Bonner County History - Oct. 4, 2026

masonBrought 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

Oct. 4, 1976 – TURTLES SENT TO PRISON 

Two innocent North Idaho residents will spend the rest of their lives in the Wash. State Penitentiary at Walla Walla. The Painted Turtles were captured in Chuck Slough by Dwight Tucker, age 12. When he visited Mrs. Cecil Borden in Walla Walla, Dwight heard her say she’d like a turtle for “Lifers’ Park” in the penitentiary, where the Bordens regularly visit inmates serving life sentences. Wendell Tucker, Dwight’s father, rescues many turtles on Idaho highways as they cross in spring seeking a place to lay eggs. Mr. Tucker then turns them loose in Chuck Slough near his home.  Dwight tried catching turtles with his hands, then with a hand-held snare, and finally he built a wire-mesh trap that caught turtles as well as some fair-size fish. After clearance by prison officials, two of the turtles, which have 8” shells, should be in their new home early this month. “Lifers’ Park,” a small park developed by the inmate group “Lifers with Hope,” has a pond that already has fish, a salamander and a frog.

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MEN IN HIGH-PLACING ROTC UNIT 

Michael F. Lyons II and Wiley J. Marks, both of Sandpoint were among 18 senior cadets from the U of I Army ROTC who placed second as a group in competition with 45 other Northwest schools at summer camp at Ft. Lewis, Wash, finishing only three points behind the winning U of Colorado cadets. Lyons was selected for a commando-style recondo school in the second week of the camp. 

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Oct. 4, 1951 – SEAMAN DRIGGS IN JAPAN 

L.F. [“Vern”] Driggs, seaman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce L. Driggs of W. Pine St., recently went to the Camp Wood rest and recuperation center in southern Japan for a well-earned vacation. A veteran of two years’ service, Driggs is assigned to U.S. fleet activities at Sasebo, Japan. 

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FOURTEEN FROM COUNTY AT E.W.C.E 

Ninety-three students from Idaho, including a host of transfers from Lewiston’s now closed Northern Idaho College of Education, are registered for the fall quarter at Eastern Washington College of Education. Students from Bonner county include Edith Lange, Alva Reeves, George Kalb, Billie Reed, Firle Selle, Ruth Greef, Joann Smith, Eva Kimsey, Edith Lunn and Jack Selle, all of Sandpoint; Doris Alford, Priest River; Hazel Palmer and Ralph Walter, Kootenai; and Lasean Boothe, Sagle.  

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EMPIRE LINES “TIMESAVER SERVICE” 

Empire Air lines, which this month observes its 25th anniversary, is offering a fast time flying service between the panhandle and Boise. Empire’s planes are based at Coeur d’Alene air field. An air traveler taking the 7:21 a.m. (std. time) flight out of Coeur d’Alene, will arrive in Boise at 10:30 a.m. (mountain time). An afternoon fight leaves the state capital at 3:35, arriving at Coeur d’Alene at 4:51 p.m. on what is a “Timesaver Service” for the business man. 

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