Remember When?

40 YEARS AGO

SEPTEMBER 2, 1982

FAIR OPENS TODAY

In the days of Caesar all roads lead to Rome; this weekend all Sanders County roads lead to Plains as the annual Sanders County Fair opens Thursday and continues through Sunday night’s Demolition Derby and the third Youth Dance.

The first entertainment feature of the fair will be the queen contest at the Dance Pavilion tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The annual luncheon for fair premium book advertisers is scheduled at 1 p.m. Friday at the Pavilion with Williams & Ree and the Whiskey River Band from South Dakota scheduled to perform.

At 10 a.m. Friday the NCHA approved cutting contest for Montana and Wyoming will get underway. The four events are open to non-professionals and novices.

At 7 p.m. Friday, the annual 4-H Fashion Revue will be conducted at the Pavilion followed by the queen and princess talent presentation in the fairgrounds arena. The youth dance at 10 p.m. will conclude Friday’s schedule.

4-H award winners will receive their recognitions at 9 a.m. Saturday and at 1 p.m. the draft horse pulling contest will start in the arena with Bulldog Fraser presiding over the microphone.

The first of two MRA rodeo performances will start at 8 p.m. The rodeo will feature the five major events plus team roping.

A youth dance at 10 p.m. and fireworks display will conclude Saturday’s program.

A full schedule is on hand for Sunday, the final day of the fair. Church services at 10 a.m. in the south grandstand will be followed by the 4-H stock sale at 11 a.m. between the livestock barns.

At noon, the annual parade will get underway from downtown Plains.

The second rodeo competition will start at 2 p.m. followed by the Demolition Derby at 8 p.m. with fireworks and the third Youth Dance bringing down the curtain on this year’s fair events.

A new feature of this year’s popular fair will be a children’s petting zoo. It will be free and be located adjacent to the 4-H barn.

As usual, admission to the fair is free and no charge is made for parking.

IMPROVEMENTS EYED IF

STOBIE BUYS RANCH

State Representative Chris Stobie revealed this week that he has discussed the acquisition of the Thompson River Ranch with Louis LaRock, present owner, but that up to Tuesday morning no papers for the sale had been signed.

Stobie said if the sale is consummated that his brother-in-law, Leonard “Dude” Sheffer, will manage the restaurant and bar. Stobie said he had discussed with Warren Benfield the possibility that Benfield continue as manager of the bowling lanes.

Among the plans being made for the business would be the complete renovation of the six pinsetting machines at the bowling lanes.

Some of the equipment from the former RiverAire Lanes (the building most recently occupied by Mangy Moose east of town), will be used in the renovation process. Equipment which could be moved from the RiverAire to the Ranch lanes includes the telescores, the plastic circular seating, ball return racks and other items.

The bar would be reopened with the bowling lanes, and also the restaurant portion, although Stobie said he is planning extensive remodeling of the dining facilities.

The work would include remodeling and expansion of the kitchen, an addition to the dining area, including installation of new seating and tables and replacing the old windows so diners may look out over the adjacent Thompson River. New restrooms would be installed in the new section also.

Stobie said the firm likely will be operating under a new name. However, the word “ranch” probably will be included in the new nom de plume. It was renamed The River Ranch Inn.

“We plan to add to the menu and add some nice entrees,” Stobie commented. “However, we plan to try to make the ranch into a family type dining facility and will encourage bowling by all ages in a wholesome family atmosphere.”

Stobie indicated that the only delay in signing papers for the sale is the fact that the contract forms have not been prepared yet by local attorneys.