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.
(2025) Presbyterian Women and Pastor Nathan ready and waiting with hot soup and bread at last year's Presbyterian Soup Luncheon. L-R Nona Pristupa, Grace Blatter, Marilyn Kukachka, Veda Mascarenas, Nathan Sobers, Joan Davis, Jana Meikle, Carolyn Puls, Ann Hamm, Tammy Stephens, Cindy Daniels
2021
The county officially moved to lift the mask mandate that had been in place. Masks were still recommended inside county buildings, but not required. Masks were also recommended for direct face to face interactions with county employees.
Planning and Zoning’s JoAnna Ashley presented an overview of the codification process the county is going through to review all county ordinances in order to create a formal set collection of the county’s laws in a shareable document. A public hearing will be held in the future, and if it is approved, hard copies will be available, as well as placing it on the county website.
1991
The second snow measurements ofSen. Steve Symms expressed “alarm” at the finding of a report commissioned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on attitudes and practices of IRS managers. The report, completed in January, was leaked last week to the National Coalition of IRS Whistleblowers. “Given the power of the IRS, and their unparalleled ability to invade and disrupt our lives, the problems confirmed by this report are alarming,” Symms said. “These problems cannot be swept under the rug, and in the near future, I intend to address them and deal with them.” Symms said about 800 IRS executives and managers took part in the internal survey, which showed that over half of them have used their IRS authority to do favors for family and friends. “What’s even more frightening,” Symms said, “is that just under half said they used their position to intimidate or punish personal enemies.” Symms said he was not interested in “bashing” the IRS, but was concerned about protecting the rights of taxpayers. “The IRS has many hard working, dedicated, and under-paid employees,” Symms said. “And I don’t mean to detract from those good employees. But I do mean to ensure that hard working taxpayers are not victimized by the abuses of some officials that are apparently occurring within the service.
Aileen Larsen writes, “Kristi Yost and Michael Schenk have been chosen by their teacher as North Gem’s students of the month for February. Kristi is the daughter of Susan and Fred Yost of Bancroft. A very active senior, Kristi is seminary president, senior class representative, co-editor of the school paper, vice president of the pep club, and secretary of the North Gem choir. She also serves on the yearbook staff and keeps statistics for the boys’ basketball team. As a freshman, sophomore, and junior, Kristi was presented the schools scholastic award. This is an honor given at the end of each school year to the outstanding scholar in each high school class. As north Gem’s top science students during her junior year, Kristi was presented a Science Now Award, which is a program sponsored by INEL as part of its effort to recognize and encourage high school students who excel in the science areas. She was also runner up at the Lions’ Young Woman of the Year Pageant.
Michael Schenk, son of JaNeal and Glenn Schenk, is a North Gem senior. Michael served his class as junior vice president. He is currently FFA vice president. Michael’s high school activities have included football, basketball, and FFA. His ankle was broken during a basketball game early in the season this year, but that did not keep him from being a vital part of the team and build the spirit of basketball at North Gem. Scouting has been a long time interest of Michael’s. He ha built a fence at the Bancroft Rodeo grounds as his Eagle Scout project. Michael’s hobbies include playing and watching football and basketball, riding motorcycles, and “chasing women.” Michael’s goal for the future is to become a pilot. He likes being a student at North Gem because everyone is so close and gets along so well.
Cory Gentry, T.R. Campbell, and Micah Rigby were honored by being chosen by Idaho sportswriters to the second team All State A-3 boys’ basketball team. First team were Justin Jones, Malad, Shawn Kunz, Teton, Eric Wade, Teton, Ryan Hardy, Valley, and Blake Mitchell, Valley. Second team were Cory Gentry, Soda, T.R. Campbell, Soda, Micah Rigby, Soda, Kirk Steadman, Declo, and David Cunningham, Lapwai.
Spec. 4 David Hoff, former resident of Soda Springs, survived the worst scud missile attack of the Gulf War. David was reported missing after the attack for 12 hours. His dog tags were found but he couldn’t be located. David was later found in a hospital but was not identified for some time. Sp. Hoff was suffering from trauma and shock—he had lost his memory. He remembered throwing his dog tags because they were so hot. Hoff went to Saudi Arabia in October in the 27th Engineering Battalion and had returned at Thanksgiving time, planning to stay. His allergic reaction to a gamma globulin shot necessitated his being sent to Walter Reed Medical Center. His experience as a generator mechanic, however, resulted in his request to return to the desert. He had been scheduled to take a two-day flight to Saudi Arabia that made stops along the way. Instead, he and other special forces personnel were flown straight to their assignment in Dhahran, arriving about an hour before the Scud attack. They had just gone to the barracks to rest. David is aboard a Navy ship at this time, where they took shrapnel from his leg for four hours. He also had serious burns on the upper part of his body. As soon as he is well enough, he will be sent to Germany until he recovers enough to be sent home, where he will receive the Purple Heart. David is the son of Weldon Hoff, Georgetown, and Jeraldine Duncan, Blackfoot. David attended grade schools in Soda Springs, later moving to Blackfoot, where he graduated in 1982.
A proposal eliminating driving privileges for Idaho’s 14-year olds while dropping the legal driving age from 16 to 15 will be debated by the entire Idaho Senate early in March. Following a 90 minute debate of the proposal Feb 26, the Senate Transportation Committee, in a 6-4 ballot, voted to send SB 1187 to the full Senate with a “do pass” recommendation. Co-sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Jerry Twiggs, Blackfoot, and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Dennis Hansen, Soda Springs, the law would take effect Sept 1 if passed. Under the bill, “daylight only” restrictions will apply to 15 year old resident who have successfully completed an accredited driver’s education course. The law requires officers to treat non-resident 15 year old drivers.
1977
Senator Frank Church announced last week that he has joined in introducing legislation to prohibit corporations with more than $3 in non-farm assets from engaging in farming operations. “I think it’s time to stop the growing vertical integration by food manufacturers into agriculture,” said Church. “Presently, these manufacturers control some 22 per cent of farm production.” Church added that such corporate conglomerates “buy choice farm lands, engage in contract farming, wrestle family famers out of business through their economic muscle, control markets and product lines, and all too often are more interested in tilling the Internal Revenue code than the soil.” Some have argued, Church added, that “corporate control of agricultural production represents only a small percentage of production while providing needed capital. But the real question in who should control agriculture in this country: independent farmers or large corporations? I think that question must be answered in favor of the farmer, and the time to act is now, before the present trend toward corporate farm control becomes irreversible.
Officers of the Grace Business Men’s and Women’s Organization met at Turner’s Café on March 2, for the purpose of choosing a chairman. Eddie Panter conducted the meeting. Lilas Van Vleet read minutes of the November meeting, and requested help getting the minutes from February. The disposition of the donation for the track at the high school was discussed and decided to give the check at a later date when track plans were complete. The officers decided to continue to sponsor an ad and picture for each new business starting out in Grace in both the Grace Citizen and the Caribou County Sun. Approval for a donation of $100 to the Lions Club Pony League was made to be given at the next month’s meeting with a Lions Club member present to receive the donation. Board member Thola Lowe reported that Deputy Sheriff Larry Higgins wished to warn business men to remove ladders from the rear of their business buildings as it is an invitation to thieves to use them to break into businesses through the roof.
A Rexburg woman now holds a third place in Idaho’s big game record book. Vicki Grover took a Wyoming-Shiras moose during last fall’s season in Madison County that scored 176 6/8 on the Boone and Crockett official scoring system. A minimum of 150 is required. The scores for Nos. 2 and 1 on moose are 182 6/8 and 199 3/8 respectively. Both moose were taken in 1957. The Idaho big game records is now complete through June 1976 and covers all big game species in the state.
Idaho’s production of red meat during January 1977 was a January record, 36.5 million pounds. The Idaho Crop and Livestock Reporting Service stated the previous record for January of 35.2 million pounds was established in 1974. Cattle slaughtered totaled 55,000 head compared with 48,500 head a year earlier. This coupled with a 29 pound increase in average live weight resulted in a total cattle slaughter live weight of 62.9 million pounds – 17 percent greater than the previous January.
1966
Stacey Lewis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Max Lewis was honored Sunday afternoon on her second birthday at a family dinner. Guests were her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Moore and Mrs. Ezra Lewis.
Mrs. Barry Christensen and three children spent from Thursday until Sunday with her parents, Jim and Catherine Raymond in Montpelier while Barry went with Kay Andreasen to Los Angeles as a relief driver.
Mrs. Elaine Webb and daughter Kathy and friend, Paul Webb of Paris visited with the Lou Pugmire family Sunday afternoon.
De Anne Gunnell of Idaho Falls, visited with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Gunnell.
1946
Dr. and Mrs. Allen Tigert left Tuesday to return to their home in St. Louis, Mo.
Thomas K. Gunnell left this morning for American Falls where he will install truck scales for the Globe Mills.
Harry Sorensen accepted delivery on a 1946 DeSoto Sedan and Earl Balls on a 1946 Plymouth sedan March 10 from the Call Motor Co. Mr. Sorensen and Mr. Balls were first on the list to receive new cars. Mr. Call expects delivery of more DeSotos and Plymouths in the near future.
Mrs. Rulon Evans and Mrs. Earl Evans spent the weekend in Pocatello with their husbands who are employed in that city.
1927
Mrs. E. I. Simons and little son Grant are visiting relatives at Gray’s Lake this week.
Last Saturday a number of Soda residents took their cars and made a trip to Grace. The object was to open the road for traffic. The trip was made without trouble, and since this time there has been considerable travel over the road.
Howard E. Nichols was a business visitor to Paris and Montpelier Monday and Tuesday.
The Women’s Benefit Association met at the I.O.O.F. hall. A large turnout was present last evening in a business session.
1904
Bills allowed by the town board included that of James Watson $50 for services of town marshall, and Wm. Ruby $5 for ringing curfew.
The Gorton supply company had purchased the business of Herman Wakeman at Herman, Idaho and was to conduct same in connection with their local business.
E.D. Whitman was working hard to geta flour mill for the town and a letter to him from an Ogden man, published in the Chieftan gave promise of developing into something.
The editor pledged himself to wear rubber boots--and high ones at that—the next time he attended a town board meeting.
