Bonner County History - Feb. 6, 2025
Brought to you by the
Bonner County Historical
Society and Museum
611 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864
208-263-2344
50 Years Ago
Sandpoint News-Bulletin
Feb. 6, 1975 – WEATHER…
Gusting winds will subside, but scattered snow showers will take their place. Highs will be in the 20s, while lows could dip below zero.
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X-COUNTRY RACE A SUCCESS
Despite gusting winds and blowing snow, the 2nd annual Sandpoint Winter Carnival cross-country ski race at City Beach was a great success. Winner of the event, held on a looping 5k course laid out by Bill Wilkenson and Jim Scott, was Richard Ward, 19, of Moscow, who sped over the course in a notable time of 15:45. Second was Duane Crockett, Hayden Lake; third was Gary Johnson of Sandpoint, who edged out Cindy Partridge, 16, by a second. Finishing in fifth position was Jim Scott with a fine time of 19:38. Sandpoint’s Pam Albright placed first in the women’s division. There were 28 skiers in the race, ranging from seven-year old Shaun Morgen of Bonners Ferry to 65-year-old Russ Keene of Sagle.
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PUNK OLSON ENDS HIGHWAY DEPT. CAREER
After 40 years with the ITD, Vernoy “Punk” Olson retired Jan. 1. He began work for the Highways Division in 1934 as a chainman on an engineering crew in Sandpoint, and was a ‘project chief’ many years, in charge of construction projects in Bonner and Boundary Counties. Mr. Olson and wife Gladys will continue to make their home in Sandpoint.
75 Years Ago
Sandpoint News-Bulletin
Feb. 6, 1950 – HUNT TROPHY ESTABLISHED
A banquet at the Kaniksu was given by the Kiwanis club to honor the 1949 SHS football team. The main speaker, attorney E.E. Hunt, first praised the sportsmanship of the boys, then said he had always thought there was an award for each year’s outstanding player. When he learned there was no such trophy, he and Mrs. Hunt decided to present one. The first name engraved on the Hunt trophy is that of Jerry Miller, selected as most valuable football player for 1949 by a poll of the team. The trophy will be kept in the SHS trophy case, to be awarded annually for ten years. Later, Walt Hardin, 1949 team captain, presented an astonished Coach “Cotton” Barlow with a plaque that said “To the best coach in the Panhandle from the squad of ’49.” He had been selected for the honor by a poll of district coaches.
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FOUR JOIN AIR CORPS
Recruiting officer Sgt. H.H. Jahnke announced 4-year enlistments in the air corps: Dale Mitchell, route 1, city; Donald Riffle, Morton; Claude Roberts, 408 Lake; and Grant “Tex” Greer, Colburn. They will receive basic training at Lackland field, San Antonio. Roberts and Greer are WWII veterans, both serving three years in the south Pacific as machinist mates.
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ALLEN DERR NAMED EDITOR
Allen Derr, Clark Fork, has been appointed editor of the Argonaut, U of I student newspaper. A junior journalism student, Derr has served as sports writer, sports editor and managing editor of the paper.
For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.