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.
5 Years ago, 2019
Katy Bergholm of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee presented an update to the Soda Springs city council and mayor. The committee will be putting out a survey during the 4th of July week, to gather input from the community about various aspects of the plan. Because the response rate to surveys is often very low, the city was planning to add incentives to responses such as gift cards to be received by those who completed the survey. The comprehensive plan lays out the city’s short, medium, and long term goals for development and growth, as well as resource management for the city looking forward. A typical response rate for this kind of survey is generally from 3 to 5 percent.
It was reported that the Soda Springs Summer Reading program grew from 115 to 153 children, with funding by Monsanto, Bayer, and grants, which paid entirely for the program.
Soda Springs disc gold enthusiasts formed a disc golf league beginning in June, which will continue through the fall. All ages and abilities were welcomed into the league. UItimately, the league will help to “unify the community” and “help revitalize the course at Arthur Kelly Park.
George Parker of General Crop Aviation and the Idaho Agricultural Aviation Association discussed the importance of aircraft to the success of the ag industry across the county, especially in Idaho. Wildfire spotting, herbicide application, emergency medical assistance and other points were highlighted as part of the discussion.
It was reported that local truck hauling a livestock trailer had crashed just west of US 30 outside McCammon, carrying cattle, which became loose as a result. The driver was not injured, but several cows reportedly died as a result of the crash.
Editor Mark Steele took a rare moment to praise the machine of local government as after attending a recent city council meeting, which he characterized as efficient, productive, and useful. He also admitted to an inability to control his “flip phone,” and a resulting barrage of muttered cursing.
The 21st annual Main Street Cruisers Pizza Run Car Show was held on June 15 at the City Park. The event includes a $500 scholarship to a Caribou County student. In addition, the event handed out over $5,000 in raffle prizes, and supported the local Angel Tree project.
Rocky Mountain Power kicked off Energy Vision 2020, which included three new windfarms in Wyoming t bring 1,150 MW of power to the system, which represented a 60 percent increase of the total available to customers throughout the line. Longer blades and other improvements were also being made to the existing wind infrastructure to increase efficiency.
The Grace High School music program received a donated from the book sale proceeds of the book “Gentile Valley: The first 100 Years.” The committee responsible for putting out the book felt that the GH music program has been outstanding under the direction of Beth Buxton, and they wished to support its growth. The committee inculded Ted and Willadene Smith, Dean and Dorothy Hogan, Robert and Relda McGregor, Dee and Ethleen Andreason, Eddie and Sandra Jensen, Maxine Wilker. The book itself is a combined effort, and seeks to preserve the history of the local area.
Plans for the 2019 4th of July parade and surrounding events were announced, and included multiple grand marshals, all of whom were 100 years or older in accordance with the theme “100 Years of Caribou County.” The grand marshals include Merrill Hulse, Norma Bennett, and Eva Sorensen. The Culpepper and Meriweather Circus will be coming to town beginning the 3rd of July, and the Fireworks at Foam were scheduled for the 5th, with the day itself given over to the traditional parade events. Skeeter the Circus Clown will also be in town and residents are advised to watch for her.
Training for public officials, educators, and others at identifying alcohol or drug-impaired students was held in Chubbuck for the southeast Idaho region. The training was sponsored by Southeastern Idaho Public Health and the Idaho State Police, and was designed to help create a safer learning environment by given faculty the ability to evaluate any drug use on campus as a first line of defense.
10 years ago, 2014
A tour of Fairview Cemetery hosted by the Caribou Historical Society was held over the weekend. The tour visited nine graves of “infamous” people from Soda Springs history, including Laura Alice “Six-Shooter Sal” Mecham, Jesse “Cariboo Jack” Fairchild, Frank E. “Denver” Smith, Dr. Ellis Kackley, a Morrisite Family (Neils, Mary, and Abe Anderson), and Wagon Box Grave, Judge Landis Eastman, and Thomas Corrigan.
Local dentists Doctors Jerry Walker and Gary Lemarr were among the many who donated to the Caribou County Food Bank. The Food Bank holds an annual food drive during the year, but takes donations at any time during the year. This is especially true of personal hygiene items, paper products, and food for freezer storage. During the summer, local gardeners are welcome to donate produce to the SEICAA office. Volunteers from the Beta Sigma Phi sorority help to collect, distribute and organize the donations.
The 12th annual Caribou Memorial Hospital Foundation Golf Scramble took place over the weekend, with 18 teams signed up to support the fundraiser for the hospital. A Ford Fusion was offered as the grand prize to the first player to score a hole in one on the infamous 204 8th hole, which bears the original wagon ruts of the Oregon Trail.
The Idaho State Police responded to a call at milepost 374 east of Lava Hot Springs. A westbound semi pulling a tanker full of liquid hydrogen had become stuck in the soft groun d on the shoulder where it had pulled over. The trailer was listing to the side and in danger of becoming a hazard. Eventually, it was righted and put back on the road, which was reopened.
The Idaho delegation responded to Bowe Bergdahl’s release as a POW this week. Senator Mike Crapo said “we celebrate with Bowe, Bob, and Jani Bergdahl as this wonderful news brings an end to their five year ordeal.” Senator Jim Risch echoed the sentiment, sitting, “Bowe has been held for five years against his will by the Taliban and Haqqani network. I can only imagine the joy and relief Bowe and his family are feeling at this moment.” Representative Mike Simpson thanked the State and Defense departments for their efforts at obtaining Bergdahl’s release, and wished him the best as he returned home to his family in Hailey, Idaho.
With the theme of “Agriculture—America’s Lifeblood,” the Soda Springs Rotary Club selected 98 year old Wilda Phelps as the grand marshal for the 4th of July parade. Mrs. Phelps was born Wilda Holbrook in the pioneer town of Chesterfield alongside her twin sister Elaine in 1915. She has lived in Caribou County all her life. She married Christopher Henry Phelps in 1937, and took over a family farm in the Ten Mile Pass area, raising barley and wheat. Chris Phelps served as the mayor of Soda Springs, and Wilda served on the board of the Famer’s Home Administration.
20 years ago, 2004
Grace resident Larry Brethauer woke up at 4 a.m. by what sounded like thunder. The noise turned out to be his roof being lifted off by an isolated microburst, and hitting a power pole nearby. The mini-tornado also knocked down several trees and scattered yard items. By Friday evening, neighbors gathered to put a new roof on for Brethauer who lives east of Grace on Harwood road and help clean up.
Recently members of the North Gem High School choir and band, in conjunction with the Grace High School choir and mock trial traveled to Hawaii to perform and tour. A total of 65 people including students and adults flew to Honolulu where they were welcomed with flower leis and transferred to the Ohana Waikiki Towers Hotel. The group visited the Polynesian cultural center, snorkeled in Hanauma Bay, and visited Pearl Harbor.
Hundreds of items were picked up by the Soda springs Post Office employees as part of a drive for personal hygiene items. These are items that cannot be purchased with food stamps, ranging from toilet paper to shampoo. The items will be given to SEICAA for distribution at the Caribou County Food Bank.
Major vandalism was reported at Ledge Creek, which amounted to $600. Juveniles had torn the roofs off the spring houses and used them for fire wood. Soda Springs police reported that several juveniles were involved in the incident, and several had been arrested in connection with it. They were charged with trespass, destruction of public property, and other misdemeanors.
A building south of the geyser was purchased by the city of Soda Springs for the Christensen family. The property was sold for $8,500, and the city hoped to use it as a location for restroom facilities and a visitors’ information stand.
Betty Miller of Soda Springs, Nancy Newey of Grace, and Arlene Sorensen of Bancroft attended the annual Vocational Teacher Education Conference of the State Department of Vocational Education in Pocatello. The theme of the meeting was “The Conceptual Methods of Teaching.” Gayle Ormond, a former resident of Soda Springs who will be teaching in American Falls, also attended the session.
30 years ago, 1994
The Soda Springs Post Office hosted a customer appreciation day on Friday. Prizes were given away, and refreshments were served. The public was invited to come and let the Post Office employees show their appreciation to their customers. The Bancroft Post Office also held its customer appreciation day. Leola Casperson, Post Master, sent out information to inform people of the special event. Drawings were held during the day. Coloring books were given out to kids, and cake and soda were consumed.
“The Basques in Idaho” is a traveling exhibit on one of the state’s most interesting and important ethnic groups. The exhibit will be at the South Bannock County Historical Center in Lava Hot Springs, with a presentation by Idaho State Historical Society President Arthur Hart.
Idaho has one of the largest Basque populations outside of Spain, but even so Dr. Hart found it interesting that not many residents were familiar with Basque culture, which he hoped that the traveling exhibit would go some way toward remedying.
Three students from southeast Idaho received scholarships from Boise State University. Corky Hansen of Grace received the Sunrise Award for creative activity for his work with the Spanish language. He also received a second place award from the Idaho Press Club for investigative journalism. He is the son of Alan and Julie Hansen of Grace.
Lions Club president Mark Krall presented mayor Kirk Hansen and Director of City Services Lee Godfrey with a $5,000 check. The money paid for the materials, and the city provided the labor to rebuild the Hooper pavilion. The old cinder blocks were removed, and new sliding panels were installed, similar to those at Kelly Park. The Lions Club had built the original pavilion years ago, and wanted to make sure they were part of the reconstruction efforts. Lions Randy Prescott and Hal Snell were project chairmen.
40 years ago, 1984
A sample of the classified section includes “1.2 acres in country with 14 x 70, three bedroom, wood burner and new carpet, garage and workshop, landscaped yard and orchard, large garden, close to Grace, asking $22,000.” One bedroom furnished apartments in Soda Springs were letting at $150 a month.
Darrell Lindsay retired from the Union Pacific railroad after 37 years of service, mostly spent in Soda Springs. Darrell planned to spend a lor of time fishing and hunting after his retirement. His wife Gwen will continue working at the Caribou County Courthouse.
Bess Weaver of Grace has been appointed the 1984 Arthritis Foundation House-to-House Campaign head for the city. The Idaho Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation is a source of information about rheumatic diseases, and hopes to guide those who need information or assistance to clinics, specialists, and other personnel and agencies who can help with issues related to the condition.
