Carrie Scheid and her positive impact on eastern Idaho

Guest Editorial by Rep. Marco Erickson

Many people who care about building strong and lasting communities call east Idaho home. Today, I want to highlight one of those builders because she always shows up when it matters for Idaho Falls and Bonneville County. For over 30 years, Carrie Getty Scheid used her voice and expertise to advocate for meaningful change in our city and county.

During her tenure as executive director of the Idaho Falls Art Council, Carrie coordinated and helped lead the effort to create the Willard Arts Center and the Colonial Theater. It was no small task. The building opened in 1919 as a vaudeville house and later became a movie theater.

Following the $4.5 million restoration, the Colonial Theater stands as one of the few historical theaters of its size in the state. Carrie’s work and engagement with the community ensured that this beautiful building remained a focal point of our downtown. Indeed, she served for many years on the board of directors for the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation.

Carrie’s work in the arts continued even after retirement as she organized the effort to create and place beautiful art benches throughout downtown and the River Walk. Beyond supporting creators in our community, Carrie seized the opportunity to help transform Eastern Idaho Technical College into the College of Eastern Idaho. As a founding trustee, she was there from the beginning.

Her belief that we could do more to provide Idaho students with vital and affordable training in our community matters to every single person who steps on that campus. Carrie recognized the importance of running a tight ship and originally chaired the Finance Committee. She knew that CEI’s success depended on keeping finances in check, and her efforts laid a strong foundation for reliable and transparent management. A few years later, she changed roles and became the trustee liaison to the college’s foundation, where she could help raise funds for scholarships and Future Tech, the college’s newest facility concentrating on 21st-century technology and careers.

Beyond these very visible roles and projects, Carrie served on the board of directors for the Idaho Nonprofit Center, the statewide association of nonprofits, and was part of the effort to start “Idaho Gives” in our state. Locally, she served as a volunteer board member for the Snake River Animal Shelter and considered hiring Michelle Ziel Dingman as the shelter’s executive director one of her proudest accomplishments.

Carrie is usually accompanied by her husband, Jerry. Together, they wrote a column for the Post Register for almost 14 years. They always made time to invest in individuals. But she doesn’t suffer fools. If Carrie sees something in you, she goes all in on helping you reach your goal. Her faith in people and their capacity to go and do inspires everyone around her. She’s always working on a project or looking for new ways to help this community she loves so much.

It’s why this column is so difficult to write. Because at some point, we will no longer be the beneficiaries of Carrie’s goodwill and capacity for doing more than seems possible for one human. She is a force of nature that even those who disagree with her acknowledge cares about making Idaho Falls better for all the people who call it home.

We’ve been incredibly blessed that Carrie Getty Schied chose to land in our community over 30 years ago. She’s left her mark, and we’ll see the results of what Carrie invested in us for generations to come. Thank you, Carrie, for everything.

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This editorial was printed with permission from Idaho State Representative Marco Erickson.

Editor’s Note
Carrie Getty Scheid has spent decades helping all Idahoans, not just Idaho Falls. Her tireless work in the arts, education, and nonprofit organizations has helped inspire people all across the state. She stood up for what was right, led with integrity, and inspired others through both her actions and example.

Carrie’s weekly column in the Post Register, written with her husband Jerry, brought honesty and courage to public conversation—something Idaho needs now more than ever. Her voice, her strength, and her unwavering commitment to community will be deeply missed and long remembered.

Thank you, Carrie.