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.
2019
Idaho received an overall grade of F in a new tobacco control report from the American Lung Association. A 2018 attempt in Idaho to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21 was defeated. Idaho’s cigarette tax of 57 centers per pack ranks 45th in the nation, which has an average tax of $1.79 per state. The 2019 State of Tobacco Control outlines three recommendations for Idaho: increase funding for tobacco prevention and control work, raise the legal age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21, and pass comprehensive smoke-free air laws at local and state levels. Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell introduced legislation in May to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 nationwide. The bill covers all tobacco products, including vaping devices. Virginia Democrat Tim Kane joined him in sponsoring the bill. The bill backtracked on McConnell’s pledge to exempt those serving in the armed forces from the legislation.
Saturday night was a happening time in Chesterfield with a local talent show. Foundation president Kathy Beans welcomed the crowd of close to 100. Ron Hughes was the emcee for the event. A member of Under the Western Skies started out the evening by singing and playing his guitar. Jack and Penni Jensen sang a duet. Jason Green played his guitar and harmonica. Rulon Wistisen played original pieces on the piano. Paizlee and Oaklee Hatch each played the piano. Polly McCammon entertained with an original song she wrote for her grandmother and played guitar. She then took to the piano and accompanied Shirley Christensen on the bones for several pieces. Adrianna Gibson played her cello, Christopher Banks sang a couple of songs and was joined by his sons Cort and Ridge for a song. Kathy Bean and Ron Hughes also sang. The evening was closed out by Gemstones with several numbers. The town site served floats and cookies for refreshment. The town site has had almost 9,000 visitors this summer. Not bad for a place that is at the “End of the Road” as an Idaho PBS official dubbed it.
Jason Cunningham, Engineering Lead for Bayer, presented the Caribou County Senior Center with a $5,000 grant. The grant money will be used to fund the building of a new office area inside the senior center. The new office area will open up some much needed space inside of Hidden Treasures Thrift Store. Jason Cunningham, Charles Fryar, Don Smith, Blair Winward, Peggy Gould, Kell Holt, Lucetta Holt, and ShaLayne Bartschi attended
to presentation.
2014
The Grace, Soda Springs, and North Gem school districts have announced their policies for free and reduced price meals for children and students served under the National School Lunch program. Application forms are available to all homes along with a letter to parents and guardians. Income criteria for reduced price lunches are $44,123 for a family of four, and free meals for $31,005 for a family the same size.
A Pocatello man was sentenced to up 10 10 years on one count of aggravated battery and six years on burglary in the District Court in Soda Springs. The sentences are concurrent, so they will run together. Caribou County Prosecutor Doug Wood said that the sentencing was the result of a plea agreements reached between the defense attorney and his office on the charges filed against David R. Jensen of Pocatello. The battery conviction was the result of a call police received from a woman who said that she been beaten by Jensen while her children were home with her. The police responded quickly, and Jensen was arrested and charged. A motion for leniency from Jensen was denied by the judge, and Jensen will serve at least 4 years in the state penitentiary.
After reaching the age of 75, Bishop Michael P. Driscoll submitted his letter of resignation, as required by canon law, to Pope Francis at the Vatican. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time serving the people and Catholic Church of Idaho,” Bishop Driscoll said. Driscoll was appointed as the Seventh Bishop of Boise by Pope John Paul II in 1999, succeeding Bishop Tod D. Brown. At 75, Driscoll became the oldest bishop to serve in the Diocese of Boise, and the first to offer a resignation for reasons of age. The first Bishop of Boise, Alphonse J. Glorieux, died at the age of 73 in 1917.
Researchers at Idaho State University are seeking families with children from 8 to 12 to participate in a sleep study concerning sleep habits and social behaviors. ISU psychology professor Maria Wong and colleagues are conducting a study focusing on how sleep disturbances in children can affect alcohol-related problems in adulthood. The focus of the study is on children of problem drinkers, but researchers will examine the sleep patterns, habits and architecture of biological children of both non-drinking and alcohol-using parents. Results of the study will lead to practical information on the relationship between sleep problems and alcohol use disorders, with implications for prevention and early intervention.
Steve Wight of Chesterfield won the 2014 NCA National Intermediate Horseback championship with his 4-year old Border Collie, Levi. They competed together in working cattledog trials all year to qualify to compete at the National Cattledog Association National Finals held in Steamboat Springs, CO. There were over 125 of the top dogs and handlers in the country competing at the finals. Steve and Levi won the Intermediate Class and are the 2014 National Champions. Steve is continuing to complete in cattle dog trials throughout the country and is hoping to go back to Nationals for 2015 with several of his dogs. Steve owns Mill Iron S Ranch and raises and trains working Border Collies.
2004
The Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game planted 10,000 catchable rainbow off the Second Bridge boat dock Monday that average 9.5 inches. The fish planting was done to help give fishermen and women a chance to catch a few trout over Labor Day and before the big game seasons get underway, according to Regional Fisheries Biologist Dick Scully. He said if it works out well, the department might make it a regular planting. The manager said the fish normally would go to a reservoir like the Blackfoot, but with the drought and drawdown at that location, Alexander Reservoir on the Bear River seemed like a pretty good tradeoff to give sportsmen a local area to fish. There could also be some holdover trout for ice fishers this winter at Alexander.
The Soda Springs Cardinals opened the 2004 football season with a 19-12 road win over Ririe. Stiff-run defense and outstanding offensive line play paved the way to the Cardinals victory. A Nathan Thompson interception left the Cardinals in great field position and the Cardinals offense capitalized. Soda Springs scored the games’ first touchdown on a Colton Erickson run. The second hald kick off was returned to the 40-yeard line by Colton Erickson. Ivan Barker then capped off a 60 yeard drive on a 2-yard touchdown run. With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Colton Erickson scored on a 10-yard run giving the Cardinals a lead for good. A Colton Erickson interception sealed the game, giving the Cardinals their first win of
the season.
Jackie Winward is beginning her 11th year instructing a children’s singing and performing group in Caribou County. Known the last 10 years as the Talent Sprouts, this year they are trying something new. Jackie is enthusiastic about the many resources available to her—one she will be using is a tri-state children’s organization, Sound Impressions. The instruction includes singing, drama, rhythmic movement, music theory, diction and performing. Children learn the value of fun, hard work, and following through in presenting two major concerts.
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.
The 11-12 year old Little League All Star Team took 2nd in a tourney held in Soda Springs last month. Team member included Assistant Coach Gary Vorwaller, J.T. Stein, James Frankos, Payton Vorwaller, Taylor Swenson, Bradyn Bailey, Coach Sid Davis, Alex Davis, Tyson Cooper, Coach Randy 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.
1994
The Tincup fire complex, composed of fires at the head of the South Fork of Tincup and the Browns Canyon fire on Bacon Ridge, were expected to be contained this week, Bill Cassy, incident commander said Saturday afternoon. He expected containment Sunday night. “Weather is a concern this weekend. We’re expecting some winds,” he said, as equipment was being ferried from the base camp at the edge of Diamond Flat 30 miles northeast of Soda Springs, to crews on the fire at Bacon Ridge. Containment is a term used by fire bosses to mean a line or natural barrier around a fire. Barring any unforeseen conditions, the fire perimeter will not be enlarge, but there are still unburned trees and other fire fuels inside the perimeter that can burn. There were 160 fire personnel attached to the two fires, with four 20-person Type 2 crews to fight the fires on the ground. Two of the crews were on the Tincup fire Saturday. “The area of confinement doen’t lend itself to dozer control,” Mike Wintch, fire information officer, said.
The 1994-1995 Soda Springs High School Cheer Team, composed of 18 girls, has enjoyed a busy and rewarding summer as they look forward to the start of the season. Early mornings throughout the summer found the team going through rigorous practice sessions in preparation for their July camp and learning new skills for the athletic season. The great team effort paid off for the team as they traveled to USA camp in Rexburg. The cheer team was highly complimented on their uniforms, enthusiasm and willingness to work together. As a result, they were awarded the coveted spirit stick, the Superior Plaque, and the Hardest Working Team Plaque for the second year in a row. The Frosh squad was also given a certificate for Spirit Contribution at camp. The Rexburg camp was a new experience for the team. The varsity squad also had four girls chosen to audition this fall for the USA professional cheer team: Rachel Hogan, Connie Clegg, Jamie Norman, and Alyson Bailey. The cheer team has also been involved in community service this summer, as they worked with Sanders Furniture selling tickets for the Juy 4 community play. The team is currently distributing the athletic calendars for the high school athletic department.
1984
One of the main relics remaining from the early life and settlement of the first town in Idaho, was grandfather William M. Gibson’s steam engine of Franklin. This is the original and first steam engine used in the State Idaho for the purpose of using steam power to saw lumber from vast stands of Native Red Pine (Douglas Fir) growing in the lower canyons of the nearby Wasatch Range. The engine and saw mill were purchased by the Mormon leader Brigham Young in St. Louis, Missouri in 1867. The engine was a stationary type (no power to the wheels) and had to be loaded on steel-wheeled dollies and be moved by winch, oxen, or horse power. Weight was about 10,000 lbs and is estimated to generate 125 horse power. The machine has been moved to the Franklin County Relic Hall as an important part of the settlement of the west.
The completion date for the new central kitchen in Soda Springs School District 150 has been moved back by several weeks, making it necessary that a favorite meal, a sack lunch, be served to students of the district until the kitchen is again in working order. Parents and patrons are reminded that the nutritional value of the lunches will continue to contain all the elements of a “Type A” lunch. “Much throughout has gone into the planning of these lunches and much preparation and work will go into the serving of them,” a spokesmen said. Included in the lunch each day in appropriate combinations will be a protein-source sandwich consisting of varied meats or protein foods including beef, ham, turkey, cold cuts, cheese, egg or peanut butter. Also included each day will be fresh fruit, vegetables, pudding, Jello, potato and macaroni salad, applesauce and baked goods.
1964
Huge beams were lowered into place this past week on the new Ace Chevrolet Company building now under construction in Soda Springs. Ace Hansen, owner, says he hopes to be in his new headquarters, which will be located next to the Dawn-A-Vu Drive-In Theater, sometime next month, but added that the completion date is still uncertain.
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Anderson are happy to have his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Anderson and brother Leland of Santa Monica, CA., and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Ned R. Barker and boys of Eugene, Oregon, in their home for a week’s visit. George Atkinson was a Twin Falls visitor for a couple of days last week to see his nephew Ray Green. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Hatch of Bancroft were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sullivan. The John A. Dalton family reunion was held in Lava Hot Springs Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Leland Snow had a four-day fishing trip to Stanley on the Salmon River. The Swensen and Hansen family had a gathering at Lava on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Smith (Iva Ashbaker) of Long Beach, CA, came last week to visit her mother, Mrs. Jake Ashbaker and brothers and sisters.
