Caribou County Caribou County, Idaho
July 25, 2024 | Vol. 1 No. 25
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF President Joe Biden Drops out of 2024 Presidential Election
No. 4014 steamed into town Monday afternoon, to the delight of everyone lucky enough to catch it.
Big Boy Steam Engine brings hundreds out to the tracks With a line of cars stretching as far as the eye could see in both directions, the train crossing on Main Street in Soda Springs was packed with people waiting to get a look at the Union Pacific “Big Boy” no. 4014. The train is the largest steam locomotive which is known to be in operation, and the only one of the original twenty-five (only eight still remain) built for Union Pacific railroad to navigate the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains still in use. The others are housed in various museums devoted to railroad history, but this living piece of that history was restored and converted from coal fuel to a more modern oil standard. The trains were initially designed for use between Wyoming and Utah, and the summer runs—which began as part of a 150 anniversary celebration of the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 2019—go from Cheyenne to California and back. The Soda Springs stop is part of its return trip. Pictures don’t necessarily do the train justice, as its “Big Boy” moniker is no joke. The locomotive is just over 16 feet tall, and 85 feet long. In person, it dwarfed even the very large crowd that had turned out to see its historic trip. As a result of the crowds and the eager attention paid by young and old alike, the visit required a large safety crew composed of UP officials, Railroad police, the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office, and many volunteers. Alan David is one of the volunteers, who says that he “helps out as much as I can” during the summer tour. David keeps a Facebook page of his adventures following the train with his dog Max on a page called “Where is Max Today?” Max had elected to stay inside during the visit, as the temperatures stayed on the hot side, especially at 3:00 in the afternoon. David was also himself busy making sure that onlookers stayed at least 25 feet back from the tracks. “This is a pretty awesome thing to see,” David said. “But we have to make sure everyone stays safe out here.” As the train approached, shaking the ground and blowing its iconic stack, spontaneous cheers broke out from the crowd. David just smiled, having seen people react this way plenty of times in the past. “It’s not the same until you actually see it,” he said.
While no one was able to go on the train, people were able to get close enough to take pictures of the massive machine.
After the train had come to a stop, the crowd was free to approach it more closely (though no one was allowed on the train itself), and witness its spectacular size up close. From the playful “Big Boy” scrawled across the front of the locomotive to the loaded cars behind it, the no. 4014 was a sight to behold, and may have converted even a few who hadn’t realized they were “train people” until just then. From the time it pulled to a stop until it disappeared from view heading toward Montpelier, a constant salute of phones and cameras covered its progress like a towering rock star from times past, which it can fairly be said to be. For those who made it downtown to see what the fuss was all about, the question was likely answered. For those who didn’t, make sure to catch the “Big Boy” the next time you have a chance.
Main Street Project Update Debbie Dumont
The Main Street Project is now in week two. The project will give Main Street a complete face lift and is expected to take three months to complete. Everything including the asphalt, curb, sidewalk, and gutter will be replaced. New lighting will be added. A new drainage system will be installed to help reduce ice buildup and standing surface water during winter melt off and heavy rainfall. The water and sewer lines, originally laid in 1952 making them 70+ years old, will also be replaced. This project has become a “heated topic” on social media and among business owners and members of the community. Misinformation and rumors contribute to much of the talk. I have been attending city council meetings regularly and working with city employees on several issues. I am the Chamber of Commerce President and on the Community Development Foun-
dation as well as the city’s Greater Soda Springs Community Development Committee. I also am a board member of the Southeast Idaho High Country Tourism Council. I felt it might be helpful to share the details of the project, which are available to the public, to clarify the misunderstandings. I do not favor the city, the contractor or the business owners in writing this article, rather I just want to share information with the community. WHAT DOES THE CITY PAY FOR? The city pays for water main line maintenance and repairs, the water treatment plant, sewer main lines maintenance and repair, and garbage pickup. They purchase power at a reduced rate and provide it to residents. They pay for law enforcement and protection, including vehicle leases and radios and cameras for each vehicle. They pay for fire and prevention, animal control and shelter, weed control, snow removal, road repair/maintenance, parks and recreation, the library, the airport, all
city employees’ wages and their benefits, equipment (dump trucks, plows, 4 wheelers, vehicles, etc.), capital projects and of course any city property maintenance and repairs. HOW IS THE CITY FUNDED? The city’s main source of funding comes from property taxes. The city also applies for various grants to fund specific projects. The monthly utility bill that residents receive from the city is for power, water, sewer and garbage. The revenue from water and sewer has to stay in the water fund and the sewer fund. Per Idaho Code, it cannot be used for other purposes. Included in the monthly sewer bill, residents and businesses are also paying $13 per month on a sewer bond. The city contracts with MR&E to do city garbage pickup and the city collects the monthly fee from the residents on their utility bill. The benefit of this is that the city MAIN STREET On Page 2
IN THIS EDITION Main Street Parking Map............................Pg. 2 Sorensen Family to Morocco................. Pg. 2-3 Fair Preview..................................................Pg. 4
Puzzles..........................................................Pg. 6 Obituaries......................................................Pg. 9 PRCA Rodeo returns............................... Pg. 12
On Sunday, President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race to the White House. President Biden said in a letter to the American people, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” President Biden has now endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place in the election.
Delta is still canceling flights while other airlines return to normal
After a computer update problem caused more than 5,000 flight cancellations around the world, things are pretty much back to normal, except for Delta Air Lines. Delta canceled more than 1,500 on Friday, which was more than a third of its schedule. That is more than any other airline in the world. Most U.S. airlines only canceled 1% of its flights where roughly one out of every 6 scheduled Delta flights were canceled. CEO Ed Bastian apologized and said the problem was attributed to the computer program affecting its “crew tracking” software. “One of our crew tracking-related tools was affected and unable to effectively process the unprecedented number of changes triggered by the system shutdown,” Bastain wrote to customers. “Our teams have been working around the clock to recover and restore full functionality.” According to Bastains message, the busy summer travel season made it worse for passengers.
13-year-old girl drowns at Bear Lake
A 13-year-old girl drowned in Bear Lake on July 20, 2024. The sheriff’s office received many calls around 6 p.m. of a girl missing off the East Shore of the lake. The girl was found in the water but pronounced dead around 9 p.m.. At the family’s request, the girl’s identity has not been released so they can personally notify family members of her passing. Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of wearing life jackets while engaging in water activities.
Founders Day July 27 in Lava Hot Springs
Lava Hot springs will hold its annual Founders Day on July 27. Events will include a pickleball tournament at 7 a.m. and a fun run/walk at 8 a.m. The Main Street Parade will be at 10:30 a.m. and a Party in the Park will follow at 11 a.m. and last until 2 p.m. The main location for events will be the City Park downtown, the primary location of all the events. All Founders Day events and activities are open to the public, and all proceeds raised by Founders Day will go to support the music and reading programs at Lava Elementary School.