This Day in Bonners Ferry History
100 Year
Deputy Sheriffs Tom McMahon and P.H. Callahan and County Prosecuting Attorney Wilson destroyed about $4,000 worth of intoxicants (bootlegger value) last Friday afternoon in the slough south of the county jail. The liquor had been secured from raids of boxcars, and taken from autos and bootleggers and was the accumulation of several months. Quite a large crowd witnessed the thorough operations of the sheriffs and Mr. Wilson.
A school has been provided at Addie in District No. 5 for the benefit of the children of that community. It is in charge of George Crawford. This term school will be held in a rented building but bonds have been authorized and a substantial building is to be erected in the near future.
Last night the boys met and elected captains for the first and second basket ball teams. Albert Davis was chosen to captain the first team and Rennie Wickstrom will serve in the capacity for the second team.
Many complaints are being voiced these days over the condition in which the county roads and bridges are to be found on the main traveled highways of the county. As a matter of fact there is no disputing that the roads and bridges are in worse shape this fall than ever before for a period of at least six years. Broken bridge planks, loose planks, faulty approaches, ditches filled in with rotten logs are a menace to lives and property and if not repaired the county may be sure of facing, some of these days, an expensive damage suit.
50 Year
Bonners Ferry Badgers took it on the chin last Friday as the Wallace Miners poured it on and ran over, under, around and through the Badger defense in rolling up a 57-0 victory.
Moyie River Lumber company was the successful bidder this week in one of the first salvage timber sales being sold in North Idaho national forests that were partially burned in forest fires during the past summer. An estimated 75 million to 100 million board feet of burned timber will go on sale in about two weeks from the big Trapper peak fire north of Priest Lake. Also scheduled for sale is about six million board feet from the Plume creek fire east of Sandpoint, and another 500,000 board feet from the Black mountain blaze. A dozen sales on less valuable timber from the big Sundance mountain fire will be set late in October.
Some 300 4-H members, leaders, parents, and supporters were in attendance at the Boundary County 4-H Achievement Program held at the high school September 30, the beginning of National 4-H Club Week observance.
Three local men, whose ages are in the 60s, last week showed the younger fellas a thing or two about hunting when they went to Canada for some moose hunting and bagged a 1500-pound bull. The three were Joe Marsh, Hal Stoll and Al Hartman, all of Bonners Ferry.
15 Year
Based on his belief that his department should be held to a higher standard, Boundary County Sheriff George Voyles began an employee drug testing program two weeks ago. “We weren’t concerned that our staff was using drugs, but as law enforcement personnel, we are and should be held to higher standards,” explained Voyles. “In any kind of government job, drug testing is required for all job sensitive positions and everyone in our department falls into that category.” With the new policy in place, future random drug testing for Sheriff’s employees will continue.
A piece of Bonners Ferry history disappeared last Friday when the sculpture representing Boundary County’s timber and agricultural industries was removed from the City Parking Lot, where it stood for the last 14 year. The City recently auctioned the sculpture off, and Bryon and Judith Regehr placed the high bid. According to city officials, the sculpture was decaying and had become a safety hazard.
Taco John was awarded “Best in Show” out of more than 230 bunnies competing in the 4-H sponsored event at the Spokane Interstate Fair last month. To top it off he also took “Grand Champion.” He took another “Best in Show” award in Libby, Mont. For his efforts at the different competitions and brought home a trophy, chair, cash and several ribbons. He is owned by Janice John of Bonners Ferry.
Idaho Department of Fish and Game law enforcement officers use big game decoys to catch poachers in areas where the department receives complaints of spotlighting or other suspicious activity. The use of such tools has been upheld in the court systems across the country as a legitimate method of apprehending violators and has aided in reducing illegal hunting activities. The penalties for shooting an artificial simulated animal can include a mandatory license revocation, fine up to $1,000 and/or jail sentence up to six months.