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
Youth from the Soda Springs Stake walked a trail with handcarts in honor of the pioneers, up hills and over rocky terrain. At one point, all the men and boys were taken away and the girls and women had to pull the carts on their own—this symbolized the moment when the 500 men from the company were conscripted into the army to fight in the Mexican American War. Participants worked hard during the days, and were treated to uplifting spiritual messages and music during the evenings spent around Dutch Oven dinner
and cobbler.
The Caribou County Fair announced that the Double D Pig Wrestling from Geybull, Wyoming would be returning to the fair again. In Pig Wrestling, teams have one minute to catch their pig and place it into the barrel in the middle of the pen, rear-end first. The catch is that the “pen” is filled with slippery clay mud, so it is a challenge to catch the pigs. There are four age categories, ranging down to the 5 to 8 year old set, meaning that there is a chance for almost everyone to wrestle pigs should they so desire. The rules for pig wrestling were printed separately within the Caribou County Sun
Brenda Erickson of the Caribou Mud Racers asked for use of Kelly Park for the 25th annual Mud Challenge in August. The group holds mud races and entertainment at the entrance of the Kelly Park complex. Erickson said that because it was the 25th anniversary, they were planning to bring in a monster truck that is designed for rides for $5 a person. The mud racing group is a charitable all-volunteer group devoted to the sport of mud racing and uses any proceeds for families that may be in crisis. “We appreciate these events that bring people into the community,” Mayor Jim Smith said, after which the City Council approved the event.
Monica Williams-Murphy, MD, from Alabama presented a seminar at Caribou Memorial Hospital about issues faced by all patients and caregivers at the end of life. In her job working in busy hospital rooms, the doctor has seen many deaths, as well as witnessed many patients and their loved ones struggle over long periods of time with very difficult end-of-life situations. Her recent book “It’s OK to Die” was designed to help people navigate that territory. During the seminar, the doctor provided an account of her experiences with end of life care. Dr. Williams-Murphy and her husband Kris Murphy are friends with PA-C Brett Smith and his wife Angie, and while visiting the couple, the doctor offered to provide the seminar, which was very well received. Dr. Nita Weber said that she was so impressed with Dr. Williams-Murphy that they would try to get her to come back for another seminar in the future.
The 2014 Kid’s Day Parade announces that Shirley Christensen had been named as the Grand Marshal. She was born and raised in Chesterfield, and graduated from North Gem High School. Shirley has spent the last twenty years as the North Gem School District #149 Food Supervisor. Many in the community recognize her as a lady in the lunch room who knows how to cook! She is the mother of 11 kids, and raised many of them as she worked. She is also the grandmother of 30 kids. Shirley also volunteers in classrooms and with the school’s concessions. Being at school “is like a home for her because she is a lifelong learner.”
20 Years ago, 2004
Sgt. Zachary Prahl of the 116th Cavalry Brigade, 148th Field Artillery deployed Saturday for mobilization training at Fort Bliss, Texas. They would be training further before deploying for “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” Prahl spent time with parents Diane and Charles, brother Jared Carver, sister Kimberly Carver, daughter Faith, aunt Teresa Beck, cousin Derek Beck, cousins Sandy and Doug Braun, grandparents Jay and Lorraine Allred, and uncle Chad Allred and son Bradley Allred of Soda Springs.
Caribou County announced that it would once again be sponsoring the “increasingly popular” quilt display at the fair again this year. The display is not a part of the competition, but is housed in the art building. The popularity of the quilt display was such that it was considered a no-brainer to bring it back for a repeat performance. The Caribou Quilt Guild will also be presenting a trunk show during the fair.
Ralph Peterson of Bancroft returned from a study visit with the Fulbright Memorial Fund. The program is sponsored by the Japanese government to thank the U.S. for the Fulbright Act. The program is funded by the Japanese-United States Education Commission. Six hundred teachers from across the U.S. are invited each year to travel to Japan for three weeks, with each state being awarded six teachers for the year. Peterson spent time in Tokyo, and then Tokamachi in Niigata prefecture. He stayed with a host family while on the visit.
30 Years ago, 1994
School district 150 voted to spend around $100,000 for new computers, printers, software, and special electronic equipment. Stuart Meiron, member of the district’s technology committee, said that bids have been received that would provide the middle school with 28 computers, printers, software and networks. The high school would be getting a new network that would make the system more reliable and avoid downtime, which had been a problem in the past. The funds largely came from a school bond specifically for technology for the middle school, as well as a donation from Monsanto.
Due to dry conditions and the low level of the springs, the Grace City Council implemented water restrictions in July. Odd house numbers can water on odd calendar days, and so on. Notices of the restriction were delivered to each residence and the Sheriff’s office has been notified to enforce the ordinance. A $25 fine will be given out for violations. The council asked for cooperation from the community, and stated that if pumping the springs was required, water bulls would see a concomitant rise.
Swimmers from Idaho, Eastern Nevada, and Eastern Oregon gathered at the Snake River Summer Championships, including 10 year old Lindsey Dehl from Soda Springs, and 17 year old Glen Washburn from Grace. Dehl competed in 10 events, and Washburn competed in 5. Both athletes completed with the FAST Aquatic Swim Team from Pocatello. Dehl has been swimming with the FAST team for the past year, and Washburn recently joined. The two swimmers have been travelling to Pocatello every day to practice, and the practice paid off. Dehl placed 2nd in the state with her Individual Medley Relay team, with her swimming the Freestyle leg. She also placed third with the Freestyle Relay team, and did well in the other events. Washburn took 4th in state for his 100 meter breaststroke and a 5th place in the state for his 200 meter breaststroke.
The Grace High Cheerleaders returned from a National Cheerleaders Association summer camp workshop where they received the NCA “Team” award (Together Everyone Achieves Miracles). Over 260 cheerleaders from around were in attendance at the event. The team also received four superiors and two excellents.
40 Years ago, 1984
Winona Lowe: “The will to live is as strong as any force on earth and creates miracles every day. The blight that has killed so many evergreen trees had pretty well done its work of destruction on one of the pine trees that the Hollingsworths had planted in front of their home. The spot is now owned by the Caribou County Fair. As the inroads of destruction the disease made on one of these beautiful trees, my heart felt the grip of sadness as the dead branches started from the top to the bottom. After a while, there wasn’t much to see but brown dead limbs. Time marched along, and as the seasons changed, tender evidence of life began to emerge from the center of the tree trunk from top to bottom. Each time I observed it more life began to come into the brown dead branches. Now there is definite hope for the ultimate full restoration of the tree as it was. In time it will match its sister tree growing next to it. Brown branches and grass don’t always indicate final death, but a time of sleeping and restoration. When you drive by Center Street in Grace near the Fair Grounds, take a look at what nature has done. I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree—especially one resurrected.
Laura Duren and friend Jerry Boldt of Rochester, Minnesota visited Soda Springs to attend Laura’s five year SSHS reunion for the class of 1979 at the golf club pavilion. Also at the Durens for the weekend were Marjean’s brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde McNeal of Boise, and Ed’s aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Duren of Port Angeles, Washington.
Terry Sorenson of Grace won a second place silver medal in the diesel mechanics program at the 1984 VICA National Skill and Leadership Competition in Louisville, Kentucky. Sorenson is a graduate of the diesel program at the ISU Vo-Tech program. He is currently employed by the Sorenson Construction Co. VICA competitions represent a major means of measuring skills acquired by vocational-technical students. All eight ISU students who took part in the national competition were first place winners in Idaho.
44 Years ago, 1980
Jon Rosdahl recently returned from Boys State. While at Boys State, he was elected senator and also served as a committee chairmen in the Senate. He was a citizen of Dempsey and served as a city councilman. Jon was chosen the outstanding citizen in the City of Dempsey. There were 10 cities, each city having 30 or more boys. Ten outstanding citizen awards were presented.
54 Years ago, 1970
Democrats: “The Democratic Party in Idaho specifically demands that immediate action be taken to conclude out involvement in Southeast Idaho.” Republicans: “The Idaho Republican Assembly supports the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, in his action entering the Cambodian sanctuaries to protect American forces in South Vietnam and to further the program of Vietnamization of the war in Southeast Asia. We urge defeat of the Cooper-Church Amendment now pending in Congress.” The Cooper-Church Amendment would restrict funds for U.S. troops in Cambodia after July 1.
58 Years ago, 1966
City and Ranch Realty of Soda Springs announced late yesterday that the new Bailey Creek Acres subdivision located at Bailey Creek about 4 ½ miles south of Soda Springs, has been recorded and accepted by Bear Lake County, and work is slated to begin early next week.
Several contracts have already been finalized and other bods let for the buildings of homes. The subdivision consists of 148 acreage units, and is being developed due to the great demand for country type living.
78 Years ago, 1946
The first of a series of tests entitled “the Baker Tests of the Atomic Bomb” were conducted June 30, 1946, when five ships were sunk, nine ships were wrecked and 45 ships were reported damaged. The second blast will be set July 25, and will be like dynamiting fish in a pond. The bomb will be submerged some 75 feet beneath the surface in about 30 fathoms of water (180 feet) and detonated in the midst of the target fleet.
There will be no atomic cloud, which is characteristic of atomic bombs exploded in the air. What is likely to happen is that the intense heat will generate steam in the water and the terrific force will expend a part of its energy in a waterspout with a cloud of steam and vapor shooting into the air.
Intent of this test is to measure force of atomic energy upon the hull structure of naval ships spaces at various distances from the center of the explosion. These tests were conducted in Bikini lagoon.
79 Years ago, 1945
Since 1892, in Paddington Station, London, a mongrel dog named Tim has collected nearly $10,000 for the widows’ and orphans’ fund of a British railroad, says Collier’s. For 11 years, Time met all trains and begged for coins to be dropped in the tin box fastened to his collar. When Tim died of old age in 1902, his body was mounted and placed in a glass case in the station, where he still continues his work, collecting coins through a slot in his stand.
117 Years ago, 1907
It is now definitely settled that Soda Springs is to have a bank, the “First National Bank.” Professor A.L. Bramhall was thrown from a horse last Saturday afternoon and quite badly bruised. Bronco busting is not his line.
L.S. Marriott made the trip to Alexander last Saturday, a distance of six miles over a road that is known too good for automobiles, in 19 minutes in his Reo runabout.
The Ladies of the Maccabees are having a contest for new members and th foar is being fed on a barb wore, horse shoe nails and giant powder for the initiation, which takes place on August 7.
C.L. Toyer, Uther Davis, George Gorton, and Bert Rudd went to the Upper Narrows last Saturday morning on a fishing trip and returned Monday morning. One of the horses fell into a spring and drowned, and they had quite a time getting home.
