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

“For the first time in our history, a female physical therapist will be available at Caribou Memorial Hospital,” CEO John Hoopes said.  Stacy Regan, who will have a doctoral degree in physical therapy, has joined the therapy staff at Caribou Memorial.  Rega, whose husband Josh has worked at the Soda Springs Agrium plant as a superintendent for the past three years, has been attending Idaho State University’s physical therapy school for the past three years.  She has a bachelors degree from Montana Tech in occupational and safety health.  Regan will be joining Doug Ball, who has a masters of physical therapy, and is athletic trainer certified.  Ball graduated from ISU’s program in 1998, so he has seven years of experience as a PT.  Although not required for licensure as a physical therapist, he attends continuing education courses on a regular basis to keep up with new modalities of treatment.

Idaho State University has selected its new 2005-2006 cheerleading squad.  New members of the squad include Kristi Mazza of Soda Springs.  “We had a high level of talent at tryouts this year, especially in the area of tumbling,” said Spirit Squad Direction Hilary Hofmaier.  The squad will have the summers off and report back in August for camp.  ISU cheerleaders and Bengal Dancers plan to attend the National Cheerleading Association and the National Dance Alliance this summer in Anaheim.

The Grace Invitational track meet scheduled for Wednesday was cancelled due to weather conditions of rain and snow.  Grace competed at the meet at Bear Lake High School with Marsh Valley, Star Valley, Malad, Rockland, Sho-Ban and the host Bears on Friday, but were few in number with the spring musical slated to take place the same night.  Placing at Bear Lake were Keegan Neibaur 3rd in the 800m, Nick Torres 3rd in the shot put, Caleb Hansen 2nd in the long jump (his first time in the event), Chamae Kimball 2nd in shot put, and Hailee Kimball 1st in the 100m and 1st in the 200m.

2000

Caribou Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inc has provided an $8,000 grant to Caribou Memorial Hospital to purchase a bone density machine. The machine should be available for use within a few weeks.  Frank Chadwick, president of the non-profit foundation, stated that this is what the money received by the foundation is for.  The foundation regularly receives gifts from individuals, organizations and corporations, who want to improve the health and well being of area residents.  Many gifts come at the time people pass away—from their loved ones who request donations to the foundation in lieu of flowers.  The foundation is a separate private, non-profit corporation, which received its tax exempt status from the federal Internal Revenue Service and from the State of Idaho in 1992, said Mr. Chadwick.  The foundation is completely separate from the Hospital.

Frank and Lillian Bolton flew out of Salt Lake City Sunday April 16 to San Francisco, where they met six other select members of the 96th Army Division, accompanied by their wives or sons, for a flight to Okinawa, Japan for a commemorative ceremony for the 55th anniversary of the 1945 invasion of the island of Okinawa.  Also in the group were  Mary and Ed Brubaker.  Mrs. Brubaker is the daughter of Lt. General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., who was the commander of the 10th Army landing force, consisting of the 96th, 7th, 27th Army Divisions and the 6th Marine Division, landing in the initial invasion.  General Buckner was killed on Okinawa and his daughter Mary was to take part in ceremonies commemorating the event.  The group met at the 10th Army Support Group Base at Torii Station, Okinawa, which serves as the command installation for all Armey organizations on Okinawa, and contingency support for all forces deployed in the Pacific Rim area.  There they participated in a retreat ceremony the then Army personnel there.  Daniel Dencker, representing the 382nd Regiment of the 96th, made the introductions.  The Army base chaplain offered the invocation and benediction.  James Causey, representing the 381st Regiment, gave the commemorative address, and Frank Bolton, representing the 383rd Regiment, placed a wreath at the Okinawa Battle Monument.  The group was presented with memorial medallions by the base commander Colonel Robert McNeil.  Included on the tour afterward was a visit to Shuri Castle, constructed in 1712 for the king at the time.  Beneath it was a maze of tunnels, which the Japanese high command used for headquarters.  The castle was completely destroyed during the war, and has since been reconstructed and is a magnificent building.

Troy Nielsen, president of Heritage Safe Company, was named to be a delegate at the 2000 Small Business Summit in Washington DC.  Only a select group of individuals are nominated by members of Congress to participate in the distinguished event.  The Congressional Small Business Summy allows members of Congress and small business leaders to come together and discuss the issues/concerns surrounding the nation’s small business agenda.  Delegates’ views will help shape the policies that affect the nation’s small businesses.  This year’s summit will feature a select group of speakers, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Sen “Kit” Bond, chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee and Rep. James Talent, chairman of the House Small Business Committee.  The 2000 presidential candidates will also be on hand for the event.  Nielsen was raised in Soda Springs, where he graduated from high school.  He went on to receive his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from BYU in 1992.  He has led Heritage Safe since 1993.  He and his wife Brenda are the parents of five children.

Tigert Middle School hosted a district K-8 Spelling Bee during the month of April.  Debbie Hansen, who is a member of the middle school parent advisory board, chaired the event.  The school district, Arctic Circle and Agrium were co-sponsors.  Mrs. Walters from Thirkill, Mrs. Findlay from Hooper, and Karin Johnson from Tigert participated as readers.  Each school held their individuals spelling contest and then sent a minimum of 12 finalists to the final contest.  The three finalists from Thirkill were Brayden Bergh9lm, 1st place, son of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Bergholm; Jocelyn Cracroft, 2nd place, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Cracroft, and Bailee Siepert, 3rd place, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Siepert.  Finalists from Hooper Elementary were Michelle Russell, 1st place, daughter of Debi and Terry Bickle; 2nd place Maurie Christensen, daughter of Brad and Jolie Christensen, and 3rd place Sarah Gambles, daughter of Scott and Mary Gambles.  Michelle Christensen, also daughter of Brad and Jolie Christensen, received 1st place from Tigert Middle School, second place winner was Bobby Gentry, son of Robert and Donna Gentry, and 3rd place winner was Jessica Stills, daughter of Penny and Tony Stills.  All winners received a $50 savings bond from the school district and cash prizes and T-shirts from Arctic Circle and Agrium, as well as other prizes from area businesses.  The district wanted to thank those who assisted in any way to make the effort a success, including Joey’s Pizza, Eastman Drug, Subway, Coast to Coast, Advantage Plus, US Bank, Lallatin’s, Lew and Dan’s, Idan-Ha Theatre, LinZ Style Station, Alco, Tosoiba Lanes, and Signworks. 

Vaughn Rasmussen, Republican candidate for State Representative for District 32 Seat B, withdrew from the primary election Monday, stating a new position with his company will require a move for him and his family.  Rasmussen, in making his announcement, said he was notified that PacifiCorp had offered him a new position.  He took the weekend to discuss the offer with his family and decided to accept, he said.  He noted that he would be moving from Bear Lak County in the near future, but believed the elected seat should stay in Bear Lake County.  In a half page ad in the Sun, he apologized for any inconvenience that his decision may have caused.  He also said he would not endorse a candidate at this time in the primary election on Tuesday.  The other candidates are Eulalie Langford and Clair Cheirett.

Caribou County’s 1999-2000 Junior Miss Jessica Ozburn has been busy attending practices and participating in mock interview panels with the organization.  Jessica has had a busy and eventful year while carrying out the duties of Junior Miss.  She attended the week-ling state competition in Idaho Falls where she competed with 38 girls from arounf the state and was a Presence and Composure preliminary winner as well as a finalist.  Miss Ozburn participated in the Middle School Lock-in, as well as all of the parades in the county.  She has presented the “Be Your Best Self” program to each elementary in Soda Springs, Grace, Bancroft, Wayan, and Thatcher.  The program teaches self-esteem to today’s youth through the vector of Junior Miss.  During her presentation, Miss Ozburn concentrates on Honesty—speaking the truth and being trustworthy, sound in character and morally whole—Character, Love, and Promise.  She will be co-hosting this year’s Junior Miss program with Lion’s Club member Clyde Belson.  The theme of this year’s program is “A Century of Achievement.”

Building on the early success of its campaign to increase the number of older Americans vaccinated against the flu, Medicare is sponsoring a new pilot program that will make annual flu and pneumonia shots almost automatic in the nation’s nursing homes.  Under the “standing orders initiative” of Medicare’s Healthy Aging Project, nursing home residents will be alerted when it is time to get a flu shot and can get it without needing a new doctor’s order each year.  “Nearly two0thirds of Americans aged 65 and older are getting their flu shots, but we expect to boost that dramatically under this new directive,” said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala.  “We hope flue shots will become part of the nursing home routine.”  Flu and pneumonia are leading causes of sickness and death among older Americans, yet severe disease from both is largely preventable through immunization.  Publica and provider education efforts have raised immunization rates in recent years. But research by the Health Care Financing Administration, the Federal Medicare Agency, and others suggests that new measures are needed to reach the rest of the senior population. Placing permanent entries in nursing home residents’ medical charts will assure that they get a personal reminder each fall when it is time for a flu shot and the shot can be administered on the spot by appropriate health care professionals.

1995

Caribou Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home announced that Dr. Thomas Donnell, family practice physician, who will be setting up practice in Soda Springs.  Dr. Donnell was born in Pasadena, Texas, and raised on his parents’ cattle ranch.  He did his undergraduate studies at Texas A&M University, receiving a bachelor of science degree in biology.  He then went to the University of Texas for his MD.  Dr. Dorrell’s wife, Patti, is a registered nurse from Spring, Texas.  She also graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch with a bachelor of science in nursing.  Both Dr. Donnell and his wife enjoy sports, hunting, fishing, skiing, steer roping, and back country camping.

Groundbreaking for the Spring Creek Manor took place last week in Soda Springs along Fourth Street.  The new home is being built specifically for the elderly.  It will have private and shared rooms, each with a half-bath, closet, private phone, and cable TV access.  The breaking of ground included Doug Clegg, Rep. Bob Geddes, Will May, Mayor Kirk Hansen, County Commissioners Edie Tracy, and Shannon Snow.  Plans for a second elderly care unity in Montpelier are also under consideration.

The State Board of Education name 25 outstanding high school seniors to receive State of Idaho Scholarship of $2,650.  The recipients, 19 academic and 6 vocational, were selected on the basis of academic achievement.  Kendall Kowallis of Soda Springs is one of the recipients of the scholarship, which can be renewed each year of undergraduate course work, based on performance.  

1965

Work started this week on the destruction of the old Fryar Hotel in the heart of downtown Soda Springs.  The Fryar Hotel, and several buildings near it, will make way for a new business district to be located at the site.