This Day in Bonners Ferry History

100 year

Copeland - Matt Ripatti lost two large hogs in the river last Tuesday morning when the hogs went on the ice and broke through.

The party removing large package from Brody’s Drug Store recently, containing a knitted shawl, is advised to return the same at once and save further trouble.

Walter Glenn, forest ranger at Meadow Creek, was a business visitor in the city Saturday. Mr. Glenn states that the Inland Paper Company have discontinued their camps at Addie for the winter on account of deep snow and are now operating a logging camp at Meadow Creek where they expect to take out more than a million feet of white fir and spruce from Sec. 17, purchased of J.J. Archer, and a million and a half feet of timber purchased from the government.

Judge Schlette, of the Curley Creek district, reports that last Tuesday night while on his way home from the old Bonners Ferry Lumber Company camp at the mouth of Skin Creek, he distinctly saw an aeroplane which was headed eastward and seemed to be about 5,000 feet in the air and was apparently following the course of the Kootenai River. Mr. Schlette states the airship carried a powerful search light.

The Steamer Crescent is tied up at Copeland and Capt. Wilson does not plan to make any more trips on the river until spring.

50 Year

Those enjoying television programs transmitted by the Boundary County TV Translator association’s facilities on Black Mountain will have good pictures this winter, thanks to the fact that the association recently completed installation of fiberglass covers over the transmitting towers. Transmitting problems were encountered last winter when ice formed on the equipment.

Early stages of construction on a new, ultra modern First Security bank in Bonners Ferry are now under way and, depending upon limitations caused by weather this winter, it is anticipated that the new banking facility will be completed next spring or early summer. The new bank will front on main street, at the site where the old M & M Food Store was formerly located.

The Bonners Ferry JayCees announced that they plan to have the ice skating rink, in the fairgrounds show arena, ready for use this weekend. They are preparing the ice rink for use by skaters of all ages. There is no admission charge and the rink will be open both days and evenings. Certain rules regarding use of the rink will be posted and skaters are asked to conform to the rules, one of which is that persons with skates on must remain on the ice and not walk on the seats in the building. Also, “horseplay” will not be allowed.

Local residents are advised that snowmobiles are illegal on Idaho public thoroughfares and the ruling is now being enforced in this area, according to local officials. The banning of “snowcats” from highways was announced this week by Warner C. Mills, Idaho law enforcement commissioners.

15 Year

Three dogs attacked a woman Tuesday as she was jogging on County Road 2 by Moravia, about five miles from Bonners Ferry. Denise Dickinson, 49, was mauled by three pit pulls owned by Cherry and James Dunnington, said Boundary County Sheriff George Voyles. “She received multiple bites all over her body,” said Voyles. A passerby saw the mauling, rescued Dickinson and took her to Boundary Community Hospital, where she received treatment for her wounds. The Dunningtons may be charged with harboring vicious animals.

Boundary County, the City of Bonners Ferry, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the Idaho Transportation Department (IDT) have agreed to apply together at the end of January for up to $500,000 to build the center in the Bonners Ferry city parking area. The money, distributed and administered by ITD, will be used to construct a visitors center with restrooms, a paid staff, a visitor information area, and perhaps a display area for Kootenai tribal artifacts. Additional grants down the road could further be used to enhance the building.

A former Boundary County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher and her husband were sentenced to prison terms Friday after both pleaded guilty to multiple counts of child molestation. First District Judge James Michaud ordered Bobby Lee Gray, 61, of Bonners ferry, to spend much of the rest of his life in prison. His wife, Tami Gray, 31, was given a three-to-14 year prison term for lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 16. She was fired from her dispatching job in June. A Health and Welfare worker, who is treating the victim, called the case the worst she’s seen in the 16 years she has been in the field.