Looking Back at Pages from the Past
It was a busy month for Santa, as he showed up in Soda Springs last year!
2020
Gem Valley Performing Arts announced that the annual Community Christmas Concert (“Our Stories of Christmas”) will be presented in a virtual format. As organizers explained, “While we hoped, crossed our fingers, and prayed that we could hold our concert in person, it didn’t happen. We decided we still all need a little Community Christmas, even if it will be in our living rooms. Our performers have been wonderful to adjust to a different format of performing. They have been gracious with their time and talents to bring the “Christmas feels” to all of you.
The following people will be performing: Dana and Nona McCurdy, Becca and Alan Renfroe, Kalea Christman, Jeff Godfrey, Jonathan Balls, Charlene Balls, Trinidy Muir, The Gem Stones—Liz Hughes, Lisa Palmer, Cherrie Roberts; SDC—Kade Anderson, McKenzie Martinsen, Joslin Mickelson, Jayden Andreasen; Six Strings—Kathleen Campbell, Evenlyn Curtis, Heidi Walker, Andrew Walker, Marilyn Young, Kim Thompson; CCCO Brass and Strings—Elizabeth Olorenshaw, Deborah Olsen, Kate Williams, Anne Olorenshaw, Wade Olorenshaw, Isaiah Olsen, Charlene Cunnigham, Ralph Peterson; Ron Hughes, Melanie Bice, Dean Lake, and Michelle Moss. Narration is by Bob Kukachka and Mark Bryant.”
On Monday, Bancroft City had the annual lighting of Teuscher Square. Due to COVID-19, the city was not able to offer the annual dinner and socializing. However, Santa was able to make an appearance. Kids were able to visit with him and give their holiday wishes. Bancroft City Council would like to thank Tammy Jensen for donating her talents to make Santa’s beautiful red velvet bag.
The Lady Cowboys were all set to travel to Sho-Ban on Tuesday, Dec. 1, however the game was canceled due to a Sho-Ban player testing positive for COVID. On Friday, the Lady Cowboys did travel to Grace Lutheran. They won the game 40-33. Dannika Barfuss and Hayden Corta both scored 10 points, Elizabeth Michaelson had nine rebounds, and Makayla Mabey had four steals. On Saturday, the Lady Cowboys hosted the Grace Grizzlies. Grace won the game 35-16. Coach Christensen was pleased with the girls’ hard work and improvement.
2010
Main streets of southeastern Idaho’s rural communities, once full of small town America vitality, have seen prosperous businesses leave or close, leaving empty buildings and little traffic. Each spring rural communities in Idaho and across the country watch another class of high school students line up for graduation, but instead of taking over a family business or finding work locally, most prepare to leave for college or jobs in larger cities. While youth migration is occurring for many complex reasons, educational and career options exist for Idaho youth who wish to stay in their rural communities. Online education may end up being one of the saviors of rural Idaho.
2005
Ryan Weaver met again with the Soda Springs City Council last Wednesday to promote a citizens committee over the police department. Weaver, Soda Springs, said was representing the Coalition for Responsible Caribou County and said his oversight committee idea was the “best method to solve serious problems to our city.” He said he had been asked by the council to investigate other cities the size of Soda Springs regarding any such committees. The only one in the state he found was Boise, which has an ombudsman. Saying that “nothing short of terrorism” was being committed “in this city,” Weaver made allegations that officers were lying and attempting to destroy individuals. Mayor Kirk Hanse interrupted Weaver. “I won’t sit here much longer and let you lambaste our department,” he said, adding that the city has procedures and policies for complaints and there are other remedies beyond that if he was not satisfied. Weaver said if a complaint is made, it is passed off to another police officer (agency) to be looked at. “I urge you, as keeper of the flock, to step forward,” he stated, adding that he was concerned about the police department and the “taxation upon this city for liability.”
Councilwoman Lynda Lee told him there wouldn’t be any officer who would want to work for Soda Springs if his citizens commission was implemented. She said officers were honest and were doing their job. Weaver said he was representing a coalition of victims. Council President Randy Prescott said that he did know of any substantiation of the claims, and had not seen any complaints to that effect as a councilmember.
“A committee (of citizens) cannot have the power to discipline city employees,” Prescott said.
“If you feel you have been denied due process, there are opportunities through legal resources,” Mayor Hansen said. “I’ve had one active case I’m aware of,” he said about the many years he has served as mayor. “My recommendation to the council is to proceed no further. “That is my feeling at this time.”
A second class on “Online Safety Tips for Parents” is being planned at the Grace Performing Arts Center. The interactive presentation is free to the public. A similar class was recently held in Bancroft. The presentation is under the direction of the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office and is for parents, grandparents, and those adults who have computers connected to the internet where a child may access it. Deputy Adam Mabey said adults need to be aware of the dangers from the internet for youth who are online. He said it was too easy for predators to access children and youth without them even knowing they are being targeted.
Caribou Memorial Hospital Foundation’s first ever “Drive-by-Shooting,” held on Nov 22 was successful, according to foundation member Dawn Corbett, who helped by taking temperatures prior to a nurse administering the flu vaccine. The foundation decided last spring at its planning retreat to provide this as a community service this year since last year’s flu vaccine was in short supply and not everyone who wanted a shot was able to get it, Corbett said. It was believed that because of last year’s international problems, there would be plentiful vaccine this year. That didn’t happen as the hospital’s supply of vaccine that was ordered in the spring didn’t arrive until Nov. 16. Many people who had been relying on the hospital’s supply had already obtained their shots from other sources. At the “Drive-by-Shooting,” as its name implies, shots were given to some people in their vehicle as a convenience to them. The weather turned out to be beautiful. However, most people came inside, had their shot in the Mt. View Clinic, and enjoyed cookies and punch provided by the foundation.
Kaelyn Daniel and Tyler Balls reported: “On Thursday, the 5th grade from Hooper School visited Dry Valley Mine. When we arrived, we were greeted by Mr. Steve Gilmer, who told us where we’d be going and what we would be seeing while we were there. After splitting up into two groups, we were shown the pit and all the mining equipment. WE also went to Agrium’s Dry Valley office and were shown a slide show about the history of mining and about the work that is done at their mine. We learned about all their equipment, including how big they are, how much they hold, how fast they can go, how much their tires cost, and how much fuel they take to run them. They explained to us how they find the ore and how they extract it. One interesting fact we learned was that they drive on the left side of the road at the mine because it’s easier for the driver to see the side of the road. We really enjoyed the field trip and we would like to thank Mr. Gilmer, Mr. Kline, Mr. Smith, Mr. Skinner, and all the other people at Agrium who showed us around and made this possible.
1990
The Bear River Task Force was told there is a need for a dam south of Soda Springs and there was the enthusiasm to build. They heard those comments at their public hearing Monday in Soda Springs. The Idaho task force was put together to consider the needs along the river and make recommendations to the governor and legislature by Dec. 31. Rep. Robert Geddes, Preston, said he and Sen. Dennis Hansen cochair the task force. The group has held several meetings in Soda Springs, Montpelier, and Preston over the past year as a result of Utah’s interest in developing their water rights, primarily for future and much-needed use along the Wasatch Front. Marc Gibbs, chairman of a local task force on the Caribou Dam site at Soda Springs, said there are several reasons for construction of the dam at the location south of Soda Springs, Last Chance could use up to 10,000 acre feet more of the water for their stockholders, and Farmers Irrigation said they may be interested in about half that amount.
A recount of Caribou County election results has showed some slight changes, but nothing to cause a change in the outcome of two fairly close races in the floaterial district. Allan Larsen, Republican, defeated Jim Christiansen, Democrat for state senator, as did Republican Myron Jones over Mike Hovey, the Democratic opponent for representative, by only a few dozen votes among the seven counties in the district. A recount was asked. Caribou County Clerk Becky Jenkins said Christiansen gained one vote, but Larsen gained eight more in the county recount. In the Jones-Hovey balloting, both men gained one more vote in Caribou County. District wide a few totals were changed in the counties, but not enough to overturn the original election results.
Linda Johnson reported that “The Family History Centers in Soda Springs and Bancroft have recently received the computer hardware and software to run Family Search. The librarians at the Family History Search Centers hope that people will come to the center to use this new tool for family history. The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been developing computer tools to simplify genealogical research. These tools are part of a growing system of personal computer-based programs and data bases called FamilySearch. It is an automated system of family history information. It consists of programs designed to work on personal computers and files drawn from the church’s family history computer files. The information in each of these files is distributed on “compact discs.” These “discs,” which are similar to the audio compact discs sold in record stores, are capable of storing large amounts of information—the equivalent of 1,500 conventional floppy diskettes, or about 320,000 pages of text on each disc. They are read by computers equipped with a special compact disc player and with the FamilySearch software. The most exciting program on compact disc at the Family History Centers is the Ancestral File. The Ancestral File is a computer file with seven million names linked into families and pedigrees. Ancestral File displays information by individual family group record, pedigree chart, or descendants chart. As part of the Family Search system, Ancestral File also includes help keys and the ability to print your discoveries on paper or to copy data to your own diskette. Using the latest technology for family research is exciting. One patron has found on the system the Royal lines of Europe, which includes dates going back earlier than the 900s. You can visit the Family History Center in Bancroft or Soda Springs.
The Mount Sherman Camp of the DUP held their November meeting at the home of Neva Johnson on Nov 19. Thirteen members were present to enjoy the afternoon. Irene Young, president, conducted and led in discussions concerning plans for the future. Idona Condie read a history of her great-grandfather, George Farnworth, who came from England with his wife, Suzanna Coates. At first, he ran a supply store, but his caring and compassion permitted poor people to charge until there was $4,000 in debt on the books. He then moved to Mount Pleasant where they started new lives of service and love. Suzanna became a nurse by necessity as there were so many sick people who need her help. She was afflicted with dropsy, and filled up with water, but still did what she could to help others. She died after a life of serving others.
