5 YEARS AGO (2019)

For the last four years, Oneida County's first baby has been a girl. That run was broken on January 8, 2019, when Avery Boyd Eliason became the first baby born in Oneida County for the new year. The little boy made his grand arrival at 4:34 p.m. weighing in a 7 pounds 5 ounces and 19 inches long. He has a fair complexion, with a little light hair – not a lot, his daddy says!

On January 14, 2019, at a Swearing-In Ceremony held in the Courtroom of the Oneida County Courthouse, Commissioner for District 1 Bill Lewis and Commissioner for District 3 Bob Christophersen were sworn into office by Oneida County Clerk and Recorder Lon Colton. Each commissioner repeated the oath after Colton, stating their support of the constitution of the United States and the constitution and laws of the State of Idaho, and that they would faithfully discharge all the duties of their office to the best of their ability.

The Holbrook/Stone Fire Department recently elected new officers. Serving for the past two years have been Fire Chief Brayden Eliason and Secretary/Treasurer Clayton Eliason. The new Fire Chief is Dakota Hubbard, Vice Chief Clayton Eliason, Lieutenant Blaine Bird and Secretary/Treasurer Janice Eberhardt.

Other members of the Holbrook/Stone Fire Department are the following: Dallin Nalder, Ray Hubbard, Lance Bird, Jeff Bird, Brayden Eliason, Nathan Eliason, Josh Rindlisbacher and Warren Price.

10 YEARS AGO (2014)

Former Malad Postmaster Bradley David Hunter is facing a felony grand theft charge (for theft of a money shipment), and four misdemeanor charges including driving without privileges, possession of a controlled substance (two counts) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua Jensen completed the requirements to earn his Eagle Scout Award. For his Eagle Project, Jensen oversaw the painting of the wall behind the baskets in the Malad High School Gym. Jensen, along with his scout leader, Andy Cobabe, Scout troop 475 and family and friends, painted the gym walls to match the school colors of orange and black. 

Longtime Weber State women’s track and field head coach Jim Blaisdell has announced his retirement after a long and successful career with the Wildcats. Blaisdell will retire following the 2014 track season, which will be his 33rd year as head coach at Weber State.

The Malad City Clerk Susan Wittman, administered the oath of office to Larry Thomas and Joan Hawkins who were both reelected to the Malad City Council in November. Both were sworn in for another four years of service on the council where they will serve with Mayor Spence Horsley and councilmen Tom Jenkins and Lance Tripp.

Commissioner Shellee Daniels recounted a recent conversation that she had with Mayor Horsley, regarding the county and city’s sesquicentennial celebration slated for this year. It was recommended that City Councilwoman Joan Hawkins and Daniels be the liaisons for the city and the county in overseeing plans for the celebration.

15 YEARS AGO (2009)

Jentz Lynn Peacock captures the 2009 Oneida County First Baby of the Year contest arriving last Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 2:08 p.m. at the Portenuf Medical Center in Pocatello. Jentz weighed in at 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. He has fair skin and a lot of blonde hair. Cody and Bethany Peacock welcome this new addition to their family, along with siblings, 7-year-old brother Jaxon, 5-year old sister Jacey and 2-year old brother Javen.

The contest winners for the Utah-Idaho Weed Cooperative Weed Essay Contest have been announced. This year’s essay was written by Tyler Ogden. He received $125 for his entry. Paige Daniels earned the second place prize, along with $75. Clint Tubbs finished in third, claiming a prize of $50.

The Seventh Grade girls’ basketball team finished their season off strong. This year’s team included: Kiely Davis, Brooke Sorensen, Dani Briggs, Cina Blaisdell, Annie Shibahara, Kyley Thorpe, Bryn Haycock, Brooke Daniels, Amie Marshall, Elizabeth Lish and Meaghan Olsen.

The Dragons claimed their third first place team trophy in their third tournament of the season when they took a big win at the Bear Lake Invitational Wrestling Tournament. All varsity members of the team medaled. The team members included are: Gene Bullcreek, Devin Skidmore, D.J. Peabody, Justin Thibedeau, Zach Starr, Paden Allen, Chris Hess, Blake Harrison, Levi Hollis, Dan Blaisdell, Tallen Boyer, Dillon Allen, R.J. Cudney, Mike Evans, Derek Stagner and Braiden Richards. Coaches are Dusty Skidmore and RonDell Skidmore.

25 YEARS AGO (1999)

Former Maladite Randy Isaacson has returned to Malad and brought his family and their business with him. In December, Custom Steel Fabrication moved its business into a building purchased from Brent Mills, located next to the Malad Industrial Park. Isaacson is General Manager of the family-owned business. His daughters and their spouses are officers and shareholders. They include Wendy and Mark Garamendi and Heidi and Jason Bishop.

Michael Asay has been elected to serve on the Oneida County Farm Service Agency committee. Asay began his three-year term on January 1. 

Brady Robbins, a sixth grade student at Malad Middle School, won the school-level competition of the National Geography Bee on January 8. Kurt Piper, an eighth grade student. finished in second place.

Oneida County is prepared for mass emergency care in the event that a major disaster strikes. According to Ceylon Reeder, Oneida County Emergency Disaster Coordinator, the County is prepared for emergency mass care as far as shelters, toilet facilities and water is concerned.

The Oneida County Library is the recipient of a library donation package from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS church is donating books, searchable computer CD-ROM’s, audio compact discs and video cassettes to libraries throughout the world, along with a set of catalog cards and a computer disk for library cataloging.

30 YEARS AGO (1994)

A major earthquake struck Southern California before dawn Monday, crumbling freeways, collapsing buildings, and igniting fires. But strangely enough, electric power went off here at almost the same time – 5:31 a.m. MST (4:31 a.m. PST), and for Oneida County, was restored about two and a half hours later, at around 8:00 a.m.

Thirty-one Malad High School students participated in the annual ZCMI Table setting Contest. Home Economics teacher, Sarah Robbins, said she required all members of her Foods and Nutrition Class to participate. Three first place winners were selected by store judges to advance to Regional competition to be held April 9th at the Pocatello ZCMI store. Competing at the region level will be Heidi Horsley, Jamie Schwartz and Debbie Terry.

New officers took over the reins of the Oneida Education Foundation this month. Dianne Pett will serve as the Chairperson through 1994, Maurine Corbridge as Vice-Chairman, Jim Jones as Executive Secretary. Teri Sorenson will be the Treasurer and Financial Officer, and Sue Skeen will continue as Historian.

El Paso Electric (EPE) announced that on January 7, 1994, its Board of Directors elected Curtis L. Hoskins president of the Company. Mr. Hoskins, who has served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of EPE since May 1990, will remain as chief operating officer.

The Malad Volunteer Fire Department has named Ed Jones “Fireman of the Year”.

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise is the 1994 Lady Dragon basketball team. The Lady Dragons enter the District Tournament next Tuesday. Members of the squad are: Heidi Horsley, Melissa Ward, Annette Mustos, Nichole Jones, Kristi VanBebber, Mindi Smith, Jenny Hawkins, Beverly Bott, Bobbie Phillips, Quinette Smith, Jennifer Hess and LaVonne Jensen. They are coached by JoLynn Price and Angie Coates.

45 YEARS AGO (1979)

Sheriff Ken Wharton and Ralph Burton were in Nevada last week to question a possible suspect in the New Year’s burglary at the Chat and Chew Café. A picture of the mutilated safe door appearing in the Enterprise spurred the Nevada officials to contact the Oneida Sheriff. Chat and Chew owner Elton Ashton reported that over $7,000 plus several commemorative bottles were stolen during the burglary.

“It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.” And few will have the ‘opportunity’ to live or even visit the Oneida County jail with an order made in 1978 to all but totally close the facility. Sheriff Wharton said following a study prepared by R.D. Houser Associated, Salem, Oregon, Magistrate Judge Don Harding issued an order that juveniles could no longer be incarcerated in the jail. District Judge Francis V. Rassmussen also limited retention of adults in the Oneida unit to 245 hours.

Mrs. Carolyn Williams was hostess at a surprise birthday party at her home January 13th in honor of her son Troy, who was observing his 18th birthday and Marv Ekstrom, on his 17th birthday. Several hungry friends enjoyed a barbecue supper after the double overtime, Malad-Marsh Valley basketball game. Mrs. Vicki Ekstrom helped prepare the supper.

The art department at the Malad High School has chosen winners for the month of December in both pottery and sculpting. The winners in pottery were DeRay Williams, first; Miriam Jensen, second; and Bonita Hobson, both third and fourth place. In sculpting it was Billy Lloyd, first; Bonita Hobson, second, Keith Henry, third, Linda Gillies and Brooks Allen, fourth.

55 YEARS AGO (1969)

Sponsored by Malad LDS Stake Seminary, the talented Three D’s musical group, pictured in The Idaho Enterprise, will present a concert January 30, at the Malad Stake Building. Concert will start at 7:30 p.m. The Musicians are, Dick Davis, Duane Hiatt and Denis Sorenson.

Vaughan Jeppsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Von Jeppsen, left from Salt Lake City to San Diego to begin a two-year enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Marvin Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Thomas, has been removed from the critical list at the Dee Hospital in Ogden where he was taken about 10 days ago following a fall that resulted in a fractured skull. Mr. Thomas said he expects to bring Marvin home within a few days.

More than a thousand members of the LDS Church are expected to attend Malad Stake conference January18 and 19 when Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Council of Twelve of Salt Lake city will be the principal speaker.

Oneida County Free Library services include providing “Talking Books” and Braille books for the blind or otherwise handicapped persons, according to Mrs. Helen Price, librarian. 

65 YEARS AGO (1959)

John David Tovey, son of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Tovey, checked in at the Oneida Hospital on January 10 at 11:20 to qualify for the prizes offered by Malad merchants for Oneida’s First Baby of 1959.

David D. Williams arrived home Sunday from Chateauroux, France where he has been stationed for the past three years and three months while serving with the United States Air Force.

Personalities were chosen by the student body. They are as follows: Best Personality, Della Beth McAlliser and Spencer Ward; Friendliest, Judy Hughes and Don Conley; Most Likely to Succeed, DeLell Evans and Paul Evans; Wittiest, Karen Rutter and Tom Williams; Flirts, Judy E. Jones and Allen Harrison; Dancers, Arlene Bjorkman and Don Thomas; Attractive, Linda Dives and Dee Zundell; Athletes, Stephanie Allen and DelMar Williams; and Best All Around, Sondra Williams and Brent Davis.

75 YEARS AGO (1949)

Champneys Motor Co., agent for Buick cars and Phillips Petroleum products, opened business this week at 59 Bannock Street in the building formerly occupied by Lee Ossmen Motor Co. and Dick’s Service.

A distinct honor was accorded the Malad Chapter of Future Farmers of America when the national organization notified them they had been judged the outstanding F.F.A. chapter in Idaho During 1948.

A total of $16,979.47 was the city’s share of slot machine licenses sold in Malad during 1948, according to a report by Ward Thomas, city treasurer. During the year the country also received $3,763.77 from the slot machines of Malad City and the state the same amount.

Basketball’s celebrated Harlem Globetrotters, No. 1 team of the sport, are coming to the Malad gym on Friday, January 28 to exhibit their dazzling play and superb comedy against the J & M Cleaners. The game is scheduled at 7:30 p.m.