Long-awaited bridge set to replace ferries
10 Years Ago — 2009
Board focuses
on four-day week
$882,848. That’s the daunting total amount that the West Bonner School District is forced to make for the 2009-10 school year. The WBCSD Board of Trustees met Wednesday night to weigh their options, with the cost cutting including switching to a four-day work week.
20 Years Ago — 1999
Library gets
prestigious award
The Priest River Public Library is the recipient of a $32,856 Library Services & Technology grant from the Idaho State Library. “We’ll be going from the 1980s to the 1990s, Librarian Katie Crill said. At the same time, Crill and Kay Small, president of the Board of Trustees, accepted a $500 check from the Lions Club Kaniksu Fund that completed the cash match needed from the community for the grant.
30 Years Ago — 1989
Wrestling lined up
Get ready for one more sport at Priest River Lamanna High School. A wrestling program is in the works, and Bonner County School District Superintendent Ed Humble says the school board will seek to establish the support at the high school for 1990.
40 Years Ago — 1979
Reunion brings Lakers
Saturday night youngsters, oldsters and in-betweeners gathered at the Nordman Club, 250 strong, to get together with long-time residents and ex-residents of the Priest Lake community at what host Jim and Harriet Kahler called the “over the hill but still going gang.” They were a lively bunch, coming from near and far. The farthest were Junior Lambert and Lloyd Peters from California.
50 Years Ago — 1969
Meet a business person
Tony Jachetta, owner and operator of Runk’s Garage, was born in a log house located on a part of what is now the Kaniksu Stock Ranch in the Settlement, the eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jachetta. He went to work for his uncle, the late Jim Runck, on Armistice Day 1923. Mr. Runck died in November 1950 and Tony took over the business on Jan. 1, 1951. Runck’s Garage, established in 1910, has held the Dodge dealership since 1931.
60 Years Ago — 1959
Motorist arrested
William Glen Conkle, 37, Spokane was brought into court Monday on a charge of attempted assault with a deadly weapon. Conkle’s arrest was an outgrowth of an incident that occurred that Monday afternoon. A group of boys at the grade school rolled a tire down the hill toward Highway 2, and the tire passed in front of Conkle’s car. Conkle stopped his car, stepped out, and pointed a gun at the boys.
70 Years Ago — 1949
The bridge that never was
State and federal engineers will start at once surveying and testing for the long-awaited bridge, which will be located somewhere between Thama and Laclede and will replace the two ferries now operating.
80 Years Ago — 1939
Hiking into
Saddler Creek
Scoutmaster Johnson took Priest River’s Boy Scout troop on an overnight hike on March 18. The boys spent the weekend at the Scout Cabin on Saddler Creek. The cabin is but a short hike off the main highway, but at this time of year traveling was not so good. Most of the boys had skis, but the snow was too soft for good skiing. The carrying of a pack of some 50-60 pounds was a real task.
90 Years ago — 1929
Orchestra organized
George Copelli has organized the Priest River Symphony Orchestra of 14 pieces, with himself as director. Locals in the new orchestra are Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Van Valkenburg; Philip, Gus, Ed, Charles and George Naccarato; Pete and Joe Bombino; Ralph Sado and Tony Veltri.
100 Years Ago — 1919
Station agent assigned to area
P. T. Peach, G. N. station agent, has finally been assigned this station.