10 Years Ago — 2008

Fire department busy

The West Pend Oreille Fire Department was hopping Monday evening with eight calls related to the thunderstorms. According to Chief Les Kokanos, over 23 volunteers responded to the varied calls. Most were from the strong windstorms brought on by the recent heat wave. Several tree incidents were reported, but none required water. More lightning and storms are expected in the next several days.

20 Years Ago — 1998

First LID work begins this week

The Priest River City Council reviewed interim financing proposals for the street LID A-98 Monday night, awarding the contract to the low bidder on City Clerk Doug Hooper’s recommendation. All three local banks submitted proposals, but the one from First Security seemed like the best deal for the city.

30 Years Ago — 1988

Spartans hire Dalessio

The coaching staff of the Spartan football team is now complete with the addition of Rick Dalessio from Sandpoint. Dalessio will be working with the offensive backs this year. He will also teach science at the junior high school. Dalessio is originally from Massachusetts, where he played football at Curry College in the quarterback position. His skills earned him free-agent tryout with the New England Patriots in 1973.

40 Years Ago — 1978

Rain cools off area

Over an inch-and-a-half of rain was dumped on the area after weeks of hot, dry weather. Priest River Experimental Forest Weather Station recorded 1.67 inches from Tuesday until 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The average rainfall for the whole month of August is only .97 inches.

50 Years Ago — 1968

Cougar survives crash

Juanita Cobb and her son, Ron, were startled by a cougar leaping out in front of their pickup near Lou’s Place as they were returning home to the Cobb ranch on the Peninsula Sunday. Mrs. Cobb said she thought at first the animal was a deer, and that it seemed to stretch almost all the way across the road before it was struck by a wheel and partially run over. The hubcap flew off and rolled down the hill, the cougar gathered itself together and fled, Mrs. Cobb and her son went on home.

60 Years Ago — 1958

Tree downed, kids escape

A number of youngsters escaped serious injury when a tree was blown down during the wind and rain storm last week. The strong wind downed a rotted pine tree on the Hal Fremming property on Albeni Highway. The tree hit the corner of the house at 514 Albeni occupied by the Dale Shepherd family, then bounded into the yard at 519 Albeni, occupied by the Everett Woods family. Fortunately, the children were inside the homes because of the heavy rain.

70 Years Ago — 1948

July set record

July was the wettest month on record at the Priest River Experimental Forest. The previous wet July was in 1915 when 3.13 inches of rain fell. This years the total was 3.43 inches.

80 Years Ago — 1938

CCC enrollees help hold fire

The Edgemere fire was reported being held at 1500 acres by a crew of CCC enrollees and residents of the vicinity after it had burned out one rancher and destroyed the hay, barn and one horse on another ranch. The fire cut a swath about four miles long as it roared northeast ahead of a strong southeast wind. The Parr home, barn and 65 tons of hay, northeast of Edgemere, went up in smoke.

90 Years Ago — 1928

Pioneer passing

Alvin Markham of Coolin received word of the death of his mother, Mrs. Elmina Markham, in Spokane. She was 76 years old and was the first white woman in Seneaquoteen, which is now Sawyer.

100 Years Ago — 1918

Drafted boys’ count incorrect

According to a roster in the Sandpoint papers of the boys from Bonner County who have entered the service, Priest River is credited with 35. This is far from complete, as it is conservatively estimated that 50 young men have been drafted from here.