This Day in Bonners Ferry History

100 Year

The recent collapse of the Inland Empire Paper company’s flume across the Moyie river was entirely accidental and was caused by the breaking of washers and the slackening of supports, together with the high wind which was blowing. The flume was full of water and logs also when it went down.

IF ANYONE HAS – died, eloped, married, left town, had a fire, absconded, sold a farm, come to town, been arrested, begun business, been prosecuted, been your guest, entertained you – Tell it to the Herald. Thank you very much.

Last week the Steamer Crescent brought a consignment of 600 pounds of wool from Porthill for rail shipment to Spokane. The wool was the property of C.A. Lafferty, who has a fine herd of sheep and brought him 70 cents per pound. The success of Mr. Lafferty and other ranchers of the Kootenai Valley in the sheep raising business should encourage other ranchers to follow their example.

At a meeting attended by some 20 citizens and business men at the commercial club rooms Thursday night the preliminary steps towards the organization of a volunteer fire department were taken, J.R. Meeker being chosen chief and Oscar Bangs assistant chief of the organization.

K.W. Smith, has been in the city this week receiving treatment for his foot which he had severely cut with an axe the first of the week. The accident happened in the woods six miles from the Idaho Continental mine and Mr. Smith had to make a 60 mile trip to secure medical attendance.

50 Year

A truck loaded with logs and driven by William H. Garcia of Pendleton, Ore. overturned last Friday evening at the bottom of the Rock creek curve on U.S. Highway 95, north of Bonners Ferry, tying up one lane of traffic on the two-lane road for about three hours. The accident occurred about 7:20 p.m. The sheriff’s office reported that Garcia was issued citations for failure to be reasonable and prudent, and for driving without a valid license. Garcia, who was not injured, was driving a rig owned by Don Wagner, local logging operator.

Nearly 100 firefighters and six plane loads of retardant – 3600 gallons – were required to contain a 108-acre forest fire last weekend in the upper Myrtle creek drainage area of the Kaniksu national forest, about 10 miles west of Bonners Ferry. The fire started in a slash area and spread rapidly making firefighting work extremely difficult along the fire lines. An investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the fire. It was the largest forest fire in the Bonners Ferry district for several years.

Seen and Heard….John Kalb tipping a milk shake high enough to get it started and finding most of it in his lap – and his sisters Ann and Gaye not being of much help…..

Dixie Lee Peterson, Las Vegas, is home visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Royal Peterson, after attending summer school. She will be returning to Las Vegas to resume her teaching duties at the beginning of the school term.

15 Year

A Marine Corps unit from Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif. will test its skill with training missions that will include flying and maneuvering through the rugged mountains north of Bonners Ferry. The unit – VMU – which operates unmanned aerial vehicles, will be supported by local law enforcement personnel. The Marines will be operating out of the Boundary County Airfield. The public is invited to an open house on Aug. 4 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Though it has been operating in the city parking lot for years, it will be the final year that the Farmer’s Market will be allowed to conduct business in the current location alongside the Visitor’s Center on Saturday. According to economic specialist Robin Ponsness, the City of Bonners Ferry is not going to permit the Farmer’s market to operate in 2003. Many downtown merchants have complained to the city that they feel it is unfair that they have to purchase a business license and pay taxes to operate their business downtown. The Farmer’s Market runs on a single business license.

A Bonners Ferry man charged with a multitude of alleged sex crimes against two minors is facing two criminal trials at the end of August. Kevin Brown, 26, was originally charged with three felony counts of sexual battery of a minor child, age 16 or 17, one count of rape, lewd conduct with a child under 16 and sexual abuse of a child under 16.

After eight years in the buffalo business, Spud and Bentley Harper of Rock Creek Buffalo Ranch achieved their first perfect calving year with 45 live births in 2002. “We didn’t lose any of our calves this year, all were alive and healthy,” explained Spud Harper, co-owner of the ranch. “We now have about 180 in the herd for both breeding and processing.”