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.
2020
An alleged burglar was apprehended by the Soda Springs Police Department Sunday night, after his footprints were found at a local business and was tracked in the snow until found, Chief Scott Shaw said. Jared Leach, currently living in Soda Springs, was arrested and charged with burglary and possession of burglary tools. The incident began when an officer on patrol noticed footprints in the snow at Caribou Motor Rewind and followed them, resulting in the arrest of the suspect in the Formation Avenue area. The suspect allegedly had gained entry at Lotts Insulation in the Industrial Park and stolen items from that business.
Mitch Hart and Scott Gambles were sworn in by Mayor Austin Robinson. Both are incumbents who will serve another four year each. City Director Alan Skinner gave a video presentation from a camera placed down the new city well at Formation Springs. It showed the 18-inch casing that was placed down 104 feet that was not perforated to seal off shallow water from entering in the new city well. That section will also house a 15 hp motor that can be placed into the well to pump even more water than the artesian well will naturally flow in potential times of heavy use in the future, or if the city’s Ledge Creek water use was shut off for repairs or emergencies. The well was then drilled at a 15-inch diameter down to nearly 500 feet. The camera footage clearly showed the fault and fractures in the rock at various depths that allows the water to be pushed to the surface under pressure without having to be pumped. The artesian or flowing water produces about 1,800 gallons of water a minute without pumping, which will cover the city’s normal use and even an increase in use by 50 percent into the future. The city did agree to place a pump above the well that can be lowered into it to increase pumping flow in emergencies, and then withdrawn when not needed. “We don’t really need it until we grow,” Director Skinner said.
Grace High School inducted four teachers into its Hall of Fame for the past year. Judy Turner Beesley was born and raised in Grace. Her desire to become a teacher was fostered by one of her teachers, Florence Panter. Judy went on to a stellar career in education in the Madison School District in Rexburg. Not only did she teach English, but also was the recipient of several teaching awards, and also served as the President of the Idaho Council for Teachers of English. Judy was also an adjunct professor at Northwest Nazarene University and Western Governors University. She concluded her career as the assistant superintendent at the Madison School District.
Von Mendenhall was the son of educators. Both his parents taught at the Cove and Thatcher schools. Von was a member of the first state basketball team at Grace High School in 1955. After graduating from Utah State with his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he received a PhD from Oregon State and shortly afterward began a 37-year teaching career at Utah State in the Agriculture Department. Von is the recipient of several teaching awards, including Professor of the Year from three different groups at Utah State. He also holds 5 U.S. patents.
Kip Panter graduated in 1970 from Grace High School and went on to attend college at Idaho State, Utah State, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and the University of Illinois, where he received his PhD degree in toxicology and veterinary bio-sciences. Kip also has spent his teaching career at Utah State since the mid-1980s. His work has mainly been in conjunction with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Mr. Panter has also served as an adjunct professor in the College of Ag’s Animal, dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Division, working in the Poisonous Plants Lab in North Logan.
Evelyn Allsop Dalton Twiss was born in Grace on Main Street, and along with her first husband, the late Jay Dalton, raised three children. Evelyn graduated from Idaho State College, enjoying her association with other students in the drama program, receiving awards for her acting skills and also participating in Summer Stock Theater at Glacier National Park. Having been asked to teach English in her first assignment, Evelyn proceeded to take her students to France, where they all studied French at the University of Strasbourg for a month. She taught English at Soda Springs High School for 30 years, then, after retiring taught for an additional seven years at Grace High School.
2005
The North Gem first grade students were bursting with enthusiasm as they made brownies in a jar last month. Mrs. Mary Kren, with the help of her husband, Superintendent Joseph Kren, presented the first Parent’s Teach and Tell lesson to the first grade students. The students eagerly placed all of the ingredients in the jars, learning about ingredients as they worked. They then decorated the tops of the jars with festive materials, making them look just right for a gift to their special someone. After completing the task, they all enjoyed brownies made by Mr. Kren and their son, Patrick. Cassie and Krystal Lloyd were student helpers on the project. The special event served as a springboard for enjoyable and creative writing as they wrote and illustrated their experience. Mrs. Hatch and the first grade want to thank the Kren family for giving them to opportunity to make brownies in a jar.
An annual public policy survey conducted by the Social Science Research Center at Boise State University shows that overall, residents are fairly happy with state affairs. Seventy percent of respondents said the state is headed in the right direction, up a full 7 percent from last year. This is the third year in a row that the satisfaction rate has increased. The SSRC, housed in the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, administered the 16th annual Idaho Public Policy Survey in an attempt to identify issues of public policy concern among Idaho citizens. The report provides significant information on public opinion to the Legislature, state agency personnel, and the public. When asked about the state sales tax, 64 percent say Idaho’s rate is about right. But Idahoans are split on whether or not to extend the 1 percent sales tax increase beyond the July 1, 2005 sunset date; 43 percent support extending it or making it permanent, while 45 percent oppose it. 57 percent of respondents believe that student test scores should be used little or not at all as a factor in teacher salaries. 80 percent feel that school districts should rely on sate funding when constructing or remodeling school buildings. 47 percent identified as Republicans, 18 percent as Democrats, and the remaining percentage undecided or independent.
2000
Trimesters were discussed at last week’s Soda Springs School Board meeting, with presentations made by staff and the high school principal. Superintendent Lawrence Rigby said that SSHS Principal Michael Button reviewed trimesters versus semesters to see if the trimester system had achieved what was expected since the school made the change from semesters a few years back. Rigby reported that the principal said there had been less discipline problems and a better attitude in classes because of the move to have three trimesters rather than two semesters. “Mr. Button is convinced there are more advantages than disadvantages to staying with trimesters,” Rigby said after the board meeting. Representatives of the music programs noted that the fact that students often took two, rather than three, trimesters of music program courses affected the continuity and coherence of the school’s music groups. Further input was determined to be necessary before the district would make any decisions on returning to trimesters. The issue of instituting a closed campus at the high school was also discussed, with some widespread agreement that access to campus was too “loose” at present.
The Performing Arts Committee in Grace agreed not to schedule a performance within four weeks of a scheduled school play unless the performance only requires the stage in front of the curtain. This agreement will be effective starting 2000, and will continue indefinitely unless either party requests a change. After the agreement was completed, the PAC announced that they had also approved an additional $500 for the school play in April. Chairman Don Jones reminded those present that since its inception, the PAC had contributed over $4,200 to the district cultural arts program, including $1,000 to the choir and bands. He thanked the school district for the cooperation they had received, including janitorial support and snow removal.
1995
The state director of the Department of Agriculture announced that he was lifting the self-imposed hold on the issuance of permits to private parties for the airborne control of predators. Every year, Idaho ranchers and wool growers suffer millions of dollars in losses due to predator attacks on livestock. Coyotes cause the most damage. In 1993, the most recent year for which numbers are available, losses from coyotes were valued at $936,000. The Department of Agriculture is taking steps to help ranchers and wool growers precent these losses. Through the department, private parties can obtain permits for the airborne control of predators. These permits allow people to shoot or drive off predators from an aircraft. Without a state permit, these activities are illegal under federal law and can carry stiff penalties.
Cody Lee Harris was the first baby born in 1995 at Caribou Memorial Hospital. He arrived at 8:01 a.m. on Friday, January 6, to parents Andrea Harding and Whitt Harris. The New Year’s baby weighed in at 5 lbs. 8 ozs. and was 18 inches tall. He has five brothers and sisters, Nicole, Brandon, Mikey, Tshasha, and Benji. Cody’s grandparents are George and Diana Harris and Willie and Pam Call. Several prizes and awards were given away by local businesses, including the Chamber of Commerce, West One Bank, Ireland Bank, Lallatin Food Town, Rocky Mountain Signworks, Sanders Furniture, Holbrook Court, Betty’s Café, Chase Floral, Keith’s, Chase Floral, the Soda Shoppe, and others.
Camp Mount Sherman held its meeting Monday Jan. 16 in the Relief Society room in the Grace Stake Center, with Phyliss Gibson presiding and conducting. Miss Brenda Palmer, 1995 JV Teen Queen for Grace, accompanied by her mother, Diane Palmer, were special guests. The pioneer history of Marion M. Martin was given by Gladys Burton. By trade, Mr. Martin was a millright. Addie Stevens gave the lesson “Pioneer Journal,” the life of Mosiah Lyman Hancock. After the lesson, Beatrice Bennet, Afton Robinson and Pauline Christensen served refreshments.
Lyle and Anne Peck returned home after visiting with family and friends in Arizona, California, and Oregon. They spent the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with Anne niece and husband, Mellie and Bob Whipple, in Clarksdale, AZ, and visited with their daughter Marjorie and husband Bruce, and their family, where they attended a memorial service for Robert, Jr.
The Grace Lady Grizzlies held on to beat a pesky Aberdeen squad last Wednesday to finish out their regular season in an overtime dual against the Tigers. The Grizzlies outscored Aberdeen 13-3 in the overtime after both teams battled through four tight quarters of basketball to win 53-41. Grace hit 23 of 30 free throws on the night, including nine in the overtime to seal the win. Cassie Gilbert was 4 for 4 and Christina Wright was 5 of 6 in the overtime period from the charity stripe. Wright led the team in points, followed by Heather Hardy, Sally Gepford, Billie Ann Randall, and Cassie Gilbert.
