In 1970, Council and Cambridge began participating in a Nurse Practitioner program. It was aimed at helping with the shortage of doctors and increasing the roll of nurses in health care. The Cambridge newspaper said: “Kay Ortman and Jane Curtis are from rural Idaho and will return to work under the supervision of two positions who function out of Council’s territory covers over 100 miles. Mrs. Ortman, married to a forester, has done community mental health counseling and general staff nursing. Cambridge is in the process of building the area’s first professional clinic in which she will work. Mrs. Curtis has been director of nursing in the Community Hospital in Council. She is the wife of the superintendent of schools there.” Mort Curtis was Council School Superintendent for a number of years.
In the 1960s, Dr. John Edwards had been elected to three terms in the Idaho House of Representatives. In early July of 1972 he died from a heart attack at his home. He was only 53 years old and had become a vital part of the Council community. His sudden loss shocked and saddened the community.
A scandal rocked the community in the fall of 1973. The Leader reported: “Acting upon an anonymous tip that funds of the Community Hospital were being misappropriated, the hospital board and the Board of County Commissioners, in early August, ordered a special audit of the financial records of the hospital from 1971 through August 1973. As a result the preliminary auditing, a criminal complaint was filed by which Harold Whitaker, administrator of Community Hospital, was accused of embezzlement of some $5,197 of hospital (County) funds.” The dollar amount here seems to be a misprint.
Whitaker pled guilty to 16 counts of embezzlement from the hospital. The Leader reported in its February 7, 1974 issue: “Harold Whitaker Receives Sentence for Embezzlement of Funds – A man who has been employed by the Council Community Hospital for the past 22 years was issued a withheld sentence Monday and placed on probation in court held at Weiser. Harold Whitaker, 46, hospital administrator, pleaded guilty January 2 to 16 felony charges of embezzlement amounting to a total of $51,242. Whitaker was issued a withheld sentence on all counts for a period of four years. The judge also stipulated Whitaker must make full restitution of the net embezzlement within two years and sentenced Whitaker to a 30 day jail term in Adams County beginning Monday. Whitaker had served as hospital administrator since 1959. Whitaker, under questioning, revealed to approximately 20 persons listening to the proceedings that he had invested in futures in the commodities stock market. The defense pointed out Whitaker had initially used his own funds in the market venture but then ‘got in over his head so fast he didn’t know what he was doing.’”
By this time, the doctor shortage, especially for rural areas, had become dire. The Council hospital found itself without a doctor and was desperately trying to recruit one. The Leader said: “Nearly every organization involved with medicine has been contacted for any help they can offer. The hospital will continue to reorganize the office records and maintain the building. The hospital will continue to be covered around the clock. Provisions have been made to have a registered nurse on call for the ambulance and the hospital. Arrangements have been made with the doctors in McCall to take the emergency patients. Two other physicians are taking turns seeing patients in the clinic each week. Anyone needing ambulance service should call the Sheriff’s Department.”
The situation got so bad that the hospital had to close temporarily in early March of 1974.
Upper Country News-Reporter, April 4, 1974: “During the past week doctors Sam Monger of Cleveland, Tennessee, and Edward Quick of San Diego, Texas, were in Council to inspect the community hospital and the clinic.” Dr. Monger will establish a practice at Council, and Dr. Quick said his decision would be made shortly.”
Adams County Leader, July 11, 1974: “The Council Clinic and the Council Community Hospital are happy to announce that Dr. Samuel A. Monger and Dr. Alonzo H. Jones have moved to Council this week. The clinic in hospital plan to be in full operation by Monday, July 15.”
Adams County Leader, August 22, 1974: “Checks were delivered this past week to the Community Hospital in Council in the amount of $41,407.15 by Muller’s Agency from the sale of the Harold Whitaker property in Council and at Cambridge. This amount was applied to the outstanding defalcation of Adams County hospital funds and leaves an outstanding balance of $697.92 plus interest still do to clear the full payment of the defalcation.”
Adams County Leader, October 3, 1974
“A check in the amount of $2,230.97 was delivered to the community hospital this past week by Muller’s Agency. This check was the balance of monies and interest owed from defalcations by Harold Whitaker of hospital funds. The amount was derived from the sale of the Whitaker home in Council.”
The Whitaker place was the first place on the left after the Weiser River Bridge on Council-Cuprum Road. The buyer of the property was Dr. Monger. A few years ago it belonged to Jeff and Brenda Howard.
Continued next week.
100 years ago
March 6, 1925
“There seems to be no excitement in Indian Valley now over the case of rabies which developed recently. No new cases had been detected, and there is a feeling that the danger is now passed.”
A. C. Gordon of Weiser purchased the Morey brick building, formerly occupied by the Cambridge Hardware store. Mr. Gordon will make his new property into a modern playhouse. The front will be changed to meet the requirements of such, and the floor will be renewed. He will also build a good stage and equip it with at least two sets of curtains. The floor will be put in first class shape for dancing. Mr. Gordon will buy a second projecting machine so that his shows will be run without any intermission or changing reels.
“The Elk Hall has reached a stage of decay and deterioration due to neglect, where it is rightfully classed as a menace by everyone. For this reason, many have felt unsafe in it, especially when well filled to capacity, as it has been so many times.”
50 years ago
March 2, 1950
A daughter named Barbara Elaine was born February 23 at the Weiser hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Max Towell of Midvale.
“Jet Planes Seen – Two jet planes, apparently and route from Spokane to Boise, passed over Cambridge at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.”
Died: Rev. Elmer Sherman Clapper, on January 29. He was born in 1863 in Indiana.
Died: Mary Byroad Clapper, born 1864 and died February 16. Wife of the late Elmer Clapper.
Members of the Welcome Rebecca and Odd Fellows Orders purchased the Frank Howland building to use as a lodge hall.
49 years ago
March 4, 1976
Married: Miss Candace Lee Nida, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Len Nida, Jr., and Timothy James Harrison, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Harrison of Cambridge.
Died: Edith E. S. Gray. She was born in 1882 at Salubria and married Robert Gray in 1899 at Indian Valley. He died in 1917, leaving her with nine children to raise. She had the Indian Valley telephone switchboard in her home for 30 years or more.
This issue contained a long article about Seven Devils Johnson’s poem “Cuddy Flour” and Mr. and Mrs. Cuddy’s reaction to it, as well as two other poems: “Reply to Mono Miner” and “Cuddy Flour, No. 2.”
25 years ago
March 2, 2000
Advertising for bids for construction of the new high school is currently ongoing, with a close date of March 7.
