5 YEARS AGO (2020)

On Friday night, May 1, Malad residents joined together to honor Malad High School Seniors in a “Malad Valley Cruise” sponsored by Tyrell Neal.

Soe walked along the sidewalk on North Main Street and Bannock Street to see the windows decorated for the Senior Class. A photo of each graduating senior was displayed in the windows, along with special displays in the other windows. the large main window displayed a large dragon, with the window display declaring, “You’re off to great places – Today is your day!” On Bannock Street the display stated, “Worst Senior Prank – #Quarantine” with a photo of the Malad High School Class of 2020. the windows were decorated by Susan Wittman, Chris Jensen, Gene and Kay Caldwell and other members of the Malad Co-op Committee.

The Oneida School Board held a special session via Zoom on Thursday, April 30, 2020, to discuss issues related to the impact of COVID-19 on the schools.

Superintendent Rich Moore had provided Board members with copies of a emo from the Idaho School Boards Association that discouraged school districts from reopening schools this spring due to liability should students or staff members contract COVID-19 at school. Therefore, the schools in Oneida School district will not reopen this spring, but students will continue receiving instruction via Zoo and pre-recorded videos from teachers.

15 YEARS AGO (2010)

Christin Watkins was crowned Malad’s new Junior Miss, Saturday, May 1, during the community’s 29th annual Junior Miss Program. First alternate is Beth Blaisdell and second alternate is Shala McKinney.

Rex and Sarah Robbins and Lillian Talbot’s spirit of volunteerism has earned them this year’s Malad Valley Volunteers of the Year Award. City Council Woman Joan Hawkins presented this honor at the beginning of the Junior Miss Program on Saturday.

The Malad LDS Stake Center was packed Sunday evening, with people coming from far and near to hear inspirational messages from the world famous Osmond family. The fireside was the Osmonds’ way of saying “thank you” to the Malad Valley community for all the hard work and perseverance that went into restoring their mother’s birthplace cabin in Samaria.

The American Legion Auxiliary has announced it will be sending two junior girls to the 64th session of Syringa Girls’ State. Paige Moeller and Paige Daniels were selected to represent Oneida County as delegates to the annual government leadership training slated at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa.

20 YEARS AGO (2005)

Pearl Jones was named the 2004 “Volunteer of the Year” and honored with a plaque at the annual Malad Junior Miss Program. Mayor Spence Horsley presented the plaque and gave her a short tribute.

Hailey Willie was named Malad Junior Miss for 2006 in the annual program. Making up her court are Emily Treasure, 1st alternate; Megan Brooks, 2nd alternate, Chelsey Jenkins, 3rd alternate and Katie Gilgen, Spirit of Junior Miss.

The Malad District Cub Scouts held their annual Pinewood Derbies last week, with the fastest cars from each pack getting a chance to compete at the district level.

Derek Peterson, representing Pack 427, took the top prize with an average time of 2.5088 seconds. He was followed by Keaton Albretson, representing Pack 456, with a time of 2.5212 seconds average. The third place trophy went to Garrett Larsen from pack 457. He had an average time of 2.5214. Dillon Steffenhagen, also from Pack 427, finished fourth with a time average of 2.5252.

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise is SPC Philip Bott outside of Kirkuk in the northern region of Iraq. Bott is part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and works in field artillery, driving a Field Artillery Ammunition Supply vehicle. He says the surrounding area is much like home with small towns and villages covering the area. However, there are no mountains, just a few rolling hills in the distance. 

30 YEARS AGO (1995)

Many area residents attended a public meeting last week to discuss the proposal to build a new middle school in Malad. A bond election on the issue is slated for May 16.

Former Idaho State Governor and President of D. L. Evans Bank, John V. Evans, Sr. and his wife, Lola, of Burley, were honored at a private reception on April 29, in observance of their 50th wedding anniversary.

With 338 students from 43 different schools around the state, Oneida School District’s 61 students accounted for about 18 percent of the participants at this year’s State History Fair in Boise. Andrew Showell captured the Editor’s Award, Dusty Skidmore earned the Friends of the Historical Museum Award, and the team of Trent Buehler, Jamey Brazel, Blake Buehler and Trevor Hess was awarded the Idaho Historic Preservation Council Award. Other students earned four 1st place awards, six 2nd place awards, three 3rd place awards, and four 4th place awards.

The annual Mother’s Day Dinner Theater was presented Friday and Saturday, May 12 and 13 at the Iron Door Playhouse. “Bachelor’s Wife” by Conrad Seeler starred Will Lower, Jr. as a young bachelor with great literary ambitions. Other cast members included Lon Colton, Dan Marteeny, Pam Howell, Shirlee Jones, Chris Jones, Larane Jensen, Lynn Jones and David Lloyd. Barbara Waldron was director with Jane Ann Ward as assistant.

Winners of the 4-H coloring contest are Justin Gilgen, Julie Tubbs and Emily Doying.

Junior High wrestlers took top honors at the District Junior High Wrestling Tournament Brent Scott was the champion in his weight division. Others placing were Kade Price, Platt Price and Lex Smith, second; David Vaughan and Doug Crowther, third; Loren Ward, Christopher Glascock and Jessy Goodrich, fourth.

40 YEARS AGO (1985)

Saturday, May 4, Lara Knutsen, daughter of Byron and Virginia Knutsen, was crowned Malad Junior Miss and with the title received a $1,800 scholarship to Utah State University. The Junior Miss Committee awarded her an additional $250.

First runner-up was Michelle Ward, daughter of Marilyn and the late Parry Ward, who will receive a $1,000 scholarship to Utah State University with an additional $200 from the Committee.

Placing second was Staci Ekstrom, daughter of Albert and Vicki Ekstrom who will receive a $1,000 scholarship to Utah State University upon graduation. The Committee also awarded Staci an additional $150.

Deputy Dale Ward, Oneida County Sheriff Dept., was recently awarded his Intermediate Certificate from the State of Idaho POST (Peace Officers’ Standards and Training) Academy. He merited the award by having a combination of eight years of law enforcement experience and completing at least 600 hours of training.

Dennis Thomas successfully bid on the old First Bank and Trust building at a recent public auction. The winning bid was for $5,000.

Participating in the Miss Idaho and Miss Rocky Mountain pageants April 27, were Annabel Ipsen, daughter of Mark and Cydney Ipsen, Kathy Davis, daughter of Bonnie Davis and Gary Davis and Kisti Couch, daughter of Dan and Launa Couch.

Annabel received second runner-up in the Miss Idaho pageant and first runner-up in the Miss Rocky Mountain pageant.

Kathy was awarded fourth runner-up in both Miss Idaho and Miss Rocky Mountain.

Kisti placed as sixth runner-up in Miss Rocky Mountain and fourth runner-up in Miss Idaho.

50 YEARS AGO (1975)

Acquiring a business that originated in their family three-quarters of a century ago and also establishing a new one here are brothers Ralph and Ed E. Jones, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Ariel E. Jones. The brothers purchased the Corner Bar, which was originally opened by their grandfather, the late Ed E. Jones, and also the Clark Building from Mrs. Edith Dives. The buildings adjoin each other on North Main Street.

Three Oneida County girls will represent Oneida Farm Bureau at the District Variety Show in July. Selected from the 17 to 30-year old group was Jody Jones, who presented a variety number featuring reading, vocal and guitar, and Diane Crowther, a solo. Judy Moon, 12-16-year old group, received a first on her piano solo. Other winners were Trudy Williams, second, 12-16-year olds; Bonnie Willie, first, and Ken Tuttle, second, six to 11-year olds; Heather Ward, first, and Mollie and Amy Hess, second, one to five group.

A Malad Elementary school student, Bonnie Willie, has been named the Idaho Fifth District’s Litter Jingle Contest winner and will receive an award from Governor Cecil D. Andrus in a ceremony at Boise State College’s Bronco Stadium on May 16th.

Oneida delegates attended a meeting at a regional conference in Pocatello on April 30th to consider the question, “What would we like Idaho to be like in 1995?” The delegates included Glen B. Williams, Kenneth Wharton, Lyle Hall, Colen Sweeten, Farrell Daniels, Gene Edwards, Grant Jones, Aniece Alder, Louane Hadfield, Tammy Christoffersen and Kirk Corbridge.

60 YEARS AGO (1965)

Three students from Oneida County are listed on the honor roll at Utah State University for the past winter quarter.

Three listed from here include Robert B. Smith, Thomas Peter Thomas and Arthur H. Atkinson.

Placing second in dairy judging at Utah state University’s livestock judging contest held last week was the Malad High F.F.A. team of Neal Scott, Paul Tubbs and Randy Sorensen.

Qualifying for the Utah State University rodeo team at Logan is Bert Smith, a Malad High School graduate and son of Mr. and Mrs. Mac Smith, Holbrook.

The Drivers’ Training class has a new project this year. It consists of sending out post cards to people seen violating the law and we hope you will take this warning seriously as they are to help you become a better driver.

Summer Recreation Board of Oneida County has hired Richard Rice for the second consecutive year to direct the youngsters’ sports program here during June, July and August.

Participating in a practice meet at Brigham City Friday with athletes of the Intermountain Indian School, Coach Ralph Harding’s tracksters captured six first places. Winning first places at Brigham City were Lon Williams who won both the 100 and 200-yard dashes; Rol Evans, discus; Stephen Facer, shot put; Terry Sorensen, 440 yard run; and Ricky Williams, 1/2 mile.

70 YEARS AGO (1955)

Miss Karen Hartley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hartley of Malad, will appear with the Madrigal Singers at their annual spring tour April 30 to May 8 to California and June 4 to 13 to Canada.

Winning the general election to name student body officers were Delon Hawkins, president; Connie Moon, vice president; Alice Neal, secretary and treasurer; Darl Williams, business manager and Sue Jones, historian.

Idaho’s new minimum wage law—requiring that employees be paid at least 75 cents an hour—became effective today, May 5th. The law was passed at the recent session of the Idaho legislature. Employers may obtain full information on the law by writing the State Commissioner of Labor, Capitol Building, Boise, Idaho.

The Malad High School Student Council voted Rula Jean Isaacson and Foster Ipsen for the Babe Ruth Sportsmanship awards which are presented to students for athletic ability, scholarship, leadership, personality, over-coming handicaps, enthusiasm, cooperation, citizenship, courtesy attitude toward school and community.

There are 12 contestants to compete for the Miss Malad title on May 14th. Contestants and their sponsors are as follows: Margaret Jones, Daniels Drug; Lois Vaughan, J.C. Penney Co.; Madelyne Taylor, Malad 3rd Ward; Patsy Roderick, Jones Chevrolet Co.; Vona Mae John, Oneida Farm Equipment Co.; Janice Ward, Malad City Pharmacy; Rula Isaacson, Ray’s Ford Sales; Billie Ann Thorpe, Gambles Western Auto Supply; Wilma Artkinson, Jones Hardward Co.; June Wade, The Eagles Auxiliary; Dorothy Evans, Oneida Jewelers and Eurada Neal, Malad First Ward.

80 YEARS AGO (1945)

The following interesting letter about Malad soldiers in Italy is from Lt. Elden Jones, to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter D. Jones, former Malad residents:

“Just a short line to let you know all is well with me and I’m still sweating out the duration of this darn war. Just recuperating from the long jeep ride I took yesterday to attend our quarterly conference. Really was worth going to too.

“We started out about 7 o’clock yesterday morning and arrived in plenty of time for the morning services. LaVon Herbert, Gordon Crowther and a friend of Gordon’s from Logan went over with me. We didn’t attend the afternoon services, as we wanted to look up some of the boys from Malad who was in that area. We were very fortunate too in finding three Malad fellows in one afternoon. We saw Hazen Gilgen, of Daniels, Boyd Peck, more recently of Boise and Arthur (Bud) Davis. Not a bad collection for one afternoon’s travel when you consider how large an area Americans are stationed in.

“Boyd is sure a big cuss, larger than Lorin (his brother). Arthur Davis isn’t very small either he’d really make his dad look like a pygmy. He must be all of six feet tall. He has been overseas 32 months now. Hazen has been in over 34 months. Something I didn’t know until yesterday was that Hazen and his brother were in the same squadron when his brother was killed back in North Africa. Boyd Peck was on the same field as Hazen only they were quite a ways from each other. It was a very rough road leading to their field and boy my rear was really in a sad state of fatigue when I got back. You know there are no springs in the seats of a jeep and they leave a lot to be desired in the way of comfort.

“I’m enclosing a program of our services yesterday morning. As you will notice Robert Gibbons is on the program, I got to talk to him for quite awhile yesterday. He was my old seminary teacher. Chaplain Cooley gave a very fine talk; he is certainly a swell fellow, very good looking and a fine personality. We had a very large service (large for over here at least) especially when everyone had to come so far. We had 249 and filled every seat in the little chapel where we had our services. Wacs, Waves, Navy, in fact all branches of the service were represented. Chaplain Cooley took some motion pictures of the congregation; maybe you’ll see them someday.

“We didn’t get back until ten o’clock last night, I had to go 30 miles (each way) to take Gordon and his friend to their headquarters. He made sergeant lately by the way. Boyd was a S-Sgt., Hazen a S-Sgt., LaVon is a Sgt., and Gordon a Sgt. It was very embarrassing for me as I had to go to the officers club to eat and they ate in the Red Cross Club. Sometimes I wish I were an enlisted man again. I certainly try to be ‘one of the fellows’ when I’m with anyone from Malad though, for that matter anyone.

“We drove 350 miles yesterday, which is quite a little hike in a jeep. Nothing much doing around here, just the same ole monotonous routine, only more so, as the war approaches a climax they get so worried over the soldier’s morale that they have increased reports about 200 percent in two weeks. Will be glad when it’s all over.”