Bonner County History - April 9, 2026

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

April 9, 1976 – SSNs NEEDED 

Housewives, students, and others planning to get summer jobs who don’t have a social security number should apply now. It takes several weeks and nine of ten jobs are covered by social security.  

• • •

RECOMMEND OPENING BEACH LOOP  

City Councilors Steve Klatt and Emma Lou Hook voted at a Parks, Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting to recommend to the full council reopening of the City Beach drive loop. Pete Thompson, Lions’ president said the Lions “are absolutely opposed to closure of the loop.” Police Chief Sterling argued, “You’ll have a safety problem if you reopen it.” Mrs. Hook stated that a phone survey of 350 residents revealed overwhelming support for reopening.  

• • •

LYNCH NEW BEAUTY SCHOOL OWNER 

Florence McDermott announces the sale of her Sandpoint Beauty School and Salon to Diane Lynch. Lynch is a graduate of the Beauty School, where she worked as an instructor and as a professional in the Tip Top Salon until taking time out to have a family of three boys. Returning to work, she worked at the Idlewood Beauty Salon, and since 1972, has owned and operated Diane’s House of Beauty at 608 N. Florence. The Tip Top Beauty Salon will still retain “your favorite operators, Loretta, Kathy, Peggy, Diane and Cheryl,” said Mrs. McDermott, who operated the business for 29 years. 

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

April 9, 1951 – SEWER BONDS MAY BE TAKEN 

Mayor Floyd Gray today called a special meeting of the city council for Sunday morning to confer with a representative of a Salt Lake bond house that is interested in financing the sewer district west of Boyer, which has been hanging fire for two years. After talking at length by long distance, Mayor Gray said it looks like the financial problem which has long stymied the project is about to be solved. He said financial details will be worked out Sunday.  

• • •

BAND TO BENEFIT ON CLEAN-UP DAY 

Friday the 13th is unlucky, unlucky that is, for leaves and rubbish in Sandpoint. It’s the day set aside for cleaning up the yards of Sandpoint and there will be plenty of hands to help. The help is willing – high school boys and maybe girls – for a price. Promoters of the cleanup hope to kill two birds with one stone. First, the city will be given a pretty thorough policing and secondly the “helpers,” who may be hired for 75 cents an hour, will turn over their pay to the SHS band uniform fund. Students will have permission to miss classes, provided they have bona fide employment. The high school office will act as an employment office for the day. “We have upwards of 500 vigorous students who will be available and we hope Sandpoint citizens will hire them to help clean up the yards and lots of the city,” said Superintendent Haight. “The cause is worthy and I am sure everyone will benefit. The high school number is 53. Just give us a call for your hired help.”

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