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.
2020
Idaho Fish and Game extended congratulations to Gaylon Newbold of McCammon for landing a new catch/release state record Bonneville whitefish. Newbold caught the impressive 21 inch whitefish while jigging on Dec 10, beating the previous record held by Dalton Jackson since 2016. As an avid Bear Lake angler, Newbold holds multiple state records, including the catch/release record Bonneville cutthroat trout, and the current certified weight record for Bonneville whitefish. Bear Lake is unique in that it’s home to three different endemic species of whitefish, which are only found in that lake. Bonneville Cisco, Bear Lake whitefish are all thought to be relatives of the widely distributed mountain whitefish present in much of Idaho. The three species of whitefishes found only in Bear Lake evolved over the last 14,000 years since the ancient Lake Bonneville receded, isolating Bear Lake from mountain whitefish nearby.
2015
A special event was planned at the Bancroft LDS Church in honor of Rose Denese Chandler White on her 90th birthday. There will be a light luncheon and a program.
Chad and Jacki Neibaur spent the first part of December in Europe. They toured Germany, visiting the equipment factory where Chad gets some of his farm equipment from, Austria where Jacki was born, Switzerland, looking up Norma’s ancestors’ home, and France.
Jamie Pristupa was here from Arkansas to spend time with her family for the holidays.
Wade and Anne Olorenshaw traveled to Utah County to spend time with EJ and his family for Christmas.
Leon and Candy Rindlisbaker enjoyed a visit from Richelle and her family before they returned to Utah for sports practices for their children.
2010
This year saw a record number of angels both on the Angel Tree and behind the scenes. The Main Street Cruisers signed up 129 angels from Caribou County families who were experiencing difficult economic circumstances and may not have had Christmas otherwise.
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Dooley, accompanied by their daughter, Danielle of Logan, visited over the Christmas holidays in Cheney, Washington as guests of another daughter and family, Desirie and Ammon Hopkins, Gideon and Jeremiah. Laurie had taken time off from school and spent three weeks in Washington with the Hopkins to help take care of Gideon while Desirie was in the hospital before and after the baby’s birth Thursday, Nov. 19. Mark had taken her to Cheney when he was en route to Couer d’Alene for a school board conference.
Bear River Gym is holding its annual weight loss challenge and will track your beginning weight, body measurements, and body fat. Participants will receive points for all three areas, inches lost, body fat lost, and weight lost.
2005
The 2005 Caribou South District Klondike Derby was held on Jan 7 and 8 at McPherson Canyon Boy Scout cabin, east of Grace. This event included an overnight campout in the snow, an all-you-can-eat breakfast, and a winter outdoor skills competition. Around 50 boys and 24 leaders from the twelve Boy Scout units in the Soda Springs, Grace and Bancroft areas participated in the annual event. Each competing patrol had built a Klondike sled that used Scout power to pull it instead of dogs. With all of their equipment they wound through the course stopping at eight stations. The scouts also tested their knowledge in safety, firebuilding, orienteering, first aid, emergency preparedness, and wilderness survival.
A trucker with an oversized load found his rig plowed in on First West Sunday in Soda Springs after city crews went to work Saturday evening to begin clearing the snow from the city roads. What was billed as a possible snow storm of the half-century turned out to be something less, but that didn’t stop shoppers from cleaning out many of the staples from the shelves of local stores all across Idaho. One local grocery store said they normally sell 40 gallons of a certain kind of milk ended up selling 400 gallons of it. There were reports across the valley of between 16 and 24 inches of new snow.
North Gem second grade students would like to thank all those who contributed beanie babies and Matchbox cars to be sent to Sgt. DeMarco Watson of the U.S. Army, stationed at Camp Danger in Iraq. Sgt. Watson is the son-in-law of Mrs. Helm. Students in second grade have been writing to Sgt. Watson for the last two years. He has written back and even donated a unit flag for their classroom. Sgt. Watson will share these toys with others in his unit, so that they can hand them out to the Iraqi children they come across when they are out on patrol.
A big scoring night for Kim Burton, 26, sealed a conference win for the Lady Grizzlies. Grace defeated Malad 46-43. The following night Grace met with North Gem and the fired up Lady Cowboys not only led at the half but won the game 48-39.
Holiday visitors for the Jack Porters included their son John who came from his home base in Seattle to visit until Christmas Eve. Jim Porter visited also from Boise the day John got here and spent the night before leaving to take care of some business in Pocatello. Another son, Tom Porter, wife Wendy and four children arrived Monday after Christmas for a holiday visit, until Wednesday.
At the December meeting of the Caribou Memorial Hospital and Living Center’s board of directors, Kelly Holt, who served on the voluntary hospital board for the last four years, was formally honored. He also received a framed certificate of appreciation from hospital chairman, Rulon Wistisen.
The Grizzly wrestlers compete in the Fifth Tournament Dec. 29. Eight team members placed in the top five and the team ended up 4th overall. Brett Beckland (171) and Kim Frandsen (215) both placed 1st at the tournament and are undefeated so far this year. Reed Crandall (135) placed 2nd. Nick Torres (189) and Stuart Bitton (152) placed 4th and Jake Millward (145), Tate Harris (140) and Shane Harris (130) all placed 5th. Tyler Hobson, Braiden Weeks, and Alex Hubbard also participated in the tournament.
A “lock in” is planned for Friday at Soda Springs High School from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. It will feature air toys such as the joust, bungee run, the mechanical bull, and also karaoke.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest or issuance of a citation in the killing of three trumpeter swans in Dec 20, 2004 by the Idaho Citizens Against Poaching. “Words such as egregious, despicable cannot describe this kind of unconscionable act. The person who did this obviously did it deliberately and apparently has no code of ethics for wildlife or probably anything else,” said Fred Christensen, president of the CAP. The directors of the organization approved the reward as an effort to obtain information on the shooting, which recently occurred near Preston.
2000
Representative John Tippets from Bennington has officially sent his letter of resignation to Governor Dirk Kempthorne, effective Jan. 3. He had previously stated his intentions to resign because of increased responsibilities at Agrium, where he works. The announcement comes just a week before the legislative session, which is scheduled to begin on Monday. The precinct committeemen from District 32 will be called to meet and send three names to the governor to choose from for Tippets’ replacement.
The Bear River at Garner Bridge south of Soda Springs chocked with ice last week after several days of zero degree nights and a large water flow. The ice jammed the river and backed up within about a foot of flowing over the Bailey Creek road before the water broke a channel through the ice.
Five people were arrested by the Soda Springs Police Department early Friday morning, after a routine traffic stop led to several alleged violations. As a result of the 1 a.m. stop, two juveniles and three adults were arrested for various charges ranging from curfew to felony intent to deliver LSD. One male juvenile from Soda Springs was released to his parents on a curfew charge. One female juvenile from Rock Springs was released to her parent and will be petitioned on curfew and possession of a controlled substance.
1995
Les Hottel and Tracy Lindsay, representing the employees of Rhone-Poulenc Basic Chemicals Co. at the Wooley Valley Mine, presented a check for $1,000 to Susan Abrams of SEICAA recently to help make Christmas a little brighter for area families in need. The company normally uses the money for gifts for employee spouses, but the approximately 50 employees decided to donate the funds to SEICAA.
Rodney Hoggan, son of Bruce and Cecelia Hoggan, has accepted a call to serve as a missionary in the New York, New York South Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rodney is a 1994 graduate from Soda Springs High School and has been working at Lew and Dan’s prior to his mission call.
A new city council president was elected at the Jan 3 meeting of the Grace City Council. The 1994 council president, Joan Farnworth, conducted the meeting in the absence of Mayor Kelly Holt. Councilwoman Joyce Bennett was elected as the new council president to serve in 1995.
Stacy Godfrey, a sophomore at Soda Springs High School and daughter of Craig and Nadine Godfrey, has been chosen as the 1995 Soda Springs High School HOBY Ambassador. Stacy has been involved with cheerleading, volleyball, Business Professionals of America, Students Against Drunk Driving, Spanish Club, Girls’ Choir, and Concert Choir. Stacy has served as Mia Maid President, was chosen as Class Favorite, and is an All-American Scholar. She enjoys playing the piano, dancing, volleyball, basketball, skiing, and singing. She is excited about being chosen to attend HOBY this year.
David C. Hopkins, son of Chet and Robyn Hopkins of Soda Springs, has accepted a call to serve as a missionary in the California, San Jose Mission, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David is a 1994 graduate of Soda Springs High School, were he was active in football and wrestling. He will enter the Missionary Training Center on January 11.
Hoop Shoot winners for the fourth grade were Molly Davis, first place, BreAnn Farnsworth and Alicia Moldenhauer tied for second place. BreAnn beat Alicia in the shoot-off. All winners received gift certificates from the Soda Shoppe.
1970
A snowstorm which deposited about six inches of snow blanketed the area the night of December 23 and 24 “just in time for Christmas.” Intermittent snow flurries continued during the week, until a cold wave came in Saturday, December 27. High that day was 32, with a low of 5 during the night. Sunday night was 12, with an overnight low of minus 15. Monday was not much warmer, as it only got up to 15 during the day, and was minus 15 overnight again. Tuesday has so far been warmer, and it appears the cold snap is over, at least for now.
Chadwick’s Store in Grace was broken into Tuesday morning and several thousand dollars in merchandise was taken, along with a small amount of money. The break-in apparently took place some time between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 7:20 a.m. Entry was gained by prying open the front doors of the store. Taken were a large quantity of men’s sweaters and sport coats, and other outer wear coats, and approximately $25 from the cash register. Estimated loss was reported to be approximately $4,000. Investigation is continuing by Grace Chief of Police Herb Walters.
The Soda Springs Third Ward Webelos met Monday night at the church for their weekly meeting. The boys enjoyed singing Christmas carols. Den Chief Dana Bedingfield led the boys in game sand then they wrapped the gifts they had made, assisted by Den Mothers Gloria Weeks and Willa Andrews. For refreshments they had a piece of cake in honor of Vernon Two Shields’ birthday after Christmas. Attending were Scott Andrews, Brian Fowler, Dennis Nichols, Vernon Two Shields, Brent Atwood, John Seamon, and his guest Mike Johnston.
1965
Mrs. Martina Larsen Schenk, Bancroft, will be honored on her 90th birthday with an Open House on January 17 at the Bancroft Ward Chapel Cultural Hall, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mrs. Schenk was born in Denmark on January 18, 1875. Her mother died when she was twelve years old, and at 14 she came to America with her older brother. Later, her stepmother, who was the mother of Mart and Holm Larsen, also came to America. Mr. Larsen married Hans Nielsen and they made their home in Soda Springs until the Alexander Dam was constructed, which made it necessary that they move.
The Senior class of the Grace High School had an interesting assembly last week. Class President Clynn Christensen took charge. The program was as follows: Dance by Darla Condie; Modern dance by Barton Bennett, Song, by Kathy Coombs; A novelty song by Neta Michelson and Norma Hogan; Humorous skit by Candy Garbett; Barber Shop quartet and jokes by Bob Weaver, Randy Robbins, Dean Manhart, and Ron Wright. The finale was the judging of the boys legs contest. Bud Barthlome, with chauffeur Linda Miles on tricycle; Lynn Rasmussen, with Glenna Steele; David Anderson with Janice King; Dick Burnham with Lynette Balls; Bob Young with Leslie Taylor; Arvin Skinner with Colleen Roper. Highlight of the contest was picking the winner, who was Arvin Skinner. The prize was a pair of nylon hose which the winner had to don before the school.
Greeting the New Year as Caribou County’s first arrival, was little Luke Dietrich Crawford, born Sunday, Jan 3 to the Reverend and Mrs. David L. Crawford of Soda Springs. The baby boy, born at 2:16 a.m., weighed 8 pounds and 4 ½ ounces. Luke was welcomed home by three brothers, Robin 14, Guy 11, and Phillip 3. Dr. Allen Tigert was the attending physician.
A family get together was enjoyed on Christmas at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R.O. Hatch with the following in attendance: Cal and Elizabeth Holbrook and the family of Ogden, Ransom, and Marjorie Hatch and family, Roy and Jolene Hatch and family, Wane and Marcelle Hatch and family visited on Christmas Eve.
The personnel of the Sanders Furniture Store of Grace, Bancroft, and Soda Springs were treated to a holiday dinner Saturday, Jan 2, at Bob’s Café. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Sanders, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Anderson, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Anderson of Pocatello, Mr. and Mrs. Argil Davids, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Finlayson, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Modersitzki, and Mr. and Mrs. Allen Bennett.
