100 Years Ago — 1919

Much winter work expected

There will be more activity in the woods around Priest River this winter than there has been in many years past. Many new camps are being erected and the old ones will all be put in operation again. Humbird Lumber Company is putting in three new camps. John Schaefer, who does the logging for Dalkena Lumber Company in this vicinity, will operate a total of eight camps. There will also be many independent loggers and cedar contract jobs.

90 Years Ago — 1929

Large pole load noted

What was thought to have been one of the largest loads of poles, if not the heaviest, ever to be brought into Priest River was driven by Herman Young. Sixty-one poles with an average length of 35 feet comprised the load. Hauling these poles is going on night and day in order that the job can be completed before the bridge across the Schaefer slough is removed.

80 Years Ago — 1939

Safeway opens new meat market

Safeway is celebrating the opening of its new meat market in the present location on Main Street.

70 Years Ago — 1949

Teacherage built at Nordman

The Nordman School ground were the scene of much activity Sunday when a large group of people from that district gathered there to construct living accommodations for the teacher. The old teacherage, having become uninhabitable, was dismantled and all usable material salvaged for an apartment to be built in the basement of the schoolhouse,

60 Years Ago — 1959

Shot at Upper Priest

Dennis Sherwood, 18, Billings, Mont., bister rust control worker, was accidentally shot last Thursday night at a survey camp in an isolated area near Upper Priest Lake.

A revolver, thought to be unloaded, being cleaned by a fellow worker, discharged and the shot struck Sherwood in the stomach. He was packed out of the region Friday and taken by ambulance to Bonners Ferry for surgery on Monday. Carrying him out was extremely difficult, Kaniksu Forest officials said.

50 Years Ago — 1969

Jay hurt in spectacular accident

Elmer Jay sustained three broken ribs and numerous cuts and bruises in an accident Monday when the loaded logging truck he was driving went out of control a half-mile north of Van’s Corner on Hwy. 57 and dumped its load. According to witnesses, Jay seemed to be having trouble with the steering mechanism and lost control on a curve, with the truck going about 85 yards on the opposite shoulder before the load tipped off into the ditch and the trailer flipped upside down. The truck overturned and skidded 68 yards, then turned back onto its wheels and came to rest in the northbound lane.

40 Years Ago — 1979

Clothes on stove cause fire

There was a serious fire at the three-unit wood-frame apartment complex on Fourth Street near Hwy. 2 last Friday. The blaze apparently began, police say, when some clothing left on an electric stove caught fire. The electricity to the apartment had been cut off and apparently when it was reinstated the stove was in the “on” position.

30 Years Ago — 1989

Construction coming

Last Tuesday at the Bonner County School District Board meeting, it was noted Idaho Hill is next in line after Sandpoint High School for a facelift. $950,000 has been budgeted for Idaho Hill from the plant facility levy Bonner County voters approved in 1987. Improvements at the school include remodeling the brick building at the site, constructed in 1926.

20 Years Ago — 1999

Freight train leaks fuel

A northbound Union Pacific freight train leaked about 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel along a 25-mile-lon- stretch as it traveled between the Vay area and a repair siding in Ponderay early Thursday morning. “The crew said they had about 3,000 gallons in the fuel tank when they got to Vay,” said Ponderay Police Chief Mike Hutter. “They had about 300 left when they got it plugged there.”

10 Years Ago — 2009

Holman takes top prize

Tom Holman of Nordman, a member of the Priest Lake Kaniksu Lions Club 19-E, received first prize in the best landscape category of the 2008-09 Lions Environmental photo contest.