10 YEARS AGO (2015)

For the first meeting of 2020, the Malad City Clerk Susan Wittman conducted the swearing in of councilmen Tom Jenkins and Lance Tripp, who won the 2019 general election, and also Mayor Joan Hawkins who ran unopposed in the election.

On Sunday, December 29, 2019, Troop 444 had their last court of Honor. Scout leaders were privileged to give out local awards and present six Eagle Scout Awards. 

The new Eagle Scouts are: 

Zackary Mills, the son of Doug and Valerie Mills. His Eagle project was one to help the community in Samaria by providing a new fence for park expansion near the Blue Goose.

Kole Willie, the son of Kirk and Kami Willie. For his project, Kile built a fence enclosure for a variety of animals out at the Heritage Square in Samaria.

Odeyson Shulz, the son of Matt and Arlene Shulz. For his Eagle Project, Ode put up playground equipment at the Samaria Heritage Square.

Curtis Huckaby, the son of Travis and Kellianne Huckaby. For his Eagle Project, Curtis installed pine board and batten siding on the inside walls of the pavilion at Samaria Park.

Andrew Kevin Waldron, the sone of Luke and Shayna Waldron. For his Eagle Scout Project, Andrew completed the gravel walking paths at the Malad Valley Heritage Square.

Dylan Lamar Waldron, the son of Luke and Shayna Waldron. For his Eagle Scout Project, Dylan completed the privacy fence on the border of the Malad Valley Heritage Square.

On Saturday, January 11, 2020 the Malad High School Dragonettes trudged through the snow to Pocatello to compete in the Idaho Classic Dance Competition. Malad competed in all four categories: Military, Hip Hop, Dance and Prop.

Malad placed third in Military and took first in Dance, Hip Hop and Prop. Five soloists represented Malad: Hunter Olsen, Kristal Ford, McKinna Owens, Hailey Williams and Savanah Poulson.

Malad High School Dragonettes participating in the Idaho Classic Dance Competition included - Rayleigh Barnes, Savanah Poulson, Hunter Olsen, McKinna Owens, Hailey Williams, Abby Hoskins, Brylee Clark, Alexis Shaw, Olivia Allen, Journey Tovey, Sydney Carey, Kristal Ford, Marion Smith, Hannah Bird, MaTece Davis, Rebekah Smith, Sara Held and Bailey Timothy.

The Big Dog Fishing Club held its annual Devil Creek Ice Fishing Tournament on Saturday, January 11, 2020. Once again, the entries filled quickly with all 150 slots taken before the deadline.

According to organizer Bret Felter, the ice on the reservoir was plenty thick, but slushy on top in many places that, combined with the snowy weather, made conditions challenging for everyone.

The top winners this year were Colton Jensen, first place with a 21-inch fish; Jesse Allen, second place with a 20 and one-fourth inch fish and Brian Spackman, third place with a 19 and three-fourths inch fish. There was a three-way tie for fourth place with Carson Hunt, Colton Braton and Landon Johnson each catching a 19 and one-half inch fish.

10 YEARS AGO (2015)

Freya Nichole Bello became Oneida County’s first baby for 2015, making her grand entrance on Monday, January 5, 2015. The little girl weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. 

Joan Hawkins, Malad’s first woman mayor, was sworn into office at the City Council meeting held on Wednesday, January 8, 2015. She was appointed by the council to fill the remainder of the term of E. Spence Horsley who resigned as mayor on December 10, 2014. Hawkins was appointed to the council by Mayor Horsley in June of 2002 and has served on the council since that time, serving as president of the council for the past two years.

Oneida County citizens will have a chance to vote on a bond for a new elementary school on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The bond proposal will be for $12.5 million to be financed over 30 years. This amount will pay for all necessary costs of the project, including the design, construction, labor, materials, equipment, permits and fees, as well as the cost to relocate the auto shop to the high school, demolish old buildings and remediate the “school block” in the heart of Malad City.

An oilseed crushing facility is scheduled to open soon at the Washakie Renewable Energy biodiesel plant in Plymouth, Utah. The company hopes to source soybeans and canola from regional farmers.

15 YEARS AGO (2010)

Ashton Lee Purdum captured the 2010 Oneida County First Baby of the Year title, arriving January 6 at 1:41 a.m. at the Franklin County Medical Center in Preston. Ashton weighed in at 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. Ashli and Eric Purdum welcome this new addition to their family, along with siblings: 6 year-old Brooke, 4 year-old Jaron, 4 year-old Erica and 2 year-old Shane.

The Malad High School Girls’ Junior Varsity basketball team earned two wins this past week against district rivals.

The Dragon wrestlers finished fourth when they competed in the Bear Lake Classic Wrestling Tournament last weekend. Team members include the following: Tallen Boyer, Hayden Scoffield, Nathan Eliason, Chris Hess, Dan Blaisdell, Justin Thibedeau, Derek Stanger, D. J. Peabody, Harley Fisher, Sam Woodward, Zaydon Cutler, Quinn Eliason, Westly Peterson, Chris Hill, Kyle Davis and Chance Boyer. Coaches are Dusty Skidmore and Devin Morrison.

Sarah Robbins has been selected as December’s Faculty member of the Month at Malad High School.

Robbins has been a teacher at Malad High School for 19 years. 

Malad High School student Tyler Ogden is Oneida’s winner of the annual Weed Essay Contest, sponsored by the Bear River RC&D, a cooperative management group comprising Oneida, Franklin, Bannock, Cache and Box Elder counties. For 1st place, he was presented a check for $125 by Oneida Weed Supervisor Aaron Hull. Paige Daniels submitted the 2nd place essay, netting her $75, while 3rd place and $50 went to Lindsay Davis.

20 YEARS AGO (2005)

This weekend’s storm dumped at least 10 inches of snow on Malad and 18 inches to two feet on Malad Summit.

Judge David Evans conducted the oath of office ceremony for the new county officials. Taking office were Prosecuting Attorney Dustin Smith, County Commissioners Joe Daniels and Dallan Nalder and Sheriff Jeff Semrad.

The outgoing county commissioners, Jerry Bush and Gene Caldwell, were honored at an open house. Jerry Bush served citizens of Oneida County for 14 years, a total of six terms, while Gene Caldwell served three terms, a total of 10 years.

Sunday afternoon, at the Salt Lake Air National Guard Base, Chief Master Sgt. David Colton was one of two airmen from the 109th Air Control Squadron who received the Bronze Star Medal, which is awarded for exemplary service during combat, in recognition of their accomplishments while deployed in Iraq.

Pam Broberg was the lucky winner of the Malad American Legion Auxiliary Unit 65 quilt raffle held during the annual Festival of Trees. The Legion Auxiliary was able to donate $1,228 to the Veteran’s Memorial Fund due to the community’s support of the raffle.

30 YEARS AGO (1995)

While Kacey Ray Smith became Oneida’s First Baby of the Year, Cydney Ipsen was named the new manager at the Cherry Creek Visitor Center and Lee Hogan came on board as a physician’s assistant at the Malad Valley Clinic.

40 YEARS AGO (1985)

Oneida County Courthouse employees assembled in the courtroom on January 14, to witness the swearing in ceremonies administered to Commissioners Con Alder and Gene Edwards and Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Crowther by Magistrate Judge Lowell Castleton. Sworn in at a later date were Sheriff Ken Wharton and Oneida Coroner Spence Horsley.

At a recent 4-H Council meeting, Fay Cottle was installed as the new president for the year. Present members are Terri Sorensen, Ken Timothy, Bonna Anderson, Kathy Williams, Bob Crowther and Sherrie Johnson. Advisors are Extension Agents Ruahn Panting and Jean Showell.

Myrna Tovey, Director of Nursing Services, reports the successful completion of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) by two of Oneida Country Hospital’s Registered Nurses. Vicky Williams Kent, R.N. and Tamara Moss, R.N. have fulfilled the requirements specified to receive certification of the ACLS advancement.

50 YEARS AGO (1975)

Delon Williams, who will leave for the Japan Tokyo LDS Mission, will be honored at a testimonial, January 19  in the St. John LDS Chapel. Delon is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Virgil Williams.

Oneida Resource, Conservation and Development executive committee approved the recommendation of the sponsoring organizations to name Ray Eliason as vice-chairman of Bear River RC&D executive board. He will succeed John V. Evans, who held this position but is unable to continue to serve due to his new duties as Idaho Lieutenant Governor, according to Gene Edwards, Oneida County commissioner. Evans will continue to serve as a member of the BR RC&D Executive Board.

The newly elected officers of the Malad High School Science Club are Doug John, president; Don Christophersen, vice president; Becky Crowther, secretary; Ginna Zivkovic, activities chairman.

Clayton Henrie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Veryl Henrie, has completed all requirements for the degree of Master of Science in mathematics at Utah State University. Mr. Henrie wrote a thesis entitled “Investigation of Stability of Multivalue Methods that are used to Solve Differential Equations on the Computer.” He received a bachelor’s degree in math from USU in 1971.

60 YEARS AGO (1965)

Three new Oneida County officials were sworn into office at the courthouse by Colen H. Sweeten, Jr., clerk and auditor. They are Kenneth Wharton, who succeeds John A. Evans as sheriff; Earl Caldwell and George Neal, commissioners, succeeding Jesse R. Dredge and Lloyd Hubbard. Ralph Burton, who will serve as deputy sheriff, will be sworn in at a later date.

After spending a 14-day leave at the home of his parents Mr. and Mrs. Dale Davis, PFC Joe Ray Davis returned to Fort Riley, Kansas. He had as his guests for four days Donna Davis, Manhattan, Kansas, and her mother, Mrs. Lillian Davis, St. George, Bermuda.  They accompanied Mr. Davis to Kansas.

Elder Wallace Smith returned from the LDS North German Mission, January 10, after 2 1/2 years absence from his home in Malad. He was met in Salt Lake City by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace E. Smith, and his sisters.

A/1C Robert Dean Swenson left Sunday for Travis Air Force Base, in California, where he will fly to the Philippine Islands enroute to Vietnam.

Charles J. Nielsen, Oneida director of Civil Defense, reports that an 11-lesson medical self-help training class will be held in Malad if enough people are interested. The lessons will be taught by a physician and a trained nurse. Those wanting to take the course or desiring further information are asked to call Mr. Nielsen or Mrs. Wanda Napier.

Three lovely debutantes, Jackie Price, JoAnn Swindle and Jeanne Madsen were presented by the Y.W.M.I.A. President Leora Brown at the Pleasantview Ward for their annual Gold and Green Ball. The young ladies were presented with a corsage and book in behalf of the M.I.A. An orchestra provided music for the girls to waltz with their fathers.

70 YEARS AGO (1955)

Honoring Charles Knight, prior to his leaving for military service, dinners were given by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bush, Mr. and Mrs. David South, Mr. and Mrs. John South and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bush.

Members of the Girls’ Athletic Association, G.A.A., of the Malad High School with their advisor, Mrs. Sally Shaffer, enjoyed a coasting party. New members initiated into the organization were Dawnie Isaacson, Dalene Moon and Deloris John.

There were 1,200 convicted of drunken driving in 1954 in Idaho, an all time high according to state records.

The National Safety Council reports that in 1954 in 30 out of every 100 accidents excessive speed was the cause, and that in 24 out of each 100 accidents, alcohol was the cause.

Sixteen young friends of Sue Thorpe helped her celebrate her 12th birthday anniversary when her mother, Mrs. Billie Thorpe, honored her at a party. Games, refreshments and television proved entertaining to them.

80 YEARS AGO (1945)

The following inductees will leave January 23 for Fort Douglas where they will be inducted into the service. Waldorf E. Morse, Dean L. Williams, W. Wayne Williams, Elden T. Ward, Farren P. Hunsaker, V. Lynn Richards, Elbert J. Sweeten, Ralph R. Davis, Ralph T. Jones, Leland A. Jones, Stanley Isaacson, John D. Hedstrom, Donald S. Vaughn and Lloyd R. Bunderson. Rex Hanson has transferred from the Salt Lake board to leave with these boys.

Fred Murray received a card on January 7 from his son, Jack saying: “Dear Dad: I am a prisoner of war in Germany. I am uninjured. No cause for worry, as I am well and getting enough to eat.”

The card was dated September 21, 1944. Lt. Murray went down over enemy European territory on August 23 and was reported missing on September 2.

Taking the leading soprano role in Balft’s light opera, “The Bohemian Girl” when it is presented at Utah State Agricultural College in January will be Helen Crowther. Miss Crowther is a freshman student enrolled in the school of home economics at the college where she is prominent in music activities.

Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Jones received a letter dated December 25 saying that their son, Pvt. Larsen B. Jones had arrived safely somewhere in the South Pacific, and is now in the 165th Inf. and 27th Army. They also received a letter dated December 16 from their son Pvt. Elden J. Jones saying he had been transferred to northern France. He is a paratrooper and is in the 7th Army. He was in the first wave to drop on Southern France soil the day of the invasion.

Recently at a ceremonial review, Lt. Elden D. Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter D. Jones, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism while he was stationed in Algeria, Africa. 

The incident which merited Lt. Jones, the highest non-combat decoration of the Army for heroism occurred when an RAF officer became exhausted while swimming in the rough seas on the Mediterranean. On hearing cries for help, Lt. Jones, without regard for his own safety, went to the officer’s assistance and kept him afloat. Lt. Jones’ doggedness and expert swimming ability enabled him to bring the English officer to shore, where first aid was administered. Lt. Jones entered the military service of his country at Fort Douglas, Utah in February of 1938, from Malad City, Idaho, his former home. He served with the 38th Infantry transferring to the Air Corps in 1941, received appointment to the Army Air Force’s Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1942. He entered Foreign Service in May, 1943, was promoted to First Lieutenant; and is now adjutant of Army service. He has earned the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense and African-European Campaign ribbons, to which he now adds the Army Soldier’s Medal.