U.S. Bank takes over new locations
U.S. Bank has put up its own signs at five former First Bank of Idaho locations in Idaho and Wyoming. The sign change occurred on Friday, Aug. 21. This includes the Ketchum branch on Main and First streets.
U.S. Bank acquired the deposits of First Bank of Idaho and First Bank of the Tetons in April after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. shut the doors at First Bank due to low levels of capitalization.
The FDIC was the receiver of the bank's assets, and sold $280 million in retail deposits for about $1.5 million to U.S. Bank.
All former First Bank customers can now do business at any of the 2,850 U.S. Bank offices throughout the country.
Chamber hires new PR staffer
Ramona Duke has joined the marketing department of the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau as public relations/social media manager.
Duke is an 11-year resident of the Wood River Valley and worked at the chamber previously as membership manager. Recently, she coordinated the Great Wagon Days Duck Race for the Ketchum-Sun Valley Rotary Club.
"We are happy to have Ramona back in a new capacity," said chamber Marketing Director Carrie Westergard. "Her energy and enthusiasm are great assets in presenting our valley to potential visitors and the media."
Chamber to hold events summit
The Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau is coordinating a meeting with all Wood River Valley major event planners on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 3-5 p.m. at Ketchum City Hall.
The gathering of valley event planners is intended to better coordinate new and existing events. For details, call 725-2105.
Blagojce Gallery opens in Bellevue
Macedonian artist Blagojce has opened a gallery in Bellevue, exhibiting a retrospective of his artwork. The work is representative of his home country of Macedonia and the Balkan Peninsula as well as Europe, Australia and the U.S.
On display are paintings, drawings, etchings, posters, murals, sculptures and original frescoes.
The gallery is at 117 S. Main St.
New State Farm agent in Ketchum
Patrick Buchanan is State Farm's new agent in Ketchum, at 371 N. Main St. above the Burger Grill. Buchanan worked in the valley as a contractor for the previous three years and was an Army officer for eight years before that. He said he hopes to make his new business "a long, enduring and wonderful career."
His phone number is (208) 928-7888.
Join business plan competition
Jigsaw, a nonprofit organization that supports business development in the Wood River Valley, is holding its second annual business-plan competition. The winner will receive $250.
Last year, local entrepreneurs Rodney Payne and Casey Finegan earned the top spot in the competition with a plan for myCal, an online appointment and reservation application.
The deadline to submit plans has been changed to Friday, Sept. 25. For details, e-mail jimasv@cox.net
Baldwin receives real estate honor
Heidi Baldwin of Sotheby's International Realty Sun Valley has been honored in an elite group of top 2 percent sales associates (about 48,000) in NRT, the nation's leading residential real estate company. NRT recognized Baldwin's "perseverance, determination and resourcefulness, in addition to her leadership, commitment and high standards," a Sotheby's news reelase states.
