Looking Back at Pages from the Past

2020

Citizens in Soda Springs were able to five input to their mayor and City Council last Wednesday regarding the usual July 4th activities.  Kristen Skinner told the officials during the teleconference meeting that citizen input was important to their decision on the activities and needed to be taken into consideration to “find ways to make it work.”  She also noted input by citizens in favor of having that parade and other activities was their chance to give important feedback to the council.  Resident Dave People voiced his concerns of the potential impact such activities could eventually have on COVID-19 outbreaks at the local plants and within the community.  Soda Springs Rotary Club President Ethan Waltermire told the mayor and council the club voted unanimously on May 22 to not sponsor the 4th activities due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  That decision did not come lightly, and came after weeks of research and discussion, he said, about the potential safety, economic impact, and liability.  Waltermire said the fireworks display and activities (including a potential concert) would have put the community at risk due to an inability to guarantee social distancing and also the unusually large crowds from outside the community that may come due to the cancellation of such activities in other locations nearby.  He noted that major donors had withdrawn their support and there was a liability issue in a worst case scenario.  Council member Jon Goode commended the Rotary and Lions club for their thorough evaluation of all the risks involved.  Mayor Austin Robinson suggested that maybe a patriotic parade of homes could be held for people to drive past.  Council president Mitch Hart stated that he would support any idea that could meet the legal criteria for public events, but that there was not an obvious or immediate solution.  Council member Robert Lau suggested that he felt there were ways a parade or other event could be managed, and he hoped that they would do so.

In a large turnout of over 53 percent of registered voters, Caribou County will have a new sheriff come January, as well as a new commissioner.  Retired deputy Adam Mabey from Bancroft defeated incumbent Sheriff Kelly Wells by 53 votes in an election that saw over a 53 percent voter turnout for the primary election.  Mabey received 735 votes in the race.  Marty McCullough handily won the race for commissioner in District 1, which is elected county-wide.  The race was against Grant Simons of Chesterfield and Dave Peoples of Soda Springs. District 2 Commissioner Bryce Somsen and Prosecutor Doug Wood, State Senator Mark Harris, and State Republican Marc Gibbs ran unopposed.  Voting was conducted by mail-in balloting, due to COVID-19 restrictions, which may be responsible for the higher than average voter turnout.

SVA Administraotr Jovita Caranza and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin issued the following statement on the enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act: “We want to thank President Trump for his leadership and commend Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy for working on a bipartisan basis to pass this legislation for small businesses participating in the Paycheck Protection Program.  We also want to express out gratitude to Chairman Rubio, Ranking member Cardin, Senator Collins, and other members of Congress who have helped to create and guide out implementation of this critical program that has provided over 4.5 million small business loans totaling more than $500 billion hardworking Americans stay connected to their jobs.  We look forward to getting the American people back to work as quickly as possible.”

Over the last four weeks, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game recorded the highest number of migrating Yellowstone cutthroat trout in years on the Upper Blackfoot River.  Regional Fishery Biologist Arnie Brimmer said, “We counted more than 1,300 mature trout at our station so far this year.  That makes 2020 the second highest Yellowstone cutthroat run recorded since 2001.  Because each mature female trout carries roughly 1,500 eggs, the annual migration is a major driver of fish abundance in this historic cutthroat stronghold.”

2010

The Caribou County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on three saddles that were recovered in Franklin County and thought to have been stolen from Caribou County within the last three years.  The Sheriff’s Office is trying to locates the owners or victims.  One saddle is a 1958 Rocky Mountain Rodeo Association prize calf roping saddle made by Glen Thompson.  The other two appear to be working ranch saddles.

Sawyer Stotts received the championship buckles for winning the District 8 bareback and bull riding year end events, and also was named boys Reserve All Around   Champion and took home his prize of a new saddle.  Stotts will compete against other qualifiers at the state high school rodeo finals in Pocatello.

Electrical power was out for about 10 hours on Saturday in much of Soda Springs, City Director Alan Skinner said, when there was an arc flashover on a disconnect switch that damaged an insulator and the disconnect switch.  “Dust or moisture or even birds can cause a pathway to the ground,” Skinner said.  While no damage was done to a transformer, once the problem was found, a disconnect switch had to be brought up from Salt Lake City.  Skinner said while the city carries small transformer spares on hand, they do not carry extra disconnect switches.  Rocky Mountain Power does the city’s maintenance on its power system.  Power was out Saturday from about 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the east side of town and north of Main Street.

Judge Ronald Hart was honored for 14 years of service that he has given to the District 6 Juvenile Justice Council at a special meeting.  He served from 1996 to 2010.  Judge Hart was presented a plaque honoring his efforts by Dave Priestly, chair of the District Juvenile Justice Council.

North Gem held its kindergarten graduation on May 25 at the school auditorium.  It was under the direction of Mary Lou Pearson, teacher, and Shauna Yost, aide.  Graduating kindergarten class included Regina Wamsley, Lydia Vail, Ashlyn Delbridge, Maranda Hill Bailee Atkinds, Kiejara Call, Jeana Glade, Brinlee Simmons, Dannika Barfuss, Taylor Rindlisbaker, Jared Rindlisbaker, Taige Henshaw, Maddox Setser, Ian Clements, Chayce Low, Brett Yost, and Austin Lloyd.

Tasha Hunsaker, the youth representative in the District 6 Juvenile Justice Council, was honored for her work on the area group.  She has served since 2007 as the youth member on the council, which helps communities identify needs of youth at risk and identifying effective programs and possible funding avenues.  Dave Priestly, chair, made the presentation. 

2000

Carrying the torch for Special Olympic games in Pocatello last week in Soda Springs were runners Lisa Jolley, daughter in law of SSPD Joe Rice, Josh Green, Idaho State Police resident officer, Jerry Bavaro, retired SSPD lieutenant and Sheriff’s Reserve deputy, and Ryan Skeers, SSPD.  

John and Rhonda Banks and family went to Boise to attend the State High School Track Meet which their son Christopher participated in.  They were among several parents and family members of the students from North Gem that participated.  After the track meet, Rhonda and children Dustin, Kimberly, Aubrey, and Shawn continued on to Ontario, Oregon where they spent a week visiting with her parents, Vern and Joy Montgomery and other family members.  John and Chris returned home to Bancroft and work.

Mr. and Mrs. Rolan Allen moved back to Soda Springs to the Fountain Terrace apartments on Saturday, after living in the Williamsburg Retirement Center in Logan the past couple of years.  Marge reported they were happy to be back home to the peace and quiet, and less congestion and mingle with old friends and acquaintances.  

Junior Prom Royality from North Gem are Prince Jakub Erenc, Princess Heide Hulse, Queen Aaron Cheirett, and King Mitch Askew.  The theme was “What Dreams May Come.”

Glayd Christensen, nephew and personal representative for the estate of the late Dean and Laura Christensen of Grace, presented Bart Simmons, Supt. Of School District 148, with a check for $52,538 for the school district to use as a college or trade school scholarship for graduating seniors who qualify.  Christensen also presented Elaine Gibson, representing the Grace City Library, with a check for $5,000 from the estate to be used as the board sees fit for the benefit of the city library.  Dean was born and raised in Grace and Laura was born in Plymouth, UT.  Except for a brief period of time, they lived all 60 years of their married life in Grace.  It was their wish that their estate go to benefit the community of Grace and the people whom they loved so much.

1970

Rain, hail, sleet and snow did not dampen the spirits, of two adventure bound Explorers, who with dogs traveled on foot over 50 miles from Soda Springs to Tincup Ranch in Wyoming.  The boys, Scott Robinson, 14, of Soda Springs Post 504, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Robinson, and cousin Mike Moyes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Moyes of Kaysville, Utah Post 347, began their trip early last Monday morning.  They were loaded with provisions to last for 5 days.  They had previously mapped out their course with parents and Explorer Leader Mike Roos.  They made food time, averaging about 3 miles an hour.  About 2 p.m. they encountered a severe hail storm, soaking them thoroughly.  During the storm, several people stopped and offered assistance to the boys but they refused, saying they had to do it entirely on their own.  About 4:30 p.m. they arrived at Henry where they made camp at Whitelock’s campground.  They were made welcome by the Whitelocks who invited them to sleep in out of the rain but they refused again saying than it would not be fair.  The next morning, they were up early and headed toward Wayan where they would make camp that night.  They made 18 miles, arriving in Wayan at about 3 p.m.  Storms were not so severe but continuous.  They made camp early and boys and dogs ate and slept.  On Wednesday morning they began the last lap going up over the old Tincup road, stopping now and then to fish in the clear mountain stream.  They made only ten miles that day because of the rough terrain crossing over rocky canyon crevices.  They camped that night at Pine Bar campground.  The next day they finished the hike after walking a total distance of 53 miles.  They said it was fun and they wanted to do it again.  It was an experience they would never forget.

Playing the Grace Theatre for four big days, Wed through Sat, will be “Funny Girl” starring Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif.

Mr. Jaren Pugmire’s sixth grade science classes at the Howard E. Thirkill Elementary school finished their conservation project with hard work including a landscaping project supervised by Mr. Bob Chase of Chase Floral and Mr. Pugmire.  As part of a four week project, they also participated in a guided tour conducted by Mr. Alldaffer and Mr. Peterson, who explained the various things being done for conservation and mentioned that others should be done.  At the Ballard Mine, Mr. Cliff Lundin showed the boys and girls what was being done by Monsanto by planting grass, trees, and shrubs to restore the mining area.  Conservation Office Loydn gave an illustrated talk about wildlife in our region.  Mr. Roy Daniels showed a film and explained conservation as practiced by the forest service.  The school would also like to thank Mr. Hale for the rock garden.

Kenneth G. Ball, a local famer and sportsman, presented County Assessor Bud Woodall a 1914 Idaho license plate to be added to Bud’s collection.  The 1914 plate makes Bud’s collection complete except for the 1913 plate.  1913 was the first year that Idaho issued an official license plate for vehicles.  The 1914 license plate presented by Jenneth was issued to Dan Balls, Kenneth’s father.  Daniel Balls was among the first settlers in the Soda Springs area, having a homestead near Davisville, just west of Soda Springs.