Looking Back at Pages from the Past
The following stories are summarized from past issues of the Caribou County Sun over the last fifty plus years. The Enterprise thanks Mark Steele for permission to use the contents, and the Grace Public Library for access to the archives.
10 Years ago, 2014
A ribbon cutting was held in Soda Springs for the Caribou County Democratic Office. As far as people remembered at the time, there had never been an office by either the Democrats or Republicans in the county. It has been named the “Southeastern Idaho Democratic Command Center” and is located on 81 South Main, next to the Idan-Ha Theatre. Caribou County Democratic Chair Steve Stalcup said it has been at least forty years since an office was set up in the county, if ever. Among those present for the ceremony by the Chamber of Commerce were Richard Stallings, U.S. Representative candidate, Bert Marley, candidate for Lt. Governor, Ashlee Stalcup, candidate for District 32 state Rep, and Ralph Mossman, Legislative District Chair. Stallings noted that many see a shift in the wind in Idaho politics that would focus more on education and raising wages across the state.
The third annual Geyser Day is planned for August 2. Highlights of the day will include a wild salmon dinner, music from the Mike Banks Jazz Band, a vendor market, historical rides and fun for kids. After the park, Main Street will be the location of a dance party led by KYD J Band. Event organizers Teresa Watkins and Suzie Nelson said “We live in a beautiful area with so much to offer and we want a day to show it off and associate with friends, neighbors, and visitors. All are welcome.” A Fun Run/Walk from Bailey Creek, Flag ceremony in front of the courthouse, Wild Salmon dinner, kids parade, guided tour of Enders, Union Pacific Street Train, and more were planned.
Todd Smith of Soda Springs called the Sun to report the Famous Soda Springs geyser had been featured on the Tonight Show recently. Host Jimmy Fallon gave a segment of “thank yous” and a picture of the geyser was flashed on screen. What Fallon said he was thankful for was “geysers being Nature’s bidet”. The image was not directly identified as the Soda Springs geyser, and was probably pulled as a generic image according to Todd’s analysis, but he was certain it was the Soda Geyser, and this was confirmed by clips on the internet featuring the segment.
20 Years ago, 2004
Earl Somsen, retiring trustee of the Soda Springs Joint School District 150, was honored at the school board meeting held at Grays Lake Elementary in Wayan. The Grays Lake community gathered for a potluck dinner honoring Somsen’s 15 years of service and his commitment to education and the children of the district. Somsen served on the school board from 1998 to 2004. With over 15 years of service, he has been involved in a number of district projects including construction of Tigert Middle School, remodel of Thirkill Elementary, lighting of the SSHS softball field, Soda Springs high School auditorium improvements, and upgrades of sound systems of the SSHS auditorium and Hooper Elementary.
At the Idaho Association of Pupil Transportation’s Annual Conference held in Boise, Richard Kirby was named Idaho School Bus Driver of the Year. He was selected from nominees throughout the state for the honor. Kirby has been a full-time driver for the Grace School District for 35 years. His dedication and love of children have made him a valuable member of the school district’s transportation team. He is always willing to do anything it takes to make things run smoothly.
Magistrate Judge Ronald Hart accepted a $1,000 grant last week from Ellen McKenzie of the Idaho Dept of Health and Welfare and Nancy Lopez, H&W underage drinking specialist, to aid in the efforts of the local committee to address underage drinking concerns. Barbara Peterson of Grace was the elected chair of the coalition of Caribou County officials and residents to work on the problem.
Caribou County firemen put out a line of grass fires caused by a 7200 volt power line that fell across U.S. Highway 30 near Grace junction last Wednesday afternoon. Deputy Rick Stokoe said the line came down while state DOT crews were working in the area and a road grader had just passed under it. It was hot enough that it left holes in the asphalt that were still smoking some time after the incident. UP&L crews and the sheriff’s office responded, along with the fireman, as traffic was shut down until power was shut off. Cause was not known at the time of the accident.
Caribou Memorial Hospital and Living Center is getting a new $86,000 roof to replace the original, which has been in place since 1969, hospital maintenance supervisor Carl Lemons said. Over the past few years, the roof has been leaking in spots, notably in the front lobby of the hospital. Thirty-five years is a long time for a roof, especially for a flat roof. A new one has been needed, but there was no money in the budget until recently.
The Ricks College Dance Showcase USA, a dance troupe consisting of 25 dancers and a five piece bluegrass band, will be participating at three folk dance festivals during the month of August with its encore appearance in China. The Ricks College team was invited to the Chinese festival by the dancers from China that participated in the Idaho International Folk Dance Festival in Rexburg. Members of the Dance Team USA include Cece Craner of
Soda Springs.
The Bancroft City Park was the site for the Melvin and Grace Hansen family reunion and the delayed 60th wedding anniversary of the Hansens. Their wedding anniversary date was Feb 9. More family members were able to attend during the summer. Acitivities included swimming, rafting, games, and a theater production by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, storytelling by Crazy Coyote, and lots of eating and visiting. The Hansen children attending included Monty from Anaquertis, Washington, Deon of Las Vegas, NV, Sharon from Provo, UT, Meljean from Yorba Linda, CA, Marie of Grace, Roy of Arimo, and Betty of Bancroft. Terry of Albuquerque, Lynn of San Jacinto, CA, and Lillian of Huntington Beach, CA were unable to attend. There are 60 grandchildren and 62 great-grandchildren.
30 Years ago, 1994
Bryon Russell, the 6’7” small forward for the Utah Jazz in his second year, visited Grace. He made a stop at Grace High School to meet with the youth of the Grace Little League Basketball program. All present were in awe of his size and his ability to handle the ball. The participants were given some ball handling techniques, in drills taught to them by Russell and Dave Wilson. Wilson is the director of the Utah Jazz Youth Basketball program. Bryon then dazzled everyone with a few slam dunks. Wilson passed out pictures of Bryon and cards of other Jazz players. Bryon then took time to autograph anything and everything the kids brought from shirts and hats to basketballs. It was exciting to have someone of Bryon’s caliber visit the youth of Grace.
Over 750 rainbow trout about 10 inches long were planted last week in the Bear River near Grace. Most of the fish were released from the Turner Bridge into Black Canyon, with virtually no losses from the 100-foot drop. Others were put in the Bear River at the Highway 34 bridge at Grace. IDFG personnel helping with the release were Wes Cannon, Grace conservation officer, Grace Hatchery Superintendent Rob Hill, and Tom Frew, fisheries specialist from Boise.
Hugh Norman of the Soda Springs Rotary Club presented Dewey and Linda Anderson of Soda Springs with a plaque of appreciation for their years of community service. The service organization honored the Andersons at the Friday night showing of “Annie Get Your Gun.” Together Dewey and Linda have used their furniture stores as an outlet for any and nearly every community play, concert, pageant, or fair. On July 16, a child abuse benefit will be presented by the Anderson family at the high school auditorium, with admittance by donation.
40 Years ago, 1984
Researchers hope to see 12 to 15 young cranes join the fall migration of the intermountain wild whooping crane flock as a result of this year’s hatch. Elwood Bizeau of the University of Idaho, said the young from this year’s hatch will join about 25 older cranes in the flock. The other cranes range in age from one to eight years. Wildlife experts at UI have been placing whooping crane eggs from a wild flock at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada and a captive flock at Patuxet Wildlife Research Center in Maryland under incubating foster parent sandhill cranes in an effort to establish a wild flock in the intermountain region. This year, for the first time ever, Ducks Unlimited of Canada supplied an airplane to move the crane eggs from Canada to Idaho. 32 eggs were placed and 24 hatched.
On behalf of the Mental Health Association, President Polly A. Peterson thanked the community for sponsoring the recent “Bell Ringer” campaign. Uriah Call, Toni Anderson, Bonnie Collins, Mrs. Rex Layland, Colleen Potter of Grace and Soda Springs were specifically thanked by name. The MHA is a non-profit organization of volunteers who believe strongly that citizen involvement in mental health issues can make a difference. The dollars raised in communities go toward the expansion of information and referral services and Citizen Companion program for those with chronic mental illness.
Chuck Stoddard ruminated on the nomination of Geraldine Ferraro as the 1984 Democratic Vice Presidential candidate. As Stoddard wrote: “[An] issue that concerns many people is the novelty question of a woman candidate. Will the novelty cloud the issues of the campaign? Will people vote for something just because it has never happened before? It would appear that there could be dangerous consequences unless the American people vote for candidates after a serious dialogue on present issues. Whether there is a woman running or not, never before has it been so important to consider the issues facing the nation. It is essential for the public to investigate platforms and political stands of each candidate regardless of sex, color, or creed. The future of America depends on candidates who will provide solid leadership and quality programs to sort out many problems facing the country today. The future of America will be decided in the next five months. We need to be involved in the decision making process.” The more things change…
55 Years ago, 1964
A wiener roast was held at Hooper last Tuesday, honoring Billy Barger on his ninth birthday. Guests included Mr. and Mrs. Lee Godfrey, Darla and Colleen Barger, Julie, Richard, and Tom Truchot, Pat Gill, Kim McCammon, Kerry Phelps, Steve Bunn, Roger and Annette Michaelson, Teresa Hogan, Kent Skinner, Kevin McCammon, Tammy Lapioli, Lonnie Smith, Sandra Wall, Marc Bolton, Doty, Jay, Ortie, and Mrs. Ingram. Billy’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Barger, hosted the party.
Kimette Ruger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Ruger of Bancroft, has been chosen as one of the 22 girls from Idaho, and among the 3,000 girls from the United States, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, who will attend the national convention of the Future Homemakers of America, which will be held at the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago this coming weekend. She plans to leave from Montpelier Sunday morning on the streamliner for six exciting days. Highlights scheduled for the week include the stage production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and a land and lake tour.
Judge and Mrs. Francis Rasmussen and Attorney and Mrs. Wallace Transtrum are spending several days this week in Sun Valley where they are attending the state Judicial Conference and Bar Association annual convention. The Rasmussens will go to Boise from Sun Valley to attend to other business matters before returning home.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Alldaffer and daughters returned last weekend from Fort Collings, CO, where they attended a three week summer agriculture Extension School at Colorado State University. Mr. Alldaffer stated that there were 33 states and 22 countries represented in those classes. Mrs. Alldaffer and girls were able to attend some of the special field trips and also enjoyed other activities arranged for family members.
J.R. Simplot Company employees and their families met at the Diamond Creek Youth Camp Saturday for the company’s annual picnic. Special guests were Don Simplot, company Vice President, Hugh Larkins, Personnel Director.
Winners of the Farm Bureau Talent Find at the Grays Lake School House were pre-school age group: Buttons and Lisa Sibbett won with a song in the six to eight year old category, Jody Muir was the winner in the nine to twelve age group with a vocal solo. Two winners were selected in the thirteen to sixteen year group. A quartet consisting of Linda and Don Sibbett and Marilyn and Jalene Smith sang a song with Don accompanying on the guitar. An accordion solo by by Mary Lee Hamp was the winner of the seventeen to thirty age group. All of these will compete in the County Talent Find to be held in Bancroft. Mary Sibbett and Margaret Stoor were in charge of the program. The judges were Rhea Lau, Joy Christensen, and Chloe Elsworth.
