looking back aT pages from the past
The following are highlights from this week’s papers (the first week in March) in the Caribou County Sun archives. These are summaries, rather than the original content in full. When possible, the contents have been selected to correlate with current news items and ongoing concerns and people.
5 Years Ago, 2019
It was announced that Soda Springs High School was joining the Amazon Future Engineer program, and would received funding from Amazon to start offering computer sciences classes to students in the fall of 2019. Around 1,000 high schools in the country were signed up for the Amazon Future Engineer, which aims to make computer science education accessible to all students. SSHS plans to offer Intro to Computer Science and Advancement Placement Computer Science classes through curriculum provider Edhesive. The funding from Amazon goes to lessons, tutorials, professional development for teachers, digital curriculum for students, and online support every day of the week for both teachers
and students.
Thirkill correspondents Kristen Hansen, Avery O’Donnell, Sierra Muir, and Miriam Evans reported on a visit to the school by author Gary Hogg. Hogg spoke to students about the process of writing, and the importance of staying positive. She shared some of the amazing experiences that he had lived through and written about. Hogg shared the message “Be Amazing, Not Annoying!” He also stressed the important of being thoughtful to others, and that included teachers.
Former Bancroft resident Adrian Ruger presented a piano concert at the Gem Valley Performing Arts Center in Grace. Ruger grew up in Grace, and learned to play the piano by watching his older brother practice when he was three. His studies primarily involved classical piano, though he taught himself rock, country, and new age piano styles. The concert was a benefit to raise money for the Holsten and Newman families, who were Ruger’s cousins. Don Sibbett of Soda Springs and Cherrie and Nick Roberts of Grace opened the show.
As the March supplemental levy approached, the School Board for District 150 thanked the community for its past support, and asked for its continued support.
Locals were asked to keep their eyes out for trumpeter swans with neck collars. The collars were used to track breeding populations of the birds in Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge and other areas in eastern Idaho. Birds with the collars had been sighted in the American Falls Reservoir, around Bear Lake, at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, and on the Pioneer Reservoir near Bliss. The public were encouraged to report any sighting to Fish and Game.
10 Years Ago, 2014
As it was the season, bonds for the school districts were again in the air as voting was scheduled to take place during the next week. Superintendents for each of the school districts were given space in the paper to make their cases for the approval of the bonds and levies. In the case of North Gem, Superintendent Jamie Holyoak discussed the $4.8 million dollar bond, which would be used to construct a new building for k-12 education, and well as update the electrical and ventilation components of the current vocational and agricultural building.
Editor Mark Steele discussed recent findings from a set of data released by the “Taxpayers Network.” This data included the finding that Idaho was ranked 50th out of 51 (including Washington, D.C.) states in the country in individual income, with only Mississippi below it on the list.
New Instructor orientation classes were announced by Fish and Game for Southeast Idaho. The classes were held to train certified instructors, as well as those just seeking to increase their skills, in the areas of hunting, bowhunting, and trapping. The courses involve instruction on designing and organizing class sessions, ordering supplies, managing meeting sites, and getting students registered and certified.
North Gem and Grace wrestlers ended their seasons with four placing at state. Mathew Barfuss placed fourth; Caleb Williams placed third; Dan McGregor and Westyn Thompson were both state runners up. Kade Jorgensen narrowly missed out on placing.
The Assembly of God fellowship announced that their name would be changing to the Open Arms Fellowship, Assembly of God. Paster Scott Hoberg invited the community to Sunday School and Worship services.
Junior High Quiz Bowl meets were held in North Gem, Soda Springs, and Bear Lake.
The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers hosted a historical fashion show titled “Fashions of the Past.” The event was a fundraiser for the Caribou County Company of the DUP, which operated five camps throughout the county. The show included dresses and accessories from the 1890s to the 1960s modeled and on display, as well as local singing and dancing entertainment. The clothing collection was owned by DeAnn Simonich of Grace. The show featured two beaver skin coats donated by Al and
Eliis Kackley.
20 Years Ago, 2004
A working group for the Blackfoot River Wildlife Management Area, along with the WMAs at Georgetown Summit and Montpelier noted progress in weed control, fencing projects and habitat improvement, according to Tom Maeder, regional wildlife biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Maeder said yellow toadflax on the Blackfoot property has been aided in control by spot spraying during special work days involving up to 50 people with backpack sprayers. Don Paul Jenkins, Caribou County weed supervisor, reported on good luck he has had using Roundup after the first freeze of
the fall.
It was reported by the Caribou County Democratic Caucus Chair Edie Tracy that John Kerry was awarded Caribou County’s delegates for the state convention. Edie Tracy and Max L. Hemmert were elected as the delegates to the state convention.
The Department of Health and Welfare announced that the county had received nearly $3.7 million from its programs. Caribou was ranked 37th of Idaho’s 44 counties in per capita investment of H&W dollars, at $503 per resident.
It was clarified that Soda Springs City Code requires home and business owners to provide clear and adequate numbering visible from the street, identifying the legal building address. The ordinance was explained to stipulate that numbering had to be at least six inches in height and in a color clearly distinct from the background. The same requirements applied to trailer homes. The number requirement is primarily designed to aid emergency responders. Including the police and fire departments, though it is also essential for mail and package delivery, among other needs. The fines imposed for failing to make numbers visible were conveyed to be much higher than the cost of the numbers themselves.
The “second lowest rate in its history” for mortgages was announced by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, at 5.24 percent on a 30-year fixed mortgage. The organization began making loans in 1978, and was reported to have helped 1,566 families purchase homes in 2003.
Grace posted their first win of the season over Soda Springs in a loser-out game during the 2A Fifth District Tournament. The Grizzlies jumped out to a 17-8 first quarter lead, which they would hold until the nail-biting 54-53 win. Ivan Barker led all scorers with 17 points for the Cardinals; Don Michael McCullough scored 12 for Soda Springs. Dustin Ackerman scored 15, Scott Welch scored 14, and Brandon Christensen scored 13 for Grace.
Helen Langedyke celebrated her 17th “leap year birthday” in Soda Springs. Helen was born on leap day in 1936 in Wisconsin, and a party for her was hosted at her daughter Karen’s house. 30 Years Ago, 1994
The Gem Community Committee geared up for the spring clean-up effort for the city of Soda Springs. The unique features such as the geyser, Hooper Springs, Oregon Trail areas, and others were mentioned as particular draws of the area. The Committee qualified for a $10,000 Gem-Community Department of Commerce grant, which was used to improve Geyser Park, and a a $23,000 Forest Service Rural Development grant, which was to be used for developing and building boardwalks and viewing areas at the park. The GCC was also at work on the Nature Pathway. The cleanup event was themed “Take Pride in Soda Springs.”
The Soda Springs School Board invited the public to an open house and ribbon cutting at the new middle school. The building was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Russell Tigert, who was a prominent Soda Springs physician, who also served on the school board as a trustee and chairman. A short program and a tour of the new building was also planned.
It was reported that thirty percent of Soda Springs HS grads would seek employment in vocational careers involving industry, and Principal Laird Jenkins proposed funding for a computer driven CNC milling machine that will tie in “the school’s state-of-the-art computer lab.” Jenkins had written a similar grant in Wyoming, and expressed his belief in the importance of modern, up to date vocational resources for students in rural schools. Marty McCullough, industrial maintenance instructor for the high school, said that inductor blueprint reading, Computer Aided Drafting, and conventional drafting courses were already being taught, and the CNC would result in more advanced classes being added. “These kids can have a blast,” he said.
Kari Brown, Eric Hubbard, Mindy Hubbard, Mazie Kukachka and Melissa Young of the “We the People” 4-H Club attended the annual 4-H “Know Your Government” Conference in Boise. They were among 150 Idaho students ho participated in a number of events in the capital.
Annette Elsmore was the featured storytime reader at the Grace Public Library as part of the Preschool Story Hour program for the library.
40 Years Ago, 1984
The Soda Springs Chamber of Commerce planned to host four airlines from Pocatello at their monthly meeting. The meeting would discuss commuter airline services and freight hauling. Chamber President Charles Parkin announced that a $10 membership in the Chamber would allow farmers, industry officials and workers, and individuals who were interested in the community to join. Elections for director and the vice president were set for April. Discussion of the chili cook-off and possible Lions Club rodeo were also discussed, though a number of events, including a big fish contest, were still being finalized.
The progress of Senate Bill 1323 through the Senate was discussed. The bill would make it mandatory for day care homes and day care centers to be licensed with Health and Welfare. The bill would also create a misdemeanor for operating a day care without such a license. As a result of the misdemeanor, the relevant prosecuting attorney could file an injunction and stop the operation if deemed necessary. Senator Budge, of Soda Springs, spoke against the bill, claiming that it added an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to the child care system, and that parents should be the ultimate arbiters of whether a daycare was suitable for their children, rather than the state. He also argued that the licensing fees would be passed on to the parents of the center.
Southeast Idaho Dairy Advisory Committee and the University of Idaho Extension Office sponsored a Dairy Calf Survival Workshop for dairy farmers in the area. The meeting was held in Preston, and featured Agricultural agent Wayne Sharp presenting information on how to increase survivability for dairy calves.
Donations had been received for thePTO’s annual carnival, to be held at the end of the month at Thirkill Elementary. The main items promoted for the carnival raffle were four bicycles provided by the PTO. Other items included a handmade doll, stuffed animals donated nu Richard Hendricks of Hendricks Insurance, and a chocolate Easter house.
An invitational tournament hosted by Soda Springs Little League Basketball Association was scheduled to be held in March at Soda Springs High School. Teams from Bancroft, Fort Hall, Lava Hot Springs, Preston, Malad, and Soda Springs were expected to compete at the three
day tournament.
50 Years Ago, 1974
District Conservationist Jack Peterson reported that the snow pack was within normal values for the year, and anticipated another 1-2 inches of snow before the end of spring. According to Peterson, snowfall was usually 90% complete by the beginning of March, barring unexpected changes to the weather patterns.
Kay Mansfield of Idaho Falls won the Soda Springs Snowmobiling Two-Star Rally Grand Championship on the north track of Soda Springs. Lloyd Wilson and Burt Barfuss of Bancroft also placed, and Steve Hildreth of Soda Springs won the 440 cc Expert A Main division. Don Jacaway of Soda Springs placed in the 300 Amateur A Main division, and Dan Bailey, also of Soda Springs, placed in the 440 Amateur A division.
It was announced that Ezra Taft Benson, President of the Council of Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, would be the speaker at the Soda Springs Idaho Stake Conference on Sunday, March 10, 1974. At the time, Benson was most well known for his tenure as the Secretary of Agriculture during the Eisenhower administration, and his long record of various positions within the Boy Scouts of America organization. He was appointed President of the Council of Twelve at the end of the previous year, in December of 1973. The theme and title of his address was to be “Latter-day Saint Home Ideals,” and would focus on the roles of husbands and wives within the church. Stake President Robert W. Hubbard welcomed all visitors to attend.
“The Magic Beanstalk” was presented by the students of Grace Elementary for parents and the community. Students from each class were represented in a variety of costumes, and Principal Gene Millward was dressed for the part of the Giant. Mrs. Charles Harrison, Mrs. Blaine Carver made a number of costumes for the show, including “lovable cows,” and many others. Steven Shaw and Eric Simonson played the part of Jack throughout the production.
At Lallatin’s this week, 4 Boxes of Facial Tissue were on sale for a dollar, a can of Hormel Chili was featured at 39 cents, a quart of mayonnaise was on sale for 99 cents, and a can of Spam was listed at 89 cents. A 10 count container of Glad trash bags was listed at 69 cents, on sale from 83 cents.
