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.
2019
With a full city council present, Soda Springs Mayor Austin W. Robinson honored Lisa Van Pelt, a local veterinarian, as a Soda Springs Super Hero, who is leaving the community in a move to Alaska as an associate veterinarian. The mayor noted she [Van Pelt] has owned the Caribou Pet Care, with over 20 years of caring. She and her husband Bruce have been married 32 years and have a son and a daughter. She attended Illinois University and Colorado State, where she received her DVM degree in 1993. The family moved to Soda Springs in 1994 and opened her own small animal clinic in 1997. “She has mentored many young people,” the mayor said, and one of her most memorable experiences was wrestling a litter of springer spaniel puppies in a culvert near Conda. “This community will truly miss Lisa. The city thanks her,” Mayor Robinson said, upon presenting Van Pelt with her Super Hero Award.
Itafos announced that they have concluded that there is more existing phosphate ore at their Rasmussen Valley Mine and the Lanes Creek Mine that previously reported. An independent technical report by Golder Associates Ltd. Shows an estimated 14.4 million short tons of mineral reserve at approximately 26 percent P2O5. That amount represents an additional one and a half to two more years of life over Itafos’s historical internal estimates for those two mines.
As a part of the Bayer Soda Springs commitment to supporting the communities where their employees live, they are very pleased to donate a used pumper truck to Grace Fire Department. This was made possible due to their purchase of a new pumper truck for the plant that represents a $300,000 investment in the safety of its employees, Plant manager Roger Gibson said. The site’s commitment to mutual aid will also make this new pumper available to help neighbors, he added. Present for the donation picture were Scott Buxton, Dave Kendell, Travis Krebs, Matt Loertscher, Josh Jacobson, Nic Higgins, Randy Lester, Chief Curtis Peck, Chad Weaver, Bayer Fire Chief Bob Monk, and Jason Cunningham of Bayer.
2009
Students in Mrs. Williams’ 2nd grade class at Thirkill Elementary are learning about Christmas traditions around the world including Diwali traditions in India. Diwali is celebrated in late October or early November depending on the new moon. Pn this holiday, everyone dresses in new clothes and has a cleaned room to make the New Year a good one with a new beginning. Aarti Shah gladly put on an outfit which the women wear, after a request by the students. It’s a tradition to make a Rongoli in front of your door with chalk or sand. It is usually a geometric shape or Divas, which are candles. The students are looking forward to learning how other counties celebrate the holidays.
Time Olorenshaw, form manager of the Soda Springs Wingfoot store, was recently transferred by the company as a manager of the Wingfoot store in Billings, MT. He and his wife, Lisa, spent Thanksgiving in Soda Springs with his parents, Joe and Charlene Olorenshaw. They were completely moved to Billings by the end of November.
Agrium officials at the Conda plant said last week that they will be curtailing production at their Dry Valley phosphate ore mine Jan 1 and anticipate idling the mine for a couple of months to allow their surplus inventory of stockpiled ore to get to a more correct size with fertilizer needs. The idling of the mine will not affect any Agrium employees, but URS/Washington Construction has 118 mine workers under their mining contract which expires December 31.
The playground was empty Monday at the Tigert Middle School when Soda Springs School District cancelled classes because of the cold temperatures and strong winds. While the thermometer was nearly zero, winds drive the wind chill to 25 degree below zero Sunday night and most of Monday.
Jackie Winward returned home from a 10-day overseas educational tour to four countries in Europe with her mother and four sisters. All met in New York for a flight to Athens, Greece on a tour through LDS Travel Services to historical sites on the “Journeys of Paul” tour. Jackie reported that they cruised by night and boarded buses for daytime tours in Greece, Egypt, Israel, and Turley. An interesting highlight was a surprise meeting at the Salt Lake Airport with former Soda Springs residents, Stan and Barabara Dorius, who were on the same flight and same tour.
The fun part of the CMH Foundation Christmas Tree Festival took place last Friday with the raffle drawing and delivery of the fully lighted and decorated creations to the lucky winners and generous donors. Members of the CMHF concluded their noon meeting with Bart Simmons pulling his new snowmachine trailer up to the rear entrance to load the 10 foot tree purchased by Ray and Ellen Mullen for delivery to St. Mary’s Catholic Church. CMH maintenance employee Julio Lopez had accompanied Mary Obray to measure the fir at the local church the previous day.
2004
The Incident Commander on the Cramer fire has been terminated from his employment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and placed on federal probation, U.S. Attorney Tom Moss announced. Fire fighters Jeff Allen and Shane Heath died in the Cramer fire near Salmon on July 22, 2003. Based on the facts developed by a USDA Office of Inspector General investigation, the U.S. Attorney concluded that Alan Hackett of North Fork, was negligent in providing proper supervision and safety to the two fire fighters who lost their lives. Hackett entered into a pre-trial diversion program with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the U.S. Probation Office. Under the terms of the agreement, Hackett’s employment with the Forest Service was terminated effectively Nov 13, and he was ordered to serve 18 months of federal probation. If he successfully completes his probation, he will not be prosecuted. Moss said the agreement sends a message that supervisors who act without due caution can be held accountable when a fire fighter dies on a fire. Hackett’s consent to the termination of his employment indicated that he accepts responsibility for his actions, Moss said. “My heart goes out to the families of the two young men who lost their lives,” he said. “I can only hope that the accountability provided by this resolution will bring them some closure.” The investigation also identified at least five other Forest Service employees, all Salmon/Challis National Forest managers. The Forest Service took administrative action against those employees for their part in the Cramer fire suppression activities.
1999
The Caribou County Fair Board received word in mid-November that the Caribou County rodeo was the winner in the Wilderness Circuit of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association of the 1999 Justin Best Footing Award. This program was created to recognize and reward those rodeo committees who put an extra effort into preparing and maintaining their rodeo ground conditions. Members of the Caribou County Fair Board are Boyd Schvanaveldt, Valerie Ackerman, David Banks, Pat Stoor, Steve White, Keith Rigby, and Delvin Humble.
Thirkill Thunderbirds School Report—3rd grade: We have been studying Indian tribes in school. We are having a lot of fun. We are learning out ten times tables. A few days ago we had a special guest talk to us about Indians. We are looming beads, and it’s fun. We made log houses, tee pees, sand paintings, and an Indian game. We went on a field trip to the ISU Museum of Natural History. We saw an Indian display and we saw the space station. We’ve made a belt, a necklace, and a totem pole. In the last week, we have enjoyed snow on the playground and it’s slick.
The Simply facility at Conda has won a prestigious company award for safety performance over the past year. The Simplot Conda Pump Station was awarded the 1999 President’s Award for safety performance better than any of the other Simplot mining and manufacturing facilities. The Conda facility is the major pump station for Simplot’s slurry phosphate pipeline which transports over a million tons of phosphate or from the company’s mine.
The Presbyterian Church in Soda Springs is pleased to announce an open house on Sunday, a celebration in honor of Olive Kelly’s birthday. It will continue in the Fellowship Hall until 2 p.m. She has been a member of this church for many years, a diligent worker and a faithful member and supporter. Her husband, Arthur Kelly, was also a supporter of the church and often gave it the benefit of his services. Her daughter, Nelly Lou Poulsen, sang in the choir for years and was a joy to the whole congregation.
1994
A group of interested Bancroft area residents met Friday night with Idaho State Library Consultant Frank Nelson to explore to possibilities of providing a tax-based public library service to the area. The two-hour meeting included discussion of the law concerning district public libraries. Also presented were the processes for establishing a district library or annexing to an existing district library. Both options require public approval through either election or petition. At the conclusion of the meeting, the group favored pursuing some sort of public library service. For this purpose a steering committee was formed. The committee will meet monthly to plan and to conduct feasibilities studies. Implementation of library services would also be part of the committee’ role. Committee members are Darlene Delbridge, Sharon Wistisen, DeLila Simons, Ellis Call and LaMonte Mickelsen. The Idaho State Library will provide consulting services in the areas of planning, doing feasibility studies, and implementation. Help would also be given in applying for federal funding which is available through the Library Services and Construction Act once a library district is established.
Old time cowboy and western artist Earl W. Bascom recently worked longhorn cattle on the Shahan ranch in West Texas and received honors at the art show during the Texas Longhorn Quincentennial. Earl Bascom’s bronze sculpture “The American Longhorn 1494-1994” was declared the most authentic example of a classical Texas Longhorn Steer. A life-size version of this Bascom bronze has been commissioned by the International Texas Longhorn Association to be placed in State Capitols across the West. The cattle drive and art exhibit were organized to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the first cattle brought by Christopher Columbus to the Americas in 1494. By the end of the Civil War, descendants of these first Spanish cattle had expanded to a herd numbering in the millions. The Bascom family entered the cattle industry about 140 years ago when Earl’s grandfather Joel A. Bascom crossed the plains in a covered wagon as a Mormon pioneer and started the 101 Ranch in the 1850w. Earl Bascom rodeoed for the famous Idaho Ranch—The Flying U—in the 1930s. At the Soda Springs Rodeo in 1938, Earl was not only a champion bull rider but also the rodeo clown and bull fighter. At age 88, Earl Bascom was the oldest cowboy working on this historic roundup and the only cowboy representing Idaho on the cattle drive. Plans are being made for this Texas Longhorn cattle drive to be an annual event.
1969
Bishop Sylvester Treinen, the Catholic Bishop of Idaho, has offered a gift of $5,000 to the people of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Soda Springs toward the debt on the parish hall and rectory. There is only one string attached. They first must come up with $5,000 on the principal, by no later than December 31, in two weeks time. There has already been $989.85 paid as interest for this year. The present indebtedness stands at $15,965.
The Soda Springs Money Tree will be PLUCKED BARE by a bunch of lucky shoppers
Saturday afternoon. This is the last Saturday of the promotion, and everything on the tree will be given out. Winners of money prizes from the tree last Saturday were Judy Grover, Randy Nelson, Leonard Kingsford, Virgean Somsen, William Smith, Pauline Weibelhaus, and Della Smith. Merchandise prizes were won by Kathy Porter, Kay Weighall, Jan Atwood, Betty Hirsbrunner, Marie Moore, Lillie Ellis, Grace Trujillo, Ruth Gentry, Erma Hymas, JoAnner Peterson and Carol Pond.
The Soda Springs Debate Club completed in the Gate City Invitational Debate on Dec. 12 and 13 at Pocatello. The meet was sponsored through the joint effort of Pocatello and Highland High Schools. Sixteen high schools from Idaho and Utah were in the competition, each entering three varsity and on novice team. The following Soda Springs students filled the varsity division: Lance Call and Ken Atwood, Jim Finlayson, and Craig Rasmussen, Rick Williams and Allen Monroe. Jan Loveless and Karlene Wallin made up the novice team.
Bethel 60 of the International Order of Job’s Daughters recently installed Lynne Marie Tigert, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Allen Tigert as Honored Queen, during the ceremony of the 23rd Psalm in the Bethel Room of the Masonic Temple on Sunday. Installing officers were Jacki Dupin, Honored Queen; Alice Ann Tigert, Guide; Patricia Robertson, Marshall; Patti Scheffel, Chaplain; Helen MacAllister, Musician; Winifred Alldaffer, Recorder; Kay Anderson, Junior Custodian. The ceremony was narrative by Mrs. Martha Scheffel.
Snakes, bugs, and frogs were just a few of the items that Mildred Gier expected and frequently found in her son’s pockets. His enthusiasm for wild life and the outdoors began when he was a little boy and has resulted in many interesting experiences. Gary Gier was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1933. His father, Joseph Gier, was a regional sales manager for Citgo Oil Company. When Gary was in the seventh grade, his family moved to LaGrange, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Montana with a BA degree in geology in 1956. After his graduation from college, Gary worked for the Fish and Game Department about six month before he was drafted into the Army. He had six months training at Ft. Hood, Texas, then was shipped to Frankfurt, Germany where he serves in the Intelligence and Operations Section of the Third Armored Division. While on Leave to Switzerland, Gary was introduced by a mutual friend to Rosli Zumstein. Gary was shipped back to the United States one month after meeting Rosli. In March, 1960, she came to the United State on an immigration visa and they were married in Missoula, Montana in January, 1961. The Giers moved to Soda Springs in 1962, where Gary has taught seventh grade and eight grade science classes since.
