Bonner County History - Aug. 20, 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. 20, 1976 – JEFFRES’ USED-FISH TALE 

The one that got away usually makes the best fish story, but Alvie Jeffres has a tale about the one that didn’t get away. Jeffres, for many years the owner of Sandpoint’s Furniture Exchange and now involved in the Cedar Street Used business run by his son Larry, went salmon fishing out of Westport, Wash. last weekend. His party of four caught 10 fish, most in the five to 10-lb. class. But Jeffres hooked a 24-lb., 4-oz. whopper, playing it a full 20 minutes before bringing it to the net, only to find that he hadn’t really hooked the fish at all, only a sinker hanging out of its mouth! “It seems a young fellow hooked the fish on another charter the day before and played it up to the net,” Jeffres said. “When he went to land it, he gave a jerk and the line broke right above the sinker. I just hooked into a bit of chain on the sinker.” “The skipper couldn’t believe it. He said he’d seen a lot of fish caught, but never one that way,” said Jeffres. Knowing Jeffres was involved in the used furniture business, other anglers on the boat began ribbing him about being a “used furniture man who caught a used fish.” “I took quite a bit of kidding,” he said. The two-day fishing trip was his first ever.

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FINNEY NAMED “BEST IN STATE” 

Cindy Finney, Sandpoint, is one of eight Idaho young people singled out for special recognition from the state 4-H organization, receiving a “best in the state” designation in veterinary science. She will receive a $50 savings bond provided by Upjohn Co. 

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Aug. 20, 1951 – SAILOR CONCLUDES LEAVE 

Gene Thurlow, RMSM, left Saturday morning to return to his ship, the U.S.S. Midway, stationed at Norfolk, Va. He had been home on a 15-day leave.  

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PROMOTED TO CORPORAL  

Walter N. Hamann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hamann, Kootenai, has been promoted to corporal by the 5th armored division at Camp Chaffee, Ark. 

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NEWS FROM SAGLE by Mrs. Leo Hartley 

Girls from Girl Scout troop No. 19 who enjoyed a three-day camping trip on Cocolalla lake were: Mary Reed, Sylvia Timoskevich, Marlene Overhauser, Gloria and Janice Harbison, Cleona and Elenor Taylor, Phyllis Quass and Lois Vernon. The girls did their own cooking over campfires. Swimming and boating were the big features of the trip. Mrs. Glenn Taylor and Mrs. Cyrus Harbison accompanied the girls, who returned home early Thursday morning. 

•••

SCHOONOVER GETS KOREAN RIBBON  

Robert E. Schoonover, fire controlman 2nd class, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roley O. Schoonover, rte. 1, has been awarded the Korean campaign ribbon with battle star for his part in recent naval action against the Communists in Korea. A crew member of the destroyer USS Floyd B. Parks, Schoonover saw action at the port of Wonsan in a bombardment that lasted 28 successive days in April-May, 1951.

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