Bonner County History - June 11, 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

June 11, 1976 – RUBERG HAS LUCKY DAY 

Angler Walt Ruberg had a lucky Tuesday. Not only did the East Hope resident land the largest (28 lb. 6 oz.) Kamloops trout taken yet this year from Lake Pend Oreille, but his wife Charolette, or “Charley” as her friends call her, landed her first Kamloops ever, and Ed Malloy boated an 18-lb. 12-oz. Kamloops from Ruberg’s boat too! Ruberg isn’t the only area fisherman who had recent good luck on Lake Pend Oreille. Fishing out of Sandpoint, Don Mitchell last week boated two trophy fish, a fine 23-lb. Kamloops on Saturday and a 17-pounder the day before.  

•••

MURPHY TO GRADUATE 

A Sandpoint student at Eastern Washington State College, Jan M. Murphy, is among 717 spring quarter candidates for degrees to be awarded Friday evening at the Special Events Pavilion. Miss Murphy earned a B.S. degree in dental hygiene.  

•••

SANDPOINT REALTY MOVES  

Leonard Mitchell and Dale Lee, co-owners of Sandpoint Realty, have moved to their new office on the corner of Larch and Fifth Streets, their former branch office, after selling their insurance interests at the 407 N. Second St. office to Dick Hooley, the new manager of the Sandpoint Insurance Co. Hooley’s staff, which includes Katy Croy, Nina Kotschevar, Bernie McGovern and Mary Jane Wolfe, is the same staff that served the public previously from that location. McGovern will continue selling real estate, as well as insurance.  

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

June 11, 1951 – BRIDAL SHOWER GIVEN 

The evening of May 29, Mrs. Charles Pennington, assisted by cohostess Mrs. Elbert Pennington, entertained at a bridal shower at the Charles Pennington home [613 N. Third] for Miss Margery Pennington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pennington. Guests were Mrs. Joan Vincent, Miss Mary McKinnon, Mrs. Malcolm McKinnon, Mrs. O.B. Parker, Mrs. Walter Holz, Mrs. Alex Sims, Mrs. T.L. Gibson, Mrs. Clifford Patton, Miss Molly McFarland, Mrs. R.E. McFarland, Mrs. Alice Stidwell, Mrs. W.J. Telgener, Mrs. Ed Anderson, Mrs. Harold Harford, Mrs. Frances Marsh, and Mrs. Henry Pennington.  

•••

MEASLES EPIDEMIC HITS MANY FAMILIES 

“This is the biggest epidemic of measles I have ever seen,” said a local physician when questioned about the present outbreak of the disease. He estimates 400-500 cases in the past two-and-a-half months that the disease has reached epidemic stages in the city. Measles hit in the outlying districts of Hope, Clark Fork and Bonners Ferry, and eastern Washington is also besieged. This year’s red measles are hitting children hard. Ear complications are a general aftermath. If the child is brought to a doctor within six days after he is known to have been exposed to the measles, a serum can be given which will modify the severity of the case and in most instances, prevent dangerous complications.

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