Bonner County History - June 8, 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
June 8, 1975 – PANHANDLE RACEWAYS
Dirt track stock car racing is a speedily growing sport around Bonner County. Five years ago, eight local race enthusiasts formed the Panhandle Racing Assn., which today boasts nearly 200 members. A full summer season of 17 race days is planned on their track near Colburn, including a Fourth of July special race and a two-day Labor Day race.
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GIRLS’ GYMNASTICS OFFERED BY CITY
The City of Sandpoint Rec. Dept. is offering a summer gymnastic program for girls who were in grades 2-9 last year. The classes, taught by Helen Walkley, will be held in the Washington school gym and will include instruction on the mats, balance beam, vault horse, bars, trampoline, plus some dance. Sessions will be an hour to one and a half hours long, five days a week for a two-week session. There will be a $1 registration fee.
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LAST CONTRACT ON HOPE PROJECT LET
The final contract for the unfinished section of the Hope-Denton Curves on SH200 has been awarded at a cost $758,000. It provides for placing an 868-ft. prestressed concrete bridge superstructure on the existing substructure piers constructed in 1970. The 7.8-mile segment of the project began in 1965, with the first portion opening in late 1974. At present, 5.7 miles of the project are open to public traffic.
75 Years Ago
Sandpoint News-Bulletin
June 8, 1950 – HOSPITAL DRAWS LOW BID
A bid of $4000 for the old Community hospital building at Monday’s public auction was considered insufficient by the Bonner General hospital board, which bid the structure in for $7000. They feel the Nov. 1 possession date was a deterrent to bidding.
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STORMS MENACE WATERFRONT
The city waterfront suffered considerable damage in two storms during the past six days that came in from the northeast and whipped the lake to a froth. The first, occurring last Thursday, arose suddenly. Within minutes, huge waves were rolling into the waterfront, breaking loose several houseboats. The condition was repeated Tuesday when another storm hit the region from the same direction. High waves steadily pounded the new city dock which runs out near the breakwater, and a number of boats were removed to safer water in Sand creek.
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BERGSTROM AND SLETAGER SET UP FIRM
A new accounting firm has opened in Sandpoint with offices in the Tifft Agency building on Cedar St. Firm members John Bergstrom and Clyde Sletager, both born and raised locally, received B.S. degrees June 5 from the U of I in business administration. Both young men are World war II veterans. Sletager served in the AirForce as a ground crewman in the Pacific campaign. Bergstrom, who served in the infantry, lost his right leg from a gunshot wound in France. The firm will do general accounting for businesses and individuals, and income tax work.
For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.