Bonner County History - April 19, 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 19, 1976 – SERVICE NEWS 

Navy Seaman Recruit Mark R. Pedler, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth W. Pedler Jr., Sandpoint,  has reported for duty aboard the frigate USS Valdez, homeported at Charleston, S.C.  A 1975 SHS graduate, he joined the Navy in November 1975. 

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TODAY’S TELEVISION – CHANNEL 4 

5:00-Hogan’s Heroes; 5:30-News Scene; 6:00-ABC News; 6:30-Dinah; 7:30-Bob Newhart; 8:00- Tony Orlando and Dawn; 9:00-Cannon; 10:00-Blue Knight; 11:00-News Scene; 11:30-Movie: “Project X” 

•••

CFHS STUDENTS MAKE BOISE TRIP 

A group of Clark Fork High students will travel to Boise to participate in the annual YMCA Youth and Government Legislature. “They literally turn the capitol building over to the Youth Legislature for two days,” said CFHS advisor and government teacher Vic McAllister. Students gain first-hand experience about how laws are enacted and state government and the court system operate. Bob White and Ken Tallman will be youth Senator and Representative respectively from Clark Fork; Neil Hagstrom will attend as a reporter, and Anita Burke will be a registered lobbyist. Four other Clark Fork students will argue a case before the Youth Supreme Court.  Mark Shropshire and Jerry Hibdon will be present an appeal as co-counsels, while Doug Adams and Don Crawford will be respondent co-counsels. The case they will argue concerns freedom of the press.

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

April 19, 1951 – RECALLED TO DUTY 

Leroy A. Dunstan, a captain in the air force reserve, has been notified to report next month for active duty with the 92nd bomb wing, Fairchild AFB. Dunstan, who has been employed at the Furniture Exchange for the past several years, also operated a boat service on Sand creek. Captain Dunstan served overseas during World War II. 

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DOGS MUST BE TIED UP NEXT TWO MONTHS 

Notice is served that the Sandpoint ordinance governing dogs running loose for the next 60 days will be enforced. Elmer Dein, city pound master, has been authorized to take punitive steps in enforcing the law dealing with dogs, which as of April 15, must be kept on leash while on the streets. The ordinance has been on the books a number of years but has not been enforced. Dein said he will issue warrants for dog owners where he finds violations of the law.  

•••

PARTY HONORS SUE VAN SANT 

Entertaining for her eighth birthday, Miss Sue Van Sant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Van Sant, had friends in for an afternoon of games, cake and ice cream. The group then adjourned to the Panida to view the Saturday afternoon matinee. The guest list included Loretta Sciaccotti, Kent Pietsch, LeRoy and Gary Michael, Loralee Gray, Dickie Olson, Wayne and Sherry Erickson, Cathy Lang, Julie McFarland, David Brandes, Linda and Vickie Haight, Cherry Gregory, Janice Yager and Ellen Boling.

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