Bonner County History - Jan. 12, 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
Jan. 12, 1975 – PRIEST’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Ecumenism was aglow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church when Fr. John O’Donovan concelebrated his silver jubilee Mass with five other Idaho priests and The Most Rev. Sylvester Treinen, Bishop of Idaho. Making the service especially joyous was the participation at the altar of the Rev. Orville Grorud, Lutheran pastor, and Episcopal pastor Rev. Nolan Redman. In the congregation were Assembly of God pastor Norval Haugen and United Methodist pastor Harold Huff. Singers and guitarists were Cheryl Wooden, Jamie Fallat and Marie Bair. Fr. Lafey, formerly of Coeur d’Alene, gave a brief resume of the life and times of Fr. O’Donovan, who was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 29, 1949, at the Old Mission at Santa Barbara. After Mass, a potluck dinner, with Elsie Temple and Susie Weisz in charge, was served. Irene Sundquist decorated the hall. A sheet cake with green lettering was donated by M & J Market, and green punch carried out the Irish theme. Mary Kulhanek and April Brown gave musical dinner entertainment. Junior Naccarato was master of ceremonies with guest speakers Jack Woodland, Marilyn Wooden, Irene Sundquist, Bill Petzak, Bernie McGovern and Gene Driggs. Irish songs were sung as Fr. O’Donovan cut his cake.
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ANNUAL ANTLER WINNERS
Bonner County hunters with the best trophies in Idaho hunts in 1974 were John Churchill, elk; Milt Thompson, typical mule deer; Harold Rounsville, non-typical mule deer; Jack Peterson, typical white-tail deer; Randy Poelstra, non-typical white-tail deer.
75 Years Ago
Sandpoint News-Bulletin
Jan. 12, 1950 – ROADS, SCHOOLS REOPEN
Bonner county residents are digging out from under the heaviest snowfall of the season, which piled 32.7 inches upon that already on the ground. By Wednesday, county snowplows, working around the clock, had opened nearly every road, and schools which were closed for three days were scheduled to reopen in Sandpoint Thursday. From Jan. 1 thru 11, 35 inches were recorded. Normal winter snowfall is 69.5 inches, and already this winter’s total is 71.3 inches. The record-high winter snowfall is 192.5 inches the winter of 1915-16.
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BREAKS ROAD TO GET MILK TO MARKET
On Wednesday Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Rembowski, who operate a Grade A dairy, with their daughter made their way to Laclede, coming from their ranch two miles north of the village, by tractor. “The snow on the level at our place measured five feet eight inches.” Mrs. Rembowski said. “We just had to get out with the milk. It took 2½ hours by tractor to break the two miles of road to Laclede.” They brought out 18 10-gallon cans of milk on a trailer.
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NEWS FROM SAGLE by Mrs. Leo Hartley
From Wednesday until Monday morning 34 inches of snow fell in Sagle. Jimmy Reed and Harley Gunter have been plowing out private driveways.
For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.