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
Residents were reminded that with the recent snowfall and more storms on the horizon, Idaho postal officials are asking residents across the state to help their carriers deliver the mail by clearing snow and ice from around mailboxes and walkways. Last year, 50 Idaho postal carriers were injured due to an unforeseen slip, trip, or fall—and many of the incidents ocurred as a result of unsafe of hazardous conditions on their mail routes. Carriers, who make an average of more than 600 deliveries daily, will continue to do their best to deliver the mail, according to Corral, but when mailboxes are buried in snow and ice it can make it difficult for carriers to make deliveries safely. Here are some tips to help carriers on their routes: If you received delivery of mail to rural-type post mailbox, please clear around the box to allow your carrier to drive up to the box, deposit mail, and drive away. Postal customers who receive door mail delivery should ensure their sidewalks, steps, and access ways are kept safely clear of snow and ice. Providing a safe access to your mailbox helps postal carriers deliver your mail safely and without interruption.
The North Gem girls basketball team had a ferocious start to their season with three games in three nights, and four games in five days last week. Despite going 0-4 for the week, head coach Dana Strong saw a lot to be excited by. “We played some of the toughest teams we will face all season this past week and had no time to practice and make corrections. But despite that we saw some growth and reasons to be really optimistic about this season,” explained Coach Strong. North Gem lost to Murtaugh 42-19, Grace 47-34 and then powerhouse Rockland 46-18 before culminating the week with a 56-28 loss at Sho-Ban. But despite the losses, the Cowboys continued to play hard to the be upbeat. Concerning the team, Coach strong further said, “This group of girls just likes to play and they work hard and really cheer each other on. They have great attitudes. I told them we are in school right now and learning and growing as much as we can sot that we are prepared come district time.” Against Murtaugh, Harlee Davids led the way with 6 points, 5 steals and 5 rebounds. DanniKa Barfuss chipped in 4 points, 4 steals, and 3 rebounds. Christina Christensen and MaKayla Mabey each added 3 points. Shannessey O’Brien had 9 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. Against Grace, the Cowboys saw their opponents go on a 21-0 run to assure the win. “Grace have a food defense, but we shot well and the girls played hard and kept coming the whole game. I was proud of them,” Coach Strong said.
The Soda Springs School District will present two Christmas Concerts . The Tigert Middle School Music Department will present a Christmas Concert featuring Beginning and Intermediate bands as well as a combined orchestra and intermediate choir. Fifth through eight grade students will perform under the direction of Jennifer Seamons and Debbie Hansen, with Jan Mumford, accompanist. This year a strings program has been introduced into the Tigert Middle School music curriculum and students have been performing on string instruments, as well as band instruments. These amazing students have students have put in a lot of hard work to present a great Christmas program. The TMS Intermediate Choir has some fun surprises planned for the concert and rumor has it that Santa will even make a guest appearance, along with the Grinch.
2009
The North Gem Cowboys took a break from their regular classes and spent the day giving back to the community of Bancroft. This day included everyone from kindergarten through the senior class, teachers, aides, and kitchen staff. There were twelve stations including cutting two colors of fleece and fringing the edges, then tying them together to make a lap robe, making several different craft ornaments, a candy jar, making, baking and decorating cookies, and putting them on a plate and bagging them up, decorating boxes for the items to be put in, signing a Thanksgiving card, and learning songs and poems to share those visited.
Bonnie Bailey flew to Denver with her daughter, Stephanie Duggan, and her grandsons Tyler and Dylan, to attend an awards ceremony for her daughter. Stephanie was chosen Employee of the Year from 500 employees. She is working for Holms, Roberts, and Owens Law Firm in Salt Lake City as an accounting manager.
With the help of the entire Soda Springs High School student body and staff, SSHS Business Professionals of America members were able to collect over 1,100 items for the Food Bank as part of a chapter relief fund raising service project. They collected everything from tooth paste and laundry detergent to canned goods and box meals and would like to thank the high school students and staff for their generosity.
1999
The wolf or wolf hybrid suspected of killing and injuring several sheep in three attacks near Conda and Woodall Mountain northeast of Soda Springs may have struck again. Craig Maycock, supervisor of the USDA Wildlife Services said they are investigating another incident Monday and would know more later that day when field investigators gave their report. Maycock said they had been notified that an animal came in an injured three more sheep belonging to Cal Dredge, who also had the previous losses over the last few weeks in his sheep flocks.
National Farm-City week was observed Thanksgiving week at the Grace Library and also throughout the nation as a time to reflect on the blessings we enjoy, helping those in need and also creating a greater understanding between rural and urban areas. A wall display and also a barn, complete with farm animals, farm equipment, and books was provided by Caribou County Farm Bureau in conjunction with National Farm-City week.
Rick’s College has accomplished yet another remarkable achievement in cross country as both the men’s and women’s teams won their respective NJCAA Championships in Lansing, MI. For the Ricks women’ team, this makes five consecutive NJCAA titles. Amber Cellan, a 1998 graduate from Soda Springs High School, placed 8th overall and second on the team. She is the daughter of Sid and Janet Celan of Soda Springs.
1994
The housekeeping staff of Caribou Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home recently redecorated room 117 on the acute care floor. The housekeepers first earned the money for the project by holding a garage sale. Donations needed to finish the project were contributed by the housekeeping staff themselves. The staff volunteered their time after work to paint and decorate the room. Involved were Vickie Stoor, Erma Knudsen, Beckie Mazur, Barbara Lester, Kelly Lester, Lori Redding, and Delma Settles.
1969
Soda Springs Junior High Honor Roll: Seventh Grade—A’s and B’s Condy Swa, Wayne Rasmussen, Kelly Sharp, Janet Brown, Jan Allred, Kevon Balls, Zella Latham, Nancy Kunz, Penny Lamereaux, and Tony Crnkovich. Eight Grade—All A’s: Christine Langdon, A’s and B’s: Barabara Herd, Greg Torgesen, Pam Spackman, Doug Horsley, Ruth Ann Balls, Rod Sorensen, Angus Barnes, Anne Harris, Barbara Burton, Bobbie Ann Mason, Todd Allen, Kim Leuzinger, Pam Bjorkman, Kristeen Bennion, Valerie Hulse, Becky Stevens, Wade Clark, Sandra McNiel, Greg Ashbaker, Shanon Thomas, Debbie Weaver.
Tidbits from around the area: Mrs. Hazel Ozburn, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dean Ozburn and family, Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Lewos were Thanksgiving guests of Mr. and Mrs. Farrell Nielon and family at Ovid. Mrs. Nielson is a sister of Connie Ozburn. Frank Dalrymple, son of Edith Dalrymple, who was recently discharged from the Navy, visited his aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Humphreys, for a week. He plans to re-enter the Navy the first of next year.
Mr. and Mrs. Vic Lansberry were Thanksgiving dinner guests at the home of her sister, Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Fulkerson in Jerome.
A near-fatal accident was averted Saturday when Art Bowles of Bancroft managed to free himself from his saddle horse which had fallen on the railroad track at the crossing of the Chesterfield road in Bancroft. Bowles was keeping his horse on the north side of the tracks in a small pasture. He had caught the horse and was riding to his home on the south side where he was planning to load the horse in a trailer to go hunting. The horse caught his hind foot between the plank and the rail and upon finding himself caught, stepped back, catching the other hind foot and falling. Bowles’ leg was caught underneath the horse. He freed himself and looked up the track to see a westbound train bearing down on the horse. Bowles stated that he ran to the shack and asked two men to stop the train and they replied that the train was stopping anyway to pick them up. According to Bowles, the train did not appear to be slowing up so he rain up track trying to flag the train. The horse was struck and killed instantly.
George and Marianne Hawker write, with regard to their trip to Alaska: “Dear Friends of Soda Spring, So many of you people wanted me to write you and let you know what the job opportunities were up here that I gelt with was the only way I could get this job done. In the first place, I’m a very poor letter writer. I have a hard enough time keeping my own family happy by getting their letters answered (not over a month late_).
We had a fairly enjoyable trip up here although we were getting tired of gravel and muddy roads by the time we had traveled the first half of the distance. Some days we would make only 35 miles, then we would see something we would like to investigate and we were just plain fed up with driving so we would just pull into some campground and stay the night. One such campground proved a little more exciting than the others. The was about milepost 496, what they called Liard Hot Springs. We though this would be a good chance to soak some of our travel pains from our aching bones, so we parked all the vehicles and walked up this canyon on an old wooden sidewalk until we came to this bath house. Man, this was something else. I think the bears and all the animals in the woods, including people, had used this for a back house, instead of a place to change your clothes. We were lucky as we had changed to our swim suits before we left the trailer, so we used the wide open space to pull off our pants and shoes. The water was too hot, but it felt real good and we had a good soaking along with several other voyagers.
After supper, and the dishes were washed up, we were just getting ready to retire when our dog started growling and letting us know things weren’t right. We looked out the back window and about six feet from the trailer was this monstrous black bear trying to get into the garbage can. I hollered at it and it just stood up on its hind legs and looked me square in the eye. I believe he as much as told me to mind my own business, that that garbage can was his and he meant to have it. Well, I was in no position to argue so I kept my mouth shut. While driving through B.C. and Yukon territory you are not supposed to have a loaded gun with you. I had my 30.06 in the trailer but didn’t have it loaded.
I was trying to catch a little shuteye but Mama (Marianne) kept poking me. “George! He’s right along the trailer.” “Oh, Lay down and go to sleep,” I told her, “he won’t bother us in here.” About that time the trailer started shaking and old bruin is looking Marianne right in the eye—nothing but a little piece of glass separating them. The dog dashes under the covers to the foot of the bed. Marianne dashes under to covers to the foot of the bed and that leaves ol dad with nothing on but my underwear to face this scourge of the woods.
Right there I broke the gun laws of Canada. I got out my 30.06, jammed it full of 180 grain bullets and then I said, “Okay, bruin, bust that window and see the big fireworks.” He must have known I meant business, because he went away and pestered the other campers and left us alone. One young man of about 20 was sleeping under a table and the bear nosed him around during the night. He said he had to change underwear the next morning.
I have been fishing several times in the Cook Inlet and Homer Bay, but we haven’t done too well. I caught one small halibut and one crab, and Marianne caught two crabs. Those stupid creatures will hang onto your halibut bait, which is usually a herring of about eight to ten inches in length. They hang on until you get them to the top of the water, and then you reach out real fast and grab them by a leg and them into the fish box. If it’s a female you have to throw them back, but if it’s male you may keep them.
We cooked these two in our dutch oven while they were still living. We did this by bringing the water to a boil and dumping the crab in for fourteen minutes. They only kick once and then it’s all over. It sounds kinda cruel, but that’s the way it’s done.
I am working for the Wagley Construction Company from Odessa, Texas. Brent Thomas is here, along with Dick Roland and several other people who have at time or another, worked for Ref-Chem. Ben and Audrey Jacobsen live about 11 miles from us. Met an old school mate of mine who I hadn’t seen for 30 years, Dave Dietrct. We met in church where he is the
branch secretary.
Jobs at the time being are real scarce, but things will possibly open up in March, April, or May. So, I wouldn’t advise anyone coming up unless they are sure of a job with some company. I am closing this book for now. Will continue when jobs and news are plentiful.”
