Bonner County History - July 23, 2026

BONNER 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

July 23, 1976 – LEVY DEFEATED HANDILY 

Less than ten per cent of eligible Bonner County voters went to the polls Tuesday, but their message was clear: they do not support an override levy to pay off the over $200,000 deficit incurred by School District 82 last year. Of the votes cast, over 62 per cent opposed the levy, 37 per cent favored it, and one ballot was indecisively marked “yes” and “no.” 

•••

BEACH BBQ WEEKEND 

Sky diving, water events, horseshoe pitching contests, arts and crafts, and water events are on tap this weekend in conjunction with the Sandpoint Lions annual beach barbeque, which begins at 1 p.m. Sunday at City Beach. The menu features 900 lbs. of beef, selected and marinated by Bill Martin of Price Rite Meats, prepared by Leonard Haugse of the Pastime Cafe and cooked by the staff at Rogers M & J Bakery. There is plenty in store besides food. Henley aerodrome parachutists will give exhibitions of sky diving, and during the day there will also be a band concert, water events, horseshoe pitching and a local air show. The annual event is the way the Lions Club shows its appreciation to everyone who supported its various activities during the year. Tickets for the meal will be $3 for adults, $1.50 for children under 12. Those not interested in eating are welcome anyway – everything else is free.  

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

July 23, 1951 – FARMIN GRANDSONS VISIT 

Mr. and Mrs. Wray D. Farmin Jr. of Spokane visited his grandmother, Mrs. Earl Farmin, spending the weekend at her summer cottage at Springy Point. A second grandson, Tim Judges of Lake Tahkenitch, Ore., arrived to spend the summer with Mrs. Farmin. He left Wednesday for Black Mountain lookout, north of Bonners Ferry, to spend the week end with his cousin, Bob Farmin. 

•••

CLARK FORK NEWS 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brashear plan to move soon into a prefabricated house they have had placed on a building site in the northwest part of the village. 

Local friends of Paul Croy of Hope are delighted with his book, “Old Blazes,” a souvenir volume of verse and photographs. The poems by Paul Croy, photos by Ross Hall, and sketches by Ora Spoor are typical of the life and beauty of northern Idaho.  

•••

LITTLE COOKERS CLUB 

The Little Cookers 4-H club of Kootenai met at the home of Betty Jean Carter July 17. Aldene Cornella is the club leader. At the next meeting at the home of Gladys Zordell, the girls will make cookies and biscuits.  

•••

AIR FORCE ENLISTEES 

Bonner county youths who enlisted in the air force and left for Lackland field, San Antonio, Texas, during the past week were Clarence Reed, Sagle; Melvin Hunter and William Sharp, Clark Fork; Elmer McChesnie, Hope; and Carl Dalebout, Priest River.

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