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.
2020
The historic Enders Hotel is a beautiful edifice in Soda Springs that has been lovingly restored to it former glory. Over the years, it has seen its share of travelers and locals alike. Recently, the Diamond Heart Cattleman’s Steakhouse has taken residence in the restaurant below the hotel and is happy to announce that rooms are available to rent once again. As part of the grand reopening of this historic hotel, Diamond Heart Cattleman’s Steakhouse is sponsoring a unique Hunted Hotel Experience at the end of the month. It’s no secret that the hotel has been deemed spooky by those who have stayed there. There have been memoirs written, paranormal documentaries, and psychic visits to the hotel. Most people agree that in addition to the historical artifacts found in the free museum, there is something eerie about the place. With help from the Soda Springs Public Library and Caribou Community Theatre Guild, Diamond Heart Cattleman’s Steakhouse wants to invite you to experience the spine-chilling and spooktacular hotel this Halloween season. Open Oct 28 through 31, a haunted house has been organized that will lead you through the hotel, peering into the past as you go.
The Tigert Middle School Music Department received a very generous $5,000 grant award from the F.M., Anne G., and Beverly B. Bistline Foundation through the Idaho Community Foundation. This grant award allowed the TMS Music Department to purchase enough additional instruments so that every student involved in the music program at TMS has access to a functioning instrument. The music department purchased 14 new instruments to supplement the existing school instruments. Most of these instruments are being used by beginning band and orchestra students involved in the music program. This gives beginning students a clear advantage in being able to learn to play a well functioning instrument, and they have seen great strides in the beginning band and orchestra programs because of this grant. In addition to the $5,000 grant, Kathleen Campbell donated $1,500 worth of string instrument sheet music to the string program at TMS and the Education Foundation authorized a $5,000 music frant for new string music purchase at TMS.
2015
A Preston pilot walked away from a single engine plane crash Wednesday evening that most likely totaled the aircraft when he landed on a private temporary landing strip near Lago, southeast of Grace. “It hit a soft spot on landing in the stubble and flipped,” Caribou County Sheriff Michael Haderlie said Thursday. The crash was called into the Sheriff’s Office just before 7 p.m. and was at a field off Bench Lago Road 1o miles southeast of Grace near Whiskey Creek Lodge. The sheriff saif the pilot, Dennis Bennett, 78, of Preston, had returned from flying a passenger, Nathan Hale, out to Wayan and was returning to the landing strip when the accident occurred. “The wheels were in the air and the pilot still got out of the plane and walked off without injuries,” Sheriff Haderlie said. He noted the 2012 Maule M-&-260C aircraft is popular with bush pilots and those using short take-off and landing strips. It is known for its performance and safety. The Sheriff’s Office has completed their investigation and is sending completed reports to the NTSB and FAA, who were also involved in the investigation. The plane, although possibly totalled, was released back to the pilot that night. Sheriff Haderlie said it was rather remarkable that the pilot wasn’t injured and could walk away from the crash when the propeller hit the ground and the aircraft overturned. The investigation was by Chief Deputy J Adam Mabey.
The Caribou County Commissioners are getting closer in a decision whether or not to go for a regional landfill in the county, possibly at land owned by Simplot Company in Conda. Landfill Supervisor Jason Lower said he believed all the information needed to make a decision to move forward or not was available. He said the county has the support of DEQ, EPA, and the Health District. Lower’s main concern was the price the county may have to pay for the regional landfill. He will keep the commissioners updated.
Judge Mitch Brown discussed the Share Program with county officials. He noted Bannock County Jail was now overcrowded and that was where they were able to send defendants in the past. It becomes a huge problem with female prisoners. The proposed program at the Caribou County Jail would need a minimum of five to six persons and a room at the jail. Robb Redford said he would provide all the materials needed for the counseling program. The Sheriff’s department said they only had a recreation room and they were concerned about the other programs that are required by the state.
2005
Clint Keller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Keller of Soda Springs, received his Eagle Scout badge and award during a special Court of Honor Sunday evening at the Soda Springs Stake Center. Clint is a junior at Soda Springs High School and the only boy in the family of three children. He is active in Pops Choir and drama, and a avid hunter and fisherman. For his Eagle project, Clint installed benches along the walking path to Hooper Springs.
Western Farm Service held its annual community outreach program recently. The crew met up at Bancroft’s new city park. In previous years, Western Farm Services has also helped pour cement to be utilized in the park’s pavilion.
The Soda Springs High School Chapter of Business Professionals of America held its annual installation of officers meeting on Sept 26. The chapter members enjoyed having Lawrence Rigby as their guest speaker. The 2005-2006 officer team includes Whitney Cellan, president Sadie Lott, secretary; Jaclyn Brown, historian; Garret Hansen, co-vice president; Marcus Vranes, parliamentarian; and Alex Wollin, co-vice president.
2010
There will be more family doctors in Idaho due to a $960,000 grant awarded this fall to the Idaho State University Family Medicine Residency Program. The ISU program received the five-year grant from the U.S. Health Resource and Services Administration. The grant is part of the federal Affordable Care Act, which was part of the new national health care legislation passed earlier this year. “The grant is designed to increase the number of primary care physicians in the state and will allow us to increase the total number of medical residents in our program from 18 to 21over the next five years,” said William Woodhouse, associate director of the ISU Family Medicine Residency.
Merrill Hulse, Grace, scored a hole-in-one on the #3 hold at Caribou Highlands Golf Course in Grace on Thursday, Oct. 21. He hit off the blue tees, 180 yards, with his driver. Hulse will be turning 94 in December and still plays golf two to three times a week. The ace was witnessed by Jr. Rasmussen, also of Grace.
CMH Living Center is hosting a Halloween carnival on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Living Center. Everyone, young and old, is invited. Halloween carnivals at Caribou Memorial Hospital’s Living Center have always been fun for both residents and community members who attend. Last year the carnival wasn’t held because of the flu epidemic, but this year there isn’t that problem. (Children and adults who have symptoms of illness, especially respiratory problems, shouldn’t attend, however.)
2000
It is fall play time again at Grace High School and this year’s offering promises to be a side-splitting good time. The Nit Wit will play at Grace High next weekend. The Nit Wit is about a college boy who wants to go back to college but his father won’t let him until he earns some money. So while his parents are on vacation, he pretends to be a psychologist and sets up shop in his own home. The assortment of nuts who come to call make for great entertainment. “This is the fastest moving comedy we’ve done in a long time,” says Grace’s Drama Director Robert E. Hibbard. “There’s never a dull moment from the opening line until the curtain falls.”
A routine traffic stop Oct 3 by the Soda Springs Police Department turned into multiple drug arrests and charges over the following couple of weeks, Chief Joe Rice said Friday. According to K-9 Sgt. Jon Bunderson, a traffic stop on Oct 3 resulted in charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia when two persons from Twin Falls were arrested. Five subjects were arrested for conspiracy to deliver meth, the drug investigation officer said, with the investigation continuing at this time into the conspiracy charges. “Meth is coming from the Twin Falls area and arriving in Soda Springs,” Sgt. Bunderson said. “When it gets here, it is being distributed to residents in Soda Springs and Montpelier.” Another incident in the early morning hours of Oct 15 from another traffic stop ended up in the arrest of an adult male from Wells, Nevada who was visiting friends in Soda Springs. Meth and paraphernalia were discovered on his person.
1995
The old Ponderosa Tavern was moved Friday through Soda Springs to its new home west of two by Chris Kuta. Stop lights were turned sideways or moved out of the way and power lines checked for clearance as the former log tavern was moved through town.
Hugh Norman, representing West One Bank, recently presented a check for $1,670 to Kent Lott, chairman of the Soda Springs School Board. The check is the second part of a three-year commitment by the bank to assist in the improvement of the track and field area. Superintendent Lawrence Rigby indicated that this year’s money may be used to match other money in the purchase of a new set of bleachers to help seating accommodations that are inadequate for many of the events held at Archer Field. According to Rigby, this is just another example of the willingness of business and industry in the area to assist in the programs that affect local youth.
Navy Petty Officer, 3rd Class Jeff M. Boose, whose wife, Holly, who is the daughter of Evan and Vicki McLain of Bancroft, recently was promoted to his present rank and reported for duty aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, homeported in Norfolk, VA. The 1991 graduate of Belvidere, IL joined the Navy in November of 1993.
1970
Caribou County high school students, in balloting Tuesday, gave Governor Don Samuelson a majority over challenger Cecil Andrus for re-election to the governor’s office. The facsimile ballots were furnished to the Soda Springs High School, Grace High School, and North Gem High School by the Caribou County Sun, as a ballot education project. Students crossed over freely from party to party in their selections. The ballots from the three high school totaled 232 for Samuelson and171 for Andrus in the governors’ race.
Marianne and Kathie Schenk, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Parley L. Schenk of Bancroft, were chosen as members of the Program Bureau at Brigham Young University at Provo. They auditioned by a vocal duet, and a piano duet, then Kathie played a piano solo and Marianne sang a solo. They will be performing in the Fieldhouse Frolics during the Homecoming activities, under the direction of Miss Janey Thomspon. The Program Bureau has been the backbone of youth performances at BYU. Marianne is majoring in elementary education, and is a junior. Kathie is a freshman majoring in physical education.
1965
Mrs. Reva Clegg attended a Cosmetology Convention at the Hotel Utah on Sept 25 and 26, where she participated in classes in hair styling and cutting, and wig styling and cutting. Monday evening at a hair show, Mrs. Clegg was the winner of a door prize, a set of tables.
Mr. and Mrs. VanNess Perkins and children of Bennington, visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Loran Hayes Saturday on their 25th wedding anniversary.
