Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago

July 12, 2018

A riderless horse, led by Tim Becker of Holyoke, will usher in the Phillips County Fair parade on Holyoke’s Interocean Avenue on July 28. The procession will honor the late Merle Jackson, who was named this year’s parade grand marshal.

Building relationships with staff, students and the community is a targeted goal for the year as a brand-new administrative team leads Holyoke School District into 2018-19. On July 1, Kyle Stumpf stepped into the superintendent role and Shane Walkinshaw assumed the reins as JR/SR high school principal. Andrea Kammer will officially begin her duties as Holyoke Elementary principal on Aug. 1.

The Rev. Paul Brunner recently moved to Holyoke to serve as pastor at both First United Methodist Church in Holyoke and Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church.

Ten Years Ago

July 11, 2013

Interested citizens are invited to informational meetings about the 51st state initiative on July 18. Phillips County will hold the meetings in both Haxtun and Holyoke.

Ballyneal Golf Club has retained its designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 16, 1998

Even an early morning fire at the Holyoke Co-op feed mill on July 14 wasn’t enough to stop wheat harvest progress for long. Located northeast of the co-op elevator office, the feed mill was a total loss. However, the Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department was able to keep the blaze from the concrete elevators.

As part of the July 7 city council meeting, members heard an update on the downtown revitalization project. Phase 1 (new trash receptacles and banners in the downtown area) is complete. Phase 2, which involved planting trees, is on hold for now, with the revitalization committee moving ahead with a portion of Phase 3, benches.

Local law enforcement officers joined forces late last week to solve a series of four burglaries that occurred in the Holyoke area. As a result, a juvenile was arrested on four counts of burglary and was transported to the juvenile detention center in Greeley on July 12.

Fifty Years Ago

July 12, 1973

The planning of a committee of Holyoke businessmen reached a reality July 5 when George Rudel and Associates, contractors, presented the keys to the Holyoke Housing for senior citizens to the group. Several years of planning, meetings and frustrations culminated in a fine complex of 30 apartments at 330 W. Kellogg St.

Rains over the weekend relieved the hot, dry weather residents of the area had been experiencing. Highest temperature reading was recorded on Friday with a reading of 109 degrees. Saturday’s high reached 102 degrees.

The recent legislature enacted SB 393, which raised the fees for motor vehicle inspections from $1.50 to $1.65.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 15, 1948

The J.R. Leeright rides and shows of Rupert, Idaho, have been contracted to bring their six rides and numerous other shows to the annual Phillips County Fair, which is scheduled to be held September 2-4 in Holyoke.

The first of this week found the majority of the wheat farmers in this area finished with the harvesting of their wheat crop. It was estimated this morning that only a very small percentage of the grain remained yet to be cut.

Dot and Ernie Lind, described as America’s No. 1 exhibition shooters, have been scheduled to hold a demonstration of dramatic marksmanship at the Holyoke Gun Club on Aug. 1.

Work will start the first of next week on the construction of a steel and concrete bridge over Frenchman Creek north of Holyoke on State Highway 51.