Caribou County | January 8, 2026

Enterprise The Idaho

Caribou County

Caribou County's Newspaper Since 2024

Caribou County, Idaho

January 8, 2026 | Vol. 3 No. 2

$1.50

NEWS IN BRIEF Ongoing situation in Venezuela

One of the maps displayed at the open house shows the impacted areas of Highway 30 through Soda Springs.

Open House meeting for highway project held On Monday, the Idaho Transportation Department hosted an open house for members of the community to ask questions and get information about the planned highway construction project on Highway 30 through Soda Springs. ITD Representatives Justin Smith, Zak Johnson, and Julian Brotschi met with members of the public at Tigert Middle School on Monday, presenting some of the basic facts related to the upcoming project, as well as some of the issues that remain to be determined. Among the most important of the latter were the issues of the precise dates for the project, as well as the ultimate cost. Both of those are contingent upon the bidding process and the weather. As far as the weather, a more wintery cold snap is expected over the next few weeks, though how long winter conditions may persist past January is anyone’s guess at this point. As to the former, the bidding process will soon begin and a more specific cost estimate will then be generated. At present, the anticipated total cost is somewhere in the $12 to $13 million range, with the city’s portion coming in at around $2 million. The project is anticipated to begin sometime in the spring, and last through the summer, roughly a May to August timeline. For city officials and local businesses, the question of disruption during the high traffic season is top of mind. ITD intends to keep one lane of traffic in each direction open throughout the duration of construction, and does not foresee making entrances to any of the highway-adjacent businesses restricted. Zak Johnson stated that oversized loads will be accounted for in the route planning for the highway. The Open House was attended by a number of City and State officials, as well as business owners up and down Highway 30, and interested members of the public. Mayor-elect Paul Gritton expressed some concern about the impact the construction may have on local businesses as a natural consequence of the disruption. He also noted that the infrastructure that will be improved and/or replaced is very much in need of it. “It’s something that we do have to take care of,” Gritton said. ITD reps were generous with their time and explanations, and while some of the specifics will ultimately change as the project proceeds, the office seemed willing to open communication from members of the public and officials with concerns. In terms of what the project will accomplish, here are some of the highlights:

Dillon Liechty and Evan Wilson were among those whose businesses will be affected by the Highway 30 project, as were many at the meeting.

A turn lane will be extended to accommodate left turns into the Sheriff’s office at the east edge of town. This has been a concern for city and county officials for years, and the change will prevent cars stopped in the travel lane at the potentially dangerous area. ADA ramps are planned at all four corners of the intersection of US-30 and 3rd East. The project does not include the replacement of curb and sidewalk. The mill and inlay portion of the project will be done between the East city limits and 3rd East. Reconstruction of the roadway will be done between 3rd East and the west city limits. The project will used phased implementation to isolate and minimize disruptions to the businesses and residences along the route. ITD representatives at the open house indicated that while there would inevitably some disruptions during the process, they did not expect any one particular disruption to last more than a few days. Access to businesses will be maintained throughout. Given the timing of the project, questions were also raised about the Fourth of July parade, which normally walks the same route as the majority of the construction. Several alternate routes are under discussion, and as the time draws nearer and the project status is clearer, the route will be announced. The project website can be found at itdprojects.idaho. gov/pages/soda-springs-ecl-wcl.

Flu worst in years

You’re not imagining that this year’s flu seems worse than usual. The CDC has reported that flu cases resulting in visits to the doctor are at their highest recorded levels since the 19971998. According to the CDC report, around 8.2% of visits to the doctor during the last week of 2025 were for flu-related issues, which is up from 6.7% last year. The biggest factor in flu prevention, annual flu shots, are down this year as are vaccinations across the board. Newly released Dept of Health and Human Services guidelines that make vaccinations less of a priority had not yet been announced during the data collection period. The strength of this year’s flu is attributed to the particular nature of the strain— called subclade K.

Mountain Lions killed in CO

Two mountain lions in Colorado were located and killed Monday, following a New Year’s Day fatal attack on 46 year old Kristen Marie Kovatch on New Year’s Day. The Larimer County Coroner’s Office released a finding that the victim’s injuries—a neck compression resulting in asphyxia—were consistent with injuries caused by mountain lion attacks. Hikers came across Kovatch and a nearby mountain lion, who they scared away with rocks. Two mountain lions were later located and put down, with a third lion sighted but not located. One of the lions was determined to have human DNA on its paws, while the other did not. This was the first fatal mountain lion attack in Colorado since the 1990s.

First Baby of 2026 welcomed at CMC!

Hudson Triston Perron was welcomed with open arms by both his parents and the medical staff at Caribou Medical Center early in the year on January 2. Mother Mia and Father Payton were born in Soda, and now live in Grace, where Payton was raised. According to his parents, “Hudson is healthy and big sister Eleanor [pictured] loves him!” It was also reported that “Hudson loves being swaddled and held, but does not like his beanies.” Certified Midwife Cherysh Stock notes that CMC is on track for its largest number of deliveries ever in 2026.

IN THIS EDITION People in 2025.....................................Pg. 2 Recreation News..................................Pg. 3 Puzzles.................................................Pg. 5

Over the weekend, the United States hit Venezuela with what officials termed a “large-scale strike,” which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores under accusations of participating in a “narco-terrorism conspiracy.” This is a dramatic escalation of actions that had been characterized by strikes against small boats said by the U.S. government to be involved in the drug trade, and the interception of oil tankers in international waters. While there is widespread international agreement that Maduro was a negative presence in the lives of Venezuelans and the stability of the region, there is also widespread anxiety and skepticism of the U.S. approach to resolving the situation. The situation is rapidly unfolding and there is certain to be new information and developments even before this paper is able to reach readers, so to try to summarize it in this space would be a fool’s errand. Suffice to say, it will remain a subject dominating the news for months to come. At present, Maduro has been arraigned in U.S. court [to which he and his wife pleaded not guilty], and President Trump has publicly stated that Venezuela’s government is now being administrated by the U.S. Critics from both sides of the aisle have decried entry into a potentially sustained nation-building exercise, as well as statements about Venezuela’s oil, with a recent poll [for what it’s worth] finding that only 1 in 3 Americans supported the move against Venezuela.

Kids Scoop..........................................Pg. 9 SSHS BPA.........................................Pg. 10 Sports...........................................Pg. 10-12

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SEICAA’s Renae Lynch.

Idaho Enterprise|Caribou County

Eisa’bel Curran with Dr. Naomi Allen

2025 Year in Review—People We were able to cover most of the Year in Review contents for last week’s paper, but there was one section we had to hold, and we bring it to you here. While we met a number of people throughout the year and witnessed a number of awards and presentations, here are a few of the standout people from 2026.

Kallie Stoddard Named Caribou County Distinguished Young Woman, then Idaho DYW! Caribou County Distinguished Young Women held their annual program in the spring of last year. Supporters enjoyed watching eight wonderful young women from the county showcase their physical fitness, talent, poise, and public speaking skills. Emcees for the evening were Dana McCurdy and the 2024 Distinguished Young Woman, Kate Williams. At the end of the evening, Stoddard was named the Caribou County DYW. In October, Stoddard upped the ante by being named Idaho’s DYW in Idaho Falls, an amazing feat that deserves an incredible amount of admiration. Stoddard will continue to reign for 2026, until next fall when the crown is passed again—hopefully to another Caribou County competitor! Grace Resident completes book of memories One person I met early in 2025 was Grace resident Barbara Willes (whose full name is Barbara Louise Marshall Black Willes), who will be celebrating her 100th birthday this year (2026). Willes, born in 1926, is a delightful conversationalist and a “life long learner” who could teach anyone a thing or two. In fact, teaching is something that Barbara has also done throughout her life. She initially received her degree in Home Economics. After that, she taught, at the very least, Home Economics, Physical Education, Health, 6th grade, 2nd grade, and decades worth of teaching at the church. Throughout her career, she taught Chicago, in Provo, in Orem, in Goshen. She has taught in elementary schools, high schools, and junior highs. “One of my goals is to make it to 100,” she says casually, and it seems like a safe bet. While most of her siblings experienced Alzheimers in their later years, Barbara has had a remarkably healthy life. As daughter Linda Toone explained, “We think those three

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things—enjoying hobbies, keeping her mind sharp and her body active every day—are what have kept her thriving for the last 25 years.” Linda notes, however that “she’s finally started to slow down! In fact, just this last month when she’s caught a couple of colds— I’ve seen her take a nap on her bed a few times—which I’ve never seen her do my entire life! So she’s finally starting to act her age!” Willes used to teach a class she called “writing about your life history one story at a time” at the Provo and Orem Senior Centers for from 1998 until she moved up to Grace to live with her daughter Linda and son-in-law Curtis Toone. Even after she retired as a teacher, it’s a habit she maintains, whether that involves teaching her friends, peers, family, and anyone else with a curious mind.

Caribou Farmer Scott Brown inducted into Ag Hall of Fame In 2025, Caribou County farmer Scott Brown, accompanied by his wife Diane, was inducted into the East Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame. The Hall was established in 1972, and seeks to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the agriculture industry and way of life in Eastern Idaho. Brown’s official induction introduction noted that he is a 4th generation farmer and an Idaho Native, born and raised in Soda Springs to parents Clarke and Nina Brown. He and his wife Diane have been married for 34 years. Scott has two children, Stacy and Matthew. Diane has three sons, Nathan, Jeffrey, and Andrew. Today, Brown’s operation grows barley, winter and spring wheat, and occasionally mustard. They farm at an average elevation of 6,000 feet and are 100% dry land. Brown tells people that some years are dryer than others! The farm is now a partnership with his son-in-law and nephew. Additionally, Diane’s oldest son retired from a career in the U.S. Marine Corps and moved to Soda to farm with them. The farm’s mission statement says “we will strive to make the opportunity to farm available to further generations and that if we take care of the land and the farming operation that it will take care of us.” Besides being a respected farmer, Brown has an extensive track record in industry advocacy, representing the interests of Idaho farmers on local, state, and national levels. He first served as a board member on the Idaho Grain Pro-

ducers Association board in the early 2000s. He was elected to the 5-person executive board in 2006 and became the president of IGPA in 2010. In 2019, he was one of two Idaho Growers who traveled to Washington DC to meet with the USDA to make the case that barley should be included in the Market Facilitation Program Payments; barley was included in the second round of MFP payments in 2019. The now trademarked slogan “No Barley No Beer” is credited to Scott himself. “I’m humbled and honored to received this award tonight,” Brown said. “Like you said in my introduction, I didn’t have my sights set on awards or recognition, but I do appreciate knowing that my efforts are appreciated and hopefully have done some good. As President of Idaho Grain you have to write a quarterly president’s message to be published in the Idaho Grain magazine, and I entitled my message ‘Becoming Part of the Heard.’ And I talked about that statistic and I added to it. I said, ‘If you’re driving down the freeway to Disneyland with your family, in 1939 one out of every four cars you passed you could wave and know that you were waving at a fellow farmer. Today, if you were to make that same trip, you’d have to pass more than fifty cars before you could wave to one. That’s why we need to speak out; that’s why we need advocacy. We need to tell our story and speak up and talk about what we want our farm policy to be. If we don’t, we let our city cousins in New York and San Francisco make those decisions for us. It’s imperative that we stay local, we stay active, and we stay involved. Speaking with the Enterprise, Brown continued by reiterating that “It’s so important that we speak up about our way of life, and what our values are, and what’s important to rural America, to Idaho, and to the Ag community. There are fewer and fewer of us, like I said in my speech. Less than two percent of people are involved in ag today. That’s why we need to speak out.” Asked specifically about Caribou County, Brown noted that it was special to him as his start in the industry and family, two things that are still very important to him. “I started out in Caribou with my father and mother, and now it’s my children and other family members. We indeed truly have a family farm,” Brown said. “We’re lucky in Idaho because we have all the irrigated land. Idaho’s the

January 8, 2026

Linda Toone with mother Barbara Willes

largest barley growing state in the nation—we raise about 34% of the nation’s barley. And we’re lucky because we have different malt houses in Idaho, and a lot of end users of barley here in the state.” Brown lives in Idaho and Utah (though he’s officially a resident of Idaho), and the two have a home north of Soda Springs. “It’s a great home,” he said. Soda Springs Animal Clinic sees changes large and small The Soda Springs Animal Clinic, located on the way into town at 611 Highway 30, has undergone a few changes in the past few months, and is proud to welcome new Veterinarian Naomi Allen. Dr. Allen joins Dr. Grace Majors and the eleven other members of the SSAC staff in their ongoing work to provide routine healthcare services and emergency interventions to animals both large and small around the region. After 47 years as a vet, Dr. JV Bollar officially retired in February, leaving behind him a long legacy of care and concern for the county’s animals. The clinic has officially been purchased by the Alpine Animal Hospital Network, which is based in Chubbuck. While the ownership name has changed, Office Manager Katelin Labrouche is clear that the services and care which customers have come to expect will not change. New Veterinarian Dr. Naomi Allen came to the Soda Springs Animal Clinic from the Alpine hospital in Chubbuck. That type of cooperation has helped fill demand the clinic is experiencing. “And in the shorter term, we are able to do things like, for instance, Dr. Majors is going on vacation in a few weeks and we have another doctor from Alpine coming over to fill in while she’s gone. That helps up take care of our clients without disrupting any care.” Many in the community may know Dr. Grace Majors, who has been with the clinic for around a year, and is originally from Bancroft (despite her name). She graduated from Veterinary school at Washington State, as did Dr. Allen. She will be coming up on a year at the Soda Springs Animal Clinic in May. On the other hand, to say that Dr. Naomi Allen hasn’t been in the area for very long yet is on the short side of an exaggeration. “This is my first full YEAR IN REVIEW On Page 4

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Idaho Enterprise|Caribou County

January 8, 2026

Rec Director Jessica Thurman is ready for a busy January.

Ribbon cutting planned for Ice Rink

The Soda Springs Recreation Department is planning an official ribbon cutting and opening of the city’s new ice skating rink. The rink had been set up at the end of 2025, but weather has been something of an issue since then. The rink was put together by Jessica Thurman and Amber Torgesen of the Recreation Department, along with a number of volunteers, and then filled to wait for the right temperatures to set the ice. Since then, Caribou County (along with the rest of the state) has seen high winds, unseasonably warm temperatures, occasional snowfall and warming, and other “not great” weather patterns. Due to a certain amount of uncertainty, the Department has decided to pick a date and hope for the best before summer gets here. So make your plans for January 14 at 6:00 p.m. and be ready to “swim or skate” with the community to celebrate the opening of the facility. The event will include an official ribbon cutting, family skating, hot cocoa, and a pick up hockey game at 8:00 p.m. Fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate. Temperatures are forecast to be in the twenties and low thirties for the next week, with overnight lows in the teens. Snow is likely early this week, with cloud cover for the next ten days of so. If that goes according to plan, the conditions should be right to allow for the ribbon cutting to go forward as planned! Sponsors include ICCU, Rotary Club of Soda Springs, Mountain View Dental Clinic, Get Outside and Live, Bayer, Braden Lott, Heather Lott, Nolan Lott, Casey Hlavaty, Garrett Hill, Eddilyn Hill, Zaz McDonald, Jessica Thurman,

Charlotte McCulloch, Tyler Henesh, Mike Nally, Dillon Liechty, Amber Torgesen, and Sunrise Automotive. In the meantime, there are several other things in the works for the Rec Department. Thursday the 8th (our publication date, unless you get your copy from the stands), the Enders Hotel will host the first of its kind “Open Mic Night” from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event is planned as the beginning to an ongoing schedule of open mic events, planned for every second and fourth Thursday going forward. Assistant Rec Director Amber Torgesen came up with the idea last year, and has been working to get things ready for Thursday. “This is Amber’s baby,” Jessica Thurman said. The idea, as Amber explained it, is to give people an opportunity to show off their talents in a nonsports recreational environment. “It’s a different kind of recreation,” she said when explaining the idea, “but there are people in the community with a whole range of different skills.” The Open Mic night is open to anyone from inside and outside the community, although the rec department is clear that the content presented must be appropriate for an audience that will include children and families. One or both members of the Rec Department will be on hand to act as emcees for the events. Finally (for now), registration is currently open for 3 on 3 Mens and Womens Basketball tournaments. You can find information and links to registration at City Hall, or on the Soda Springs Recreation Facebook page.

Lara Peck, director of Grace Little League, with Mayor JAckie Barthlome.

Mayor Barthlome provides equipment for Little League October is the month set aside for the annual Mayor’s walking challenge, which has been sponsored by Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health for a number of years. Mayors walk each day to count their steps. At the end of the month, steps are counted and if they reach their goals, they earn money. The program was initially kicked off in 2014, and was adopted statewide in 2018. The Walking Challenge is designed to encourage healthy habits and to let Idaho’s mayor’s serve as examples to that end. Grace Mayor Jackie Barthlome has been an active participant in the program since 2017. There were 117 Mayors across the state that participated this year. Mayor Barthlome walked 425,059 steps or 177 miles. While an official total is not immediately available, that likely means that Mayor Barthlome has walked close to a thousand and a half miles over the last 8 years for the program, which is about the distance from Grace to Chicago, for example. It isn’t hard to for Barthlome to stay motivated. “I love going for walks,” she says. “I feel so much better and ready for the day’s work.” As mayor, it has been an excellent way to keep up with what is happening around town, which, it should be acknowledged, is a great place to walk. “I see what is going on in the city . I like

the county roads also. It’s a beautiful place to live!” Over the years, she has used the money to help acquire equipment for Black Canyon Elementary, the Jr. High School Sports program, and Grace High School. Mayors are given latitude about where they can use the funds, as long as they promote active lifestyles in their communities. This year, she is getting new equipment for the Grace Little League Program. “The Little League Program has lots of kids in it and the money they pay to play does not raise enough to purchase a lot of new equipment,” Mayor Barthlome said. “So I decided to help them out this year.” With the money, the program was able to purchase much needed supplies, including bats, batting tees, catcher sets with bags to keep them, folding helmet bags, and some baseballs. Mayor Barthlome presented the equipment to Lara Peck, head of the Little League program for Grace. The equipment will be a huge help to the local kids who can continue to spend their summer hours outdoors playing. As far as walking, Mayor Barthlome encourages everyone to make it a part of their routine if they can. “Make the time,” she says. Walks early in the morning are always peaceful and quiet. You will feel so much better!”

PBS will cover Idaho legislature in depth in 2026; changes coming to broadcast schedule Idaho PTV announced its programming schedule for the year, and some of this month’s highlights. On Jan. 8, Idaho Reports begins a new season on a new night: Thursdays at 8:30 PM. As it enters its 54th season, Idaho Reports continues to deliver in-depth panel discussions and interviews with policymakers and stakeholders on issues affecting Idahoans’ daily lives. Host Melissa Davlin and producer Logan Finney bring policy analysis and legislative updates to viewers in every corner of the state, including how Medicaid cuts could affect healthcare services for all Idahoans, what’s next in education policy proposals, and how lawmakers are navigating a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall. Idaho Reports airs Thursdays at 8:30 PM and repeats Sundays at 10 AM on Idaho Public Television. Or stream the program anytime at idahoreports. org, on YouTube, and on the PBS app. For more reporting, subscribe to

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the weekly Idaho Reports Podcast on your favorite podcast player, and read more articles and updates online at idahoreports.org.

Live Coverage of Gov. Little and the Idaho Legislature The 2026 Idaho Legislative Session kicks off with Gov. Brad Little’s State of the State and Budget Address on Monday, Jan. 12, at 1 PM MT/noon PT. The address airs live on Idaho Public Television and will replay that night at 8 PM MT/PT. Hear Gov. Little’s budget proposals and policy priorities—and following the speech, get immediate analysis from top political commentators joining that Idaho Reports team on-air. Catch more reactions from lawmakers and stakeholders on the Jan. 15 episode of Idaho Reports. Idaho in Session is IdahoPTV’s gavel-to-gavel service that includes live on-air and online coverage of the Idaho Legislature during their session. Meetings of the Joint Fi-

nance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) and all other committees will be available online at idahoptv.org/ insession. Coverage of the House can be viewed live on-air on IdahoPTV’s CREATE channel and the Senate on IdahoPTV’s WORLD channel while the Idaho Legislature is in session.

Expanded National News Coverage PBS’s flagship nightly newscast PBS News Hour continues to air each weeknight at 6 PM on Idaho Public Television—and beginning Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17 and 18, PBS News will expand coverage with two new weekend programs. Horizons From PBS News (Saturdays at 6 PM beginning Jan. 17), hosted by William Brangham, will cover science, health and technology. Each 30-minute episode will dive into a single issue, with upcoming topics including the artificial intelligence race, medical advancements and climate science.

Compass Points From PBS News (Sundays at 6 PM beginning Jan. 18) is a foreign affairs program hosted by Nick Schifrin. Each episode will cover an aspect of how the American government’s interests and power are shaping global affairs. The show will feature a panel of experts, such as journalists and former government officials. Jeff Tucker, Idaho Public Television’s general manager, expressed the broadcaster’s commitment to offering high-quality news coverage, both local and national, despite recent funding cuts. “While the elimination of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will force changes across the public media system for some time, Idaho Public Television remains committed to bringing viewers essential news and public affairs programming in the years to come,” Tucker said. “These two new programs from PBS, along with continued local coverage from Idaho Reports and Idaho in Session, reflect that commitment.” C Y

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Idaho Enterprise|Caribou County

Caribou DYW contenders, including Idaho’s DYW Kallie Stoddard

Year in Review

continued from page 2

week here,” she laughs. “But I came in for three Thursdays beforehand to get used to it.” Before that, she treated patients at the Alpine clinic in Chubbuck for two and a half years. Her internship involved equine work in Arizona. She is staying in an Air BnB right now, while she gets integrated into the practice. “It’s definitely been a whirlwind of a week, but I’m happy to be getting going,” Dr. Allen says. New SEICAA director New SEICAA director Renae Lynch believes that “Every single community member needs to know what SEICAA is. Everybody has a friend, a family member, and acquaintance that’s in need of resources, and I feel that SEICAA is a go-to resource where if we don’t specifically have what they’re looking for, we certainly have resources where we can help them find those programs they might need.” Lynch started her tenure around two months ago at the Soda Springs office at 159 E 2nd S (just north of the city police station), and has been getting to know the area and her role at the agency since then. “We love it here!” Lynch says. She lived for many years in Tennessee, until a desire to live closer to kids, grandkids, and her elderly mother brought her out west. “I’ve been looking for a long, long time to be a part of a community where I can really give back, and be immersed in this community as a vital member. And be able to use what I’ve been given as a gift, which is compassion and helpfulness to reach out.” SEICAA is certainly an opportunity to put that philosophy into practice. As Lynch herself explains, “We serve a very diverse group of people. We like to focus on helping vulnerable populations to establish self-sufficiency. You

Wilder Hatch, FB Ag Producer of 2025

know, from time to time we all need help in our lives, and that’s where SEICAA comes in—to bolster households that may need a leg up either with energy assistance, or food security, or resources that our other partnering agencies might be able to help with. That’s what we’re here for.” SEICAA works with various utility partner-vendors, such as the City of Soda Springs, to deliver the heating program’s direct product, heat. The biggest community support for heating assistance comes in the form of Caribou County SEICAA’s highest profile event of the year, the “Project Warmth” Golf Classic, held every summer. The tournament helps to raise funds for the Project Warmth program, which offers the energy assistance provided through LIHEAP to residents who need extra support against southeast Idaho’s frigid winter temperatures. As the event draws closer, more details will become available about the exact time, entry process, and team signup. The other thing SEICAA is probably most known for locally is the Food Pantry, which is open on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment is necessary, and the pantry is open throughout the year, and makes every effort to serve all who come through the door. The Food Pantry has been run by the volunteer efforts of members of Beta Sigma Phi, who Lynch made sure to specifically credit. “I am so grateful to them—they manage our entire food pantry on a volunteer basis, in collaboration with our community members. And I want to say that our community members here are fantastic and amazing! We run our food pantry on donations, and a majority of those do come from our community members.” She praised the organized and efficient nature of the operation, which provides assistance throughout the year. “They have got it dialed in, that’s for sure,”

physical exercise. Training gives your dog mental stimulation, prevents boredom behaviors, and builds confidence—especially important in Idaho winters.

Why January Is the Best Time to Start Training Your Dog BY EISA’BEL CURRAN, DOG TRAINER

1. Fresh start = better consistency New year routines make it easier to build training into daily life. When you are motivated and consistent, your dog learns faster. 2. Fewer distractions January is quieter—less travel, fewer visitors, and calmer schedules. That low-distraction environment is ideal for teaching new skills and building solid foundations. 3. Fix habits before they’re ingrained Jumping, pulling, ignoring recall, or barking didn’t happen overnight. Starting in January stops bad habits early before they become harder to undo. 4. Mental enrichment during winter Cold weather often means less C Y

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5. Set the tone for the entire year Training now creates a well-mannered dog for: • Spring outings • Summer adventures • Holiday gatherings later in the year You’re not just training for January—you’re investing in the next 12 months. 6. Puppies and new dogs benefit most January is perfect for puppies, rescues, and dogs adjusting to a new home. Structure early on creates stability and trust. 7. National Train Your Dog Month January is officially National Train Your Dog Month, which means it’s the perfect time to commit, reset, or level up your dog’s training. Bels Dog Training is offering a limited time January reset package that includes a private session in your own home, a group class OR structured public training outing, personalized training plan + homework. This is a $300+ value package priced at $175! Call or message to book now! 801-589-2735 Belsdogtraining23@gmail.com Belsdog.training

January 8, 2026

Scott and Diane Brown, inducted to SE Idaho Ag Hall of Fame

Lynch says. “And it’s important, especially since one of the challenges for the community as a whole is the cost of food—it’s getting more and more expensive, and it can be harder to make ends meet, which is where we can help.” “When we have an opportunity to help each other out, the sky’s the limit on what we can do if we rally together,” she says. Farm Bureau names Wilder Hatch Ag Producer of the Year Last week, the Farm Bureau hosted its annual cookout to celebrate local farmers and ranchers, and the agriculture community as a whole. North Gem’s Wilder Hatch was named the Ag Producer of the Year. Wilder Hatch was not able to be in attendance, and so his award for Ag Producer of the Year was presented by Marty McCullough to neighbor Dave Richardson. The award presentation reads as follows: “Wilder Hatch was born and raised on his family’s ranch. After graduating from North Gem High school, he joined the United Staes Air Force, where he served for eight years. When his father became ill, Wilder returned home to the ranch and signed a oneyear lease with his father. After a successful year he signed a second one year lease, which ultimately led him to purchase the ranch on his third year of operation. Wilder has been running the ranch ever since, and it has been a place where he and his wife have spent summers working to help put up the hay and move pipe. Wilders ranch has been a place where young people could come and learn the value of hard work. Wilder has served in many position in his community, always working to ensure his friends and neighbors could have the best chance for success. Wilder has served on the Caribou Soil Conservation District Board

for over 40 years, many of those years as Chairman of the Board. Wilder has always worked to protect natural resources and agriculture, not only through Caribou County, but throughout Idaho. He has always been willing to try new things, especially when they showed the ability to enhance natural resources and his fellow farmers and ranchers’ bottom lines. Wilder was instrumental in getting the Caribou SCD to host a soil health workshop in 2014. He asked the Caribou SCD board to consider purchasing a no-till drill to provide a service to the local farmers of Caribou County. However, he was not able to gain enough support on the board. Wilder determined to see how a no-till drill could improve his operation, so he went an purchased one on his own in the fall of 2015. Also, a neighbor who had attended the soil health workshop purchased one too. Because of Wilder’s example and leadership, now other neighbors are hiring him to plant their crops as they too are working toward improving soil health and planting cover crops to extend their grazing and crop rotations. In 2017, Wilder was inducted in the Idaho Agricultural Hall of Fame. Wilder has always been a friend to everyone, a respected leader in the community, a leader in his church, and a great steward over the land where he works. Other landowners can learn from his experience and dedication in striving to do better, trying new things, and working to promote the health of the land he works. Wilder has always lived by the verse penned by Hugh Hammond Bennett, “Take care of the land, and it will take care of you.” If you were to drive by on a summer morning, you would most likely see Wilder out moving a handline at 85 years old. He can still outwork most anyone in the valley. It is with great honor that we recognize Wilder Hatch as the 2025 Caribou County Ag Producer of the Year.”

A Healthy You, Us, Me, Family BY JACQUE HALL, RD (REGISTERED DIETICIAN)

What is healthy or optimal health? That is and has been a question of many discussions, theories, and study. So where do we begin? Many disciplines divide health into 5, 6 or more areas, but let’s simplify it into three areas: Physical, nutritional, and emotional well-being. Being healthy is a state of balancing the 3 key elements, that of Physical fitness which includes being physically active, maintaining strength and mobility, and good sleep. Good nutrition which includes making good food choices, eating plenty of vegetables and fruits and avoiding as many processed foods as possible. And a third is Emotional well-being which includes staying socially active, mindfulness, and maintaining a positive attitude. So where to begin: Maybe beginning with gut health since the gut is considered our second brain and gut microbiota is directly involved in metabolism, immune function, mental health. It is often said a healthy gut is a healthy you. What do we need to provide a healthy gut? A healthy gut requires good gut-microbiome, or microorganisms. This is where good probiotics and prebiotics come in. Here is list of a variety of probiotics and prebiotics, although not inclusive. Recognizing and maintaining a balanced gut microbiome is crucial to optimal health.

Probiotics Buttermilk Coconut Yogurt Cottage Cheese Fermented Beets Fermented Carrots Fermented Fruits Fermented Garlic Kiefer Kimchi Kombucha Lassi Miso Natto Pickles Sauerkraut Tamari Tempeh Yogurt

Prebiotics (Fiber Rich Foods) Apples Artichokes Asparagus Green Bananas Barley Carrots Chia Seed Chicory Flaxseeds Garlic Leeks Lentils Oats Onions Pomegranate Seaweed Sunchokes Sweet Potatoes

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Calving Season BY ALLISON ELIASON

Calving season is coming in hard and fast for ranchers in the valley with the first calves ready to drop any moment. Some might think now is the time to start preparing for the long days that are just around the corner. And yes, while there is a lot to prepare as the season approaches — sorting the heavies together or strawing the maternity pens — most of the preparation for this season has already been done. Calving can seem unpredictable, but with the right decisions and systems in place, it becomes far more manageable, far less stressful, and far less chaotic. Your calving outcomes will have far less to do with luck or circumstances and far more to do with how you have managed your herd. There’s no doubt that genetics play a major role in herd management. From the structure and conformation of the cattle to their feed efficiency and physical gains, everything can be traced back to their genetics — including smooth calving. The best decisions for a successful calving season begin with herd sires that have the right calving ease and cows with the right structure and maternal instincts that will produce calves with strong vigor and will to live. With decisions regarding genetics intentionally made for calving, the season has already been set up to thrive, not merely survive. The cows that will have the healthiest calves, not only as they hit the ground but also for the weeks following, are the ones that are in the best health. By the time calving starts, decisions regarding nutrition have already done their work. Decisions like how to attain good body condition, meeting their nutritional needs in their demanding late gestation, or making up for poor feed earlier in the year.

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Idaho Enterprise|Caribou County

Recognizing their needs early and meeting them will result in cattle with energy to calve, milk, and recover. But even good genetics and nutrition don’t remove the need for good management. In essence, the systems are only as good as the producer that implements them. Good management during calving doesn’t just happen as the calves start coming, but with a plan in mind to maximize resources while minimizing inputs. Ensuring the greatest resource — the producer themselves — is ready is key to a smooth calving season. Knowing the right moment to act often comes from experience, watching the herd day after day and learning which signs predict a smooth birth and which ones need attention. The best producers don’t wait until the first calf hits the ground — they prepare themselves long before calving begins. This preparation includes reviewing herd notes from past seasons, observing cow behavior in the weeks leading up to calving, practicing or reviewing assistance techniques, and reading extension materials or talking with mentors about best practices. By entering the season informed and ready, producers can act calmly and confidently, letting the systems they’ve put in place do their work. When everything comes together — genetics, nutrition, and careful management — calving day is less a scramble and more a confirmation of months of preparation. Cows move through calving calmly, calves hit the ground strong, and the season unfolds with far less stress and far more confidence. It’s a reminder that careful preparation, observation, and thoughtful management — not chance — shape the season’s success. Even when surprises arise, a well-prepared herd and a ready producer allow the season to unfold with confidence and calm.

Calving Class Jan 15

The Extension Office is already off to a busy year, with what should be an interesting and informative Calving Class Scheduled for next Thursday. A Symposium had been scheduled at the Event Center in Grace, Idaho, for this week but was unfortunately canceled for various reasons. The symposium was to cover a number of issues related to livestock, and specifically cattle, including drone usage, and various issues with infant mortality among cattle. Oneida Extension Educator Sawyer Fonnesbeck was scheduled to present the results of a multi-year study he has been conducting on the effects of different storage environments on the nutritional properties of hay. That presentation will be rescheduled and we will update you as we know more. Next Thursday in Grace, the Extension will be hosting a Beef Calving School on January 15th, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Event Center. The University of Idaho Extension Veterinarian will be coming to talk about all things regarding calving out beef cattle. There will be a combination of classroom instruction and some hands on activities. A life size cow model will be used to demonstrate dystocia and other issues that may arise during calving season. The fullsized, rubber and composite models

are being used to great effect in programs across the country, allowing participants to experience some of the issues related to calving that are generally only possible to experience over the course of many deliveries, and certainly not on a classroom-friendly schedule. Dr. Lauren Christensen is a Veterinarian based in Moscow at the University of Idaho, and will bring a wealth of experience to the discussion and demonstration. Idaho Ag Credit is sponsoring the meal. RSPV requested but not required. Call the office at 208-7059517 to get your name on the list for what should be an interesting and informative session. Other big events on the way include the Cereal Conference on February 4, which is one of the biggest events of the year for the Extension Office system and Ag in general. We will bring you more information on that event as it becomes available. The Extension Office is now in place at the Event Center in Grace. The county has also hired Dally Smith as the scheduler for the building. She can be reached at (208) 637-7960 with questions, or at eventcenter@caribouid.gov. The Event Center is open to members of the public for rentals, with a number of accommodations including a large event space, kitchen, and smaller conference spaces.

BRAIN TEASERS

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EVENT CALENDARS SODA SPRINGS CARIBOU COUNTY

LUNCH MENUS

SODA SPRINGS LUNCH MENU

January 10 – Saturday GBB vs Murtaugh BBB vs Liberty Charter Cheer Mini Cheer Camp GBB vs Malad

January 8 – Thursday IDAN-HA Movie Catholic Daily Mass BBB vs West Side

Lunches served with Fruit, Veggies & Milk

January 11 – Sunday LDS Services

January 9 – Friday IDAN-HA Movie Caribou County Senior Dinner Dance @ Preston Competition GBB vs Malad

January 12 – Monday Grace School District Meeting Preschool Story Hour @ Library 10:30 am Wrestling @ Preston/St. Joseph Grace School District Board Meeting

January 10 – Saturday IDAH-HA Movie BBB vs Salmon

January 13 – Tuesday BBB vs Malad

January 11 – Sunday Presbyterian Services Caribou Bible Church Services Catholic Mass (8:30 am) Open Arms Church Services LDS Services Hope Lutheran Church

Monday, January 12 Chicken Burger, Chips Tuesday, January 13 Breakfast Sandwich, Hash Brown Patty

Milk and Choice of Bar Each Day

Monday, January 12

Wednesday, January 14

Tuesday, January 13

Thursday, January 15

Biscuits n Gravy, Orange Chicken w/Rice, Deli Bar, Stir Fry Veggies, Pineapple tidbits

Monday, January 12

Alfredo, Breadstick, Roasted Broccoli, Peaches

Tuesday, January 13

January 9 – Friday BBB Practice January 10 – Saturday GBB/BBB @ Taylors Crossing January 11 – Sunday LDS Services

January 13 – Tuesday Winter Sports and Class Pictures GBB/BBB @ Challis

January 9 – Friday Girls Wrestling @ Jaybird Boys Wrestling @ Ririe GBB & BBB @ vs Rich County

January 14 – Wednesday MS BBB vs Watersprings

1835 US national debt is $0 for the first and only time in history

1908 First subway tunnel connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn under the East River opens in New York City

Every meal served with Juice/Milk/Coffee

1968 Jacques Cousteau’s first undersea special airs on US network TV

Jan 14 - Meatloaf & Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Pears, Sourdough Bread

1971 29 pilot whales beach themselves & die at San Clemente Island, California

NEWS OF RECORD Morganne Taylor Ward, Idaho Falls, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50 SODA SPRINGS POLICE Steven Shawn Cole, Clark, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50 Alex J Dunn, Soda Springs, operate vehicle without a current or valid class d/operators license, $150.00, costs $157.50 Jeremy Scott Mosher, Key West, operate vehicle when unsafe or improperly equipped, $10.50, costs $56.50 IDAHO STATE POLICE Zachary Edward Yeaman, Afton, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

CARIBOU COUNTY SHERIFF Jack Dwight Getz, Rigby, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50 Austin Robert Hawkins, West Valley, speeding (16 mph or over), $98.50, costs $56.50; temporary permittee not accompanied by a license driver over 21 years of age, $44.50, costs $56.50 Kyle Skousen Klein, Spanish Fork, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50 Michael Thomas Mattix, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50 Audrey A Rezanovich, Marsing, speeding, $33.50, costs $56.50

1790 First US President George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address

1902 New York state assemblyman Francis G. Landon gets a bill passed to criminalize men turning around on a street and “looking at a woman in that way”

CARIBOU COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS' MENU Jan 9 - Chicken & Stuffing Casserole, Broccoli, Pineapple w/ Cottage Cheese, Oatmeal Bread, Texas Sheet Cake

Fajita, Seasoned Black Beans, Fresh Veggies, Pears

Wednesday, January 14

Chicken Nuggets, Potatoes w/ Gravy, Roll, Green Beans, Mandarin Oranges

Thursday, January 15

BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Fries, Corn, Cinnamon Applesauce

ON THIS DAY

January 12 – Monday MS BBB @ Sho-Ban

January 8 – Thursday BBB @ Bear Lake

Hot Beef n Cheese, Tator Tot Casserole, Deli Bar, Chuckwagon Corn, Pears

Lunches served with Milk

January 8 – Thursday GBB/BBB @ Mackay

GRACE

Calzones w/Marinara Sauce, Deli Bar, Tossed Caesar Salad, Mixed Fruit

GRACE LUNCH MENU

BANCROFT

January 14 – Wednesday IDAN-HA Movie Caribou County Senior Dinner GBB vs Aberdeen

Wednesday, January 14 French Toast Sticks, Sausage Patty Thursday, January 15 Burrito, Tortilla Chips

NORTH GEM LUNCH MENU

Tuna/Egg Sandwich, Chicken Noodle/Tomato, Deli Bar, Roasted Squash, Peaches Parfaits

January 14 – Wednesday GBB vs Butte

January 12 – Monday Catholic Daily Mass Wrestling @ Preston

January 8, 2026

2002 US President George W. Bush signs into law the “No Child Left Behind Act”, providing financial assistance to schools exhibiting academic improvement 2013 130 wildfires across Australia’s east coast force thousands to evacuate their homes 2014 First known interstellar meteor to ever hit Earth - CNEOS 2014-01-08 crash lands in Papua New Guinea 2020 Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they are stepping back as “senior” royals, will work towards becoming financially independent 2024 Electronics brand LG unveils their Signature OLED T, the world’s first wireless TV with a transparent screen at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

1988 Hewlett-Packard introduces HP-28S Advanced Scientific Calculator

BIRTHDAYS

Darlene Meads, Jan. 1 Jerry Lakey, Jan. 2 Virginia Hamp, Jan. 3 Shari Robison, Jan. 5 Fred Peck, Jan. 13 Jessie Dunn, Jan. 13 Wade Cordell Crump, Jan. 13 Tom Matthews, Jan. 16 Starla Kingsford, Jan. 18

Gladys Greer, Jan. 18 Dee Farnsworth, Jan. 30 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

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Lott Builders & Glass

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P.O. Box 489 • Soda Springs • 208-547-2222 www.independentdrilling.com

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Your Insurance Professional in Caribou County Call me today for a free, no obligation quote.

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240 S. Main St. Soda Springs, ID 83276

• AUTO • HOME • LIFE

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January 8, 2026

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Idaho Enterprise|Caribou County

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.

2011 District Judge Mitch Brown gave oaths of office to Caribou County’s elected officials on Monday. Receiving their oaths were Commissioner Lloyd Rasmussen, Commissioner Earl Somsen, Clerk Veda Mascarenas, Treasurer Diane Crawford, Assessor Aaron Cook, and Coroner Duayne Sims. The annual Soda Springs Winter ​ Carnival will be this Saturday, Jan. 15, and several new items have been added to the old favorites for the day. Soda on Ice is promoting a disc golf tournament with benefits to go to the local Food Bank. The Ice Bowl is a first for the winter carnival. The Ice Bowl will be held at Kelly Park, which has an 18-hole course. Other events for the winter carnival include the popular fishing derby, a snowmachine fun run, and free movies, lunch, and gifts for the kids. The public is invited to attend the formal dedication and then tour the new 2000 square foot Surgery Department at Caribou Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, announced CEO John Hoopes. This will be the only time the public can see all of the various rooms including the state-of-the-art operating room, without being a patient. After the open house, the entire department will be thoroughly sanitized and made ready for patient use. Idaho ranks fourth national in percentage of population growth—21.2 percent—from April 2000 to April 2010 Census data. Idaho’s population increased 273,629 from the 2000 census to a new total of 1,567,582, ranking 40th in the nation in overall population. Idaho’s neighbor to the south, Nevada, added the most people as a percentage with a population of 2.7 million. California ranked most populated at 37,253,956, a growth of 10 percent. On Wednesday, Dec. 29, the North Gem/Grace wrestling team traveled to Firth High School to a 12-team tournament. The following kids wrestled at their respective weight classes. Jace Jense 103, Luke Brogan 103, Trey Reed 112, Ben Smith 125, Caleb Williams 125, Justin Williams 130, Brandon Matthews 135, Westyn Thompson 140, Dan McGreggor 145, Anson Christense 152, Jake Brogan 152, Camron Hunting 160, Spenser Peck 171, and Nate Gonzalez 189. Caleb, Justin, and Spenser won all of their matches to place 1st. Westyn and Trey came in 4th place, and the team ended up in 5th place. Grace improved their record to 7-3 overall and jumped out to a 5-0 conference lead with two league games last week. On Thursday, the Grizzlies defeated Raft River 67-43. Grace’s leading scorer was Chase Ackerman with 16 points. Jordan Brady had 13, and Josh Jensen ended with 11. At Hansen on Saturday, Ackerman came up with 14 points to help lead the Grizzlies to another conference win over the Huskies 68-37. Jerry Shurtleff and Darryl Jumburg, owners of the Dog House Bar and Grill, recently announced the winners of the Big Buck contest. First place was Clay Hall 65 ½ points, 2nd place was Danny Rasmussen 62 ½, and 3rd place was Babe Myers 58 ¾. 2001 Approximately 300 Idaho Army National Guardsmen and women will serve in Bosnia over the next two years, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne announced. The 1st Battalion, 183rd Aviation from Boise will send approximately 200 soldiers and 16 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to Bosnia beginning September, 2001. The 116th Cavalry Brigade, headquartered at Gowen Field, will deploy around 100 soldiers in March, 2002, returning in October of the same year. “All Idahoans can be proud of the accomplishments of the Idaho Army National Guard, whose members have proven their capabilities in both domestic and international theaters, “ Kempthorne said. Several residents have been sworn in for city positions at the last couple C Y

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The City sledding hill in Soda Springs is at Hooper Park.

of Soda Springs City Council meetings. New volunteers include Penny Stills, P&Z, Doug Hogan, P&Z, Matt Batterton, youth representative on P&Z, Aleana Shea, youth representative on the Greater Soda Springs Community Development Committee, and Maren Smith, youth representative on the Library. Camille Jensen representing Farm Credit of Preston met with Grace American Legion Post 50 Memorial Fund Committee last week to present a check in the amount of $1,000 for the Legion’s Memorial Fund. Committee members receiving the check included Chairman Junior Rasmussen, Ken Roberts, Jack Hubbard, Kent Corbett, Dar Weaver, and Roy Lloyd representing the Grace Cemetery Board. The fund was established last year to provide funds to purchase a monument in remembrance of veterans from the Grace area who lost their lives serving in WWII. At the Soda Springs School Board meeting held on Dec. 13 Trustee Charman Jim Smith presented Brad Torgesen with the gavel and sounding block in appreciation for this six years of service and dedication to the Soda Springs Jt. School District #150. Brad was elected in May of 1994 and served two terms as trustee for Zone 4. He also served as chairman of the board during the last two years of his tenure, before choosing not to seek re-election. No one ran for the vacated trustee slot and the board appointed Linda Lee to fill the term for one year until the next election. Thirkill Elementary 2nd grade report: “Our class is the best. We’ve been learning about bones. We read about the skeleton. We like to play football at recess. We like Soda Springs and school. We have been learning math. We are adding two digit numbers. We have been trying to make our AR goals for this quarter. We like Christmas vacation. Santa came to visit everyone. We like show and tell. We showed our Christmas gifts.” Alena Shea and Toni Jessica Stills were selected as state finalists in the Miss Teen Idaho National Scholarship Pageant, which rewards young ladies scholarships for their efforts in academic achievement, leadership ability, communication skills, poise and personality, and interview. Alena is the daughter of Ed and Sandra Shea and Toni Jessica Stills is the daughter of Tony and Penny Stills. Both are students at SSHS. Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Brown of Soda Springs are proud grandparents of the first New Year’s baby born in early Monday, Jan 1 at the Bannock Regional Medical Center in Pocatello to Rob and Alyson Brown of Arimo. The New Years Baby, Lyndsi Ann Brown, was born at 6:44 a.m., weighing in at eight pounds two ounces. Lyndsi has a 16-month old sister, Katelyn. Increased penalties for drivers under the age of 17 and changes to identification cards and drivers licenses will go into effect on Jan 1, the Idaho Transportation Department announced. As part of the new Graduated Drivers License program, also effective Jan 1, tougher penalties imposed on drivers under the age of 17 who were cited and convicted of moving traffic violations. Penalties include first a warning citation, followed by a thirty day suspension, and then a sixty day suspension.

1991 Bobie Leigh Dickman was Caribou Memorial Hospital’s New Year baby, born at 10:05 a.m. on Jan 4. She weighed 7 lbs 3 ozs, and is the daughter of Brenda (Bennion) and Bob Dickman of Pocatello. Brenda is a former resident of Soda Springs and her new daughter is her third child. Mother and baby are doing fine. A new fence, built by Union Pacific Railroad from Main Street to Third East in Soda Springs, has been cut to allow someone to go over it and cross the tracks. UP put the fence up to stop kids from cutting across them for obvious safety reasons. One resident reported seeing three young boys go over the cut in the fence and then two crawled under a stopped train and one went over the coupler between cars. Parents are urged to tell their children of the dangers of railroad tracks and trains and have them use the overpass or Main Street crossing. 1971 Poor visibility contributed to an accident five miles west of Seda Springs Sunday near Davisville. A tractor trailer edged too close to the right side of the road in a bad ground blizzard and careened over. The load was transferred to another trailer Monday and the outfit was righted by a larger wrecker from Pocatello Monday night. A total of 37 trucks were parked near the Trail Café Monday noon, waiting for the highway crews to open Highway 30N between Alexander and Bancroft. The trucks started piling up Monday morning and waited until about 2:30 p.m., when the road west was opened. The highway was also closed briefly Sunday, but was open to let traffic though about noon Sunday. It closed again Sunday night. The Idaho Café building, an area landmark in Soda Springs, was heavily damaged Sunday night, when fire broke out in the hood, or grease vent over the range. The fire was brought under control by the Soda Springs Fire Department by 1:30 a.m. The temperature was about 20 degrees below zero at the time of the fire, and the firemen worked under severe handicap, with clothes encased with ice from head to foot. Much of the damage was done to the kitchen by fire. Water and smoke contributed to the damage in the upper part of the building. The North Gem Cowboys put together their finest effort of the season Friday, downing Clark County 56-25 in a non-conference basketball game at Dubois. The win upped the Cowboys season record to 3-6. The Cowboys shot 43 percent from the field and outrebounded the home team 40-29. Scoring was Yost 12, Simons 9, Butterfield 18, Smith 2, Schenk 13, and Christensen 2. Snowfall through the entire state of Idaho has been well above normal for 1971, according to the snow survey report issued today by the Soil Conservation Services, National Weather Service, and the Department of Water Administration. The water supply outlook for 1971 looks excellent, and every reservoir in the Soda River Basin is above the 1953-1967 average. Snow measurements to start the 1970-71 season were reported at 36.9 inches, six inches above the average. At China Hat, the 11.1 inches represented a depth one inch below the average. Plans are nearly complete for the

third annual running of the Soda Springs 100-mile cross country snowmobile race, which will be run Jan 16. The exact route has not been finalized, but plans were being made so that the public can see the start and finish of the race, The race has been divided into classes, according to the power ratings of the machines. There will be five classes for the three man teams and an individual class, making six total. The 100 mile race will be run on Saturday and on Sunday, a WSA sanctioned Class A Rally. Special races will be held at the specially built speed track, 3. Miles north of Henry on Highway 34. The race and rally events are sponsored by the Soda Springs Sno-Drifters Club. 1961 Cutter Racers of the Rocky Mountain Cutter Racing Association will stage another series of race Saturday at the Grace airport. Earl Torgesen defeated Merrill Lloyd. Vester Olsen won from Rao Sorenson. Percy Sant won from Hy McLain, Keith Barthlome defeated Guy Maughan. Milt Bowman over Owen Jacobson. Floyd Soresen won from Ted Beus. Joe Federico won from Bruce Tanner. Udell Cahmpney defeated Seth Gregory. The flat race was won by Keith Barthlome. Figures obtained from a physical county of the Duyn and Bradstreet Reference Book for January 1961, totaled 104 manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers in the area as compared to 108 two years ago. Using the book as a guide, the past three years of figures for Grace, Soda, and Bancroft show that had 13 in 1959, 16 in 1960, and 15 in 1961. Grace had 30 in 1959, 31 in 1960, and 25 in 1961. Soda had 61 in 1959, 59 in 1960, and 57 in 1961. The hot shooting of three Grace Red Devils led to the fifth victory of the season over North Cache High School 50-37 at Richmond, Utah. Lee Johnson, LaPhene Peterson, and Lynn Winterbottom were all instrumental to the amazing victory.

IDAN-HA THEATRE -INDOOR-

Thursday, January 8 Friday, January 9 Saturday, January 10

Anaconda (PG-13)

Best friends Griff and Doug have always dreamed of remaking their alltime favorite movie “Anaconda.” When a midlife crisis pushes them to finally go for it, they assemble a crew and head deep into the jungles of the Amazon to start filming. However, life soon imitates art when a gigantic anaconda with a thirst for blood starts hunting them down.

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 6:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Saturday Matinee 2:00 p.m. (All seats $5) Wednesday, January 14 6:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

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NOTICES

January 8, 2026

#1193-01-08-26-T1

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The Idaho Enterprise - Caribou County Edition P.O. Box 331 Soda Springs, Idaho 83276 (U.S.P.S. -- 090-560) ISSN: 2997-1004 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

Bryan Dean Scott

Hope Green

brandon.h@idahoenterprise.com

bryan.s@thecityjournals.com

hope.g@idahoenterprise.com

Editor

Publisher

Phone: 208-766-4773 C Y

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Advertising

www.cariboucountynews.com

CARIBOU COUNTY OBITUARY SUBMISSION INFO The cost for a standard obituary:

$89 500 words with one color photo The cost for an ultimate obituary:

$159 501 words plus and 2 color photos * additional photos $25 each

To submit an obituary:

email: sherrie.w@thecityjournals.com Mail or drop off at the The Idaho Enterprise, P.O. Box 205, Malad Idaho 83252 100 E. 90 S., Malad, Idaho

208-766-4773

Enterprise The Idaho

Caribou County's Newspaper Since 2024

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January 8, 2026

© 2026 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 42, No. 6

One person is the hare and the other is the tortoise. Race against a family member to reach the finish line first.

Here’s a Greek fable by a man named Aesop about a race between a tortoise and a hare. It may surprise you who wins!

The hare ran so fast some of the words flew out of the story. Can you find where each word belongs?

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here once was a hare who always bragged that he was the _______ animal in the forest. “Not even the wind is as fast as me!” the hare would boast. The tortoise got ________ of such bragging.

GO!

The hare zipped off the starting line in a blur, leaving the tortoise in a puff of dust. The tortoise coughed, __________ her eyes, and took the first of her slow, steady steps. The hare was soon way ahead, far down the road. The tortoise could hardly see the hare in the distance, but she wasn’t worried.

“We all have heard you talk and talk about how fast you are, but we have never seen you ______. I’ll race you,” said tortoise.

wake up. The tortoise didn’t stop. She just kept walking her slow and steady pace. When the tortoise was nearly to the finish line, the hare woke up. Yawning and rubbing his eyes, he was shocked to see the tortoise nearing the __________ line.

As the hare rounded the bend in the road, he laughed and thought, “This is too _______! I’m going to rest. That tortoise is so slow that I’ll get up in time and still beat her to the finish line!” The hare __________ to his feet and ran as fast as he could to try catching up to her to ______ the race.

The hare laughed and laughed. “There’s no way you can beat me! I am the fastest and you are the ____________!”

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he hare and the tortoise agreed to race the next __________. They would race to a big tree down the road and around a bend. Many other animals came out to _________.

About Aesop

The hare laid down on the warm, soft grass and fell asleep! Later, when the tortoise walked right by the ____________ hare, he didn’t

B

ut by then it was much too late. The slow little tortoise ________ the finish line first. All of the forest animals cheered loudly for her!

Use the code to discover the moral of Aesop’s fable The Tortoise and the Hare.

Aesop was a storyteller. He lived about 2,500 years ago in ancient Greece. His favorite story to tell was a fable. A fable is a very short story with a moral, or a lesson to teach. Aesop’s fable The Fox and the Grapes tells about a fox who tries and tries to reach grapes on a high branch. Embarassed by being unable to jump high enough to reach them, the fox walks off angrily, saying loudly that the grapes are sour and not worth the effort anyway.

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There’s Lots of Hares in There!

How many hares can you find in two minutes? Have a friend try. Who found the most?

and

the

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TORTOISE BRAGGED FASTEST LAUGHED SLOWEST ASLEEP BOAST AESOP MORAL FABLE HARE BEND BEAT RACE WINS

Look at a photo in the newspaper. Can you make the pose of the person in the photo? How long can you hold the pose? Standards Link: Value physical activity for enjoyment and health.

Find the words by looking up, down, backwards, forwards, sideways and diagonally.

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Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

Tortoise or Hare Are you more like a tortoise or a hare? Why?

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Idaho Enterprise|Caribou County

January 8, 2026

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

Fish and Game Corner BY CONNOR LIESS, IDFG

Why you should buy your 2026 hunting/fishing license now, not later A lot of sportsmen see the cold, bitter months of January and February as the so-called “off-season.” It’s easy to see why — you step foot outside and instantly need a defroster for your lungs. But with a little bit of mental preparation, the right gear, and (most importantly) an up-to-date hunting and/or fishing license, you can take advantage of every day the calendar gives you and beat that cabin fever, with nearly a dozen hook-and-bullet opportunities around the state. It’s quick, painless, and above all else gives you peace of mind that all is squared away when your favorite season later in the year sneaks up on you. Here, in no particular order, are eight reasons to buy your 2026 licenses and ensure a full year of hunting and fishing. Fancy up those winter meals with small game Whether or not you’re still recovering from a long, fall big game hunt, going after small game with a .22 long rifle or shotgun is an excellent way to stay active and fill your freezer or saucepot with some tasty mountain critter morsels. Getting that 2026 hunting license allows you to keep targeting red (pine) squirrels, cottontail rabbits, and snowshoe hares all the way through March 31. The best part? It doesn’t require long packouts, is relatively inexpensive, and keeps those legs limber for when spring rolls around.

Up your upland game late into the season If squirrels or hares don’t excite you, there’s still plenty of time and reason to go after some of Idaho’s upland birds, specifically chukar, gray (Hungarian) partridge, California quail, and (in some places) forest grouse. If your dogs are itching to get out into the foothills and flush some birds this winter, you, your shotgun, and your 2026 hunting license can expect little traffic and potentially good success. Just be mindful of where you’re hunting. This time of year is critical big game wintering time, and many of the same lowland places you might drum up upland birds are also the wintering grounds of deer and elk. Give those animals a wide berth so they aren’t expending precious calories getting away from you. Ice fishing No matter where you live in the state, chances are good you’re no more than a quick car ride from a prime ice fishing destination. Ice fishing can be a hoot — whether solo, with friends, with kids, or all of the above. At this point in the year, many of Idaho’s ice fisheries have been hardening up from long periods of cold temperatures. Those cold temps can definitely deter some folks from walking out onto a frozen lake and drilling a hole to fish through. But with the right gear and relatively inexpensive equipment, you can be taking part in one of the most leisurely activities of the entire year. Before you load up the station wagon with family and fishing gear, be sure to check your destination’s ice fishing conditions.

SSHS competes at BPA Regional Leadership Conference The Soda Springs Chapter of Business Professionals of America competed very well at the annual Regional Leadership Conference in December. Soda sent 22 students to compete in events ranging from Small Business Management Team and Fundamental Accounting to Database Applications and Interview Skills. The following students placed high enough in their events to move on to the State Competition March 1-4. Individual Awards Bridger Dilworth: Administrative Support Concepts, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing and Human Resource Concepts. Gimhana Somasiri: Digital Communications & Design Concepts, Advanced Interview Skills, Extemporaneous Speech, Digital Marketing Concepts. James Birch: Financial Math & Analysis Concepts Jaydie Brown: Fundamental Accounting, Computer Programming Concepts, Parliamentary Procedure Concepts, Medical Coding. Kale

Hopkins: Database Applications Lane Harris: Advanced Office Systems and Procedures, Digital Marketing Concepts Macie Hansen: Parliamentary Procedure Concepts. Noah Hansen: Fundamental Accounting, Personal Financial Management, Financial Math & Analysis Concepts. Paetyn Hopkins: Advanced Word Processing. Stealie Hopkins: Fundamental Desktop Publishing. William Birch: Intermediate Word Processing, Python Programming.

Team Awards Andi Carpenter & Paetyn Hopkins: Presentation Team. Penny Fullmer & Maci Hansen: Small Business Management Team. Kale Hopkins, Maddi Kempi, Tara Vedder, & Ellie Wood: Administrative Support Team. Jayden Parker, & Taylee Tingey: Visual Design Team Mattysen Hopkins and Mylez Ozburn will also be attending State on their Torch Award participation points.

Pictured from Left: Back Row: Brayden Brannam, Gimhana Somasiri, Taylee Tingey, Jayden Parker, Jaydie Brown, Maddi Kempe, Tara Vedder, Ellie Wood, Kale Hopkins Middle Row: Noah Hansen, Stealie Hopkins, Mattysen Hopkins, Maci Hansen Front Row: James Birch, William Birch, Ruth Allen, Bridger Dilworth, Lane Harris, Mylez Ozburn, Andi Carpenter, Paetyn Hopkins, Penny Fullmer C Y

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Steelhead fans rejoice Idaho’s spring steelhead season kicked off Jan. 1 — and no, we’re not talking about hockey. If you’re into standing on (or in) a frigid riverbank during winter in hopes of landing one of the most sought-after fish in the state, you’re in luck. It’s also a good time to row a driftboat because rowing keeps you warmer than a boat heater. Steelhead fishing is a fun and challenging way to keep your angling prowess sharpened when the mercury plummets. Be sure to check out the current steelhead fishing rules and regulations before you go out. The waterfowl season’s only at halftime You don’t need to have a big, extravagant holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas on the horizon to goad you into goose or duck hunting. In fact, Idaho’s waterfowl season is merely half over (or half beginning, depending on how you look at it). Most duck and Canada goose seasons are open during at least part of January, while white-fronted geese run into February, and as late as March for light geese in parts of the state. See the migratory game bird hunting seasons and rules booklet, as closure dates vary depending on species and location. Don’t rule out winter stream fishing Sure, the passerby and maybe even fellow anglers might look at you crazy for standing out on a river, risking frostbite, just to catch a few rainbow trout and whitefish. But truth is, winter can be an amazing time to hook fish and observe some incredible natural scenery on quiet waters. Winter is when many fly anglers sneak out to popular rivers to catch fish in the same stretches of water that are filled with anglers during peak season. They know the fish are still there and willing to take a fly (or lure if you’re not a fly angler)

and have a whole stretch of the river to yourself. Burbot. That’s right. Burbot. What’s a burbot, you might ask? It might not be the coverfish of Field and Stream magazine, but the experience and prized table fare make burbot the Kootenai River’s beloved celebrity. There’s a whole history to these deep-water creatures, but the burbot are not your average sportfish. When you hit up your buddy to fish the Kootenai River in mid-winter, you might get a resounding “no” before you can even put a period on your sentence. But the moment you tell them there’s a freshwater member of the cod family that tastes like lobster living down there, get ready for their tune to change. Hunting predators Mountain lion and wolf hunting seasons are open during winter depending on location. Be sure to check out the big game hunting seasons and rules before heading out. Many hunters also enjoy the challenges of predator hunting during winter, and coyote pelts are in prime condition. Get it all (almost) with a Sportsman’s Package If you’re someone that likes to have their bases covered, then the resident Sportsman’s Package option is the way to go. At only $124.25 for Price Locked buyers — or $144.60 if you’re not — you get nearly all the hunting and fishing opportunities Idaho has to offer on one consolidated ticket. The Sportsman’s Package includes a resident adult hunting and fishing license, plus tags for deer and elk (receipts are issued this early in the year and can be redeemed for tags later this summer), bear, mountain lion, wolf, turkey, salmon, and steelhead. Archery and muzzleloader are validated on the license. (You still need a migratory bird permit and federal waterfowl stamp for those species).

Sports Cowboys/Cardinals Compete In Traeden McPherson Memorial BY JODY REEVES

Wrestlers from both North Gem and Soda Springs took part in the Traeden McPherson Memorial Tournament in Bear Lake last weekend. Even though the tournament was smaller than some years there was still plenty of competition for our local wrestlers. In the team scoring for the boys North Gem and Soda Springs finished at the bottom of the list but several wrestlers did earn team points by winning individual matches. Once again the Cowboys had just three wrestlers compete in the tournament. Landon Hayes (132 lbs) and Jaxyn Welker (144 lbs) each failed to earn a win in this tournament. Although Welker did have a pair of very competitive matches before being eliminated. The Cowboys final wrestler Haydn Frandsen (175 lbs) won his first match over a wrestler from Preston but then dropped his next two matches and just missed out on placing. The Cardinals had mixed results as well. Jace Garbett (138 lbs) went two and out against a pair of very tough opponents. Beau Jensen (120 lbs), Simon Krupp (126 lbs) and Kage Johnson (144 lbs) were each able to secure a single win before being eliminated from contention. Troy Krupp (165 lbs) managed to win his first two matches in convincing fashion then dropped his next two just missing out on placing. The Cardi-

nals final wrestler was Carson Cook (215 lbs). Cook took care of business in his first two matches then in the semi finals he lost a very competitive match sending him to the consolation bracket. There Cook won his first match putting him in his final match where he would wrestle for third place. Cook was unable to secure a win in that match and finished the tournament in fourth place. The Lady Cardinals were also in attendance at this tournament. With far fewer girls teams involved, there were very few girls entered overall. That being said, Soda Springs did finish third out of seven as a team. Individually each Lady Cardinal that wrestled placed. Addika Oliver (115 lbs) was in one of the more competitive brackets and was able to pick up one win and place fourth overall. Mialexys Gonzales (135 lbs) finished with one win as well but with fewer girls was able to jump up a spot and finish in third place. Kaylin Richard (120 lbs) and Laryah Dilworth (130 lbs) likewise were each able to pick up a win but again due to fewer girls in their brackets they were each able to finish in second place. Brooklyn Dodge (140 lbs) had a little tougher road in her bracket. Dodge won her first match then lost her second match but was able to comeback in her third match to win and place second overall earning the most team points for the Lady Cardinals. C Y

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Idaho Enterprise|Caribou County

January 8, 2026

Sports

The Cowboys prepare to snap the ball with Haydn Frandsen out front in his unique center stance

Standout Freshman Clay Johnson looks to gain yards against the Rockland defense

SPORTS PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: NORTH GEM FOOTBALL BY JODY REEVES

After offering up eight high quality sports performances of the year the votes have been tallied and the results are in. The Sports Performance of 2025 goes to the North Gem Cowboys football team for their win over Rockland in the season finale. This game was an offensive showcase that featured the Rockland aerial attack against the Cowboys power run game. There was plenty of drama and excitement with playoff implications as well as a record breaking performance by one Cowboy. This was the last regular season game for each team. A Rockland win would put the Bulldogs in the playoffs. A Cowboys win would have to be a large enough margin of victory to cover the three way tie breaker with Rockland and Challis for North Gem to qualify for the playoffs. This was a tall order considering that the Cowboys had not beaten the Bulldogs in three years. Though there were plenty of Cowboys that took part in this game the two leaders on the team were a pair of seniors. Craig Yost and Haydn Frandsen were multi year starters for the Cowboys potentially playing in

the final game of their careers. Frandsen has made a name for himself as a tough hard nosed player and one could argue that he was the key to the Cowboys run game success. His play at the center position with his unique stance and explosiveness off the ball was crucial to Yost’s running success. Yost meanwhile had been racking up yards for the Cowboys since his freshman year. Now in his final home game as a Cowboy he was on the cusp of breaking the schools all time rushing record. By games end Yost did end up breaking that rushing record that by the way, was previously held by his father Date Yost. The game itself was full of big plays with an incredible amount of scoring that included a third quarter where sixty points were added to the scoreboard. Yes you read that right. In the third quarter alone each team scored thirty points. In the end the Cowboys came away victorious by the score of 7872. The victory was bittersweet. Yes, the Cowboys had beaten their district rivals and eliminated them from the playoffs, but they did not win by a wide enough margin to earn a playoff spot themselves. In the end the only spoils the victors would relish would

be pride and bragging rights. It goes without saying that if you are a fan of defense this may not have been your cup of tea. However the offensive stats put up are something that may never be replicated. Between the two teams a total of 1347 all purpose yards were gained. The Bulldogs aerial attack accounted for 438 passing yards with 153 on the ground. The Cowboys power run game tallied up 527 rushing yards with Yost claiming 318 of those yards for himself. North Gem added 0 passing yards. That’s

right the Cowboys were so committed to the run game that they recorded zero pass attempts in the game. Each team scored ten touchdowns with the difference in the score coming from two point conversions where the Cowboys had three more successful attempts than the Bulldogs. On a sunny Friday afternoon in late October the Cowboys put on a show that will live on for years to come in North Gem lore. Congrats to the North Gem Cowboys on a well deserved sports performance of the year.

Craig Yost sprints past the dismayed Rockland sideline during one of his big gains

Lady Cardinals Struggle In Second Half

The Cowboy’s sideline celebrates one of their many touchdowns of the day

BY JODY REEVES

Cardinals Crush Salmon BY JODY REEVES

The Soda Springs boys basketball team were back in action last Saturday in a road game at Salmon. The Cardinals were heavily favored in this game and it would play out that way on the court. After a somewhat slow start the Cardinals hit their stride midway through the first quarter and jumped out to a ten point lead. That lead was cut to eight points in the closing seconds of the first quarter when the Savages hit a pair of foul shots but Soda Springs was clearly in control heading into the second period of play. In the second period the Cardinals put together one of the best quarters of ball that I have seen in a while. They played fast and clean. They put on an incredible display of teamwork with great ball movement that included some very impressive assists. The second period is where the Cardinals put some distance between themselves and the Savages. Soda Springs outscored Salmon by eighteen points in the quarter taking a twenty- six point lead into halftime. Just a few minutes into the third quarter the Cardinals had already met the thirty point mercy rule threshold as C Y

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they continued to extend their lead. After adding ten more points to their overall lead, Cardinal’s coach Tom Fuechsel had seen enough from his starting core. With the fourth quarter starting with a running clock Coach Fuechsel emptied the bench allowing the backups to play the entire fourth quarter. Granted, they were up against an inferior team, but the Cardinals looked very impressive in this game. Five different players hit double digits in scoring including Jaxon Horsley who got the start in this one. If the Cardinals can keep up the balanced scoring attack it will be very difficult for many teams to be able to defend them. If you haven’t taken the opportunity to see them in person yet you have three chances to watch them at home this week. On Tuesday they play American Falls, followed by hosting West Side on Thursday, then wrap up the week by hosting this same Salmon team on Saturday. Cardinals Savages

18 10

27 25 9 15

8 12

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C. Thompson 18, G. Hansen 18, K. McWilliams 10, P. Ozburn 10, J. Horsley 12, L. Mellor 4, L. Martinsen 2, K. Peterson 2, K. Harrison 2

The Lady Cardinals kicked off the new year with a road game at Marsh Valley taking on a very good Lady Eagles team. This was a tough first game back following the holiday break. The Lady Eagles came into the contest sporting an 11-1 record with their only loss coming in overtime to Preston. The Lady Cardinals on the other hand have had their fair share of ups and downs this season and would still be without one of their leading scorers Anna Davis who has been temporarily sidelined with an injury. Despite the odds being against them for this matchup the Lady Cardinals did have some good moments in this game. As the game got underway it appeared that the two teams had very similar playing styles. Both teams were very active on defense while applying a full court press. As one would assume this resulted in several turnovers by each team. Unfortunately for Soda Springs the Lady Eagles were able to break their press enough times to grab an early lead. As the first quarter came to a close the Lady Cardinals had only managed to make a pair of baskets and trailed by five points. In the second quarter the Lady Cardinals showed some signs of life as they were able to quickly erase the deficit and actually take a one point lead. However, that lead did not last long. The Lady Eagles once again took control

of the game and began to start pulling away. Some good shooting from Courtnee Gronning which included a last second three pointer brought the Lady Cardinals back into the game once again at the end of the first half. Going into the break Soda Springs now only trailed by a single point. Unfortunately that was as close as the Lady Cardinals would get. In the third quarter the Lady Cardinals only added two points to the board while Marsh Valley scored twelve. Soda Springs would only do slightly better in the fourth quarter where they were outscored once again twelve to six. Only three girls scored for Soda Springs in this game. Not only were they limited on the number of scorers but Soda Springs struggled to even get shots off. In other words you can’t score if you don’t shoot. This is something that I suspect the Lady Cardinals will address and remedy prior to their two tough match ups this week. The Lady Cardinals will travel to Grace on Wednesday for a rematch of a very entertaining game from earlier this season. Soda Springs lost that first match up but I could see Wednesday’s game going either way. Following the tough county rivalry game the Lady Cardinals will host a very good Malad team on Friday. Cardinals Eagles

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Idaho Enterprise|Caribou County

Sports

Kamryn Mansfield looks to advance the ball in Saturday’s home win over Aberdeen.

January 8, 2026

Junior guard Keathen Edwards drives to the basket against the aggresive Tiger defense.

Grizzlies Defeat Tigers In Double Header Last Saturday the Grace boys and girls basketball teams hosted a double header against the Aberdeen Tigers. This was the second meeting for both squads this season. In both cases Grace came away with sizable victories when the teams played in December. This time around things did not go as smoothly for the Grizzly teams. The girls took the court first. In their first meeting the Lady Grizzlies took control of the game early on and strolled to a nineteen point victory. This time around the Lady Grizzlies got off to a slow start. The Lady Tigers started the game with more energy and quickly took the lead. The Lady Grizzlies after struggling early on began to claw their way back into the game but still trailed at the end of the first. In the second quarter of play the momentum shifted to the Lady

Grizzlies and they were finally able to shake off the holiday cobwebs. Grace used balanced scoring and solid defense to take over the game. Behind eighteen second quarter points from six different girls the Lady Grizzlies took the lead which they kept for the remainder of the game. The big second quarter was the turning point and Grace pulled away in the second half cruising to the victory and the season sweep over the Lady Tigers. Now it was the boys turn to take center stage. In their first meeting the Grizzlies barely broke a sweat as they blew out the Tigers winning by over fifty points. Like the girls game the boys game would go very differently this time around. As the game got underway the Grizzlies struggled to make any shots. Meanwhile the Tigers played fast and caught fire from

outside hitting four three point shots in the first quarter. After holding the Tigers to just eighteen points in their first meeting the Grizzlies watched Aberdeen tally twenty-two points in just the first quarter. Grace was able to make some foul shots to narrow the margin but trailed by double digits at the end of the opening quarter of play. In the second quarter the Grizzlies finally found their footing and flipped the script on the Tigers. Six different Grizzlies would score in the quarter but once again it was the senior Parker Yost who scored twelve of the team’s twenty-five second quarter points who vaulted the Grizzlies to a three point halftime lead. The Grizzlies poured it on in the second half as they pulled away for a twenty-three point win. Both the boys and girls teams have busy weeks this week. The Lady

Grizzlies host Soda Springs in a cross county rivalry game on Wednesday, then host Rich County on Friday before finishing the week at home with Murtaugh on Saturday. The Grizzly men will travel to Bear Lake on Thursday, then host Rich County on Friday and finish their week with Liberty Charter at home on Saturday.

Lady Grizzlies 8 Lady Tigers 9

18 12 7 6

10 7

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K. Stoddard 11, K. Mansfield 4, A. Rasmussen 4, P. Steadman 8, C. Yost 8, A. Cooper 2, T. Jorgensen 9 Grizzlies Tigers

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16 5

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K. Kimball 6, C. Barthlome 2, K. Edwards 9, G. Draper 7, C. Mecham 2, B. Andersen 4, C. Smith 9, P. Yost 33

Grizzlies/Cardinals Compete In Rollie Lane Invitational The Rollie Lane Invitational is one of the premier high school wrestling tournaments in the state of Idaho. It took place last weekend at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. This year’s tournament included over ninety teams from several western states. With most brackets filled with up to sixty-four participants from all sizes of high schools coming away with just a single win is impressive let alone earning a spot on the podium. A few of our local wrestlers were skilled enough to earn a win with a couple coming away with podium appearances. While the rest may not have secured a win but did earn some valuable experience. In the boys bracket those that fell into that category of having to settle for a good learning experience and no wins were Ryker Hemmert (Soda 138 lbs), Gabe Wiegman (Grace 132 lbs), Tate Stoddard (Grace 144 lbs), Douglas Robbins (Grace 150 lbs), and Jackson Junker (Grace 165lbs). Picking up a single win before being eliminated was Grace’s Jayden Lunt (126 lbs). Also picking up a pair of wins before suffering elimination was Soda Springs JT Cutler (126 lbs). The Lady Grizzlies also had four girls compete in the tournament. Adeline Clark (100 lbs) fell into that same category of no wins but some great experience that many others found themselves in. Hayden Ball (115 lbs) was able to secure two wins in her bracket before falling to elimination. Bella Eddins (125 lbs) and Skyla Cloud (140 lbs) each had longer tournaments than their teammates. Eddins won her first match

then lost her second sending her to the consolation bracket. In the consolation bracket Eddins went on to win her next four matches including one by sudden victory before finally getting eliminated in round six. Cloud picked up two wins before she lost and was sent to the consolation bracket. Cloud then picked up a pair of quick pins before she too was eliminated in the sixth round. The last two wrestlers we want to mention have been some of the best wrestlers in the county over their high school careers. Now both in their senior year of competition both wrestlers entered last weekend with unblemished season records. We are of course speaking about Grace’s Carter Kimball (132 lbs) and Soda Springs Elijah Dilworth (190 lbs). A season ago both young men were primed to win state titles. It would have been Kimball’s third and Dilworth’s first but both of their seasons would end short of that goal. Kimball suffered an injury in the district tournament that kept him from even making it to the state tournament. Dilworth on the other hand had everything going his way right up until the championship match which many had him picked to win. Unfortunately he came up a little short and had to settle for second place. This season both wrestlers are right back on track to compete for a state championship. Some wins at last weekend’s tournament would definitely bolster their standings in the state. As mentioned both boys entered the weekend undefeated on the season so it was no surprise to find them in the thick of things fighting

Soda Springs Joint School District #150 250 E 2nd S Soda Springs, ID 83276 Phone: (208) 547-3371 Fax: (208) 547-4878 SSHS: (208)547-4308 Tigert: (208) 547-4922 Thirkill: (208) 547-4426 C Y

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Grace’s Carter Kimball takes his place on the podium with his fifth place finish at the Rollie Lane Invitational. (Photo Credit Jessie Kimball)

for a podium spot. Kimball earned a first round bye then picked up three straight wins by decision earning himself an appearance in the semi finals. Unfortunately, Kimball lost that semi final match to a wrestler from Hermiston, Oregon sending him tumbling to the consolation bracket. In his next match Kimball suffered his second loss of the season going down to a competitor from Gonzaga Prep. This left Kimball fighting for fifth place in his final match. Kimball wound up being awarded the victory due to medical forfeit and he was able to claim a spot on the podium proving he is among the top wrestlers in the region. Dilworth’s path was perhaps even more impressive. Dilworth also earned a first round bye. He then decimated his next three opponents

Grace School District #148 605 South 4th West PO Box 347 Grace, ID 83241 Phone/Black Canyon: (208) 425-3984 Grace HS (208) 425-3809 Fax: (208) 425-3809

winning two matches by technical fall and one by major decision. This put Dilworth in the semi final match facing Brock Armstrong from Coeur D’ Alene. Like Dilworth, Armstrong entered the match undefeated on the season. These are exactly the type of matches you want at this high caliber tournament. The match went the full distance but as time ran out Dilworth was on the short side of the points. Armstrong would go on to win the championship. The loss sent Dilworth to the consolation semi final. He won that match in a close decision making his final match of the tournament the third place match. In another hard fought match Dilworth won the close bout over his opponent from Gonzaga Prep claiming third place and cementing himself as one of the top wrestlers in the northwest.

North Gem School District #149 360 South Main St. Bancroft, Idaho 83217 Ph. (208) 648-7848 Fax. (208) 648-7895

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