Bonner County History - Aug. 28, 2025

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

and Sandpoint Bee

Aug. 28, 1975 – WHAT A GUY!  

Guy Hesselgesser will be Grand Marshal for the Rodeo Parade. Hesselgesser, who came here with his wife from a ranch near Rosebud, S. Dak., has missed only one Sandpoint rodeo parade in the last 22 years. At 86, he’s a real old-timer who knows his stuff - you won’t find a more authentic horseman in Sandpoint. As Guy said, “See you at the Rodeo!”

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CETA FUND GIVES CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Twilla Wylie is fascinated by police work, and now, due to the federal CETA program, she will be able to pursue a career in law enforcement. Miss Wylie, a 1975 Priest River High graduate, will start classes this fall at the University of Idaho School of Vocational-Technical Education in Pocatello, her tuition and expenses paid by a special CETA fund. After completing the eleven-month course, she will be able to perform all the duties of a policewoman and will be placed in a job somewhere in the state. 

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SHEFFLER GRADUATES

Karla C. Sheffler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. Stilwell, formerly of Sandpoint but now living in Seeley Lake, Mont., received a B.A. degree with honors from Eastern Washington State College at the end of the 1974 fall quarter. Mrs. Sheffler, an SHS graduate who majored in physical education, is the fourth Stilwell daughter to be graduated from EWSC, being preceded by Jenise, Olive and Susan. 

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Aug. 28, 1950 – STORE NEARS COMPLETION

The Sandpoint Safeway manager for many years, E.C. (Al) Madsen, is looking forward with keen interest to the opening of the new store, which is rapidly nearing completion. Madsen came to Sandpoint in 1933 to manage the Piggly-Wiggly store in the present Safeway location [First and Cedar] next to the J.C. Penney store. The MacMarr interests bought the Piggly-Wiggly chain, giving the company two stores in Sandpoint, the other being located in the Rowlands hotel building. In 1935 the stores were combined when Safeway bought the controlling interest in the MacMarr chain and Madsen became manager of the combined store. Madsen will manage the new $170,000 Safeway store which will be opened to the public shortly. The Madsen family has grown up with the community. They have two children, both born in Sandpoint – Jerry, a high school senior, and Melvin, a junior. 

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PIG CONTEST TO BENEFIT HOSPITAL

The pig feeding program being conducted by the Sandpoint Farm store, 502 Cedar, is putting weight on two pigs which are being fed the same quantity of rations, but one is getting a special patented formula. When one of the pigs reaches 250 pounds, at about Bonner county fair time next month, it will be given away. County 4-H club boys and girls are selling tickets on the top pig, with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the hospital fund and the balance to 4-H club activities. Tickets are selling rapidly.

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