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.

2015

Long awaited groundbreaking ceremonies were held on April 25 for the Star Valley LDS Temple announced by Church President Thomas S. Monson during the Church’s October 2011 general conference.  Ushers began parking cares at 10:30 a.m. for the 2 p.m. event, as the fields of the Haderlie farm, also known as the Hale farm just south  of Afton, filled with an estimated 5,000 people.  The crowd included people from Star Valley and other Wyoming areas, Wayan, Soda Springs, surrounding states of Montana, Idaho and Utah and a number of other states.  Many were descendants of Mormon settlers to the area, often accompanied by friends and neighbors of different faiths.  Thousands more watched the proceeding from online or gathered at stake centers in Afton, Thayne, Kemmerer, Soda Springs, and Montpelier.  Skies alternated from cloudy to sunny and back again as people under blankets and umbrellas sat through light sprinkles, a few snowflakes, and occasional sunshine.  During the ceremony, “the clouds parted and the weather matched the beauty of the site, as Elder Craig C. Christensen from the presidency of the Seventy presided and Elder Kent F. Richards, Executive director of the Temple Department conducted the hour-long ceremony followed by the groundbreaking.”  Elder Christensen said this temple is a link between the residents of the area and those early pioneers who suffered through the hardships necessary to eke out a living here, and that it links the generations together.

Nine Caribou County high school seniors share the honor of receiving the Caribou County Farm Bureau Scholarship Award.  Each student previously completed an application including an essay containing a short biography of themselves and reason for their choice of major.  They were also required to provide an official school transcript along with three letters of recommendation.  Each applicant then interviewed in front of the scholarship committee.  The applicant’s family must have a Farm Bureau membership.  Colby Hatch, Chesterfield, and Kade Jorgensen, Grace, were the two agricultural majors each receiving a $500 award.  The other seven recipients were non-ag majors receiving. $250 each: Soda Springs—Josh Bowman, Markee Kimball, Devin Rose, Jessica Alvari, and Nathan Beery; and Grace—Andrew Simonson and Anna Hubbard.  Anna Hubbard and Kade Jorgensen’s applications were sent on to compete at a state level.  Anna Hubbard was selected to receive one of the eight state scholarships of $750.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment on proposed plans to improve water quality in various water bodies in the Salt River subbasin in southeastern Idaho.  Certain segments of the Salt River subbasin have been identified as impaired by sediment and E. coli bacteria.  Excess sediment in surface water can alter flow patterns and negatively impact aquatic habitat and cold water aquatic life.  Bacteria can degrade recreational use of surface waters and, if ingested, cause gastrointestinal illnesses.  The Salt River Subbasin Assessment and Total Maximum daily loads to control sediment and reduce E. coli bacteria in the water bodies.  The recommended actions seek to bring the water bodies into compliance with state water quality standards and restore them to conditions supporting their beneficial uses, which include cold water aquatic life, secondary contact recreation, and salmonid spawning.

It’s time for kids to experience some fun at the Soda Springs Public Library.  All children ages birth to 11 are invited to participate in this year’s summer reading program, “Every Hero Has a Story.’  There will be stories, music, crafts, and more.  The summer reading program is sponsored by Monsanto and the Soda Springs Public Library.  There is no charge for participation.    The public library cares about your children and has planned programs to keep them reading and learning all summer.  Whether keeping track of the amount of time your children spend reading or the number of books they read, children who join the summer library program keep their brains active and enter school in the fall ready to learn and ready to succeed.  

2010

The Soda Springs Police Department is still investigating a traffic accident that broke off three power poles along Highway 30 at Second South and Second East when a semi truck snagged low hanging power lines about 8 p.m.  Chief Joe Rice said the top of a large line tree had blown over and caught the lines across the state highway about 10 or 12 feet above the road.  Traffic was diverted by officers, but a semi truck went through and snagged the lines, pulling down three power poles, the chief said.  No one was injured, no citations were issued, and the amount of damage is still unknown.  

A great horned owlet was a victim of the high winds last week at the home of Louise Thomas on Turner Road, south of Grace.  The owl was discovered by the homeowner’s cat, Casino.  Nathan Stohosky, senior conservation officer for the Idaho Fish and Game was called and he returned the owlet to the nest where the parents resumed care of the juvenile owl. 

2005

Both Tyler Scheierman and Pepper Pallante won first place medals at the district golf tournament at the Preston Golf Course on May 11.  Tyler shot a 79 and tied with Brandon Christensen of Grace after 18 holes. He won the playoff on the first hole.  He will be representing Soda Springs High School at the state golf tournament in Burley on May 17.  The boys team took second at the district tournament behind Grace.  Pepper shot an 86 to take the first place medal for the girls at the district golf tournament.  This was Pepper’s third year in winning districts.  The girls team, consisting of Pepper Pallante, Amanda Stroud, Jennifer Dexter, Melia Poulsen, and Cathrine Bridges won the district tournament.  

Caribou County Clerk Edie Bush has announced the appointment of Denise Horsley as welfare or indigent director for the county.  She has assumed that position since Bush’s illness in September of 2003.  Horsely will continue to serve as deputy recorder and election officer, as well as handling accounts payable and any other project that needs to be done.  She will work under the direction of the clerk and will be assisted in duties by BilliAnn Straatman and Janet Wolf.

During the 113th commencement ceremonies at Utah State University, three members of the Blair and Jackie Winward family graduated.  Spencer B. Winward gradates with a BA degree in accounting from the College of Business.  His wife, Miranda, daughter of Herry and Selma Smith of West Valley City, UT graduated with a BS degree in family and consumer sciences from the College of Education and Human Services.  Shae Winward Hansen also graduated with a BS degree in family and consumer sciences education from the College of Agriculture.  

2000

Head Start pre-school children visited Sam’s Market in Grace for a socialization event.  Brent Krebs and Rhonda Price showed preschoolers the market and let them make a pizza.  Head Start is a child development program for preschool children.  It is child-focused and has the overall goal of increasing school readiness in children.

Thirkill Thunderbirds School Report—2nd Grade: We had a fun Grandparent’s Day.  We had a good program.  For Earth Day we made and flew kites.  It was really fun.  Our kites went really high.  One kite got away and got caught in the tree.  We watched it fly all during recess.  We recycled cans into stilts.  We reused an old sock to make Grass Heads.  The Easter Bunny came and left us treats in the Outdoor Classroom.  We sang for our Grandparents on their special day.  They looked around our room and had lunch with us.  We showed them our dinosaur dioramas and our dinosaur eggs.  We decorated paper bags for Earth Day to be used in the grocery store.  In math we are working on fractions.

Heritage Safe Company of Grace was recently highlighted for entrepreneurial success at the Governor’s Task Force on Rural Development held in Boise, April 26-27.  Heritage Safe General Manager Ken Glodo was on hand for the event.  Launched in 1993, Heritage Safe has grown to 85 employees, is an equal opportunity employer, with employees from Grace, Soda Springs, Preston, Montpelier, Georgetown, Bancroft, McCammon, and Pocatello.  Heritage offers custom made office and home safes, specializing in custom made gun safes.

1995

At the Grace Stake Recognition Dinner on April 25 several young women earned their Young Womanhood Recognition Medallion.  These young women were honored with a special program and dinner served by five young men from Bancroft.  Those receiving awards are Mindy Newbry, Sally Gepford, Stace Anderson, Christa Wright, Shannon Mickelson, Shaunie Edrington, Wendy Fowler, Holly Hegstrom, Angie Baker, Melanie Smith, Jami Spencer, Valerie Mansfield, Rachel Barthlome, Mariah Titcomb, Stephanie Hebson, Shelly Mabhars, Shae Smith, Darla Spencer, Leslie Findlay, and Michalene Robbins.  

Caribou County Republican Central Committee held their meeting at Enders Café on May 12.  Elections were held to fill vacant positions and the recognize the board.  Robert E. Anderson was elected to chairman’s position, Trent Clark to vice chairman position, and Rebecca Clark to secretary-treasurer.

1970

Miss Melanie Hogan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Hogan of Bancroft, was chosen Miss Caribou of 1971 at the pageant Friday night in Soda Springs.  Miss Hogan is a Senior at North Gem High School.  She will receive a total of $225 in scholarships, and will represent Caribou County at the Miss Idaho Contest in 1971.  First runner-up at the Miss Caribou Pageant was Miss Jerrie Evans of Bancroft, Miss Congeniality went to Roxie Ozburn of Soda Springs, and second runner-up was Carol Young of Grace. 

Verland Moore of Soda Springs was the winner in the Annual Caribou Field Archers indoor turkey shoot.  Winning second place was Roger Moore, and third place went to Bart Rhead, also of Soda Springs.  The winners each received a nice turkey for their efforts.  Bart Rhead was probably the sentimental favorite of the club.  During the winter months of shooting, he was on the line each Thursday evening, in spite of a broken leg in a skiing accident in early winter.  About 30 shooters took part in the last shoot of the indoor season.  Everyone reported a real big indoor season.  Higher scores were registered this year indoor than any other year in the club history.  

1965

At a recent meeting of the School Board of District 150 teachers were granted a raise of approximately $400 per year, plus regular seniority increment.  Most of the staff of District 150 will return next year.  Superintendent Ronald Tippets said that he will lose, by resignation, one teacher in the high school, four in the junior high, in addition to Principal DeWayne Christensen; two in the grade school and two at Grays Lake.  One additional teacher, over the staff of last year will be hired in the high school, to help take care of the increased enrollment there.

Lafe Holbrook, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lafe Holbrook of Bancroft has won third place in the State Poetry contest, sponsored by the Idaho Federation of Women’s Clubs.  Lafe won first place in the district contest, and his entry was forwarded on to the state for judging.  

A recent visitor to Soda Springs at the home of Mr. and Miss Dawn Wells, one of the stars of the popular television show Gilligan’s Island.