Kaniksu forest supervisor called away to serve in war
10 Years Ago—2008
Fires plague Priest Lake
Priest Lake had two major fires in a 24-hour period, with over 10 Priest Lake Fire Department volunteers responding at each incident. The first fire, Wednesday morning, was at Granite Creek Marina, and the second was early Thursday morning on Kalispell Bay Road. A mail carrier in the Granite Creek area saw smoke and called in that fire. It was contained to a 2,000-foot cabin. A neighbor of the fire on Kalispell Bay Road awoke at 2a.m. to the sounds of a popping noise. A 4,000-foot cabin was on fire and was a total loss.
20 Years Ago—1998
Named to all-tourney team
Freshman Jacey Vogrig, a 1998 graduate of Priest River Lamamma High School, recorded career highs of 15 kills, 24 digs and six blocks for West Point, leading Army to a five-game victory of Farleigh-Dickinson at the Army Invitational Volleyball Tournament Sept. 26. 30 Years Ago—1988
Man falls from new bridge
A Newport man is reported in good condition at a Spokane hospital following a 50-foot fall off the new Pend Oreille River bridge at Oldtown Thursday afternoon. Joe E. Kavesham, 19, had been listed Friday in serious condition with multiple fractures. Kavesham reportedly was removing plywood and planks from beneath the north side of the bridge deck. A co-worker at the scene said Kevesham lost his balance as he tossed a 4-8 foot sheet of plywood to the ground below.
40 Years Ago—1978
Merritt Brothers back new park
The land agreement for the PRYAA’s purchase of a 10-acre parcel of land for a recreation and sports complex was finalized last week, head fund-raiser Del Johnson said. He said work on clearing and grading the field will start immediately. Besides underwriting the land deal, Merritt Brothers Lumber is donating time, labor and equipment for clearing the area. Merritts is also donating back the estimated $1500 from the timber they will harvest off the plot.
50 Years Ago—1968
School windows target of vandals.
Twenty-two windows at the Priest River Junior High School were broken Friday night by unknown vandals who hurled rocks through the panes as high as the second story level. Judging from the size of the rocks and the distance thrown, it is apparent that the offenders were junior high age or older. The previous evening a person or persons with a BB gun shot holes in nine of the windows at the new elementary school.
60 Years Ago—1958
Buddy Moore retires from tavern
H. F. “Buddy” Moore terminated his association with King’s Hotel & Buddy’s Tavern Saturday night after operating the tavern portion of the business for several years. Mr. Moore says he will take a much-needed rest and then go into business again in Priest River.
70 Years Ago—1948
Argosy features log drive
The story of one of America’s few remaining big log drives will be told in pictures and text in the November issue of Argosy magazine. Photographers accompanied the rugged rivermen of the Diamond Match Company down the 67 treacherous miles of the Priest River to get the pictures.
80 Years Ago—1938
Road talk
Franklin Girard, state forester, and Charles Zornes, in connection with Robert E. Dow and Homer Smith, county commissioner, visited Camp S-263 and viewed the East Side road. Girard assured Smith He would give full cooperation in the finishing of Jack Pine Flat road and the East River hill. He also said the short stretch at Big Creek would also be completed by the Forest Service. He also saw the work being done on the Peninsula. It should be completed early next spring and give a much better, shorter road to Coolin.
90 Years Ago—1928
Chem experiment goes awry
Lonnie Hensley met with a very painful accident while carrying on an experiment in chemistry class in the local high school. An explosion occurred breaking a test tube and cutting Lonnie’s eyes, making it necessary for him to go to Spokane for treatment.
100 Years Ago—1918
Forest supervisor called to war
J. F. Forsythe, supervisor of the Kaniksu National Forest, has gone to Fort Lawton to take up training in the tank division of the national army. A. J. Feary is acting superintendent of the forest.