Brought to you by the

Bonner County Historical

Society and Museum

611 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864

208-263-2344

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

May 26, 1972 – NEW CLASS DAY AWARD

Scholarships and other awards were announced during recent SHS Class Day ceremonies. Besides valuable scholarships, Principal Richard Sodorff gave what he called the “Wilbur Award” to senior Doug Piatt for being the year’s best “ham actor.” Piatt feigned an injury the night of the drill team variety show in order to get Sodorff back stage for a surprise “This is Your Life” skit, for which he was the unwitting subject. Among more traditional awards, National Merit awards went to Liz Nordeen, Sue Hanson, Steve Palmen, Rick Heitman and Valedictorian Kathleen Taylor. Beverly Green, Salutatorian, was the winner of the National Assoc. of Secondary School Principals scholarship.

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MRS. PARSONS’ STUDENTS IN RECITAL

At a piano recital given by Dolores Parsons’ students at First Lutheran Church, special numbers were done by the high school class. Cynthia Calkins performed “Concert Etude” on the flute, accompanied by Mary Phillips. Maria Lowell and Dona Jo Leonard presented a duo piano number, “Cubanaise.” Kristin and Kathy Grorud performed Chopin’s “Waltz in A Flat,” arranged for two pianos. Sigrid Thompson sang two ballads, accompanying herself on guitar. Performing piano solos were Joni Lindley, Julie Buhr, Darryl and Robin Duszynski, Hildi Venishnick, Margaret Morton, Clay Lyons, Pat Kotschevar, Kimberly Rehm, Cynthia Calkins, Linda Jasman, Mary Phillips, Dona Jo Leonard, Maria Lowell and Kathy and Kristin Grorud.

100 Years Ago

Pend d’Oreille Review

May 26, 1922 – THUGS BEAT MERCHANT

Clarksfork was the scene of one of the most vicious assaults in the county’s history Saturday evening about 9:15, when J.B. Whitcomb, pioneer merchant of the village, was beaten almost to death by a pair of thugs, his cash drawer robbed of all it contained, about $2.50 in small change, and the injured man left for dead by his assailants. Posses organized quickly, set out in cars and at Cabinet caught up with a freight train upon which the thugs had escaped, exchanged shots with them and ran them into the brush. One of the burglars, who is being held at the county jail, was run down near Cabinet gorge Sunday afternoon. His partner is thought to have been shot, and to tumble over a 150-foot cliff into the Clarksfork river. It is believed that his body is still in the river.

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BIDS ASKED FOR SUNNYSIDE SANATORIUM

The commissioner of the department of public works, has issued a call for bids for the erection of the state sanatorium at Sunnyside. The advertisement indicates that the hospital will be built at Sunnyside the coming summer unless an effort is made to thwart the action of the state anti-tuberculosis board, which authorized the commissioner to call for bids for the construction of the two sanatoriums, one here and one at Payette. The secretary of the commission, an opposing member to the majority action of the board, stated a few weeks ago that writ of mandamus would be applied for with the object of heading off the construction of either or both hospitals.

For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.