Bonner County History - April 16, 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 16, 1976 – BICENTENNIAL SALUTE 

A Bicentennial Salute Concert was held Tuesday at the Stidwell Junior High Gymnasium for Farmin Elementary students. Strider, a band composed of Steve Soot, Don Goddard and Robert Tyler (with Harriet Sakofsky sitting in) entertained with tunes popular in the past 200 years. Students performed Bicentennial skits; others video-recorded the show.  

• • •

CHERYL WOODEN TAKES HONORS 

Poise, pageantry and class were all found at the  Panida Wednesday, as 10 warm and talented area girls competed for the title of Sandpoint Junior Miss. When the ballots were in, everyone seemed pleased with the choice of Cheryl Wooden as Sandpoint’s 1976 Junior Miss. Her first and second princesses are Karen Holm and Mindi McCormick. Wooden was engulfed by congratulations from the other girls as her name was announced; tears flowed freely as she promenaded for the first time wearing her tiara.  

• • •

GIRLS STATE TEA  

Delegates and alternates to Girls’ State from Sandpoint and Priest River High Schools, with their mothers, met with women from the Sandpoint VFW Auxiliary for a tea at the Sandpoint Elks dining room. The delegates and alternates are Mary Kay Delay, Ann Gooby, Melissa Stevens, Pam Bradetich, Stephanie Hoyt, Jacque Meneely and Lori Stone.

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

April 16, 1951 – CHAMPION PIRATES! 

The Kootenai Pirates won the class B title in the Junior high tournament held at the SHS gym. The Pirates’ achievements have been against difficult odds. To begin, the boys have no gym. Through the untiring efforts of their principal and coach, Scott J. Armour, the team practiced outdoors in fair weather and at the Farmin and SHS gyms. Despite the handicaps, the team had one of the best records in the county, not only in games played and won, but also in sportsmanship, perseverance and spirit. Team members are Clinton Campbell and Harry Martin, forwards; Don Reynolds, center; Tommy Weisz and Delvin Winterowd, guards; George Agar; Terry Stockman; Clayton Russell; George Weisz; Grant Shaffer; Sammy Martin; Charles Hoover; Bethel Keegan; Raymond Carter; Kenny Koffell and Harvey Rutherford. The Kootenai students, led by yell queens Shirley Henrikkson and Betty Kom, gave full support to the green and gold Kootenai Pirates.  

• • •

BRABANT-GRAVES WEDDING 

Miss Ardyce Brabant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Brabant, Sandpoint, and Patrick H. Graves, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl P. Graves, Laclede, were married April 8 at the Coeur d’Alene First Lutheran church. Mrs. Graves, a 1945 SHS graduate, has been employed by Northern Lights. Mr. Graves, a 1940 SHS graduate, was employed at Boeing in Seattle, leaving there to spend 18 months in the army. The past four years, he has been in the dairy business at Laclede with his parents.

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