For the week of October 23 - 29, 2002

Jeep commercial to close Main Street next Wednesday

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

In the magic land of sport utility vehicle commercials—where freedom, luxury and a rugged persona are achievable from behind the wheel of a shiny new truck—Ketchum’s downtown has been selected as the backdrop for some new Jeep footage.

Filming will occur Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 7 a.m. to noon. Ketchum Mayor Ed Simon received the city council’s blessing Monday night to sign a special events permit that will make filming and street closures possible.

"It’s slack. It will fill hotel rooms. It will give Ketchum exposure, and we’re actually getting paid for it," Simon said.

The downside is that filming will close both Main Street and Sun Valley Road to traffic and parking during the peak morning commute.

Northbound traffic heading to the Ernest Hemingway Elementary School, Warm Springs or Ketchum’s light industrial area will have to enter town via Serenade Lane and Second Avenue. Sun Valley-bound traffic or north-Ketchum-bound traffic will be able to enter town via Gem Street and Leadville Avenue.

Ketchun will receive $3,000 for its troubles.

"We consider ourselves lucky to be here," said Charlie Love, Plum Productions location manager. "It’s a privilege for us to be here and for the town to allow us to be here. And we truly apologize for any inconvenience."

Love said a group of approximately 50 people will use one of the church parking lots on Sun Valley Road to stage, if permission from one of the churches is received.

The Ketchum filming stop is part of a much larger, 15- to 20-day tour of Oregon and Idaho that will include stops in Stanley and the Mackay side of Trail Creek Summit. It will also feature stops at Little City of Rocks near Gooding, City of Rocks near Almo and Howell Canyon Road in Albion.

Love said Ketchum will be used for its character and scenery and probably will only be recognizable in the footage to local residents.

Nonetheless, "the production will generate more than $25,000 to the local economy in terms of lodging, meals, etc.," Ketchum City Administrator Ron LeBlanc wrote in a memo to the city council.

Councilman Maurice Charlat attempted to request that the production company pay more money, notably to a charity of the city’s choice, but Love successfully dodged the request.

Sun Valley resident Milt Adam attempted to question the wisdom of closing streets during the morning commute, but was quickly silenced by the mayor, who said he would take any heat on the decision.

 

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