Month: July 2026

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – A group of young creatives in Pocatello is working to produce an independent film series titled Peripheral and is looking for local actors and crew members to help bring the project to life.

The eight-episode series follows investigative journalist Maya Bell as she solves missing persons cases in a fictional community. Filmed primarily in Old Town Pocatello, the production team is looking for local talent to join the project.

“It’s a thriller, suspense mystery,” said director and show runner Aurora Widdison. “Each episode is about 10-15 minutes long. Right now we’re opening auditions in person and virtually.”

The crew has already been working on scripting, marketing and promoting the series for months. Widdison and her friend wrote all eight episodes and are onto the casting part of the process. There are roles for all ages, genders, and commitment levels, with some characters recurring and others only in one episode.

“We’ll see every range of everybody,” said executive producer Mandilyn Groneman. “We’re just really excited to meet people, and we don’t want to cut anyone. So if you have the availability and want to be involved, we’ll try to make sure you’re a part of the project.”

Widdison said the “Peripheral” crew is made up of camera operators, sound designers and producers, plus a marketing manager to help promote the series. Everybody is a volunteer from the community.

“We found everyone in this project through social media or through parts we’ve done with them in the community, like in community theatre,” Groneman said. “We’re hoping to get as many people as possible.”

The crew emphasized that lack of experience is no issue when it comes to joining the project. The point is for creatives wanting to get into the industries of acting, filmmaking, or film editing to get experience on a local level.

“You don’t need any experience, it’s just to help gain experience for others who want to pursue that career. I think it’s a win-win for both sides,” Widdison said. “The actors get experience acting and the crew gets experience helping out, so if you want to be part of the crew and the show, that’s a possibility too,” Groneman added.

Showrunner Widdison has always had a passion for storytelling and is excited to see the project come to life in the next several months of production. “I’ve always been interested in storytelling, I’ve written short stories before,” she said. “But me and my friend had written the script a while back and sort of pushed it off to the side. Recently, she wanted to bring it to life and I helped her out by bringing the crew together.”

Groneman has already created “Peripheral” social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to spread awareness about the project and garner an audience before the first episode drops next spring on YouTube. Widdison said if the series performs well on YouTube, the team hopes to pitch it to Tubi or other independent streaming platforms.

Following auditions, the cast will do a full read-through of the scripts and rehearsals before filming in the fall.

“Even though it’s set in modern day, we just want something that’s kind of, antique almost, to help give that mystery thriller suspense,” Widdison said. “We’ll be in other places for some scenes but mostly Old Town.”

Groneman explained they aren’t murder mysteries, rather an intertwined web of missing persons cases all connected by one common, supernatural thread. If the parts are filled following the open call audition, Widdison said others can still be involved in the project via background extras or crew members.

“We could definitely use a few more people on our crew just like assistants to help with filming,” Widdison said.

Posters for the independent film project can be seen all around Pocatello, especially on the ISU campus, with more information.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, August 8 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Miss Tiffin’s Ballet in Pocatello. Invitational callbacks will be on August 11 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can sign up for a spot to audition at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EABA92EA4FACE9-64945264-peripheral

Groneman emphasized if all the spots on the sign-up sheet are filled, you can still show up between the open audition hours. If you’re not able to come to Pocatello for the audition, you can send in a virtual audition tape following the instructions on the poster above. You can also find Peripheral Showcasting on social media platforms.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Roving Rabbis and Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho want to invite the Jewish community of Southeastern Idaho to their Shabbat dinner tomorrow.

Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest and celebration. It begins on Friday night before sunset.

The celebration will begin late in the afternoon with candle lighting and prayers, then guests will feast on braided bread and various other delicacies to commemorate the celebration.

“Friday night, we’re going to be having a Shabbat meal, which is pretty much on our Sabbath,” Rabbi Yossi Bistritzky, one of the Roving Rabbis hosting the dinner, said. “We don’t use any electricity, and we unplug from the world so that we can sit and spend time together with family and with friends. So we’re welcoming any Jew in the area who would like to come and celebrate Shabbat with us.”

Idaho has one of the lowest Jewish populations in the country, which is what inspired the group to visit Southeast Idaho.

“We try bringing everyone together, gathering, finding whoever we can so that every Jew knows and feels that they are seen and that they matter infinitely, and that they have a part of God within them, and to come together as a community,” Rabbi Bistritzky said.

They would also like to extend their invitation to non-Jewish people as well,

“We’re here to bring the Jewish community together. But if a non-Jew would like to come in and take part, they’re welcome,” Rabbi Bistritzky said. “You don’t have to be Orthodox. You don’t have to be religious. If you’re Jewish, then you’re a part of the of the community. You’re more than welcome to join us, it’s going to be food, singing words of inspiration, and really just bringing the community together.”

To ensure the safety of all Shabbat dinner guests, the location and time of the dinner is not to be disclosed. If you are interested in taking part in this community celebration, please reach out to the www.rovingrabbis@jewishidaho.com to learn the location and time of the celebration.

Originally Published: 30 JUL 26 15:43 ET

By Victoria Rodriguez

Click here for updates on this story

    CANYON COUNTY, Idaho (KIVI) — A new winery taking shape in Idaho’s historic Sunnyslope Wine Region is blending tradition with technology.

Gem 73 Winery, expected to open in August, is incorporating renewable energy and innovative vineyard practices designed to reduce energy use, conserve water and protect its grapes—all while minimizing its impact on the surrounding environment.

Owners Joel and Cindy Poppen invited Idaho News 6 to tour the facility, which is still under construction. While the winery will soon welcome visitors, much of its technology is already hard at work in the vineyard.

The vineyard uses sensors to monitor soil moisture and temperature, allowing a drip irrigation system to deliver only the amount of water each vine needs. Poppen says the approach helps conserve water while improving efficiency.

To naturally manage pests, the vineyard also features owl and kestrel nesting boxes. The birds of prey help control rodent populations without the need for additional intervention.

New Sunnyslope winery uses solar power and innovative technology to build a more sustainable future As grapes begin to ripen, another piece of technology takes over.

Three solar-powered laser systems sweep across the vineyard, reflecting light off strategically placed strips to deter birds from feeding on the fruit.

“It hits little reflective strips. Those little pings of light scare away the birds,” Poppen said. “It doesn’t harm them at all. It just makes it unpleasant for them to be around, so they go other places.”

Rather than covering the vineyard with costly bird netting, the lasers provide a wildlife-friendly alternative that protects the harvest while allowing birds to remain part of the area’s natural landscape.

Innovation extends beyond the vines.

The winery itself is built into a hillside, providing natural insulation that helps reduce heating and cooling demands. Its roof is covered with 210 solar panels capable of generating about 86 kilowatts of electricity—enough, Poppen says, to power the facility during peak operating season and potentially send excess energy back to Idaho Power.

For the Idaho Wine Commission, projects like Gem 73 represent the future of Idaho’s wine industry.

“I think it’s so great. It’s progressive,” said Moya Delaney with the Idaho Wine Commission. “It’s using the resources that we have to maximize to be better.”

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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