Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
June 27, 2024 |Vol. 144 No. 25
Lamona and Ralph Bennett named the Grand Marshals of this year’s 4th of July Parade
Musical is one word that has been used to describe the Bennetts, and it’s no surprise. Over the last four decades, the couple has been heavily involved in Malad’s music scene from the ground up. In addition to their decades of work with the school district, the Bennetts have also taught thousands of private lessons, played at countless church services, led the Community Chorus, and been instrumental, if you’ll pardon the pun, in the growth and development of generations of local aspiring musicians. The City Council recognized their contributions to the community by naming them the Grand Marshals of this year’s Fourth of July parade. Lamona was born in Logan, but raised in Michigan and New York. With a great grandparent from Malad (a Jones, of course), she eventually looked westward and went to Utah State to go to school. She met Ralph in the band where they both played the French horn. “Yeah, she played French horn three chairs above me in the band. And then when we got married our teacher put her on first and me on last—I got told right up front,” Ralph says as the couple laughs. The French horn is famously hard to play, but the fact that both of them pursued it speaks to their tenacity. They had been married for a year when the school in Malad called USU and asked if there was anyone close to getting their de-
gree because the music teacher in Malad had left six weeks into the school year. Ralph had just started his senior Ralph and Lamona Bennett are this year’s Grand year, so he took the in- Marshals. terview for the position. “I said I’d give them a ficers, two nurses, and a “full gamcouple years, but that was…fifty ut” of other roles. Teddy has reyears ago?” cently moved back to town to teach Ralph himself grew up in Tremonat the middle school. ton area, and had a naturally comRalph retired as the band and choir petitive take on Malad. Beyond (“and guitar and driver’s ed and that, the couple had a lot going on whatever else they needed”) teacher at the time they first moved to town. in Malad in 2016 after 43 years at “It was a rough first year, because the schools. Lamona was his aid for he was trying to finish his degree the last fifteen years of his tenure. and teach. And we had a little baby Lamona’s name comes from her at the time,” Lamona says. Nonefather, who named her after King theless, as time moved on and the Lamoni in the Book of Mormon. two became part of the town, their He ran a church welfare farm in feelings toward it changed. EvenMichigan before receiving a job tually, the Bennetts ended up with offer at Cornell University at a retwelve children, all of whom were search farm which took the family raised in Malad and graduated from to Trumansburg, north of Ithaca, Malad High School. where she graduated high school. One thing the Bennetts are known The town was around the same size for in Malad is their commitment as Malad, and about 60 miles from to bringing music to the valley, and Palmyra where her family particithat started at home. In the Bennet pated in the Hill Cumorah pageant house “there was no choice—you for many years. were in band, you were in choir, Traditions have always been imyou were in swing choir, you were portant to both of them, and Malad in pep band. Even if you were in has given them its share. sports, you were in something musi“For forty-three years, Ralph and cal, that was life,” Ralph says. I were IN the parade with the band Of the Bennett’s twelve children, on the float. And of course, a lot none of them has followed in the music teacher path, but there are a GRAND MARSHALS On Page 10 number of teachers, three police of-
Fay and Steve Cottle are this year’s Honored Pioneers Although Fay initially remembers responding to her selection as one of this year’s Honored Pioneers for the 4th of July parade with the thought “well wait a minute, that’s for old people,” she and her husband Steve have graciously decided to accept the award any way, despite their tender years. Someone, after all, has to set an example for the other young folks who may follow along in their trail. Beyond being active and vital members of the community at large, the Cottles have also been deeply involved in the preservation of the Malad Valley’s history in a variety of ways, from working to establish the Pioneer Museum in its current form, to initiating an accurate map of the Malad City Cemetery and its graves. This year’s pioneers are truly part of making Oneida County what it is today and preserving what it has been over time. “Well, I was born and raised here in the county—I was born in Holbrook. Steve was raised in Cache Valley, although he was born in Stone,” Fay says. Steve nods. “The old home is still standing, though it isn’t used for a home any more. It was a nice home in its day. My dad always had a nice garden. We had a good well, and
travelers going by would always stop to get a good drink form our well.” As would have been the case in a small area, their fathers knew each other before the two were born. Fay comes from a family with eleven kids. She is the eleventh. “I always tell people that’s why I don’t have an “E” on the end of my name— my parents ran out of Fay and Steve Cottle are this year’s honored letters.” Steve is seventh out of pioneers. eight kids. “Our being The home was purchased in 1940 the end of big families by Fay’s parents, and it was built meant that we had lots of nieces and in 1920. The two of them live in nephews. In fact, when we got marthe house and its seven bedrooms. ried, it just so happened that both “We’re comfortable there, us and Fay and I had 40 nieces and nephour dog,” Fay says. Lacy spends her ews each.” days looking out the window at the “I used to try and keep track of all town going about its day from the the babies but it finally just got overnice, central location in the middle whelming,” Fay says. of town. Steve tells a story about a time he Steve graduated from North Cache was writing out a check for gas in High, and Fay graduated from Malad Hyde Park over in Logan. As he High School. At that time, she went handed the check over to the cashier, through from kindergarten to gradhe asked whether they would like to uation with mostly the same group see some ID. The cashier said, “No, I think you’re okay, Uncle Steve.” The couple lives right on Bannock PIONEERS Street in the home Fay grew up in. On Page 11
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE Welsh Festival.....................................Pg. 2 Independence Day Events Calendar...Pg. 3 New Old Outhouse Downtown............Pg. 4
Looking Back.......................................Pg. 7 Community Events Calendar...............Pg. 9 Summer Sports.................................Pg. 12
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NEWS IN BRIEF
First Presidential debate on Thursday
The first of two officially scheduled presidential debates for the 2024 election is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m. local time. The debate is being broadcast on the range of networks owned by CNN (CNN, CNN International, CNN en Espanol, and Max), but will be viewable on CNN.com for anyone without a cable TV subscription. The event is likely to draw a large viewership despite the relative low level of enthusiasm polls have found for the candidates during this election cycle so far. Viewers are predicted to be drawn to the debate to evaluate the mental acuity and temperament of the candidates, which have been the major attack issues on both sides of the aisle, with the Trump campaign long casting Biden as mentally declining, and many recent spokespeople on the Biden side returning the favor after increased recent appearances by former president Trump. The debate will feature a change from last time, which is that candidate mics will be muted during the other person’s time. A second debate will be held in September.
Gas prices decline, but for how long?
For Idaho drivers, it’s been another week of savings at the pump, but prices may change direction soon. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $3.55, which is three cents less than a week ago, 23 cents less than a month ago, and 43 cents less than a year ago. Meanwhile, the national average held steady at $3.45 per gallon this week, which is 16 cents less than a month ago and 13 cents less than a year ago. Idaho remains in 12th place in the nation for most expensive fuel – another week out of the top ten. According to the Energy Information Administration, refineries are currently operating at 93.5% of capacity nationwide, a 1.5% decrease from the previous week. However, storm-related issues at a refinery in Corpus Christi and a heat-related problem at a refinery in Wood River, Illinois may represent the first disruptions in the recent trend if production problems continue.
Senior Games registration underway
The Portneuf Medical Center is now taking registrations for the Southeast Idaho Senior Games, which are scheduled for July 12-20 at a number of locations in and around Pocatello. Participants must be at least 50 years old by the end of 2024, and can register online at seidahoseniorgames.org or at 214 E Suite 30 in Pocatello. Events include a wide range of activities for all physical levels: archery, basketball, billiards, bocce ball, bowling, Wii bowling, golf, horeseshoes, mahjong, Mexican train, miniature golf, pinochle, pickleball, trap shooting, table tennis, swimming, shuffleboard, chair volleyball, cornhole, cycling, dance, darts, disc golf, five crowns, and more. Come compete and meet new people interested in staying fit and testing their skills against others!