5 YEARS AGO (2018)

For two years the Malad City Council has considered, and once rejected, the idea of purchasing the historic Evans Co-op building on Malad's Main Street. However, in the monthly open meeting of the Malad City Council on Wednesday, October 10, the council voted by majority, three in favor to one against, to purchase the building from the Evans family. The building is on the National Register of Historic places.

Located at the intersection of Bannock Street and North Main Street in Malad, the intersection is itself historic. Bannock Street was the Old Bannock Mountain Trail that followed an old Indian trail that led west to the Hudspeth Cutoff of the Oregon Trail and North Main Street was a freight trail that led north of Butte, Montana.

The building has always been considered the heart of downtown and the center of the community's business activity for over a century and a half. Idaho's oldest department store started as a one-room log house in 1865 and was later formed into a cooperative – becoming a branch of Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI), founded by Brigham Young, Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ZCMI in Salt Lake City was the first department store in the United States. ZCMI stores were organized in many of the pioneer communities. In 1877, two thousand shares at $25 each were issued for the Malad Cooperative Company. David L. Evans was appointed manager of the Malad store in 1884. He and his brother, Lorenzo started purchasing the stock and eventually became the sole owners, except for a few shares. In 1910 it was renamed the Evans Cooperative Company and was, until 2014, the oldest department store and continuously operating business in the state of Idaho. In August of 2014, the business was closed and the building has remained vacant.

10 YEARS AGO (2013)

The Malad American Legion Ernest W. Jones Post 65 was recently honored at a banquet in Pocatello by the Idaho Army National Guard Honor Guard. This is the fourth time the Malad American Legion Post 65 has received this award. The certificate presented to the Malad Post indicated that the local legionnaires provided military rites at 13 funerals during the past year. 

During a Ribbon cutting Ceremony on October 11, the Oneida County Hospital officially became the Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital. Through the Redfield Foundation, the hospital has been able to purchase new radiology and lab equipment, respiratory therapy services, anesthesia equipment and just recently helped purchase an emergency generator, among many other things. 

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise the Lady Dragons are anxious to defend their district title on their home court. They will be hosting the 2A Fifth District Volleyball Tournament. The team members include Nicole Lamb, Bryce Gibbs, Lindsay Sorensen, Aubrey King, Brooke Sorensen, Saige Smith, Jordan Hawkes, Bailey Hill, Bryn Haycock, Taber Paskett and Paityn Tripp.

15 YEARS AGO (2008)

Dale and Betty Roderick received October ‘Yard of the Month’ honors. Their beautiful yard has an assortment of shrubs, trees and beautiful flowers to please the eye of every passerby. They moved to Malad thirteen years ago to remodel and renovate Dale’s grandparents home.

Malad’s 2009 Junior Miss, Amy Atkinson, recently attended the 51st year of the Idaho State Junior Miss Program, where she was presented the Talent award. 

Leticia Oja, daughter of Larry and Christie Oja, of Malad Summit, has accepted a call to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Uruguay, Montevideo West Mission. She will enter the Buenos Airs, Argentina MTC on October 23.

The Lady Dragons are ready to compete in the 2A Fifth District Tournament, hoping to earn another trip to state. this year's team includes (front, left to right) Laci Lavaka, Taleesha Willie, Kayla Thomas, (middle) Kathy Evans, Hope Murray, (back) Meagen Lish, Stephanie Johnson, Brittany Tubbs and Coach Camie Tripp.

The Malad High School cross country team is ready to fight their way through a close 2A Fifth district meet next week. This year’s team includes: Rachel Peterson, Billie Gamble, Moriah Ihler, Brittney Medina, Paige Daniels, Karen Cudney, Jessie Corbridge, Ian Thompson, Gene Bullcreek, Jordan Williams, Devin Skidmore, Dan Cornia, Josh Wray, Robbie Dorius, Blake Jenkins and Cassey Steffenhagen.

25 YEARS AGO (1998)

Nearly $1,300 net profit was made at the giant community yard sale Saturday at the fair grounds. All proceeds from the event go to the Youth Recreation Complex and plans are underway to apply for a $2,500 Idaho Community Foundation Grant for matching funds.

Stacey Robbins attended the Joint Student Leadership Conference in Boise this summer. Stacey is a senior at Malad High School who is currently serving as a state officer in the Future Homemakers of American (FHA).

Sarah Robbins was selected by the Idaho Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences, as the Future Homemakers of American (FHA) Advisor of the Year for the 1997-98 school year. Mrs. Robbins is the home economics teacher at Malad High School.

Karalee Waldron was elected president of the SADD Club at the first meeting of the year. Melissa Tubbs was selected as vice president, with Mindee Semrad as secretary and Trace Downey as treasurer. In the past, SADD stood for Students Against Drunk Driving, but the name was recently changed on a national level to include a broader focus – Students Against Destructive Decisions.

35 YEARS AGO (1988)

Malad City fathers say that a moratorium on any further home construction on Grandview Drive will stand, at least until someone can come up with a better solution to the problem of lack of adequate water pressure.

Deon Hanson, former speech and English teacher at Malad High School has accepted an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps. By this time next week she will be in Hawaii, preparing to spend two years helping to develop an English program in Sri Lanka, an island on the southern tip of India. Deon says the Peace Corps’ theme is: “The hardest work you’ll ever love.” She’s looking forward to the experience.

Williams Irrigation is under new ownership. Dale Castagno, chief partner of Watership Partnership of Plymouth Utah, says that while he will continue to live in Plymouth, the business manager, LeRoy Rose, will live in a home close by the business for the convenience of customers.

After being shut out of wins in five close contests, the Malad Dragons turned the tables Friday beating West Side, 14-8 in a game that went right down to the wire. The taste of victory was sweet, too especially against the highly rated Pirates.

45 YEARS AGO (1978)

The Malad Drive In formally changed management this month as Mrs. Dorothy Price stepped into the head spot left vacant by owner Gene Capener. Mrs. Price will purchase the drive-in January 1. Mr. and Mrs. Capener have moved to Salt Lake City where he will oversee the ice cream machine parts department at the Borg Company. Mrs. Price started work at Malad Drive 14 years ago, six years after Gene took over the business from his father, Lew.  Along with the manager, 12 are employed on a part-time basis at the drive-in.

Concrete work on the Deep Creek sprinkling project head box is about 50 percent complete reported Ben Neff, SCONA project manager, as about 80 yards of additional concrete were poured to form walls at the site just below the dam last week.

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise is Alan Colton with art instructor Dick Spahr. Claiming first, second and third place entries in Malad High School’s August Artist of the Month competition, Alan is a triple winner.  Topping Alan’s unique victory was a pencil drawing of a house. The Artist of the Month was not only honored by the judges, but was praised by Mr. Spahr for his aptitude as well as work attitude. 

Nine-year-old Clint Rohner of Malad claimed the first place zone trophy in the Punt, Pass and Kick competition held at McDermott Field in Idaho Falls. Clint, representing Lewis-Sperry Ford in the nationwide annual contest, totaled 154 points in the three different divisions.

55 YEARS AGO (1968)

In support of the beef industry, a group of Oneida women have organized a “Cowbelles” group here. Known as the “Trail’s End Cowbelles”, the organization’s primary purpose is promotion of the use of beef. Mrs. Dale (Fern) Thomas was elected president of the “Trail’s End Cowbelles”; Mrs. Farrell (Thelma) Daniels, president-elect; Mrs. Dale (Carole) Daniels, secretary; Mrs. Kenneth (Lela) Blaisdell, treasurer; Mrs. Joe (Euarda) Daniels, publicity chairman.

During the past years, a basal reading program has been conducted whereby the children are grouped within their grade levels according to abilities. Every child reads from the same book and on the same page day by day. The children who are not immediately reading to the teacher are doing seatwork and related reading activities.

Doyle Waldron, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Waldron, left last Tuesday for a tour of duty in the U.S. Army. He is stationed at Fort Ord, California for basic training.

60 YEARS AGO (1963)

Among visitors from Pocatello at the regular meeting of Malad Lodge No. 51 A.F. & A.M., was Dr. D. C. Ray, a former Malad resident. Dr. Ray is the only living charter member of the Malad Lodge, having assisted in its organization in September 1908.

Elected to replace Keith Evans, as chief of the Malad Volunteer Firemen is Lavar Bowen. Tommy Thorpe was elected to replace Mr. Bowen as the assistant chief. There are eleven volunteer firemen serving at the present time. They are Dan J. Evans, Keith Evans, David P. Evans, Lavar Bowen, Ralph Facer, Henry Bolingbroke, Derrald Chivers, Loren Peck, Ren Thomson, Frank Thomas and Tommy Thorpe. As of Wednesday morning, there had been no filings made for offices on the Malad City Council. Terms of Mayor John V. Evans and Councilmen William J. Byrd and Udell Champneys expire in November with holdover councilmen being Glen B. Williams and Conrad Alder.

70 YEARS AGO (1953)

Highlighting the activities of this week at MHS was the Homecoming celebration. Reigning over the celebration as queen was Chloe Ann Price with Gaylene Parker and Lois Vaughan as attendants. The pep rally was held at the school and a snake dance through town followed. Another feature of the Homecoming, the lighting of the “M” on the mountain, did not take place because of a misunderstanding among the sophomore boys. One of the best homecoming parades Malad has seen for many years took place on Friday. The FFA won first place for the sixth consecutive year with the seniors and freshmen taking second and third places. Although Malad was defeated by Jerome 25-0 the team is not disheartened and are looking forward to their game with Bear River on Saturday.

75 YEARS AGO (1948)

Graveside services for Private George Morgan Stocking who was killed in action on Peleliu Islands, October 4, 1944 will be conducted in the Malad cemetery. He left Malad on September 14, 1943 and trained with the marines at San Diego and Camp Pendelton, Oceanside, California. He left the United States in December 1943, and made his first landing at Cape Gloucester, New Britian, Island, where he served as a machine gunner. After the island had been secured as an advanced base, Pfc. Stocking transferred to Talasea. On May 9, 1944, he was transferred to special services in the final days of the battle for Peleliu, and he met his death in this capacity. Medals and ribbons posthumously awarded to his parents are the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.

85 YEARS AGO (1938)

Eddie Carlson and his “Blue Rhythm Swingsters,” made such a decided hit at the dance at the LeGrande Hall Tuesday evening that the patrons insisted on a return engagement. Manager, Milton Jones immediately arranged for this famous orchestra to play for the dance at the LeGrande Hall, October 15.

Movie actor Gary Cooper and his wife passed through Malad Monday enroute by auto to Sun Valley.