck, Idaho):

Don’t be a Public Nuisance:

The event was organized by the Pocatello Car Club, with the help of a hell-of-a-lot of sponsors.

Death Proof don’t mean spider proof:

Debbie’s graveyard taxi service:

The candy action was outside, 05OCT2024:

Montana Ghost returns, with friends:

A cool ’55 Chevy:

Road killer Nissan 350Z:

Junk in the trunk BMW:

My name is Jaguar, James Jaguar:

Ford Clown Car:

2023, Trunk or Treat: Pre-Halloween Poky Toys for Tots car show, boo!

Inaugural Summer AutoFest, at the Mall!: Inside and outside.

Idaho

Veterans Memorial Car Show: They’re coming to take you away!

Video

A 2004 Cadillac Hearse was dispatched from Idaho Falls, apparently to collect some people in Pocatello.

The Second Annual Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building car show, in Pocatello, Idaho, 31AUG2024.

Here’s my video:

The money raised from the car show goes to maintaining the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building.

So many cars showed up last year that they had to stage cars in the adjacent Memorial Park, this year.

Veterans Memorial Car Show: Z Muncie!

Idaho

Veterans Memorial Car Show: Z Muncie!

Video

1971 Chevy Camaro Z28, lives in Pocatello with its Muncie 4-speed transmission.

The Second Annual Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building car show, in Pocatello, Idaho, 31AUG2024.

Here’s my video:

The money raised from the car show goes to maintaining the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building.

So many cars showed up last year that they had to stage cars in the adjacent Memorial Park, this year.

Veterans Memorial Car Show: Hydramatic Task Force!

Idaho

Veterans Memorial Car Show: Hydramatic Task Force!

Video

1956 Chevy 3100 pickup, calls Inkom home.  The 3100 model is part of the Task Force series of pickup trucks.  Hydramatic is a type of automatic transmission.

The Second Annual Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building car show, in Pocatello, Idaho, 31AUG2024.

Here’s my video:

So many cars showed up last year that they had to stage cars in the adjacent Memorial Park, this year.

The money raised from the car show goes to maintaining the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building.

Veterans Memorial Car Show:  A horse born in 1969.