5 YEARS AGO (2021)

A change in the School District’s COVID-19 protocol related to the wearing of masks was the major action taken by the Oneida School Board at their monthly meeting on February 16. The Board voted to change the protocol from mandating masks to recommending masks be worn by the students and staff at school: the change became effective Wednesday, February 17. Several members of the public were present to support the change.

The Malad Lions Club has reorganized with the new chainman as Thayne Barker. Other officers are First vice President Rex Robbins, Second Vice President Mark Amidan, Mike Ard Tail Twister, Scott McMurtrey Lion Tamer, Secretary Troy Allen and Treasurer Ed Thorpe. Don Schwartz is a member of the Board. The lions held their first meeting recently to complete their reorganization: and talked about projects for the club for the year.

The Malad High School wrestling team fought hard to bring home the 2A Fifth District Wrestling Championship. The district tournament was held Friday, February 19, in Preston.

10 YEARS AGO (2016) 

10 YEARS AGO (2016) The Malad High School Political Science Class taught by Brian Jadwin, second row left, are happy after presenting arguments before a mock Supreme Court in Malad last week.

 On Tuesday, February 16, the Malad High School Political Science class, brought two cases before their own “Supreme Court” and six local “Justices”, with Chief Justice Cody L. Brower presiding with Associate Justices Joan Hawkins, Steve Haycock, Sheldon Vaughan, Jeff Semrad and David Andersen.

In an impressive ceremony on Tuesday night, February 16, Austin Harrison of Troop 458, Malad First LDS Ward, received the rank of Eagle Scout.

Scout leaders praised Austin on his accomplishment, saying he slid in just under the wire. Some of that may have to do with his final Eagle project, where he, with the help of his troop, redid some rooms at the local theater, the Iron Door Playhouse. It became a larger project than anticipated due to water damage. Austin organized the project and worked hard, according to his Young Men’s President, Travis Hanks. “He is very dedicated with anything he is involved in,” said Hanks. “He is a commendable young man.”

The Malad High School wrestlers have earned the distinct honor of living up to the name “student-athletes” for the fourth year in a row. Once again, the Malad High School wrestling team has been named the Academic State Champions for Wrestling at the 2A division. 

The Idaho High School Activities Association announced the honor last week.

This honor goes to the team in each classification with the highest cumulative grade point average. To be considered teams submit the unweighted GPAs of their entire varsity roster. Submitted GPAs earn points toward the end-of-year Schools of Excellence Award. 

Academic State Champion teams are recognized at their respective state championship.

Malad High School’s wrestling team had a combined grade point average of 3.370. This was the fourth straight year the team has earned this honor. A trophy will be presented this weekend at Holt Arena in Pocatello at the Idaho State Wrestling Championships. It will be presented on Saturday, February 27.

15 YEARS AGO (2011)

 To the surprise of workers at the Malad Post Office, 250 chicks arrived for “Moab Utah”. Postmaster Helen Lusk called the Moab postmaster who indicated there would be no sense sending them on because they would be dead by the time they reached Moab. Lusk watered each chick individually and Tim Spencer, from Ward Feed and Seed brought over feed for them. Lusk then loaded the chicks up and drove them to Ogden. Someone from Ogden was going on to Provo, and the postmaster from Moab was already in Provo for business, so he picked up the chicks and drove them to their rightful destination.

On February 24, Floyd and Nedra Gleed will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  The couple met while Nedra was dating a friend of Floyd’s. Long story short, Floyd insisted on dating Nedra himself. She agreed after a little persuasion.

Nathan Eliason has reached a milestone few wrestlers ever reach. He has over 100 wins in his high school career. Eliason went into the 2A Fifth District Tournament knowing his goal was attainable. He earned his 100th win in the Championship match at 150 pounds, claiming the district title.

Despite a season plagued with illness and injury, the Malad High School Wrestling team fought their way to the 2A Fifth District championship in Malad. This year’s team included the following: D. J. Peabody, Carson McClain, Logan Atkinson, Chris Hess, Chris Hill, Dan Blaisdell, Nathan Eliason, Chance Boyer, Brodie Higley, Wesley Peterson and Quinn Eliason. 

20 YEARS AGO (2006)

A new rail spur into the Malad City Industrial Park has been completed. Mountain States Contracting was the general contractor. The company worked through the winter months to build a new switch and spur coming off the main Union Pacific line just northwest of the Hess Perlite Plant.

Clayton Eliason was named first place winner in the Oneida County Farm Bureau “Looking to the Future of Idaho Agriculture” speech contest and participated at District competition in Pocatello where he placed second. He received cash prizes at both competitions.

Challis Sweeten won a portable DVD player at the second annual Bouncy Ball Drop, a fundraiser for the Oneida Youth Coalition. Over $600 was raised which the Youth Coalition will use for its activities throughout the year. 

Malad had eight medalists from the district tournament earning a trip to the 2A State Wrestling Tournament this weekend. Those bringing home medals were: Shane Price, Mike Evans, Devin Skidmore, Robin Bullcreek, Blake Harrison, Jonny Blaisdell, Kamas Reel and Bowdrie Price.

Shae Neal and Skylar Richins have been announced as nominees for the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Team. They were informed of the nomination and presented with certificates at the pep assembly at Malad High School.

30 YEARS AGO (1996)

There’s a lot of excitement and optimism at the Oneida County Hospital with the arrival of Dr. Ray Bedell, D. O., anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. Kent’s enthusiasm stems from the fact that Dr. Bedell is a full-fledged anesthesiologist – physician – not merely an anesthetist, who is what hospital officials, originally anticipated getting for Malad. The difference is six years of training.

While we often think of world leaders, movie stars and sports figures as “heroes,” we rarely think about the everyday heroes that live in our community. Last Thursday at a special ceremony held at Pocatello’s City Hall, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) awarded 10 “Community Heroes” and 4 Olympians the honor of carrying the Olympic flame in the upcoming 1996 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola. Malad’s Lynn Price was one of the chosen 10.

On February 11th Lucile Harrison rotated off Presbyterian Session after 37 years of service. Lucile spent the first 25 years as treasurer, after which she served wherever she was needed. For the last four years she has been in charge of ringing the bell to remind churchgoers of Sunday morning worship service, and has been a candle lighter for 10 years. She served on the Pastor seeking committee for the last three pastors, co-chairing it with Jeanne John. With the exception of four years when she attended the University of Idaho, Lucile has lived in Malad all her life. For many years she taught in the Oneida School District.

40 YEARS AGO (1986)

On February 14th, for the first time since the Space Shuttle Tragedy, employees received official word from Morton-Thiokol management concerning what action the company will take. In a memo issued to all employees, Jerald E. Mason, senior vice-president and plant manager of the Wasatch Division, indicated that 200 from throughout the company would be laid off and 1,400 workers on the space shuttle program would go to a four-day week, with the changes becoming effective February 24th. For the 120 people from the Malad area who work at the Morton-Thiokol Plant, the weeks have been filled with anxiety and uncertainty.

Joining the Oneida County Sheriff’s department is 23-year-old Richard Ferrin of Downey. Mr. Ferrin replaces Roland York, who worked five days and resigned. 

Nine Malad High School FHA students traveled to West Side High School to compete in the 5th District FHA S.T.A.R. events. First-place Gold Awards went to Bonnie Anne Davis and Roxanne Larsen. Both girls were entered in the “Job Application & Interview” event.  Earning second place Red Ribbon in the same event were Mary Corbridge, Kellie Hendricks and Dori Hildren. Misty Anderson received a white ribbon.  In another event, “Illustrated Talks”, Faun King, Kim Hendricks and Vicky Jensen all received red ribbons.

50 YEARS AGO (1976)

Scholarship pays off, these five Malad High Seniors found out. After four years of hitting the books, Becky Crowther, Richard Thomas, Delaine Illum and Cindy Griffiths, have been selected class valedictorians. Each of these students earned straight “A” grades all during High School. Patty Illum, will be the class salutatorian at the graduation ceremony.

A combination of earthquake damage and heavy snows brought the roof down at the City’s Aqua Plunge Pool. The whole middle section of the roof is gone and it will probably cost about $10,000 to replace it stated Dan Perkins, chairman of the swimming pool committee.

In 1876 there were only two telephones in the world and both of them belonged to Alexander Graham Bell. Now, one hundred years later, there are 358.8 million telephones in the world. The United States with 143,972,000 telephones is by far the most “telephoned” nation in the world. This means there are now 68.67 telephones for every 100 people in the U.S.

Pictured in The Idaho Enterprise, four Explorers from Malad participated in the Winter Olympics held February 12 through the 16 at Provo, Utah, and skied off with several medals. Placing in ballet skiing competition was, Kelly Allen, silver medal and Garry Hess, gold medal winner. Other Scouts who entered the Olympics, are Rick Thomas and Chad Bybee.

60 YEARS AGO (1966)

Honor roll students at Utah State University, fall quarter, were announced this week by Dr. Claude J. Burtenshaw, dean of students. Included on the honor roll were Thomas Peter Thomas, Glen Vard Williams, and Steven Joe Burrie. Malad; Spencer H. Atkinson, Samaria. 

With all evidence pointing to suicide, officers this week closed the case of an 18-year-old Montana State University coed who was found dead, February 16th, in a car parked in a private garage at Malad.

During the regular meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary these thirteen Malad High girls will appear as candidates for Girls’ State: Debbie Jones, Sheila Williams, Camile Jones, Shaundel Taylor, Day Onna Bowen, Nancy Sorensen, Sherri Smith, Vickie Grover, Ilene Sweeten, Ranae Hill, Janet Thomson, Eleanor Peden and Pat Unsworth.

An escapee turned himself in to the Ogden police authorities after breaking out of the Oneida county jail and is being returned to Malad. He escaped by using a cross brace from his bed to pound a hole in the ceiling. After making the hole, he crawled through into the attic, dropped down between the inner wall and outside wall and escaped through the window over a high, barb-topped wire fence. He had been sentenced to six months on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

70 YEARS AGO (1956)

Gaining entry by breaking a window, burglars took about $15 in merchandise from the Food Center early Saturday morning. The thieves pried open an empty safe and then took a flashlight, half dozen fountain pens and three inexpensive pocket watches, manager Stanley Thomas said. During the same early morning hours, Lamb’s Service Station at Plymouth and the liquor store at Tremonton were also burglarized.