It's Worth Mentioning

Thomas Sutton’s main goal weeks into his inauguration as the mayor of Idaho Falls was to ensure Idaho Falls became the headquarters for the Atomic Energy Commission, the agency that managed the predecessor to Idaho National Laboratory.

A great deal of schmoozing and lobbying by Sutton and others paved the way for the city’s future growth and the INL campus becoming the largest employer in the region.

Check out these related articles: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/04/how-former-mayor-helped-idaho-falls-become-home-to-nations-leading-nuclear-energy-research-facility/

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/02/how-a-naval-proving-ground-became-a-national-lab-thats-changing-the-worlds-energy-future/

This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” Rett Nelson speaks with Sutton’s great-granddaughter about his golden moment in history and the unique connections she’s discovered about her deceased relative.

Two cabins in Jackson, Wyoming are what’s left of a set for a Hollywood western filmed in the area during the 1950s. One of them is five miles north of Jackson in Kelly and the other is under the ownership of History Jackson Hole, a museum in town.

This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” Rett Nelson speaks with local researcher Samantha Ford and dives into the history of these cabins, the film in which they were featured and why Jackson was selected as the production site.

If you’re a cinephile or a fan of old movies, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away on Sept. 27 at age 101.

The Salt Lake City man was the church’s oldest leader in its history. His funeral is happening Tuesday, Oct. 7 at noon.

Nelson’s passing fell one week before the church’s semi-annual general conference. Following the faith’s historic event, “It’s Worth Mentioning” hosted by Rett Nelson looks back on the leader’s life, his connections to eastern Idaho, and how the church he led began in the Gem State and became the dominant religion in the area.

It’s Worth Mentioning, a podcast about local history and pop culture, is back for another episode about black history in eastern Idaho.

This week, Rett Nelson speaks with Delphia Bradley. She moved to Idaho Falls in 2023 to escape harassment and racism. After operating a meal delivery service, Bradley now has a traveling art exhibit about African-American culture. The exhibit will be coming to Idaho Falls soon, where she hopes to eventually open an African-American cultural arts center.

Bradley discusses the topic of racism and her experience living as a black woman in eastern Idaho. Check out this related article here: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/10/local-woman-wants-communitys-help-highlighting-art-music-and-history-at-new-african-american-cultural-center/
Then, we speak with Les Purce. The Pocatello man became the first black elected official in Idaho in 1973 and recently retired as the president of Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

An episode you don’t want to miss in the video above.

A new podcast for trivia buffs is premiering on EastIdahoNews.com. It’s Worth Mentioning is a show about local history and pop culture and will showcase a variety of stories through interviews and narrative reporting.

This week, host Rett Nelson takes a deep dive into political violence following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In this episode, we look back at the assassination of two of Idaho’s elected officials.

The bulk of the episode focuses on Gov. Frank Steunenberg, Idaho's first Democratic leader who was assassinated at his Caldwell home four years after he left office. We highlight what happened, who did it and what the suspect's motive was.

Towards the end, we touch on another gunfight between an Idaho Congressional delegate and another man.

Check out these related links: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/09/remembering-the-assassination-of-one-of-idahos-elected-officials-following-the-death-of-charlie-kirk/

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/09/one-of-idahos-first-congressional-delegates-was-killed-in-a-gunfight-heres-how-it-played-out/