Traveling back in time: this day in Bonners Ferry history

History for Dec. 8, 2016

100 Year Malcolm Bruce recently received a letter from his brother, Alex Bruce, who is serving in the Canadian army in France. The brother writes: “All that I can tell you is that I am well. The soldiers are not allowed to write long letters or to give out any news. If you do not hear from me any more you will know what happened. Excuse this writing as I have nothing but a tin can to write on.” All Copeland was shocked yesterday morning by the sudden death of Mrs. Victoria Russell, aged 50 years, who fell dead in her home near Copeland following a fright occasioned by a fire which started in the kitchen about six o’clock in the morning. Mrs. Russell was of a nervous disposition and while Mr. Russell was trying to put out the fire she rushed upstairs. At the top of the stairs Mr. Russell heard her fall and when he arrived at her side she was dead. Heart trouble was the cause of death. On Thanksgiving day. Tom Nicholson, of the City Meat Market, left for Spokane with a carload of prime beef cattle which were disposed of to Stanton & Co. The cattle had been raised by Messrs. Chisholm, Ames and Montgomery. Mr. Nicholson states that is will be the last car he will ship out this winter as the remainder of the cattle in the district will not much more than supply the local demand. Eastport - Irvin, the 5-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Oliverson, was taken very seriously ill Sunday morning. Local treatment failing to relieve the suffering of the little fellow, his father took him to Bonners Ferry that night on No. 15. Dr. Fry pronounced it a severe attack of appendicitis and performed an operation Tuesday morning. The patient came through in good shape and at this writing is doing nicely. Mrs. Oliverson went down Monday to remain until he is able to be brought home.

50 Year The average American household spent $35 per week for food in the spring of 1965. Family size average 3.3 persons. Value of food per person was $10.65. Most of the food was eaten at home, but the total included $1.86 per capita for food away from home. Leading the Dodge line for 1967 are the distinguished Monaco, available in six separate models, and the popular Polara, largest in its price class. Polara is offered in nine models, including the Polara 500 2-door hardtop. Airman First Class Richard J. Fleck, son of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Fleck, Woodbury, N.J., has been named the outstanding airman assigned at U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C. His wife is the former Judy Meeker of Bonners Ferry. Despite the very inclement weather there was a good turnout last Thursday evening for the second organizational meeting of the Boundary County Historical Society. Twenty persons were in attendance. Hunter report cards returned by Nov. 29 indicate that the deer fill is running about 25 percent ahead of last year and elk about the same. The Badgers are off and running to a good start toward another successful basketball season after winning their first two games of the year last weekend.

15 Year A two-day search on Roman Nose last month revealed no clues to the disappearance of 69-year-old Lawrence Peepchuk of Canada, whose campsite and car were first discovered in early October. Although no one has formally reported him missing, a representative of the U.S. Forest service reported that it appeared no one had been to the camp since that time. Boundary County Search and Rescue scoured the area surrounding the campsite with a search dog with no luck. Even with 10 people and additional dogs they couldn’t find any sign of him. The Boundary County Commissioners confirmed Monday that Interim Prosecutor Mark Jones was their official choice for prosecutor until January 2003, after a special general election next year. With over 30 accidents reported during the heavy snowstorm that hit Boundary County last Wednesday and Thursday, none were considered serious injury-type accidents. There were 12 slide-offs on Paradise Valley hill Wednesday afternoon. Several other accidents occurred throughout the county, ranging from slide offs, to rollovers and semi-trucks jackknifing, but none were serious injury accidents. There’s nothing quite like starting off on the right foot. Especially when you come away with an impressive opening win on the road. The Badgers boys basketball team ran away from the Sandpoint Bulldogs 66-48 in a non-league opener for both teams. The Badgers girls basketball team ran out of gas against the Bulldogs before they could make a second half run, falling 41-18 in a non-league game.