This week in history - July 22, 2021

100 Years Ago

The two young men who robbed the First State Bank during the noon hour Thursday and who were caught about five o’clock the same evening, after having been surrounded by a posse, were arraigned Monday afternoon before District Judge J. M. Flynn, and upon entering pleas of guilty to the charge of robbery, were sentenced to from five to twenty-five years in the state penitentiary at Boise.

Ed Johnstone, a well known citizen of the Porthill district, died suddenly yesterday morning about 10 o’clock, death resulting from apoplexy brought on by an excessive fit of anger. A thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Johnstone was made, resulting in the complete exoneration of Treffle Bussieye, who was the only man present when Johnstone died.

A. J. Kent, commissioner of Drainage District No. 1, returned Saturday from Spokane where he spent several days attending to business of the drainage district.

50 Years Ago

An early morning fire raged through the planing mill at the Bonners Ferry Lumber Company Tuesday, July 20, at 12:30 am causing an estimated $400,000 in damages, according to company officials.

Kootenai River between the Leonia Bridge and the Bonners Ferry Bridge will be closed to all other river traffic during the Kootenai River Days annual raft race Sunday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to John Bender, Idaho director of law enforcement.

This week the Forest Service will initiate a new airborne infrared fire detection system to provide forest fire surveillance for 8,200 square miles along the Montana-Idaho border.

15 Years Ago

Riley Creek will cut its Moyie Springs workforce in half Monday due to low lumber prices and high log prices, company officials said Tuesday.

With lay-offs looming at the Moyie Springs stud mill and the continuing decline in the timber industry, it’s time for Boundary County to branch out and Bonners Ferry Mayor Darrell Kerby believes he has the perfect idea: establish a national park.

Unfortunately, the fireworks show marked the end of the Bonners Ferry Kiwanis. After the July Fourth celebration finished, the club announced that the local chapter was shutting down due to lack of interest.

Submitted by the Boundary County Museum