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.

2021

Galen and Joy Wilson, of Soda Springs, recently traveled to Casa Grande, AZ to meet up with Al Kackley to pick up a Barrister bookcase that belonged to his grandfather, Dr. Ellis Kackley.  This is a little sister to the bookcase that he previously donated to the Caribou Historical Society.  These bookcases were in his office in the hospital.  They also presented Al with a plaque for the generous $10,000 donation in memory of current and past Caribou Historical Society members who have been vital in helping preserve the history of Caribou County.  These members include Janet Tolman, Norm Tolman, Elaine Johnson, Tony Varilone, Ellen Carney Nelson, Parlene Davis, Gloria Higgins, and LaRue Stone.  “We are grateful for the support that Al has given the Caribou Historical Society.  Without his help and support, we would not have been able to complete a lot of the work on our museum and the renovation of th ZCMI/Horsley Merchant/Stoors Grocery,” Wilson said.

“We had a great visit with Al and are looking forward to his visit to Soda to see the progress that we have made.  Hopefully this summer we will be able to be open for another Open House so folks can see our museum.  We are currently working on another section of the museum, the VFW/Military section.  Jerry Stoor has been busy working with members of the VFW on it.  Another donation from Kackley was a 105mm casing from a shell that he actually shot while he was in the service in 1969-70.  We would like to thank all the members  that are submitting their 2021 membership dues.  This helps us to move forward with our work,” Wilson said.  

Heidi Thompson was officially honored as a Soda Springs Super Hero by Mayor Austin Robinson at last Wednesday’s city council meeting.  Thompson, who is moving from this area, was recognized for her “many years of dedication on the Greater Soda Springs Community Development Committee” and her “outstanding efforts as treasurer.  She will be sorely missed and we wish her the best in her new adventure,” the mayor said.  “It is a great honor to received this,” Thompson said, adding that everyone on the committee does the work to make it successful. 

Justice Roger Burdick will retire from the Idaho Supreme Court on June 30, after a 47-year career that touched almost every part of the court system.  Justice Burdick has worked as a defense attorney, prosecutor, magistrate judge, district judge, and eventually led the state’s highest court as chief justice.  For two years, he presided over the Snake River Basin Adjudication, the multi-decade effort to confirm and clarify individual water rights across most of Idaho.  Throughout his career, Justice Burdick became known for his focus on transforming the quality of the court system for the benefit of the people of Idaho.  He prioritized securing highly qualified candidates for judgeships and expanding continuing education for judges.   

2011

An earthquake of a 3.7 magnitude centered 13 miles southeast of Grace was felt by many area residents at 10:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan 25.  No damage was reported.  Minor shaking and rumbling was reported in Grace and Soda Springs, as well as other areas, from the earthquake that was about one mile deep, the USGS reported from the University of Utah seismograph stations.  The general area around Sherman Peak between Georgetown and Grace has had several small earthquakes over the years and of about the same magnitude between 2 and 4.

Idaho mountain snowpack measurements conducted at the end of January by the Natural Resources Conservation Service show the current snowpack should provide an adequate water supply this year even with January’s variable precipitation.   Overall, Idaho’s water supply still looks promising.  The mountain snowpack ranges from 85 percent in the central mountains to 130 percent of average in the Bear River Basin in Southeastern Idaho and still looks adequate for this time of year, according to. NRCS hyrdologists.  

Wyeth Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Thatcher Elementary 5th graders and staff teamed up to send Valentines and needed items to Lt. Fernando Rivero, serving in Afghanistan as liaison for the National Support Element, ensuring that the items will be made available to troops during their down time.  Requested items included in the 12 boxes sent were warm socks, hand warmers, boxed macaroni and cheese, and baby wipes. Other items included were bags of candy, gum, combs and brushes, toothbrushes and toothpaste,  paperback books, soap, and shampoo.  Sending items to troops is part of NSDAR’s Project Patriot and is one of the many activities in which NSDAR is involved to support troops, whether in the field or hospitalized.

Darned cold! It was still 5 below zero Wednesday, Feb. 2, at noon in downtown Soda Springs.  The overnight lows were -26 degrees and lower in many places throughout the county.

2001

The Caribou Classic Hill Climbs on Saturday were the biggest yet, with over 330 entrants,  Hosted by the Caribou Trail Riders, President Curtis Keller said there were numerous people and groups who volunteered and helped to make the hill climbs special, including the ladies who helped in the trailer, pit help, Search and Rescue, Mason’s Distributing, Hoey’s Pizza, and SunRise Jewelry for the outstanding trophies.  Racers came from as far away as Minnesota and Alaska for the event.

The number of Idahoans wishing to add their name to the Attorney General’s No Call List for telemarketers is rapidly rising, said Attorney General Al Lance.  “The Consumer Protection Unit has been very busy in the first 72 hours,” Lance said.  Bret DeLange, head of the Consumer Protection Unit, reported that the contracts are coming in at a rate of approximately 1,200 per day.  “We know how important it was to citizens to get relief from unwanted telephone solicitations,” Lance said.  “I just want folks to understand that they have until mid-March to sign up to be included in the first quarterly list.”

Kevin Neuendorf, a former Soda Springs resident, has been named coordinator of media and public relations for the U.S. Olympic committee.  Neuendorf comes to the USOC from USA Boxing, where he was the media and public relations assistant for four years.  Neuendorf will edit various USC publications and oversee the USOC’s media specific website.  Neuendorf graduated magna cum laude from the University of Idaho in 1997 with a bachelor of arts degree in public relations.  Kevin is the son of Dale and Eileen Neuendorf and the son-in-law of Randy and RaeAnn Prescott, all of Soda Springs.

Seven teens recently traveled to Utah State University in Logan to represent Idaho 4-H at the Western Region Teen Leadership Conference.  Approximately 140 teen leaders from 10 western sates spent four days participating in various leadership and communication skills workshops.  The Idaho team included Shae Winward from Caribou County.  Shae is a Senior at Soda Springs High School and is the daughter of Blair and Jackie Winward.

Tony Varilone, district ranger on the Soda Springs Ranger District, has retired after 35 years of service with the U.S. Forest Service.  He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Forestry from Michigan State University in1966.  He began his career with the Forest Service on the Cobalt Ranger District, Salmon National Forest in September of 1966, as a timber management assistant.  While in Salmon, he met and married his wife Jeanne.  Together they transferred to the Boise National Forest, and soon their children Michael and Heidi were born.  He worked in Dubois, and Ketchican, Alaska before coming to Caribou National Forest in 1984.

On Saturday, the Brigham Young University Folk Music Ensemble will be performing at the Gem Valley Performing Arts Center in Grace. They are a unique and talented musical group, made up of select musicians and vocalists who perform and energetic program of several types of American and international folk music. 

1976

Molly Ruud, a senior at Grace High School, has taken second place in the State Farm Bureau American Heritage Contest for her poster based on the theme “God Bless America.”  Molly was chosen from among the 4,000 poster entries.  Her poster was all original art work, and will be on display throughout the state.  Molly is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Ruud of Lago.

The Grace Idaho Stake Relief Chorus under the direction of MRs. Phylis Olsen are giving a Bicentennial patriotic concert on March 7 in the stake house in which they will honor the veterans of Gem Valley. Servicemen are asked to wear their uniforms.  All scouts with uniforms will present the colors and also act as ushers.  Mrs. Marvin Prescott and Mrs. Don Panter will be accompanists. 

The art work of Brett Somsen, first grade, and Celeste Drewien, sixth grade, students at Grays Lake Elementary school in Wayan, and Andrea Smith, second grade, Kasey Christensen, fourth grade, Laurie Smith, fifth grade, Jean Grover and Janice Kelly, sixth grade students at Hooper Elementary School in Soda Springs, have been chosen among many entries from all over the state, to tour during the 1975-1976 school year with the Elementary All-State Traveling Art Exhibit.  The entries were judged by Dr. Louis Peck, Chairman of the Department of Art at Boise State University.  The winning entries will be on display at Grays Lake Elementary School through February.  The sixth annual Elementary All-State Traveling Art Exhibit is sponsored by the Bank of Idaho, First Security Bank, Idaho First National Bank, and the Idaho Art Association.

The first meeting of the Barbershop Chorus in Soda Springs was Wednesday, Feb 4. at the Junior High band room.  Twenty men attended the first meeting and heard Burt Huish, past president of the Evergreen District at Twin Falls and board member of the International Board of Trustees of the Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America describe the organization’s purposes and goals. 

1971

Over $600 damage to window glass at the Soda Springs High School was done early Tuesday morning, when 13 windows in the front entrance, and glass in the gymnasium, were smashed by vandals.  Rocks were thrown through some of the windows, and others were broken out by some other method, probably a club or similar object.  Chief of Police Blynn Wilcox said the damage apparently was done between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.  This is the second act of vandalism at the high school within a week.  Obscene writings were discovered on many windows last week.  As of yet, they have no leads to either act of vandalism.

The Golden Oldies, alumni wrestlers, will present an exhibition match after the Cokeville North Gem wrestling match on Thursday.  Dennis Moser, Stan Wistisen, Evan McLain, Dale Hatch, Alton Hebdon, Danny Mabey, Don Gilbert, Freddie White, and possibly others, will comprise the Golden Oldies.

A blinding snow storm and ground blizzard which set in on Thursday caused several accidents and hospitalized one person.  The focal point of the blizzard was between Soda Springs and Bancroft.

Near zero visibility caused several rea-end traffic collisions and resulted in the closing of the highway until driving conditions improved.  Involved in the numerous accidents were Theo Parker, Louis Duane Bitton, Rasmus K. Nelson, Richard Salzbrun, Robert Charles Morehead, James Strong, Shirley Matney, V. Darlene Kjar, and a Sanders Furniture Co. truck driven by Fred Modersitzki.

Keith Barthlome, general district assistant, has been awarded a Sustained High Level Performance award for his work on the Soda Springs District of the Caribou National Forest.  The honor provides for a promotion and a certificate of merit.  District Ranger Roy Daniels stated that Mr. Barthlome has earned this award through his dedication and service to the public.  He said Mr. Barthlome has served the public both during and after working hours—his dedication does not end at 5 p.m.  Mr. Barthlome has been general district assistant on the Soda Springs Ranger District since 1962.

The Cowboys are hosting the Fifth District Class B Wrestling tournament. Visiting teams will be West Side and Grace.  The defending champion, Leon Perkins, senior, and Roy Hatch, junior, will defend their district titles.  The first session will begin at 1 p.m. and the championship session will begin at 8 p.m. North Gem welcomes you to the wrestling matches.