Looking Back at Pages from the Past

2021

The Soda Springs Fire Department reached a milestone in 2021.  IT is 90 years old and was established in January of 1931, according to the Soda Springs Chieftain.  Ike Ozburn was appointed chief and Bill Miller was Assistant Chief.  Other members of the department were “Ike” Blackburn and Fox Thorpe, nozzlemen, Milton Horsley and Bill Hildreth, hydrant men, and John Bew, driver.  The first practice for the volunteer dire department was Saturday, Jan 10, 1931.  The first fire truck was a used one purchased from the City of Logan, and was in operation for some three decades.  According to Fireman Scott MacKenzie, it is now with the Soda Springs Lions Club, and was often in parades.  MacKenzie and current Chief Dan Squires noted a modern fire truck was purchased in 1969 after a bond was approved by the city residents.  It was later sold to Fish Haven in 2001.  MacKenzie said engines No. 1, 2, and 3 were online prior to 1986 when he started with the SSFD.  He noted some “innovative means” were used to compliment the addition of Engine np. 4—a converted box van donated by Robert Rigby, Sr., through Intermountain Gas Company.  It carried the first foam generation machinery the department used. 

“When the 1963 LaFrance No. 2 was ready to be replaced with Engine no. 5, it was a difficult sell, but it was natural for the new one to have the next great system that delivered foam under a compressed air format that potentially lessened the water required and lessened the damage to the structure” from the heavier amount of water, he said.  The road trip down memory lane continues, with the need for a vehicle to work on the rural interface wildland fires and somewhere in the early millennium another innovative build was underway.  An old city Water Department Ford pickup was due to be auctioned off.  The department got the vehicle and with a coat of paint, some suspension fortifications, and a small wildland pump system, it resulted in Engine No 6.  MacKenzie said in 2014 the No. 3 FMC pumper truck “shuddered, banged and under nearly all of the 300 Detroit horses dropped the transmission on the driveway.  That’s how we were able to acquire an engine under Mayor Smith,” he said.

Idaho Senate Republicans advanced legislation aimed to rebalance the power of state government to reflect the will of the people, they said.  In a special meeting of the Senate State Affairs Committee, members voted to move Senate Concurrent Resolution 101 to a floor vote with a “do pass” recommendation from last week.  SCR101 would immediately terminate the COVID-19 emergency orders issued by the Governor while maintaining the declarations needed to keep federal funding available to Idaho’s military, first responders, health care providers, and community, Senate Republican leadership said. 

2011

A record amount of $9,513 in proceeds was raised Saturday at the Soda Springs Winter Carnival Fishing Derby, sponsored by Clear Springs Foods, Inc.  Jerry Giles, manager of the local operations for Clear Springs, said 684 entrants paid their fees to enjoy the day at the ponds, and there were well over 700 people attending with visitors and sightseers.  In its 21st year, the popular fishing derby draws the crowds and this year’s big fish winner was Braxton Bingham, 15, of Utah with his 16.2 pound rainbow trout.  Second place at 15.3 pounds was Trey Stephens, 4, of Soda Springs, and Evert Evans of Rexburg took third at 14.3 pounds.

On Saturday, Jan 29 the North Gem Boosters Club invited three very special groups of men and their families to return to North Gem High School for recognition.  These three groups all belonged to an Idaho State basketball championship team in the years 1957, 1961, and 1995.  They will be recognized at a reception in the Cowboy hallway at 7 p.m. and then will receive special recognition at the half-time of the boys game with Clark County.

The family of C.D. Simmons gathered on Tuesday Jan 18 to celebrate his 99th birthday.  Clarence Dean was born in Raymond, Alberta, Canada on Jan 18, 1912 to John Stoker and Mary Jane O’Brien Simmons, the seventh of 11 children.  C.D. and Vivian moved to Grace in 1937, where Clarence began a long career of teaching in the Grace and Soda Springs High Schools.  He taught English, typing, bookkeeping, government, shorthand, and American History.  He coached track and football and directed school plays.  He was noted for his beautiful penmanship.

Soda on Ice, a local group hosting the Jan 15 Ice Bowl tournament for the benefit of the Food Bank, was not only happy about the weather, but about the size of the tournament and the support for the Food Drive in conjunction with the Ice Bowl.  Ed Hegemann, spokesman for Soda on Ice, praised the generosity of local businesses, which provided cash, food, and prizes for the tournament.  Thanks to the tournament and business donations, over $1,500 was collected for the food bank. 

The first baby of the 2011 New Year at Caribou Memorial Hospital was Kire Rose Armstrong, born at 12:36 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 14, weighing in at 6 pounds 15 ounces and 18.5 inches long.  Kira’s parents are Nicole and Byron Armstrong of Soda Springs, and a brother, Ethan, 6, a sister Leah, 5, are waiting at home.  Businesses contributing gifts and money to the new baby are Advantage Plus, Arctic Circle, Broulims, Eastman Drug, Caribou County Sun, Gate City Real Estate, Sanders, Lallatins, Main Street Floral, Alco, Subway, Geyser View, PPS, Mountain States Insurance, City of Soda Springs, Mountain View Dental Clinic, Enders, Chamber Office, Agrium, Flame, and Soda Creek Lodge.

The North Gem/Grace wrestling team attended another good tournament last weekend at Wendell High School.  There were 22 teams competing in the tournament.  The Grace wrestling team placed 7th just five points out of third place.  They also brought home four medals.  Justin Williams placed 1st at 130 pounds, Spenser Peck was 2nd at 171, Austin Weaver placed 4th at 135, and Westyn Thompson placed 5th at 140.

2001

The Soda Springs Lady Cardinals showed a lot of improvement Friday night at home with American Falls.  Displaying an impressive defense the Lady Cardinals jumped out to a 17-10 first quarter lead.  American Falls clawed their way back into the game to trail by just two and a half, but the Cards stepped it up again the third and held tough to get the 54-43 win.  Laura Sprague scored 22 points and picked up six steals on the night, while Wendi Price added 13 points and came away with four steals.  The Lady Cards improved to 3-12 on the season with the win and 2-5 in conference play.

Thirkill Thunderbirds School Report: 1st grade—first grade is easy and fun.  We are such good readers.  We love it.  We like math too.  We play a flash card game and are memorizing addition facts.  We are fast.  We are learning about Eskimos and Martin Luther King.  He taught us to like everyone, and have peace.

Senior Jeff Hoopes remained undefeated as Soda Springs High School wrestlers compete.  Placing first at the Rulon Winward Memorial Tournament in Prestin were Hoopes at 275 pounds and Chris Harrison at 215 pounds.  Other wrestlers competing were Brooks Wilcox at 119 pounds and Jerremy Allen at 140 pounds.   First place medalists at the Grace Invitational Tournament were Hoopes at 275, and Wilcox at 112, while Chris Harrison gave a valiant effort at 215 pounds.  The Cardinal team is coached by Justin Dahlke and Matt Kirby.

Rik Finlayson completed his schooling at Idaho State mid-December, with a double major in computer information systems and business management, while working at FMC and commuting to classes.  He will graduate with high honors and receive his degree at ISU during commencement exercises in May.  Rik started work Jan 1 in Idaho Falls for Docutech.  He and his wife Alexa are parents of three children, Kayden, Melia, and Taisha.

At this year’s Prevention Conference, the Idaho Drug Free Youth group decided to make quilts for those who might need them.  The youth have written messages on each quilt and drawn pictures.  The quilts were made with love from the youth of Idaho.  Those involved were Lynda Lee, Amanda Martinsen, Rebecca Anderson, Stephanie Sippola, Ryan Simmons, Chase Johnson, Andrea Krall, and Holly Gorton.  

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Murdoch left Christmas morning in a ten passenger van, on a family vacation to Anaheim, California, stopping one night en route in Mesquite, Nevada.  They spent all but one day enjoying the attractions and rides in Disneyland and one day in Sea World.  One the return trip they stayed overnight again in Mesquite and were overnight again in Mesquite and were guests in Provo, Utah of Susan’s mother, where they celebrated New Year’s Eve with her family.  They continued home New Year’s Day.  Those enjoying the vacation with their parents included Desarie and Wynn Hill and children, and Micah and Megan Murdoch of Pocatello.  Micah and Patrick are both students at ISU and Megan working on the ISU campus.

1971

Uncle Cal from Caribou says:  You recollect the item in the papers about this feller riding his motorcycle stark naked except for his helmet.  When he was stopped by police he said he was wearing the helmet cause he didn’t want to break the law.  When he was asked how come that was all he was wearing he said he didn’t know of a law that you had to wear anything else to ride a motorcycle.  As technical as our laws is gitting, Mr. Editor, I couldn’t figger out what the outcome of the case might have been.  On one hand, he might have been turned loose on account the warrunt didn’t have the right therefore and whereas, or cause they wasn’t no room fer him in jail.  On the other hand, he might have been put away for air and noise pollution with the motorcycle with malice aforethought ipso facto centorio e pluribus unum.  

It may be the parents in Caribou Council don’t have children who have temper tantrums, dawdle at piano practice, chores or school work, or get into fights in and out of the home, but if some parents or teachers feel the need for some help, it is now available.  Sarting 7 p.m. Feb 4, classes will be held in the Thirkill school library to teach good behavior habits without developing ulcers or using the paddle too often.  This class is an extension of Idaho State University and all are welcome.

The Cardettes have been very busy the past few weeks preparing and providing entertainment for the halftime shows at the basketball games.  The routines that the girls have performed include the drill made up by the junior members of the team and the drill where the girls use the new poms-poms that were made by the Home Economic Department, with Mrs. Williams in charge of the project. Due to trading of drill teams between the Cardettes and the Bear Lake Lakettes, the Lakettes marched at the Wednesday night game between Soda and Bear Lake.  The Cardettes will then travel to Montpelier Friday night and march on their court.

Sherman Wright, son of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Wright, received cuts on his neck Friday night while skidooing, when he hit a barb wire fence.  He was taken to the Caribou Memorial Hospital where it took several stitches to close the wounds.

Grace School Board Minutes:  The Grace School District Board heard a proposal from the girls of the Grace High School student council.  The group requested that for health reasons girls be allowed to wear pants from the first of December to the end of March.  The trustees approved a 30 day trial period during which time the girls may wear pants and slacks but not blue jeans of blue Levis.  The girls of the student council accepted responsibility to enforce the new dress code.