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) Art was one of the many subjects students, parents, and teachers discussed at North Gem's Parent-Teacher conferences last year.
2011
Average retail gasoline prices in Idaho have risen 10.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging #3.21 a gallon Sunday, This compares with the national average that has increased 17 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.34, according to gasoline price website IdahoGasPrices.com. Including the change in gas prices in Idaho during the past week, prices yesterday were 54.6 cents per gallon higher than he same day one year ago and are 32.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.
Supt. Jamie Holyoak called for an assembly of all North Gem students on Monday morning and invited Justin Williams and Val Eddins, the Grace/North gem co-op wrestling coaches to the stage. He commended both coaches on the success of the wrestling programs. Five North Gem wrestlers attended the state wrestling competition which included Justin Taylor Williams, Caleb Williams, Anson Christenses, Westlyn Thompson, and Trey Reed. All five won their first round matches. When it was all over on Saturday, Caleb Williams, a freshman, received the sixth place medal in the 125 weight classification and Justin Taylor Williams, a sophomore, stood atop the podium, as the state champion.
Grace District 148 school teachers braved the storm on Thursday evening at the high school to be part of a statewide protest in support of education. “It’s a sad day for education,” commented Lanae Robinson, president of the Grace Education Association. She was referring to the passage by the senate of two of the three bulls in Supt. Tom Luna’s education package to overhaul education in Idaho. Many of the senators noted in debate that they’ve heard more public opposition to this plan than on any other issue in their careers, yet 20 of them held to their party lines and voted to pass the bills, she said.
The Caribou Field Archers had their first shoot of the year. IT was held at the Tigert Middle School on March 5, with a good turnout. Results of the shoot were: Men’s Unlimited – 1st Danny Remund, Preston; 2nd Jeff Martinsen, Soda Springs; 3rd Chris Burger, Soda Springs. Women’s Unlimited – 1st Shelby Remund, Preston; 2nd Whitney Burger, Soda Springs; 3rd Gean Pierson, McCammon. Youth Women’s Unlimited – 1st Josee Peck, Grace; 2nd Celinda Thornock, Grace. Youth Men’s Unlimited – 1st Russell Owen, Soda Springs; 2nd Kasen Lewis, Montpelier; 3rd Spenser Peck, Grace.
The Soda Springs High School Scholastic Bowl academic team was among the hundreds of students from across Idaho who put on their thinking caps to compete at the Idaho National Laboratories East Region finals. With hopes of winning and an all expense paid trip to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., the team traveled to the USY Idaho Falls campus on Monday, Feb, 28 to compete in a “battle of the brains.” SSHS participants were Nathan Bollar and Parker Daniel, team captains, JayCee Ianelli, Bradyn Smith, Jesse Villines, Sara Brown, Brandi Thielman, Steven Torgesen, Kaelyn Daniel, Maci Owen, Emily Clegg, Levi Franson, Devin Wilson, Nick Kress, and May Brown. The team is coached by Bryan Jensen, SSHS physics, chemistry, and physical science teacher. Soda came away with a third place finish.
2001
Kerr-McGee recognized progress in mathematics at Hooper Elementary by sponsoring the movie “The Kid” on Feb 15 at the Idan-Ha Theatre. All fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students who have shown achievement in their math classes were given tickets to attend. Teachers accompanied their classes for the walk to the theater and the performance.
Idaho Ste University has set an all time record for spring semester enrollment. The total students head count of 12.910 is a 1.3 percent increase over last year’s previous enrollment record for a springs, 12,739. “These figures can be attributed to increases in freshman transfer students, and growth in the outreach centers,” said Jennifer Fisher, assistant academic vice president. Enrollment increased at ISU’s Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Boise outreach centers.
“Dear Editor,
I was most impressed by your heartfelt article about your dear faithful dog. The longer I live, which is considerable, the more I appreciate the gift that animals unselfishly give we human beings. Any animal responds to love and caring people. Only when these defenseless animals are betrayed by thoughtless human beings do they lose that trust. People who look on animals as nothing but nuisances miss one of the great blessings our creators gave us. Those who appreciate and regard these would-be friends, with love are so blessed with understanding and tail-wagging worship.
Sincerely, Winona Lowe, Grace.”
Caribou Memorial Hospital’s Auxiliary, in its pledge to increase the fine art handing on the walls of the local hospital has purchased an original oil painting entitled “Tetons,” by local artist Bonnie Summers, announced Auxiliary President Rosli Grier. “Tetons” is a provocative painting of the famous snow capped mountain peaks, with a storm brewing in the sky. The lake in the foreground with vegetation, adds to the view and gives the picture a green tone, which is striking.
Students from North Gem High School chosen for the Rocky Mountain All Conference basketball team were Nick Roberts for the first team for the boys. For the girls were ShaeLyn Yost for the first team and Jordan Setser for the second team. Nick Roberts was also chosen to play on the all-star team.
Thirkill Thunderbirds School Report: 2nd Grade - Here in school we’re learning about body parts like the lungs, heart, and brain. Friday was our pet day and we had horses, dogs, donkeys, cat, hamster, turtle, and a bunny. We got to feed the horses and donkeys. We learned about geometric shapes, cubes, cone, cylinder, sphere, rectangular, solid, and pyramid. We had a read-a-thon for Dr. Seuss’s birthday. We are all trying to make our goals in AR.
1991
An accident on Teusady, March 26, on the flats west of Soda Springs on Highway 30 about halfway to Fish Creek, claimed the lives of three individuals in a head-on accident between a semi-truck and a 1983 GMC Suburban. Cpl. Dennis Abrams of the Idaho State Police said the accident happened about 2:10 p.m., when Robert Andrew Dean, Rupert, appeared to have attempted passing another semi-truck and pulled into the west bound lane, hitting the 1983 Suburban head-on, killing three of the four occupants. Robbyn Gale Setser, 32, of Rupert, died at the scene. She was the driver of the Suburban. Two sons, Cory, 6, and Kyle, 7, also died as a result of the accident. Another son, Jay Paul, 10, survived and is listing in stable condition at the Bannock Regional Memorial Hospital. Dean, the driver of the 1985 Freightliner semi-truck and trailer, was transported to Pocatello Regional Hospital and is in stable condition. Cpl. Abrams said the semi was eastbound when it appeared the driver tired to pass a second semi in front of it and struck the Setser vehicle. It appeared she had little or no time to react. A Lifeflight helicopter, and ambulances from Bannock County, Soda Springs, Grace, and Bancroft, were dispatched to the scene, as well as an extrication unit from Soda Springs and a Caribou County fire truck. Charges against the semi driver are pending the conclusion of the investigation and review by the county prosecutor, Cpl. Abrams said.
Idaho’s Sen. Larry Craig was in Soda Springs March 26 to tour Monsanto Company’s local plant, and meet with a high school class. While in Southeast Idaho, he planned to attend an agriculture meeting in Montpelier and a meeting with Sen. Steve Symms in Preston. During his tour at Monsanto, he discussed several issues with plant and community officials at a luncheon held there. He pointed out that indexing of federal payments to rural hospitals can be up to 30 percent less than urban hospitals for the same service to elderly patients. That inequity is something the senator tried to fix when he served in the house, and currently has legislation that will close the gap entirely. Regarding grazing fees and efforts to increase them on federal lands, Craig told Bruce Dredge of the Idaho Citizens Grazing Association that action taken to hike the AUM rate was blocked last year in the Appropriations Committee. “Cattlemen were caught off guard last year. But now they have other supporters,” he said about efforts of mining, timber, and other users of the federal lands to unite with the livestock industry,. If you stand alone, you will hang alone,” he said, as he encouraged users of the Forest and BLM lands to help each other for common goals.
The annual Health Fair at the Caribou Memorial Hospital will once again be sponsored by the CMH Auxiliary. The fair will be held on Thursday, April 18, at the hospital. Many professional people and volunteers will be giving tests and information to demonstrate that “Our Team Works For You,” the theme of this year’s health fair. Test offered include: a 21 blood panel with a $6 charge, adult tetanus and diphtheria shot, blood pressure check, audiology testing, eye screening, osteoporosis check, oral check, breast exam and video, glaucoma, cardiac health check, nutrition check.
1971
The Tempe (Arizona) News, appeared recently with this comment, appeared recently with this comment “We used to have the three R’s that meant Reading, Ritin’, and Rithmatic. Today the three R’s stand for Riot, Restlessness and Rebellion. And if this continues we will have Ruin, Rot, and Regret. What we need is Respect, Religion, and Responsibility. One of the encouraging recent developments in the United States is the decline of Riots, Restlessness and Rebellion. Perhaps normalcy hasn’t quite returned. But it’s obviously on its way…and we can shortly get back to the original three R’s—Reading, Ritin’ and Rithmatic.
A recent snow survey shows water above normal. Measurements for March 1, 1971, are as follows:
Somsen Ranch – Snow depth 54 inches, water content 16.9
Allen (Austin) Ranch – Snow depth 36.7 inches, water content 11 inches.
China Hat – Snow depth 23.5 inches, water content 6.85.
Bancroft No. 1 – Snow depth 14.5 inches, water content 5.3 inches.
Bancroft No. 2 – Snow depth 9.2 inches, water content 3.2 inches.
The Grace Red Devils won the Fifth District A-3 championship Friday by defeating West Side for their second victory in a row. The Red Devils will meet the runner-up of District Four in a playoff game Saturday, March 6, at American Falls, for the right to enter the State A-3 Tournament in Rexburg next week.
Team members include Van Johnson, Brad Egbert, Mark Hubbard, David Johnson, Wade Wilker, Curtis Stoddard, Phil Carter, Steven Krogh, John Goodsell, Rick Roper, Jim McGregor, Nick Smith, Mark Andreasen, Coaches are Jim Patterson and Roger Bruce.
Grace Equipment Spring Clearance Sale. John Deere Model 95, 1967 Model, straw chopper, pick up reel. Extra clean, only $6,900. I-H F-656 D Tractor, special price $8,995. John Deere 5-Bottom Trail Plow, 16” trip beams, hydraulic cylinder, rubber tires, food condition, only $695. Batteries starting at $11.25. I-H 16 Hay Rake, rubber teeth; fully equipped, regular price $721; special price $475. Champion Spark Plugs only 79 cents.
Accidents - DeVaughn Davis Smith, driving a 1970 Dodge Charger, went through the show room window of Rex’s Sales and Service on February 21, 1971, when he mistakenly put his car in forward gear instead of reverse. Approximate damage to the showroom and items in the showroom and items in showroom was estimated at $2,000. The accident was investigated by Sheriff Ralph Marriott.
On Feb 13, a 1963 GMC truck driver by Arves Lealand Lloyd, Grace, and owned by Mathews brothers and a 1956 Chevrolet driven by Steven C. Stoors, Soda Springs, collided as the GMC truck was turning into a private driveway four miles south of Grace. Damage to the truck was $20 and damage to the Chevrolet was $50. Investigating officer was Sheriff Ralph J. Marriott.
Hi-Land Dairy has organized the area representative es to handle milk production for the Richmond, Utah, cheese plant. The Richmond plant is receiving milk from Utah and Oneida, Franklin, Bannock, and Caribou Counties in Idaho. Area representatives organization is as follows: Chairman Lloyd Christensen, Mink Creek, Vice Chairman Melvin Mickelson, Grace, Secretary W.E. Kerr, Tremonton, Utah, Representative Jay Condie, Grace. The organization has introduced a program with producers for developing 100,000 pounds of new milk per day for the Richmond cheese plant.
