Here are some photos and videos from the 20th (Easter) of April’s Idaho Classics And Modern Muscle cars & coffee meeting:
Squarebody Rat:
Click here to see the red one: Superlative Super Ten!
A Swift Suzuki-yaki:
Old C (for ‘conventional’ 2×4) 10 Chevy:
Motorcycles:
El Camino SS:
Corgi’s Chevy?:
Catching up: 
Cruising through Pocatello, Idaho.
Blind Bat News was having technical difficulties (a never ending nightmare) and it was finally realized that finding a new Webhost was the solution.
Now it’s time to catch up on some of the vehicle related events that took place since April 12th.
The ‘member driven’ Pocatello Car Club Saturday evening cruises continue, despite contending with bad weather or other vehicle related events.
By the way, you don’t need to be an ‘official’ member of the club to take part in the cruise, but supporting the club will help towards getting a dedicated motorsports complex started.
On the 19th of April, PCC drivers decided to cruise the Old Town area of Pocatello:
The 26th of April Cruise sputtered out, people showed up, just not enough. Blame it on lot of other things going on (like at least four big car events happening in Las Vegas, Nevada, that weekend):
The 3rd of May, the drivers were back, and getting hungry:
‘Parking lot is not maintained’:
The other club, Idaho Classics And Modern Muscle (ICAMM), does a Sunday Cars & Coffee meet.
Again, you don’t have to be an official member to take part.
I missed the 4th of May Cars & Coffee meet, attending what became a massive Cinco de Mayo fiesta in Idaho Falls.
12th of April: 
Poky Car Cruise, Memorial Burnouts!
Check out more vehicular videos in my ‘Cars Showing Off’ Playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj9l1IMiwgu49bsmVG95CIaM
The 12th of April, 2025, was the first cruise of the year by the Pocatello Car Club. It also became a memorial cruise for a couple of people; one killed in a crash and another killed in a tragic shooting.
The cruise was down United States Route 91 (aka Highway 91), through Pocatello, Idaho. Highway 91 is called South 5th at the south end of town, moving north it splits into separate one-way streets; South 5th and South 4th. There were two staging areas for the cruise:
Cars warming up, lining up:
But for more confusion, South 5th and South 4th come together halfway through Pocatello and the name changes to Yellowstone Avenue.
As Hwy 91 passes through the City of Chubbuck it retains the name Yellowstone Ave. The maintaining of the Idaho section of U.S. 91 is done by the Idaho Department of Transportation.
A happy hopper!
It begins:
Burnout fund-raiser event was at C & G Sales and Service in honor of Ethan Wright, recently killed in a motorcycle crash. Burnouts part-1:
Part-2:
If you can, support family of Victor Perez, recently shot-down in his front yard in front of his mom: Justice for Victor Perez-GoFundMe.com
Burnouts part-3:
One more burnout:
Check out more vehicular videos on my ‘Cars Showing Off’ Playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj9l1IMiwgu49bsmVG95CIaM
This old car has been around town, appearing at last year’s “…car-show that almost wasn’t?!” And on 12APR2025, the bomber DeSoto arrived for a Pocatello Car Club cruise that doubled as a memorial event:
The original DeSotos were actually Chryslers, and at first were called Series-K and were simply remodeled Plymouths.
The DeSoto brand was created in 1928, to do battle in the growing mid-price car market. The name was chosen to honor the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto (and many people don’t know that at one time De Soto was even featured on U.S. $5-hundred bill).
DeSoto ‘DE MIJO’ is a Series-13 (S-13), all-new for post-World War Two, produced from model year 1949 to 1952 (it got a ‘face-lift’ for 1953). Base price was around $3-thousand.
Chrysler’s DeSoto brand ceased to exist after the 1961 model year.
Check out more vehicular videos on my ‘Cars Showing Off’ Playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj9l1IMiwgu49bsmVG95CIaM
Idaho State University: 
Chrome in the Dome, 2025!
On 20MAR2025, United States President Donald John Trump issued Executive Order “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities.”
The purpose of the order is to reduce taxpayer funding of a system that has failed to meet even international standards (for decades) by returning direct control of public education to each State (prior to 1979 there was no federal-level Department of Education). Continued federal taxpayer funding (via the U.S. Secretary of Education) for schools can be terminated if ‘DEI’ programs are still in effect.
In a press conference conducted on 21MAR2025, President Trump added that the Small Business Administration will take over Student Loans, and Health and Human Services will take over Special Needs and nutrition programs:
Trump’s Wall War: February 2025.
In 1970 (Cold War), the first in the U.S. fully enclosed colligate sports arena opened; the ASISU (Associated Students of Idaho State University) Minidome.
In 1988 (Cold War), the name was changed to Holt Arena to honor the athletic director who pushed for the creation of the Minidome.
In January 2024 the name was officially changed, again, to ICCU (Idaho Central Credit Union) Dome, due to the arena’s recent refreshment being funded mostly by the financial institution. However, the signage on the arena wasn’t changed until later in the year.
On the 7th-8th of March 2025, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its yearly ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.
Cold Friday afternoon, waiting for the car show to open, 07MAR2025:
A tale of two Chargers, Dodge that is, 07MAR2025:
Goldilocks said “This rice burner is too long, and this rice burner is too little!”:
2024: Motorcycles at the Chrome in the Dome
I had a challenging time getting into this Challenger, but I still want it (somebody buy it for me, please):
A couple of Hot Rods:
Dr. Pepper & Rutbeer Ford pickups:
Chevy 350 powered 1968 Toyota Land Cruiser:
Hippie-Dippie van and electric King-mobile:
A couple of tri-five princes of Bel-Air:
One hundred and eleven years old 1914 Ford Touring survivor:
1971 AMC Javelin SST (Super Sonic Transport? No, Super Sports Touring):
1950 Plymouth Deluxe:
‘Proud’ Fiero with a fiery V8:
Chevy Super Mod:
Cabin Over Engine:
A super Nova called Mayhem:
Awards were issued, even to the little ones:
The hundred and one years old ‘Depot Hack’ needed some help.
Time to head ’em up and move ’em out, even the little ones:
For more of my Chrome Dome videos check out my ‘Cars Showing Off’ playlist on my YouTube channel (and subscribe!): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj9l1IMiwgu49bsmVG95CIaM
2024: 
Part-5 Chrome in the Dome
On a cold, blustery, snowy day, the Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society held another Open House. On 15FEB2025, non-club members could come in from the cold and watch some neat displays come to life. Hopefully the club, which also helps to preserve a very important part of Pocatello’s history, which many local railroad hating officials seem to want to bury (I’ve noted elsewhere that a major cause of the demise of the local economy is due to public officials making a decision that ultimately killed thousands of local Union Pacific jobs), will gain more members, or better yet, raise some much needed cash.
Always under construction.
Anybody remember their display in the old Pocatello Mall? Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society’s current location needs a new roof. My blustery video report:
East Idaho News, March 2024: “The railroad went to Chief Pocatello to get permission to lay their tracks through here. The Chief asked (what was in it for them) if they donated land. The railroad said, ‘Anytime you or your braves want to ride the train, we’ll let you ride it for free.’ That’s what it took to get the tracks through here.”-Larry Gilbreath, President of the Model Railroad and Historical Society
The ‘Big Room’.
Tax revolt? Some of my video from the Big Room:
Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society is funded with membership fees and donations. The club was started by Union Pacific railroad employees, and other fans of mini-trains.
Alas! No more passenger service.
More Big Room video:
If you missed the 15FEB2025 open house, no worries, since the end of the fake-news Pland-emic (which temporarily shutdown the club) they are usually open to the public every third Saturday of each month, from 10:00 to 14:00 hours.
Some of my video of the Middle Room:
They have a working telegraph, and you can try it out!
The Small Room:
You can see more of my PMRHS videos on my YouTube channel: Aaron Hutchins
Follow PHMRS here: https://www.facebook.com/PMRHS
KPVI, April 2023:
KIFI, PMRHS reopens after the Pland-emic, February 2022:
Idaho State Journal, 2010: Model train enthusiasts attend PMRHS event
Trains.com: Did UP’s Big Boy run through Pocatello?
Idaho economy:
Anybody wanna buy a hobby store?
Chubbuck:
JCPenney; the final domino falls at the Pine Ridge Mall, now under 4th ownership!
Pocatello:
Big Lots! failure, par-for-the-course.
U.S. economy, 2016-17: Model railroad hobby demise?
U.S. economy 2014: Model Power, a major internet model railroad retailer, is being killed off by Too Big to Jail banks!
“I can confirm that we have been working with Kohl’s to backfill the space that was the former home of the C-A-L Ranch store on the southern side of the mall property next to Hobby Lobby… …Everything north of the old C-A-L Ranch to where Planet Fitness is located in the former Herbergers would be demolished…”-Joshua Simon of SimonCRE, May 2024
The beleaguered Pine Ridge Mall, in the small Idaho city of Chubbuck, now under a new, fourth, owner: Scottsdale, Arizona, based SimonCRE, which just had their demolition plans approved by the City of Chubbuck.
Are they aware of what is underneath the property?:
The lie (starting in the early 2000s) that commercial property developers/REITs, and local officials, propagated:
According to the local newspaper, SimonCRE will begin demolishing the 1980s era mall, replacing it with free-standing businesses, as well as a Target store and a Kohl’s (aka the mall will be repurposed as an ‘outdoor shopping venue’). Supposedly the demolition begins in 2025, a completion date has not been determined, but the last surviving anchor store (also one of the first in the mall) JCPenney is shutting down, apparently by the month of May 2025.
No more indoor car shows, and what happened to ZCMI?:
Some newer buildings at the ‘mall’ will not be torn down because they are technically, and legally by contract, not part of the original mall structure. That includes Hobby Lobby (new built under the 3rd owner), C-A-L Ranch and Big Deal Outlet (both occupying the old Shopko building, which was never part of the original mall), and the Gem Prep charter school located in the old Sears building (which was added onto the mall in 1999 when Sears moved from the dead Pocatello Mall to the Pine Ridge Mall, the Pocatello Mall was replaced by a new expanded Fred Meyer).
A little history tour, and the true beginnings of the demise:
Some of the businesses inside the soon to be executed mall will move to new locations. Contrary to local news reports, Dillard’s was not one of the original anchor stores at the mall, it was a short lived replacement for the original two story Utah based, Brigham Young founded, anchor called ZCMI. Zion’s Co-operative Mercantile Institution was considered the first ‘department store’ in the United States, even though when it was founded Utah was still a territory and not a state. At the end of 1999, the ZCMI brand was sold-off and thus began a rapid confusing succession of owners and name changes, to include Dillard’s in 2001 and Macy’s in 2005-06.
What about the old Shopko/new C-A-L Ranch & Big Deal Outlet?:
2019: 
No more Idaho ShopKo? There never was a Shopko in Pocatello (it was in Chubbuck)!
As I’ve chronicled elsewhere, 1999-2007 are pivotal years for the U.S. retail market which directly impacted U.S. shopping malls. And this brings me to another point; for decades the ‘industry’ has been blaming the way the U.S. consumer shops for the radical changes the ‘industry’ made to brick-n-mortar operations. The truth is that online shopping has remained relatively steady over the decades, even during the pland-emic the expected rush of shoppers to the inter-web failed to materialize. The majority of shoppers still want to see and feel what they are buying and prefer brick-n-mortar stores. The misinformation postulated by the ‘industry’ was, and still is, a push by corporations, investors/REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) to greatly increase their profit margins by massively cutting labor costs by shifting to online operations only. Those exalted ones have backed off their plan because operating huge online stores has proven to require just as many costly humans in warehousing and delivery, and expensive robots as well.
More history tour, what about the old Sears?:
2014:
Moved from Pocatello to Chubbuck in 1999, this Sears is finally dead!
Finally it’s official, Chubbuck/Pine Ridge Mall Sears going down!
2013: Chubbuck/Pine Ridge Mall Sears was already dead!
The Pine Ridge Mall is officially dead and will supposedly be gone sometime this year, leaving only one of the original three malls in the area; the Westwood Mall in Pocatello (which has been so radically remodeled it no longer has a semblance of the 1970s era mall it once was, with its wall-to-wall carpeting and big indoor fountain). However, in 2016 the City of Pocatello rezoned the Westwood Mall for a planned demolition and building of residential apartments. Eventually there will be no malls at all in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area.
Here’s what happened to the old Sears:
Even more history:
What happened to the short lived, but popular, Spencer’s? Blame the City of Chubbuck:
What happened to the beloved KB Toys? Blame Mitt Romney co-founded Bain Capital:
What happened to JJ North’s, the clinic, and racing events:
Pocatello, Idaho, Big Lots! failure:
Par-for-the-course, for U.S. national & local economies.
2024: Early Halloween, Trunk or Treat at the Pine Ridge Mall!
First ever (legal) Drift Car event, at the Pine Ridge Mall!
Inaugural(?) Summer AutoFest, Pine Ridge Mall, Idaho.
Inaugural(?) Pine Ridge Mall Spring Auto-Fest!
Inaugural(?) indoor Winter/New Year Car Show!
2018: Pine Ridge Mall loses yet another anchor store! Lazy ‘Experts’ continue to blame online sales!
East Idaho’s Pine Ridge Mall, in Chubbuck, sells for paltry $9 million!
Pine Ridge quietly put up to be auctioned off in November! Merry Xmas!
East Idaho’s Grand Teton Mall, in Idaho Falls, for sale! GGP dumping malls en masse!
Some independent local Eastern Idaho news outlets reported, in October 2024, that the Pocatello Big-Lots! was being shutdown. That’s 14 years of overpriced ‘resale’ merchandise, having opened the Pocatello location (in the Foothill Plaza Shopping Center) at the end of October 2010.
Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, early October 2010.
I say ‘overpriced’ because a couple of months after opening, in 2010, I checked out the new store and was shocked to find their prices to be higher than the same items sold in the Chubbuck WalMart and the Kroger owned Pocatello Fred Meyer! That was the first and last time I ‘shopped’ at the Pocatello Big-Lots!
Here is video (during a windy day) of my tirade about the closure of the Pocatello Big-Lots!, 08FEB2025:
Big-Lots! is a ‘reseller’, other wise known as a discount retail chain store, reselling products that the main stream-first run retail stores couldn’t sell. In Ohio, in 1967, the business started out as Consolidated Stores. Consolidated made investments into such troubled operations as Delorean Motor Company, CVS Pharmacy, Pic-N-Save and KB Toys (just naming a few among other troubled investments). In 2001 Consolidated became Big Lots! In 2005 Big Lots! shutdown 170 stores. In 2023, Big Lots! shutdown 52 stores and announced plans to shutdown dozens of stores in 2024. In October 2024 Big Lots! filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, and local news sources in Idaho reported that the Pocatello Big Lots! had made the latest hit list for shutdown. In December 2024 the Pocatello Big Lots! was closed permanently, on top of that Big Lots! announced that all stores would be shutdown or sold-off in 2025.
On 08FEB2025, in an attempt to take back control of their economy, the local population conducted a one day farmers market in the former Pocatello Big Lots! location. Maybe a massive Motorsports Complex (click this link to donate) will save our local economy:
I’ve been following/reporting on the local economy for more than a decade:
2019: POPEYES QUIETLY SHUTS DOWN FOUR IDAHO RESTAURANTS!
2018: Idaho’s economic destruction “CLOSED INDEFINITELY”!
2017: The truth about Chubbuck’s gentrification.
2016: FEDERAL AGENCY SAYS IDAHO IS DOMINATED BY POOR IMMIGRANTS!
Idaho Governor declares local economy has “RISEN FROM THE ASHES”!
2015: Taxpayer funded ‘BUY IDAHO’ program IS a BIG FAIL!
Hoku-Gate, PaveGate now Amy’s-Gate!
2013: Heinz pulls stake, Warren Buffett abandons Pocatello, Idaho! Happy New Year!
The Chubbuck & Pocatello BRIDGE TO NOWHERE?
Pocatello’s Old Fred Meyer & Albertsons on Yellowstone Ave, did not close down in the 1990s.
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!
