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

The Soda Springs Police Department has had numerous drug-related arrests recently, Chief Scott Shaw said.  One of the largest was 15 pounds of marijuana that was confiscated and was the result of observing the alleged theft of a window squeegee from Maverik.  Chief Shaw reported that officers had observed James Corbett of Salt Lake City allegedly steal the window squeegee from the gas station, and during the investigation of the theft, the officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from his vehicle.  The chief said that a subsequent search of the vehicle recovered approximately 15 pounds of marijuana.  “Drugs are becoming more prevalent in the community,” Chief Shaw said.  “Both by the area residents and people travelling through this area.  Marijuana is always big, followed by meth and then heroin.  We are committed to drug investigations to keep the community and our youth safe.  

The Soda Pops plan to host their second annual Dessert Night at Tigert Middle School next week.  The community is invited to come and enjoy delicious desserts while being entertained by local talent, including Jeff Uskoski, Lindsay Obray, Valee Wells, Julianna Lee, Allen and Rebecca Renfroe, the SSHS Trumpet Quartet, and members of the Soda Pops Choir.  The event will also be hosted by a special guest master of ceremonies.  

Grace City Council voted unanimously to amend the current appropriations ordinance to budget for a new garbage truck, as well as grants received from the DEQ and the Blue Cross Foundation.  The mayor and council also discussed the personnel policy requiring certification requirements to be completed within four years of the hire date.  It was agreed to change them to allow an employee to have two years to earn their Class I Wastewater Treatment certification and six years to get their Class I certifications for Water Distribution, Water Collections, and Class II Wastewater Treatment certifications.  If they are not completed within that timeframe, the employee will be eligible for termination.  Clerk Shelley Reeves suggesting budgeting for the city so that one computer was replaced a year on a schedule to ensure that no computer was older than five years before it was replaced.  

In Soda Springs, the city’s airport study recently released by the Idaho Transportation Dept, which oversees some state funding for airports, showed the main runway was sampled by a contractor and is in need of repairs.  The report and plan listed nearly $800,000 needed for improvements.  Alan Skinner said the airport committee for the city said the first priority was to use what limited funds the city has to crack seal and seal coat the runway.  The last time it was done it cost $40,000.  

2010

The North Gem Student Body assembled in the auditorium to listen to North Gem Alumnus and former Student Body president Mitch Askew of Flagstaff, AZ, who had driven all night to be in Bancroft and inform the students about Haiti and the need there.  Mitch and his wife Jenny have spent part of their last two summers helping out the communities there and knew first hand what Haiti needed before the devastating earthquake hit on Jan 12 killing at last count about 200,000 people.  The students, faculty, and staff set a goal on Thursday to raise at least $7,000 to build one house in Haiti.  They have Penny War jars set up for donations to be dropped in.  People can make larger donations by dropping them by the school office.  Kari has set up a special account for the funds to be placed in until it is given to Mitch and Jenny to use this summer.  The students hope they will be able to come back next fall and report on what the money was used for.

The Presbyterian women are holding their annual soup luncheon next week.  The annual event is sponsored by the women of the church to “help the winter doldrums go away for a while, and to give people the opportunity to visit with friends and neighbors over a nice hot bowl of homemade soup.”

Shannon Larene Corbett will be inducted into the Alpha Chi Eta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Salt Lake Community College on April 6.  Corbett, majoring in Pre-Med, is the daughter of Craig and Dawn Corbett of Grace.

An exciting night of basketball last Tuesday night with the overtime win by Malad on a last second shot over the West Side Pirates and ended with Soda Springs capturing their fifth district title under head coach Wade Schvaneveldt and his staff.  After West Side was eliminated from the 2A Fifth District tournament by Malad the nightcap game featured top seeded Soda Springs and Grace.  The Lady Cardinals pressured the Grizzlies into turnovers and an aggressive offense gave Soda Springs the 59-41 win.  The win crowned the Cardinals District champions, and the loss for the Grizzlies put them in the loser’s bracket, of which they ultimately lost the play-in game against Malad, 33-30.

On Jan 16 and 16, the annual district winter camp was held at McPherson Canyon at Camp Sorensen, in which 12 troops from the Soda Springs, Grace, and Bancroft area competed.  The Klondike is an event in which young scouters 12-14 years of age get to have an experience camping in the winter and learn the importance of one’s shelter and survival skills.  The Scout Troops participated in the Klondike Derby Race in which troops compete to see who could stake their claim first during the gold rush.  Gold nuggets were earned at all of the events depending on troop participation, team work, time completion, etc.  Troop 505 of the Soda Springs Fifth Ward took the first derby race.  The overall Klondike winners included 1st place to Troop 542 from Chesterfield.  Scott Elsmore, organizer of the Klondike, would like to thank all those who helped with the camp and the 63 scouts and 30 leaders for attending.

2000

The Soda Springs Cardettes attended the 5th District drill team competition on Saturday, Feb 12 at Snake River High School.  The Cardettes were entered into three divisions—dance, military, and show, in which they performed a routine titled “When the Blue Meets the Gray.”  They brought home 1st place trophies in all three of these divisions.  Heather Bagshaw performed a solo and was chosen as a member of the Honorary 5th District Drill team.  Only 12 girls were chosen for this honorary team.  Berlin Kowallis placed 4th overall in the drill down competition.

Grace’s Vern Hardy was able to pin Shane Davis of Soda Springs just seconds before the end of the first round at a wrestling tri-meet held in Grace last week. With no opponent to wrestle in his 125 pound weight class, Hardy moved up to the 130 pound class to be able to wrestle.  The Soda Springs squad defeated West Side 43-39, while Grace emerged meet champs with wins of 52-46 over West Soda and a 60-51 point tally over Soda Springs.  The Grizzlies area coached by Dennis Peck, assisted by Shane Mansfield. 

Kyla Pepper, daughter of Kerry and Joette Pepper of Soda Springs, recently achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA in her first semester of college, as well as making the Dean’s List.  Kayla, a $12,000 Trustee Scholarship recipient, attends Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.  She is pursuing a major in international business, a minor in the nationally renowned McDonough leadership program, and completing the entrance requirements of science classes for medical school.

Two cows and two calves were rescued by members of the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue and individual citizens recently when snowmobilers found them stranded at the head of Bacon Canyon northeast of Soda Springs.  Sheriff Ray Van Vleet said the cattle belonged to a Grace rancher who was out of the area at the time.  Rescuers spent three days getting the cattle out of the high country and down through the Blackfoot Narrows to where they could be hauled out.  One cow was in bad enough shape, the sheriff said, that she had to “be hog-tied and put on a car op and pulled out with the snow car” that the sheriff’s department uses for Search and Rescue.

Alan Brown taught Mrs. Walters’ second grade class about bees recently.  He showed them safety features and equipment to use when around bees, brought a real beehive, showed them a video about bees, and brought pictures of the bee cycle.  He even brought some real bees.  He concluded with questions before he gave the children a sample of honey on a fresh muffin.

The City of Soda Springs passed a resolution at its last meeting to encourage Amtrak to restore passenger rail service through Soda Springs.  In signing the resolution, Mayor Kirk Hansen said the local residents have to rely on private auto for transportation needs, with neither rail nor air service.  He noted rail service could be a major influence on the area’s economy because of the closeness to ski resorts in Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons, as well as the national parks at Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

1970

The six Licensed Practical Nurse students who started their 12-month schooling and training this last fall at the Caribou Memorial Hospital under the instruction of Mrs. Ada Smith, R.N., have completed the first half of their schooling and will receive their caps.  Students of this class are Mrs. Cora Ruger, Mrs. Mary Meiners, Mrs. Hortense Yost, all of Bancroft, Mrs. Pat Bredehoft of Grace, Mrs. Sharon Bight of Soda Springs, and Mrs. Nancy Vose of Montpelier.

Start your set today—FREE Avocado Glassware with each fillup (10-gallon minimum) at Walt’s American 109 East 2nd South, Soda Springs and Ed’s American, Main and Center in Grace.  

The Honor Roll for the second nine weeks and first semester at Grace High School goes as follows: All A’s were Jolene Harris, Loa Dawn Izatt, Beverly Harris, Leslie Lloyd, Janet Nielsen, Debbie Stoddard, Carla Young, Annette Coombs, Avon Gibson, Mary Ann Lower, Patsy Bennett, Louise Bennett, JoAnn Allen, Nancy Peterson, and Blanche Jean Panter.  A’s and one B were Holly Bennett, Leana Clegg, Peter Clegg, DeAnn Gibson, Mark Andreason, Beth Rasmussen, Boyd Allen, Jim McGregor, Karen Rasmussen, Lisa Robbins, Sharee Smith, Vicky Wheeler, Patsy Wright, Gail Gibson, Jessye Hale, Susan Krebs, Patti Parkhouse, Cindy Smith, Paula Christensen, Vicky Nungesser, Ed Taylor, Eric Ray, Kip Panter, Kim Egbert, Jeff Hill, Brock Hurt, Terasa Jaccobsen and Kevin Bitton. 

The booster station being used by the Caribou County Community TV Association would be illegal if a bill now pending before the state legislature is passed, members of the association were told during an emergency  meeting last week in Grace.  The proposed bill would allow only cable installations.  Grace and Bancroft and rural areas, and much of Soda Springs, is served by the booster.  Members of the association said it is imperative that everyone using the booster station send in their small yearly dues, to keep the association solvent.  Members of the board are Glen Palmer and Neal Sanders, Grace; Argil Davids, Bancroft; Pat Paterson and Dewey Anderson, Soda Springs.  Carrol Dean Harris of Soda Springs is manager and repairman, and Seth Bailey of Bancroft is secretary-treasurer.

It has been announced that Miss Julie Argyle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Argyle of Bancroft was chosen North Gem’s 1970 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow on the basis of her score in the homemaking knowledge and aptitude test taken by senior girls on Dec 2.  In addition to receiving a specially designed charm from General Mills, sponsor of the annual homemaking education program, Miss Argyle is not eligible for one of the 102 college scholarships totaling $110,000.  Miss Argyle participates in the Pep Club, Future Homemakers of America, Lariettes, band, and girls’ chorus.

The new Soda Springs fire truck was tested last week.  The new truck carries 1,000 gallons of water, which can be utilizes, as compared with 200 on the old truck.  Fire Chief Don Salser said that this 1,000 gallons, immediately available, will put out 80 percent of all calls answered.  In addition, the truck can pump 1,000 gallons a minute, and is capable of pumping 1,800 gallons a minute at 150 pounds pressure from a suitable hydrant.