Bonner County History - Feb. 11, 2024

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

Feb. 11, 1974 – BGH GIVEN “BABY BIRD”

Bonner General Hospital has its own model of the new “Baby Bird” respirator for premature infants, a gift of Dr. Forest Bird of the Bird Corp. of Glengary and Palm Springs. The respirator, developed by Bird at his Glengary facility and tested for three years by the U.S. Air Force before going on the market, is said to be the most sophisticated respirator available for premature infants. It is still quite rare, putting Sandpoint ahead of most Spokane hospitals.

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DARLENE HULL ENGAGEMENT TOLD 

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford R. Hull, Kootenai Bay, announce the engagement of their daughter, Darlene, to Kevin Sawyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Van Sawyer, 726 Sixth, Sandpoint. Miss Hull is a student at Sandpoint High School. Mr. Sawyer, a 1971 SHS graduate, is employed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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STAGE DOOR SALON BOWS TO PUBLIC

A new beauty parlor has opened in the space in the Panida Theatre Building formerly occupied by the Emerald Beauty Salon. Mrs. Laurie Currie and her husband Bill, Panida owners, said the salon’s identity is tied into the theater with the name Panida Stage Door (Beauty Salon). Manager of the salon is Nancy Wells, assisted by Jackie Shaver and Karen Scott. A theater theme will be carried out in the motif by use of old theater memorabilia, telegrams and movie star photos.

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Feb. 11, 1949 – STAFF WEARY OF WEATHER

You won’t find any members of the “I-Love-Winter” club at the Kaniksu National Forest headquarters. The entire staff has had to help keep roads and walks around the many buildings open. Several days ago, as snowfall reached a record depth, they had to forsake their offices and shovel the roofs of all the buildings. Then came the final blow – the oil furnace went gobbledywok and laid soot and grime everywhere. The next day all hands, department heads to stenographers, equipped themselves with water buckets and rags and began the tedious job of washing down walls, ceilings, furniture and fixtures.

•••

BUFFER CUTS FREDSTROM

Malcolm Fredstrom, body and fender man at the Sandpoint Motor, was painfully injured in a freak accident Tuesday at work. Fredstrom was using a high-speed electric buffer, which in some manner slipped off the fender, cutting a nasty gash under his chin. A number of stitches were required to close the deep wound that barely missed the jugular vein.

•••

NAOMA WALKER HOME FOR A VISIT

Miss Naoma Walker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Walker, is home from San Francisco, where she graduated from Dental Nurses Training school. She will visit with her family until Feb. 15 when she will go to Spokane where she has employment. Miss Walker, a graduate of the local high school, went to Whitworth College before her dental nurse training.

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