Enterprise The Idaho
“Flip a Coin”; Commission seat comes up heads
In what almost everyone had a hard time believing, the race for County Commissioner from District 1 came down to a literal, rather than proverbial, coin toss.
“I think I pounded the table – I could not believe it!” stated County Clerk Jill Stoor as she recounted the moment the election night tabulation came through. It was an experience shared by almost everyone who was watching the returns update on VoteIdaho.gov or a related site, and saw the numbers flash onto the screen. Current Commissioner Marty McCullough received the third most votes at 405, which was a surprise. But it was quickly followed up by the even more surprising numbers for the other two candidates: 469 and 469. George Hulse from the Bancroft area and Tracy Davis from Soda Springs had deadlocked at 34.92% of the vote.
It’s one of those things that makes you take a pause, consider the incredible odds against such a thing happening, and then marvel at the universe’s capacity for surprise.
One person – out of ALL eligible voters – would have had to do absolutely anything at all differently, and the tie would never have happened. If someone who didn’t vote had voted for one of the two at the top, there would
be a clear winner. If someone who did vote had stayed home, the numbers would have resulted in a clear leader. If someone who voted nonchalantly had made a different choice, all the dynamics would have shifted. If someone had changed their mind at the last minute, it would have affected everything. And so on to infinity.
In any case, the reaction from many across the community – anecdotally and on a number of social media platforms – ranged from bemusement to anger.
Most people had a hard time believing it was true.
“I called the Secretary of State’s office, and yes, it’s true,” Clerk Stoor said. As a result of the phone call it was confirmed that state law (last updated in 1970) is the source of the rule. As Stoor explained, she doesn’t have the ability to change the laws governing elections, only to enforce them.
It’s hard to believe that the issue hasn’t come up often enough to get fixed in the last fifty-five years. You’d think once would be enough. Amazingly a coin flip was also used to break a similar tie in Jerome on Tuesday as well.
In any case, if legislation is the only solution it would likely see a lot of sup-
port from Caribou County, and likely anywhere that has been a part of such a process.
The idea of a recount was widely mentioned, with most people being surprised to learn that it was not an automatic part of the process.
It was suggested that automatic recounts are in place for municipalities above a certain population threshold,
Chesterfield opens for the season
It was a busy weekend, as Caribou County filled not only with Memorial Day visitors coming or going from parks to the north and west, and families visiting local cemeteries to make sure they were decorated, but it was also the start of the official summer season for the Historic Chesterfield Townsite.
As is the case every Memorial Day weekend, the townsite was opened up for a community lunch, dancing, an auction, and the official reporting for duty of summer tour guides.
Chesterfield is one of the oldest maintained pioneer towns in Idaho, and includes a number of ongoing building restorations, most of them undertaken by descendants of the original settlers of the area.
The homes, cabins, and buildings feature names familiar to the area such as Call and Holbrook, and many who share those names still make their homes in the area.
Other summer tour guides come from the ranks of those who simply love the history and the area.
Jill Furniss, for instance, is from the Blackfoot area. Through the circuitous nature of the way these things sometimes work, she was on a cruise when she met someone who had a connection to the Chesterfield area.
Interested, she make her way down to see what it was like and ended up becoming a tour operator. At this point, she is now well-versed in the names and structures that make up the historical site, a place she loves to spend her time. She even found out she herself is a distant relation! While she won’t be a fulltime guide this summer, she was happy to help out during the opening weekend.
“I just love it here – it’s such a wonderful place!” Furniss said.
Chesterfield is popular spot to visit for those interested in Idaho history, pioneer history, and the founding of Idaho towns by Mormon settlers in the nineteenth century. Due to its location, it isn’t exactly a place that people tend to randomly wander into, but that doesn’t mean they don’t.
One family from Logan who ended up touring the site
Evacuations follow chemical tank danger
A major chemical emergency in Southern California forced the evacuation of roughly 40,000 to 50,000 residents after a large storage tank containing methyl methacrylate began overheating at a GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove. Officials warned the tank could rupture or explode, creating fears of a massive fireball and toxic chemical release across several Orange County cities. Schools closed, shelters opened, and firefighters worked around the clock to cool the unstable tank while preventing chemicals from reaching storm drains and waterways. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as hazmat crews monitored air quality and enforced evacuation zones. By Monday, authorities announced the immediate explosion threat had been reduced after pressure inside the tank dropped, though evacuation orders and safety concerns remained in place as crews continued stabilization efforts.
“100 Deadliest Days” begin
The “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” is the name for the just-begun time between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when fatal crashes sharply increase across the United States. Safety officials say the combination of summer travel, more inexperienced drivers on the road, distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and lower seatbelt use contributes to the rise in deadly accidents. According to national traffic safety data, thousands of people are killed during this roughly three-month stretch each year, with teens both heavily represented in crashes and especially vulnerable as passengers. Law enforcement agencies across Idaho and the nation use the campaign to encourage safe driving habits, including avoiding phones while driving, obeying speed limits, wearing seatbelts, and never driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Officials also urge parents to set clear driving expectations for teens before summer travel and activities begin.
Tourism numbers being watched carefully
Tourism officials and economists are expressing growing concern about a projected decline in international travel to the United States this year, with some forecasts estimating millions fewer visitors compared to previous expectations. Industry groups say several factors are contributing to the slowdown, including a strong U.S. dollar that makes travel more expensive for foreign tourists, rising airfare and hotel costs, lengthy visa wait times in some countries, and concerns about political tensions and stricter border enforcement policies. Some travelers have also cited worries about safety, gun violence, and an increasingly complicated immigration process as reasons for choosing other destinations. The decline is especially concerning for major tourism-dependent cities where international visitors typically spend far more than domestic travelers, but states like Idaho and Wyoming that rely on international outdoor recreation tourism are also fearing the worst. Analysts warn the slowdown could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars in tourism revenue and impact airlines, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment industries nationwide.
Tracy Davis congratulates George Hulse after the coin flip.
George Hulse
The Holbrook General store in Chesterfield
ELECTION On Page 3
CHESTERFIELD On Page 3
Museum opens doors for summer; new model created
The Caribou Historical Museum saw its first customers of the season, as it officially opened its doors for summer hours to start the Memorial Day weekend.
The Caribou Historical Society is now open on Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm during the summer up to Labor Day. In conjunction, board member Galen Wilson announced “We would like to invite you to come visit us and see the latest building that Gus Green has built for us. It is a replica of the barn the
Neils Anderson owned in 'Old Morristown', it is still standing (kinda) just south of Jeff's Auto Repair down by the Alexander Reservoir. Gus has built several buildings of some of the old historical buildings in Caribou County including the "Henry School House, the Henry Store" and several of the buildings in Chesterfield. We would love to have you come and visit us to see these. Our museum is the Old Stoor's Grocery located at 100 E Hooper Ave in Soda Springs.”
The collection of model histori-
cal buildings is one of the many interesting features of the permanent museum building, which contains a number of fascinating documents and materials from Caribou County and the surrounding areas.
The museum features medical and dental equipment, uniforms, weapons, and equipment from various military conflicts, kitchen and domestic items, a large number of crayon portraits and historical images, and a recreated children’s bedroom and playroom with a recently restored model train set.
Enders will be open for the summer
In an effort to make the Enders Hotel as well utilized as possible while the process of exploring its conversion into a state park is ongoing, the City of Soda Springs has hired summer employees who, along with ShaLynn Hennefer, will be keeping the building open during the day for assistance with tours and information.
The museum part of the building is planned to be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The conference/dining room at the rear of the building will continue to be available for event rentals, which will provide another source of revenue for the city from the building.
Since the city took over the administration and upkeep of the building, it has been used for recruitment/interview fairs held by local industry groups, wedding receptions, proms,
the Festival of Trees, and other events. In addition to bringing in some money to go toward the upkeep of the building, having people in the location also prevents it from falling into disrepair through lack of use or inspection, and keeps what is perhaps the most iconic structure in town part of the daily life of the community.
As of the end of the last legislative session there are no updates on the status of the state park proposal made by then-councilman Paul Gritton, but the speed at which such a proposal can make its way through the necessary steps to reach a final decision can certainly be measured in years.
The proposed idea is the let the Enders Hotel function as something of a hub for a state park based around the captive geyser and nearby springs. In such an arrangement, the state would
assume costs for maintaining and running the Enders as a state park building. As it stands, the upkeep costs and potential repair costs to the building create a financial challenge for the city. During the last couple of years, options including selling the building outright, converting it to serve as a city hall, or co-managing the building with other entities have also been explored.
Until the state park proposal has officially been decided on one way or the other, the city has said it will make sure that it is used as much as possible to keep it from falling out of repair.
In addition to Saturday hours, members of the Society can be contacted about tours or museum opening outside of those hours. Contact numbers from Galen Wilson, Jerry Stoor, and bill Horsley are posted on the entrance to the museum.
Membership in the Historical Society can also be obtained through members of the board, and a yearly membership starts at $25 dollars, which helps to support maintenance of the collection and resources necessary to keep the museum running.
Ryder Mumford, Gabe Brown, Cole Porter, and Alma Clarke visited the museum on a nice sunny day!
The museum is open Saturdays, on Hooper Avenue. The collection of historical buildling models was just added to.
One of the many rooms full of intriguing artifacts on the second floor of the Enders. For some reason, this one calls to me...
The Enders is planned to maintain a 10 am to 6 pm schedule until Labor Day or so for museum tours.
ShaLynn Hennefer at the front desk of the city's iconic Enders Hotel.
though that specific claim has not been verified as of press time.
The coin flip was administered by Clerk Jill Stoor, after Hulse and Davis were given the chance to guess closest to a random number chosen by Chairman Mark Mathews. The winner of
By Precinct
Election Results Chesterfield
the closest number was given the chance to choose heads or tails.
“In my mind, the voters have spoken that both candidates are equally qualified,” Clerk Stoor said, as she explained the tie during the vote canvass before the commissioners and audience.
to Davis,but the resulting flip went in Hulse’s favor, after which Hulse was named the Republican primary election winner. He will run unopposed for the position on the November ballot.
Hulse will be on the ballot in November, and once elected, he will begin serving as a county commissioner beginning in January of 2027. Either candidate has the option of requesting a recount of the ballots within twenty days of May 26. Full election results below: continued
The choice of heads or tails went
this weekend ended up there as a result of the “brown sign” directing them to the location while on the way back from Wyoming. Another, waiting in line to purchase some of the huckleberry prod -
ucts for sale at the Museum/general store, had seen a Facebook post and decided to make their way over while visiting family in the area.
The townsite itself is open to visitors from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and is just a hop, skip, and a jump from nearby Bancroft.
Harris (R)
“Both of the candidates have been very accommodating, and I appreciate their behavior through this process,” Stoor said.
DeVaughn Shipley has a fascinating story about his relatives, which he'll prob-
Jill Furniss knows a lot about Chesterfield after working tours for three years.
Bancroft celebrates Arbor Day
The city of Bancroft celebrated Arbor Day on May 19th.
The North Gem 1st and 2nd grade classes helped plant 2 flowering purple crabapple trees; purchased with grant money received from the Arbor Day Foundation. They also planted a lot of flowers grown by the high school students at North Gem School. We taught the students the importance of planting and caring for trees and plants. The students were given educational packets that included fun activities and color pages. The students were invited to return one of their color pages for display at City Hall. Treats and drinks were also provided by the city.
Trees go up at Ledger Creek Trailhead
The recently opened Ledger Creek Trail system just south of Highway 30 on Bailey Creek in Soda Springs saw the first of a planned 200 trees go in at the end of last week.
Director of City Services Dan Squires and Mayor Paul Gritton joined Arborist Trevor Robbins at the parking area of the newly opened trail system as the first holes were dug to begin the process of turning the trail into a more arboreal area.
The trail system was built over the top of an area of town that is generally composed of loamy soil, which should make the planting of the majority of trees along the
northern trail loops reasonably straightforward.
The first set of trees – those next to the parking area – were a different story. As a result of the higher clay content of the soil in that area, as well as the fact that over the course of the last few months many tons of sand have been driven over the area and compacted the clay down to a dense substrate, digging was not small feat.
There is no precise timeline for
the installation of the trees along the trail, although Robbins anticipates putting in the 200 trees for the upper trails within the next months. That allows him to look forward to one of his favorite things about projects like this. “I love when I’m working out here and people stop to talk to me about the trees, and even their own trees. It’s great, because it’s true that it takes a whole community to make something like this work.”
Pictured here, the first and second grade students of North Gem helped to beautify the town by planting plants and trees. Check out their coloring pages at City Hall as they make their way in!
The trees are part of a larger effort to increase green space and
Trevor Robbins stakes trees in the high wind last week.
Trees are beginning to go up around the walking trail near Bailey Creek in Soda.
SENIOR CITIZENS’ CORNER June 2026
June
2026 Nutrition Article
Summer is upon us which means more time in the sun! Time to think about hydration and sun exposure. Be sure to apply sunscreen and reapply often (every 2-3 hours if outside). Other tips to help: Wear sunglasses, wear large brimmed hats, wear light weight clothing. Drink plenty of water! 8 cups recommended per day (at least). Flavor the water with cucumber or lemon slices, or berries. Enjoy the sun and get your dose of vitamin D!
Seasonal foods in June
● Mangos
● Strawberries
● Watermelons
● Cucumbers
Caribou County Senior Citizens' Menu
Every meal served with Juice/Milk/Coffee *Birthday Cake and Ice Cream is served in-house only!
June 3 - Fish & Chips, Broccoli & Cauliflower, Sourdough Bread, Oranges, Brownies
June 5 - Sweet & Sour Chicken w/ Rice, White Bread, Juice, Snickerdoodles
June 17 - Pork Stir Fry, French Bread, Mandarins, Monster Cookies
June 19 - Hamburger, Potato Salad, Watermelon, Birthday Cake and Ice Cream
June 10 - BBQ Chicken Breast, Church Potatoes, Spinach Salad, Oatmeal Bread, Coffee Cake
June 12 - Tacos, Spanish Rice, Grapes & Strawberries, Mexican Wedding Cake
Nutrition Counseling
Free MNT (Medical Nutrition Therapy) services available in person, or via telephone with our registered dietitian Vanessa (habla Espanol), services also available in Spanish. Ask your center staff for details today!
• Please reach out to our site for help with the following:
o New Medical Diagnosis i.e. cancer, diabetes, difficultyswallowing, weight loss, altered taste, fatigue, etc.
o Food resources- Food banks, pantries, programs, etc.
o Menu planning and recipe ideas
o Budgeting
June 24 - Roast Beef w/Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Dilly Bread, Peaches, Lemon Bars
June 26 - Chicken and Stuffing Casserole, Wheat Bread, Broccoli, Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Directions In a salad bowl, arrange the watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese.
To make the basil vinaigrette. In a glass jar, whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and honey. Add the basil and chives. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the the salad. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Enjoy!
BRAIN TEASERS
Greek Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Fish and Game Corner
Catch a tagged fish? Report it and help shape fisheries management in Idaho
Whether you are fishing at an urban pond, a wild river, or an alpine lake, that next fish you catch might be tagged, and Idaho Fish and Game needs your help reporting it.
Fisheries biologists attach “t-bar anchor tags” to various fish species throughout the state, and when anglers report tagged fish, biologists can learn how many fish in a specific area or population are caught by anglers, and can adjust bag limits during season setting years.
“We’ve had some fish get caught the same day after we tagged them, while some fish might not get caught and reported until years later,” said Kevin Meyer, a fisheries research biologist for Idaho Fish and Game.
Tags can also describe fish migrations, and are used to compare survival and catch of different types of hatchery-raised fish after they are stocked. Each reported tag provides valuable information about angler catch, survival and abundance of certain species, which helps biologists manage fish populations for better fishing.
“Tags are a crucial component of our research and management, aimed at making fishing better for Idaho’s anglers,” said Meyer.
How to report a tagged fish
Each tag is labeled with a unique number that identifies the fish and how to report it online. If the tag is not a reward tag, you can decide whether to remove it from the fish or leave it and release the fish for the next angler to report another catch.
If you plan to leave the tag, record
the tag number or take a clear picture on your phone. If you choose to clip the tag, use scissors or clippers to avoid yanking it out of the fish.
Report online: tag.idaho.gov, or call an Idaho Fish and Game regional office.
How to redeem a reward tag
Some fish have reward tags and carry a reward value of $25, $50, $100, or $200. Anglers will see REWARD printed on the tag and a dollar amount.
Reward tags must be removed from the fish by clipping the tag with scissors or clippers and sent to our research office in Nampa. Please avoid yanking tags out of the fish.
Mail the tag to the following address:
Fish Tag Returns
Idaho Department of Fish and Game Attn: Fish Tag Returns
600 S. Walnut Street/P.O. Box 25 Boise, ID 83712
About Idaho Fish and Game’s Tag, You’re It Program
Idaho Fish and Game’s Tag, You’re It Program was created in the mid2000s using tags to estimate angler catch and harvest rates for fish species statewide. Research staff used varying levels of cash reward tags to figure out the reporting rate for non-reward tags. That was the missing piece of information that was necessary to use angler tag reports at a larger scale.
The program also won an American Fisheries Society National Sportfish Restoration award in 2012 and has been a mainstay in Idaho fisheries management ever since.
NEWS OF RECORD
CARIBOU COUNTY SHERIFF
Martinez Augustin, Franklin, operate vehicle without a current or valid class d/operators license, $150.00, costs
$157.50
Tristen Michael Ayojiak, Eagle River, fail to use safety restraint, $10.00
Shaylee Kay Blake, Pocatello, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50 Kovai Jay Christensen, Valdez, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Anna M Dunford, Chula Vista, fail to use safety restraint, $10.00
Michael R Ferreras, Houston, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Lydia Nancy Hammer, Rexburg, fail to use safety restraint, $10.00
Woney Joe Peters, Lava Hot Springs, fail to use safety restraint, $10.00
James Marquez Poole, Salt Lake City, operation of motor vehicle while operating mobile device, $75.00, costs $56.50
Lilya D Tkachuk, Chesnee, operate vehicle when unsafe or improperly equipped, $10.50, costs $56.50
Shulei Wang, Savoy, fail to use safety restraint, $10.00
Dylan Cole Wood, Bancroft, improper left turn, $33.50, costs $56.50
SODA SPRINGS POLICE
Anthony John Allen, NA, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Joshua Tony Burnasconi, Soda Springs, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Kenneth K Finlayson, Kapaa, speeding $33.50, costs $56.50
Alexandre Mateos, Soda Springs, operate vehicle without a current or valid class d/operators license, $150.00, costs $157.50
Joseph Reed Torman, Soda Springs, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50; fail to carry registration in vehicle, $10.50, costs $56.50
Timothy W Wales, Saratoga Springs, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Wei Wu, Arcadia, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
IDAHO STATE POLICE
Jesse Joshua Bishop, Pingree, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Sherri T Burt, Sanford, operate vehicle when unsafe or improperly equipped, $10.50, costs $56.50
Chen Dong, Waltham, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Anthony John Greenwood, Carrollton, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50
Christopher Sean Lee, Lancaster,
BIRTHDAYS
Cammy Parsons, May 29
Teri Olsen, May 29
Linda Rasmussen, May 31
Jerry Steffensen, June 3
Jamie Checketts, June 4
River Jorgensen, June 8
Jane Christensen, June 10
Clair Anderson, June 11
Jerry Stoor, June 12
Darell Farnes, June 12
Chad Allred, June 15
Debbie Peck, June 15
Leslie Chamberlain, June 16
Diane Elsmore, June 18
Vicki Philips, June 18
Pat Reidle, June 19
June Mason, June 20
Nancy Smith, June 20
Jay Allred, June 21
Renee Christensen, June 21
Jalene Somsen, June 22
If you would like to add yourself, your kids, loved one, friend or family member to our weekly birthday list, contact Sherrie at 208-766-4773 or email sherrie.w@idahoenterprise.com
ON THIS DAY
1431 Joan of Arc is accused of relapsing into heresy by donning male clothing again, providing justification for her execution
1830 US President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, a key law leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes out of Georgia and surrounding states, setting the stage for the Cherokee Trail of Tears
1889 Édouard and André Michelin incorporate the Michelin tire company
1923 US Attorney General says it is legal for women to wear trousers anywhere
1928 American automobile makers Dodge Brothers Inc and Chrysler Corporation merge
1929 First all-color talking picture "On With the Show" is exhibited in NYC
speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Harpreet Singh, Lathrop, operate vehicle when unsafe or improperly equipped, $10.50, costs $56.50
Eileen Marie Spillane, Jackson, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Shayna L Waldron, Malad, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50
Yan Zhang, Beijing, speeding (16 mph or over) $98.50, costs $56.50
IDAHO FISH AND GAME
Darryl Jaymes Nelson, malicious injury by placing debris on public or private property, $150.00, costs $56.50
MAGISTRATE COURT
Kade Michael Bobish, Idaho Falls, unlawful to purchase, consume or possess alcoholic beverage under 21 years of age, $300.00, costs $187.50 – Agency: SSPD
Bianca Cespedes Villalba, Elko, possession of marijuana, $300.00, costs $197.50 – Agency: SSPD
Kaleb Teratahi Finlayson, Pocatello, driving under the influence, $300.00, costs $608.50, 90 days jail, 24 months probation – Agency: SSPD
Sherman Jenkins, Freedom, un-
1952 Memphis Kiddie Park opens in Brooklyn, Ohio; the park's Little Dipper roller coaster would become the oldest operating steel roller coaster in North America
1959 Monkeys Able and Baker zoom 300 miles into space on Jupiter missile and return safely to Earth, the first animals retrieved from a space mission
1967 Sailor Francis Chicheste arrives home at Plymouth, England, after circumnavigating the globe solo in his yacht Gipsy Mothe IV, the first to do so
1996 US President Bill Clinton's former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, James McDougal, Susan McDougal, and Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker, are convicted of fraud
1997 American aviator Linda Finch completes Amelia Earheart's ill-fated attempted around-theworld flight
lawful accumulation of solid waste in yard/lot/premises/adjacent street/ alley/sidewalk, $500.00, suspended $500.00, costs $207.50, 7 days jail, 7 days suspended, 24 months probation – Agency: CCSO
Robert Vern Jones, Pocatello, driving under the influence, $500.00, costs $202.50, 90 days jail, 90 days suspended, 90 days drivers license suspended, 18 months probation; possession of marijuana, $300.00, costs $257.50, 90 days jail, 90 days suspended, 18 months probation –Agency: CCSO
Shasta McAlister, Soda Springs, willfully withhold, conceal or harbor a felon, $300.00, costs $157.50, 90 days jail, 90 days suspended, 12 months probation – Agency: SSPD Marc Dee Stucki, Pocatello, possession of marijuana, $300.00, costs $197.50 – Agency: CCSO
Sheena Toupin, Soda Springs, malicious injury to property, $550.00, suspended $500.00, costs $157.50, 45 days jail, 45 days suspended, 12 months probation – Agency: CCSO Hugo Vega Reyes, Lincoln, driving without privileges, $127.50, costs $172.50 – SSPD
LOOKING BACK AT PAGES FROM THE PAST
The following stories are summarized from past issues of the Caribou County Sun over the last fifty plus years. The Enterprise thanks Mark Steele for permission to use the contents, and the Grace Public Library for access to the archives.
2021
The eight miles of the Blackfoot River meandering through Idaho Fish and Game’s Blackfoot Wildlife Management Area in Southeast Idaho doesn’t look the same today as it did a year ago…and that is a very good thing for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and other wildlife.
Tall cut banks of eroding soil have been replaced with low profile slopes covered with newly planted willows and native vegetation.
Segment of the river once characterized by slow moving shallow water are now alive with new riffles and deep pools of cool water. Fish have already discovered the cover created for them by submerged conifer logs harvested from a nearby forest – a selective logging effort that has benefitted both upland wildlife and a declining aspen stand. The outline of a historic oxbow seen only on maps will soon hold water for frogs, ducks and moose.
And this is just the beginning. Future project phases will continue the restoration of the upper Blackfoot River and surrounding upland habitats, making a difference to a diversity of wildlife species and reviving one of Idaho’s remarkable fishing opportunities for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
This long-term restoration effort led by Idaho Fish and Game is only passible because of the partnerships formed among anglers, hunters, conservation groups, resource managers, landowners, industries, and other partners.
MedStar Health shares the following information to debunk common misconceptions around skin cancer and melanoma.
Myth: Skin cancer only affects fair skin. This is the most dangerous myth out there. Skin cancer affects people of all races and skin tones, so it is important for everyone to get their skin and moles checked regularly.
Myth: Keep an eye on moles and get them checked at your annual physical. Melanoma can be life threatening in as little as six weeks. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Sadly, many people wait too long to receive treatment – and the outcome can be deadly.
Myth: Check moles on skin exposed to sun. Skin cancer can be found on the soles of the feet, the toenail and fingernail beds. As mentioned above, if left undetected these can be life threatening.
Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, a Republican representative from Lewiston, resigned last week after a House Ethics Committee recommended he be suspended after their hearing on allegations he sexually assaulted a 19-year old staffer. He claimed the act was consensual, and it is being investigated by law enforcement officials.
“First, let me thank Jane Doe for her incredible courage and determination in testifying in front of the Ethics and House Policy Committee yesterday,” said Speaker of the House Scott Bedke. “Every member of the House of Representatives is not only expected but required to perform their duties with the highest levels of integrity and dignity. Former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger was found by the Ethics Committee to fall far short of that requirement.
After a transparent and fair hearing, the committee accurately determined that von Ehlinger engaged in conduct unbecoming a member of this House. His behavior is something we will not tolerate and casts a shadow over the good work done in the Idaho Statehouse. It is our privilege to serve and practicing strong ethics is central to serving in these hallowed halls,” Bedke said.
Pauline Bassett, Caribou Soil Conservation District:
“Before you woke up this morning, a group of environmentalists were already awake, hard at work improving Idaho’s natural resources. When they come home tonight, their boots will be covered in dirt, their hands muddy from fixing irrigation lines, and their brains racked from trying to think of a way to grow more crops using less water.
For Idaho farmers and ranchers, tending to the earth is not a weekend hobby or a once a year celebration. It’s a tradition, a way of life, and for many, a calling that spans generations. On Earth Day, let’s thank them for the stewardship of our resources.
We all know that Idaho is No. 1 in high quality potato production. What may be surprising to some is that we rank in the top five nationally in production. Of peas, barley, sugar beets, mint, hops, alfalfa hay, lentils, prunes and plums, onions, springs wheat, beans, and sweet cherries. We also rank in the top three in production of trout, cheese, and milk. Idaho farmers grow seed, nursery and greenhouse products used by producers and gardeners throughout the world.
A farmer’s land is his home, and even before Earth Day was conceived of, our farmers and ranchers not only “talked the talk,” they also “walked the walk” when it came to conservation. They have a personal interest in constantly seeking and adopting management practices to reduce soil erosion, improve water quantity and quality, reduce air pollutants, and improve habitat and related wildlife populations.
So, today, let’s join our famers and ranchers in protecting theses resources for future children and grandchildren, not just on Earth Day, but 365 days of the year. And let’s join with those who farm and ranch and give thanks for the county of food, fiber, flowers, and fuel that our planet’s resources provide. Like us, America’s farmers and ranchers depend on the earth’s productivity to feed their own families and to help feed the entire world.
They appreciate and respect the fragile nature of our natural resources and know it is important to safeguard the environment today, tomorrow, and always. So let’s salute the American farmer and rancher.
1991
Ten students completed the certified nursing assistant course recently held at Caribou Memorial Hospital. A ceremony to honor these students was held on Saturday. Nancy Hydzik, RN, instructor for the course, gave a short talk congratulating students for their achievement, and thanking them for their hard work. She also mentioned that this was the first time that students from Bear Lake Memorial Hospital had joined the students from CMH, and that this made the class more interesting.
“If the students, both from Soda Springs and Montpelier, represent the quality of caregivers at both nursing homes, then both facilities should be proud of their staff. These are very hard-working and caring people who will do well in their jobs.”
Joyce Newlun, RN, director of nursing for CMH Nursing Home, encouraged the students to continue in nursing, perhaps even continue their education.
Connie Hulme, RN, director of nursing at Bear Lake Memorial Nursing Home, thanked the nurses at CMH, especially Joyce Newlun and Brenda Bergholm, RN, director of cursing at CMH, for cooperation with this program and other times in the past. She said that both facilities profit from exchanges of information and hopes that such cooperation continues.
These students have completed over 100 hours of classroom and clinical instruction and will take a state qualifying exam in June. Congratulations to Kathy Adams, Cory Doman, Karel Love, Nora Ramsey, and Angela Ward, from Bear Lake Memorial Nursing Home, and to Katrina Gorden, Florinda McLain, Lynda Rindlisbacher, Carolyn Rogers, and Penny Smedley from Caribou Memorial Nursing Home.
The family of Della Allsop Whitehead invites all relatives and friends to celebrate her 90th birthday at an open house at the Williams Ward Church, six miles south of Grace.
Della was born on May 11, 1901, to Reuben and Annie Olsen Allsop in Murray, Utah. They moved soon afterward to Grace. Two sisters were born in Grace, Pearl Allsop DeNike, now of Redondo Beach, California, and Faye Allsop Milligan, Creston, Iowa.
Her mother died in the flu epidemic of 1918,and Della took Faye and raised her when she married Francis Blain Whitehead on Aug 19, 1919.
Lain and Della had three children of their own, Arla (deceased), Mrs. Woodrow (Nin) Taylor, Centerville, UT, and Norval R. Whitehead of Grace; six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Mr. Whitehead passed away May 24, 1979. Mrs. Whitehead has lived at Heritage Place in Bountiful, UT, for the past two winters.
Friends are invited to enjoy her 90th year with her, but no gifts are necessary.
Soda Springs recently hosted the Annual Gutter Gussie Invitational Tournament. The daily “Spare Bingo” drawing winners were Fran Comish of Soda, who won the bowling ball, and Denise Thomas of Grace, who won the bowling shoes, both donated by Tosoiba Lanes.
The tournament had three teams from Malad, seven teams from Montpelier, three teams from Preston, and 11 Soda Springs teams. Winners were: 1st – Sleepy Heads of Soda Springs, Nicky Parker, Debbie Hamp, Sharon Christiansen, and Sherrie Smith.
2nd – another Soda Springs team, consisting of Sharon Short, Denise Thomas, Vicky Filey, and Carla Hale.
Double winners were Sheila Clearly and JoAnn Hymas of Montpelier, Sharon Christiansen and Sherrie Smith of Soda Springs and Bancroft, Sally Boehme and Carla Hansen of Montpelier, Earlene Crawford and Vicki Hopkins, Soda Springs, and Sandy Lyon and Irene Sorensen of Montpelier.
Singles winners were Judy Pabst, Soda Springs, BernaDee Reid, Preston, Dorothy Bunn, Soda Springs, Denise Thomas, Grace, Cindy Neiffenegger, Malad, Carla Hale, Soda, Sharon Hopkins, Soda, Maureen Stokes, Malad, Nanette Shaw, Malad, Kena Ann Moore, Soda.
All events handicap winners were
Judy Pabst, Shirley Skinner, JoAnn Hymas, Kena Ann Moore, and Denise Thomas.
Two hundred games were bowled by Nanette Shaw, Sheila Clark, Cindy Nieffenegger, Linda Hess, Peggy Smith, Sally Boehme, JoAnn Hymas, Lydia Carney, Cloria Wixom, Barabara Hayes, Jody Wood, and Sandy Lyon, Bonnie Schvaneveldt, BernaDee Reid, Lynda Beckstead, Saundra Hubbard, Tammy Greenlee, Vada Vroman, Helen Aipperspack, Vicki Hopkins, Judy Pabst, Kim Wilcox, Lanett Ayers, Kathee Clark, Verlene Humphreys, Carla Hale, Dorothy Bunn, Vicky Filey, Shirley Skinner, Debbie Hamp, Zella Corder, Sharon Hopkins, Virginia Ruger, Denise Thomas, and Sherrie Smith.
The tournament was dedicated to Nina Stuart, who was instrumental in starting the event in 1981. Nina was presented with a “Gutter Gussie” jacket.
The traveling trophy stays with the association of the first place team (Soda Springs) until the next tournament.
The Gutter Gussies is an Idaho organization of women bowlers, and to qualify for membership they must bowl a 225 game or a 550 series.
A yearly science project of eggs hatching in an incubator at Thatcher Elementary has recently been completed.
The sixth grade class of Greg Lowe’s had the chicken eggs and incubator donated to them by David Anderson. The students had them in the classroom and were responsible for seeing that the temperature stayed warm enough for them to hatch.
The chicks were unaware that the time they chose for hatching coincided with the class taking their national tests. The hatching noises were very loud and noisy, according to Lowe.
“The experience was good for the kids and they enjoyed seeing it,” he said.
The chicks now reside at the Lowe home and there are currently pheasant eggs in the incubator.
The Grace High School Civic Club purchased a Marshall White Ash tree that was planted by the World Problems Class next to the junior high school.
The class members that were involved in the project were Jeremy Thomas, Micah Coombs, Kent Barker, Angie Elgan, Erin Mecham, Deanna Keller, Maria Mussler, C.J. Koyle, Todd Williams, Wyatt Fowler, Andy May, Roy Hubler, Jenny Williams, Tanya Young, Robyn Barthlome, Kelly Gneiting, Stephanie Swanson, Matisha Hansen, and Kimberly Hembler. Kareen Olsen is the advisor for the club and class.
Thursday, May 28
Friday, May 29
Saturday, May 30
Star Wars The Mandalorian and Grogu (PG-13)
The evil Empire has fallen but Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they enlist the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.
Saturday Matinee 2:00 p.m. (All seats $5), 6:00 & 8:45 p.m. (Regular Prices)
Wednesday, June 3 6:00 & 8:45 p.m. (All seats $5)
The Memorial in the Grace Cemetery is the site of a Memorial Day visit of honor in 2025.
NOTICES
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE
To be sold for cash at a Trustee’s Sale on September 8, 2026, 11:00 AM at the County Courthouse, Front steps, 159 South Main Street, Soda Springs, the followingdescribed real property situated in Caribou County, Idaho (the “Property”): THE EAST 5 FEET OF LOT 12, AND THE WEST 65 FEET OF LOT 13, BLOCK 3, FIRST ADDITION TO LEWIS SUBDIVISION, IN SODA SPRINGS, CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO, UNDER RECORDER'S INSTRUMENT NO. 32340 Commonly known as: 561 E 1st N, Soda Springs, ID 83276 James Nathan Lofthouse aka James N. Lofthouse, as Trustors conveyed the Property via a Deed of Trust dated August 3, 2022, in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Beneficiary, as nominee for Rocket Mortgage, LLC, FKA Quicken Loans, LLC, its successors and assigns, in which First American Title was named as Trustee. The Trust Deed was recorded in Caribou County, Idaho, on August 8, 2022, as Instrument No. 210077. The Deed of Trust was assigned for value to Rocket Mortgage, LLC f/k/a Quicken Loans, LLC via an Assignment of Deed of Trust dated August 11, 2023 and recorded in the Official Records of Caribou County, Idaho, on August 14, 2023, as Instrument No. 211640. Brigham J. Lundberg is the Successor Trustee pursuant to an Appointment of Trustee recorded in the Official Records of Caribou County, Idaho, on March 31, 2026 as Instrument No. 216014. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC (“Beneficiary”) has declared a default in the terms of said Deed of Trust due to Trustor’s failure to make monthly payments beginning April 1, 2025, and each month subsequent, which monthly installments would have been applied on the principal and interest due on said obligation and other charges against the property or loan. By reason of said default, the Beneficiary has declared all sums owing on the obligation secured by said Deed of Trust immediately due and payable. The total amount due on this obligation is the principal sum of $178,913.49, interest in the sum of $12,312.09, escrow advances of $5,350.47, other amounts due and payable in the amount of $3,095.15, for a total amount owing of $199,671.20, plus accruing interest, late charges, and other fees and costs that may be incurred or advanced. The Beneficiary anticipates and may disburse such amounts as may be required to preserve and protect the property and for real property taxes that may become due or delinquent, unless such amounts of taxes are paid by the Trustors. If such amounts are paid by the Beneficiary, the amounts or taxes will be added to the obligations secured by the Deed of Trust. Other expenses to be charged against the proceeds of this sale include Trustee fees, attorney fees, costs and expenses of the sale, and late charges, if any.
Beneficiary has elected and has directed the Trustee to sell
the above-described property to satisfy the obligation. The sale is a public sale and any person, including the Beneficiary, may bid at the sale. The bid price must be paid immediately upon the close of bidding by certified funds (valid money orders, certified checks or cashier’s checks). The conveyance will be made by Trustee’s Deed, without any representation or warranty, including warranty of title, express or implied, as the sale is made strictly on an as-is, where-is basis, without limitation, the sale is being made subject to all existing conditions, if any, of lead paint, mold or other environmental or health hazards. The Trustors, successor in interest to the Trustors, or any other person having an interest in the property, or any person named in Idaho Code § 45-1506, has the right, at any time prior to the Trustee’s Sale, to pay to the Beneficiary, or the successor in interest to the Beneficiary, the entire amount then due under the Deed of Trust and the obligation secured thereby (including costs and expenses actually incurred and attorney fees) other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation or to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and Deed of Trust with Successor Trustee fees and attorney fees. In the event that all defaults are cured the foreclosure will be dismissed and the foreclosure sale will be canceled. The scheduled Trustee’s Sale may be postponed by public proclamation up to 30 days for any reason. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Successor Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The above Trustors are named to comply with Idaho Code § 45-1506(4) (a). No representation is made that they are, or are not, presently responsible for this obligation. Important Notice to Potential Bidders: Federal law administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, requires certain residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the winning bidder at auction, you may be required to provide identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. This information is required by federal law and must be provided to complete the sale. Failure to provide required information after the sale may delay or prevent issuance of the foreclosure deed. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Dated this 1st day of May, 2026. Brigham J. Lundberg Successor Trustee 376 East 400 South, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Telephone: 801-355-2886
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 AM-5 PM (MST) HWM File No. ID22748
#1238-05-21-28-06-04-1126-T4
e Idaho Enterprise - Caribou County Edition P.O. Box 331 Soda Springs, Idaho 83276 (U.S.P.S. -- 090-560) ISSN: 2997-1004
Police Auction of Unclaimed Towed Vehicles, sealed bid auction, bids to be accepted at Soda Springs City Hall by City Clerk Andrea Haderlie, 9 W 2nd S, Soda Springs, ID 83276 on June 8, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Bids to be opened at close of auction.
-Dukar Motorcycle, VIN number LAAJCML1X4103069. Registered Owner- Kaylum Balczewski, 10 N 7th E, Soda Springs, ID. Starting bid- $3300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-2006 Nissan Armada, odometer unknown, VIN number 5N1AA08B76N717123, license plate 2MA849U. Registered Owner- Odessa Regan, 303 Maple St, Rupert, ID 83350. Starting bid- $4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-2009 Nissan Murano, odometer unknown, VIN number JN8AZ18WX9W157459, license plate 1BW5979. Registered Owner- Angelia Palmer, 608 Sequoia St, Chubbuck, ID 83202. Starting bid- $4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-2010 Chevrolet Avo, odometer unknown, VIN number KL1TD5DE1AB120021, license plate CU7802C. Registered Owner- David Ionashku, 11454 SE 90th Ave Apt 422, Happy Valley, OR 97086. Starting bid- $4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-1983 Chevrolet K20, odometer unknown, VIN number 1GCGK24J168181, license plate 3C642M. Registered OwnerMichael Glover, 1497 Bailey Creek Dr, Soda Springs, ID 83276. Starting bid- $4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-2013 Ram 1500, odometer unknown, VIN number 1C6RR7MT1DS708057, license plate E746WJ. Registered Owner- Ray Child, 496 Firestone, Santaquin, UT 84655. Starting bid$4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-1988 Ford Crown Victoria, odometer unknown, VIN number 2FABP74F8JX200323, license plate 9EDP8. Registered OwnerDaniel Santos, 75 Villa Dr, Clearfield, UT 84015. Starting bid$4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-2010 Nissan Altima, odometer unknown, VIN number
1N4AL2AP2AN519077, license plate 1BG663U. Registered Owner- Samuel Netuschil, 12895 Egret Trail, Lava Hot Springs, ID 83296. Starting bid- $4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-2000 Buick Le Sabre, odometer 168043, VIN number 1G4HR54K7YU120833, license plate 3OE033U. Registered Owner- Carl Patterson, 1206 W Main St, Marsing, ID 83639. Starting bid- $4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees.
-2012 Kia wagon 4 door, odometer unknown, VIN number 5XYKT3A11CG193959. Registered Owner- Summer Myers, 125 Caliente St, Reno NV 89509. Starting bid- $4300 resulting from tow costs, storage fees, and administrative fees. #1241-05-28-06-04-26-T2
Request for Proposal Publication Caribou County is seeking Request for Proposals (RFP) for a contractor to conduct fuels reduction treatments for the BAILEY CREEK FUELS REDUCTION project.
A copy of the RFP may be acquired by contacting Charity Staggs in writing at charity. staggs@sicog.org.
Applicants will be evaluated and ranked on the following criteria with the maximum point value of each criterion shown in parentheses; Cost Effectiveness (40), Approach (30), Experience (30). Applications must be submitted to charity.staggs@sicog.org before 5pm on July 8, 2026. Caribou County reserves the right to negotiate an agreement based on fair and reasonable compensation for the scope of work and services proposed, as well as the right to reject any and all responses deemed unqualified, unsatisfactory or inappropriate. Contract will be evaluated based on references provided, experience with the County, and any other information required to determine the contractor’s ability to perform the services in a professional, timely, and safe manner. *Publication dates: May 28, 2026 & June 11, 2026
Notice is hereby given of the Reorganization of the Republican Party’s Legislative District 27, May 29, 2026, 7:00PM at the Commission Chambers of the Cassia County Courthouse Publishing: 5/28/2026
#1239-05-28-26-T1
NOTICE OF BUDGET
HEARING SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 148 Grace Jt. School District Caribou, Franklin & Bannock Counties, Idaho
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a special meeting of the Board of Trustees of Jt. School District No. 148, Caribou, Franklin and Bannock Counties, Idaho, will be held on Wednesday June 10, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at the Black Canyon Elementary School, at which a meeting there shall be a public hearing on the maintenance and operations budget for the 2026-2027 school year.
A copy of the proposed budget as determined by the Board of Trustees is available for public inspection at the School District Office at 605 South 4 th West, Grace, Idaho, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. from the date of this notice, Monday thru Thursday, until the date of the hearing.
This budget hearing is called pursuant to Section 33-801, Idaho Code as amended.
Billie Ann Straatman Clerk Grace School District No. 148 Caribou, Franklin & Bannock Counties, Idaho #1242-05-28-26-T1
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF CARIBOU Case No. CV15-26-0014 In the Matter of the Estate of: NICK J. HATCH, Deceased.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MOLLY JEAN HATCH has been appointed personal representative of the estate of the abovenamed decedent. All persons having claims against the decedent or the estate are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must be presented to the undersigned at the address indicated and filed with the Clerk of the Court.
DATED this 30th day of April, 2026.
RACINE OLSON PLLP By: _/SfLANE_V.-EBICKSON LANE V. ERICKSON, ISB #5979 Attorney for Personal Representative P. 0. Box 1391 Pocatello, Idaho 83204-1391 lane@racineolson.com Publishing: 5/14/2026, 5/21/2026, 5/28/2026 #1234-05-14-21-28-26-T3
#1243-05-28-26-T1
The Idaho Enterprise - Caribou County Edition is published weekly at 76 South Main Street, Ste. 207, Soda Springs, Idaho. Postmaster, please mail address corrections to: The Idaho Enterprise, P.O. Box 331, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276.
Entered as “periodicals” at the Soda Springs, Idaho Post Office. Subscription rates are strictly in advance -- $55.00 per year delivered in Caribou County, and $67.00 per year delivered outside of Caribou County within the United States.
The Idaho Enterprise reserves the right to refuse publication of any or all materials.
Brandon Hall Editor brandon.h@idahoenterprise.com
Bryan Dean Scott Publisher bryan.s@thecityjournals.com
Sherrie Wise Advertising sherrie.w@idahoenterprise.com
Phone: 208-766-4773 www.cariboucountynews.com
Burgoyne Music Studio recital
Following the solo performances, the Burgoyne Board of Directors— Shalise Hughes, Elyssa Kunz, and Katie Crofts—each received a certificate of thanks and a 10% discount on their families' lessons for the upcoming fiscal year. Shalise Hughes was also recognized for her efforts in securing scholarship funding through Bayer. The studio extends its sincere thanks to Bayer for making this scholarship possible.
Each student was presented with a certificate of accomplishment, celebrating their progress and the insights shared in their award applications. Additionally, as Trey Kunz graduated from the studio, he played an extra number, the BYU fight song, one he had perfected for the Mr. Soda High contest. Congratulations to all of our students on their achievements.
Varilone Scholarship Awarded
Jeanne Varilone and her daughter and son in law Heidi and Chris Thompson have been awarding The Tony Varilone Memorial Scholarship to deserving students for the past 8 years. At the time of his untimely death in December 2015 Tony was president of the Caribou Historical Society and he
worked tirelessly to preserve and share our local history. The family sponsors these scholarships and awards them through the historical society to honor Tony’s memory and hopefully spark some interest in the youth of Caribou County to learn about and help preserve our local history.
War on Weeds—weeds are everybody’s problem
THE ISSUE: White Clover
White clover (Trifolium repens) is a perennial cool season legume. White clover is often considered a nuisance in both lawns and pastures. In nitrogen-deficient lawns, it creates unsightly dark green patches that contrast sharply with the surrounding grass. Its creeping growth habit allows it to spread aggressively, often crowding out desirable turf species. In pastures, white clover is generally less desirable than other, more productive legume species. It is commonly found in grazed areas because it tolerates and survives overgrazing better than many other forage plants.
The plant’s leaves are trifoliate, measuring approximately ¼ to ¾ inch long. Occasionally a leaf may be found that looks like a “four-leaf clover”. Leaflet edges are slightly serrated and have a small notch at the tip. Leaves have a light green/grey “V” or “U” shaped pattern running through the middle of the leaf. White clover reproduces by stolons and by seed. As stolons (above ground reproductive stems) elongate along the soil surface, the plant sends out roots at nodes, allowing the plant to spread forming large patches. Seed is produced in globe shaped clusters of small, white flowers that are typically pinkish at the base. Each flower cluster may contain 20-40 individual flowers, each containing a single seed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Options:
• Cultural – Use management practices like fertilization, irrigation, aeration, and grazing to favor
University, Bugwood.org
healthy grass growth.
• Mechanical – raise mower blades to 2.5- 3 inches and prevent overgrazing. White clover thrives in short-mowed lawns and overgrazed pastures.
• Chemical – Can be controlled chemically with several broadleaf herbicides in the spring or fall. A complete list of approved chemicals is available on www.pnwhandbooks.org. Under the Weed dropdown menu select Horticultural Weed Management and then select Turfgrass. Always read and follow herbicide label directions! For more information on controlling White Clover visit https:// content-hub.uidaho.edu/api/public/ content/2925cefe09734777bc043b28c203ca5e?v=873df86a
Justin Hatch, University of Idaho Extension Educator in Caribou County. (208) 547-3205 JLHatch@ uidaho.edu and Tom Jacobsen, University of Idaho Extension Educator in Fremont County. (208) 624-3102 tjacobsen@uidaho.edu
PET CORNER
AT
THE
“Itchy, Scratchy, and Miserable: A Dog’s Guide to Surviving Allergy Season”
By: Your Local (Very Uncomfortable) Dog
Hi. Yes, you—the one watching me chew on my foot again. I promise, I’m not doing this for fun.
Summer is supposed to be the best time of year, right? Long walks, rolling in the grass, chasing balls, soaking up the sunshine. But for dogs like me, summer also means something far less exciting… allergies.
And let me tell you—it’s ruff.
What Allergies Feel Like (From My Side of the Leash)
Imagine having an itch you can’t scratch. Now imagine that itch is everywhere—your paws, your ears, your belly, even your face.
That’s my daily life when allergens hit.
I might:
• Chew or lick my paws constantly
• Scratch my ears until they’re sore
• Rub my face on the carpet or couch
• Get red, irritated skin or even infections
Sometimes my ears get gunky and painful. Sometimes my skin feels like it’s on fire. And sometimes, I just can’t relax because I’m so uncomfortable.
What’s Causing All This?!
Blame it on the great outdoors.
In the summer, things like:
• Grass
• Pollen
• Weeds
• Dust
…are everywhere. And for sensitive pups like me, they trigger what’s called environmental allergies (my humans sometimes call it “atopy”).
Even worse? Every time I go out-
side—my favorite thing—I bring those allergens right back in on my fur and paws.
How You Can Help Me Feel Better
Good news—you can help me! And trust me, I’ll love you even more for it.
Here’s what makes a big difference:
- Wipe Me Down After walks or playtime, wipe my paws and belly with a damp cloth to remove allergens.
- Give Me Baths
Regular baths with a vet-recommended shampoo can soothe my skin and wash away irritants.
- Don’t Forget My Ears Keep my ears clean and dry—this helps prevent infections that often come with allergies.
- Talk to My Vet
Sometimes I need extra help—like medications, allergy injections, or special diets to keep things under control.
When It’s More Than “Just an Itch” If I’m:
• Scratching nonstop
• Losing fur
• Getting sores or hot spots
• Shaking my head or dealing with ear infections
…it’s time to call the vet. Allergies don’t usually go away on their own—and they can get worse if left untreated.
A Final Woof
I know I might look a little silly chewing my feet or rolling around trying to scratch—but I’m not being naughty. I’m uncomfortable. With your help, I can still enjoy summer—the sunshine, the grass, and all the adventures we love. So next time you see me licking my paws, just remember… I’m not being weird. I’m asking for help.
FROM
ANIMAL EXPERTS
SODA SPRINGS
ANIMAL CLINIC
Hymn Playing Contest: Brinley Kunz received this award for learning and performing the most hymns during the final three months of the semester.
The Charlotte T. Burgoyne Memorial Award of Excellence: A tie between Ian Crofts (son of Joe and Katie Crofts) and Brinley Kunz (daughter of Matt and Elyssa Kunz).
The Dr. Roger D. Burgoyne Memorial Scholarship: Awarded to Asher Olsen, son of Joe and Deborah Olsen.
Photo courtesy, Bruce Ackley, The Ohio State
Jeanne Varilone, Targy May, Mollie Renfroe, Paetyn Hopkins, Hayden Harrison, Heidi Thompson, Chris Thompson
SSHS Class of 2026 graduates
It’s the heart of graduation season, and last week, the esteemed class of 2026 took a walk across the gym floor for what may well be a final time as they officially graduated.
As is the case every year, veterans in the audience were recognized, as were SSHS students who had enlisted in the armed services following graduation.
The National Anthem was performed by Mr. Jeff Uskoski, after which the assembled audience was welcomed to the proceedings by Principal Shari Moulton.
The first speech of commencement was given by Salutatorian Taralyn Vedder. “I want to start by thanking our families, teachers, coaches, administrators and friends for supporting us over the last four years,” she began. “Everyone sitting in the bleaches has had a meaningful impact on someone here in some way. Graduating is not something any of us could accomplish alone, and it’s as much a celebration of those who guide us as it is the graduates sitting here today… Growing up in Soda Springs had its perks, as well as its challenges,” she said, in part. “There were moments when our class felt more like a family, and not in the picture perfect way… We argued over things, competed, and probably got tired of seeing the same faces every single day. But somehow no matter what we always came back together. That’s the funny thing about growing up so closely – even when we drove each other crazy, we were still there for each other…No matter what path you choose, I encourage you to feel uncomfortable. Try new things, meet new people. Congratulations Class of 2026.”
After Vedder spoke, Valedictorian Gimhana Somarisi spoke to his fellow
students, opening with a few jokes best left unrecorded. “In all seriousness, I can’t say anything without first giving a huge thank you to those who helped get us to where we are today,” he said, and thanked Principal Moulton, the McMurray family, SSHS teachers, as well as the staff at Thirkill and Tigert.
“You’ve all had such a positive impact on all of our lives,” he stated, and then thanked his family for their support, and every other students’ families as well.
“The memories and the growth I’ve seen from all of you is downright inspiring,” he said of his fellow students, and continued by recounting some specific shared memories between members of the class.
He invoked the story of Carl Sagan and the Voyager image of Earth in the midst of space. The earth, as he explained, is a very small place. “We are all on a tiny, insignificant dot together, but our time is very eminent.”
The keynote speaker for the evening was someone with a special connection to many of the students who were set to graduate. Shannon Steele has been at the front desk of Thirkill Elementary for the full school careers of many of the students, giving her a unique perspective on the group that sat before her.
With touching recollections of watching students grow and mature over the years that led them to this point, Steele ended with the following words:
“If there is one thing I hope you will always remember as you continue to climb in this journey of life, it is to never allow yourself or anyone to tell you that you are a Just.
You are never Just a student. You are never Just a secretary. You are never Just a teacher. You are never
Just a farmer. You are never Just a parent. You are never Just a doctor. You are never Just a mechanic. Every role matters, every person matters, every path has value. Some of the most important people in our lives are not the ones with the biggest titles or the loudest recognition. They are the people who quietly show up every day and make life better for someone else. So whatever path you choose – whether it leads to a classroom, a construction site, a hospital, a farm, a business, a military uniform, a trade, a mission field, or a home filled with family - never think of yourself as “just” anything.
Because who you are and how you treat people will always matter more than a title ever will.”
Board of Trustees for School District 150 are Steven Barker, Sally Jensen, Ben Goode, Myra Leatherman, and Galen Wilson then awarded degrees, along with Superintendent Scott Muir. Muir will be heading up the Aberdeen school district at the beginning of the next school year, when L.T. Erickson will take over the position in Soda Springs.
*na Maggie Ray Byram
c Ashtin Todd Call
c Aiddin D Cantrell Bailie JesseKay Caudill
**a Ashley James Dalley
c Elijah Loren Dilworth
Lynlee Mary Dilworth
Miley Dean Dock
c Hadley Elizabeth Downs
Arleth Escobar Garcia
c Sara Elizabeth Fryar
* Thomas Cole Garbett
Nicole Madeline Gentry
*a McKartie Denise Green
** Courtnee Gronning
District 8 HS Rodeo
c Dechlynn Randy Guinn
c Lilian Abbagail Haderlie
* Gavin Marq Hansen
**a AmeliaRose Harris
**nc Lane Mark Harris
c Kayden Dustin Harrison
Ryker Paul-Bradley Hemmert
** Barrett Clint Hobbs
** Kale V Hopkins
**n Paetyn Rae Hopkins
*c Austin Stephen Housley
**c Delaney Rose Johnson
**a Madilyn Jeanne Kempe
Troy Robert Krupp
* Conner Trappett Lee
*a Andres McKay Lloyd
** Targy Franklin May
**nc Konner Keith McWilliams
+ Cooper Willard Morgan
Logan Lane Mellor
c Kaden Kal Miles
c Sierra Eliabeth Muir
**c Remmick Richard Nate
* Mylez Jeffrey Ozburn
c Preston Dean Ozburn
Jeffrey Neal Peace
Gage Matthew Peck
Josey Anna Rasmussen **a Mollie June Renfroe
Gimhana Kaushalya Somasiri ** Soleil Somsen
Randy Karson Stephens *c Jasta Jalee Stoor
*c Cooper Grizz Thompson
Taralyn Ann Vedder
Rylie Ann Watkins
Ellie Kathryn Wood
Salutatorian
Honors
Honors
National Honor Society
Honorary Graduate
Pocatello, Idaho • May 15- May 16, 2026
BREAKAWAY ROPING
1. SOLOMON, MYLEE 2.830 2. NATE, TAYLAR 3.040 3. VOUROS, TAYLEE 3.300 4. BAYLES, HADLEY 4.100 5. STEADMAN, PRESLEIGH 4.440 6. TALBOT, TESSLY 4.510 7. RICHARDS, AVERY 5.490
GOAT TYING
1. JOHNSON, MAELY 8.730 2. VOUROS, TAYLEE 9.260 3. RASMUSSEN, JOSEY 10.100
13.810
8. SMITH, JAYCEE 13.840
9. LYTLE, ADELLIA 14.580
POLE BENDING
1. SOLOMON, MYLEE 22.012 2. JOHNSON, MAELY 22.104 3. REAM, RIDLEE 22.756
4. MENDENHALL, ZOEY 23.099
5. COOLEY, SAGE 23.336
6. BINGHAM, HANNAH 23.431
7. GIBSON, COETA 24.306
8. KILROY, ARIE 24.804
9. PARKER, MAGGIE 25.384 10. VRSKA, LIBERTY 25.828
11. DOUGLAS, BAILEY 27.772
12. LEAVITT, CHAISLEE 29.284 13. JENSEN, KENADEE 33.549
14. SORENSEN, BRYDEN 36.105
15. JACKSON, JILL 41.884
SADDLE BRONC
1. TEICHERT, CLAY 48.0
STEER WRESTLING
1. SMITH, DUKE 6.220
2. BINGHAM, LANE 9.670
3. MERRITT, BODRIE 10.600
TEAM ROPING
1. KERR, RYDER (HD) & KERR, CASE (HL) 6.640
2. DOUGLAS, BAILEY (HD)
& POWELL, TEGANN (HL) 8.440
3. SMITH, KRUZ (HD) & HILTON, ROSS (HL) 8.470
4. BINGHAM, LANE (HD) & HEMSLEY, HUDSON (HL) 9.970
5. SOLOMON, RIDGE (HD) & SMITH, COY (HL) 10.600
6. STODDARD, BOSTON (HD) & STODDARD, TATE (HL) 18.750
7. BUTTARS, HAYDEN (HD) & SMITH, KYZER (HL) 21.040
8. MERRITT, BODRIE (HD) & WESTON, TIBBS (HL) 21.050
9. COOLEY, SAGE (HD) & VRSKA, DIESEL (HL) 37.000
TIE DOWN ROPING
1. ROMRELL, CADE 9.860
2. KERR, RYDER 12.120
3. CRANE, MCKADE 13.440
4. MERRITT, BODRIE 16.930
5. KERR, CASE 17.940
6. BINGHAM, LANE 18.070
7. SOLOMON, RIDGE 20.240
The graduates as they filed in to face the music, so to speak.
You always wonder if people end up wearing someone else's hat...
Salutatorian Taralyn Vedder
Valedictorian Gimhana Somasiri
After graduation, the crowd spills out onto the floor to congratulate the newly minted grads.
Keynote speaker Shannon Steele
North Gem walks the stage
The graduating class of North Gem earned their final recognitions last week as the twelve seniors took a stroll across the stage to collect their diplomas. The relatively quick ceremony to some extent belied the years of work and memories that went into making the moment possible.
With the accompaniment of Anne Olorenshaw, the graduates entered the gym to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” as a full audience of friends, family, and North Gem students past and present watched on.
An invocation was offered by Kymberli Jensen.
Hyrum Barnes provided the introduction and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Salutatorian Jack Curtis spoke to the crowd first. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight is a very special night, and a very surprising night for me especially. I would be lying if I said I thought I would be here, not just as Salutatorian, but as a graduating member of this class.” Curtis explained that throughout the year he had had a number of things affect him that made it unclear to him at times whether he would make it through the year. “I begged and pleaded with my parents to let me drop out,” he said. “But my friends and family convinced me to stay and take the opportunity to graduate with the senior class. Through these last months, I learned that endurance is key to success. Endurance and will-
power are the two things that will build your future. Forget about looking good for the public. Forget about putting on a show to meet their expectations. Meet your own expectations. Look good for you, not them. No one wants to see you succeed more than you, and God of course. He is one your side, when you forget about public opinion…Success does not look the same for everyone…I would like to thank you all.”
Valedictorian Parker Hill spoke next. “I am going to skip over the normal stuff and get to it. I wanted to leave a few pieces of advice tonight. First, stay curious in everything you do. If you stay curious and keep asking questions, you will learn so much more than you ever expected. Learn about the world around you… the ones who already know everything are always wrong.” Hill then stated that “Second, remember that this is not the end. Every experience, whether good or bad, can help us.” He ended with the point “Third, hold on to your inner self.”
Guest Speaker Lacy Whiting then addressed the students and parents to a lot of laughter. Whiting is a graduate of the North Gem class of 1998, and is now a para-educator. She was introduced by Shalyn Thompson, who said of her, “Lacy is a true local, born and raised in Bancroft. And if you know her, you know you can count on her. She’s dependable, caring, and always ready to make people
Graduation in Bancroft is a time for everyone to spend at least one more night together after all these years.
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laugh. She’s the kind of person who knows how to have fun, cheer people on, and make them feel supported wherever she goes.”
“These graduates asked me to speak, and I’m not sure who allowed this, but they probably should be fired,” Whiting joked. After explaining that her students knew she had a small swearing problem, but that she had been allowed to use a few as long as they were “Bible words,” Whiting entertained the crowd with her advice to the students of the class of 2026.
“It’s been an honor to watch you kids grow into such amazing youth,” she said. “We’ve gone through a lot of changes together—I watched them grow up, they watched me grow out…The boys and I actually started growing beards at the same time,” she joked.
With good humor and a core of clear pride in the North Gem students, Whiting gave them some advice she had learned growing up, such as “only you can prevent forest fires, and never put a penny on the railroad tracks.”
More seriously, she said, “I know that every one of you will do amazing things. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Find something that you don’t mind doing every day for the rest of your life, and figure out how to get paid for it.”
Following Whiting, Sadie Daniels presented the class gift, which was a carpet runner mat to prevent slipping
17. JENSEN, KENADEE 24.578 18. MENDENHALL, ZOEY 24.803
BREAKAWAY ROPING
1. SMITH, JAYCEE 3.000
2. CHRISTENSEN, JOSIE 3.480 3. BAYLES, HADLEY 4.370 4. SOLOMON, MYLEE 4.510 5. REAM, RIDLEE 12.740 6. CALL, RIETTA 13.160
GOAT TYING
1. STEADMAN, PRESLEIGH 8.130 2. RASMUSSEN, JOSEY 8.940 3. JOHNSON, MAELY 8.960 4. SMITH, JAYCEE 9.210 5. SOLOMON, MYLEE 9.650 6. BARNES, SUNNI 9.720
DOUGLAS, BAILEY 10.310 8. VOUROS, TAYLEE 11.410 9. JACKSON, JILL 12.130
10. SKINNER, MAYCEE 12.850
11. LYTLE, ADELLIA 17.690
POLE BENDING
1. SOLOMON, MYLEE 21.480
2. NATE, TAYLAR 22.294
on the floor in wet weather..
The class of 2026 then as a group sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Diplomas were presented by Raini Hayden, following the introduction of the class by Rick Hatch. The Board of Trustees for North Gem is made of Chair Brandi Wakley, ViceChair Dr. Phil Knox, Clerk Krissy Lamont, and trustees MaLissa Barfuss and Marc Holbrook.
A slideshow presentation by Myken Rindlisbaker brought nostalgic tears to many eyes, as a look back at the 13 years of school can be a lot to take in all at once, especially for the parents for whom those years had flown by.
Graduates for 2026 were:
* Hyrum Barnes (Class Vice President)
** Jack Curtis
* Sadie Daniels (Class President)
* Sage Daniels
* Haydn Frandsen (Class Representative)
Landon Hayes
** Parker Hill
* Kymberli Jensen
** Gracie Josephson
** Myken Rindlisbaker (Class Secretary)
** Shalyn Thompson
** Craig Yost
* Honors
** High Honors
3. MENDENHALL, ZOEY 22.871
4. COOLEY, SAGE 23.099
5. BINGHAM, HANNAH 23.832
6. REAM, RIDLEE 26.429
7. DOUGLAS, BAILEY 27.104
8. JACKSON, JILL 27.553
9. JENSEN, KENADEE 28.003
10. GIBSON, COETA 28.013
11. PARKER, MAGGIE 28.592
12. KILROY, ARIE 28.999
13. LEAVITT, CHAISLEE 29.127
14. VRSKA, LIBERTY 29.214
15. SORENSEN, BRYDEN 31.697
16. JOHNSON, MAELY 31.700
17. STEADMAN, PRESLEIGH 33.426
STEER WRESTLING
1. MERRITT, BODRIE 7.770
2. ROMRELL, CADE 11.970
3. SMITH, DUKE 25.950
TEAM ROPING
1. SMITH, KRUZ (HD) & HILTON, ROSS (HL) 9.890
2. SOLOMON, RIDGE (HD) & SMITH, COY (HL) 11.270
3. THOMPSON, RJ (HD) &
STEADMAN, PRESLEIGH (HL) 12.910
4. MERRITT, BODRIE (HD) & WESTON, TIBBS (HL) 12.920
5. KERR, RYDER (HD) & KERR, CASE (HL) 13.470
6. BINGHAM, HANNAH (HD) & HEELER #1, DRAW (HL) , 15.350
7. STODDARD, BOSTON (HD) & STODDARD, TATE (HL) 18.920
8. TALBOT, TESSLY (HD) & SKINNER, COOPER (HL) 19.980
TIE DOWN ROPING
1. CRANE, MCKADE 12.210
2. ROMRELL, CADE 12.810
3. SOLOMON, RIDGE 15.520
4. KERR, CASE 17.510
5. BINGHAM, LANE 18.260
6. KERR, RYDER 18.420
7. WESTON, TIBBS 19.240
8. POPE, DAXTON 20.810
9. SMITH, KRUZ 21.690
10. SMITH, DUKE 23.200
11. SMITH, COY 39.440
The senior class joined together to sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
Guest speaker Lacy Whiting
At the end of the evening, hats were thrown!
Salutatorian Jack Curtis Valedictorian Parker Hill
Spring All County Honors
BY JODY REEVES
Another sports season has wrapped up for our local high school athletes. Once again there were several great performances by a number of athletes throughout the spring season. As we continue to try to spotlight some of those amazing athletes we will honor our spring sports stars in this week’s edition.
Baseball/Softball
As our readers are likely aware, Soda Springs is the only local school to field a baseball or softball team. With that being the case there is no competition to earn spots on the first team all county outside of their own teams. So by default the starting line-ups for each squad would automatically earn those spots. So we will not spend any time on those selections, however we would like to congratulate those players who played hard all season long and persevered through what at times was a difficult season. What we will do is select an all county player of the year for both baseball and softball.
This year's All County Player of the Year for baseball is Kolten Peterson. Kolten finished the season ranked in the top three players on the team in several of the statistical categories. Kolten led the team in batting average (.435), on base percentage (.559), slugging percentage (.587), hits (20), and runs (18). Kolten was also second in RBI’s and stolen bases. Kolten also spent a significant amount of time on the mound for the Cardinals where he performed well.
This year's All County Player of the Year for softball for the second year in a row is Aiyana Davis. Aiyana led the team in every single statistical category but one, stolen bases where she came in second. Aiyana ended the year with a .634 batting average, .706 on base percentage, 26 hits that resulted in 25 runs and 18 RBI’s. Like Perterson for the boys, Davis spent most of the season on the mound for the Lady Cardinals where she had some great moments of success.
Golf
This year's golf season was a great
one especially for the teams from Soda Springs. Both the boys and girls teams from Soda Springs dominated the regular season with each team grabbing district championships and qualifying for state. At state, each team went on to win a trophy with the boys claiming fourth place and the girls becoming state champions. Meanwhile the Grizzly golfers from Grace did not enjoy the same success due to some lack of depth and experience. However the Grizzlies did have a couple of golfers perform well enough to earn some end of season honors. Of all of our spring selections golf was the most difficult choice we had to make. In the girls there were two clear front runners, while the boys was a wide open race that came right down to the wire.
In the girls competition it was clear that it was going to come down to either Kamryn Mansfield of Grace or Jayden Parker of Soda Springs. Each and every week these two girls pushed each other as they battled for the top spot. In the end we went with the girl that had the best individual performance on the biggest stage. For the second year in a row Kamryn Mansfield is our pick for All County Girls Player of the Year. Kamryn finished her season as the first ever girls individual state champion for Grace. With Mansfield graduating and moving on there is no doubt that the young sophomore Parker will be the front runner to win the honor next season.
Like I mentioned before the boys race was more wide open with several different players in the running. It seemed like every week a different boy would earn the top score in the county. We had to go back and average each boy's score for the entire season to come up with a winner. After our calculations this year's All County Boys Player of the Year goes to Keathen Edwards from Grace. Keathen's average weekly score came in at an 81 just four strokes ahead of Soda Spring’s Kayden Simmons who averaged an 85.
Here are the remaining players to earn All County Honors.
Boys Player Of The Year:
Keathen Edwards
Boys First Team
Kayden Simmons (Soda Springs)
Brycen Simmons (Soda Springs)
Barrett Hobbs (Soda Springs)
Preston Ozburn (Soda Springs)
Girls Player Of The Year:
Kamryn Mansfield
Girls First Team
Jayden Parker (Soda Springs)
Tara Vedder (Soda Springs)
Jasta Stoor (Soda Springs)
Shaston Lloyd (Grace)
Track And Field
This year's local track and field teams were a mix of experience and a lot of youth. The Cowboy’s teams were heavy with young talent and very few senior leaders. The Cardinals were a good even mix of both with a very strong senior class and some great up and comers. The Grizzlies were loaded with veteran athletes with just a few young athletes. The Grizzly's senior boys helped the team earn a fourth place trophy at the state meet.
Once again this year we will select a top boys and girls track athlete of the year as well as field athlete of the year. In addition to those selections we will name a top athlete and a runner up in each of the following categories, distance, sprints, hurdles, jumping, and throwing.
We will start off with our boys field athlete of the year. This was an easy choice for the second year in a row. Our Boys Field Athlete of the Year goes to Cole Garbett from Soda Springs. Cole dominated the shot put and discus again this year and even improved on his performance from last season. Cole finished his career with new school records in both events as well as a state championship in each event.
Next up our girls top field performance is also a repeat from last season. This years Girls Field Athlete of the Year goes to Rosie Harris from Soda Springs. Rosie had several great meets where she finished at the top of the pole vault and high jump all while also competing in running events. Rosie finished her career with a new record in the pole vault and two district championships.
In the boy’s track athlete of the year competition there were two individuals that had great performances. In
the end it came down to the athlete that was able to qualify for state and compete there in four events. This year's Boys Track Athlete of the Year is Carter Mecham from Grace. Carter's blazing speed helped earn him a spot on two state placing relay teams and a top eight finish in the 200 meters. However in his best event, the 400 meter sprint the sophomore earned an individual state championship.
Our girls top track performer goes to a girl that has put in years of hard work. This year's Girls Track Athlete of the Year goes to Ellie Wood from Soda Springs. Ellie capped off a great career with two district championships as well as qualifying for state in four events. At state her best finish came in the 800 meter run where she earned a silver medal after finishing in second place.
The remainder of our track and field honors are listed below. Congratulations to all of this year's athletes who made our All County selections.
Boys Thrower of the Year: Cole Garbett (Soda Springs)
Runner Up: Carson Cook (Soda Springs)
Girls Thrower of the Year: Soliel Somsen (Soda Springs)
Runner Up: Madalyn Barnes (North Gem)
Boys Jumper of the Year: Landon Martinsen (Soda Springs)
Runner Up: Bryant Moss (Grace)
Girls Jumper of the Year: Rosie Harris (Soda Springs)
Runner up: Indyana Hatch (North Gem)
Boys Hurdler of the Year: Jonah Wilkerson (Grace)
Runner Up: Parker Yost (Grace)
Girls Hurdler of the Year: Bella Eddins (Grace)
Runner Up: Brielle Yost (Grace)
Boys Sprinter of the Year: Carter Mecham (Grace)
Runner Up: Jaxson Horsley (Soda Springs)
Girls Sprinter of the Year: Maddie Kempe (Soda Springs)
Runner Up: Sadie Daniels (North Gem)
Boys Distance Runner of the Year: Adrian Mejia (Grace)
Runner Up: Landon Moldenhauer (Soda Springs)
Girls Distance Runner of the Year: Ellie Wood (Soda Springs)
Runner Up: Brooklyn Porter (Grace)
Rosie Harris is the 2026 Girls Field Athlete of the Year.
Kolten Peterson is the 2026 All County Baseball Player of the Year.
Keathen Edwards is the 2026 All County Boys Golfer of the Year.
Ellie Wood is the 2026 Girls Track Athlete of the Year.
Carter Mecham is the 2026 Boys Track Athlete of the Year.
Cole Garbett, atop the podium as he was many times this season.
Aiyana Davis is the 2026 All County Softball Player of the Year.
Kamryn Mansfield is the 2026 All County Girls Golfer of the Year.