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
The Soda Springs mayor and city council entered into a letter of intent to lease the Enders building at their regular city council meeting. The letter spells out terms that may form a lease agreement. The lease is with Diamond Heart Cattleman’s Steakhouse, LLC, with Mariah Lancaster as managing agent in Montpelier. Council President Mitch Hart said over the past several months various entities had shown interest in the Enders building, which includes a restaurant, hotel, museum, lobby, and gift shop areas. The historic building was gifted to the city recently by Rex Maughan. The group is looking at leasing the main floor, which includes the restaurant, lobby, gift shop, three apartment rooms, and restrooms on approximately 6,000 square feet. Hart explained that the letter spells out the basic broad terms of a lease, and includes to potential to expand into the entire building. The letter is nonbinding. The company leasing the building would also look at allowing visitors access the second floor museum. Once things were up and running, the lease should be worth about $2,500 a month to the city. “If you asked me what business I would like to see go in, this is what I had in mind,” Council member Jon Goode said. With member Robert Lau not present, the council members in attendance voted unanimously to sign the letter of intent. Part of the appeal of the group, according to the council, was that the group was passionate about keeping the building as it is in its historical state. Hart stated that in the future, a percentage of the gross or net income from the building would be included in the lease, similar to what the State of Idaho does with leases in Lava Hot Springs.
The first annual Cedar View Invitational Last Call Tournament held over the weekend at the Oregon Trail Gold Course was a success. Over 50 players took part in the tournament benefiting the American Cancer Society’s effort to raise cancer awareness, provide education, increase screening and encourage prevention in the local area. The highlight of the tournament was a hole in one by Ken Seelos on hole seven. Seelos walked away with a set of Ben Hogan irons donated by Cedar View and 36 dozen golf balls from Hunzeker Chevrolet. This was Seelos’ first hole in one at this course in over 28 years of playing and his second hole in one ever. It was also the first time anyone could remember winning a hole in one prize at a tournament on the Oregon Trail Gold Course. On Seelos’ team were Mick and Melanie Portra, Jeri Seelos, and Dustin Christensen. The Last Call tournament was a five-person scramble with each team including at least two women. Each began on a different hole as the shotgun went off. Despite the forecast it was mostly sunny although the wind gusts blew more than one ball off course. The winning team consisted of Lance Windley, Elton Young, Matt Hill, Kim Hooper, and Diane Lester.
2014
The Soda Springs District Board of Trustee Facility Committee met to discuss the results of the facility evaluation study conducted earlier this year. The purpose of the evaluation study is to observe and report, to the extent feasible, on the physical condition of the properties. The study evaluates the existing facilities’ condition, determines the useful life of the existing facilities, and provides a tool to assist the district in future planning efforts. The evaluation study is a first step in a multi-phase process. Understanding the existing facilities and their condition is a fundamental basis for making decisions moving forward with planning. All SSSD #150 buildings were included in the evaluation, including Thirkill, Tigert, Tigert Annex, Soda Springs High School, and Hooper Elementary. The systems that were evaluated included architectural exterior and interior, structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical. The evaluation was not technically exhaustive—it was limited to the field observer’s visual observations while walking through the subject properties. Areas of concern from the study include SSHS infrastructure, SSHS roof, SSHS HVAC system, TMS gym, and TMS annex. After review and discussion of the evaluation study, committee members agreed to obtain cost analysis of recommendations per building.
A Soda Springs scout troop and its leaders was featured on KSL.com in September. Scout Troop 502 is approaching its 100 consecutive campout in as many months and will be planning an October outing to commemorate the event, with former scouts coming back to attend. The article on KSL noted that the local scout troop started the monthly campout tradition to improve outdoor skills among the scouts. Scout leaders Lonnie Brown and Bob Ward were scoutmasters from 2006 to 2009 and Brown said many of the boys did not have much in the way of outdoor or survival skills. He told Jolley that they couldn’t make fires, cook, or set up tents. All of that was about to change. The two leaders discussed the idea with the scouts, and set a goal of camping out every month to learn new skills year round. In 2010, Ward passed away, but the campouts continued in his honor. The camping has ranged from the Tetons to Eight Mile, including in subzero weather.
Earlier in the summer, a local group of motorcycle enthusiasts held a memorial run for their friend and brother. In the months of preparation for the 2nd annual Jeff Maddocks Memorial Run, the group gathered donations and sponsors in memory of Jeff and to raise funds for the community he loved. Through the group’s dedication and hard work, a substantial donation was made to Soda Springs Teen Center in the form of new entertainment items, such as and Xbox One and a new sound system. They also repaired the pool table and purchased new sticks. In addition, the group repainted the Teen Center’s sign and provided paint to freshen up the facilities. Soda Springs Teen Center is a non-profit that was established in 2006. The goal of the facility is to provide a fun and safe environment for teenagers to hang out. In order for the SSTC to open for the kids, a responsible adult must be supervising the building.
The third drowning victim in as many months was recovered by Caribou County sheriff’s deputies after being spotted by volunteers on jet skis in the water on the west side of the Blackfoot Reservoir. Sheriff Ric Anderson said Richard Scherbel, 52, of Blackfoot, was reported missing by the family on September 15 when they went to the family cabin where they were to meet him. He had called earlier and said he was going fishing. The family arrived to see that he had been in the cabin, but neither he nor his boat was in the location when they arrived. They located the boat submerged on the east side by the rocks at the mouth of the river, the sheriff said. “There was no foul play and we are handling it as an accidental drowning,” Sheriff Anderson said. “It’s been 20 years since a drowning (in the Blackfoot Reservoir) and we’ve had three in three months,” Anderson said. He urged all boaters to wear life jackets and avoid going boating alone.
2004
A LOTOJA bike racer was injured during the race from Logan to Jackson Hole when he pulled from the pack on the corner of 2nd South and 2nd East in Soda Springs and struck a public works barrier. His bike was severely damaged and he received a cut to the forehead and lacerations and abrasions. He was treated at the scene by police and EMTs, then transported to Caribou Memorial Hospital. The 188-mile race had 1,000 participants and detoured around Highway 34 because of construction, going the way of Montpelier.
Ken and Carol Heuseveldt were honored as the grand marshals for Soda Springs High School’s 2004 Homecoming. They were introduced at the royalty assembly to the student body that morning, were in the school’s parade in the afternoon, and participated in the pre-game festivities at Archer Field that evening. Ken Heuseveldt has been teaching in Soda Springs School District for the past 19 years and Carol has been teaching in Soda Springs for 18 years.
Occupational Hazards, the leading magazine of safety, health and loss prevention, has chosen 16 diverse companies as the 2004 America’s Safest Companies. Profiles of the companies will be featured in the October issue of the magazine and in a new monthly column highlighting best practices by America’s Safest Companies. Two of the companies have operations in Soda Springs—Washington Group and Monsanto.
1994
A half dozen railroad cars that were being spotted at the Soda Springs Elevator spur line got away Friday and went through the barricade, took out the pedestrian crossing, and ended up on Main Street halfway across the road. No one was injured, but a power pole was sheared off. Police said the trainman was unable to set the brakes to stop the cars and jumped before they hit the barricade.
According to a recent poll, more than four out of five residents throughout all of Idaho think favorably about the service they received from their local post offices. These findings were reported in the latest customer survey done by the Opinion Research Corp. The survey covered the period March through May 1994. According to the results, 89 percent of customers responding throughout Idaho rated the service they receive as Good, Very Good, or Excellent. That was four points above the national average of 85 percent for overall customer satisfaction. Post offices in Idaho have consistently scored high in the customer surveys.
A small but hardworking group of volunteers helped the City of Soda Springs cleanup Geyser Hill on Saturday. Much of the day was spent cleaning old brush and undergrowth from around the world’s largest man-made geyser. Walkways and lookouts are being built, and signing is planned to help tourists with information of this area.
1984
During August, the Soda Springs Police Department made 12 arrests, nine adults and three juveniles. The charges for those arrested included DUI, petit theft, disturbing the peace, and underage drinking. Officers kept vacation watch on 22 homes. Among the 234 calls responded to by police, 27 were for animal complaints, 9 were VIN Inspections, 8 were domestic disputes, 8 were suspicious circumstances, 5 were vandalism, 4 were indigent calls, 4 were disturbances, 4 were loud music complaints, and 4 were related to missing children. Property taken during burglaries amounted to $100.
1964
Four young people who went on the bus to the State Fair at Blackfoot were left behind when the bus returned and spent the night on the fairgrounds in one of the barns. They were Don Mecham, son of Elvin Mecham, Jack Harris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vard Harris, Curtis Windley, son of Mr. and Mrs. LeVere Windley, and Craig Mansfield, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Mansfield. Mr. Dewey Mansfield went over the next morning to check on the boys and to bring them home. The parents were quite concerned about the incident.
A kitchen shower honoring Linda Peterson was held at the home of Mary Lou Campbell, with Patsy Campbell as hostess. Games were played and a bride book made. Prozes went to Karen Stoor, Judy Gagon, and Jeanette Nelson. Guests, in addition to those mentioned were Marlene Monroe, Linda Hoopes, Carol Hopkins, Sandra Nelson, Sandra Hawker, Eva Petersen, Myrtle and Curtis Campbell.
The Red Devils of Grace combined a good running and passing attack to pile up 27 points while holding North Gem scoreless at Bancroft on Saturday. Danny Conlin put Grace’s first TD on the board when he packed the pigskin over from 14 yards out in the first period. The visitors racked up two more in the second quarter as Buddy Barthlome flipped a 15-yard pass to Ronald Wright who raced 30 yards more to score. Barthlome found the range again with play to Randy Panter that covered 25 yards and gave them six more points. In the fourth period Barthlome capped Grace’s coring splurge by driving over from 11 yards out for a touchdown. Dennis Ray aided the Grace cause by booting three out of four conversions. The Red Devils ran up 21 first downs to North Gem’s 8, but were penalized 115 yards as compared to 25 for the Cowboys.
FALL TRENDS: A popular trend in fall shoes is the use of contrasting leather textures, according to Idaho Clothing Specialist Esther Nystrom. Boots blend brushed leather with embossed toe and cuff, smooth with grained leather, or brushed with patent. Casuals combine suede with grained leather. In dress shoes there are many similar combinations. Colors cover a rich autumn range of dark brown, berry red, gold-digger, and tarragon green. Black is as reliable as ever. The closed pump has been refined in appearance by lowering the silhouette of the upper shoe. Leather is a leader for shoes-at-home with a wide variety of flatties, boot shoes, sandals and mules. Lightweight sandals and pumps are in vogue for party wear. Heels on many shoes show variety in shapes, but height is moderate. At the other end of the foot, crescent shoes are stylish. The rounded toe is dropping out. Square shapes appear on a few styles of casual shoes. The heavy brogue is giving way to a lighter make. For teenagers, colors run riot. Pink, plum, and putty are among favored shades for leather shoes. Leather is also having a fling in such things as jackets that are teamed with skirts or pants. Leather skirts paired with silk blouses are showing up in some communities.
