Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago

July 26, 2018

Last Monday night, July 16, a storm passed through, and the high winds resulted in a rapid turnover and the death of many of the fish in Holyoke’s pond. Turnover happens when the different temperature levels in a pond mix due to a change in the temperature of the water at the surface. The resulting mixture can be too low in oxygen to sustain life.

On a 13-acre plot of land located a mile north of Holyoke, Jose Varela is setting up an aquaponics operation on his family’s property and has his sights set on providing sustainable, locally grown produce for Holyoke businesses.

Ten Years Ago

July 25, 2013

Eight-year-old Luke Sprague is recovering well after losing the lower portion of his left leg in a July 17 auger accident on his family’s farm.

Dr. Aaron Wilson is Melissa Memorial Hospital’s newest family practice doctor.

After a public information meeting on July 18, Phillips County commissioners will put a question on the November ballot regarding secession from Colorado to form the 51st state.

An extensive water feature and expansion of the bicycle/pedestrian path are coming soon to Homesteaders Park and the Phillips County Fairgrounds.

The possibility of a residential recycling program was discussed at length at the July 16 Holyoke City Council meeting. Waste Management Inc. recently reached out to the city of Holyoke about the possibility of beginning a citywide residential program that would put a curbside recycling bin in front of every home in town.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 30, 1998

Heavy rains have once again taken their toll on Holyoke and the surrounding areas, wreaking havoc on roads and railways alike. It was reported that some areas received over 5 inches of rain during a downpour on Thursday night, July 23.

Dan and Shonna Kafka are in the process of purchasing Allen’s Dairy King from Edgar and Mary Allen and plan to take over Aug. 1.

Holyoke City Council discussed the possibility of assisted living in Holyoke in the future at its July 21 meeting. Beehive Housing, a for-profit agency, has asked Holyoke Housing Authority for the donation of a piece of land upon which to build an assisted living facility.

Fifty Years Ago

July 26, 1973

The Holyoke Police Department has been trying out the new radar gun used to determine auto speed. The gun, which is also portable, can determine the speed of an auto traveling either direction from a police car. 

On July 18, 10 tenants of the Holyoke Housing, along with Mrs. Clinton Keasling, Jule Church and Larry Endres, met at the housing center for a short business meeting and social hour. The group decided to name the housing Sunset View Homes.

The Holyoke Jaycees will sponsor a demolition derby at the Phillips County Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 8.

Holyoke merchants are busy marking merchandise for the Moonlight Madness sale, set for Friday, July 27, from 7-9 p.m.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 29, 1948

At the regular monthly meeting of the Holyoke Booster Club, which was held in the community room of the courthouse Tuesday evening of this week, members of the club voted to allow $50 for trophies for a tennis and swimming tournament which will be staged in Holyoke in the near future.

The first chest clinic was held at the county courthouse in Holyoke for follow-up of cases found by the mobile unit and previous reported cases who were referred by the physicians. There were 1,253 X-rays taken by the mobile unit when it was in Phillips County the first week in May, and only 10 were found with various types of pathological chest conditions.

Flying farmers from Kansas and Colorado will hold an overnight joint meeting at Estes Park, July 31-Aug. 1.