Bonner County History - Feb. 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

Feb. 19, 1976 – ELKS OLD TIMERS 

Old Timers Night at the Elks Lodge brought out most club members who have been active for 25 years or longer: Babe Pederson, Leo Black, M.P. McKinnon, Marion Ewing, Ralph Moore, Bill Lutzke, Gil Norton, Curt Waring, Nick Zaklan, Thor Verdal, Lee White, G.W. Congdon, Bud Hadley, Jack Bopp, Bud Davis, Norm Bauer, Jim Judge and Doug Rude. 

•••

LOCAL BOXERS TRAVELED TO YAKIMA 

Five Sandpoint boxers traveled to Yakima over the weekend, but only three met opponents. Larry Davis won a clean decision over Renaldo Consimo, the South Oregon Golden Gloves Champion. In a split decision, Dennis McCracken lost in the 85-lb., 10-11 year old division to Al Miller, Oregon’s top fighter in that weight class. Chuck Bauscher lost to Danny Auclund, Tacoma Golden Gloves Champ. Jeff McCracken and Larry Caspar were also supposed to box, but Caspar’s opponent picked up the flu and McCracken’s didn’t show. Coaches making the trip were Mike Plaster, Karl Berg, and Clarence Davis.  

•••

HOBBY STORE MODEL CONTEST WINNERS 

Some 35 youngsters entered a month-long model contest sponsored by the Hobby Store. Models were judged for neatness, parts used and how well glue was handled. Winners in the 12 and under age group were Mike Lavin, Tony Rutherford, and Kevin Dixon. In the 13 and over group, winners were Randy Townsend, Ron Goodsell and Deia Dixon. The children won gift certificates for their efforts.

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Feb. 19, 1951 – POWER OUTAGE SUNDAY 

The Mountain States Power company will have a power outage Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on its lines east of Kootenai in order to connect up with the Washington Water Power equipment on the Cabinet Gorge project. This will provide preliminary power to the project until the new 13,000 volt line, also being built from Clark Fork to Sandpoint, is finished.  

•••

VALEDA KEMMIS IS BRIDE 

Miss Valeda Kemmis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Kemmis, and Pvt. Floyd Van Sawyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Sawyer, were married Feb. 3 at the Methodist parsonage. Attendants were Bodine Kemmis, brother of the bride, and Mrs. Bruce David. Mrs. Sawyer, who presently teaches at the Lincoln school, attended Eastern Washington College at Cheney. Mr. Sawyer, a graduate of the local schools, was employed by Cady & Pier prior to entering the army last fall. Pvt. Sawyer left Thursday for Camp Roberts, Calif.  Mrs. Sawyer will join her husband when school is dismissed this spring.  

•••

VERGOTE BUYS CITY TAXI FROM SELLMER 

Julius “Pop” Vergote, who purchased the City Taxi from Willy Sellmer, said the company will go on a 24-hour basis, operating three daytime taxis and two at night. He emphasized the all-night service, as formerly the taxis knocked off work at 2 a.m.

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