Looking Back at Pages from the Past

2020

U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program is September 11.  This program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.  “FSA offers several options for farmers and ranchers to apply for CFAP, including a call center where employees can answer your questions and help you get started on your application,” said Richard Fordyce, Farm Service Agency administrator.  “With only two weeks before the deadline, now is the time to check out the resources on our website and contact the call center or your local office for your last minute questions.”  Over 160 commodities are eligible for CFAP, including certain non-specialty crops, livestock, dairy, wool, specialty crops, eggs, aquaculture, and nursery crops and cut flowers.  All eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations can be found on farmers,gov/cfap.  

Idaho small businesses and employers will not see huge tax increases next year after Gov. Brad Little approved a $200 million transfer to keep the Idaho Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund solvent.  “Our move to put even more dollars toward supporting Idaho businesses helps keep jobs and continues our strong economic rebound,” Gov. Little said.  The governor approved the transfer of federal coronavirus relief dollars after a recommendation by the Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee.  The state has made record payouts in regular unemployment insurance benefits since March.  Without the transfer, businesses would have to pay nearly double in unemployment insurance taxes next year to keep Idaho Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund solvent moving forward.  The move is intended to encourage more hiring by preventing tax increases for businesses of more than $300 per employee that could have occurred if Gov. Little had not acted.  The Idaho chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which represents 4,000 small business owners in the state, praised the move.  “The whole art to restoring the nation’s economy begins with luring small business owners back to re-open and re-hire, and one of the most important ways to do that is to not hit them with additional costs.  Your plan to use CARE Act money instead of raising their unemployment insurance taxes is the right one to take,” NFIB Idaho State Director Suzanne Budge wrote to Gov. Little.  

In a 2A nonconference match-up with Soda Springs on the Firth Cougars home field, it was a different game for the Cards from their opening victory a week earlier against Ririe.  Firth’s speed, execution, and ability to scramble for rushing yards frustrated the Cards from the beginning in the Cougars 48-0 shutout.  The Cougars were able to stop quarterback Tugg Kap’s runs up the middle and had numerous sacks throughout the game to thwart the Cardinal passing game.  With Firth’s offensive line’s ability to handle what had been the hallmark rushing game from their Ririe win, Soda Springs saw the Cougars eat up the clock and ability to move the ball down field.  Both teams suffered from significant penalties.  

2010

Police and fire departments responded to an apartment fire on Sunday at Apartment No. 5 above the True Value store in Soda Springs, occupied by Donald Hemmerly.  A pan of grease was left on the stove when the occupant left, causing the fire that resulted in extensive damage.

The Caribou County Courthouse recently received a $10,000 grant from the Ifft Foundation Fund through the Idaho Community Foundation to beautify the grounds at the courthouse.  The cost of the landscaping project came to a total of $13,097.  This included stone mulch along the south driveway, steel edging around the new flower beds, bark mulch for the flower beds, weed fabric in the flower beds, a stone retaining wall along the front sidewalk, a sprinkler system and around 290 perennial flowers and four new bushes.  The grant was applied for by the Courthouse Building and Jody Reeves with assistance from Steve Harrison, County Extension agent.  The remaining funds were paid for through the building and grounds budget for the courthouse, as well as in-kind labor from volunteers.

Soda Springs High School students were sent home Thursday shortly after noon as a precaution when a natural gas line was broken by a contractor working outside of the school.  The contractor was digging a new sprinkler system trench when the gas line was dug up near the bus barn and vo-ag facility.  The contractor had failed to call Digline to mark any existing lines in the area.

2000

Audrey Hatch reported on a fire that struck the Historic Chesterfield Townsite.  “When lightning struck the school house and started a small section of the roof on fire…[the fire] ended up destroying the building.  All that remains are the stronf brick exterior walls.  These bricks were made in Chesterfield when the building was built in 1920.  Fire fighters had to come from Soda Springs, about 40 miles away, and by the time they reached the Chesterfield Townsite, the building was gone.  Val J., Karen, and Dusti Davids were among the first to see the fire, as were Bill and LaRae Perkins.  These people were up watching the light show that Mother Nature was putting on at 4:15 a.m. in the morning.  When the show was over, Karen said that she just wanted to check out things throughout the valley one more time, and that is when she noticed the light at the school or restrooms.  They decided they had better check it out and upon arriving at the crest of the hill, they could tell it was the roof of the school on fire.  Dusti had grabbed the cell phone on her way  out and called 911 to report the fire.  She also called her dad back at home and he in turn called Gary Hatch and others for help, while Karen and Dusti went to wake Bill and Bonnie Robison and Juanita Davies.  Joel Davids in Bancroft was up and hear the report on his scanner and alerted DeLoy and Jeanine Nelson and others.  Fast action got things rolling and a lot of work was done and items salvaged.

Jeanine Nelson listened to the still small voice that told her to “grab your keys” as she left the house.  As she arrived at the school, she opened the front door and there was no smoke, so they went in and were able to start hauling things out.   She unlocked the museum door and glass cabinets and also the library.  People came from everywhere to help.  The savings of the office computer, supplies. Foundation files and histories, went like clock work.  They were able to save the artifacts in the museum, old pelts and traps used by early settlers , hundreds of historic books, ledgers, and library artifacts.  All but some of the books on the bottom rows in the library and things stored in the basement were saved.  This all went very smoothly, just as if they had planned it, or rehearsed it, people going back and forth hauling things out and not in each other’s way.  It was their goal to get top priority things out first and this was done in a safe manner.  Men with water hoses were able to keep the fire down until it took the electricity out and the pressure tank and pump would no longer work.  The school was the first building at the Historic Chesterfield Townsite to be restored and it has been used extensively for many years for family reunions, school reunions, family gatherings, youth groups and youth conferences, and of course for the Chesterfield Foundation Memorial Day Celebration. 

Warrants for formal charges of burglary are being sought by the Soda Springs Police Department for two suspects in a break-in at the high school during a football game and vehicle burglaries at Soda Mobile Home trailer park.  SSPD Chief Joe Rice said on Friday that the visiting team locker room that West Side players were using was burglarized during the game and items were taken, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, cash and other personal items valued at more than $600.  In a related case, in the early hours city officers were alerted of attempted auto burglaries at Soda Mobile Homes.  Witnesses reported suspects entering vehicles and then fleeing the scene when confronted.  The investigation resulted in the apprehension of two suspects and recovery of stolen property.  When contact was made with the suspects at the rear of Enders Hotel, a male juvenile suspect fled on foot and after an intensive search, including the use of K-9 Officer Jon Bunderson’s bloodhound, the suspect was captured on S Hill without further incident.  The other suspect is an adult male, also of Soda Springs.

Country Charm, a local singing group, has been invited to represent Caribou County by performing at this week’s Southeastern Idaho State Fair.  The group will be doing two performances on Saturday afternoon.

Local runner Dale Moon won his age group in Pocatello’s first marathon run, held Saturday on Labor Day weekend.  The 26.2 mile event started three miles west of McCammon and finished on South Main in Old Town Pocatello.  Moon finished in the top 20 overall, placing 15th with a time of 3 hours, 32 minutes.  He was first in the age-group 60-64.

The Cardinal and Eagle cross country teams hosted the Soda Springs Cross Country Invitational.  One hundred forty-nine high school boys, 113 high school girls, 53 junior high boys and 36 junior high girls ran through trails, up hills, downhill and over changing surfaces that are also used in the winter by the Soda Springs Nordic Ski Club.  “This was the largest race ever in our area,” commented Coach Horsley.  “I was surprised by the turnout.  Sat Valley, WY showed up and Century High School from Pocatello ran, along with all the A-2 5th district school and a majority of the 6th district schools.”  Several Cardinal and Eagle runners had outstanding performances on a day perfect for running.  Zach Tigert once again paced the Cardinal boys with a 1st place finish, beating the nearest competitor by 22 seconds.  Matt Lish finished in 20th place showing continued improvement and Pat Hillaker, Peter Settles, T.J. Avila, Chris Tucker, and Nic Eisenbarth rounded out the scoring attack for the Cardinals.  Merin Tigert and Anna Torgesen led the Lady Cardinals followed closely by Shannon Woods, Pat Pearson, Candace Hillaker and MaChel Moldenhauer,  In the junior high races, Keane Shuler, Michelle Christensen, Whitney Cellan, and Ashley Gambles all placed well enough for a medal or ribbon.

1970

Dale Erz, Soda Springs High School teacher, was awarded a Master of Science Degree at the Summer Commencement Exercises held Saturday Aug 15 at the University of Oregon campus.  

Melvin Van Sickel, of Soda Springs, was one of the six area representatives of the Prudential Insurance Co. to complete the Life Underwriter Training Council Course.  

Navy Petty Officer Third Class Chester D. Hawker, son of Mr. and MRs. George G. Hawker of Soda Springs, completed “Hawkeye” turboprop aircraft maintenance course at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego.

North Gem Roundup—The school year started with an assembly introducing student body officers and teachers.  Joslyn Hogan, president, Gene Butterfield, vice president, and Rita Kopetzky, secretary.  The cheerleaders are Connie Hatch, Candy Hatch, Wendy Hogan, and Eileen Maughan.

The annual Uobirac Golf Tournament was held at the local golf course again this year.  Twenty-four teams composed of one male and one female player drawn by lot were entered.  After the qualifying round, ten teams remained for Monday play.  All started from the first tee, and one team was eliminated at each hole.  The ten teams who started and the figure behind each team indicated which hole they were eliminated on: Vic Lansberry, Carol Stoor (5); Gary Stoor, Alease Eldred, runner-up (9); Mike Merrill, LaVanda Lallatin, winners of the tournament; Wally Transtrum, Audrey Nelson (6); Ray Stephens, Lois Hansen (7); Russell Tigert, LaVon Haga (1); Tony Tigert, Rose Maxwell (4); Ace Hansen, Gerry Bjorkman (8); Roscoe Rich, Dova Highes (3); Gayland Archibald, Kathy Isham (2).