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

The Soda Springs School District 150 Board of Trustees met Feb 24, for its regular meeting.  Tigert Middle School Principal Debra Daniels updated the board on students volunteering to sing the national anthem every Thursday for the school and the assembly from the Drug Court graduates for the 7th and 8th grade students.  Thirkill Elementary Principal Rod Worthington shared with the board success stories from the Leaders are Readers Week and the Family Literacy Month.  During patron input, Susan Hunsaker shared the importance of music education to her and her children’s education.  The board discussed the current efforts to search for a new superintendent of schools.  The application deadline is March 12, and the board set March 23 to review those applications.  The board also requested staff and public input regarding the qualifications for the for the ideal candidate to be conducted via a survey provided by the Idaho State Boards Association.  

Due to the distance and travel time between Challis High School and Grace high School, it was decided by the administrators of the three schools in the 5-6 District to hold the district tournament at Butte County High School in Arco.  Even though Grace was the number 1 seed and should have hosted the tournament, they agreed to the alternate site.  After losing to Butte County 70-66 in overtime, the Grizzlies took down the Vikings 71-37.  The Wednesday matchup between Butte County and Grace was moved to Snake River HS due to some incidents which occurred among spectators in their first game in Arco.  The final score was 61-49 Grace.  In the district championship the next day, Grace took down the Pirates 66-36. 

2011

The Cardinal boys basketball team captured the 2A Fifth District Tournament championship Monday night before a packed and frenzied crowd at Soda Springs High School. The journey began last Tuesday when Soda Springs hosted Malad and took command for a 62-50 win.  The Cardinals traveled to West Side on Thursday to face the Pirates for the third time this season.  It took a double overtime for Soda Springs to get a 60-53 win.  In a rematch with the Pirates on Monday night the Cardinals fought through the final quarter to send the game into another overtime game with Soda Springs coming out on top and taking the district championship with a 60-57 win over West Side.  

As you travel throughout Southeast Idaho, you may start noticing some wildlife carcasses—those unfortunate victims of vehicle collisions—lying on the side of the road, marked with bright orange paint.  This paint marking system is part of an overall effort of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Idaho Transportation Department to better understand the impacts of roadways and vehicle collisions on Idaho’s wildlife, and the effects on public safety.  Fish and Game, ITD, and various county partners actually record information about the roadkills observed along Idaho’s highways and roadways.  Information such as species, gender, age, and location are collected.  Good, standardized, and complete data is essential to accomplish the main objective; reducing collisions between wildlife and motorists.  All data entered is important for identifying wildlife crossing areas, public safety concerns, ecological linkage areas, and sites where overpasses, underpasses, and adjacent land use management can benefit wildlife and public safety.  

At this past Veteran’s Day assembly, the winners were announced by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary.  They then were asked to present their papers to the community and student body.  In third place was freshman Ciera Weaver.  Second place was presented to Luke Brogan, and in first place was sophomore Kristen Robinson.  Kristne placed first in the district competition, which was held in Blackfoot, and qualified to go to state in Boise, where she placed fourth in state.

2001

Thirty years ago, Jack and Renee Christense began a business, the Arctic Circle Restaurant in Soda Springs.  They purchased it from Robert and Carol Lyn Rigby.  Many things have happened in that length of time—inflation, world problems, and economic changes.  Business trends have had to change as well.  There have been facial uplifts, new menu changes, and operational upgrading.  Renee would like to thank Soda Springs and the surrounding areas for making it possible to endure and succeed in a somewhat otherwise troubled society.  She and all her employees would like to welcome all of their guests to their 30 year anniversary during the month of February.  There are daily specials and several prizes, which include an all expense paid trip for two adults and two children to Disneyland/California Adventure that includes air fare, hotel, and Disneyland passes.

Dorothy Ackerman has returned home from her mission to the Mississippi Jackson Mission.  We are glad to have her home with us once again.

1976

Tuesday afternoon at about 3 p.m. a dam at Beker Industries, Corp at Conda broke and released approximately 20 acre feet of water for a period of about seven hours from the pond.  According to a spokesman for Beker Industries, crews were able to repair and stop the water leak.  Further repairs were underway at presstime.  The plant operations would be affected, the spokesman saif, for an additional two to three days.  The water from the pond flooded the Conda road after the dam broke, stranding many of the workers and residents in Conda.  Attempts to reach Conda by plowing other roads into met with little success, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

No injuries were reported from the dam breakage and there was no estimate of the total damages yet.  The water from the pond, which is re-cycled in plant operations, followed south from the pond, across the Conda road and then was contained primarily along the railroad right of way and farm land along side of it.  At 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, the flow of water had slowed down, but some was still advancing along the railroad tracks past the Caviar building and Tom Cellan’s ranch.  At the time the water was settling in a low swale east of the tracks.  At press time, Beker Industries has crews working on clearing the ice from the Conda road and expected the have the road open by about noon.

Rumors were rampant in Soda Spring about water contamination in the city water supply,  Late Tuesday night, Superintendent Gerard Maughan said the rumors were unfounded.  After surveying the situation, Maughan said at that time it would be very unlikely and city water could be contaminated.

The Soda Springs Parent-Teacher Organization will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday at Thirkill.  Two program will be presented.  Hull will give a short history of karate and several of his students of both high school and elementary school ages will give a demonstration.  They hope to correct the misconception of the violence of karate and emphasize the moral as well as physical aspects of it.  The second part of the meeting will be devoted to a discussion of the vocational program.  Dick Tolman, along with Mr. Rigby, Mr. Nelson, MiShael Leavitt and Mary Lou Aubrey, will detail what our vo-tech program consists of now, what we can anticipate next year and what the long range goals are concerning a complete career education program.  Since the vo-tech program was found to be of utmost concern to many parents in Needs Assessment study, all interested parents should attend the meeting. 

Old-fashioned dresses, dishes, pictures and other historical items highlighted the Annual Friendship Tea sponsored by the “United Presbyterian Women’s Organization” last week.  The theme was centered around the Bicentennial, and dresses over 100 years old were worn by some of the women,   The UPWO invited area community church women to the tea held at the Presbyterian Church.  Among the items on display were painted tin-type portraits dating back to 1825.  There were Christmas cards back to 1882 and a American flint glass cake plate dating back to 1800.  Some of the earliest China of Josiah Wedgewood was exhibited.  The “Venetian Ship” plate went back to about 1650. 

1971

U.S. Air Force Captain Jospeh C. Holbrook of Bancroft has received the Distinguished Flying Cross for aerial achievement in Vietnam.  Captain Holbrook merited the honor by “extraordinary achievement” while participating in aerial maneuvers In Tra Bong, Republic of Vietnam, Aug 14, 1969.  On that date, while flying an unarmed OV-10 aircraft, the captain directed tactical air power against hostile forces who had overrun parts of the Tra Bong special forces camp.  Disregarding his own personal safety in an area of heavy small arms and automatic weapons fired, he made repeated accurate marking passes and successfully directed tactical air against the hostile forces, crushing their attack and forcing them to withdraw from the friendly fortifications.  A 1963 graduate of North Gem High School, he received his BS degree and his commission in 1967 from the U.S. Air Force Academy.  Captain Holbrook’s wife, Eldene, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Everett W. Smith, R.F.D. No. 1, Grace, ID.  

Empire Broadcasting Corop, of Baker, Montana, has purchased the KBRV Radio Station here from Jim Wallentine of Bear Lake.  The radio station has been operating since Sept 23, 1957.

Curtis S. Coombs, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Coombs, Thatcher, has been commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force upon graduating from Officers Training School at Lackland, AFB, Texas.  The Lt., a 1964 graduate of Grace High School attended Dixie Junior College and received his BS degree in 1970 from Idaho State University.

1965

Mike Norris was home from ISU to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Norris and family over the weekend.  

Miss Marlene Monroe who is attending LDS Business School in Salt Lake City, and Miss Erike Monroe, who is employed at Thiokoll in Brigham City, were home to spend the weekend in Soda Springs with their parents, Mr. and Mrs, Melvin A. Monroe.  

Brent and Caroline Wakeman and three daughter of Salt Lake were overnight guests at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Yost.

Shyrl Simons, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Simons, was guest of honor at a family birthday dinner Sunday in honor of his first anniversary.  Also present were Grace Mickelson, Marva, Ireta, and Terri Mickelson, Erma and Floyd Banks and family.

1954

Mr. and Mrs. Art Kelly are to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  They left Thursday.

Mayor and Mrs. A. L. Ozburn left Saturday for Stevensville, Montana to cheer up their grandchildren who have the measles.  They are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Les Ozburn.  

Doyr Cornelison was here from Phoenix this week.  He is still moving farm equipment to their new home. 

Diggs Lewis, Jr. was home from studies at the University of Wyoming at Laramie for the weekend.

1930

For land for sheep or cattle grazing in 1930 call or write Mr. Stanley Huff at Wayan, Idaho.

A surprise party was held in honor of Victor Wood, on his seventh birthday, last Saturday.  After about two hours of dancing, a delicious luncheon was served to those present.  They were Galia and Clay Gorton, Phillip and Phyllis Woodard, Estalla and LaRay Wood, Nola Brenzinger, Amy and Ida Wood and the honored host.  

Miss Lilly Vorwaller was a guest at the Carpenter Ranch, in the Ten Mile Pass, over the weekend.  

Friday evening a surprise party was given in honor of the fourteen-year-old William and Marion Hawker.  After everyone had enjoyed himself for several hours a delicious luncheon was served. 

1905

Prof. E. E. Furman went to Pocatello this morning to attend teacher’s examination.

Hugh Dorrien is having his saloon building fixed up in fine shape for the coming season and will have a nice place.  Messrs. W. M. Davis and J. D. Woodall are doing the carpenter work and Del Root is welding the paintbrush.

A rag sewing bee was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Moore, west of town, yesterday and a nice time is reported.  Tom Sterrett took over a sleigh load of men folks to help eat the fine dinner that was served.  None of the men had nerve enough to tackle the needle and thread so they returned to town as soon as possible.