| Border Days set for July 2-4 By Lorie Palmer Idaho County Free Press In the wake of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the rodeo will go on. Border Days is set to take place this week, Thursday, July 2 through Saturday, July 4. Presiding over the festivities is grand marshal, Don Heckman, of White Bird. Heckman, a cattle rancher, grew up on Joseph Plains and raised his family in White Bird. “I’m honored, as I’ve been attending Border Days as long as I can remember,” Heckman said. This year’s royalty court consists of queen, Kaylee Page, of Kooskia, and princess, Josie Remacle, of Cottonwood. “COVID-19 made for uncertain times in our world and small community,” said 2020 Border Days Committee President, Tanner Maynard. “We, as a board, are taking precautions to allow for our spectators to stay healthy.” Maynard is joined on the board by committee members Gary Canaday, Scott Winkler, Anna Wren, Tanner Fogleman, Kevin Greig, Nick Hilbert, Wade Peterson, Jesse Keeler, Megan Peterson, Jacob Robie, Tate Stowers, Brian Wren and Jerime Zimmerman. Several events have been canceled for 2020; however, a variety of activities will be available including the following: July 2, 3 & 4: ·Street sports and Super Egg Toss, 9 a.m. on Main Street ·Parades with the theme “Country Pride, Country Wide,” 2 p.m. on Main Street ·Rodeos, 6 p.m., at the Border Days Arena July 3: ·Toy scramble for 6 and younger, in front of Heritage Square on Main Street following the egg toss ·Grangeville High School all-class reunion, following the parade, Grangeville Gun Club July 3 & 4: ·Art in the Park at Pioneer Park ·Live music nightly at The Trails Restaurant on Main Street July 4: ·Camas Prairie Cruisers car show, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Les Schwab Tire Center ·Fireworks, presented by Grangeville Volunteer Fire Department, GHS football field, 10 p.m. Fireworks Show to be biggest ever By Lorie Palmer Idaho County Free Press Despite many areas canceling their Fourth of July celebrations due to COVID-19 concerns, Grangeville will carry on with its fireworks display. And carry on in a big way, according to retired Grangeville Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) fireman Bob Beckman. “This year’s show is about $15,000,” said Beckman, who still volunteers to raise funds for the annual event. “And with other towns bowing out, we expect a larger than normal audience.” Beckman said it was about 23 years ago when the Grangeville Merchants Association was sponsoring the fireworks. They hit a snag and had trouble raising the $3,000 needed for the display at the time. “Some of the ladies put on a spaghetti feed and came up with about $1,000,” he said. So he and a couple of other firemen took some coffee cans and canvassed for funds and came up with the remainder. The following year, he said, the GVFD took over the endeavor, grabbed about six kids, and walked the parade with cans and buckets each day. Throughout the years, GVFD also added their extra funds to the pot. Soon, merchants wanted to help out, and the sign board with supporters’ names and logos that is pulled in the parades now was born. “When we started the show years ago, about 10 guys were leaning over each other hand-lighting fireworks,” Beckman said. “It was pretty dangerous.” Soon, they used some of their funds to purchase a portable board to help with lighting, using that system for about three years. They were then able to purchase a computerized system for about $5,000, which is still in use. “Now, it’s all done by remote control and it’s a safe way to light the fireworks,” he explained. The fireworks are detonated at the Grangeville High School football field. One year, Beckman said, they counted 2,300 people in the stands and around the field. “People come from all over to see this show,” he said. Onlookers not only gather on the field, but also throughout the streets and from the homes of family and friends. He advised people to bring their chairs and blankets and prepare for a “great show.” The fireworks display is set for Saturday, July 4, 10 p.m. Those who wish to contribute to the display – funds raised this year will be used for the 2021 show – can do so during each parade as volunteers come by with the donation buckets.  Part of last year's fireworks show at Border Days.  The annual Egg Toss at Border Days is one of the biggest in the area.
Toy Scramble a popular event
Candy and toys and money, oh my! Necklaces, fishpond tickets and other trinkets, to boot. It’s time for the annual Border Days Toy Scramble, sponsored by Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation (GHR). This year’s scramble is set for Friday, July 3, following the 9 a.m. street sports and egg toss on Main Street. Look for the Grangeville Volunteer Fire Department truck blocking the street by Heritage Square, as well as the middle of street littered with a variety of treasures for the little ones. “We started this about 21 years ago, as a way to give back to the community,” explained retired GHR employee Bob Beckman, who still volunteers for the facility, where his son, Ryan, is now the administrator. Beckman said the toy scramble was originally meant for the very young kids who didn’t have many other activities. “We started out with spending about $400 on toys, and now we’re at about $800,” he said. Employees throw out the toys and Beckman and his wife and other staff members and volunteers pass out paper sacks for the little ones to collect their goods in. “It goes pretty quickly,” he smiled. “It’s all finished in about 10 minutes.” Birth to 2 years old go first, then up to 4 years, up to six years, then it opens for those up to 8 years old “to clean up the rest of it,” Beckman said.  A scene from last year's Toy Scramble
Home Tour a part of Border Days
By Lorie Palmer Idaho County Free Press Are you interested in the history of Grangeville homes? Grab some friends, hop in the car (or go by foot if you’d like the exercise) and go on the “Turn of the Century Homes” tour in Grangeville. “A brochure was last completed about 30 years ago, but we’ve now updated that and it’s ready for the public,” said Annelle Urbahn, who has helped get the new brochure updated and out. The Urbahn House, 204 E. South First Street, which was built in 1910, is one of the homes on the tour. Brochures are available at the Grangeville Chamber of Commerce office/visitor’s center on Pine Street off U.S. Highway 95. Fifteen homes are on the updated brochure, and houses include those built from 1874 to 1910. “There’s a little more to keeping up a turn-of-the-century home than perhaps a modern home,” Urbahn said. “I believe we need to honor and recognize our area history.” The Urbahn house was sold to the Albert Urbahn family in 1919. The brochure lists the homes, addresses and gives a brief history of each. Each home on the list has a sign placed on the property so those on the tour can easily find the residences. “Each home owner participated and purchased the signs themselves,” Urbahn said. Some of the homes on the brochure include the following: ·Blackmer Funeral Home, 305 N. Mill Street, was built in 1898 for Wallace Scott, early day merchant and banker. It has been used as a funeral home since 1941. Additional owners have included E.M. Olmstead, Glenn Ailor, Bob Hansen and Fred Noland. ·Helena Home, 108 E. S. First Street, was built in 1901 for W.W. Brown, the first mayor of Grangeville and an early day banker. Subsequent owner W.H. Badgero was the proprietor of the Fair Store, a dry-goods and notions establishment. Bob and Terri Helena are the current homeowners. ·Parker House, 212 S. Hall Street, was built in 1890 for the Aaron Parker family. Mr. Parker was the founder and publisher of the Idaho County Free Press. It is now owned by the Thompson family. ·Laufenberg House, 706 South State Street, was built in 1905. Local dentist G.A. Green and family lived here. Mrs. Green became the first woman in Idaho to obtain an embalming license. The house escaped the fire of 1931. The Laufenberg family owns the home. ·Groom Home, 503 South B Street, has its first deed of recording stating the property is a “Declaration of Homestead” recorded in 1885 to J.W. Crooks. The current structure was built by attorney J.A. Campbell in 1908. The home has been remodeled many times since. Many locals remember this as the home of Woody and Marjorie Fitch. Rob and Teresa Groom have owned the home since 1991. ·Cassius Day Home, 403 N. State Street, was built for Cassius M. Day in 1901. He was the last survivor of the “Brave 17,” heroes of the 1877 Indian War. Well-known Salmon River cattleman George Behean bought the house in the early 1920s. The McLeans now own the home.  A home on Hall Street is part of the Home Tour.  This home on Meadow Street is also part of the Home Tour. All photos on this page courtesy of the Idaho County Free Press.
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