This Day in Bonners Ferry History
100 Year
About four thousand sheep passed through Copeland last Thursday. The sheep were in charge of eight men and were driven toward Bonners Ferry where they will be put into cars and shipped to Oregon for the winder.
Amos Sloan, who has been working for the Great Northern railway company at Troy, Mont., several months, returned to Bonners Ferry last Thursday. “Skinny” says he would rather live in Bonners Ferry “broke” than in Troy as a millionaire.
The plant of the Herald was moved last Friday and Saturday into the Herald’s new brick home adjoining Brody’s Drug Store and little by little the equipment is being placed and the office and composing room is beginning to resemble a print shop. In its new home the Herald will be centrally located and with the larger quarters and numerous conveniences which were not experienced before we will be able to serve our patrons better than ever before.
The members of the Christian church of this city celebrated the clearing of their church property from all debt last Sunday afternoon at a mortgage burning and dedication service.
According to word received here last week from Alan Loughney he recently completed the final examinations in calculus with a perfect standing and he was the only one of his class to attain this record. Loughney is a student at the University of Washington at Seattle.
50 year
Fred Hatfield of Bonners Ferry competed in a 20-bout card held at the Knott street community center in Portland last Saturday and lost a close decision to highly-rated welterweight Clarence Hannick of Portland. However, in losing, he was presented a special award in the form of a combination trophy given to the most inspirational and outstanding fighter who also displayed the best sportsmanship.
The Bonners Ferry high school wrestling won its first team match in the history of the school Tuesday night, when they traveled to Lakeland and defeated the Lakeland team by a score of 35-22. The winners for Bonners were Merl Baker, Jeff Schauble, Jim Meeker, Lonnie Gentry, Bruce Whittaker, and Paul Ugstad, all winning with falls, and Alan Grove, taking a decision. In what was probably the best match of the night, Garth Yeates tied Ron Smith of Lakeland 6-6.
A new manager arrived last week to take over duties at the Kootenai national wildlife refuge, in District 7. Assuming management of the refuge is Gene Barney, 34, who was assigned here after serving the past year as manager of the Ankeny national refuge near Salem, Ore.
Two representatives from the Idaho Department of Highways met with the Bonners Ferry city council Tuesday night to discuss financial obligations in re-locating a portion of the city’s utilities prior to construction of a bypass that will extend from the top of the city’s south hill and connect with the Kootenai river bridge.
15 Year
Investigators suspect arson in a fire that consumed a three-bedroom Naples residence. “At this point, it looks like it’s possibly arson, but it’s under investigation,” said Mike Naumann, investigating detective with the Sheriff’s Department. The owner of the house, Randy Burney, could not say who he suspected might have started the fire because the case is still under investigation. “Everything’s totally lost,” Burney added. He purchased it two years ago and canceled fire insurance on the home because he wasn’t living at the house and had turned off the electricity.
The Bonners Ferry Police Department arrested three adults and a juvenile, charging them with the break-ins at Boundary County Junior High and Bonners Ferry High School last month. Arrested and charged with 10 felony counts of burglary, was 19-year old Jody Copeland of Bonners Ferry. His bond was set at $100,000. Aaron Kameron Sims, 19, and Jason W. Corcoran, 18, both of Bonners Ferry, were each charged with two felony burglary county. Sims’ bond was set a $25,000 while Corcoran’s was set at $5,000. A 17-year old Bonners Ferry juvenile was charged with a juvenile petition for one of the vehicle burglaries as well as breaking and entering into the junior high.
A long and convoluted case came to a close in Boundary County when Judge James Michaud Monday sentenced 48-year old Leland Ridgley of Bonners Ferry to a minimum of 10 years in prison and up to a maximum life term for a single count of lewd conduct with a minor under 16.