This Week in History — April 13, 2023

100 Years Ago

One of the most appalling accidents in the history of this district occurred shortly before one o’clock yesterday afternoon when the J.M. Schnatterly, a cabin cruiser, burned at its moorings on the north bank of the Kootenai River a short distance west of the county bridge, resulting in the death of J.M. Schnatterly, president and general manager of the Idaho Gold and Ruby Mining Co.

The Bonners Ferry High School took second place in the annual shorthand and typewriting contest held Saturday forenoon at the Northwestern Business College in Spokane.

50 Years Ago

The dream of a new library and a historical museum came one step closer to reality Saturday when Vernon E. “Bill” Sandy formally presented the Boundary County Library Board an area of approximately 8,000 square feet in the new bypass area on which to build the structure.

Valley View girls track team won over Post Falls on April 7 in a meet held there with a smashing 115 to 21 score, reported this week by their coach, Mrs. Elsie Hollenbeck.

Over 50 county woodland owners and interested area residents attended the Forest Stand Improvement Tour held last Saturday. Tour goers heard excellent discussions on forest stand improvement from farm foresters Don White and Rex Johnson. Those attending the tour had a first-hand opportunity to view a recent forest stand improvement thinning and heard woodland foresters discuss thinning from the standpoint of maximizing timber production, controlling disease, brush disposal and the reseeding of forest stands.

Former county nurse Agnes Chadwick celebrated her 85th birthday yesterday.

15 Years Ago

A controversial plan to sell a partially-built animal shelter south of Bonners Ferry passed 97 to 41 by a vote of the non-profit agency’s members. “It is exactly as we hoped” said Rhonda Hamerslough, current board president. Second Chance Animal Adoption’s board chose to sell the property because it would cost $1 million to complete the shelter.

Gina and Dan Phillips, owner of Epic Promotions and True North Expeditions, have once again expanded their business. The couple, in March, bought the Hemlocks Village Resort on Highway 2 near the Montana border from Chris and Shelly Harper.

Boundary County Commissioners have unanimously approved a special-use permit for a paintball operation in Pleasant Valley. Jeremy Grove plans to operate Viper Paintball from 15 acres on Lookout View Road.

Submitted by the Boundary County Museum