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.

2005

Soda Springs Mayor Jim Smith said he had been reading the minutes of the previous public meeting and the many comments about the proposed cleanup ordinance and 35 concerns had been categorized by City Clerk Tausha Vorwaller.  Smith was absent from that meeting, when he had been on a family vacation.  Residents packed city hall and were generally opposed to certain portions of the ordinance, which the council either revised of agreed to review.  “I’d like to step back and take a broader look,” the mayor said, adding that “healthy debate is incredibly important.”  In moving forward with the ordinance and citizens’ concerns, the mayor suggested scheduling review of the ordinance and specific concerns at upcoming meetings and to take as long as necessary to work over the ordinance to address the concerns.  “The city looks as good today as in any of the 27 years I’ve lived here,” he said about the cleanup efforts.  

Becky and Bob Craner flew out of Salt Lake City to New York City, where Becky performed with the Camarata Singers at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall.  The Camarata Singers are a community based group composed of approximately 100 members, affiliated with Idaho State University.  The group was founded in 1968 and is Southeast Idaho’s premier symphonic choir.  Forty-six members of the group joined with other choristers around the world to form the Distinguished Concert Singers International and perform Guiseppe Verdi’s Requiem.  Singers spent approximately nine to 10 hours in rehearsals during the five days and four nights they were in residency.  After the concert, the performers and partners were treated to dinner at the Providence, a nice New York restaurant in the theater district.  “The opportunity for our singers to perform in one of the most celebrated halls in the United States is extraordinary,” said Dr. Scott Anderson, musical director for the Camarata Singers.

Nock the Rock, a Scottish-themed half-marathon and team relay event, is happening this weekend.  The race venue is hosted by Pam and Wade Clark, and begins and ends at “the rock” near Constitution Bridge by Alexander Reservoir at 311 West 4th South in Soda Springs.  Of special note for the community is a dinner and free concert the night before the race.

2010

Clay Crandall, son of Craig and Elizabeth Crandall of Chesterfield earned his Eagle Scout rank on January 24.  He will be honored at a Court of honor on Sunday at the Chesterfield LDS Ward meetinghouse.  For his Eagle project, Clay supervised the building and reconstruction of an historic outhouse for use at the Loveland/Simons house for the Chesterfield Foundation.

Crowds were unloading and loading up on the Main Street crosswalk last Tuesday, when Union Pacific Railroad gave free train rides on its Heritage Fleet as part of an effort to increase public awareness of the potential dangers that exist around rail intersections and rights of way.  Idaho Operation Lifesaver also participated in the popular train ride event. 

2000

Patrons and friends are invited to express thanks and appreciation to Karen Tate, who served as head librarian of Soda Springs Public Library for 18 years through a time of growth and expansion of services at the library.  Karen has accepted a position of director at the Portneuf District Library in Chubbuck, beginning July 1.  The library board and library staff hope the public will come in and extend best wishes to Mrs. Tate as she begins a new challenge in her profession.  Valerie Ahmann will be the new head librarian at the Soda Springs Library.

National Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management firefighters had a taste of heat last Wednesday afternoon in the Caribou National Forest a half mile northwest of the Mahogany Basin and a few miles west of Montpelier.  The lightning caused fire burned mainly in timber and no structures were threatened.  Firefighters contained the fire around 7:30 p.m. and held it to an estimated half acre.  A second fire was reported in the area and was a spot fire only 300 yards away from the location of the first fire.

On May 26 the Grace High School band went on a performing tour to Washington, D.C. along with parents and adults from the community.  Those who went found themselves engulfed in the history of country as they saw all of the sights that were in the city.  One of the highlights of the trip was being able to experience the Arlington National Cemetery.  This was a special experience for the group as they participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Four people in the group had the opportunity to present a wreath from Grace High School.  They were Tom Westre, Robert McCook, Matthew Toone and Brent Tibbits.  The group felt very privileged to be a part of this special ceremony.

1975

4-H Club News

Termites: 

Leader, Dorrian Munro.  During our 4-H meeting, we elected officers for our club and chose a name for our club.  Officers elected were: President, Brook Rigby; Vince Rosdahl, Vice President; Secretary, Marvin Rasmussen; Reporter, Lauren Muir.  The name we chose for our club was the Termites.  Our materials were handed out and we were told to choose what we were going to make or do.  Our next meeting is Wednesday, June 11, at 4:30.

Scrumpdillyishous Cooks:

May was out first month in 4-H.  The first week we learned how to measure things for cookies.  The third week we had two demonstrations one by Patty Smith on cinnamon toast, and one by Valerie Sanders on Purple Cows.  (A Purple Cow is a milk drink.). The fourth week we had 4-H at our leaders’ helpers’ home.  We had a demonstration on relish trays.  We had an exciting month in 4-H.  Reporter, Valerie Sanders.

News of the Presbyterian Church:

Let’s celebrate the Earth!  As Christians we believe that God is the creator of the universe, and that he sustains what he created.  We believe that God made the world a good place for life and he means for all created things to work together for the good of one another.  God wants us to enjoy this beautiful world as well as taking care of it.  We should celebrate the earth in an enthusiastic way.

A celebration is a special and joyful observance of something we care for so that it can be enjoyed many times over.  The earth is the Lord’s and its creatures are provided with life and enjoyment.  We all can enjoy the earth if we care for it and preserve it and share it unselfishly with the rest of creation.  This week in Vacation Church School the children are learning about the earth; how special it is and where they fit in to the pattern of creation.  Children like to celebrate what they feel is important.  They love to sing and dance and clap their hands for joy.  It is natural for children to celebrate the earth because the beauty they see around them calls forth a response in them of wonder and joy.  Our children have been given this week a chance to celebrate the earth and to express their joy at wonderful gifts of earth that God had given us.  

1970

Ferris M. Kunz, Jr., Montpelier, driver, and passengers Glen, Dennis, and Danny Bills narrowly escaped injury when the two ton truck in which they were riding overturned on a narrow stretch of road in the Blackfoot Narrows on the Blackfoot River. 

Kunz was taking a load of cattle to range up Diamond Creek when he turned to miss a chuckhole in the road.  The road being very narrow, the right wheels went over the shoulder, causing the truck to roll over once and land on its wheels in the Blackfoot River.  The water at this point is six feet deep.  Kunz was able to get the boys out of the truck and onto the bank.  None received injuries.  One cow was killed, one had to be destroyed, another suffered injuries, and one was lost.  The value of the cows was estimated to be $200 each.  Damage to the truck was $1,500.

Three thousand trees and shrubs were planted recently on mine dump areas at the Conda Mine, under the direction of Chief Engineer David Schwarze.  Planting of dump areas is part of the J.R. Simplot Co. land reclamation plan.  The planning was done in three days by Soda Springs and Conda groups, consisting of Junior and Cadette Girl Scout troops, and children of company employees.  All groups of young people were treated to a wiener roast at the Simplot employees picnic ground on planting days.  The J.R. Simplot Co. would like to take this opportunity to express their appreciation to all the young people and their leaders, who made this project so successful.  Leaders participating were Yvonne Lewis, Mary Lou Lancaster, Leah Brown, Lela Rice, Delores Sohn, Doris Phelps, and Explorer Leader Jay Muir.

Postmaster Gail M. Ray announced this week that effective July 1, 1970 the Grace Post Office will not be open to the public on Saturdays.  Most federal and state agencies at present are closed on Saturdays.  A stamp vending machine has been installed in the Post Office lobby for use by patrons.  Regular incoming and outgoing mail service will be maintained as at present on Saturdays.  Mail will be sorted to Post Office box delivery and regular rural and star route delivery will be maintained.  All mail received from rural and star routes and from Post Office letter drops will be dispatched at 5 p.m. 

1964

House guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stan Matthews Sr. are their daughter, Mrs. Alice Franzen and son Ed, who arrived Monday for a ten day visit. 

1953

It was a conclave of cousins when Mr. and Mrs. Alton Hatcher of Ripley, Miss., visited at the homes of Dr. Allen, Mack and Russell Tigert and Don Salser.  

Thirty-two members of the Charles Hubbard family picnicked at Hooper Springs Sunday.  

Enjoying a picnic Monday at Eight Mile were the Arthur Kelly’s, Gerry Poulson’s, Ira Ellis’, and E.L. Balls.

Mr. and Mrs. Barney Matthews and family are visiting relatives and friends for two weeks.  The Matthews are from Monterey, California.  They are guests of the Fred Larsen, Jr. and Fred Larsen Sr. and Wesley Maughan families.  

Mrs. Gerda Anderson, Los Angeles, is spending the summer with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Anderson.

1929

Mrs. Theorore Enders and son Glen left for Spokane, Washington, Sunday, where they will spend a few days with Mrs. Enders’ sister.  With a native trout that tipped the scales when dressed at just under 7 pounds, J.W. (Scrub) Woodall holds the championship for fish caught in the Blackfoot River this season so far as we are aware.  The fish was taken last Sunday on a fly and was landed with comparatively little trouble.  

Mr. and Mrs. Perry Quigley of Wayan were Soda visitors Wednesday.

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Horsley returned home Saturday from Butte, where they had been visiting Mrs. Horsley’s sister, Tommie and little Bobbie will spend the summer in Butte with their aunt.

1907

During the electric storm this afternoon the switchboard at the telephone exchange burned out, in consequence of which the public will be compelled to do without service until the switchboard could be repaired.  The girls in charge of the exchange thought old Jupiter shouted “Hello, Central!” a little too loud, and they made a beeline for the street.  No amount of persuasion could induce them to return to the desk.  

August Sanders and Mrs. C.W. Fryar of this city, and Frank Anderson and wife, of Central, visited Lava Hot Springs last Sunday and report a nice time.

W.A. Anderson returned yesterday morning from a trip over the Bell telephone line out of Bancroft to Preston, having found a break near Turner.