This Week in History - Dec. 28, 2023

100 Years Ago

Ralph Clapp is the manager of the Bonners Ferry Milling Company and announces that he has installed machinery in the building in the rear of Brown’s Store with which to do custom grinding and rolling of grain in quantities of two tons or more.

Floyd Suddreth, night clerk at the Commercial Hotel, confessed Saturday afternoon to having rifled the hotel safe early Saturday morning of $55.75. On account of his youth and his previous good record, there will be no prosecution.

Over 400 children of Bonners Ferry and vicinity, under 12 years of age, attended the Christmas tree lighting at Causton Bros. store Saturday night. Gus Riefsteck officiated as Santa Claus, and from 7 o’clock until 9 o’clock the store was packed with little folks who came to greet Santa and to receive presents of toys, books, and games.

50 Years Ago

Tom Copeland bowled the high series, a 618, at Kootenai Lanes to top the current team of the week. Close seconds to Copeland were Bill MacDonald and Bob Love, who both bowled 611 series.

For the first time since 1945, the Badgers have defeated Sandpoint twice in one basketball season. The Badgers played practically errorless ball, downing the Bulldogs, 58-52 last Friday night. 

J & B entry in the Western Angus Associations Bonanza Show took top honors and brought $2,000 from a California buyer.

15 Years Ago

Bonners Ferry City Council voted unanimously to appoint Chris Clark to fill a vacant seat on council. Clark, who for 15 years served as pastor for Wellspring Community Church in Bonners Ferry, will be sworn in during Council’s first meeting in January.

Bonners Ferry Police Department hired its first full-time female police officer this year and followed with hiring a second eight months later. Jeanette Woodard began working for the eight-person police force in January. Bonners Ferry native Tiffany Murray joined the department in September.

Anthony Dinsmore and Richard Dawson have proven that disability and age don’t matter. Dinsmore, who 14 years ago was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and the 73-year-old Dawson each took first-place trophies during the Power Lifting Championships in Coeur d’ Alene on Dec.6. Both Bonners Ferry men also set state records.

Submitted by the Boundary County Museum