Quick highlights from the journalist history of Franklin County over the past 100 years. Taken from the newspaper archives of the Franklin County Citizen and Preston Citizen.
25 Years Ago, November 24, 1999Creation of a county-wide fire district was proposed by Franklin County Commissioners to representatives from area towns and most responded favorable to the concept.
What Wendell Smith did for Blackfoot Reservoir, he has now done for reservoirs of Franklin County. Smith has made a name for himself in the region as a folk artist/historian by a variety of projects. His illustrated maps of the Riverdale area and Blackfoot Reservoir led him to his most recent project: illustrated maps of all the Franklin County Reservoirs.
Six shooters, ages 8 through 12, have qualified to compete on a district level in the annual Elks Lodge National Free Throw Contest from the Preston School District. Shailyn Garner and Colby Daley qualified in the 8-9 year-old category. Lindsey Christensen and Tyson Doney qualified for the 10-11 age group. Danielle Dalley and Justin Torfin were the top shooters in the 12-13 age group.
No matter how much the human side of us has enjoyed the beautiful fall weather, the farmer, land-steward side of us is welcoming the rain and moisture. The earth was like concrete for fall plowing.
Tasty things are happening in Preston School district. Participation in the district's lunch program has increased on average between each of the district's schools, 119 percent. The largest increase has come at the high school. There, the district served an average of 120 lunches per day last year. This year, they are averaging 360 lunches per day...In addition to the increased food choices, the district has implemented a new computerized system for selling lunches... Each student has access to his or her own account via a personalized lunch card.
50 Years Ago, November 28, 1974Newell Hart, spokesman of an ad hoc committee determined to save the Oneida Stake Academy building from being torn down, said that Ron Thueber, Boise, has consented to give an "restoration architect's" appraisal of the building. "We've been working with the school board on the problem," Hart said. The committee named Friends of the Academy with Mrs. Vera Biggs, treasurer, was taking contributions to go toward the architect fees. Jeff Simmons, special collections librarian at USU and connected with the Utah historic building registry, said that to his knowledge southeastern Idaho had no building on the national registry.
Greaves Style Shop has been renamed Veda's Style Shop and will be open in a new location. Veda Diderickson, owner, bought the shop from Harley Greaves three years ago shortly after it had moved to its present location.
Glenda Griffeth of Preston is third place in barrel racing in the Rocky Mountain Region of collegiate rodeo action after two fall rodeos. She competes for Ricks College. There are 12 colleges in the region.
Cabbage! The harvest is complete on the cabbage raised in the area. The big balls of cabbage have been hauled and dumped in big piles near the Del Monte plant in Franklin. They will later be made into tasty sauerkraut.
Saying "Good things come in small packages," is true of RaNae Peterson, a Senior at Preston High...Ron Henderson is quite the man about town and in involved in many school and city projects at West Side High. Both are Students of the Week.
75 Years Ago, December 1, 1949Patrons of West Side school district are making a last-ditch drive to obtain the final $1,000 toward the new band uniforms. This is the climax of a four-year campaign to replace the suits burned in the Weston building in 1945. Since that time students have participated in concerts, contests and rodeo parades in make-shift regalia. The house-to-house canvas by members of each community is expected to finish the $2,600 goal for the band to be completely suited for the dedication of the new high school building.
Leland Auger, wheat farmer from Glendale, was named to head the Franklin county production and marketing administration committee during 1950.
Preston high school's Indians open their 1949-50 basketball schedule tonight, entertaining North Cache high here in the initial tilt under new Coach Ev Sorenson...Coach Sorenson has 14 men fighting for a position on the traveling squad of 10.
Work is progressing rapidly on the new Weston ward chapel and recreational hall, with completion of the structure expected next spring. Long needed by the Weston ward, the building is estimated to cost approximately $140,000...The edifice is being erected on the site of the old chapel which was torn down to make room for the new structure. Built in 1905, the old chapel stood condemned for some time and finally ward meetings were held in the Weston high school. When that building burned down the ward was forced to meet in the district school and old opera house.
100 Years Ago, November 26, 1924The Third Court of Honor of the Franklin county district of the Cache Valley council, convened at Franklin, November 23. A very interesting program was rendered during which pennants for Field Day were given. Scouts were advanced in rank, merit badges awarded, and the mission of scouting was displayed through dramatization.
Lyman Stephens, 17 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Stephens, met with an accident Sunday afternoon at 3:30 and died at 6 o'clock that evening. The accident happened while he was riding his horse to his sister's home. He leaned toward the right side to pass a telephone pole, the horse shying, jumped toward the left hand side, striking the young man's head with such force that his head was badly fractured and his face lacerated. He never regained consciousness.
About a month ago I was informed by the State Bacteriological lab that our city water showed some contamination. Three weeks later I took another test and have just received a report that our city water supply is not contaminated and the bacterial count is reduced to almost negative. (signed) G. W. States, City Physician