5 YEARS AGO (2020)

Reigning over the Oneida Cowboy Classic Rodeo for 2020 will be Queen, Alaina Kruitbosch from College Ward, Utah, First Attendant, Kaitlyn Armstrong from Downey, Idaho, and Second Attendant, Kristal Ford from Malad, Idaho.

Gavin Reel was finally awarded his Eagle Scout award on Sunday, May 31 in a small ceremony at his home with his family and a few friends. He completed all his Eagle requirements in December and was the last Scout of Troop 456 to earn his Eagle.  Now that he has graduated from high school, his plans are to join the military and further his education in preparation to becoming a pediatrician.

Sharee Blaisdell’s name was drawn from all other entries as the winner of a raffle by the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) for a custom .257 Weatherby rifle. The rifle is number 5 of 125 and is valued at $3,000. Sharee’s husband Scott purchased the ticket and put her name on it! The Mule Deer Foundation raises funds to support deer habitat and conservation.

Malad residents enjoyed getting out of their homes on Saturday, where they practiced social distancing at the annual Malad Car and Bike Show held on Malad’s Main Street.

JC Hackett was in his booth, providing Rock & Roll Oldies and entertaining the crowd with his great sense of humor. Because of COVID-19, the traditional awards were not given this year by the Malad Area Chamber of Commerce, but JC provided his own “Top Ten” awards as follows: Jennifer Hill, 1974 VW; Sam Court, 1956 Chevy; Tedd Prokopis, 1950 Chevy; Mr. Weiss, 1958 Chevy; Jack Stickney, 1955 Chevy P.U.; Janice Wetzel, 1926 Thunderbird Coupe; Joe Bordeion, 1927 Studebaker; Bruse Jeppessen, 1951 Chevy; Brad Oitt, 1930 Ford; Tom Hogan, 1969 Chevy. In addition a “Unique Award” was presented to John (no last name) for a 1937 Hendy and a “Long Distance” award was presented to Wynn Allred from Winnemucca, Nevada.

15 YEARS AGO (2010) 

The newly built Victory Baptist Church was dedicated Saturday morning by Pastors Jack Harwell, of Malad, and Jim Ballard, of Blackfoot. 

Victory Baptist Pastor Jack Harwell welcomed the congregation and introduced the musicians from Christ’s Cowboy Country Church in Blackfoot, who provided the music. Pastor Harwell noted, there is a Bible in the foundation of the building in the doorway and said, “God has blessed us.” 

With past events and the opening of the Davis/Osmond Museum for tours, enough funds have been raised for rebuilding of the Samaria Centennial Park Pavilion, totaling $18,000. 

Nikki Asher, a district manager with the Family Dollar Corporation, has confirmed that plans for a Family Dollar store in Malad are in the works. The location will be along 50 South between Top Stop and the Rocky Mountain Plaza. 

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise are members of the new Malad LDS Seventh Ward Bishopric. They are Executive Secretary Jason Sperry, First Counselor Robert Ellis, Bishop Cory Ihler, Second Counselor Gary Clark, Ward Clerk Curt Elcock, and Financial Clerk Bobby Green. 

American Falls High School recently honored former Maladite Brandon Vaughan with a Golden Pride Award. 

New Malad Lions Club officers were sworn in last Thursday evening in a ceremony held at the Malad City Park. Over the coming year, Colton Checketts will serve as president. Other officers are Odell Rice, Lion tamer; Rex Robbins, secretary; Ed Thorpe, treasurer; Larry Thomas, 2nd vice president; Troy Allen, 1st vice president; Scott McMurtrey, tail twister; Don Schwartz, director; and Dave Corbridge, membership director.

20 YEARS AGO (2005) 

Two Malad High School Juniors will represent the American Legion Auxiliary Post 65 at the 59th annual Syringa Girls State, slated for the week of June 12-18. Janiece Stromberg and Meagan Brooks were named Girls State delegates in a selection process that was held earlier in the year. 

Ken Timothy, Curlew National Grassland Manager and Westside Ranger District staff officer, was recently recognized with a National Grassland Special Achievement Award in the category of Grassland Conservation. 

Principal Dotty Evanson was given the “Friends of Education” award from the OEA at the Elementary Award Assembly. She was also presented with a quilt from the Elementary Students and Faculty with the names of each student and teacher written on the quilt. 

Mekelle Christophersen is pictured in The Idaho Enterprise with the saddle she won as All Around Cow Girl for the High School Year End Qualifying Rodeo. Also pictured is Megan Couch, as she qualified for the State competition after finishing first in the goat tying competition. 

Megan Sperry and her sister Ashley Sperry Price both graduated from Idaho State University on May 21. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in History, while Ashley picked up a bachelor’s in Business Management. 

Susan E. Toler was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design from Ferris State University.

25 YEARS AGO (2000) 

Former Malad High School Principal Jerry Esplin returned to Malad High School as the Commencement speaker for the Malad High School 87th Annual Commencement exercises. He was the Principal of Malad High School for 31 years. The 78 members of the class were accepted and presented their diplomas by School Board Chairman Thayne Barker. 

Eight students with ties to Oneida County were among Utah State University graduates honored at the 107th Commencement May 6. Rochelle Panting Van Wagoner received a bachelor of science in psychology from the College of Education; Terrell Justin Jones graduated with a bachelor of science in Physical Education from the College of Education; Anne C. Crowther also graduated from the College of Education, with a bachelor’s in Elementary Education; Valorie Hubbard received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Mindy Evans was awarded a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the college of Business; Shannon Willie earned an Associate of Applied Science in Business Information Systems from the College of Business; Tom Willie graduated Cum Laude from the College of Agriculture with bachelor’s degrees in Agribusiness, Business, and Accounting and Amber Braker Garner received a bachelor of science in Finance from the College
of Business. 

Trent Buehler has been notified that he is a year 2000 silver winner in the Discover Card Tribute Award scholarship program. The Malad High School Junior will receive $1,750 for post high school education. 

40 YEARS AGO (1985) 

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise are members of the Malad High School Rodeo Club: Cherie Weeks, LeAnna Talbot, Wendy John, Cristee Brangham, Susan Bush, Ann Marie Weeks, Tom Swan, advisor, Dale Jones, Travis Palmer and Bill Harrison. Not pictured is Ray Davis. 

Miss Annabele Ipsen, age 12, daughter of Mark and Cydney Ipsen, has been selected as an entrant in Idaho’s 1985 American Beauty Pageant to be held June 15, 1985, at the Little Tree Inn in Pocatello. Miss Ipsen is being sponsored by the Chat n Chew Café, First Bank and Trust, Marty Dixon, Thomas Discount Drug, the Pocatello Stars, Coast to Coast and Allen Drug. 

Several local Boy Scouts have recently completed the requirements to be admitted to the Order of the Arrow. The first step in being accepted into the order is to fulfill the “Ordeal”. This includes taking an oath of silence for 24 hours and being sent off to prepare their own campsite with only a sleeping bag and a ground cover. Those traveling to Camp Little Lemhi to accomplish this task in scouting were Tim Williams, Troy Williams, Dustin Smith, Tyson Budge, Kelly Scott, Douglas Marteeny, Tony Perkins and Leland Ward. Larry Thomas was also selected to go but was unable to attend due to illness. 

Lance Tripp, son of Pat and Reyn Tripp, was notified that he was a contest winner in the poster contest “Keep Idaho Green” for preventing forest fires. 

JoLynne J. Price was among the 1,271 graduates receiving degrees and certificates during the 1985 graduation ceremonies at Idaho State University. JoLynn received a Bachelor of Arts Degree through the College of Education in Secondary Physical Education.

50 YEARS AGO (1975) 

Mrs. Hy Peterson and her neighbor, Mrs. Keith Evans, were sure another earthquake had occurred at 7:45 a.m. Saturday when lightning struck a tree near their homes on North Main during a severe thunderstorm. The main trunk was split and winds later in the day blew part of it onto the lawn at the Peterson home. 

Don Eliason was reelected to the Oneida County Free Library Board Monday. Other Board members are Mrs. Ione Jones, Mrs. Viva Burrie, Mrs. Gail Dorius and William G. Jenkins. 

Lindell Wharton received the bike given away Saturday evening during the grand opening of Zotes Fun Arcade. 

Receiving cue sticks were Wendy Thomas and John Mulder. Other prizes went to Clair Neal, Rik Villegas and John. 

Clayton Henrie received a master’s degree in Mathematics at Utah State University, Logan. He received a bachelor’s degree in 1971 at USU and was a teaching assistant in the Department of Mathematics there. 

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise was Frank Madsen, T&I instructor at Malad High School, holding the trophy awarded to Martin Stocks and Mark Wakley in the Idaho State Trouble Shooting contest held recently at Idaho State University. The team placed third. The Plymouth dealers sponsor the Trouble Shooting contest. Each team works on a new car in which a series of malfunctions have been planted. The challenge is to use classroom procedures to find and fix the problems.

60 YEARS AGO (1965) 

Ernest Glen Schwartz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rex Schwartz, left for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, to begin basic training. Glen enlisted for a four-year period and joined other Idaho enlistees at Boise to be sworn into the service by Governor Robert E. Smylie. 

Mrs. Alicia Bingham, Victor, Montana, English and Spanish teacher, was recently notified that from some 700 applicants she has been selected as one of 60 to attend the summer NDEA Institute in English at the University of Utah. 

The Enterprise staff was called this week by an observant youngster, ten year-old Gordon Christoffersen, who called to wish the staff “Happy Birthday” on the occasion of The Idaho Enterprise marking the 86th anniversary of publication since its founding on June 5, 1879 at Oxford, Idaho.

70 YEARS AGO (1955) 

There are now 13 nominees from Oneida County in the annual “Idaho Grassman of the Year” contest and the Malad Chamber of Commerce agriculture committee is requesting other entries to compete for the valuable prizes to be awarded by cooperating business firms. Entries who have been nominated to date include LaVern Smith, Myron Sorenson, Colen Sweeten Jr., Stillman Harris, Lee Goddard, Earl Hickman, Pete Thomas, J. E. Blaisdell & Sons, Sorenson and Burton, Glenn Jones, Charles Ward, Larsen Brothers, D. L. Evans. 

Boxed in by 35 peace officers from Brigham, Downey, Logan, Malad, Pocatello and Ogden, two Logan jail-breakers were captured early Tuesday morning at Downey. The two men escaped from the untended Cache County jail in Logan on Sunday morning. A stolen car was found at the head of Cherry Creek canyon, 10 miles south of Downey. Hunger drove the pair from the hills into Downey and they were arrested there on Tuesday morning. They were unarmed and offered no resistance when apprehended. 

Malad delegates to Girls’ State at Caldwell, Barbara Parry, Deanna Price, Sue Jones, and Joyce Mills, reported on the week’s activities at the regular meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary.

80 YEARS AGO (1945) 

Attorney T. J. Evans, Idaho Falls reports that Mr. and Mrs. H. Mark Earl of Idaho Falls, picked up a short wave report from Osaka, Japan, that his brother, David D. Evans, civilian prisoner of war was safe. 

The message was addressed to Mrs. David D. Evans at Inglewood, California, and was as follows: 

“I am feeling fine; getting along well, but lonesome to be back with you. Receiving mail regularly from you and from others.” 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ezell Sr., of Salt Lake City, former Malad residents, have received the following letter from captain J. P. Heath U.S.N.: 

“It is my sad duty to write you about the circumstances surrounding your son, who is missing in action. 

“It happened about 11 o’clock of the morning of May 9. His group was staffing shore installations when his plane was hit with antiaircraft fire. He lost control of his plane and it fell into the water. His flight officer saw the plane hit and followed it all the way down in hopes your son might bail out. They circled the area for some time without finding trace of your boy. We thought a lot of your son, Ensign Ezell, on this ship and we will miss not only his personality, but his help in carrying on the fight against the enemy. He was a brave man. He is missing in action for his country, and the memory of him will always be with us, his shipmates. I realize that there is nothing that I can say to lesson the pain of your suffering, but I feel that I must tell you about the circumstances and offer you the deepest sympathy of the captain and crew of the S. S. Batann. May God be with you in this hour of your bereavement.” 

Sgt. David R. Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rollie Jones, Route 1, Malad City, Idaho, as been awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action on 16 March 1945 in France while with the 142nd Infantry of the 36th Division. His company was held up from crossing a river by heavy hostile fire. Sgt. Jones led his squad across the icy river and drove back the hostile force, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.