This Week in History - May 4, 2023

100 Years Ago

Is it illegal to perform labor on Sunday? This question is soon to be decided in court in Boundary County as the result of arrests made Monday morning when 13 men employed by the water department of Bonners Ferry, were “pinched” on the charge of having “unlawfully performed labor on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday,” the offense having occurred on April 22.

J. Harley Cave, city engineer, reports that the new 200,000 concrete water reservoir for the city water will be completed in a few days.

Mrs. A.B. Ashby narrowly escaped death by drowning last Sunday in an accident which happened on Deep Creek at Moravia. With her husband she had been fishing for trout, when suddenly the bank where she was standing beside a stump, caved in. In the fall into the creek, Mrs. Ashby was struck on the side of the head, presumably by the stump, and the blow rendered her almost unconscious. Mr. Ashby, with difficulties, rescued Mrs. Ashby.

50 Years Ago

Governor Cecil D. Andrus was here on May 3, making “Bonners Ferry Capitol for the Day” and brought state government to the people. He arrived about midmorning and, after a short welcoming downtown, spent the day traveling throughout the county, meeting people and discussing problems.

Orrin R. Everhart has been named staff accountant for the Evans Products Company’s corporate accounting departments. His parents here are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Everhart.

Radioman Seaman Les Vetter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Vetter of Moyie Springs, was a crewman on the minesweeper “Force,” which burned and sank in the Philippine Sea on Monday, April 23. He was able to reach his anxious folks Friday morning. He stated he was “fine, having received only some smoke in his lungs and eyes.”

15 Years Ago

Two downtown Bonners Ferry businesses recently merged as Michael Listman, owner of Boundary Computer, bought two Radio Shack franchises, one on Main Street and another in Ponderay.

Senior Melody Braden led the Bonners Ferry High School girls track team during the Moscow Invite on April 25. The Lady Badgers placed third out of 20 schools. Braden placed second in the 1600-meter run and the 3200-meter run.

More than 275 residents of senior living care centers in the region have suffered from a recent stomach flu, according to Panhandle Health District, which has an office in Bonners Ferry.

— Submitted by the Boundary County Museum