Bonner County History - Aug. 11, 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

Aug. 11, 1976 – BIRTHS 

Aug. 4: To Mr. and Mrs. Buff Johnson, Sandpoint, 8 lb. 7½ oz. girl. 8-5: Mr. and Mrs. Andy Delcomte, Sandpoint, 6 lb. 13½ oz. girl; and Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Irish, Sagle, 8 lb. 15 oz. boy. 8-6: Mr. and Mrs. Allen Mathias, Sagle, 7 lb. 2½ oz. girl. 8-9: Mr. and Mrs. Jack Parkins, Sandpoint, 7 lb. 6½ oz. girl. 

•••

BALLOUS HAVE REUNION 

Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Ballou of Dover and their family had a reunion at Priest Lake the first weekend in August, attended by all their children, as well as 19 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. The Ballous and their nine children came to this area by covered wagon from Nebraska, after Mr. Ballou was advised to seek a higher climate for health reasons. They landed in Kootenai July 8, 1934 and made their first home in the Grouse Creek area. They moved to Kootenai in 1937 and then to Dover, where they have since lived. Mrs. Ballou said they had no money when they came here, and the job situation was not what they had hoped for, but in time “we did real good. We’ve never been sorry of our move out here.” 

•••

DEPUTY ESCAPES FALLING TREES 

Bonner County Deputy Sheriff Ernie Nagel narrowly escaped death in Friday’s storm when three trees struck his patrol car as he drove on Hwy 57 to Priest Lake. Nagel was traveling about 50 mph when he saw the trees start to fall. He was able to swerve so that only their tips struck his car.  

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Aug. 11, 1951 – WORKER HURT BY ROCKS 

E.W. Baker, working swing shift at Cabinet Gorge, was knocked unconscious Thursday when flying rocks from a blast across the river caught him on the left cheek and shoulder. Baker, who lives at Heron, was rushed to Sandpoint to Bonner General hospital. He was released several days later.  

•••

NEWS FROM SELLE by Mrs. C.G. Cox 

Miss LaRue Roos and Jimmie Hiatt were married Friday at Thompson Falls. Miss Nita Beauchamp, Jamie Courtway, Mr. and Mrs. W. Roos and Mrs. Mary Hiatt attended. They will leave for Dallas, Ore., this week, where Mr. Hiatt has a position awaiting.  

•••

27 PASS DRIVER’S TESTS 

Miss Maxine Reeves and John Elsasser were appointed deputy sheriffs to assist in the newly opened driver’s licensing office, which is temporarily under the charge of Deputy Sheriff L.R. Saldecke. Every driver whose license expires is now required by law to take a test before his license will be renewed. The test consists of about a 20 minute written examination, an oral examination, and an actual road test in the car the applicant uses. First Bonner county driver to be licensed Wednesday under the new law was Bud Inghram, Sandpoint, who passed with honors. Twenty-seven licenses were issued the first day, with three failing to pass.

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