10 YEARS AGO (2015)

On Saturday, November 21, the Malad Gun Club will hold their annual turkey shoot, where Thanksgiving turkeys and hams will be given away.

The event starts off with a few warm-up rounds and then the competition. It is always entertaining to watch.

The Board of Directors of the Oneida Pioneer Museum has been working diligently to upgrade the museum. A new furnace and air conditioner have been installed and a new UV window replaced the old window on the east side of the building. Grants were received for these projects from the Redfield Foundation and Idaho Community Foundation.

Plans are being made to open the upstairs of the building and create theme rooms to display many artifacts and memorabilia that have been donated but are being held in storage.

The Malad Legion Auxiliary (ALA), under the direction of Marcia Stocks, as local president, held a membership dinner on Tuesday, November 10 at the Malad Community/Senior Center.

Gene Caldwell was asked to draw the winning ticket for the American Legion Auxiliary quilt. He pulled out the winning name of Gene Caldwell. Gene and his wife Kaye presented the quilt to Malad American Legion Commander Rick Madsen.

Malad Elementary Fourth grade students of Miss Evans, Mrs. Ihler and Mrs. Waldron presented an impressive program honoring Malad Veterans on Veterans Day. The students, under the direction of Music directors Carissa Hess and Pat Sorensen, performed three shows on Wednesday, plus a dress rehearsal and preview on Tuesday.

The program, entitled “To Those Who Serve”, was a variety of singing, dancing, short vignettes and narrative. The students sang enthusiastically and the narrators were very prepared, speaking clearly and loudly for everyone to hear.

Fifth grade students are learning to love writing! Mrs. Christine Smith’s reading and writing classes worked hard all of October to write persuasive essays on a fundraiser they would like to do. 

15 YEARS AGO (2010)

Nelson Construction and Remodeling from Roy, Utah is installing new windows in the Oneida County Courthouse. When done, there will be new windows and light fixtures in the Courthouse and County Annex on 100 West. The majority of the project is being funded through a $66,578 federal Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant.

Brydee Marie Neal White, daughter of Eugene Neal, and granddaughter of Bill and Marie Neal, received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Project Management Specialist from Capella University of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Malad Elementary 4th grade students presented their annual Veterans’ Day Program. This year’s program was entitled “Defenders of Freedom.” Brenna Williams paid special tribute to her father, Shaun Williams, for his service in the Iraqi War.

The Malad High School football team is set to compete at the 2A Idaho State Football Championship game. The Dragons defeated New Plymouth, 42 – 28, on November 13, at New Plymouth High School.

20 YEARS AGO (2005)

People from all over the area auditioned last Friday and Saturday for “The Hayfield,” a western movie for which segments are going to be shot on the Dave Richards ranch in Daniels.

Reporting in the Oneida County Commissioners’ meeting, Commissioner Gerald Goodenough said that Robert Hodson, D.O., has stated his intent to come to Malad and begin a practice by next July.

The Oneida Education Foundation (OEF) held the annual Telethon the past two weekends. In the two weekends of calling, the group had pledges of $6,500.

After learning what Malad City is going to have to do in order to join the Oneida Fire District, elected officials are saying they want to put more study into the various options. In the meantime, it will be business as usual for the Malad Volunteer Fire Department.

Mount Vernon, Virginia – Americans don’t know it and children aren’t taught it, but George Washington is responsible for our Thanksgiving holiday. It was our first president who led the charge to make this day of thanks a truly national event – not the Pilgrims and not Abraham Lincoln. On October 3, 1789, George Washington issued his Thanksgiving Proclamation designating for “the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving” to be held on “Thursday the 26th day of November,” 1789, making the first national celebration of a holiday that has become commonplace in today’s households.

25 YEARS AGO (2000)

John Christophersen said the Ambulance Unit is forming an alliance with the Oneida Search and Rescue. This will help with funding as Search and Rescue is reimbursed from the state for many of the services it performs.

New officers for the Oneida Ambulance Unit are John Christophersen, president; Carol Rindlisbacher, first vice president; Mike Beecher, second vice president; Robyn Gamble, secretary; Shane Howard, treasurer; Chad Rindlisbacher, equipment manager; Merrill Cornelius, training officer. Currently there are 24 EMTs serving Oneida County.

The City of Malad combined with Utah Power and Light Company and numerous volunteers to plant 25 trees surrounding Malad City’s new community park, west of the Oneida County Library. 

Stone Elementary School was the recipient of two grants from the Oneida Education Foundation. The grants, about $415, were awarded for the purchase of educational material in two different age groups, the kindergarten and the third grade class.

Oneida County Farm Bureau is inviting all citizens to join in celebrating Farm-City Week. The American agriculture plays a crucial role in strengthening our economy and providing food for people around the world. National Farm-City Week, is designated to emphasize the successful partnerships between rural and urban residents who make our food and fiber system the envy of the world. The ongoing theme for the week is “Partners in Progress.”

40 YEARS AGO (1985)

Conversion of the Malad exchange to full one party telephone service available has been completed by Mountain Bell as part of a statewide One Party Universal Service (OPUS) project.

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Department veteran staff is at practically zero, with the leaving of Jay Stayner, Dale Ward, Martha Jeppsen and Jeff Semrad. What’s more, if Sheriff Ken Wharton retires in the spring, as he is now considering doing, the whole department will be new.

The President of the United States signed a Congressional Resolution designating the Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 24, as a national day of fast. Citizens are invited to refrain from partaking of two meals on that day and to contribute the equivalent value or more for hunger relief.

New members who recited the pledge to the National Honor Society are Paula Atkinson, Stacey Baker, Chris Blaisdell, Stephanie Cottle, Steve Gunnell, Tricia Hill, Shannon Hyer, Vicky Jenson, Paula Madsen, Alina Marble, Collin Olsen, Chris Parry, Clint Rohner, Karen Vaughan, Heather Ward and John Williams.

50 YEARS AGO (1975)

The late Bishop Moroni Timbimboo is pictured in The Idaho Enterprise at the 1963 marker ceremony honoring his father Chief Sagwitch Timbimboo. Presenting the marker is A. R. Standing, past president of the Ogden Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, which financed the project.

Chief Sagwitch was one of the few Indian survivors of the 1863 Battle of Bear River – one of the last major battles between whites and Indians in this area.

Nine young men from the Malad LDS Fourth Ward recently received their Duty to God Awards. The young men are Robert Kent, Chad Daniels, David Kent, Colen Sweeten, David Wharton, Mike Williams, Kim Hess, Don Christoffersen and Tyler Schwartz.

Dr. Weldon Tovey, along with another professor from the Department of Engineering at the University of Idaho at Moscow, demonstrated a miniature computer and lectured to high school math and science students. The professors had the computer programmed for several math games that the students were challenged to complete.

Lonnie Alder and Kelly Davis have been chosen as SEIC All-Conference first team members. David Tovey received honorable mention. The players are selected by the coaches of the various football teams in the Southeastern Idaho Conference.

60 YEARS AGO (1965)

Kleal J. Price Jr. left Tuesday from Salt Lake City for Great Lakes Naval Station, Michigan, where he will be stationed for basic training. Kleal was inducted into the U.S. Navy Thursday.

R. V. Daniels has provided flying ambulance service for residents of this area for the past 15 years. He has been called on about 15 times to provide this service all expenses paid by Mr. Daniels. He has also made flights to obtain drugs and serums when needed in emergencies.

Mr. Daniels purchased his first plane, a 40 horsepower Cub in 1938. His new Cessna 175 is the 12th plane he has owned. He has logged over 3,000 accident-free flying hours and received a plaque from the Idaho Safe Pilot Program in 1965. He has more than 1,000 unlogged flying hours to his credit. Half of Malad residents have been passengers of Mr. Daniels for their first plane rides, he pointed out in showing his log book with their names listed.

Active in civic affairs while operating a drug store here from 1920 until he sold his interest in 1958, Mr. Daniels and his wife, Grace, are now retired and spend their time between Malad in summer and Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico during winter months. Mr. Daniels still maintains his flying ambulance service while in Malad.

70 YEARS AGO (1955)

California-Pacific Utilities Co. began work on the installation of a new street lighting system in the business district of Malad City.

Verl Williams, A/M/3rd class, left for Parks Air Force Base in California after a 30-day leave at the home of his parents. From there he will embark for Japan.

A University of Utah student, Reed R. Probst, recently led the university’s debate team to outstanding participation in the annual forensic tournament at Bozeman, Montana. Probst, who is president of the student debate team, placed first in both extemporaneous and discussion.

J. S. Halliday, principal of the Malad schools, has been elected president of the Fifth District Administrators Association, which includes all southern Idaho Counties. C. O. Simpson, Malad school superintendent, was elected secretary of the association.

80 YEARS AGO (1945)

On August 2, 1945, an article on the bell at the Presbyterian church under the heading “Historic Bell Has Tolled Since 1884,” written by Miss H. E. Morgan, was published, and the following, also by Miss Morgan, is supplementary to that article:

“Twice since the article on Malad’s historic bell was written has our bell been dramatically rung – on V-E Day and again on V-J Day.

“When the announcement of peace reached Malad everything was quiet and Griff Jenkins, starting up Chapel Hill had gone but a short distance when he was thrilled to hear the first loud peal of the bell, and reaching the top he joined ‘Big Bill,’ Malad’s policeman, and together they rang – rang for the past, the present and the future - rang a requiem for the boys who had made the supreme sacrifice, rang in jubilation that peace, peace at last, had come, and rang for that hope, deep in the heart of each one of us, a hope for future security and a permanent peace when “War drums shall throb no longer and battle flags are furled in the parliament of man, a federation of the world.”

Staff Sergeant Melvin D. Thompson, who was reported missing by the War Department on November 2, 1944 following an air raid over Merseburg, Germany, is now “presumed to be dead” according to a letter received from the adjutant general’s office by Sgt. Thompson’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin L. Thompson of Malad.

The letter, signed by Major General Edward F. Witsell, acting adjutant general, read as follows” “Since your son, S-Sgt. Melvin D. Thompson, air corps, was reported missing in action 2 November 1944, the War Department has entertained the hope that he survived and that information would be revealed dispelling the uncertainty surrounding his absence. However, as in many cases, the conditions of warfare deny us such information. The record concerning your son shows that he was a crewmember aboard a B-17 “Flying Fortress” aircraft, which participated in a bombing mission to Merseburg, Germany. Hostile enemy aircraft were encountered over the target area. Shortly after leaving the target on their way home, your son’s aircraft was hit by shellfire from enemy aircraft. It caught fire and exploded in the vicinity of Halle, in central Germany. Statements from surviving crew members indicated that they did not see your son’s parachute nor did they see or hear from him during their internment.

“I regret the necessity for this message but trust that the ending of a long period of uncertainty may give at least some small measure of consolation. I hope you find sustaining comfort in the thought that the uncertainty with which war has surrounded the absence of your son has enhanced the honor of his service to his country and of his sacrifice.”

Sgt. Thompson left for overseas duty May 10, 1944 and was flying his 31st mission when his aircraft was shot down. For his participation on the missions he was awarded the air medal with four clusters. Sgt. Thompson was 20 years old.