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.
5 Years ago, 2019
Governor Brad Little’s next “Capital for a Day” event will be held in Grace on Tuesday, August 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gem Valley Performing Arts Center. Officials joining Governor Little include: Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra; Department of Water Resources Director Gary Spackman; Department of Environmental Quality Director John Tippets; Department of Labor Director Jan Revier; Division of Building Safety Administrator Chris Jensen; Division of Financial Management Administrator Alex Adams; Department of Fish and Fame Director Ed Schriever; Office of Energy and Mineral Resources Administrator John Chatburn; and others including Representative Marc Gibbs and Senator Mark Harris. “I look forward to spending some time with the good people of Grace and Caribou County as we discuss their questions and ideas about how the State of Idaho can best serve this rich agricultural area and border country,” Governor Little said.
The Tincup fire remains active and continues to consume dead and down fuel. High winds propelled the fire to 72-acres over the weekend of August 24-25, which spotted over the 444 trail to the east. Higher fuel moistures and significant live vegetation on the north facing slopes are slowing fire spread. South facing slopes are more susceptible to the fire’s spread and forest managers continue to anticipate smoldering and creeping with minor spotting and single/group tree torching in these areas. The slow surface fire is rejuvenating the forest. Firefighters are still actively implementing management strategies, including building fire line around private property and other public land values. No closures are in place, although the forest urges those recreating and hunting in the area to use caution due to fire hazards and potential falling trees.
Oregon has banned using commercial deer and elk urine next year in an effort to keep chronic wasting disease out of their state, according to the Mail Tribune in Oregon. An Aug. 12 article reported the ban against commercial scents from deer and elk was singed by Governor Kate Brown and Oregon now joins seven other states with similar bans. Mark Freeman of the Mail Tribune noted a 2017 study that shows elk, mule deer, and white tailed deer can “shed the prion protein causing CWD in urine, even though the animal showed no CWD symptoms.” Owners of the scent, or stores that sell the scent, which is banned beginning in January, can take them to an Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office where they will be incinerated at 1,800 degrees, hot enough to kill the prion. A department veterinarian asked owners not to pour the scent down the drain or otherwise discard the scent, as the prions can live for decades in the environment. While Oregon has not found CWD in its wildlife it has been found in 26 other states, including Wyoming and other western states. Freeman reported that the disease is untreatable and always fatal by damaging the brain of infected animals. It can be passed by body fluids and nose-to-nose contact from an infected animal.
10 Years ago, 2014
Superintendent Molly Stein and Clerk Jonathan Balls presented the first week of school enrollment numbers for the Soda Springs School District. The report indicated that the enrollment numbers for the district had declined by approximately 40 students. Much of the decline was stated to be due to families moving out of the area and state for job opportunities.
Jayson Lower, Caribou County Solid Waste Manager, announced that the landfill would be using a spray on technology that will reduce the need for importing dirt for daily cover and extend the life of the county landfill to well over 40 years, if they maintain the current rate of inbound municipal solid waste. The savings that would come along were also seem as potentially quite significant. Approximately $75,000 a year for the next 40 years, a benefit of well over $3 million over the life of the landfill.
Mayor Jim Smith announced that Chief Joe Rice was retiring on Sept. 12. The mayor said that he would be appointing Lt. Jon Bunderson of the Soda Springs Police Department as the next chief of police. The council unanimously confirmed the mayor’s appointment. “There is always change,” Mayor Smith said. “I have absolute confidence in our new chief.” Jeff Horsley was awarded the Super Hero award by the mayor during the same meeting. Horsley, who is the Soda Springs School District Cross Country head coach, has impacted the community greatly. Horsley has been running since high school, and still holds the third fastest time in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. “Any one of our coaches could be coaches anywhere,” coach Horsley said. He thanked the community for their support and for the great kids who go on to do better things.
Soda Springs city officials are seeking some information about what is called “the gun” in City Park facing Main Street. They are trying to find out where it came from and its historic significance—which has come out of a request by an Oregon deputy sheriff to purchase the twin Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun, which he said his father trained on at Camp Farragut in northern Idaho. David White of Scio, Oregon, approached the city would like the gun to refurbish for his father, David White, a chief gunner’s mate on the U.S. Navy’s Attack Transport USS Laurens. He ran a gun crew and saw heavy fighting in places like Leyte Gulf, Tacloban, and Okinawa. White’s father will be 90 in October and stated in a letter to the city that after training at the Naval Training Center at Farragut, one of the 40 mm guns he was training on 72 years ago was moved to Soda Springs. White offered $500 to $1,000 for the old gun, which is rusting and in disrepair. He will hire a crane and semi to haul it to Oregon, restore it, and hopefully give it to his father on his 90th birthday in October. Upon his father’s death, it will be placed on display at the Coos Bay Maritime Museum along Highway 101. History or pictures of the of the gun, a favorite site for kids to play on in the city park next to the library, are being sought by the city officials as they mull over the offer.
20 Years ago, 2004
Damage to a transformer at the Caribou Substation caused a power outage for a little over three hours to some 1,234 customers in the Soda Springs area, a Utah Power and Light Company spokesman said, including Monsanto Company’s Soda Springs plant next to the substation. UP&L officials believe it was a perching incident in which a hawk was the cause. Monsanto was restored to power at 10:42 p.m., but their kiln was down over 12 hours as it takes time to bring it back on line, Monsanto spokesman Trent Clark said Friday.
The National Weather Service was right on track in reporting possible heavy rains in the Gem Valley last Saturday. A concentrated cell moved over the City of Grace early Saturday afternoon and within a three to four-hour time frame dropped nearly three inches of rain. Southwest of Grace farmers experienced hail which caused extensive damage to both grain and potato crops.
Jackie Barthlome was sworn in as the new postmaster of the Grace Post Office on June 25. “I’, so excited to be back in the Grace Post Office where I began my career. I couldn’t have made it this far without help from the former postmasters, coworkers, and the support of my family—especially my husband Don,” Barthlome said. She started her career with the Post Office in the early 1980s as a Highway Contract Relief for Chloe Fowler. In September 1983 she became a rural carrier relief for Wayne Hansen and Ron Hegstrom. Jackie was promoted to Postmaster of the Lava Hot Springs Office in 1999, where she has also been helping the Spokane District and helped out on city route inspections.
The 11-12 year old Little League All Star Team took 2nd in a tourney held in Soda Springs July 8, 9, and 10. Team members included Assistant Coach Gary Vorwaller, J.T. Stein, James Frankos, Payton Vornwaller, Taylor Swensen, Bradyn Bailey, Coach Sid Davis, Alex Davis, Tyson Cooper, Coach Randy Smith, Kaden Smith, David Bowles, Tyler Stephens, and Assistant Coach Ron Stein. Teams came from Jackson and Evanston, Wyoming, South Cache, Utah, Grace, Bear Lake, Marsh Valley, Blackfoot, Preston, and Rexburg, with 20 teams in all.
Credentials for two ER physicians, Ligeia Reinhardt, MD, and John Williams, MD, were reviewed. The two doctors were granted privileges to work in the hospital’s Emergency Room. The doctors come from Idaho State University’s family practice program. With the availability of Dr. Brian Anderson, the new family physician recruited by the hospital who started August 2, fewer of the out-of-town doctors will be needed, but the community is fortunate to have them available, CEO John Hoopes said. Anesthetist John Kezele, CRNA from Preston, was also recredentialled to fill in when Brad Strupp, CRNA is not available. In the monthly quality improvement report, Hoopes reported that the hospital had its regular inception by the State Health Division, which found few deficiencies.
Members of the Dean A. Larsen family met Monday through Thursday at the KOA campground in Garden City for a reunion, with planning and arrangements made by the family matriarch Helen Rae Ridge, who had recently turned 80.
Two men who started bicycling from the East Coast to the West Coast passed through Soda Springs Friday. Their trip may not be that unusual, except for the fact they were riding large heeled 1880s era bicycles. Gary Sanderson and Peter Matthews started their journey June 12 from the coast at New Jersey at Perth Amboy and had covered about 2,700 miles by the time they reached Soda Springs. Total length of the trip will be about 3,600 miles when they reach Newport, Oregon. The 60 day or so journey was done as a personal challenge. In 1884, a bike like the ones the men were riding made such a journey.
30 Years ago, 1994
Two fires in the Soda Springs Ranger District were looking pretty good Friday as winds had died down for two days and 160 fire personnel were on the scene. District Ranger Tony Varilone said crews had been on the fire in the South fork of Tincup Creek, about six miles up the drainage on the west side, for three days as of the end of last week and were smoking the edges of the fire to contain it with hand tools and backpack pumps. The larger fire near Browns Canyon was along Bacon Canyon Ridge and was about 300 acres. Varilone said it would be managed on a confined and contained strategy. The two fires had burned about 500 acres total. He also said there were no structures or private property threatened.
The old junior high school is coming down as Smith Paving and Construction workers were busy dismantling the building and hauling off the debris. The annex to the old junior high will still be used in conjunction with the new middle school that was completed this spring.
National forest rangelands in Southern Idaho are feeling the impacts of drought. According to Caribou National Forest Range staff officer Carol Lyle, water sources and vegetation are drying up quickly and the lack of recent moisture this year led to less available forage. National Forest Range Conservationists will be assessing the situation and working with each permittee to take their livestock off rangelands earlier than usual. “Most ranchers know that the forage isn’t out there,” added Lyle, “and they’re planning to bring the cows and sheep off early.”
The Clarence and Vivien Simmons home was one of six recipients of the “Golden Arrow Award” given by the Grace Mayor and City Council. Other home owners receiving recognition for helping to beautify Grace were Milo Rupp, Luther Wilson, Frank Stoddard, Virgil Roholt, and Craig Wilker. Honorable mentions were awarded to Von Simonson, Milo Farnworth, Dallas Popa, Jay Turner, Kevin Smith, and Lynn Smith.
Dr. Elliston, the Soda Pops director, is proud to announce the 1994-1995 Soda Pops Show Choir members: Bryan Hoopes, Danile Moldenhauer, Ryan Craner, Mike Harding, Ben Thompsen, Paul Campbell, Rob Brown, Bill Lish, Sarah Johnson, Nancy Pearson, Amanda Robbins, Danelle Dooley, Julie Conlin, Angela Norman, Camille Walters, Traci Sorensen, and accompanist Lindsay Childs.
60 years ago, 1964
Heavy frost hit the area last week leaving a wake of damaged grain and potatoes. The thermometer was reported to have hit as low as 22 degrees in some parts of the county Thursday morning. Cecil Alldaffer, County Extension Agent, stated that the area north of Soda Springs appeared to have been the hardest hit. He said that approximately 50 percent of the grain in the area was damaged. He said, however that the full extent of the damage won’t be known until the grain is harvested. Damage to potatoes and grain in Grace area was reported to be spotty.
The graduating class of Grace High School of 1949 held their 15 year class reunion, starting with a smorgasbord dinner at the Trail dining room in Soda Springs on Saturday evening. Orson Roper of Ogden, Utah was chairman of the event, with Florence Rasmussen Johnson as committee member. Present besides those mentioned were Emma Lou Weaver Almond, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Olorenshaw, Marjean Burton Combs, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Ellis, Beverly Smith Nelson, Howard Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Rasmussen, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Preece, and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Rasmussen. Recognition was given to Emma Lou Weaver Almond and Francis Preece for having the most children, and Jerry Ellis for traveling the farthest
to attend.
Soda Springs, defending Fifth District football champions, will travel to West Side for their season opener Wednesday. The Cardinals will have ten returning lettermen back from last year’s championship squad and around 58 other hopefuls from which to pick a team to help defend their title. Nothing would make Coaches Percy Benedict and George Birger happier than to bring home another district title in their second year at Soda Springs High School, but according to Benedict, graduating senior from last year’s squad left a lot of shoes to be filled for the 1964 season. Returning lettermen are Tom Cynova, Alan Shuler, Dennis Godfrey, Norman Johnson, Bruce Thomas, Richard Stoor, Allen Ray Tigert, Tom Humphreys, Lonnie Johnston, and Lynn Sorensen.
The Junior and Senior King and Queen were Danny Hogan and LuAnn Miles. Attendants will be Evan McLain and Linda Budge. Junior King and Queen will be Kay Dean Smith, Toni Barthlome. Attendants will be Tami Beus, and Richard Lamb.
