Bonner County History - Jan. 22, 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

Jan. 22, 1976 – AUCTION 

Economy Grocery is going out of business and items will be sold at public auction Saturday, January 24, 1976 at 10:00 a.m. at the store building located at 2nd and Pine in Sandpoint.  Leland Cox, Owner. Sale clerked by Sater’s Auction Service, John Sater, Auctioneer.  

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NETTLETON RETIREMENT PARTY 

Fifty-two Pack River Lumber employees attended a retirement party at the Edgewater in honor of Ed and Thelma Nettleton. Steve Gabrielson was the creator of a lovely cake decorated as a forest with logs and ax and inscribed “Ed and Thelma, We Love You.” The Nettletons received a chain saw for him and a peignoir set for her from the logging dept.  Nettleton, who went to work for J.M. Brown, Jr. of Pack River Lumber Co. in 1950, retired at the end of the year as land manager, having spent nearly all his adult life working in the woods. The Nettletons, who will continue to call Sandpoint home, have a son, two daughters, and thirteen grandchildren.  

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KOA KAMPGROUND WINS TOP HONORS 

Sandpoint KOA Kampground, owned and operated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Wieber and their four children has again gained national recognition for High Standards of Operation for their facility. This is the third year the Wieber family has received this top rating.  Of the 900 KOA Kampgrounds in the USA, Canada and Mexico, only 2¼ percent were eligible for the High Excellency award this year.  

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Jan. 22, 1951 – NEW ROYAL ARCH OFFICERS 

The following new officers in the Royal Arch Masonic lodge held their first meeting of 1951 at the Masonic temple: Carl Meserve, excellent high priest; Emil Messman, king; O.R. Rue, scribe; Horace Cade, secretary; Charles Pennington, treasurer; Ernest Fritzsche, captain of the host; Ray Messman, principal sojourner; Donald Engelen, royal arch captain; Howard Staples, master of the 3rd veil; Eugene Butler, master of the 2nd veil; Elmer Nikkola, master of first veil; Coy V. Wallis, sentinel.

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SOCIETY 

Mrs. Gust Oman announces the engagement of her daughter, Ronnie, to Stanley Bleckwenn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alf T. Bleckwenn, Careywood. Miss Oman, a graduate of the local high school, is employed by the Idaho First National bank. Mr. Bleckwenn, who served 26 months in a paratroop division in WWII, is engaged in farming with his father at Careywood. A Mar. 4 wedding date is set.  

Miss Susan Oberg entertained Monday at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Oberg, in honor of her classmate, Miss Beverly May. Guests were Polly Spangle, Shirley Brixen, Joann Spanton, Janet Croy, Karen Hayden, Sally Holz, Charlene Jahnke, Virginia Sulzle, Eleanor Piehl, Marjorie Whipple, Shirley Anderson, Mary McKinnon, Teddy Baker, Firle Selle, Jerry Farrar and Merle Langford.

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