Enterprise
Caribou County
The Idaho
Caribou County's Newspaper Since 2024
Caribou County, Idaho
May 14, 2026 | Vol. 3 No. 20
$1.50
NEWS IN BRIEF
Passengers leave cruise ship
America 250 is a national celebration which is taking place throughout the year in towns across the country. Soda Springs held two events last Thursday, but there are plenty more planned, including the Fair and Independence Day.
America 250 celebrations kick off! The celebration of The United States of America’s 250th year has been underway since late last year, really, as the push to make the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 began to pick up steam. Julie Ellsworth, Idaho’s current State Treasurer (since 2019) and former GOP Representative has been the biggest promoter statewide of the America 250 cause. She is responsible for the appearance of the Revolutionary mascot “Spuddy Buddies” at a number of events around the state in the runup to the July 4th full national observance of the milestone. While Ellsworth herself could not be in town last week to celebrate, her
ambassadors were. The Community Schools director Bonnie Speas was the principle organizer of an A250 celebration at Thirkill Elementary School on Thursday morning, and was then joined by the City of Soda Springs, state and county representatives, music students from SSHS and Tigert, Til Then Boutique, local veterans, and members of the public at an event later in the day at Soda Springs City Park. The morning event at Thirkill gave Soda Springs students a chance to learn about the story of the founding from representatives of their state and local governments. Mayor Paul Gritton, Rep. Mike Veile and Senator Mark Harris joined Thirkill’s Brock
Apologies for the sun - local veterans were central participants in Thursday's A250 events.
Election next Tuesday After a quick spring campaign season (your mileage may vary with regard to the relative quickness, of course), the 2026 primary election will take place next Tuesday, May 19, with polling locations open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Soda Springs Precincts 1-4 will vote at the Tigert Middle School Gym at 250 E 3rd S. Grace Precincts will vote at the Caribou County Event Center at 117 W 1st N in Grace. Bancroft voters will report to the Lions Club building at 165 S. Main. Wayan and Freedom are Mail Out precincts, and ballots must be returned to the courthouse by 8:00 p.m. on the 19th. Absentee ballots have the same deadline. The sample ballots included in the paper may not look exactly the same as ballots for all voters, as there are a number of variations depending on party and location, which affect additional voting for the Precinct Committee positions. The precinct committeemen across the county are James McCulloch, Sharon Meals, Jackie Barthome, Lori Ann Lau, Hannah Beer, Colleen Price, Eric Hobson, Georganne Benson, Paige Messerly, and Nancy Smith. Candidates for national, state legislative, and gubernatorial primary
races can be found on ballots in such cases as there are primary candidates for the requested party (or unaffiliated) on the relevant ballot. There are not candidates for primaries for all positions from all parties, in other words. Republican primary voters will find ballot choices for both County Commission seats up for election on their ballot. The districts represent different geographic areas in the county, but county residents vote on all commissioner races in the primary, in order to determine the candidates for
Andreason and Bonnie Speas, and Tigert’s Debbie Hansen for a musical and patriotic morning. The morning started with a flag ceremony conducted by local veterans, the recitation of the pledge, and the singing of the anthem by a gym full of kids. Members of the Soda Springs High School and Tigert Middle School Band and Orchestra under the direction of Debbie Hansen performed for the crowd, as did veteran David Torgesen. Members of the SSHS drama department introduced the visiting “Spuddy Buddies” and explained their historical counterparts. Harris, Veile, and Gritton then spoke individually about their thoughts on America and what has been responsible for its success. Afterwards, large rolled sheets of “signer paper” were taken around to the classrooms so that local kids could sign their names to the Declarations that will be hung from the Capitol rotunda. Later in the day, activities moved downtown. The courthouse was the scene for a raising of the flag in honor of the celebration, again featuring local veterans. A250 On Page 14
the general election. In District 1, the race is contested by George Hulse, Tracy Davis, and Marty McCullough. In District 2, Bryce Somsen is running unopposed. Voters will choose a candidate from both districts, regardless of where they live in the county. There are a number of statewide and legislative races on most ballots, with a large number of candidates for Governor, and US Representative and Senator positions. For District 35 state representation, the contested primary race is between Rep. Mike Veile and former Rep Chad Christensen on the Republican side. The District 6 Judicial election between Judge Cody Brower and Judge Aaron Thompson is unaffiliated, and serves as the general election contest, as judges are nonpartisan. Questions about the election can be directed to the County Clerk’s office, at (208) 547-4324. A Location and Accuracy Test was conducted recently by the Clerk’s office, and it was determined that the voting equipment and procedures were in good, working order. It goes without saying, but exercising your right to vote is a critical part of keeping an open and transparent democracy both of those things – so please make your voice heard!
IN THIS EDITION Ledger Creek Trails..............................Pg. 2 Cleanup Days.......................................Pg. 3 Obituary................................................Pg. 3
Sample Ballots....................................Pg. 9 Seniors....................................... Pgs. 11-13 Sports.........................................Pgs. 15-16
Recent reports on a hantavirus outbreak linked to the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius relay that the ship arrived in Tenerife, Spain, after several passengers became ill during a voyage in the South Atlantic. At least three passengers have died, and additional infections are confirmed or suspected. Health officials believe the outbreak may involve the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare type that can spread between people in limited cases. Most hantaviruses are normally transmitted through exposure to infected rodents or their waste. Passengers and crew from several countries are being evacuated, tested, and monitored. Some are quarantining in medical facilities, while others are isolating at home under guidance from health authorities. Governments and public health agencies are coordinating international response efforts. Officials say the overall risk to the general public remains low and note that hantavirus is much less contagious than illnesses such as COVID-19. However, the disease’s long incubation period makes contact tracing and monitoring more difficult. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine where the original exposure occurred, possibly during the ship’s South American itinerary.
Data Center Protest goes national
The controversy surrounding the proposed “Stratos Project” data center in Box Elder County centers on concerns about its environmental impact, energy use, and the approval process. Backed by investor Kevin O'Leary and supported by Utah officials, the project would cover about 40,000 acres and could eventually consume more electricity than the state currently uses. Supporters argue the project could bring jobs, economic development, and strengthen U.S. AI and national security infrastructure. Utah Governor Spencer Cox and local commissioners have said the state can manage the project responsibly through environmental oversight and phased approvals. Opponents, including many local residents and environmental groups, worry about water consumption, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and possible effects on the Great Salt Lake. Critics have also questioned tax incentives and alleged a lack of transparency in the approval process. Public meetings drew large protests, and thousands of formal objections were filed over related water-rights requests. The data center would be located within a short drive of southern Idaho, most specifically Oneida county.
Governor’s primary heats up
In the Republican primary race for governor in Idaho several challengers are attempting to unseat incumbent Governor Brad Little ahead of the May 19 election. While Little remains the leading candidate, backed by strong fundraising and an endorsement from Donald Trump, his opponents are campaigning on a variety of conservative and anti-establishment themes. The challengers include Mark Fitzpatrick, a bar owner known for controversial cultural campaigns, as well as other lesser-known contenders such as county officials and political newcomers. Their priorities include reducing government spending, increasing transparency, tightening immigration enforcement, expanding school choice, and shifting more control to local communities. Some GOP analysts say that Little has moved politically to the right since 2018 when he became governor, which may have weakened the emergence of a single high-profile conservative challenger.