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
Superintendent Jaime Holyoak reported that Grace High School was in the top ten schools of the state of Idaho’s 162 schools. The ranking are based on a large number of factors, and the appearance on the state top ten was certainly impressive.
The Soda Springs Police Department, Soda Springs School District, and City of Soda Springs announced jointly that they had come to terms to procure the funding for eight hours of School Resource Officer time a month to provide an off duty officer for the school, who would be compensated by the district. The SRO will provide a police presence throughout the district, and serve as a resource in assisting with safety awareness, staff and student training, and monitoring for any illegal activities. The district and Police department have been working together on several safety initiatives including facility safety, behavior threat assessment training, and self-defense training. Superintendent Stein and Chief Shaw consider the agreement to be one more critical layer in providing a safe learning environment for the students of the district.
2014
The Festival of Trees filled the courthouse as the public voted for their favorites. The event involved the whole community, and helped raise funds for the proposed Ledge Creek Horse Park. Vicki Lozier was one of the main organizers of the event.
Treacherous driving was the norm across southeast Idaho at the end of November, as numerous slide-offs and wrecks were reported. In one case, an empty semi-cattle truck near the US 30 overpass ruptured a diesel fuel tank, resulting in calls to emergency firefighters. The wet, still falling snow made conditions dangerous, although no injuries resulted.
Gina Githmiller was honored by Soda Springs Mayor Jim Smith for her community work with individuals, groups, and the whole community. She volunteers with CASSA, is a volunteer ambulance driver, and treasurer of the Thirkill PTO, and Soda Springs Friends of the Library. She is also helping a local Soda Springs woman with her local campaigning, helps watch a friend’s child when needed, and if you need to clean your carpets, she is quick to get her carpet cleaner ready to go for you to borrow. She is constantly helping others. She is selfless and kind and is definitely a Soda Springs hero, the mayor said.
Public Safety Director Dennis Godfrey asked permission from the Caribou County Board of Commissioners to bid on a D-7 dozer at an upcoming auction. The dozer would be used for fire suppression, and the bid was approved. Godfrey was also recognized for his achievement as a certified risk manager for the county. Jason Lower, landfill supervisor, reported that concrete crushing was going well. The commission agreed to open the Scott Brown road to his residence on Government Dam road in exchange for him allowing the county to dike snow in the winter along his property and on other county road areas he has land by. The commissioners approved a bonus of $800 for fulltime employees with five years of service or more, and those with less a $400 bonus. Christmas bonuses were $200 and $100 for fulltime and parttime respectively. Commissioner Earl Somsen reported that Jeff Godfrey felt the signs that were installed at the Blackfoot River Park were working well.
2004
The following students were Students of the Month at Tigert Middle School. September: Zac Bybee, son of Chad and DaNeil Bybee; Vanessa Vranes, daughter of Randy and LeAnn Vranes; Alex Clegg, son of Rick and Laura Clegg; Amber Deiter, daughter of Bill and Sherry Deiter. October: Jake Shumway, son of Perry and Ann Shumway; Maddisen Neuman, daughter of Dan and Cammi Neuman; Tanner Davis, son of Griff and Sonia Davis; Cara Christensen, daughter of Irvin Christensen and the late Linda Christensen. November: Kasey Meyers, son of Babe and Hayley Myers and Billie Rigby; Catherine Smith, daughter of Jim and Julie Smith; Dustin Lish, son of Lori Lish, and Josie Cracroft, daughter of Randy and Gwen Cracroft. The criteria for selection was good citizenship and grades. Great American Video provided a certicate for a free movie rental to students of the month.
A production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” was scheduled for Grace High School, directed by Nathan Melander. It will star Justin Shupe, Braidan Weeks, Bibiana Ramirez, Derek Sharp, Evelyn Yates, Natasha Mickleson, Kristi Kunz, and Brandon Ackerman.
Brownie Troop 481 members Sage Rice, Wendy Han, Kayla Watkins, Madeline William, Tiana Hunsaker, and Tawny Barfuss helped the Boy Scouts on Saturday pass out food drive flags. The Girl Scouts also helped the Boy Scouts with the Food Drive for the Food Bank later in the month.
The Bag of Woad campaign by the Highland CWMA in Caribou County for the past summer released its figures. A total of 800 bags were given out and 649 were returned full. The amount taken represents 10 tons of the noxious weed. The total money paid out to those who gathered the plant was $6.490.
According to the Thunderbirds report, “We had fun in Mrs. Gentry’s class las month. We learned how to read a thermometer to tell how cold it is outside. We also learned how to count with pennies and dimes. Jordan James’ mom, who’s a Spanish teacher at Soda Springs High School, came in to teach us some Spanish. Kyle Sims’ grandpa came in to show us his model airplanes. Mr. Vice came in from Monsanto to do a presentation on bats. We learned a lot from all of them. We had some fun October class rotations too. We learned about owls from Mrs. Williams, bats from Mrs. Clegg, and spiders from Mrs. Gentry. We had a terrific Halloween party at the end of the month. We played fun games and ate yummy treats!”
1994
Standardized testing was discussed at the Soda Springs School Board meeting, where trustees heard from teachers, administrators, and parents on the subject. Superintendent Lawrence Rigby said that testing becomes a highly emotional issue and one that may never come to full consensus. The spectrum of thoughts runs from standardized testing is completely wrong to performance tests, which are very expensive, time consuming, and only as good as their scorers. “Standardized achievement tests don’t tell you a lot,” he told the trustees. “They tell you some.” Rigby said many teachers were negative about the tests, and he said he was partly to blame because he only purchases the gross results of the students and the class to save money. “It was really gross for teachers to try to determine how to change their curriculum,” he said, noting costs would increase from about $3 per student to $5 for more diagnostic information. Rigby proposed that standardized tests be given to the second, fourth, sixth, eight, and tenth grades, with proficiency testing to be given other grades that year.
A group of 29 Idaho 4-Hers will head to Orlando, Florida in December for this year’s National 4-H Youth Congress. The Idaho state 4-H winners submitted applications for this honor and were selected to attend based upon their accomplishments in the 4-H program. All received partial or full support from various donors. Airon Ann Shuler, daughter of Craig and Raylene Shuler, was awarded a trip to the Ntional 4-H Youth Congress sponsored by the Idaho 4-H endowment Fund and Soda Springs Rotary for her overall involvement in 4-H. Her ten year 4-H career has run the gamut from handwork and macrame to energy management. Last year, Shuler was judged the state winner in the 4-H energy management program. Currently a freshman at the University of Idaho, she plans to study agriculture and law.
In keeping with an effort to encourage academic excellence, Tigert Middle School instituted the “Renaissance Program” where students are rewarded for maintaining their grade point average or improving it. Last week Mrs. Eriksen, school principal, held an assembly to honor these students. Since this was the first grading period of the year, only the 8th graders were honored at this time. Treats were donated by Lews and Dan’s Thirftway and Mason Distributing. 59 students, from Josse Allen to Andrea Welling, made the list, which was just short of the goal of 60 percent of the student body reaching the Renaissance level.
Earl and Kath McNeil finalized their purchase of the Soda Springs Floral Shop. The McNeils moved to town recently from Salt Lake, where Kathy had worked in a floral shop the past year with fresh flowers.
1984
Wade Wilker, formerly of Grace, represented the Mountain Rodeo Association at the North American Rodeo Commission Finals held last week at Denver. Wilker competed in the steer wrestling against the top 75 qualifiers from the United States, Canada, and Australia. His total time of 15.5 on three head was good for second place, finishing just behind Danny Cross from Powell, Wyoming.
An American flag was reported stolen Tuesday morning from the Soda Springs City offices. City Administrator Roy Rainey said someone took the flag the night before. He said that there had been some complaints received about the flag being left out at night, but noted that the protocol calls for lighting up the flag at night, which the city has done since it put up the new flagpole recently. With the all-weather flag and night lighting, Rainey said he couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to take the flag down or steal it. City officials said they would appreciate the flag being returned.
Burglaries reported in Grace around the same time included Rex’s Sales and Service, Grace High School, Grace Equipment, and Jim’s Tire Company. An undetermined amount of cash was taken from Rex’s, about 300 candy bars from the high school, and nothing from the other businesses, Sheriff Richard Weaver said. In Soda Springs, burglars targeted the Hooper School for about $150, as well as items. The window was broken to gain access. A juvenile was arrested for the burglary of Thomas Packing, co. Rex’s Sales, Matthew’s Chevrolet, and Shuler Bros. Ford in Soda Springs were also broken into.
USU and Gaylon and Margaret Hopkins will direct a tour to Israel, Egypt, Greece, and Turkey in June. The tour also includes a Mediterranean cruise.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fletcher were accompanied by Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Richards to Salt Lake City where they spent the night and flew out the next morning for their home in Manchester, England after visiting the last two months in Soda Springs with their daughter and family. A phone call Saturday from the Fletchers to Valerie Metcalfe confirmed their safe arrival in England. They will attend a Lion’s Club meeting Monday evening in Stockport to present Lion’s vest pins and a club pennant sent from the Soda Springs Lions to the English Club.
Mr. Irresistible was chosen from each class at Grace High School during the recent Spinster’s Skip, and were Bart Anderson from the Freshmen, Sid Hansen for the Sophomores, Dwight Lloyd from the Juniors, and Rod Sanders from the Senior Class.
Warren and Toots Henderson enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at the Ray and Carol Ann home in Soda Springs. Others present were Nathan, Jodi, and Jason Allen, Kip and Terri Allen, Adele, Cheri, and Mike Allen and Edith Jensen from Montpelier. In the afternoon, the Hendersons went to visit with the Joe Frank and Lyle Swensen family where they snacked and had dessert with the Swensens and Kym and Kim Crossley from Soda Springs.
The Williams ward Young Ladies and Young Men Organizations held their Gold and Green Ball on Friday evening at the Ward Cultural Hall, which was beautifully decorated with miniature Christmas lights draped around the serving table and hall. Dance music was furnished by Eric Ruud and his stereo tapes. A floor show was presented by the youth of the ward in two parts at 9:30 p.m. under the direction of Joe Frank and Lyle Swensen. Eclairs and punch were served as refreshments to all present. A large crowd enjoyed the evening.
Caribou Memorial Hospital announced an Expanded Physical Therapy Program at its new location in the Lakeview Medical Center northeast of the hospital. Steven M. Schwab, M.A., Registered Physical Therapist will be using ultra-sound to help relieve muscle spasms, as well as treat issues in backs, necks, shoulders, hips, joints, knees. Conditions such as sprains, arthritis, cerebral palsy, development disabilities, burns, stroke, and neurological diseases can also be aided at the clinic.
According to Karen Tate, head librarian at the Soda Springs Public Library, recent changes have almost doubled the circulation. Earlier in the year, the library started lending out educational toys, as well as book. They started with about 25 toys from companies such as Fisher-Price, Sears, and Child Guidance, which were obtained through a grant from Southeast Idaho Community Action, applied for by coordinator Debbie Smith. The purpose behind the idea was to make educational toys available to those lower income children in the community who did not have access to that type of learning experience, as well as other families within the community. In October, the library’s hours were increased to 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, evenings from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday. “Circulation almost doubled the first month the hours were increased,” Mrs. Tate said.
