Looking Back at pages from the past
5 Years ago, 2019
Caribou County DYW for 2018 Ragan Yamauchi organized the Little Miss Caribou portion of the 2019 DYW program, and took the stage to officially pass the torch to the newly named DYW Becca Lau. Hayley Naef was awarded the Be Your Best Self Award; as well as the Spirit of Distinguished Young Women, which was selected by the participants. The Fitness awards were given to Kayci Younger of Grace, and Becca Lau of Soda Springs. The Self-Expression Awards were given to Susanna Cooper of Chesterfield, and Becca Lau. The Talent Awards were given to Katelyn Anderson of Grace, and Abigail Clegg of Soda Springs. Scholastic Awards were given to Becca Lau, and Katelyn Anderson. The Interview Awards were given to Laramie Smith of Soda Springs and Kayci Younger. The First Runner-up was Hayley Neff, and Becca Lau was named to DYW, sponsored by the Lions Club and other community supporters.
The Caribou Field Archers requested two weekends for this year’s annual outdoor archery shoot at Kelly Park. The club has been in existence since the 1960s, and the target shooting exercise typically draws large numbers of archers, including a number of families who choose to spend the day together outdoors.
Carl Toupin of MR&E asked to have his contract renewed for garbage service in the city for another five years. Toupin was in the seventh year of a 10 year contract, and sought an extension to match the normal business plan for the company of seven years between contract renewals. The time span allows for the purchase of new trucks, equipment, and containers, while spacing the loans needed to underwrite the equipment replacements to be adequately spaced. The council agreed to the extension, taking the contract to 2024.
Northwest Farm Credit Services in Preston donated $1,000 to Grace High School for the purchase of new equipment for the concession stands. The Rural Community Grant Program is designed to help aid the development of infrastructure in rural communities and allow them to work toward financial prosperity. The concessions are used by various student organiaitons to raise money during the year.
Two students from Soda Springs High School participated in the Idaho State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Abigail Clegg, a Junior at SSHS, played a French horn solo. Nicole Fryar, also a Junior at SSHS, received a Superior at the District V Festival and a first in Mezzo Soprano. She competed with 21 other Mezzo Sopranos from across the state. Both students have leadership roles in the high school band and choir.
Andrew Lillywhite of Soda Springs was recently admitted as attorneys to the Idaho State Bar Association, following his seven year membership in the Utah Bar Association.
20 Years Ago, 2004
Over 100 people met in Preston to discuss Bear River water and aquifer management, according to State Pro Tem Robert Geddes, chair of the Natural Resources Legislative Interim Committee for the Bear River Working Group. Surface water users were reported to be concerned about well drilling and the effect of wells on river flows. Director of IDWR Karl Dreher provided background on changed in irrigation methods over the years, and the effect that deep wells have on the aquifer. It was stated that in 1950 the discharge at Thousand Springs at Hagerman was 6,800 cfs had declined to 5,200 cfs at present. This has led to a potentially urgent water issue.
The Living Center at Caribou Memorial Hospital needs several volunteer drivers with CDL licenses to take residents on short trips around the area in the county’s bus on an ongoing basis. The new small bus, which was obtained through a grant for the same purpose, allowed for residents to be driven around accompanied by Living center staff. The Living Center is further looking for volunteers to share their hobbies or perform activities with the Living Center residents. The Living Center has a piano and a organ, as well as a sound system. Small groups who are seeking service activities, such as the boy and girl scouts,, church and civic groups, and others are also encouraged to contact the Center if they are interested.
Governor Dirk Kempthorne declared a drought emergency in Caribou County, The declaration bring the total to four of counties in the state that have been so named by the governor. The latest snowpack report found that the Bear River Basin was only at 47 percent of normal, and the inflows into Bear Lake were projected to be down 7 percent from average. The Bear Lake was found to be drawn down to near-historic levels not seen since the 1930s.
The Soda Springs Fire Department requested burnable furniture for a controlled house burn, in an odd public request. Couches, chairs, bedsets, and anything burnable were sought. The items help to make the training fire more realistic for the firefighters who will be practicing combating domestic fire situations.
Declining enrollments and the resulting budget impacts were being felt throughout the county’s school districts. It was related that the Soda Springs School District has enrolled 1,300 students in 1985, but only 934 at the beginning of 2004. 2.5 teaching positions were being eliminated, though Board Chairman Jim Smith stressed that it would not necessarily mean that two or more teachers would lose their jobs. Creative schedule arrangement and position filling might be able to prevent that.
Several members of SSHS High School BPA were recognized for qualifying to the national convention. Jen Barker, accepted awards for the chapter for Community Action, and Member Recruitment. Andrea Krall received a scholarship award, and Krall, Barker, and Kelsie Stoor, Amanda Martinsen, Erica Wollin, Jeni Torgesen, Brittany Brown, Katie Hansen, Chase Johnson, Anna Krall, Ryan Gentry, and Calie Johnson all received high ranks at state.
30 Years Ago, 1994
Information Superhighway Workshops were held at a number of locations across the area recently to help rural communities learn to utilize and prepare for the oncoming “superhighway” of information promised by the adoption of high speed telephone lines for electronically based computer communication. The workshops were funded by the US West Foundation as part of a national communications initiative involving government agencies, industry stakeholders, and interested citizens. It was noted that the internet would provide means for business and information transactions to be handled at faster speeds than present, and affect almost every aspect of modern life in the upcoming years.
Author Ellen Carney, a new member of the Idaho Press Women, took first place in the state’s non-fiction history book division with her entry “The Oregon Trail: Ruts, Rogues, and Reminiscences”. The 320-page book contains a 70 page section which is a guide to the trail today and covers groups who came West, such as women, Oregon settlers, ‘49ers, Mormons, and African Americans. Carney is a longtime Caribou County resident and Caribou County Sun correspondent, who has authored four other books.
