Looking Back at Pages from the Past

2020

An avalanche awareness class put together by Paul Gritton was held on Tuesday, Nov. 24, with about 15 attendees.  The guest speaker was a professional snowmobile athlete and Ski-Doo ambassador Brett Rasmussen and associate instructor Kevin Allred.  Rasmussen speaks at many snowmobile events around the country and is widely known in the industry as “the Professor.”  He operates Ride Rasmussen Style, which is a riding school for snowmobilers that takes him all around the world.  On addition to his other clinics, the last few years he and Allred have been conducting formal Avalanche Training classes which have become very popular and often fill up quite quickly.  At Tuesday’s evening class, attendance at one of Rasmussen’s three-day Avalanche Safety Training classes for one person was donated by local businesses Gritton’s, Babe’s Dirtwork, and Meyer’s Racing, a $400 value.  With today’s snowmobiles. The increasing popularity of outdoor recreation and the often invisible danger of avalanches, training and the proper equipment can make the difference between a day of fun and a tragedy.  Make sure if you venture out on the mountain you have the proper equipment, and know how to use it.  Next, be sure your companions are similarly equipped and are educated on the hazards.  IT could be your life that is on the line.  Make certain you practice and are familiar with your gear, and don’t forget to change batteries in your gear at least at the start of each season.  Stay alive! Take avalanche safety very seriously, on every day, every trip, and with everyone.

At the recent Board of County Commissioners meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Caribou Memorial Hospital to begin the process of transferring the organization to a nonprofit 501c3.  CMH is a county hospital and it has been losing money on its assisted living center.  It is also in need of updating its infrastructure or building a new hospital.  Its board and administration said a nonprofit status would allow them to build a new facility, as well as either manage, sell, or close the living center to make operations more viable without further burdening county taxpayers.  Commissioner Mark Mathews said a previous response to the commissioners request in administrative costs at the assisted living center was generic and not broken down to salaries, and they would like to see that.  In a split vote, the commissioners approved adopting the MOU between the county and CMH to begin the process of transferring it to a nonprofit.  Commissioner Mathews voted against the MOU.

Sheriff Adam Mabey introduced Russell Roper as his new chief deputy.  Roper has extensive background in law enforcement, including being chief of police in Logan, Utah, and most recently chief in Montpelier.  

The United States Geological Survey reported a magnitude 3.5 quake near Soda Springs on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 4:04 a.m. local time at a very shallow depth of 4 miles.  It was located 8 miles southeast of Soda Springs.  A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, which listed it as a magnitude 3.5 earthquake as well.  Based on the preliminary seismic damage, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.  Weak shaking might have been felt in Soda Springs located 8 miles from the epicenter, Georgetown (population 500) 9 miles away, Grace (pop. 900) 13 miles away, and Bennington (pop. 200) 15 miles away.  There were reported of some people feeling it and pets reacting to the earthquake.  No damage was reported. 

Delivery of hundreds of new books and big cash awards to 20 lucky elementary schools across the Gem State is underway as part of the Idaho Lottery’s annual Bucks for Books program.  “Bucks for Books is another way we further our ‘Do Good’ mission by promoting early education literacy among younger students,” Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson said.  Two of the local recipients were Grace Elementary and Thirkill Elementary.  Grace received a check for $3,000 and Thirkill for $2,000.  Both received a festively wrapped box of books as well.  “Our popular books are in rough shape, many are beyond repair,” said Angela Binggeli, librarian at Grace Elementary.  “Plus, we’re moving to a new school with a larger library space.  This will help us stock those empty shelves and keep our students reading the books they’re interested in,” she said.  “When the schools closed last springs, we made a big push to get books into the hands of students before they left,” said Tracey Lakey, Thirkill Elementary Librarian.  “We took a loss on many lost or damaged books through this process.  I take my stewardship of our students’ growth through reading very seriously and look forward to implementing the Bucks for Books awards and translating it into library success.”

During the week’s fall meeting of the Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts, Congressman Mike Simpson received the national Land Trust Alliance’s Public Leadership Conservation Award for his crucial role in passing the Great American Outdoors Act.  The Great American Outdoors Act is best known for providing full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the nation’s premier program for conserving natural areas of exceptional public value.  The act additionally funds local recreational facilities for much-needed maintenance at our national parks, refuges, and public lands.  “The Land Trust Alliance is proud to join the Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts in recognizing U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson for his steadfast leadership on and commitment to land conservation,” said Lori Faeth, the Land Trust Alliance’s government relations director.”  For over 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has protected many of Idaho’s treasured places, from the Sawtooth Valley to the Snake River, Lower Salmon River and Lake Couer d’Alene.

Southeastern Idaho Public Health has confirmed five deaths associated with COVID-19 through November.  Three males were from Bannock county, one in their 60s, one in their 70s, and one in their 80s.  One male in his 70s was from Caribou County and one male in his 90s was from Bingham County.  This brings the total to 68 deaths due to COVID-19 in southeast Idaho.  Out of respect to these individuals’ families, no additional details will be released.  

2010

Over 69,000 Idaho children and teens participated in this year’s Summer Reading Program at their public libraries, a nine percent increase over last year’s record numbers.  These programs are designed to help children build or maintain literacy levels and are one solution to the “summer slide.”  More Idaho children participated in summer reading programs than any other organized youth program in their state.  Taking advantage of the “Make a Splash” theme, 131 Idaho libraries designed programs that offered opportunities for reading as well as arts, recreation, and youth development.

The Idaho State Police is announcing its decision to open the Trooper position and will hire approximately 15 new troopers statewide.  Starting pay for the trooper position is $17.67 per hour, and possibly higher if the candidate is a current police officer with at least three years experience as a sworn officer.

The Social Dance Club is now in its second year, doubling its members from last year’s 16 couples to this year’s grand total of 64 students—32 boys and 32 girls.  The club is very excited about this year as they are working towards a Christmas Show on Dec. 23, centered around the hit TV show “Dancing with the Stars.”  Andrea Holyoak started a dance club at Star Valley High School while living in Afton, Wyoming, and in her last year had 94 members.  She is excited to bring this opportunity to students in Caribou County.

2000

Jonathan and Jennifer Balls, former Soda Springs residents, are pleased to announce the birth of their third child, Jocelyn Virginia Balls.  She was born at Bannock Regional Medical Center on Nov. 14.  She weighed in at 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long.  Jocelyn was greeted at home by her brother Joshua, 2 ½ years old, and sister Justice, 14 months old.

Grace High School Principal Gary Brogan made a center court presentation last week prior to the girls basketball game with Soda Springs to honor coaches Keith Bitton, and his assistant Joe Elsmore.  The plaques were awarded by the Idaho State Coaches Association for “Distinguished Service” by the two men.  Coach Bitton began coaching girls basketball in 1985 and retired in 1999.  Coach Elsmore coached the girls junior varsity teams from 1981 to 1999.  

New teachers this year in the Soda Springs in the Soda Springs School District include Bob Aubrey, industrial arts teacher, Vicki Spieldt, a resource teacher, Susan Murdoch music, theater and drama teacher, and Paula Nelson, special education.  

Elder Aaron Bowman, son of Eric and Liana Bowman, Soda Springs, has completed his mission to Culiacan, Mexico.  He will be speaking in Sacramento meeting Nov 26 at 12:30 p.m. in the Hooper Avenue LDS Church. 

1990

Caribou County will be getting a new state-of-the-art weed sprayer that is designed to save labor and chemicals and should be able to do what three or four conventional rigs have been currently doing.  The Caribou County commissioners authorized the purchase recently of the new system, that came in last week from Cibolo Manufacturing in Jourdanton, Texas.  The unit costs about $40,000 and will be mounted on a new Dodge diesel truck that was also bought for $17,000.  According to Johnny Kubacak, president of Cibolo Manufacturing, the one-man, one-truck unit can do what three to four conventional truck spraying units have done in the past—and do it better.  “It saves dollars in labor, reduces the labor in spraying, and gives total control in applying herbicide in weed control programs,” Kubacak said. 

1970

The Grace High School wrestling squad will open their season at home Wednesday, Dec. 2, when they play host to Soda Springs’ Cardinals.  Coach Lew Lamb, who heads into his ninth year as wrestling coach at Grace High School, will have five returning lettermen back from last year’s squad.  They are Brent Simoson, Blake Allen, Cordell Winward, Leroy Padilla, and Allen Collins, who took a fourth place in the state wrestling tourney last season.  

Ann Warner Robinett, winner of the Idaho Farm Bureau State Talent Find in Pocatello Tuesday evening, has brought special honor to Farm Bureau District 1 and to Caribou County.  Mrs. Robinett won with her presentation of a vocal solo.  She sang in competition with other contestants representing the five districts in the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.  As the Idaho State winner, Mrs. Robinett will received an all expense paid trip to the National Conventional of American Farm Bureau Federation at Houston, Texas, where she will sing in a talent program at the Sam Houston Coliseum in the Civic Center.  The convention is scheduled for the week of Dec. 6-10.  

Soda Springs will again have a “money tree” for Christmas shoppers this year.  This promotion was so popular last year that the merchants decided to “load up” the tree with money prizes again this year.  The promotion is a joint venture of the business men and the Chamber of Commerce.  Soda Springs business firms will start giving out tickets to local shoppers.  At drawings to be held later, lucky ticket holders whose numbers are called will get a “free grab” at the money tree.

Saturday evening speakers in the Bancroft Ward were Mr. and Mrs. Parley Schenk.  The Higginson family family sang two numbers conducted by Christine Hatch.  Ella Lloyd was accompanist for the first number and Dennis Moser for the second.  The chirus was made up of grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and granddaughters, with preschoolers participating.