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 heard a proposal last week to consider adopting of helping out with sidewalk snow removal. JoAnna Ashley asked that the idea be incorporated by the city to help clear sidewalks for students and residents who do not drive to safely get around in the winter months. She felt that citizens could adopt a sidewalk where possibly someone lived who could not keep it shoveled, were on vacation, or out of the area for the winter, with the city bridging the gap to help the volunteers if needed. The goal was to make the streets safer for winter walking and driving, especially near the school areas. City Director Alan Skinner noted that residents and businesses were required to shovel their sidewalks. Councilmember Jon Goode noted that there was nearly five miles of sidewalks in the city.
Roger Phillips of the Idaho Fish and Game Department advised area anglers that late fall and winter are often overlooked times for fishing, but can be excellent for the sport. Trout and whitefish remain fairly active during cold temperatures, according to Phillips, and it can be well worth braving the freezing temperatures in the pursuit of them. Many streams are at their lowest levels of the year, which concentrated fish in smaller areas. The location are also relatively empty, which provides a lot of access to prime areas. Rainbow trout are active during the winter, and are usually found in the same waters as whitefish, which tend to occupy deeper, slower water during the winter months.
2014
The average price of gasoline has just fallen to below $3 a gallon in the United States for the first time in 46 months. The average price has been declining since June, and the magnitude of the decline was “astounding.” The last time the national average was below $3 a gallon was in December of 2010. Strong fuel production domestically and around the world were credited with the lowered cost.
It has been a few years since Caribou County kicked off the holiday season with a Festival of Trees. This year, the tradition is being revived and will be presented at the Caribou County Courthouse during the third week in November. The theme for the year is “A Country Christmas.” Design awards will be given to the best tree and wreath designs. Trees will be available for preview soon, and the public will be able to vote on their favorite trees. A special tree lighting and holiday ceremony will cap the event, during which the trees will be auctioned off.
Andy Hackworth and his Wayward Tambourine Band will take center stage at the Gem Vallley Performing Arts Center, where they will present their “unique and varied style of indie folk music.” The mission of the GVPA Committee is to “promote appreciation of the arts ot enhance the cultural diversity of the community.”
The Caribou County Distinguished Young Women will be holding an orientation for interested young women in preparation for next year’s competition. The program will take place in April, but requires several months of preparation and practice.
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America hosted the District 5 Fall Convention at ISU’s campus Wednesday. High school students from around the area attended. The conference theme was “Be Inspired!” Belinda Taylor of Preston High was the guest speaker, and spoke to the students about setting goals. Caribou County was represented by both the North Gem FCCLA members Deseret Crandall, Jayden Jenkins, Ashley Wakley, and Kambrie Christensen, and Soda FCCLA members Kyle Isham, Aaron Torgesen, Bowdrie Chatterton, Dylin Lindstrom, MKaylee Parker. They were chaperoned by Nancy Ball and Jackie Winward.
The monthly meeting of the DUP Camp Meads was held at the LDS Stake Center, with Sharon Berg conducting. Lesson Leader Linda Anderson presented information on what the pioneers did for entertainment. The discussion involved stories of outdoor fun and games, crafting, singing and other expressions through music, storytelling, and the range of Nordic and “Viking” sports participated in during the winter by the many descendants of the northern European ancestors.
2004
The Pocatello Regional Transit’s new bus for the Caribou County area was presented to the public Friday at the Senior Center in Soda Springs when a special ribbon cutting ceremony was held. Judi Robinson, SEICOG Area Agency on Aging, said the bus service was a long time coming and she encouraged the public—both seniors and others—to use it. “It is not just for seniors. It is for everyone to use and enjoy,” she said. Golden Hardy, representing the Caribou County Seniors, noted that the new system was much needed in the community. “Seniors need transportation. It is their substitute for a drivers license.” The PRT bus will provide rides locally, as well as to Pocatello and other areas as needed.
Winter clothes that are gently used are being sought by Beta Sigma Phi for their coat drive. They are being collected at the Caribou County Food Bank and the Soda Springs Public Library.
Another seasonal event is the “stocking stuffer sale” hosted by SEICAA, featuring Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts for the community, and will benefit the agency in Soda Springs and Montpelier. Items such as baby diapers, bath tissues, and toiletries are needed, along with food items. Cindy Bunderson, director of SEICCA, reports that shelves are empty at the local food bank.
At their regular meeting, Grace School District 148 heard a report from KaeLyne Pendleton on the trip to Hawaii taken by many students in the music program. A flag received during the trip will be displayed at the Performing Arts Center. The issue of decreasing enrollment in the district, and the potential for possible consolidation with other school districts in the area was raised.
2009
Robert and Ellen Jenkins traveled to Logan on Oct 31 to attend Bridgerland Marching Band Competition. Their daughter Stacey and Steve Shaw had two children participating. Peyton played the clarinet and Haylie played the saxophone for the Pleasant Grove Marching Band and the group took first place in the division. This band then traveled to Las Vegas over the past weekend to compete. Robert and Ellen picked up the younger Shaw children and took them with them to the Reno, Nevada area over the weekend, as they were there for Shane’s son Eric’s Eagle Court of Honor on Saturday and then his son Derick’s mission farewell on Sunday.
The Tigert Middle School Music Theatre class is putting on the play, “Jungle Book.” They will do a matinee for the school on Thursday afternoon. The public is invited for the performance. It will start after the 8th grade basketball game, which will be about 8 p.m., and is under the direction of Kimberly Mumford.
Bob and Marilyn Kukachka flew from Salt Lake City Tuesday to North Carolina where they visited a week with a former roommate of Marilyn’s at Wake Forest College in Winston-Salem, where she graduated. Together with the Kukachkas, the roommate and husband hiked in the Smokey Mountains and the rest of the week in Winston-Salem with the friends—sightseeing in the local area, including Sylva, North Carolina, and listening to a lot of blue grass music before returning home.
1999
A number of dead sheep were found near the old Stauffer Mine in Wooley Valley last month. Selenium toxicosis is the suspected cause of death because high levels of selenium were found in tissues and stomach contents. Experts said other variables may also have been an influence in the deaths and further testing by toxicologists is being conducted. Besides the two bunches, other suspected animals in the area brought the total between 60 and 80 sheep.
The Cultural Arts Committee of the Grace Idaho LDS Stake is pleased to announce that Friday evening they will sponsor a Harvest Ball. All members of the stake ages 14 and older will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Grace LDS Stake Center. The theme of this year’s dance is “Back to the Fifties.” It will be an opportunity to dust off and put on your possible skirts, saddle shoes, roll up your sleeves and come out for an enjoyable night of dancing.
Thirkill Thunderbirds School Reports: 3rd Grade—"We went to the star lab and got to see the stars. We went inside a big bubble to see the stars. It was at Hooper. It was really fun. We learned how to find lots of different stars. We took STAR tests to see how well we are reading. We made turkeys and wrote about what we are thankful for. We went to the point store and spent some of the AR points we have earned. We are learning songs to sing for Veterans’ Day. We worked on out rocket pocket books. We put stuff in the pockets. Some of the stuff was about the sun, planets, solar system, moon and stars. We have been publishing books about stories we have written. We had a reptile assembly. We had a Halloween Party. We had lots of fun, and we got to wear our pajamas. We got new flags for our classroom from the VFW Post in Soda Springs. We are having a poetry contest. We are learning how to write in cursive. We are going to learn about Indians. Reporters—Misty Larkins, Justyne Patton, Gavin Smith, Kaedyn Duncan, Dominique Royce, Jessica Henderson, Colten Lakey, Michael Torgesen, Tanner Davis,
Kristie Hill.
1994
Idahoans voting Tuesday will be selecting a new governor in a race that has seen Republican Phil Batt close a double digit lead by his opponent Larry EchoHawk since the primary, in what many predict will be a neck and neck finish. EchoHawk has seen his lead slipping in what political insiders are calling a series of small political errors on his part in the last few weeks. Batt’s camp is trying to capitalize to the fullest on them. EchoHawk, the current attorney general, has gotten the Republican rhubarb for meeting in Salt Lake City during the LDS Conference for a fund-raiser. The Pawnee Native American has support from outside the state—not only from some LDS Church members and officials, but from tribes, celebrities, and quite a few hard-core Republican voters in Idaho. Batt has tried to make issues of out-of-state funding to the campaign, as well as its ties to the Clinton administration. EchoHawk called the allegations “political bunk and mud slinging.” No matter the complexities of the governor’s race, the loyalties, the politics, and so on, most Idahoans admit they are going to miss their current governor, Cecil Andrus, who’s been a pistol in his own right.
In addition to the governor’s race, voters will choose between incumbent Republican Mike Crapo and Democratic Challenger Penny Fletcher for U.S. Representative in the second district. Butch Otter is running against John Peavey for the Lt. Governor’s spot. A term-limit initiative is also generating a lot of discussion on this year’s ballot. There are also several constitutional amendments on the ballot: Appointing a commission for reapportionment for congress; changing the constitutional to allow for a change in optional forms of county government by a vote of the public; deleting the requirement of the state’s top elected officials from having to reside in Ada County; a victim’s rights amendment; a change in title of the state auditor to state controller, and deletion of the authority for the controller to perform post-audits.
A stubborn Teton defense held the Grace Grizzlies running attack to just 91 yards as the Grizzlies were sent home for the season last Saturday at the Holt arena. Teton remains a thorn in the sides of Fifth District playoff teams as once again they eliminated a Fifth District foe from the playoff picture. The final score in the game was 14-8.
The third annual Family Decorated Pumpkin Contest was held at Mick’s Market in Bancroft. The event was sponsored by the North Gem Valley Development Committee. The judging was done by Eva Davids, Stan Wistisen, and Candy Rindlisbaker. Winners included Tara Archer, Katie Helm, Pam Barfuss, Dean Mickelson, Dallon Hatch, Kristi Christensen, Terry Hatch, Nikki BArfuss, Patricia Call, Shantey Hall, John Banks.
1969
Neil Cross of Eden was injured Sunday morning while making preparations to go hunting. He was treated at Caribou Memorial Hospital after one of his toes was shot off while he was checking his gun. He said there was a shell in the chamber of which he had been unaware.
Harold Romero returned to Soda Springs from Rolla, MO for a few days of deer hunting and visiting with friends and relative. Kirk Proctor, student from Rolla, accompanied him. They were met in Soda Springs by Kirk’s brother Paul, a student at BYU. Dwight Williams from BYU and friend Maryann Wilcken of Salt Lake visited the past weekend with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Williams. Visiting Tuesday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. RollinThomas and family were her mother Mrs. Ezra C Mason of Fielding, Utah, and her aunt Loise Lessey of Ogden.
