Idaho inventors, part I: Willhammer's experiment not a success • Airport tells skydiving company to go jump out of a plane • Simplot mine expands • Ketchum's famous Sawtooth Club to reopen • Idaho inventors, part II: Bird tabbed for presidential medal • Tourist in your own town: Maryland blogger wants to know the highlights

Idaho inventors, part I: Willhammer's experiment not a success

Maximus Willhammer will have to go back to the drawing board — and get out his scuba gear — after his Water Bullet sank into Arrowrock Reservoir on Wednesday.

Willhammer paid a helicopter pilot to tow an unmanned rocket-like aircraft to an elevation of 800 feet and drop it into the reservoir.

His plan is to one day ride inside the craft, cushioned by one of his load-bearing harnesses, which he says are safer than ones now used at construction sites.

According to the Associated Press, Willhammer wanted the Water Bullet to travel straight down, penetrate about 35 feet into the water, then come back up to the surface with the help of an air bag so he could inspect it for damage.

The air bag never deployed, and the craft sunk to the bottom of the reservoir, where the water temperature is 44 degrees. Willhammer is now responsible for pulling it out.

**

Airport tells skydiving company to go jump out of a plane

Buhl Municipal Airport commissioners unanimously voted to kick Skydive Buhl out of the airport, citing "20 months of inactivity," no proof of insurance, and conflicts with pilots as reasons to cancel the lease.

The skydiving operation has leased space at the airport for two years, but hasn’t been able to secure the proper insurance to make any drops.

The owners of the business are crying foul, telling the Times-News that airport commissioners have "made it pure hell for us."

Paul Janes said he plans on talking with an attorney to pursue a legal remedy and suspects the commission just wants to rent their space to another party.

**

Simplot mine expands

A U.S. District Court Judge has ruled in favor of allowing the Simplot Smoky Canyon Mine in eastern Idaho to expand operations.

The court pointed out that the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality was satisfied that Simplot had taken the necessary steps to remediate for any possible selenium contamination.

The mine is located in the Caribou National Forest, approximately 20 miles from Afton, Wyoming in Idaho.

**

Ketchum's famous Sawtooth Club to reopen

The first of the businesses shut down by the September fire in downtown Ketchum is set to reopen.

The Sawtooth Club, a bar and restaurant that was not destroyed but was damaged by the fire, will open for a holiday open house on Saturday, according to the Mtn. Express.

There is a plan in place to rebuild Whiskey Jacques' in its existing location just down the block. The suspicious fire still has not been solved by investigators.

**

Idaho inventors, part II: Bird tabbed for presidential medal

Idaho inventor and philanthropist Dr. Forrest Bird was recognized Wednesday with one of America's highest honors — the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal.

The medal, which has been bestowed on fewer than 100 people since its inception in 1969, recognizes U.S. citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation.

The Bonner County Daily Bee says Bird joined some impressive company (Boxer Muhammad Ali, actress Elizabeth Taylor, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and former Sen. Bob Dole) when he received the medal in a ceremony at the White House.

The paper says Bird is perhaps best known for his work in respiratory care, most notably the creation of the "Bird" and "Baby Bird" ventilators. Developed in 1970, the "Baby Bird" is credited with drastically lowering infant mortality rates among those suffering from breathing problems.

**

Tourist in your own town: Maryland blogger wants to know the highlights

The author of the Terrapins Insider blog for the Washington Post wants to know the top spots in Boise for fans to visit while they are there to watch Maryland play Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 30.

In contrast to the Boise bashing that many bloggers have been inclined to do, the Terrapins Insider is trying to accentuate the positive for Terp fans.