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

An Open House is being held on March 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Soda Springs Family History Center at 290 South 3rd West.  The public is welcome to attend.  Three workshops are being offered during the open house.  The first is “What’s New on Family-Search” at 9 a.m., taught by Julie Smith.  FamilySEarch.org is the world’s largest free genealogy website.  It makes it easy for you to learn about your family’s story.  The second workshop will be “How to Use DNA in Your Family History” at 10 a.m., taught by Esther Melander.  You got your DNA results back, now what?  Learn how DNA can help you with your family history research.  The third workshop will be “How to Get your Ancestor into History” presented by the Caribou Historical Society.  Laurie and Tobyn Thomas, co-authors of “Celebrating Life in Caribou County,” will be sharing how important it is to know the history of the area where your ancestors lived.  This is one of the most effective ways to recreate their story.  Old-time recipes will be shared for refreshments along with copies of the recipes to take home.  Childcare will be available for the hour.

February 2020, unlike 2019, was not one for the record books in Idaho.  Monthly precipitation was below normal for most of Idaho and ranged from 25 to 125 percent.  The Clearwater River basin received the most precipitation during February.  Once again this water-year, the basins that received the least precipitation with respect to normal were the Wood and Lost in south-central Idaho, where new record low monthly precipitation was observed for the month of Feb.  Now, five months in the water year and wet season, the Wood and Lost basins have yet to see a single month with above normal precipitation after a near-normal January.  While there’s still time during the remainder of the wet season to make up the ground, it’s looking likely the overall water picture will be below normal for the year, with a chance that an especially wet March might make up a lot of the difference. In announcing his run for sheriff, Adam Mabey said in part: “It is with great anticipation I am announcing my candidacy for Sheriff of Caribou County.  After serving the citizens of Caribou County for the past 23 years as a deputy sheriff, I have developed a personalized understanding of the needs and concerns of the public.  I have also gained a valuable understanding of the industries and individual geographical areas of our great county.  Over the past few weeks, I have had hundreds of people come to me and request I consider running for sheriff.  I have heard your concerns and comments and will continue to be accessible to answer your questions and address your concerns.  For those who may not know my basic background, I was born in Soda Springs and raised on my family’s ranch near Ten Mile Pass by J Emerson and Ada Marie Mabey.  I currently live in Bancroft with my wife Nancy, and two daughters.  I have a total of nine children and 12 grandchildren.  I am a veteran of the US Air Force and have been in law enforcement for the past 37 years, having worked in Lewiston and Blackfoot…”

Soda Springs Cardinal cowboy Dustin Thompson signed a letter of intent last Tuesday afternoon to steer wrestle, team rope, and calf rope at Central Wyoming College.  Thompson, who was the top All-Around cowboy in District 8, which spans Southeast Idaho, as a junior and leads again in points as a senior, will have the opportunity to join the Rustlers next season.  Dustin, who during the 2019 season qualified for the High School National finals, is excited to continue his rodeo career.  “I am really excited to have the opportunity to rodeo at the collegiate level,” Thompson said.  “Having met my future coaches, I feel that they will hold me to a high standard that will help me to become a better cowboy that may someday be able to compete in the professional circuit.  I would like to thank my family and dad, specifically as they have sacrificed an immeasurable amount of time and money to make this day possible.”

2010

A baby shower was held on Friday, Feb 26 at the home of Leola Casperson for Jyll Kern, who is expecting a son in the next couple of weeks.  Leola and Raquel Reed were the hostesses.  Among those in attendance were Noreen Munro, Camile Yost, Tiffany Carey, Kathy Wistisen, June Angus, Candy Rindlisbaker, Michaelene Rindlisbaker, Jacki Neibaur, Mary Meiners, Shauna Yost, Diane Christensen, Lisa Hall, Pearl Mickelson, Nicole McLain, Sherry Yost, Sharon Wistisen and Debbie Peterson.

Ruth David visited Friday to Monday of the Valentine weekend in Big Piney, Wyoming as a guest of her son and family, Brian and Nina David, Cody, Jocelyn and Sarah.  Ruth reported Cody joined the Wyoming National Guard and Brian took him to Cheyenne on Tuesday.  He is currently training in South Carolina.  

2005

Two Soda Springs residents have recently been named to the dean’s list at Boston University for the fall semester.  Students recognized for the honor include Matthew N. Batterton, and Kara Nally.  BU is the fourth largest independent university in the United States, with an enrollment of more than 29,000 students in its 17 schools and colleges.  The University offers an exceptional grounding in the liberal arts, a broad range of programs in the arts, sciences, engineering, and professional areas, and state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and learning.

The Grace American Legion Auxiliary has selected two Grace High School juniors to represent them at the American Legion Auxiliary Idaho Syringa Girls State in June.  Erica Simonson is the daughter of Eric and Eva Jean Simonson of Grace.  She is looking forward to attending girls state to learn more about her country and how it is run.  Lacee Kimball, daughter of Scott and Pam Kimball of Grace, will also attend girls state.  She has served in many leadership positions: freshman class secretary, yearbook editor, junior class secretary and JV volleyball captain.  Girls state will be held June 12-18 at Northwest Nazarene University of Nampa.

Eight team met in Idaho Falls Tuesday for the regional Academic Team tournament.  Soda Springs High School defeated Teton and Ririe to enter the championship round.  They then defeated South Fremont by one question to receive the championship trophy.  They will go to the state tournament March 23.  Receiving All Regional honors was Zack Zander, who is the team captain.  The win was a team effort.  Alex Coziah was also a strong factor in the win.  Team members are Zach Zander, who is team captain, Alex Coziah, Alex Christiansen, Nate Goode, Jeff Pearson, Justin Bagshaw, David Bell, and Taylor Bybee.  About 20 students participated throughout the year.  Their coach is Dave Howell. 

2000

The Pocatello/Idaho Falls National Weather Service, in cooperation with county emergency management officials, have conducted several storm damage surveys during the past few days across Southeast Idaho.  During the surveys, five tornado tracks were identified on Valentine’s Day.  The longest and strangest tornado occurred in Bingham east of Pingree.  Also in Bingham County a second tornado was reported near Firth to Taylorsville.  The tornado started in Bingham County and finished in Bonneville County.  The fourth tornado was in the American Falls vicinity.  The fifth tornado occurred near Chubbuck. 

There are only five weeks left to collect all the General Mills boxtops for the 1999-2000 school year.  The Thatcher Elementary is working hard to be the school in Idaho to collect the most boxtops per student.  Their enrollment is 92 and to date they have 33 boxtops per student.  Their goal is 50.

Thirkill Thunderbirds School Report—2nd grade—WE have been learning about animals in our reading.  We learned that animals leave marks or tracks.  We made animal tracks out of plaster.  We learned about our stomach, liver, and intestines in our body.  It takes about ten seconds for our food to reach our stomachs.  We had a fun Chinese New Year.  We ate rice cakes and made Chinese lanterns and made dragons and New Year’s masks.  Ms. Dye brought things from China to share with us.  We had our class pictures taken.  We are making a program about ourselves on the computer.  We are working to reach our reading goal in Accelerated Reading.  Everyone in our class is an independent reader now.

1995

Three straight years of tournament appearances by North Gem finally culminated in a state championship as the Cowboys defeated Notus, 64-54 Saturday for the state title.  North Gem has represented the A-4 Fifth/Sixth District at state tournaments numerous times, but this is their first state title since 1961.

Jeff Askew, president of the little league association in Bancroft, organized a bus trip for the Junior Jazz to travel to Salt Lake City and watch the Utah Jazz play the Boston Celtics.  The Jazz won and the group had the most enjoyable time.  There were 47 boys and hirls attending the event with about 20 adults.  Chaperones on the bus were Jeff Askew, Boyd and Debbie Sester, Terrell Parsons, and Terry Hatch, with Ann Lewis and Cammy Parsons as the bus drivers.

Harris Chugg Junior retired with his last day of work Monday, after 35 years with Lallatin Food Town.  Chugg started work for Lallatin’s in 1957 as a produce man and worked in that department for seven years, when the store was located at the site of the present Sanders Furniture and Dennis Nichols was store manager.  He later moved into the grocery department as a box boy and clerk, retiring as an assistant manager.

1970

The Soda Springs Woman’s Service Club has announced that the homes of Mr. and Mrs. John Clouser, Mr. Owen Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Pippitt, Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Shufeldt and Dr. and Mrs. Allen Tigert have selected to be featured in their 1970 Parade of Homes which has been rescheduled for April 28.  This year’s home show is designed to include several different types of homes.  Since mobile home living is becoming increasingly popular throughout the county, the beautifully decorated trailer home of Mr. and Mrs. Clouser will be of interest.

Bill Neilsen of Grace, Max Weaver of Soda Springs, and Alton Hatch went snowmobiling at Caribou Basin Saturday.  They had lunch at the head of McCoy Creek, and then went to Caribou City.  They returned to Herman at Grays Lake where they had left the pickup and then returned home.  

A Hawaiian Luau was enjoyed Monday evening by the Home Culture Club at the home of Mrs. Ada Smith with Jill Schenk as co-hostess.  They were assisted by their husbands, Alan Smith and Glenn Schenk.  Each guest was greeted at the door by Melanie, Joslyn, and Wendy Hogan, dressed as stewardesses, who took each guest to a seat and asked them to fasten their seatbelts, as they were going to Hawaii were shown and the history of all the islands was given by Jill Schrenk.  After landing, each were taken to the family room in the basement where they were presented a lei and a kiss on the cheeks, a Hawaiian custom.   The room was decorated in Hawaiian  decorations.  After a luau, they were entertained with a song by Joyce Hogan and daughters Melanie, Josalyn, and Wendy, “Hawaiian Wedding Song.”  Then the Hogan girls danced the hula, after which they all sang Hawaiian songs and tried to dance the hula. 

1965

Thomas O. Bell of Bancroft accepted the position of Superintendent of the Grace School System.  Mr. Bell has been with the North Gem School district for the past 10G years, serving 4 years as a teacher and coach and the past six years as superintendent.  He is a 1953 graduate of Idaho State University, and received his Masters Degree there in 1958.  He completed one year of his Doctorate at Utah State University, and taught for two years at Jerome before going to North Gem.  Mr. Bell and his wife Jody are the parents of four children.

A quilting was held at the home of Mrs. Dot Swensen on Thursday.  Dinner was served to Mrs. Luella Hymas, Mrs. Elise Gibson, Mrs. Henry Martinson, Mrs. Frank Fowler, Mrs. Dan Lloyd, Mrs. Hugh Farnsworth, Mrs. Alfred Hansen, and Mrs. Percy Norcutt.

Girl of the month at Soda Springs High School is Sharon Mechen.  Sharon is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Merchen of Soda Springs.  “Merch” has been active in Pep Club, Thespians, and Cardettes during her dour years in high school.  Boy of the month at SSHS is Allen Ray Tigert.  He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Allen H. Tigert of Soda Springs.  “Doc” is a senior this year and has been active in drama, intramurals, Key Club, and “S” club.