Crapo To Keynote Minidoka Pilgrimage; Tour Rail Improvements; Discuss Ethanol's Future

Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will make stops in Pocatello, Burley, Boise, Caldwell and Jerome over the July 4th state work period. He will keynote a national human rights pilgrimage during the Friends of Minidoka gathering at the Minidoka Internment National Monument on Saturday, July 8th.Crapo will ride in Pocatelloâ??s 4th of July parade and he will present his Spirit of Idaho Award to Miss Pocatello, Sarah Chandler, for her efforts to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer during an event at Portneuf Medical Center.Crapo will join with national and local railroad representatives near Burley to discuss new jobs and rural transportation improvements resulting from tax legislation he has championed as a member of the Senate Finance Committee. He will also offer an update on ethanol production efforts during a tour of a recently reopened ethanol production facility in Caldwell.Plans by federal officials to move part of the Boise Airportâ??s radar control system known as TRACON will also be the subject of a public meeting attended by Crapo, members of the Idaho Delegation, Governor Jim Risch, Mayor Dave Bieter, and others in Boise July 5th. Crapo will also address the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce Congressional Forum during a noon luncheon the following day.The schedule of events includes the following. Times listed are local time and the schedule is subject to change. All events listed are open to the media.Tuesday, July 4th:10:00 a.m. Pocatello Rides a local antique car in the annual 4th of July parade. 1:00 p.m. Pocatello Presents Spirit of Idaho Award to Miss Pocatello, Sarah Chandler, for her ongoing campaign to promote breast cancer awareness. Crapo and Chandler are both cancer survivors. At Portneuf Medical Centerâ??s West Campus, 11th and Carter. Wednesday, July 5th:10:00 a.m. Burley Tours a rural rail revitalization project and joins agricultural shippers, business and commodity group leaders, representatives of the Eastern Idaho Regional Railroad and parent group Watco Companies, Inc. to discuss rural transportation issues. The project demonstrates the benefits of improved freight rail service and job creation for Idaho as well as details the relationship between tax credits championed by Crapo and the improvements in rural rail service. At McCainâ??s, three miles west of Burley on U.S. 30. 4:00 p.m. Boise Speaks during the Idaho Delegationâ??s public meeting to question federal Aviation Administration plans to move part of the Boise Airportâ??s radar control service to Pocatello. The TRACON meeting will be held at the Boise Airportâ??s Boise River Room.Thursday, July 6th:10:00 a.m. Caldwell Discuss future of ethanol production in Idaho and federal ethanol production efforts during a tour of the new ED & F Man ethanol facility east of Caldwell on Highway 19 (across from the Simplot production plant). Two miles east of Caldwell on Idaho Highway 19. Noon Garden City Address Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce during Congressional Forum Luncheon at Doubletree Riverside Hotel, Garden City.Saturday, July 8th:6:00 p.m. Jerome Delivers keynote human rights remarks at the Friends of Minidoka Pilgrimage. The Pilgrimageâ??s annual barbeque features remembrance events relating to the families of Japanese-Americans interned at the former Hunt Camp site, now the Minidoka Internment National Monument. Crapo will update the progress of federal legislation he has introduced allowing for land transfers which could expand the Minidoka site. # # #