Franklin County, ID

By Jeff DeMoss Voters in Franklin County turned out in strong numbers for last week’s primary election, making their choices for both local and statewide offices across various political parties. Races at the county level included two seats on the Franklin County Commission. Robert Swainston is running unopposed for the District 2 seat and received 2,031 votes. The race for the District 3 seat opening was more crowded. Incumbent R. Dirk Bowles faced three Republican challengers in J.D. Drury, Tyler Fry and Tyler Olson. Bowles successfully defended his seat with nearly 41% of the vote, followed by Tyler Olson at 31%, Drury at just over 21% and Tyler Fry with just over 7%. Races for county clerk, treasurer and coroner went uncontested, but there was a fairly close race for county assessor, with challenger Chris Barton getting 54.3% of the vote to defeat incumbent Doug Wallis. In races at the state level, Franklin County voters chose similar to the statewide vote for the most part, backing incumbent U.S. Senator Mike Crapo and Congressman Mike Simpson with sizable majorities. Franklin County voters also voiced strong majority support for incumbent Gov. Brad Little, who fended off several challengers, but differed from the statewide vote in that only 42.4% of Franklin County voters chose Little, compared with 52.8% statewide. A few Republican challengers did significantly better in Franklin County than they did statewide. Ed Humphreys got just 11% of the statewide vote but more than 23% of the Franklin County vote, and Ashley Jackson got 6.3% of the Franklin County vote but only 1.1% statewide. Steven Bradshaw’s 4% in Franklin County was also better than the 1.9% he got statewide. Conversely, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, widely seen as the biggest threat to Little’s campaign, did not do as well locally. McGeachin received 32.3% of the statewide vote, but just 22.3% in Franklin County. In the three state legislative races on the Franklin County ballot, local voters went along with District 28 preferences in choosing Sen. Jim Guthrie, as well as favoring Richard Cheatum for state representative position “A”. However, while Franklin County voters went more than 52% for R. Scott Workman for District 28 position “B”, the district as a whole opted for Dan Garner.

The U.S. reported over 700,000 new cases of coronavirus over the seven days ending May 22, bringing the total count to more than 82.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. There have been more than 993,000 COVID-19-related deaths — the highest death toll of any country. New cases continue to rise at a faster rate. In […]

(Editorial Note: Part 273 of a series of further development in the early days that impacted Franklin County. Sources: Franklin County Citizen, 1913-1920; Hometown Album, compiled by Newell Hart; Cache Valley Newsletter, compiled and edited by Newell Hart; History of Dance) With the coming of the second decade of the...

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. Beginning early Friday morning, May 23, over 100,000 residence and business customers will be able to place the first local telephone calls ever between 25 eastern Idaho communities.

BFF: 4 p.m., After School Club Meeting for grades K-2, Larsen-Sant Library. Knit Wits: 11 a.m., Presbyterian Church, 206 East 200 North, Preston. Special Friends Club: 12:45 p.m., for adults with special needs. No MGM Club. The Franklin County Republican Central Committee will be holding their 2022 Reorganization and Delegate...

A pair of high school track & field athletes from Franklin County captured silver medals on Day 1 of their respective state championship meets. West Side’s Aubrie Barzee was the runner-up in the girls 3,200 meters at the 2A level, while Preston’s Kimble Rigby tied for second place in the boys pole vault at the 4A meet. Those athletes competing in the 1A through 3A divisions are at Middleton High School, while the 4A and 5A meets are taking place at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.

The U.S. reported over 620,000 new cases of coronavirus over the seven days ending May 17, bringing the total count to more than 81.6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. There have been more than 992,000 COVID-19-related deaths — the highest death toll of any country. New cases continue to rise at a faster rate. In […]

PRESTON – Franklin County Republican voters had their voices heard for the Primary election held May 18, 2022. In the Legislative District #28 State Senator Jim Guthrie won the nomination with 1,164 votes. State Representative District 28 nominee is Richard Cheatum who own with 1,116 votes. Scott Workman took the nomination for District 28 with 1,257 votes.

School is nearly over for the summer months across Franklin County, which means it is time to explore the neighborhood world of the county with your very own “passport” from boredom. The Summer Passport program, being offered as an outlet for fun, a little learning, and a prize...

Celebrating 100 years of the organization of the Franklin Company Daughters of Utah Pioneers at their annual convention on Friday, May 13, President Alexis Beckstead welcomed the 60 attendees, which included the Malad Valley Company. Beckstead noted that since its beginning in 1922, the Franklin Company now has 11 camps,...

The U.S. reported over 562,000 new cases of coronavirus over the seven days ending May 15, bringing the total count to more than 81.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. There have been more than 991,000 COVID-19-related deaths — the highest death toll of any country. New cases continue to rise at a steady rate. In […]

Legacy residents packed the Franklin City Hall Wed., May 11, to support changes in two neighborhood zonings. Dave Fowles, representing the Legacy HOA members, presented well-researched evidence of lots #13 and #14 to prove that the A-2 multi-family zone should be changed to an A-1 single-family designation. Pointing to the multiple discrepancies between county, city, and mapping notations, Fowles also mentioned that with the original owner gone, the property is not in compliance with original stipulations.

At the May 9 Franklin County Commission meeting, Glade Schvaneveldt was appointed as the fourth member of the new Herd District Committee and the commissioners approved a contract with Rocky Mountain Power for additional power. The tentative schedule for the courthouse remodel/addition has concrete starting in June and walls going...

(Editorial Note: Part 272 of a series of further development in the early days that impacted Franklin County. Sources: Cache Valley Newsletter, compiled by Newell Hart; Preston News, 1908-09; Franklin County Citizen, 1913-1920; History of Weston, Idaho, by Jay D. Schvaneneldt; Hometown Album, compiled and edited by Newell Hart.) As...

It’s good to see people out walking by my house on the sidewalk or riding their bicycle down the road enjoying the sunny day, to breathe fresh air and to get some exercise. Demonstrating good exercise, the Preston City Baseball program is in its fourth week of games, said Joel Webb, Preston City Rec Baseball Director, who coordinates the games. This year is the largest participation Webb said he has ever seen with 257 boys and girls ages 7-14 making up 23 teams who have signed up and playing ball. Players come from Preston, Franklin, Soda Springs, Grace, Downey, and Montpelier to play at the three fields at the Preston City Park on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights at 5:30 p.m. and at 7 p.m. The older kids play twice a week, while the other teams only once a week. “We appreciate Rocky Mountain Power who has put in more lights on the fields,” said Webb. “The games have really been successful. We have a good group of coaches, who are mainly dads, who are teaching the players to love baseball.”

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. Franklin City hosted officials from Ezra C. Lundahl Incorporated of Logan at a city meeting as they explained their plans to operate a steel fabrication company out of the old Del Monte building they recently purchased.

PRESTON – Although Franklin County has little drama going into the May 17, 2022, primary elections, the state elections in Idaho are not without a little controversy. Camille Larsen, the Franklin County Clerk, said there was not any real excitement with their primaries, but there seems to be some troubled winds blowing in the Idaho state capital.

PRESTON – Although Franklin County has little drama going into the May 17, 2022, primary elections, the state elections in Idaho are not without a little controversy. Camille Larsen, the Franklin County Clerk, said there was not any real excitement with their primaries, but there seems to be some troubled winds blowing in the Idaho state capital.

Editorial Note: Part 271 of a series of further developments in the early days that impacted Franklin County. Sources: Preston News, 1908-1912; Preston Citizen, 1945,2019; Cache Valley Newsletter, compiled by Newell Hart; The Trailblazer, History of the Development of Southeastern Idaho; Hometown Album, compiled and edited by Newell Hart; Obituary of C. R. Hobbs; Life history of Phil Margetts.

Despite the Idaho Fish and Game’s recent regulation change that allows motors other than electric on Foster Reservoir, the water body remains the property of the Consolidated Irrigation Company (CIC) and recreationists are required to abide by the company’s rules as well. In late 2021, the Idaho Fish...