Bonner County History - Aug. 30, 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. 30, 1976 – SERVICE NEWS 

Airman Richard J. Franck, whose parents are Mr. and Mrs. Stanley F. Franck of Sandpoint, has been assigned to Keesler AFB, Miss., after completing Air Force basic training. Airman Franck will now receive specialized training in the communications field. The airman is a 1976 Sandpoint High School graduate. 

Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Bradley J. Langley, whose wife Peggy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen C. Kendle, Priest River, has returned to San Francisco, after an eight-week Alaskan fisheries patrol as a crewmember aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute.  

• • •

NORDGAARDENS JOIN EVERGREEN FORD 

LeRoy and Eddie Nordgaarden have joined the staff at Evergreen Ford in Sandpoint, said General Manager Dave Wall. Eddie is taking over as the new Service Manager; his brother LeRoy will provide a full range of professional experienced radiator and cooling system repair and service. Eddie Nordgaarden, a 36-year Sandpoint resident, ran Eddie’s Shell service station on First [NE corner First and Lake, next to Don’s Drive-In] for 18 years before selling it this month. LeRoy, who graduated from a two-year radiator and cooling system program in Omaha, will service radiators and cooling systems from cars and light trucks to heavy trucks and even diesel caterpillars.  

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Aug. 30, 1951 – COURTESY METER TICKET 

The motorist came into the police station with a big smile. “Say, I like the way you treat out-of-staters!” he said, as he showed the courtesy ticket he found on his windshield for a parking meter violation. “That’s what I call real courtesy and should make a lot of friends for your city,” he said. “I’m going to show it to the boys at home. They’re not so kind to tourists in Butte and I want to show them how you treat tourists in Idaho.” Police Chief McCrum said a surprising number of tourists take the trouble to come in to thank them for the courtesy ticket, and they nearly always save it as a souvenir of the friendly city on beautiful Lake Pend Oreille.  

• • •

TAYLOR DAIRY HAS SPRINKLER SYSTEM 

The Earl Taylor ranch in the Laclede area is the latest Bonner county farm to get sprinkler irrigation. Northern Lights cut in the electricity to start their 20-hp motor Aug. 23. The system is one of the largest, if not the largest, system so far installed, with 1200 ft. of six-inch main line, 1200 ft. of 5” main line and 1800 ft. of 3” laterals. Total cost was $6200. Water is supplied by the Pend Oreille river. The Taylors operate a grade A dairy with 28 head of Guernseys.  

• • •

SEAL COAT BID LET 

A bid of $5,500 by Standard Asphalt Paving co.,  Spokane, for seal coating the city’s paved streets was accepted at Monday’s city council meeting. The city will furnish crushed rock for the job, which should begin in about 10 days.

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