Looking Back at pages from the past
5 Years ago, February 2019
Mayor Austin Robinsons asked the city council to approve an advisory committee to research and develop ideas for how the Enders Hotel building, recently gifted to the city by Rex Maughan, might best be used, Myrna McCullough was appointed chairperson of the committee. An appraisal of the building was discussed during executive session of the city council.
The Planning and Zoning comprehensive plan was in its final staged of being reviewed and updated. The comprehensive plan lays out the city’s vision for future growth, as well as the zoning map for the city. “We all want homes and businesses,” Councilmemebr Ryan Carpenter said. “But we are not in a position for 150 new families.” A public hearing on the plan was held, and attended by a large group of citizens who wanted to provide their input.
It was reported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho that the state’s precipitation was at 104% of normal. The highest accumulation was in the Little Wood basin, which received 109% of January’s average.
The Lady Cardinals won their eighth straight 2A Fifth District title over Malad, as they once again earner the top seed at the state tournament with a 55-25 win over the Dragons.
The Lady Grizzlies overcame the Butte Pirates to become the 1A Division 1 Champions. Maniah Clegg’s 15 points were a high for the game.
The Gem Valley Community Choir departed from Salt Lake City to Rome early in February. The group performed at a number of locations throughout the Italian capital, and sighseeing during their downtime. The group of over 40 individuals from Utah and Idaho was under the direction of Anne Olorenshaw.
Renee Pipkin took home a fourth place win at the championship game in Soda Springs in what was unofficially the state championship for girls wrestling. This was the first year girls wrestling had been held at a state level.
10 years ago, 2014
The theme for 2014’s July 4th parade was announced by Rotary Club chairman Blair Winward: “Agriculture—America’s Lifeblood”. The July 4th parade is one of the major service projects for the Rotarians, said club president-elect Alan Skinner. The club will soon begin selecting the grand marshals, organizing, advertising, and raising funds to purchase fireworks for the show.
A luncheon featuring nine different soups was held at the Presbyterian Church in Soda Springs to raise money for the construction of a well in the country of Ghana. The soups included split pea, chicken noodle, chicken taco, clam chowder, beef cabbage, chili, vegetable, and cream of chicken.
Grace BPA Advisor Kami Cox and assistant advisor Julie Hill reported that 55 students from Grace High School for regional competition in Pocatello. Rylee Mansfield and Anna Hubbard described their respective events, Advanced Interview and Economic Research. Over twenty students placed in the competition, and qualified for state.
The Gem Valley Performing Arts Center in Grace hosted a Valentines Dessert Social featuring a performance of ‘McManus’. Actor Time Behrens took on the role of the north Idaho writer Patrick McManus. The GVPA volunteer members were: Liz Anderson, Jackie Barthlome, Judy Bitton, Suzanne Hill, Libby Hubbard, Nona and Dana McCurdy, Brenda Nielsen, Mary Obray, Beckey Sherer, and Kathy Tillotson. The popular act “Chicken Dinner Road” was scheduled for next week.
Grace City Councilmember Kim Christensen was unanimously elected to the presidency of the city council. It was announced that minutes from the Grace city council meetings would be recorded and saved electronically. This would eliminate the need to read the minutes during future meetings.
15 years ago, 2009
As a result of Superintendent of State Instruction Tom Luna’s proposed plan to reduce the public school budget by $62 million, the Soda Springs School District prepared to mitigate the effects of the reduction in funds as much as possible. Superintendent Molly Stein explained that budget holdbacks and strict spending guidelines have been in place since the beginning of the school year when the statewide funding crisis was first discussed. Steps such as the closing of some school buildings and reductions in staff and hours have already taken effect. Consolidation is another plan, which has not proven to be popular for voters. The potential for a four-day school day, which would result in some cost savings, is being explored.
Monsanto was given a special award by the Soda Springs City Council for its “unheralded support of the new disc golf course” and its continued support of the city’s library, parks, and other community efforts, according to a speech by Mayor Kirk Hansen during the presentation of the award.
County officials reminded residents to refrain from pushing cleared snow from driveways and property onto roads, as it was against the county snow clearing ordinance and created safety risks.
A plan was passed by the Grace City Council to develop, update, and inventory the Christmas lighting to be used during the Christmas season. Plans were also made for June’s Good Ol Days celebration. A full series of events including a parade, coloring contest, tractors, and arena function was discussed. The Grace Lounge and TNT were welcomed to the Chamber of Commerce.
The North Gem Lady Cowboys defeated the Rockland Lady Bulldogs in Forth during the first game of the Rocky Mountain Fifth-Sixth District A1 Tournament in Firth. The finished the game was a clear 64-31 win. Bailey Simmons led all scorers with 19 points, Chynna Holbrook had 16. The Lady Cowboys then lost a nail-biter to the Mackay Lady Miners 44-40. The team’s final game against the Rockland Bulldogs again, would determine whether they would make it to state in second place.
Grace author Epsein LaRue released her third travel nursing volume “Highway Hypodermics: On the Road Again.” The book series is used as an informational resource by traveling nurses and others in the health care field.
25 Years ago, 1999
In a Letter to the Editor, Jeneane Sorensen of Ireland Bank reassured residents that the Y2K situation that was being widely discussed would not be a catastrophe as long as people were calm and realistic about the potential for any disruption in the financial system. Her primary request was that customers avoid making any “runs” on the bank that would possibly inspire a panic that would be the real problem.
A President’s Day Banquet was sponsored by both the County Republican and County Democrat party organizations, which invited the public to attend in the spirit of community beyond politics. The vent was held at Tigert Middle School.
The North Gem PTSA sponsored a “snow day” for students in kindergarten through 4th grade. The students were taken to Priestley Hill on the Lund highway for the day with their sleds and spent the afternoon playing on the hill. The PTSA provided a bonfire and hot chocolate, as well as hay bales to sit around the fire on. Later in the month, the PTSA will be sponsoring an “Etiquette Day” for the students.
A recent listeria outbreak in the country prompted the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to advise residents to check their freezers for any potentially affected meat products, including those produced by Oscar Mayer, Thorn Apple Valley, and Sara Lee.
35 years ago, 1989
Grace Mayor Berdell McCurdy welcomed representatives of Utah Power and Light Co, who announced that they would be lending a helping hand in the community and council with regard to a federal area development program. The contract between Valley Engineering and the City of Grace was discussed at length.
‘Reading Aloud: Motivating children to make books into friends, not enemies,’ an 80-minute color film was announced for March at the Soda Springs High School Auditorium. Best-selling author Jim Trelease explains that he was motivated to work on the project by recent reports about the decline in literacy among American students. The film and book upon which it is based encourage parents to instill a love of reading into their children.
A Joint Memorial passed the Senate and House in the Idaho Legislature supporting the establishment of a National Monument at the Battle of Bear River, near Preston. The small stream, which was called Beaver Creek at the time, was the site at which the local Shoshone were established. A encounter between the military and Shoshone resulted in the deaths of up to 300 people, the majority of them belonging to the tribe. The battle is an important part of local history and the development of the area, as well as a reminder of the conflicts that underwrote that westward expansion.
It was reported by the Caribou County Sheriff’s Department that it had logged 6,590 miles during the month of January, partly as a result of being called out to assist motorists stuck in the winter weather, and respond to traffic accidents and slide-offs. The county also logged a number of miles visiting local schools as part of the “Take a Bite out of Crime” program.
A number of local literary experts spoke at the Grace Library’s ‘Let’s Talk About it’ program at the library. The primary discussion was led by ISU professor Daniel Hunt as a presentation on the Willa Cather novel ‘Death Comes for the Archbishop’. Dennis Walsh and Brian Attebery, also of ISU, presented on other topics related to Western literature.
As a result of cold and wind, the Soda Springs members of the Klassy Cubs performing groups were not able to attend the Dance-A-Rama and dinner in Grace the morning before they left for Hawaii. The Grace drill team had been raising money through a variety of activities over the year to fund the trip, where the 15 girls and 15 parents would attend” big league basketball games” at which the girls will be performing.
The Grace High Drama Club presented a version of Dracula to the school and the public. The production was described as “hilarious in its interpretation”. Brett Keller, Cody Fowler, Kristi Panter, Ginger Christensen, Tracy Findlay, Kamian Bennett, Chad Kirby, and Doyle Peck were all congratulated on their performances in the article, which rated the production quote highly.
The State of Idaho announced a contest for an “Idaho Centennial Song,” the winner of which would receive $500. Those interested in submitting entries were encouraged to send them on cassette tapes to the Centennial Commission in Boise.
50 Years ago, 1974
SICOG (The Southeast Idaho Council of Governments) has been proposed to serve as the agency responsible for developing an areawide plan to protect and improve water quality. If selected, SICOG would be responsible for developing a mutlifacet waster water management plan for Caribou County and the Pocatello/Chubbuck area. The appointment of a local agency to oversee pollution abatement was outlined in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972. The governor will make the final designation. The study will involve sewage collection systems, treatment plants, storm sewers, industrial waster water dischargers, and pollution analysis.
The Soda Springs Women’s Aglow club will be starting Bible Classes every Thursday beginning in February. The classes will be held in Helen Wagner’s home in the Robison Trailer Court. It is noted that hers is the only double-wide in the court.
Mrs. Phyllis Olsen, Chairman of the Grace Federated Literary Club, presented the first in a series of articles for the month promoting the new system of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training, commonly referred to as CPR. Olsen explained that “every woman should become involved and trained in CPR.” The county’s many EMTs and other emergency service personnel had recently completed training in Advanced CPR Training, as well as other life-saving techniques.
A letter-writing campaign be residents of towns along the route of the Old Portland Rose Amtrak to have service reinstated. The paper included a coupon that could be filled out and used for a presentation to Amtrak officials demonstrating the interest and commitment of those interested in a commuter rail line. “If we want passenger service, we will have to do it ourselves. Passengers, not pressure, is the only thing that will influence Amtrak” said the group’s organizer.
The need for additional housing in Soda Springs was noted. Since the opening of Agricultural Products Corporation complex at Conda, housing availability in the town of Soda Springs had essentially reached zero open units. The need for additional housing solutions for the community was tied to the increasing occurrence of gas shortages and price increases, which made commuting to Caribou County especially expensive.
Soda Springs High School students Greg Torgensen and Richard Summers were named Outstanding Teenagers of America for 1974, according to Soda Springs principal Glade Oberhansli. The students were chosen on the basis of their academic records, as well as community service. The two would compete in the state wide competition next, after which the top 51 from across the country would compete nationwide for the title of Outstanding Teenager in the U.S.
